Headings

Title page

Executive Summary (Not in the word count)

Table of Contents

Section headings

References

Appendix

 

 

Market Feasibility

1. What is the size of the market?
2. What is the growth rate of the industry?
3. Is the market at full capacity?
4. Where are customers getting the product now?
5. Where are the customers?
6. How many would purchase from you?
7. What external factors come to bear? Government, Industry Dynamics
8. What keeps new competition from entering this market? (Barriers to Entry)

 

Technical Feasibility

Questions to Answer

 

1. What are the options for developing the technology (customer, off the shelf, design yourself, subcontract)?

 

2. What are the options for producing the product or service?

• In House
• Subcontract
• License
• Joint Venture or Partnership
• Combination

 

3.What are the options for Sales and Distribution?

• In House
• Whole Sale
• Distributors or Sales Representatives
• License
• Joint Venture or Partnership
• Combination

 

4.What resources are required for development and are they available to you (skills, raw materials, components, suppliers, facilities & equipment)?

 

5. What are the laws and regulation relating to the business?

• Industry Standards or Regulations
• Personal Certifications
• Intellectual Property (Patents, trademarks, copyrights)
• Environmental Liability

 

6. Has the research discovered any moral or ethical issues that you are uncomfortable with?

 

7. What technological changes are changing or emerging that may affect the business?

 

Financial Feasibility

1 What are the projected Revenues from the sale of your product or service?

• From the Market Research, what is the projected sales volume in “units sold?” and in “dollars sold”?
• From the Market Research, what is the selling price per unit?
• What is the total expected revenue?

 

2. What are the financial dynamics and opportunities?

• Costs Structure (per unit basis)

– Price per unit minus

– Variable Costs (Cost of Goods Sold & Controllable Costs) per Unit equal

– Gross Margin per Unit minus

– Fixed Costs per Unit equal

– Net Margin per Unit

 

 

3. How much investment is required?

• One Time Assets and Startup Expenses

– Plant & Equipment

– Leasehold Improvements

– Initial Inventories

– Research & Development

– Legal

– Experts

• Operating expenses prior to break even

 

4. What are the financial risks?

• Payback (Investment required divided by net margin per unit – Date when units calculated above are sold & collected.)
• Risk vs. Reward (Personal feelings of the risks and rewards)
• Opportunity Costs (Can you get a better return somewhere else?)
• Personal Financial Risk (What will you have to give up. Sign over mortgage etc.)

 

5. What are the possible sources of financing?

• Chances of getting the money?
• What will you have to give up?

 

6. General Financial Numbers that would indicate attractiveness of Venture

• Gross Margin 20 – 30% plus
• Net Profit Margin – 10 to 15%. Plus
• Return on Investment – 15% plus
• Payback – 3 years or less.
• Break even – 2 years or less
• Note: These numbers must not be looked at in isolation over a one year period. You need to look at the numbers over a 3 year period and as a whole, not just individually. Industry averages can be quite different.

 

Human Resource Feasibility

Questions:

1. What technical and management experience is required?
2. Who are the owners and what are their roles? (Entrepreneur, Manager, Tech. Expert)
3. What is the ownership structure?

 

4. What are the manpower requirements?

– How will you find the right employees?

– How will you compensate employees (pay for time, for production, for knowledge, or a combination)?

– How will you motivate employees?

– What training will they need on an ongoing basis?

 

5.What is the company’s growth strategy?

– How will quality be managed and maintained÷

– How will organizational structures change with growth?

– What career paths will employees have available?

 

 

Appendix A

Start-up Expenditures and Expenses Worksheet

Item Total Cost Cash Required

Land __________ __________

Capital Equipment __________ __________

Computer __________ __________

___________ __________ __________

___________ __________ __________

Beginning Inventory __________ __________

Start up Supplies __________ __________

Licenses and Permits __________ __________

Leasehold Improvements __________ __________

Utility hookups & Installation __________ __________

Advertising (Preopening) __________ __________

Insurance __________ __________

Other __________ __________

_______________ __________ __________

Total Estimated One-Time Cash Requirements __________ __________

 

Start-up Operating Expenses

Estimate No. of Months Total Cash

Item Monthly Expense X Before Break even = Required

Owners Salary __________ __________ __________

Employee’s salary, wages, benefits __________ __________ __________

Rent __________ __________ __________

Promotion expenses __________ __________ __________

Supplies and postage __________ __________ __________

Vehicle Expenses __________ __________ __________

Telephone __________ __________ __________

Travel __________ __________ __________

Interest __________ __________ __________

Maintenance __________ __________ __________

Other __________ __________ __________

____________ __________ __________ __________

Total Cash Required to Cover Operating Expenses _________

Plus: Total One-Time Cash Requirements (Previous Table) __________

Add 10% Safety Factor __________

Total Cash Required for Start-up _________