Business Owners Survey

Steve Anderson has shown us various ways to track our company's progress that we needed in operating on a week to week basis. Also all of our managers will agree that we've learned more in two weeks about running a company than in our entire business career ... it has been invaluable. We feel that we will have a great advantage over our competition. We expect great results from the information and training Steve has given us. We are grateful that we decided to take this opportunity and we are satisfied with the impressions it has made on our employees.”
Mr. Jere Gibson - Owner Arizona Awnings
Awnings & Window Shade Systems Manufacturer - Arizona

Today's Date: ______________ Date Company Started: _______________

Name: ____________________________________ Title: _____________________________

Company Name: ____________________________________ # of Employees: _____________

Complete Address: ______________________________________________________________

Phone Number: _____________________________ Fax Number: _________________________

List hobbies or outside interests: ____________________________________________________

Web Page: _________________________________ E-Mail Address: ______________________

Type of Business: _______________________________________________________________

Product or service you are selling? _________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

1. What's unique about your product or service? (What's the advantage over your competitors?)

______________________________________________________________________________

2. What changes have occurred in your business over the past 3 years that has had an impact on your business?

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Have these changes created challenges for you? Yes ____ No ____ What specifically?

______________________________________________________________________________

4. What company goals or objectives are you trying to reach? _______________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

5. What are some specific skills that you wish you or your people had more of? __________________

______________________________________________________________________________

6. Is it important for you to improve the efficiency of your day-to-day operations? Yes __ No ___
(What specifically?)

______________________________________________________________________________

7. What are your people NOT doing that you wish they would do? ___________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

8. Are there any specific areas of your business that you need additional help or information about?

______________________________________________________________________________

9. Do you have adequate equipment, software, employees, knowledge, sales successes and market information to reach your desired goals by the end of the year (if no, please elaborate)?

______________________________________________________________________________

The following section will give you an idea of the specific skills that you as a business owner or manager MUST HAVE to succeed in your business . If you are missing any of these skills yourself, you MUST have someone in your business that does have the skills. If neither is the case, then YOU will need to learn the skills. Be honest in filling out this section. Nobody is watching and you will learn alot about you and your company. You will learn alot about your business just by filling out the questionnaire.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

“At the time we were approached by your sales staff we were having very bad problem with cash flow. It was brought to our attention the serious nature of our problem along with the fact that it was not too late to turn our company around and make it profitable again. The project was handled very professionally and in a quick manner. We feel that the changes that your staff has installed and trained us in the use of will show up on only a matter of months in the form of a bottom line profit.”
Mr. Barry F. Hurlburt - Vice President
F.A. Kamp Flooring Co. – Ohio

Do you:

1. Manage your cash and control it properly?    Yes ____ No ____

    If yes how: _______________________________________________________________

2. Develop and understand financial information to make informed decisions, such as?

Cash Situation Report? Yes ____ No ____ Cash Flow Report? Yes ____ No ____

Balance Sheet? Yes ____ No ____ Income Statement? Yes ____ No ____

3. Thoroughly understand how to read and use financial statements? Yes ____ No ____

4. Do Sales and Expense budgeting? Yes ____ No ____

5. Do reporting as to the variance between budget and actual expenses? Yes ____ No ____

6. Sales projections? Yes ____ No ____

7. Know how to calculate breakeven and how to use it for pricing, purchasing, and management of a

company? Yes ____ No ____

8. Know how to calculate important financial ratios? Yes ____ No ____

9. Know how to price your products or services based on your budget or projected profits?

Yes ____ No ____

10. Pricing your products or services based on an overhead coverage factor? Yes ____ No ____

11. Do you know when it all right to lower the prices on your products or services and still cover all

your costs? Yes ____ No ____

12. Do you have a incentive plan of some sort for the employees?

Yes _____ Explain type and how often: _____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

No _______

13. Do you know how to purchase effectively and keep purchases under control?

Yes _____ No _______

14. Are you keeping your inventory under control? Yes _____ No _____ N/A ______

14a. Do you know what is your lowest level needed for each inventory item?

