What is the Business Planner’s RoadMap?
The Slippery Path to Proving Your Business Case
I wish I could tell you that building your business case is a linear process, but it rarely is. More likely you will venture into the various Sections and Elements of your business plan and travel far enough to determine viability or workability and then move on to a different Section. For example, you will need to work far enough into the Marketing Section to gain at least a rough idea of your prices. At the same time you will want a preliminary peek at your operating expenses, your fixed costs, and other Elements of your financial scenario. In reality, you will most likely work simultaneously in at least three different Sections and a variety of Elements of your business plan.
As you work around and around, through the entire business plan, your case will either get tighter and tighter – or it won’t. If it begins to show that it can be viable and workable, you may be moving closer to going into business. As viability and workability become clearer, your confidence will increase. If your business case never does reach viability, you will not gain confidence and you won’t be starting the business.
You are launching on one of life’s most rewarding journeys: to plan and start your own business. The RoadMap is the safest way to approach the journey. I wish you great success!
Task List
- Think about your business idea.
- Talk to others about your business idea; listen to their comments.
- Read books or magazines on topics related to your business idea.
- Watch newscasts or documentaries or any video footage you can find related to your idea.
- Make a conscious decision to research your market and determine the viability of your idea.
- Review this step until you have a firm grasp of the following concepts:
▪ The RoadMap (the 99-step process)
▪ The Shell (the business plan structure)
▪ The Biz4Caster
▪ Sections and Elements of the business plan
▪ Narrative – Text, Financial and Supporting Information