Business Plans

It is about results

http://www.bplans.com/ho/

http://www.sba.gov/starting/indexbusplans.html

Planning is a Process

Elements Supporting Successful Plan Implementation

1. Is the plan simple, easy to understand and to act on? Does it communicate its contents easily and practically?

2. Is the plan specific? Are its objectives concrete and measurable? Does it include specific actions and dates of completion, specific persons responsible and specific budgets?

Elements Supporting Successful Plan Implementation (cont.)

3. Is the plan realistic? Are the sales goals, expense budgets, and milestone dates realistic? Nothing stifles implementation like unrealistic goals.

4. Is the plan complete? Requirements of a business plan vary, depending on the context. There is no guarantee, however, that the plan will work if it doesn't cover the main bases.

Use of a Business Plan

• Define and fix objectives, and programs to achieve those objectives.

• Create regular business review and course correction.

• Define a new business.

• Support a loan application.

• Define agreements between partners.

• Set a value on a business for sale or legal purposes.

• Evaluate a new product line, promotion, or expansion.

No Time to Plan? A Common Misconception

“Not enough time for a plan. I can't plan. I'm too busy getting things done.”

A business plan now can save time and stress later.

Too many businesses make business plans only when they have to. The busier you are, the more you need to plan.

Business Plans Don’ts

• Don't use a business plan to show how much you know about your business.

• Nobody reads a long-winded business plan: not bankers, bosses, nor venture capitalists.

Elements of a Business Plan

• Descriptions of Company

• Product or Service

• Market

• Forecasts

• Management Team

• Financial Analysis

Sample Business Plan Outline

1. Executive Summary: Write this last. It's just a page or two of highlights.

2. Company Description: Legal establishment, history, start-up plans, etc.

3. Product or Service: Describe what you're selling. Focus on customer benefits.

4. Market Analysis: You need to know your market, customer needs, where they are, how to reach them, etc.

Sample Business Plan Outline

5. Strategy and Implementation: Be specific. Include management responsibilities with dates and budget

6. Management Team: backgrounds of key members of the team, personnel strategy and details.

7. Financial Plan: including profit and loss, cash flow, balance sheet, break-even analysis, assumptions, business ratios, etc.

Use of Tables and Charts

• Tables and charts present information in visual formats with greater impact that words alone

• Some business tables and charts that are normally expected in a standard business plan

• Plan should include business charts that use bar charts and pie charts to illustrate cash flow (single most important numerical analysis in a plan), sales forecast, and profit and loss statements, projected balance sheet, projected business ratios, and market analysis

Time Frame

• Opinions vary - A business plan should normally project sales by month for the next 12 months, and annual sales for the following two years.

• This doesn't mean businesses shouldn't plan for a longer term than just three years. It does mean, however, that the detail of monthly forecasts doesn't pay off beyond a year, except in special cases.

Description of the Business

• Legalities - business form: proprietorship, partnership, corporation. The licenses or permits you will need.

• Business type: merchandizing, manufacturing or service.

• What your product or service is.

• Is it a new independent business, a takeover, an expansion?

• Why your business will be profitable. What are the growth opportunities? When your business will be open (days, hours)?

• What you have learned about your kind of business from outside sources (trade suppliers, bankers, publications).

Product/Service

• What you are selling.

• How your product or service will benefit the customer.

• Which products/services are in demand; if there will be a steady flow of cash.

• What is different about the product or service your business is offering.

The Location

• What are your location needs?

• What kind of space will you need?

• Why is the area desirable? The building desirable?

• Is it easily accessible? Is public transportation available? Is street lighting adequate?

• Are market shifts or demographic shifts occurring?

The Marketing Plan• Who are your customers? Define your target market(s).

• Are your markets growing? steady? declining?

• Is your market share growing? steady? declining?

• If a franchise, how is your market segmented?

• Are your markets large enough to expand?

• How will you attract, hold, increase your market share? how will you promote your sales?

• What pricing strategy have you devised?

The Competition

• Who are your five nearest direct competitors?

• Who are your indirect competitors?

• How are their businesses: steady? increasing? decreasing?

• What have you learned from their operations? from their advertising?

• What are their strengths and weaknesses?

• How does their product or service differ from yours?

Pricing and Sales

• retail cost and pricing

• competitive position

• service costs and pricing (for service businesses only)

The Management Plan

• How does your background/business experience help you in this business?

• What are your weaknesses and how can you compensate for them?

• Who will be on the management team and what are their strengths/weaknesses and duties?

• Are these duties clearly defined?

• Will this assistance be ongoing?

