The Question Most Business Owners Avoid

Between the deadlines, the decisions, and the constant demands of running your business, there’s a question that sits in the back of your mind.

Does your business run without you?

Whether you grow it, sell it, hand it down, or just take a real vacation, ask yourself:

When everything feels important, nothing becomes a priority.

See what deserves your attention first Built for business owners. 24 questions. About 10 minutes.
What it measures

Seven areas decide whether your business holds up without you.

The seven Hexiss domains, connected: Financial Health, Leadership and Succession, Operational Independence, Customer and Market Position, People and Culture, Direction and Focus, Risk and Continuity. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Financial Health Leadership& Succession OperationalIndependence Customer& Market Position People & Culture Direction& Focus Risk & Continuity
01
Financial Health
Can the business absorb a slow quarter or an unexpected expense without you covering the gap?
02
Leadership & Succession
Who’s in charge when you’re not there, and is anyone ready to take over?
03
Operational Independence
Does the work run on documented systems, or on what’s in people’s heads?
04
Customer & Market Position
Do customers come from reputation and repeat business, or from you chasing them?
05
People & Culture
Does the team perform the same whether you’re watching or not?
06
Direction & Focus
Does everyone know where the business is headed and what matters this quarter?
07
Risk & Continuity
What happens if a key client, employee, or supplier disappears tomorrow?

Owner Dependency

Two businesses can score the same in an area. One gets there through systems and a capable team. The other gets there because the owner handles it personally. Only one holds up when the owner steps back.

Hexiss scores both: how well the business works today, and how much of that depends on you or a few key people.

Built on established research in business continuity and succession readiness. See how the questions were developed.

What you get back

Clarity and a plan you can act on.

Where you stand in seven areas, where the business leans too hard on you, and a 90-day plan for what to fix first.

Some fixes need a CPA, attorney, or banker. When they do, your report says so. See who we’d call

Your results

Here’s what you walk away with.

Hexiss.Hexiss™ Business Stress Test · Sample report
Where you are now With less dependency Maximum
Operational IndependenceClose this first
Operational Independence
Today 38 · With less dependency 72
Leadership & Succession
Leadership & Succession
Today 44 · With less dependency 76
Risk & Continuity
Risk & Continuity
Today 52 · With less dependency 74
Direction & Focus
Direction & Focus
Today 58 · With less dependency 78
People & Culture
People & Culture
Today 63 · With less dependency 80
Customer & Market Position
Customer & Market Position
Today 69 · With less dependency 84
Financial Health
Financial Health
Today 74 · With less dependency 88

Solid bar: where each area stands today. Lighter extension: where it could be with less dependency on you. The biggest gap is where to start.

Then: The Next 90

Each gap becomes a step in your 90-day plan, sorted by what to fix first.

Fix First1 item
Owner & Key-Person DependencyD2
Start now

Your feedback and score for this area appear here, drawn from how you answered.

Your steps appear here after you complete the Business Stress Test.

High Priority2 items
Working Capital & Operating ReservesD1
Start now

Your feedback and score for this area appear here, drawn from how you answered.

Your steps appear here after you complete the Business Stress Test.

Bench StrengthD5
Do in 90 days

Your feedback and score for this area appear here, drawn from how you answered.

Your steps appear here after you complete the Business Stress Test.

This is an example report. Your results will vary based on your business and your responses.

For CPAs, advisors, and lenders

Your clients’ biggest risk is usually them.

Send the Stress Test to a client before your next planning conversation. They’ll come in knowing what to fix first.

Advise owner-operated businesses in the Sioux Falls area? We’re building the list of people we refer owners to. Get in touch

See where your business stands today.

The Hexiss™ Business Stress Test: 24 questions, about 10 minutes. Seven areas scored, your dependency gaps mapped, and a 90-day plan for what to fix first.

Get your 90-day plan