Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Good points here.

I think it’s important to distinguish between “outsourcing” and “hiring professional help”. The term outsourcing implies that you outline your vision for the business in a few broad brush strokes and then expect somebody else to flesh out your concept and turn it into a viable business plan. This is useless and you will likely end up with a cookie cutter plan that you could have easily prepared yourself.

Hiring professional assistance to complete a business plan however can yield various benefits, especially when you cannot draw from the experience of fellow team members. A qualified professional with a solid and verifiable track record can add value to your project on different levels for as long as their involvement goes beyond just putting your thoughts on paper.

Like some fellow posters mentioned before, look at a professional business planner like a mentor, who’s willing to guide you through the process, rather than finishing it on your behalf. Avoid going with somebody who has “prepared 100s of business plans” because quantity doesn’t matter – results do. Absolutely avoid going with somebody who has “the lowest rates” or is willing to accept the assignment for a couple of hundred dollars because you will most likely end up with the worthless cookie cutter document I mentioned before.

In all honesty, would you sit down and try to create a sound and original document, the process of which can take many days, for “less than $500”?

Online platforms like Elance.com are usually a good starting point, but providers on these platforms face fierce competition from literally hundreds of other providers most of which are by no means qualified to do the job. Going by their feedback also offers only very little guidance as buyers are hardly be in a position to judge the quality of a business plan immediately after the project was completed.

Try to locate a professional or a firm that takes pride in what they do. Don’t be afraid to request RFPs from major firms or boutiques. If your project stands out and they like the fundamentals, they may be very accommodating and interested in working with you. They can also draw from collective industry experience and be quite helpful when it comes to connecting you with potential capital resources.

If you are interested, you can download our free guide to effective business planning from our website at http://insights.fastventures.com/is-bin/guides/htg01082008/index.php

You can also send me a message in case you want to discuss your project in confidence.

I hope this helps & good luck.



Mark



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Jackson Steiner
http://www.JacksonSteiner.com

Advanced Document Design for entrepreneurs, intermediaries, and the financial services industry.
http://www.Publications.FastVentures.com

You should put down a guide plan yourself that makes it absolutely clear the objectives that your plan must achieve. Remember, if the plan is for a key customer then it will be different to one for a potential investor or a bank. Make sure you know exactly what`s required. 


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iMarketing Ireland- My site for helping entrepreneurs make more sales online.