The document provides guidance on developing an effective business plan by outlining its key components. It recommends thoroughly exploring your business idea by dissecting aspects like purpose, opportunities, target market, and solutions provided. An effective plan should include sections on executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing, pricing, management, and expenses. The executive summary is critical as it summarizes the entire proposal in 1 page for busy readers. Developing a mini pitch and getting feedback from colleagues can help identify weaknesses before formalizing the full plan.

1. Building Blocks of an
Effective Business Plan

2. So, you have a brilliant idea for a new business
venture.
What is the first thing you need to do?

3. Dissect & Explore
Your Idea
“An idea is great, but you need to
be able to give it legs.”
Sujan Patel - Entrepreneur

4. Areas to Dissect & Explore
• What is the purpose of the business/product/service?
• Do you see opportunities for future expansion? If, so where?
• Who is the target market?
• What pain points will your product/service solve?
• Where will initial funding come from? What resources are
currently available and which will you need?
• What are the problems that could – and will – arise? How will you
solve these problems?
• What will make your business successful in the long run?

5. Business Plan
Framework
“Good business planning is 9 parts
execution for every 1 part strategy.”
Tim Berry

7. Keep your proposal to 1 page.
Seriously, just 1 page.
Stop after 1 page. Don’t write anymore.
Put the pen down.
Don’t be George RR Martin. Be concise.

8. The Mini Pitch

9. Once you have the proposal drafted, pitch the
idea to a trusted colleague first.
You want them to POKE HOLES in your business
plan and proposal.
You two aren’t trying to solve every problem of
the business at this point, just answering is
there really a need, can we do this, etc.
The Mini Pitch

10. Sample Business
Plan

11. Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary
II. General Company Description
III. Products and Services
IV. Marketing Plan & Sales
V. Pricing
VI. Management and Organization
VII.Expenses
VIII.Appendix

12. I. Executive Summary
Summarizes the entire proposal so readers can
rapidly become acquainted with a large body of
material without reading it all.
- Problem/proposal
- Background information
- Brief market Analysis
- Conclusion
CEOs are busy, they may only read this one page, the others
could just supplement. That doesn’t mean you don’t fill out
the other pages.

13. II. General Company Description
Be able to define these -
Mission
Company Goals and Objectives
Business Philosophy
Customer Market
Industry
Core Strengths

14. III. Products and Services
What do they look like?
What is the structure?
Competitive advantages/disadvantages?

15. IV. Marketing Plan & Sales
Sales Forecast/Pricing
Brand building strategy with:
- Product
- Customers
- Competition

16. VI. Management and Organization

17. VII. Expenses
How much is this going to cost?
- Wages?
- Commissions?
- Technology?
- Website?
- Marketing?
- Rent/Utilities?