How would I go about preparing a business plan for a small business?

7 Comments

1. imisidro says:

   July 19, 2010 at 10:40 pm

   For less than $100, you can buy a business plan software. But the software is merely a guide — you need to research and think of the contents of the business plan. Once you think you have the information you need, then check out Palo Alto’s Business Plan Pro software http://www.bplans.com/mk/bpp.cfm?affiliate=powerhomeb

   Here are some resources that can help you write your business plan:

   - SBA Business Plan Basics http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html
   - PowerHomeBiz.com Creating a Business Plan section http://www.powerhomebiz.com/startup/businessplan.htm
   - Entrepreneur.com Writing a Business Plan section http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizplan/0,7253,,00.html

   You may also want to review some sample business plans to see how it actually looks like:

   - Bplans.com http://www.bplans.com/sp/businessplans.cfm
   - MOOT Corp Business Plan competition winners
   http://www.businessplans.org/businessplans.html
   - VFinance – View hundreds of real business plans in pdf format. http://www.vfinance.com/home.asp?bps=1&ToolPage=bps_main.asp
   - Business Owners Toolkit Sample business plans and information on how to create a plan. http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/buspln_m.asp
   - PlanWare Planning software and information. http://www.planware.org/
   - Virtual Business Plan Walk through the design of a business plan. http://www.bizplanit.com/vplan.html
   -SBA Business Planning Guide http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html
   - Small Business Advancement Center http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/business_plan/businessPlan.pdf
   - Sample Business Plan General planning guide created by the Canadian Business Service Center. http://www.cbsc.org/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=CBSC_FE/display&c=GuideFactSheet&cid
   - Business Plans Index – A subject guide to sample business plans and profiles for specific business types from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. http://216.183.184.20/subject/business/bplansindex.html

   Some recommended books are :

   - Business Plans Kit for Dummies
   - The Complete Book of Business Plans : Simple Steps to Writing a Powerful Business Plan
   - Writing Business Plans That Get Results : A Step-By-Step Guide
   - Business Plans For Dummies®
   - Your First Business Plan : A Simple Question and Answer Format Designed to Help You Write Your Own Plan
2. Marie G says:

   July 19, 2010 at 11:02 pm

   If you have the main components, the order doesn’t matter that much, but here’s the order I suggest.

   Executive Summary: Write this last. It’s just a page or two of highlights.
   Company Description: Legal establishment, history, start-up plans, etc.
   Product or Service: Describe what you’re selling. Focus on customer benefits.
   Market Analysis: You need to know your market, customer needs, where they are, how to reach them, etc.
   Strategy and Implementation: Be specific. Include management responsibilities with dates and budgets. Make sure you can track results.
   Web Plan Summary: For e-commerce, include discussion of website, development costs, operations, sales and marketing strategies.
   Management Team: Describe the organization and the key management team members.
   Financial Analysis: Make sure to include at the very least your projected Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables.
   I don’t recommend developing the plan in the same order you present it as a finished document. For example, although the Executive Summary obviously comes as the first section of a business plan, I recommend writing it after everything else is done. It will appear first, but you write it last.

   Standard Tables and Charts

   There are also some business tables and charts that are normally expected in a standard business plan.

   Cash flow is the single most important numerical analysis in a plan, and should never be missing. Most plans will also have Sales Forecast and Profit and Loss statements. I believe they should also have separate Personnel listings, projected Balance sheet, projected Business Ratios, and Market Analysis tables.

   I also believe that every plan should include bar charts and pie charts to illustrate the numbers.
3. Cleopatra says:

   July 19, 2010 at 11:58 pm

   Go to http://www.sba.gov , http://www.score.org or http://www.bplan.com for instructions on how to write a business plan and sample business plans.
4. harish w says:

   July 20, 2010 at 12:23 am

   There are hundreds of places where you can find information as to how to create a business plan. But a prior experience in the field is a must to create one. I can do this for you, for an affordable price and we do it in a professional manner. Kindly visit http://www.radisolutions.com or email me at harwaish@yahoo.com for more information
5. Elevating Your Business says:

   July 20, 2010 at 12:56 am

   Lotsa resources, samples, etc.

   http://www.theresourcequeen.com/favorites/businessplans.html
6. the ferrari man says:

   July 20, 2010 at 1:37 am

   We use Business Plan Pro

   http://www.businessplanpro.com/?gclid=CPrq5cne1ZACFQ81QgodSn2OXg

   The business plan consists of a narrative and several financial worksheets. The narrative template is the body of the business plan.
   The real value of creating a business plan is not in having the finished product in hand; rather, the value lies in the process of researching and thinking about your business in a systematic way. The act of planning helps you to think things through thoroughly, study and research if you are not sure of the facts, and look at your ideas critically. It takes time now, but avoids costly, perhaps disastrous, mistakes later.
   This business plan is a generic model suitable for all types of businesses. However, you should modify it to suit your particular circumstances.
   You will be judged by the quality and appearance of your work as well as by your ideas.

   Here are the headings to consider :
   I. Table of Contents
   II. Executive Summary
   III. General Company Description
   IV. Products and Services
   V. Marketing Plan
   VI. Operational Plan
   VII. Management and Organisation
   VIII. Personal Financial Statement
   IX. Startup Expenses and Capitalisation
   X. Financial Plan
7. TwinMomma says:

   July 20, 2010 at 2:06 am

   lol