WRITING WINNING BUSINESS PLANS
How to Prepare a Business Plan
That Investors will Want to Read
– And Invest In
Garrett Sutton, Esq.
“Writing Winning Business Plans” clearly shows you how to prepare and utilize the most important document for any organization: The business plan. Whether one is just starting out or is already in business and needs to refocus efforts, this practical guide will take you through all the various steps for preparing a winning business plan.
Writing Winning Business Plans will teach you to:
• Attract the funding you need
• Identify strengths and weaknesses
• Deal with competition
• Understand your financials
• Use your plan in competitions around the world.
With this engaging book’s real life stories as examples, you will quickly and easily learn to write your winning business plan.
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“This is a must-read book for anyone thinking about starting or expanding a business.” –Armchairinterviews.com
“This is THE BOOK for key strategies on preparing winning plans for both business and real estate ventures.”–Robert Kiyosaki
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This publication is designed to provide competent and reliable information regarding the subject matter covered. However, it is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or other professional advice. Laws and practices often vary from state to state and country to country and if legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional should be sought. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any liability that is incurred from the use or application of the contents of this book.
Copyright © 2005, 2012 by Garrett Sutton, Esq. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published by RDA Press
An imprint of BZK Press, LLC
Rich Dad Advisors, B-I Triangle, CASHFLOW Quadrant and other Rich Dad marks are registered trademarks of CASHFLOW Technologies, Inc.
BZK Press LLC
15170 N. Hayden Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-998-5400
Visit our Web sites: BZKPress.com and RichDadAdvisors.com
First Edition: July, 2005
First BZK Press edition: April, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-937832-36-0
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge Mona Gambetta and Brandi MacLeod for their assistance in revising and updating this book from the original “ABC’s of Writing Winning Business Plans,” first published in 2005. I would also like to thank my wife, Jenny, and children, Teddy, Emily and Sarah, for their continued patience as these books are being revised and updated.
Contents
Chapter Two – Why Do You Need a Plan?
Chapter Three – Business Plan Basics
Chapter Four – Missions and Goals
Chapter Five – Executive Summary and Business Strategy
Chapter Six – Know Your Business
Chapter Seven – Know Your Real Estate
Chapter Eight – Structure and Strategy
Chapter Ten – Marketing Your Business
Chapter Eleven – Marketing Trends and Timing
Chapter Twelve – Funding and Financials
Chapter Thirteen – Financial Forecasting
Chapter Fourteen – Presenting the Plan
Chapter Fifteen – Business Plans Around the World
Chapter Sixteen – Business Plan Competitions
Chapter Seventeen – Conclusion
Appendix
Appendix A – Business Startup Check List
Appendix B – Business Plan for Mikhail’s Tacos, Inc.
by Robert Kiyosaki
When I left the Marines I had to decide which father’s advice to follow. My real father, my poor dad, wanted me to go back to school and get a good job with a big corporation so I could “climb the corporate ladder” as an employee. My best friend’s father, my rich dad, advised me to “build my own corporate ladder” as an entrepreneur. But he also told me that if I wanted to become an entrepreneur I first had to learn how to sell. So I joined Xerox for the sole purpose of learning to sell. I had decided that I was going to become an entrepreneur.
When I was ready to make the leap from employee to entrepreneur, I had already become the top salesperson for Xerox. I was even more committed to becoming an entrepreneur because I had realized that I did not want to work harder and harder for the next thirty years to make someone else rich. I wanted to work less and less to make more and more to make myself rich and pay less in taxes, just like my rich dad taught me. When I went to tell him the great news, he bluntly asked me one question, “Are you willing to pay the price?”
What kind of question was that? I thought. Of course I was willing to pay the price. I had just become a top salesperson for a major corporation just as he had told me to do. Think about what I could accomplish selling products I myself had created and had great passion for. I