WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN

Writing a business plan should be thought of as creating a blueprint for success for your business. An effective business plan tells a great story, weaving an exciting plot that captivates the reader. You want 50 pages of brilliant strategies and dazzling statistics.

This gives a guide for your management team to follow and effectively communicates the company direction to your staff. The business plan provides a considerable and logical framework within which a company can develop and pursue its strategies over the next 3-5 years.

If you are trying to obtain financing for a business startup or growing your existing business, it is even more important to have a professionally written plan. This is a very important document that often serves as the company's first introduction to investors. We can act as your business startup consultant and help you through the process.

The document should be 50 pages or less. It needs to be written in a concise and focused manner. Appropriate color graphics and an attractive cover always set a positive tone. Usually, less is more. Utilize charts, graphs, tables, and pictures to convey information.

JPCA through its vast network of links to financial institutions, local economic development agencies, (state and local), chambers, and other regional business contacts can help you make these important connections for either obtaining financing or for networking.

Marketing Plan

Your marketing plan is your plan to bring your product or service to the market place. Marketing strategies match or transform your product or services to the needs of your customers. Good market research will uncover marketing ideas for new products or services that are not presently being met.

The first step is a market analysis. This analyzes the market size, growth characteristics, buying trends and trends for the future. It profiles the competitors in the market you want to compete in. What are their strengths, weaknesses and unique selling propositions. What are opportunities are there that are not being satisfied? Profile your current and potential customers. How do they make their buy decision? What are they looking for that isn't available today?

Marketing strategies and tactics are your plans to capture a niche or an entire market segment based on your company capabilities and the needs of the market. Marketing strategies should include product positioning strategies, pricing, distribution, channel penetration, advertising, Internet, public relations, tradeshows, use of reps, telemarketing, direct mail, etc.

Introducing new products or services to the market is a major stumbling block for most small businesses. Frequently an aggressive marketing manager will commit to a new product before it has ever been prototyped.

The new product development process should not be based only on technology and process capabilities (engineering driven). The new product launch that is based only on satisfying an un-met market need without taking into account company capabilities is equally bad (marketing driven). New product introductions need to be a joint venture between marketing and engineering to be effective.

A well thought out marketing plan is needed in today's world.  JPCA can help develop the right plan for your business. We work with you and your staff to create your own blueprint for success. We work with startup organizations as well as mature organizations.