SME Diagnostic Tool - Questionnaire

Section 1: Business Setup

This section evaluates your business's legal structure, registration, and basic setup.

1.1 Business Registration

What is the current registration status of your business?

Not registered at all In process of registration Registered but not fully compliant Fully registered and compliant

1.2 Business Plan

Do you have a business plan?

No business plan Basic idea but not documented Documented but not comprehensive Comprehensive business plan

1.3 Business Structure

What is your current business structure?

Informal/No legal structure Sole proprietorship Partnership Limited company

Section 2: Finance

This section evaluates your business's financial management and practices.

2.1 Financial Records

How do you keep financial records for your business?

No formal records Basic manual records Spreadsheets or basic software Professional accounting software

2.2 Banking

How do you manage your business banking?

No separate business account Basic business account Business account with basic services Comprehensive business banking

2.3 Financial Planning

Do you have a budget or financial plan?

No budget or financial plan Basic informal budget Formal budget but not regularly updated Comprehensive financial planning

Section 3: Marketing

This section evaluates your business's marketing strategies and customer engagement.

3.1 Marketing Strategy

Do you have a marketing strategy for your business?

No marketing strategy Basic informal approach Documented but not comprehensive Comprehensive marketing strategy

Section 4: Operations

This section evaluates your business's operational efficiency and processes.

4.1 Business Processes

How would you describe your business processes?

No formal processes Basic processes but not documented Documented processes for key activities Comprehensive documented processes

Section 5: Human Resources

This section evaluates your business's human resource management and practices.

5.1 Staff Management

How do you manage your staff?

No formal staff management Basic informal approach Formal processes for key HR functions Comprehensive HR management system

Section 6: Innovation

This section evaluates your business's approach to innovation and adaptation.

6.1 Innovation Approach

How does your business approach innovation?

No focus on innovation Occasional improvements when necessary Regular focus on improvements Systematic innovation processes

Section 7: Financial Systems and Investment Readiness

This section evaluates how well your business manages its finances and prepares for investment.

7.1 Cash Flow Tracking

Do you track daily cash flow and business expenses?

No Occasionally

7.2 Accounting Tools

Are you using accounting tools or software for basic financial reporting?

No Partially

7.3 Financial Statements

Can you produce basic financial statements (e.g., income statement, balance sheet)?

No Yes

7.4 Business Plan

Have you developed a business plan or investment proposal?

No Yes

7.5 Funding

Have you secured funding from local financial institutions or government programs?

No In Progress

7.6 Financial Health Presentation

Are you able to present your financial health to potential investors?

No Somewhat

7.7 Debt-Equity Management

Are you managing debt-equity ratio and preparing for larger-scale investments?

No Yes

Section 8: Market Access and Value Chain Integration

This section evaluates your business's market access strategies and value chain integration.

8.1 Local Customer Base

Have you identified a local customer base for your products/services?

No Yes

8.2 Competitive Pricing

Are your products/services competitively priced for local markets?

No Somewhat

8.3 Trade Fair Participation

Have you participated in local trade fairs or business networks?

No Partially

8.4 Regional Standards Compliance

Are your products/services compliant with regional standards?

No In Progress

8.5 Value Chain Partnerships

Have you partnered with larger firms or buyers for value chain integration?

No Yes

8.6 Export Strategy

Do you have an export strategy for entering international markets?

No In Development

8.7 Global Partnerships

Have you established partnerships with global distributors or multinational companies?

No Yes

Section 9: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Integration

This section evaluates your business's approach to environmental, social, and governance practices.

9.1 Environmental Regulations

Are there any environmental regulations applicable to your business? Are you compliant?

No Partially Yes

9.2 Social Responsibility

Have you implemented any policies related to social or community responsibility?

No Partially Yes

9.3 Environmental Impact

Are you aware of your environmental impact and are taking steps to mitigate it?

No Partially Yes

9.4 Diversity and Inclusion

Do you promote diversity and inclusion within your workforce?

No Partially Yes

9.5 ESG Certifications

Are you working towards achieving industry-specific ESG or sustainability certifications?

No Partially Yes

9.6 Transparent Communication

Do you communicate your ESG efforts to stakeholders transparently?

No Partially Yes

9.7 Circular Economy

Have you adopted circular economy practices or sustainability-driven business models?

No Partially Yes