Business Plans Handbook [Hardcover]

Lynn Pearce (Author)

Book Description

Series: Business Plans Handbook | Publication Date: October 19, 2005

Business Plans Handbook is a collection of actual business plans compiled by entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses throughout North America. For those looking for examples of how to approach, structure and compose their own business plans, the Handbook presents 24 sample plans taken from businesses in the manufacturing, retail and service industries -- only the company names and addresses have been changed. Typical business plans include type of business; statement of purpose; executive summary; business/industry description; market; product and production; management/personnel; and financial specifics. This edition also contains a business plan template and two fictional business plans -- all of which can aid users in developing business plans of their own. Also featured is a listing of organizations, agencies, and consultants; a glossary of small business terms; and an updated bibliography.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Gale; 11 edition (October 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787666815
• ISBN-13: 978-0787666811
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,949,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book that will help the reader train himself or herself to research and write a stellar business plan of their own!, October 9, 2007

By 

Jeff Lippincott "JLIPPIN" (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Business Plans Handbook (Hardcover)

VOLUME 11. I love this resource. I cannot say enough positive things about it. I am a SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) volunteer who provides business coaching services via email and in-person. I have recommended on almost every occasion that my "clients" who are starting a business and need to prepare a business plan search out for this volume and the others that follow it at their public library, community college library, or university library.

A business plan is a 25-35 page written document that includes the following ten sections:

1. Business History and Outlook
2. Description of Product or Services
3. Market Examination (target market)
4. Description and analysis of Competition (competitors serving target market)
5. Marketing (various options and a plan)
6. Operations
7. Administration and Management
8. Key Personnel
9. Potential Problems and Solutions to those Problems
10. Financial Information (BS, IS, Stmt of Cash Flows)

Included in this volume are the following sample business plans:

1. Adventure Travel Lodging Company
2. Brewpub
3. Cigar Company
4. Construction Development and Real Estate Firm
5. Construction and Home Rehabilitation Company
6. Daycare Facility
7. Food Distributor (template)
8. Giftware Company
9. Handmade Greeting Card Company
10. Handyman Service
11. Hardware Store (template)
12. Homeless Shelter
13. Interior Design Company
14. Interior Painting Service
15. Internet Loyalty Program
16. Internet Services Portal
17. Massage Therapists
18. Mentally Disabled Care Facility
19. Motorcycle Dealership and Racetrack
20. Online Mortgage Company
21. Pizza Parlor
22. Private Investigator

None of the above plans are 25-35 pages long. And few if any have good Financial Information. But what they do provide the reader is examples of how business plans are supposed to present information. You will no doubt see big holes in the sample plans. It is those holes you need to be aware of so you can fill them in when you prepare your own business plan.

Read the plans as if you were going to use them to start a similar business. Ask yourself what you still need to know after reading each plan that you must have an answer for in order to use the plan as a blueprint for actually running your own business. As you do this for each of the plans you will become expert at analyzing and critiquing business plans. And that is what you need to be able to do well when you write your own business plan. 5 stars!