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Slide 1: Business Plans For Dummies by Steven D. Peterson PhD Create A Business Plan That Makes Strategic Sense Would you take off on a road trip to a new destination without a map or good directions? Probably not. Yet, sometimes business owners go full speed ahead without even having a destination in mind, much less a map on how to get there. That’s why so many businesses never make it. In today’s competitive marketplace, 3/4 of all new businesses fail within two to three years. Whether you’re launching a new business or working to strengthen or expand an established one, a business plan is your road map to success. Business Plans For Dummies, 2nd Edition helps you keep your businesses on track and reach your goals. Written by Paul Tiffany, PhD, professor at UC Berkley Haas Business School and the Wharton School of Business and Steven Peterson, PhD, Professor at UC Berkeley Haas Business School and CEO of Strategic Play, it helps you Realistically determine where your business is and where you want to go Create a detailed business plan and put it into action instead of in a drawer Use the plan to secure financing Prepare for opportunities avoid
Slide 2: common pitfalls In short, Business Plans for Dummies helps you determine where you want your business to go and create a map for getting there. You’ll discover how to: Identify and approach potential financial backers, including venture capital firms, angels, bankers, and others Clarify and crystallize your company’s mission, vision, and values Analyze your industry and your competition Identify your customers, including their needs, habits, purchase triggers, and decisionmaking processes Objectively analyze your company’s strengths and weaknesses Analyze your financial situation in order to do realistic forecasts and budgets Recognize trends and anticipate changes, both in the overall economy and in your industry Plan for growth, considering the product life cycle, new products, or new markets Structure your organization and nurture leadership Complete with diverse techniques and approaches plus a sample business plan, Business Plans For Dummies gives you detailed how-to for designing a dynamic, business plan that will keep you on course in spite of the inevitable curves and detours in today’s marketplace. It’s a plantastic resource for business owners and entrepreneurs. Personal Review: Business Plans For Dummies by Steven D. Peterson PhD Are you looking for a template that will allow you to create a business plan by simply filling in the blanks, as some software does? If so, you should beware of the danger in that approach. Without an in-depth understanding of basic business principles, you could end up with a plan that lacks coherence and is strategically flawed. This could undermine your credibility, and you would likely lose the interest of potential investors. Rather than taking a superficial fill-in-the-blanks approach to business planning, this book aims to help you achieve an in-depth understanding of basic business principles. It explains the most important choices that must be made in any business plan, regardless of the industry. It clarifies the significance of these choices, and how they might impact your business. Hopefully, by reading this book, you will gain sufficient understanding to create a business plan that makes strategic sense. This book offers a great deal of valuable information and insight on business planning. And you'll find a sample business plan at the end of the book. While this sample plan should prove helpful, some readers may want to consult other books for additional business plan examples. As well, if you lack accounting experience, you might need to consult other books for more detailed help with your pro-forma financial statements. In any case, you are more likely to achieve optimal results if you obtain professional assistance at some point during your planning process. For example, you could start by going as far as possible with this book, creating your business plan the best way you are able. This should get you off to a good start. Then have your plan reviewed and polished by a qualified accountant or management consultant. Even if no substantial
Slide 3: changes are needed, a professional review can help you gain confidence, and support your credibility among bankers and investors as well. Paul Francis Musgrave, author of Indispensable Marketing Strategies How to Outwit Your Competition, Attract and Retain Customers, and Multiply Your Profits - Powerful Marketing Strategy Secrets for Profitable Small Business Management For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price: Business Plans For Dummies by Steven D. Peterson PhD 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price!