Michigan 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.

Michigan Investors

United States > Michigan

36+ year IT professional nearing retirement, currently VP of Technology at a billion dollar construction management firm with ownership equity. Current investment experience is mainly Stocks, Mutual Funds, EFTs, and some Bonds, then of course all the various retirement accounts and company stock. Looking to retire at 60yo and will need mostly stability, but also looking to take some limited risks on higher risk/reward ventures if a solid opportunity presents itself.

$10,000 to $100,000

United States > Michigan

My firm is a consulting company that raises debt capital for all facets of the hemp & cannabis industry, including grow/cultivation, processing, testing, retail, and secured transportation. Since bank loans are not readily available for the hemp and cannabis industry, we primarily work with a network of private sources ranging from wealthy investors, family offices, private lenders, and hard money lenders.

$500,000 to $25,000,000

United States > Michigan

My Vice President role for a 100+ employee marketing agency and creative production studio has given me a unique perspective on what it takes to provide successful business management, strategic planning, operational support and team leadership to service the world’s largest companies and brands. As Vice President of Account Management, I created a completely new leadership and operational structure with an emphasis on service, quality and value. During my tenure, the account team grew from 6 to 14, sales doubled and the company experienced 6 of its most profitable years in history. In addition, I successfully began implementing a lean continuous improvement culture to reduce waste, speed training and improve quality. Recently parted from my agency, I am currently looking for new entrepreneurial investment opportunities and am committed to bringing continuous improvement to the operations of any organization.

$10,000 to $200,000

United States > Michigan

We offer emerging growth companies or small and medium size enterprises (“SME’s”) proprietary capitalization advisory services in the form of a License Agreement which provides SME’s a turn-key solution to proactively and successfully complete a private placement of securities and acquire investors for their own enterprise. The license allows those SME’s to offer their investors a principal protected unit with flexible liquidity options that mitigate their downside risk. We also acquire controlling interest in public companies with the objective of restructuring them to merge with private companies who are seeking to go public. We also acquire controlling interests in private companies with the intent of expanding them with blue chip management teams and synergistic rollup acquisitions.

$10,000 to $1,000,000

United States > Michigan

I am a successful business woman that believes anyone that puts hard work in should have a chance at success and if I may be able to help with a small loan I would like to be that person. Each loan will be an investment on my behalf.

$5,000 to $50,000

United States > Michigan

Salutations, I am an individual investor who is also a part of an investment group. My experience involves consulting, investment in the markets (stock, option, commodities, and currencies). Trained in Import/Export trading, global/macro economics, business consulting, quantitative analysis of the stock market, and community/urban development/planning analysis. 80:20 ratio of silent to hands-on/advisory.

$250 to $15,000

United States > Michigan

Leaving real estate investment and have capital to invest in a new venture.

$10,000 to $85,000

United States > Michigan

Several years as a management consultant, retired. Individual investor in entertainment and mobile app (staffing) projects. MBA. Located in Berkley, Michigan. Anticipate a silent or advisory role. I can be hands on if necessary.

$3,000 to $20,000