Business Plan Introduction
What is a Business Plan
A business plan brings together all the elements that can serve as a road map for future development: mission and goals, budget, resource inventory, technology review, and marketing plan. A good business plan requires too much work to be shelved after it is read by bankers and investors. It should be reviewed and updated regularly.
"A business plan is a verbal picture of your project. It tells other people what you are going to do and how you plan to do it. It lets others know that you are serious about your project, and that you have taken time to consider all the relevant pieces. A business plan can serve the CTC in a number of ways:"
- As a guide to help set up and run the CTC
- To illustrate, to partners and funders, why you need their help
- As a boilerplate for fund-raising proposals
- As background material for staff and volunteers
- As documentation accompanying the yearly formal audit
- As a basis for developing CTC budgets for ensuing years
Source: Community Technology Center Start-up Manual (PDF)
What is an Internet Business Plan
In some respects an Internet business plan is similar to a traditional one. Both focus on achievable and measurable goals, describe the management team and staffing needs, project expenses and revenues, and suggest marketing strategies. The Internet business plan is not a replacement for a traditional one; it is a supplement. More attention is paid to marketing and the odd little expenses that are part of doing business online. The typical executive summary is missing, because this is an operations manual.
The following pages suggest some of the things that might make up part of your Internet business plan. Change them to meet your own business needs.
Recommended resources
Resources for developing Internet business plans are hard to find. With a little imagination, many of the guidelines for traditional business plans can be applied to Internet plans. Sample business plans are available on the sites listed below.
Traditional Business Plans:
- Business Plan Outline from the Small Business Administration
- Business Owner's Toolkit Guidebook: Planning Your Business