Business plan checklist : 8 Steps Startups Must Include for Success

A business plan is a very important strategic tool for entrepreneurs. A good business plan not only helps entrepreneurs to focus on the specific steps necessary for them to make business ideas succeed, but it also helps them to achieve both their short-term and long-term objectives.

Here are 8 steps to ensure a solid business plan 

Let’s discuss each of these components in detail

Executive Summary

Target Market

A target market is a group of consumers or organizations most likely to buy a company’s products or services.

Because those buyers are likely to want or need a company’s offerings, it makes the most sense for the company to focus its marketing efforts on reaching them.

Marketing to these buyers is the most effective and efficient approach. The alternative – marketing to everyone – is inefficient and expensive.

Know your competitors

In business, a company in the same industry or a similar industry which offers a similar product or service.

The presence of one or more competitors can reduce the prices of goods and services as the companies attempt to gain a larger market share.

The competition also requires companies to become more efficient in order to reduce costs. Fast-food restaurants McDonald’s and Burger King are competitors, as are Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and Wal-Mart and Target.

Talent

Companies that invest in their employees’ professional and personal development will gain a competitive edge over their rivals and a more committed workforce.

The organization and management should understand the difference between a valuable employee and an employee who does not contribute much to the organization.

Sincere efforts must be made to encourage the employees so that they stay happy in the current organization and do not look for a change.

Vendors/Suppliers

Among the things that can be critical to a business’ success is it being able to smoothly get the goods and services it needs for its operations. So, how things are going with the vendors and suppliers their company is working with can have significant impacts for a business owner.

Market Plan

A good marketing plan can help you reach your target audience, boost your customer base, and ultimately, increase your bottom line. It’s often required when seeking funding and helps you set clear, realistic and measurable objectives for your business.

Developing a marketing plan requires research, time and commitment, but is a very valuable process that can greatly contribute to your business success.

Operations

Operations management is a vital component of a business, which is why it is so important to ensure that you have a strong operations management process.

Key benefits of effective operation management 

• Improves product quality
• Improve customer satisfaction
• Increase revenue

Financials

For any business and for the people who run it, the importance of accurate financial statements cannot be underestimated.

Some of the most important financial statements that are imperative for an organization of any scale are Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Statement of Stockholders’ Equity,  Cash Flow Statement and Statement of Comprehensive Income.

The numbers revealed through these financial statements play an immense role in making decisions, planning strategies, determining success, estimating failures, and telling the world the story of the company.

Conclusion 

It is sometimes a strategic process to evaluate the proximation of business. Naturally, it comes through the core market insights what you gather through your experience and different sources.

But sometimes it is a talk of luck factor.. and this luck factor has its different & typical calculations