Business Plan in a Day : Get It Done Right, Get It Done Fast!

by Abrams, Rhonda

• ISBN13: 9780974080123
• ISBN10: 0974080128
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-10-30
• Publisher: Ingram Pub Services

Summary

Entrepreneurs often need business plans - fast. Investors, banks, and planning departments regularly request them, and corporate employees often need to present such plans to their managers. What these people need is a guide to developing a high-quality business plan quickly. Enter Business Plan in a Day, an easy-to-use, easy-to-understand resource that offers solid advice from a recognized leader in the field.

Table of Contents

About Rhonda Abrams	v
The In A Day promise	vi
Need a Business Plan Fast? This Book Is For You!	vii
Overview: What's a Business Plan?	viii
How to Use this Book	xi
Executive Summary	3	(10)
Prepare your summary	5	(8)
Company Description	13	(16)
Give your company name(s) and location(s)	14	(2)
Provide information about your company's ownership and legal status	16	(2)
Describe your company's history, development stage, and milestones	18	(2)
Identify your product(s) or service(s)	20	(2)
Describe your industry	22	(2)
Explain your company's funding	24	(5)
Pulling It All Together: Company Description	26	(3)
Target Market	29	(16)
Specify the geographic location of your target market	30	(4)
Describe the demographic characteristics of your target customers	34	(2)
Explain customer motivations and purchasing patterns	36	(2)
Determine your market size	38	(2)
Evaluate market trends	40	(5)
Pulling It All Together: Target Market	42	(3)
The Competition	45	(16)
Identify types of competition	46	(2)
Identify your specific competitors	48	(2)
Determine your competitors' market share	50	(2)
Determine competitive positions	52	(2)
Highlight your competitive edge	54	(2)
Evaluate barriers to entry and potential future competition	56	(5)
Pulling It All Together: The Competition	58	(3)
Marketing and Sales Plan	61	(12)
Summarize your marketing message	62	(2)
Describe your marketing vehicles	64	(2)
Identify any additional marketing and sales strategies	66	(2)
Describe your sales team	68	(5)
Pulling It All Together: Marketing and Sales Plan	70	(3)
Operations	73	(12)
Determine key operations elements	76	(2)
Highlight your operational advantages	78	(2)
Address current---or potential---operational challenges	80	(5)
Pulling It All Together: Operations	82	(3)
Management Structure	85	(14)
Highlight your key team members	86	(4)
Predict future management needs	90	(2)
Describe your staffing structure	92	(2)
Identify your board members, advisors, and consultants	94	(5)
Pulling It All Together: Management Structure	96	(3)
Future Development	99	(14)
Define your long-term goals	100	(2)
Establish future milestones	102	(2)
Assess the risks	104	(2)
Explore exit strategies	106	(7)
Pulling It All Together: Future Development	110	(3)
Financials	113	(28)
The Most Important Financial Statements	114	(1)
Additional Financials	115	(1)
Produce your Income Statement	116	(8)
Develop your Cash-Flow Projection	124	(6)
Generate your Balance Sheet	130	(4)
Show your Sources and Use of Funds	134	(4)
Consider preparing additional supporting financial statements	138	(3)
Presentation Pointers	141	(8)
Following Up	149	(3)
Nine Sure-Fire Ways to Ruin Your Business Plan	152	(3)
The Experts Talk	155	(15)
Business Terms Glossary	170	(2)
Business Resources	172	(5)
Index	177	(4)
Acknowledgments	181