Whether you seek financial backing or board consent, this book will give you the critical knowledge you need to get the go-ahead. Written by a seasoned practitioner with years of experience in both writing and evaluating business plans for funding, it will help you formulate a coherent, consistent and convincing business plan with your backers needs in mind. Follow its guidance and your plan will have every chance of winning the backing you need for your business to succeed.
FT ESSENTIAL GUIDES: THE KNOW-HOW YOU NEED TO GET THE RESULTS YOU WANT
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Part 1 Preparing your plan
1 Essential preparation
Result
Need
Preparation
Part 2 Writing your plan
2 The business
Background
Business mix by segment
Segmentation in a start-up
3 Market demand
Market size
Market growth
Market demand for a start-up
Market demand risks and opportunities
4 Competition
Your competitors
Competitive intensity
Competition in a start-up
Industry competition risks and opportunities
5 Strategy
Competitive position
Strategy
Strategy in a start-up
Strategic risks and opportunities
6 Resources
Management
Marketing
Operations and capital expenditure
Resource risks and opportunities
7 Financials and forecasts
Historic financials
Market-driven sales forecasts
Competition-driven margin forecasts
Funding the plan
Full financial forecasts
Forecasts in a start-up
Financial risks and opportunities
8 Risk, opportunity and sensitivity
Meet the Suns and Clouds chart
What the Suns and Clouds tell you
Sensitivity testing
9 Conclusion
Conclusion
Executive summary
Investment highlights
Part 3 Reviewing your plan
10 Monitoring and evaluating
Monitoring your plan
Evaluating your plan
Beware these characters!
Postscript: 12 hot potatoes
Appendices
Appendix A: Deriving competitive position
Appendix B: Structured interviewing of customers
Index
Review :
This guide cuts to the heart of what needs to go into a business plan in any number of different scenarios. It is admirably clear and cleverly illustrated by real-life examples.'
James Brocklebank, Managing Director, Advent International
At last! A book that explains how to write the kind of business plan that investors and lenders actually want to read. Evans uses his vast experience in advising real companies and financiers to make this guide authoritative and authentic, yet also practical and easy to follow.
James Courtenay, Global Head, Project and Export Finance, Standard Chartered Bank
Peppered with good examples it is an essential reference for those contemplating a start-up as well as existing businesses moving to their next phase of growth.
Grahame Hughes, Co-founder, Haven Power Ltd (exited 2010)
Vaughan Evans's considerable experience in creating business plans and evaluating them on behalf of investors is very much in evidence in this eminently readable book. From my private equity perspective, a plan submitted along these guidelines will stand out from the rest. It will speak the language of potential investors.
James Pitt, Partner, Lexington Partners
Whether a start-up, early stage or mature business, this book provides essential and in-depth guidance on how to prepare a compelling business plan.' Vince OBrien, Director, Montagu Private Equity and Chairman of the British Venture Capital Association, 2005
Lively, contemporary case studies and essential tips, coupled with easy to follow writing, make it a perfect read for all levels of experience.
Bill Priestley, Managing Director, LGV Capital Limited
This book is written from the viewpoint of the potential backer, targeting his/her key questions. It provides a no-nonsense, easy-to-follow guide that will ensure you deliver a persuasive plan.
Robert Samuelson, Executive Director Group Strategy, Virgin Media
Over the years there have been many guides to what you should put in a business plan. The crucial difference with Evans book is that it tells you why and how as well.'
Richard Kemp, Managing Partner, Sephton Capital
