I read that one of the first things you should consider when starting any kind of business is the sort of customers you want to attract, work with, sell to, and manage.

A lot of people tend to either think of this later or not at all, and run into aggravation down the road. What do you guys think - is this something you should consider?

Or for those of you who already have a successful or running business of any size, did you consider your customer preferences first?

I guess this matters for certain people and certain businesses, but there are also businesses that do not directly interact with customers on a day to day basis. And I think it would make more sense to actually go with something you value. Provide something you, yourself would want.

I have never heard of this before but it is an interesting approach!

Like @HNDean said, this probably works for certain businesses but I don't think it is something everyone should be doing. I am going to look into this more though. I can't say I ever had a preference in a customer.

I guess if your business involves customer service as a main focus, you would want to ensure you are working with the best people. Some approaches would be to price out certain income levels (it is harsh, I known) or offer a premium cost for your service. You won't find a customer base that is 100% agreeable and enjoyable to work with though.

The only kind of preference I have with customers is having nice ones that like to spend money haha

I think we all have to deal with unsatisfied customers every now and then though so that isn't really avoidable.

I am not sure when this would matter up front but I am sure it makes a difference for some people.

On 11/6/2026 at 9:59 AM, amberb94 said:

The only kind of preference I have with customers is having nice ones that like to spend money haha

Same. I mean I would deal with someone complaining so long as they are a return customer and aren't taking up too much of my time!

Customer preference matter to all businesses really. They play a role in purchasing decisions, revenue, and brand loyalty. Knowing your customer base is part of understanding how to not only market to the right people but retain the ideal customers. You want to have people coming back.

On 11/11/2026 at 10:13 AM, GZip29 said:

Customer preference matter to all businesses really. They play a role in purchasing decisions, revenue, and brand loyalty. Knowing your customer base is part of understanding how to not only market to the right people but retain the ideal customers. You want to have people coming back.

I think the thread topic was a bit too passive. This is correct though. GZ gets it. You want to have the right people flocking to your business. This is what sustains growth too.