STEP 5.  THE PLAN  - Putting All Together.

This is the last segment in a 5-part series about nourishing your fantastic business idea and putting it all together into a formal Business Plan.

Here are the earlier steps if you want a quick refresher:
The Seed of An Idea , Who are Your Customers?, Location, Location, Location, Show Me the Money


There are numerous ways to write your business plan. Some are very short ; I’ve even seen a 1-page business plan.  Most, however, consist of several pages and are broken down into several sections.

At a minimum, your plan should consist of these four areas:

• Business Overview
• Marketing Overview
• Financial Overview
• Management Overview

You can scout the Web and find many variations on the design of a good business plan. You’ll even find some sample plans that have been shared out there. Study a few and then design a Business Plan that fits your particular business idea.

Have someone review it – have several people review it –and then stay open to hearing what they like or don’t like, what questions they ask. Revise the plan if necessary.  Remember, you’ll need this when you go before any investors or lenders.

You also have many helpful places to give you support as you create this document. One of your best resources is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) , a federal agency that was created to help and protect the interests of small businesses. They have a terrific “business planning” section that will help answer many of your questions.  And check out their step-by-step business plan process.

Also, check your local community for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which is often partnered with an area university campus. They offer classes on writing business plans, how to set up your accounting records, how to do payroll and pay your taxes, and so much more.

Good luck to you as you bring your big dream to life and present your best picture to the professionals who will support you. I invite you to join in my monthly, Wednesday Wisdom telecalls , where like-minded business owners share their experiences and ideas for success.

To your Success!

Have a Golden Day!
Coach Darlene