Page 40 - Business Plans that Work A Guide for Small Business
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Before You Start Planning, Ask the Right Questions   •   31



                                 III.  Value Creation and Realization Issues
                                Higher       Lower
                                Potential    Potential   Comments
                    Profit after tax  10–15% or more  <5%; fragile  With strong execution and operating
                                 and durable              systems, Lazybones is consistently
                                                          profitable.
                    Time to     <2 years     > 3 years   Quicker if Lazybones gets university
                     Break-even                           endorsements.
                    Time to positive  <2 years  > 3 years  Again, dependent on endorsement.
                     cash flow
                    ROI potential  40–70% +, durable <20%, fragile  Predict ~35% Return on equity by
                                                          year five.
                    Value       High strategic   Low strategic   If Lazybones growth plan succeeds, it
                                 value        value       will be an attractive acquisition.
                    Capitalization   Low-moderate;   very high;    Using franchising for growth greatly
                     requirements  Fundable   difficult to fund  reduces the needs for outside
                                                          investment.
                    Exit mechanism  IPO (initial    undefined; illiquid  The IPO market has struggled since
                                 public offering),    investment  the dot-com meltdown and has
                                 acquisition              been hurt again by the 2008 reces-
                                                          sion.  An acquisition is a stronger
                                                          possibility, especially if they grow
                                                          the number of locations, proving
                                                          that the model works in multiple
                                                          locations and develop a national
                                                          brand.
                    Overall Value Creation Potential     Professionalizing a fragmented
                                                         market could create lots of value.
                    1. Timing   Higher ______avg __X___ lower
                    2. Profit/free   Higher __X__avg_______lower  Lazybones has a strong platform
                                                         on which to pursue this avenue.
                     cash flow
                    3. Exit/liquidity  Higher __X__avg_______lower



                                          IV. Overall Potential
                                Go     No Go   Go, if . . .  Comments
                    1. Margins and   X                   Professionalizing this market is
                     Markets                              promising.
                    2. Competitive   X                   Refined unit operations are replicable
                     Advantages                           in franchise model
                    3. Value creation  X                 Several inquiries from potential
                     and realization                      franchisees

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