WHY DO I NEED A BUSINESS PLAN?

The most common questions I hear from entrepreneurs who are starting a new business are, "Do I really need a business plan? Is writing a business plan really the best use of my time?" My answer to these questions is always, unequivocally "Yes!"

I know (because I write them) that business plans can take a long time to write, require that you have a tremendous amount of data at your fingertips, depend in part on projections, and often are responsible for creating a long list of research you still need to conduct and other work you need to complete.

But despite all of that, business plans are the most effective way for small business owners to manage their business…no matter whether they are a start up or an established business.

Here are some of the important reasons why you should have a business plan….

A Business Plan is Simply a Must-Have for Some Businesses

If you plan to approach a financial institution for a loan, apply for a small business grant, pitch your business idea to investors, or enlist the support of a business partner, a business plan is required.

Potential investors and supporters want to see the true potential of your business idea clearly laid out in hard facts and numbers. A business plan is the best, and generally, the only acceptable way to provide this information.

A Business Plan Helps You Make Decisions

There are some sections in a traditional business plan that you simply cannot complete if you are on the fence, undecided, or not fully committed to a certain point. Business plans help you eliminate the gray area because you have to write specific information down in a clear and distinct way. Making tough decisions is often one of the hardest things to do and where a business plan can be most useful.

For example, if you have not decided on exactly what products you will sell at what price points, it will be very difficult for you to complete the Products and Services section of your business plan. Identifying this and other vital information is a valuable end product of the business planning process.

A Business Plan Can Be a Reality Check

Writing a business plan is often the first real struggle for the small business owner who wants to launch a new venture, but doesn't want to consider that his or her business concept may be a bit flawed or is not yet fully developed.

While this is an unwelcome and terrifying thought for an impassioned entrepreneur, identifying gaps early on in the process gives business owners a chance to shore up their research, test their ideas and take steps to make the business stronger and more viable. This may initially be a step back, but any and all further work can bolster the entrepreneur's chance of success before he or she invests time and money in a business that is likely to fail.

A Business Plan Can Give You New Ideas

Discovering new ideas, different approaches and fresh perspectives are some of best things that can happen from the depths of the business planning process. Despite the negative way some people feel about the planning process, a business plan isn't just a long, stiff, and structured document.

In fact, an effective business plan is the opposite; it's a flexible, growing and dynamic tool that can help you think creatively and come up with new solutions for some of your toughest business challenges. This is especially true when you consider the Marketing and Strategy section.  Here, as you create a blueprint for your marketing activities, creativity and fresh ideas are invaluable.

A Business Plan Creates an Action Plan

A business plan is a useful document for any small business owner. But when you use your business plan as a tool to help you outline action items, next steps and future activities, you are creating a living, breathing document that not only outlines where you are and where you want to be, but also gives you the directions you need to get there.

Established Business Need Business Plans Too

A business plan is not something that you write and then file away in the bottom drawer of a file cabinet…never to be looked at again.  A well-written business plan incorporates monthly, quarterly and yearly reviews.  This is a way of seeing what is going right and what is going wrong.  Analysis of your action plan and whether you are meeting your goals on a regular basis alerts you to making necessary adjustments before it is too late. 

Why Hire A Business Professional To Write Your Business Plan

Simply put because they know how.  They know how to make the business concept attractive to potential investors and finance people.  They are experienced doing all of the research so that you have the most applicable and up-to-date data about the industry and your competitors.  They are expert at crunching the numbers so that your projections are accurate and you (and your investors) don’t have surprises later.  But probably mostly they can help you create a business model that will be the foundation for a successful and profitable business.

BizBuilding has the reputation of creating comprehensive business plans that help people start and manage successful and profitable businesses.

Anyone following this blog is eligible for a 10% discount on a new business plan!