An Effective Business Plan is Essential for Startup Funding
Too many entrepreneurs still believe the urban legend that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. Every investor I know is frustrated…
Business Plans Posts
Business Plans Need a Credible Marketing Section
Sometimes I see a startup business plan with a credible “mission” to be the “premier brand” for their product, with a less than credible or trivial marketing budget in the…
Are You a Zero or a One?
Startup Funding is a Binary Event In the binary language of computers, a zero represents the "off" state and a one represents the "on" state. When I say that funding…
Know the Key Differences When Creating Your Non-Profit Business Plan
As a business plan consultant for non-profit and for-profit startups, I find that non-profit founders, like for-profit entrepreneurs, seek experienced help crafting their business plans. They see the value in…
When you don’t need a business plan… yet
Idea stage entrepreneurs are told by many sources that they need a business plan. When they ask for loans, banks tell them this. When they seek advice, mentors and advisors…
Know Your Audience: Four Types of Business Plans
There are four basic types of business plans, each serving a different purpose and audience. How you prepare your plan depends in part on the type you are preparing: The…
Ten Big Questions: What Investors Want to Know
So you've managed to line up meetings with potential investors. Congratulations! Most aspiring entrepreneurs don't get that far. Now you're wondering what the investors want to know. Investors are busy…