• What are your current personnel needs and what are your plans for hiring and training personnel?

• What salaries, benefits, vacations, holidays will you offer?

Initial Business Plan Assignment• Mission/Objectives – what’s the true nature of your

business (don’t be too narrow), how will you build customer satisfaction, what is your workplace philosophy, what value to the customer do you offer

• Keys to success – limit to three and focus on those• Target Market – good educated guess• Competitive Advantage – what distinguishes you and your

product• Basic Strategies – how will you develop the company and

products• Initial break-even chart

Simplified Business Plan Outline

• Executive Summary

• Company Summary

• Product Description

• Market Analysis Summary

• Strategy and Implementation Summary

• Management Summary

• Financial Plan

Company Summary - Legal

• Types of Business Entities– Sole Proprietorship

• Pros - simple, inexpensive up front• Cons - personal responsibility to creditors• Tax treatment is straight through to your personal return

– Partnership• Pros – partnership agreement serves as legal core, defines

levels of risk, buy-out agreements, etc.• Cons – requires good attorney, can be complex• Tax treatment is usually straight through to your personal

return

Company Summary - Legal

• Types of Business Entities (Cont.)– C Corporation

• Pros – used by majority of companies, best shielding from liability, best non-tax benefits, best for raising money and going public

• Cons – profits taxed twice

• Tax treatment – C Corporation pays its own taxes

– S Corporation• Pros – used by smaller firms (25 owners maximum), profits taxed

once

• Cons – less shielding from liability than C Corp.

• Tax treatment – S Corporation can pass profits or losses directly to owners

Company Trademarks

• Trademarks law protects product names, logos, trade names, slogans.

• US Patent and Trademark Office website www.uspto.gov

Company Names

• Can’t reserve a name completely, but company has rights to its identity.

• Types– Your own name– “Doing Business As” (county

registration)– Corporation (state registration)

Company Internet Domain Names

Can look in NSI Registrar database using searchers such as www.networksolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois

- to find available second-level names (example.com or example.biz) and - to find links to help register names.

Company Location & Facilities

• Describe– Offices and locations and function of each

– Size (square footage)

– Lease arrangements (etc.)

– Internet services

– All location & facilities factors that sell your company

Company Strategy

• Describe– Value proposition

ex. reliability and service for a price

– Competitive Edge• Proprietary technology protected by patents

• Website name

• Headstart in area

Company Start-Up Costs

• Start-Up Expenses – include only those that come before the start of the plan. Those that come after go in profit and loss table.

• Expenses – those items that are deductible against income

Start-Up Plan - Expenses

Legal $1,000

Stationery, etc. $3,000

Brochures $5,000

Consultants $5,000

Insurance $350

Expensed Equipment $3,000

Other $1,000

Total Start-up Expense $18,350

Start-Up Plan - Assets

Cash Requirements $25,000

(cash may need to change as you get better estimates for cash flow)

Other Short-Term Assets $7,000

Total Short-Term Assets $32,000

Long-Term Assets 0

Total Assets $32,000

Total Start-Up Plan Requirements

Total Start-up Expense $18,350

Total Assets $32,000

Total Start-Up Requirements $50,350

Start-Up Funding – Investments

Investor 1 $20,000

Investor 2 $20,000

Other $10,000

Total Investment $50,000

Start-Up Funding – Liabilities

Short-Term Liabilities

Unpaid Expenses $350

Short-Term Loans $0

Interest-Free Short-Term Loans $0

Subtotal Short-Term Liabilities $350

Long-Term Liabilities $0

Total Liabilities $350

Start-Up Table Summary

Total Start-Up Expenses $18,350Total Assets $32,000Total Start-Up Requirements $50,350

Total Investment $50,000Total Liabilities $350Total Investment and Liabilities $50,350

Loss at Start-Up (- Start-Up Expenses) ($18,350)Total Capital (Assets – Liabilities) $31,650Total Capital and Liabilities $32,000

Must Match

Rule of Accounting

Capital = Assets – Liabilities

This is company’s Net Worth

Product Description

• Describe the product– What the product is– How much it cost– Who purchases it

• Think about customer needs and benefits– Use this to as possible way of generating new ideas

• Do competitive comparison– What buyer choices are available– How does you product line compare to other companies

• Describe what goes into your product– What are the sources of vital components

Product Description (cont.)

• Describe how technology with affect your business– Is it a positive or a threat?

• Describe future products– How will they be developed

– What is the relationship to present products

– What are the market needs

• Include sales literature– Advertisements

– Brochures

– Tech. Specs.