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| Dec 27, 2008 11:15 pm |
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re: A business plan changed my business... |
Maria Marsala
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Even though I taught business plan classes at a local college, I didn't do one formally because I didnt' need funding.
It wasn't until I moved 3000 miles from home that I found a plan I was willing to do. I attended a one day event, and left with a bunch of pieces of paper. Just taking what was in my head and writing it down on scrap paper made me realize that what I was doing; although excellent advice for others, wasn't working for me.
So I redid my plan, and a few years later, I became a consultant for their program. It's called the One Page Business Plan.
There are books (resources on business plans are at http://www.TheResourceQueen.com/businessplans.html ) which is the least expensive way to do it on your own if you can't afford to hire a consultant to help you.
Consultants provide their clients with software that helps them create a draft of their plan in less than 2 hours. To create an excellent business plan takes 5-12 hours depending on your business knowledge, complexity of your business and a few other variables. The first year, you'll find yourself critiquing your plan each quarter. Then updating your plan yearly takes about 90 minutes.
Why create a plan? focused and accountable are two keys.
Creating a plan, any plan isn't enough, but it's a good first step.
The process looks something like this.
Assess where your company is at.
Create your vision for 1 year and exit strategy.
Create your ideal client profile
Do your mission, then..
Marketing plan (objectives, strategies, action plan)
Then monitor your objectives weekly
Create any sort of project managment form or system to monitor and execute your action plans.
View samples of the One Page Business Plan at http://www.BusinessAndMarketingPlan.com
OH... even OPRAH uses the One Page Planning process!
Private Reply to Maria Marsala (new win) |
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