For many people a business plan is one of those things that you know you need to do but have trouble making yourself do it. Writing a business plan does take a lot of time, but it doesn't have to be difficult.
Today is the "opener" of a series dealing with business plans. We're going to begin with an overview of a business plan and then take a look at each section individually.
The following sections should be included in every business plan:
Operating a business out of your home doesn't make you exempt from writing a business plan. There are some differences in home-based business plans and brick-and-mortar business plans, but the same basic sections apply to both.
A home-based business plan usually needs to be more detailed. For instance, in the Marketing and Promotion section, maybe explain how you will use technology to promote and sell your product or service.
For Business Operations, stress how the home environment will not disrupt your business but actually be beneficial since it will cut down on costs. Other clarifications could be stating your compliance with zoning laws and the legalities of running a business in a residential area.
To learn more on business plans, watch this video report.
Keep Your Online Business Alive in 2008Is a Business Plan Really That Important?Some Upcoming Small Business EventsSmall Business Week Comes to a CloseEntrepreneurs Honored During Small Business WeekBusiness Plan Part 3: Market AnalysisUpcoming Small Business Event RoundupBusiness Plan Part 2: Business OverviewBusiness Plan Part 1: Executive SummaryBig Week for Women in Business | |||
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QuickPlanner Plus
We are finding more and more clients using QuickPlanner Plus for their home based businesses. Designed for the creative entrepreneur, QPP's system is perfect for the small business owner who wants to develop a simple plan for business success without building a behemoth of a business plan designed more for bankers and less for business success.
Thanks for the tip!
Write down thoughts
One thing that I'm finding can really help move towards starting a business plan is to transfer thoughts to paper.
Create a folder 'Business Plan' and don't be afraid to create subfolders to organise all the bits & pieces you might have saved to help "when the time comes".
Then just a doc/txt file and start writing down all those thoughts you have on the business. What you are going to do, how you might do it, the strengths you have, why people might buy from you, how you will get staff.
...really just informal notes for yourself written just as you might say it to someone. The point is you get them jotted down in plain view so you don't have to remember them.
If you're at all like me you need to be as efficient as possible with those few cells up top and a "brain" file will help.
From there you can start to organise those thoughts more logically, fill in gaps, expand areas - and it can provide you that extra bit of help for a formal detailed business plan as Abby has outlined!
Great idea, David!
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