The Best-laid Business Plans; How to Write Them, How to Pitch Them

by Paul Barrow; Forward by Sir Richard Branson

• ISBN13: 9780753509630
• ISBN10: 0753509636
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2005-03-01
• Publisher: Virgin Books

Summary

How to write them, how to pitch them. Whether you're buying or selling, launching a new brand or employing more staff, better plans will lead to greater results. Shows how to create a successful business plan, how to present the right plan for the right audience, and how to get the maximum benefit from minimum effort.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Sir Richard Branson
Preface	xi
Professor David Storey
Introduction	1	(4)
How to use this book	5	(4)
Planning -- who needs it?	9	(12)
Why you need a business plan and the benefits it will bring your business
Recognising that you need a business plan that is unique to your business situation
In search of the perfect business plan	21	(18)
The 10 steps in business planning, a general outline of what goes in the plan, and a few thoughts before you start
Who you should send it to and how you should present it
Hey you! -- What do you want?	39	(14)
Setting personal and Smart business objectives
The Executive Summary -- the snappy pages that sell your business plan
What is it you do -- and how well do you do it?	53	(20)
Reviewing the current situation, describing your business, current mission and objectives
Your management, key employees and organisation
Let's look at some numbers	73	(32)
Visiting the numbers for a first, second . . . however many times it takes to get them right
The key forecasts: Profit and Loss, Cash flow, Balance sheet, Break-even, Key ratios
But where will the money come from?	105	(26)
Explaining why and when you need the money
Short- and long-term funding, loans and equity
What about some market research?	131	(26)
Finding out what you need to know about customers and competitors
Preparing a meaningful sales forecast
What's so special about your business?	157	(30)
Competitive business strategy, environmental scanning (PEST), assessing the options (SWOT) and contingency planning
Creating a marketing strategy including the four Ps (product, price, promotion and place)
How are you going to deliver?	187	(18)
Your current and any new products or services
How you make your product or provide your service
Key sources of supply
What about the people?	205	(16)
Identifying who you will need, recruiting them and keeping them
Insurance -- protecting your business
Making it all happen	221	(16)
Communicating and delivering your plan
Controlling your business so it keeps on track
A final thought	237	(4)
Your business plan checklist to make sure you have included everything
And finally, a thought about your next business plan
Appendices	241	(18)
Financial projection sheets
Sources of help
Index	259