Copyright © 2008 Small Business Delivered All Rights Reserved SmallBusinessDelivered.com
[Home] [Newsletter] [Blogs] [BookStore] [Business Forms] [Business Software] [Office Products] [Article Archives] [About Us] [Contact Us]
Getting a business off the ground is not an easy thing to do. It requires a lot of hard work, a good plan, and a little luck. Most people can handle the hard work part and you'll either be lucky or not, it's the planning part that most people have trouble with. Many people looking to go into business for themselves have no idea what a business plan is or even looks like let alone how to write one. Luckily the internet provides a lot of resources to give you a hand. But some circumstances may cause you to forgo a business plan right away. In that case you may not have one yet or it's been collecting dust for the last year or more. Well it's time to remedy the situation.
Your business plan is a plan for the future. It's about both where your company currently is and where you want it to go. It will be used to convince others such as banks and potential investors about the strengths of your company and its ability to grow and thrive. Your business plan reflects how much you know about your business and the industry you're in as well as your competition and their products or services offered. And as the old military saying goes no plan survives contact with the enemy. Well neither will your business plan. It will need to be regularly updated if you’re going to keep it relevant.
That's one of the things that most people don't realize. As time goes on the situation your company is in changes. Your goals change, opportunities come and go, and the realities of your market change. Maybe you land a big customer that helps change your finances or an advertising campaign is more successful than you thought it would be or it could have been less successful. It's not to say that things will change dramatically over days and weeks but they can over months and years. Your business plan needs to reflect that and stay up to date with the current situation and your future plans.
Your business plan is a tool to be used to help you guide your business. It is something that you can refer to frequently to make sure you stay on track. It can be used to communicate your vision of what you want your business to be when you are dealing with others. Especially when you are in the process of searching for money.
As a manager as well as the owner of the business it helps you evaluate the progress you've made based on the goals you set when you first wrote the plan. The plan is constantly a work in progress that will grow as you gain knowledge and experience in both running your business and experiencing the industry you are in.
And finally it of course helps you plan out what you would like to see happen with the business. Hopefully it will help you identify potential problems to your growth. You should be able to identify other potential markets and customers you'd like to eventually pursue. And it should help you put forth your financial goals and projections. If nothing else it forces you to periodically take a hard realistic look at your business so you are prepared for the future.
Cash Miller is the Editor of SmallBusinessDelivered.com and hosts his own blog at www.SmallBusinessDelivered.com/cash-millers-blog.
Your business plan is a plan for the future. It's about both where your company currently is and where you want it to go. It will be used to convince others such as banks and potential investors about the strengths of your company and its ability to grow and thrive. Your business plan reflects how much you know about your business and the industry you're in as well as your competition and their products or services offered. And as the old military saying goes no plan survives contact with the enemy. Well neither will your business plan. It will need to be regularly updated if you’re going to keep it relevant.
That's one of the things that most people don't realize. As time goes on the situation your company is in changes. Your goals change, opportunities come and go, and the realities of your market change. Maybe you land a big customer that helps change your finances or an advertising campaign is more successful than you thought it would be or it could have been less successful. It's not to say that things will change dramatically over days and weeks but they can over months and years. Your business plan needs to reflect that and stay up to date with the current situation and your future plans.
Your business plan is a tool to be used to help you guide your business. It is something that you can refer to frequently to make sure you stay on track. It can be used to communicate your vision of what you want your business to be when you are dealing with others. Especially when you are in the process of searching for money.
As a manager as well as the owner of the business it helps you evaluate the progress you've made based on the goals you set when you first wrote the plan. The plan is constantly a work in progress that will grow as you gain knowledge and experience in both running your business and experiencing the industry you are in.
And finally it of course helps you plan out what you would like to see happen with the business. Hopefully it will help you identify potential problems to your growth. You should be able to identify other potential markets and customers you'd like to eventually pursue. And it should help you put forth your financial goals and projections. If nothing else it forces you to periodically take a hard realistic look at your business so you are prepared for the future.
Cash Miller is the Editor of SmallBusinessDelivered.com and hosts his own blog at www.SmallBusinessDelivered.com/cash-millers-blog.
Check out our E-Book BookStore as we are always adding new titles to our selection.
|
 |
Below you'll find links to some other useful websites that you might want to check out.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
SCORE
Small Business Administration
Internal Revenue Service
Prosper.com Person to Person Lending
Better Business Bureau Online
USA Today Franchise Solutions
USA BizMart Business Broker Directory
Dunn and Bradstreet
Federal Trade Commission
SCORE
Small Business Administration
Internal Revenue Service
Prosper.com Person to Person Lending
Better Business Bureau Online
USA Today Franchise Solutions
USA BizMart Business Broker Directory
Dunn and Bradstreet
Federal Trade Commission
Our BookStore, Software Store, and Office Products Store are offered to you in partnership with Amazon.com so you can feel secure in the purchases you make.
Featured Business Planning Articles
Sponsored Links
|
.jpg "Cash Miller - Copy (2)")
Why Write A Business Plan?
It may seem like a given. Start a new business write a business plan. But many people either don't do it or don't update it. Here's why you need to stay on top of it.
By: Cash Miller
It may seem like a given. Start a new business write a business plan. But many people either don't do it or don't update it. Here's why you need to stay on top of it.
By: Cash Miller
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Entrepreneurs Helping Entrepreneurs
|
Cash Miller
Sponsored Links
Free Newsletter Signup!
Bartering Organizations
Business Brokers
Business Franchises
Business Incubators
Chambers of Commerce
Ezine Article Sites
Factoring Companies
Freelance Opportunities
Inventory Liquidators
Traffic Exchanges
Business Brokers
Business Franchises
Business Incubators
Chambers of Commerce
Ezine Article Sites
Factoring Companies
Freelance Opportunities
Inventory Liquidators
Traffic Exchanges
Business Directory
Find the Pieces to Your Business Puzzle Right Here
Find the Pieces to Your Business Puzzle Right Here
Are You Thinking Of Diversifying Your Product Line? Think Long And Hard Before You Do
Your small business is growing up. It's got you excited about the future and you've gotten good at what you do. Now you think it's time to expand your product line. A word to the wise it could cost you everything if you're not careful.
What Do You Want to Achieve?
You've achieved your dream and opened the doors to your own small business. Things couldn't be better. But when you were still planning your business did you ever consider what you ultimately are hoping to achieve with it?
What Is A Limited Liability Company Or LLC?
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking to start a business or have already done so you had to decide what legal form it would take. A sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. When you were deciding this did you take the time to research what a Limited Liability Company or LLC is?
What Is Key Man Insurance? Most small businesses rely upon a few key employees to get the job done. Most other employees are fairly easy to replace but a select few can put the company in serious jeopardy if something were to happen to them. This is where key man insurance can help.
Your small business is growing up. It's got you excited about the future and you've gotten good at what you do. Now you think it's time to expand your product line. A word to the wise it could cost you everything if you're not careful.
What Do You Want to Achieve?
You've achieved your dream and opened the doors to your own small business. Things couldn't be better. But when you were still planning your business did you ever consider what you ultimately are hoping to achieve with it?
What Is A Limited Liability Company Or LLC?
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking to start a business or have already done so you had to decide what legal form it would take. A sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. When you were deciding this did you take the time to research what a Limited Liability Company or LLC is?
What Is Key Man Insurance? Most small businesses rely upon a few key employees to get the job done. Most other employees are fairly easy to replace but a select few can put the company in serious jeopardy if something were to happen to them. This is where key man insurance can help.