By Stephen W. Gibson

1. Briefly describe your opportunity concept.
2. Who will purchase your product or service?
3. What problem for the consumer or industry will your product or service solve?
4. How will your customers hear about your product or service? ("Word of mouth" is not an acceptable answer.)
5. How will you distribute the service or product to the customer?
6. Why will the customer buy from you rather than a competitor?
7. How many competitors are offering a similiar service?
8. How will competitor's pricing compare with yours?
9. What will differentiate your service or business from others?
10. What major costs are involved in producing this product or service? What kind of profit do you expect?
11. What legal form of organization would you have?
12. What are the barriers to entry?
13. Will you operate as a solo or a team?
14. Where will the money come from for the start-up costs?
15. What preliminary research have you done?
16. Is there any element in the introduction of your product or service that motives you to start now?
17. Outline, as best you understand them, the steps that are necessary for you to take to change your idea into a specific product or service.
18. As you have reviewed the process, list strengths you have to "pull off" the introduction of your product or service.
19. What are your personal and business weaknesses which could hurt the start-up?
20. How do you propose to make up for the weaknesses?
21. What do you hope I can do for you?