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Click on the chapter titles listed below. A drop-down list will display containing direct links for access to individual topic pages.

Introduction

Welcome

• Introduction
• This is a Web Version
• About the Author

Fundamentals 

Ch 1: It's About Results

• It's About Results
• What Makes a Good Plan
• Successful Implementation Starts with a Good Plan
• No Time to Plan
• The Planning Process

Ch 2: Pick Your Plan

• Pick Your Plan
• What is Most Important in a Plan
• A Standard Business Plan Outline
• A Standard Business Plan Outline - 2
• A Standard Business Plan Outline - 3

Ch 3: Initial Assessment

• Initial Assessment
• Define the Pain Point
• Customer Satisfaction
• Keys to Success
• Break-even Analysis
• Break-even Analysis - 2
• Objectives

Ch 4: Starting a Business

• Starting a Business
• About Business Names
• About Business Names - 2
• Researching a Business Name
• Attorneys, Licenses, Permits
• Legal Entities
• Legal Entities - 2
• A Simpler Plan for Start-ups
• A Simpler Plan - 2
• A Simpler Plan - 3
• Realistic Start-up Costs
• Understand the Risks
• Starting a Business - Summary

Ch 5: Growing Your Business

• Growing Your Business
• Take a Fresh Look
• Develop Your Team With SWOT Analysis
• Make Strategic Choices
• Create Commitment
• Establish Regular Plan Reviews

Tell Your Story

Ch 6: Describe Your Company

• Describe Your Company
• Locations and Facilities
• Thinking Strategically About Your Company
• Establishing Baseline Numbers for Ongoing Companies
• Past Performance Table
• Establishing Baseline Numbers For Start-up Companies
• Start-up Assets
• Start-up Funding
• Start-up Funding Table
• Loss at Start-up

Ch 7: What you Sell

• What you Sell
• Competitive Comparison
• Sourcing and Fulfillment
• Technology
• Future Products and Sales Literature

Ch 8: Management Team

• Management Team
• Cover the Bases in Text
• More Personnel Text
• Standard Personnel Plan
• Detailed Personnel Plan
• Headcount Personnel Plan

Gathering Information 

Ch 9: The Business You're In

• The Business You're In
• Distribution Patterns
• Competition and Buying Patterns
• Gathering Information
• Google and Yahoo! Views
• Bplans.com Website
• Palo Alto Software Website
• Government Websites
• Financials Profiles and Ratios
• Trade Associations and Business Publications
• Small Business Administration
• Business Assistance
• Business Assistance - 2

Ch 10: Know Your Market

• Know Your Market
• Talk to Customers
• Count Potential Customers
• Know Your Customers
• Values and Lifestyles
• Market Research on the Web

Forecasting

Ch 11: Forecast Your Sales

• Forecast Your Sales
• Unit-based Sales Forecast
• Cost of Sales
• Graphics as Forecasting Tools
• Graphics as Forecasting Tools - 2
• Explain the Sales Forecast
• Explain the Sales Forecast - 2

Ch 12: Your Target Market

• Your Target Market Forecast
• Market Analysis Table
• Explain Your Segmentation
• Explain Market Needs, Growth, Trends
• Target Market Overview

Ch 13: Expense Budget

• Expense Budget
• Budgeting is About People More Than Numbers
• The Budgeting Process
• Expense Budget Will be Part of Profit and Loss
• Budgets and Milestones Work Together

Financial Analysis 

Ch 14: About Business Numbers

• About Business Numbers
• Know These Words
• Assets vs. Expenses
• Debits and Credits
• Three Main Statements
• A Simple Financials Example
• Adding Some Realism
• More Realism - Working Capital
• Cash Flow Real Case
• Cash Flow Real Case - 2
• Cash Flow Real Case - 3
• Linking and Logic

Ch 15: The Bottom Line

• The Bottom Line
• Cost of Sales, COGS
• Detailed Profit and Loss Statement
• Expenses in Profit and Loss

Ch 16: Cash is King

• Cash is King
• A More Realistic Example
• Cash Flow Breakdown - Cash Received
• Cash Flow Breakdown - Cash from Receivables
• Cash Flow Breakdown - Additional Cash Received
• Cash Flow Breakdown - Estimating Expenditures
• Cash Flow Breakdown - Additional Expenditures
• Planning for Inventory
• Calculating Cash Balance
• Indirect Cash Flow Method
• Direct vs. Indirect Cash Flow Methods
• Cash Flow Links to the Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow Links to the Balance Sheet - 2
• How to Plan Cash Flow
• Understanding Loans, Interest, and Repayment
• Cash Flow Chart as a Cash Pilot

Ch 17: Finish the Financials

• Finish the Financials
• Standard Industry Profiles
• Business Ratios
• Business Ratios - 2
• Business Ratios - 3
• Break-even Analysis

Strategy and Tactics

Ch 18: Strategy is Focus

• Strategy is Focus
• Strategy Pyramid
• Your Marketing Strategy
• Value-Based Marketing
• Define Sales Strategy

Ch 19: Make it Real

• Make it Real
• Manage Your Summaries

Ch 20: Planning for Implementation

• Planning for Implementation
• Implementation Isn't Automatic
• Plan vs. Actual Case Example
• Plan vs. Actual Case - Sales Variance
• Plan vs. Actual Case - Adjusting Sales Plan
• Plan vs. Actual Case - Planned Profit and Loss
• Plan vs. Actual Case - Actual Profit and Loss
• Plan vs. Actual Case - Profit and Loss Variance
• Understanding Variance Analysis
• Understanding Variance Analysis - 2

Following Up

Ch 21: Print and Publish

• Print and Publish
• Presentation

Ch 22: Getting Financed

• Getting Financed
• Venture Capital
• Sort-of Venture Capital - Angels and Others
• Commercial Banks
• Small Business Administration
• Words of Warning
• Submitting a Plan to a Bank
• Submitting a Plan to Investors
• Investors Want a Presentation
• Target Investors Carefully
• Net Present Value
• Internal Rate of Return
• Investment Analysis
• Investment Offering
• Stock Shares and Dilution
• Stock Ownership

Appendices  

Appendices

• About This Site
• Contact Information
• Illustration List
• Links to Business Resources
• Sample Business Plans
• Site Map

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Copyright © Timothy J. Berry, 2006. All rights reserved.