Yes _____ No _______ N/A _______

14b. Do you know what is the amount of inventory needed to keep on the shelf at all times?

Yes _____ No _______ N/A __________

15. Are you projecting capital expenditure needs in the near and far future? Yes ____ No ____

16. Do you know how you are going to pay for the capital expenditure and be able to afford it?

Yes ____ No ____

17. Do you know how to calculate when to get rid of a piece of equipment instead of keep repairing

it? Yes ____ No ____

18. Do you have all the capital you need in which to expand? Yes ___ No ___ Don't Know ___

19. Are you doing all of your payroll processing in-house? Yes ____ No ____

20. Is all of your deposits into your business account gaining you some interest? Yes ____ No ____

21. Do you have a savings account of some sort and are you saving any money? Yes ____ No ____

22. Do you do any kind of credit checks on new customers? Yes ____ No ____

23. Is your outstanding accounts receivable at a reasonable level? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know ___

24. Do you have qualified individual preparing your taxes annually? Yes ____ No ____

25. Does this person work with you on a regular basis to plan your business for tax purposes?

Yes ____ No ____

Are you happy with the results from the 'Financial Management' section of your business survey?

ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

“Steve made me realize how unorganized my company really was and how badly it needed an outside view. He was professional, thorough and extremely patient. His expertise and overall knowledge was most impressive. My future expectations are to have increased profits, loyal employees and a business to be proud of. Using the tools from this project, we would say THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!”
Mr. David Peters - President Sco-Don Millworks
Door and Window Millworks - Florida

26. Is your organization properly set up to make it the most efficient it can be?

Yes _____ No _______ Don't Know ________

27. Are you working directly with the employees in resolving problems? Yes ____ No ____

28. Or are you giving them directives in resolving these problems? Yes ____ No ____

29. Do you work with your key employees on a regular basis to plan for the business?

Yes _____ How often do you hold these meetings ___________________ No _______

30. Are all of your employees properly trained for their positions?

Yes _____ No _______ Who is not: _________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

31. Does each of the employees know their assigned tasks and duties?

Yes _____ No _______ Who is not: ________________________

31a. Does each position in the company have an ADA qualified Job Description?

Yes _____ No _______

32. Do you give each employee a formal evaluation on a regular basis?

Yes ________ How often: ____________________ No _________

33. Do you give authority, and responsibility, to key individuals in the company?

Who: ________________ What: _________________________________

34. Do you have an ADA qualified Personnel Policy Manual? Yes ____ No ____
(For company's with 10 or more people)

35. Is all of your managers, and yourself, properly trained in managing and motivating employees?

Yes ____ No ____

36. Do you do any type of assessments on any new or potential employees to ensure that they are

going to be an excellent employee for you? Yes ____ No ____

37. Is your department managers the absolute best person for the position?

Yes _____ No _______ Don't Know _____

Are you happy with the results from the 'Organizational Management' section of your business survey?

SALES & MARKETING MANAGEMENT

"Steve Anderson gathered data and re-formatted the information in order to give us a better picture for management decisions. The financial tools were developed interactively with our management team. They trained our finance manager in the proper use of spreadsheets, enabling her to build the budgets from the ground up. We are extremely pleased with the recommendations, and the efficient manner in which they developed our plan and trained those responsible. We are looking forward to a controlled sales growth, while enjoying a positive handle on the management of our company."
Mr. Hal Jones - President
Dental Lab - Texas

