posted
Todd, What you're asking for is way more involved than what you can reasonably learn from messages on a bulletin board. I've taken several classes and workshops and found that I needed that setting to even fill out generic forms. The simple stuff is to write out what you want to do. Why you want to do it. Who you're gonna do it for. How you're gonna do it differently than your competition. How much it will cost to do it. How long will it take to recover your investment. Also, there's the financial plan part. The part that describes how you'll change and how often you'll evaluate how you're doing at meeting your goals in the described timeline. This is a very general overview. There should be plans for tool repairs and aquisition. Equipment updates. Having the licenses you'll need. Knowing when to have employees and how many. There's establishing a shop rate. Knowing your mark up, knowing your market, man, this could go on for days! Take a class. It'll get you in touch with other sharp tacks that are thinking along those lines.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
contact your local small business administration (SBA) they have classes and books on business plans i bought one for $20 that when filled out properly will serve as your plan
------------------ jon peterman 109 mardan dr grants pass, or. 97527 signjon@cpros.com a.k.a. dc-62 s.s.n. upon request drivers license also available
Posts: 434 | From: grants pass or. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Some financial institutions have business plan booklets to fill out when applying for a loan. Ask your financial institution for one and it will give you some ideas what questions to consider when developing your own.
Also, the gov't of Canada has tons of free programs to help businesses. I'm sure they have info on business plans. Try www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca
Good luck!
Suelynn
------------------ "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, Sk Canada
Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I've done one earlier this year for a new business I'm establishing.
I found a guide on the Internet which covered most headings. I had previously had some training in a workshop to help people develop business plans.
What you cover can vary and there are several different approaches but the key ideas are to assess might be. 1 what your doing or want to be doing 2 what you have to achieve to get where you want 3 what steps you take to acheive that. 4 assessing how effective those steps are 5 ongoing assessment and modification
It may involve individual sections like a vision statement, marketing plan, finance plan, possibly a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) if the business is already established.
I'll email you the word document, just use it as a guide and alter it to suit your own business structure.
posted
Onetime we requested assistance through a local organization and the guy they sent to help kept saying things like"The banks love to hear this" and "The banks like to see that." We repeatedly were unsuccessful attempting to convince him we wanted the business plan for a tool for our own use rather than a prybar for a loan.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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