Entrepreneur - Business Plan Tips

Business Plan Tips

What Investors Are Looking For In A Plan

Investors, whether angels or VC's, are looking for the same things when reading a business plan. They want to know how big the opportunity is, whether this is the right team to exploit the opportunity, who the competition is, what the risks are, and why they can expect this team to implement successfully. Your job in writing the business plan is to address these questions convincingly and clearly.

Emphasize Your Real Strengths

Highlight what your team brings to the table. If your business hinges on a particular competency (for example, understanding the procurement process), your plan will be more persuasive if one of your team members knows something about it and that is brought out in your plan. Rather than including generic resumes of team members, tailor the resumes to draw out the experience each member has that will make him or her a valuable contributor.

Get To The Point And Make It Clear And Comprehensive

Investors see many business plans. A 20-page plan which clearly lays out your business is far more likely to be read than a 100 page plan. Today, some entrepreneurs are using a 15 slide Powerpoint presentation. If your text is short and punchy, you won't need to repeat yourself, because the reader won't be bogged down keeping ten chapters in their head. Reading the same thing over and over, even if it's in different words, can get really tiring. The more you use brevity and give each concept a single home in your document, the more people will want to read it.

Write In Plain English

If you can't explain your idea in English, either you don't understand what you're talking about (What is a transaction enabled atomic journaling database server, anyway?) or you haven't simplified the idea enough. Think, revise, and try again.

Get Rid Of The Hype

Yes, we know you will be the "premier insert product category here of the Internet, achieving 99% market penetration with 60% customer retention in 3 months". Your product will reach "new heights in customer experience through the use of personalization and one-to-one profiling and customization". It will be "user friendly" because you will be creating a truly "ecstatic customer experience". It is a "quantum leap forward" in the marketplace for product category here. Um, yeah. Believe me, we've read it before. About a dozen times today, in fact. (And by the way, the phrase "quantum leap" really doesn't mean anything.) Stick to a tight, simple explanation of your idea. Convince your reader you'll be the best because your idea is the best, not because you can string a dozen buzzwords together.

Use Quantifiable Information

In each section, back up your assertions with solid facts. Even if you are a new venture and cannot give specific figures on the performance of your business, quote figures for the industry or your competitors. These real figures carry more weight than your assumed projections and give more reality to your plan.

Choose A Huge Market

Especially in the internet world, investors are looking more at the market than at the detailed specifics of your financials. Choose a market that is big enough to be an obvious good opportunity. A business which targets teenage girls who listen to music and has a reasonable chance of capturing 90% of the girls that are online is a huge opportunity. A business which targets net-savvy SAAB mechanics who need prosthetic limbs is not.

Local Investors

United States > Alabama

FOUNDED COMPOSITE MANUFACTURING FIRM (INDUSTRIAL) 35 YEARS SUCCESSFUL OPERATION, IMPORTED EXPORTED, BUT BUT BUT PRIMARILY SOLD PRODUCT WITHIN THE U.S.. SEEKING SOUND BUSINESS INVESTMENT.

$25,000 to $1,000,000

United States > New York

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$10,000 to $250,000

United States > Connecticut

I succeed if you succeed. My goal is to give you what you need to prosper whether that be hands- on or hands-off. I'm a married, MBA living in Connecticut with a very broad level experience in the consumer goods industry. My experience includes international retail markets but also includes some large corporate licensing deals with major global corporations. I plan to consider viable investment options while leveraging my education in marketing and general business. While also taking advantage of extensive experience at an entrepreneurial company in managing fast moving projects with a need to be profitable almost immediately.

$5,000 to $10,000

United States > New Jersey

I am new to the business and getting the hang of it. I have closed one deal about a month ago, and looking to close more for the coming year. I do have a partner she is a Realtor/Investor/Mortgagor. We are looking to Wholesale deals, REO buyrers, We can get the properties, but looking for serious buyers that wolud like to buy, and move on to the next project. Need help with funding deals to either fix the property hold or flip

$10,000 to $25,000

United States > Rhode Island

We are focused on providing you with unique funding options for your business or idea. To succeed in business, you need a plan. Let us help you realize a 3, 5, 7, or 10 year plan for your Business. Whether its Debt load management , Credit rebuilding, Equity management, Purchase or just a lower interest rate, we can help you.

$1,000,000 to $500,000,000

United States > Texas

Principle focus is on established oil extraction, downstream refining, storage, and distribution businesses. Our activities in this area are concentrated in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, and the Middle East. As derivative products of oil, our regional focus is the same as that of our Oil & Gas activities. We work with established specialty chemicals, commodity chemicals and fertilizer businesses throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Western Europe. Established precious metal mining businesses that have both a history of production and existing proven reserves. Activities in this area are concentrated in the United States, Canada, Latin America. We work with established base metal and non-organic mining operations within our regional focus. We also invest in commercial development,refinance,any type of project development income producing we'll look at funding. Also Residential.

$10,000 to $1,000,000,000

United States > Minnesota

My firm helps companies find non-dilutive capital from city and states in the US. We have raised 100's of millions for companies that can create 50 or more jobs in a five year period and are capable of moving operations to a pro-business state that offers these aggressive cash grants. Were an alternative to Angel and VC investors because we negotiate cash grants that are non-dilutive and forgivable in exchange for creating jobs. However, the business must be able to expand, relocate or consolidate out of its respective location. We have 20 years of experience matching growing viable businesses to communities that will invest in your future. www.ecodevllc.com 952-944-0012 office

$1,000,000 to $100,000,000

United Kingdom > London

We are an agent for overseas investors who are looking for projects in which they can be JV partners, with them holding 51-60% of the equity, and introduce the entire funding needed. Please note that my clients will not work alongside any other funders or bankers. Initially, you should email us an executive summary, P&L and cashflow. If they are interested, they will ask for a UK meeting to discuss the project and present their terms of business. If it is decided to proceed subsequently, the Heads of Agreement are signed, and a contribution to the arrangement fee is payable to my clients. This sum is refunded when the funding is drawn down. The timescale from signature to drawdown of funds whilst my clients carry out their due diligence and amendment of your business plan is 20-22 weeks. I look forward to hearing from you if you would like me to present your project to my clients.

$20,000,000 to $1,000,000,000

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