WRITING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN BLUEPRINT FOR BUSINESS EXPLOITS WRITING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN

OUTLINE PREAMBLE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY COMPANY DESCRIPTION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MARKET ANALYSIS SUMMARY STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT SUMMARY FINANCIAL PLAN

IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING Ideas are the most valuable thing in the world. Every great thing in world started as an idea. When ideas met with passion it become a vision. Planning and pursuit gives life to ideas.

IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING Planning is the roadmap from where you are to where you want to be. Time and change are 2 constants in life. Time continuous to move and can not be recovered. Secret to life is effective management of time and change And the key to effective management of Change and time is planning.

PREDICTING THE FUTURE The best way to predict the future is to create it. Planning empowers you to create the future. I can predict that there will be a big apple tree in my compound in the next 3 years, if I can plant an apple seed and nurture it to grow. Similarly you can predict a great future in your business if you can take the seed of greatness in you, plant it in a business and nurture it to grow.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY It’s just a page or two that highlights the points you’ve made elsewhere in your business plan. (always write this last) It’s the doorway to your plan—after looking over your executive summary, your target reader is either going to throw your business plan away or keep reading, so you’d better get it just right. Summarize the problem you are solving for customers The solution your business is providing The target market, The founding team, and financial forecast highlights.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION Company Overview: This is where you’ll briefly sum everything up (Elevator Pitch) what your business does, who your customers are, and summarizes your key accomplishments - what differentiates your business from others Company History: including date of founding, and who was involved. Management Team: Details about who runs the company, and other key roles. Legal Structure and Ownership: How you’ve decided to structure your company, and who owns what percentage of it. Locations and Facilities: Details on your work spaces or plans to acquire them. Mission Statement: A concise statement on the guiding principles of your coy.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Problem that you solve for your customers (solution that you are selling) How does it benefit your customers? What sorts of customers make purchases, and why What customer need does each product or service line fill? (include the main sales lines.) It is always a good idea to think in terms of customer needs and customer benefits as you define your product offerings, rather than thinking of your side of the equation

MARKET ANALYSIS SUMMARY The types of customers you are looking for Industry trend - how the market is changing discuss your customers’ needs and where your customers are, how to reach them and how to deliver your product to them. who are your competitors and how you stack up against them why are you sure there’s room for you in this market? how you will overcome any entry barriers to your chosen market How technology is affecting your market.

STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY This outlines your marketing plan, and the other logistics involved in actually running your business. What do you do for your target market, and what makes you the best The technology you plan on using. Special equipment you might need, and your roadmap for getting your business up and running. The key metrics you’ll be tracking to make sure your business is headed in the right direction. Include management responsibilities with dates and budgets.

STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY Your Market Plan Target Customers Unique Selling Proposition (USP) Pricing & Positioning Strategy Distribution Plan Offers (free trials, money-back guarantees, packages and discount offers) Promotions Strategy (TV ads, trade shows, press releases, online advertising, events etc)

STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY Your Market Plan Online Marketing Strategy (keywards, adverts, SEO, social) Conversion Strategy (e.g. showing testimonials of past clients who were satisfied) Joint Ventures & Partnerships Referral Strategy Retention Strategy

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT SUMMARY The organization of your business. An outline of your business's legal structure when your company was founded, who is/are the owner(s), Where and when company was registered in and where you do business, and when/if your company was incorporated. Management resources, including your internal management team, external management resources Include summaries of your managers’ backgrounds and experience

FINANCIAL PLAN At the very least this section should include Your projected Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables. A brief description of the assumptions you made in your projections. Your balance sheet,  sales forecast, business ratios, and break-even analysis. Finally, if you are raising money or taking out loans, you should highlight the money you need to launch the business.

Working with right planning will take you to GREAT HEIGHTS. CONCLUSION It is not great talents that bring about exploits but great use of talents Working without planning is fruitless, planning without working is futile, Working with right planning will take you to GREAT HEIGHTS. START RIGHT – START NOW.

Jude Ayoka THANK YOU A techpreneur and consultant with a passion to raise and empower entrepreneurs in the emerging global economy leveraging the power of digital technology.