Here are some resources and an online class.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/writeabusinessplan/SERV_BUSPLANFAQS.html
http://www.myownbusiness.org/s2/index.html
Why write a business plan?
Some of you dudes need focus. Besides that a business plan gives you the roadmap you need to make your business productive and viable. It helps brings your goals to light and keeps them in front of you in a detailed yet concise manner. It gives you a realistic idea of where you are today and helps define the things you need to get to that ultimate goal.
Parts of a business plan:
1. Executive Summary. The executive summary is the most important part of the business plan because it provides a 1-2 page snapshot of your company and explains who you are, what you do and why you do it. This should be the first thing you write. Don't do anything else until completing this step. Once you are finished with your plan come back and work on your summary. It will also be the last thing you write!
2. Table of Contents. A table of contents is exactly what you'd expect. It lists key sections of your business plan and brings structure to the plan by helping the reader find specific sections. Microsoft word has a feature that will allow you to create the table of contents automatically. Make sure its organized and numbered when you are done with your business plan.
3. Company Description. Here's your chance to lay the foundation and history of your company. Most business plans deal with the expansion and improvement of existing businesses rather than with the funding of start-ups. Now's the time to brag (factually) about how you transformed BGOL Strippaz Ltd. from a corner staple to a strong local employer that's helping single mothers fund their college careers.
Things to include:
* Describe how you got started, who started it and how the company has grown.
* Provide a history of sales, profits, and other important numbers.
* Lead up to a description of where you are now, and what plans you have for the future. If you have no sales just say you are a start up.
Make sure this is honest account. Potential investors will doubt the credibility of someone who appears never to have run into any problems. Talking about how you had initial challenges and then overcame them with flying colors will make you look better.
4. Product/Service. Describe your service in plain english. Leave the hood at home and the use of too many syllable words alone.
How does your service smell? What does it do? What differentiates it from all the other real estate redevelopment companies out there? How does it improve people's lives? What prevents someone else from doing the same thing more cheaply? What kind of equipment do you need? Do you have, or can you get, patent protection? Put yourself in the shoes of the investor and ask yourself what you yourself would want to know before agreeing to give you a large amount of money ("large" being most likely at least tens of thousands of dollars).
5. Market Analysis. You need to demonstrate that you have thought about what to do when the housing market tanks, what to do when it starts to climb. How do you roll in a buyers market? How do you roll in a sellers market? How are you keeping abreast of government regulations like the stimulus bill? How is the HOHO act affecting your business? Tighter restrictions are making it more difficult for retail buyers to buy. What are you changing to keep you business afloat? Are you linked with a credit specialist that will help them improve their credit in the next few months so you can invite them to purchase the next property?
Market analysis includes your sagacious discussion of industry characteristics and trends, projected growth, customer behavior, complementary products/services, barriers of entry, and so on. To do this effectively, you'll have to do a ton of research. Angels and VCs are suckers for good solid research (as they should be!), so pull out all the stops. Talk about how similar products/services have done well in the market, how you're fulfilling an obvious need, and exactly who you expect to purchase your services. Show them that in this cutthroat world of Real estate, you can hang in there.
6. Marketing Plan. Following your exposition of what the market is like comes your grand strategy of how you plan to get the word out. You have to detail exactly what steps you will take to ensure that customers know about your product/service and prefer it over the competition. Be as detailed as you can, and give several different tactics (start off with the cheapest marketing tactic like the internet or flyers, and proceed to the most expensive - tv and radio ads or billboards).
7. Operations Plan. The nuts and bolts. You gave them vague assurances in your executive summary that you'd be able to run your business; now they need to understand how you plan to execute. Location, bricks and mortar, equipment needs, and labor requirements are laid out here in black and white.
8. Financial Plan. The numbers. You might not like this portion but once its done ... the hard part is over. Even if your pops is an accountant, you need to do this part yourself to get some knowledge of sales forecasts, profit-and-loss statements, cash flow projections, balance sheets, and standard biz ratios. Investors will expect you to be completely independent in this important area of knowledge; if they call you saying they'd like to set up a meeting with you, they will as you questions about your financial plan and you will be expected to act intelligently.
9. Management. Never underestimate the importance of the collective genius of your management team. VCs will take a great management team with a mediocre business model over a great business model with mediocre management any day of the week. If you have somebody in the team (or at least on your board or among your advisors), who's had serious entrepreneurial success, you'll earn double bonus points from investors. Wouldn't you trust a business plan that said that Bill Gates was on the Board of Directors?
10. Appendices. This part has all of the necessary documentation like your resume, promotional materials and any independent assessments.
