Updated+and+still+under+construction+draft

 Guide to creating a plan for starting a business on the Oregon Trail Due April 7, 2008 The year is 1845. Traffic on the Oregon Trail is starting to pick-up and investors are starting to smell opportunities. A group of //venture capitalists// wish to invest in a business that can //capitalize// on this new overland route and the increasingly large numbers of people who they are predicting will use it to travel west. They have contacted five groups of people based on their proven //entrepreneurial// skills that they have shown in starting businesses in the East. Each group must present one business plan and make a five minute sales pitch to the investors. It is of utmost importance that you make this a very professional plan and sales pitch. All components of the presentation must have meticulous attention paid to detail from design, information, diagrams, objects, writing, speech, to dress. Below is a suggested outline of historical information that you should know before making your decision on what type of business you wish the venture capitalists to invest in.
 * Beginnings: **
 * Reasons why so many went west.
 * The beginning of a typical journey west: preparations; starting out
 * Across the Plains – Independence, MO to Ft Laramie Wyoming: **
 * Starting points
 * Landmarks along trail
 * Problems of wilderness camping
 * Buffalo 
 * Encounters with Native American tribes
 * Accidental death
 * Through the Moutains – Fort Laramie Wyoming to Fort Hall Idaho: **
 * Fort Larami
 * The scourge of Cholera
 * Problems of trail overcrowding
 * The great trek of the Mormon pioneers
 * Difficulties faced in the mountains
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51)">Cutoffs and alternate routes
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51)">Arrival at Oregon/California – Ft Hall to End **<span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51)">:
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51)">Role of the British
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51)">49ers on the Oregon Trail
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51)">Indian hostilities in the Trail's later years
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51)">Importance of the Trail

=Business Plan for a Startup Business= The business plan consists of a narrative and several financial worksheets. The narrative template is the body of the business plan. It contains many questions divided into several sections. Work through the sections in any order that you want, except for the Executive Summary,  **which should be done last.** Skip any questions that do not apply to your type of business. When you are finished writing your first draft, you’ll have a collection of small essays on the various topics of the business plan. Then you’ll want to edit them into a smooth-flowing narrative (So you start by answering a bunch of questions, and take your answers to create an elaborate essay). The real value of creating a business plan is not in having the finished product in hand; rather, the value lies in the process of researching and thinking about your business in a systematic way. The act of planning helps you to think things through thoroughly, study and research if you are not sure of the facts, and look at your ideas critically. It takes time now, but avoids costly, perhaps disastrous, mistakes later. This business plan is a generic model suitable for all types of businesses. However, you should modify it to suit your particular circumstances. Pay particular attention to your writing style. You will be judged by the quality and appearance of your work as well as by your ideas. It will take your group several days to complete a good plan. Most of that time will be spent in research and re-thinking your ideas and assumptions. But then, that’s the value of the process. So make time to do the job properly. Those who do never regret the effort. And finally, be sure to **keep detailed notes on your sources** of information and on the assumptions underlying your financial data. ==

Your Business Name Street Address Address 2 City, ST ZIP Code Telephone Fax E-Mail

I. Table of Contents 3 3 II. Executive Summary. 4 4 III. General Company Description. 5 5 IV. Products and Services 6 6 V. Marketing Plan. 7 6 VI. Operational Plan. 14 6 XI. Appendices 16 6 === II.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Executive Summary=== Write this section last. Make it two pages or fewer. Include everything that you would cover in a five-minute interview or presentation. Explain the fundamentals of the proposed business: What will your product be? Who will your customers be? Who are the owners? What do you think the future holds for your business and your industry? Make it enthusiastic, professional, complete, and concise.

