Friday, 9 August 2013

Tips On Putting Together A Business Plan

Are you eager about launching your Internet business? It’s good to be excited, but in your excitement, don’t forget about putting together a business plan. Some people get nervous when they hear the phrase ‘business plan,’ but there’s no reason to be. Because most people starting a home based Internet business don’t need funding right away, you don’t need to be concerned about having to present your business plan to a bank.

Consider your business plan a map that will get you to where you want to be. Along the way there might be a couple detours, but having a business plan will enable you to get back on track.

When you begin putting together a business plan, know that the very fact you are thinking about it will help you through any rough spots you encounter. You might suddenly come up with ideas you hadn’t even considered previously. This is a good thing, because a business plan isn’t meant to be set in stone. Ideally, after it’s complete and your business is up and running, you should refer to your plan on a regular basis and make any necessary changes.

You might decide something you had forecast to happen in a year actually has a timeline of six months or less. Or, you could alter one of your forecasts all together because of an unexpected occurrence. Know that this is normal, and don’t panic. Most small business owners find that being flexible helps reduce their stress levels, which in turn helps them to make better decisions.

Basics Of Putting Together A Business Plan

While business plan templates vary, there are some basics that almost every plan has. These are:

1. The product or service being offered. It sometimes helps to include a mission statement. Also, explain what is unique about your product or service.

2. The current market that the business will be in. This can include market forecasts as well as major competitors.

3. Financials. How much is it going to cost to launch the business, and how much is it expected to take in? Many people do a three, six, nine and twelve month time period.

4. Qualifications of management team. Obviously, for many folks they are the only member of the management team in the beginning. It still helps to make a brief list of your qualifications and the expected breakdown of how you are going to manage your time.

While you are putting together a business plan, don’t get too caught up in the details, at least not in the beginning. It’s better to get it all down and then come back to it to add and make your changes.

Other Business Plan Ideas

Some people include a list of strengths and weaknesses both of their proposed business and of their competitors. You might also want to devote some time to detailing what marketing strategies you have decided on.

Remember to keep your goals realistic. It’s tempting to dream and plan for wild success, but keeping your business plan more realistic is a good idea. Keep copy of your notes and of any major changes you make to the plan as well. It can be both fun and illuminating to look back over your original plan after you’ve been in business for a year or two.

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