This is a navigation aid, to a series of posts discussing business plans. Intended to cover their origins, their purposes, and the best approach to making one, the series will address the concerns of small and medium size businesses as independent, private operations.
Based on my experience in plan development, I argue that investing enormous amounts of time in writing long, detailed business plan documents is not sensible. Agonising over the word-smithing and graphics items is particularly counter-productive. Having prepared prospectuses for IPOs, flow-through private placements, presentations for bondholders, dog and pony shows for restructuring, loan applications, venture capital presentations, private equity partners, here is the truth. Not one of these purposes benefits from a business plan longer than 10 pages.
The best form of business plan is a model of your operation’s reality. We offer a free business simulation model on the affiliate site The Harbour Forum, and look under the tab FREE. There are versions for Excel and for Calc, and there is a 135 page user guide explaining how to use it. Oh, and please don’t tell us you can’t - if you can run a business, you can certainly model it (with our help if you need it).
I strongly urge you to invest your time and effort into doing genuine planning for your operation - real executable plans that stimulate your creativity, and keep your focus where it counts.
The Series
The origins of the business plan - a fable and its descendants.
Why conventional business plans are not read, and what is needed to raise capital.
Real value of business planning efforts
What lies at the heart of the plan, and why relationships in time and process are critical.
Main criteria for a business planning model
- real units driven (not dollars)
- operating processes and relationships
- month based
- research supported
- cash as truth and reality check
- fully closed - no leaking
Getting a free sample business plan model and guide
What does it take, and can you do it.
Plan Fundamentals - Business Design Process
How do you approach a business development process, to test viability or feasibility? And why is a model worth the effort?
Why is research worth the time and effort - I already know the answers? The worldview approach to structuring information.
pending . . .
Plans Secondary Research
Secondary research - getting it, validating it, using it. What its value is.
Plans Primary Research
Why you conduct primary research - fast cut and detailed research. The process. The costs. And the value!
Plans for Decisions
Models that support major operator’s decisions
Plans for Financing
Models supporting the rasising of capital
Plans for Feasibility
Modelling the feasibility of new products, new markets, new processes, new technology, mergers and acquisitions, and new partners.
Plans for Accountability
Modelling accountability of senior personnel.
Plans for Policy
Using models to create and refine operating policy
Plans for Strategy
Developing strategies that fit your business, and not the consultants, or the columnists.
Plans for Tactics
War gaming tactical alternatives, using models
Plans for Time
Compressing business development time horizons
