Do I really need a business plan?

We have found that when entrepreneurs dedicate their time to planning their business, not only do they save money by avoiding mistakes, they are also more likely to succeed. A good business plan requires the entrepreneur to address all the challenges he or she will face and visualize exactly how he or she will achieve his or her goal. Through this process, the entrepreneur will improve his or her understanding of the opportunity ahead and better prepare him or herself for success. This is why banks and investors almost always require the entrepreneur to develop a detailed and professional business plan.

Why can’t I write a business plan myself?

Even if you have an outstanding business background, it can take months to process relevant market research, model your financial projections and synthesize all your data to complete an impactful business plan. It’s much more effective for you to focus on developing your business while leveraging outside experts to write an efficient business plan and gain unbiased perspective into your business. By using The Plan Writers, we will identify new opportunities and challenges for which you can prepare. Finally, we subscribe to top dollar academic literature to which you would most likely not be privy. The research reports alone are usually worth more than the business plan you are paying for!

Who are the writers and what are everyone’s qualifications?

We spend a tremendous amount of time head-hunting quality writers that meet our standards and fit into our company culture. Any writer that is on our payroll will have an MBA and/or at least 5 years of professional work experience. This is to ensure you have the most knowledgeable business plan writing service for your business.

Have you worked in our industry?

There will most likely be someone on our team that has prior business experience in your industry. Chances are, we probably have already written a business plan similar to your business. Does this mean that we ever recycle material? No! We not only personalize every business plan, but you will also be able to leverage all the best practices and trends we’ve discovered. The bottom line is that we all come from diverse backgrounds and are passionate about working through different business models.

What’s the success rate with your business plans?

We often time get asked this question and have to set the proper expectations. As writers, we absorb, guide, and convey your vision to help guide your success. Ultimately, it is up to you to recognize if you have the resources, expertise, and determination to accomplish your goal. An investor or bank may not fund your business plan. However, we can promise you that it will never be rejected because of us.

Finding a Distributor

admin1

Aug 4, 2014 10:40:48 AM

These days, many businesses simply don’t need a distributor. A business that sells durable iPhone cases, for instance, can quickly and easily set up an online shop through Amazon Marketplace or Shopify, accepting payments via PayPal. It’s never been easier to skip the middleman.

But is it always the right decision to forgo a distributor? No, not in every case. In some instances, partnering with a distributor can help your business grow and reach new markets.

Here are a few business planning tips to finding a distributor for your product.

Do you really need a distributor?

The first step of finding a distributor is to carefully evaluate whether you really need one. In some cases, the fees that a distribution intermediary collects for its service outweighs the additional sales they provide. In other instances, a distributor can bring your product national or international attention that you were previously unable to capture. How do you know under which category your product falls?

Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula that will tell you whether partnering with an intermediary is the best solution for you. Here are a few situations, however, where one might benefit from working with a distributor:

Your sales team is stretched thin and you feel that your sales could benefit from outside help.
Your business is expanding into international markets. By partnering with a distributor that has an understanding of the local market, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.
If your business is too small to earn you any face-to-face time with major retailers, leveraging a large distributor will give your product a better chance of finding its way onto big chain’s shelves.

Ensure that you can adequately train the distributor

Failing to properly train the distribution team will result in poor performance, damaged relationships, and an unhappy workforce. Avoid that outcome by designing a comprehensive and effective training program for your distributor. The distribution team should have a good understanding of how your product works, the benefits it offers, and the after-sale services that you company has made available. Just like with your own sales force, if the distributor can’t pitch your product effectively, sales will suffer.

References and recommendations

Just because a company is willing to buy your product, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re the best distributor for you. In worse case scenarios in fact, your business’s reputation can be irreparably damaged by a distributor’s negligence or unethical business practices.

Reach out to your network for recommendations. A small business owner that you know from your alumni association will likely be happy to recommend a distributor with whom they’ve had a positive experience. Similarly, if someone you know has had a bad experience with a distributor, it’s more than likely that they’ll be eager to warn you to steer clear of that second-rate intermediary.

Additionally, asking for references from the distributor is another way to weed out potentially lacklustre distributing partners. So don’t hesitate to ask for multiple references when conducting your due diligence.

Values and culture of the distributor

Finally, find a distributor that has similar values and culture to yours. If your business has a horizontal organizational structure that’s free from bureaucracy, partnering with a company that has plenty of red tape might prove to be too much of a hindrance for you.

In the same vein, if your small business values sustainability and green living, while the distributor you choose to work with shows little regard for the environment, you’ll cheapen your entire business’s credibility. By partnering with a like-minded business, you’re chances of forming a long-lasting partnership increase.

Business Plans

Finding a Distributor