Как написать бизнес-план с нуля: советы и рекомендации

Адекватный, правильно составленный бизнес-план позволяет получить ответ на главный вопрос: будет ли задуманное дело приносить доход и стоит ли вкладывать в него средства.

Выбор своей ниши для будущего бизнеса — это только начало. Даже лучшая идея для малого бизнеса не гарантирует успех Вашему предприятию. Далее нужно определиться, как вы будете организовывать свое дело, выстроить ближайшие перспективы. Именно для этого и нужен бизнес-план.

В наличии бизнес-плана заинтересованы три стороны:

• Ваши потенциальные инвесторы (люди, которые могут вложить капитал в бизнес, банки, которые дают кредиты).
• Ваши будущие сотрудники, ведь они должны понимать перспективы своей работы.
• И конечно, вам самим, чтобы оценить реалистичность своих планов.

Бизнес-план представляет собой:

• Описание аспектов и направлений будущей деятельности.
• Анализ всех проблем, которые могут возникнуть на разных этапах воплощения проекта.
• Определение и описание способов решения возможных проблем.

Итак, давайте рассмотрим, как правильно составить бизнес-план.

Бизнес-план: структура

В бизнес-плане нужно прописать все аспекты существования и деятельности будущей фирмы, начиная от момента ее создания и до того, как она обретет стабильность. Язык, которым пишется бизнес-план, должен быть понятен всем заинтересованным сторонам: предпринимателю, банкирам, партнерам, сотрудникам. Одной из важных частей бизнес-плана становится меморандум о конфиденциальности, который защитит автора проекта от несанкционированного использования информации.

Бизнес-план должен быть кратким, но содержать всю необходимую информацию. Обычная рекомендация по объему — от 30 до 40 страниц.

Таким образом, должен получиться проект, состоящий из четырех основных частей:

• Аннотация. Идея, концепция бизнес-плана или обращение к потенциально заинтересованным сторонам. Размер аннотации не более одной страницы.
• Резюме (1-3 страницы), то есть выводы и предполагаемые результаты.
• Основная часть бизнес-плана.
• Приложения с таблицами, диаграммами, резюме руководителей, графическими материалами.

Следует помнить, что бизнес бизнесу рознь. У каждого вида деятельности свои особенности, поэтому и проекты могут значительно отличаться друг от друга. Важно соблюсти лишь общие принципы, а жестких норм структуры бизнес-планов нет.

Резюме к бизнес-плану

Резюме — это единственная часть проекта, которую до конца читают практически все потенциальные инвесторы. От того, как составлено резюме зависит, вызовет ли сам проект интерес, станет ли инвестор знакомиться с ним полностью. То есть в конечном итоге от резюме во многом зависит успех всего дела. В этой части вашего проекта должны содержаться выводы и предполагаемые результаты, возможно способы их достижения. Всё это должно быть описано кратко, но информативно.

Хотя резюме и стоит в самом начале бизнес-плана, однако пишут его в самую последнюю очередь. Лишь тогда, когда у вас готова основная часть плана и есть целостное видение будущего дела, вы можете написать резюме.

Резюме может содержать следующую информацию:

• Цель проекта
• Финансовые потребности
• Содержание бизнеса и определение аудитории потребителей услуги или продукта
• В чем отличие от аналогичных фирм или предприятий
• Финансовые показатели

Бизнес–план

Цели и задачи

В этом пункте нужно проанализировать вашу идею, рассказать о ее сильных и слабых сторонах, выявить возможные риски.

Основные пункты, которые нужно отразить:

• Анализ идеи
• Определение целей деятельности
• Характеристика выбранного сегмента рынка

Продукт или услуга

Очень важно, чтобы эта часть была написана как можно более подробно и понятно, чтобы все, кто будет изучать ваш бизнес-проект, могли получить полное представление о том, чем и как вы предполагаете заниматься.

Что следует отразить в данном пункте?

• Описание предлагаемого продукта (товара или услуги) и возможностей его использования
• Описание уникальности и преимуществ вашего проекта
• Определение необходимых технологий и квалификации персонала
• Описание условий ведения бизнеса с точки зрения лицензирования и патентного права

Анализ рынка

Вам понадобится собрать и обработать достаточно большой объем информации по разным направлениям:

• Потребители,
• Конкуренты, и их влияние на ваш бизнес
• Состояние рынка и его перспективы
• Доля рынка, которую занимает ваш будущий продукт (товар или услуга)
• Состав будущих потребителей

Маркетинговый план

Вызвать доверие потенциального инвестора — вот главная задача на данном этапе. Если вы не обладаете необходимыми знаниями по маркетингу, придется заняться изучением специальной литературы или воспользоваться услугами специалиста.

Разделы плана маркетинга:

• Маркетинговая расстановка, то есть характеристика продукта в сравнении с аналогичным у конкурентов
• Ценообразование вашего продукта
• Способы и возможности распространения продукта вашего бизнеса
• Возможности по стимулированию продаж

План производства

В этом пункте отражается материальная составляющая бизнеса:

• Помещения и их расположение
• Необходимое оборудование
• Возможности по поставке материалов и оборудования
• Привлечение субподрядчиков

Управленческий персонал

Человеческий фактор никто не отменял. Поэтому следует определить кадровый состав будущего предприятия и способы его мотивации. Для этого нужно определиться:

• Каков будет состав руководства
• Сколько рядовых сотрудников вам нужно
• Каким будет вознаграждение за труд

Необходимые ресурсы: объем и источники

• Какой объем средств вам понадобится
• Откуда вы планируете их получать, в какой форме и в какие сроки
• Возможности и сроки возврата средств

Финансовый план и анализ рисков

Этот раздел бизнес-плана поможет избежать ненужных трат и спрогнозировать развитие бизнеса. В него необходимо включить следующие пункты:

• Определение рисков и способов их преодоления
• Прогнозирование объема продаж
• Прогнозы по прибыли и убыткам,
• Анализ движения наличности, который нужно осуществлять в течение первого года ежемесячно, позже — ежеквартально
• Баланс активов и пассивов

Приложения

В приложения выносят таблицы, диаграммы и прочую финансовую и статистическую информацию. Также обычно в приложении публикуют резюме руководителей, чтобы будущие инвесторы могли оценить их опыт и навыки. Все графические материалы, такие как дизайн продукта и фирменный стиль, также выносятся в приложения.

Очень важно, чтобы все материалы в приложениях были подписаны и пронумерованы. На каждый из них должна быть ссылка из основной части бизнес-плана.

Объем приложений обычно составляет примерно 10 страниц. Однако в зависимости от специфики бизнеса, их количество может быть значительно больше.

