What's in a business plan?

A business plan should prove that your business will generate enough revenue to cover your expenses,but a business plan may vary depending upon whom your audience is. If you are writing a plan for yourcolleagues and partners, for example, to expand an existing business, then the focus of that plan may bemore operational than financial. Yes, you are going to show your partners how this expansion will meanmore revenues, but they are going to want to know the nuts and bolts of how this new venture is going tobe implemented.If you are writing a business plan for a bank, your bank manager will want to see that your ideas are wellthought out, but the most important aspect to him or her will be your financials. Are your assumptionsrealistic? And will the cash flow of the business be enough to ensure that you can make the monthlypayments for the loan that you have requested? If your business is making $1,000 a month and yourpayments are $1,200 a month, the bank is likely to turn you away.When considering an investment opportunity, most venture capitalists look at the obvious trends andmarket niches. Transcending the business elements, however, the most important factor in a decision toinvest in a company is the quality of the people. In real estate, the three biggest criteria are "location,location and location." The venture capital axiom is "people, people and people." VCs will ask, howexperienced are the people that are going to run this business? Do they have knowledge of the industry?Have they started successful ventures in the past?

What makes a successful business plan?
• A well thought out idea
• Clear and concise writing
• A clear and logical structureIllustrates management's ability to make the business a success
• Shows profitability
How do you write a business plan?
Sitting down looking at a blank computer screen as you prepare to start your business plan can bedaunting. You may want to look at some alternatives that will make the process a bit easier.Hire Professional. A professional consultant will create the business plan for you, but you still have to be repared to thinkthrough your business and understand the underlying concepts in your business idea. You will have towork closely with the consultant to ensure that he or she develops a good plan that accurately representsyour business or business idea.If you have a business concept on paper, you can have one of BB Media Global Group’sBusiness PlanSpecialist review your plan. Since 2005, BB Media Global Group has helped raise over $20 milliondollarsBuy a BookThere are many good books on the market that will help you to understand what needs to go into a goodbusiness plan. You can read Timothy Berry's "Hurdle: the Book on Business Planning".Use Business Planning SoftwareA good business planning software package will provide you with an outline for a well- veloped,objective-based and professional business plan. Software packages will remove the problem of startingfrom scratch by structuring your plan for you. The software should ask you the right questions that willpull out the most important underlying concepts ithin your