UWAA Entrepreneur Program

Questions for focus groups and surveys

UWAA ENTREPRENEURS

• How long have you been an entrepreneur?
• What motivated you to start a new business?
• How did you get started?
• How did you decide how to set up and structure your business?
• What was your business planning process as you started your business?
  • How has the process evolved over time? Why?
• What were the major obstacles you encountered in starting your business? How did you overcome them?
• What skills/expertise did you wish you had as you started the business?
• What areas did you seek outside help for as you started your business? How did you find that help?
• What are the factors that might limit the success of your business? What are you doing or do you plan to do to address those factors?
• What experiences have you had in starting and running your business that would be good to share with someone just starting out?
• What kinds of legal issues have you encountered as an entrepreneur?
• How have you approached recordkeeping and taxes for your business?
• What was your marketing strategy as you started your business?
  • How has the strategy evolved over time? Why?
• For years,Puget Sound has had a strong entrepreneurial identity. But a recent SBA study indicates that it now is not in the top 20 regions inU.S. in any measure for innovation or entrepreneurial activity.
  • Why do you think that is?
  • What is needed to improve the situation?
• If UWAA offers packages of entrepreneur startup services to students and recent grads, would you be interested in participating?
  • How would you like to participate? For how long?
• Why do you want to become an entrepreneur?
• How do you know you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur?
  • Are you a self starter?
  • How well do you get along with a variety of personalities and working styles?
  • How good are you at making decisions?
  • Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business?
  • How well do you plan and organize?
  • Are your attitudes and drive strong enough to maintain motivation?
  • How will the business affect your family?
• What strengths to you have to start a business?
• What areas are you weaker in?
• In what areas do you think you will need to find outside expertise as you get started?
  • Why do you think you’ll need outside expertise?
  • How will you find outside expertise?
• What other kinds of support/mentoring would be helpful as you start your business?
• With a plethora of online services available, what is the benefit of offering local expertise with a package price?
• Here’s what UWAA is considering offering…
  • Do you think it is the right mix of services? Why or why not?
  • What other services do you think you might need to get started?
  • Does the pricing seem like a good value? Why or why not?

NEW ENTREPRENEURS