Components of a business plan: Financing

 

Where to go to find money…

• Small Business Administration – Financial Assistance
• BusinessFinance.com
• Angel Capital Association
• American Venture Capital Exchange
• National Venture Capital Association

Components of a business plan: human resources

Identify skill and salary levels of employees at the Bureau of Labor’ Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. A wealth of information on skill levels and job descriptions is available.

Components of a business plan: Support & Guidance

Where to go for more help…

• Small Business Development Centers
• Economic Development Centers Directory
  • Greater Lafayette Progress
• Business.gov – Patents & Trademarks
• US Code of Federal Regulations
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration

Components of a business plan: Market research

 

Review market research reports for details and projections.

• BizMiner – Market Research Profiles
• MarketResearch.com Academic
• MarketLine Business Information Centre
• Plunkett’s Online Research
• Associations Unlimited (Trade Associations)

Components of a business plan: Competitors & Suppliers

Who are you competing with and who are you partnering with?

• ReferenceUSA (MEL only)
• CatalogXpress
• Thomas Register
• Business & Company Resource Center

Components for developing a business plan: Industry Analysis

Analyze the industry and market you will be in…

• Industry Classifications
• Industry Ratios
  • Almanac of Business and
    Industrial Financial Ratios (book)
  • Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios (book)
  • Key Business Ratios(database)
  • e-Statement Studies (database)
    
• Current Industrial Reports(CIR)
• BizMiner – Financial Analysis Profiles
  • BizStats – Summary data from BizMiner
• NetAdvantage (Industry Surveys)
• Industry Handbook – Investopedia
  (5 Forces Model on selected industries)
• QuickMBA – Strategy
  (Business strategies & analysis techniques)

Components for developing a business Plan: Location, location, location

 

Gather information on where you will be located…do you have customers there?…what are they like?

• BizMiner – Local Business Summaries
• CFED – Development Report Card for States
• U.S. Census: American Factfinder
• Bureau of Economic Analysis – Regional Economic Accounts
• U.S. Chambers of Commerce

Business Plan Tools and Samples

Sources for sample business plans and tools to create a business plan.

• Business Plans Handbook
• Entrepreneur.com: Business Plans
• Bplans.com: Sample Plans
• NEBS Business Plan Tool
• Agricultural Innovation & Commercialization Center: INVenture Business Planning Tool