Your Business Roadmap to Success

Having a business plan is a great way of clearly defining your objectives and what it will take logistically and financially to achieve them, and in what time frame.   You can have a formal plan or an informal one.

A formal business plan is a detailed document that adheres to a standard format. Formal business plans are required when applying for a small business loan or grant from the government, banks, or approaching venture capitalists. Formal business plans include an appendix area that contains important supporting documents. An informal business plan can be pretty much anything as long as you and possible business partners understand and agree to its terms. Obviously the more detailed the better but it is at your discretion.

When properly developed and maintained, a business plan can help to keep you and your team focused. A business plan is a road map for a business that should address: What the business's goal(s) are, who's involved and their respective roles, your target market, your marketing plan, financial details, and what sets your business apart from the competition.

The old saying of "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail" can hold great meaning for someone who wants to start or operate a business. Even if outside funding is not necessary, it might become necessary to have one as your business grows to keep everything flowing in the right direction.  Even otherwise, a business plan is a valuable tool that can help you understand the market and your competition that are keys to avoiding failure. 

You need to know if there's a market for you products or services and you still need to know what the financial potential, start-up costs and breakeven point will be.  If you are looking for business partners to build your network marketing team you need to know how to find like-minded individuals and how to deliver your message to them.  Conversion is of the utmost importance whereby you want to maximize your success rate for the time, energy, and money you invest into your franchise.

You also need to have a good idea of how you're going to deliver your products/services to your potential customers.  You need to keep accurate sales and prospecting records.  Following up with all your leads is such an important part of closing deals.  Very often it takes multiple correspondence with members of your target audience to see results.  Establish meaningful relationships with as many people both offline and on the Internet.  Keep track of how much money you have available and how much you are currently spending on operations and promotion.  Establish what your future cash flow is likely to be, at least for 2-3 month increments so that you can plan ahead for upcoming expenses and potential tax liabilities.

Once you're up and running keep track of how you're doing, make necessary adjustments to your overall marketing game plan, and learn from your mistakes. With time you will have a better feel for the viability of your business and the potential for income.  You will also know what resources you'll need to continue to succeed. In fact, you may find it useful to set up a general outline for your business plan and fill in the specific details as they become apparent to you. This will keep the plan dynamic and a constant work in progress.  In the meantime, try to make some money and learn what it will take to make your business a success. Don't forget too, that if you're thinking of buying a franchise or other type of business opportunity you should most definitely do your research before you invest your hard-earned money in what could turn out to be a big mistake.  Cheers!