Writing a Business Plan

Duration: Offered as a 90 minute webinar or 2 days in class

Course Overview

This course is designed for business owners and entrepreneurs who are ready to create a business plan. All the essential steps are covered, including drafting the original document; identifying the audience; gathering information; researching; describing product plans; and marketing, sales, and accounting terms. Students will come away from the course energized and prepared to write their business plan.

Learning Objectives

  • Research and analyze the individual components needed for a business plan
  • Apply skills to create a business plan for different audiences, including investors, banks, and other stakeholders
  • Explain the purpose and future of your business in easy to understand terms
  • Use accounting terms to describe the future for your business
  • Describe your marketing, sales, and planning strategies

Course Outline

1. Course Overview
2. What is a Business Plan For?
3. A General Business Plan Framework

  • Creating a Framework
  • Pre-Assignment Review

4. Identifying Your Audience

  • Who Are You Writing For?
  • The Rules of Writing

5. Gathering and Analyzing Information

  • GO-PARSE
  • PARSE in Action

6. Defining Your Company

  • Identifying Your USP
  • Writing Your Company Description
  • Describing Your Products and Services
  • Performing a Market Analysis
  • Developing an Operations Plan
  • Types of Operations

7. Getting to Work
8. Creating a Marketing Strategy

  • Introduction to Marketing
  • Analyzing the Competition and Yourself
  • Analyzing Distribution Channels
  • Creating a Marketing Plan
  • Sketching Out the Plan
  • Evaluate, Review, and Revise
  • Leveraging Social Media

9. Creating the Sales Plan

  • Building Your Sales Force
  • The Sales Cycle

10. Developing Financial Projections

  • Accounting Terminology
  • General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
  • Key Reports
  • Financial Projections

11. Putting It All Together

  • Writing the Executive Summary
  • Making a Strong Presentation
  • The Finishing Touches
  • Reviewing and Revising

12. Personal Action Plan
13. Recommended Reading List
14. Post-Course Assessment