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Business Start
source by: businesstown.com
Competitive analysis In this section you need to do an in-depth analysis of the competitive advantages and weaknesses of your firm. When exploring weaknesses you should include information that will help allay any concerns that may arise as to their ability to significantly hinder your success. This section is important, especially if your company is a start-up, because you will, typically, be competing with established companies that have inherent advantages such as financial strength, name recognition, and established distribution channels.
Positioning Positioning can be thought of as a marketing strategy for your product or service. Positioning defines how you are going to portray your product to your targeted marketplace. Your first step is deciding who your target market will be. It will consist of those potential customers toward whom you will direct most of your marketing efforts. Often this group will not be the sole or even the largest market for your product, but it will be the market that, based on competitive factors and product benefits, you feel you can most effectively reach.
Start-ups are more likely to be successful if they focus on a highly specific, very narrow target market. General markets are usually dominated by large, well-established firms. Once you have determined who your target market is, you need to decide how you want consumers to perceive your product.
? Is it the premium quality leader? ? Is it a low-cost substitute? ? Is it a full-service alternative?
If you have a one-product or service company, your marketing strategy may coincide with your overall business strategy. This doesn’t necessarily have to be the case, however, but, it is extremely important, in all cases, that your product strategy be in sync with your overall business strategy.
Advertising and promotion Use this section to provide an overview of your general promotional plan. Give a break-out of what methods and media you intend to use and why. If you have developed an advertising slogan or unique selling proposition you may mention it, but it isn’t strictly necessary. (A detailed explanation of unique selling propositions and their purpose can be found in Chapter 2, “Marketing”.) You should outline the proposed mix of your advertising media, use of publicity, and/or other promotional programs.
• Explain how your choice of marketing vehicles will allow you to reach your target market. • Explain how they will enable you to best convey your product features and benefits.
Be sure that your advertising, publicity, and promotional programs sound realistic, based upon your proposed marketing budget. Effective advertising, generally, relies on message repetition in order to motivate consumers to make a purchase. If you are on a limited budget, it is better to reach fewer, more likely prospects, more often, than too many people occasionally.
Sales Your sales strategy needs to be in harmony with your business strategy, marketing strategy, and your company’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, if your start-up company is planning on selling products to other businesses in a highly competitive marketplace, your market entry will be easier if you rely on wholesalers or commissioned sales representatives who already have an established presence and reputation in the marketplace. If your business will be selling high-tech products with a range of customized options, your sales force needs to be extremely knowledgeable and personable.
Research and development A discussion of research and development is, obviously, not germane to all companies. If it applies, though, financiers are going to want to know that research and development projects are aimed at specific, realistic objectives. And they will want to be assured that an undue portion of the company’s resources is not plowed into this area. Remember that banks generally lend money to businesses on a short-term basis, and venture capitalists and other first-round investors generally want to cash out in just a few years.
Operations Operations is a catch-all term used to describe any important aspects of the business not described elsewhere. If the start-up is a manufacturing concern, discuss critical elements of the manufacturing process. For retail businesses, discuss store operations. Wholesalers should discuss warehouse operations.
In addition to discussing areas that are critical to operations, briefly summarize how major business functions will be carried out, and how certain functions may run more effectively than those of your competitors. But, don’t get into long descriptions of any business or operation practices that will not sell your business plan to financiers.
People The focus here is key people and positions. Primary attention should be on key people who have already committed to joining the firm. Elaborate on their relevant past experience and successes and explain what areas of responsibility they will have in the new company. Resumes should be included here as part of an appendix or exhibits inclusion at the end of the plan.
If there are any important positions that have not been filled, describe position responsibilities and the type of employment/experience background necessary to the position. If there is a board of directors, present each member, and summarize that person’s background. If they will have an active role in running their business, elaborate that role here. If consultants have been engaged for key responsibilities, include a description of their backgrounds and functions. Fill as many of your key positions as possible before you seek funding. Many financiers reject plans if the management team is incomplete.
Payback and exit plan Both debt and equity lenders will want to know how they can expect to receive their investment back and realize interest or profit from the company.
Most private investors and venture capitalists will want to be able to exercise a cash-out option within five years. They will be concerned that, even if the company becomes highly profitable, it may be difficult for them to sell out their share at an attractive price. This concern is particularly true in the case of minority stake holders. This is why you must provide an exit strategy for investors.
Ideally, investors hope a firm will be so successful that it will be able to go public within five years and their shares will become highly liquid investments, trading at a hefty multiple of earnings. But, often, a more realistic goal is to make the company large and successful enough to sell to a larger firm. State what your exit plan is and be sure it appears realistic.
Financials In this section you need to show projected, or “pro forma,” income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow. Existing businesses should also show historical financial statements. While how far into the future you need to project and the number of possible scenarios you can anticipate depends upon the complexity of the business, three to five years for financial projections and three scenarios are average.
Scenarios should be based on the most likely course your business will take, a weak scenario with sales coming in well under expectation, and a good scenario with projected sales well over expectation.
Pro-forma income statements should show sales, cost of operation, and profits on both a monthly and annual basis for each plan year. For all but the largest businesses, annual pro-forma balance sheets are all that are necessary. Cash flow pro formas should be presented in both monthly and annual form. And, if your business is already established, past annual balance sheets and income statements should also be included. Include information that will assist potential lenders in understanding your projections. Lenders will give as much credence to the assumptions your projections are based on as they do the numbers themselves.
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Business Services
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Business Structures |
Small Business
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