Business Plan or Bust! By Dan Boudreau * Five Stars

Trafford Publishing * ISBN: 141209285-X

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”

—Stephen A. Brennan

Business Plan or Bust! is a terrific tool for would-be entrepreneurs considering starting their first small business. It addresses the needs of intelligent, diligent people who have specialized expertise but little systematic planning experience. The author red-flags other programs which characterize entrepreneurship as a get-rich-quick endeavor. Self-employment is instead touted as a realistic opportunity to make a living on one’s own terms, predicated on stacks of old-fashioned homework, involving always a risk of failure. “An entrepreneur is a twisted individual who will work 15-hour days at minimum wage to avoid taking a real job at $20 per hour.”

Dan Boudreau is a two-time Entrepreneur of the Year nominee with twenty-five years in business planning, as a sole proprietor, employer, trainer, and gatekeeper of development funds for agencies in British Columbia. The book’s examples aren’t hypothetical, they’re steps Boudreau took creating the book sales-centered plan for his company, Macrolink Action Plans, Inc. He educates others based on previous ventures, which included impressive profitability in tree-planting and training, and one painful bankruptcy, which led to views of government regulators as “parasites” and legally sanctioned “gangsters.” He learned the hard way—regulators and lending institutions are least troublesome to those who learn the rules and don’t attract attention through noncompliance. One person can’t beat the combine, or as the man colorfully puts it, “If you get into a pissing match with a bank, you had best have a change of clothes.”

The book is divided into seven chapters, the meatiest of which is a ninety-nine step process of plan-building called the RoadMap™. Each step is rated “Must Have,” “Recommended” or “Nice to Have.” A briefer Fast Track plan is included for the impatient. Narrative text and charts are appropriately balanced throughout. Proprietary software known as Biz4Caster™ is available at riskbuster.com to simplify the financials.

Those lacking experience are typically confused about how market research and accurate forecasting are done—vital topics addressed here with specifics. As thorough, professional and approachable as this guide is, it doesn’t eliminate the maddening sinkhole which threatens the universe of business planning: behavior of human customers resists conforming to forecasts. That morass can easily swallow up a collateralized home, if one ignores early warnings. Kudos to the author for encouraging reality checks. He says, “It’s important to know when to throw in the towel.”

This book and its ancillary tools primarily target Canadians and Americans who are considering launching small service-industry businesses. Focused but lively, complete but comprehensible, Business Plan or Bust! is exactly the right prescription for people with a great concept and little idea of how to proceed. An excellent value.

Reviewed by Todd Mercer

http://www.forewordmagazine.com/clarion/viewreviews.aspx?reviewID=393