How does Dcider protect my privacy?

Your decisions are stored securely in our database with encryption. We never sell your data or share it with third parties. The AI analysis happens on secure servers and isn't used to train AI models. You can delete your account and all data at any time from the app settings.

How much does Dcider cost?

Dcider offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features. After that, it's $4.99/month or $44.99/year (25% off). The free trial doesn't require a credit card to start.

How is this different from a pros and cons list?

Traditional pros/cons lists treat all factors equally and rely on your in-the-moment thinking. Dcider weighs options against your pre-defined personal values, providing an objective alignment score. The AI also surfaces considerations you might miss and tracks patterns across all your decisions over time.

Does the AI make decisions for me?

No. Dcider provides analysis and alignment scores, but you always make the final choice. Think of it as a thinking partner that helps you see how options align with what you've said matters to you. The goal is clarity, not automation.

Can I use Dcider offline?

You can view your decision history and values offline. However, AI-powered analysis requires an internet connection since it's processed on secure cloud servers.

What kind of decisions is Dcider best for?

Dcider works great for career choices, financial decisions, relationship questions, health and lifestyle changes, and any decision where you want to align your choice with your personal values. It's especially helpful when you're overthinking or facing analysis paralysis.

How do I set up my values?

When you first open the app, you'll go through a quick onboarding where you select values that matter to you (like health, family, growth, financial security) and rate their importance. You can always adjust these later in Settings.

Is Dcider available on Android?

Currently, Dcider is iOS-only. We're focused on making the iOS experience great first. Android support may come in the future based on demand.

CareerUpdated Jan 2026

Should I Start a Business? A Values-Based Decision Framework

The allure of being your own boss, building something meaningful, and potentially striking it rich is powerful. But beneath the success stories lie countless failures, years of struggle, and personal sacrifices that rarely make the headlines. You're torn between the fear of regret if you don't try and the fear of losing everything if you do.

Key Takeaway

This decision is fundamentally about Autonomy and Independence vs. Financial Upside. Your choice will also impact your creating impact.

The Core Values at Stake

This decision touches on several fundamental values that may be in tension with each other:

Autonomy and Independence

Your desire to be your own boss and make your own decisions. Consider whether you truly want the responsibility that comes with autonomy.

Financial Upside

The potential for significant financial rewards. Be realistic about the probability and timeline of financial success.

Creating Impact

Your desire to build something meaningful that makes a difference. Consider whether entrepreneurship is the best way to create the impact you want.

Personal Growth

The opportunity to grow through extreme challenge. Recognize that entrepreneurship will test you in ways employment rarely does.

Flexibility

The ability to control your schedule and work environment. Understand that early-stage businesses often demand more time, not less.

5 Key Questions to Ask Yourself

Before making this decision, work through these questions honestly:

1Am I excited about solving this specific problem, or am I excited about the idea of being an entrepreneur?
2Have I validated that people will pay for my solution, or am I assuming demand exists?
3What is my runway—how long can I go without income while building this?
4Am I prepared to work harder than any job has ever required, with no guaranteed reward?
5What's my honest assessment of my risk tolerance, and how would failure impact my life?

Key Considerations

As you weigh this decision, keep these important factors in mind:

Your financial runway and risk capacity

Market validation (have people paid for your solution?)

Your relevant domain expertise

Your support system (family, mentors, co-founders)

The opportunity cost of what you'd be leaving

Your personal risk tolerance and life stage

Whether you can start as a side project first

Watch Out For: Survivorship Bias

Media coverage focuses on successful entrepreneurs, creating a skewed perception of startup success rates. Most businesses fail. The founders you admire often had advantages (wealthy backgrounds, industry connections, timing) not visible from outside. Evaluate your specific situation, not their highlight reels.

Make This Decision With Clarity

Don't just guess. Use Dcider to calculate your alignment score and make decisions that truly reflect your values.

Download on the App Store

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I'm ready to start a business?

Signs of readiness include: a validated idea people will pay for, financial runway to survive without income, relevant skills or ability to learn quickly, support system in place, and an honest understanding that it will be harder than expected. Excitement alone isn't readiness. Preparation and validation matter more.

Should I quit my job to start a business?

Ideally, don't quit until you have significant traction. Many successful businesses started as side projects. Validate your idea, get initial customers, and build momentum before leaving steady income. If full-time commitment is necessary, ensure you have 12-18 months of living expenses saved and a working spouse or backup plan.

What percentage of small businesses fail?

Approximately 20% fail in the first year, 50% by year five, and 65% by year ten. Failure rates vary by industry and are often worse for first-time founders. These statistics aren't meant to discourage but to encourage thorough preparation and realistic expectations.

How much money do I need to start a business?

Varies enormously by business type. Some service businesses can start for under $1,000. Tech startups might need $50K-500K to reach product-market fit. Retail or restaurants require significant capital. Start with the leanest possible version of your idea. Many first-time founders overestimate what they need to begin.

Should I start a business with a co-founder?

Co-founders can provide complementary skills, shared burden, and accountability—but founder disputes are a top reason startups fail. Only partner with someone you trust deeply, whose skills complement yours, and with whom you've discussed equity, roles, and exit scenarios thoroughly. A bad partnership is worse than going solo.

Related Decisions

Should I Quit My Job?

The thought of quitting your job often comes with a mix of excitement and dread. You might feel trapped between the security of your current position and the pull of something better, leaving you paralyzed by uncertainty about whether leaving is brave or reckless.

Should I Change Careers?

The desire for a career change often builds gradually—a growing sense that you're in the wrong place, doing work that doesn't resonate. But the prospect of starting over, potentially at a lower level or salary, creates paralyzing fear. You wonder if the grass really is greener or if you're just restless.

Should I Buy or Rent a Home?

Society often frames homeownership as a milestone of success, creating pressure to buy even when it may not make sense. Meanwhile, renting is dismissed as 'throwing money away.' This oversimplification creates anxiety whether you're itching to buy or feeling content renting, wondering if you're making a financial mistake.

People Also Considered

Similar decisions in other areas of life:

End a Relationship Pay Off Debt Early Start a Budget

Sources

Kerr, W. R., & Nanda, R. (2009). Financing constraints and entrepreneurship. Annual Review of Financial Economics.
Wasserman, N. (2012). The Founder's Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Startup. Princeton University Press.

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