38. Do you have sales person(s) that does your sales generation for you? Yes __ How Many ___

No ____ How do you generate new sales ________

39. Do you have regular meetings with your sales people?

Yes ________ How often: ____________________ No _________ N/A ______

40. Do you have a Sales and Marketing Plan in place? Yes _______ No ________

41. Do you update it on a regular basis?

Yes __________ How often: ___________________ No ___________

42. Do you review your product and/or service mix on a regular basis?

Yes __________ How often: ___________________ No ___________

43. Do you make changes on your product mix based on the projected market trends?

Yes _______ No _________

44. Do you review customers on a regular basis to determine customer mix?

Yes __________ How often: ___________________ No ___________

45. Do you review periodicals or internet sites to watch for market trends?

Yes _____ What periodicals: _________________________________ No ______

What websites: ________________________________________________________

46. Do you regularly get SALES REPORTS from the Sales People?

Yes _____ No _______ N/A ______

47. Do you know how to market your products properly in all of the industries or markets that

you are in, or would like to be in? Yes _____ No _______

48. Are you aware of the competition's products and how they market them? Yes _____ No _______

49. Do you do in-depth market analysis for your new products? Yes _____ No _______

50. Are you promoting your products to their fullest potential?    Yes _____ No _______

        50a. Do you know how to use your No. 1 asset (your customers) to generate additional income
        for your company from products that you DON'T sell?

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know ____

51. Do you know when to scrap a product and not sell it anymore? Yes ____ No ____ N/A ____

52. Do you make sales quotas and make the salesman "live by them"? Yes ____ No ____ N/A ____

53. Is all of your sales and marketing materials top quality? Yes ____ No ____

54. Is your sales and marketing materials designed to give you the best image possible?

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know ________

55. Are you contacting your current customers on a regular basis to ensure quality of service or products?

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know ________

Are you happy with the results from the 'Sales & Marketing Management' section of your business survey?

COMPANY PLANNING

“Since we are a family business, our primary concern had been one of strategic planning. We discovered we did not have the tools in place to properly transfer authority of operations. The staff gave us the tools to prepare budgets, promotion analysis forms, determine the proper price for our products, compile a complete marketing plan and segment each product according to it’s profit potential. We both feel that by using these tools that we will have a better handle on our business.”
Ms. Dolores White - President
Specialty Printer - Georgia

56. Do you have a written strategic plan in plan as to where you want to take your business in the

future? Yes ____ No ____

57. Do you know all of your business strengths and weaknesses? No ____ Yes ____

57a. Are you doing anything about them? Yes ____ No ____

58. Do you have a succession plan in place for each and ever position in the business, including your self?

Yes _______ No ________

59. Are the successors properly trained? Yes _______ No ________

60. Do you work with your key individual or managers in making specific plans for the future?

Yes _____ No _______

If yes, what type? ______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

61. Do you review these plans on a regular basis, and make changes as necessary?

Yes _____ No _______

62. Do you spend adequate time every day planning for your days/weeks activities?

Yes ____ No ____

Are you happy with the results from the 'Company Planning' section of your business survey?

COMPANY PROTECTION

“We have been evolving over the last three years and have reached some barriers that require some expert assistance in order that our company moves in the correct direction. The staff instructed the personnel in how to implement these procedures so that the company can operate as a team. Rob (owners son) was given detailed training and instruction on the financial aspects and inventory control. Overall impression of the project was excellent and professional.”
Mr. Robert D. Porretta - President
Distributor of piping and valves for a variety of industries - Louisiana

63. Is your company set up in a proper format in which to protect you the most?

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

64. Is all of your assets well protected? Yes ____ No _____ Don't Know ____

65. Do you have adequate Workman's Comp Insurance? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _____

66. Are you adequately prepared to defend any lawsuits that may be brought against your company?

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

67. Is your company adequately insured in case of major sickness or death of a key person?

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

Are you happy with the results from the 'Company Protection' section of your business survey?

MANUFACTURING

(Skip this section if you are not a manufacturing company)

"Your management consultants were professional and efficient, their cost cutting recommendations will help tremendously. Because of the knowledge your consultants so patiently dispensed, we are looking for a future of greater profits and much improved employee morale.”
Mr. Neal Eubanks - President
Auto Electric Repair & Installation Company - Texas

