Developing A Winning Business plan:

“There is no one right way to prepare a business
plan. An effective business plan tells a great story
and draws the reader in. The investor will then
want to learn more, which leads to a meeting that
significantly increases your chances and reduces
the possibility that your plan will wind up in the
circular file.”

Kiplinger's Raising Capital by Andrew J. Sherman, p. 18

Elements of a Business Plan:

1: Executive Summary
2: Company Overview
3: Product/Service Description
4: Market Opportunity
5: Competition Analysis
6: Management Team
7: Financial Projections

Executive Summary:

The single most important component of your
business plan

Keep it Direct, Focused and Brief

Summarize the Business Plan in a Few Pages

Write your summary LAST (even though it appears first)

Target Customer/Pain

- Who is the Target Customer?

- What is their pain or opportunity?

- Profile?

- Who has the money?

- Specific examples you have met…

- Market size/speed of adoption.

Your Solution

- What is your solution (“pencil sell”)

- Value Proposition

- Unique Selling Proposition

Why Now?

- Target Customer Decision Making
   Process/unit (DMU)

- Market Trends

- Compelling Reasons for Customers to Buy Now

Financials
1: Be careful not to overload!
2: Simple graph with top line growth and cash flow-with Payback, NPV & IRR numbers below.

Key Factors to know and include:
– Top line revenue growth (company’s expected revenues and profits for years 1 through 5)
– Costs
– Cash flow
– Investment required (ROA)
– Value of company estimations Include long-term goals,
   such as expected sales, number of employees, number of locations, and market share of your company five years from now
-  Exit strategy

Why You?

Team today:
1: Briefly describe the histories and capabilities of your management  and key players
2: Be sure to highlight relevant experience that demonstrates their value to the management team

Team future:
1: What are the company needs in the future

2: Competitors Competitive Advantage

3: Sustainable Competitive Advantage

By Gin Michael Bennett 2009