Setting up a wireless network can be tricky, however. The following are a few things you need to know about setting up your small business wireless network:

• How many cubicles, conference rooms, offices, etc. are connected to your network? Are there any you would like to connect?


• Do you use many mobile devices, such as laptops or PDAs, or do most of your employees use desktops? This will influence the number of access points, which are small devices that help you connect wirelessly via radio signals.


• Do you or your employees conduct business away from the office most of the time?


• Is your building leased? Does the lease permit you to drill holes for setting up the necessary ports?


• Is your equipment equipped for wireless? It would be an expensive mistake to set up your wireless network only to find out that your devices or computers are not wireless ready.

These are all things that you will need to consider before you can set up your wireless network for your small business.

Once you know what you need, you can approach service providers and discuss your requirements with them. You may or may not need to purchase equipment, depending on the promotions your service provider is running, or the deal you work out with them.

Get your equipment
The amount of equipment you need will depend on the number of people you have who will have access to your wireless network. More employees means more access points.

Your equipment will consist of your wireless devices, such as laptops, printers, or PDAs, and your access points. The access points will contain a radio transceiver, software, and your Ethernet port that allows you to cable connect to a hub on your wired network.

Configure and connect
Once you get your equipment together, you will need to connect it to your wired LAN (Local Access Network). The best place to put this is a central location to your employees and the wireless devices they will be using, and preferably in an open area without interference. Things such as walls or cables in the way could decrease your overall range. As a rule of thumb, you should keep it at a maximum range of 150 feet.

Next, you should set up your security. Without a secure connection, anyone within range will be able to pick up on your signal and access the places you have visited. Data encryption, user authentication, and password protection are just a few of the security options most wireless networks provide. Typically, this should not take more than 10 or 15 minutes.

Be sure to take advantage of your provider's support helps if you run into trouble.

Once you have your small business wireless network connected, you can start accessing the Internet and communicating wirelessly via portable devices.

Getting help with business finances is especially important if the small business owner is in charge of the finances for the business and does not have much of a background in small business finance. There are a few different options available for small business owners to turn to for business finance help. There are business finances coaches and accountants. It isn't a bad idea for a small business owner to request help from both of these financial consultants.

A business finance coach can specifically help a small business owner understand their small business' finances. This is an important step to managing a small business. There are specific documents and certain numbers on those documents that a business owner should look at before making decisions for their company. A finance coach can teach a small business owner about these documents and numbers.

An accountant can be very helpful to a small business owner in managing their finances. A business owner should choose to work with an accountant who understands their small business specifically.

When a small business begins to grow, the business finances may become too much for the business owner to handle on their own. If this is the case, the small business owner should hire someone to be in charge of the business' finances. A business owner can choose to hire someone and have them work with the company all of the time, or they can choose to outsource the work when they need it done.

Stay organized

One of the best ways for a business owner to manage their small business finances is for them to stay organized. There should be a filing cabinet or drawer specifically used to store financial documents related to the small business. Receipts and other financial documents should be organized by date so that the small business owner can easily access them at any time; especially during tax time.

Another way for a small business owner to keep their finances organized is by using business finance software. This is a great way to limit paperwork and keep things in one place. It is a good idea for a small business owner to back up their financial files periodically so that if something happens to one set of financial documents they have another one.

Save

While many small businesses are not able to save any money for the first year or two, as soon as they can save they should save. Having savings makes a business owner and their small business more independent. They are no longer dependent on lending institutions and other investors for money if the business hits a rough patch or if they need money to expand the business.

Once a small business is in the position to save money, the business owner should set up a specific amount that they will save each month and year. Even if the amount is little it will soon add up.

Stay on top of it

Another important aspect of managing a small business' finances is for the business owner (or whoever is in charge of finances) stays on top of them. Businesses, even small businesses, constantly deal with money, credit, etc. so it is vital that the finances stay up-to-date so that the business can run smoothly.

A business plan is a written document that describes the future of a small business. It is a good idea for a future small business owner to write up their small business plan before they even start their small business. But if they do not have a business plan when they start their small business, it is never too late for a small business owner to write one so that their small business can grow.

The importance of a business plan

Because a business plan maps out the future for the business, or what the small business owner wants for their business, a business plan can guide the small business owner in making decisions for their business. A business plan can help remind a small business owner of their business goals, help them create opportunities for the business, and fix problems that they encounter.

