Guide to Business Planning

To get any new business idea off the ground you must have a plan-or develop and better manage an existing business you must have a plan — and if you need to raise finance to fund the business or get the approval of senior management, it must be a convincing plan. This comprehensive guide covers every aspect of preparing and using a business plan:

• tools for analysing the market, customers, competitors, and the business environment
• techniques for examining and choosing between alternative strategic options
• how to use the business planning model that accompanies this book to prepare financial forecasts
• how to analyse and mitigate risk
• how to identify the business's financing needs and select the appropriate type of finance
• how to use the book's business plan document template to write your own plan.

In addition to containing everything you need to know to prepare and write a convincing and sound business plan and then put it into practice, the Guide to Business Planning will be invaluable to anyone involved in any form of strategic analysis or business planning.

1. Introduction
2. The business plan
3. The business planning process
4. Strategic planning
5. Analysing the environment
6. Analysing the firm
7. Industry and competitor analysis
8. Product and portfolio analysis
9. SWOT analysis
10. Generating strategic options
11. Market analysis and strategy
12. Market forecasting
13. The operational plan
14. Modelling the business
15. Accounting principles
16. Completing the financial statements
17. Reviewing the financial statements
18. Evaluating strategic options
19. Funding issues
20. Risk analysis
21. Presenting the business plan and obtaining approval
22. Implementing the business plan
    

Sometimes you get your hands on a gem. This is one of these gems!

It makes an excellent business planning book, but can equally be used as a min-MBA or a book on how to analyse companies.

It has a given place in my bookshelf. Highly recommended!