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 Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Office Management Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Sales Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Write Proposals and Customer Contracts  Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Marketing Communication Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Computer Systems Management Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Accounting/Bookkeeping Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Forecasting Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Money Management and Banking Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Taxes Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Operations  Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Regulatory Compliance (legal filings, record keeping, etc.) Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Insurance Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Purchasing Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

Contracts with suppliers of products and services Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

HR—Employee Hiring, Training, Performance Management, Terminating Select OneMyselfFull-time partner or ownerFull-time employee, not an ownerPart-time partner or ownerWill hire an expert  Select OneExpert1-2 years exprienceNot skilled yet, but willing to learn

 

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.