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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

I have over 15 years experience in sales, marketing, business development, finance and management. At the age of 27 I became senior-vice president of the world’s largest bank, Citigroup, perhaps its’ youngest. I was a vice- president at Credit Suisse,. raised over 200 million dollars for start-up, growth and late stage investments. Focus includes nanotechnology, chemicals, storage, clean tech and software. I was quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Business Week. I am a Prince of Wales Delegate and attended the University of Cambridge Business and the Environment Program. . SpecialtiesClean Technology, Energy, Water Technologies, Nanotechnology, Chemicals

$1,000,000 to $50,000,000

United States > New York

A NY attorney with 20 years of legal experience specializing in M&A, private equity and finance. Able to bring other private investors.

$10,000 to $200,000

United States > Pennsylvania

I have never invested this way and am thinking about investing at this time. I am the executive Director of a non-profit organization.

$7,500,000 to $10,000,000

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 York

We are a financial, advisory, consultancy, research, and merchant banking services firm formed in 2006. Since 1976, principals of the firm have created niche financial products filling the needs of our clients. We act as a merchant bank advancing our capital along side of our client in order to facilitate a transaction and obtain additional investors. Often, we advance seed capital in the form of capital (cash), advice, support services from other investment banks, architects, and our network of investors (both debt and equity).

$5,000,000 to $10,000,000

United States > Virginia

Minimum of $150,000 in annual revenue with a FICO score of at least 551 can get you anywhere from $5,000 up to $1 Million USD. Can be used for inventory, working capital, or equipment. We will also buy your invoices on net 30 or 60 day terms from B2B sales or services. This is known as factoring or accounts receivable financing.

$5,000 to $1,000,000

United States > Florida

MBA with over thirty years of professional business and technical experience. Project funding specialist. Have funding sources for debt and equity. Active in Assisted Living Facilities, Skilled Nursing Facilities, apartments, hotels, real estate developments and waste to energy plants.

$10,000,000 to $100,000,000

United States > New York

40yrs old, married individual investor. Started and currently own 3 companies. Started first company in 2001 (still own and operate). Have consulted other start ups and struggling businesses which have become profitable. College educated. Multiple contacts in the WNY area. Prefer to be a hands on/advisory type of investor.

$5,000 to $50,000