Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello, does anyone know of any resources, templates, guidlines, outlines, forums, good advice etc. for writing a Business Plan for a business that is not selling consumer products? In fact our product is wholesale electricity,  we will be a Non Utility Generator assured access under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.

We are still in the seed stage and I am writing a Business Plan for potential investors. But all the Business Plan guidance I find is geared toward consumer products, websites, and restaurants!

Some of it applies, but I think I am missing out on something...

Blarvin,

Although your "product" seems to be a bit unique, I think your plan should still include the "traditional" sections (ie the company, the products, the market, the marketing, the people, the numbers, etc) and while I find that templates can be useful in helping to organize your thoughts - it behooves you to decide the best way to tell your business story.

If you already have connected with the potential investors, you can "tune" your document to their interests and focus.  If you are just starting the search - then I'd suggest developing a profile of your target so you can "tune" the plan to their interests.

If you want to discuss your specific situation, feel free to contact me directly.

Just because you cannot find a sample business plan for your "product" doesn't mean you should feel lost.  In fact, I do not recommend that owner use samples or templates.  The only time you would want to use a sample business plan is if you are unsure of what a section should contain.

You should have the main points in your business plan, such as company overview, management summary, product/service, marketing strategy, SWOT, financial projections, strategy implementation, etc.  If you would like assistance in writing you plan, or even to just have someone review it, please contact me.

Actually you can get your business plan completed via virtual freelance websites. I got one done recently and I was quite happy with it.

The link below will take you to an article describing a simple 4 question business plan.  Don't be fooled though by what on the surfaces appears to be a simple plan.  By the time you answer all the questions, you will have put many hours of thought into the plan.  The plan also works for any type of product or business.  Hope this helps.

http://www.wisebread.com/create-a-business-plan-by-answering-4-simple-questions

Thank you all for the replies!

New term at school just started, havn't gotten back on here...

I do have a SCORE counselor, and I am using the SCORE template as a general guide. The issue is about how much technical data should be included in the business plan, items that would go in the appendices in a normal plan. This is such a technical (and also regulated) market, should I include data about the industry and market environment right in the plan? It is starting too look like a technical report. I guess I am trying to demonstrate that I understand the rules and facts of the game... but in reality do you think potential (Angel level) investors will care about that, or is it safer to stick to a positive narrative and glowing mission statement?

I do have a loose financial projection, a five-year plan for profitability, marketing plan (an extremely finite number of customers!)...

It seems like if, hypothetically, I were to hire a small firm to write a business plan for me, they would not do it for the regular rate. They would probably need 10 people researching the industry for three weeks... Am I missing the point?

Good Evening,

I have come across your post in my quest to startup as a Non Utility Generator in the Mid-Atlantic area of the United States.  My journey has only just begun as I am turly in the "pencil and napkin" stage at this point.  I am interested in your progress thus far and would appreciate any experiences if you have the time and opportunity.

Hi

You can find a wealth of information about starting a Business, running a business and developing a Business Plan at Bplans.co.uk.

Hope this helps

John

Have you considered contracting an MBA student on a freelance basis to do your business plan.  Students come cheaper than professional consultants as they are looking for the experience.  Post your project for free and no obligation to select a winner.  www.mbaprojectsearch.com.

Yahoo News about site: http://news.yahoo.com/mbaprojectsearch-com-offers-freelance-mba-students-top-tier-081758169.html

Students from some of the top MBA programs are registrants--Columbia, Duke, UVA, Northwestern, U Chicago, NYU, Georgetown, etc.