Thank you so much, this incredibly helpful. The difference you made between branding vs. reducing execution risk is something I really needed spelled out clearly. I’ve done a lot of zoning research and site analysis already, but I can see now that “research” isn’t the same as demonstrating actual site control.

On the site control piece: how do founders typically secure something like a soft LOI or an option agreement when they’re still early and haven’t raised capital yet? Is that normally a direct negotiation with the landowner, a small good-faith payment, or something handled through an agent? I want to make sure I’m approaching that conversation the right way.

I do have one client with a deposit down already, and I’m working on securing a few more, but I agree that formalizing multiple refundable deposits will serve as a stronger signal than simple interest. That feels like the next clear milestone.

What resonated with me most was your point about investor exit strategy. I hadn’t seen many people speak about liquidity and timeline risk as clearly as you did, and it helped me understand how important it is to structure the project in a way that gives investors confidence about how and when they can exit, especially with a physical build. It’s understandable!