Never Wrote A Real Business Plan...

ruskent

All i hear on all the trade forums on the net is that you need to write a business plan to be succesful.

I have yet to sit down and right a formal business plan.

Is this bad? Seems like as long as you acctually know where you want to go with your business and how you want to get there you could be okay without one.


So whats the deal? Am i doomed?

Grumpy

A formal business plan or a business plan?

I am not a fan of formal business plans. They are only good if you are seeking capitol from a bank or investor. I am a fan of business plans ina less formal more fluid document.

A business plan should be drafted, if for no other reason, to force you to sit down and THINK. Answer these questions... Where do you want to go? What do you want to be? How will you accomplish this? What will it take to accomplish this?

There are some key questions you need to answer when writing a business plan, and I encourage you to find a resource to aid you in writing one. You may consider emythmastery.com which I have just found when I purchased one of the emyth audio books this weekend.

Ed the Roofer

Here is a working link:

http://www.e-myth.com/masterybook/

Ed

Putty Truck

My first business plan was a picture of a beautiful girl. I worked my ugly puss off until I was able to attract a beauty. Got 'er in two years.

My second business plan was a big ol' house on land. She and I worked her butt off until I could afford it. Took three more years...

Third and current plan is to pay off my once-beautiful girl and that big ol' money pit of a house. Another twenty or so more years of life in a putty truck should get me there.

Other than that, I'm just a small business owner like the billion others on this rock.

Grumpy

I don't know if that's really a business plan. I'd call them motivational factors, but hardly a plan. A plan will not only consists of what you are working to achieve but how you will get there. I think your pictures are just the first part of the plan.

KillerToiletSpider

My boss and I have a business plan, get enough work every year to keep our crew busy fifty weeks a year, and give them all a decent bonus at Christmas. Last year it was a crew of six, this year, we have eight. Last years crew of six have been with the company for ten years or more.

__________________
A flush is better than a full house.

MattCoops

Most people have goals.
A plan is what outlines determined factors to meet those goals.

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

KentWhitten

Unfortunately...banks like that phrase....business plan. if you can work around it, that's all you need. if you can BS it, then that's all you need.

__________________
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

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Mike Finley

The benefit from creating a business plan is it forces you to actually stop, think, and write it all down. Read it, think about it, erase it, think about it some more, discover some things you didn't realize, learn things about your self, do some research, learn things about your business... etc...

You would benefit greatly from the process of doing a business plan. I higly recommend you do it.

"Goals that are not written down are just wishes."

"A goal is created three times. First as a mental picture. Second, when written down to add clarity and dimension. And third, when you take action towards its achievement.
Gary Ryan Blair

“Goals that are not written down are just dreams. Writing them down turns dreams into action, action produces inspiration. Inspiration and action are the creative process, and that is how you will achieve your goals”

Tmrrptr

It's important to have goals, and a plan to get there.
It's most important to be flexible.
r