HomeCasa Prompts

Mom Test customer interview script with no leading questions

Prepare customer interviews that reveal real behavior: a recruiting message, questions about past events, follow-ups, questions to avoid and a note-taking template. Designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. It includes 4 customizable variables and you can copy it for free in one click.

Intermediate · Text · Pending editorial review

Designed for:

Prompt

Act as a customer researcher skilled in discovery interviews based on the principles of "The Mom Test": talk about the customer’s life, not my idea; ask about specific past events, not opinions about the future; and listen more than you talk.

Context:
- Idea or product I want to validate: {{idea}}
- Profile of people to interview: {{profile}}
- What I need to learn: {{goal}}
- Stage: {{stage}}

If the goal is too broad, help me narrow it into 3 learning questions before writing the script.

Deliverables:
1. Three learning questions (what I want to know), kept separate from what I will actually ask out loud.
2. Screening criteria: 4-5 filter questions to make sure I interview the right profile.
3. A short recruiting message (email or LinkedIn) that sells nothing and makes clear it takes 20-30 minutes.
4. The interview script: an opening that does not mention the idea, 10-12 questions about the last time they had the problem, how they solve it today, what it costs them in time or money and what they have already tried, with 1-2 follow-ups for each.
5. Closing: how to ask for a real commitment (another meeting, an intro to a colleague, a pilot, a pre-order) without pressure.
6. A table of questions to avoid ("Would you use…?", "Would you pay…?", "Do you like the idea?") with a corrected version of each.
7. A note-taking template: facts, problems and their intensity, current workarounds, verbatim quotes and commitment signals.
8. How to synthesize what you learned after 5-10 interviews.

Constraints:
- No question may suggest the answer or present the solution before the closing.
- Include a reminder to ask permission before recording and to handle personal data responsibly.

Format: numbered sections, with the script as a list with approximate timings.

How to use it

  1. Define exactly who you will interview. 2. Rehearse the script with a friend so you do not mention your idea too early. 3. Fill in the note template right after each interview and synthesize after the first five.

Usage example

Idea: shift-scheduling software for restaurants · Profile: managers of restaurants with 10-30 staff · Goal: learn how they schedule shifts today and how long it takes · Stage: before building anything.

Sample output

1. Learning questions (never asked out loud)

  1. How are driving lessons split between instructors and students today?
  2. Which part of scheduling eats the most time or causes the most mistakes?
  3. What have they already tried, and why did they drop it?

4. Interview script (25 min)

  • 0-3 min · Opening: "I'm talking to driving schools to understand how you run your week. I'm not selling anything." Ask permission before recording.
  • 3-8 min: "Walk me through how you scheduled lessons last week."
  • Who did it? How long did it take?
  • 8-14 min: "What happened the last time a student cancelled at short notice?"
  • How did you find out? What did you do with that slot?
  • 14-20 min: "What do you use today: paper, spreadsheets, text messages?"
  • What have you tried before, and why did you stop?

6. Questions to avoid

AvoidAsk instead
"Would you use an app for this?""What did you use last time?"
"Would you pay $30 a month?""What does this cost you today, in hours or money?"
"Do you like the idea?""What was the most annoying part of last week?"

5. Closing

"Is there another driving school owner I should talk to?"…

Key facts

Category
Business & entrepreneurship · Customer research
Output type
Text
Level
Intermediate
Designed for
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot
Verified in
Pending editorial verification
Variables
Idea or product, Profile to interview, What I need to learn and Stage
Language
English
Price
Free, no sign-up
Updated
Nov 7, 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the Mom Test?

It is a method described by Rob Fitzpatrick for asking questions that even your mom could not answer with polite lies. It relies on asking about concrete past events instead of asking for opinions about your idea.

How many interviews do I need?

Many founders start to see patterns after 5-10 interviews with the same profile. If every interview surprises you, your segment is probably too broad.

Why should I not ask whether they would pay?

Because people are generous with the future and careful with their money. It is more reliable to ask what they already pay to solve the problem and to ask for a concrete commitment at the end.

What is this prompt for?

Prepare customer interviews that reveal real behavior: a recruiting message, questions about past events, follow-ups, questions to avoid and a note-taking template.

Which AI tools does it work with?

It is designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. We have not verified it in these tools yet, so results may vary between them.

How do I customize the prompt?

Click “Customize” and fill in the variables (Idea or product, Profile to interview, What I need to learn and Stage). The text updates instantly and you can then copy it in one click. Values are stored only in your browser.

Do I need experience to use it?

It is intermediate: it helps to know the topic so you can provide good context and review the result critically.

Is this prompt free?

Yes. Every HomeCasa Prompts prompt is free, with no sign-up or subscription. You can also use them in professional projects.

Can I trust the AI output?

Treat it as a high-quality draft: always check data, figures and important claims before publishing or making decisions.

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