¡°There is no one right way to prepare a business
plan. An effective business plan tells a great story
and draws the reader in. The investor will then
want to learn more, which leads to a meeting that
significantly increases your chances and reduces
the possibility that your plan will wind up in the
circular file.¡±

Kiplinger's Raising Capital by Andrew J. Sherman, p. 18

Elements of a Business Plan:

1: Executive Summary
2: Company Overview
3: Product/Service Description
4: Market Opportunity
5: Competition Analysis
6: Management Team
7: Financial Projections

Executive Summary:

The single most important component of your
business plan

Keep it Direct, Focused and Brief

Summarize the Business Plan in a Few Pages

Write your summary LAST (even though it appears first)

Target Customer/Pain

- Who is the Target Customer?

- What is their pain or opportunity?

- Profile?

- Who has the money?

- Specific examples you have met¡­

- Market size/speed of adoption.

Your Solution

- What is your solution (¡°pencil sell¡±)

- Value Proposition

- Unique Selling Proposition

Why Now?

- Target Customer Decision Making
   Process/unit (DMU)

- Market Trends

- Compelling Reasons for Customers to Buy Now

Financials
1: Be careful not to overload!
2: Simple graph with top line growth and cash flow-with Payback, NPV & IRR numbers below.

Key Factors to know and include:
¨C Top line revenue growth (company¡¯s expected revenues and profits for years 1 through 5)
¨C Costs
¨C Cash flow
¨C Investment required (ROA)
¨C Value of company estimations Include long-term goals,
   such as expected sales, number of employees, number of locations, and market share of your company five years from now
-  Exit strategy

Why You?

Team today:
1: Briefly describe the histories and capabilities of your management  and key players
2: Be sure to highlight relevant experience that demonstrates their value to the management team

Team future:
1: What are the company needs in the future

2: Competitors Competitive Advantage

3: Sustainable Competitive Advantage

By Gin Michael Bennett 2009