FDG BUSINESS SERVICES - Business Plan Writing

Business Plan Development

What It Includes:
The body of the business plan can be divided into four distinct sections: 1) the description of
the business, 2) the marketing plan, 3) the financial management plan and 4) the
management plan. Addenda to the business plan should include the executive summary,
supporting documents and financial projections.

Description of The Business:
In this section, you will need to provide a detailed description of your business. An excellent
questions to ask yourself is: "What business am I in?" In answering this question include
your products, markets and services as well as a thorough description of what makes your
business unique.

The business description section is divided into three primary sections: Section 1 actually
describes your business, Section 2 the product or service you will be offering and Section 3
the location of your business, and why this location is desirable (if you have a franchise,
some franchisor's assist in site selection).

Product and Services:
Try to describe the benefits of your goods and services from your customers' perspective.
Successful business owners know or at least have an idea of what their customers want or
expect from them. This type of anticipation can be helpful in building customer satisfaction
and loyalty. And, it certainly is a good strategy for beating the competition or retaining your
competitiveness.

The Location:
The location of your business can play a decisive role in its success or failure. Your location
should be built around your customers, it should be accessible and it should provide a
sense of security.

The Marketing Plan: See Marketing Plan Development

Pricing and Sales:
Your pricing strategy is another marketing technique you can use to improve your overall
competitiveness. Get a feel for the pricing strategy your competitors are using. That way you
can determine if your prices are in line with competitors in your market and if they are in line
with industry averages.

The Management Plan:
Managing a business requires more than just desire to be your own boss. It demands
dedication, persistence, the ability to make decisions and the ability to manage both
employees and finances. Your management plan, along with your marketing and financial
management plans, sets the foundation for and facilitates the success of your business.

The Financial Management Plan:
Sound financial management is one of the best ways for you business to remain profitable
and solvent. How well you manage the finances of your business is the cornerstone of every
successful business venture. Each year thousands of potentially successful businesses fail
because of poor financial management. As a business owner, you will need to identify and
implement policies that will lead to and ensure that you meet your financial obligations.

Summary:
There is a lot of research, preparation and documentation required to assemble a good
Business Plan. Our experienced affiliates have managed the development of hundreds of
business plans that have created millions of dollars in project funding for our clients. We
know what works and what does not work to gain funding acceptance. Many funding
rejections are due to poor business planning. Put the team at The FREEBORN
DEVELOPMENT GROUP to work for you.

Marketing Plan Basics

Marketing plays a vital role in successful business ventures. How well you market your
business will ultimately determine your degree of success or failure. The key element of a
successful Marketing Plan is to know your customers...their likes, dislikes, and expectations.
By identifying these factors, you can develop a Marketing Strategy that will allow you to
arouse and fulfill their needs.

You must identify your customers by their age, sex, income, education, geographic region,
industry, etc. At first you will only want to target those customers who are more likely to
purchase your products and services. As your customer base begins to expand, you may
need to consider modifying the Marketing Plan to include other customers and/or industries.

Develop a Marketing Plan for your business by answering the questions listed below.
(Potential franchise owners will have to use the Marketing Strategy the franchisor has
developed.) Your Marketing Plan must be included in your Business Plan and contain
answers to the following questions:

1. Who are your customers? Define your Target Market.
2. Are your Markets Growing? Steady? Declining?
3. Is your Market Share Growing? Steady? Declining?
4. If a franchise, how is your market segmented?
5. Are your Markets large enough to expand?
6. How will you attract, hold, and/or increase your Market Share? If a franchise,
will the franchisor provide assistance in this area? Base on the franchisor's
strategy? How will you promote Your Sales?
7. What Pricing Strategy have you developed?

Marketing Steps:
Step 1: Classify Your Customer Needs.
Step 2: Target Your Customers.
Step 3: Examine your "Niche"
Step 4: Identify your Competitors.
Step 5. Assess and Manage Your Available Resources:
- Financial
- Human
- Material
- Production

Marketing Positioning:
What, Where, and How do you see your business today? Five years from now?
- Follow The Leader
- Quality versus Price
- Innovator versus Adapter
- Customer versus Product
- International versus Domestic
- Private Sector versus Government

Sales Strategy:
Use Customer-Oriented Selling Approach:
Phase One: establish a plan to develop rapport with your customer-by agreeing what the
Customer wants to achieve.
Phase Two: Determine Customer Objective and Situational Factors-by agreeing on what the
Customer wants to achieve and those factors in the environment that will influence these
results.
Phase Three: Recommend a Customer Action Plan-by agreeing that using your Products or
Services will indeed achieve what the Customer wants.
Phase Four: Obtaining Customer Commitment-by agreeing that the Customer will acquire
your Products or Services.

Conclusion:
Your Marketing Plan will establish your ability to enter into or expand your current business.
It is a critical part of your overall Business Plan. Proper preparation and research is critical
towards the successful presentation of your funding request.

The FREEBORN DEVELOPMENT GROUP works with new and established small, medium
and large business entities in a variety of diverse industries such as Aerospace, Agriculture,
Automotive, Aviation, Commercial Construction, Diesel Power, Diesel Marine, Environmental,
Industrial Facilities, Mining, Rail Roads, Shopping Centers, Medical Office Buildings,
Production and Manufacturing Facilities, Hotels, Motels, Strip Malls, Bowling and
Entertainment Facilities, Repair Facilities, Hospitals, etc. Our experience in these industries
provides you with an invaluable resource of information on your potential customers.

Our staff is available to assist you in developing your Marketing Plan. Call today for a FREE
evaluation of your proposal.

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