Читать книгу Finance & Grow Your New Business - Angie Mohr - Страница 53

Every small-business owner is told to write a business plan before starting a small business. But what is a business plan really and who is it for?

Many small-business owners prepare a business plan solely because their bank demands that they do. They find a template online and fill in the blanks. Once the bank has reviewed it (or tucked it into a file without looking at it, as is often the case), the business owner never looks at it again and it collects dust on a shelf.

A business plan should, however, be a living, breathing, ever-changing document. It is the guidebook for your business to follow. It is to your business what the Constitution is to the United States: A set of guiding principles and the road map to get there. Remember, though, that the road map for your business will be constantly changing as you meet challenges in your business’s operating environment and as you make changes to take advantage of new opportunities in the market. You will frequently review and update your business plan and compare your actual results to your plans.

The primary user of the business plan should be you, the owner. However, there will be many other potential users of your business plan, including:

• Lenders. They will want to make sure that they are lending money to a solid enterprise that has a probability of success.

• Key employees. When you hire a manager or other employee critical to the success of your business, you will want to make sure that he or she knows the business plan and will manage the business accordingly.

• Investors. Venture capitalists and other potential investors will want to ensure that their money will be well invested.

• Customers. There may be times where securing a large contract means providing background material on your business and the business plan is an important document in that context.

• Potential merger partners or acquisition targets. If you are proposing to merge with or buy another company, the owners of that company will want to make certain that your business is both financially and philosophically sound.