Written by Kari O'Neill, former SDSU Extension Community Vitality Program Manager.
If you are thinking of starting a business, it makes sense to ask questions of current business owners in similar fields to give you a sense of owning and operating a business yourself. The following questions are samples you can use to give you a perspective of doing business in your area.
Sample Questions
- Business Interviewed:
- Contact Information:
- Website:
- Date of Interview:
Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I am considering starting a business similar to yours in [location]. Would you be willing to answer a few questions about how you started your business?
- Did you have a clear objective or business plan when you started?
- What type of preparation did you have?
- What were some of the greatest challenges you encountered?
- What sort of marketing did you do?
- How did you decide if/when to hire employees?
- What was your experience like in obtaining financing?
- What was your biggest surprise in starting your business?
- How has your business changed since you first started?
- Is there anything you would do differently if you started over today?
- What advice would you have for a beginning business owner?
Thank you for your willingness to talk with me today. Is there anyone else you would recommend that I speak with?
Reference: University of Wisconsin Extension, Business Feasibility: A First Cut Analysis. Adapted by Kari O’Neill, SDSU Extension.
