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 > New York

5 yrs angel investing 5 years banking

$10,000 to $1,000,000

United States > New York

I have seven years of investment experience across a variety of securities, from secured debt to equity, in both public and private companies. I hope to work with early stage companies seeking to disrupt a legacy industry. I am willing to engage in different levels of involvement throughout the process depending on need.

$0 to $50,000

United States > New Jersey

I look for multi unit apt buildings of 50+ units

$30,000,000 to $100,000,000

United States > Arkansas

Investment Criteria While the merits of each investment will vary, we evaluate your venture according to the following criteria. Management Team We look for teams of high-quality entrepreneurs with a track record of leadership and performance, either in the company's specific industry or in prior entrepreneurial ventures. We also look at your team's passion for and commitment to the new business idea, and your ability to inspire confidence among future stakeholders, including employees, potential customers, and investors. As we will be working together as partners, your team's credibility is essential. In addition, your team must be open to and comfortable with receiving input provided by angel investors. Market Opportunity We invest in solutions that address major problems for significantly large target markets. Your company must demonstrate a strategy to claim significant share of this market.

$100,000 to $600,000,000

United States > South Carolina

Have been in the private equity and venture capital investing business for the last 12 years. Having invested in over 50+ other private equity funds and made direct investments in over 150+ businesses, I have seen a wide variety of industry segments, investment niches, and am very open to various vertical market focuses. If a transaction is too large, I many times can arrange a syndication to accomplish the needed financing as well. My primary objective or focus is North America.

$100,000 to $2,500,000

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 > 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 > Texas

General Manager with much experience. Made a few investments at young age that has now become strong assets. Looking to find a young and hungry entrepreneur as myself with self motivation and desire to succeed in making his dreams and investments come through.

$50 to $12,000

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