Business Research

Internal data search with regards to the performance of the company is critical to

the better understanding the methods that could be used to improve performance.

In the previous section methods of gather external market data were given, here the methods used are very similar and much more easier than collecting external market information.

How can you gather facts quickly and at low cost?

Start with a simple checklist like the one shown above.
Ask immediate associates, managers and colleagues.
Check other sources such as accountants, lawyers, auditors, ad agencies, trade associations and others.

Start by outlining a brief history of the company. How and when did it start and how did it get to where it is now.

WHO - means people who started the business, who manages it? etc.

WHAT - What is the nature of the company? What is your real business? What does the company sell? What service does it perform? What is the legal form of the business (proprietorship, partnership, corporation) ?

WHEN - When do you sell the most and the least? When do you make the most profit?

WHERE - Where is the ideal place to locate your business.

WHY - Why was the company started? Why did it grow? Why do people buy from the company?

Company Facts Form

Company name:

Location:

Brief history:

Company manager:

Employees:

Key advisors:

What the business is:

What the purpose is:

What we sell:

What our legal form of business is:

When we sell best:

Why we grew:

Profit and Loss Format

Last 4 years

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4
Sales
Cost of sales
Gross Profits
Administration costs
Sell costs
Other costs
Total costs
Net profit before tax
Tax
Net after tax
Trends and causes:

Balance Sheet Format

Last 4 years

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4
Assets
Current
Fixed
Total

Liabilities
Short debt
Long term
Equity
Total Liability

Trends and causes:

Takeover / Buy out:

Start-up/ expansion:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Opportunities:

Threats:

Company resources: