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Smart-Start tm Business Plan Critical Information Primer

SMART-STARTtm
Business Plan Critical Information Primer

Smart-Starttm—It just makes smart business sense!

Copyright M.B.A. Corporate Services Inc.
Copyright will be diligently protected. Page 1 of 20



The following represents the minimum level of information required
as a basis for a supportable and useable business plan. It is
important that the information be relevant, current, and that
assumptions be kept to a minimum to reduce business risk and
substantially increase the probability of business success.

Each section is supported by a corresponding Smart Start TM
primer to allow the business owner to understand what is required
and where to access the required business information
independently and efficiently.

Upon submission of this complete primer, an M.B.A will review and
analyze the information provided and determine missing/required
elements. A detailed quotation will then be provided based on either
a project or hourly basis.

Section 1:
Industry, Competition, and Marketing Required Information

1. Type of business – retail, wholesale, manufacturing, service.

2. Describe the business clearly. Is this a new business, a franchise or the
purchase of an existing business?

3. Indicate the actual or proposed geographic location(s) of the business.



4. Describe the products and/or services that offered by the business.

5. What is the company’s mission statement?

6. What is the company’s vision of the business in 3 to 5 years in relation to your
industry, its size, and potential for growth?

7. What are the key success factors on which success is contingent in this
industry?



8. Provide a complete description of the product(s) service(s) including features
and benefits to the business customer or customer segments.

9. Many businesses have primary, secondary, and even tertiary products or
services. Identify the products and/or services as primary, secondary or
tertiary offerings or lines.



10.Describe the steps you have taken to research all the business’s market
segments and competitors.

11.Outline the immediate and long term outlook of the relevant industry or sub-
industry, its size, and potential for growth

12.Potential customers – what primary research (surveys and/or focus groups)
have been completed and what were the results?

13.Describe the overall business target market (geographically, demographically,
product/ service usage, etc.).



14.Identify the business target market segments that have been short listed as
potential customer groups. Be as specific as possible and list as many
characteristics as you can (demographic, psychographic, sociographic) to
describe these segments.

15.How many customers are there in each of these groups and what
features/benefits of the product services offered do they value the most
(supportable by survey or third party research)?



16.Identify 3 direct and indirect competitors and provide key information in regard
market share, price, benefits and features, marketing and sales strategies,
operational strategies, and financial benchmarks as compared to your
business.

17.What are the proposed business’s competitive advantages?



18.What specifically distinguishes the business from the competition as it relates
to marketing, sales, or operations?

SWOT Analysis:

List and evaluate the following attributes of the business in
relation to competition and as an industry.

19.Strengths

20.Weaknesses



21.Opportunities

22.Threats

23.Analysis and how you intend to deal with them (e.g. use strengths, fix
weaknesses, seize opportunities, counter threats)



24.What is the company’s unique positioning in the industry?

25.How will the company advertise and promote its product or services?

26.What advertising media and specific marketing strategies will the business
undertake to support? Indicate the timing, intended outcome in regard to lead
generation of this strategy and the cost(s) of the top 3 strategies
contemplated by completing the chart below?

Tracking of Advertising Advertising/Sales Method # 1:
Time Intervals Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6

Distribution/Circulation/Calls

Responses/Leads Generated

Resulting Sales:

Costs:






Resulting sales:

Costs:




Resulting sales:

Costs:



Section 2:

Operations Process, Resources, Legal and Risk
Required Information

27.Will the business be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or will it be
incorporated? If a partnership, describe the relationship, the reason for the
partnership, and the ownership percentages.

28.Describe any special licensing, laws, or regulations that affect your business
and must be complied with. What industry organizations or associations
should be joined?

29.Indicate the major business risks and how will they will be mitigated and
contained? What types of insurance will be required?



30.Describe in detail how the business products and services are fulfilled and
delivered to customers? What distribution network is in place?

31.Provide the production details or project tasks/steps. Indicate whether the
process is automated or manual. Indicate steps in the production or service
process that will be out sourced or subcontracted.



32.What strategic alliances have been or will be developed to virtually extend the
business’s operations or fill in any operational gaps?

33.Provide layout, location facilities, and capacity details of the business
location, office location, including lease arrangements/cost details, etc.

34.Provide a detailed list of all the businesses equipment requirements and
leasehold improvements, both production and office.



35.Will the business need employees? What positions, when, how many, what
skill sets, and at what salaries?

36.List all required suppliers and/or contractors will be required for the business
and what will they provide?

37.Include a list of professionals required by the business (lawyer, accountant,
trademark agent, graphic designer, web developer…)



38.Detail the business’s Critical Path/Implementation plan with start/finish dates,
estimated total time/costs consumed and, anticipated results of actions for the
first 12 months of the business.


Smart-Start tm Business Plan Critical Information Primer 2009

Section 3:

Financial Forecasts and Financial Benchmarks
Required Information

39. Provides list of all the fixed assets – equipment, furniture, vehicle, leasehold
improvements, patents, trademarks, etc. required for the business and their
related costs.

40.Provide all sources of anticipated financing including equity contributions,
asset financing including terms loans, mortgages, lease financing, factoring,
etc.



41.How much working capital is required for the business? How many months of
sales are covered by the working capital?

42. Provide 5 Years of anticipated Sales Forecasts

43. Provide 5 Years of anticipated Income Statement Forecasts

44. Provide 5 Years of anticipated Cash Flow Forecasts

45. Provide 5 Years of anticipated Balance Sheet Forecasts

Addendum:

46.Can you provide back up marketing materials or mock ups. Yes/No Of so
describe.



48. Can you provide functional resumes for all management and key personnel?
Yes/No. If so describe.

49. What are the major assumptions underlying the business plan
implementation.

50.Can you provide articles or supporting research including market size,
identified market trends, opportunities, barriers, etc? If so describe.

Here’s the Smart Start TM link to help you fill in this information

Congratulations!

You have completed the Smart-Starttm Business Plan Critical Information
Primer section of your business plan.

Email the Primer to mailto:mbaplan@businessplansplus.com for a precise
business planquotation. Please allow for a 24 hour response time.

Disclaimer: By virtue of using and/or completing and/or partially completing this primer
you agree to the following terms of use:

DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT AND LIABILITY

DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT


Disclaimer: By virtue of using and/or completing and/or partially completing this primer
you agree to the following terms of use:

DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT AND LIABILITY

DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT

Any reference obtained from this server to a specific commercial product,
process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by M.B.A
Corporate Services Inc. operating under the name Business Plans Plus the
product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and
opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or
reflect those of M.B.A Corporate Services Inc. (Business Plans Plus).

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY:

Neither M.B.A Corporate Services Inc (Business Plans Plus), nor any of
their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or
assumes any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of
any information from this server or the links to servers in this or other
publications and/or web pages. Return to Beginning of Primer


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