FT Essential Guide to Writing a Business Plan: How to win backing to start up or grow your business(The FT Guides)

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 backer’s 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 O’Brien, 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