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Diagnostic
Understand the Small
Business Plateau
Driving Main
Street Success
About Spark
Business Plateau Evaluator
Client Name:
Client Email:
Please enter the name of the business you will be answering the following questions for. If you have multiple businesses, please select one and make sure you are only answering from that business's perspective.
How long have you been in business for?
0-2
3-6
7-20
20+
Approximate annual revenue?
Less than $1M
$1-3M
$4-7M
$8-12M
$13-20M
Over $20M
Annual revenue is:
Increasing (10% increse over the last year or 5% over each of the last 3 years)
For how long?
By how much?
Decreasing (5% or more over the last year or consistent loss over the last 3 years)
For how long?
By how much?
Static
Bumpy
Downward slope
If your revenue has been stable, how many years has it been so?
3 years or less
4-6 years
7-10 years
Over 10 years
Not stable (Trending upwards or trending downwards)
Is your business currently profitable?
Yes, 10% or more annually
Yes, 3-9% profit annually
Break-even (-3% to +3%)
Losing money (-3% to -10%)
Losing money (greater than 10%)
Which graph generally shows your profit margin trends over the last 3-5 years?
Increasing graph
Flat graph
Bumpy graph
Decreasing graph
This profit margin:
Exceeded
Met
Fell short
Do you have benchmarks for your business? Choose all that apply
Yes - Financial
Yes - Sales
Yes - Marketing
Yes - Strategic Plan
Yes - HR
Yes - Operations Plan
Yes - Facilities/Space
Yes - Technology
Yes - Other. Please specify:
No
In the last 6 months, have you launched a major initiative? A major initiative ultizes a substantial portion of the company's retained earnings or requires borrowed money. The initiative requires a substantial change in the company structure and function.
Yes
No
In process
How many truly distinct initiatives have you launched to try to grow your business in the last 3-5 years?
How capable are you of currently funding an initiative?
Very
Somewhat
With difficulty
Unable to at this time
How willing are you to fund an initiative at this time?
Very
Somewhat
With difficulty
Not willing to at this time
Excluding any initiative launched in the last 6 months, what impact did these initiatives launched in the last 3-5 years have on your revenue?
Increasing graph
Flat graph
Bumpy graph
Decreasing graph
I did not launch any initiatives in the last 3-5 years
Excluding any initiative launched in the last 6 months, what impact did these initiatives launched in the last 3-5 years have on your profit margin?
Increasing graph
Flat graph
Bumpy graph
Decreasing graph
I did not launch any initiatives in the last 3-5 years
Why is now a critical time to assess your business (Choose all that apply)
Working constantly (no work-life balance)
Health
Feeling stalled (business is not responding to efforts)
Lack of money for personal uses (lifestyle, paying for kid's college, retirement, etc.)
Lack of money to finance the business
Opportunity
Urgency (reaching burnout and something needs to change)
Frustration (not reaching goals)
Panic
Other. Please specify:
What has your experience been as a business owner?
Highly satisfying
Satisfying
Challenging in a good way
Challenging in a bad way
Frustrating
Overwhelming
Painful
Other. Please specify:
How close have you come to reaching your original business goals?
Nailed it
Coming close
Not even close
Goals?
How stuck do you feel?
I'm moving right along but curious about your offering
Not stuck, but not moving fast enough
Making slow progress
I am spinning my wheels
Everyday is uphill
I can't tell you the last time I moved
I'm not stuck, I'm falling
How fast do you need something to happen?
Yesterday
This week
This quarter
This year
No rush, I'll get there
I have a specific time frame in mind.
How do you feel about your employees and managers?
Highly and successfully engaged without direction from me
We work as a team
With direction, they're mostly competent
Frustrated most of the time
We cannot seem to pull together
I'd be better off working alone
Which of the following best describes the amount of time you have to think strategically?
I spend time each day thinking strategically
I set aside time each week
Monthly
I think about it once a quarter
I do an annual plan
Sporadically
I can't recall the last time I had a minute to think
Which of the following best describes the amount of time you spend putting out fires and being in the weeds?
Always
Frequently
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
Only when necessary
How certain do you feel about achieving your financial goals annually and for the future?
Certain
Hopeful
Questionable
Doubtful
Fearful
How open are you to full disclosure of information on your business in order to get effective assistance?
Full disclosure and complete transparency
There are a few things I'd be uncomfortable sharing
If it's proven to me that it will get a result I'll disclose information
Reluctant. Will give information on an as needed basis
Not at all
What is your status with your vendors and key suppliers?
Paid on time and in full
Paid after the first reminder
Paid when demanded
Rotating vendors to maintain supply chain
On a cash only basis
How is your cash flow?
There is a surplus of cash in the bank
The rainy day fund hasn't been touched
We have some seasonal cash flow issues
Our business revenue covers our cash flow needs without surplus (cash in, cash out)
Lines of credit are maxed
We exist dependent upon our next client payment
We have already promised cash that is still 30 days out
Are you able to deliver your product or service to your clients as contracted?
Always on time
Occasionally delayed
Top clients taken care of
Dependent on getting vendors paid
I have clients asking for their deposits back
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