The Business Planning Process

Business plans are decision-making tools. There is no fixed content for a business plan. Rather the content and format of the business plan are determined by the goals and audience. A business plan should contain whatever information is needed to decide whether or not to pursue a goal.

For example, a business plan for a non-profit might discuss the fit between the business plan and the organization’s mission. Banks are quite concerned about defaults, so a business plan for a bank loan will build a convincing case for the organization’s ability to repay the loan. Venture capitalists are primarily concerned about initial investment, feasibility, and exit valuation. A business plan for a project requiring equity financing will need to explain why current resources, upcoming growth opportunities, and sustainable competitive advantage will lead to a high exit valuation.

 

The Business Planning Process Infographic

 

Preparing a business plan draws on a wide range of knowledge from many different business disciplines: financehuman resource managementintellectual property managementsupply chain managementoperations management, and marketing, among others. It can be helpful to view the business plan as a collection of sub-plans, one for each of the main business disciplines.

“… a good business plan can help to make a good business credible, understandable, and attractive to someone who is unfamiliar with the business. Writing a good business plan can’t guarantee success, but it can go a long way toward reducing the odds of failure.”

Source: Wikipedia


ARTICLE CONTRIBUTED BY:

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