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Do You Buy Digital Products? 
If you are like me, you buy a lot of information products.  
Unfortunetly, the really great information costs money, so you 
have no other alternative than to purchase your knowledge. 
 
So one day, I went searching on the net trying to find... 
 
How to Avoid the Legal Pitfalls when Setting up Your New Business 
 
  How To Avoid The Legal Pitfalls when Setting up Your Own Business 
  No matter who you are you will make mistakes at some point in your business life and unfortunately the law is not very forgiving - ignorance is not a defence. Here are some of... 
 
Make That 3 Billion 
  My previous article I wrote called "One Point Two Billion" attracted quite some attention, the downloads through all the article syndication services has been astronomical compared to any other articles I wrote which are still with them.   It... 
 
Online Shopping Saves You Time and Money 
Shopping seems to have existed for as long as people 
have had a need for things they could not make themselves. 
Even before cash was common, people would barter and 
trade for things they needed and this was essentially 
shopping. Shopping had... 
 
Work at Home Business Ideas 
 
  Here are some excellent businesses that you can start, operate and grow from your home.  All these work at home businesses have the following desirable features: 
   
 	 Low Startup Costs 
 	 Ease of Entry 
 	 High Income Potential 
 	 Home... 
 
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			VC Secrets: What the Business Plan Books Don't Tell You
  
				 VC Secrets: What the Business Plan Books Don't Tell You
   By William F.(Bill) McCready, www.VenturePlan.com
  Most business plan books and software do a thorough job of teaching you to describe your business from an entrepreneur's perspective, focusing on your product or service. 
  Unfortunately, if you wrote your plan in order to obtain funding, it's vital to write it from an INVESTOR's point of view.
  HOW INVESTORS READ a BUSINESS PLAN
  A potential investor will initially spend only 5 minutes with your plan. The following areas will be evaluated, each area taking about 1 minute!
  1. Determine the characteristics of (1) the industry and  (2) this particular company.
   - What other publicly held similar companies are there?   - Is there a larger company that is extremely successful?   - Is the company in a 'glamour field'? (important to ensure  a good public offering) 
  2. Determine the terms of the deal.
   - How much of the company is being sold for what price?   - What is the form of debt or equity being requested?   - How will the funds be used?   o To retire old debt (bad idea)?  o To undertake new activities that will, in turn,  increase profitability? 
  3. Review the bottom line with special emphasis on years three  through five.
   - Earnings or potential earnings are reviewed to determine  company's valuation.   - Sensitivity analysis, or what if analysis to see how the  business model adjusts to changing prices, expenses and  competition.
  4. Determine the caliber of the people in the deal. (The most  important aspect of the business plan!)
   - What is the track record of the founders and managers?   - How much balance and experience does the inner management  team possess?   - How long have the members worked together?   - Who are the banker and accountant, and what are their  credentials? 
  5. The marketing plan is reviewed with careful consideration  to current and future threats.
   - Is the product or service in demand now or will it be in the  near future?   - What is the Unique Selling Proposition for the product?   - What other company or companies are already in this space  that could leap frog this business?  - Can the customer be easily identified and marketed to  successfully?
  *** =============== SAMPLE BIZ PLANS =============== ***
   High Tech and Traditional Business Plans
   We find that few entrepreneurs have actually seen the  “real deal”. Find out how you can order a sample  business plan to use as a guide as you prepare your   own. Go to http://www.ventureplan.com/business_plans.html.
  *** ================================================  
				
				
 
				 ***
  QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY THE BUSINESS PLAN
   1. How much can I make?   2. How much can I lose? (including loan guarantees,  opportunity cost, and non-financial considerations)   3. What is unique, innovative or technologically different?   4. What is the perceived value of your product versus what  your product actually does?   5. Why will everyone need your product or service?   6. What will happen to your customers if they don't buy your  product or service?   7. Who says this is a good investment? 
  BUSINESS PLAN DO's AND DON'Ts
   1. DO keep the business plan as short as possible without   compromising the description of your venture and its  potential. Venture investors are NOT patient readers.   2. DON'T over-diversify your venture. Focus attention on one  or two key products or services.   3. DON'T have unnamed, “mysterious” people on your management  team. A 'Mr. G. who is CFO of XYZ, Corp.' who will join  your company later.   4. DON'T describe technical products or manufacturing  processes with jargon that only an expert can understand.   5. DON'T estimate your sales on the basis of what you can or  would like to produce.   6. DON'T make ambiguous, vague or unsubstantiated statements.  Be precise about market size, rates, etc.   7. DO involve your management team in the preparation of the  business plan.   8. Do disclose any current or potential problems with your  venture. 
  While a well prepared business plan is never a guarantee that your business will be funded, it can increase the odds in your favor. 
  *** ============= PowerPoint Biz Plans ============= ***
   These PowerPoint BUSINESS PLAN templates  have raised MILLIONS!
   o Five PowerPoint Business Plan Presentations  o PowerPoint Guide for Your VC Pitch  o BONUS - Sample Executive Summary
   Click here and go to the *order* button at the bottom  of the page: http://www.ventureplan.com/powerpoint2.html
   NOTE: This is a special offer for readers of this article.
  *** ================================================ ***
  Please feel free to pass this article, in its entirety, along to your associates.
  Copyright 2002, Venture Planning Associates, Inc. ciates, Inc.
  About the Author 
 Bill McCready is CEO/Founder of Venture Planning Associates, Inc., a firm specializing in all areas of entrepreneurial finance: venture capital, alternative funding strategies, private placements, financial modeling, deal structuring,  entrepreneur coaching, business plan evaluation, mergers and acquisitions, and turnarounds. The VPA website, http://www.VenturePlan.com, provides online resources to entrepreneurs in 105 countries. 
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