How to Write a Business Plan 8th Edition – Nolo, Mike McKeever

Summary

Everything you need to create a business forecast that potential investors can embrace!

Thinking of starting a business or raising money to expand an existing one? This popular book will show you how to write the business plan and loan package necessary to finance your business and make it work.

With How to Write a Business Plan, you’ll learn how to:

• figure out if your business idea will make money
• estimate operating expenses
• prepare cash flow
• create profit and loss forecasts
• determine assets, liabilities and net worth
• find potential sources of financing
• think first before borrowing from friends and relatives
• present your plan to lenders and investors

How to Write a Business Plan provides a CD-ROM with spreadsheets that help you determine and forecast cash flow, financial statements, sales revenue, and profit and loss. It also provides three sample business plans you can modify for your own use.

The 8th edition is completely updated, providing all-new resources, both online and off.

Table of Contents

I. How to Use This Book

What Kind of Plan Do You Need
Getting Started
And a Few More Words

1. Benefits of Writing a Business Plan

What Is a Business Plan?
Why Write a Business Plan?
Issues Beyond the Plan

2. Do You Really Want to Own a Business?

Introduction
Self-Evaluation Exercises
How to Use the Self-Evaluation Lists
Reality Check: Banker’s Analysis

3. Choosing the Right Business

Introduction
Know Your Business
Be Sure You Like Your Business
Describe Your Business
Taste, Trends, and Technology: How Will the Future Affect Your Business?
Break-Even Analysis: Will Your Business Make Money?
What You Have Accomplished

4. Potential Sources of Money to Start or Expand Your Small Business

Introduction
Ways to Raise Money
Common Money Sources to Start or Expand a Business
Additional Money Sources for an Existing Business
If No One Will Finance Your Business, Try Again
Secondary Sources of Financing for Start-Ups or Expansions
Conclusion

5. Your Resume and Financial Statement

Introduction
Draft Your Business Accomplishment Resume
Draft Your Personal Financial Statement

6. Your Profit and Loss Forecast

Introduction
What Is a Profit and Loss Forecast?
Determine Your Average Cost of Sales
Complete Your Profit and Loss Forecast
Review Your Profit and Loss Forecast

7. Your Cash Flow Forecast and Capital Spending Plan

Introduction
Prepare Your Capital Spending Plan
Prepare Your Cash Flow Forecast
Required Investment for Your Business
Check for Trouble

8. Write Your Marketing and Personnel Plans

Introduction
Marketing Plan
Personnel Plan

9. Editing and Finalizing Your Business Plan

Introduction
Decide How to Organize Your Plan
Write Final Portions of Your Plan
Create the Appendix
Create Title Page and Table of Contents
Complete Your Final Edit
Consider Using a Business Consultant

10. Selling Your Business Plan

How to Ask for the Money You Need
How to Approach Different Backers
What to Do When Someone Says “Yes”
Plan in Advance for Legal Details

11. After You Open — Keeping on the Path to Success

Introduction
Watch Out for Problem Areas
Getting Out of Business

12. Good Resources for Small Businesses

Introduction
Business Consultants
Books
Pamphlets
Magazines — Continuing Small Business Help
Computers and Business
Online Business Resources
Formal Education

Appendixes

A. Business Plan for a Small Service Business
B. Business Plan for a Manufacturing Business
C. Business Plan for Project Development
D. How to Use the CD-ROM

Installing the Form Files Onto Your Computer
Using the Financial Planning Spreadsheets
Using the Business Plan Files

Index

Press Reviews

“An essential book to help entrepreneurs…”

“A thorough self-help book that will lead you through the process. Examples and worksheets will help you present a convincing financial opportunity to banks and investors in a format they understand.”

“This outstanding handbook presents a step-by-step guide to writing a professional, sound business plan.”

“Anyone who starts or operates a small business without a business plan takes a needless risk of either failure or no growth. Here’s an easy-to-follow book that takes the reader step-by-step … to get the budding entrepreneur off to a successful business start-up.”

“When starting your own business, it’s important to know that in legal terms, anything you don’t know can hurt you…. If you can’t afford a lawyer, consider reading… How to Write a Business Plan.”

“Shows how to write a sound business plan, including strategies for: Evaluating the profitability of a business idea; estimating operating expenses … finding potential sources of financing; and presenting a plan to lenders.”