A Business Plan, as all good
entrepreneurs starting out in life should know is the foundation, or rather a
springboard, towards the establishment and growth of a new business. A business
plan is an essential tool for companies raising capital – and your business
plan needs to be Investor Ready.
style='color:black'>What is an Investor Ready business plan? style='color:black'>
An investor ready business plan is
a document that has been professionally prepared to meet the needs of both
Venture Capitalists and Angel investors. In your Business Plan, you
should be able to see your own project through the investor's eye. Your plan
must be able to answer the concerns of an investor.
The investors, both VCs and angels, are risking their hard earned capital by investing
in your venture in the hope of long term returns that are worth many times
their original investment. An Investor Ready
Business Plan demonstrates to investors that you are an expert in your
industry and that you have a clear mission. An entrepreneur addresses these
needs by prepareing a comprehensive and detailed view of their business
objectives and goals. Some important sections that address different concerns of
the investors are below:
Management
Investors invest in
management - not just ideas. It is very important that you express your knowledge,
passion and dedication to your business as best as you can. The competence of
your team along with their experience levels and their commitment levels are
also factors that investors look into before making their investment
decisions. style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Customers
It is important to communicate to the investors that you understand
the needs and requirements of your customers and to articulate your marketing strategy
within your business plan.
Product/Service
Description
A complete description of the product or the services
offered by you should be outlined in detail. A description of the overall market
for your product or service, along with the details of your customer base is
essential. The investors need to know the reach and the kind of customers your
product / service is catering to.
Marketing Planstyle='mso-special-character:line-break'>
One of the most important sections of your business plan is
your marketing plan. This section will outline your sustainable competitive
advantage to your investors. In a way assure them why you will succeed where
others have failed. This section is where you include a definitive description
of your customers, market size, demographics, characteristics, growth
prospects, trends and sales potential per product / service category.
Here is where the pricing strategies are outlined and how
they can directly influence the growth potential of each product /service. It
is also important to include the future growth, market share and trend
influences.
Barriers to Entry
Along with giving the details of what your product / service
is and who your customers are, you also have to inform your investors how you will
you prevent your competitors from taking away your customers. The barriers to
entry section outlines your business strategy to keep your competitors at bay
and grow in the market. Investors need to feel comfortable about the soundness
of your strategy before they invest in your venture.
Click here to contact us to learn
more about writing an investor ready business plan: href="http://www.investorbusinessplan.com/writing-business-plan.html">http://www.investorbusinessplan.com/writing-business-plan.html
For more in-depth information on Business Plans, you can
visit our site at:
href="http://www.investorbusinessplan.com">http://href="http://www.investorbusinessplan.com">www.investorbusinessplan.com
About the Author
Howard Schwartz is a Business Plan Consultant and a partner in investorbusinessplan.com. He is based at Stamford, Connecticut, and has helped many young entrepreneurs start out on their business careers by preparing a comprehensive business plan for them. He can be contacted on info@investorbusinessplan.com and at 203-494-3344.
