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In one engaging, outcome-oriented book, The FT Essential Guide to Writing a Business Plan gives you:
With advice that’s instantly applicable, whether your business is a start-up or a more established company looking to grow, this is the one guide you need to create a credible and persuasive plan.
Preface
Introduction
Part 1: Preparing your plan
Chapter 1 - Essential preparation
Result
Need
Preparation
Plans for SMEs
Part 2: Writing your plan
Chapter 2 - The business
Background
Business mix by segment
Segmentation in a start-up
Chapter 3 - Market demand
Market size
Market growth
Market demand for a start-up
Market demand risks and opportunities
Chapter 4 - Competition
Your competitors
Competitive intensity
Competition in a start-up
Industry competition risks and opportunities
Chapter 5 - Strategy
Competitive position
Strategy
Strategy in a start-up
Strategic risks and opportunities
Chapter 6 - Resources
Management
Marketing
Operations and capital expenditure
Resource risks and opportunities
Chapter 7 - Financials and forecasts
Historic financials
Market-driven sales forecasts
Competition-driven margin forecasts
Funding the plan
Full financial forecasts
Forecasts in a start-up
Financial risks and opportunities
Chapter 8 - Risk, opportunity and sensitivity
Meet the Suns and Clouds chart
What the suns and clouds tell you
Sensitivity testing
Chapter 9 - Conclusion
Conclusion
Executive summary
Investment highlights
Part 3: Using your plan
Chapter 10 - Pitching your plan
Focusing the content
Using PowerPoint
Delivering the message
Chapter 11 - Setting targets
Choosing key performance indicators
Setting milestones
Chapter 12 - Performing to plan
Monitoring your plan
Appraising managerial performance
Evaluating your plan
Epilogue: Beware these characters!
Appendices
Appendix A: Deriving competitive position
Appendix B: Structured interviewing of customers
Appendix C: An example business plan
Appendix D: Further reading
Index