Questions to Understand a Business

Whether you are an investor, an employee, or just curious, these questions will give you a sharper lens for evaluating any business, from a local shop to a global enterprise.

1. 1What problem does this business solve for its customers?
2. 2Who is the ideal customer, and how well does the business know them?
3. 3What is the company's revenue model?
4. 4How does the business differentiate itself from competitors?
5. 5What is the company's mission statement, and does it ring true?
6. 6How healthy are the company's profit margins?
7. 7What is the customer acquisition cost?
8. 8How does the company retain its customers?
9. 9What is the annual revenue growth rate?
10. 10How does the company handle customer complaints?
11. 11What is the company's organizational structure?
12. 12How strong is the leadership team?
13. 13What is the company culture like?
14. 14How does the company approach innovation?
15. 15What are the biggest risks facing the business?
16. 16How scalable is the business model?
17. 17What is the company's competitive moat?
18. 18How does the business use technology?
19. 19What is the company's approach to marketing?
20. 20How transparent is the company with stakeholders?
21. 21What are the company's core values, and are they practiced?
22. 22How does the company invest in employee development?
23. 23What is the employee turnover rate?
24. 24How does the company approach sustainability?
25. 25What is the company's debt to equity ratio?

26. 26How diversified are the company's revenue streams?
27. 27What is the company's strategy for international expansion?
28. 28How does the company handle economic downturns?
29. 29What is the company's intellectual property portfolio?
30. 30How does the company approach partnerships and alliances?
31. 31What is the customer lifetime value?
32. 32How does the company gather and use customer feedback?
33. 33What are the company's key performance indicators?
34. 34How does the company approach pricing strategy?
35. 35What is the company's supply chain like?
36. 36How does the company handle data security and privacy?
37. 37What is the company's approach to corporate social responsibility?
38. 38How does the company plan for succession?
39. 39What is the board of directors' composition?
40. 40How does the company manage cash flow?
41. 41What is the company's approach to mergers and acquisitions?
42. 42How does the company comply with industry regulations?
43. 43What is the company's net promoter score?
44. 44How does the company approach brand management?
45. 45What role does research and development play?
46. 46How does the company handle quality assurance?
47. 47What is the company's approach to digital transformation?
48. 48How does the company recruit top talent?
49. 49What is the company's pricing compared to industry averages?
50. 50How does the company approach risk management?

51. 51What is the company's approach to automation?
52. 52How does the company measure employee satisfaction?
53. 53What are the company's strategic priorities for the next year?
54. 54How does the company approach content marketing?
55. 55What is the company's market share?
56. 56How does the company handle regulatory changes?
57. 57What is the company's approach to customer experience?
58. 58How does the company build and maintain its reputation?
59. 59What is the company's working capital situation?
60. 60How does the company approach vendor management?
61. 61What is the company's dividend policy, if applicable?
62. 62How does the company handle global supply chain disruptions?
63. 63What is the company's approach to talent retention?
64. 64How does the company use data analytics?
65. 65What is the company's strategy for emerging markets?
66. 66How does the company approach environmental compliance?
67. 67What is the company's innovation pipeline?
68. 68How does the company manage shareholder expectations?
69. 69What is the company's approach to crisis management?
70. 70How does the company maintain its competitive edge?
71. 71What is the biggest threat to the company's future?
72. 72How does the company approach intellectual capital?
73. 73What is the company's approach to cross functional collaboration?
74. 74How does the company handle international trade complexities?
75. 75What is the company's strategy for building brand loyalty?

76. 76How does the company approach long term strategic planning?
77. 77What is the company's approach to stakeholder communication?
78. 78How does the company handle product development cycles?
79. 79What is the company's approach to operational efficiency?
80. 80How does the company balance short term profits with long term growth?
81. 81What role does customer data play in business decisions?
82. 82How does the company approach change management?
83. 83What is the single biggest opportunity for this business?
84. 84How does the company foster a culture of accountability?
85. 85What would happen to this business if its founder left tomorrow?
86. 86How does the company approach competitive intelligence?
87. 87What is the company's customer service philosophy?
88. 88How does the company plan for technological disruption?
89. 89What lessons has this company learned from its biggest failure?
90. 90How does the company approach employee wellbeing?
91. 91What is the company's stance on diversity and inclusion?
92. 92How does the company approach global compliance?
93. 93What is the company's go to market strategy for new products?
94. 94How does the company measure return on investment?
95. 95What is the company's approach to thought leadership?
96. 96How does the company handle seasonal demand fluctuations?
97. 97What is the one thing this company does better than anyone else?
98. 98What would need to change for this business to double in size?
99. 99How does the company approach building trust with new customers?
100. 100What is the one question every investor should ask about this company?

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