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Feasibility Study Advisory

Know Whether the Project Makes Sense Before You Commit Major Time or Money.

Astute helps management test new ventures, expansion projects and investment decisions before major commitments are made. We examine the market, operating requirements, technical needs, regulatory conditions, financial case and execution risks so decision-makers can see what is viable, what needs to change and what should happen next.

Not sure whether you need a feasibility study, business plan, market research or financial model? Use the Astute Business Adviser on this page and explain the decision you are trying to make.

Decision firstThe study starts with the decision management needs to make, not with a fixed report template.
Evidence separated from assumptionsWe make clear what is known, what is estimated and what still needs validation.
Several viability angles tested togetherMarket demand is considered alongside operations, regulation, investment requirements and financial performance.
Recommendation is not predeterminedThe conclusion may be proceed, proceed with conditions, redesign, defer or stop.

More than a report

The Decision Matters More Than the Document.

A feasibility study should help management decide whether to proceed, change the concept, reduce the scope, obtain more information, restructure the investment or stop before committing additional resources.

That means the analysis has to connect market evidence, operating realities, regulatory conditions and financial assumptions. A project can have customer demand and still be difficult to execute. It can be technically possible and still fail commercially. It can be profitable on paper and still require more capital or time than the organisation can support.

Is a Feasibility Study the Right Starting Point?

Use a feasibility study when the main question is whether you should proceed.

A feasibility study is not automatically the right answer for every business problem. The starting point should match the decision you actually need to make.

A feasibility study is usually suitable when:

  • You are considering a new venture, location, facility, product line or major expansion and want to test it before committing capital.
  • Management needs evidence about demand, operating requirements, investment cost, risk and financial viability before approving the project.
  • A lender, investor, board or institutional stakeholder needs a stronger basis for deciding whether the project should proceed.
  • The original project assumptions have changed and management needs to reassess whether the concept still makes sense.

Another service may be better when:

  • The project has already been approved and the main need is a detailed plan for how the business will operate. A business plan may be more appropriate.
  • The main uncertainty is customer demand, competition or market size. Dedicated market research may be enough.
  • The commercial case is clear and the main requirement is detailed projections, scenario analysis or investment modelling. Financial Modelling may be the more efficient route.
  • The main question is whether the business is ready to approach a bank or investor. Start with the Funding Readiness Test.

Already know you need a feasibility study?

Use the calculator to describe the project, locations, assessment areas, research requirements and timing. You will see an indicative fee before speaking to us.

Get an Indicative Estimate

Core assessment areas

A feasibility study should test the project from several connected angles.

01

Market Feasibility

Demand, target customers, market size, growth drivers, competition, pricing, customer behaviour and realistic sales assumptions.

02

Technical Feasibility

Technology, equipment, infrastructure, capacity, location, technical specifications and resource requirements needed to deliver the project.

03

Operational Feasibility

Processes, staffing, supply requirements, logistics, governance, operating model and day-to-day capability required after launch.

04

Regulatory & Institutional Feasibility

Licences, approvals, standards, sector obligations, institutional dependencies and other conditions that may affect implementation.

05

Financial Feasibility

Startup and investment costs, revenues, operating expenses, cash flow, profitability, funding requirements and sensitivity to assumptions.

06

Implementation & Risk

Critical dependencies, execution risks, sequencing, decision gates, mitigating actions and the practical conditions required to proceed.

When the study is useful

Different decisions require different levels of analysis.

01New Venture

Test whether a business concept has sufficient demand, workable economics and a realistic operating model before launch.

02Expansion Project

Assess a new branch, market, product line, facility or capacity investment before capital is committed.

03Investor or Lender Review

Develop a clearer evidence base around the opportunity, assumptions, funding requirement and ability to implement.

04Board or Management Decision

Give decision-makers a structured view of benefits, costs, risks, alternatives and conditions for proceeding.

05Public, Donor or Institutional Project

Examine commercial, operational, financial and stakeholder considerations before approving a programme or project.

06Concept Reassessment

Revisit a project when assumptions have changed, costs have increased, implementation has stalled or the original case is no longer clear.

Our working principle

We Do Not Start With the Conclusion.

A feasibility engagement should not be commissioned merely to justify a decision that has already been made. The analysis must be allowed to show where assumptions are weak, what additional evidence is needed and whether the proposed project should change.

01Separate evidence from assumptions

Make clear what is known, what has been estimated and what still needs validation.

02Test the whole operating case

Do not examine market demand without considering the resources and systems needed to deliver it.

03Make financial logic visible

Show the assumptions behind revenues, costs, capital requirements and sensitivity rather than presenting a single headline number.

04End with a decision framework

The final recommendation should explain whether to proceed, proceed conditionally, redesign, defer or stop.

What Makes the Study Useful

The value is in the quality of the decision, not the number of pages.

A useful study should show why the conclusion was reached, which assumptions matter most and what management should do if conditions change.

The decision question is agreed first.

We clarify what management needs to decide before deciding what research and analysis are necessary.

Research depth follows the risk.

