Cathy Rhodes

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The Cathy Rhodes Business Healthcheck

Is your business fighting fit, or getting a little flabby round the edges? Take my short health check to find out!

Tick the box that most closely describes you and your business in each area.

Item Select
1. How consistent is your cash flow?
a. It varies depending on when the business comes in
b. It varies – business is seasonal
c. Not that great if I am honest
d. Always positive and predictable
   
2. How do you look after your customers?
   
a. We keep in touch regularly with a small proportion of our customers, but don’t do much with the rest
b. We contact our customers from time to time when we have new products
c. We have a system to capture and track our dealings with customers. This helps us to identify and resolve any problems and keep in touch regularly with new offers and support
d. We don’t tend to keep in touch with customers after they have bought from us
   

3. How much do you invest in the three key areas of operations, marketing and finance & admin?
   
a. We invest similar amounts in each area
b. We invest more in operations than the other areas
c. We invest more in marketing than the other areas
d. We invest more in finance & admin than the other areas
   

4. Do you test and measure your business activities, e.g. marketing?
   
a. We test and measure all activities and invest in the successful ones
b. We test and measure most activities, but not everything

c. We test and measure our major activities, such as a new advertising campaign
d. We rarely test and measure what we do
   

5. How tightly do you control costs?
   
a. Tight cost control is critical to our business, so we make it top priority
b. We keep a pretty good handle on this, but are not sure if we have the best prices on everything

c. If costs start to increase somewhere then we address it, but we are not looking at it all the time
d. We don’t actively control our costs
   

6. Is your % profit
   
a. Increasing over time
b. Being squeezed due to increased costs, e.g. fuel

c. Being squeezed due to pressure on prices
d. Being squeezed due to both increased costs and pressure on prices
   

7. When do you increase your prices?
   
a. We regularly increase our prices as we launch new and enhanced products and services
b. We increase our prices when our costs go up

c. We can’t increase our prices as our market is so competitive
d. We are actually discounting our prices as our market is so competitive
   

8. How does your business plan look?
   
a. We have a long range plan (e.g. 5 years), with clear goals and milestones, which is guiding us towards our business vision
b. We have a short range plan (e.g. 1 year), which we are on track to achieve

c. We have a short range plan (e.g. 1 year), but are not on track with it
d. We don’t have a formal plan – we just know what we are looking to achieve
   

9. Do you invest in the growth and development of your business?
   
a. We consistently invest in all areas of the business, in our people, systems and marketing
b. We invest more in some areas than in others

c. We invest as and when funds will allow
d. We just don’t have the means to invest at the moment
   

10. What is your view on having a business advisor to achieve your business goals?
   
a. I always have external advice on my business. I can’t be expert in all areas!
b. I have never really considered it in the past, but would be interested to see how it might help

c. If things weren’t going well, I would certainly consider getting advice
d. I have built a successful business without having an advisor, so I don’t really see why I would need one
   
   
Total Points:
 

25-30 points:

Fighting fit – remind me not to pick a fight with you! It looks like you have a really well run operation there – well done, you deserve great success.
Click here now to find out how I can help you achieve at the highest level.

20-25 points:

You’re looking in pretty good shape – well done. To ensure your business really thrives, though, a little toning in a couple of areas looks in order.
Click here now to find out how I can help you ensure you are fighting fit!

10-20 points:

It looks like your business is a bit out of condition in some areas. I’d suggest some urgent work is required on these to ensure you are fit enough for the fight.
Click here now to find out how I can help you get your business in great shape.

0-10 points:

Your business health is looking as bit shaky to be frank. I’d urge you to take action today to sharpen up some of your practices.
Click here now to find out how I can help you get your business in great shape.

Best wishes,

Cathy

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