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by Ann Rusnak

Did you know there is a correlation of a business plan and time management?

Planning is effective in managing time. Is your business plan written somewhere, filed away, or pieced in parts?

When you develop a business plan it puts you in a position to win, rather than making fear-based decisions that rob you of time, money and opportunity .Instead you can focus your time and energy on the accomplishment of your business goals.

Many people have no idea where to start creating a business plan. This can be overwhelming, and many solo business owners launch their businesses without one.

To help you get started is a simplified version to help guide you. Remember, even with guidelines, MAKE THE PLAN YOURS.

Create Your Business Plan with These 5 Steps

Step 1: Begin with a Powerful Summary of Your Vision

The Vision Summary is the most vital portion of your plan. These questions will get you started:

1. What idea is the focus of your business?

2. What are your goals and vision for your business?

3. Who will manage your business and what qualifications needed? The tasks and jobs needed to run your business, write them down, even if you the sole operator. Completing this task will propel you to the next step.

4. Who is your target audience?

5. What sets your business apart from the competition?

6. What is desirable about your product or service?

Step 2: Who will Manage the Business?

This step elaborates on question 3 above. It will help you determine your future staff and business needs.

1. Are you going to partner or team up with any independent contractors or will you hire somebody to fill those gaps?

2. Who will they be?

3. Why are you choosing them?

4. Who will you consult to help guide you in your business?

Step 3: Marketing Plan

1. Where will you find your customers?

2. How will you reach them?

3. Who is your ideal buyer? Describe him in detail.

Step 4: Seek Out Your Competition

Yes , we all have them. Don’t kid yourself thinking you’re unique. If you are unique and have a great product, you’ll soon have competition.

Where will you find out about your competitor?

1. An excellent resource is the Internet. Locate your competitors by using the search engines. Visit their sites and read their about page and their company policies. Subscribe to their newsletter, if they offer one.

2. Develop a list of questions and pose as a potential client. Conduct the interview by phone or in person. At some point in the conversation, request their information in print. Examine their marketing materials.

3. The public library is also a place for information and resource.

Step 5: The Financial Report

1. What will be your start-up cost?

2. What will be your operating expenses?

3. How much do you need in sales to: Meet the expenses? Meet you marketing strategies? Recover you initial investment? Take a salary? Grow your business?

4. What resources or precautions do you need to take in case your business runs short of cash?

This simple strategy will help you get started, although as your business develops, capital grows, and investments are made, a more detailed plan needs to be implemented

After you complete these steps, type your responses and put them into a binder. Read it often. Put time into your schedule to review it, then add items or modify it when it’s necessary.

The success of your business lies in your planning and implantation of your plan, the road map of your business.

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