culled from:lifehack.org
Writing a business plan isn’t hard, but it is more complicated than writing a shopping list. Do one of these 31 steps each day, and in a month, you’ll have a business plan to be proud of.
Preliminary Tasks
Complete market research and analyses
Clarify key matters relating to products/services and technology
Form the basis of the management team
Prepare a strategic plan as framework for detailed plan
Decide the central purpose of the plan and its target audience
Locate professional advisers to assist with the planning
Acquire any software tools needed to help prepare the plan
Research and compile a list of possible recipients of the plan
Ascertain any specific needs of likely key recipients
Writing the Plan
Create a framework for the plan e.g. table of contents
Identify possible appendices, attachments etc.
Estimate page lengths for each key section
List main issues and topics to be covered within key sections
Assign work programs based on the framework and lists
Draft preliminary sections (excluding summary) within the front of the plan
Draft all key sections in the plan’s body in a logical sequence
Compile financial projections, funding proposals and related appendices
Check the preliminary draft for completeness and plug gaps
Stand back and take a detached overview of the draft
Let an outsider or adviser critique the latest draft
Redraft, fine tune and spell check
Write the executive summary and plan’s conclusion
Get an independent assessment of the final draft
Reviewing the Plan
Is the plan nicely presented – bound, page numbered etc.?
Has the plan been spell checked in its final form?
Is the plan’s length appropriate to its purpose ?
Have the business’s (funding) needs been clearly stated ?
Does the plan’s summary stimulate interest ?
Have all key questions been anticipated ?
What likely objections remain unresolved ?
Will the plan provoke the desired responses?