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If you’re looking for a tool to walk you through writing your own business plan step by step, we recommend LivePlan, especially if you’re seeking a bank loan or outside investment and need to use an SBA-approved format. 90003 90004 Popular Business Plan Categories 90005 90006 Medical and Health Care (26) 90007 90002 26 free business plans for doctors, medical billing companies, chiropractors, dentists, hospitals and more.90003 90006 Retail and Online Store (116) 90007 90002 116 free business plans for clothing stores, online stores, 90013 e-businesses, gift shops, eBay and more. 90003 90006 Services (216) 90007 90002 216 free business plans for accountants, insurance agents, self storage businesses, cleaning services and much more.90003 90004 Find the sample plan you need 90005 90004 Other Categories 90005 90004 How to use sample business plans to help you write your own 90005 90002 How do you know what elements need to be included in your business plan, especially if you’ve never written one before? Looking at examples can help you visualize what a full, traditional plan looks like, so you know what you’re aiming for before you get started. 90003 90002 Here’s how to get the most out of a sample plan: 90003 90004 Choose a sample plan from a similar type of company 90005 90002 You do not need to find a sample business plan that’s an exact fit for your business.Your business location, target market, and even your particular product or service may not match exactly to the plans in our gallery. But, you do not need an exact match for it to be helpful. Instead, look for a plan that’s related to the type of business you’re starting. 90003 90002 For example, if you want to start a vegetarian restaurant, a plan for a steakhouse can be a great match. While the specifics of your actual startup will differ, the elements you’d want to include in your restaurant’s business plan are likely to be very similar.90003 90004 Use a sample as a guide 90005 90002 Every startup and small business is unique, so you’ll want to avoid copying a sample plan word for word. It just will not be as helpful, since each business is unique. You want your plan to be a useful tool for starting a business-and getting funding if you need it. 90003 90002 One of the key benefits of writing a business plan is simply going to through the process. When you sit down to write, you’ll naturally think through important pieces, like your startup costs, your target market, and any market analysis or research you’ll need to do to be successful.90003 90002 You’ll also look at where you stand among your competition (and everyone has competition), and lay out your goals and the milestones you’ll need to meet. Looking at a sample plan’s financials section can be helpful because you can see what should be included, but take them with a grain of salt. Do not assume that financial projections for a sample company will fit your own small business. 90003 90002 If you’re looking for more resources to help you get started, this guide on how to write a business plan is a good place to start.You can also download our free business plan template, or get started right away with LivePlan. 90003 90004 Think of business planning as a process, instead of a document 90005 90002 Think about business planning as something you do often, rather than a document you create once and never look at again. If you take the time to write a plan that really fits your own company, it will be a better, more useful tool to grow your business. It should also make it easier to share your vision and strategy so everyone on your team is on the same page.90003 90004 Adjust your plan regularly to use it as a business management tool 90005 90002 Keep in mind that businesses that use their plan as a management tool to help run their business grow 30 percent faster than those businesses that do not. For that to be true for your company, you’ll think of part of your business planning process as tracking your actual results against your financial forecast on a regular basis. 90003 90002 If things are going well, your plan will help you think about how you can re-invest in your business.If you find that you’re not meeting goals, you might need to adjust your budgets or your sales forecast. Either way, tracking your progress compared to your plan can help you adjust quickly when you identify challenges and opportunities-it’s one of the most powerful things you can do to grow your business. 90003 90004 Ready to get started? 90005 90002 Now that you know how to use a sample business plan to help you write a plan for your business, it’s time to find the right one. 90003 90002 Use the search bar below to get started and find the right match for your business idea.90003 .90000 Sample Business Plan — BusinessTown 90001 90002 Creating a Business Plan Is Essential to Your Business 90003 90004 Writing a business plan is important, as it’s the foundation of any viable enterprise. Your business plan should be a living and breathing document that contains your goals and your plan for reaching them. 90005 90004 90005 90004 So, let’s look at a sample business plan to help you get your business started! 90005 90002 90011 Business Plan Sample 90012 90003 90004 90011 BOB’S RENT-A-BIKE, LLC 90012 90017 90011 (DATE) 90012 90017 90011 CONTACT: 90012 90005 90004 Bob Adams, Founder 90017 1000 Main Street 90017 617-385-9000 90005 90004 This business plan is confidential.90005 90004 90011 Related: Getting Started on Your Business Plan 90012 90005 90004 90011 SUMMARY 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Business Concept 90041 90012 90005 90004 We will be part of the large and growing bicycle rental industry. Our target market is summer visitors to Cape Cod, particularly central Cape Cod. We will be differentiated from competitors in that we will deliver rental bicycles directly to our customers at their motels, campsites, or summer rental residences. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Current Situation 90041 90012 90005 90004 We are a start-up business founded as a Limited Liability Company (LLC).At this point we have assembled a detailed operating plan, including promotional plans. We have arranged access to a station wagon to deliver bicycles and a garage to store them in. We have started to carefully buy used bicycles in excellent quality at very reasonable prices. 90005 90004 We have available capital of $ 2,500 from the founder’s personal savings and we seek an additional $ 7,500 investment from outside investors in order to be able to complete the purchase of our rental fleet. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Key Success Factors 90041 90012 90005 90004 What will really set us apart from the competition is that while our competitors rent bicycles from fixed rental locations, we will deliver our bicycles directly to our customers ‘motels, campsites, and summer rental residences.90005 90064 90011 Inserting images into your business plan can help you convey your message. 90012 90004 Another important differential is that our cost base is dramatically lower than that of our competitors. For one, we are going to buy used bicycles in a very disciplined way to build our rental fleet, whereas our competitors buy new bicycles. We estimate that we can buy quality used bicycles for approximately half the cost our competitors spend for new bicycles. 90005 90004 We will also have very little labor cost.Bob will draw a salary of just $ 10 per hour. There are other employees. Bob has ridden bicycles for many years, is handy with tools, and believes he can do most basic bicycle repairs himself. 90005 90004 Bob is young, energetic, and willing to work 24/7 to make this business a success! 90005 90004 We will also have very low overhead costs. We will store bicycles in an old garage (previously converted from an outhouse) on our family property. Bob will use the family station wagon, only paying for gas, to service the business.90005 90004 Bob also has a good neighbor and friend, Harold Perethian, who runs a large bicycle wholesale business, who lends additional advice and provides wholesale prices for accessories and parts. 