Simple Steps to Write
Everyday Entrepreneurs Are
Moving America Forward:
One Business Plan At A Time
presented by:
GUIDED
Business Plan
www.guidedbusinessplan.com
It’s a How‐to Instructional
Guide for Your Business
It’s like making a designer cake without
a recipe. Chances are it’s not going to
come out how you envision it.
Do you want a
homegrown
business plan or
a professional
looking one?
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
It Will Help You Organize Your
Thoughts and Get Others to
Understand Your Vision!
Clearly explain what you
intend to accomplish so
lenders, investors, partners or
potential customers will get on
board with your concept.
Your business plan should
answer any questions that
your reader may have about
your business.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
Use Your Plan to Impress
Lenders With Your Due Diligence
What Gets Bankers Excited
About You?
When you demonstrate that
you can repay the loan and
have a plan that shows you
have thought about all aspects
of developing your business.
They also look for the 5C’s:
Character, Capacity, Capital,
Collateral and Conditions.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
Use Your Plan to Convince
Investors to Partner with You
What do Investors look for?
Investors want to
know how you plan
to spend their
money. You have to
demonstrate how
you will use their
dollars to make
more dollars.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
It Will Walk You Through the
Process of Creating a Detailed
Plan Outline
It will show you how to
tell your story in a concise
manner that will make a
potential stakeholder
want to read it.
Do you think your lender or
investor has time to read?
Give them a reason to.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
Ready to Get Started?
What You Need to Make This Exercise Effective:
1. Download the Guided Business Plan 15-Minute Outline Exercise
Click here to download and print the worksheet if you want to follow along.
Otherwise, just click through the slides—you’ll still learn something.
As an alternative, copy & paste link: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/25304543/Guided‐Business‐Plan‐Outline
2. Have a Business Idea
Something you think you will actually develop. If you are an existing entrepreneur, you
can use this presentation to create a summary of your company if you don’t already
have a business plan.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
Will you tell an interesting story
or bore the reader with
redundancy & errors?
Fictional Case Study
Which version makes you want to learn more about the business?
IGotYourStyle is a sole proprietorship registered in the State of Washington and was
founded in 2008 by Fionna Myers. IGotYourStyle is a woman‐owned enterprise whose
purpose is to manufacture and distribute high‐end designer shoes to both wholesale and
retail markets. IGotYourStyle is driven to provide customers with a complete solution in
order to address their entire current and future needs. The company's customer base
includes all consumers from small to medium‐sized businesses, including start‐ups. This
plan is written as a guide for managing and growing this business and will also serve as the
basis for a separate, detailed marketing plan. Following is a summary of the main points of
this plan. Within the next twelve months it is the objective of the company to market and
sell to new clients, stores, trade shows, boutiques, magazines, and music & entertainment
artists who are located in close proximity to its manufacturing and design facilities.
VIEW EXAMPLE B
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
Will you tell an interesting
story or bore the reader with
redundancy & errors?
Fictional Case Study
Which version makes you want to learn more about the business?
“If you want to stand out when you walk in a room, make sure your purse and your shoes speak
for you.” The status symbol associated with designer stilettoes drove the luxury shoe market past
the $6 billion mark in 2009. Behind this developing resurgence are working professionals,
students and homemakers who are investing $300‐$1,000 in luxury brand items. While the
competitive field is expansive, there is room for new designers to carve niches based on the
workmanship and emotional need that their brand fulfills.
Fionna Myers launched IGotYourStyle in 2008 with functional, art‐deco leather high heels. Her
contemporary designs showcase trends ranging from a faux‐zebra accented heel to an art‐deco
style boot with cutouts. With an average price of $450 per item, she soon realized sales of
$5,000 per month. Historically, the high‐end price range of her products would limit her target
market to wealthy consumers. However, there is a trend among working professionals to invest
in brands that make them “dress for the job they want, not the one they have.”
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
Start By Answering the
Five Basics:
What, Why, Where, Who & How
Start by brainstorming.
Just write 2‐5 word answers
and then turn those responses
into complete sentences.
