How to Write a Business Plan

By Mike P. McKeever

Write a business plan that potential investors will embrace!

If you're thinking of starting a business or raising money to expand an existing one, you need a plan. Running a successful business requires a great deal of forethought, so write a business plan and secure your venture's future. How to Write a Business Plan will show you how to write the right plan for your business and design a loan package necessary to finance your business and make it work.

With this bestselling all-in-one guide you'll learn how to:

figure out if your business idea will make money

estimate operating expenses

prepare cash flow

create profit and loss forecasts

determine assets, liabilities, and net worth

find potential sources of financing

think first before borrowing from friends and relatives, and

professionally present your plan to lenders and investors

How to Write a Business Plan provides spreadsheets that help you determine and forecast cash flow, financial statements, sales revenue, and profit and loss. It also provides three sample business plans you can modify for your own use.

This edition is completely updated, providing all-new online resources and updated examples of successful business plans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: NOLO
• Release date: Nov 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781413320794

Mike P. McKeever

Mike P. McKeever has a B.A. in Economics from Whittier College, a Master's in Economics from the London (England) School of Economics and has done post-graduate work in financial analysis at the USC Business School. Mike has taught classes at numerous community colleges in entrepreneurship and small business management. He has published articles on entrepreneurship for Dow Jones publications, the Sloan Publications Business Journal and numerous newspapers and periodicals.

Reviews for How to Write a Business Plan

[bsiemens_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A technical writing instructor recommended this book for developing my own business plan or writing one for a client. I browsed this resource to assess its usefulness for future opportunities. It provides helpful instructions for many topics associated with starting a business; not just writing a business plan.

[davincidad · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a really good guide for assembling a business plan. It takes you step by step through the entire process with many examples without getting too bogged down in technical terms and legal mumbo-jumbo.

[toddgrotenhuis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wanted this book because I am looking into small business opportunities.Here are the things that I really appreciated about the book:*Used plain language wherever possible, and explained jargon when not*Instructions on what portions of the book you could skip, depending on your sector, need for funding, whether your business already exists, etc.*Information was tailored for different sectors*Tools and forms to help with calculations, charts, predictions*Lots of tips and warning on topics that I had not considered*Wasn't overly discouraging nor encouraging, rather, frankly presented what is necessary to be successful*Contains three example plans in different sectorsWarnings:*There weren't really many tips on unconventional business models (which is to be expected)*Too many retail examples, for my purposes (may not be a concern for you, and are easily skimmed or skipped)*The technology sections in the resources chapter (12) are dated in many aspectsOverall, I would certainly recommend this book to someone considering whether or not to start a small business.

[nonrival_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As a small business owner this was a pleasant addition. I took a leap into a field I felt comfortable with, without knowing anything about business or what makes a business viable and sustainable (besides income). This book asks questions of the reader that may seem simplistic but are important aspects of a business that are often overlooked.

[atbradley_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an impressively-thorough and clearly written guide to every facet of planning a new business. The appendices include examples of plans for three different types of business that go even further to clarify the concepts explained in the book. Overall, a very useful read for anyone considering opening a new business.

[spounds_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I come from a long line of employees, not entrepreneurs, so I know very little about starting a small business. That's one of the reasons I wanted to read this book--to see if someone with no experience could "get it." I'm pleased to say that I did. The book is well laid out in easy to understand steps with lots of great examples. The appendices contain examples of real business plans that are similar enough to help you learn what is required and different enough to make you realize that all business plans don't come from the same cookie cutter.Recommended!

[m4marya · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I requested this book because I am thinking of writing up a business plan for an idea I have. This book proved to be full of information that I didn't even think that I would need. It has been enlightening, and will be a very valuable resource for when I sit down to create my own document.

[bakersfieldbarbara · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After 25 years, why a book on business plans? This is an update on a very important book for fledgling businesses. How many of us, wanting to start a business, know the first thing about it? Nola, known for its free legal information, and expertise in legal matters, once more has come through for the person wanting to write a business plan, and yet not knowing how to do it. This book will help you present a convincing financial opportunity to banks and investors in an understandable format. Included are strategies for evaluating the profitability of a business idea, estimating operating expenses, and presenting a plan to your lender. One of the best features for me was the CD-ROM included with the book, with essential spreadsheets and 3 sample business plans that a person can modify for their own use. I wish I had known about this book a few years ago when my son started his own business; the headaches would have been few and with Nola at our beck and call, we could have been so much wiser. A great book, valued over the years and now updated with the latest laws, banking regulations and new resources.

[shawnmarie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've worked with SCORE and other agencies to write business plans before but never have I had such a complete and readable reference to use while writing one.This book tells you with real world examples and in simple language what each portion of a business plan is for and why you need it (or why you don't.)Anyone starting a business of their own, or trying to reinvent an existing business, should get a copy of this book.I believe if you use this book to write a doable business plan you are halfway to success.Excellent reference!

[garets86 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is written in a readable and understandable format to anyone interested in starting a business. The book should be read from beginning to end for those writing a business plan for the first time. It is also a great book for referring to a particular section for those who need a refresher. A great factor of this book is that it is almost two books in one. Each chapter has details for writing the full/complete business plan or writing a quick plan. The steps in each chapter are written with detailed instructions, along with pictures/figures for further explanation. The author is having you follow a colleague who is starting a fashion business and you can see how this individual writes the various sections of the complete business plan. Each chapter and many sections within the chapters include cautions and tips for an individual contemplating starting a business and writing a business plan. The accompanying CD has excellent forms (mentioned throughout the book) that can be adapted to your particular need. The spreadsheets, along with the appropriate formulas, discussed in the book can be located on the CD. This book is essential for any individual desiring to start a business or needing a refresher on certain aspects of the business plan.