90005 90004 90011 Related: Creating a Business Plan for a New or Existing Business 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Financial Needs 90041 90012 90005 90004 The business will require a total of $ 10,000 in financing. The founder, Bob Adams, is contributing his personal savings of $ 2,500 and he is seeking an additional investment of $ 7,500.Of the total $ 10,000 in financing, approximately 75 percent will be invested in building a rental fleet of high-quality, carefully selected and negotiated used bicycles. 90005 90004 We expect the business to be highly profitable and for investors to potentially earn back their investment very quickly. 90005 90004 90011 VISION 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Vision Statement 90041 90012 90005 90004 Over the next few summers, we expect Bob’s Rent-A-Bike to become one of the leading players in the highly profitable and growing market for bicycle rentals on Cape Cod.By reinvesting part of our profits from our initial summers, we plan to expand our fleet and increase our advertising, eventually expanding our promotional activity throughout the entire area. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Milestones 90041 90012 90005 90109 90110 Complete operating plan developed. Done. 90111 90110 Initiate purchase of used bicycles. Done. 90111 90110 Complete purchase of bicycle fleet. June 15 90115 th 90116. 90111 90110 Complete delivery of flyers by bicycle to motels and campsites.June 20 90115 th 90116. 90111 90110 Initiate rental operations. June 21 90115 st 90116. 90111 90110 End of season sale of bicycles being disposed of. August 20 90115 th 90116. 90111 90110 Last day of rental operations for season. September 1 90115 st 90116. 90111 90134 90004 90011 MARKET ANALYSIS 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 The Overall Market 90041 90012 90005 90004 The overall sale of bicycles and related items in the U.S. in 2015 was estimated to be $ 6 billion, according the National Bicycle Dealers Association.However, with the average bicycle dealer deriving just 0.8 percent of their revenue from rentals, the market for bicycle rentals would be about $ 48 million. 90005 90004 Although I can not find data available for just the Cape Cod region that I will be focusing on, I can estimate it. 90005 90004 I start with my estimated number of bicycles available for rental of about 1,300. 90005 90004 The majority of rentals are single-day rentals. For simplicity, I will assume all rentals are single-day rentals.90005 90153 90011 A good graph will always be better than a thousand words. 90012 90004 First I will focus on the key 10-week summer season, when most rentals occur. 90005 90004 I estimate from anecdotal information and limited personal observation that, including off-weather days, rental bicycles average a 40 percent utilization rate during the summer season, or in other words, are rented for an average of 28 days. 90005 90004 Therefore, the total rental days during the summer season are 28 days per bicycle x 1,300 rental bicycles = 36,400 rental days.90005 90004 Then I adjust for off-season rentals. I estimate that 85 percent of the rentals occur during the summer season, so the total rental days including the off-season would be 36,400 / 0.85 = 42,800. 90005 90004 Then I estimate the average daily rate to be $ 25. Multiplied by 42,800 rental days, I therefore estimate the total current market for bicycle rentals on Cape Cod to be $ 25 x 42,800 = $ 1,070,000. 90005 90004 Also, I believe the total possible market is larger, particularly because many rentals are an impulse decision.So every time a new rental stand is set up, I believe the market incrementally expands. Furthermore, with my introduction of bicycle rentals delivered to motels, campsites, and summer residences, the market may expand further. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Changes in the Market 90041 90012 90005 90004 I believe the market for bicycle rentals on Cape Cod is continuing to grow and is fueled by a number of favorable factors. 90005 90004 The rail trails, old railroad lines converted into bicycle trails, are becoming increasingly well known and popular and especially important to the segment of the population that will only take on the expense of a rental bicycle if they can ride it on a dedicated bicycle trail .90005 90004 People are generally pursuing more healthy lifestyles, especially on vacations, and are increasingly more likely to want to bicycle on vacation. 90005 90004 Many people are becoming increasingly discerning about the quality and type of bicycle that they wish to rent. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Market Segments 90041 90012 90005 90004 There are a number of different ways you could segment the market for people seeking to rent bicycles. 90005 90004 90040 By Quality and Price 90041 90005 90004 First you could segment it by quality and price.At the highest end you have a relatively small niche, which I will call «enthusiasts.» I estimate this segment to be less than 15 percent of potential Cape Cod renters; they are seeking to rent a high-end premium bicycle designed for a bicycle enthusiast, not a casual rider, and are willing to pay a significant premium if necessary to do so. The rental market for this rider is particularly small because this kind of rider is most likely to bring his or her own bicycle on vacation on a rack on the back of the car.90005 90004 Next you have what I will call «the big middle.» I estimate this segment to be 60 percent of the market. The most common bicycle renter is typically above average income, is not too price conscious if he or she considers the price to be more or less reasonable, and expects a good-quality bicycle but not the high-end bicycle that the enthusiast would. 90005 90004 Finally, you have what I call the «price shoppers.» These are usually families or at least couples looking to rent bicycles for more than one person and are willing to spend at least some effort shopping around to save a little money.I estimate this segment to be roughly 25 percent of the market. 90005 90004 90040 By Rental Time 90041 90005 90004 I estimate the following average rental durations on Cape Cod: 90005 90206 90110 Less than one day, usually on an hourly basis: 20 percent of rentals. 90111 90110 One day exactly: 60 percent of rentals. 90111 90110 More than one day: 20 percent of rentals. 90111 90213 90004 90040 By Mobile Delivery 90041 90005 90004 Currently, I believe no rental firm is delivering bicycles to the customers ‘location.I believe there is absolutely a demand for this because people who do not bring their bicycle on vacation also do not bring their bicycle rack and can not easily transport bicycles in their car, and people generally do not even consider renting a bicycle rack. 90005 90004 90011 Related: Complete Business Plan Outline 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Target Market and Customers 90041 90012 90005 90004 Our target market is people who want to have bicycles delivered to their motel, campsite, or summer residence.90005 90004 Because there will be some expense in making this delivery, we will primarily focus on customers interested in renting bicycles for more than one day. Even though in my analysis of the market I estimated that only about 20 percent of rentals are for more than one day, the revenue from such rentals is significantly higher. In fact, with the price for two days usually being exactly double one day, and a week being substantially higher than two days, for example, the market for rentals of more than one day may be over 40 percent of the market in dollar terms.90005 90004 At this time we will not focus on enthusiasts because we can not afford to buy higher-end bicycles. We will, however, try to capture some of the price-shopping market, especially because people who rent bicycles for longer periods of time may tend to be more price conscious. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Customer Characteristics 90041 90012 90005 90004 With our customers looking to have bicycle rentals delivered to them, and generally renting for periods longer than a day, these people will be quite a bit different than the person who might rent a bicycle for an hour from a roadside stand.90005 90004 People renting bicycles for an hour from a roadside stand are generally young-often in their twenties-and frequently single but usually in the company of one or more friends. 90005 90004 People renting bicycles delivered to their motel, campsite, or summer residence and renting for multiple days tend to be a couple, if not a family group. