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Entrepreneurialism 101 Starting A Business Plan Outline

Written by: Daryl Des Marais

Article Overview: In designing your business plan you will have to define your company, who is managing it, why it exists and how you are going to compete and attract customers. Defining your own business advantages and accentuating them to the marketplace will be key. Operations should be well defined with all start-up costs, whether short-term or long-term. Also define your ROI per $ and

Entrepreneurialism 101 Starting A Business Plan Outline

In designing your business plan you will have to define your company, who is managing it, why it exists and how you are going to compete and attract customers. Defining your own business advantages and accentuating them to the marketplace will be key. Operations should be well defined with all start-up costs, whether short-term or long-term. Also define your ROI per $ and your cash flow statement to determine your profitability and necessary innovation or improvement changes you will need in the future.

Below we have designed a backbone FREE business proposal example! One that you can use to begin building a basic outline to connect with partners, clients, consumers, possible investors thereby outlining your business model and creating the brand you will become.

Creating and organizing your business plan can help with leading to potential investors and build partnerships and alliances for your business.

[Company Name]
Company Contact Information
Director's

Business Plan

Mission Statement

A clear statement of your company’s long-term mission.

Try to use words that will help direct the growth of your company, but be as concise as possible.

The Team

List CEO and key management by name

Include previous accomplishments to show these are people with a record of success

Summarize number of years of experience in this field

Market Summary

Market: past, present, & future:

Review those changes in market share, leadership, players, market shifts, costs, pricing, or competition that provide the opportunity for your company’s success.

Opportunities

Problems and opportunities:

State consumer problems, and define nature of product/service opportunities created by those problems.

Business Concept

Summarize key technology, concept or strategy on which your business is based

Competition

Summarize competition

Outline your company’s competitive advantage

Goals & Objectives

Five-year goals

State specific measurable objectives

State market share objectives

State revenue/profitability objectives

Financial Plan

High-level financial plan that defines financial model, pricing assumptions, and reviews yearly expected sales and profits for the next three years.

Use several slides to cover this material appropriately.

Resource Requirements

Technology requirements

Personnel requirements

Resource requirements

Financial, distribution, promotion, etc.

External requirements

Products/services/technology required to be purchased outside company

Risks & Rewards

Risks
Summarize risks of proposed project

Addressing risk
Summarize how risks will be addressed

Rewards
Estimate expected pay-off, particularly if seeking funding

Key Issues

Near term
Isolate key decisions and issues that need immediate or near-term resolution

Long term
Isolate issues needing long-term resolution

State consequences of decision postponement

If you are seeking funding, state specifics

For more information on creating Business Plans some suggested reads are:
http://www.planware.org
http://www.inc.com April 2004 Article

Mr. Des Marais has operated small businesses for over 20 years. He has been a consultant and held positions in some of the fastest growing franchisees in Canada.

He is a private partner in http://www.businessgrowth.ca/businessadvsior

He has increased sales by 200% in 2 months for an herbal doctor; increased sales by 30% in 4 months for a major Canadian Big Box Retailer; 200% sales increase 3 times in a row for a service-based small business and helped several entrepreneurs develop and sell their business. His expertise is in the area of growth and business development. He has also been involved in developing business chapters.

In terms of Business Development and mentoring Mr. Des Marais has volunteered with S.E.E.D.S mentorship review committee, ACE, YEA.

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Article Tags: business advantages, business plan outline, own business, startup costs



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