Founder Alignment Research — Isabella Consulting

Confidential Research · Isabella Consulting

Shifting from Hustle to Harmony

A national study into what small business owners really need — beyond profit — for growth that feels as good as it pays. Your answers are confidential and will shape a landmark research report.

🔒 Confidential & Anonymous

About You Time & Energy Direction Wellbeing Performance Support

Section 1 of 6

About You & Your Business

A few quick facts to help us understand the landscape. All data is anonymised and reported in aggregate — no individual response will ever be identifiable.

How long have you been running your business? *

3–5 years 6–10 years 11–20 years 20+ years

Please select one option to continue.

How many people work in your business, including yourself? *

Just me 2–5 people 6–15 people 16–50 people

Please select one option to continue.

What is your approximate annual business revenue? *

Under £50k £50k–£150k £150k–£500k £500k+

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Which sector best describes your business? *

Professional services Creative industries Health & wellness Retail & product Tech Hospitality Trade & construction Other

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Which best describes your primary role day to day? *

Mostly delivering the work Split between delivery and leading the business Mostly leading and directing Other

Tell us a little more:

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Section 1 of 6

Time, Energy & Working Patterns

There's no right or wrong here — just honest. These questions get to the heart of how you're really spending your time and energy. Trust your gut.

In a typical working week, roughly how many hours do you work across all business activities? *

Under 30 hours 30–40 hours 41–50 hours 51–60 hours 60+ hours — the business doesn't really clock off

Please select one option to continue.

What proportion of your working week is spent doing the work versus working on the business — strategy, planning, development? *

100% doing the work (client delivery, day-to-day) 100% working on the business (strategy, growth)

50% / 50% balance

When did you last take a full day completely away from the business midweek — no emails, no checking in? *

In the last week 1–3 months ago 3–6 months ago Over 6 months ago I genuinely can't remember

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Which of these takes up the most time in your week that you wish it didn't? *

Admin and operations Chasing leads or marketing Client delivery — beyond what feels sustainable Firefighting problems Managing people or contractors Something else

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How close does your current working week feel to your ideal working week? *

Very far from what I imagined Exactly what I imagined

Optional: What does your ideal week actually look like?

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When things feel pressured or uncertain in the business, what is your most common response? *

I work longer hours to get on top of it I focus on the most urgent things I seek advice or an outside perspective I take stock and make a deliberate plan I find it hard to act at all — I tend to procrastinate Other

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On average, how would you describe your general mood and outlook on business? *

Consistently positive — "I can figure this out" Mostly confident — some tough days, but overall positive Up and down — my mood varies significantly Mostly low or overwhelmed Low mood — find it hard to feel positive about the business

Please select one option to continue.

Which habits do you consistently maintain most weeks? Select all that apply.

Protecting sleep (7+ hours) Exercising regularly (more than once a week) Actively learning — reading, studying, practising Socialising and investing in relationships Maintaining a hobby outside work Meal planning or conscious eating Honestly? None of these consistently

Section 2 of 6

Direction & Clarity

Strategy without clarity is just hope in a spreadsheet. This section explores how grounded you are in the direction of your business — and how much space you create to think about it.

Does your business have a written mission or purpose statement? *

Yes — and I refer to it regularly as a guide Yes — but I rarely use it in practice I have something informal — it's in my head more than on paper No — not something I've ever formalised

Please select one option to continue.

When making a significant business decision, what do you most commonly use as your guide? *

My gut — I trust my instincts What the finances allow My mission or values What competitors are doing What clients are asking for Something else

Please select one option to continue.

How confident are you in the overall direction and growth roadmap for your business over the next two years? *

Not at all confident Extremely confident

Please select a rating to continue.

When did you last set aside dedicated time for strategic thinking — not client work, not admin, but genuinely working on where the business is going? *

In the last month 1–3 months ago 3–6 months ago Longer than 6 months ago I struggle to find that time at all — it gets crowded out

Please select one option to continue.

How confident are you in turning business ideas into reality? *

Very confident — I'm actively developing something new right now I have an idea but it's still vague and undeveloped I have at least one clear idea but don't know where to start I often have lots of ideas — but they don't tend to become reality

Please select one option to continue.

How confident are you about your position in the market? *

I know my unique strengths and genuinely stand out from competitors I know what makes me different but struggle to communicate it to the right people I don't feel I stand out — I feel lost amongst competitors I get lost in comparison — it impacts my mood and decision-making

Please select one option to continue.

Section 3 of 6

Wellbeing & Mindset

This is often the section people skip in business research. We think it's the most important. Answer honestly — this data will directly shape what support small business owners actually need.

