minimum contents of a business plan?

Question

what would be a simplified outline or checklist to use in developing a business plan to start a farming venture?

Answer 1

Here is a free online business plan program

http://www.diybizplan.com/default.php?act=25

The site also has articles on how to start a business

http://www.diybizplan.com/default.php?act=3&catid=74

Writing a Business Plan

http://www.diybizplan.com/default.php?act=3&catid=76

and more...

I hope this helps

dwadholm

Answer 2

These are major topics.
1. Survey of business landscape: how big is the market and if it is growing; who are the major players. Is it an underserved market?
2. Competition: who are you competing with
3. What are your "competitive edge"? What do you have that others don't? Special technology? Special contracts? Are you competing on cost, quality, or what?
4. Operations: Exactly how you propose to do sales & marketing, make the product or deliver the service, after-sales support, etc. You have outline the whole business process and point to those that you plan to excel on
5. MOST IMPORTANT: financial projections. How much money you will begin to bring in and how often? It is called cash flow. Weak cash flow and low margins are bad business. And how you intend to use investors' money. And how much equity are you giving to investors for the money they put in? If you borrow money and not give out equity, most likely you need to personally guarantee the loan with your house or assets.
6. Exit: How will investors get their money back and how long will it take? Tech companies go public.

If you plan to borrow money, the banks don't really look at your business plan too much. They just want to know if you have assets as collateral because banks don't like risks.