Friday, January 9, 2009

Software and Templates Typically Result in Failed Business Plans

Since Business Plan Pro and Master Plans Google high due to so many sample plans posted on their sites, they are used by professionals and entrepreneurs alike to create plans that almost always have excess content in some areas, insufficient content in others, missing sections of importance like Exit Strategy and Risk Factors and more, let alone worthless content and graphs in addition to forecasts that are weak and lacking in sufficient notes and assumptions. Since our advertising gets so many responses, on average I receive one completed plan every one to two weeks written using these software options from business owners who couldn't accomplish their goals, usually raising capital.

I have had many conversations with bankers and institutional investors alike on their recognition of cookie cutter software written plans that they had trashed for those factors mentioned above, and more so these plans lacked a true Executive Summary that 95% of them expect to receive before reading any business plan of length.

Many make this choice with the goal of saving money and then find out they can’t accomplish their ultimate goal. For us, editing and rewriting a plan that is flawed, as many are, takes more time than writing a new plan from scratch. Since we have written plans for such a myriad of businesses, we can create a custom plan for you.

E-mail me at tim@thebusinessplanconsultants.com for additional information.

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