Starts off producing answers the hard way (4)
I believe the answer is:
path
'way' is the definition.
(path is a kind of way)
'starts off producing answers the hard' is the wordplay.
'starts off' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'producing answers the hard' is 'PATH'.
(Other definitions for path that I've seen before include "Line of travel" , "Skin on top of head" , "Track made by walking" , "Course of action; track" , "Pavement" .)