Florida 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.

Florida Investors

Florida > Palm City

Have invested in publishing & industrial trade shows in USA, South America, South Africa; financial businesses in USA, incl. start up banking; direct mail advertising Editor and Publisher of trade publications; executive director of several industrial trade associations; currently serving as director of multiple location local bank; served on numerous for-profit and non-profit companies and organizations; currently manage a small portfolio of private residential mortgages and a small thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation Private investor

$2,500 to $100,000

Florida > Saint Cloud

Currently I reside in Orlando as a finance/business operations professional. For the past 15 years, I've worked as a hands on controller for several large publicly traded companies and have also owned my own consulting firm. My consulting firm involved advising small business owners on all aspects of business to include pitching investors, cash flow management, tax advisory services and growth expansion. I'm an individual hands on investor looking to work with a dynamic startup so if you have a great idea, generated some revenue and a great business plan feel free to contact me. Education: Military Leadership, Bachelors Degree-Acccounting/Finance, Master's Business Admin - Accounting.

$5,000 to $25,000

Florida > Wesley Chapel

Manufacturing professional looking for an investment where I can contribute both funding and expertise

$50,000 to $300,000

Florida > Gainesville

Serial entrepreneurs in Gainesville FL looking to help others. Equity stake preferred. Seeking opportunities in Jamaica as well.

$1,000 to $100,000

Florida > Parkland

Own a merchant banking company. Specialize in small growth companies. Take Companies public. Have over 10 years experience doing financings and taking companies public. Work with groups of investors and institutions as well.

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

Florida > Orlando

Looking to invest in businesses that are already profitable and need capital in order to scale. Digital marketing, Finance and Commercial Real Estate background. Can bring a lot of experience and value-add to the table.

$25,000 to $1,000,000

Florida > Orlando

I would like to invest in gold

$1,000 to $50,000

Florida > Tallahassee

High-energy, strategic thinker with 25 years of experience in wholesale sales management, customer service and operations. I owned my own business for 15 years and spent 8 years as an executive for a Fortune 50 company. Recently sold my business to a larger competitor and looking for promising small/medium businesses to invest in and contribute hands-on sales/management/operations expertise. BA from Penn State and MBA from University of Michigan Ross Business School. Individual investor based in Northern Florida.

$5,000 to $200,000