Whether you’re launching a new small business or looking for new opportunities for an existing business, it’s always important to carry out proper analysis before delving in. You have to do a thorough investigation, analysing the risks, threats and benefits of this new business opportunity.
When analysing new business opportunities, there are best practices that guarantee the right results. This involves the analysis of the product, financial, and human resources. Hence, you’re able to tell the pitfalls and potentials of the business opportunity so that you can make an informed decision. Let’s go!
Contents
Self-Analysis
Arkansas Small Business Development Center posits that the number one reason small businesses fail is the founder’s inability to manage resources and general poor management.
Therefore, it begins with you. Hence, before you carry out any other research, try to evaluate your talent, goals, desires, and capabilities. Ask yourself difficult questions such as “how much of a risk-taker am I? Do I have energy and time to go after this? among others.
Also, review your personnel, financial, and marketing skills to ensure you have the necessary background to succeed in the new business opportunity.
Also Read: Go Find Yourself!
Financial Analysis
After knowing the cost of starting and running this new business, the next step is to ask yourself if you are up to the task financially. This begins with assessing how much you have in savings to add to the initial investment capital.
Even if you hope to get some kind of loan from the bank, most of these financial institutions will insist that you present a portion of the required capital to show willingness and good faith to take the risk with the lender.
Assess the financing available through the investors, sellers, and lenders when analysing your chances of success.
Also Read: 7 of the Best Loan Apps in Nigeria
Market Analysis
To truly understand what you’re getting into, carry out a detailed market analysis to know the business feasibility.
Besides focusing on current customer buying patterns and trends, you need to figure out who your customers are, their location, and the type of competition in the market. In other words, know the current market leaders and other major market shareholders.
See market analysis as your first step in analysing the opportunity the new market presents. This knowledge will help you know how to sell your products and services to a market.
Risk Assessment
There is no way you would be analysing a new business opportunity without carrying out a risk assessment. Every business opportunity comes with its risks, just as it comes with its benefits. You have to fully understand the risks and know if it’s worth taking or not. And if you decide the business is worth the risk, knowing the dangers ahead will prepare for anything, as you’d have prepared a plan towards tackling such threats.
Some of the areas to focus on in a risk assessment process include the overall state of the economy, nature or natural disaster, competitor, government policy, etc.
And for internal risk assessment, your health, credit availability and workforce needed should take top priority.
Support
Conclude your analysis by evaluating the amount of support you hope to get from family, friends, and the community. Are you married? What does your spouse think of this? Oh, you are single – are the closest people to you supportive and encouraging?
This may seem not so important until you realise that running a new business will take a lot of your time, affecting your relationships. This will ultimately come back to hurt your mental health.
Also, you need to find and join the different communities associated with this new business. Sign up to the newsletter of small business blogs, among others. The help and support you’d get from there would come in handy.
In Conclusion
Here is an attempt at summarising the 5-point best practice for analysing new business opportunities using questions
1. It begins with you – are you up to the task?
2. Funds – Do you have the money or know somewhere you can get it?
3. Market – What is the current state of the things in the market you are going into?
4. Risks – What are the risks, and does the benefit outweigh the risks?
5. Support – Do you have shoulders to lean on?