68. Are there "standards" set for the manufacturing operations? Yes ____ How many? ______

How old? ____ No ____

69. Are operations work times set or estimated by an owner, manager, or take-off person?

____________________________________________________________________________

70. What percent of operations use "standards"? ___________________ %

71. Is there a piecework incentive system? If so, how and who updates it and how often?

Yes _______________________________________________________ No __________

72. Are any of the work standards obtained from a "blue book" (based on industry standards)

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

73. Is there a production reporting system that accounts for all paid hours on a daily basis?

Yes ____ by person _________ by operation ______ by department ______ No ____

74. Are the standards any good? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

75. Do you ask the workers if the standards are any good? Yes ___ No ___ Don't Know -___

76. Is the person who is responsible for production reporting or production efficiency able to easily

explain the system? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

77. Is these a union involved in manufacturing? Yes ____ No ____

78. Is the method of setting standards uniform throughout the organization? Yes ____ No ____

79. How often are the standards updated or verified to keep current with methods changes?

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

80. In manufacturing there are always a set of standards ! They can vary form hazy day work standards
(rules of thumbs) to highly accurate engineered standards. The problem is to locate them.

Where are they? _____________________________________________________________

81. Management may have one set of standards and the workforce another set. Which set predominates and under what circumstances?

_________________________________________________________________________

82. Is your raw materials and finished products inventory at the level it should be for this time of the

year? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

83. Are you keeping your inventory (raw materials and finished products) at the proper level with the changes of your projected sales levels? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

Are you happy with the results from the 'Manufacturing' section of your business survey?

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

(Skip this section if you are not a construction company)

“Steve Anderson made an efficient appraisal of our business and the problems that needed to be solved. After prioritizing our areas of need, they assisted us in giving advice, writing procedures and policies, and putting the programs into a practical format by which we will begin to help ourselves. Your company delivered what you promised in a timely, professional manner, and we would like to thank the staff for a job well done.”
Mr. James Webster - President
Sash & Door Retailer and Manufacturer - Michigan

84. Are all your projects coming in on time? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

85. Are all of your crews properly motivated to keep costs down? Yes ___ No ___ Don't Know ___

86. Do you know how to out bid your competition? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

87. Do you know how low you can lower your prices and still make a profit?

Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

88. Are your projects coming in under budget? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

89. Do you know on at lease a week-to-week basis where you stand on your projects as far as

percent of completion, cash flow, costs, etc.? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

90. Do you keep close tabs on all your equipment and tools? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _____

91. Do you make your employees check out the tools and equipment and hold them accountable for them? Yes ____ No ____ Don't Know _______

Are you happy with the results from the 'Construction Management' section of your business survey?

OFFICE MANAGEMENT

“We felt that the company has a lot of potential to grow, but due to being unorganized, it was at a stand still till something major changed. Your staff came in and pointed the wheel, training was given to key personnel, a new bidding process has been implemented, as well as new layouts for job costing and financial information. At the beginning we felt that maybe we were wasting a lot of money on something that would not work, but after three weeks we feel that with the change and time this program will benefit to the new growth of the company.”
Mr. Terry Cottongim - President - Cottongim Enterprises, Inc.
Construction General Contractor - Indiana

92. Do you have adequate equipment and software necessary to successfully run the office now?

Yes ____ Don't Know _______ No _____ Explain: ______________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

92a. Within the next 5 years? Yes ____ Don't Know ____ No (Explain) _____________

______________________________________________________________________

93. Are all of your office staff thoroughly trained in the usage of all the tasks necessary to run the

office, including the equipment and software? Yes ____ Don't Know ______ No _____

(Explain) __________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

94. Is the office set up to be the most efficient it can be? Yes ____ Don't Know ____ No ____ Explain:

________________________________________________________________________

95. Do you have enough space (including office, warehouse, factory, etc.) To adequately run

your business now? Yes ____ Don't Know ______ No _____ (Explain)

________________________________________________________________________

95a. Within the next 5 years? ____ Don't Know ______ No _____ (Explain) ________

________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Are you happy with the results from the 'Office Management' section of your business survey?

HOME BASED BUSINESSES

(Skip this section if you are not a Home Based Business)

96. Are you managing your "work time" effectively? Yes ____ No ______

97. Do you have a "quite area" in your house that you can concentrate and do your work effectively?

Yes ____ No _____

98. Do you study your market or industry by doing daily reading? Yes ____ No _____

99. Are you utilizing the services of experts in areas of your business that you do not have the necessary

skills? Yes ____ No _____

100. Do you have the necessary "Office Equipment" to run your business effectively? Yes ___ No ___

Are you happy with the results from the 'Home Based Business' section of your business survey?

