Welcome to the CWE Community! We are so glad you are here.

We know that entrepreneurship can be exciting, challenging, scary, thrilling, happy-making, lonely, and a way to build community all at the same time! We are a community of business owners, educators, experts, friends, shoulders to cry on, and people who have been there. We are here to support you as you grow your business to be exactly what you want it to be. Your dream may be a side-hustle to pay for an annual vacation, a multi-million-dollar business, or somewhere in between. Wherever your dream lands, CWE is here to support you.

Please take our Entrepreneurship Phase Assessment to determine your current phase of entrepreneurship and learn how best to utilize CWE’s resources at this time. Feel free to come back and take this assessment as you grow as a business owner to reassess and realign!

While you take the assessment, keep the following things in mind:

Don’t overthink it. Pick whichever answer calls to you.
There are no wrong answers.
Nothing is set in stone.
Your answers here (and everything you do with CWE) are completely confidential.

At the end of this assessment, you will know your current phase of entrepreneurship & how best to use CWE’s resources. If you feel stuck after the assessment, please contact your home Center. You can find their information here.

If you are curious about how we define the phases of entrepreneurship, please find all the phases here.

Entrepreneurship Phase Assessment

First Name

Last Name

Your Business Name (if applicable)

Are you military-service connected?

(Veteran // Active Miliary // Active Reservist // Active National Guard // Military Spouse // Child of a military connected person)

YesNo

Your Email Address

Your Home Center Eastern Massachusetts (Essex, Barnstable, Bristol, Suffolk, Dukes, Norfolk, Middlesex, Nantucket, and Plymouth counties)Central Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Springfield, and Worcester counties)New HampshireVermontRhode IslandNone of the above – Out of Service Area

Would you like to receive emails about CWE workshops in your area?

What best describes you? I am interested in starting a business but am not sure what I want to doI have a business idea, but have not made any salesI have a side business or have been making informal sales and am ready to take it to the next levelI want to open a franchiseI have an existing businessI want to buy a businessI want to make an exit plan for my business (sell your business, pass to family members, close business etc.)I am not interested in starting a businessI want to start a non-profit

Why are you interested in starting a business? Select all that apply. Changes in my lifestyle (childcare, age, among others).I want to have my own business for my retirement/old age.I am an immigrant and looking to start a business.I want my family to have a place to work/offer work to my family. I have not gotten a job or employment like the one I need or want.I want to be my own boss!I don’t like my current job and want to try something new.Other

Other

Which statement best describes your business idea? I have identified a need in the community or environment that I believe I can solve.I have a skill that I want to build a business aroundI have a product (food (not restaurant), items, art, jewelry, etc) I am passionate about.I have a service (consulting, experiences, cleaning services, etc) I am passionate aboutI have a retail business I am passionate aboutI want to start a food service industry businessI have completed a certificate/professional/licensing program and now am starting my business (doctors, hair stylist, CPA, esthetician, lawyer, herbalist, therapist, plumber etc.)

Do you have experience in the industry you are interested in starting a business in?

YesNo

Why are you interested in buying the business? I am a current employee and would like to buy the business from the current owners.I am part of a group of current employees who would like to buy the business from the current owners take over.I am part of a group of people who saw a business for sale and we can picture ourselves as the new owners! I saw a business for sale and I can picture myself as its new owner!I have run a business before and am looking for my next endeavor

What best describes your comfort level with your business skills as your start your next business endeavor? I am in a brand-new industry and, as a result, feel like I am starting from scratch with my business knowledgeIt's been a while since I was in the startup phase and think I need a refresher on my business skillsI feel solid in my business skills but am in a new industry and am feeling lost in this new businessI feel like I know my new business pretty well and am comfortable with my business knowledgeI am very confident in my business skills overall and am figuring out the specifics of my new businessI have already had a business in this space and feel very confident in my business skills

Are you currently using or considering an employee ownership model?

YesNo

What is the legal entity of your business? I don’t know what this question meansNot formedCorporation (S-Corp, C-Corp, Benefit Corp)LLCSole Proprietor (Doing Business As (DBA), tradename, etc)Partnership (We are referring to the legal entity of partnership here, not if you have a business partner)Non-Profit

What is your goal for your business in the next year? I want to feel more confident in my businessI want to grow my business!I have an opportunity for imminent growth! (new contract, order, etc)I want to explore a new direction in my business (a new product or service, a new market, making a pivot, etc) I’m at a crossroads in my business and I need to make a plan for my businessI want to start to plan for an exit in my businessI want to feel more grounded + stable in my businessMy business is in active crisis (cash flow, lease, law suit etc) and I need to manage this situation before I think any further

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Self Assessment

Welcome to the CWE Community! We are so glad you are here.

Entrepreneurship Phase Assessment