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Business Plan & Consultants

By Linda J Baldridge
©2005-2011 Linda J Baldridge-BIZ USA INC.














BIZ USA Online provides small business resource guide for new entrepreneurs and a business directory for business websites, business owners.
Who is BIZ USA Online? BIZ USA Online is a free small business advertising agency and resource center, founded by a women entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. We created this site to be your resource center for articles about starting your own business and becoming a fist time entrpreneur, advertising agency for small business solutions. Inside our site you will find tips and suggestions on how to get started owning a business, practical information to help you grow your business from an idea to an actual business model. At BIZ USA Online we offer a free business directory to advertise your small business listing, you are more than welcome to signup here for a small business listing. BIZ USA Online:: Monroe, WA::  Small Business Resource Guide, Small Business Advertising Agency, Entrepreneur Resource Guide, Small Business Tips, Idea Into Reality, Free Business Listing, Free Advertising For Small Business, Small Business Directory, Small Business Domain Names, Small Business Plans, Business Startups, Business Consulting Firms, Business Structures, Small Business Financing, Legal Requirments, Product Market Research, Advertising & Marketing Your Small Business, Managment of Small Business

©2009 BIZ USA INC. All Rights Reserved.
Hiring help is the next best thing to writing your plan yourself!

Planning is vital to successfully starting and growing a business or a web based business and preparing a business plan is a critical step for securing financing. For that reason, many business owners hire consultants to help them research, organize, and present all the relevant business plan information to potential investors.

Key questions to ask when comparing consultants are:

  • What kind of experience – how many business plans have they written in total?
  • What is their success rate – what percent of the plans they've written have been funded?
  • What is the cost – paying a per-project fee may be more economical than an hourly fee.


Get free help from government agencies, the U.S. government wants small businesses to thrive, and they have several agencies and partnerships established for that exact purpose.

Call your local centers for free or low cost business plan preparation help.

Search for consultants specializing in your type of business.

Besides cost, one of the ways to separate firms is through their work. Ask to see samples of completed plans to get a sense of the firm's style and capabilities. Check out their staff ,who will be responsible for helping you prepare your plan – an experienced entrepreneur with an MBA, or a junior consultant just getting started?

Some firms allow you to view samples of their work online:

Check out the About section of most Web sites it will give you a glimpse of the talent pool you'll be working with at firms like:

If you've already pulled together background information and have thought through how you intend to run the company, a business plan software package may be all you need to at least create a draft.

Software packages are great tools for structuring the different pieces of your plan, but they can't do the thinking for you. However, if all you need is formatting help, take a look at Planmagic, Business Plan Pro, PlanWrite, or free shareware.

Helpful advice
If someone else is writing your plan:
  • be sure you stay involved in the process, to answer detailed questions from potential investors.
  • work you can do up front to gather statistics, organize your background materials, or create a first draft can reduce the amount of time a consultant has to spend on the project, and potentially your final bill.
  • working with someone locally can be convenient, don't limit yourself solely to consultants within a five-mile radius; the best one for you may be 300 miles away.
  • ask for recommendations from other business owners, investors, bankers, and accountants to be sure you select a reputable firm.

Review and update your plan to manage growth.

What goes into a business plan? Here is the layout, the body can be divided into four distinct sections:

1) Description of the business
2) Marketing
3) Finances
4) Management

The business plan should include an executive summary, supporting documents, and financial projections. Although there is no single formula for developing a business plan, some elements are common to all business plans. They are summarized in the following outline:

Elements of a Business Plan
1. Cover sheet
2. Statement of purpose
3. Table of contents

               I. The Business
              A. Description of business
              B. Marketing
              C. Competition
              D. Operating procedures
              E. Personnel
              F. Business insurance

              II. Financial Data
              A. Loan applications
              B. Capital equipment and supply list
              C. Balance sheet
              D. Breakeven analysis
              E. Pro-forma income projections (profit & loss statements)
              F. Three-year summary
              G. Detail by month, first year
              H. Detail by quarters, second and third years
               I.  Assumptions upon which projections were based
              J. Pro-forma cash flow

              III. Supporting Documents
              A. Tax returns of principals for last three years
                   personal financials statement (all banks have these forms)
              B. For franchised businesses, a copy of franchise contract and
                   all supporting documents provided by the franchisor.
              C. Copy of proposed lease or purchase agreement for building
                   space              
              D. Copy of licenses and other legal documents
              E. Copy of resumes of all principals
              F. Copies of letters of intent from suppliers, etc.