Pre-Ownership Experience

• 1Immediately prior to going into this business, did you work for:?
• 1aWas the business:? (type of)
• 2Before going into your current business, about how many years had you worked in the industry of this business, OR had you never worked in the industry before?Top 100 question
• 3Before going into this business, about how many years had you produced, serviced, distributed or sold the same or similar products and services as the ones you are selling now, OR had you basically not worked with them before?
• 4Before going into this business, about how many years had you worked with the same type of customer, such as the general public, a special segment of the public, a particular industry that you now have as your primary customer, OR have you not worked with this type of customer before?
• 5Was the last organization you worked for prior to entering this business relatively more advanced technologically, relatively less advanced technologically, or about the same technological level as this business? Would that be a lot more/lot less advanced?
• 6Prior to this business, did you ever operate a business of your own that grossed at least $5,000?Top 100 question
• 7About how many years of experience did you have managing or supervising employees before going into this business, OR didn’t you have any experience?
• 7aWhat was the largest number of employees that were under you at any one time?
• 8A(prior experience) Sales or marketing.
• 8B(prior experience) Accounting or finance.
• 8C(prior experience) Production, servicing, or operations.
• 8D(prior experience) Personnel or human resources.
• 9ADid you ever found or help create a non-profit organization, club, campaign, or drive that had 10 or more volunteers working for it at any one time?
• 9BWere you the president, chair or treasurer of any non-profit organization, club or volunteer committee that had 10 or more volunteers working for it at any one time?
• 9CDid you organize or chair a fund-raising event, drive or campaign for a non-profit organization or cause that raised $10,000 or more?
• 9DDid you have a hobby or special interest that was related to the products or services you now sell?
• 10What is your highest level of formal education?
• 10aWhich of the following best describes the course of study at your highest level of formal education?
• 10bIs the primary subject matter in your course of study directly applicable to your current business, indirectly applicable, or not at all applicable?
• 11In the year immediately before entering this business, did you take one or more special workshops or seminars, outside a formal education program, specifically to prepare yourself for this business?
• 12Age of formation - life experience prior to entry (Calculated)

Volume 2, Issue 8, 2002
ISSN 154-8326

William J. Dennis, Jr.
NFIB Research Foundation