book

Creating a Business Plan

by Harvard Business Review

October 2007

Beginner

144 pages

1h 46m

English

Harvard Business Review Press

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Why have a business plan?What’s your purpose?Who’s your audience?What information will you need?
The opening, body, and attachmentsTypical structure for a business plan
Preparing the cover pageDeveloping the table of contents
Including the right informationFormal executive summariesExecutive summaries as mission statements

Introducing your businessIncorporating the right detailsHighlighting your product or service
Understanding industries and marketsAsking the right questions
Defining existing products and servicesSizing the industryIdentifying important trendsAnticipating barriers to entry
Identifying your competitorsDistinguishing your business from rivalsAssessing threats from the competition
Assessing the market’s size and growthDefining your target marketArticulating your value proposition
Using your marketing plan as a road mapDeveloping your marketing planDefining your marketing mix
Understanding operationsDetermining breakeven pointIdentifying other key success factors
Describing your team members’ qualificationsIntroducing the team as a unit
Anticipating readers’ concernsSpecifying your business’s capital requirementsProviding financial projectionsArticulating your assumptionsConducting breakeven analysis for salesAssessing risk and rewardAnticipating financial returns
Providing attachmentsStipulating milestones
Answers to test questions
Notes and ArticlesBookseLearning Products

Overview

Every business needs a business plan--a plan to meet the expected and unexpected opportunities and obstacles the future holds. This book will help you take a long, hard look at each element of the plan and show you how to communicate the right message to the right people, and maximize the chances of getting your business launched.