“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

– Alan Lakein

Introduction: Grabbing Investors’ Attention

business plan can just be a piece of paper for many,

but from a business perspective and for any good entrepreneur, it is an integral aspect of their business career.

A good business plan enables you to effectively scale your successful business venture.

A good and effective business plan can make your journey much easier as an entrepreneur.

Making it much simpler to raise funding and convince your key potential business allies to come on board.

A business plan alone does not guarantee success but it will pave the way for the upcoming success of your business venture.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a formal written document that outlines a company’s goals,

objectives, strategies, financial forecasts, marketing plans, and operational details.

It serves as a roadmap for the business, providing a comprehensive overview of how the organization plans to achieve its goals

and sustain profitability over a specific period, usually three to five years.

Why is a business plan Important ?

• Provides Clarity and Focus:

Helps in clarifying the business’s purpose, mission, vision, and goals.

Focuses on what needs to be achieved and provides a roadmap to attain objectives.

• Sets Direction and Strategy:

Guides decision-making by defining the strategies and actions necessary to achieve business goals.

Assists in identifying the best path to reach the desired outcomes.

8 Simple steps to create a Good 1 page Business plan:

1. How to write a business description – example

This is the first and foremost part of any business plan.

Whether you are writing it for a small company or a large multi-national corporation.

This gives your potential investors an overview of your business, helping them to better understand the dynamics of your company.

When you write an introduction, write about the history of your company and the current developments that have happened in the company.

Write in detail about the ‘market need’ you will solve and the solution you intend to offer to your target audience through your products and services.

Also make sure to clearly state the goal of your business at the very outset, so that your investors know what they are getting into.

2. How to write a good mission and vision statement?

The 2nd part of any good business plan is the ‘mission and vision statement’.

This is a small yet very important part that must be included.

Your mission statement conveys your core values as an entrepreneur and the larger purpose of your company to others.

It tells about the larger purpose your business works to fulfill.

Whereas the vision statement is the picture of the long-term goals you desire to achieve for your company.

It tells about the great heights that your company wants to reach.

3. How to write a good value proposition?

The next section is the value proposition.

This section is about telling your readers about the value your products and services provide to customers.

It also includes telling about the unique selling proposition

that your products and services has that separates you from your competitors.

This helps your investors properly understand your place in the marketplace and assess the viability of your business.

4. How to identify target market effectively?

The next section is ‘ identifying your target market and the customer segments’.

It involves defining your target audience that needs your products and services the most

and defining the demographics and the psychographics of your target market.

It is an essential step to make sure you channel all your efforts in the right direction.

This is important to give an impression to your investors that you have a good understanding of your target market and the customers in your industry.

You can use many techniques for this purpose. such as surveys, target customer interviews, or Internet surveys

to accurately define your target market and properly segment different markets in your industry.

5. How to create a great marketing and sales strategy?

The next section is ‘marketing and the sales strategy’.

This is a very crucial aspect of any business.

No matter how great your business idea or your products or services are, if you don’t advertise them well then nobody will buy them.

This section includes outlining your marketing sales and pricing strategy well to give your investors a good idea

of how you will sell your products and services to bring revenue to your company.

Because in the end revenue is the soul of a company.

A company without revenue is just a charity.

You can use different types of marketing strategies as per the needs of your business.

Such as print advertising, social media marketing, TV marketing, direct sales, or radio marketing.

6. How to write about finances in your business plan?

The next step is to give a financial overview of your business.

It includes telling clearly about your revenue model, estimated 5 to 10 years revenue projections for your company,

the exact funding requirements you have and the areas where you intend to spend that money.

This helps investors understand and assess the financial dynamics and the financial viability of your business in depth.

You can also get any external help from an expert if you need it,

to accurately predict the revenue projections and properly present your financial information to your investors.

There are also many ai softwares available out there that you can use to help you prepare your financial overview more effectively.

7. What to write about your team?

The next step is to write about your team and the roles they play in your business.

This is a very important step as this allows your investors to understand your team and appropriately assess your company’s potential.

Try to highlight the strengths of your team and show how your team is capable of growing the company to new heights.

Tell about the role each person plays in your crew.

Tell how it can benefit the long-term growth of your business.

Remember your business is as good as your team and investors know this very well.

8. What are your major business achievements?

Last but not least, set long-term goals for your business and tell your investors about the key achievements of your company so far.

Ideally, business goals should be medium-term and long-term. ranging from 6 months to 5 years.

They should be relevant to your business and target the growth of your business.

Such as customer acquisition goals, revenue goals, marketing goals, or product development goals,

These goals not only will serve as a north star for you but also give good clarity to your investors about your aspirations.

Whereas, reminding about the key achievements of your company shows your company in a positive light

which portrays you as a strong and deserving candidate for the funding.

But remember don’t brag or lie about your achievements.

Your investors are smart, they will find out someday.

The Bottom Line: Winning Investors Over

Creating an investor-friendly business plan requires careful planning, research, and attention to detail.

By following the steps outlined above,

you can craft a compelling business plan that will impress investors and increase your chances of securing funding.

Remember, a well-prepared business plan not only attracts investors but also serves as a roadmap for your success as an entrepreneur.

Additional Resources:

• How to Write a Business Plan, Step by Step
• Guide to Creating a Business Plan With Template