Writing a Convincing Business Plan [Paperback]

Arthur R. DeThomas Ph.D. (Author), Lin Grensing-Pophal (Author)

Book Description

Series: Barron's Business Library | Publication Date: January 1, 2001

Creating a financing proposal, describing the business's operations and goals, forecasting markets and sales, creating marketing and operating plans, obtaining financing from primary and secondary sources, and much more. This new edition also features a list of names and addresses of business and library resources, as well as web site addresses that are especially useful to small business owners. Titles in Barron's Business Library series are currently being revised and updated, and re-set in an attractive new paperback format. They are written especially for men and women starting a company or managing a small-to-medium-size business. Emphasis is on practical problem solving, and examples cited in these books are based on realistic business situations.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

(back cover)
BARRON'S
BUSINESS
LIBRARY

Titles in this series speak to men and women who are starting a company or managing an ongoing small-to-medium-size business. Emphasis is on daily operations as well as on analyzing problems and solving them. Examples and approaches cited in these books are based on true-to-life business situations.

Writing a Convincing Business Plan
Third Edition

A sound business plan describes a business's operations and goals, analyzes and forecasts markets and sales, sets up operating and marketing plans and schedules, and estimates operating expenses. This book shows how to organize and write a logical and business-savvy plan that can be presented to potential investors and financial institutions. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 2 edition (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764113992
• ISBN-13: 978-0764113994
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,414 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Business Plans
  • #41 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Planning & Forecasting
  • #66 in Books > Business & Investing > Skills > Business Writing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

132 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, July 15, 2004

By 

Diego Banducci (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Writing a Convincing Business Plan (Paperback)

As a CPA/Attorney who has both written and reviewed a lot of business plans, I have seen both some very good ones and some awful ones. Too often the preparers of the bad ones confuse a business plan with an offering circular, hoping to convince an unknown investor or venture capitalist to provide financial backing for their ideas. The resulting "Business Plan" is an incomplete, poorly researched, turgid description of their idea, with lots of spreadsheets attached (detailed monthly financial projections for the next ten years).

What is overlooked is the fact that a good business plan serves as a road map for the operators of a business. The process of systematically analyzing your business and stating your plans simply in writing will force you to think through how you are going to deal with the various problems you are going to face.

Like another reviewer of this book, after reading the descriptions of various books on the subject, I purchased three of them. This one is far and away the best of the three and of all those I've read in the past. It systematically takes you through the planning process (industry analysis, marketing and sales, the operating plan, the organization plan, and the financial plan) and provides useful and intelligent checklists at each stage.

If you follow its guidance, you will end up with a useful plan for running your business. And if you decide to seek outside investors, you will be far more likely to raise money.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! Concise, meaty, and very readable., October 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing a Convincing Business Plan (Barron's Business Library) (Paperback)

I checked out a couple dozen books the first time i wrote a business plan (i like to get a lot of angles), but now i only use this one. it assumes nothing, gets straight to the point, and covers all the bases. i particularly like the bulleting, which makes it very easy to hit the main points of each section, and the questions, which focus your thinking on the critical issues and stimulate some very helpful introspection. i read a lot of non-fiction business/technical, and i have never been so impressed with a book. (and as a rule, i don't do reviews...)

48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Done!!!, March 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing a Convincing Business Plan (Paperback)

I purchased three books from amazon.com and this was one of them. It is very well written. The writers are short, concise and to the point. This is a step-by-step guide in helping you write out your business plan. The other two books I purchased were thrown aside, but were of use when I needed to reference something else. Before you spend your money on other books, buy this one first and if you need additional help purchase another.