Most lending institutions will want to see a copy of the business plan that the small business owner has written. The lender wants to know about the plans the small business owner has for their business and the money they are asking to borrow. A lender will feel more confident about lending money to a future or current small business owner if they see a thorough plan on how the business owner plans to make money.

What does a business plan include?

A business plan for a small business should include several different things. For example, it is important for a small business owner to include a description of their company in their business plan. This part of the business plan should discuss the start-up plans that the owner has for the business and any history behind the small business. It is also a good idea for the business owner to include a description of the goods or services that their small business will be offering. In this section it is best for the owner to talk about how their product or their service will benefit their customers.

Including a financial plan for the small business is an important part of the business plan, especially if the business owner is trying to get funding from a financial institution. Listing specific numbers such as the plans for profit, cash flow, and other business ratios can be helpful for lenders and can be a good way for a business owner to set goals for their small business.

Another part of a business plan that a small business owner should make sure to include in their business plan is an analysis of their customers, or the market. Knowing the market, their needs, how to contact them, and where they are, are very important for a successful small business.

An essential part of a good business plan is the business strategy of the business owner. A business owner could also include how they plan to implement their business strategy in their business plan.

How to

To write a good business plan, a small business owner should start by making a business plan outline. There are actually samples of business plan outlines if a small business owner is having trouble getting started.

After creating the business plan outline, a small business owner should proceed by filling in the outline. It is important for the business owner to make their business plan very detailed. They should include thorough descriptions of their business, the market, the goods and/or services their business is going to offer, and their business strategy. And they should include specific numbers concerning their small businesses finances.

Getting funding for a small business from a bank or other lending institution will take a lot of preparation on the part of the small business owner. If the future business owner is planning to get funding for a small business that is not yet up and running, the business owner may need to have a good personal credit history. This takes years to create. Some lenders will take a person's personal credit history into consideration when they are deciding whether or not they want to give them a small business loan.

A business owner will also need a good business plan for their small business when they are asking for a small business loan from a bank. The business plan needs to show the lenders the plan the small business owner has for making their small business a success. Banks will feel more confident lending a small business owner money if they have a plan for how to make more money.

When a business owner is looking for a lending institution to ask for a small business loan, they should do a lot of research to find a bank or lending institution that would be best for them and their small business. This may mean they have to fill out several loan applications and present their business plan to more than one loan officer. But this extra time and energy will be worth it if they get their small business loan.

Friends and family

Luckily for future business owners, getting a loan from a bank or lending institution is not the only way they can get funding for their small business. A small business owner could also get funding for their business from their friends or their family.

To get funding for a small business from friends or family, a small business owner should approach their family and friends very professionally. This business loan should be considered a business investment that the family or friends are choosing to participate in. Numbers, such as how much money was borrowed, if there is an interest rate, and when the money will be paid back in full, should be written down and each person involved in the transaction should get a copy.

Government grants

The government offers grants for small businesses that meet certain requirements. A small business owner or future small business owner should take time to research and find out if their small business meets the requirements for these grants. If there is a grant that is offered for the small business the business owner should review the requirements that need to be met to get the small business grant. Most of the time a small business owner will need to have a business plan ready to present to get the business grant from the government just as they would a small business loan from a bank.

One of the first things that need to be done when a person is looking to start their own small business is for them to choose what type of business they want to start. There are many different options for a future small business owner to choose from. For example, a future small business owner needs to decide if they want to have a wholesale business or a retail business.

A wholesale business would mean that the small business owner would buy products from the manufacturer and then sell them to the distributors. If a future small business owner wants to work in retail it means that they would be selling goods to the customers and working directly with the customers.

There is also the choice between an independent business or buying and working with a franchise. If a small business owner would like to start their very own business and be in charge of everything then they should choose an independent business. With an independent business the small business owner gets to make their own rules and have a lot more freedom.

Choosing to buy a franchise has some disadvantages and advantages as well. Buying a franchise would mean that the small business owner needs to follow certain rules and regulations as they run their small business. But many things like marketing and dealing with suppliers may be taken care of.

What are your skills?

When a future small business owner is trying to choose the small business that is the right fit for them to start they should think about the skills that they have to offer the community. A person could ask themselves several questions to help them determine their skills and if they would work for a small business. What have they gone to school for? What are their hobbies? Are they a professional in anything? Can any of these skills help the community? Is there a need for these skills? Can these skills be marketable?

Happiness

Most people consider how much money they will make when they think about starting a small business, but it is also important for a future small business owner to consider what will make them happy. A small business takes a lot of time and effort to be successful so it is important that spending so much time and working so hard at the small business makes the small business owner happy.

