Do you need assistance in preparing a business plan? Business plans can be research-intensive and may take you hundreds of hours to perform, so you are not wrong to seek out help. The ideal business plan will feature not only a detailed explanation of the products and services you will bring to market, but a compelling explanation of the market opportunity your business could reap. This should include a point-by-point listing of your target clients (including the demographic/psychographic profile of your customers), the market's need for your services, the scope of the marketplace you will serve, the state of the industry you are entering into, and lastly, a full competitive comparison. A strong competitive comparison will feature a short profile on each of your leading competitive comparables (first and second tier) accompanied by a strengths and weaknesses assessment and, ideally, a list of their trailing year revenues, employment totals, and milestones. Your business plan should also cover these:
• What is your marketing strategy?
• How many people will you need to employ, Year 1 through Year 3 or Year 5?
• What alliances/advisors/partnerships will support your venture?
• If you need an investor aboard, what ownership percentage might they see?
• What are the key operational hurdles and benchmarks during start-up?
This is by no means exhaustive, but should cover some of the basics that you must address in your business plan. If this seems daunting (and it is!), you are right to seek out assistance. People who can help you write your business plan can be found online, in your local community's SCORE office, at business school graduate programs, or—your best bet—at professional consulting firms like MasterPlans. Since 2002, we have been helping people just like you get into business by preparing detailed, written-from-scratch business plans that meet every investor or banker criteria. Let us help you make your dream a reality. Call 877-453-2011 today for a free quote.