CONCLUSION

101. Now that you have finished this test, are you happy with the results? Yes ______ No _____

102. Are you ready to resolve these problems in your business that we have identified?

Yes ____ No ____

Remember when you mail this completed questionnaire you will receive YOUR FREE ANALYSIS OF YOUR BUSINESS. This is AT NO COST OR OBLIGATION.

BUSINESS OWNERSHIP PRIORITY LIST

Based on the answers that you indicated above, prioritize the following as to the most important (1) to the least important (32) that you feel that we can train you and your personnel in managing your business better. (If an issue does not apply to your business then put N/A)

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

____ Getting the proper Financial information
____ Cash Management
____ Expenditures Control
____ Understanding Financial Statements and information
____ Ensuring a profit at any sales level
____ Complete financial management (including tax planning)
____ Have the necessary insurance in place to adequately cover the employees and the company

PERSONNEL ISSUES

____ Employees are more productive
____ Employees are more responsible for making the company's profits
____ That you have highly qualified personnel
____ Your employees are highly motivate to do a good job on their own
____ The employees are happy in their work and working for this company
____ Have the key employees been properly trained

SALES & MARKETING

____ You want your sales people to be selling more products and services
____ You want to be selling better than your competition
____ You want your products or services to be the best in the marketplace
____ You want all of your salesman to know how to negotiate bids effectively
____ Develop a complete marketing plan for the business
____ Sales & Marketing materials needed to be enhanced or developed properly
____ You want to learn new marketing techniques that will increase your income

COMPANY PLANNING

____ Thoroughly understand the strengths and weaknesses of my business
____ Develop a Business Plan for financing purposes
____ Develop a Strategic Plan for the development of the company

COMPANY PROTECTION

____ Proper legal format of company
____ Protect Assets & key personnel
____ Business Insurance

MANUFACTURING/ CONSTRUCTION

____ Establish standards for the production facilities
____ Improve upon the efficiency of the production facilities
____ Improve upon the cost of producing a product

OFFICE MANAGEMENT

____ Review Software and hardware for needs
____ Office Staff properly trained
____ Adequate Space

OTHER:
______ __________________________________________

______ __________________________________________

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH OTHER BUSINESSES:

To see a listing of the types of projects I have helped other businesses with, click here.

To see the different types of industries I have worked in click here.

How did you do on this survey? Are you happy with the results?

If you would like for me to give you my opinion on what it will take to improve the areas of your business you see above that need to be improved, then print out this page and fill it out. Once you are finished mail it to Stephen Anderson, 121 Civic Center Dr, Suite 231, Lake St. Louis, Mo 63367.

For quicker and cheaper response, copy this page to your word processor, fill in the blanks and e-mail it directly to me at ProfitDr@Profit-Doctor.com and put in the subject line BUSINESS QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE. I get hundreds of e-mails a day, so by having this subject note, and separate e-mail address for your questions, I will be able to respond to you quicker. Or simply fax it to EFAX: 317-219-2797. I will get to your questionnaire as quick a humanly possible.

Once I have had a chance to view the results, I will email you my assessment of what is holding you back from making the PROFITS YOU WANT AND DESERVE IN YOUR BUSINESS. (Be sure to give me you e-mail address) Remember this service is FOR NOT COST OR OBLIGATION. If you want to implement the solutions to your business profit obstacles, then I will discuss what it will take to overcome them.

"Our Only Business is to Help Make Your Business More Profitable"
T. Stephen Anderson - 'The Profit Doctor'

“Steve Anderson took the time to carefully review our operations, hear our concerns, make recommendations based on those observations, and provided answers to all our concerns. His method of training was ‘hands on’ implementing, and demonstrated his recommendations to our staff until they were able to utilize what they were taught. We are pleased with Steve's style and competence, and plan to fully implement all segments of the project as quickly as possible.”
Mr. Roger N. Dumke - President - Autonamic Corp.
Manufacturer of Metal Products - Illinois