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Customer Needs 90041 90012 90005 90004 Targeting customers wanting mobile rentals for multiple days means that we will need a wide mix of bicycles to serve full family needs.If we can not provide a bicycle for one member of a family, we may lose the entire potential rental. So we need bicycles of all sizes and we need plenty of baby seats! 90005 90004 The mobile rental customer is not as much of an impulse customer as someone renting from a roadside stand is. So having the shiniest and newest bicycles is not really going to help us get rentals. People do not see the actual bicycles until after they have agreed to rent them. But the bicycles need to work and work well.People who are renting bicycles for multiple days will use them a lot and will demand that they be replaced if they are not working right. 90005 90004 90011 COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS 90012 90011 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Industry Overview 90041 90012 90005 90004 The bicycle rental industry on is dominated by U Pedal It, Inc. Although they have a storefront near the harbor in Hyannis, most of their rentals are from dozens of agent-operated locations all over Cape Cod. 90005 90004 Other than U Pedal It, Inc., There are several bicycle rental locations on rail trails. And there are a handful of bicycle retail shops on Cape Cod that also rent bicycles. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Nature of Competition 90041 90012 90005 90004 The nature of competition is focused on location and displaying bicycles, to apparently appeal to impulse renters-those who did not necessarily plan on renting a bicycle as part of their vacation, but take a look at the shiny outdoor bicycles lined up at rental locations and say, «Would not that be fun!» 90005 90004 U Pedal It, Inc., Appears to have gone to quite an effort to line up excellent, high-traffic locations. In addition, the several rental firms that are located on bicycle trails are basically betting their business on their proximity to a great bike riding location. 90005 90004 There does not appear to be much price competition. Everyone offers about the same price for a standard bicycle. I do not see price mentioned on signage at rental locations or in advertising. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Changes in the Industry 90041 90012 90005 90004 As the market for bicycles rentals on Cape Cod has grown, so has the competition.The popularity of the rail trails has led to more rental locations near the rail trails. And the increased emergence of bicycle enthusiasts looking for high-end rentals has further splintered the market and created a rental niche for high-end bike dealers. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Primary Competitors 90041 90012 90005 90004 Our primary competitor is U Pedal It, Inc. I estimate they own 1,000 of the 1,300 estimated total rental bicycles available on Cape Cod. They have at least double if not triple the combined locations of the rest of the industry put together.90005 90004 Their strategy is to dominate Cape Cod by making agreements with agents, such as gas stations, motels, etc., to rent their bicycles in exchange for a percentage of the revenue. They have very carefully selected their rental agents and will negotiate the percentage of revenue, particularly if the location is highly successful. 90005 90004 They rent high-quality Raleigh bicycles. They completely renew their fleet every two years or so. 90005 90004 They are also the leading advertiser for bicycle rentals on Cape Cod.90005 90004 Their strengths include their leading locations, top-quality bicycles, lots of experience, highly profitable with strong financial resources, full-time bicycle mechanics, and a year-round owner based on Cape Cod. They also have only one type of bicycle, the very recognizable Raleigh brand, which looks great and holds up well during rentals, and because they use a single brand, their bicycles are easier to maintain. 90005 90004 A possible weakness is that U Pedal It, Inc., is successful and so dominant that they will likely not feel the need to respond to a small new competitor, either by trying to match new services or to match lower prices.90005 90004 90011 90040 Competitive Products / Service 90041 90012 90005 90004 Our primary competitor, U Pedal It, Inc., is renting relatively new zero- to two-year-old, high-quality, brand-name Raleigh bicycles. 90005 90004 While U Pedal It, Inc., does a fair amount of advertising, its most important promotional strategy is the shiny displays of new rental bicycles in front of the busy commercial properties of its many rental agents. These displays appeal not only to impulse renters but also to more contemplative renters, who are constantly reminded about the availability of the U Pedal It, Inc., Rental locations. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Opportunities 90041 90012 90005 90004 The clearest need I see in the market is for the delivery of bicycle rentals directly to motels, campsites, and summer residences. Although costs will not make this practical for very short (i.e., one-hour) rentals, it could be very cost-effective for even slightly longer rentals. 90005 90004 Also, because most competitors, including the dominant U Pedal It, Inc., have a highly successful model largely focused on one-day or shorter rentals, there may be additional opportunity for longer-term rentals, such as multiple day, weeklong, or even month-long rentals.Because such longer-term rentals can become rather expensive, potential renters are more likely to shop around for a competitive price. And U Pedal It, Inc., having a highly successful business model, would probably not feel a need to respond to a tiny, new competitor competing for just a small portion of the overall market. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Threats and Risks 90041 90012 90005 90004 The biggest threat would be if a highly established player, especially the dominant U Pedal It, Inc., Decided to respond directly to Bob’s Rent-A-Bike and match our delivery offer or our pricing. However, as I have outlined previously, I think this is highly unlikely because their model is highly successful and we are just gearing up for a sliver of the market. 90005 90004 A more likely threat would be if a smaller player tried to copy our new strategy. This is possible, but I think it is unlikely, especially during the first season. Also, for an existing player with an existing location, it is a lot more work to deliver rental bicycles.Not everyone wants to work as hard as Bob Adams. 90005 90004 90011 STRATEGY 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Key Competitive Capabilities 90041 90012 90005 90004 Being the «new kid on the block,» I can enter the industry with a whole fresh approach and a whole new business model, serving the unmet needs of some customers and better serving the needs of others. 90005 90004 Unlike my competitors, I do not have an established way of doing business. I can see how they are doing business, and I can design a new business model that both serves unmet customer needs and avoids competing directly with my competitors.90005 90004 I do not have a lot of money and I do not plan on raising very much. But I’m resourceful. I know how to get a great value buying used bicycles. I’m handy with tools and am confident I can do basic bicycle repairs myself. 90005 90004 My mother is going to allow me to use the family station wagon for this business, as long as I pay for gas and can work around her schedule. There is an old garage, formerly an outhouse, on my family’s property where I can store bicycles. 90005 90004 So even though I’m probably the smallest competitor, my cost structure has got to be the lowest.90005 90004 I’m willing to work as many hours as it takes this summer, day or night, weekday or weekend, to make this business succeed! 90005 90004 90011 90040 Key Competitive Weaknesses 90041 90012 90005 90004 My competitors ‘advantages include more experience, more financial resources, better and newer bicycles, experience in advertising, excellent locations, and year-round availability on Cape Cod. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Competitive Strategy 90041 90012 90005 90004 My strategy is to deliver rental bicycles to my customers ‘doorsteps, to their motel, campsite, or summer residence.90005 90004 I am going to target customers who are interested in renting bicycles for two days or longer. 