 You are anxious about writing a business plan for your company; you are starting your computer, but blinking cursor that appears to be mocking you. You are not sure what to write or what to start with. So you turn the computer off and decide that tomorrow is more favorable day to work on your plan. Anyway, the weather is too nice to be sitting inside on a day like today.
Many entrepreneurs and business owners have faced this situation before, but what to do when waiting until tomorrow to start your plan is inadmissible? Follow these 10 tried and true tips to help you complete outstanding business plan.
1. Decide why you’re writing your plan.
Are you making money? Starting a new venture? Looking for strategic partners? It doesn’t matter what is the reason, you should be dedicated to your business planning process. Prepare for yourself a short paragraph that outlines “why you are writing a business plan and why it will be great.” Call it your business plan mission – it will keep you motivated and help you clarify the message you send your readers.
2. Get the big picture
Visit your local library or bookstore and bring home a few business plan books. Look through Internet resources and consider business plan software programs. Your main objective is to understand what the business plan is and what it isn’t and of course what to expect from your business plan. Using your new knowledge try to prepare a sketch which will include sections and subsections which you are going to inscribe in your business plan.
3. Grab everything that’s already handy
Look through every computer file, box and file cabinet you have to find the information that’s already available to you. You’ll be surprised with what you will find and with how nicely this step will move you forward. Make sure to consider marketing pieces you’ve prepared, press releases, related articles, industry journals, historical financials, important web sites and notes or ideas you’ve accumulated over time. Don’t rate the quality of this information – just gather it. At this point quantity is the name of the game, and the more you can find the better.
4. Just type!
Start typing thoughts, ideas, words, questions and to-dos into each section of your business plan outline. Put rough thoughts on paper and make your brain empty. Don’t worry about proper grammar or complete sentences– just type. Come up to this step like a brainstorming session, the more powerful the storm, the more effective your business plan will be. Write down any ideas that demand supplementary consideration, areas that present a challenge and topics that require the contribution of others.
5. Prepare a rough draft
Now it’s high time to take your sketch, the information you’ve got sparse and your brainstormed ideas and shape them into a useable rough draft. Move through your entire outline, section by section and begin writing complete sentences and paragraphs. As you work, start a Biz Plan To-Do List to keep track of topics that require in-depth research, statistics or back-up information. When you’ll finish, print out a copy and read it a few times, revising lightly as you go. Your plan should be rather sparse, but when you’ve completed this step, you’ve really made business planning progress.
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