What Is a Feasibility Study?

A feasibility study is designed to provide an overview of the primary issues related to a business idea. The purpose is to identify any "make or break" issues that would prevent your business from being successful in the marketplace. In other words, a feasibility study determines whether a business idea, such as a public-private partnership (PPP) in hospital management, makes sense.

A thorough feasibility analysis provides a lot of information necessary for the business plan. For example, a good market analysis is necessary in order to determine the project's feasibility. This information provides the basis for the market section of the business plan.

Because putting together a business plan is a significant investment of time and money, you want to make sure that there are no major roadblocks facing your business idea before you make that investment. Identifying such roadblocks is the purpose of a feasibility study.

A feasibility study looks at three major areas:

1. Market issues

2. Organizational and technical issues

3. Financial issues