Plan Outline
Emperor,
Because you asked, here is an outline of a typical business plan.
1.0 Executive Summary
Highlights
Objectives
Mission
Keys to Success
2.0 Company Summary
Company Ownership
Start-up Summary
Company Locations and Facilities
3.0 Services
Competitive Comparison
Sales Literature
Fulfillment
Technology
Future Services
4.0 Market Analysis Summary
Market Analysis
Market Segmentation
Target Market Segment Strategy (Market Needs, Market Trends,Market Growth
5.0 Strategy and Implementation Summary
Competitive Edge
Marketing Strategy
Sales Strategy
Strategic Alliances
Milestones
6.0 Management Summary
Organizational Structure
Management Team
Management Team Gaps
Personnel Plan
Personnel
7.0 Financial Plan
Important Assumptions
Key Financial Indicators
Break-even Analysis
Projected Profit and Loss
Projected Cash Flow
Projected Balance Sheet
Business Ratios
As a general rule, you need a business plan when you are soliciting backers to inject operating capital into your company. A great business plan is the best way to show bankers, venture capitalists, and other investors that you are worthy of financial support.
A business plan should prove that your business will generate enough revenue to cover your expenses, but a business plan may vary depending on your audience. If you are writing a plan for your colleagues and partners to expand an existing business, then the focus of that plan may be more operational than financial. If you are writing a plan for a bank, the most important aspect to the bank manager will be your financials. Are your assumptions realistic? Will the cash flow be enough that you can make the monthly payments for the loan you have requested? If you are writing a plan for a venture capitalist, the most important factor in a decision to invest in a company is the quality of the people. The venture capitalist will ask how experienced are the people that are going to run this business? Do they have knowledge of the industry? Have they started successful ventures in the past?
I suspect a Business Plan is a little too far ahead of the game for you at this point. Perhaps what you really need to get started and to organize your thinking are just a couple parts of the Business Plan. I suggest that you define your goals, keys to success, and then develop your investment strategy and implementation plan.