Writing Business Plan

Georgi Kadrev, FMI, SU, January 2010

Any Questions Left

Communication Effort

• Explanatory• Clear to laics• Concise• Confident• Well thought-out• “Suffer” now

Business Plan Structure

• Complete• Logical Sequence• Stand-alone Parts• Can be Obligatory• Not a Presentation

Sample Structure

Executive SummaryProblem StatementProductBusiness ModelMarketCompetitionTechnology

StatusStrategyInvestment NeedsTeamSWOT AnalysisRisk ManagementFinancial Projections

Section: Executive Summary

• Glance at Key Aspects• First Impression• Can be the Only• Write First• Revise Last

Section: Problem Statement / Opportunity

• State of the Art• Problems• Complications• Wrongs• Opportunities

Section: Solution / Product

• Mission• Innovation• Key Features• Value Proposition• Use Cases

Section: Business Model

• Making money• Pricing Policy• Direct / Indirect

Section: Market

• Clienets, Users• Turnover• Trends• Fragmentation• Niche / Gap Analysis

Section: Competition

• Key Players• Comparison• “Unfair” Advantages• Sustainable Advantages• Handling Copycats

Section: Technology / Intellectual Property

• Know-How• Intellectual Property• Keep it Understandable

Section: Status / Prototype

• Features• Little bugs are OK• Proof of Concepts• First Clients• Short-term Plans

Section: Strategy

• Vision• Operations• Development• Milestones• Growth Potential

Section: Financing / Investment Needs

• Financial Highlights• Investment Needs• Exit Strategy

Section: Team / Management

• Background• In Idea’s context• Don’t be too shy• Role• Structure

Section: SWOT Analysis

• Strengths• Weaknesses• Opportunities• Threats• Internal / External• Interconnections

Section: Fatal Flaws / Risk Management

• “Plan B”• Thought-out Idea• Maturity• Bullet-proofing• Peace of Mind

Appendix: Financial Projections

• Budget• Revenues• Highlights• Bottom-Up approach• References• Include “Plan B”

Final Touches

• Iterate, Polish• Split / Merge• Revise the Summary• Involve Everyone• Do your Homework• Be Honest

Guy Kawasaki / Garage Technology Ventures:• http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/01/the_zen_of_busi.html• http://www.garage.com/resources/writingexecsum.shtml• http://www.garage.com/resources/perfectingpitch.shtml

Index Ventures:• http://indexventures.com/approach/index/category/8

Worthy Resources

• www.fotolia.com (via stockpodium.com)

• www.photoxpress.com • Diana Ruseva

Photo Credits

E-mail : georgi.kadrev@stockpodium.com

Mobile : 089 9001 887

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