Comments on: How To: Create a Killer Business Plan http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809 Resources and Community - For Business, For Life Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:34:43 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: aswift@ladieswholaunch.com http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809/comment-page-1#comment-53 aswift@ladieswholaunch.com Fri, 02 May 2008 21:57:23 +0000 http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809#comment-53 I think business plans are one of the most confusing aspects to launching a business. People give advice saying you HAVE to have one, whereas, we at Ladies Who Launch say that you may not need one right away (although it's always a good exercise if you want to write one.) Business plans are for finding investors--and when the initial capital requirements are less than a million dollars, often small business loans or angel investors can help. Christine is a real pro at this--great advice. I think business plans are one of the most confusing aspects to launching a business. People give advice saying you HAVE to have one, whereas, we at Ladies Who Launch say that you may not need one right away (although it’s always a good exercise if you want to write one.) Business plans are for finding investors–and when the initial capital requirements are less than a million dollars, often small business loans or angel investors can help. Christine is a real pro at this–great advice.

]]> By: ctimme http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809/comment-page-1#comment-50 ctimme Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:47:34 +0000 http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809#comment-50 If you want to put some "Sanity" into your business plan financials..try using the free SmartSamantha Sane-O-Meter. It is a wonderful business tool to help compare your firm to your industry and find areas of potential improvements. If you need a finance friend to take the journey with you--log-on together. It is free for all. It is under the Brains section on www.smartsamantha.com Good financial points as building a business is a mighty venture! Thanks Christine from Christine http://www.smartsamantha.com If you want to put some “Sanity” into your business plan financials..try using the free SmartSamantha Sane-O-Meter. It is a wonderful business tool to help compare your firm to your industry and find areas of potential improvements.

If you need a finance friend to take the journey with you–log-on together. It is free for all.

It is under the Brains section on http://www.smartsamantha.com

Good financial points as building a business is a mighty venture! Thanks Christine from Christine

http://www.smartsamantha.com

]]> By: ellening http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809/comment-page-1#comment-45 ellening Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:23:54 +0000 http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809#comment-45 Agree: Need a plan to, as they often say, "know where you are going, or you will end up somewhere else." Having written many plans for solopreneurs, I would like to share my experience: 1. If you don' t need a loan or outside investors to start your business, you can use a "One Page Activity Plan" instead of a 30 page business plan, which usually will end up collecting dust. I use Jim Horan's "One Page Business Plan" as a prototype, adding a Value Statement and a second page, which I call a "One Page Marketing Plan" or "M.A.P." to success. This outlines the actual steps you need to take, in what order, for each quarter. It is meant to be used as a tool, the ideal use of any business plan. As you learn more about your target market and what activities work to build your business, the MAP can be changed accordingly. Change is good! And necessary to keep up with your market. A note about finance: if you don't have money to capitalize your start-up (i.e. purchase what you need, and live on while you build) AND spend on marketing - I would not quit your day job until you do. You can obtain more info on the One Page Business Plan, and other free resources, on my website: www.ingrahamconsult.com Thanks for a great article! Ellen Ingraham Agree: Need a plan to, as they often say, “know where you are going, or you will end up somewhere else.”
Having written many plans for solopreneurs, I would like to share my experience:
1. If you don’ t need a loan or outside investors to start your business, you can use a “One Page Activity Plan” instead of a 30 page business plan, which usually will end up collecting dust. I use Jim Horan’s “One Page Business Plan” as a prototype, adding a Value Statement and a second page, which I call a “One Page Marketing Plan” or “M.A.P.” to success. This outlines the actual steps you need to take, in what order, for each quarter. It is meant to be used as a tool, the ideal use of any business plan. As you learn more about your target market and what activities work to build your business, the MAP can be changed accordingly. Change is good! And necessary to keep up with your market.

A note about finance: if you don’t have money to capitalize your start-up (i.e. purchase what you need, and live on while you build) AND spend on marketing – I would not quit your day job until you do.

You can obtain more info on the One Page Business Plan, and other free resources, on my website:

http://www.ingrahamconsult.com

Thanks for a great article!

Ellen Ingraham

]]> By: YourOwnCFO http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809/comment-page-1#comment-43 YourOwnCFO Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:08:53 +0000 http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809#comment-43 My consulting business provides part time CFO services for many start-ups and small businesses. It is also key that the financial model and the written plan are in sync and support one another. www.YourOwnCFO.com My consulting business provides part time CFO services for many start-ups and small businesses. It is also key that the financial model and the written plan are in sync and support one another.
http://www.YourOwnCFO.com

]]> By: waterrose http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809/comment-page-1#comment-41 waterrose Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:46:38 +0000 http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/how-to-create-a-killer-business-plan/809#comment-41 All I can say is thank you for this information. I've been working on my business plan and torture myself how to present it...since there are so many ideas on what makes a good one. All I can say is thank you for this information. I’ve been working on my business plan and torture myself how to present it…since there are so many ideas on what makes a good one.

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