"a project isn't a business until you have paying customers" ..is not a popular opinion because it's false. I hate to go all cliche on you, but Google & Facebo

"a project isn't a business until you have paying customers" ..is not a popular opinion because it's false. I hate to go all cliche on you, but Google & Facebook are two examples that would, per your definition, not count as startups (or businesses) for the first few years they existed. I reckon if you've quit your job and pursued whatever passion you have in order to try and make it a success, then you've earned calling it a startup. I get your drift about needing to have a plan to make money though, it's probably something that will separate the wheat from the chaff in the coming years.