Business plan resources can be of great benefit when starting a business.
A small business business plan can help you choose the direction you want
your new business to take. You can obtain business financing more
easily if you have a business plan. Business economy event planning and
business continuity planning strategy both require a comprehensive
business plan to be effective.
Organization is key to the success of any business. A business plan
is a customized blueprint describing why you are creating your business
and detailing exactly how you intend to make your business succeed.
While business plans may differ somewhat due to factors such as size and
scope of the business, in general, your business plan should possess
the following key elements:
- Executive Summary - A succinct description of the other
sections of the plan, highlighting key points;
- Business Description - A strategic overview of your
company, including
- Its organizational structure,
- The goals of your business,
- The business opportunity you seek to exploit,
- Products or services you intend to deliver,
- Unique qualities that make your business likely to succeed;
- Competitive Analysis - Evaluation of the market(s) in
which your company will be competing, including
- Size, both in units and currency, of each target market,
- The demographics of your target market,
- Demographic, economic and industry trends that affect or may affect
your target market,
- Number and size of competitors and how aggressively they target
your market,
- Barriers or incentives to entry into your target market,
- How your company is favored or hindered by its competitive
position;
- Marketing Plan - Strategy for penetrating your target
market(s)
- Product specifications,
- Product pricing as it relates to consumer acceptance, final cost
of product and competitor pricing,
- How you plan to introduce your product or service into the
marketplace,
- How your company can position itself to penetrate target
markets,
- How you plan to drive long-term sales,
- How you intend to generate recurring income,
- Advertising campaigns, product promotions and service exchange
agreements;
- Design and Development Plan - Methodology for taking idea
from concept to reality
- Description of work,
- Cost assessment,
- Resource requirements - Expertise, manpower, equipment,
materials, software
- Your current development status,
- The expected completion date,
- Factors that could delay or compromise completion,
- Procedures for protection of proprietary information and
technologies.
If you need business plan software or you wish to look for a sample business
plan,
Palo
Alto Software offers the best small business business plan software
available to you as well as over 60 free sample business plans online and
over 500 sample business plans included with the package. If you
are serious about your business, you should investigate business plan
software to quickly and accurately create a successful business plan.
Authored by Kenneth L. Anderson.
Original article published 15 January 2004, updated 27 July
2006.
Our Business Plan Resource section provides business plan information
and resources you can use for successfully starting a business and for
maximizing the potential and profitability of your existing business.
Each business plan resource you find here, such as business plan software,
free sample business plans, and related topics such as business economy
event planning and business continuity planning strategy can help you
build your business. Business Plan Resource listings in other
sections of the Business Center reference the Business Plan
Resource section.
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