Saturday, September 24, 2016

Business Plan Outline



Business Plan Outline


I.    Cover Page   A.   Name, address, and phone number of business
  B.   Give your plan a professional appearance by printing it on high-quality paper and placing it in a
         vinyl or card stock binder. 
  C.   Name of Company
  D.   Company Address
  E.    Company Phone Numbers
  F.    Logo
  G.   Names, titles, and addresses of owners
  H.   Month and Hear in which the plan was completed
  I.     Indicate that the plan is “Confidential”


II. Table of contents


III. Executive Summary
A brief, one-page summary representing the various sections of your business plan. Address the following questions and add additional information that will help you achieve your goals.


IV.  Background Information A.   Business Concept
       a.  Mission Statement
       b.  Goals and objectives of business
       c.  Description of business

B. Answer as many of the following questions are appropriate:
     a.  What business are you in?
          i.   Merchandising
          ii.  Manufacturing
          iii. Wholesale
          iv. Service
    b.   What is the nature of your product(s) or service(s) 
    c.  What will be special about your business? 

C.   What market do you intend to serve?
    a.  What is the total market? 
    b.  What is your expected share? 

D.   How can you serve your market better than your competition? 

E.    Present status of the business:
    a.  Start-up
    b.  Expansion of growing concern
    c.  Takeover of an existing business

F. If you will be doing any contract work, what are the terms?
G. Reference any firm contract and include them as supporting documents.
H. Do you have letter of intent from prospective suppliers?

V.  Description of products or services
A.  Features of proposed products/services
B.  Describe benefits to your customer
C.  Intellectual property and proprietary rights issues
D.  Production plans
E.  Future products/services

VI.  The Market Plan
see Conducting an Industry Analysis - http://www.sbtdc.org/pdf/industry_analysis.pdf)

A.   Description of Industry
       a.  Background of industry
       b.  Current and future industry trends
       c.  Business fit in industry

B.  This Business’ Market - Your Market
      a.  Customer profile and target market
      b.  Description of your trade area
      c.  Size of your market
      d.  Market potential
      e.  Market Trends

C.  Competition
      a.  Direct Competition - Businesses with the same product or service and same target market.
           i.  include three to five businesses and locations
      b.  Indirect competition - A product that is in a different category altogether but which is seen as an        
           alternative purchase choice
           i.  For example, coffee and mineral water are indirect competitors.
      c.  Evaluation of competition - Strengths, weaknesses, size, age, status
      d.  Your competitive advantage
            i.  Briefly describe your competition and tell how their operations are similar AND dissimilar to         
                yours.
            ii. What is your unique selling proposition, and how will you use it to control your market 
                share?

D.  Market Strategies
    a.  Market positioning
    b.  Marketing tactics
    c.  Packaging
    d.  Pricing
    e.  Promotion
    f.   Distribution
    g.  Advertising
    h.  Public relations
    i.   Customer Service

VII.  Management structure and Organization

A.  Legal form of ownership
B.  Management and Personnel
   a.  How does your background and business experience help you in this business?
   b.  Describe your management team
   c.  Identify their strengths and weaknesses?
   d.  What will be their duties and responsibilities?
   e.  Do you have job descriptions that clearly define their duties?
   f.  Are there additional resources available to your business?
   g.  Will you have to train people and at what cost?

C.   Describe your organizational structure, and include a brief description of who does what (include  
       an organizational chart, if necessary)
D.   Are there additional resources or advisors?


VIII.   Business Operations
A.  Business Location
    a.  What is your business address and why did you choose that location?
    b.  Will the building be leased or owned?
    c.  What are the terms and length of the lease contract?
    d.  What renovations will be needed and at what cost?
    e.  Describe the neighborhood (e.g., stable, changing, improving, deteriorating)
    f.  What other kinds of businesses are in the area?

B.  Licenses and permits
    a.  Is your business name registered with the Secretary of State and/or local county Registrar of 
         Deeds?
    b.  How will you be affected by local zoning regulations?
    c.  What other licenses or permits will you be required to obtain?

CAPTURING A VISION



I think dreaming is a big deal. In the Old Testament Joseph shared his dreams and his dreams ended up getting him in trouble, and later, like Daniel interpreted dreams and was rewarded. I think sometimes I dream but I am afraid of telling the dream or really even hoping that it will come to pass. But the dream or the vision is still there - if only in the reality of my mind.

But I still think dreams are important. Or maybe instead of the word dreams I should say visualizations. There is that cliche' that people like Anthony Robbins say when they are not talking about the "Law of Attraction" - "What the mind can conceive (dream, visualize) and believe, it can achieve." Certainly this is true in the world of sports, I need to visualize myself hitting a winner down the line. I visualize my approach to hit the ball, my grip, my footwork, the contact of my racket with the ball...I see the ball go over the net and down the line and hit inside the court boundaries and hopefully, out of the reach of my opponent. In my mind, I have hit a winner, and given the right circumstances, I will be able to do it in reality - possibly with some practice. But, because of my vision, I have a picture, a vision, a mental video of what that back hand winner is supposed to look like.

