Business planning companies come in several forms. On one end of the spectrum, there are small, one-man operations that will provide you with a single consultant who creates both the body of your business plan document and the financial model for your company. These people can provide solid hands-on help, though they lack the support of a larger office. For example, what if you like the plan's structure and the model, but feel that the writing needs a thorough edit or revamp? A solo consultant can't offer much assistance here, as there's no one else to turn to for editing. In the middle of the spectrum are mid-sized companies, those with 8-10 employees, who work remotely as 1099 contractors. Companies like this give the appearance of a cohesive unit of professionals, but the websites can be misleading. Thorough research here is critical; when was the company registered? Use an online search tool to figure out how old the website domain is. Does that jive with what the company represents as its level of experience? If their bios indicate that they have a lot of business experience, check to see what other companies they were in business with – you might be surprised to find that they have no entrepreneurial experience at all, and aren't likely to have any special insights in preparing your plan.
At the top end of the spectrum are the business planning companies like MasterPlans.com – established, long-standing businesses with a track record of success across thousands of engagements. MasterPlans has worked with more than 8,000 separate clients and has a long list of success stories and notable clients. MasterPlans can provide prospective clients with references, extensive sample plans, and the assurance that unlike virtually every other company in this industry, EVERYONE working on your plan is a full-time employee sharing the same physical office and interacting about your plan face to face every single day. MasterPlans brings together a group of 20 financial modelers, writers, editors, project managers, and support staff dedicated to ensuring that every business plan they write comes out as close to perfection as possible. Visit www.masterplans.com to learn more or call toll free 877-453-2011 to speak with a business plan consultant today!
