A simple business plan is still something that requires plenty of work to get it done accurately and properly. Calling it one of the least important parts of starting a small business would be a gross understatement because it has the most importance of all, aside from actually running the business that is. A lot of people who already own their own business will tell you that the first thing that they had to come up with was a business plan to help them get start-up finance. When you have to get a small business loan to start your business you must prove to the lender that your business has a great chance for success by showing them a solid business plan, among other things. Simple telling a potential lender that you have some terrific top business ideas just won't cut it.
Other items in your business plan will need to cover your business feasibility study which many lenders find to be very informative towards their decision-making process. And even if you don't need start-up finance, creating a good business plan and using it as a blueprint for running your business will help you stay on track and grow your business operations to the level that you want it to be.
Fortunately, you can make all of this much easier by taking a small business course to ensure that you are much better prepared to take on the responsibilities associated with owning your own business. The importance of having a business plan is too real to ignore and if you can't afford to have someone draw one up for you then you must do it yourself instead. Here are some notes on what needs to be covered as a minimum even in a simple business plan
First things first, you will need an official name for your business. Make sure the name is catchy but easy to remember. Steer clear of things that are hard to spell because it can make things more difficult for your customers and so on.
You must integrate a vision that you have for your business i.e. what will your business be like in 10 years into the future? Do you have plans to expand your business if it becomes successful?
Next, a business plan will call for your business's mission statement. The mission statement is a crucial part to the business plan and you must make sure to include everything about your business, what it does, its uniqueness, and other positive characteristics it has to offer.
You will also need to describe your business's objectives and goals i.e. what you expect from your business and what you know it to be capable of. And then you must include a very specific set of details called SWOT. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, which are to be explained in fine detail throughout your plan.
Finally, you will need an action plan and a financial plan for your business plan to be complete.
These sections should make up the bulk of your entire business plan as they are the most important. You are probably thinking about how difficult owning your own business is starting to sound not to mention how hard it could be to get a small business loan if you don't know how to write at least a simple business plan. Save yourself the frustration of it all, especially if you have no business experience whatsoever and take a small business course where all your questions are answered.
A small business course is more than just useful towards the future of you running your own business the best way possible. You can find valuable insider information as well as other tips and tricks from people with much more business experience. Being an entrepreneur can be a daunting challenge but if you have a good handle on all the start-up steps, including things such as how to write a clear and accurate but simple business plan, you are well on the way to go about owning and successfully growing your own business.