How to Write a Business Plan

C hAp t e r

Benefits of Writing a Business Plan

  - Your Legal Companion

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  • Benefits of Writing a Business Plan
    
    
    • What Is a Business Plan?
    
    
    • Why Write a Business Plan?
    
    
    • Issues Beyond the Plan
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


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  • Do You Really Want to Own a Business? ..................................................................
    
    
    • Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................
    
    
    • Self-Evaluation Exercises .................................................................................................................
    
    
    • How to Use the Self-Evaluation Lists .......................................................................................
    
    
    • Reality Check: Banker’s Analysis .................................................................................................
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


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  • Choosing the Right Business ..................................................................................................
    
    
    • Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................
    
    
    • Know Your Business ..........................................................................................................................
    
    
    • Be Sure You Like Your Business ..................................................................................................
    
    
    • Describe Your Business ...................................................................................................................
    
    
    • Taste, Trends, and Technology: How Will the Future Affect Your Business? ........
    
    
    • Break-Even Analysis: Will Your Business Make Money? ................................................
    
    
    • What You Have Accomplished ...................................................................................................
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


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• Expand Your Small Business ................................................................................................... Potential Sources of Money to Start or
  
  
  • Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................
  
  
  • Ways to Raise Money .......................................................................................................................
  
  
  • Common Money Sources to Start or Expand a Business .............................................
  
  
  • Additional Money Sources for an Existing Business .......................................................
  
  
  • If No One Will Finance Your Business, Try Again .............................................................
  
  
  • Secondary Sources of Financing for Start-Ups or Expansions ...................................
  
  
  • Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................
  
  
  
  


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  • Your Resume and Financial Statement ......................................................................
    
    
    • Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................
    
    
    • Draft Your Business Accomplishment Resume .................................................................
    
    
    • Draft Your Personal Financial Statement ..............................................................................
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


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  • Your Profit and Loss Forecast ............................................................................................
    
    
    • Introduction
    
    
    • What Is a Profit and Loss Forecast?
    
    
    • Determine Your Average Cost of Sales
    
    
    • Complete Your Profit and Loss Forecast
    
    
    • Review Your Profit and Loss Forecast
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


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  - Your Cash Flow Forecast and Capital Spending Plan ..............................
  
  - Introduction
  
  - Prepare Your Capital Spending Plan
  
  - Prepare Your Cash Flow Forecast
  
  - Required Investment for Your Business
  
  - Check for Trouble

  
  


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  • Write Your Marketing and Personnel Plans .......................................................
    
    
    • Introduction
    
    
    • Marketing Plan
    
    
    • Personnel Plan
    
    
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      • Editing and Finalizing Your Business Plan ............................................................
        
        
        • Introduction
        
        
        • Decide How to Organize Your Plan
        
        
        • Write Final Portions of Your Plan
        
        
        • Create the Appendix
        
        
        • Create Title Page and Table of Contents
        
        
        • Complete Your Final Edit
        
        
        • Consider Using a Business Consultant
        
        
        
        
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
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    - Selling Your Business Plan .....................................................................................................
    
       - How to Ask for the Money You Need
    
       - How to Approach Different Backers.....................................................................................
    
       - What to Do When Someone Says “Yes”
    
       - Plan in Advance for Legal Details

    
    
  
  
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    - After You Open—Keeping on the Path to Success ....................................
    
       - Introduction
    
       - Watch Out for Problem Areas
    
       - Getting Out of Business

    
    
  
  
  
  


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     - Good Resources for Small Businesses .......................................................................
  
        - Introduction
  
        - Business Consultants
  
        - Books
  
        - Pamphlets............................................................................................................................................
  
        - Magazines—Continuing Small Business Help
  
        - Computers and Business
  
        - Online Business Resources
  
        - Formal Education
  
  -

  
  


• What Is a Business Plan? Business Plan


• Why Write a Business Plan?
  
  
  • Helps You Get Money
  
  
  • Helps You Decide to Proceed or Stop
  
  
  • Lets You Improve Your Business Concept
  
  
  • Improves Your Odds of Success
  
  
  • Helps You Keep on Track
  
  
  
  


• Issues Beyond the Plan
  
  
  • Bookkeeping and Accounting
  
  
  • Taxes
  
  
  • Securities Laws
  
  
  • Your Management Skill
  
  
  • Issues Specific to Your Business