Why do I need a business plan?

A good business plan is more like original art than painting by the numbers. The many business plan templates you find online will not suffice, because your business is an original idea with a very specific plan. It must show the concrete information investors need to know to be assured of a return on their investment -- simply saying “Trust me” will not work. A good business plan also gives you a solid road map to operate your business successfully

I’m just a guy getting started or my business has already been operating for five years. Will you work with me?

Values works interactively with its clients whether the business plan is for a startup, early stager, or mature company.

I already have investors and capital. How can you help me with a business plan?

Values believes its work must do more than raise capital—it must serve as a roadmap to success. This roadmap is sometimes referred to in business as an “on-demand management tool”. This crucial tool will help you plan for the unexpected twists and turns that come with running a business to minimize damage, as well as help you know what to do to take that next step up once your business finds steady ground.

I already know my market. Isn’t that enough?

No. A successful business plan captures your audience’s belief with solid, well-researched facts about the marketplace. This shows you’ve done your homework and you know your industry inside and out. For example, a business plan includes a SWOT analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats. If you show you’ve looked at each category in-depth for your business, you show that you’re well prepared for what’s up ahead.

I did do my homework and I know there’s nothing like my product/service out there. I just know it’ll work. Surely investors will see how passionate I am about my project.

Perfect. You have a huge opportunity. But a good business plan never asks the reader to “trust you” without having provided concrete reasons for the trust. Your business plan will have to answer the inevitable question: “What’s in it for me?”

As the founder and visionary for your business, you truly believe in your project with a religious zeal. However, investors are agnostics seeking only a return on their investment (ROI). They need to see that you’ve crunched the numbers, that you’ve done your homework on the market, that you’re well-prepared for the road ahead. They want to see that every critical position within the company has been identified, including his/her cost with targeted accountability. Only then will they invest in your project.