Needs, jobs & value propositions · Core
Pain point
Also called: customer pain
ELI5
A particular customer problem.
Used in conversation
““Inefficiency” is too vague to be a useful pain point.”
Definition
A specific problem, frustration, cost or risk experienced by a customer.
Here “Pain point” means: A specific problem, frustration, cost or risk experienced by a customer.
Pitch context
You will see “Pain point” in strategy decks, market analyses, business plans and planning workshops when the discussion reaches needs, jobs & value propositions.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret needs, jobs & value propositions without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Connected terms
- Customer painThe search label “Customer pain” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 7
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Strategyzer — Business Model Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Strategyzer — Value Proposition Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- LEANSTACK — Lean CanvasSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division — Herfindahl-Hirschman IndexSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business and economy dataSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Write your business planSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- IFRS Foundation — IFRS GlossarySupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16