Amati Business Group

FEATURE ARTICLE

Will your business fly?

Here is a checklist for anyone embarking on a small business start-up...or if you're a business owner who is stuck or struggling, and wondering what may be missing.

1. Do you have a sound business plan/marketing plan? How do you know?
2. Can you describe your clearly – to anyone – in 25 words or less?
3. Do you have the energy, will and passion to be a business builder?
4. Have you assembled a team of supporters, from professional advisors and mentors, to sub-contractors and dedicated employees?
5. Do your family and friends support your business dream, whether they understand it or not?
6. Is there potential for adequate, sustainable profit?
7. Do you have enough funds for start-up as well as the first year of operations?
8. In addition to forecasting sales and expenses, have you done a cash flow forecast?
9. Do you know your break-even point?
10. Does this business call for low fixed asset investment and have low fixed expenses?
11. Is your industry relatively free of regulations and red tape?
12. Is your chosen industry one that's stable or growing?
13. Is there ongoing, repeated demand (not just need) for your product/service?
14. Is your product or service unique and not easily imitated?
15. Do you have a way of tracking and measuring your marketing expenses?
16. Is it difficult for potential competitors to get into this business?
17. Can you describe what success looks like for your business and you?
18. Have you assessed the risks in your plan?
19. If things don’t go as planned, do you have a Plan B?
20. Do you have an exit strategy?

For a non-scientific, yet potentially enlightening measurement, tally the number of YES answers to these questions, multiply them by 5 and see your score out of 100. You'll get a rough idea of your potential for start-up success or how airtight your current business is.

Running your own business can be the ticket to your greatest personal and professional fulfillment, or an endless treadmill of frustration and exhaustion.

Whether you feel your business is hurtling out of control, stuck in neutral, or just in need of new fuel, you might be ready for a different kind of partnership.

As your business matures, your role changes and your capabilities are stretched. Your challenges become more complex and time consuming. You can feel like you're stuck or spinning your wheels. Often you can’t share your burdens with employees or suppliers, family or friends.

But what if you had the support of a trusted, experienced business partner? One who has no vested interest in anything except your success?

AMATI BUSINESS GROUP helps business owners who say YES to any of these statements:

I’m working too many hours. My life is out of balance.
I feel overwhelmed at the responsibility and the amount of work.
I’m disappointed with the poor results for the effort I’m putting in.
My business is stuck and I don’t know how to get it moving.
I need some skills and knowledge to increase my effectiveness.
I’d like to take a new direction but I’m not sure how to begin.
Business has become a “grind” – I’m losing enthusiasm and energy.
I want to improve relationships with my employees, customers and/or suppliers.
I’m afraid to leave my business for a significant length of time.
I want to sell, but worried that the value of my business depends too much on me being there!

We’re focused on helping those we help best. You are our IDEAL CLIENT if you are:

An owner-managed retail, service, wholesale, manufacturing company, or a professional firm – B2B is our specialty.
In business at least two years (as the owner, you may be in that position less than two years)
Someone who thrives on learning.
Ready to accept outside help.
Willing to see and do things differently to change your results.
Able to commit to a disciplined process to create your new future.

Does this sound like you? Read more....