Signature tool
The FORTRESS 5P Business Health Diagnostic
A paid, two-week review of your records, tax position, cash flow, controls and growth readiness. You see exactly where you stand, and what to do first.
- Length
- Two weeks
- Examines
- Five areas of your business
- You receive
- A 5P score from 0 to 100, a 90-day plan and a 60-minute debrief
- Fee
- Fixed and agreed in writing before work begins
What it examines
Five areas. One clear score.
The diagnostic looks at your business through five lenses. Each one asks a simple question, and together they show the whole picture.
Tap an area to see it on the ring.
The five areas it examines
Is it right for you?
It is a good first step when…
It is the recommended first step for owner-managed SMEs, and useful for any growing organisation that wants evidence before it acts.
- Your books are behind, and every tax deadline brings a scramble.
- Your true profit and cash position are unclear, so decisions rest on instinct.
- Stock and cash seem to disappear, and no one can explain why.
- A loan or investor application is coming, and the numbers are not ready.
- The business is growing, and you want to know what to fix first.
Not ready to book? Try the free Business Clarity Scan: 20 questions across the same five areas, about five minutes, and nothing you choose is stored.
How it works
From first conversation to a clear plan, in five steps.
This is the Test stage of the FORTRESS Method: we check the problem against evidence before we recommend anything.
- A 45-minute conversationWe listen first, to understand your business in your own words. No obligation.
- Scope and fixed fee, in writingIf the diagnostic is right for you, we agree the scope and a fixed fee in writing before any work begins.
- Two weeks of reviewWe review your records, tax position, cash flow, controls and growth readiness, using the evidence in your own books.
- Your 5P scorecard and 90-day planEach of the five areas is reviewed, and you receive a 5P scorecard from 0 to 100. The plan puts the actions in order.
- A 60-minute debriefWe walk you through the findings in plain language. Then you decide what happens next.
Our promise. We guarantee our process, never outcomes outside our control, such as loan approvals or tax-authority decisions. Fees are fixed and agreed in writing before work begins. You may say no at any point, and we will respect it.
After the diagnostic. Where the review finds a backlog or compliance gaps, the FORTRESS Finance Office keeps your books and filings up to date every month, with a one-page Clarity Report. Whether you take that step is always your choice.
Questions
What people ask about the 5P Diagnostic
Questions and answers
How much does the 5P Diagnostic cost?
We do not publish fees, because the scope depends on the size of your business and the state of your records. The fee is fixed and agreed in writing before any work begins, so you know the exact amount before you decide.
Why is the 5P Diagnostic paid?
Because it is real work, not a sales meeting. Over two weeks we review your records, tax position, cash flow, controls and growth readiness, using the evidence in your own books. You receive a 5P scorecard from 0 to 100, a 90-day plan and a 60-minute debrief, and they are yours to use whether or not you work with us afterwards. The fee is fixed and agreed in writing before any work begins.
How long does it take?
The review takes two weeks. It ends with a 60-minute debrief, where we walk you through your scorecard and your 90-day action plan.
What do you need from us?
Access to your records: your books, bank statements, tax filings and, where relevant, stock records. We send you a short list of what we need before we start.
Is the 5P Diagnostic an audit?
No. It is a business health review that shows where you stand and what to do first. It is not a statutory audit. Where a statutory audit is required, we partner with our affiliate licensed professional practitioners.
Will it guarantee a loan or investment?
No. We guarantee our process, never outcomes outside our control, such as loan approvals or tax-authority decisions. The diagnostic gives you clear evidence and a plan, which makes your business easier for a lender to assess.
What happens after the diagnostic?
You decide. If you want our help with the plan, we set out clear options (Essential, Recommended and Complete), each with its outcomes and a fixed fee. There is no pressure: you may say no, and we will respect it.
New to business health checks? Read our plain-language guide: What is a business health diagnostic, and does your business need one?
Let’s begin
It starts with a conversation.
Book 45 minutes with us, with no obligation. If the 5P Diagnostic is right for you, we will agree the scope and a fixed fee in writing.