M L FORMS O N C D - R Business Plan • Get backers to invest

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How to Write a

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Business

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THE LEADING BUSINESS PLAN

BOOK FOR

25 YEARS

Mike McKeever

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10th edition

How to Write a

Business Plan

by Mike McKeever

TENTH EDITION Editor Cover Design Production Proofreading CD-ROM Preparation Index Printing

JANUARY 2011 RICHARD STIM SUSAN PUTNEY MARGARET LIVINGSTON CATHY CAPUTO ELLEN BITTER MEDEA MINNICH DELTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS, INC.

McKeever, Mike P. How to write a business plan / by Mike McKeever. -- 10th ed.

p. cm. Includes index. Summary: "Contains the detailed forms and step-by-step instructions needed to prepare a well-thought-out, wellorganized business plan. The 10th edition has been completely updated with the laws, banking regulations, and resources"--Provided by publisher. ISBN-13: 978-1-4133-1280-5 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 1-4133-1280-2 (pbk.) ISBN-13: 978-1-4133-1297-3 (e-book) ISBN-10: 1-4133-1297-7 (e-book) 1. Business planning. 2. New business enterprises--Planning. 3. New business enterprises--Finance. 4. Small business--Planning. 5. Small business--Finance. I. Title. HD30.28.M3839 2010 658.15'224--dc22

2010021162

Copyright ? 1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2010 by Mike McKeever.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of my late grandmother, Elizabeth Eudora Woodall Darby, whose influence I acknowledged only recently.

Acknowledgments

After more than a decade of working with many people, I am amazed at the uniform spirit of goodwill and cooperation.

My first editor, Ralph "Jake" Warner, showed patience working with a first-time author. My second editor, Lisa Goldoftas, challenged the grammar while gracefully deferring to my knowledge about the subject.

Also at Nolo: Steve Elias designed many charts; Adam Stanhope educated me about computers; Mark Stuhr tuned sections on computerrelated material; Stephanie Harolde worked her word processing wonders on the manuscript; Terri Hearsh designed the book; Eddie Warner gave helpful suggestions on online information; and many more folks at Nolo improved the book greatly.

A special thanks to a number of generous individuals, each of whom knows a great deal about starting and operating a small business. Peg Moran, Terri Hearsh, Roger Pritchard, Jason Wallach, Harry Keller, Dan Peters, Sharyn Simmons, Larry Healy, and finally, Hugh Codding and Leroy Knibb of Codding Investments. For these and all my readers, clients, and students who have shared their hopes, dreams, and problems with me over the years, thank you for your help. The best parts are yours--all the mistakes are mine. Many of your stories and suggestions appear here in disguised form. I hope all the readers will profit from your wisdom and generosity.

Mike P. McKeever Santa Rosa, California

About the Author

Mike P. McKeever's education, work experience, business ownership, writing, and teaching careers give him a broad and unique perspective on business planning. He has a BA in Economics from Whittier College and a Master's in Economics from the London (England) School of Economics, and has done postgraduate work in financial analysis at the USC Business School. Mike has taught classes at numerous community colleges in entrepreneurship and small business management. He has published articles on entrepreneurship for Dow Jones publications, the Sloan Publications Business Journal, and numerous newspapers and periodicals.

Mike has successfully purchased, expanded, and sold a number of businesses, including a manufacturing company, tune-up shop, gas station, retail store, and commercial building. He has worked for a variety of companies ranging from small groceries to multimillion-dollar manufacturers. As an independent business broker, he assessed the strengths and weaknesses of hundreds of companies. As senior financial analyst for a Fortune 500 company, he wrote and analyzed nearly 500 business plans.

Currently, Mike enjoys email correspondence with a few readers relating to business plan issues. He also acts as consulting controller and financial advisor to an online retail business. You can contact him at mckeever.mp@.

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