New York Investment Network

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 > Iowa

Short-term loans 6 months up to 4 years. Asset based lending, Invoice Factoring and Hard Money loans.

$5,000 to $900,000

United States > Nevada

seeking secure investment opportunities in either mature or new industries

$0 to $10,000,000

Austria > Dornbirn

I'm a finance consultant for an investor group from all over the world. The group of people with whom I work have one of the largest database of investors with more than 10 years of experience and hundreds of finished projects .

$50,000 to $100,000,000

United States > Kentucky

national financial company is a nationwide investment company of 5 partners who buy, sell, lease & wholesale commercial investments. we have been in the residential & commercial investment business for 7 years and we represent a large partner-base of investors nationwide who are buyers and sellers. our background is mortgage/lending is an loan officer, buying, selling & fixing up/rehabbing old homes, buying distressed residential properties, foreclosures, pre-foreclosures and short sales. we are looking mostly for a network of commercial investor who buy mainly hotels, very large skyscraper buildings, gas stations and very large condo projects. we need investors who can buy as high as $10 billion+ and who are serious and ready to buy. our goal to network is strictly for commercial buyers.

$10,000,000 to $50,000,000

United States > Washington

I have a varied educational background (BS and MS Computer Science and MBA) so I can help navigate between technology and business. I also have experience working as a software developer and as a product manager for a large online retailer. Admittedly, I am just starting out as an investor, but with my background I bring real insight to the table. My involvement would depend on the pedigree of the entrepreneur and their preference. However, at this stage in my investing career I feel I can best aid an entrepreneur in an advisory capacity. I am married with no children. We live well below our means and have a decent amount of disposable income. We invest in the stock market and would like to invest in real people who have passion, intelligence, and a track record of success. I reside in Washington state but am open to investments anywhere in the continental United States.

$1,000 to $30,000

United States > Georgia

I personally have over 24 years of financial experience in the government sector. My goal is to help as many start ups and small to mid size businesses secure alternative financing as possible! We have the capacity to orchestrate and facilitate creative solutions for even the most difficult transactions. The types of financing we are able to mitigate are 100% Joint Venture Equity Financing, Large-Scale Debt Financing, DIP Financing, Apartment Equity Participation, Non-Recourse Loans for Multifamily & Assisted Living, Commercial Bridge/Hard money: Commercial Land Development, Mezzanine Programs, Loans For Incoming Producing Property, Commercial Land Development Loans, Stock Loans: Non-recourse stock loans. Loan amounts range from $250K to $500ML

$250,000 to $500,000,000

United States > Texas

Real estate investor specializing in student housing and college towns. Maintain real estate license in state of TX Private investor with current portfolio of approx 200 units. Specialize in Austin and College Station, TX markets Excellent track record and many industry connections.

$5,000 to $50,000

Costa Rica > San José

Entrepreneurial General Manager with diverse commercial, planning, operational and human resource development experience within the shipping, reefer and fresh produce industry. Lead operational and commercial planning to attain and exceed corporate goals in a range of geographies, business requirements and in diverse economic climates and customer needs. Global Experience: Executive with +20 years of experience who built a long term career at Chiquita Brands International (CBI) and its subsidiary Great White Fleet (GWF). Chiquita is a leading global company that produces high-quality fresh food products. Great White Fleet is Chiquita’s shipping arm and cargo carrier that provides ocean freight and intermodal transportation services.

$25,000 to $100,000