90005 90004 I believe much of the longer-term, deliverable bicycle rental market will be families, so I will make an effort to build a rental fleet with bicycles for all ages and also have plenty of baby seats. 90005 90004 I am going to be flexible in pricing for longer periods of time, such as a week or a month, when the rental fee might come close to being as high as my entire purchase price for my average used bicycle.90005 90004 Because I am not renting bicycles on impulse from highly visible bicycle stands and customers will not see my bicycles until after they have requested a rental delivery, and because I have very limited resources, I will build a rental fleet of used bicycles instead of new ones. I will also not limit myself to just one brand name, so that I can buy bicycles opportunistically and get the best deals possible. Given that large quantities of my bikes will not be displayed to the public at once, it will not matter that they do not match and that I have all kinds of different brands and colors.90005 90004 Finally, especially because I have limited finances, I am going to keep my operating costs rock bottom by using my mother’s station wagon and by using the family’s old garage for bicycle storage. I am going to design my own advertising. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Bumper Sticker Strategy 90041 90012 90005 90004 My bumper sticker strategy is «mobile bike rentals.» 90005 90004 90011 PRODUCTS / SERVICES 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Product / Service Description 90041 90012 90005 90004 Our service is renting bicycles.We will rent by the day, by the week, or by the month. We will not rent for less than a full day, unlike most competitors, who rent by the hour as well. 90005 90004 We will rent two types of bikes only, adult bikes and children’s bikes. Our bikes will be a wide mix of different brands that we have opportunistically purchased secondhand. 90005 90004 All adult bikes will be ten speed or more. All adult bikes will have conventional, non-racing handlebars. 90005 90004 Children’s bikes will be one speed.Some will have high-rise handlebars. 90005 90004 All bicycles will have full and working safety equipment as required by law, including reflectors and an operable bell or horn. Brakes will be checked prior to each rental. All bikes will also be equipped with a basket. 90005 90004 In addition, baby seats will be provided by advance request for no additional charge. These seats can be relatively easily installed and removed in order to keep the rental fleet flexible. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Positioning of Products / Services 90041 90012 90005 90004 We will position ourselves as the only alternative for people on Cape Cod looking to have bicycles delivered directly to them, be it their motel, campsite, or summer residence.90005 90004 We will also position ourselves as emphasizing longer-term rentals than our competitors. Unlike our competitors, we will not rent bicycles for less than one day. We will offer lower rates on extended rentals such as for a week or longer. 90005 90004 We will also position ourselves as family friendly, with a good variety of bicycles for not just adults, but kids of all ages. We will rent kids ‘bikes for half the price of adult bikes. We will have a good supply of baby seats that we will provide for no additional charge.90005 90004 90011 90040 Competitive Evaluation of Products / Services 90041 90012 90005 90004 The most important competitive metric for us is the availability of delivery to the customers ‘location. This is how we will stack up: 90005 90004 90040 Delivery available? 90041 90005 90004 U Pedal It, Inc .: No 90005 90004 Bike trail-located rental competitors: No 90005 90004 Bicycle shop rental competitors: No 90005 90004 90011 Bob’s Rent-A-Bike: Yes 90012 90005 90004 Another important competitive metric for us is the competitive pricing of longer-term rentals: 90005 90004 90040 Daily rental rates (comparable adult bicycles) 90041 90005 90004 U Pedal It, Inc.: $ 25 90005 90004 Bike trail-located rental competitors: $ 25 90005 90004 Bicycle shop rental competitors: $ 25 90005 90004 90011 Bob’s Rent-A-Bike: $ 25 90012 90005 90004 90040 Weekly rental rates 90041 90005 90004 U Pedal It, Inc .: $ 90 90005 90004 Bike trail-located rental competitors: $ 85 90005 90004 Bicycle shop rental competitors: $ 90 90005 90004 90011 Bob’s Rent-A-Bike: $ 77 90012 90005 90004 This is how the quality of our bikes compares: 90005 90004 90040 Bike quality 90041 90005 90004 U Pedal It, Inc.: New, high quality, one brand (Raleigh) 90005 90004 Bike trail-located rental competitors: Relatively new, good quality, one or two brands 90005 90004 Bicycle shop rental competitors: New, high quality, mixed brands 90005 90004 90011 Bob’s Rent-A-Bike: Good working quality, but slightly used 90012 90011 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Future Products / Services 90041 90012 90005 90004 Looking out to future summers, we aim first to grow our customer base for our current product offerings.At some point in future summers, we may begin to buy new, high-quality bicycles and to standardize our fleet. We may also test demand for higher-end bicycles for the enthusiast. 90005 90004 90011 SALES AND MARKETING 90012 90011 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Marketing Strategy 90041 90012 90005 90004 The main marketing message we want to send is that, unlike our competitors, we deliver rental bikes right to the customer’s location. 90005 90004 There are other ways that differentiate us from our competition, such as lower rates for longer-term rentals and a little more effort to be family friendly.But what makes us stand out much more clearly from our competitors is our delivery of bicycles, so that’s what we are going to overwhelmingly emphasize in our marketing. 90005 90004 We do not have time or money to invest in building an image. Our marketing is designed to «ring the register» with bicycle rentals today, not for building an image for tomorrow. 90005 90004 Being an all-new business and having only a 10-week summer season, we are going to immediately try and test a whole bunch of marketing alternatives.We just do not have the time to test one after the next sequentially. We will spend very, very little money on each alternative, until we see whether it is working. 90005 90004 While we are willing to deliver bicycles anywhere on Cape Cod, we will give an extra emphasis to marketing to motels and campsites within a half hour drive of our bicycle storage facility. Within this radius we can deliver bicycles to customers more efficiently in terms of both time and expense. At motels and campsites I believe we will find a concentrated audience with a higher propensity to rent bicycles than the general summer population.90005 90004 90011 90040 Unique Selling Proposition 90041 90012 90005 90004 Our unique selling proposition is: «Bike rentals, delivered free!» 90005 90004 The fine print indicates a minimum of two bikes being rented for two days each to qualify for free delivery. This means that we are grossing at least $ 100 on each free delivery, or $ 25 per bicycle per day. 90005 90004 We are the only bicycle service on Cape Cod offering delivery of bicycles. Offering delivery for free makes it that much more compelling.90005 90004 All told, our unique selling proposition is short, valuable, and memorable! Great for use in marketing campaigns! 90005 90004 90011 90040 Sales Tactics 90041 90012 90005 90004 We will develop sales tactics to try to convert inbound inquiries into bicycle rental customers. 90005 90004 90040 Inbound Telemarketing 90041 90005 90004 Some of our inbound inquiries will be phone calls. We will use a six-part approach to closing phone inquiries. 90005 90109 90110 We will try to answer the phone immediately night or day.If we can not answer it immediately, we will try to call back as soon as possible. Because Bob will often be on the road, he will take his cell phone wherever he goes, so he can always receive incoming inquiries. 90111 90110 We will answer the phone with an upbeat-sounding professional voice: «Bob’s Rent-A-Bike, how can I help you today?» 