How will it work?

Another thing that future small business owner need to think about these days is whether or not they will have an actual store or if they will just be taking advantage of internet technology. Some small businesses will require the small business owner to have an actual store to offer the goods and services. Other small businesses may be fine only having an online store. And of course it is possible for a small business to have both an actual store and a virtual store.

A future small business owner may decide that they want to choose a small business that requires them to have an actual store because they are not very computer savvy. Other people may feel more comfortable choosing to own a small business that deals with their customers mostly online. Either choice is good as long as it works well for the small business owner and the small business.

One way that a future small business owner can get funding for their small business is by asking their friends and family if they would like to invest in their business. This can be a great route for a person to get the funding they need for their small business when they do not have very good credit and could not get a small business loan from a bank.

But even though this transaction may seem less formal, borrowing money from friends and family members should be treated just as if the person is borrowing money from a bank. It would be a good idea to have paperwork written up and have specific numbers and dates written down to make the investment or the loan official.

A person should be cautious when borrowing money from their friends or family however. The relationships can suffer when a person who borrows money for a small business is irresponsible with the money. If a person wants to make sure the relationships with their friends and/or family are not strained because of their small business, it would be best for them not to borrow money from their family or friends for their small business.

Save

Another option for funding a small business is for the small business owner to save their money. This funding option can take a lot of time, but it does have a few perks. For example, a person who saves money to fund their small business does not have to deal with the hassle of asking for a loan or paying back any interest.

A person can begin to save their money and use it to start up their small business. Or a small business owner can save money and set it aside for their small business' cash reserve. If the small business experiences a rough patch or needs some extra money to help with their cash flow, the small business owner will not have to borrow the money, they will already have it set aside.

Borrow from a bank

Borrowing from a bank is probably one of the first funding options that people think about when they want to start up a small business. Getting a small business loan can be a great way for a small business owner to build up their business credit while funding their small business. And a small business owner may also need to borrow money from the bank to help their business grow after they have been in business for several years.

To get a small business loan with a good interest rate, a business owner may need a good personal credit history, and their business will definitely need a good business credit history. Preparing a thorough business plan and having documentation stating what they plan on doing with the money they borrow is also essential for a person to get a small business loan.

Invoice factoring

Invoice factoring can be a great option for small business to help them fund their day-to-day business transactions each month. Invoice factoring can give a small business the money they need for their cash flow.

If a small business has customers who purchase the goods or services the business offers on credit, the business may not have a good cash flow until their customers pay their invoices off. With invoice factoring, the small business will get some of the money from the invoice before the customer pays it off and then when they customer pays their invoice off in full they get the remaining amount minus a small fee.

There are many people in the world who believe in small businesses and they have the money to help make these small businesses successful. Usually these private investors are referred to as Angel investors. A small business owner who uses this type of funding for their small business may also get some terrific business advice as well as a business contact from their Angel investor. Many times angel investors choose to invest in groups. This means that more than one person will be investing in a small business and each gets part of the entire deal.

As with all of types of small business financing options, there are both good and bad aspects to
Angel investors. One of the positive aspects is that angel investors tend to be pretty patient about their investments. This can be helpful for a small business owner that takes a while to get their business up and running. A negative feature of Angel investor is that they can be pretty difficult for small business owners to find.

Grants

Depending on the type of small business, there may be grants available to help fund it. Many states have different grants available from the government as long as the small business meets a certain set of criteria. The great thing about grants is that it is free money. As long as the small business qualifies and uses the money a certain way they do not have to pay it back. But it can be very hard to get grants since they are free money and other small businesses that qualify will want that money too.

Business loans and lines of credit

Getting a business loan is perhaps the most common option that people think of when they want to get funding for their small business. A small business owner can get a business loan or a line of credit through a bank after creating a business plan, filling out loan applications, etc. When getting a business loan or a line of credit it is also important for a small business to have collateral and a good business credit history, and it can't hurt for them to have established a good relationship with the financial institution they are looking to get the loan from.

Business loans and lines of credit can be a great way for some small businesses to get funding. But getting a loan or line of credit will mean that the small business will have to pay interest on the money they borrowed and loans can also be a little risky since the lending institution will likely require some type of collateral.

Family members and friends

Some small business owners turn to their family members or friends when they need financing for their small business. Generally small business owners use family members and friends as a last resort financing option. But borrowing money for a small business can be a good idea since it usually involves little preparation and the transaction can be completed relatively quickly.

