Would you take off on a road trip to a new destination without a map or good directions? Probably not. Yet, sometimes business owners go full speed ahead without even having a destination in mind, much less a map on how to get there. That's why so many businesses never make it. In today's competitive marketplace, 3/4 of all new businesses fail within two to three years. Whether you're launching a new business or working to strengthen or expand an established one, a business plan is your road map to success.
Business Plans For Dummies, 2^nd Edition helps you keep your businesses on track and reach your goals. Written by Paul Tiffany, PhD, professor at UC Berkley Haas Business School and the Wharton School of Business and Steven Peterson, PhD, Professor at UC Berkeley Haas Business School and CEO of Strategic Play, it helps you

Realistically determine where your business is and where you want to go
Create a detailed business plan and put it into action instead of in a drawer
Use the plan to secure financing
Prepare for opportunities avoid common pitfalls

In short, Business Plans for Dummies helps you determine where you want your business to go and create a map for getting there. You'll discover how to:

Identify and approach potential financial backers, including venture capital firms, angels, bankers, and others
Clarify and crystallize your company's mission, vision, and values
Analyze your industry and your competition
Identify your customers, including their needs, habits, purchase triggers, and decision-making processes
Objectively analyze your company's strengths and weaknesses
Analyze your financial situation in order to do realistic forecasts and budgets
Recognize trends and anticipate changes, both in the overall economy and in your industry
Plan for growth, considering the product life cycle, new products, or new markets
Structure your organization and nurture leadership

Complete with diverse techniques and approaches plus a sample business plan, Business Plans For Dummies gives you detailed how-to for designing a dynamic, business plan that will keep you on course in spite of the inevitable curves and detours in today's marketplace. It's a plantastic resource for business owners and entrepreneurs.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Create a Business Plan that Makes Strategic Sense:

Are you looking for a template that will allow you to create a business plan by simply filling in the blanks, as some software does? If so, you should beware of the danger in that approach. Without an in-depth understanding of basic business principles, you could end up with a plan that lacks coherence and is strategically flawed. This could undermine your credibility, and you would likely lose the interest of potential investors.
Rather than taking a superficial fill-in-the-blanks approach to business... more info

Great Information!:

Business Plans for Dummies has great information in it and is a wonderful resource for those starting or contemplating starting a business. Well worth the cost!

Good Reference for Beginners and Intermediates Alike:

I've done a number of business plans in my time and bought this book as a gift for a friend who wants to start her own business. I purchased it because it includes all of the basics needed to develop a business plan that will guide you as you start and build your business and will also give you the credibility you need to secure outside financing. This is a very good step-by-step guide for those completely new to business and an excellent refresher guide for those who already know the basics.
And, by the... more info

The title says it all...:

I'm a business planning consultant and a client just gave me a copy of this book. Way too basic, not enough help on the most important part of any business plan: the financials. If you want to get funded, look for a better book.

Accessories:

Business Plans Kit For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))

Author: Steven D., PhD Peterson, Peter E. Jaret, Barbara Findlay Schenck
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 0764597949
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

$23.09