An MVP is the smallest version of your product that lets real users do the one thing it exists for. The fastest way to delay a launch is to start building before that one thing is clear.
Before you contact a developer, write down who the product is for, the single problem it solves, and how a user gets from landing on it to getting value. If you can describe that journey in five steps or fewer, you are ready to scope.
Next, separate must-have features from nice-to-haves. Accounts, payments, dashboards and notifications each add weeks. Launch with what proves the idea, then add the rest based on real usage.
Finally, gather what the team will need: brand assets, example products you like, any existing data, and the tools you already use. A short, honest brief lets the developers give you a precise scope and timeline in the first conversation.