I like the "Dummies" books, and Tiffany was one of my b-school professors. There are a gazillion books about business planning. I've only seen a few of them; this practical guide is better.

A carefully considered plan inscribed on a napkin can trump a graphically stunning document created with expensive software. Use this book to understand the components of business planning, and to create your own custom version of this critical document, keeping in mind that the process is as important as the end result.

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Product Description

Would you take off on a road trip to a new destination without a map or good directions? Probably not. Yet, sometimes business owners go full speed ahead without even having a destination in mind, much less a map on how to get there. That’s why so many businesses never make it. In today’s competitive marketplace, 3/4 of all new businesses fail within two to three years. Whether you’re launching a new business or working to strengthen or expand an established one, a business plan is your road map to success.

Business Plans For Dummies, 2^nd Edition helps you keep your businesses on track and reach your goals. Written by Paul Tiffany, PhD, professor at UC Berkley Haas Business School and the Wharton School of Business and Steven Peterson, PhD, Professor at UC Berkeley Haas Business School and CEO of Strategic Play, it helps you

• Realistically determine where your business is and where you want to go
• Create a detailed business plan and put it into action instead of in a drawer
• Use the plan to secure financing
• Prepare for opportunities avoid common pitfalls

In short, Business Plans for Dummies helps you determine where you want your business to go and create a map for getting there. You’ll discover how to:

• Identify and approach potential financial backers, including venture capital firms, angels, bankers, and others
• Clarify and crystallize your company’s mission, vision, and values
• Analyze your industry and your competition
• Identify your customers, including their needs, habits, purchase triggers, and decision-making processes
• Objectively analyze your company’s strengths and weaknesses
• Analyze your financial situation in order to do realistic forecasts and budgets
• Recognize trends and anticipate changes, both in the overall economy and in your industry
• Plan for growth, considering the product life cycle, new products, or new markets
• Structure your organization and nurture leadership

Complete with diverse techniques and approaches plus a sample business plan, Business Plans For Dummies gives you detailed how-to for designing a dynamic, business plan that will keep you on course in spite of the inevitable curves and detours in today’s marketplace. It’s a plantastic resource for business owners and entrepreneurs.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26995 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780764576522
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"...covers many of the areas that prove to be stumbling blocks for would be entrepreneurs" (Independent on Sunday, 19 September, 2004) "...The structured jargon-free advice...could help you make a leap from employee to entrepreneur in 2005..." (Lincolnshire Echo, 4th January 2005) "...straightforward and jargon-free guide to business planning. Ideal for businesses of every type and size..." (This is Wiltshire, 1st November 2005)

From the Back Cover
Create a winning business plan with expert tips and strategies

Covers planning basics, financing, marketing, legal issues, and more

Creating a great business plan is the first and most vital step to business success. Business Plans For Dummies, 2nd Edition, walks you through each step of the planning process.

Discover how to:

• Assess your company's goals and objectives
• Create a clear, precise mission statement
• Identify customers and understand their needs
• Differentiate your business from the competition
• Understand budgeting and finances

About the Author
Paul Tiffany, PhD, is a professor of management at the Haas Business School, UC Berkeley, and an Adjunct Professor at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Steven Peterson, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Strategic Play and an Executive Education Lecturer at the Haas Business School.

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Customer Reviews

Good Reference for Beginners and Intermediates Alike
I've done a number of business plans in my time and bought this book as a gift for a friend who wants to start her own business. I purchased it because it includes all of the basics needed to develop a business plan that will guide you as you start and build your business and will also give you the credibility you need to secure outside financing. This is a very good step-by-step guide for those completely new to business and an excellent refresher guide for those who already know the basics.

And, by the way, you can skip the companion Dummies book called Business Plans Kit, which covers the same ground as this book but includes a CD-ROM that doesn't add much value. The truth is, this book is cheaper and offers just as much help as the larger and more expensive kit version.

The best book available for writing your plan
Bypass the complete book of business plans and go right to this book. Not only did it assist me (tremendously!) in the writing of my plan, but I enjoyed it from both the perspective of useful information and it's concise yet comprehensive content. This book attempts to do what so many "how to" books fail to do... it tells you how to do what you're looking to do in a straightforward and matter-of fact way. There's not a lot of philosophizing in this book (yawn!) like you might find in others but rather an abundance of useful, timely and real world information. Writing a plan? Read this book!

The only source you need
When we had the germ of an idea for a new company, I explored many sources for business plans including many computer CD progams. By comparison, others books generated more confusion than lucidity. Using Dummies as a template, we developed a great business plan that reflected exactly our challenges, prospects, and a road map for getting THERE. Save yourself time and money. Stick with this Dummies guide. R. Kingston