Creating Business Plans (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series)

Describing the Opportunity

You know your idea inside and out, so it can be easy to lose sight of the details that will matter to investors when you draft your business plan. Ensure that your plan explains how your offering will help customers and places that offering within the larger business context, too.

Presenting your idea

Win readers over with a description of your idea that addresses a clear and specific business need and provides details about the larger context within which your offering will thrive.

To add customer focus to your plan, consider these questions as you define your product or service: What customer pain are you easing with your offering? What special technology, new perspective, or unique concept will you offer customers ...