90111 90110 If a prospective customer is not ready to rent at the start of the conversation, we will try to provide three good reasons why they should use Bob’s Rent-A-Bike right now.90111 90110 We will have thought through and memorized responses to basic objections potential customers might have for not committing to renting right now. 90111 90110 We will try to close the sale with phrases such as, «I’d like to reserve bikes and delivery time for you, so we can be sure to get you in our schedule with some great bikes.» 90111 90110 If the customer still will not rent today, we will call them back in 24 hours and try to persuade them again to rent from us. 90111 90134 90004 90040 Inbound Email Inquiries 90041 90005 90109 90110 We will respond by email, customized from one of our basic prewritten compelling responses of why you should rent from Bob’s Rent-A-Bike.90111 90110 We will also link our response to our website. 90111 90110 If the prospect has not rented from us 24 hours later, we will email them again with a prewritten follow-up email. 90111 90134 90004 90040 Website Inquiries 90041 90005 90109 90110 Our website is designed to give prospective customers all of the information they need to get comfortable making a decision to rent from us. 90111 90110 We make it very clear and easy for the prospect to follow up with any additional questions or to line up their rental by making both our phone number and our email highly visible.90111 90134 90004 90011 90040 Advertising 90041 90012 90005 90004 Selecting an advertising medium is trickier for us than for many new businesses for a several reasons. First, most of our competitors primarily attract customers on the basis of their highly visible commercial locations, including large displays of rental bicycles and signage. Our bicycles are stored in a garage in a residential-zoned district, so we really need to make our advertising work. 90005 90004 Second, we only have a 10-week summer season.We can not just test one advertising campaign after the next or the summer would soon be over. We need to test several at once. 90005 90004 Third, we have a very small advertising budget, so we need to find some really low-cost advertising vehicles. 90005 90004 The good news is that we have a very distinct strategy (mobile bicycle rentals) that really matters to many potential customers! 90005 90004 The even better news is that we have been able to translate our powerful strategy into a compelling unique selling proposition: «Bike rentals, delivered free.»90005 90004 So between our strong strategy and our memorable USP, we have a really good chance of getting a decent response, even from low-budget advertising. 90005 90004 90040 Website 90041 90005 90004 Our website is a core component of our advertising. We will prominently display the website address or have a link to it in all of our advertising. We will design the website primarily to «sell» a prospective customer on the idea of ​​renting bicycles from us. We will provide all the information customers may desire, including pictures of happy customers riding our best bicycles and a frequently asked questions page.90005 90004 We will also provide rates. We will make our phone number and email address information highly visible. The website will be just a few pages long, but it will be attractively designed and simple to navigate. We will also design the website to optimize search engine results placement. 90005 90004 90040 Guerilla Advertising 90041 90005 90004 We will go out to every campsite and motel and coffee shop within a 30-minute drive of our house and plaster every bulletin board with an advertising flyer.We will leave small handout flyers at motels. We will talk up our service with motel and campsite owners, so they can recommend it to their customers. Bob will ride his bicycle to visit them, to increase impact and recall. 90005 90004 90040 Tourist Guide Advertising 90041 90005 90004 We will test a very small ad in one of the small tourist booklets distributed all over Cape Cod. The advertising is one of the more expensive things we will do, but we will keep the first ad very, very small until we see that it is working.90005 90004 90040 Local Newspaper Advertising 90041 90005 90004 We will test a small ad in the local weekly newspaper. We will aim this more for longer-term renters. 90005 90004 90040 Search Engine Advertising 90041 90005 90004 We will run several very short tests for keyword advertising. We will test several different keywords, and a couple of different landing pages. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Promotions / Incentives 90041 90012 90005 90004 Our unique selling proposition, «Bicycle rentals, delivered free,» is our everyday promotional offer.90005 90004 Beyond our media advertising, including our search engine advertising, we will start with an additional offer: «Reserve your rental now and get an additional $ 10 discount.» 90005 90004 While this may sound like an overly generous offer, especially given our free delivery, our rentals would still be highly profitable. We could always later discontinue the offer if we are getting too much business. On the other hand, if a particular advertising media is not responding in our first test with this extra $ 10 discount, then we can feel more confident in immediately dropping it.90005 90004 Additionally, if rentals are running below plan, we may discount prices further during the process of phone inquiries, especially for longer-term rentals. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Publicity 90041 90012 90005 90004 Our primary publicity vehicle will be social media. We will aggressively promote our visibility on social media; encourage friends, customers, potential customers, and key local businesspeople to follow us; and update our information regularly. 90005 90004 We will also send a start-of-season press release to all major websites and print vehicles everywhere on Cape Cod.90005 90004 Bob will offer to do talk show interviews on local Cape Cod radio and cable TV stations on the joys of bicycling on Cape Cod, liberally referencing Bob’s Rent-A-Bike. 90005 90004 Instead of passing out a traditional business card that largely features his name, Bob will pass out to every single person he sees all summer long a Bob’s Rent-A-Bike business card-shaped advertising piece that offers a special «Friends and family $ 10 discount on your next bicycle rental. » 90011 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Trade Shows 90041 90012 90005 90004 Bob will attend the local chamber of commerce trade show held at the beginning of the season.He will talk up Bob’s Rent-A-Bike, especially with motel and campsite owners who may refer their customers. He will also give them promotional flyers. 90005 90004 90011 OPERATIONS 90012 90005 90004 90011 90040 Key Personnel 90041 90012 90005 90004 The key person is founder Bob Adams. Bob is nineteen years old and is completing his freshman year at Carleton College. He is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy. Bob’s previous summer jobs include working as a rodman for Savery Engineering, as a dishwasher for Howard Johnson restaurants, and as a busboy for Stage Coach Grill.Bob has ridden bicycles for years, is handy with tools, and is ready to work 24/7 to make Bob’s Rent-A-Bike a success. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Organizational Structure 90041 90012 90005 90004 Other than Bob, the only other person that will work for Bob’s Rent-A-Bike will be Bob’s twelve-year-old brother, Jim, who will just work a few hours as needed. Jim will answer the phone if Bob is not available and help clean and maintain the bicycles. Jim is willing to work for a very, very modest wage.90005 90004 90011 90040 Human Resources Plan 90041 90012 90005 90004 To provide extra motivation for his younger brother Jim and to offset the very, very modest wage he will receive, Bob will let Jim use a different Bob’s Rent-A-Bike bicycle of his choice each week, provided it is not needed for rental purposes. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Service Delivery 90041 90012 90005 90004 Bob will deliver rental bicycles to customers using his mother’s station wagon. Bob has agreed to reimburse her for gas and try not to beat up the car too much.He also has a large bicycle rack to mount behind the car, and has been practicing carrying bicycles on the roof as well. Bob feels he can carry as many as 12 adult bicycles in one trip. 90005 90004 Especially because our bicycles are secondhand, we will not hesitate to replace a bicycle rental with another bicycle if the customer has an operating problem or complains about the quality of the bicycle. 