Business Planning

Overview
Planning Services
Business Plan Elements
Sample Business Plan Outline

OVERVIEW

A formal, written business plan is essential to the success of every business. A good business plan will document the short-term and long-term goals of the business and establish specific tasks for achieving those goals. Additionally, it will keep management and key employees focused on the major objective of your business.

Potential benefits realized from the development of a business plan. include:

Improved understanding of opportunities, problems and weaknesses;
Greater control over your organization;
A valuable source of information about your business that may be required by third parties;

Improved use of your company's resources;
Education of your company's personnel resulting from participation in the business planning process.
Increased employee motivation;
Increased profits and sustained growth.

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OUR PLANNING SERVICES

Our Business Planning Services are varied to meet the needs of our clients and include the following:

Complete Written Business Plan
I will provide you with a complete written Business Plan. The Plan will include financial projections.A business plan showcases your company's strengths, and potential for growth and profitability. A business plan becomes a critical element of success in bringing in capital, a merger partner, buyer, or obtaining debt financing. I will create a favorable but realistic presentation of the company. I help my clients meet the challenge of demonstrating clearly and objectively, why their company is the appropriate choice as an investment, a synergistic acquisition or loan candidate through helping them complete their business plan.

Critique & Review
Email your completed Business Plan to me. If you have a complete plan I am able to review and critique your Plan. I will provide you with a comprehensive report that will include suggestions for improvement. This will include a thorough review of your business plan given your industry, relative business insight and funding requirements. You will receive recommendations for overall improvements in each section of your plan which will cover the following areas.

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BUSINESS PLAN ELEMENTS

A successful business plan must achieve the following:

Be appropriately arranged, with an executive summary, a table of contents, and its chapters in the correct order;
Be the right length and have the right appearance;
Give a sense of what you and your company expect to accomplish;
Explain in quantitative and qualitative terms the benefits to the user of your company's products and services;
Present hard evidence of the marketability of the products and services;

Justify financially the means chosen to sell the products and services;
Describe the manufacturing or operating process and associated costs;
Portray management as an experienced team with complementary business skills;
Contain believable financial projections; with key data explained and documented;
Show how investors (if applicable) can cash out in three to seven years, with appropriate capital appreciation.

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SAMPLE OUTLINE OF A BUSINESS PLAN

I. Cover Sheet (name of company, address, principals)

II. Table of Contents

III. Executive Summary (2-3 pages)

IV. The Business

A. Description, history (including past performance)

1. Form of business (if incorporated, show where)
2. Location of headquarters
3. Principals or owners

B. Objectives of owners or managers

1. Projections and forecasts
2. Current and proposed capital structure

C. Funding required

1. Equity
2. Debt

D. Timing and use of funds

1. When capital needed
2. How funds will be used

V. The Product or Service

A. Description of brand names, prices
B. Comparison with competitive products or service (e.g., competitive advantages, weaknesses)
C. Research and development
D. Patents, trademarks, copyrights, franchises, and licensing agreements

VI. Marketing Plan

A. Overall strategy and tactics including risks and pitfalls
B. Size and history of market including trends (growth vs. flat)
C. Profiles of customers and end-users; preferences and needs
D. Strengths and weaknesses of competitors
E. Product lines
F. Advertising and promotions
G. Pricing
H. Distribution channels: distributors, dealers, sales representatives, associations, cooperatives
I. Regulatory requirements

VII. Production and Operations

A. Description of operations (all facets from raw materials to finished product)

1. Workforce (management, rank, and file)
2. Principal suppliers

B. Facilities and equipment

1. Existing
2. Required

C. Material, labor, and supplies used

VIII. Financial Information

A. For existing companies, provide a summary of historical financial data
B. Projected financial statements for three to five years

1. Cash flow statements
2. Income statements
3. Balance sheets

C. Significant financial assumptions (interest rates, profit margins, etc.)
D. Accounting policies (depreciation, inventory valuation, receivables, collections, etc
E. Break-even analysis

IX. Supporting Documents

A. Management biographies or resumes
B. Organizational chart
C. Historical financial statements for past three to five years
D. Employment contracts or agreements and loan covenants
E. Articles of incorporation
F. By-laws

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