(an excerpt from the Business Plan Master Guide)

The Business Concept

Here is where you discuss your business idea, why it is needed, why you are the ideal candidate to take on such a project and why it will succeed.  Take as much space as you need (edit your words back later) to give a complete picture. Anticipate that you will not be there to interpret anything for the reader, so leave them with a clear (and as simple as possible) understanding of your proposed business. This is no place for shyness when presenting the idea, or wanting to protect the idea from "others who might do it first".

I'll discuss who should read you business plan in another area.

This section should cover the following:

·         The business type. Quite literally, what business are you in?

·        Who your major customers are, specifically detail a profile of your average customer. I have yet to come across the business that has everybody as its customers

·       What product or service you will provide. Describe the main product(s) or service(s) you will provide and their application in detail.

·         What customer needs and/or wants does this product (or service) satisfy?

·         Why is this business or idea unique? What makes it different to other similar business already in the marketplace? Leave no doubt about the unique features about your product or service or the way in which it is delivered to your customers.

·         What other factors will go into making this business a success?

·        What product development has been done? What remains to be done? How long will this take? How much will this cost? When do you anticipate being able to supply your product or service? Are there plans for future development of other products and services?

·       Where will you run your business from? Are there viable alternative sites? Why have you chosen your preferred site? Confirmation of
leasing arrangements (a copy of the lease can be included in the appendices of your business plan). What are the advantages and disadvantages of your chosen site? For example, working from a home office will mean interruptions from family and friends. How will you cope with these distractions?

·        Business SWOT analysis. Complete an honest analysis and include it in this section. An explanation of a SWOT analysis appears later in this guide

·         Why you are the right person to run such a business. Include your relevant experience and qualifications.

·         What are the achievements of your organisation to date? Basically, a brief resume of your company if it is already operating.

In this section you can break your paragraphs down by using various sub-headings. Suggested sub-headings are in bold above, but if you feel you have a more appropriate one for your business type, please use that instead.

Sub-headings make it easier for the reader to read and understand what you are saying, and also make it very simple to quickly return to a point of interest.

Just one section from a guide than walks you through the building of a complete business plan.

Creativity is as essential to life as oxygen

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Copyright © 2009 David Sell - Freelance Journalist and Writer