Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Understand your audience
Step 2:
Prepare to research and write
Step 3:
Outline the essentials
Step 4:
Detail the investment opportunity
Step 5:
Analyze the company and industry
Step 6:
Address the market
Step 7:
Explain how your business will run
Step 8:
Introduce the management team
Step 9:
Prepare a financial plan
Step 10:
Provide source materials
Step 11:
Avoid common pitfalls
Step 12:
Proofread your work

2torial #0603 - Step3:
Learn2 Write a Business Plan (Continued)

Outline the essentials

No matter what your racket, a standard business plan includes the following 11 sections:

1. Executive Summary
2. Investment Opportunity
3. Company/Product Analysis
4. Industry Analysis
5. Market Analysis
6. Marketing Plan
7. Development Plan
8. Manufacturing/Operations Plan
9. Management Team
10. Financial Plan
11. Appendices

Begin your plan with a brief, one- to two-page summary, devoting a short paragraph to each section of the entire plan. This executive summary helps potential investors quickly decide whether they want to study your ideas further--so make it enticing. Emphasize your strengths as an organization, the ways you differ from the competition, and how you can realistically reach a potentially large, untapped market. Include contact information here so investors can reach you if they're interested.