1-What business will you be in? What will you do? 2-Mission Statement: Many companies have a brief mission statement, usually in 30 words or fewer, explaining their reason for being and their guiding principles. This is a good place to put it in the plan, followed by: 3-Company Goals and Objectives: Goals are destinations—where you want your business to be. Objectives are progress markers along the way to goal achievement. For example, a goal might be to have a healthy, successful company that is a leader in customer service and that has a loyal customer following. Objectives might be annual sales targets and some specific measures of customer satisfaction. 4-Business Philosophy: What is important to you in business? 5-To whom will you market your products? (State it briefly here—you will do a more thorough explanation in the Marketing Plan  section). 6-Describe your industry. Is it a growth industry? What changes do you foresee in the industry, short term and long term? How will your company be poised to take advantage of them? 7-Describe your most important company strengths and core competencies. What factors will make the company succeed? What do you think your major competitive strengths will be? What background experience, skills, and strengths do you personally bring to this new venture? 8-Legal form of ownership: Sole proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, Limited liability corporation (LLC)? Why have you selected this form?

10-What factors will give you competitive advantages or disadvantages? Examples include level of quality or unique or proprietary features. 11-What are the pricing, fee, or leasing structures of your products or services?
 * 9* **-Describe in depth your products or services (technical specifications, drawings, photos, sales brochures, and other bulky items belong in Appendices  ).

Market research - Why?
No matter how good your product and your service, the venture cannot succeed without effective marketing. And this begins with careful, systematic research. It is very dangerous to assume that you already know about your intended market. You need to do market research to make sure you’re on track. Use the business planning process as your opportunity to uncover data and to question your marketing efforts. Your time will be well spent.

Market research - How?
There are two kinds of market research: primary and secondary. 12-Secondary research means using published information such as industry profiles, trade journals, newspapers, magazines, census data, and demographic profiles. This type of information is available in public libraries, industry associations, chambers of commerce, from vendors who sell to your industry, and from government agencies. Start with your local library. Most librarians are pleased to guide you through their business data collection. You will be amazed at what is there. There are more online sources than you could possibly use. Your chamber of commerce has good information on the local area. Trade associations and trade publications often have excellent industry-specific data. 13-Primary research means gathering your own data. For example, you could do your own traffic count at a proposed location, use the yellow pages to identify competitors, and do surveys or focus-group interviews to learn about consumer preferences. Professional market research can be very costly, but there are many books that show small business owners how to do effective research themselves.
 * 14***-In your marketing plan, be as specific as possible; give statistics, numbers, and sources. The marketing plan will be the basis, later on, of the all-important sales projection.

Economics
Facts about your industry: ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 15-What is the total size of your market? ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 16-What percent share of the market will you have? (This is important only if you think you will be a major factor in the market.) ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 17-Current demand in target market. ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 18-Trends in target market—growth trends, trends in consumer preferences, and trends in product development. ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 19-Growth potential and opportunity for a business of your size. ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 20-What barriers to entry do you face in entering this market with your new company? Some typical barriers are: o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> High capital costs o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> High production costs o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> High marketing costs o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Consumer acceptance and brand recognition o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Training and skills o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Unique technology and patents o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Shipping costs ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 21-And of course, how will you overcome the barriers? ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 22-How could the following affect your company? o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Change in technology o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Change in government regulations o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Change in the economy o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Change in your industry

Product
In the Products and Services  section, you described your products and services as you see them. Now describe them from your customers’ point of view. Features and Benefits 22-List all of your major products or services. 23-For each product or service: ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Describe the most important features. What is special about it? ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Describe the benefits. That is, what will the product do for the customer? Note the difference between features and benefits, and think about them. For example, a house that gives shelter and lasts a long time is made with certain materials and to a certain design; those are its features. Its benefits include pride of ownership, financial security, providing for the family, and inclusion in a neighborhood. You build features into your product so that you can sell the benefits. 24-What after-sale services will you give? Some examples are delivery, warranty, service contracts, support, follow-up, and refund policy.

Customers
25-Identify your targeted customers, their characteristics, and their geographic locations, otherwise known as their demographics. The description will be completely different depending on whether you plan to sell to other businesses or directly to consumers. If you sell a consumer product, but sell it through a channel of distributors, wholesalers, and retailers, you must carefully analyze both the end consumer and the middleman businesses to which you sell. You may have more than one customer group. Identify the most important groups. 26-Then, for each customer group, construct what is called a demographic profile: ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Age ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Gender ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Location ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Income level ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Social class and occupation ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Education ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Other (specific to your industry) ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Other (specific to your industry) For business customers, the demographic factors might be: ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Industry (or portion of an industry) ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Location ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Size of firm ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Quality, technology, and price preferences ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Other (specific to your industry) ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Other (specific to your industry)

Niche
Now that you have systematically analyzed your industry, your product, and your customers, you should have a clear picture of where your company fits into the world. 27-In one short paragraph, define your niche, your unique corner of the market.

