ap out a realistic business plan from scratch - and see your business vision become a reality Need a hand with your business strategy? This fully updated guide leads you through all aspects of business planning, from clarifying objectives and finding funding, to researching customer behaviour and developing an e-presence. It contains the latest information on planning methods and initiatives (including planning in turbulent times), as well as a sample business plan to get you off to a flying start. The 3rd edition of Business Plans For Dummies includes brand new content on: * Building a brand * Building customer loyalty * Testing your business plan * Ways to make your plan look great * 10 Business Plans Helpers The following sections have been expanded to give greater coverage: * Researching your market * Determining market share * Planning in turbulent economic times * Extending your e-penetration A guide to create a winning business plan from scratch. It gives you what you need to map out your business strategy and stay on course including a sample plan that you can easily adapt for your business. It also charts your course assess the advanced state of your business and where you'd like to take it, and establish achievable objectives. Introduction 1Part I: Determining Where You Want to Go 7Chapter 1: Starting Your Business Plan 9Chapter 2: Charting the Proper Course 19Chapter 3: Setting Off in the Right Direction 35Part II: Sizing Up Your Marketplace 51Chapter 4: Checking Out the Business Environment 53Chapter 5: Taking a Closer Look at Customers 77Chapter 6: Dividing Customers into Groups 93Chapter 7: Scoping Out Your Competition 111Part III: Weighing Up Your Company’s Prospects 127Chapter 8: Establishing Your Starting Position 129Chapter 9: Focusing On What You Do Best 147Chapter 10: Figuring Out Financials 163Chapter 11: Forecasting and Budgeting 187Part IV: Looking to the Future 215Chapter 12: Preparing for Change 217Chapter 13: Thinking Strategically 239Chapter 14: Managing More than One Product 261Part V: A Planner’s Toolkit 293Chapter 15: Planning in Turbulent Economic Times 295Chapter 16: Making Your Business Plan Work 309Chapter 17: Learning from Others: A Sample Business Plan 333Part VI: The Part of Tens 353Chapter 18: Ten Questions to Ask About Your Plan 355Chapter 19: Top Ten Business-Planning Never-Evers 359Index 363