Wondering how long should a business plan be? It's an excellent question that we receive regularly from the entrepreneurs who call us at MasterPlans, the business plan writing experts. Many entrepreneurs and small business owners fall victim to the erroneous assumption that more words translate into more value in their business plan. But venture capitalists, lenders, and angel investors have said time and time again that for them, less actually is more. That's because they typically receive hundreds of business plans every month and barely have time to read an executive summary, never mind a 200-page tome. With that in mind, here are a few ways to shorten your business plan:
• Remember that your business plan is only a pitch meant to get your foot in the door with investors – you don't need every last detail.
• Cut out any big words or business jargon. That automatically will downsize your plan.
• Have a friend read your plan who will be brutally honest with you about whether any sections seem repetitive or gratuitous.
• Edit and edit again. The more times you go over your plan, the more refined it will be.
Again, the natural inclination most entrepreneurs have when considering how long a business plan should be is to add in more detail, pages, and text than is necessary. Trust us, you're only shooting yourself in the foot. If you'd like a free review of your business plan to determine if it's too wordy – or if you're just looking for help getting started – give us a call at MasterPlans today. We offer prospective customers a free consultation and are happy to discuss our industry experience and what we can do for you. Call today at 877-453-2011 - we look forward from hearing from you soon!
