Seven Things To Avoid When Writing a Business Plan

We’ve heard all of these from people who came to us to REWRITE their plan.

1. I can get free business plan templates on the internet

Most people don’t write business plans every day, so they have questions. Templates don’t talk back. If you don’t understand parts of them, you’re on your own to get help. We offer a FREE business plan course with all the templates RIGHT HERE! What’s even better is that we offer a low cost business plan help desk if you get stuck.

2. There are canned business plans for the type of business I want to do

It’s interesting the sense of false security you get because it looks like some much of the information is already provided for you. A canned business plan is like a thrift store suit; it doesn’t fit properly and everyone knows it. You won’t have the benefit having truly worked through your plan and in the process, learned your business. Take advantage of our FREE business plan course with all the templates RIGHT HERE! And, like we said, we’re here to help.

3. I can work with a non-profit to get my plan done cheap

There are a number of free, or low cost, sources that will help you write your business plan. We’ve helped some of them develop their training. The important thing to remember about most non-profit resources is they are funded by grants that are measured on the number of people they help, not the results they get. Plus, most of them have not started their own businesses. We’ve been running our own company since 2004. We know what you will go through and can help you avoid some nasty surprises.

4. I’ll use business plan software

Better than a canned business plan, software programs will take you though as series of questions to build your plan. If you understand everything, you won’t have problems. If you don’t, you’ll be stuck. On top of that, every plan they produce reads the same. Bankers and investors can spot them a mile away and they hate reading them, because they’re BORING. Our method, whether we assist you or write your plan with you, is designed to provide you with a solid understanding of your business and potential risks. A business plan is not something you check off a list, it’s your blueprint for success. Don’t scrimp.

5. There are people that can write my plan for as little as $300

This thinking is like looking for bypass surgery based on price. When purchasing a home, it’s not uncommon to pay 1 to 3% for professional services which can run to tens of thousands of dollars. A business plan is a similar investment. Our pricing is based on the complexity of your business idea and the amount of work we will perform. Our plans are not cookie cutter but a custom fit based on your vision and your ideas. For more cost conscious clients we offer guided development, where you write the plan, but get the benefit of our workshop method at a greatly reduced cost.

6. There are other services in your price range, why would I buy from you?

Most of these services are actually a loose partnership of business writers or consultants so the quality varies widely. Those that are professional consulting organizations are much more expensive than us. There are also recently minted MBA’s and laid off corporate writers/planners that know the language but don’t really understand small business. Our method is a hybrid of our experiences in large corporations, small businesses, start-ups and our own previous business ventures. We follow a structured approach that we know works because it has resulted in bank and investor funding for our clients. We have written hundreds of business plans with tens of millions of dollars in economic impact.

7. It doesn’t really matter who does my plan

Our Managing Partner, working as a consultant for a Fortune 100 firm, traveled worldwide and participated in proposal and pursuit teams on deals from $10 million to $1 billion in size and was billed out to clients at hundreds per hour (don’t worry, we’re not that expensive). The methodology, approach and attention to detail that we bring to our clients is literally world class. Working with us, you will finish the process with a plan, a thorough understanding of what your business is, how it will operate and what is capable of. More than that, you will have the confidence to make the difficult moves that lie ahead when starting a business. And unlike the majority of our competition, we will always take your call and answer your questions long after the plan is written.