A business plan is equivalent to a visiting card, and it is going to be a calling card for your business that gives information about your business such as who you are, where you are, what your business is, what you are doing, and future plans. In order to run a business successfully, to get financial assistance from lenders (such as banks, financial institutions, government, private investors, etc.), to purchase a business, or to expand a current business, you need to have a business plan.
What it tells
The main purpose of the business plans is to tell about your vision, control, and operational methods of your current business or the proposed vision and future running and expansion of a business in order to persuade others to assist or join with you to achieve the vision.
Why needs
In order to assist or join with you, and investor or lender wants to see the credibility of current business operations, past successes, and vision for the future of the business. Your overall business plan has to assure investors or lenders that they are assisting or investing in the right place where they can see that the mutual benefits or mutual goals are attainable.
Basic business plan
The business plan should be simple, precise, and clear. It should tell exactly what you are going to do and why you are requesting assistance. These basic pieces should be in the business plan:
- Cover page
- Mission statement
- Products and services of the business
- Targeted customers
- Marketing techniques
- Operational techniques
- Estimated cash flow from the business
- Future expansion of business
- Additional business related information
- Principles experience and contributions
How investors or lenders assess your plan
The investor or lender makes a decision based on your business plan and the materials supplied by you. In order to achieve your request you can present the following basic data for financial assistance:
- What is the purpose of assistance?
- Supporting documents for the needs of assistance
- What is the current or proposed business?
- Nature and type of business
- Cash flow of the current business or projected cash flow
- Expected return on the investment
- Available collateral for investment
- Viability of the proposed business
- Nature of the risk of the business
- Market conditions of similar businesses
- Target customers/users
- Business assets and liabilities
- Promoter’s contributions to the business operations or proposed operations
- Promoter’s past experience in the business and achievements
- Promoter’s personal financial strength
Business plan software is available in the market, but before buying such software please check that it matches your criteria. It is always a good idea to take advice from your current financial advisers or business financial consultants or to hire a professional for your business plans. Their advice certainly makes a difference.
If you want to know more about the importance of a business plan, have further questions on how to write a business plan, or need assistance writing a business plan, please contact us at help@bizworldusa.com or 510-556-1600 and one of our associates will contact you.