Investment, financial and marketing advisoryKazakhstan-wide · Central Asia · International projects
KIR Consulting
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Common feasibility study mistakes

The errors that cause lenders and investors to return a study: inconsistent figures, weak market evidence, incomplete CAPEX, utilities, working capital and risk.

Most material errors are not formatting issues but breaks between sections: the technical design uses one capacity, the sales plan another, and the budget and schedule match neither.

Key point

A robust study traces every important number to its source and shows how a changed assumption affects budget, timing, cash flow and financing.

Unsupported market

Total industry size is treated as project demand, while competition, logistics and ramp-up are ignored. Define the serviceable segment, test pricing and channels, and link sales to capacity.

Incomplete CAPEX and utilities

Delivery, installation, design, utilities, contingency, working capital or pre-launch interest are omitted. Use a complete cost structure and one schedule.

Model and narrative disagree

Prices, volumes, staffing, dates and funding differ. Use one assumptions block, control checks and a change log.

Risks are only listed

The risk section has no effect on scenarios. Estimate likelihood and impact, define actions and test downside cash flow.

Final review

  • every material figure has a source;
  • capacity and utilisation agree;
  • CAPEX covers the full investment period;
  • schedule and funding are linked;
  • working capital and tax are included;
  • the downside changes cash flow;
  • conclusions follow the calculations.

FAQ

Can editing alone fix the study?

Not when the issue is logic or source data; calculations and linked sections must be rebuilt.

Why is an optimistic case dangerous?

It hides additional funding needs and the risk of debt-service failure after normal deviations.

Is independent review useful?

For capital-intensive projects, a separate review of the model, technical assumptions and consistency is valuable.

Official sources and requirement checks

Requirements vary by project type and document recipient. Before work starts, confirm the current checklist with the lender, investor, zone management company or public authority.

Do you need a feasibility study?

We define the required depth, validate source data and prepare the feasibility study together with a linked financial model.

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