Goal is to provide:

       1.   A market exists for your product and/or service that will allow you to acheive a profit,
       2.   You are well positioned to make a profit from this market, and
       3.   Your financial projections are reasonable and in-line with your assumptions from numbers 1 & 2.

  Resources:

    Layout & Functions

       Small Business Association | http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/writingplan.html
       BPlan.com | http://www.bplan.com/

  Goal is to provide:

       1.   A focused summary of the plan, and
       2.   Specific identification of the goals of the new venture at this point (including financing).

  Notes:

       *   Write the executive summary last.

  Checklist:

       _____   Identify the market opportunity, marketing strategy, and the company's unique features.
       _____   Identify the management team's experience and accomplishments.
       _____   Describe the business.
       _____   Specify the financial goals of the business.
       _____   Specify how much money the company needs, how the money will be used, and how funds will be obtained.
       _____   Specify what the owners are contributing and the value of any collateral.

  Goal is to provide:

       1.   A general overview of the new organization, and
       2.   Basic information relevant to understanding the business.

  Notes:

       *   If the information is longer than a page, summarize it and put the rest in the appendix.

  Checklist:

       _____   Describe when and why the company was formed.
       _____   Describes the marketing history of the product and service (if applicable).
       _____   Outline the company's annual sales, profits, and performance to date. (if applicable)
       _____   Identify key goals and allow sufficient time to accomplish them.
       _____   Address legal liability issues.
       _____   Address legal structure.
       _____   Address insurance requirements & coverage.
       _____   Address security issues.
       _____   Describe billing & collections systems.

  Resources:

    Business Structure, Name, & Registration

Registration of your fictitious name or entity with the state of Florida does not reserve or protect a name against use by another party, nor does it provide rights to the use of a trade name, trademark, service mark or corporate name. If name protection is your goal, you may want to pursue registering a trademark or service mark.

  Goal is to provide:

       1.   A reason why your product/service will stand out in the market, and
       2.   Information pertinent to understanding your product/service.

  Checklist:

       _____   Describe the products and/or services.
       _____   Identify the unique features.
       _____   Identify the special benefits to the user.
       _____   List the requirements from regulatory agencies. (if applicable)
       _____   List critical and backup suppliers plus subcontractors.
       _____   Address the raw material needs.
       _____   Describe equipment needs.
       _____   Address the research and development requirements. (if applicable)

  Goal is to provide:

       1.   Who will lead the organization, and in what capacity, and
       2.   Establish complete credibility and ability of these leaders.

  Checklist:

       _____   List key management positions, salaries, and benefits.
       _____   List the members of the professional team and their contact information (including accountant, attorney, advisors, etc.).
       _____   List personnel requirements, salaries, and costs.
       _____   Outline primary job duties and responsibilities assigned to each position.
       _____   Identify the individuals who are expected to fill each position.
       _____   Summarize each person's experience and accomplishments.
       _____   Provide explanation of how deficiencies will be overcome.

  Goal is to provide:

       1.   Organizational, personnel, and operating goals and measures, and
       2.   An understanding of the flow of cash in, through, and out of the organization.

  Goal is to provide:

       1.   The proposed target market(s) of the venture,
       2.   An overview of the competitive environment,
       3.   The pricing strategy of the organization,
       4.   The promotional and advertising plans, and
       5.   How sales will be managed.

  Checklist:

       _____   Identify target markets for industry.
       _____   Address market size.
       _____   Address geographic locations.
       _____   Address industry trends.
       _____   Addresses seasonal factors.
       _____   Address existing distribution networks.
       _____   Include a customer profile.
       _____   Identify target markets of company and size of each.
       _____   Address advertising, promotion, and packaging.
       _____   Address warranties and guarantees.
       _____   Address trade shows.
       _____   Discuss future markets.
       _____   Describe competitive advantages and disadvantages of company.
       _____   Summarize the nature of competition.
       _____   Address the market opportunities.
       _____   Address the threats that exist in the market place.
       _____   Identify major competitors and addresses their strengths and weaknesses.
       _____   Include pricing policies.
       _____   Address pricing procedures for industry.
       _____   Address gross profit margin potential.
       _____   Address the terms of sales.

  General Resources:

    Layout & Resources

Mplans.com provides examples of layouts of, and samples of, marketing plans, while knowthis.com provides helpful links to assist you in completing the plan.

  Goal is to provide:

       1.   Financial goals and needs of the organization,
       2.   Contingency plans for unexpected/unmet factors, and
       2.   Reasonable financial projections.

  Checklist:

       _____   Specify the financial goals of the business.
       _____   Specify how much money the company needs, how the money will be used, and how funds will be obtained.
       _____   Describes the financial risks and the strategies for their mitigation.
       _____   Address industry trends.
       _____   Addresses seasonal factors.
       _____   Address existing distribution networks.
       _____   Addresses contingency plan if sales forecasts go unmet.
       _____   Identify target markets of company and size of each.
       _____   Address advertising, promotion, and packaging.
       _____   Addresses the repayment of loans.
       _____   Addresses the investment opportunity.
       _____   Discuss future markets.
       _____   Describe competitive advantages and disadvantages of company.
       _____   Summarize the nature of competition.
       _____   Addresses the return on investment.
       _____   Addresses the exit strategy for investors.

  Resources:

    Bank Comparisons

       Bankrate.com | http://www.bankrate.com

    Benchmarking

       BizStats.com | http://www.bizstats.com/

    Breakeven

       BreakEven Calculator | http://www.dinkytown.net/java/BreakEven.html

    Credit Scoring

       ConsumerInfo.com ($34.95 for Scores from the three major bureaus) | http://www.consumerinfo.com/

    Terminology

       InvestorWords.com | http://www.investorwords.com/

  Goal is to provide:

       1.   Additional relevant information not located within the parameters of the plan, and
       2.   Support documents referred to within the plan.