Business start-up requirement: create a business plan correctly in 9 steps

For many entrepreneur the business plan is just an annoying formality on the way to Financing. He offers many opportunities.

Business plan – more than a necessary evil

At the very beginning of a start-up there is of course a business idea. Nevertheless, one should not go spontaneously and thoughtlessly Implementation step. So that Companys a Success is an optimal one Strategy necessary. Nothing is better suited to developing this idea than a business plan.

Every business plan offers the opportunity to base your own business idea on strengths and weaknesses tap into it, reconsider the marketing strategy and the financing. However, many founders feel that writing a business plan is just a necessary evil when applying for funding and believe that it is enough to simply put something down on paper that sounds as good as possible and convinces the financiers. However, this is a mistake: Anyone who writes the business plan only for the financiers loses the opportunity to use the plan to develop their business strategy.

Business plan as strengths and weaknesses analysis

The books on the subject (advertising)

Because a business plan is much more than a piece of paper that needs to be filled out in order to be submitted Money to come: The business plan supports every founder in rethinking and concretizing their own business idea. It helps to clarify which weaknesses still exist and shows how the strengths of an idea can be further developed. Since you have to deal intensively with your idea, you get new ones in this way ideas for funding, positioning and that Marketing his product or service.

And what's more: Every founder should include his entrepreneurial in the business plan Set establish. Anyone who writes down in a business plan how they Guide and Organization his company should look like, which advertising measures he uses and how he uses his customers wants to work around gains valuable guidance that he can use to build his business. Because only those who know what they want and what means they have to use to achieve their goals will be successful as entrepreneurs.

The business plan is a sophisticated marketing plan

At the same time, the business plan also functions as a sophisticated marketing plan. He shows how the market situation in the Industry looks like, which target group the company is addressing, what the customer benefit of the product looks like and which marketing strategy is used to market the product or service.

It is important, however, to work out a good one Planning to leave enough time: A business idea usually does not develop overnight, but matures bit by bit. Therefore, you should develop your ideas and gradually write them down systematically.

9 steps: This is what the ideal business plan looks like

Discounts for your success (advertising)!

A business plan gives you the opportunity to structure your business idea and present it to the outside world. However, you should take a few points into account

1. The outer form

The plan should have an easy-to-read layout, be visually appealing, and form a unit. Limit yourself to just one font, ensure that graphics and charts are neatly integrated, use high-quality paper and, if you already have one, print your company logo on it.

Have your business plan neatly bound by a professional. It doesn't have to be an elaborate glossy brochure, but don't just staple the sheets together either. The title, name of the entrepreneur, address and telephone number should be on the cover sheet. If already available: address of the company, tax number or sales tax identification number

2. Length and Content

A clear structure is important. Your reader should also be able to get an overview of the most important points in a short time. Language that laypeople can understand is important, even when it comes to complicated technical products. Because your investors probably don't understand the technical details. Concentrate on the essentials.

A good guideline for optimal length is 25 to 30 pages, no more. But: no unnecessary embellishments to fill pages. Present the most important arguments in favor of your business idea in a concise and clear manner. Back up the facts with scientific research, market research studies, sales figures of competing products - or at least a small survey of potential customers.

3. Founder personality and company management

Let your financier know who is starting the business and who will run it. This also includes Vocational Training and professional career of the founder as well as his industry experience (especially those important for the foundation qualifications).

You should also attach a CV in tabular form. Then explain who will run the company and what the governance structures will be in your company. If you will not be running the company yourself, but will hire management or cooperate with others, you should identify the key people in your company.

4. The concept

A precise description of the project forms the core of your business plan. Summarize the most important aspects of your project in a comprehensible way. Explain your business idea, your company's position in the market, your sales and marketing strategy.

But also explain how you do it Future Present your company and where you can find opportunities and risks see. Assess your prospects realistically, because exaggerations act does not inspire much confidence in financiers.

5. Capital Requirements Plan

If you Concept stands, you should find out about it clear what capital you need when setting up your business. List all of the items that will cost you money when starting a business – and how much each item will account for.

For example, don't just think about the rents for office space, but also about the Costs for renovation and furnishing or to the rental deposit. But also consider that you and your Family also have to live from something. This shows your investors how you use their money invest .

6. Liquidity Plan

But not only the financing of the business start-up must be clarified, your company must be liquid at all times to avoid unforeseen expenditure to be able to cover.

It is very important to keep an overview here, because your company will only remain liquid if the total of incoming payments is greater than the total of outgoing payments. For periods when this is not the case according to planning, you must inject capital. Insolvency or even insolvency means the end for your company.

7. Profitability/Revenue Forecast

Create an overview of whether your company is sustainable in the long term. Of course, not only potential lenders want to know something like this, you also check the chances of success of your range of services for the next three to five years with a profitability forecast (also called yield forecast).

This allows you to check whether you can achieve a viable full existence with your project and your investors to see whether you can meet your future financial obligations. After all, you should not only earn enough with your service or product, you should also always keep an eye on your expenses.

8. Funding Plan

Now it is a matter of listing these different possibilities and giving yourself and potential donors an overview of the sources of your funds. In a financial plan, you list how much of your financing comes from equity, for example, how high your bank loans are, whether you use government subsidy programs and how much other investors are making available to you.

Use the following overview as a Vorlage: Enter exactly how many euros you are financing from which source, down to the last cent. The rule of thumb for financing is: your own funds form the basis for solid corporate financing. They should be an appropriate amount of 15 percent or more in order to achieve financing that is as crisis-proof as possible.

9. Avoid common mistakes

One of the most common mistakes made when creating a business plan: the founder of a business assumes too much of himself. He writes about his idea in the zeal of his own enthusiasm, goes into details - and in doing so completely loses investors and customers Eyes.

Better: take them Perspektive Your investors and customers, try to put yourself in their shoes and see the business plan from their perspective. Write the business plan that you would like to read yourself, even if you had no idea about the subject. Therefore, check your plan again and again for comprehensibility and inner coherence or give it to test readers who can uncover weak points.

Top books on the subject

Read text as PDF

Acquire this text as a PDF (only for own use without passing it on according to Terms and conditions): Please send us one after purchase eMail with the desired title supportberufebilder.de, we will then send the PDF to you immediately. You can also purchase text series.

4,99€Buy

Advice on success, goal achievement or marketing

You have Ask round to Career, Recruiting, personal development or increasing reach? Our AI consultant will help you for 5 euros a month – free for book buyers. We offer special ones for other topics IT services

5,00€ / per month   Book

Book eCourse on Demand

Up to 30 lessons with 4 learning tasks each + final lesson as a PDF download. Please send us one after purchase eMail with the desired title supportberufebilder.de. Alternatively, we would be happy to put your course together for you or offer you a personal, regular one eMail-Course - all further information!

29,99€Buy

Skate eBook as desired

If our store does not offer you your desired topic: We will be happy to put together a book according to your wishes and deliver it in a format of yours Choice. Please sign us after purchase supportberufebilder.de

79,99€Buy