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BUSINESS PLANS : Why Business Plans Don’t DeliverAn economic downturn is a great time to start a business....and prepare a business plan? It sounds paradoxical, but think about it. Costs are lower, and more talent is available, thanks to layoffs. Prospective clients are more likely to try a new supplier who can help them cut costs or increase their competitiveness. Established players, too, are focused on cutting costs instead of increasing market share. All of this helps clear the way for the next venture with the better mousetrap—but only if the entrepreneur can write a clear and convincing business plan. Anything less is heading straight for the bin. Because, let’s face it, the intended recipients of such business plans—investors and lenders, family and friends, anyone with capital to invest in the project—are all much more wary of risk now in these turbulent times. Truth be told, most business plans fail to make much impression on potential investors. Most aren’t even read in full. Their shortcomings tend to be obvious even in a two-page executive summary, largely because they are written before enough real work has been done to create a solid foundation. I set out to understand why most business plans don’t deliver. Drawing on the hundreds of plans and pitches that I’ve seen over many years of working with entrepreneurs and early-stage ventures, I searched for common patterns in plans that gained no traction. The result? Five oh-so-common varieties of plans that go quickly into the trash without further consideration. To help budding entrepreneurs avoid these traps, I also identified the three key elements that go into a successful business plan: a logical statement of a problem and its solution; a battery of cold, hard evidence; and candor about the risks, gaps and other assumptions that might be proved wrong. In what follows, I will expose the deal-killers found in the five most commonly rejected types of business plans, and share tips for creating plans that should get you invited back for a second meeting and, if all goes well, raise some capital and attract some initial customers. By: JOHN W. MULLINS JUNE 30, 2009 - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970204830304574133501980701202.html Writing a Business DescriptionThe first thing you need to concentrate on when you write the business description is its structure. By structure we mean the type of operation....Business Plan DefinitionA business plan is a formal statement of a set of business goals, the reasons why they are believed attainable, and the plan for reaching those goals...Free Sample Business PlanRemember that your plan should be only as big as what you need to run your business. While everybody should plan a outline to help run a business, not everyone needs a complete formal business plan...Design Business Plans to Start a BusinessBusiness planning is about results. For every business plan, you need to make the contents of your plans match your purpose. Don't accept a standard outline just because it's there.Five Business Plan MistakesIf you are preparing to raise capital from either an investor or a bank, you’re probably writing a business plan. Here are five of the most common mistakes that I have seen as a result of my experience as a commercial banker and corporate-finance consultant...Do I Need a Business Plan for a Loan?Not everyone who is going to start a business begins with a business plan. It all depeneds on what size and kind of business. If you are a freelance designer or you are a one man show data entry business...Three key messages for designing business plansThree key messages for designing business plans you must clearly and convincingly communicate to your lender or investor...How to Write a Business PlanWriting a business plan can be ohat is worth doing, you need to take the time and aquire some information....Other related Articles: Start-Up Founders Forget About Business Plans? Dec 15, 2009This past summer, HubSpot Inc. received several offers from venture firms to invest in the marketing software start-up all without a formal business plan. ...Develop a business plan to make more money October 27, 2009It's time for you to develop a business plan, whether you're just starting up or are already running a company. ...Wow Investors : Web-Savvy Business Plan August 27, 2009As an online business owner or potential startup, one of the major documents you will need to get funds from potential investors is your business plan. ...Home Based Business Plans August 23, 2009Business school students spend a lot of time learning about different strategies to create a successful business plan. All businesses should have a fully ...How far will a business plan get you? June 30, 2009Business plans can be useful tools. But a new study finds that they do little to help entrepreneurs get financing. ...Why Business Plans Don’t Deliver June 30, 2009An economic downturn is a great time to start a business....and prepare a business plan? ...The business plan- who, what, when, where June 16, 2009Once you've decided you may want to start your own business, you need a business plan as well as two important milestones ...Business Plan Competitions Offer more then Money Apr 2 2009In a time when money is tight and funding is tougher than ever to get, winning a business plan competition could provide a nice boost in cash for a start-up. ... |
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