Business plan concept hand drawn on blackboard
A business plan is a crucial part of starting your business or thinking about taking your business to the next level. Once you have drafted and polished your business plan, you’re ready to share it with the world, but that can be challenging too. Here are some tips and tricks for doing so.
1. Review the plan with a mentor
Find a business mentor to review your final business plan before sharing it with external groups. A mentor can be a former business owner or a professional who advises entrepreneurs.
2. Draft the perfect outreach email
First impressions are everything and this includes any email outreach on behalf of your business. Work with your mentor or advisor to craft the perfect outreach email that can highlight important and interesting parts of your plan. You want to make sure that whoever you send it to is going to want to read it.
3. Keep a few printed copies on hand
Be sure to have a few printed copies on hand in case you have a funding opportunity that arises unexpectedly. Having a physical copy for you and the potential investor also makes referencing items in the plan much easier.
Business plans often contain sensitive financial information and market analysis and strategy. Be mindful of who you share this plan with, as you would not want it to be shared widely. In addition, the life of a small business is constantly evolving. Be sure to build in monthly or quarterly checkpoints to review and revise your business plan so it stays up to date as your business grows and adapts.