By completing this exercise, you will
describe your business concept,
business model, market need,
competition, management, operations
and funding needs.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : WHAT
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Business Concept section.
What makes your company unique?
What makes your product or service unique?
What features and benefits will your
customers get from your product or service?
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : WHAT
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
What makes your We’re flexible to Office Leverage is a boutique training
company unique? customize requests firm that specializes in Microsoft
Office® applications. Unlike larger
What makes your training firms, we focus on the core
product or service Business applications that drive businesses
unique? development today. We approach our curricula
perspective design with the company’s end result
What features
in mind which is typically business
and benefits will development and servicing their
your customers Improved customers efficiently. Past students
get from your employee praise our effective and patient
product or productivity delivery style which helps improve
service? employee productivity.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : WHAT
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Business Model section.
What product(s) or service(s) are you selling?
Who are you selling it to?
What are you charging for each item?
o Give a range for each product, product line,
service, or service group.
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : WHAT
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
What product or Training and Office Leverage designs and facilitates
custom Microsoft Office® classes that
service are you curricula design have a business development focus.
selling? We target Learning and Development
(L&D) managers responsible for
Training procuring training for their company.
Who are you coordinators, HR Employee training is typically approved
selling it to? Directors, Small by Human Resource personnel in
medium to large companies and by
Business Owners owners of small businesses. Our
What are you primary income is derived from custom
charging for each Average session is training classes that range from $450‐
$1200 per session. Training services
item? $450‐$1200 are delivered online or in‐person.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : WHY
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Market Need section.
Why do you want to start this business?
Why do people currently buy products or
services that are similar to yours?
Why will people be interested in buying your
product or service?
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : WHAT
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
Why do you want to To share shortcuts The American Society for Training and
start this business? Development (ASTD) "estimates that
To improve U.S. organizations spend $109.25
Why do people billion on employee learning and
productivity
development annually, with nearly
currently buy three quarters ($79.75 billion) spent on
products or services Business the internal learning function, and the
that are similar to development remainder ($29.50 billion) spent on
yours? combined with years external services." Office Leverage was
of classroom founded to help business units
Why will people be experience optimize their investment in popular
interested in buying desktop applications by increasing
your product or employee efficiency with shortcuts and
service? best practice tips.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : WHO
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Management section.
Who will manage the company?
Why are they qualified?
What positions will you need to fill now or in
the near future? How many people will you
need on your payroll in total?
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : WHO
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
Who will manage MR MR is the founder and CEO of Office
the company? Leverage. She is responsible for business
development, curricula design and
MR has taught over company operations. Previously, MR
Why are they 1,000 classes. managed the training program for over
qualified? Managed training 650 employees in the Los Angeles office
of a global insurance company where
center for 650.
What positions will she earned a Microsoft Office Specialist
you need to fill now Master Instructor certification. She has
or in the near Trainers, business taught over 1,100 classes in Microsoft
future? development, Office and other software applications.
How many people training coordinator As the company grows, there will be a
will you need on need for three trainers, a VP‐Business
Development and a VP‐Operations.
your payroll? 6
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : WHO
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Competition section.
Who is your direct competition? Which of
your competitors sell exactly what you sell?
Who is your indirect competition? Who sells
products that could be used as an alternative
to your product? What types of companies?
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : WHO
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
Who is your direct ExecuTrain, New ExecuTrain and New Horizons are
competition? Horizons, anyone examples of direct competitors that offer
Which of your a broad portfolio of training classes.
competitors sell who provides onsite National Seminars and Skill Path target
exactly what you training companies with offsite training at local
sell? hotels. Indirect competition stems from
training provider directories; free and
Who is your Online tutorials, self‐ paid online tutorial websites such as
indirect help books, help 5min.com and Microsoft's corporate
competition? Who desk, computer website; Microsoft Office knowledge
sells products that databases and support forums; and pay
technicians per call helpdesks. With the abundance
could be used as an
alternative to your of alternatives, Office Leverage is focusing
product? What on a niche of business consumers who
types of want training that is directly related to
companies? their work processes.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : WHERE
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Competition section.
Where are your customers located?
