Entrepreneurialism Information

Two Types of Business Plan Executive Summaries


Companies seeking capital often ask how long the Executive Summary of their business plan should be. The answer depends upon the use of the summary, mainly determining if 1) it precedes the full business plan, or 2) it will be used as a stand-alone document.

When the Executive Summary precedes the business plan, its length should be short, typically only one to two pages and certainly no longer than three pages. This is because the Executive Summary is not meant to tell the whole story of the business opportunity. Rather, the summary must simply stimulate and motivate the investor to learn more about the company in the body of the plan.

The second type of Executive Summary is a stand-alone document. That is, it is given, by itself, to investors for their initial review. If interested, the investor will then request the full business plan. A stand-alone Executive Summary is often used to limit the flow of information. That is, if an investor is not interested in the general opportunity that your summary presents, you don't want to reveal to them intimate details of your plan.

Regardless of which type of Executive Summary you are developing, the summary must included the following critical elements:

1. A concise explanation of the business

2. A description of the market size and market need for the business

3. A discussion of how the company is uniquely qualified to fulfill this need

In addition, a stand-alone Executive Summary should include summaries of each essential elements of the business plan. This includes paragraphs addressing each of the following:

- Customer Analysis: What specific customer segments the company is targeting and their demographic profiles

- Competition: Who the company's direct competitors are and the company's key competitive advantages

- Marketing Plan: How the company will effectively penetrate its target market

- Financial Plan: A summary of the financial projections of the company

- Management Team: Biographies of key management team and Board members

The Executive Summary is the most critical element of the business plan. If it does not grab the investor's attention, the investor will neither read nor request the full business plan. As such, spend time developing the best possible summary, create two versions (e.g., stand-alone and full plan predecessor) as appropriate, and work to get it in the hands of the right investors.

Since its inception, Growthink Business Plans has developed over 200 business plans. Growthink clients have collectively raised over $750 million in financing, launched numerous new product and service lines and gained competitive advantage and market share. Growthink has become the firm of choice for venture capital firms, angel investors, corporations and entrepreneurs in the know. For more information please visit http://www.growthink.com or download our free Business Plan Guide.


MORE RESOURCES:

Property BEE crunch time: role for advocacy and entrepreneurialism ...
eProp.co.za, South Africa - Jul 23, 2008
SAIBPP’s campaign, as reflected in a recent newsletter, is to create an awareness to aspiring and potential black entrepreneurs , of key Government and ...


Attacking the stupidity of unfettered gun ownership
Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ - 13 hours ago
Most American ingenuity and entrepreneurialism is spent figuring out how to get $30 million bonuses from companies the bonusees have just run into the ...


You’ve heard of road rage. You’ve heard of PMT. Now there’s e-Rage.
Real Business, UK - Jul 9, 2008
A great British renaissance has been taking place. From Aberdeen to the West Country, the zing is back in manufacturing. It’s about time this spectacular ...


The Business Limitations To Entrepreneurialism
Gather.com, MA - Jun 25, 2008
by Nazeer D. From a business perspective, entrepreneurialism is vital to commercial success and the health of the economy. We need individuals with bags of ...


Should we penalise firms that price-fix?
nebusiness.co.uk, UK - Jul 22, 2008
And if a company was to capture, say, 80% of its market, shouldn’t we be celebrating the management’s shrewd entrepreneurialism rather than sending for the ...


Don’t Ride The ‘Doom & Gloom’ Bandwagon
ZDNet UK, UK - Jul 18, 2008
The spirit of entrepreneurialism has never been stronger than it is now in the UK with programs such as The Apprentice and Dragons Den. So all in all, ...


MLive.com

Terry Duperon: The balance of power, part 2
MLive.com, MI - Jul 17, 2008
All seven have it. Terry Duperon is president of Duperon Corp. in Saginaw and a speaker, author and educator on innovation and entrepreneurialism.


Igniting Your Business Spark
Gather.com, MA - Jul 9, 2008
by Nazeer D. Entrepreneurialism and business go hand in hand, and igniting your initial business spark and passion is an important process in getting any ...


The China Code: From Robotic Depersonalization to Epic Ambition
Huffington Post, NY - Jul 17, 2008
Today, entrepreneurialism has complicated matters, but men still progress with precision through key life markers - buy an apartment by the age of 28, ...


Hiscox Study Reveals the DNA of an Entrepreneur
FOXBusiness - Jul 23, 2008
Despite market concerns, the study also reveals that the spirit of entrepreneurialism that defines America is alive and well. When compared with their ...

Entrepreneurialism - Google News

home | site map
© 2006