Abstract
The article considers qualitative characteristics of risks based on the practice of financing projects in a Kazakh bank. Identified and proposed significant risk factors that require careful analysis during the project appraisal. Classification and risk ranking are combined into three main groups: (1) Macroeconomics and the Industry, (2) Competitive Position and (3) Management Evaluation. The first group includes the risks of the industry with an assessment of the current and prospective state, exposure to technological risks, capital intensity. The second group determines the level and optimization of the cost of the company, a comparison with the indicators of competitors; strength of market positions of products. Evaluation of the company's sales level, its stability; diversification of products, buyers and suppliers are conducted expert way. The third group reveals the level of management of the company on the basis of factors: experience in this industry, education, reputation; the success of doing business and projects; an assessment of the interaction system between say shareholders and the company's management. Qualitative characteristics together with quantitative serve as a tool for decision-making in the analysis and evaluation of investment projects of business.