How to Write a PRD (Even If You Can’t Code)

Let’s say you’ve got an idea for a SaaS product. Maybe it’s an AI-powered assistant that helps real estate agents respond to leads faster. Or a dashboard that organizes your team’s Slack chaos into something usable. You’re excited. You’ve even opened up one of those fancy new AI coding tools like Cursor or Gemini, ready to build something.

Then it hits you:

“Wait… what do I actually tell it to build?”

That’s where a PRD comes in.

🧾 What’s a PRD?

A Product Requirements Document (PRD) is like a blueprint for your SaaS idea. It’s the “source of truth” that explains what your product does, who it’s for, and how it should behave.

Think of it as writing down your idea clearly enough that someone technical (or an AI assistant) could actually build it.

🙋 Why Non-Technical Founders Need One

Here’s a little secret: even great engineers can’t read your mind. And AI tools? They only work as well as the instructions you give them. The more clearly you can articulate what your product should do, the faster and better it gets built.

A PRD keeps you focused. It makes conversations with devs way more productive. And when you inevitably bring on help, whether human or machine, it’s your north star.

✍️ How to Write One (Even If You Don’t Code)

Here’s a casual, story-first framework to help you write your first PRD. You don’t need jargon. Just be clear, honest, and user-focused.

1. The “Why” (Problem Statement)

Start with the frustration you’ve seen or felt.

Example:

“Real estate agents are overwhelmed with inbound leads and waste time replying manually. They want to respond fast, but they’re busy showing homes and closing deals.”

2. The “Who” (Target User)

Paint a clear picture of your ideal user.

Example:

“Our target user is a solo real estate agent or small team lead who wants to look responsive without spending all day glued to their inbox.”

3. The “What” (Core Features)

Write a short list of features you must have in your MVP. You can break this into:

• User-facing features

• Admin tools

• Automations or AI stuff

Example:

• Connect Gmail or Outlook

• Detect new inbound emails from Zillow, Redfin, etc.

• Auto-generate reply with name, house info, and agent’s calendar link

• Let agent review/edit before sending

• Track response time and follow-up

Don’t overthink it. Just list what needs to exist.

4. The “How” (User Flow)

Imagine the step-by-step journey. Write it like a story:

Example:

“When a new lead comes in via email, the system will detect it, pull in key details (like the address or buyer’s name), and draft a reply. The agent will get a notification, review the draft, and click send. If they don’t respond in 10 minutes, it’ll auto-send.”

This is gold for AI tools and devs. It gives context they can work with.

5. The “Done” (Success Criteria)

How will you know it’s working?

Example:

• A lead gets an intelligent reply in <10 minutes

• Agents can connect their inbox in under 5 minutes

• Users send 10+ replies/week within their first month

These become your early goals.

🧠 Using AI Tools Like Cursor or Claude

Once you’ve written your PRD, you can literally paste parts of it into an AI tool like:

• Cursor – ask it to build the app structure, suggest a tech stack, or generate the frontend

• Claude – brainstorm UX flows, data structures, or validation logic

• Gemini – generate early UI wireframes and write backend logic

• Bolt – turn your PRD into an actual working prototype in hours

• Base44 – ask it to build a fully-functional app in minutes

But the key is clarity. If your idea is vague, the AI output will be too.

📄 A Sample PRD Snippet

Here’s what a short PRD might look like in raw form:

Product Name: FastReply

Problem:

Real estate agents lose leads when they can’t respond fast. Writing replies is time-consuming and inconsistent.

Solution:

FastReply uses AI to detect new leads in your inbox and drafts smart replies you can send in one click.

Users:

Busy real estate agents and small team brokers

Core Features:

• Inbox integration (Gmail/Outlook)

• Auto-detect lead emails

• Draft AI-powered reply with calendar link

• One-click send or edit option

• Follow-up reminders

• Dashboard for message tracking

User Flow:

1. Agent connects their email

2. New lead email arrives

3. FastReply drafts a personalized response

4. Agent clicks “Send” or tweaks it

5. FastReply logs the interaction

Success Metrics:

• 70% of leads replied to in <10 minutes

• 80% of users complete setup in <5 min

• 5 replies/week per user after onboarding

🤖 Let AI Help Write Your PRD (Seriously)

Writing a PRD can feel intimidating if you’re not used to it. The good news? You don’t have to do it alone.

Tools like Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, or Cursor can actually write the first draft of your PRD for you, as long as you give them a clear starting point.

Think of it like a brainstorming partner that organizes your thoughts, suggests structure, and fills in the gaps. You still guide the direction, but AI does the heavy lifting.

🧪 Example Prompt You Can Use:

This last line is key. It turns the AI from a one-way output machine into a thoughtful collaborator. The best outputs come from a back-and-forth, not a single prompt.

Using AI to write your PRD doesn’t mean skipping strategy. It means speeding up clarity. The more context you give, the better the output.

Let the robots organize your vision, so you can focus on turning it into reality.

Writing a PRD forces clarity. It saves time, reduces confusion, and helps you work faster with AI tools and human builders alike. You don’t need to be technical, you just need to be thoughtful.

And if you want help turning your idea into a solid PRD, I’d be happy to help.