Writting a Business Plan

[psanghani]

A business plan should be structure into sections so that it may be easily followed and understood by the person reading it. By completing each section you will provide the information required to help yo plan and manage your business as well as that needed by funders to make their decision as to whether to support your business or not. your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive summary
• Geeral Comany description( mission statement, aims, vision for the future)
• SWOT analysis
• Market research ( Primary and secondary)
• Market plan
• Financial forecast including cashflow, profit and loss account and budget
• Forward plan

 

[Liybpg]

is this a question?

 

[psanghani]

no there is no question mark as you can see am posting to help anyone out on how to write a business plan

 

[MASSEY]

A business plan should be structure into sections so that it may be easily followed and understood by the person reading it. By completing each section you will provide the information required to help yo plan and manage your business as well as that needed by funders to make their decision as to whether to support your business or not. your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive summary
• Geeral Comany description( mission statement, aims, vision for the future)
• SWOT analysis
• Market research ( Primary and secondary)
• Market plan
• Financial forecast including cashflow, profit and loss account and budget
• Forward plan

there's a bit more to it than that lol, what about differentiation how. Are you different to your competitiors. Also you should include the stages in which best to put it together which is the executive summary last.

 

[Investors-Wanted]

no there is no question mark as you can see am posting to help anyone out on how to write a business plan

There are many websites and business that offer this service with lots more information. But good effort

 

[Antiquesman]

Are you Writting a Business Plan or Writing a Business Plan

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Are you Writting a Business Plan or Writing a Business Plan

His t has a slight stutter

 

[psanghani]

I have a 20 page report on how to write a business plan from a trusted source and my knowledge what I have put above is the general guide lines

 

[Liybpg]

I am in the Business Planning Competition this year. Got into the Top 5 so far and just had the presentation of my business plan to the judges. Hopefully will win something (maybe first place? )

 

[Antiquesman]

I am in the Business Planning Competition this year. Got into the Top 5 so far and just had the presentation of my business plan to the judges. Hopefully will win something (maybe first place? )

Sounds a hoot

 

[vvaannmmaann]

It's also a way of increasing post count.

 

[Investors-Wanted]

I am in the Business Planning Competition this year. Got into the Top 5 so far and just had the presentation of my business plan to the judges. Hopefully will win something (maybe first place? )

Good luck mate

 

[Investors-Wanted]

It's also a way of increasing post count.

This is sounding like a citizen post. hehe

 

[psanghani]

there's a bit more to it than that lol, what about differentiation how. Are you different to your competitiors. Also you should include the stages in which best to put it together which is the executive summary last.

The executive summary is the first part of your business plan to be read and probably the last to be written, here you summarise the key points of your plan e.g. your mission, how, where,when, why you are going to do it, how much money will you make and how much money you will need.

 

[Liybpg]

The executive summary is the first part of your business plan to be read and probably the last to be written, here you summarise the key points of your plan e.g. your mission, how, where,when, why you are going to do it, how much money will you make and how much money you will need.

See, MASSEY, I bet you didn't know that

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Here we go again, lol

 

[JGOffshore]

Have a look at this article:

What Use is a Business Plan

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Have a look at this article:

What Use is a Business Plan

This contains better information about setting up a business plan. If you are going to offer advice, make sure that the advice is good and complete and not just bullet point. This is a must if you are giving advice on something as important as a business plan.

 

[harry munker]

As Baldrick would say from Black Adder "I have a cunning plan"...Not a business plan.

 

[psanghani]

This contains better information about setting up a business plan. If you are going to offer advice, make sure that the advice is good and complete and not just bullet point. This is a must if you are giving advice on something as important as a business plan.

I do have a more than just bullet points I have 20 page report on how to write a business plan I am trained to write one and I know the meaning of each content and what it takes to write one I can give a complete business plan thats even better and much proffesional than that on the website if you so concered about the quality of my advice why dont you go on give it make better than mine rather than complaining am not willing to spend 3hrs writting a complete busines plan on this post and having unproffesional people like you complaining about something they dont even know about I think searching on google is the best place for you rather than wasting your time on UKBF.

