Writing a Business Plan - A How-To Guide

Lots of people want to start their own business. One of the first things that stops these would-be entrepreneurs from realizing their ambitions is the seemingly daunting task of writing a business plan. Writing a business plan, though, is a rather easy task if you understand your business, so let's take a look at what a business plan entails.

Before we jump into drafting our business plan, we should think about why we are writing a business plan in the first place. Most business plans are used to secure financing for a business - whether it be a start-up or an existing company looking for additional capital. This financing could come from a bank, an equity or venture capital fund, friends, family or just about any other potential investor you could think of.

Another reason to write a business plan is to organize yourself, make sure you have thought through all the components of your business and make sure that it makes sense. A great idea for a product or service may not amount to a great business unless you can turn a profit through effective marketing, management of expenses, management of accounting and information systems, etc.

Financial Management and Budgeting in Business

Importance of Financial Management

Finance is a key functional area of business management. This area is commonly referred to as Financial Management. The term defines the achievement of key financial objectives by making investment and financial decisions. Essentially, it is the management of all the processes associated with the efficient acquisition and deployment of both short and long-term financial resources. Financial Management assists an organisation's management to reach its financial objectives such as the creation of wealth, solvency, liquidity, growth and return on investment achieved through a process of financial planning, control and decision-making.

Financial Control

Commercial Finance and TARP Money Small Business Loans Considered

There has been a lot of talk in the financial news about the challenges of getting money into the small business community so those companies can expand, hire more workers, and provide the economic engine to sustain our economic recovery. The Obama Administration has a plan, but like any plan to revive an economy, it requires all the players to be on board. If they are, then this infusion of small business financing money couldn't come soon enough.

There was an interesting article recently in the Wall Street Journal, sub-section CFO Journal on June 23, 2011 titled "Banks Wary of TARP Approach to Small Business Lending," by Emily Chasen (Senior Editor). The article stated:

"The Obama administration's efforts to spur small-business lending through a spin-off of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) - hasn't exactly received thunderous support from community banks, who may be too worried about government intervention if they accept funds, and the creditworthiness of prospective borrowers, to make a dent in the frozen small business lending market."