Business plan can be used as:
- A sales document – to secure
financing.
- A mission statement – to let
others know what your business is all about. It is written
for key people you want to team up with: accountants,
lawyers, suppliers, and customers.
- A management and planning guide –
a strategic tool to guide day-to-day operations of your
business.
- A development tool – to help
you set realistic deadlines and keep you on track.
Who should write your business plan?
Ideally, the entrepreneur should write the business plan.
The importance of knowing the business inside and out
and the ability to present the plan to potential financiers
and investors cannot be underestimated. The Center for
Innovation can assist in the development of the business
plan. Utilizing the expertise of the Center’s staff,
the entrepreneur will be an integral part of a team effort
to create a business plan.
Center for Innovation has collaborated with many successful
owners in the development and preparation of their business
plans to potential debt and equity investors.
Self-help Workbook
If you choose to write the business plan yourself our
self-help workbook “The Business Plan Step-By-Step”
is available at the Center. See
publications for more information. The guide
presents the questions that must be answered and gives
you a list of common mistakes to avoid.
The Ultimate Business Planner Software
Atlas Business Solution’s ultimate Business Planner
is a software package that gives financial and non-financial
experts a fast and easy way to build a financial forecast
and write a comprehensive business plan. The software
breaks down financial forecasting and business planning
into simple easy-to-follow steps. The software can be
purchased through the Center.
See
Ultimate Business Planner for more information
Business Plan Review
If you choose to write the business plan yourself the
Center for Innovation staff is available to review and
critique the business plan before it will be presented.
The staff will read the plan from the view of the group
you are targeting – bankers, investors, suppliers,
or key employees to make sure it reads well, answers the
most common questions of the target audience and presents
your business proposal in the best possible way.
For more information concerning
the business plan development and review services please
contact:
Center for Innovation
Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center
The University of North Dakota
4200 James Ray Drive
Grand Forks, ND 58203 USA
Phone: 701.777.3132
Fax: 701.777.2339
info@innovators.net
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