The Business Plan: Visualizing the Dream PowerPoint Presentation by Charlie Cook The University of West Alabama Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Part 3 Developing the New Venture Business Plan

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–2 Looking Ahead After studying this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Explain what a business plan is, when it is needed, and what form it might take. 2. Explain how to tell a new venture’s story to outsiders, especially investors. 3. List practical suggestions to follow in writing a business plan and outline the key sections of a business plan. 4. Identify available sources of assistance in preparing a business plan. 5. Maintain the proper perspective when writing a business plan.

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–3 The Business Plan A business plan is a document that sets out the basic idea underlying a business and describes related startup considerations. It should: –present the basic idea for a venture –describe where the entrepreneur is presently –indicate where she or he wants to go –outline how she or he proposes to get there

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–4 The Business Plan (cont’d.) A business plan has three basic objectives: –to identify the nature and the context of a business opportunity –to present the approach the entrepreneur plans to take to exploit the opportunity –to recognize factors that will determine whether the venture will be successful

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–5 The Business Plan (cont’d.) A business plan may be of secondary importance if the environment is turbulent or if timing is such that the company needs to start operations as quickly as possible rather than slow down to write a business plan. The summary plan is a short form of a business plan that presents only the most important issues and projections for the business. This may be ideal if the entrepreneur is short on time or is facing a great deal of uncertainty about the future of the company.

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–6 The Business Plan (cont’d.) A comprehensive plan is beneficial when: –(1) describing a new opportunity (startup) –(2) facing significant change in the business or the external environment (changing demographics, new legislation, or developing industry trends) –(3) explaining complex business situations

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–7 Purposes of the Business Plan The business plan can serve as an effective selling tool with prospective customers, suppliers, and investors. –In seeking financing, an entrepreneur must first use the business plan to create interest in the startup and then follow up with a formal offering memorandum to those investors who seem genuinely interested. When writing the business plan, remember that: –(1) investors have a short attention span –(2) certain features appeal to investors, while others are distinctly unappealing

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–8 Writing the Business Plan To maximize the effectiveness of a business plan, write clearly and provide factual support for any claims made. The entrepreneurial team, the opportunity, the resources, the deal structure, and the “big picture” are all interdependent factors that should be given consideration when thinking about the content of a business plan.

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–9 Writing the Business Plan (cont’d.) Key sections of a business plan are: –(1) title page –(2) table of contents –(3) executive summary –(4) vision and mission statement –(5) company overview –(6) products and/or services plan –(7) marketing plan –(8) management plan –(9) operating plan –(10) financial plan –(11) appendix of supporting documents

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–10 Writing the Business Plan (cont’d.) Common mistakes often made by entrepreneurs when preparing a business plan include: –(1) failing to provide solid data –(2) failing to describe the product in lay terms –(3) failing to thoroughly analyze the market –(4) including financial statements that are overly detailed or incomplete –(5) hiding weaknesses –(6) overlooking the fatal flaw –(7) using bad grammar –(8) making the plan overly long

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–11 Assistance with Business Plans A variety of books, Web sites, and computer software packages are available to assist in the preparation of a business plan. Professionals with planning expertise, such as attorneys, accountants, and marketing specialists, can provide useful suggestions and assistance in the preparation of a business plan. The Small Business Administration (SBA), the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), and the FastTrac Entrepreneurial Training Program can also be helpful.

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–12 Beyond the Business Plan (cont’d.) Despite the potential benefits of a well-drafted plan, good judgment should be used in deciding how much to plan in view of the specific circumstances. The business plan, no matter how beneficial, is not the business. A good business plan leads to a successful company only when it is effectively executed by the entrepreneur and the management team.

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–13 Beyond the Business Plan (cont’d.) A business plan can be viewed as an opportunity for the entrepreneur and the management team to think about the potential key drivers of a venture’s success or failure.

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Business & Professional Publishing. All rights reserved. Student 6–14 Key Terms business plan summary plan comprehensive plan prospectus executive summary mission statement products and/or services plan marketing plan management plan operating plan financial plan pro forma statements