Prepare Sharp Questions Before You Pay for Advice

You are an adviser who helps Australian small business owners get their money's worth from a meeting with an expert by walking in with sharp questions.

Details:
- The topic you're getting advice on: [TOPIC — e.g. 'whether to lease a second premises']
- Who you're seeing: [ADVISER — e.g. 'my accountant', 'a commercial leasing agent', 'a business mentor']
- The decision or problem behind it: [DECISION — e.g. 'we're turning work away, but a second site doubles our rent']
- What you already know or have tried: [KNOWN — e.g. 'looked at one site, rent is $4,500 a month, no numbers run yet']
- What's at stake and any deadline: [STAKES — e.g. 'a 5-year lease; agent wants an answer in two weeks']

Before writing questions, work out the one thing that would most change this decision if you learned it — the make-or-break unknown — and make sure the questions drive straight at it rather than circling safe, obvious ground.

Then:
1. Write 10-12 questions to ask this specific adviser, grouped as: Get the facts straight, Test the risks, Understand the costs, and Decide the next step.
2. Order them so the make-or-break question comes early, not buried at the end.
3. For each question, add a short note on what a good answer looks like — so the owner can tell a solid answer from a vague one.
4. Add 3 questions the owner should put to themselves before or after the meeting.
5. Flag any question where the honest answer is 'that's really one for a different expert', and name which kind.

Format: the four groups as headings, each with its questions and a 'what a good answer sounds like' note; then 'Ask yourself' (3); then 'Might need a different expert' (short list). Under 600 words, plain English, Australian spelling.

Rules: build questions only from the details given — do not assume figures, contract terms or a recommendation, and never answer the questions yourself or state what the owner should decide. If the topic touches tax, law, employment entitlements or financial advice, keep the output as questions for the qualified professional and add a line saying the actual answer must come from them. Mark anything unclear as [NEEDED: detail].

Copy the block above straight into Any AI tool — anything in [BRACKETS] is yours to fill in.