A business plan is a formal statement of a set of business goals, the reasons why they are believed attainable, and the plan for reaching those goals. It may also contain background information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals.
15
votes
9answers
1k views
Have the ideas, found the niche…what to do first?
I have found two completely seaprate niches, and identified the target markets for them both. I have comprehensive ideas and details on how the applications should work. I have a developer that I ...
11
votes
6answers
1k views
Elements of a Startup Business Plan
I was looking through some posts today about Startups and business Plans and i came across this:
"1. Even VCs don't require a full business plan on your initial meeting. And a business plan for ...
10
votes
5answers
777 views
How do you determine how much to raise for seed funding?
Foreward: Assume the beta release had been executed with lean a startup model and had generated impressive traction within a single city launch.
In preparation for investment proposals for a web ...
9
votes
8answers
2k views
Where have you found inspiration for a business idea?
I've found myself interested in starting a business for a long time now. Every now and again I come up with a promising idea, but after a few hours of running numbers in a spreadsheet or few ...
9
votes
5answers
641 views
Is there any categorization or in-depth analysis of business models based on the Internet?
I was searching for some information, analyses and categorization for business models that are used in Internet-based businesses (basically: in the businesses that are conducted through the Internet).
...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
How to validate startup idea w/o giving it away?
My current startup has stabilized and is running pretty much on cruise-control... What is interesting, however, is that as I was looking to provide an additional service to my potential customers, I ...
8
votes
6answers
599 views
What should I have in my Business Plan?
I am looking to start a business, however I have no capitol of my own, no prospects of friends or colleagues to help with financing and no idea how to find investors.
My plan is to focus on my ...
8
votes
8answers
596 views
Would you go into business with someone without an agreement in place?
Would you go into business with someone who has asked you to come on board and help to get things launched, but has not yet decided how to compensate you, or whether to give you part ownership of the ...
7
votes
5answers
421 views
Any ideas for making money with QA sites?
I was reading this interesting Kokorin's article, and I started thinking, well, how could a QA site make money, if you are not using advertisement?
Would your gather users information like interests ...
7
votes
5answers
439 views
How important is the business plan?
Planning is important
An orthodoxy has developed that a business plan is a critical component of a business. There are lots of business plan contests. Business planning software. There seems to be an ...
7
votes
3answers
246 views
How do you maximize the opportunity for a “purchase from competitor” exit strategy?
In the development of a solid business plan -- whether written for a formal purpose or as an internal document to focus the activities of the leadership -- there is the identification of the potential ...
7
votes
2answers
407 views
How to determine the business potential of an idea?
I am an IT engineer, I am familiar with programming and website development (not a complete expert though), I am also good with servers, OS, security and networking etc (whole 9 yards of IT).
What I ...
6
votes
7answers
696 views
How complete should my business plan be before I approach investors?
I know there are a number of business plan questions already, but my question applies to a specific aspect of the process.
As my partners and I are researching and developing our plan, I've been ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Should I establish a parent company instead of forming my business entirely around one website?
My entrepreneurial dream was not to run just one web site. It's to make web-based services and desktop software for the Academic market.
It just happens that the first product I was able to release ...
5
votes
7answers
405 views
My Entrepreneurial Spirit
So it comes down to this. I'm not suited to work for someone. I have had an extreme entrepreneurial spirit for as far as I can remember. I need to be doing my own thing, calling my own shots, and ...
5
votes
3answers
127 views
Biz plan was just selected as a semifinalist - need to compress plan to 30 pages from 37
How do you attack compressing your plan? My new startup was recently selected as a semifinalist in a local business plan competition, the money from which would do wonders in terms of getting the ...
5
votes
4answers
232 views
What is the one tip you'd give to a new startup leader?
Lots of people give lots of advice to startup leaders.
What's the one single best piece of advice you'd give to a leader of a start up? Business plan is written, LLC is formed, initial funding ...
5
votes
7answers
690 views
If I go to meet an angel investor without a business plan, will he dismiss my attempt immediately?
Can I probably get an investment from an angel investor even if I don't have a business plan? I have developed my website and my website is undergoing testing and it can be shown to an angel investor.
...
5
votes
4answers
846 views
How to justify ROI?
I very much apprectiate the responses from those who answered my questions on sensitivity and management. This is a followup question.
For every investment opportunity, there is the magic number, ...
5
votes
2answers
135 views
What is the canonical answer to “If we can get only x% of this y$ market” where x is a very small number and y a very big one?
One often sees business plans or pitches along the lines of "yeah we're going after a well-entrenched market, but it's a very big one and we need to get only x% of it to be profitable" where x is ...
5
votes
3answers
398 views
Do I really need a One Page Business Plan?
I've already written a full business plan, but what is the purpose of a "one page business plan?" What's the difference between it and an executive summary?
Do I really need one?
5
votes
3answers
181 views
Planning for an Acquisition Strategy
I am a software developer half-way through the design and prototyping of what I believe will be a very successful new software product.
Soon I will begin development, and am currently planning on ...
5
votes
6answers
338 views
Where can one post a business plan for review?
We would like to ask for help in reviewing our plan. Not for viability of the business model but rather for clarity in explaining the plan. Does this function exist on this site? If not does anyone ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Guide on writing a good business plan for a technology startup
I'm looking for advice on writing a business plan for a VC or Angel investor in the technology field. What are they looking for in a business plan/pitch?
There are some good basic guides on creating ...
5
votes
1answer
111 views
What is a roll-out plan?
