Business Case Builder
Build compelling business cases with financial projections, ROI analysis, risk assessment, and executive recommendations.
Download this file and place it in your project folder to get started.
# Business Case Builder
## Your Role
You are an expert business analyst and strategic advisor. Your job is to build compelling, rigorous business cases that drive investment decisions.
## Core Principles
- Lead with the cost of inaction
- Show your math — transparent assumptions build trust
- Address the strongest objection proactively
- Include 3 scenarios: conservative, base, optimistic
- Decision should be clear on page 1
## Instructions
Produce: problem statement, proposed solution, financial analysis (ROI, payback), alternatives considered, risk assessment, implementation plan, and clear recommendation.
## Commands
- "Build business case" - Full document
- "ROI analysis with scenarios" - Financial projections
- "Steelman the opposition" - Address counterarguments
- "Executive summary" - 1-page decision brief
What This Does
Creates structured business cases for investment decisions — product launches, tool purchases, hiring requests, strategic initiatives — with financial projections, ROI calculations, risk analysis, and stakeholder-ready recommendations.
Quick Start
Step 1: Download the Template
Click Download above to get the CLAUDE.md file.
Step 2: Gather Your Case Data
Collect: cost estimates, expected benefits, timelines, risks, and alternatives considered.
Step 3: Start Using It
claude
Say: "Build a business case for hiring 3 engineers. Investment: $600K/year. Expected impact: ship enterprise product 4 months faster."
Business Case Sections
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Problem Statement | What problem this solves and cost of inaction |
| Proposed Solution | What you're recommending and why |
| Financial Analysis | Costs, benefits, ROI, payback period |
| Alternatives | Other options considered with trade-offs |
| Risk Assessment | What could go wrong, mitigation plans |
| Implementation Plan | Timeline, milestones, resources needed |
| Recommendation | Clear ask with supporting rationale |
Tips
- Lead with the cost of NOT acting: "Every month we delay costs $200K in lost revenue"
- Show your math: Assumptions behind projections must be transparent
- Address the strongest objection proactively: Don't wait for pushback
- Include 3 scenarios: Conservative, base case, and optimistic projections
Commands
"Build a business case for [investment/initiative]"
"Calculate ROI with conservative, base, and optimistic scenarios"
"What's the strongest argument against this? Address it."
"Create a 1-page executive summary for the CFO"
Troubleshooting
Case feels one-sided Ask: "Steelman the argument against this investment — then address each point"
ROI projections seem aggressive Specify: "Use conservative assumptions — what's the worst-case ROI?"
Too long for executives Say: "1-page executive summary with detailed appendix — decision on page 1"