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    <title>Home: Message List - Business Plans No No's</title>
    <link>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/community/forum/startingabusiness?view=discussions</link>
    <description>Most recent forum messages</description>
    <language>en</language>
    <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:22:16 GMT</pubDate>
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    <dc:date>2009-06-28T21:22:16Z</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Re: Business Plans No No's</title>
      <link>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75220&amp;amp;tstart=0#75220</link>
      <description>Speculative words -- e.g., estimated, anticipated, projected, etc.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Either the plan describes what's going to happen, and provides abundantly strong evidence to support that fact (plus a contingency/risk management position just in case) -- or the "plan" is not really a plan at all (and therefore still needs work).</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:22:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Lighthouse24</author>
      <guid>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75220&amp;amp;tstart=0#75220</guid>
      <dc:date>2009-06-28T21:22:16Z</dc:date>
      <clearspace:dateToText>Jun 28, 2009 5:22 PM</clearspace:dateToText>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Business Plans No No's</title>
      <link>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75184&amp;amp;tstart=0#75184</link>
      <description>&lt;b&gt;Business Plans No No's, Welcome&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Saying the same thing - - In other words&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;A business plan serves as a tool to you, the owner. As you work your way through the plan, you have to reaffirm the viability of your ideas. As you and the business grow, the plan should help you keep track of the details and help make sure that the business is progressing as you intended.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;LUCKIEST&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:52:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>LUCKIEST</author>
      <guid>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75184&amp;amp;tstart=0#75184</guid>
      <dc:date>2009-06-28T12:52:49Z</dc:date>
      <clearspace:dateToText>Jun 28, 2009 8:52 AM</clearspace:dateToText>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Business Plans No No's</title>
      <link>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75154&amp;amp;tstart=0#75154</link>
      <description>Business plan is not written within a set time period,don't think that they'll be a day that you can end re-writing it (unless your business go bust).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With the ongoing business plan revision, one should get advice as early as possible from qualified advisors with track records,AND not seek advice fro inexperienced business people.</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:01:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>alwinaw</author>
      <guid>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75154&amp;amp;tstart=0#75154</guid>
      <dc:date>2009-06-28T12:01:40Z</dc:date>
      <clearspace:dateToText>Jun 28, 2009 8:01 AM</clearspace:dateToText>
      <clearspace:replyCount>1</clearspace:replyCount>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Business Plans No No's</title>
      <link>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75178&amp;amp;tstart=0#75178</link>
      <description>&lt;br /&gt;
Very good information - no reader of your plan wants to see the words conservative.   Work your best numbers and be able to back them up.  If someone tells you they don't beleive your numbers - tell them OK - what would be a better number?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, not only do not repeat your business name - but don't repeat any information in other sections.  If you are just repeating information - just lose that section.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Keep it short and concise - more than 20 pages with financials and appendices.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Lastly, focus on your executive summary - the executive summary is like marketing - it drives interest in the rest of the plan.  No one wants to read a 20 page plan that they are not interested - also, know you audience when writing.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you are just writing for yourself - to create a road map for your business - you do not have to have a formal plan - notes and abbreviations are ok as you are the only one who needs to know what they mean.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Business Money Today</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:31:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>phanio</author>
      <guid>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75178&amp;amp;tstart=0#75178</guid>
      <dc:date>2009-06-28T11:31:42Z</dc:date>
      <clearspace:dateToText>Jun 28, 2009 7:31 AM</clearspace:dateToText>
      <clearspace:replyCount>2</clearspace:replyCount>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Business Plans No No's</title>
      <link>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75149&amp;amp;tstart=0#75149</link>
      <description>I only have one suggestion: please avoid the repetition of any words too often, including the name of your business. Trust me, you do not have to repeat the name 4 or 5 times per page for people to know who you are talking about.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:27:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Iwrite</author>
      <guid>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75149&amp;amp;tstart=0#75149</guid>
      <dc:date>2009-06-27T19:27:26Z</dc:date>
      <clearspace:dateToText>Jun 27, 2009 3:27 PM</clearspace:dateToText>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Business Plans No No's</title>
      <link>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75093&amp;amp;tstart=0#75093</link>
      <description>&lt;b&gt;Business Plans No No's&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Anybody need help with their business plan??&lt;/b&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:50:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>LUCKIEST</author>
      <guid>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=75093&amp;amp;tstart=0#75093</guid>
      <dc:date>2009-06-26T17:50:46Z</dc:date>
      <clearspace:dateToText>Jun 26, 2009 1:50 PM</clearspace:dateToText>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Business Plans No No's</title>
      <link>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=74990&amp;amp;tstart=0#74990</link>
      <description>&lt;b&gt;Words to avoid in your business plan&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Huge (as in Our market is&lt;/b&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Conservative (as in We conservatively forecast that&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Revolutionary (as in Our technology is&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Assumptions (as in our financial figures&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;No competition&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;We believe (we have a better mouse trap&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Please add more, Thanks, LUCKIEST&lt;/b&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:09:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>LUCKIEST</author>
      <guid>http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/thread.jspa?messageID=74990&amp;amp;tstart=0#74990</guid>
      <dc:date>2009-06-25T22:09:52Z</dc:date>
      <clearspace:dateToText>Jun 25, 2009 6:09 PM</clearspace:dateToText>
      <clearspace:replyCount>6</clearspace:replyCount>
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