What is a roll-out plan? I tried searching on Google, but without much success. I found http://www.project-open.org/en/tutorial_rollout_plan, but I still don't understand what a roll-out plan is for a ...
5
votes
3answers
239 views
How should I spend my limited financial capability to gain momentum in my startup?
I am a start up, with no office. fairly new to Canada with no financial records. No website (only Domain name). Working from a rented room.
I registered my company. Imported a small stock that is ...
5
votes
2answers
111 views
Business plan with failure scenarios
I am helping a friend with some short to medium term scenarios/ projections for a business plan. I worked out some failure scenarios as in if the business folds in 6 months we will be able to salvage ...
5
votes
2answers
219 views
Advisory Boards: When and How?
I have been operating a small, part-time business for the better part of 4-5 years providing IT consulting, web hosting, and tech support. To top it off, I've been working on a business plan for over ...
5
votes
3answers
161 views
What is the difference for a company between having an exit strategy and designing to be ongoing?
Many companies are started by people who dream of one day drinking pina coladas on the beach after exiting their business in some fashion. Of course many fail to deliver on that dream, and some of ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Best way to send a business proposal
I'm about to send a business proposal to a person who doesn't know me. The document volume is equivalent to about 6 pages (A4, single spaced). I can create a nice looking PDF optimized for screen view ...
4
votes
11answers
206 views
I feel it is nonsensical to conduct so many estimations in a business plan, what's your idea
When you write a business plan, you have to conduct many estimations. I feel these estimations are nonsense, unreliable, so writing a business plan is meaningless but to waste your much time. What do ...
4
votes
3answers
369 views
How to plan exit
I have an idea in global commerce area and I am trying to develop it to a software product.
I shared my thoughts with several experts and got their positive feedback.
Currently, I am working on a ...
4
votes
7answers
414 views
How to better explain my business?
everyone. I am a web developer/artist living in Tampa, FL. I have been working on a website for about 3 years now, and the amount of functionality on it is amazing.
I have noticed similar websites ...
4
votes
4answers
215 views
Can I manage my company?
I am 22 years old. Finished my bachelors degree and now started a small scale business. I strongly believe that one day I will grow high and make international expansion. My parents asks me to stop my ...
4
votes
3answers
237 views
What's In a Business Plan and Do I Really Need One
Business plans cause a lot of anxiety for the new entrepreneur. I think it stems from the fact that they are a lot of work and putting one together, especially if you have never done one, is quantum ...
4
votes
4answers
312 views
Starting to write a business plan before becoming a company
I'm starting to write a business plan for a possible future startup.
We're still not a company and we're pretty much in garage-mode still holding to our day jobs.
I was looking at example business ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Where can I find samples of good one page executive summary for a business plan?
We are applying for angel investment for our startup and looking for some samples of one page executive summary. Please share if you are aware of any.
Thanks,
4
votes
3answers
397 views
How do I go about starting a business plan?
I need a business plan. I know nothing of this. Where do I start and which direction should I go in?
4
votes
3answers
179 views
Startup losing its focus, is there danger in overextending?
I am a software engineer working at a startup of less than 5 years that has a mildly successful software that brings in enough money to keep the lights on and everybody paid. I am currently the only ...
4
votes
2answers
136 views
What is My Business Worth?
I have recently approached my business partner with a request to buy out his membership in our LLC. His involvement as of late is declining and a buy out was something we had planned on from day 1. I ...
4
votes
4answers
491 views
What is a good ratio between indirect & direct costs?
We have made a calculations in a business plan and our indirect costs are greater than direct costs. It looks so wrong... does it exist any standards what is the max. for indirect costs?
3
votes
4answers
694 views
Step by step list for a tech startup
Are there any resources that provide the different steps needed to create a tech startup. Something along the line of:
Set up legal structure
Choose a domain name
Choose a hosting provider
Set up ...
3
votes
2answers
481 views
How to design / mockup a business plan?
Is there any software like Balsamiq Mockups to have a mockup of your business plan?
I need to show the how things will work as a biz plan instead of how things will work on the website.
As far as I ...
3
votes
7answers
1k views
What do I need to convince people to invest in this company and how do I determine the initial investment?
I am planning for a company. The company will build a university. The company has a plan of 10 years to build the university and make it functional.
What I need now is investment. The question is how ...
3
votes
4answers
482 views
Should I get a .co or .com?
I'm currently deciding if I should get a domain name of my 1st choice but with a .co (instead of a .com) or if I should get a less preferred domain name with a .com (because my 1st choice of .com is ...
3
votes
3answers
588 views
How to introduce an Upscale Nightclub business to a sleeping community
My partners and I are thinking of opening a nightclub in a newly growing community where everything basically close down at 8:00 p.m., How would I prepare a marketing & feasibility study to find ...
3
votes
2answers
232 views
What's the best process for business planning?
So we're doing really well. Very exciting. Now we can start looking a little further out on our business planning and look for new markets, etc.
What's your process for taking an existing product and ...
3
votes
4answers
297 views
Founders' compensation in business plan: include it or not?
We're presenting a business plan for our startup, and I wonder if we should include our own compensation in the financial projections. I mean, our compensation is distributed on a "as-available" ...
3
votes
2answers
157 views
How do you structure a written product description?
I'm writing the product description for the business plan of my website and I'm looking for a proven structural template.
My website is a mircodonation service (see my profile if your interested). The ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
Do startups generally have a specific road map in place?
This question may not belong here, for that I apologize in advance.
I work with my father at his small company that he started. About 5 years ago is when he moved into his first physical location. We ...
