INTRODUCTION
There is no better feeling than being our own boss and managing money making businesses. But times are getting tough, markets shrink, leading retailer sales slump while uncollected receivables rise and banks restrain credit. Businesses face threatening economic conditions as we prepare for a new period of growth. You may require a business plan to comfort yourself or reassure your banker that you can go through this rough time and benefit from opportunities when the market picks up. During economic crisis, opportunities are created and it may be a great time to expand or start your business. In any case, a compelling business plan will help make the difference.
Secrets of successful business plans bring together key elements that investors and bankers seek. By presenting such business elements with methodology and analysis, you'll get bankers and investors attention and they'll want to know more. I'll teach you how to get your readers very excited about your business right from the start by creating an outstanding executive summary. 5 powerful paragraphs, carefully engineered to sell your business to investors and bankers.
The next thing that I'll teach you is how to present the key elements that investors evaluate when they rate your plan. I call them the building blocks of success. These elements are essential to attract investments. Venture capitalist, private equity investors and bankers receive thousands of business plans each year and make few investments. They look at specific metrics to rapidly assess your plan and they seldom go beyond the first 5 pages. The way you present each aspect of your business is of prime importance. Some of the business elements they look for include:
1. Multiple revenue business models
2. Core competencies & team synergy
3. Competitive edge & analysis
4. Market positioning
5. Strategic mix
6. SWOT analysis
7. IP Valuation
8. Forecasted profitability results
9. Sensitivity analysis
10.Exit strategies for investors
Business plans that include these 10 key elements, that are well written and comprehensive, have a head start.
In addition, I'll show you how bankers and investors score your business plan. You'll know exactly what to do to get their attention.
I have written hundreds of business plans and met thousands of entrepreneurs with great ideas. The types of business models that succeed are market driven and provide competitive solutions. In this book you will find new ideas that will raise your plan to the level of leaders, the one who will survive anything, that will convince people funding the business. Bankers and investors want to stick to survivors, those with core competent teams, the ones who plan and compete efficiently and the management teams that do their homework. No matter what solution you are about to deliver to the market, you can attract your fair share of the market if you start by conceiving a plan. Doing so begins with the analysis of every aspect of your business scenario.
What you will do, who will do it, when it will be done and how much it will cost, is what this book will help you to present to your audience using powerful methods. Methods that all
