A 26-question self-assessment that produces an objective, 100-point Business Health Score across five weighted dimensions.
Start the Assessment About Our Owner-Led PracticeComplete each section as honestly and objectively as possible. The assessment takes about 10 minutes, your score updates as you go, and your answers are saved in your browser so you can leave and come back. Peakline uses this same diagnostic in engagement discovery to prioritize the roadmap for every new partnership.
A few questions carry extra weight and scale to 3 or 5 points instead of 4.
A well-run business; ready for a growth or exit process.
A solid business with manageable gaps.
Good bones; targeted improvements needed.
Meaningful gaps across multiple dimensions.
Foundational work required before growth initiatives.
Tap a score for every question. Section totals and your overall score update live in the bar at the bottom of the screen.
Your completed results are emailed to you as a PDF, and a Peakline partner will reach out within 24 hours to go over them with you.
A clear strategy, defined value proposition, and a documented plan for growth: the bedrock of any well-run owner-operated company.
1. Does the business have a clearly written mission, vision, and set of core values that guides decision-making?
2. Is there a documented strategic plan or roadmap covering the next 1 to 3 years with measurable goals and milestones?
3. Has the owner defined the company's unique value proposition and primary differentiators versus competitors?
4. Does the business have a clear understanding of its Total Addressable Market, target customer profile, and ideal client criteria?
5. Is there a defined competitive strategy (cost leadership, differentiation, niche focus, or another approach) that is actively communicated to the team?
The quality, reliability, and sophistication of the company's financial management. The most heavily weighted section, as financial clarity is the foundation for all growth and exit decisions.
1. Are financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) prepared monthly on an accrual basis and reviewed by the owner?
2. Does the owner have a clear, real-time understanding of cash position, runway, and key cash drivers at all times? 5-point question
3. Is there an annual budget or financial plan that is tracked against actual results monthly?
4. Are the books clean, current, and free from commingling of personal and business expenses?
5. Does the business track and understand its gross margin, EBITDA (or owner's earnings), and key financial KPIs on a regular basis?
6. Has the business undergone any formal financial review, such as a compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statement, in the last two years?
Whether the business has the systems, processes, and structure needed to operate consistently and scale without breaking, particularly in the absence of the owner.
1. Are the core business processes (sales, delivery, operations, billing) documented in written standard operating procedures?
2. Does the business use technology tools (accounting software, CRM, project management, HR) appropriate to its size and consistently adopted by the team?
3. Can the business operate for 2 to 4 weeks without the owner present, without significant disruption to customers or revenue?
4. Are there defined and documented roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines for all key team members?
5. Does the business have basic risk management practices in place, including business insurance, data backup, and key-person risk mitigation?
The strength and depth of the leadership team, talent management practices, and cultural health: critical factors in building a business that is not solely dependent on its owner.
1. Does the business have a capable leadership team or management layer (beyond the owner) that can make decisions and lead day-to-day operations?
2. Are there defined hiring, onboarding, and performance management processes that produce consistent talent outcomes?
3. Is the owner actively developing their team through coaching, training, delegation, and growth opportunities?
4. Does the business have low voluntary turnover relative to its industry, indicating a healthy and engaged workplace culture?
5. Is there a clear succession or continuity plan in place in the event the owner is unable to lead the business?
The owner's clarity on personal and business goals for the future, including growth ambitions, exit timeline, and structural readiness for a transaction, sale, or leadership transition. Each question scores 0 to 3.
1. Has the owner defined a clear personal goal for the business, whether continued growth, partial liquidity, full sale, or family and management succession?
2. Does the owner have a target timeline and valuation expectation for an exit or transition, validated against current market benchmarks?
3. Is the business structured in a way that would support a clean transaction, including entity structure, a clean cap table, and no significant undisclosed liabilities?
4. Has the owner taken any steps toward exit preparedness, such as engaging an advisor, conducting a business valuation, or cleaning up financials?
5. Does the business have customer and revenue diversification, avoiding concentration risk where one or two clients represent more than 30% of revenue?
Answer all 26 questions above to reveal your business health band.
Submit your assessment and a Peakline partner will personally reach out within 24 hours to go over your results.