Business Diagnostic Assessment Questionnaire

A comprehensive, multi-section questionnaire consultants and advisors use to assess a company's ownership, strategy, staffing, finances, and growth readiness during a business review or development-programme evaluation.

Use this template

In the Claude connectors directory

Page 1

Business Owner Name

First Name

Last Name

Company Name

Trading Name (if different)

Business Owner E-mail

Date

Time

Names and titles of other attendees

Company ownership (ownership %, founder(s), co-owners %)

Additional Ownership Details

When did the business start operating?

Years in Operation

What is the company's vision?

Geographic areas of operation: head office base, other areas with offices/presence

What are the company's objectives?

What is the company's motto?

What are the company's main services?

Summary (for internal use)

Any key areas of development identified? (for internal use)

Additional Notes

What are some of the company's current goals?

Sales: average growth % (for internal use)

Summary of overall sales, profit margin, projected future projects (for internal use)

Sales: increase or decrease? (for internal use)

Forecast in company's profit margin (for internal use)

Sales Notes

Profit margin (increase or decline?) (for internal use)

What is the company's latest annual turnover?

At what business phase is the company? (decline or rebirth) (for internal use)

What is the company's average revenue growth?

What was the company's revenue growth in the previous financial years? (3 years)

Summary (for internal use)

Any key areas of development identified? (for internal use)

Is there any legislation or industry compliance the company has to adhere to?

Compliance Notes

How did the business name come about?

What is the entrepreneur's background and experience in the industry? (years in the industry, affiliation to industry bodies, understanding of the industry and desire to grow in it)

What is the entrepreneur's experience in business? (years in business, exposure to a professional business environment, exposure to other business ventures)

What is the entrepreneur's educational background?

Entrepreneur Notes

What drove the entrepreneur to start the business?

What is the entrepreneur's title and what role do they play in the business?

What are the entrepreneur's strengths?

Director(s) background: educational, business and industry experience

What are some of the challenges in running the business?

What are the director(s)' strengths?

What are the director(s)' weaknesses?

What attributes do the director(s) bring into the business?

What are some of the highlights in running the business?

What title do the other director(s) have and what role(s) do they play in the business?

What are the entrepreneur's weaknesses?

What attributes does the entrepreneur bring to the business? (decision making, problem solving, personal drive & motivation, commitment to the growth of the business, personal goals aligned to the business, applying key disciplines that keep them on track)

Any key areas of development identified? (for internal use)

Summary (for internal use)

Any key areas of development identified (for internal use)

Staff Overview

Staff competence: are staff equipped and skilled for their current positions?

Summary (for internal use)

Any other comments regarding staff complement?

HR Notes

Any key areas of development identified? (for internal use)

What is the total number of staff in the company?

How many staff members are in the head office?

Does the company have any temporary staff?

Compliance: what are some of the industry-related qualifications staff should comply with (if any)?

Staff development: what are the staff development activities or plans?

Staff retention: what is the staff retention rate, does the business have high staff turnover, and if so why?

Performance management: does the business conduct structured performance management for staff?

Summary (for internal use)

Client Testimonials

3. Testimonial

Sales: is there a dedicated sales resource, is there a sales pipeline, how does the company sell to potential clients?

Marketing: is there a dedicated marketing resource/plan/process, how does the company market its services to potential clients?

Client retention: what is the business's repeat business like?

Any key development areas identified? (for internal use)

Summary (for internal use)

Any key development areas identified? (for internal use)

Do the directors of the company have a clear understanding of the direction the business is going in?

Strategic Notes

Client Feedback

1. Testimonial

2. Testimonial

Systems Notes

Does the business have existing systems, policies and processes that it utilizes?

Does the business have relevant resources to support its financial and strategic growth?

Is there a plan for the business owner to shift into a more strategic rather than operational role?

Summary (for internal use)

Any key areas of development identified?

Strategic Plan Notes

Does the business have a strategic plan in place?

Is the strategic plan reviewed regularly?

Describe the business's client base

Does the business have a long term plan in place, that might not be formally written down?

What is the business's liquidity ratio? (year 1, year 2 and year 3)

Does the business have sales targets for the year?

Does the business have sales projections for the year?

Summary (for internal use)

Are the business's strategic objectives aligned with its operational activities?

Any key areas of development identified? (for internal use)

Summary (for internal use)

Priority Areas

High priority areas

Medium priority areas

Low priority areas

Supplier Notes

Supplier integration readiness (for internal use)

Summary (for internal use)

Page 2

Does the business have formal financial processes in place?

Provide commentary on the business's cash flow

Does the business apply effective costing and pricing methods for its services?

Describe the business's financial sustainability

Any key areas of development identified (for internal use)

What is the financial status of the business? (3-5 years financials)

Financial Notes

Describe the entrepreneur's financial experience and education

7.2 What is the entrepreneur's assessed level of financial management skills?

What are the entrepreneur's areas of strength and weakness pertaining to these areas?

Revenue Notes

What is the business's estimated revenue? (analysis of sources of revenue, number of clients, client sector and customer profiling)

What is the business's current asset value? (capacity to service clients, please also include the solvency status of the business)

Describe the business's current cash flow (assessment of working capital cycle and liquidity)

8.4 What is the number of employees in the business and what is the total amount paid in salaries? (permanent vs. non-permanent employees, remuneration, training and overall welfare)

Staffing Cost Notes

What is the business's financial management practice?

What is the business's performance against the set budget?

Financial practice: are the financial practices aligned with the operations of the business? (particularly the decision-making processes in all departments)

Growth Notes

Please provide an analysis of the growth status of the business

Growth Analysis

Costing Notes

Please provide an analysis of the business's costing model

Is the costing model adequate for the nature of the business?

Are all costs incorporated in the costing process?

Compliance Overview

Is the business tax compliant?

Is the business VAT compliant?

Is the business registered for employee tax?

Is the business compliant with the SDL, DOL & UIF requirements?

Please provide commentary on the sustainability of the business

Please provide commentary on the cash flow of the business

Staff certification/qualifications: e.g. Certified Ethical Hacker/Certified Security Information Systems Professional (cyber security) or Foundational/Associate/Professional AWS Certification (cloud consulting)

Summary (for internal use)

Would you recommend this business for the programme? Provide reasons (for internal use)

Please provide commentary on the capacity of the business: based on assets and human capital

Please provide commentary on the business's costing and pricing

Please provide commentary on the business's financial compliance

Please provide commentary on the business's growth: financial processes, retention of cash flow and ratio indicators

Recommendation Notes

Based on findings, would you recommend them for the programme?

Why do you deem them suitable for the programme?

If not, why do you deem them unsuitable for the programme?

Any key areas of development identified

Any areas of opportunity identified

Please provide comment on the business's costing model: from a technical point of view

Does the business have adequate equipment to fulfill its obligations?

Are the staff competent in the fulfillment of their duties?

Are there any industry standards/bodies the business has to adhere to or be registered with?

Please provide commentary on the business's operational systems and efficiencies

6. Please provide commentary on the business's systems and processes

Please provide commentary on the business's service delivery

Please provide commentary on the business's work execution

Any key areas of development identified (for internal use)

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