The highly regarded Seed Academy entrepreneurial course is being offered for free to one South African entrepreneur with an awesome business plan in celebration of Mandela Day. The course is valued at R 16 000-00, and is taught over 10 weeks (one evening a week). In order to stand a chance of winning this course, you need to produce a business plan and deliver it by the 20 August 2014. More details are available on the Seed Institute website.
So Just How Do I Write A Business Plans?
Jeff Miller, Chairman of Seed Engine, has offered an 18 step process to completing the business plan, and it helps to simplify the process and for you to apply your mind and heart to developing a business plan. It is so helpful we turned it into a graphic. Click for a higher resolution.
The 18 steps are:
1. Think of an idea that would make a difference to your community.
2. Find a like minded partner or two with complementary skills.
3. Spec the product or service in detail.
4. Identify why your product is better and why customers will prefer yours.
5. Define your target market and customer base.
6. Do some research with potential customers to see if they welcome the idea and whether they would use the product or service.
7. Work out the cost price of the product or service.
8. Work out the selling price.
9. Do research on competitors to see if the business is competitive.
10. Identify a list of suppliers.
11. Identify a list of potential customers.
12. Work out a simple marketing plan to reach your customers.
13. Work out the type of employees that you require and put a cost to it.
14. Work out other costs that are required to run the business.
15. Put a simple business plan together using all this information.
16. Put together a three minute pitch for the business.
17. Identify friends and family who could invest in the business.
18. Send your business plan to lara@seedinstitute.co.za by 20 August 2014.