Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • November 2011 (Revised August 2012)
  • Background Note
  • HBS Case Collection

Customer Visits for Entrepreneurs

By: Frank V. Cespedes
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:16
ShareBar

Abstract

Provides practical guidelines for conducting customer visits to explore and validate demand for an entrepreneurial offering. Reviews conditions under which visits will yield superior insights, compared to other research methods. Describes criteria for selecting visit sites; how to plan for visits; how to conduct them most effectively; and how to debrief after visits. The note is therefore relevant to MBA, Executive Education, Field Study, or project contexts where the focus is startups, entrepreneurial management, new product development, business development, or innovation.

Keywords

Customers; Entrepreneurship

Citation

Cespedes, Frank V. "Customer Visits for Entrepreneurs." Harvard Business School Background Note 812-098, November 2011. (Revised August 2012.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Frank V. Cespedes

Entrepreneurial Management
→More Publications

Related Work

    • November 2011 (Revised August 2012)
    • Faculty Research

    Customer Visits for Entrepreneurs

    By: Frank V. Cespedes
Related Work
  • Customer Visits for Entrepreneurs By: Frank V. Cespedes
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College