Do Business Well

Here is a brief overview of the contents of the written plan. Keep in mind that after the first two items, the titles of the subsequent sections can vary. But every business plan should cover the subjects addressed in this overview:

1. Cover Page. On the cover page goes the nary of your company, its address and, phone number, and the chief _executive’s name. That may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many business plans don’t have a cover page or have an incomplete one. Nothing will turn off a banker or investor faster than having to look up your telephone number in the phone book because you left it off the cover page. Moreover, if the plan is going to be distributed to several bankers or investors, you will want to number each plan prominently on the cover page—to allow you to track the plans and to inhibit recipients from copying or widely passing around the plan.

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Just as we judge books by their covers and people by the way they dress, so we judge business plans by the way they look. In addition to being clearly and concisely written, the business plan must also be accessible in other ways. The way the plan is bound, typed, and organized sends a message to readers.

At the same time, the plan differs from a book in that it isn’t intended for general circulation. Much of the information is confidential, and you don’t want it falling into the hands of unauthorized customers, suppliers, or competitors. How you package the plan can affect who it goes to—and doesn’t go to.

Here are some suggestions for making the most of your plan’s overall appearance:

1. Make it businesslike. The plan should look neither too slick nor too shabby. Too slick could be leather binding and Linotronic typesetting. Too shabby could be faded Xeroxed pages stapled together. Continue Reading »

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