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When turning to investors for investment
in your company, you should give the potential investor the
peace of mind to feel comfortable about your company before
they invest in your venture.
A Business Plan is the foundation,
or rather a springboard, towards the establishment and growth
of a new business, particularly in the later stages of growth.
A business plan is an essential tool for companies raising
capital - and your business plan needs to be “investor
ready”.
The business plan document should be professionally prepared
to meet the needs of the Venture Capitalists. In your business
plan, you should be able to see your own project through the
investor's eye. Your plan must be able to answer all the concerns
of a potential contributor.
The investors, both VCs and equity
firms, are risking their hard earned capital by investing
in your venture in the hope of long term returns that are
worth many times their original investment.
An investor ready business plan demonstrates
to the potential investor that you are an expert in your industry
and that you have a clear mission. An entrepreneur addresses
these needs by preparing a comprehensive and detailed view
of his/hers business objectives and goals.
Some important sections that address
different concerns of the investors are below:
Management
Investors are mainly concerned with
good management - not just ideas. It is very important that
you express your knowledge, passion and dedication to your
business as best as you can. The competence of your team along
with their experience levels and commitment levels are also
factors that investors research before making their investment
decisions.
Customers
It is important to communicate to
the investors that you understand the needs and requirements
of your customers and to make your marketing strategy crystal
clear within your business plan.
Product/Service Description
A complete description of the product
and/or the services offered by you should be outlined in detail.
It is essential to include a description of the overall market
for your product and/or service along with details of your
customer base. The investors need to know the reach and the
kind of customers your product/service is catering to.
Marketing Plan
A marketing plan will outline your
sustainable competitive advantage to your investors. In this
section you should include a definitive description of your
customers, market size, characteristics, growth prospects,
trends and sales potential per product/service category. This
is where the pricing strategies are outlined and how they
can directly influence the growth potential of each product/service.
It is also crucial to include the future growth, market share
and trend influences. |