Creating a Business Plan For Dummies

Whether you're starting a new business or you?ve been trading for a while, Creating a Business Plan For Dummies covers everything you need to know. Figure out whether your business idea is likely to work, how to identify your strategic advantage, and what you can do to gain an edge on the competition. Discover why a business plan doesn't have to be a thrity-page document that takes days to write, but can be a simple process that you do in stages as you work through your business concept. Learn how to prepare an elevator pitch, create a start-up budget, and create realistic sales projections. Discover how to predict and manage expenses, and assemble a financial forecast that enables you to calculate your break-even. Look at the risk involved in this business and experiment with different scenarios to see if you?re on the right track.

• Explains how to create a one-page business plan in just a few hours
• Takes a simple step-by-step approach, focusing on budgets, financials, and everyday practicalities
• Offers focused guidance on managing cashflow, designing marketing plans, and establishing a long-term vision for your business
• Includes access to downloadable templates and worksheets, as well as helpful online audio and video components
• Written by Veechi Curtis, bestselling author and business consultant

A good business plan is the first step to success for any new business, and getting it right can mean the difference between big profits and big trouble. Creating a Business Plan For Dummies gives you the detailed advice you need to design a great business plan that will guide your business from concept to reality.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started 7

Chapter 1: Letting Your Plan Take Flight 9

Chapter 2: Figuring Out What's So Special about You (and Your Business) 27

Chapter 3: Sizing up the Competition 39

Part II: Doing the Groundwork 57

Chapter 4: Budgeting for Start-Up Expenses 59

Chapter 5: Figuring out Prices and Predicting Sales 77

Chapter 6: Calculating Costs and Gross Profit 97

Chapter 7: Planning for Expenses 119

Part III: Checking Your Idea Makes Financial Sense 145

Chapter 8: Assembling Your Profit & Loss Projection 147

Chapter 9: Calculating Your Break-Even Point 169

Chapter 10: Creating Cashflows and Building Budgets 179

Part IV: Transforming Your Idea into Reality 199

Chapter 11: Separating Yourself from Your Business 201

Chapter 12: Developing a Strong Marketing Plan 219

Chapter 13: Staying One Step Ahead 243

Chapter 14: Managing Risk 259

Chapter 15: Pulling Together Your Written Plan 275

Part V: The Part of Tens 295

Chapter 16: Ten Tips for Using Excel in Your Business Plan 297

Chapter 17: Ten Ideas for a Well-Presented Plan 309

Chapter 18: Ten Questions to Ask before You're Done 319

Appendix: Sample Business Plan 327

Index 349

Veechi Curtis is a qualified accountant and consultant who specialises in small business finance, marketing and technology. She is the author of several bestselling Australian and New Zealand business titles, including Small Business For Dummies, MYOB^® Software For Dummies and Bookkeeping For Dummies.