Business Plans Handbook

VOLUME 10. I love this resource. I cannot say enough positive things about it. I am a SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) volunteer who provides business coaching services via email and in-person. I have recommended on almost every occasion that my "clients" who are starting a business and need to prepare a business plan search out for this volume and the others that follow it at their public library, community college library, or university library. A business plan is a 25-35 page written document that includes the following ten sections: 1. Business History and Outlook 2. Description of Product or Services 3. Market Examination (target market) 4. Description and analysis of Competition (competitors serving target market) 5. Marketing (various options and a plan) 6. Operations 7. Administration and Management 8. Key Personnel 9. Potential Problems and Solutions to those Problems 10. Financial Information (BS, IS, Stmt of Cash Flows) Included in this volume are the following sample business plans: 1. Automotive Repair Service 2. Bioterrorism Prevention Organization 3. Bistro and Wine Bar 4. Coatings Inspection Company 5. Event Photography Service 6. Fertilizer and Commodity Chemicals Company 7. Food, Diet and Nutrition Company 8. Food Distributor (template) 9. Golf Grip Manufacturer 10. Hardware Store (template) 11. Holistic Health Center 12. Home Decor Products Manufacturer 13. Housing Rehabilitation Company 14. Internet and Network Security Solution Provider 15. Litigation Services Company 16. Medical Equipment Producer 17. Mural Company 18. Network Game Centers 19. Online Customer Service Support 20. Painting Company 21. Routing/Navigation Software Company 22. Structural Genomics Software Provider None of the above plans are 25-35 pages long. And few if any have good Financial Information. But what they do provide the reader is examples of how business plans are supposed to present information. You will no doubt see big holes in the sample plans. It is those holes you need to be aware of so you can fill them in when you prepare your own business plan. Read the plans as if you were going to use them to start a similar business. Ask yourself what you still need to know after reading each plan that you must have an answer for in order to use the plan as a blueprint for actually running your own business. As you do this for each of the plans you will become expert at analyzing and critiquing business plans. And that is what you need to be able to do well when you write your own business plan. 5 stars!

VOLUMES 3 & 4. I love this resource. I cannot say enough positive things about it. I am a SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) volunteer who provides business coaching services via email and in-person. I have recommended on almost every occasion that my "clients" who are starting a business and need to prepare a business plan search out for this volume and the others that follow it at their public library, community college library, or university library. A business plan is a 25-35 page written document that includes the following ten sections: 1. Business History and Outlook 2. Description of Product or Services 3. Market Examination (target market) 4. Description and analysis of Competition (competitors serving target market) 5. Marketing (various options and a plan) 6. Operations 7. Administration and Management 8. Key Personnel 9. Potential Problems and Solutions to those Problems 10. Financial Information (BS, IS, Stmt of Cash Flows) Included in Volumes III & IV are the following sample business plans: VOLUME 3: 1. Auto Accessories and Detailing (2) 2. Carpet Cleaning Service 3. Computer Matchmaking Service 4. Dance and Skate Outfitter 5. Dial-It Service 6. Dry Cleaner 7. Fast Food (2) 8. Food Distributor (template) 9. Food Processor 10. Graffiti Removal Service 11. Hardware Store (template) 12. Ice Cream Shop 13. Indoor Playground 14. Internet Consultant (2) 15. Mailing List Service 16. Management Consulting Service 17. Manufacturing Business 18. Marketing Consultant 19. Multilevel Marketing 20. Pharmaceutical Company 21. Plumbing Shop 22. Refrigerant Recovery 23. Sandwich Shop 24. Video Service VOLUME 4: 1. Audio Production Service 2. Automotive Dealer Group 3. Automotive Repair Service 4. Bed and Breakfast 5. Bottled Water Manufacturer 6. Child Transportation Service 7. Coffee House 8. Coffee Roaster 9. Direct Mail Outlet 10. Emu Ranch 11. Engineering Management Consultant 12. Food Distributor (template) 13. Hardware Store (template) 14. Marketing Communications Firm 15. Men's Clothing Retailer 16. Online Government Contract Service 17. Online Hospitality Service 18. Outdoor Adventure Travel Company 19. Paint Distributor 20. Powder Coating Manufacturer (2) 21. Record Company 22. Restaurant 23. Retail and Commercial Design Firm 24. Rubber Adhesive Manufacturer 25. Travel Agency 26. Travel Information Service None of the above plans are 25-35 pages long. And few if any have good Financial Information. But what they do provide the reader is examples of how business plans are supposed to present information. You will no doubt see big holes in the sample plans. It is those holes you need to be aware of so you can fill them in when you prepare your own business plan. Read the plans as if you were going to use them to start a similar business. Ask yourself what you still need to know after reading each plan that you must have an answer for in order to use the plan as a blueprint for actually running your own business. As you do