New York Investment Network

Business Plan Tips

What Investors Are Looking For In A Plan

Investors, whether angels or VC's, are looking for the same things when reading a business plan. They want to know how big the opportunity is, whether this is the right team to exploit the opportunity, who the competition is, what the risks are, and why they can expect this team to implement successfully. Your job in writing the business plan is to address these questions convincingly and clearly.

Emphasize Your Real Strengths

Highlight what your team brings to the table. If your business hinges on a particular competency (for example, understanding the procurement process), your plan will be more persuasive if one of your team members knows something about it and that is brought out in your plan. Rather than including generic resumes of team members, tailor the resumes to draw out the experience each member has that will make him or her a valuable contributor.

Get To The Point And Make It Clear And Comprehensive

Investors see many business plans. A 20-page plan which clearly lays out your business is far more likely to be read than a 100 page plan. Today, some entrepreneurs are using a 15 slide Powerpoint presentation. If your text is short and punchy, you won't need to repeat yourself, because the reader won't be bogged down keeping ten chapters in their head. Reading the same thing over and over, even if it's in different words, can get really tiring. The more you use brevity and give each concept a single home in your document, the more people will want to read it.

Write In Plain English

If you can't explain your idea in English, either you don't understand what you're talking about (What is a transaction enabled atomic journaling database server, anyway?) or you haven't simplified the idea enough. Think, revise, and try again.

Get Rid Of The Hype

Yes, we know you will be the "premier insert product category here of the Internet, achieving 99% market penetration with 60% customer retention in 3 months". Your product will reach "new heights in customer experience through the use of personalization and one-to-one profiling and customization". It will be "user friendly" because you will be creating a truly "ecstatic customer experience". It is a "quantum leap forward" in the marketplace for product category here. Um, yeah. Believe me, we've read it before. About a dozen times today, in fact. (And by the way, the phrase "quantum leap" really doesn't mean anything.) Stick to a tight, simple explanation of your idea. Convince your reader you'll be the best because your idea is the best, not because you can string a dozen buzzwords together.

Use Quantifiable Information

In each section, back up your assertions with solid facts. Even if you are a new venture and cannot give specific figures on the performance of your business, quote figures for the industry or your competitors. These real figures carry more weight than your assumed projections and give more reality to your plan.

Choose A Huge Market

Especially in the internet world, investors are looking more at the market than at the detailed specifics of your financials. Choose a market that is big enough to be an obvious good opportunity. A business which targets teenage girls who listen to music and has a reasonable chance of capturing 90% of the girls that are online is a huge opportunity. A business which targets net-savvy SAAB mechanics who need prosthetic limbs is not.

Local Investors

United States > Virginia

I am directly linked to a funding group with resources to fund projects and expansion from 2M to 500M+ . Please let me know how I can help you. There are many different projects that will be considered so the only limit is the investor's creativity.

$3,000,000 to $500,000,000

United States > New York

I have background in finance Operation and was a business owner.

$10,000 to $200,000

United States > New York

Limited investment history, work as an actuary in a fortune 500. Private investor.

$10,000 to $50,000

United States > Texas

We use a common sense approach when it comes to investing. If we feel the property or project can pay for itself. There is a 99% chance of funding. Note: We are not credit driven when it comes to lending Bottom line: If you would loan your own money on the project let us take a look at it.

$250,000 to $99,000,000

United States > Connecticut

over 30 years in Business Development and investment.

$50,000 to $500,000

United States > Arizona

1) Capital Secure-Bank Platform This excellent direct Bank Platform allows a client with $10 million dollars cash (minimum) to generate additional capital in a "principal secure" Bank Platform. After approval and screening, the "Client" is introduced to, deals direct with, meets with and signs Agreements directly with the Bank. 2) Bank Instrument Funding Excellent financing offer for clients that are the Owners/beneficiaries of Stand by Letters of Credit or other cash backed bank instruments. 3) Loan Guarantee-Bank Collateral Structure If a borrower has a lender interested in funding but requires additional collateral, this structure can provide Bank Collateral from a Top (25) World Bank. Also, my associate has direct access to a platform that takes leased instruments and cash. They also have a small platform, $25,000- $100,000 investment and it is backed by a bond for safekeeping through Bank of America.

$10,000,000 to $1,000,000,000

United States > New York

We are a FINRA member broker dealer/investment banking firm established 1971. We help established businesses with experienced management access capital from the public markets. We assist with the entire public offering process advising on reverse mergers into public entities or conducting an IPO. We make principal investments into qualified companies along with arranging equity/debt investments from our investor client base of wealthy accredited and numerous hedge funds.

$50,000 to $15,000,000

United States > Florida

Looking to invest in great ideas. I am an individual investor that can be hands on or relay on your expertise.

$20,000 to $50,000