Presented by SCORE Chicago

A Business Plan is an important document for raising start-up capital, helping you to monitor progress and achieve your goals. When done correctly, it is a "living" document and tool that will help you manage the business beyond start-up.

In this webinar, you will learn how to prepare a realistic plan that will document your vision, goals, and strategy. No business should be started or maintained without a plan. The key is an understanding of what should be included and how to capture the reader's interest in a concise but interesting way. In addition to developing a successful business plan, the presenter will help you understand the financial statements and how they relate to risk and performance. You will also be educated about the SBA qualifications and how to overcome the underwriting obstacles.

Attendees will learn how to:

Establish the information needed for a detailed Business Plan.

Create the environment of the company, product, or service that will be the basis of the business plan; identify the operations, marketing approach, and financial implications.

Establish pro forma P&L statements, utilizing three revenue scenarios: aggressive, modest, and slow revenue growth.

Identify the risks you'll face within each pro forma P&L statement; select the most likely growth scenario.

Develop the expected cash flow from the chosen growth scenario, loan needs, and expected payback to investors and yourself.

Prioritize your action steps, recognizing those that are absolute musts, very important, and less important.

In essence, you are creating a timeline and calendar for the tasks you will undertake to accomplish your growth objectives.

Create your Plan and the last critical item, the Executive Summary.