Business Plans

[Lindy]

What a fascinating week this has been - exhausting which is why I haven't been here much. I've been learning about how to write a Business Plan and what it means to me as a Business Owner. I always thought that a Business Plan was just for those banker types but I'm finding out that it is actually a road map for me as the owner to follow as I create my business. They are teaching us how to do market research as well as ways to market our products. This group has been fantastic giving me ideas of new products as well as additional methods of selling - for instance instead of only offering a 4 ounce container of Whipped Body Butter - offer a 1 oz jar as well so people can try it for less $$$ even though the cost per ounce is significantly higher in the smaller quantity.

For those of us who are just starting out this type of course is invaluable - IMHO.....

 

[topcat]

Thank you for sharing that Lindy. That is a really good point about offering a smaller 'tester' size to get customers using a product

Tanya

 

[AshleyR]

Thanks Lindy! I had a meeting about the program today and am looking forward to taking these classes too some time in the near future. Exciting!

 

[IanT]

I sooo need to learn how to make one of those... been trying to do some research and have some templates get a little intimidated lol...

 

[Tabitha]

Ug, business plans, I get a head-ache just thinking about it. I wish I were more serious about it all.

 

[Lindy]

In the next couple of weeks I will be doing some market research by interviewing people about their skin care buying habits, what they like about what they're buying, what they would change if they could as well as about 4 other questions. These answers will help me understand the market here where I live. I'm also going to do some research on the cosmetic industry as a whole to prove the theory that the industry is trending to more natural products. My area is inhabited by a bunch of senior hippies so that's works for what I'm doing as well....

Ian maybe check with your unemployment office and see if they are offering the Self Employment Program because I understand from someone here on the forum in another thread that such a program does exist in the US and perhaps they would have some information on how to write a Business Plan as well as some examples of Business Plans that have been written.

Cheers
Lindy

edited to add: IAN here is that post I was talking about -

Jnice999
Forum Member

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:27 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Actually the us does do something like that. You can contact the unemployment office, my brother was laid off before christmas and he received a letter from unemployment about this Self Employment training program. you have to apply submit a business plan and if you receive approval you are given training but there was no mention of living expenses.