Entrepreneur - Business Plan Tips

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 > California

Private Investor

$10,000 to $50,000

United States > Florida

We have been in business for 12 years. The decision makers in our organization has over 30 years of experience. We understand how difficult it is for a start up and existing businesses to get funding in this economy at this time. The traditional lenders are afraid to relax their lending practices here in the United States and worldwide. We are ready, willing, and able to fund new Start ups and exciting Businesses here in the United States and abroad. We do not charge any upfront fees and depending on the program we won't need any collateral to get you funded. We can you help with business plans and advisory consultation if needed. We are there if you need us after funding. We can get an approval in 24-48 hours. And get you funded within 2 weeks depending on the clients proactive involvement. We look forward to funding your project.

$50,000 to $5,000,000

United States > Connecticut

I represent a private company, which is a investor and real estate developer based in Connecticut, USA. The company is a partner in several large projects, including the planning, design and construction of a Town Center (a mixed use commercial, retail, residential and government office development) for a town in Connecticut located within ten minutes of two of the largest casinos in the world, which will provide approximately 800 residential units and up to 1,000,000 square feet of retail, commercial and governmental office space.

$250,000 to $2,000,000

Malta > St Pauls Bay

Over the past five or so years I have invested in and helped a number of IT software companies grow their business. These companies are globally spread (EU, US, Canada and Asia) and are typically NOT START UPS (even though I have worked with and helped start ups). They are companies in growth mode that are looking to IPO in the next few years but require additional capital /best practice marketing and selling to grow to their true potential. Hands on with an MBA majoring in marketing and accounting, I am well rounded and experienced at helping good software companies become GREAT software companies. As well as investing in these companies directly, I have and do also helped prepare and raise considerable funds (+$5M) FOR PRE IPO stage.

$100,000 to $5,000,000

United States > New York

I have a sales background of over 5 years with computer hardware and software. I am a geek at heart so I am up to date on everything relating to gadgets and technology. I'm very big on social media and what the next big thing is going to be. I'm also a wanna be scientist and I love reading up on new information pertaining to the universe and everything it contains. I've acquired a sum of money from the unfortunate passing of my father and I would like to invest it, well, so I can have more. For the last month I've been doing research on how to invest in different kinds of markets. I would very much like to be an Angel Investor for an up and coming start-up or idea and I feel that I can provide some helpful advice.

$10,000 to $50,000

United States > New York

Hard working entrepreneur with an eye for a winning business model. I have had several successes as well as several failures in business in different sectors. It is true that you learn alot more about business overcoming serious setbacks and/or a series of failures. I didn't think that was a true statement when I heard it from other much more successful people when I was in my 20s starting out. Failure is not only humbling but very sobering. As an entrepreneur, small-business executive, I have managed to learn to apply Fortune 500 "best practices" in many areas of business in order to make my prior businesses run efficiently and profitably. I will not participate in any "start up" or "idea-phase" co unless you have assets to leverage. I can be hands on to help you with Human Resources, Sales/Marketing, Making Operations Super Efficient, Identifying hidden value and unlocking it to add more produce line or revenue streams. Areas I outsource: PR, Legal, Technology

$100,000 to $250,000

United States > Massachusetts

Previous experience involves building, operating, managing and investing in 32 businesses in last 34 years. Would be looking to exercise some of my past business know how in the implementing and leadership of new projects we participate in. I represent a group of savvy businessmen in varied fields. Many of our investments were in product developments.

$1,000,000 to $5,000,000

United States > Connecticut

Private investor in family owned or closely-held businesses. We emphasize preferred and common stock investments, on a minority or majority basis, in businesses desiring growth capital or seeking to recapitalize their business. We focus on companies with solid growth potential that are cash flow positive. Previously an officer in the loan workout group of a major money center bank and a corporate loan officer in the bank’s energy division. Have invested in approximatley 12 transactions ranging in enterprise value from $7 million to $465 million.

$50,000 to $1,000,000

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