Writing a Good Business Plan to Get Funded
Its all about credible believable representation of your plan, ability, market, and exit strategy if that is your focus endgame. Creating a multiple media dialogue, video story, website and blog. We have written hundreds of business plans over the years, we know the right recipe to ensure best possible results ie getting funded. We cannot guarantee when you present in person it will be okay, you need coaching and dry runs with our people. That is why we offer executive presentation coaching, using experienced Directors and film crews to capture the message just like you will be doing to your future employees and customers.
1.0 Executive Summary
1.1 Problem
1.2 Solution
1.3 Market
1.4 Competition
1.5 Financial Highlights
2.0 Opportunity
2.1 Problem Worth Solving
2.2 Our Solution
2.3 Validation of Problem and Solution
2.4 Roadmap/Future Plans
3.0 Market Analysis Summary
3.1 Market Segmentation
3.2 Target Market Segment Strategy
3.2.1 Market Needs
3.2.2 Market Trends
3.2.3 Market Growth
3.3 Key Customers
3.4 Future Markets
3.5 Competition
3.5.1 Competitors and Alternatives
3.5.2 Our Advantages (see an example)
4.0 Execution
4.1 Marketing Plan
4.2 Sales Plan
4.3 Location and Facilities
4.4 Technology
4.5 Equipment and Tools
4.6 Milestones
4.7 Key Metrics
5.0 Company and Management Summary
5.1 Organizational Structure
5.2 Management Team
5.3 Management Team Gaps
5.4 Personnel Plan
5.5 Company History and Ownership
6.0 Financial Plan
6.1 Revenue/Sales Forecast
6.2 Expenses
6.3 Projected Profit and Loss
6.4 Projected Cash Flow
6.5 Projected Balance Sheet
6.7 Business Ratios
7.0 Appendix
Standard tables and charts:
Cash flow is the single most important numerical analysis in a business plan, and a standard cash flow statement or table should never be missing. Most standard business plans also include a sales forecast and income statement (also called profit and loss), and a balance sheet.
I believe they should also have projected business ratios, and market analysis tables, as well as personnel listings.
I also believe that every business plan should include bar charts and pie charts to illustrate the numbers.
More business planning advice:
Size your business plan to fit your business. Remember that your business plan should be only as big as what you need to run your business.
While every business owner should have an ongoing planning process to help them run their business, not every business owner needs a complete, formal business plan suitable for submitting to a potential investor, or bank, or venture capital contest. So don’t include outline points just because they are on a big list somewhere, or on this list, unless you’re developing a standard business plan that you’ll be showing to someone who expects to see a standard business plan, like a lender or investor.
Consider lean business planning—writing a business plan doesn’t have to be a long, painful process. Instead, you can use the Lean Planning method to get started easier and finish faster. Lean Planning will help you start your business in a way that improves your chances of success. This methodology is baked into LivePlan.