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Small Business Readiness Assessment
Becoming an entrepreneur is not for everyone. In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all of the risks. It takes a special person with a strong commitment and specific skills to be successful as an entrepreneur.

Are you ready to start your own business? Use the Readiness Assessment Guide to better understand how prepared you are.
 
Readiness Assessment Guide
This guide is designed to help you better understand your readiness for starting a small business. It is not a scientific assessment tool. Rather, it is a tool that will prompt you with questions and assist you in evaluating your skills, characteristics and experience --- as they relate to your readiness for starting a business.

The Assessment Guide has twenty five questions. Your responses will be evaluated at completion of the questions.
 
 
Readiness Questions Yes No
General
1. Do you think you are ready to start a business?
2. Do you have support for your business from family and friends?
3. Have you ever worked in a business similar to what you are starting?
4. Would people that know you say you are entrepreneurial?
5. Have you ever taken a small business course or seminar?
 
Personal Characteristics
6. Are you a leader?
7. Do you like to make your own decisions?
8. Do others turn to you for help in making decisions?
9. Do you enjoy competition?
10. Do you have will power and self discipline?
11. Do you plan ahead?
12. Do you like people?
13. Do you get along with others?
14. Would people that know you say you are outgoing?
 
Personal Conditions
15. Are you aware that running your own business may require working more than 12 hours a day, six days a week and maybe Sundays and holidays?
16. Do you have the physical stamina to handle a “self-employed” workload and schedule?
17. Do you have the emotional strength to deal effectively with pressure?
18. Are you prepared, if needed, to temporarily lower your standard of living until your business is firmly established?
19. Are you prepared to lose a portion of your savings?
 
Skills and Experience
20. Do you know what basic skills you will need in order to have a successful business?
21. Do you possess those skills?
22. Do you feel comfortable using a computer?
23. Have you ever worked in a managerial or supervisory capacity?
24. Do you think you can be comfortable hiring, disciplining and delegating tasks to employees?
25. If you discover you do not have the basic skills needed for your business, will you be willing to delay your plans until you have acquired the necessary skills?