| For any aspiring entrepreneur, building a successful | | | | When you have these essential elements, you can |
| business plan can seem daunting. Many small | | | | consider your business strategy. Basically, this is a plan |
| businesses ask themselves: Do we really need a plan? | | | | of how you're going to market, design, and operate |
| Well, if you have a business or want to start a | | | | your business. In any business plan, you will usually |
| business, you NEED a business plan! "Winging it" never | | | | open with an Executive Summary and Business |
| worked for any successful business. Even | | | | Description. After that, you get to the "meat" of your |
| well-established businesses need a business plan, or | | | | plan. |
| need to drastically modify their business plan when the | | | | The third section of your business plan is your |
| situation changes. | | | | Marketing section. Consider your target audience and |
| The first step to building your business plan is | | | | how large your customer base may become. Then, |
| determining your goals and objectives for your | | | | consider how you will reach your market (how feasible |
| business. Imagine where you want to be in a few | | | | it is to actually contact your customer base). Will you |
| years. Do you want to remain a small business, or are | | | | use website only? Or perhaps television and paper |
| you more adventurous? Also, consider your personal | | | | mediums? This will help define your pricing, distribution, |
| goals and objectives. How much work are you willing | | | | promotion and marketing methods. Once you have this |
| to put into your business? Is this a business that will | | | | section completed, you can see how you measure up |
| provide a livable income, or more of a hobby? What | | | | with your competitors. You should aim to outperform |
| tasks and jobs are you willing to delegate to your | | | | and outlast your competitors, and draw their |
| employees? | | | | customers to your base. |
| Second, determine what you bring to the customer. | | | | The next two sections are the overall design and |
| What distinguishes your business from your | | | | operations plan of your business. How will you design |
| competitor? You must come up with the key attributes | | | | your business' brand? What are your most visible |
| of your business that will draw customers to you again | | | | attributes? Also, how many employees do you want, |
| and again. Without proper brand development and | | | | and how will your business flow? Will you delegate |
| recognition, your customers will glaze over your | | | | tasks or handle most of it yourself? A lot of this |
| website and you won't have appropriate levels of | | | | section is highly personal and gives you a chance to |
| business to sustain. | | | | show your passion about your product or service. |
| Third, consider your budget. How much money will you | | | | Finally, you must come back to your finances and |
| need to start up your business? Are you going to take | | | | determine what is feasible for your business. Also, try |
| out a business loan, or find investors? Do you want to | | | | to examine what your future financial goals will be as |
| allow investors in on your important business | | | | the market changes and your business grows. |
| decisions? Also, consider what happens as your | | | | With a business plan, you can ensure your business |
| business changes and grows. How are you going to | | | | has a solid foundation in reality and what you can |
| spend income? Are you going to re-invest in your | | | | feasibly expect from your venture. This is essential to |
| business? Finally, how much income do you need to | | | | business success and will maximize your profits! |
| support your personal lifestyle? | | | | |