14 Steps to Effective Business Planning

Fourteen steps to Effective Business Planning

By C. N. Brathwaite, B.Sc. M.B.A., C.E.T. http://www.preparedtogrow.com

Steps Step 1

Step 2 Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Exercise Study your market.

Identify your opportunity.

Choose a name and design a logo for your company.

Formulate the Table of Contents for your business plan in word Appraise other business plan efforts Evaluate the sample business plans provided.

For a plan of your choice rewrite the executive summary.

Element of a Business Plan Created Cover page

Suggested length 1 page

Write a rationale for your venture’s existence to use for on the spot presentations.

Table of Contents

1 page

I.

1 - 2 pages

Identify and assess the required organizational forms and management.

Outline the management philosophy of your new firm.

Evaluate the business form that would be best suited to your new venture.

Recognize the important components of a business plan Describe your product and your business. Use Porter's five forces to evaluate your industry and value chain analysis to highlight

VI.

Executive Summary A. Mission Statement B. Business Objectives C. Competitive Advantage D. Market Strategy E. The Management Team F. The Product G. The Financial Request Organization and Management Plan A. Management Philosophy B. Business Organization C. Identification of Key People

Description of the Business and Industry A. Your Company B. The Industry C. The Product D. Goals and Objectives

3 - 5 pages

I.

1 - 2 pages

2 - 4 pages

14 steps to Effective Business Planning by C. N. Brathwaite Š2003

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Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

your key business processes.

Formulate a marketing strategy for an agribusiness. Define your customer and market. What is the nature of your demand, which forecast indicators will you use?

Conduct a SWOT analysis, who are your competitors?

What is your competitive advantage?

Formulate a marketing strategy for an agribusiness. At this stage it is necessary to describe and justify your marketing mix decisions.

Market Analysis A. Description of Customer B. Target Market C. Market Influences -- External D. Competitive Advantage Competitor Analysis A. Existing Competitors B. Potential Competitors

5 - 6 pages

V.

Strategic Marketing Plan A. Market Strategy B. Price C. Place D. Product E. Promotion

12 - 15 pages

VII.

Financial Plan and Financial Request

3 pages of text and appropriate spreadsheets

VII.

Strategic Action/Implementation Plans F. Suppliers G. Distribution H. Customer Service I. Contingency Plans

Length varies

III.

IV.

2 - 4 pages

Conduct a survey and a focus group discussion on your product.

What were your findings? How will this information inform your marketing strategy.

Step 9

Step 10

Consider the role of contingency planning in your business formulation process.

Consider the benefits of Debt vs Equity Financing. Decide on your financing strategy. Create financial statements to model and evaluate financial strategies.

Develop a procurement strategy for an agribusiness. Construct the production and operations component of a business plan

14 steps to Effective Business Planning by C. N. Brathwaite Š2003

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Step 11

Step 12

What is your staffing plan for this business? Who are the key people of your firm, what is your succession plan for them? What additional HR Risk Management Strategies would be applicable to your venture?

What are the critical success factors of this venture? What other key points should be noted?

Step 13

Step 14

Write an effective and compelling executive summary

D. E. F. G.

Succession Plan Business Partners Staffing Plan Risk Management Strategies

Summary and Conclusions

1 - 2 pages

Appendices (as needed) A. Management's Resumes/Biographies B. Customer Profiles C. Competitor Profiles D. Product Profiles E. Site Study/Store Layout F. Financial Statements

Length varies

Executive Summary

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