Of course, borrowing money from family members and friends is not a perfect choice for small business funding. If this business transaction is not treated professionally then family and friend relationships can be ruined.

One of the many small business operations is marketing. Depending on the size of a small business, the business owner may be in charge of the marketing and advertising or the small business may have a marketing and advertising department. Either way, the responsibilities of the person or people who are in charge of marketing and advertising are relatively similar.

Some of the day to day operations of the marketing department may include doing research on the small business' target market, coming up with a marketing strategy, and carrying out the marketing strategy.

Managing finances

The management of finances is probably one of the most important of all business operations. Money is pretty much what makes a business go round. It is vital that a small business has a cash flow, a positive cash flow, so that they will continue to stay in business. The accountant or the chief financial officer (CFO) needs to pay close attention to the investing, financing, and operating cash flow of a business.

Being organized and knowing when bills are due and when cash is needed is a great way for a small business owner to manage their cash flow and finances. It is also a good idea for them to plan ahead. Having a cash reserve can come in handy when times get hard for the business and their usual sources of cash flow are not there.

Another important aspect to the business operation of finance management is creating and sticking with a budget. Small businesses do not usually have money to spare. It is very important that small businesses know where all of their money is going and use all of their money in the best way they can.

Technology can help

There are many different types of technology available these days that can usually help small businesses. For example, many small business owners may wonder if creating a website or a blog for their small business will help their day to day business operations run more smoothly. Of course the answer depends on the small business and what it is capable of doing at the time.

But most small businesses have found that the internet is a wonderful instrument for them for many reasons. The internet can be a great marketing tool for small businesses. Many small businesses have found that things such as search engines, blogs, websites, even sites such as facebook can help a small business better reach their customers.

And sending emails to set up meetings or to schedule other things for businesses can take less time than making a phone call and allow for employees of a small business to have more time for other important tasks.

Employees

Small business employees are an essential part of successful business operations. Employees who work for a small business need to know and understand their tasks and be able to accomplish them efficiently in order for the small business to run smoothly. Employees should also be able to work well together, and know how to set and reach short and long-term goals.

E-commerce will cut down on the number of problems your distribution center may be having because the customers are in charge of entering the correct data and they must enter their billing information. Most e-commerce sites have automatic billing system that will reduce your labor costs and reduce the number of past-due accounts you have and bounced checks. Since the internet is available all over the world, your company is instantly has a global market. This helps companies find their customers without moving their physical location. Another great benefit of e-commerce is that you have the ability to track your customer's interest and preferences. This can give you a greater power to market your products and services to them. Collecting their information can also help you focus on building products that meet their needs.

While e-commerce is extremely beneficial, some customers have their reservations about it. Online identity theft is ramped and many customers have had their credit card information stolen while making an online purchase. To combat this, you must take all the necessary steps to secure your web site. Customers must be able to trust your site and know that their credit card information will be protected from online identity thieves.

Another thing you need to concern yourself with is the products you market online. Selling large items will sometimes turn customers away because they are worried about the quality of the product or the expensive shipping costs. Selling furniture is hard to do since most customers want to physically see it and touch it before they purchase it. To help their reservations, you can place some of your items in stores or in one of your locations. Many companies are using their physical locations to their advantage for shipping purposes. For the customer that is worried about paying twice as much for shipping, they have the option to have the item shipped to the facility and they will be in charge of picking it up and getting it to their home. This benefits the customer because you are assuming the shipping costs but it benefits you because the customer must come to your facility to pick it up, where they may be persuaded to buy more products.

If you don't have an e-commerce site established, now is the time to do so. Almost every business has an e-commerce site; even pizza delivery establishments have them. You need to obtain a e-commerce site just to stay competitive with other businesses and to secure the future of your company.

Customer service is one of the easiest things to do, but many employees actually struggle with it. For one reason or another, they do not understand how to interact with your customers and they have a hard time forming relationships with them. Having good customer service skills will allow your business to develop strong connections with your customers and they will remain loyal customers for many years.

Think about some of the companies you commonly shop from and the reasons why you do. If you only buy pizza from a certain local business, it's probably because you have gotten to know this company. They can probably identify you by name and they have your order memorized. Gaining customer service like this does take time, but having lifelong customers is one of the best ways to keep your business alive.

Good customer service isn't hard to learn, it starts with something simple called a smile. When you walk into a store and the associate looks bored, you automatically have an assumption about that person and the company. When you walk into a store and the associate smiles and says "hello", you are likely to have a different outlook.