Lately I have been visualizing a business model where success can happen, but for the vision I have in my mind to occur, I must convince others of the possibility of them and me experiencing success. I must also weigh the requirements for fulfilling that vision with the possibility of that success actually becoming a vision. I think often success is a serendipity. By that I mean people go off to do what they enjoy and along the way toward their joy they awaken to the reality that they have realized significant success. Sometimes I think success is a moment. Again I am thinking about a sports analogy  where the time is ticking down and a player "seizes the moment" to ensure the score and the victory for his team as he seemingly demonstrates super-human strength to rise up against what had been an impenetrable defense up until that particular moment.

As I think about this particular business model, I think - "this is not viable", "this is too easy." And yet if it indeed was "too easy" many would be doing it, and if it were "not viable", then no-one would do it. But indeed, few are able to do it, yet some do, and who am to judge those that do as "lazy" when indeed I have been unable to do it to date?

What on earth am I talking about? I am talking about choosing to build a business one person at a time. To do so within Vemma, the incredible Nutrition company I am aligned with and choose to be a Brand Partner with, I need to identify others who see the vision and agree to get on auto-ship so they use the products and seek other Brand Partners to join them in the journey of building a business that helps others seize their visions and enjoy nutritious healthy products along the way.

Health, Fitness, Weight Management, Nutrition, Energy - These are the buzz words that we hear around the Health and Nutrition Market today. In the not too distant past, companies sold supplements in the form of tablets that you took daily and powders that you mixed with various fruits. But there have been some recent scientific changes to this market. You can read about athttp://willorecommends.com/?p=211 - an article entitled "New Turns in the World of Nutrition". With these scientific changes, the supplements and powders are now taken in a liquid form to ensure absorption on the cell level. The company offering these Insanely Nutritious products is Vemma. You can read more about them at http://iGotNutrition.com/ or call Bill at 336-926-2176

Globalism

Isn’t it interesting that Hillary Clinton has had numerous paid speaking engagements around the world for large sums of money that was put in the Clinton Foundation coffers? There are influencers who buy allegiance through these speaking engagements to obtain their way, paying high fees to those who can bring about their will. Recently the Brits backed out of the European Union (EU) on a close vote when the common people had an opportunity to vote. The Brits were tired of EU Brussels authorities placing requirements on them and then having their taxes raised to pay for these requirements. Obama is famous for telling us of his “new world order” where energy costs will necessarily have to increase. It seems energy costs are one way that the “new world order” will keep the underlings in line. The EU is an example of oppressive government redistributing the wealth to ensure that the rich stay rich and the non- rich are effectively controlled in a Bernie-like socialism (Bernie Sanders). On the world stage Obama and others call this globalism making it sound like it benefits everyone. Globalism, as expressed and disguised by Mr. Obama, is the redistribution of wealth from the haves, like the USA, to the have nots, like countries that have less than the USA, to level the world playing field for everyone but the aristocracy like Mr. Obama, the Clintons, and George Soros, etc. We have an opportunity in America to elect a leader for the continuance of Globalism, or to stop it. It seems that these last eight years have been carefully designed to prepare America for Globalism, and Hillary Clinton is ready to continue the descent. Elections have consequences and votes form Ms. Clinton are votes to contionue Globalism.

Call me Deplorable

Recently Hillary Clinton, candidate for president for the Democratic party, called half of those supporting the Republican candidate "deplorable."

Call me deplorable. I am considered deplorable because I find the lies of our president and of the democratic party nominee (Hillary Clinton) loathsome. I call that deplorable. I am deplorable because I find it repulsive that our president fails to take responsibility for his actions. Instead - it is bad intelligence or he denies his role altogether by saying he learned about “it” the same time we did - when he “read it in the newspaper.” It seems the buck never stops with this president. I am deplorable because I found our president’s behavior disgraceful when he brought a law suit against the state of Arizona because the state of Arizona decided to do something about immigration problems since the president, whose responsibility is immigration, was not taking responsibility. Interesting this is a issue Mr. Obama campaigned on during his candacy. I am deplorable because I find it contemptible that our president told the whole world in a speech at the UN that Benghazi occurred because of Islamic response to a video. I am deplorable because I am breathing and am grateful for the life given me by God in a country that glorifies and funds the killing of babies and selling the aborted baby body parts. I am deplorable because our president has demonstrated  disdain for the greatness of our country as he has apologized for the United States time and time again around the world. I am deplorable because I believe campaign promises should be kept; for example, when the president said that his administration would be the most transparent administration in history - I thought it was his sincere desire that he intended on keeping. I am deplorable because I think it is wrong and shameless for the democratic party nominee to have collected money from foreign countries for future political favors through the foundation that bears her name. I am deplorable because I find it reprehensible that our president is only my president part time - the rest of the time he is fund raising for his party and insinuating that others, not in his party, are misled or haters. And yes, I am deplorable because I believe the democratic nominee’s actions, if elected, will be more of the status quo as she has campaigned. The only thing not deplorable about me is that the Lord Jesus Christ has accepted me and saved me and imputed His righteousness to me. The good news for all of us is that this acceptance is available to all people through faith in Jesus Christ. Soli Deo Gloria!

