Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
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Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
Hi Guys! Did most of you write your own business plans or did you pay someone elso to do it. I would like to do it myself but I don't have the time...not that I have the cash either but i think its worth it to pay someone who is an expert> what do you think? ...did you use any of the online companies to do it? were they expensive?
I spent a weekend writing my own. It came out to be about 11 pages. I did it to get my thoughts and ideas together. You should do it yourself as you know where you want your business to go and you will be the one striving to get it there.
were you a business major? That's pretty impresive - you knocked it out in one weekend! WOW. I even bought this software called The Business Plan Writer and I still can't seem to get it done. My intent is to get funding from it so it needs to be really good and my background/career is in the arts/entertainment. thank you for the inspiration>
Erin
I was technically a business major for a couple of terms, but never took business classes other than business law. I did take a technical writing class that helped. My father kept bugging me to write a business plan, so he could see how I planned to run my operation. He gave me points to discuss, and I put off writing it until I gained the knowledge to cover all the necessary areas. He is my investor and supported me as I started out, not making enough money to cover all my living expenses. Today I spent a couple of hours writing an expansion plan for him, as I need to get out of my basement and into a real shop with a real press as soon as possible and he will be helping me obtain both.
You can certainly do it yourself. Just figure out what all you need to cover, do any needed research, and start writing. It will be worth it. Hiring someone to write it that doesn't know you, the industry, or what you can do with your business makes no sense to me. DIY!
I would say if you're just getting started. Get a business license first then visit every printer in your area and get to know people first off. Make a few friends and go from there. Ask questions and learn from them. Thats your first step! Don't plan your whole career off a plan. All that does is confuse you. It's all about who you know first! Having friends is always good.
I used to be a furniture salesman and just started researching, and talking to people. No high school diploma, no college, and no business plan. Not the way to go for everyone.
People will talk to you when you show tax ID's and are legit. Do that first and go from there.
What does your dad know about t-shirts? Is he in the industry? You don't just get on a motorcycle and know how to ride it.....cuz someone told you how it's done! Even if they have rode one before. You have to learn yourself! You might wreck it........once or twice, but you'll eventually learn to ride. You might even learn some cool new tricks from the old dogs!
thanks! I really appreciate your honesty! I needed a swift kick in the butt and someone to confirm what i already thought. Noone knows how I want to run my biz except me! I guess I was intimidated by the research part of it> I'm going to get my liscences next month and contact my local SBA office and JUST DO IT! Hey I see you're in Philly! ME TOO>>
Re: Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
I used to write business plans for a living and I would recommend that you write your own.
Unless you are seeking millions of dollars in venture capital it's better for your plan to reflect you, your company and your passion than for it to be perfectly crafted and packaged.
If you get a software package to write it, use it as a guide. It's easy to get too caught up in the structure. As a tool, business plans serve as a way of attracting capital, but more importantly as a planning tool to revisit against your progress, so make it say what you want from your business and how you plan to get there.
Re: Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
From my experience a business plan wouldn't have worked. Mine went A.W.O.L. Things change all the time. You can write one if you want, but I'd make it more of a web first, or maybe a short term goal, and expect to branch where the money takes you. In my opinion if you limit your business, and only do it a certain way you'll end up losing out on potential opportunities.
I was in sales for years (not business planning) and I was always told 1% of something is better than 0% of a million. Keep your mind open to every aspect of the business. (I guess you could make that part of your plan) Just be prepared to modify your plan............ Thats all I'm saying
5 years ago did you think you would be doing what you are now? I don't think so, you evolved and changed! So will your business.
Re: Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugard1
Hi Guys! Did most of you write your own business plans or did you pay someone elso to do it. I would like to do it myself but I don't have the time...not that I have the cash either but i think its worth it to pay someone who is an expert> what do you think? ...did you use any of the online companies to do it? were they expensive?
Sorry, I got off the subject. It's your company not someone else's. Make your model and go from there. I got on a rant b/c I started out one way and things went way different from when I started out 2yrs ago. Good!!! Just totally different from the initial plan. All I'm saying is don't plan too far ahead because things can go all directions if you do it full time. There's a whole world of money to be made for everyone in the t-shirt biz. Just don't limit yourself.........
Re: Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
Thanks Tenacious! I can go off into rants too but I was following you and I do understand. I will do as much of it as I can and remain open. I'm pretty optimistic so I think once I make the time to do it - I will just DO IT>>>
Thanks
Re: Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
There are a few important reasons to write business plans: To raise captial (loan, grant, venture capital, etc) and so your business has a plan.
Not every business needs a written plan, but not all plans have to be as formal as a business plan.
The process of writing a business plan forces you to evaluate your industry, your competition and your own strategies, which is something all businesses should do every few years at least. Plans are living documents.
Writing a business plan does not necessarily mean you are defining yourself too narrowly, some business plans are so vague that the business has no definition. With or without a plan it's easy to get distracted and chase opportunities that take you far from your core business. Knowing your business helps you not waste time on "opportunities" that do not play to your strengths and focus on those that do.
"if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"
Re: Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
Sorry. That was my rant. I'm not usually so dogmatic, but I believe in the 'power of the plan'.
I used to work with a woman who was always running around like a headless chicken. Her excuse for being so disorganized? She'd say, 'one day if I wasn't so busy I'd do some planning'. If she had stopped and planned, she'd have had more time.
My business has turned out quite different than I thought too (for the better), but the essence of my business is the same as where I thought I was going. And I hope I don't know exactly where it's going, that would take away all the fun.
Re: Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugard1
Thanks Tenacious! I can go off into rants too but I was following you and I do understand. I will do as much of it as I can and remain open. I'm pretty optimistic so I think once I make the time to do it - I will just DO IT>>>
Thanks
Erin
A few years ago I was a top salesman for "THE" most profitable furniture company in the US. I made a ton of cash, but hated working for someone else following their rules. I wanted something to add to my income so I wrote up a plan...... I went on for a year and got nowhere with it. I still worked for someone, and followed my plan until I got fed up and almost quit working towards my goal.
I realized I was following my plan instead of following money. Like I said before, ........what my boss told me when I was in sales that made sense "1% of something is better than 1% of nothing". So I let my company evolve, and branch. It helped me get into the business quicker and got me towards my original goal, it jumped track many times and still isn't on, but it's closer. Definitely not the way I planned it.
Just keep digging and getting contacts for every aspect of the business so you can offer any service to any customer that approaches you. Even if you find yourself selling blanks to newbies. That would be the first part of my business plan if I had to start over, and then go from there.
Maybe not the way for everyone to go. I'm not encouraging it, but that was my experience. So thats my opinion.
You can be optimistic, but you have to be realistic at the same time.
Re: Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it?
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I still worked for someone, and followed my plan until I got fed up and almost quit working towards my goal.
Your plan should lead to your goal, not keep you away from it. What's the old saying? - Fail to Plan and you Plan to Fail. Build flexibility into your business plan.
And definitely write it yourself, Unless you're going after funding, you might be the only person who ever sees it. It does not have to be long and fancy. Google "Business Plans." You will find everything you need to know. Good Luck!
This is a discussion about Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it? that was posted in the Business and Finance section of the forums.
Business Plan ?? - write your own or hire someone to do it? 
