Business plans that work [electronic resource] : a guide for small business / Andrew Zacharakis, Stephen Spinelli, Jeffry A. Timmons.

Rev. ed. of: Business plans that work / Jeffry A. Timmons, Stephen Spinelli, Andrew Zacharakis. c2004.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

A. Preface -- Book design -- A special note -- B. About the authors -- 1. Entrepreneurs create the future -- Entrepreneurship in america -- Understanding yourself -- Zach's star of success -- The nature of opportunity -- 2. Before you start planning, ask the right questions -- The quick screen -- The business planning guide -- Some business plan basics: a process -- Types of plans -- 3. Getting started -- The story model: a plan for whom? -- Cover page -- Executive summary -- Table of contents -- Chapter summary -- 4. Industry: zoom lens on opportunity -- Customer -- Chapter summary -- 5. Company and product description: selling your vision -- Chapter summary -- 6. Marketing plan: reaching the customer -- Target market -- Product/service strategy -- Pricing strategy -- Distribution strategy -- Advertising and promotion -- Sales strategy -- Sales forecasts -- Chapter summary -- 7. Operations and development: execution -- Operations plan -- Development plan -- Chapter summary -- 8. Team: the key to success -- Team bios and roles -- Advisory boards, board of directors, strategic partners, external members -- Compensation and ownership -- Chapter summary -- 9. The critical risks and offering plan sections -- Critical risks: understanding the critical drivers to your success -- Offering plan: how much do you need? -- Chapter summary -- 10. Financial plan: telling your story in numbers -- Creating initial estimates -- The financial statements -- Description of statements -- Appendices: adding bells and whistles -- Chapter summary -- 11. Conclusion -- Lazybones epilogue -- Next steps if you need funding -- Beyond the business plan -- Conclusion -- A. Appendices 1: quick screen exercise -- B. 2: business planning guide exercise -- Step 1: segment information into key sections -- Step 2: list tasks that need to be completed -- Step 3: combine the list of segments and the list of tasks to create a calendar -- Step 4: a framework to develop and write a business plan -- C. 3: sample presentation.

Business Plans That Work gives you an easy-to-follow template for conceptualizing, writing, focusing, and revising a business plan that converts your business idea into financial profit.

Description based on cover image and table of contents, viewed on Jul. 16, 2015.