Business-planning wish list

At the end of the planning process, we hope to have . . . Priority ❏A document we can use to get funding Low medium high ❏A strategic plan for a new product or service launch Low medium high ❏ A compelling description of our business model Low medium high ❏ A financial forecast for the upcoming year Low medium high ❏ A document we can use to recruit new employees Low medium high ❏ A strategic plan to return the company to profitability Low medium high ❏ A strong marketing plan to address new competition Low medium high ❏ A description of our operations Low medium high ❏ A detailed assessment of the competitive environment Low medium high ❏ An analysis of our strengths and weaknesses Low medium high ❏ A detailed set of goals and objectives aligned with our strategy Low medium high ❏ A plan for a change in ownership or management Low medium high ❏ A detailed analysis of our customers and what makes them buy Low medium high ❏ A reality check for a new idea for going into business Low medium high ❏ A document we can use to get grant money for a non-profit Low medium high ❏ A clear sense of our vision and mission Low medium high ❏ A strategic plan to return to our core business Low medium high ❏ A document that will help explain the company’s mission Low medium high ❏ A plan to prepare the company for a sale or merger Low medium high ❏ Other: Low medium high

Common business plan audiences

Use this checklist to identify the primary audiences for your business plan. ❏ Yourself ❏ Your Board of Directors ❏ Investors and lenders ❏ Senior management team ❏ Current employees ❏ New hires ❏ Independent contractors ❏ Vendors and suppliers ❏ Customers or clients ❏ Donors (for nonprofits) ❏ Distributors ❏ Regulators ❏ Advocacy groups ❏ Others

Contentofbusinessplanfrombeginningtoend

✓ Table of contents: This element is a guide to the key sections in your business plan and is especially useful if your plan exceeds ten pages. ✓ Executive summary: This section is a summary of the key points in your business plan. You should incorporate it if your plan runs more than ten pages and you want to convey important information upfront. You want to keep it clear, captivating, and brief — in fact, try to keep it to two pages or less. ✓ Company overview: This section describes your company and the nature of your business. It may include your company’s mission and vision statements as well as descriptions of your values, your products or services, ways your company is unique, and what business opportunities you plan to seize. (Turn to Chapter 3 for help defining your business purpose and developing your company overview.) ✓ Business environment: This section includes an analysis of your industry and the forces at work in your market; an in-depth description of your direct and potential competitors; and a close look at your customers, including who they are, what they want, and how they buy products or services. It describes everything that affects your business that’s beyond your control. ✓ Company description: In this section, include information about your management team, your organization, your new or proprietary technology, your products and services, your company operations, and your marketing potential. ✓ Company strategy: This section brings together the information about your business environment and your company’s resources and then lays out a strategy for going forward. ✓ Marketing plan: This section is where you describe how you plan to reach prospects, make sales, and develop a loyal clientele. ✓ Financial review: This section includes a detailed review of dollars and cents, including the state of your current finances and what you expect your financial picture to look like in the future. It typically contains financial statements, including an income statement, your balance sheet, and a cash-flow statement. ✓ Action plan: Here you detail the steps involved in implementing your business plan, including the sequence of actions and how they align with your goals and objectives. ✓ Appendixes: This section includes detailed information that supports your business plan. It may include analyses, reports, surveys, legal documents, product specifications, and spreadsheets that deliver a rounded understanding of your business plan but which are of interest to only a small number of your readers.

Use this form to assign tasks and organize your business-planning process.

Strengths & weaknesses Rate your personal strengths and weaknesses, using this questionnaire. Being as honest as you can. Rate your abilities in the following areas: (circle the most appropriate response)

1. Setting goals and pushing yourself to achieve them on time:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 2. Making decisions and completing tasks:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 3. Organizing a complex schedule and getting things done efficiently:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 4. Staying focused on the specific task at hand:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 5. Juggling several tasks at one time:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 6. Judging a person’s character:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 7. Getting along with other people and bringing out the best in them:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 8. Listening to several sides of an issue and then making a decision:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 9. Leading a team, even when there is disagreement among the members:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 10. Understanding what motivates other people:

Poor Fair Good Excellent

11. Resolving disputes among people:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 12. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 13. Keeping your cool even when everyone else is losing theirs:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 14. Telling someone no:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 15. Tending to the details of a project:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 16. Looking at the big picture:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 17. Acting decisively under pressure:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 18. Adapting to changing circumstances:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 19. Taking risks:

Poor Fair Good Excellent 20. Taking responsibility, even when things go wrong:

Poor Fair Good Excellent

Vision & Mission Statement

These eight questions prepare you to write your mission statement. Rate real mission statements to see which examples you find most impressive.

To be the leading global provider of handheld computing products and to provide developers with the industry standard platform for creating world-class mobile solutions.

(Palm, Inc.) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why?

The mission of the Metropolitan Police Department is to prevent crime and the fear of crime, as we work with others to build safe and healthy communities throughout the District of Columbia.

(Washington D.C. Police Department) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why?

Get it there. (FedEx)

✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why? To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

(Sierra Club) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why?

To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

(Google) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why?

To provide our customers with safe, good value, point-to-point air services. To effect and to offer a consistent and reliable product and fares appealing to leisure and business markets on a range of European routes. To achieve this we will develop our people and establish lasting relationships with our supporters.

(easyJet.com) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why? The NBA’s mission is to be the most respected and successful sports league and sports marketing organization in the world.

(National Basketball Association) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why? To manufacture world class quality molds to fill our customers' needs, provide satisfying careers for all our employees, and to earn a fair return in order to allow continuous improvement, and thereby enable our customers, and ourselves, to succeed in the future together.

(Stellar Mold & Tool, Inc.) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why? United Community Center is a human service agency providing emergency assistance, daycare, social services and recreational activities for low-income children and families at risk in inner city Atlanta, Georgia.

(United Community Center) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why? To make people happy.

(Disney World) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why?

To create an online community, like no other, encompassing every facet of every municipality in the United States; to aid in online economic revitalization in partnership with local businesses and local, state and national government agencies; to publish, maintain and connect a network of community websites designed to entertain, educate and enlighten the residents of our great nation, while maintaining the highest standards of personal morals, business ethics and web etiquette.

(A2Z Computing Services) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why?

Dell’s mission is to be the most successful computer company in the world at delivering the best customer experience in markets we serve. In doing so, Dell will meet customer expectations of: • Highest quality • Leading technology • Competitive pricing • Individual and company accountability • Best-in-class service and support • Flexible customization capability • Superior corporate citizenship • Financial stability

(Dell Computer) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why?

The YMCA of San Francisco builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities by enriching the lives of all people in spirit, mind, and body.

(YMCA of San Francisco) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why? To connect people to their passions, communities, and the world’s knowledge.

(Yahoo!) ✓ Thumbs up X Thumbs down

Why?

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