Impact Financial Training Academy

Rating

THE “IMPACT” BUSINESS ASSESMENT QUESTIONNAIRE Updated 2025

How to answer. Each statement is rated from 1 — Not at all through 3 — Moderately to 5 — Fully. Bands 2 and 4 are the steps in between.

Within each band, pick − for the lower half or + for the upper half — so 3+ is a little more than moderately. Choose N/A if a statement does not apply; it is left out of your score rather than counted as zero.

1. We are constantly looking for opportunities to enhance our revenue streams
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
2. I analyse the latest technology innovations to improve the financial performance of my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
3. I understand my future capacity requirements based on projected changes in the market demand
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
4. All my management team/ regions/ branches have clear measures of performance for their respective areas of responsibility
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
5. I have a formal plan in place to retain my key employees
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
6. My internal resources capacity supply is congruent between functional areas
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
7. I have formal processes in place to continuously assess my customers’ needs
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
8. I deploy my key resources in my business satisfying the needs and wants of the most profitable customers
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
9. I compile a regular cash budget
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
10. I am aware of the impact of my business on my community
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
11. I have sufficient cash reserves to carry me through an economic downturn
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
12. I understand the impact of resource changes on financial performance
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
13. The paperwork in my business is up to date
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
14. I can predict future financial performance based on historic trends
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
15. I have a formal cost control process in place and there are consequences if you overspend your budget
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
16. I understand the financial implications of productivity improvements in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
17. We share internal best practices to optimise the financial performance of our business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
18. My financial planning process (budget process) aligns with my business planning process
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
19. My management information (MI) is displayed in a user friendly way
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
20. My internal performance management process is in place (contracting, evaluation, feedback, corrective actions)
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
21. I have a formal training program in place to enhance the financial skills of my employees
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
22. My internal business processes are efficient
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
23. I complete my VAT, tax returns and UIF filings on time
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
24. I understand the cash flow in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
25. I am constantly monitoring the key economic indicators, to anticipate the next economic downturn
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
26. I have pricing power in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
27. I understand the profitability of my various products and services
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
28. My business will sustain its financial performance during an economic downturn
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
29. I analyse similar industries / businesses to generate ideas to optimise my financial performance
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
30. My employees are constantly aware of how their actions impact our financial performance
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
31. I review the financial returns of my capital investments
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
32. I have a cost conscience culture in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
33. My Financial Ratios indicate that I have a financially sound business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
34. I invest in the latest technology to improve the financial performance of my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
35. I make use of sound capital investment appraisal techniques when evaluating opportunities
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
36. My business's strategy is translated into clear strategic objectives and measurements
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
37. I understand the key drivers of performance in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
38. I have a formal training program in place to enhance the entrepreneurial and business skills of my employees
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
39. I have access to detailed management information that enables root cause analyses to identify internal best practices and/ or profit optimisation opportunities
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
40. I have identified key strategic risks in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
41. I have a clear plan on how to achieve personal financial independence
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
42. I have a formal process in place to track the financial benefits of my projects/ marketing initiatives after implementation
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
43. I have active plans in place to counter the strategic risks in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
44. My planning enables the optimal distribution and re-distribution of resources if needed
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
45. I am aware of the key factors that will influence customer choice and have geared my investments and resources to fulfil these needs
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
46. I activity contribute to cultivate the next generation of business leaders
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
47. I have a formal training program in place to enhance the Excel skills of my employees
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
48. I have a formal strategic and financial performance review process in place
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
49. We have a culture of taking responsibility for the financial outcome of our decisions
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
50. I manage my working capital and liquidity effectively
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
51. I have detailed information available regarding the profitability/ revenue contribution of my customers/ products
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
52. I understand potential disruptors in my business and are actively monitoring their activities
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
53. I consider the long-term implications of my business decisions and plans
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
54. I imagine future markets and have action plans in place on how to access them
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
55. I can attach a monetary valuation to my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
56. My strategy is clearly translated to indicate each employee’s contribution to the overall success of my business.
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
57. I have a formal business plan in place
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
58. I have clear plans in place to cross sell or up-sell my existing customer base
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
59. I understand the impact of an economic downturn on my financial performance
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
60. I understand the financial consequences relating to my key risk areas
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
61. I can identify the 20% of my customers/ products that contribute to 80% of my profit
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
62. I can calculate the internal inflation rate of my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
63. We have a formal process in place to investigate innovative ideas to improve financial performance
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
64. I’m constantly looking for new opportunities
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
65. I utilise concepts like Pestel and SWOT analysis in drafting my strategic plans
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
66. My customer service processes are efficient
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
67. My reward & recognition is linked to the performance of my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
68. I actively invest in my community
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
69. I have a clear and unique selling proposition that differentiates my company from my competitors
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
70. I actively focus on eliminating wastage in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
71. I have access to capital if I want to expand my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
72. I can rely on the availability, correctness and integrity of my management information
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
73. I’m satisfied with the current financial valuation of my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
74. I deploy my capital towards funding future growth opportunities
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
75. I have not overpaid for my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
76. The current level of financial performance reflects the maximum potential of my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
77. The value of my business reflects my future expectations from the business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
78. I constantly review my strategic focus areas in line with the changing environment
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
79. I have back-ups of all my paperwork
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
80. I take my key drivers of performance into account when I do my financial planning
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
81. I have identified the key operational and business risks for my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
82. I constantly send out my invoices on time
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
83. I have access to management information (MI) that supports the assessment of my key performance indicators
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
84. I mapped my risks and possible risk responses on a risk matrix
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
85. I have a formal process in place to evaluate the priority status of a project/ marketing initiative
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
86. I adapt my product offering to cater for the needs of my customers
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
87. I have various other personal investments (for example shares and unit trusts) to mitigate my dependence on my business income to sustain myself.
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
88. I have active plans in place to counter the operational and business risks in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
89. I actively focus on turning leads into sales
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
90. I’m satisfied with the overall financial performance of my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
91. I understand the implications of capacity constraints in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully
   
92. I have detailed information available to calculate the resource capacity requirements in my business
1 Not at all
2
3 Moderately
4
5 Fully