Conduct a SWOT Analysis for a Business
Get a specific, evidence-based SWOT analysis with a clear strategic recommendation.
This prompt frames the model as a strategy consultant and forces every SWOT quadrant to carry 4-5 specific, evidence-backed points instead of the platitudes most SWOT templates invite. Reach for it when you need a defensible starting position for a planning offsite, an investor memo, or a competitive review. The closing demand for a single most-strategic 12-month action is what turns a static four-box grid into an actual recommendation.
You are a strategy consultant. Conduct a SWOT analysis for [COMPANY NAME], which operates in the [INDUSTRY] industry. For each quadrant — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats — list 4-5 specific, evidence-backed points. Avoid generic statements. Conclude with the single most strategic action the company should take in the next 12 months.
What you can expect back
SWOT: Peloton (Connected Fitness) Strengths - High-margin recurring subscription revenue with strong retention versus equipment-only rivals - Premium brand recognition and a large existing hardware install base to upsell - Differentiated instructor talent that functions as a content moat Weaknesses - Heavy fixed-cost base built for pandemic-era demand that no longer exists - Hardware-dependent acquisition makes new customers expensive to win - History of inventory and demand-forecasting misses Opportunities - App-only subscriptions to monetize people who won't buy a $1,500 bike - Corporate wellness and hospitality (hotel, gym) licensing deals - International markets where connected fitness is under-penetrated Threats - Low-cost app competitors and free YouTube fitness content - Consumer discretionary spending pullbacks - Used-equipment resale market cannibalizing new hardware sales Most strategic 12-month action: Pivot acquisition toward the low-friction app subscription to decouple growth from expensive hardware sales.
Illustrative example — your results will vary by tool and inputs.
Get sharper results
- 01Paste in 3-5 recent facts (latest earnings note, a product launch, a layoff) so the 'evidence-backed' points reflect current reality instead of the model's training cutoff.
- 02Name 2-3 direct competitors in the prompt so Opportunities and Threats are framed relative to real rivals rather than the abstract market.
- 03Ask the model to tag each point as 'internal/controllable' or 'external/market' so you can immediately see what's actionable versus what you must navigate.
- 04Push back on any quadrant that still reads generic by replying 'make the Weaknesses more specific with a concrete example each' — the second pass is usually far sharper.
- 05Request a one-line rationale under the final recommendation tying it to specific quadrant points, so the action is traceable rather than asserted.
Adapt it for your case
Add 'then build a TOWS matrix pairing strengths with opportunities and weaknesses with threats to generate four concrete strategies.'
Reframe with 'analyze as a skeptical VC deciding whether to invest' and ask for the single biggest risk to the thesis.
Replace the public-company framing with private-business inputs you provide (revenue range, headcount, local market) since the model has no data on it.
Common questions
Is the analysis accurate if the company is private or obscure?
Only if you supply the facts — the model has little to no data on small or private firms, so paste in financials, customer notes, and market context for it to reason over.
Why does it only give one recommendation at the end?
Forcing a single most-strategic action prevents the wishy-washy 'do all four' output SWOTs usually produce. Ask for a ranked top-three if you want options.
Can the evidence be trusted as cited fact?
Treat it as reasoned inference, not verified data. Confirm any specific number or claim before it goes in a board deck.
You may also need
Write a Decision Memo for Leadership
Write a crisp one-page decision memo with options, recommendation, and next steps.
One-Page Decision Memo to Drive a Clear Recommendation
Turns a messy decision into a crisp one-page memo with a clear recommendation and a single ask.
Build a Decision Matrix for a Complex Choice
Build a weighted decision matrix with criteria, scoring, and a bias sanity check.
Create a Competitor Analysis Report
Generate a structured competitor analysis with per-competitor strengths, weaknesses, and positioning recs.