Write A Business Plan In No Time

by Fiore, Frank

• ISBN13: 9780789733726
• ISBN10: 0789733722
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2019-07-06
• Publisher: Que Pub

Summary

How many times have you thought about opening your own business? Is it a bakery to sell your delicious apple pies? Or maybe a financial consulting firm to help people safely invest their money? Or even an indulgent day-spa? The idea is great, but if you're like most would-be entrepreneurs, you know that going from thinking to doing takes more time than you may have. Writing a business plan is the important, and intimidating, first step to starting your own business, and now there is a comprehensive source on the subject that can teach you how to write your plan the fast, simple and easy way. Write a Business Plan In No Time is the working entrepreneur s answer to giving ideas life. Entrepreneur, businessman and author Frank Fiore walks you through writing a business plan step-by-step using easy-to-follow to-do lists. He'll help you determine the type of plan you need, what the various pieces of the plan should be and how to avoid common mistakes while writing your plan. Learn from the included sample business plans that illustrate the best language to use and approach to take depending on the purpose of the plan. You'll also be able to download worksheets, to-do lists and other helpful information from the book's website. With the help of Write a Business Plan In No Time, you will start to make your dream a reality.

Author Biography

Frank Fiore is a business expert and accomplished author of seven e-business books: The 2005 Shopping Directory for Dummies, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting an Online Business, eMarketing Strategies, Successful Affiliate Marketing for Merchants, TechTV's Starting an Online Business, How To Succeed in Sales Using Today's Technology, and Dr. Livingston's Online Shopping Safari Guidebook. He has written numerous columns on e-business and has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows discussing e-business and the future of e-commerce. He is an assistant professor at Western International University in Phoenix, Arizona and teaches several ground and online courses on e-business. He lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona with his wife and their Scottish sheepdog.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(8)
Business Plan Basics	9	(10)
What Is a Business Plan?	10	(1)
Getting the Most Benefit from Your Business Plan	11	(2)
Understanding the Three Types of Business Plans	13	(2)
Avoiding Common Business Plan Errors	15	(3)
Summary	18	(1)
Understanding the Elements of a Business Plan	19	(12)
Answering the Essential Questions	20	(5)
Pulling It Together---The Business Plan Elements	25	(2)
Summary	27	(4)
Getting Started: Introducing Your Plan and Identifying Your Mission and Goals	31	(16)
Formatting the Plan	32	(5)
Defining Your Mission Statement and Company Objectives	37	(3)
Write the Plan!	40	(4)
Summary	44	(3)
Preparing Your Company Overview	47	(12)
Identifying Your Company	48	(5)
Identifying Current and Potential Funding Sources	53	(1)
Describing Strategic Alliances	53	(1)
Write the Plan!	54	(2)
Summary	56	(3)
Describing Your Product or Service	59	(20)
Showing What Your Business Sells	60	(9)
Outlining Production Processes	69	(1)
Write the Plan!	70	(8)
Summary	78	(1)
Presenting Your Organizational Structure and Management Team	79	(16)
Describing Your Organizational Structure	80	(4)
Writing Your Description and Creating an Organizational Chart	84	(2)
Write the Plan!	86	(6)
Summary	92	(3)
Describing Your Marketplace	95	(16)
Doing the Research	96	(2)
Defining Your Market Segment---Targeting the Customer	98	(3)
Analyzing Your Industry, Its Participants, Your Market, and Market Trends	101	(4)
Write the Plan!	105	(5)
Summary	110	(1)
Crafting Your Marketing Strategy	111	(24)
Creating a Marketing Strategy	112	(2)
Acquiring Customers	114	(6)
Retaining Customers	120	(2)
Monetizing Customers	122	(2)
Creating a Public Relations Plan	124	(1)
Describing Your Sales Strategy	125	(1)
Write the Plan!	126	(8)
Summary	134	(1)
Listing Your Distribution Channels	135	(18)
Describing Your Real-World Presence and Distribution Channels	136	(4)
Describing Your Digital Presence and Distribution Channel	140	(6)
Write the Plan!	146	(4)
Summary	150	(3)
Describing Your Competition	153	(8)
Describing the Competitive Environment	154	(3)
Write the Plan!	157	(2)
Summary	159	(2)
Describing Your Business Risks	161	(6)
Listing Your Business Risks	162	(1)
Describing Your Risk Management Strategy	163	(1)
Write the Plan!	163	(1)
Summary	164	(3)
Creating Your Implementation Plan	167	(10)
Detailing the Startup Phase---The Zero Months	168	(2)
Describing the First Year	170	(1)
Outlining the Three to Five Year Plan	171	(1)
Write the Plan!	172	(4)
Summary	176	(1)
Writing Your Financial Plan	177	(18)
Presenting Persuasive Financials	178	(4)
Writing the Pro Forma	182	(4)
Organizing Your Financial Statements	186	(3)
Write the Plan!	189	(2)
Summary	191	(4)
Presenting Your Executive Summary	195	(8)
Organizing Your Executive Summary	196	(3)
Write the Plan!	199	(1)
Summary	200	(3)
Presenting Your Plan	203	(8)
Creating the Elevator Pitch	204	(1)
Presenting Your Plan to Investors and Management	205	(3)
Summary	208	(3)
A Sample Business Plan	211	(14)
Executive Summary	213	(2)
Company Summary	215	(1)
Services	216	(2)
Market Analysis Summary	218	(3)
Strategy and Implementation Summary	221	(1)
Management Summary	222	(1)
Financial Plan	223	(2)
B Sample Elements	225	(8)
Full Pro Forma	225	(4)
Pro Forma Income Statement	229	(1)
Pro Forma Statement of Cash Flow	230	(1)
Balance Sheet	231	(2)
C References and Resources	233	(4)
Marketing Websites	233	(1)
Free Marketing E-Newsletters	234	(1)
Financial Information	234	(1)
Business Plans and General Business Information	234	(1)
Technology Solutions	234	(1)
Legal Information	234	(1)
Tax Information	235	(1)
National Association for the Self-Employed	235	(1)
Minority Business Information	235	(1)
Women's Business Information	235	(2)
D Funding Your Business	237	(6)
Outlining Your Use of Funds	238	(1)
Describing Funding Sources	239	(2)
Creating an Exit or Payback Strategy	241	(1)
Summary	242	(1)
Index	243