How to Write a Business Plan

✍ Scribed by Mike P. McKeever

• Publisher: Nolo Press
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 265
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Thinking of starting a business or raising money to expand an existing one? This popular book will show you how to write the business plan and loan package necessary to finance your business and make it work.

With How to Write a Business Plan you'll learn how to: evaluate the profitability of your business idea estimate operating expenses prepare cash flow create profit and loss forecasts determine assets, liabilities and net worth find potential sources of financing (up-to-date sources provided) think first before borrowing from friends and relatives present your plan to lenders and investors

The 6th edition is completely updated for 2003, providing all-new resources (both online and off), information on the latest changes to FMHA loans, plus the effect of new banking regulations on loans.

✦ Table of Contents

COVER......Page 1
Table of Contents......Page 10
How to Use This Book......Page 14
And a Few More Words......Page 17
Meet Antoinette......Page 16
What Kind of Plan Do You Need?......Page 15
Benefits of Writing a Business Plan......Page 18
B. Why Write a Business Plan?......Page 19
C. Issues Beyond the Plan......Page 20
Do You Really Want to Own a Business?......Page 22
A. Introduction......Page 23
B. Self- Evaluation Exercises......Page 24
D. Reality Check: Banker's Analysis......Page 27
Choosing the Right Business......Page 30
B. Know Your Business......Page 31
C. Be Sure You Like Your Business......Page 32
D. Describe Your Business......Page 33
E. Taste, Trends and Technology: How Will the Future Affect Your Business?......Page 37
F. Break- Even Analysis: Will Your Business Make Money?......Page 40
G. What You Have Accomplished......Page 50
Potential Sources of Money to Start or Expand Your Small Business......Page 52
B. Ways to Raise Money......Page 54
C. Common Money Sources to Start or Expand a Business......Page 60
D. Additional Money Sources for an Existing Business......Page 67
E. If No One Will Finance Your Business, Try Again......Page 68
F. Secondary Sources of Financing for Start- Ups or Expansions......Page 69
G. Conclusion......Page 72
Your Resume and Financial Statement......Page 74
C. Draft Your Personal Financial Statement......Page 81
A. Introduction......Page 75
Your Profit and Loss Forecast......Page 96
B. What Is a Profit and Loss Forecast?......Page 97
C. Determine Your Average Cost of Sales......Page 98
D. Complete Your Profit and Loss Forecast......Page 100
E. Review Your Profit and Loss Forecast......Page 109
Your Cash Flow Forecast and Capital Spending Plan......Page 112
E. Check for Trouble......Page 123
D. Required Investment for Your Business......Page 122
C. Prepare Your Cash Flow Forecast......Page 116
B. Prepare Your Capital Spending Plan......Page 114
A. Introduction......Page 113
Write Your Marketing and Personnel Plans......Page 126
C. Personnel Plan......Page 135
A. Introduction......Page 127
Editing and Finalizing Your Business Plan......Page 140
B. Decide How to Organize Your Plan......Page 141
C. Write Final Portions of Your Plan......Page 142
D. Create the Appendix......Page 146
E. Create Title Page and Table of Contents......Page 147
F. Complete Your Final Edit......Page 148
G. Consider Using a Business Consultant......Page 149
Selling Your Business Plan......Page 150
A. How to Ask for the Money You Need......Page 151
B. How to Approach Different Backers......Page 153
C. What to Do When Someone Says " Yes"......Page 156
D. Plan in Advance for Legal Details......Page 157
After You Open— Keeping on the Path To Success......Page 160
C. Getting Out of Business......Page 165
A. Introduction......Page 161
Good Resources for Small Businesses......Page 168
B. Business Consultants......Page 170
C. Books......Page 171
F. Computers and Business......Page 176
G. Online Business Resources......Page 179
H. Formal Education......Page 181
Business Plan for a Small Service Business......Page 184
J. Personal Goals......Page 199
I. Capital Spending Plan......Page 198
H. Business Risk Analysis......Page 197
G. Personal Financial Statement: Eleanor ' Ellie' Buss......Page 196
F. Financial Projections......Page 195
D. Business Description of Central Personnel Agency......Page 191
C. Resume: Eleanor ' Ellie' Buss......Page 190
A. Introduction and Request for Funds......Page 188
Business Plan for a Manufacturing Business......Page 200
Items Excluded......Page 201
B. Company Description......Page 204
D. Corporation Management......Page 205
E. Product Description......Page 206
F. Marketing Plan......Page 209
H. Product Development Status......Page 210
J. Product Selling Prices and Costs......Page 211
K. Financial Statement and Projections......Page 212
Business Plan for a Project Development......Page 214
Market Value of the House on Completion......Page 218
Costs to Remodel the Property......Page 219
Cash Flow......Page 222
Tear- Out Forms......Page 224
INDEX......Page 248