HomeBiz - Creating Your Business Plan

HomeBiz News Creating Your Business Plan by Liz Folger, Work-at-Home Mom Expert
When I started my first business I didn't have a solid, well thought-out business plan. I threw together a rough one that I used to apply for a bank loan (which I didn't get, by the way). If you take the time to research and put together a small business plan, you will have a much clearer and focused idea of what you can expect in your business. A good business plan will help you figure out approximately what your business will cost to get off the ground. You don't want to guess at this. Knowing your costs will help you decide what you're going to charge. The bottom line most businesses fail because they don't have a clearly spelled-out business plan. Don't make that mistake. For those of you who have been in business for awhile, don't think a business plan can't help you. Because you'll be wrong. Your business plan should be taken out on a regular basis, reread and updated. Questions You should ask yourself Below I have given you a list of questions you should ask yourself when starting your home business. For a complete list of questions, check out my book, "The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To Making Money", available here.. What is your business exactly? Explain in one or two sentences. (If you can't describe your business in a couple of sentences, rethink your business and focus your idea). Is my particular business needed? List the reasons that make you thinks so. Where do I see my business being in one year? In three years? In five years? (Be specific.) How will I fund my business? Savings, credit cards, loans? What equipment/office supplies/licenses will I need to get my business started? Total Cost? What organizations and trade publications will I need? Total Cost? Who is my target customer? Describe them. What organizations/publications to my target customers belong to? What other businesses will I be competing with? What makes my business different from my competitor's business? (Include price, quality, unique services, etc.) Where will I set up my home office? Is it going to cost me money to make a nice workable office? Cost? Will I use daycare everyday or once a week? Cost? How much money do I need to make each month to help my family survive? Once again, this is just a partial list, but there are enough questions here to give you a good idea of what you'll be facing with a new business and the costs involved. A business plan is essential to any successful home business. As one great quote says, Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. - Author Unknown.		See also: Liz Folger's article in Homebiz "How to get your husband to back your business" Recommended Book The Stay-At-Home Mom's Guide to Making Money: How to Create the Business That's Right for You Using the Skills and Interests You Already Have click here to find out more by Liz Folger Twice as many women as men are now starting businesses; women now account for 40 percent of all American business owners. Many of them juggle career and family from their homes. This book shows how and includes profiles of home businesswomen who are achieving their dreams in many fields
Questions? Problems? Ideas? contact us at HomeBiz@families-first.com
	Liz Folger is Work-at-Home Mom Expert and author of, "The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To making Money. She has created a resource site for work-at-home moms at: http://www.bizymoms.com. When you visit don't forget to sign-up for the free e-newsletter for Bizy Moms. If you would like to include Liz's syndicated column on your site or publication e-mail her at: Bizymommy@aol.com "Creating Your Business Plan" is reprinted with the permission of the author.