How to Write a Business Plan, 10th Edition

✍ Scribed by Mike McKeever

• Publisher: Nolo
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 290
• Edition: 10th
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Author, teacher and financial manager Mike McKeever shows readers how to write the business plan and loan package necessary to finance a new or expanding business and make it work. He helps readers make realistic financial projections, develop effective marketing strategies and refine overall business goals. With How to Write a Business Plan, entrepreneurs learn how to: evaluate the profitability of a business idea-estimate operating expenses-prepare cash flow, profit and loss forecasts-determine assets, liabilities and net worth-find potential sources of financing-think first before borrowing from friends and relatives-present your plan to lenders and investors

✦ Table of Contents

Downloading Forms and Other Materials......Page 9
Table of Contents......Page 10
Your Legal Companion......Page 14
Getting Started......Page 16
And a Few More Words......Page 17
1. Benefits of Writing a Business Plan......Page 18
Why Write a Business Plan?......Page 19
Issues Beyond the Plan......Page 21
2. Do You Really Want to Own a Business?......Page 24
Introduction......Page 25
Self-Evaluation Exercises......Page 26
Reality Check: Banker’s Analysis......Page 30
3. Choosing the Right Business......Page 34
Know Your Business......Page 35
Describe Your Business......Page 37
Taste, Trends, and Technology: How Will the Future Affect Your Business?......Page 43
Break-Even Analysis: Will Your Business Make Money?......Page 47
What You Have Accomplished......Page 60
4. Potential Sources of Money to Start or Expand Your Small Business......Page 62
Ways to Raise Money......Page 64
Common Money Sources to Start or Expand a Business......Page 72
Additional Money Sources for an Existing Business......Page 81
If No One Will Finance Your Business, Try Again......Page 83
Secondary Sources of Financing for Start-Ups or Expansions......Page 85
Conclusion......Page 88
5. Your Resume and Financial Statement......Page 90
Draft Your Business Accomplishment Resume......Page 91
Draft Your Personal Financial Statement......Page 98
6. Your Profit and Loss Forecast......Page 114
What Is a Profit and Loss Forecast?......Page 115
Determine Your Average Cost of Sales......Page 116
Complete Your Profit and Loss Forecast......Page 119
Review Your Profit and Loss Forecast......Page 132
7. Your Cash Flow Forecast and Capital Spending Plan......Page 134
Introduction......Page 135
Prepare Your Capital Spending Plan......Page 136
Prepare Your Cash Flow Forecast......Page 138
Required Investment for Your Business......Page 148
Check for Trouble......Page 149
8. Write Your Marketing and Personnel Plans......Page 152
Marketing Plan......Page 153
Personnel Plan......Page 165
9. Editing and Finalizing Your Business Plan......Page 170
Decide How to Organize Your Plan......Page 171
Write Final Portions of Your Plan......Page 172
Create the Appendix......Page 178
Complete Your Final Edit......Page 179
Consider Using a Business Consultant......Page 181
10. Selling Your Business Plan......Page 184
How to Ask for the Money You Need......Page 185
How to Approach Different Backers......Page 187
What to Do When Someone Says “Yes”......Page 191
Plan in Advance for Legal Details......Page 192
11. After You Open—Keeping on the Path to Success......Page 196
Watch Out for Problem Areas......Page 197
Getting Out of Business......Page 202
12. Good Resources for Small Businesses......Page 206
Business Consultants......Page 207
Books......Page 209
Computers and Business......Page 216
Online Business Resources......Page 219
Formal Education......Page 222
A. Business Plan for a Small Service Business......Page 224
B. Business Plan for a Manufacturing Business......Page 240
C. Business Plan for Project Development......Page 258
D. How to Use the CD-ROM......Page 268
Installing the Files Onto Your Computer......Page 269
Using the Business Plan Files......Page 270
Using the Spreadsheets......Page 271
Forms on the CD-ROM......Page 273
Web Resources......Page 0
Related Products......Page 287