Monday, August 3, 2015

The View of Our Lives



I don’t know about others, but I really like my home to look good from the street. For me this means I don’t want it to look unpleasant or for there to be garbage or unnecessary items that detract from the home and the plants around the home. I remember my mom being frustrated if we brought someone into the house through the garage. We really thought it was silly, but it seems that I have inherited that trait. I don’t know about other’s garages - but mine is the place that we allow stuff to pile up - stuff that needs to be organized or thrown out. For the most part the stuff in the garage is out site and, temporarily out of mind. It has stuff in it that I just don’t want to deal with right now - so I put it in the garage - in hopes that someday I will decide what to do with it. At the same time, for the part, I prefer to leave the garage door closed - unless I am working in the yard and need to go back and forth to the garage to retrieve tools and implements.


Okay, so I don’t want you to see or look at the junk in my garage - and I certainly don’t want to pull the stuff out of my garage and place it in front of my house - because it represents stuff I want out of site. For sure there is work that needs to be done in and around my garage - but for now, I want to keep it out of site - until I am motivated from on high to clean up my act and organize it or throw it out. But I hope when you come to visit me the garage door is closed and you will have to come to the front door and push the door bell. I will be glad to see you, but we will both know there is stuff in the garage - that neither one of us want to see. I want the view when we meet to be unclouded.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Faith and Works - A letter to Glenn Beck


July 8, 2015

Glenn Beck Program
1270 Avenue of the Americas  
New York, NY 10020

 Glenn:

I decided to write you a letter – hoping that you actually get it and read it and consider it.
 
My wife and I attended your 82810 event – it was a high point to us and I truly think you are a patriot for our country. Thank you!
 
However, since then I have been troubled by your expression of faith – and I know you don’t want to hear this.
 
First, as a Christian it is important that Christ is the center of everything, and that we proclaim him as LORD above all else - without a hint of contradiction.

 Secondly, as a Christian, it is important that we understand that Christ accomplished everything for our salvation – there is no work that we can do to add to the finished work of the Cross. We were dead in trespasses and sin and Christ made us alive.
 
Finally, as we tell others about Christ and our faith in Christ it is imperative that the above precepts are clear to our audience in our presentation. We are turning to Christ to be in relationship with him eternally and away from religion and any appearance of saving ourselves.
 
I believe for you to call yourself a Christian it is important for you to turn completely to Christ and completely away from the Mormon faith. I am pray that you will do that.

 Thank you for considering this encouragement.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-10

 …thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Eph 1:16-23

Sunday, June 28, 2015

SO, THEN, HOW DO WE LIVE NOW?

So, the highest court in the land has decided that same sex marriages can be conducted despite the fact that God, the author of life, made us male and female and has defined marriage is between a man and woman for the purposes of: procreation, companionship, and enjoyment. Hmm...what now? 

It seems the high court did not consider the Bible, God’s holy word, when they rendered their 5-4 majority opinion against traditional marriage in favor for same-sex marriage. What does this mean for those who, up to this time have sought to use God’s Word as a blueprint for their lives? Do we give up and throw in the towel? Does it mean we follow the lead of the majority opinion? Does it mean we divorce our wives and/or husbands and find a same sex partner to marry so we too can be gay? No! 

Though this may indeed be a historically bleak time, God is not dead and we should continue to hold on to him as the author and perfecter of  our lives. We should continue to revere, read and memorize his word as his blueprint that contains all the answers to all of the issues of life. We should remember that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and if we know God as our Lord it is only because of his mercy and grace that he has accepted and saved us. We should remember that we have nothing to be proud of, that our salvation is a gift from him and that among our job assignments as believers is to love others as ourselves (Mark 12:31). It is also our assignment to pray for others: Christians and non-Christians alike. 

Certainly we should pray that the Holy Spirit will usher into the kingdom new converts whose eyes are being opened and whose minds are being enlightened day by day. While this is certainly a difficult time, we must remember that God is Sovereign over his creation and this means he knows what he is doing and does all things well (Mark 7:37).