A 10 means that the business doesn't require your direct involvement to operate. Your role is like chairing the board. The day to day operations are all delegated.

An 8 rating means that you are responsible for some of the key functions in the business, but you have a lot more freedom than most people. The business also runs well without you for extended periods of time.

A 7 rating means that you are putting approximately 40 hours a week into the business and are getting 3 to 4 weeks of holidays each year. You have time for family, interests outside the business and regularly see your circle of friends.

A 4 rating means that you are making personal sacrifices to build the business. This is not unusual in the early days.

A 3 rating means the business is your number one priority and this is causing some difficulties at home. You have also let your hobbies slide.

A 1 rating would mean that even on the rare times that you are not at work you are still worrying about the business. Owning this business is making it hard for you to enjoy life.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that owning this business is your calling in life. It is your purpose or it allows you the time and resources to pursue your purpose.

An 8 means that you really enjoy every aspect of your role in the business. It is a good fit for you at this stage of your life.

A 7 means that you enjoy most of your work activities, but there are a few frustrations. Overall your role is a good fit for your life.

A 4 means that there are parts of the business that you enjoy, but you can never seem to get the rest of it working well. Being in business is a bit of a grind. Your employees have it better than you do.

A 3 means that you are going through the motions. It just doesn't get your juices flowing anymore. You are not excited about the future.

A 1 rating would mean that you really don't enjoy any aspect of the business. The business has become an energy vampire.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your business plan is current and it includes Marketing, Production, Delivery and Pricing strategies as well as Financial Forecasts, Competitor Analysis and Human Resource Requirements. Progress is measured regularly and the plan is revised as required.

An 8 means that the plan is written down and is current. It includes short, medium and long term planning horizons. The written plan clearly defines objectives, responsibilities and accountabilities for yourself and your team.

A 7 means that you know where you want the business to go AND how to get there, but it is still not written down. You could easily write out the plan.

A 4 means that it's not in writing but you know the direction that you would like the business to take and have a general idea of how to get there. However, there is a degree of uncertainty about specific actions and timelines.

A 3 means you have a general idea about where you would like the business to be next year, but really haven't sat down and thought through how to get there.

A 1 means that you take it one day at a time.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your entire team knows the Mission Statement and lives by it when they are at work. Being a part of the company provides meaning in their lives. They are proud to work here.

An 8 means that your Mission Statement is written down and most of your team understands the core meaning of it. They know how their job connects to it and they see their day to day work as worthwhile.

A 7 means that your people generally understand the mission and work towards the good of the business and the clients. Your staff sees their work as important. Clients appreciate the quality and value delivered.

A 4 means that the staff will come together for the good of the business, but only if you stay on top of them. If you take the pressure off performance drops as well. Good customer service is not consistent.

A 3 means that the staff all appear to be working their own agendas and most are putting their own interests ahead of the team's.
Customer complaints are common.

A 1 means that your employees are here for the money. They don't seem to care about the future of the business.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that you have been presented with great opportunities and made the most of them. There is no way that this type of success could have reasonably been predicted.

An 8 means that the business has consistently hit pre-set targets, goals and milestones. The cumulative effect has been a solid track record of success. You expect this to continue and are excited about the future.

A 7 means that you are comfortable with the overall progress to this point, but there are a few things that you would like to have done differently. The future looks bright and you are learning as you go.

A 4 means that some parts of the business have developed while other areas still face challenges. Overall you expected to be further along by this point. You would like things to improve, but you are having difficulty finding the time and resources.

A 3 means that the business development has stalled and problems are holding growth back. These are the same problems that you had last year.

A 1 means that the business has not made any progress, in fact it seems to be going in reverse.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your prices are the highest in the market and customers willingly pay anyways. Price does not enter into their purchasing decision.

An 8 means that your pricing policies are in writing and everything gets billed. Margin targets are set and met consistently. On the occasions that margins drop a review takes place and it is corrected.

A 7 means that you set your prices for the success of the business and review them regularly. The margins are consistently healthy for the business.

A 4 means that you know your profit margins and set your prices accordingly, but often you give deals, throw in extras and /or problems cause the costs to be higher than expected. It is difficult to maintain the margins you want.

A 3 means that you let your competitors set your prices. If theirs go down yours go down. You get your business based on price.

A 1 means that you are uncertain about how to set your prices. You just want to give every customer a deal.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your processes and systems are in place and working well. You could easily duplicate the business in another location and the quality would be maintained.

