Storytelling is for Novels, and not (too much) for Business Plans

First, let me say that to a degree, plans do need to tell a story, but for the most, story implies fiction versus non fiction for too many readers. More importantly, while a business plan is more of a marketing document to investors n small increments within a PPM of Offering Memorandum, even with great legal disclosures that are the nature of these documents, as much transparency as possible is still advisable. This isn't the go go 90's and people with lots of disposable income investing. Investors on all levels are smarter and more prudent, and don't want to be sold as much as they want to see the facts laid out in a logical order.

Nonetheless, there is a sliding scale of "Just the Facts" like Joe Friday of Dragnet fame versus a story depending the business plan audience. For Venture Capital firms, Bankers and Angels alike, the balance leans strongly to just the facts within an organized transparent presentation...not a story.

Transparency is another topic I have written about often, which goes to full disclosure of the background and facts. As business plan writers, we can research and add some facts, but we write non fiction 100% to the best of our knowledge, relaying on clients to provide an open book of factual information (hopefully not in dribs and drabs) that we can build on to create plan of substance.

In conclusion, an organized presentation of facts is in effect, a non fiction story, one that will gain respect, and often, the capital needed when said facts warrant said investment.