The Definitive Business Plan - The Fast Track to Intelligent Planning for Executives and Entrepreneurs

This comprehensive book will ensure your business plan is robust enough to start, run or revitalise any business enterprise.

Whether your goal is raising start-up finance for a new business, requesting venture funding from a corporate parent or directing operational management, The Definitive Business Plan will help you deliver the information the decision-makers are really looking for.

Accessible to the newcomer and detailed enough for the experienced planner, the third edition of this international bestseller explains how to tailor a plan for specific readerships and meet specific objectives, helping you to focus your attention on strategic planning as well as on operational controls.
This new edition has been completely updated throughout.

List of contents

About the author
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Introduction to the First Edition
Introduction to the Revised Second Edition
Introduction to the Third Edition
Symbols used
1    What’s it all about?
Have you heard the one about …    
Who should read this book  
A quick fix or a longer-term tool?    
What is a plan anyway?      
Why bother?          
Key objectives for your plan
Your target audience          
Ten steps to a successful business plan        
Don’t trust consultants        
Who writes the business plan?         
How to use this book          
2    A winning presentation   
A concise communication   
Computer software 
Make it feel good   
First thoughts on layout       
Creating an outline document          
3    Getting down to it
Why?        
When you don’t want to be a big fish           
What to do if you have several businesses    
Your list of contents           
The executive summary      
The conclusion       
Responsibilities – and the timetable  
Be a SWOT
Where now?          
4    Know yourself      
Taking stock          
Start with the basics           
The central objective          
Are you visionary? 
How did you arrive here?
Some numbers to please the bankers           
Building up value
The all-important management team
Business organisation
Business infrastructure
Products and services
Core competencies
The next step
5    Know the world
For or against you?
The next steps
Collecting information
Understanding the world at large
Business partners
The market – what you are fighting for
The industry – what you are up against
Competitive advantages
Now write about it
Moving on
6    The core of your plan
A strategy and an operating plan
Portfolio strategy – what businesses should you have?
 Business strategies to satisfy your desires
Strategies for department managers
Resource requirements
Strategic objectives
Documenting the strategy
Creating an operating plan
Documenting the operating plan
Onwards
7    About these numbers
‘The time has come’, the walrus said, ‘to speak of other things’
Varying views of t

About the author

Richard Stutely has handled business plans on every scale – as a manager with HM Treasury (the UK finance ministry); a stockbroker and member of the London Stock Exchange; and subsequently as general manager of an international bank, where he saw business planning from a financial and funding perspective. Richard runs training courses, workshops, seminars and lectures for MBA students and corporate audiences. His books include The Definitive Guide to Business Finance, Brilliant Business The Economist Guide to Economic Indicators and The Economist Numbers Guide.

Summary

This comprehensive book will ensure your business plan is robust enough to start, run or revitalise any business enterprise.
Whether your goal is raising start-up finance for a new business, requesting venture funding from a corporate parent or directing operational management, The Definitive Business Plan will help you deliver the information the decision-makers are really looking for.
Accessible to the newcomer and detailed enough for the experienced planner, the third edition of this international bestseller explains how to tailor a plan for specific readerships and meet specific objectives, helping you to focus your attention on strategic planning as well as on operational controls.
This new edition has been completely updated throughout.

Product details

• Authors: Richard Stutely
• Publisher: Financial Times Prentice Hall
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.05.2012
• EAN: 9780273761143
• ISBN: 978-0-273-76114-3
• No. of pages: 376
• Dimensions: 173 mm x 236 mm x 1 mm
• Weight: 644 g
• Illustrations: w. ill.
• Series: Financial Times; Financial Times
• Subject: Social sciences, law, business > Business > Management