Looking for business plans for search engine concepts? It may seem like this is a clogged market space – with the established players Google and Yahoo at the forefront and so many upstart competitors trying to take market share, it may seem hopeless. But there's always an inroad to be made in online search – just look at the case study provided by Blekko, a tagging-based site that aims to eliminate irrelevancies by returning only category-related returns. This was a novel idea only a few years ago, but if it gains traction with users and the model maintains its integrity, it's not inconceivable to think that it could rival the major engines in a few years. For your business plan, answer the following questions about your search engine;
• Without giving too much away, what makes your algorithm unique?
• What sort of user interface or “search experience†do you bring into the fold?
• How will you position your search engine against dominant ones like Google or Bing?
• What engineering staff do you have now and what more will you need to hire?
• Are there other start-up costs you have to cover with the investment or loan you're seeking? Can you itemize them?
The engineering component can be covered as part of the personnel plan, which should show when you need to bring on new staff and the rate you'll pay them. This is part of the larger financial pro forma, which will show 3-5 years of estimated revenues and expenses resulting in both a break-even point and a Y3 or Y5 net profit figure that can be the basis of a valuation. The plan should also include a brief marketing strategy, a bio on the management team members, and a clear assessment of your competitive differentiators. Need assistance writing this document? Call MasterPlans today at 877-453-2011 to learn how we can help.
