California Investment Network

Business Plan Tips

What Investors Are Looking For In A Plan

Investors, whether angels or VC's, are looking for the same things when reading a business plan. They want to know how big the opportunity is, whether this is the right team to exploit the opportunity, who the competition is, what the risks are, and why they can expect this team to implement successfully. Your job in writing the business plan is to address these questions convincingly and clearly.

Emphasize Your Real Strengths

Highlight what your team brings to the table. If your business hinges on a particular competency (for example, understanding the procurement process), your plan will be more persuasive if one of your team members knows something about it and that is brought out in your plan. Rather than including generic resumes of team members, tailor the resumes to draw out the experience each member has that will make him or her a valuable contributor.

Get To The Point And Make It Clear And Comprehensive

Investors see many business plans. A 20-page plan which clearly lays out your business is far more likely to be read than a 100 page plan. Today, some entrepreneurs are using a 15 slide Powerpoint presentation. If your text is short and punchy, you won't need to repeat yourself, because the reader won't be bogged down keeping ten chapters in their head. Reading the same thing over and over, even if it's in different words, can get really tiring. The more you use brevity and give each concept a single home in your document, the more people will want to read it.

Write In Plain English

If you can't explain your idea in English, either you don't understand what you're talking about (What is a transaction enabled atomic journaling database server, anyway?) or you haven't simplified the idea enough. Think, revise, and try again.

Get Rid Of The Hype

Yes, we know you will be the "premier insert product category here of the Internet, achieving 99% market penetration with 60% customer retention in 3 months". Your product will reach "new heights in customer experience through the use of personalization and one-to-one profiling and customization". It will be "user friendly" because you will be creating a truly "ecstatic customer experience". It is a "quantum leap forward" in the marketplace for product category here. Um, yeah. Believe me, we've read it before. About a dozen times today, in fact. (And by the way, the phrase "quantum leap" really doesn't mean anything.) Stick to a tight, simple explanation of your idea. Convince your reader you'll be the best because your idea is the best, not because you can string a dozen buzzwords together.

Use Quantifiable Information

In each section, back up your assertions with solid facts. Even if you are a new venture and cannot give specific figures on the performance of your business, quote figures for the industry or your competitors. These real figures carry more weight than your assumed projections and give more reality to your plan.

Choose A Huge Market

Especially in the internet world, investors are looking more at the market than at the detailed specifics of your financials. Choose a market that is big enough to be an obvious good opportunity. A business which targets teenage girls who listen to music and has a reasonable chance of capturing 90% of the girls that are online is a huge opportunity. A business which targets net-savvy SAAB mechanics who need prosthetic limbs is not.

Registered Investors

United States > Massachusetts

We are a privately held funding group that specializes in providing many forms of debt and equity financing for projects. With a direct connection to some of the wealthiest private investors, we are able to structure deals that quickly get your business up and running quickly. We provide funding from 1 to 100 million in the United States and internationally. We partner with our clients to provide the necessary equity to succeed. We pride ourselves in knowing what our clients need and finding ways to make deals work for everyone. With over 30 years on experience in real estate investing, construction, development, business management and project financing our services are unmatched. We have the ability to quickly evaluate projects and present our clients with multiple funding options for a mutually beneficial investment. Because we are a private money source and not a conventional bank this gives greater flexibility to financially invest in project

$1,000,000 to $10,000,000

United States > California

Seeking qualified investments. 25 year carreer in accounting and corporate finance. Have held the roles of COO and CFO. Started my career as an investment advisor with American Express. Current portfolio includes stock investments as well as angel investments in Tech and Real Estate related companies. Looking to further diversify portfolio.

$0 to $1,000,000

United States > California

Former Electrical Engineer. Worked as product marketing engineer. Entrepreneur. Business owner. Would like a solid return on investment.

$1 to $300,000

United States > California

I co-founded Micro Center Computer Inc in 1990 and was a board member of Supermicro Computer which went to a successful IPO in 2007. Now Sam is focused on start-up company and investment. Sam has over 30 years of extensive background in development, engineering and business management and has been a successful engineer/manager/consultant/executive in several well- respected companies such as Sony, Fairchild, Telesensory, and Snap-on Diagnostics.

$20,000 to $300,000

United States > California

I am looking for innovative ideas as I have funds for Film/ Internet/ Restuarant concepts/ proposals. Innovative ideas get my first preference.

$100,000 to $5,000,000,000

United States > New York

I am a financial consultant for several small firms and throughout the years, I've assisted these firms in securing additional capital funding for various needs (i.e. expansion, refinance, equity draw, etc.) I represent a fundraising group for start-up companies as well as existing corporations seeking to expand their capital. We can work with companies eager to raise capital through regulation crowd funding and filing all SEC forms and regulations. Raise anywhere from $20,000 - $5M. We charge NO upfront costs, only 4% fee if your fundraise is successful. We offer free contracts and personal support throughout. My occupational background is as an accountant/financial advisor for the past 20 years including 10 years as a corporate controller. I am also a real estate investor and currently own and manage four investment properties under my real estate corporation.

$20,000 to $500,000,000

United States > Georgia

I have been investing for approx. 5 years now and have a high success rate. I have started and sold three business and tremendous profit in the past 15 years. I am a private investor

$500,000 to $5,000,000

United States > Colorado

I am the CEO of the investment banking division of a registered broker/dealer. I am actively looking for deals up to $400MM.

$500,000 to $90,000,000