,%20print%20it%20and%20get%20it%20out%20to...){kind=link}
Becoming Wise - Wild & Free - Writing A Successful Business Plan - Part 2 - Do It In Steps by:Rod Francis
So you've decided to write your own business plan because you know the value that the experience will give you
. With the books and software that are out there today you can probably sit down and complete the plan in a day or so, right? Plug in the numbers, add the notes, write the whole narrative (story), print it and get it out to the banks or investors.If you can complete a plan in a day or so you are either an expert, that has already done all of the research, or you are heading for big trouble, because you have not done enough research. If you are like most people you have a job, a family and commitments that take up a lot of time. It would be impossible to write a business plan that quickly, even if you know your stuff. You have probably heard the old adage, 'Rome wasn't built in a day' well, neither was a good business plan. To create a top quality business plan you need to research each and every aspect as diligently as possible. Take your time and think of everything, don't leave anything to chance.
That sounds like a lot of work and a long drawn out process. How will you remember or even think of everything? How can you keep track of what you have to research? If you have to set your plan aside for a while, how will you remember where you left off? You may get tired, bored and even careless in your efforts because like most people you probably have Attention Deficit Disorder when it comes to doing this type of work.
The answer is to do your plan in steps. A good guide book or business plan software will ask you to complete work as you go, one step at a time. You read a section, do some research on the items(s) in the section and enter the information that you discovered. This way you are focused on each item as you go and never become overwhelmed. You will also be able to remember where you were when you have to set the plan aside for a few days, without having to re-read a novel. The process may still seem long but if you concentrate on doing your plan in steps it will be done before you know it.
This series of articles has been written in steps because most people don't have the time to sit down and read a novel. You can even do your financial projections in steps, which is where I recommend that you start. Doing the projections will help you analyse the feasibility of your project before you spend a ton of time writing a complete plan that may or may not work for you.
Look for the next article on Writing A Successful Business Plan - Part 3 - 'The Feasibility' of the Becoming Wise - Wild & Free series.
About the author
Written by Rod Francis - President of Advantage Venture
Systems Inc. creators of the Venture Planning System(tm)
Pro business plan software @ www.VPSpro.com
Suite 207, #1-1081 Central Ave. N.,
Swift Current, SK Canada S9H 4Z1
Check for more articles on writing a business plan at: The "SEVEN Cs": Partnership Danger Signs - Communication Breakdown by:Dorene Lehavi THE "SEVEN Cs": PARTNERSHIP DANGER SIGNS - Competitive, Not Complementary Action by:Dorene Lehavi THE "SEVEN Cs": PARTNERSHIP DANGER SIGNS - Conflict Becoming the Norm - Part 1 by:Dorene Lehavi THE "SEVEN Cs": PARTNERSHIP DANGER SIGNS - Conflict Becoming the Norm - Part 2 by:Dorene Lehavi THE "SEVEN Cs": PARTNERSHIP DANGER SIGNS - The 4th C: CUMULATIVE MONEY PROBLEMS by:Dorene Lehavi THE "SEVEN Cs": PARTNERSHIP DANGER SIGNS - The 5th C: Control Issues by:Dorene Lehavi THE "SEVEN Cs": PARTNERSHIP DANGER SIGNS - The 6th C: Changing Vision by:Dorene Lehavi The Right Way To Send Your Resume by:Don Goodman Office Politics by:Kevin Hobbs Establishing Yourself as an Expert in the Eyes of Your Customers. by:Nick James Negotiating Rates with Your Credit Card Company by:Claire Bowes Outsourcing Your Ecommerce Order Fulfillment by:Danna Henderson Wealth Creation and Mortgage Planning - Two Great Tastes that Taste Great Together by:Jeff Blovits