- Business Plan Questions and Answers
Get answers to the top business plan FAQs.
Find answers to business plan writing, financial forecasting and other questions from South Africa’s #1 Business Plan Experts.
Does JTB conduct feasibility studies outside South Africa?
Yes. JTB supports South African and international businesses, investors and project sponsors requiring commercial, market and financial feasibility analysis.
How much does a feasibility study cost?
The cost depends on the project’s size, complexity, industry, available information, research requirements and the level of financial analysis required. JTB provides a defined scope and quotation after reviewing the project.
How long does a feasibility study take?
A typical JTB Desktop Feasibility Study is currently planned at approximately 25 working days from receipt of the required information. Complex projects or specialist research may take longer.
Can JTB conduct a feasibility study if I already have a business plan?
Yes. JTB can independently test the market, commercial and financial assumptions in an existing business plan without automatically rewriting it.
Do I need a feasibility study before preparing a business plan?
Not always. A separate feasibility study is particularly useful for larger, uncertain, technically complex or capital-intensive projects, or where a funder specifically requires feasibility evidence.
What is the difference between a feasibility study and a business plan?
A feasibility study asks whether the project should proceed. A business plan explains how a viable project will be funded, implemented, operated and grown.
What is a feasibility study?
A feasibility study determines whether a proposed business, project, expansion or investment is commercially, financially and operationally viable before significant capital or resources are committed.
Are there any value-added services, like pitch deck preparation or market research, available?
Yes. In addition to business plan preparation, JTB Consulting provides complementary services including investor pitch deck development, market research, financial modelling, business valuation, and feasibility studies.
These services are often integrated into a single engagement to ensure consistency across documents and presentations. The objective is to strengthen the overall funding and decision-making case rather than treating each deliverable in isolation.
Can you explain the timeline and process for developing a business plan with JTB Consulting?
The process begins with a detailed consultation to understand the client’s business model, objectives, and funding requirements. This is followed by research, financial modelling, and structured drafting.
Most business plans are completed within four to six weeks, depending on complexity and the availability of information. Clients receive progress updates at defined milestones and have opportunities to review and refine assumptions during development.
How do you ensure the business plan meets investor or bank requirements?
Business plans are structured around the actual evaluation criteria used by banks and investors, including financial viability, risk assessment, market positioning, and execution capability.
JTB Consulting’s methodology integrates detailed financial modelling, realistic assumptions, and clear strategic logic. Plans are reviewed internally for structural coherence and funding alignment before delivery, reducing the likelihood of rejection due to format, logic, or credibility issues.
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The lack of access to finance for SMEs remains a challenge in South Africa, inhibiting their growth and sustainability. According to the South African Reserve Bank data on bank statistics, total SME credit exposure to banks was ZAR 631 billion at the end of 2020, equivalent to 25% of total business loans.