So you've decided to write your own business plan because you know the value that the experience will give you. With the books and software that are out there today you can probably sit down and complete the plan in a day or so, right? Plug in the numbers, add the notes, write the whole narrative (story), print it and get it out to the banks or investors.
If you can complete a plan in a day or so you are either an expert, that has already done all of the research, or you are heading for big trouble, because you have not done enough research. If you are like most people you have a job, a family and commitments that take up a lot of time. It would be impossible to write a business plan that quickly, even if you know your stuff. You have probably heard the old adage, 'Rome wasn't built in a day' well, neither was a good business plan.
To create a top quality business plan you need to research each and every aspect as diligently as possible. Take your time and think of everything, don't leave anything to chance.
That sounds like a lot of work and a long drawn out process. How will you remember or even think of everything? How can you keep track of what you have to research? If you have to set your plan aside for a while, how will you remember where you left off? You may get tired, bored and even careless in your efforts because like most people you probably have Attention Deficit Disorder when it comes to doing this type of work.
The answer is to do your plan in steps. A good guide book or business plan software will ask you to complete work as you go, one step at a time. You read a section, do some research on the items(s) in the section and enter the information that you discovered. This way you are focused on each item as you go and never become overwhelmed. You will also be able to remember where you were when you have to set the plan aside for a few days, without having to re-read a novel. The process may still seem long but if you concentrate on doing your plan in steps it will be done before you know it.
This series of articles has been written in steps because most people don't have the time to sit down and read a novel. You can even do your financial projections in steps, which is where I recommend that you start. Doing the projections will help you analyse the feasibility of your project before you spend a ton of time writing a complete plan that may or may not work for you.
Look for the next article on Writing A Successful Business Plan - Part 3 - 'The Feasibility' of the Becoming Wise - Wild & Free series.
About The Author
Written by Rod Francis - President of Advantage Venture
Systems Inc. creators of the Venture Planning System(tm)
Pro business plan software @ www.vpspro.com
Suite 207, #1-1081 Central Ave. N.,
Swift Current, SK Canada S9H 4Z1
Check for more articles on writing a business plan at: www.vpspro.com
no-contract cleaning service Lincolnshire ...Although North Americans were the dominant population on the Internet,... Read More
Writing a business plan is no easy task, sure you... Read More
I am surprised how few sales professionals, independent consultants, and... Read More
Growing your own small business can be one of the... Read More
This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More
Many cities have home pages on the Internet. Many of... Read More
Writing a business plan for a franchised outlet of a... Read More
"I don't need a business plan."Neither did Alice in Wonderland."Would... Read More
Are you frustrated by the lack of growth in your... Read More
The boom of the dot-com era in 1999 brought the... Read More
The foundation of any business transaction is the promise of... Read More
A piano tuner recently moved to Buffalo, NY, and would... Read More
Running a business, whether it be an offline multi-billion dollar... Read More
I love the excitement of starting up a new home... Read More
Is your business growing as fast and effectively as it... Read More
One Research Scientist at the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Imaging Systems laboratory... Read More
With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More
Strategic alliances are increasing at a rapid rate. It is... Read More
One of the quintessential parts to any business is your... Read More
So what makes a vision successful? Everyday companies try to... Read More
Many movies have been made about the tragic story of... Read More
Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person... Read More
In most business plans, no matter how striking the idea,... Read More
Some analysts credit [Larry] Ellison with anticipating the consolidation in... Read More
Whether you are seeking capital for your company or are... Read More
house refresh service Wilmette ...Note to Northwest Airlines ? It's not about fuel costsFor... Read More
Have you ever done a SWOT analysis? No, it's not... Read More
Business rises and falls on leadership. According to business guru,... Read More
If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More
The University of Exeter in the United Kingdom recently published... Read More
If you own a pressure washing business one of the... Read More
The format of a Business Plan is something that has... Read More
One Research Scientist at the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Imaging Systems laboratory... Read More
The current state of the available technology at the disposal... Read More
"Did you hear what your competitor is doing?" This question... Read More
Is there really anything as a problem? Does chaos or... Read More
Remember Chux? The disposable diaper that took the market by... Read More
In Ohio: besides the 3-Cs you should look at Akron,... Read More
Does the competition drive you crazy?Are they relentless about taking... Read More
If you are a successful franchise of a large franchise... Read More
As fast as you can say business disaster, your business... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains serves mid-size and large clients... Read More
The trick is to determine what uniquely identifies your best... Read More
With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More
A significant advantage of some business ideas is that the... Read More
One of the most powerful driving forces in human nature... Read More
This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More
More than $117 billion passed hands from Internet shoppers to... Read More
Here is an abstract thought on studying nature and the... Read More
In most business plans, no matter how striking the idea,... Read More
Strategic Planning |