Strategy
Now outline a marketing strategy that is consistent with your niche. Promotion 28-How will you get the word out to customers? 29-Advertising: What media, why, and how often? Why this mix and not some other? 30-Have you identified low-cost methods to get the most out of your promotional budget? 31-Will you use methods other than paid advertising, catalogs, and word of mouth (how will you stimulate it?), and network of friends or professionals? 32-What image do you want to project? How do you want customers to see you? 33-In addition to advertising, what plans do you have for graphic image support? This includes things like logo design, cards and letterhead, brochures, signage, and interior design (if customers come to your place of business).

Pricing 34-Explain your method or methods of setting prices. For most small businesses, having the lowest price is not a good policy. It robs you of needed profit margin; customers may not care as much about price as you think; and large competitors can under price you anyway. Usually you will do better to have average prices and compete on quality and service. 35-How important is price as a competitive factor? Do your intended customers really make their purchase decisions mostly on price? 36-What will be your customer service and credit policies? Proposed Location 37-Probably you do not have a precise location picked out yet. This is the time to think about what you want and need in a location. Many startups run successfully from home for a while. You will describe your physical needs later, in the Operational   Plan  section. Here, analyze your location criteria as they will affect your customers. 38-Is your location important to your customers? If yes, how? If customers come to your place of business: 39-Is it convenient? Not out of the way? 40-Is it consistent with your image? 41-Is it what customers want and expect? 42-Where is the competition located? Is it better for you to be near them (like car dealers or fast-food restaurants) or distant (like convenience-food stores)?

Distribution Channels 43-How do you sell your products or services? Retail Wholesale Your own sales force Agents Independent representatives

Sales Forecast
You may want to do two forecasts: 1) a "best guess", which is what you really expect, and 2) a "worst case" low estimate that you are confident you can reach no matter what happens. Remember to keep notes on your research and your assumptions as you build this sales forecast and all subsequent plans. This is critical if you are going to present it to funding sources.
 * 44*-**Now that you have described your products, services, customers, markets, and marketing plans in detail, it’s time to predict your future sales. The forecast should be based on historical sales, the marketing strategies that you have just described, your market research, and industry data, if available.

Explain the daily operation of the business, its location, equipment, people, processes, and surrounding environment.

Production
45-How and where are your products or services produced? Explain your methods of: ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Production techniques and costs ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Quality control ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Customer service ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Inventory control ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Product development

Location
46-What qualities do you need in a location? Describe the type of location you’ll have. Physical requirements: ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Amount of space ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Type of building ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Power and other utilities 47-Access: Is it important that your location be convenient to transportation or to suppliers? Do you need easy walk-in access? Include a drawing or layout of your proposed facility if it is important, as it might be for a manufacturer. Where will your business be located (state and city)? 48-What will be your business hours?

Personnel
·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 49-Number of employees ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 50-Type of labor (skilled, unskilled, and professional) ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 51-Where and how will you find the right employees? ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 52-Who does which tasks?

Inventory
·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 53-What kind of inventory will you keep: raw materials, supplies, finished goods? ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 54-Seasonal buildups? ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 55-Lead-time for ordering?

Credit Policies
 ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 57-If yes, what policies will you have about who gets credit and how much? ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 58-How will you check the creditworthiness of new applicants? ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 59-What terms will you offer your customers; that is, how much credit and when is payment due?

=== VII.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Appendices=== Include details and studies used in your business plan; for example: ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Brochures and advertising materials ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Industry studies ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Blueprints and plans ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 60-Maps and photos of location ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 61-Magazine or other articles ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 62-Detailed lists of equipment owned or to be purchased ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 63-Letters of support from future customers ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **64-***Any other materials needed to support this plan ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> 65-Market research studies