An 8 means that the standards are set and maintained. The key processes are in writing and you can effectively train new people. This is true for all positions.

A 7 means that most of your people understand how to do their jobs and consistently perform well. However, there is at least one key person that you can't afford to lose.

A 4 means that quality is acceptable, but not consistent enough for your liking. A fair amount of time is spent reacting to the "problem of the moment."

A 3 means the business often doesn't meet the standards that you want it to. You expect better for your customers. The organization does not run smoothly.

A 1 means that delivery problems are common. You don't have any confidence in the ability of the business to meet it's commitments. You might not admit that to anyone else, but that is the way you feel.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that you have a track record of exceeding the customers' expectations and people willingly pay more to deal with your company.

An 8 means that customer service is your competitive advantage. Everyone in the business is focused on delivering exceptional service.

A 7 means that the business consistently meets the expectations of the customers. While some complaints and problems do happen your staff can handle most of them effectively.

A 4 means that some customers get good service and are happy while others seem experience difficulties. You often have to get involved to resolve problems.

A 3 means that customers can get mediocre service if they are prepared to ask for it. The staff is disinterested a large percentage of the time.

A 1 means that way too many customers leave and don't come back.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that you are getting paid an excellent salary; the business also pays dividends and generates additional profits to re-invest for future growth.

An 8 means that profits are available to be re-invested in the business and you draw an above average salary.

A 7 means that the business has a track record of profitability and you are drawing a good salary.

A 4 means that the business is breaking even. However, you are not personally getting paid what you are worth. You could get paid more working for another company.

A 3 means that the business is losing money and you are taking very little out for yourself.

A 1 means that the cost of doing the work is often more than you charge for it.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 rating means that the business would continue to grow and deliver excellent service even if you took a year off.

An 8 rating means that your people routinely look ahead and solve problems before they happen. They are prepared. You can take time off and the business will continue to run well.

A 7 rating means that most of your staff know their jobs, does them well and pitches in to help others when needed. You don't have to ask, they see what needs to be done and get on with it.

A 4 rating means that you have one or two key people that pull their weight, but most people do the bare minimum. They regularly need to be given directions and you need to follow up.

A 3 rating means that they need constant supervision and even with that they under perform. They don't think for themselves.

A 1 rating means that your people actively avoid work even when it comes to their own jobs.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that business goals are in writing. Everyone is on board and actively working to achieve them. Success is celebrated.

An 8 means that your key people are involved in setting the goals and timelines and they are accountable for delivering the results.

A 7 means that your employees can articulate the company goals and they understand what their role is in achieving it.

A 4 means that you have some broad goals and a bit of an action plan, but if someone asked your staff what they were, most of them would not be able to answer.

A 3 means that you have some broad goals, but the action plan for achieving them is unclear.

A 1 means that you haven't defined the company goals. You are just as uncertain about the future as your employees are.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 7 means that you hold regular meetings, but it is mostly you and your key people talking to the team. There is follow up and some things do get accomplished.

A 4 means that there are some meetings, but there is no regularity or structure to them. Often the discussion does not get the results that you want. The same issues are discussed over and over.

A 3 means that you only bring your staff together when there are problems and you want to vent.

A 1 means that you rarely hold meetings.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that people are trained in conflict resolution. They are able to predict it in advance and deal with it before it becomes a problem.

An 8 means that when conflict happens people learn from it. The goal is to understand what caused it and prevent it from recurring.

A 7 means that your people are often able to effectively resolve their own conflicts. At times you still need to get involved. Overall it doesn't interfere with the performance of the business.

A 4 means that you sometimes have to get involved as a referee in conflicts. It could be between departments like sales and production or between individual employees.

A 3 means that cold conflict is the normal state of events. Your employees don't fight all the time, but talking behind each other's backs is normal. There are people on your staff that don't get along and it negatively impacts the organization.

A 1 means that hot conflict is the normal state of events. Your people would rather openly fight than get along.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that the performance review process itself is reviewed. The goal is to create jobs that are good for both the employees and the business.

An 8 means that everyone has a written job description and regular performance reviews take place. You know in advance what actions will be taken when people under or over perform.

A 7 means that everyone knows what is expected of them and they comfortably deliver. The work is done well, paperwork is completed, and reports are in on time.

A 4 means that some employees know what is expected of them, are capable of delivering, but others just don't get it done. They need to be managed.

A 3 means that they have to be at the top of their game all of the time to make you happy. They require almost constant supervision to get the quality you desire.

