As the year is underway, your company is probably putting in place a business turnaround strategy for the months ahead. Or perhaps you have a general outline but have not quite put the finishing touches on it yet. In either case, there’s a time-tested approach to refining your strategic plan that you should consider: a SWOT analysis. Let’s take a closer look at the SWOT planning process and what each of the letters represents in the abbreviation.

Strengths

A SWOT planning process starts by identifying your company’s core competencies and competitive advantages. These are how you can boost revenues and build value. Examples may include an easily identifiable brand, a loyal customer base or exceptional customer service.

Utilize on how to use a swot analysis by unearthing the source of each strength. A loyal customer base, for instance, may correlate to a star employee or executive. For example, say a CEO with a high regional profile and multitude of contacts within the business community. In such a case, it’s important to consider what you’d do if that person suddenly left the business.

Weaknesses

Next the analysis looks at the opposite of strengths: potential risks to profitability and long-term viability. These might include high employee turnover, weak internal controls, unreliable quality or a location that’s no longer advantageous.

You can evaluate weaknesses relative to your competitors as well. For example, say metrics indicate customer recognition of your brand is increasing, but you’re still up against a name-brand competitor. Is that a battle you can win? Every business has its Achilles’ heel, with some of them having several. Identify yours so you can correct them.

Opportunities

From here, a SWOT analysis looks externally at what’s happening in your industry, local economy or regulatory environment. Opportunities are favorable external conditions that could allow you to build your bottom line if your company acts on them before competitors do.

For example, imagine a transportation service that notices a growing demand for food deliveries in its operational area. The company could allocate vehicles and hire drivers to deliver food, thereby gaining an entirely new revenue stream.

Threats

The last step in the analysis is spotting unfavorable conditions that might hinder your business from achieving its goals. Threats might come from a decline in the economy, adverse technological changes, an increase in competition or tougher regulation.

Going back to our previous example, that transportation service would have to consider whether its technological infrastructure could support the rigorous demands of the app-based food-delivery industry. In addition, it would need to assess the risk of regulatory challenges of engaging independent contractors to serve as drivers.

The SWOT Planning Process

Typically presented as a matrix (see accompanying image), a SWOT analysis provides a logical framework for better understanding how your business runs and for improving (or formulating) a strategic plan for the year ahead. Our accounting firm can help with your company brand review, gather and assess the financial data associated with the analysis.