The nice thing about smiling to your customers is that it can get you out of an uncomfortable situation. If you have customers that are rambling on about their personal life, a simple smile will let them think that you are listening and that you care. Body language is important when it comes to good customer service. Keep a smile on your face when you are talking on the phone with your customers, it has actually been shown to improve your tone and mood on the phone.

Helping one another is a great way to create a friendly work environment and eliminate the hassle for your customers. Don't try to step on each others toes, instead think of your business as a team and that you are all there to help each other become a better employee.

Solve customer's problems. If you really want to keep people coming back for more products, you need to take time to solve their problems. Try to get answers for them as quickly as possible. If you need to talk to a supervisor, don't keep them waiting too long. Get the answers the customers need and they will be grateful for it.

Treat them like gold. Customers want companies to fawn over them. While you may not think they are right, try to find ways to let the customer think they are right. It's important for them to feel special when they come to shop at your store, make them feel this way by smiling at them, calling them by name, and assisting them in any way possible.

Partnership
Another common business structure is a partnership. This is when you have 2 or more individuals that enter into a legal agreement to do business together. Partnerships are created upon loyalty and trust to the other individual, as they are responsible for the success or failure of the business. Partnerships operate similar to a sole proprietorship. The owners are liability for the business if it fails, this means their personal assets are at risk. The partners must report income losses or gains on their individual tax returns because the partnership does not pay income taxes. Like a sole proprietorship, the company cannot be sued, but the individuals can be sued.

Second, advertise to repeat customers. About 80-85% of your business will come from repeat customers, which is why it is important to spend money on them. Take some time to figure out what they like. Create products that will suit their needs and their wants. Consider offering them discounts and other promotions to keep them coming back for more. Always collect your customer information and use e-mail marketing and other methods to reach them. If you are offering a discount, make sure you include an expiration date so you can get an influx of cash within a certain time frame. Sending discounts is a great way to add a sense of urgency to your customers and to get them to tell their friends about your company. When they feel special, they will tell everyone else about their experience with your company, which is called word-of-mouth marketing. The other benefit to sending out discounts is that it entices the customer to go online or come into your business to buy something. Many of them will purchase extra items that they really don't need because they can get a small discount.

Third, market to the right network. A common problem small businesses can run into is getting caught up with finding new customers that they stop marketing to the right target audience. Take your time to do your research and find out if you are targeting the right market. Don't waste your time on advertisements that reach a broad audience if you sell a product that is specifically focused on one thing. For example, if you sell safety software, paying for a large banner advertisement won't do you any good because you need to target large corporations and manufacturing firms that tend to have problems with safety. A clothing store worker won't be interested in your billboard so that $500 a month you pay just went to waste.

Fourth, look at unique ways to market. Since you are trying to save money, take a look at other businesses that may be able to help you. Can you rent space in other stores to leave your promotional materials by the cash register? What about placing an advertisement in their door? Smart marketers will find ways to reach their audience for a low cost. Always consider marketing online. Use blogs and social networking sites to your advantage. Almost everyone has a joined a social networking site and they actually will see your advertisements or profile page if you create an account. This is a great way to introduce yourself to your target audience and to find out more information about them and their needs.

Take a look how you can reduce your inventory. For example, if you sell bookmarks, consider printing them together instead of separately. This will save you money on printing costs and you have the ability to print them when your customers demand them. Review your inventory often to determine which items need to be phased out and which items are the hot-sellers. Even though you may think it's wise to carry a lot of your hot-selling item, be careful. The market can change at anytime and before you know it, you are left with a warehouse full of dusty products that used to be hot-sellers. To phase out some of the older inventory, combine them into packages with other items. This is a great way to still get some of your investment out of them and you can promote some of your other products. When you reduce the size and cost of your inventory, you free up your cash flow so you can use it on other things like purchasing of new equipment.

Tip # 2 - Partnership and Negotiations
Another great way to reduce your overhead is to consider partnering with another company. You can use one another when you have marketing promotions and other events. This is a great way to scale back on the amount of money you spend and it provides you with the opportunity to expose your business to a new audience.

Negotiations can also reduce your overhead expenses because you are trading services with other companies. Instead of paying your vendors cash, re-pay them by trading services. For example, a fast-food restaurant can trade their food for auto repair services. This way both parties get what they want, you just need to make sure the trade is fair.

Tip # 3 - Price Check
To reduce your business overhead, start looking around for other services. Price check your insurance rates and utility bills. These expenses always seem to increase over time and you can get a great rate with a new company by asking for a price quote. Use this approach with some of your suppliers. This helps them stay on their toes so they know they cannot get away with increasing your price all the time. If you find a better price, ask your supplier to match it, 85% of vendors will price match in order to keep your business.

