business plans and proposals

[richard13]

Hello
1. A budget isn't the same thing as a plan. You can't create a solid business plan without a budget and a financial forecast. But a budget should be the product of all the other elements in your plan. If you don't have a clear picture of your industry, customers, competitors, and market conditions before you develop a budget, your numbers aren't likely to reflect reality.

2. Don't ignore your customers. This may sound obvious, but too many entrepreneurs assume they know exactly what their customers need without bothering to ask. Take the time to learn about your customers, and build your business plan around their needs and desires.

3. Don't shortchange the competition. If you assume your firm will be the only game in town or if you fail to take existing competitors seriously, you're asking for trouble. Your competitors can be a great source of information about what works and what doesn't.

[rhondimon]

Hello
1. A budget isn't the same thing as a plan. You can't create a solid business plan without a budget and a financial forecast. But a budget should be the product of all the other elements in your plan. If you don't have a clear picture of your industry, customers, competitors, and market conditions before you develop a budget, your numbers aren't likely to reflect reality.

2. Don't ignore your customers. This may sound obvious, but too many entrepreneurs assume they know exactly what their customers need without bothering to ask. Take the time to learn about your customers, and build your business plan around their needs and desires.

3. Don't shortchange the competition. If you assume your firm will be the only game in town or if you fail to take existing competitors seriously, you're asking for trouble. Your competitors can be a great source of information about what works and what doesn't.

That's some good advice. I'm in the transportation industry. What area do you plan on being in? Have you started yet? Hows it going?

[bigredtomato]

Hello. Two blog posts that I would point you in the direction of is how to write a business plan on a single page - useful for getting all your ideas down and describing your business to your investors or for sounding out others Big Red Tomato Company » How to write a business plan on a page

and secondly, how to get you business started on a budget. Look after cash like it's the most precious commodity in the world. Don't waste it!

Big Red Tomato Company » How to Start a Business on a Budget

[jacovsamuel]

Although this comprehensive question has been designed for companies in their first or second year of operation, you can use it as a checklist to make sure that you have addressed all of the elements required for a good plan.

[fdisale]

For a good business plan first write a summary containing description of all the things covered in more detail later.Then
describe your company. Write the purpose of your business. Mention the skills you and your management team have. Explain your products.Determine the costs associated with this process.
Describe your marketing plan and explain your strategy to generate sales.

[HailCaesar]

Anyone have a good template for business plan?

[slckfielder08]

Does anyone have good b-plan outlines to work off of and resources to learn how to project sales?