| Writing a business plan is the first step to starting any | | | | 4) How will you make money? What will you sell? |
| type of company. Despite all the business planning | | | | How will you price your products and services? How |
| books and software out there, a good business plan | | | | will you structure your offerings so customers and |
| doesn't have to follow a particular format. Rather, it | | | | clients are likely to buy more and more frequently from |
| should be a practical action plan that is relevant to your | | | | you? |
| business now. | | | | 5) How are you different from competitors? Who are |
| All business plans should address certain elements of | | | | your major competitors? What do you offer that |
| your business in order to get the results you hope to | | | | these businesses don't? Why should your ideal client |
| achieve. Take a few minutes and answer the | | | | use your products and services over someone else's? |
| following questions. | | | | 6) What is your project action plan? What projects |
| 1) What is your primary business goal or objective? | | | | need to be done in the next three months? Who is |
| What do you hope to accomplish in the next three | | | | responsible for getting things done? What are the |
| months? What is your priority? | | | | action steps for completing your project? When will |
| 2) Who is your ideal customer or client? Describe | | | | each action step be finished? |
| them in as much detail as possible. What are their | | | | 7) What are your expenses? What are your start-up |
| demographics? Where do they search for products | | | | costs? Do you have enough money to complete your |
| and services like yours? What motivates them to | | | | project? |
| buy? What is their main frustration or problem that you | | | | 8) How will you know if you are successful? What are |
| help them solve? Write a paragraph that describes | | | | your metrics and benchmarks? What numbers do you |
| exactly who your ideal client is. | | | | need to hit? |
| 3) How will you reach these customers or clients? | | | | Your business plan doesn't have to be complicated or |
| What marketing tactics would be most effective at | | | | overwhelming. Sit down and write a plan for how you |
| attracting new clients? Consider advertising, direct mail, | | | | will accomplish everything you want to achieve in the |
| networking, speaking, websites, online marketing, and | | | | next three months. Then, start taking action each day |
| joint ventures. Now pick three marketing tactics that | | | | towards completing those projects. |
| will be most effective. | | | | |