Illinois 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.

Illinois Investors

United States > Illinois

More than 18 years of commercial real estate investment and development experience. Most recently VP at GE Real Estate Purchase single tenant office and industrial properties for my company's own account and commercial and hotel properties for other investors for whom I am an advisor.

$50,000 to $10,000,000

United States > Illinois

I am a former private equity executive who has been living and working in the Chicago area for over 25 years. I'm married with 3 kids living in the western suburbs of Chicago. Having helped buy, grow and sell companies for over 10 years, I'm very familiar with the types of operational systems and improvements needed in growing businesses. I previously worked for middle market private equity firms located in Chicago and was formerly an investment banker. Most recently I've been helping my family run a hospital and 4 colleges in India. I received my BSBA in Finance & Accounting from Washington University in St. Louis in 2001 and received my MBA from the University of Chicago with concentrations in Finance & Entrepreneurship. Given my background, I can be a hands-on investor when appropriate and if the right opportunity exists, can try to attract more capital.

$200,000 to $2,000,000

United States > Illinois

I am a real estate investor that that practices in the areas of commercial and residential real estate law.

$0 to $1,000,000

United States > Illinois

I'm a young business man looking to invest some of my hard earned money, into some profitable business. I'm looking to expand my revenue and business relationships. I have very little investment experience, but I have owned a company of my own for the past year. I own a call center, and we promote heart checks and timeshares

$10,000 to $500,000

United States > Illinois

I am a husband and father in my mid-30s living in the west suburbs of Chicago with extensive experience in running teams and large business pursuits and projects. My Purdue Engineering degree has led me to create highly successful business and project plans for efficiency and growth. I have a personal, professional, and financial passion for pushing the envelope and supporting / learning about new technology and business. To date, my investing experience lies within my company and financial assets, however, as an individual investor looking for and advisory or silent role, I believe my experience and skill set will compliment a well-though out business plan.

$0 to $75,000

United States > Illinois

My firm takes private companies public by reverse merger. We have 140 IPO's and reverse mergers in our history, that include: Groupon for 700mm, GNC for 495mm, Spirit Airlines for 159mm, Dunkin Donuts for 640mm. Our Large Cap program has been retooled for small private companies. If you need to raise over 5mm, please contact us immediately. We will pay for every expense related to a public launch, and supply all legal work, at no cost to our clients. We take our fee in stock only. We are 100% vested in your public fundraising success. We offer a true "Public Launch Partnership"

$50,000,000 to $50,000,000

United States > Illinois

We are an US domestic and global hotel development, advisory, and property management company based in Chicago, Il. We have contact sources with many other industry companies and individual investors who are interested in the hospitality industry and look to invest in these types of ventures. We can assist you in not only finding a potential financier or partner but also assist in the overall success of the entire project and on-going operations.

$0 to $1,000,000,000

United States > Illinois

I am a Vice-President with a Financial Group based out of Chicago. We focus on working with companies that are seeking financing or alternative business financing sources. We typically get involved with companies that are achieving sales, or they have a product/service that is ready to enter the market. We work with all kinds of financing scenarios such as private equity, venture capital, angel investors, bank loans, lines of credit, working capital, equipment financing, SBA loans, purchase order financing, mezzanine financing, and other combinations of debt or equity financing

$500,000 to $20,000,000