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

Married, carrier engineer with 30+ years experience in the field. Also real estate investor/builder with 10+ years experience. Interested in participating in the michigan marijuana industry.

$25,000 to $100,000

United States > Michigan

My partner and I seek to invest equity into established businesses. We invest our own capital. We seek to deploy Growth Equity Capital into well managed companies that need capital for growth or perpetuation purposes. We do seek to have majority control. We do not look to run our companies on a day to day basis because we seek to leverage existing management teams and help them grow. Our goal is to provide advisory support and to make major decisions (acquisitions, sale of company, etc). My background includes spending 30+ years in Commercial and Investment Banking. I have advised many families and many companies to help maximize their business opportunities.

$1,000,000 to $10,000,000

United States > Michigan

Experience with IT, taken break from job market. Good with finance.

$10,000 to $100,000

United States > Michigan

Looking to invest and/or have an active role in a Michigan cannabis company. I am 45 years old, married with adult-age children living in northern Oakland county. I am a results-driven leader with over 25 years of experience in the military and Fortune 100 space. My experience is in developing, monitoring, and managing large-scale sales and operational teams. Offering an array of experience in strategic vision implementation, business/financial acumen, talent acquisition and development, performance analysis, campaign management, marketing/advertising, and problem fixer. Proven ability to multi-task and yield results in high-intensity, dynamic environments while driving growth and focusing on customer service excellence. I hold an MBA from Walsh College and love the plant.

$50,000 to $150,000

United States > Michigan

Honest and Straightforward CLO Professional. Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Bridge Loans, Multifamily, Industrial, Office, Hotels, Retail, Storage, Business Loans, Equipment Loans, Invoice Financing, Factoring, Land Development, Debt Loans, Hotel Loans, International Loans, Manufacturing

$2,000,000 to $99,000,000

United States > Michigan

Single male, located in Michigan. Currently work as a Firefighter and have experience in public service, transportation management, property management, and am a self taught home renovator. Hoping to collaborate on new business venture - open to explore many industries. Looking to serve day to day or as needed - silent partner is optional. Would prefer to be hands-on and have a mentor or someone willing to teach the ropes of the business.

$5,000 to $100,000

United States > Michigan

Former CFO of Real Estate Development company, entered into Private Equity and VC 3 years ago. Searching for high upside potential investments with room for growth.

$25,000 to $500,000

United States > Michigan

I am an entrepreneur myself running a profitable IT business. I am also part of an investment group and can bring substantial investment, experience, energy, and advisory.

$100,000 to $1,000,000