90005 90004 We aim to have a rental fleet of 50 bicycles. 90005 90004 90011 90040 Customer Service / Support 90041 90012 90005 90004 We view our business as a high-touch personal service business and will endeavor to make every single interaction with our customers from initial inquiry to final bicycle pickup a positive one.90005 90004 We have carefully thought through this process from the customer’s perspective. Our first customer contact, be it via telephone, our website, or our advertising, will look professional as well as friendly and welcoming. We will continue interacting with our customers in a «high touch» warm and friendly way throughout the entire process. 90005 90004 As much as possible we will answer our phone with a live human voice and respond to email inquiries promptly. 90005 90004 Because we expect our customers to have a very positive experience with us, we will also ask our customers for referrals and ask them to follow us on social media.90005 90004 90011 90040 Facilities 90041 90012 90005 90004 In keeping with our low overhead, we will operate out of an old garage on our family property that was converted from an outhouse. It is a small, single-car garage and not all bicycles will fit parked in the garage at once. However, we intend to purchase bicycle hooks that we can screw into the old beams in the ceiling of the garage and hang bicycles from, saving huge amounts of space and allowing us to get all 50 bikes into the garage.90005 90746 90747 90748 90011 Bob Adams 90012 90751 Bob Adams is the founder of BusinessTown the go-to learning platform for people starting and running their own businesses. Bob has started dozens of successful businesses, including one he launched with $ 1500. and sold for $ 40 million. He also has an MBA from Harvard Business School. .90000 How to Write a Business Plan in Under an Hour 90001 90002 90003 90004 This article is part of both our 90005 90003 Business Startup Guide 90005 90003 and our 90005 90003 Business Planning Guide 90005 90003 -curated lists of our articles that will get you up and running in no time! 90005 90014 90002 Most people think that writing a business plan has to be hard. I’m here to tell you that it does not have to be. 90014 90002 In fact, it’s possible to write your initial business plan in less than an hour.After all, you’re always thinking about your business and the strategies you’re going to use to grow, so getting those ideas down on paper should not be hard-it can even be an enjoyable experience. 90014 90002 90020 Listen to Peter and Jonathan discuss this article and try to make their own business plan on the second episode of The Bcast, Bplans official podcast: 90021 90014 90002 90020 Click here to subscribe to The Bcast on iTunes »90021 90014 90027 90028 A new kind of business planning 90029 90030 90002 A business plan no longer needs to be a long document that takes weeks to write and research.It’s not something that you print, bind professionally, and then stick on a shelf. You probably only need a formal, traditional business plan if you’re seeking a bank loan or outside investment-you’ll be expected to provide one in those instances. 90014 90002 But for most businesses, business planning should be a simple, ongoing process that helps you discover your ideal business strategy. It’s a lot less about putting together a document, and more about frequently reviewing your strategy and financials so you can respond quickly to challenges and opportunities.Plus, just doing the process of business planning has been scientifically proven to make you more successful-and there are a lot of other reasons why having a business plan is important as well. 90014 90002 90036 90037 90014 90002 I encourage you to embrace a concept called Lean Planning-it has all the benefits of traditional business planning without the pain and hassle of creating a long business plan document. 90014 90002 You’ll start with a short overview of your business-a Lean Plan.It’s your business strategy, written in brief, with just the essential business plan components, so that you can update quickly and easily as you learn more about your business, your customers, and yourself. It’s also a great starting place for making sure your amazing business idea is really viable. 90042 90043 90014 90027 90028 What to include in your business Lean Plan 90029 90030 90002 When you’re writing your Lean Plan, channel Twitter and try and keep each business plan section as short as possible: 90014 90051 90052 90053 Value proposition: 90054 One sentence that describes the value you provide to your customers.If you were composing a tweet to tell people about your business, what would you say? With only 140 characters, describe what you do and what makes you unique. Your goal is to communicate the value you are providing to your customers in a way that they will understand. 90055 90052 90028 Market need 90029 90028: 90029 What problem does your business solve for your customers? If you are not solving a problem for your customers, you are going to have a hard time building your business. If you’re not sure, try talking to your potential customers and ask them what they like about your products or services.Why do they choose you over other alternatives? 90055 90052 90028 Your solution: 90029 How do you solve your customer’s problem? What products and services are you offering? Describe your product or service and why it’s better than the alternatives. Essentially, if someone asked you what you sell, what would your answer be? 90055 90052 90028 Competition 90029 90053: 90054 What products and services do your customers choose today instead of yours? How are you different? What makes your business and products better than the alternatives that are out there? 90055 90052 90028 Target market 90029 90053: 90054 Who is your ideal customer? Describe your ideal customer.Who are they? Be as specific as possible-age, gender, shopping habits, and so on. If you target different types of people, create market segments for each group. 90055 90052 90028 Sales and marketing 90029 90028: 90029 How do you market your products and services to your customers? What are your sales channels, or the places where you will sell your products? If you’re selling online, your online store is a sales channel. If you also have a physical store, that’s another sales channel. What will you do to market your business? If you plan on buying advertising, list the types of advertising you plan on doing here.Remember, different target markets might need different types of marketing activities to get your product in front of them. 90055 90052 90028 Budget and sales goals 90029 90028: 90029 How much do you think you will sell and how much is it going to cost you to make your product or deliver your service? What other key expenses will you have when your business is up and running? What sales goals do you need to reach for your business to be a success? Do not sweat the details to start and just think in broad strokes to get a rough idea of ​​how your business will work financially.You can refine the details later. 90055 90052 90028 Milestones 90029 90028: 90029 What have you achieved so far and what are your major goals for the next few months or years? This will help you stay on track and meet your goals. Make sure to assign milestones to people on your team so you have real responsibility and accountability. 90055 90052 90028 Team 90029 90028: 90029 Why are you and your business partners the right people to make your company successful? Even if you’re starting out with just you, write a few quick bullets about why you’re the right person to run this business.If you need to hire key people in the future, list those positions as well, even if you do not know who specifically will fill those positions right now. 90055 90052 90028 Partners and resources: 90029 Do you need to work with other companies or organizations to make your company a success? 90105 90055 90052 90028 Funding needs 90029 90028: 90029 This is optional; if you need to raise money for your business, how much do you need and what will you use it for? Even if you’re starting your business with your own savings or using credit card debt, it’s a good idea to plan on how you will use the funds until you start making sales.90055 90113 90027 90028 Start with your Lean Plan-save the detailed business plan document for later 90029 90030 90002 As you think about each of the areas above, do not think «business plan.» Instead, imagine that you are having a conversation with someone at a cocktail party and you’re explaining your business to them in simple terms. 