 

[harry munker]

Psanghani...I dont doubt that you can write a business plan.I know I cant at the moment as never been shown or had to write one yet.What I would say though is in your posts here you have made some spelling mistakes.Not a criticism just some friendly advice as if you are going to be doing plans for people to be presented to banks then that side of it might let the plan down.

 

[Investors-Wanted]

I do have a more than just bullet points I have 20 page report on how to write a business plan I am trained to write one and I know the meaning of each content and what it takes to write one I can give a complete business plan thats even better and much proffesional than that on the website if you so concered about the quality of my advice why dont you go on give it make better than mine rather than complaining am not willing to spend 3hrs writting a complete busines plan on this post and having unproffesional people like you complaining about something they dont even know about I think searching on google is the best place for you rather than wasting your time on UKBF.

May I suggest if you are able to, upload the information to a website and then post a link. Tools like these are useful. I was not putting you down, but I just needed to point out that making a business plan requires more information than just bullet points.

 

[tpsprint]

Thank you for your post-info. There is a lot to fill out in my BP
I should finish it soon. Next step - keep to the plan. That's the main thing

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Thank you for your post-info. There is a lot to fill out in my BP
I should finish it soon. Next step - keep to the plan. That's the main thing

Good to see

 

[Gillie]

So you have a 20 page report telling you how to write a business plan ... hope it means your business plans are not that long as well!

Try sticking one that long in front of a lender and see their reaction - raise arm, move it in a forward motion and aim said plan towards round circular contained stood in the corner of the room!

Be aware, that you need different plans for different aims - you might need one to keep you on track as you set off, or you might use one to appeal to investors, or you might need one to approach a bank/lender - all of which should be different as all of which have varying needs, and all of which place a different emphasis on different sections ... anyone get the word I am trying to get at here?

Different!!

 

[MASSEY]

So you have a 20 page report telling you how to write a business plan ... hope it means your business plans are not that long as well!

Try sticking one that long in front of a lender and see their reaction - raise arm, move it in a forward motion and aim said plan towards round circular contained stood in the corner of the room!

Be aware, that you need different plans for different aims - you might need one to keep you on track as you set off, or you might use one to appeal to investors, or you might need one to approach a bank/lender - all of which should be different as all of which have varying needs, and all of which place a different emphasis on different sections ... anyone get the word I am trying to get at here?

Different!!

Business plans can be 50 pages long,

When they are looked at they delve into it slightly and if the main criteria is what they are looking for it goes to the next level,

If it is 20-50 pages long with all relevant content it does not matter,

 

[mapiman]

So you have a 20 page report telling you how to write a business plan ... hope it means your business plans are not that long as well!

Try sticking one that long in front of a lender and see their reaction - raise arm, move it in a forward motion and aim said plan towards round circular contained stood in the corner of the room!

Surely it depends on what you are trying to achieve and, if presenting to an investor or lender when trying to get substantial cash you will need something much longer than 20 pages.

Last one I did for a property deal of just over half a million was 90 pages long including cash flow etc. Got the cash so....

 

[Dawg]

A business plan should be structured into sections so that it may be easily followed and understood by the person reading it. By completing each section you will provide the information required to help you plan and manage your business as well as that needed by funders to make their decisions as to whether to support your business or not. Your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive summary
• General Company description( mission statement, aims, vision for the future)
• SWOT analysis
• Market research ( Primary and secondary)
• Market plan
• Financial forecast including cashflow, profit and loss account and budget
• Forward plan

And, presumably, attention to detale.

 

[saxondale]

And, presumably, attention to detale.

but thats too obvious - surely?

 

[Gillie]

Business plans can be 50 pages long,

When they are looked at they delve into it slightly and if the main criteria is what they are looking for it goes to the next level,

If it is 20-50 pages long with all relevant content it does not matter,

Surely it depends on what you are trying to achieve and, if presenting to an investor or lender when trying to get substantial cash you will need something much longer than 20 pages.

Last one I did for a property deal of just over half a million was 90 pages long including cash flow etc. Got the cash so....

So so wrong ... you are now assuming that the lender is interested in everything you are or you think they are - nope! You may stick a 90 page one in front of them but I can guarantee that just certain pages were read!

