Is Your Business (Plan) Important To You?

Your business plan should have many purposes, the first as a road map to your success from operations to marketing. Typically, we write plans with the purpose of raising capital and include that road map focused on areas like a market analysis and a marketing plan.

There are several old sayings, some not so old, that ring true, such as “walk the walk, don’t just talk the talk.” Everyone tells us their business plan is important to them or otherwise why would they seek us out on an ad or Internet search or engage us as a consultant? Then when it comes to completing the plan, they don’t act like it is important when they are not available for scheduled calls or don’t address our concerns - sometimes due to overconfidence or lack of experience.

There are dozens of examples of items we request and sometimes struggle to receive, like when stress the need to establish a deep team from the principal’s resume/bio to a marketing firm, or a lead distributor, or a development team of substance if a construction project.

We try to make it as easy as possible to complete a business plan, gathering information on scheduled calls with members of our team, then sending a follow up memos to clients about items only they can provide or questions only they can answer. We are hired to research and write the business plan, not to act as a recruiter when the team is incomplete. That doesn't mean we haven't recruited when paid to do so.

Sometimes certain contracts that are critical to the business plan are not in place. The plan can be delivered subject to the client adding that contract at a later date if requested. We have sometimes been asked to negotiate contracts, but that is beyond a business plan engagement.

We can provide additional services beyond writing the business plan that include business development, where we establish relationships and agreements that deliver products, services or market opportunities. Our SEO and web development team has achieved great results with Google searches to drive revenue affordably as well.

We can provide virtual CFO services, act as interim Corporate Secretary or Board Member in helping companies get organized as well assist in almost any aspect of operating a business, thus lessening risks to an investor when a client is seeking capital and lower costs for growing companies in hiring employees in certain departments until they achieve certain targeted revenues.

Structuring your business, developing critical strategic alliances, establishing the right team and various other factors go well beyond simply writing a business plan. If your business truly is important to you, reach out for a free consult at Tim@thebusinessplanconsultants.com on all aspects of developing your business plan and your business.