A 1 means that the people are in over their heads. The work coming in is beyond their capacity to deliver. It is either too much or too complex.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your managers consistently get great performance from their people and they effectively maintain high standards. Their systems and procedures are second to none.

An 8 means your managers are well organized, they create good habits in others and actively look at the systems and processes to see what could be improved. They consistently develop good working relationships with their staff.

A 7 means that your managers have their departments running well for the most part. They like a little chaos because it gives them a chance to show their stuff. Most people like working for them.

A 4 means that your managers were promoted because they were good at their jobs, but their management skills and training are limited. They tend to blame others when things don't go well.

A 3 means that you have at least one manager by title, but they have difficulty getting their staff to perform.

A 1 means that everyone reports to you, but you are never really sure what they are doing.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your entire hiring process is in writing including phone, first and second interview questions. Skills and job fit testing are a part of the process. You provide new hires with orientation, training, mentoring, a job description, performance expectations, and a company policy manual.

An 8 means that comprehensive job descriptions are in writing. There are basic requirements and you hire for attitude because your skills training process is effective.

A 7 means that you use a number of strategies to find good employees. You also use a formal interview process, check references, have a probationary period as well as providing training and orientation for new employees. They are clear about what is expected of them.

A 4 means that you hire people that have some experience. You evaluate them by talking with them as opposed to having structured interviews. Training is minimal. They learn about your company on the job.

A 3 means that you use the "pay and pray" method. You pay for ads and pray that someone who can do the job responds.

A 1 means that there is high staff turnover and you will give almost anyone a chance.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your target market sees you as the supplier of choice. You are the market leader.

An 8 means that your marketing materials have a professional appearance, your target market is well defined and your marketing strategy is planned out in advance. You know the type of customers you want and you consistently get them.

A 7 means that you have an active marketing program that reaches your target market on a regular basis. Ideal customers respond to your message. Business is growing.

A 4 means that you do some marketing, but competitors who don't deliver the value that you do seem to be busy.

A 3 means that you know what your company is capable of, but you miss a lot of business because customers don't know about you.

A 1 means that anyone with a credit card is a potential customer. You hope they call in soon.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your company is hot. There is plenty of business out there and the biggest challenge is managing the growth.

An 8 means that there is consistent sales growth. Targets are set and consistently met.

A 7 means that your sales are increasing year over year. This happens without formal targets.

A 4 means that the sales growth is not fast enough for a comfortable level of cashflow. The business really could use some more customers.

A 3 means that it is difficult to maintain existing sales levels and a challenge to get new business.

A 1 means that sales are declining and you don't set targets because you don't like being reminded.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that good fortune and good planning came together for an exceptional year. The business made significant and lasting improvements.

An 8 means that your strategic plan worked well and you hit the goals and stretch targets that were set.

A 7 means that business improved last year and you can clearly identify the actions that lead to the improvements. There were some things that could have been done better.

A 4 means that you kept busy, but the business didn't seem to improve. There were lots of projects that could have moved the business ahead, but most didn't get done.

A 3 means that for whatever reason business was better last year.

A 1 means that it headed in the wrong direction and continues to get more critical.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your role in the company is to provide direction for the business. Thinking about improvements is what you do.

An 8 means that you have a list of specific business improvement projects plus you have allocated the time and resources needed to accomplish them.

A 7 means that you know what is involved in taking your company to the next level and it is achievable.

A 4 means that you have some ideas about what and who needs to improve; however finding the time, energy and resources is difficult. You also don't know if the people around you are up to the challenge.

A 3 means that when you do get some clear time you don't work on the business development projects.

A 1 means that you are too busy to even think about the future.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that you have variance reports prepared which compare your forecasts to the actual results. There is a systematic process in place to review the numbers.

An 8 means that you participated in the setting up of the Chart of Accounts so you could get the information you want.
You also prepare financial forecasts.

A 7 means that everything is done on time, you get your financials within 3 weeks after month end and you understand them well enough to know when bookkeeping mistakes are made.

A 4 means that the bookkeeping appears to be done on time, but you have a limited understanding of bookkeeping yourself.

A 3 means that your bookkeeping is behind and your monthly financials don't make much sense to you when you eventually get them.

A 1 means that once a year you bring your invoices and receipts to the accountant to prepare your taxes.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that the business accurately forecasts cashflows well in advance and moves the excesses into investments.

An 8 means that the business regularly takes advantage of supplier prompt pay discounts. You also have written policies and procedures in place for your Accounts Receivables and a Purchase Order process for Accounts Payables with double checks and the organization religiously sticks to them. Your cash is managed very well.