90014 90002 It’s much better to approach this as though you’re «pitching your business.» After all, the idea of ​​pitch first, plan second is a best practice in business and is a much faster and more effective path to success than the traditional business plan.90014 90122 90028 Here’s an example of a Lean Plan I built in 27 minutes: 90029 90125 90002 90014 90002 I’ve always wanted to own a bike shop, so here’s a Lean Plan that I built in 27 minutes, well short of one hour. As you can see, a Lean Plan does not have to be complicated, and I still had time left over to do another one and try another business idea on for size. 90014 90002 I admit, I cheated a little bit and used LivePlan to create this Lean Plan which made the process easier, but you can create your own Lean Plan just as easily using our free template or just by writing down your notes for each business plan section in a document.90014 90002 The key is to remember to keep each business plan element brief. Do not add more than is necessary. 90014 90027 90028 Get started 90029 90030 90002 If you’re ready to start working on your own Lean Plan, download our free template and get started right away. Use markers or sticky notes to jot down your ideas quickly. If you want an online version that you can share with business partners, give LivePlan a try. 90014 90002 And, if you need a more traditional business plan, you can download our free template or browse through over 500 complete business plans.If you decide to leave it up to the pros, try LivePlan’s business plan consulting-you’ll get an MBA-written, long-form business plan in five business days that will be perfect for bank loans and investors. 90014 90002 90028 Do you think you can use this format to plan your business faster and more efficiently? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter @noahparsons and feel free to ask questions, too. I’ll make sure to answer them as they come up! 90029 90014 .90000 How to Write a Creative Business Plan In Under an Hour 90001 90002 A marketing pro shares her «pitch first, plan second» approach to business planning that’s short, sweet, and pretty painless. 90003 90004 By Caroline Cummings Aug 15, 2013 90005 90006 Photo by AmyWalters 90002 Most people view writing a business plan as an arduous process or a necessary evil.I’m here to tell you that it does not need to be difficult, and not only is it possible to write your plan in under an hour, it can also be a fun process. Seriously. After all, you’re thinking about and documenting your strategies for selling your products out in the world — this should be an enjoyable experience. There’s no reason your plan can not be as creative as you are. 90003 90009 What Is a Business Plan? 90010 90002 A business plan does not need to be a 75-page document that you write, print, and place proudly on a shelf in your office.Those days are long gone — thankfully. A business plan can be done on one page, and should merely have brief descriptions for each of the following 10 categories. Channel Twitter in that each section should not contain more than 140 characters: 90003 90013 90014 A one-sentence description about your business. 90015 (Value Proposition) 90016 90017 90014 The «problem» your product is responding to by being in the market. 90015 (Market Need) 90016 90017 90014 A description of your products (photos are always appreciated).90015 (Your Solution) 90016 90017 90014 Who else in the market is doing similar things and why your products are better? 90015 (Competition) 90016 90017 90014 Who buys your products (or will buy your products)? 90015 (Target Market) 90016 90017 90014 How much does it cost you to produce one of your products? How much do your products cost, how many of them will you sell this year, and how will I make a profit? 90015 (Financials: Budgeting & Forecasting) 90016 90017 90014 How do (or will) you market your products? 90015 (Sales Channels & Marketing Activities) 90016 90017 90014 What are your business achievements? What are you working toward? 90015 (Milestones) 90016 90017 90014 Who are you, and why are you the right person to lead your venture? 90015 (Management Team) 90016 90017 90014 Optional: How much money you need to launch or grow your business, and what specifically will you use the funds for in your business? 90015 (Funding Needs & Use of Funds) 90016 90017 90054 90009 Pitch First, Plan Second 90010 90002 As you’re thinking about filling in these planning areas, do not think of the experience as «I’m writing my business plan.»A better philosophy is to think,» I’m pitching my business. » The «pitch first, plan second» philosophy is a best practice in business anyway, and a «business pitch» conjures a much better image in one’s mind than a «business plan» does. 90003 90009 An Example Business Pitch Built in Under an Hour 90010 90002 One of my fantasy businesses is to create and sell vintage-inspired hats — and maybe one day I’ll actually get around to doing this. For now, I wanted to share a sample one-page pitch for a fictitious Etsy store called Haley’s Vintage Hats and show how you too can easily create a one-page business plan (or pitch, if you will).90003 90063 90009 Let’s Break It Down (in under 140 characters) 90010 90002 To stick with the spirit of Twitter, here are descriptions of what’s needed in each section of your plan / pitch in under 140 characters. 90003 90002 90015 Value Proposition: 90016 Think about what you would tweet if you had less than 140 characters to describe the gist of your business. This forces you to hone in on what you do and what’s special about it. 90003 90002 90015 Market Need: 90016 No market need = no need to market your product.If you’re not sure, ask your customers / potential customers why they like your products. You’ll get your answer. 90003 90002 90015 Your Solution: 90016 Describe your product and why it’s so great. Think what you’d say if someone asked you «what do you sell?» 90003 90002 90015 Target Market: 90016 Be specific about who buys your products (ex: gender, geography, age, shopping habits, etc). Segment your markets if you plan on reaching them differently. Learn more in How to Find Your Target Market by full-time Etsy seller Brenda Lavell.90003 90002 90015 Competition: 90016 Think about who your customers will buy from (or do buy from) if your products did not exist. Knowing your competition is as important as knowing your customers. Learn more in 5 Tips to Stand Out From Competition. 90003 90002 90015 Funding Needs: 90016 You may need some funds (even if it’s just $ 1-3,000 to purchase materials). Be sure you understand how those funds will help you, and when you can pay off the debt. 90003 90002 90015 Sales Channels: 90016 This is where you will sell your items.Example: Your Etsy shop is a sales channel. Perhaps you also sell at a local boutique or craft fair, and your goal is to land several wholesale accounts. It’s good to have multiple channels. 90003 90002 90015 Marketing Activities: 90016 How you will market your products. Examples: Etsy Search Ads or advertising on a design blog. You may need different activities for each market segment. 90003 90002 90015 Financial Projections: 90016 How much does it cost you to make / market your products? How much do you plan to sell in a given time period? These questions will help you develop your financials.90003 90002 90015 Milestones: 90016 What have you accomplished so far, and what other milestones are you shooting for? This will help you stay on track. Examples: Buy supplies, hire a bookkeeper, create a pitch, etc. 90003 90002 90015 Management Team: 90016 Do not be afraid to brag about yourself and your team if you have one. Share why you’re the right person to be leading your venture. Also note the roles that are missing on your team. 90003 90002 Ready to craft your own creative business plan? LivePlan is offering Etsy sellers special pricing to build your creative one-page business pitch / plan.Get started for less than $ 10. Good luck — and remember to have fun planning! 90003 90002 How do you feel about creating a business plan for your creative business? Share your thoughts and questions in comments below. 90003 .