And unless you are taking mega money here, in the first instance you have to get it past the lower levels, who bless em are not exactly top managers or top business bods, therefore they will pass it on only if it ticks all the correct boxes on their list.

 

[saxondale]

So so wrong ... you are now assuming that the lender is interested in everything you are or you think they are - nope! You may stick a 90 page one in front of them but I can guarantee that just certain pages were read!

And unless you are taking mega money here, in the first instance you have to get it past the lower levels, who bless em are not exactly top managers or top business bods, therefore they will pass it on only if it ticks all the correct boxes on their list.

the banks own plan (produced for me by their own internal dept) was only 22 pages,



and that was small type too.

 

[Liybpg]

When I did my business plan, they told me at the workshop: your aim is to write as little as possible, while including everything. If you are a start up, what the hell are you going to be writing in 90 pages? More often than not it will be just a waste of space. If you are an established, complicated business - you might need to use a few more pages.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Get real folk, there is no such thing as A business plan (A being singular)

You write business plans for two reasons.

The main one for YOURSELF & YOUR COMPANY, this is your best knowledge you have obtained on how you go forward, the problems you might have to overcome including compeditors,your financial situation and anything else you think will either effect your progress or assist your team in following the plan or its reasoning

The secondary plan is based upon the first but produced to work some way with a third party, be it the bank,Investor or selling the company among other things

The size of any plan will obviously depend on the size of the company and its structure, you would not expect a PLC to have a simular plan to a start-up or small LTD

 

[JGOffshore]

So so wrong ... you are now assuming that the lender is interested in everything you are or you think they are - nope! You may stick a 90 page one in front of them but I can guarantee that just certain pages were read!

Of course they were. The "lower level" managers you mention will only look for certain items. They will read the executive summary, check that all the right sections are there and having ticked all the boxes will then pass it up the line.

The next level will look at some things in more depth. If the boxes get ticked it will go further.

 

[JGOffshore]

When I did my business plan, they told me at the workshop: your aim is to write as little as possible, while including everything. If you are a start up, what the hell are you going to be writing in 90 pages? More often than not it will be just a waste of space. If you are an established, complicated business - you might need to use a few more pages.

Did any of the people running your workshop actually have any experience in real business plans? Were they the sort of Business Link advisors who mostly failed to make a success of their own businesses so now were advising others. Those who can do, those who can't, teach.

 

[JGOffshore]

Chris Ashdown is right to say that there is more than one reason for writing a business plan. Indeed that is the very point in the article What Use is a Business Plan referred to earlier. Early on it states:

"A business plan is much more than a tool to get finance and is not a static document which once written can get filed and forgotten. A business plan should change and develop with the business. It is more than a statement of intent - it is also a benchmark of how the intent is being achieved - or not."

 

[Liybpg]

Did any of the people running your workshop actually have any experience in real business plans? Were they the sort of Business Link advisors who mostly failed to make a success of their own businesses so now were advising others. Those who can do, those who can't, teach.

Well, isn't it a good advice? Or you just heard that they are from workshop and start criticising them on that basis?
I don't know about Business Link, but the guy who was on ours is a very experienced business man who started up a lot of businesses and was running a lot of businesses. I don't know how rich he was, if that is an indication of success.

 

[saxondale]

Did any of the people running your workshop actually have any experience in real business plans? Were they the sort of Business Link advisors who mostly failed to make a success of their own businesses so now were advising others. Those who can do, those who can't, teach.

and those who can`t teach? ............... give advice on the internet

 

[saxondale]

I don't know how rich he was, if that is an indication of success.

it does tend to be - yes.

 

[Gillie]

Chris Ashdown is right to say that there is more than one reason for writing a business plan. Indeed that is the very point in the article What Use is a Business Plan referred to earlier. Early on it states:

"A business plan is much more than a tool to get finance and is not a static document which once written can get filed and forgotten. A business plan should change and develop with the business. It is more than a statement of intent – it is also a benchmark of how the intent is being achieved – or not."

Strangely enough I said in post #25 that you need more than one business plan ...