How would you describe your energy levels at the end of a typical working week? *

Completely depleted — I need the weekend to just recover Mostly tired — I'm running on empty more often than not Mixed — some weeks good, some weeks rough Generally good — I manage my energy reasonably well Consistently energised — I finish most weeks feeling alive

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How often do you experience a sense of overwhelm in running your business? *

Rarely or never Occasionally — it comes in waves Most weeks Almost daily — it's a near-constant undercurrent

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"Looking after my mental and physical wellbeing has a direct positive impact on my business." How strongly do you agree? *

Strongly disagree Strongly agree

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In the past 12 months, have you invested in any support specifically for your own wellbeing, mindset or personal development? *

Yes, regularly — it's a consistent part of how I run the business Yes, once or twice this year No — though I've considered it No — it hasn't felt like a priority

Describe the support you invested in:

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If there's a gap between what you believe about wellbeing and what you actually invest in — what best explains it? *

Cost — it feels like a luxury I can't justify Time — I simply don't have the bandwidth I don't know what would actually help me I don't feel I deserve to prioritise it — others come first

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Think about the core work you personally do with clients. How much do you still genuinely enjoy delivering it? *

I've completely outgrown it — the joy is gone It absolutely lights me up

Please select a rating to continue.

What is your biggest frustration with your work right now? Select all that apply.

Not enough time Long hours that feel unsustainable Revenue not reflecting the effort I put in Doing work that doesn't excite or fulfil me Persistent overwhelm Not knowing how to grow in the direction I want The pressure of competition

What does work most negatively impact in your life outside the business? Select all that apply.

Time with loved ones My health and fitness Stress and anxiety levels What and how I eat Quality of sleep Financial worry and pressure It doesn't have a significant negative impact

Section 4 of 6

Business Performance

How is the business actually doing — and does it reflect how you feel about it? This section explores the relationship between your numbers and your sense of progress.

How has your revenue trended over the past 12 months? *

Grown significantly Grown slightly Stayed roughly the same — plateaued Declined slightly Declined significantly

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How confident are you in your ability to grow or scale the business without significantly increasing your workload? *

Not at all confident Extremely confident

Please select a rating to continue.

If your business isn't growing as fast as you'd like, what feels like the biggest obstacle? *

Too much depends on me personally — I'm the bottleneck Lack of a clear strategy or direction Not enough of the right clients My offers or services need developing No time left to think or plan External market conditions — largely outside my control The business is growing at the pace I want

Please select one option to continue.

Do you feel you are primarily working with clients you do your best work with — and most enjoy working with? *

Yes, mostly — I genuinely love most of my clients About half and half Mostly not — I've drifted from my ideal client I take what comes — I can't afford to be selective right now

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How clearly does your business stand out from competitors in your market? *

We blend in completely We are unmistakably distinct

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Which phrase best describes where your business is right now? *

Surviving — keeping things going, but not where I want to be Building — making progress, but not yet thriving Thriving — growing in a way that feels sustainable and fulfilling Succeeding financially — but at a real personal cost

Please select one option to continue.

Section 5 of 6

Support & the Future

The final stretch. These questions will shape the practical recommendations that come out of this research — so your answers here have real power to influence what support gets built for founders like you.

What types of business support have you used in the past three years? Select all that apply.

Business coach Marketing consultant Accountant or financial advisor Mentor Online courses or self-study programmes Mastermind or peer group VA or outsourced admin support Financial grant or external investment Financial support from friends or family Therapy, counselling or mindset coaching Community or networking groups None — I've largely gone it alone

Overall, how well has the business support you've received addressed the whole picture — both the practical business challenges and the personal experience of running it? *

Only addressed one piece of the puzzle Addressed everything I needed

Please select a rating to continue.

What type of support do you feel is currently missing or hardest to find? *

Support that combines business strategy with personal wellbeing — I can't find both in one place Clear, practical marketing and visibility guidance Financial planning and growth strategy Accountability and a genuine peer community Emotional support and resilience — somewhere to process the human side I feel well supported — nothing significant is missing

Please select one option to continue.

How well does running your business currently support — rather than conflict with — your life outside work? *

It actively undermines my home life It supports and enhances my life outside work

Please select a rating to continue.

Finally: what single thing, if it changed, would make the biggest difference to both your business and how you feel about it?

Section 6 of 6

🌿

Thank you — genuinely.

Your answers will contribute to one of the most honest pictures of what it really feels like to run a small business in the UK today.

This research is being compiled into a landmark report on founder alignment and sustainable business growth. Watch this space — we'll be sharing the findings with you directly.

"Success that feels as good as it pays."

Isabella Consulting · isabellaconsulting.co.uk

About You & Your Business

Time, Energy & Working Patterns

Direction & Clarity

Wellbeing & Mindset

Business Performance

Support & the Future

Thank you — genuinely.

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