Concise Guidelines To Business Plans

The Closet Entrepreneur:
Writing a business plan…
As mentioned before, there are no hard and fast rules for writing a business plan. Do you really need an executive summary, 3-Year pro forma, and sales forecasts for the next five years? Only if you’re going to find a benefit from these things.
The example below is the structure I used to get started, so feel free to mix it up, reorder, and modify it to suit your needs:
– The Vision –
What exactly is my business?
What problem does it solve and why is my solution the best/most unique?
What benefit does it provide to my customers?
– Branding –
What is my story and/or message?
What is my product’s personality, soul, and voice?
How will I translate the above into an identity, logo, website, business card, et cetera?
– The Numbers –
What does it cost to build my product and/or provide my service?
What are my expenses and are there any hidden costs?
What profit can I expect to make per item and is it acceptable/realistic?
What is my budget and what will I do if I go over?
– Beta Testing –
What existing resources/products can I use to help create my product?
Do I have someone in mind to try out my product/service?
How will I collect and utilize feedback?
How will I turn my beta users into paying customers?
– Sales and Marketing –
How will I get my initial customers?
How will I provide customer service and collect/utilize feedback?
What marketing channels should I explore – web, radio, print, et cetera?
As I mentioned before, this is what I used to get started and there are other pieces to the puzzle that can be incorporated such as funding, an exit strategy, employees, management structure, break-even analysis, profit and loss, et cetera. Ultimately, utilize items that will help your business grow and succeed now, and…
Writing the Dreaded Business Plan [The Closet Entrepreneur]