Developing Bankable Business Plans

This guide was developed to improve the capacity of small producers, their organizations and small and medium-sized enterprises to access private investment and finance for sustainable forest-based businesses. It offers a framework to think through, organize and develop a convincing investment proposal. The guide introduces ten key elements, presented as modules, which should be included in any bankable business plan. Templates, tips and advice also provide users with a structured way to think through and substantiate information related to each of these elements. The goal is to increase the business’ attractiveness to funding sources and thus facilitate access to finance. The guide is especially aimed at those producer organizations and companies that seek to scale up operations and need the know-how to do it themselves.

This book guides readers through a very comprehensive, step-by-step process to produce professional-quality business plans to attract the financial backing entrepreneurs need, no matter what their dream.

The secrets behind creating compelling and successful business plans sure to attract financial backers are revealed step-by-step in this invaluable guide. Containing detailed information on Risk Management Association (RMA) data and clear explanations of the guidelines that banks, venture capital firms, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) use to grant loans and other financial support to businesses, the resource equips potential business owners with a wealth of knowledge on lending procedures. Hundreds of useful ideas for developing, operating, marketing, and building a profitable business are included as are copious examples and resources for further study. By demonstrating how to make each business plan uniquely suited to a particular endeavor - such as home-based businesses, sole proprietorships, and franchise operations - this comprehensive handbook ensures that anyone can embark on a new business venture with confidence.

The secrets behind creating compelling and successful business plans sure to attract financial backers are revealed step-by-step in this invaluable guide. Containing detailed information on Risk Management Association (RMA) data and clear explanations of the guidelines that banks, venture capital firms, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) use to grant loans and other financial support to businesses, the resource equips potential business owners with a wealth of knowledge on lending procedures. Hundreds of useful ideas for developing, operating, marketing, and building a profitable business are included as are copious examples and resources for further study. By demonstrating how to make each business plan uniquely suited to a particular endeavor - such as home-based businesses, sole proprietorships, and franchise operations - this comprehensive handbook ensures that anyone can embark on a new business venture with confidence.

This book provides the essentials to write a successful business plan. The represented methods and best practices have been approved over many years in practice with many management consulting engagements. The book is beautifully structured, it has a pragmatic emphasis and an autodidactic approach. The reader gets acquainted with the skills and competencies as well as tools, required for the planning and development of the business plan project.

Whether you’re launching a new business or working to strengthen or expand an established one, a business plan is your road map to success Would you take off on a road trip to a new destination without a map or good directions? Probably not. Yet sometimes business owners go full speed ahead without objectives, a mission, or even a destination in mind, much less a map showing them how to get there. That’s why so many businesses have difficulty making it – and unfortunately, several don’t – in today’s competitive marketplace. Business Plans For Dummies helps you start a new business with clear goals and a path forward to reach those goals. If you already have a business, this no-nonsense and comprehensive guide can help you realistically determine where your business is and where you want to take it. You’ll learn to: Create a detailed business plan Put that plan into action (instead of in a drawer) Use the plan to secure financing Prepare for opportunities Avoid common pitfalls In short, Business Plans For Dummies helps you create a map to help you take your business where you want it to go. You’ll discover how to: Identify and approach potential financial backers, including venture capital firms, angels, bankers, and others Clarify and crystallize your company’s mission, vision, and values Analyze your industry and your competition Identify your customers, including their needs, habits, purchase triggers, and decision-making processes Objectively analyze your company’s strengths and weaknesses Analyze your financial situation to create realistic forecasts and budgets Recognize trends and anticipate changes, both in the overall economy and in your industry Plan for growth, based on new markets, your product’s life cycle, or the creation of new products Structure your organization Nurture leadership Complete with diverse techniques and approaches plus a sample business plan, Business Plans For Dummies gives you detailed how-to for designing a dynamic business plan that will help you navigate the inevitable curves and detours in today’s marketplace and keep you on course. If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur – or you want to be one – this friendly and accessible guide is a must-have resource.