A productive feasibility-study kickoff begins with a clear decision and an organized set of project information. You do not need every answer before starting, but the study should distinguish confirmed facts from proposed choices and missing evidence.
State the decision in one paragraph
Explain whether you are comparing sites, evaluating an acquisition, planning a new business or considering an expansion. Identify the proposed industry, location and intended audience for the report. If a lender or other reviewer has supplied questions, include the original request.
Describe what could change as a result of the research. A site comparison, a concept revision and a financing review may require different emphasis. This helps establish scope before anyone assumes that every feasibility assignment produces the same deliverables.
Prepare four folders
| Folder | Useful starting information | | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Site | Address, parcel information, available survey and concept layout | | Business concept | Proposed services, size, hours, brand assumptions and project stage | | Market evidence | Known competitors, traffic information and relevant operating records | | Costs and timing | Available estimates, equipment proposals, intended schedule and unresolved items |
Label each document with its date and status. If several plans exist, identify which version is current. Explain missing records instead of replacing them with an unsupported estimate.
Send questions along with documents
A large file package is more useful when accompanied by a short issue list. Examples include uncertain driveway access, a competing project under discussion, an unconfirmed utility assumption or a proposed operating change after acquisition.
For each issue, identify what is known and which professional or agency may need to provide confirmation. That keeps market research connected to other project work without treating one report as a replacement for every specialist review.
Agree on the research boundary
The SBA's business-planning resources offer general planning context. Your specific assignment should define the questions, available evidence, assumptions and intended use of the findings. Confirm any reviewer requirements directly rather than assuming that a report guarantees acceptance or funding.
Use the FDS project enquiry form to share the project description and available documents. A concise, well-labeled starting package makes it easier to identify the research that will help with the next decision.