An Effective Business Plan Comes From a Good Process

August 24, 2010 by Frank Goley, Business Consultant

A Business Plan is Important for Business Success

A good Business Plan is the most important, but most often overlooked, part of running a business, starting a business, expanding and growing a business, or obtaining finance for a business. If a Business Plan is well developed and written, the starting, expanding, running or financing a business is much easier and effective, leaving less room for error and failure. While you cannot predict everything that can happen in a company’s future, a good Business Plan helps you avoid certain pitfalls, overcome obstacles, while also anticipating and creating opportunities.

Business Plan Formats

There are different Business Plan Formats for different purposes. Always start with a Comprehensive Business Plan to successfully run your business. Once you have completed your Comprehensive Business Plan, then you can take certain parts of that Plan to form the other ancillary Business Plans for other purposes, such as a Funding Business Plan for a Bank, Investor or Venture Capital Firm.

Business Plan Process

Formats are important for Business Planning but most important is the Process. The Process is a building block system that is continuous, systematic and comprehensive. It involves the entire Company, produces effective decision making and executes those decisions in a Strategic Plan. A good Business Plan measures the relationship between Expectations and Performance- it evaluates your Company’s progress or the lack thereof. A Business Plan’s goal is to create the future for your company, taking a proactive approach toward your target markets.

Business Planning is Art and Science

It is said, writing a good Business Plan is more art than science. It is good to have a proven process and format, but you can’t just fill in the blanks on a master planning program or document. It is a matter of asking yourself the right questions within that proven process and format which brings about a successfully developed and written Business Plan. You can find such a process in my Business Plan Book.

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- "Most small business owners can appreciate the value of business planning. The missing piece is an easy to use, comprehensive approach to the process. Frank Goley's Comprehensive Business Planning Guide and Workbook supplies the missing piece by providing a clear explanation of the all the components of an effective business plan. Plus, his Business Planning Guide and Workbook includes a plug in format for your business data. For those business owners dedicated to more profit, Frank Goley's Comprehensive Business Planning Guide and Workbook is a perfect fit." -- Don Osborne, The Profit Puzzle [more testimonials]
- "We really needed help with our business plan writing. We actually did not think Frank Goley was going to have time to respond to our request but he did. Although our business plan was in its initial draft version, Frank was honest to point out that the business plan needed a lot of work. At a high level, Frank suggested the following to be considered: Correct formatting Follow the SBA guidelines Strong marketing research and analysis We certainly appreciate Frank for contributing his time and effort to help us with the most important stage of our business formation – writing the business plan. Thanks again for all the help." -- BB [more testimonials]
- "I would like to thank you Mr. Goley for making the extra effort with my business plan. The world of business is cut throat and the slightest misstep by an inexperienced entrepreneur can lead to a good idea becoming a waste of time and energy. Mr. Goley has the expertise and knowledge that allows for your great idea to become a great business. He told me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted, as well as, pointing me in the right direction for my future business endeavors." -- Foster Fox, Entrepreneur [more testimonials]
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- “Frank, I reviewed the information you provided regarding business turnarounds. I was impressed by the level of detail and the elements that dealt with the leadership qualities of the business turnaround consultant and team. I have reviewed a great deal of literature on the topic and have interviewed a number of turnaround experts. Few have addressed the level of detail that you have provided and none have addressed the requisite qualities of the turnaround team. Thanks again for providing this information!” -- Dan Anderson, MBA, CBA, Director, Small Business Development Center, Helena, MT [more testimonials]
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- "At the beginning I thought I knew everything about developing a business plan for small and medium size businesses, but when I found ABC Business Consulting to help me prepare this plan, it was a totally different learning experience for me, as this firm showed me that it required a professional staff like ABC Business Consulting to put this plan together with me. I have learned a lot by exchanging ideas and information with ABC and developing my business skills. I thank Frank from ABC Business Consulting for all his help, advice and finally his patience with me as they are very quick in response and completed my Business Plan in time. Well done and great job! I highly recommend ABC Business Consulting and their services." -- Ali Al-Jazairi, Yas Marine (Business Plan Level IV Client) [more testimonials]
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- “Frank, thank you for a very good program and presentation. The Evansville Executive Forum enjoyed your talk, and it provoked a lot of conversation about their use or none use of business plans. Again, thank you. -- Jack Barner, University of Evansville, Vice President for Institutional Advancement [more testimonials]
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- “Not only did Frank work closely with me to development these strategies, but he has also implemented these strategies into real world solutions which reflect the strategic direction of my company. The comprehensive planning, consulting and implementation approach ABC Business Consulting offers is quite unique in the marketplace, and I have found it incredibly useful in defining the direction my company needs to take to be successful in this economy and beyond. Thanks Frank for all the help and advice. I look forward to a long term and successful relationship with ABC Business Consulting.” – Randy Velker, Owner, Simple Energy Works [more testimonials]
- “Frank Goley with ABC Business Consulting has done a fantastic job in creating a stunning website for my company, Simple Energy Works. Not only is the design inviting, but I am really excited about the sales process strategy and design integrated into the website, which with finesse calls website visitors to take action. This is something that my previous website failed to do well. Frank’s website designers also really did a bang up job in designing my social media properties and created a website within a Facebook Fanpage that is just incredible!” – Randy Velker, Owner, Simple Energy Works [more testimonials]
- “Frank Goley's presentation on strategic business planning was very informative and will be of great help to our firm as we work through a new business plan.” -- Ryan Martin, Director of Business Development, Accumark, Inc. [more testimonials]
- "I just wanted to express my appreciation for the business plan review service. It has helped tremendously in revising and making the plan attractive to potential investors and helped to eliminate the fatal flaws that could stop it dead in its tracks. The service was very quick and efficient. An absolute must for every entrepreneur or anyone looking for that extra help with a business plan. I eagerly look forward to doing further business in the future and making full use of more of the services offered!" -- Chris Johnson, Saskatchewan, Canada [more testimonials]
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- “Frank, I reviewed the information you provided regarding business turnarounds. I was impressed by the level of detail and the elements that dealt with the leadership qualities of the business turnaround consultant and team. I have reviewed a great deal of literature on the topic and have interviewed a number of turnaround experts. Few have addressed the level of detail that you have provided and none have addressed the requisite qualities of the turnaround team. Thanks again for providing this information!” -- Dan Anderson, MBA, CBA, Director, Small Business Development Center , Helena, MT [more testimonials]
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