Where will customers be able to buy your
product or service?
Where will you promote your company?
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : WHERE
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
Where are your Los Angeles & We are employing a relational
customers located? Orange County marketing strategy that reaches
Human Resource professionals at
targeted companies in Los Angeles and
Where will Directly from the
Orange counties via personal calls,
customers be able corporate office
eblasts, forum participation and trade
to buy your product show exhibition. Clients will procure
or service? HR industry events our services by contacting our toll‐free
number or a company representative.
Where will you Our training services may be delivered
promote your online or in‐person.
company?
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : WHERE
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Target Market section.
Who is going to buy your product or service?
What do they look like? Describe your target
market in a couple of sentences.
In addition to your customers, who is going to
benefit from your company’s existence? The
environment? Your community?
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : WHERE
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
Who is going to buy Our target market is Human Resource
your product or Small business
service? What do owners, training personnel or training directors
they look like? responsible for procuring training for
coordinators, HR their employees. They are typically
Describe your target
market in a couple of people. female, career‐oriented, college‐
sentences. educated, and in a managerial or
executive position. They are based in
N/A…maybe
In addition to your Los Angeles or Orange county. They are
customers, who is charitable
driven by positive feedback from
going to benefit from contributions colleagues who attend the sessions.
your company’s Once we reach a level of profitability,
existence? The we will donate a portion of our
environment? Your
community? revenue to a local charity that supports
education.
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : WHERE
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Operations section.
In which city is your company located and why
is it a good location? Is it internet based or do
you have a physical store?
If applicable, where will you find key vendors
to make your product or assist with the
delivery of your service?
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : WHERE
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
In which city is your LA. Large economy Office Leverage is managed from a
company located and translates into a home office in Los Angeles, California‐‐
why is it a good number of business. a city that is a global economic hub.
location? Is it internet Service oriented. We deliver our training services online
based or do you have and via onsite, instructor‐led training.
a physical store? Will use local trainers We rely heavily upon variable labor for
who have over 7 years course instruction. We are continually
If applicable, where teaching experience. developing a vendor pool of trainers
will you find key that we may call upon as needed.
vendors to make your
Instructors will be assigned to specific
product or assist with clients to develop a rapport and
the delivery of your understand their business goals.
service?
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
FIVE BASICS : HOW
Brainstorm and write 2‐5 word answers for each question and then revise them
into complete sentences. This will become your Funding Needs section.
How much capital do you need to start your
business and what will it be used for?
How much money do you want from a bank?
How much money do you want from an
investor?
How much money have you and/or others
invested in your company?
SEE EXAMPLE
FIVE BASICS : HOW
Example from Office Leverage, a Microsoft Office® training firm that helps
improve employee productivity. www.officeleverage.com
Questions Brainstorming Sentences
How much capital do $10k MR relied on savings and personal
you need to start loans to grow Office Leverage. The
your business and $0 company continues to reinvest its
what will it be used earnings in order to forgo additional
for? debt. Within the next few months, we
How much money A lot of sweat equity will need to invest capital for computer
do you want from a purchases, home office expansion, and
bank? From an online marketing expenses. Office
investor? Leverage will remain an independently
How much money owned entity that provides corporate
have you and/or training services.
others invested in
your company?
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
Did This Exercise Help You?
If you like what you’ve read, share a
comment and let us know what
section of the business plan we
should focus on for the next
presentation. Email us: bizexpress
[at] guidedbusinessplan.com if you
want to be alerted when we post
the next presentation in the
business plan series.
GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
The Guided Business Plan
book is about as simple as
you can get in terms of
outlining your business plan.
Compare it to the study guide provided by SCORE.
http://www.score.org/pdf/Business%20Plan%20for%20Startup%20Business_08.pdf
© GUIDED Business Plan | The Easy, Simple, Guided Way to Write a Business Plan | guidededbusinessplan.com
As an entrepreneur‐education
firm, we want to make you
look good on paper whether
you are a new or existing
entrepreneur.
Click to see how Guided Business Plan can help you
or visit guidedbusinessplan.com/gbp‐overview.pdf.
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