--- title: "How to Write a Product Requirements Doc | Build14" description: "You don't need to speak developer to communicate what you want built. Here's a plain-language guide to writing a PRD that actually gets results." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "ProfessionalService", "name": "Build14", "url": "https://build14.com", "logo": "https://build14.com/favicon.png", "description": "Build14 designs, builds, and ships production-ready MVPs in 14 days. 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The problem is getting that picture out of your head and into a format a developer can actually build from. That's what a Product Requirements Document (PRD) does. It's not a technical spec. It's a clear description of what your product should do, who it's for, and how success looks. ## What a PRD Actually Is A PRD answers four questions: 1. **Who is this for?** Describe your target user in plain language. "Small business owners who manage 5-20 employees and currently track schedules in spreadsheets." 2. **What problem does it solve?** One sentence. If you need more, you're not focused enough. 3. **What does it do?** A list of features described as user actions: "A user can create a shift, assign it to an employee, and notify them." 4. **How do we know it's working?** What metrics matter? Signups? Completed tasks? Revenue? ## The Simple Template Here's what to include: ### Overview - Product name - One-sentence description - Target user ### User Stories Write these as: "As a \[type of user\], I want to \[do something\] so that \[I get this benefit\]." Example: "As a restaurant owner, I want to drag shifts on a calendar so that I can build next week's schedule in under 10 minutes." ### Features List Group by priority: - **Must have**: The product doesn't work without these - **Should have**: Important but can wait for version 2 - **Nice to have**: Ideas for later ### What's Out of Scope Just as important as what's in. List what you're intentionally not building yet. ### Success Metrics How will you measure whether this is working? Pick 2-3 numbers you'll track. ## Common Mistakes - **Writing a novel**: Keep it under 3 pages. If it's longer, you're over-thinking it. - **Describing how to build it**: Focus on what, not how. Leave the how to your developer. - **Skipping priorities**: Everything can't be a must-have. Force yourself to rank. - **No user stories**: Features without context are just a wish list. ## How to Use Your PRD Share it before a single line of code gets written. Walk through it together. Expect questions—that's the point. A good developer will push back on scope and suggest simpler alternatives. Update it as you learn. A PRD isn't a contract; it's a living document. * * * You don't have to figure this out alone. We help founders scope and plan their products so nothing gets lost in translation. See how we turn ideas into clear, buildable plans. Ready to put this into practice? See how we scope products [Learn More](/how-it-works) Related topics: product requirements document PRD template how to write a PRD non-technical founder product scoping software requirements startup planning ## Continue Reading [ ### Smart Shortcuts That Won't Slow You Down Every startup takes shortcuts. 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