The Pocket Small Business Owner's Guide to Business Plans by Brian Hill, Dee Power -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Title Page Copyright Acknowledgments Table of Contents Part I – What Is a Business Plan and Why You Need One

1 What Is a Business Plan?

As You Read This Book What Is Included in a Business Plan Time Frame Why You Need a Business Plan A Plan Isn’t a Budget, But It Contains One The Many Uses of a Business Plan What a Business Plan Is Not The Nuts and Bolts of a Plan Basic Guidelines

2 Igniting That Spark of Creativity: Your Vision

Seeing Your Future Where Are You Now? Getting There The Business Planner’s Toolbox

Part II – Ready, Set—PLAN!

3 History and Background

History Milestones Mission Industry

4 Products and Services

Product Description Benefits Manufacturing Process Opportunities for the Upcoming Year

5 Business Model Demystified

Who Are Your Customers? Keys to Profitability Business Model Tips

6 Your Target Market(s)

Why Do They Buy From You? Expanding From Your Base Market Research Techniques

7 Analysis of Your Competition—and How to Beat Them

Analyze Why the Winners Are Winning Map Your Competitors Learning About Your Competitors Articulate Your Competitive Advantage Summing Up Your Advantage Barriers to Entry Sustaining Your Competitive Advantage Finalizing Your Target Customer Groups

8 The Marketing Plan: Strategies and Tactics

Distribution Channels: Planning How and Where to Sell Positioning Strategy Pricing Crafting the Message

9 Implementation of Marketing Media and Methods

Advertising Internet Promotions Offline Creating a Marketing Budget Month-by-Month Calendar

10 Management Team, Staffing, and Facilities

The Key Individuals Current Management Issues Advisory Board and Service Providers Management Team Background Strategic Advisors Management Team Strengths Goals Team Members to Be Added Advisors to Be Added Training Programs Teamwork Building Strategies Staffing Forecast and Strategy For a Plan to Be Used Internally Operations and Facilities 11 Risks, Opportunities, and Exit Strategy Opportunity Plan A Graceful—and Profitable—Exit Strategy

Part III – Number Crunching: Somebody’s Got to Do It

12 Your Vision Expressed in Numbers

Setting Goals and Translating Them into Financial Models Financial Forecasting Don’t Turn Forecasting into a Burdensome Task Keys to Effective Forecasting What Exactly Is a Financial Model? Forecasting Expenses Personnel Cost Forecast The Financial Projections You Need in a Plan Projected Balance Sheet Assumptions Page(s) Combining Narrative and Numbers

13 Forecasting Tips

Balancing Act Funding Now and in the Future

Part IV – The Morning After: What to Do With Your Business Plan

14 Is Your Plan Ready for Prime Time?

Common Mistakes in Business Plans Finalizing the Plan Don’t Expect Perfection

15 It’s Show Time

Writing the Executive Summary Preparing to Meet With the Money People

16 Putting the Plan to Good Use

Implementing the Business Plan Reality versus Projections Revise the Plan During the Year

17 The Final Words

Index