What should I include in my Business Plan?
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The answer depends largely upon your reasons for the creation of a business plan. If you don’t require financial assistance in order to start your business, the contents of your plan may be fairly limited. You should, of course, identify your goals and set forth directions for the achievement of those goals, but you may discover that you don’t need to include additional information within your plan. If, however, you hope to secure capital from potential investors, you should include additional information. The list below is not exhaustive, but includes several factors that a potential investor might wish to see in your business plan:
- Product/Service. What exactly is it that your business is selling or providing? How is that product or service better than those already available in the marketplace?
- Market Analysis. What is the climate of the market in which your business will operate? Are businesses such as yours successful in your geographic region?
- Potential Problems. What are the most likely threats to the success of your business? What is your plan for the recognition and elimination of such problems?
- Background/Experience. Have you (or any of your employees) previously launched a business venture of this nature? If so, was the venture successful or unsuccessful, and why?
- Financial Predictions. What can investors expect as a return on their investment, and what important assumptions, if any, did you make in order to make your prediction?
- Command Structure. How will you operate your business? How will your business structure its decision-making process?
Next Page: How frequently should I review and update my Business Plan?
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