In most business plans, no matter how striking the idea, the covers are critically important. The majority of investors may flip to the executive summary, if they get past the cover, when deciding whether or not they are interested. Exactly like the front page of a daily newspaper, a business plan cover puts the important highlights of the proposal upfront for potential investors to read.
The success of an entire business plan campaign may stand or fall on what is said on the cover of the business plan. In his book, the Venture Capital Handbook, David Gladstone wrote that of the one-hundred proposals a week an investor receives, maybe ten are read.
So, providing critical information on your cover is about the most important thing for sparking the interest of prospective investors. In fact, your cover page competes with hundreds of other documents, worksheets, phone calls, articles, and other information for the attention of prospective investors. And, based on Gladstone's figures, it competes in time, because, seen for a few seconds, it is heeded, or passed up, and seldom returned to by readers.
Here are the ten critical pieces of information to include on the cover page of your business plan.
If you're struggling with how to fit all this information onto your cover page, go here to see an example of a cover page layout: http://www.business-plan-secrets-revealed.com/business-plan-cover-page.html
Mike Elia is a chief financial officer and an advisor to venture capitalists and leverage buyout specialists. For more information about business plans and raising capital for your business or to review his business plan manual or free business plan guide, visit Busine ss Plan Secrets Revealed.
Whether you are seeking capital for your company or are... Read More
1. Largest Selection -One way that you can make your... Read More
Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More
There is a story, about a business owner who wasn't... Read More
No matter what business you plan to start in your... Read More
You have heard that there is extra money on the... Read More
Many very successful business owners may never have had a... Read More
Regroup?is this a new management trend? Not a chance! Regroup... Read More
ACTION PLANNING: Action Planning is a process to develop strategies... Read More
The trick is to determine what uniquely identifies your best... Read More
It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More
The boom of the dot-com era in 1999 brought the... Read More
Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person... Read More
Remember reading "Alice in Wonderland?"She asks the Cheshire Cat, "which... Read More
How often does your company make a quantum leap forward?... Read More
How are you feeling today? Good, not so good, great?... Read More
If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing,... Read More
If you are a successful franchise of a large franchise... Read More
Many business start-up kits or consultants will tell you one... Read More
We have been spending many hours surveying the market for... Read More
I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More
Is your business growing as fast and effectively as it... Read More
We all know that nothing runs without a plan, and... Read More
Before becoming a netpreneaur, I was an entrepreneur. First, I... Read More
Obviously, there will never be an actual water shortage since... Read More
Entrepreneurs often give little if any consideration to their computer... Read More
So you've decided to write your own business plan because... Read More
"Most great plans aren't. They are just nice, high-level ideas."That's... Read More
Scenario OneDuring a recent presentation, a business owner was given... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains serves mid-size and large clients... Read More
One of the most powerful driving forces in human nature... Read More
Every decade we seem to come up with a buzz-word... Read More
"Begin with the end in mind," says Stephen Covey in... Read More
The day you decide to take the plunge and work... Read More
I recently took an organizational behavior class where my professor... Read More
How you finance the expansion of your business is important.... Read More
One of the most powerful driving forces in human nature... Read More
How important is a vision statement to your company or... Read More
Every new business owner knows that a business plan is... Read More
Building a dynamic small business is a constantly evolving, increasingly... Read More
You have invested a lot of time and energy on... Read More
Every business experiences slower periods. For some, they sell more... Read More
There is so much small business information available today that... Read More
I read once that something like 30 percent of all... Read More
Does your overall business strategy include the recruitment of college... Read More
You might be thinking to yourself, "Why should I waste... Read More
Succession planning, like any business acumen, is both an art... Read More
As a franchisor it is imperative that you seek, find... Read More
Strategic planning and consulting is the strategy roadmap to manage... Read More
Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More
In this small article we'll concentrate on farmers associations and... Read More
I've either been involved with or held a process-related role... Read More
If you are a successful franchise of a large franchise... Read More
Is there a 'magical' way to exponentially grow your business?It's... Read More
1. Largest Selection -One way that you can make your... Read More
Growing your own small business can be one of the... Read More
The time when a website was just a simple set... Read More
No matter what product or service you provide you will... Read More
Strategic alliances are increasing at a rapid rate. It is... Read More
Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More
A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals,... Read More
By cranking up others development to meet your business needs,... Read More
Many of us are discouraged by the networking events that... Read More
When developing the competition section of your business plan, companies... Read More
Storytelling and writing a business plan actually go hand in... Read More
Is there really anything as a problem? Does chaos or... Read More
Strategic Planning |