Page 46 - Business Plans that Work A Guide for Small Business

Before You Start Planning, Ask the Right Questions • 37

Exercise 1.2 Business Planning Guide: Lazybones

Name: Dan Hermann
Venture: Lazybones
Date: November 2010

Step 1: Segment Information into Key Sections

Establish priorities for each section, including individual responsibilities, and due
dates for drafts and the final version. When you segment your information, it is vital
to keep in mind that the plan needs to be logically inte grated, and that information
should be consistent. Note that, since the market opportunity section is the heart
and soul of the plan, it may be the most difficult section to write, but it is best to
assign it a high priority and to begin working there first. Remember to include such
tasks as printing in the list.

Section Priority Person(s) Date First Draft Date
or Task Responsible to Begin Due Date Completed
or Final
Version
Due Date
Laundry Industry High Dan Immediately December 1 December 15
Analysis and Seg-
mentation
Analysis of national High Joel Immediately December 1 December 15
competitors and
franchisors
Franchisor best prac- High Joel November 15 December 8 December 22
tices (across other
industries).
Check with the High Dan November 15 December 15 December 31
International
Franchise Associa-
tion, Case Studies
of McDonald’s, Jiffy
Lube, etc.
Document Moderate Dan November 15 December 8 December 22
business format
for the ideal Lazy-
bones store
University/location Moderate Reg Immediately December 8 December 22
analysis (which
areas are prime
for franchise
expansion?)
Create training man- Low Reg January 1 January 15 January 30
ual and processes
Evaluate current Low Reg January 1 January 15 January 30
equipment and
product
suppliers against
potential
suppliers