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This form is designed to help clients efficiently provide counselors with insight into their goals, needs, and business idea.

Confidential New Business Pre-Counseling Questionnaire

  • 1. Why do you want to own your own business? Check all the reasons that apply to you.

    Freedom from the 9-5 daily work routine.

    Being your own boss.

    Doing what you want when you want to do it.

    Improving your standard of living.

    Having a hard time finding a job.

    Boredom with your present job.

    You have a product or service idea for which you feel there is a demand.

    2.  The following characteristics are generally considered helpful when running a successful small business. Please check all that apply.

    When participating in a small group people look to you to provide leadership.

    You like to make your own decisions.

    Others turn to you for help in making decisions.

    You enjoy competition.

    You routinely exhibit will power and self discipline.

    You plan ahead.

    You like people.

    You get along well with others.

    You have worked in a managerial or supervisory capacity.

    You have worked in a business similar to the one you want to start.

    You had business administration training in school.

    If you discover you don't have the basic skills needed for your business you are willing to delay your plans until you've acquired the necessary skills.

    3.  With small business ownership comes "RISK".  Check all of the following that apply to you.

    You are prepared to work10-14 hours a day and maybe even Sundays and holidays for the first few years.

    You have the physical stamina to handle the workload and schedule. 

    You have the emotional strength to withstand the strain of doing some things for the first time that you may not be comfortable doing. 

    You are prepared if needed to temporarily lower your standard of living until your business is firmly established.

    Your friends and family understand the above and will go along with the sacrifice.

    You are prepared to lose some of your savings if the business doesn't take off.

    4.  List the standard industrial code and description for the business in the space below. 

         You can find the industrial code and description by clicking on this link: Code Index

    5.  Specific knowledge and skills are required to operate any business. Who will do each of the following activities and what is their level of expertise?

     

    Business Planning  

     

    Office Management  

     

    Sales  

     

    Write Proposals and Customer Contracts   

     

    Marketing Communication  

     

    Computer Systems Management  

     

    Accounting/Bookkeeping  

     

    Forecasting  

     

    Money Management and Banking  

     

    Taxes  

     

    Operations   

     

    Regulatory Compliance (legal filings, record keeping, etc.)  

     

    Insurance  

     

    Purchasing  

     

    Contracts with suppliers of products and services  

     

    HREmployee Hiring, Training, Performance Management, Terminating  

     

    6.  FINDING A NICHE - Is Your Idea Feasible?

    List your products and services.

     

    Describe what feature and benefit will motivate

    your potential customers to buy each product

    from your firm verses one of your competitors.

     

    7.  FINANCES

    A large number of small businesses fail each year. There are a number of reasons for these failures but one of the main reasons is insufficient funds. Too many entrepreneurs try to start and operate a business without sufficient capital (money). To avoid this dilemma you can review your situation by analyzing these three questions and bring your answers to your counseling session:

    • How much money do you have?
    • How much money will you need to start your business?
    • How much money will you need to stay in business?

    SCORE Counselor Name(s) or date and time of counseling session:     (required)

    If the assigned small business counselors' name is not know, just enter the date and time of counseling session.

     

    Your Name:                                              (required)

     

    Your Email:                                               (required)

     

     

    Please PRINT prior to clicking on the submit button. Then, click on the submit button and PRINT a copy of the receipt. 

     

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    Chapel Hill Carrboro

    Offering free counseling to existing & start-up businesses.

     

     

    Chamber of Commerce Building

    104 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

    (919) 968-6894