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 > Florida

I work as an independent broker in Cape Coral, Florida. We provide funding for all types of businesses and various circumstances.

$250,000 to $50,000,000

United States > Pennsylvania

I am a managing partner for 5th ave acquisitions &venture capitalists . I have access to strategic funding sources, private money, and institutional money. Some of that may look like private equity (in other words there is an actual fund ready to fund specific projects) What we do is after reviewing your business plan we will then be able to understand where and how to present your business venture. Whether you want to preserve equity or if you are ok to give up some equity. There are different options that we have available and we create an environment that will give you the best shot at getting funding for your project.

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

United States > New York

I have a sales background of over 5 years with computer hardware and software. I am a geek at heart so I am up to date on everything relating to gadgets and technology. I'm very big on social media and what the next big thing is going to be. I'm also a wanna be scientist and I love reading up on new information pertaining to the universe and everything it contains. I've acquired a sum of money from the unfortunate passing of my father and I would like to invest it, well, so I can have more. For the last month I've been doing research on how to invest in different kinds of markets. I would very much like to be an Angel Investor for an up and coming start-up or idea and I feel that I can provide some helpful advice.

$10,000 to $50,000

United States > Washington D.C.

I would like to invest in companies that have a strong track record I am commercial loan broker I have worked in this field for the last 4 years I am a member of PFA professional finance accolades. We work all over the world, I have a loan that I am working on from Russia at this very moment. We have a very large pool of investors at my disposal that I work with constantly. Also I can any companies that are in bankruptcy or in merger or need working capital

$500,000 to $10,000,000

United States > Massachusetts

I am a former corporate attorney and graduate of Georgetown Law Center. In recent years, I have established company with principal focus on acquiring undervalued commercial real estate assets, enhancing value and reselling for a profit as part of group of assets. That market has essentially evaporated in the current real estate climate in the US, but I see an opportunity to launch a profitable enterprise which is designed to fulfill (1) the home-ownership need of countless families that have lost their homes through foreclosure, and (2) the need of banks to turn thousands of non-performing assets into assets that will add to their bottom line. Kindly contact me for more information.

$5,000,000 to $50,000,000

United States > Colorado

I am a consultant for developers that have $50MiL and up. We look for beachfront or down town projects. We also look for investors that have strong developer skills. We also would like our developers to have funds to invest in their project.

$20,000,000 to $95,000,000

United States > New York

I am a mid 60 year old retired financial services executive with 30+ years experience in finance as a CFO, strategic planning, M&A, risk and pricing with an MBA in international finance. I currently volunteer as a small business mentor and also mentor mid level executives. I sit on the board of a non-profit foundation and an elementary school as well as a financially focused advisory Council. My preference is to play an advisory role with hands on involvement as needed. I am an individual investor who is keen to help small businesses that drive our economy succeed.

$10,000 to $50,000

United States > Nevada

We are an investment group that is interested in a wide diversity of projects. We have an extensive background in VC, investment banking, investor relations and non traditional forms of financing.

$500,000 to $50,000,000

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