Business Survival Index

How Likely is Your Business to Survive the Next 3 Years?

Please complete this assessment as HONESTLY as possible.

Remember this assessment is about YOU & YOUR business.

Answer all questions based upon YOUR actual perception of the situation as it is not what you would like it to be. In other words, describe activities, as they actually exist.

The assessment takes approximately 20 minutes to complete; there are 100 activity questions or statements.

This Business Survival Index provides a useful, interesting and maybe a provocative insight and may help you determine how well you are managing your business.

Before you start you should know that some questions or statements may not apply to you or your business. If you feel a specific question or statement does NOT apply now and will NEVER apply to you or your business in the future, give yourself full credit for the question or statement by checking the box.

All responses are confidential.

Note This assessment is intended to assist you, as a business owner or manager and your professional advisors make better decisions about your business.

This assessment should not be relied on solely in assessing your personal or your business current situation.



1. Service standards are written and are very high.
2. Value is continuously being added to products and services, whether or not customers ask for it.
3. Service and requirements are fulfilled in record time, far faster than the customer expected.
4. The business has a strong reputation delivering excellent products and service.
5. The business knows what the customers want and need even before they do.
6. Customers are questioned at least once a year to determine their needs and level of satisfaction with our business.
7. Customers are consistently provided with superior value and are satisfied with our business.
8. Relationships with dependable suppliers are maintained.
9. The business has excellent ability to manage and adjust to change.
10. We attempt to resolve all reasonable customer complaints.
11. Quarterly management and staff reviews are conducted.
12. All staff members know what their contribution is.
13. Each employee is in the job that uses his or her strengths; there is no suffering or mismatches. Consequences are imposed for non-performance.
14. Every employee is fully competent and skilled; there are no weak links or drag-me-downs.
15. Every manager is qualified by experience, education, loyalty, motivation, and competence.
16. No one is coasting or being carried by the business.
17. Everything has a deadline or promised completion date, and the employee and manager manage this.
18. Training needs for staff are defined and incorporated in a personal training plan.
19. Employee compensation program is integrated with the business' goals.
20. Management is highly supportive of creative thinking and new ideas.
21. The flow of information UP throughout the business is excellent.
22. We periodically circulate documents or information (e.g. reports and newsletters) that provide information on our business.
23. Staff are well taken care of, motivated, productive and excited about the business' success.
24. We have a clearly defined succession plan.
25. Quarterly planning sessions are conducted with managers and staff.
26. The business has a strategic plan that sets forth the strategies and tactics for achieving the business' goals and objectives for the next 3/5 years.
27. The business has a business plan that sets forth the financial and operational objectives and programs for the year.
28. We can easily describe our customers and can picture shaking their hands.
29. We have created a value proposition and image so that our business occupies a distinctive place in the mind of our target market.
30. The business has a well developed marketing plan that that sets forth the strategies for how the business will go to market and attract perfect customers.
31. The market for the business' product or service is excellent.
32. The strategic plan, business plan and marketing plan is being used, measured against, and updated at least quarterly.
33. Well-sourced sales projections are used to establish inventory and personnel and cash requirements.
34. The business has more than sufficient resources to meet its short-term objectives.
35. Adequate cash is always available for emergencies.
36. The business has the right consultant, coach, banker, accountant, attorney, and other advisors to guide it properly.
37. A vision of what the business will look like in 3 to 5 years has been developed and provides direction for the business and is the basis for all major decisions.
38. Core values are deeply ingrained and widely shared by managers and employees
39. We thoroughly understand competitor strengths and weaknesses.
40. Customers see a superior difference between your offer and that of the competition.
41. Products and service are based entirely on real market needs and not personal preferences.
42. Goals are established on an annual basis so that our business' mission and vision are converted into measurable action.
43. Regular assessment of how well the business is progressing against target is made.
44. All paperwork is touched only once.
45. We have the necessary technology in place to support our business.
46. Very, very few problems occur in any part for the business, and those that do are handled immediately and the source is eliminated.
47. A single individual has responsibility for the day-to-day operating decisions.
48. The staff does very accurate work; nothing is thrown together or substandard.
49. The staff works hard and intelligently, with no duplication.
50. Decisions are pushed down as far as possible.
51. Every meeting accomplishes something specific.
52. Staff communicate everything that is getting in the way of their productivity and know how to make their requirements known without complaining.
53. Staff have the equipment and training they need to double their productivity.
54. Profitability is not an issue or a problem in the business.
55. Staff, equipment and facilities are being utilized at 80 percent plus.
56. Break-even levels are low. Services and/or products are packaged to maximize revenue and profit.
57. The business is profit driven, not merely revenue driven.
58. Budget variances are recorded, analyzed, and managed.
59. Individual responsibilities for achieving financial goals are clearly defined.
60. The business' pricing policy is not tied to the market leaders.
61. Additional sources of revenue from new markets are continually searched for.
62. Additional sources of revenue from current markets are continually searched for.
63. We consistently meet our short-term goals.
64. We continually seek to develop deeper relationships with existing customers.
65. When confronted with an important decision, we develop a thorough cost benefit analysis of the situation.
66. Our production process is highly efficient and cost effective.
67. The BOSS has a strong vision, and others have bought into it.
68. A clear statement of why we are in business has been created.
69. The business' culture is cooperative rather than adversarial.
70. The business has very large goals, and everyone is excited about reaching these goals.
71. The BOSS frequently interacts with employees at all levels.
72. The BOSS initiates huge requirements.
73. The BOSS is developing leaders, not just managers.
74. Staff members are proud of the high-quality work they do.
75. The business is customer sensitive and customer driven.
76. The staff is proud of its role in the success of the business.
77. Our sales have increased over last year.
78. Debt service as a percentage of gross profit decreased last year.
79. The ratio of the business' total debt to equity decreased last year.
80. All accounts receivable are being collected according to standards (average collection period is less than 150 percent of customer payment policy).
81. General and administrative expenses are decreasing as a percentage of net sales.
82. Profit margins have increased for products or services over the last three years.
83. No one customer accounts for more than 25 percent of total sales.
84. Management turnover is less than 20 percent per year.
85. Inventory turnover is high.
86. Customer satisfaction and repeat business are increasing.
87. We have been successful in penetrating new markets.
88. The level of customer complaints has reduced over last year.
89. The business is not dependent on a single supplier.
90. Employee satisfaction in our business has improved over the past year.
91. Information concerning trends (e.g. competition, technology, and lifestyle) is collected and assessed to determined impact on the business.
92. Bank reconciliations are complete and up to date.
93. All income, sales, and property taxes are filed, paid, and current.
94. All bills are routinely paid on time.
95. Payroll is automated, accurate, and effortless.
96. Inventory procedures are in effect that insure an accurate account of usable inventory at the end of each month.
97. The accounts payable ledger is current and includes all bills and purchase orders.
98. The business is current with loan payments and is in conformance with all loan agreements.
99. Accounting is well run. Financial statements are done by the 15th of the month.
100. Each part of the business gets the reports it needs and uses.
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