Tip # 4 - Shipping Expenses
Although you may be getting a good deal from some of your vendors, take a look at how much money you are paying in shipping expenses. There are some instances when you can save yourself a ton of money by shopping at Sam's Club and Costco and office supply stores. While the price may be a little higher, it will be cheaper in the end because you don't need to pay for shipping.

If you are having someone come in to work on your computers, make sure you have some basic information written down for them. Obtain the warranty, router settings, desktop network settings, application preferences, software products keys, all the passwords that protect the computers. This information will help them if they need to re-boost a computer and they need to re-load software and re-configure the settings to the computer. Don't voluntarily give out this information (especially the passwords) unless they specifically ask for it.

It is important to protect your data files. Always purchase additional storage for your system. You can purchase an offsite storage until or online backup system. The online backup systems are extremely convenient for many business owners as they allow them to access their information 24/7. Plus, they have the confidence of knowing this information is held at a trusted and secured facility.

When it comes to protecting your small business, you need to enroll in a credit monitoring service and you need to watch your employees spending habits. Employees that are given a company credit card can quickly lose control of it and use it for personal spending, which can actually impact your company credit rating. Since small businesses are often directly tied to the owner's credit rating, it is important to do everything you can to limit using too much credit and to watch your personal spending habits. A credit monitoring service will alert your company if there is unusual activity on your accounts or if there is a change in your company credit report. It is important to correct errors as soon as they occur in order to protect your company information.

A simple way to protect your company credit rating and company information is to shred your documents. Always shred credit card statements or better yet, request to have them available online, this will cut down on the amount of wasted paper in the world. Everything that has personal information of any of your customers or your company information must be shredded. There are even companies out there that will come in and pick up your shredded documents and recycle the paper.

Another way to protect your small business is to purchase good antivirus software. You need to limit your employees browsing ability so they cannot access web sites that may be harmful to your company. It is also important to discuss email attachments as many viruses are sent this way. There are comprehensive antivirus software programs that include additional things like spyware protections, adware protection, spam blocking, and identity protection.

The last thing you can do to protect your small business is to purchase insurance. The insurance is necessary to cover your equipment along with protection from like fire, floods, and natural disasters.

• Obtaining financing


• Debt to equity ratio


• Business objectives


• Marketing and business strategies

How do I create a business plan?
Creating a business plan will have a lot to do with the success your company will have someday. Determine what your reasons are for using a business plan. Are you going to use it as a road map? Do you need the business plan to obtain financing? Let's discuss some of the different aspects of a business plan:
1. Introduction
a. The introduction will cover all the basic information of your business. You need to identify what your business structure is along with the contact information for the business. Generally the introduction will include a cover, title page, summary, and table of contents. The summary talks about some of the key points of the business plan like the purpose of the plan, if you are already operating your business, and the objectives of your business.
2. Company Section
a. The company section will discuss the mission statement of the business. Discuss your reasons for starting a business and the purpose of your business. Normally the mission statement will provide information on who you are, what you do, why you do it, and what you stand for. Try to keep the mission statement short and simple. Once you have a mission statement, create a business overview. This provides information on your business start date, legal structure, and business name. You also need to include a description of the different products and services you plan to sell. Include information about your customers and why they will select your product over your competitors. Also include information about zoning, licenses, insurance, and other issues that pertain to establishing a business.
3. Marketing
a. The marketing section of your business plan is vital to the growth of your business. Talk about some of your employees along with your marketing ideas. Include a company analysis that talks about where you are at now and where you expect to be in 5 years, 10 years, etc. You also need to provide information on what you will do if you do not meet those goals. Provide a market analysis that provides information about your market size, market segmentation, and the marketing environment.
b. Marketing also includes a customer analysis. Talk about your customers and their purchasing decisions, including when they look for products, what products they typically buy, and why they choose your products over your competitors.
c. Lastly you need to talk about your marketing budget and your action plan. Some of the documents you need to include are research surveys, spreadsheets, and market studies.
4. Financial Section
a. The last section of your business plan must provide information about your company's finances. You need to create financial projections and support this with existing financial statements or other documents. Provide information about the funding requirements, use of funds, and the funding sources.
b. Provide a balance sheet that lists all your company assets and liabilities. Then you need to list a break-even analysis, cash flow projections, income potential, and a list of your equipment and inventory you carry.