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Writing a business plan

zipan

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I find it very surprising that I didn't find a post on how to write a business plan on this forum. Therefore this post. :p

I found a very good site with information on writing business plans:
Free Sample Business Plans and Business Plan Software

I highly recommend it to write a business plan. It is not only important for regular businesses but also for an online business. All is it for your own, it gives you clarity, direction, goals,...

Remember:

PREPARATION IS HALF THE VICTORY!!

LOVE, Light & Peace
Zipan
 
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Shades

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unless its absolutely necessary for raising capital, business plans are completely worthless and a waste of time IMO.
 

CEBenz

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The general consensus has been the business plans are little more than toilet paper and only have value if you're seeking funding. The customer will ultimately dictate the direction of your business, not your business plan, assuming you plan to survive. Not one of the business owners I know has a business plan. Just saying.
 
A

Anon3587x

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Business plans take 20 minutes to write.
It's good to have a general overview for what your trying to do even though this will always end up changing.

They are essentially worth nothing though.

Write the plan, immediately take action and you'll be okay.
 
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darkjediii

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I wrote a business plan for every business I started. It came in very handy when I needed it. The most useful part for me were the P&L statements, 5year projections, sources and uses of funds, etc. Basically the financials, it gave me a clearer picture of where I was going.
 

Emmanueljr

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Yeah,I am looking forward to start the business in the neat future and ave been looking forward to have some good ideas. Actually this site is more than useful for me.I have find plenty of Inspirational stories here and great deal of Information too on business.
I have not find the software on the site,Will you please share the link of the software here alongside the detail either it is freeware or not.
 

PaulRobert

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I do not have a business plan either. If I created a business plan in the beginning, it would of been changed countless times. What I have is 2 things.

1. A business goal list for myself. It is basically a to do list that maps out the next steps of my business. Every time something is accomplished, it is crossed off the list. Everything can be edited without the headache of changing the entire list.

2. A packet about my business, my product, and me. Whenever someone asks for a business plan, I provide them with the packet. All they are really looking for is some background information about you and your business. (Unless you are looking for funding.) I have attended panels with VCs and they have stated they had thrown out 20 page business plans and actually invested in businesses that had tangible assets (prototypes, ect..), some clients, and only a 1-2 page summary of their business.
 
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zipan

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Business Plan Software and Marketing Plan Software - Palo Alto Software

That's the site for the products, you must pay for it but I wouldn't pay for such product before you make any money from your business.

I don't have any experience with this products, I found the site interesting for making business plans that's all. But it's best that you first search after open source software.

Maybe this site can help you

SourceForge.net: Find, create, and publish Open Source software for free

LOVE, Light & Peace
Zipan
 

AndrewKent

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In the military, there is a saying: "No plan survives contact with the enemy."

In business: "No plan survives contact with the customer."

(got this from the book "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive While Others Die")


Like MJ explains in his book, why waste 100 hours writing a business plan that will go out the window once you encounter diverging market forces (customer needs).
 

johansunburg

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Starting up an insurance company and outlining the business plan. I've searched online and found nothing related to average financial projections in the first year for a P&C agency. Does anyone have experience or recommend a place to go to write a business plan to get accurate information about a new insurance agency's annual premium sold in the first year?... and years following.
 
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Mattie

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I find it very surprising that I didn't find a post on how to write a business plan on this forum. Therefore this post. :p

I found a very good site with information on writing business plans:
Free Sample Business Plans and Business Plan Software

I highly recommend it to write a business plan. It is not only important for regular businesses but also for an online business. All is it for your own, it gives you clarity, direction, goals,...

Remember:

PREPARATION IS HALF THE VICTORY!!

LOVE, Light & Peace
Zipan
I agree business plans usually are good for presenting them to get funding as when you write a Grant they want to know all the details.
This is more for boards and funders.

The actual business itself is naturally adapting, adjusting, and is never going to stay on the same plan long-term.

This is why you see most businesses in mainstream with upgrades in training, seminars, and technology ever year. The Changes in procedures, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and legal laws.

While it may be a temporary blue print of what you want to do, it is not something built in concrete. When you have people who believe you have to stay in a certain perimeter long-term, it can actually be where you fail, because you keep believing it has to be on this plan. "One Way" tends to be an obstacle, delays, and prohibits production.

Even if you have a plastics machine with a mold, you might believe the parts come out every time in perfect condition. The plan is they're flawless. Fortunately, the plastic can get burned and the parts are thrown out called waste. The plastic itself can be contaminated.

You might plan on cooking your last egg and you drop it on the floor.

Business plans are no different.
 

Bigguns50

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I have a mentor here from the SBA to help with financing. Great help. I used the SBA business plan form Write your business plan.

Like others have said, if you need financing from banks, this is a must. It might also help you look at aspects of your potential business you hadn't given thought to. Someone mentioned it takes 20 minutes to write...NOT my case.
 
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Kung Fu Steve

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I have a mentor here from the SBA to help with financing. Great help. I used the SBA business plan form Write your business plan.

Like others have said, if you need financing from banks, this is a must. It might also help you look at aspects of your potential business you hadn't given thought to. Someone mentioned it takes 20 minutes to write...NOT my case.

To get the bank to finally say yes to a broke 20-year-old kid, I had 2 sessions with SBA mentors (for free), they looked over my business plan, and apparently, that went a long way for getting my loan.

If I remember right, it was only a couple of pages.

BUT

I'll add my in-person pitch of who I was and what I was going to do became my business plan. I just delivered it orally (giggity) instead of written.

@zipan Your business plan could be written on a napkin: Who are you going to serve, what are you going to do for them, how is it any different than what's out there, and why are you the person to do it?
 

WJK

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Why write a formal business plan -- unless I need financing????? Like the fighter says, the best-laid plans fall apart when you get punched in the nose. I'm starting a new side gig. I don't have a formal plan. But, I have a to-do list that I'm ticking off one item at a time. I'll add or mark items off of my list as I go along.
 
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Ing

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I loke to write businessplans! Its great to think about a business and evaluate everything of it.

But when My brain had a plan for a real business, I would stop action faking and get my shit done!
 

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