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/writeabusinessplan/SERV_BUSPLANFAQS.html
http://www.myownbusiness.org/s2/index.html
Why write a business plan?
Some of you dudes need focus. Besides that a business plan gives you the roadmap you need to make your business productive and viable. It helps brings your goals to light and keeps them in front of you in a detailed yet concise manner. It gives you a realistic idea of where you are today and helps define the things you need to get to that ultimate goal.
Parts of a business plan:
1. Executive Summary. The executive summary is the most important part of the business plan because it provides a 1-2 page snapshot of your company and explains who you are, what you do and why you do it. This should be the first thing you write. Don't do anything else until completing this step. Once you are finished with your plan come back and work on your summary. It will also be the last thing you write!
2. Table of Contents. A table of contents is exactly what you'd expect. It lists key sections of your business plan and brings structure to the plan by helping the reader find specific sections. Microsoft word has a feature that will allow you to create the table of contents automatically. Make sure its organized and numbered when you are done with your business plan.
3. Company Description. Here's your chance to lay the foundation and history of your company. Most business plans deal with the expansion and improvement of existing businesses rather than with the funding of start-ups. Now's the time to brag (factually) about how you transformed BGOL Strippaz Ltd. from a corner staple to a strong local employer that's helping single mothers fund their college careers.
Things to include:
* Describe how you got started, who started it and how the company has grown.
* Provide a history of sales, profits, and other important numbers.
* Lead up to a description of where you are now, and what plans you have for the future. If you have no sales just say you are a start up.
Make sure this is honest account. Potential investors will doubt the credibility of someone who appears never to have run into any problems. Talking about how you had initial challenges and then overcame them with flying colors will make you look better.
4. Product/Service. Describe your service in plain english. Leave the hood at home and the use of too many syllable words alone.
How does your service smell? What does it do? What differentiates it from all the other real estate redevelopment companies out there? How does it improve people's lives? What prevents someone else from doing the same thing more cheaply? What kind of equipment do you need? Do you have, or can you get, patent protection? Put yourself in the shoes of the investor and ask yourself what you yourself would want to know before agreeing to give you a large amount of money ("large" being most likely at least tens of thousands of dollars).
5. Market Analysis. You need to demonstrate that you have thought about what to do when the housing market tanks, what to do when it starts to climb. How do you roll in a buyers market? How do you roll in a sellers market? How are you keeping abreast of government regulations like the stimulus bill? How is the HOHO act affecting your business? Tighter restrictions are making it more difficult for retail buyers to buy. What are you changing to keep you business afloat? Are you linked with a credit specialist that will help them improve their credit in the next few months so you can invite them to purchase the next property?
Market analysis includes your sagacious discussion of industry characteristics and trends, projected growth, customer behavior, complementary products/services, barriers of entry, and so on. To do this effectively, you'll have to do a ton of research. Angels and VCs are suckers for good solid research (as they should be!), so pull out all the stops. Talk about how similar products/services have done well in the market, how you're fulfilling an obvious need, and exactly who you expect to purchase your services. Show them that in this cutthroat world of Real estate, you can hang in there.
6. Marketing Plan. Following your exposition of what the market is like comes your grand strategy of how you plan to get the word out. You have to detail exactly what steps you will take to ensure that customers know about your product/service and prefer it over the competition. Be as detailed as you can, and give several different tactics (start off with the cheapest marketing tactic like the internet or flyers, and proceed to the most expensive - tv and radio ads or billboards).
7. Operations Plan. The nuts and bolts. You gave them vague assurances in your executive summary that you'd be able to run your business; now they need to understand how you plan to execute. Location, bricks and mortar, equipment needs, and labor requirements are laid out here in black and white.
8. Financial Plan. The numbers. You might not like this portion but once its done ... the hard part is over. Even if your pops is an accountant, you need to do this part yourself to get some knowledge of sales forecasts, profit-and-loss statements, cash flow projections, balance sheets, and standard biz ratios. Investors will expect you to be completely independent in this important area of knowledge; if they call you saying they'd like to set up a meeting with you, they will as you questions about your financial plan and you will be expected to act intelligently.
9. Management. Never underestimate the importance of the collective genius of your management team. VCs will take a great management team with a mediocre business model over a great business model with mediocre management any day of the week. If you have somebody in the team (or at least on your board or among your advisors), who's had serious entrepreneurial success, you'll earn double bonus points from investors. Wouldn't you trust a business plan that said that Bill Gates was on the Board of Directors?
10. Appendices. This part has all of the necessary documentation like your resume, promotional materials and any independent assessments.
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You ain't getting a dime if you ain't ready. If you ain't got a business plan ... 
as far as funding is concerned.
