Business Plans For Dummies

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.

Would you take off on a road trip to a new destination without amap or good directions? Probably not. Yet, sometimes businessowners go full speed ahead without even having a destination inmind, much less a map on how to get there. That's why so manybusinesses never make it. In today's competitive marketplace,3/4 of all new businesses fail within two to three years. Whetheryou're launching a new business or working to strengthen orexpand an established one, a business plan is your road map tosuccess.Business Plans For Dummies, 2nd Edition helpsyou keep your businesses on track and reach your goals. Written byPaul Tiffany, PhD, professor at UC Berkley Haas Business School andthe Wharton School of Business and Steven Peterson, PhD, Professorat UC Berkeley Haas Business School and CEO of Strategic Play, ithelps you* Realistically determine where your business is and where youwant to go* Create a detailed business plan and put it into action insteadof in a drawer* Use the plan to secure financing* Prepare for opportunities avoid common pitfallsIn short, Business Plans for Dummies helps you determinewhere you want your business to go and create a map for gettingthere. You'll discover how to:* Identify and approach potential financial backers, includingventure 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 andweaknesses* Analyze your financial situation in order to do realisticforecasts and budgets* Recognize trends and anticipate changes, both in the overalleconomy and in your industry* Plan for growth, considering the product life cycle, newproducts, or new markets* Structure your organization and nurture leadershipComplete with diverse techniques and approaches plus a samplebusiness plan, Business Plans For Dummies gives you detailedhow-to for designing a dynamic, business plan that will keep you oncourse in spite of the inevitable curves and detours intoday's marketplace. It's a plantastic resource forbusiness owners and entrepreneurs.

Introduction.Part I: Knowing Where You Want to Go.Chapter 1: Preparing to Do a Business Plan.Chapter 2: Understanding the Importance of a Business Plan.Chapter 3: Setting Off in the Right Direction.Chapter 4: Charting the Proper Course.Part II: Describing Your Marketplace.Chapter 5: Examining the Business Environment.Chapter 6: Slicing and Dicing Markets.Chapter 7: Getting Better Acquainted With Customers.Chapter 8: Checking Out Your Competition.Part III: Weighing Your Company's Prospects.Chapter 9: Assessing Where You Stand Today.Chapter 10: Making Money Doing What You Do Best.Chapter 11: Figuring Out the Financial Details.Chapter 12: Forecasting and Budgeting.Part IV: Looking to the Future.Chapter 13: Managing Uncertainty.Chapter 14: Thinking Strategically.Chapter 15: Growing Up and Growing Bigger.Part V: Putting Your Business Plan into Action.Chapter 16: Shaping Your Organization.Chapter 17: Leading the Way.Part VI: The Part of Tens.Chapter 18: Ten Signs That Your Business Plan NeedsRefreshing.Chapter 19: Ten Questions to Ask about Your Plan.Chapter 20: Ten Business-Planning Never-Evers.Appendix: A Sample Business Plan.Index.