Businessplan Part One

Brought to you by

NJ Small Business Development Center

Entrepreneur Certificate Program

BUSINESS PLANNING

2004 The Entrepreneur Certificate Program

is a product of the New Jersey Small Business Development Center.

All rights reserved.

Overview

This workshop covers all the components of a business plan (business description and focus, location selection, knowledge of the competition, marketing strategy, financial plan, personnel/management needs, strategic plan for business growth) to help entrepreneurs and small business owners get off to a fast start.

Business Plan FormulationThe Key Elements For Success




Overview

Description of the business

Selecting business location

Identifying the competition

Detailing a marketing strategy

Laying out a financial plan

Describing personnel/management needs

Designing a strategic plan for the present and future





Description of the Business

Focus on the business concept and why such a business opportunity exists as well as the products and services being offered, the pricing system to be used to meet costs and profits, distinguishing your business products/services from others in the industry (lower prices, faster delivery, longer warranties etc.) and identifying potential customers and suppliers.





Selecting an Appropriate Business Location

Consideration of location choices on the basis of business customers, accessibility and security and whether the location is conducive to the business specific industry needs.





Identifying the Competition

Knowledge of who the competition is with reference to

the length of time in business, reputation, quality of products and services, customer service, number of employees, image and strengths and weaknesses.





Detailing a Marketing Strategy

Development of marketing/research techniques to help promote your business market using various advertising tools such as television, news, trade shows, telemarketing, sales programs, internet, radio, magazines, direct mail, long-term sponsorships, public relations (web presence, events, press releases), and other referral mechanisms (yellow pages).

Use of networking activities such as memberships or leadership positions and strategic alliances to bolster your business market.





Laying out a Financial Plan

Assessment of the financial feasibility and profitability of a business (break-even analysis), identification of funds needed and how the funds will be spent, the potential sources for funding (personal resources, banks, venture capital, angel investors, public agency loan programs), the business sense of a loan or investment and how it will be repaid, capital equipment list, revenue/expense assumptions, three year profit and loss statements (projections), three year cash flow summaries, balance sheets (assets/liabilities/net worth), and providing for supporting documents relevant to the plan (personal financial history, legal documents, leases, etc.)





Describing Personnel/Management Needs

Description of the human capital skills and experience needed for a particular business, pay methods, fringe benefits, payroll taxes and the use of independent contractors versus employees.

Division of tasks/ reporting hierarchy / final decision makers.

Creation of an advisor group and Board of Directors.





Designing a Strategic Plan for the Present and Future

Establishment of business priorities and goals, including branding, benchmarking, timetables for action, anticipated plans to retain and expand current markets and having an exit strategy.





Major components of a business plan

I. Executive Summary

II. Business Profile

III. Market Section

IV. Financial Statements





I. Executive Summary

Keep It Short!

A page and one-half emphasizing your professional background (and other principals in the business), the business concept, products, customer base, marketing approach, competition and past (if any) or projected sales/income.

What contingencies do you have in place if the plan fails?





II. Business Profile

One page that states: Legal structure of the business (e.g., proprietorship, subchapter S, corporation, etc.) as well as the educational and professional background of management and principle stake holders. Brief past company history (if any), or related history of principals.





III. Marketplace

Product/Service, Price, Place & Promotion

Write a primary objective that is both quantitative and qualitative and can be reasonably accomplished in a given time frame.

What makes this product/service desirable? Develop strategies that cover the four Ps of marketing (above). Market analysis should cover both sales and industry market potential in dollars and volume.





IV. Financial Statements

Start-up costs: licenses, equipment, inventory, remodeling, deposits, etc.

Show a break-even analysis: how many units must be sold to cover fixed and variable costs.

Produce pro-forma income statements: anticipated sales, expenses, and net profit or loss projected over the next three years.

Pro-forma balance sheets should cover: anticipated assets, liabilities and net worth of business.





Documents

Businessplan Part One