You Know Your Business. We Know Business Plans.

For many years, that was the tag line that my co-founder and I lived by here at BizPlanIt. While we have since moved on from that tag line, the thought behind that line still lives on today in our company.

One of the most common questions we get from prospective clients who are starting a business is “how much do you know about XYZ industry” or “have you worked with many companies that sell ABC products or services”. After nearly 14 years, we have indeed worked in most major industries and so we are able to confidently answer yes to this question in most cases.

But, truthfully the answer to the question does not and should not matter to you when looking to hire a business plan professional.

As business plan consultants and writers, it is our primary mission to help our clients develop clear, concise and compelling business plans. If we have done it right, our clients will be able to confidently put their best foot forward as they meet and speak with investors and lenders.

Whether or not you hire us (or another business plan writing firm), it is your job as a startup entrepreneur to do the necessary due diligence so you become the expert in your industry. When you sit down to persuade an investor that you have the next great something or a unique solution to a problem, you must demonstrate a 360 degree mastery of your business.

Rely upon your business plan consultant to communicate your message in a powerful and convincing manner, as well as help you deepen and strengthen your value proposition. But, it is up to you to do the necessary homework that will ensure your success.

So where should you turn for expert advice in your industry? It all comes down to building a network of people that can help you fill in the missing pieces.

For instance, we recently completed a business plan with an entrepreneur starting a car wash in the northwest United States. Early on, he met with realtors who specialized in locating parcels of land appropriate for a car wash. This helped him get a better understanding for the relationship between location and demographics and how it would impact his daily customer count. He met with car wash equipment manufacturers who helped him understand his construction, equipment and supply costs, as well as generate a revenue estimate based upon their experience working with hundreds of other car washes. He met with a marketing and branding expert who helped him to better understand how he was going to promote his offering to the local market.

After spending dozens of hours speaking with these individuals, our client had the details he needed to complete his plan. But, more importantly he had gained the knowledge he needed to develop a powerful business plan and set himself up for funding and business success.

No matter how much your business plan writers and consultants know about your business and industry, your funding success will still come down to how well you sell yourself and your opportunity. Are you ready?

About the Author, Scott Pollov

Scott Pollov is a results oriented professional with more than sixteen years of experience in planning, developing, growing, marketing, and financing entrepreneurial ventures, middle market companies, and commercial real estate and development projects as a consultant, capital advisor, board member, and investor. Primary focus is on bringing together a strong business plan, with the most appropriate capital, connections, and resources to help companies catalyze growth and profitability.

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