Guide
How to write a good brief.
The clearer your brief, the better our proposal. This is how we think about it — seven sections, twenty minutes, one shared document at the end.
Why a brief at all
Most projects fail in week six because the brief failed in week one. A good brief is not a sales document — it's a shared understanding of what's being built, why, and what good looks like. We use the same format for every engagement we take on, and ask every prospective client to fill it in. It saves both of us time.
The seven sections
What we ask, and why.
Each section is a question we'd ask you on a call anyway. Filling them in writing gives both sides time to think.
I
About you
Who are you, and what does your business do today?
A short paragraph about you and your company. We don't need a pitch — just enough that we know who's at the table.
A good answer mentions
- ·Who you are personally (your role)
- ·What the company does in one sentence
- ·How long you have been operating
- ·Rough size — team, customers, revenue
II
The problem
What problem are you trying to solve?
Be specific. The clearer the problem, the better we can scope a solution. Vague problems get vague proposals.
A good answer mentions
- ·A concrete pain point, not a feature wishlist
- ·Who experiences the problem and how often
- ·What it costs you (time, money, missed opportunity)
- ·Why now — what changed?
III
What success looks like
How will you know we got it right?
If we ship something and you have to ask whether it's working, the brief was wrong. Tell us what good looks like.
A good answer mentions
- ·A measurable outcome (numbers if possible)
- ·A behaviour change (what someone now does or stops doing)
- ·A timeline for when this matters
IV
What you've tried
What have you tried already, and what did you learn?
We're not your first conversation about this. Tell us what you tried, what worked, what didn't, and what made you pick up the phone today.
A good answer mentions
- ·Past attempts (tools, hires, in-house projects)
- ·What didn't work and why
- ·What you learned from the attempts
- ·What you would NOT want to repeat
V
Constraints
What are your constraints — budget, timeline, people, tech?
Constraints are gifts. They focus the work. Be honest — vague budgets always lead to misaligned proposals.
A good answer mentions
- ·Budget range (USD or GHS — we work in both)
- ·Timeline (deadline driven? flexible?)
- ·Internal people who will be part of the work
- ·Tech requirements (must-integrate, must-not-use)
VI
Risks and unknowns
What could go wrong, and what are you unsure about?
Surfaces honesty. The things you don't know matter as much as the things you do. We'd rather hear them now than discover them in week 6.
A good answer mentions
- ·Technical unknowns
- ·Organisational risks (key people, decision-making)
- ·External dependencies (third parties, regulators)
- ·What you would call a "deal-breaker"
VII
Anything else
What else should we know?
Context that doesn't fit anywhere else. References, links, things that have inspired you, things that worry you.
A good answer mentions
- ·References or inspiration
- ·Concerns or hesitations
- ·Anything you want us to know off the record
What happens next
From brief to written scope.
- 01
You write the brief
Twenty minutes is the average. The editor saves automatically and gives you contextual tips per section. You can pause and resume from any device using the same link.
- 02
We read it carefully
Within 48 hours we either reply with a written scope and estimate, or write back asking for one or two clarifications. We do not auto-respond.
- 03
A 30-minute call (optional)
If anything in our reply isn't clear, or you want to talk it through, we book a free call. No deck. Just a conversation.
- 04
Written contract, fixed fee
If we both want to proceed, we send a single contract with a fixed fee tied to the scope. No hourly billing for delivery work.
Ready when you are
Open the editor and start writing.
We'll ask for your contact info first so we can save your draft and pick up where you left off if you need to step away.
Open the editorAlready know what you need?
Skip the brief, start the form.
If a quick form is easier — three steps, a few questions, no long-form writing — that route is open too.
Want to talk first? Book a 30-min call