Fieldwork, interviews and primary research are used where they materially improve the decision rather than being added automatically.

The financial case is tested, not merely presented.

Important assumptions, capital needs and sensitivities are examined so decision-makers can see what changes the result.

The final recommendation includes conditions.

A project may be viable only if pricing, funding, capacity, approvals or other critical conditions are achieved.

Our working process

A structured route from project question to decision-grade analysis.

Step 01

Project Alignment

Clarify the decision, scope, stakeholders, assumptions, available information and required outputs.

Step 02

Research & Evidence

Gather relevant secondary information and conduct primary research where the project requires it.

Step 03

Viability Assessment

Analyse the market, technical, operational, regulatory, financial and implementation dimensions.

Step 04

Scenario Testing

Test key assumptions, sensitivities, risks and alternative project configurations where appropriate.

Step 05

Recommendation

Present conclusions, conditions, decision points and practical next steps for management.

The exact methodology is tailored to the project. Primary research, stakeholder interviews, site work, financial modelling or specialist technical inputs are included only where they are relevant to the agreed scope.

Typical outputs

What management should receive at the end.

The final deliverables should make the decision easier to understand and defend, not simply add more information.

Executive decision summary Project and assumption framework Market and competitive assessment Technical and operational assessment Regulatory and institutional considerations Financial model or financial feasibility analysis where scoped Key risks and sensitivity considerations Go, conditional go, redesign, defer or no-go recommendation Implementation priorities and next steps Supporting appendices and evidence where applicable

Rate Calculator & Service Request

See the likely scope and indicative fee before you contact us.

Answer a few questions about the project, assessment areas, research requirements, financial analysis, locations, fieldwork and timing. Your answers also become your service request, so you will not need to repeat the same information when we follow up.

Feasibility Study Rate Calculator

Find Out What Your Feasibility Study May Cost.

Tell us about the decision you need to make, the project, the research required and the level of analysis you need. We will give you an indicative fee, recommended study level and payment options.

Your answers also become your service request, so you will not need to repeat the same information when we follow up.

Step 1 of 7

Step 1

What decision do you need to make?

What should the feasibility study help you do? Select all that apply.

Step 2

What do we need to find out about the market?

What market research should Astute carry out? Select all that apply.

Step 3

What approvals, impact and stakeholder issues should we assess?

Which wider impacts should the study assess? Select all that apply.

Step 4

How detailed should the financial analysis be?

Which investment measures do you need? Select all that apply.

Step 5

What should management receive at the end?

What should the final study help management decide or do? Select all that apply.
Would you like any of these additional modules or deliverables? Select only what is relevant.

Step 6

When do you need it and how would you like to pay?

Step 7

Where should we send your estimate?

Frequently asked questions

Questions buyers usually ask before commissioning a study.

These are the practical questions that usually affect scope, timing, cost and whether a feasibility study is the right service.

What is a feasibility study?

A feasibility study evaluates whether a proposed project or business concept is practical and viable under defined conditions. It normally considers market, operational, technical, regulatory, financial and implementation factors relevant to the decision.

Is a feasibility study the same as a business plan?

No. A feasibility study primarily tests whether and under what conditions an idea should proceed. A business plan explains how a chosen business or project will operate, compete, generate revenue and be implemented. In some engagements the feasibility study comes first.

Can a feasibility study guarantee funding or project success?

No. A study can improve the quality of the evidence and decision-making, but lenders, investors, regulators and other stakeholders make their own decisions, and actual project performance depends on execution and changing conditions.

Do you always conduct field research?

No. Primary research is used where it materially improves the decision and is justified by the scope. Some studies can rely mainly on credible secondary data, existing client evidence and targeted stakeholder interviews.

How long does a feasibility study take?

The timeline depends on project complexity, geographic scope, data availability, research requirements, number of stakeholders and depth of financial or technical analysis. The timetable should be agreed after the scope is understood.

What information do you need to start?

We normally begin with the project concept, decision to be made, location, expected investment, current assumptions, available research or financial information, key stakeholders and any deadline driving the study.

How much does a feasibility study cost?

The fee depends on the project type, number of assessment areas, geographic scope, data availability, research or fieldwork required, financial analysis and delivery timing. Use the calculator on this page for an indicative estimate. Final scope and professional fee are confirmed after the actual requirement is reviewed.

What if I already have market research or financial information?

We can use relevant existing information where it is credible and current. That may reduce duplicated work. We first review what already exists and identify the gaps that still need to be addressed for the decision.

Can the study conclude that we should not proceed?

Yes. The purpose is to support a sound decision, not to justify a predetermined conclusion. A recommendation may be to proceed, proceed only if certain conditions are met, redesign the concept, defer the project or stop.

Can you update or review an existing feasibility study?

Yes. Where a previous study exists, we can first determine whether the main need is an update, independent review, new market evidence, revised financial assumptions or a more substantial reassessment.

Start with the decision

Need to Know Whether a Project Is Worth Pursuing?

Tell us what you are considering, where the project will operate and what decision the study needs to support. We can review the requirement and define an appropriate feasibility scope.