A 7 means that you have a good sense of incoming cashflow and know what bills are coming up to be paid. There is organization to it and you don't often have to scramble. The A/R and A/P reports are accurate and there are processes in place to keep them current.

A 4 means that your A/R and A/P reports are reasonably accurate. You also have a good idea what the bank account balance is and even though cash is tight it is manageable.

A 3 means that it is often difficult to figure out how much you owe and how much people owe you. The Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable reports from your accounting program aren't very accurate.

A 1 means that your suppliers are calling constantly looking to get paid because the accounts are overdue. Cash is very tight.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your balance sheet ratios are important business metrics for you. You also understand your Statement of Cashflows.

An 8 means that you find your Balance Sheet very interesting. You like to study the ratios and learn more about them.

A 7 means that you understand it and review it monthly along with several key ratios including the current and acid test ratios.

A 4 means that you sort of understand it, but would have difficulty explaining it to others.

A 3 means that you look at your balance sheet once a year when your accountant presents your year end statements to you.

A 1 means that you can't remember your balance sheet and have difficulty understanding it.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that the day to day activities of running and managing the business are all delegated. You only work on strategic and high value projects.

An 8 means that you are under control. Everything that you are responsible for gets done on time. Your schedule rarely gets disrupted.

A 7 means that you are productive and most of your activities are planned well in advance. You have some sort of an organizer system that you use regularly and are rarely late for appointments.

A 4 means that there is a method to your time management, but you are sometimes late for or miss appointments. Your more important activities are scheduled, but distractions are commonplace.

A 3 means that you don't use any type of system in place to manage your activities. You take each day as it comes. You seem to bounce from one thing to the next and have difficulty making appointments in advance.

A 1 means that you know that time management is a serious issue for you. It has been a constant theme in your life.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your business is worth more to others than it is to you. Businesses in your industry are being sold regularly. Buyers are looking and you are getting inquiries.

An 8 means that an investor who has a limited knowledge of the industry, but good business experience could buy the business and make a good return on investment. With a little work a buyer could be found who will pay well.

A 7 means that it is a good business, but the buyer would have to know about the industry to operate it well. Without you it is a bit fragile. A serious buyer could be found, but it might take a little time.

A 4 means that if someone was interested in buying the business it is unlikely that they would pay you what it is worth.

A 3 means that it is unlikely that someone would buy it in its current condition. It needs some work.

A 1 means that the business is in such tough shape that no one would buy it.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that you have a written job description that defines your role in the company and you excel at it.

An 8 means that you have a job description for yourself. You can clearly see how your performance will lead to success of the business.

A 7 means that 75% of your activities deal to your strengths and you have delegated some of the activities you don't enjoy. At his point you haven't written your job description down.

A 4 means that you are often caught up doing low value activities that you don't really enjoy. They could be bookkeeping, paperwork, cleaning, maintenance, gopher or even working the front counter on Saturdays.

A 3 means that you do everything and anything it takes to keep the business rolling.

A 1 means you are often doing work that you are not good at.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that you can exit any time you wish. The business has provided you with a rich and rewarding life.

An 8 means that you are actively working on your well thought out exit strategy. You know what you want to do next and are proud of the business that you built.

A 7 means that it is a ways off yet, but you are actively considering how the business will continue after you exit. You have also discussed potential exit strategies with your accountant & financial planner and you know the financial portfolio that you want for retirement.

A 4 means that it is still a ways off yet and you have taken some time to consider the options.

A 3 means that you would like to get out of active involvement in or sell  the business in the next few years, but really haven't started to investigate how to or started discussions with your staff, accountant, lawyer, and/or business broker.

A 1 means that you would like to get out of the business, but it doesn't appear to be possible anytime soon.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.

A 10 means that your organization is the market leader and consistently invests time and energy into increasing your competitive advantage.

An 8 means that your competitive advantage is a strategic part of your business plan. Customers are loyal to you because of it. You actively promote it in your sales and marketing.

A 7 means that you are aware of your competitive advantage and have developed an edge over your competition. Customers appreciate your edge and some pay extra for it.

A 4 means that your pricing has to be sharp. Customers will deal with other companies to save a buck. There is little, if any loyalty.

A 3 means that in some cases your products and services are comparable, but there are a lot of customers that get better value elsewhere.

A 1 means that of your competitors have the advantage over your business. They provide better products and services.

Zero indicates you do not wish to answer at this time or it does not apply to your business.