Business Plans For Canadians for Dummies

Packed with everything you need to get your business moving in the right direction—whether you're part of a large corporation or a one-person show—Business For Canadians For Dummies, Second Edition is the ultimate guide to building a better, more productive, and more profitable business. Accessible and comprehensive, the book walks you through every milestone in business planning, including creating a right-on mission statement; pinpointing the needs of your customers; scoping out the competition; simplifying all the financial stuff; staying on top of trends, and fostering a winning atmosphere for your staff.

Fully revised and updated, this new edition offers information anyone starting a business in Canada needs to know. Author and small-business expert Nada Wagner presents invaluable resources to help you write a plan, examines how government policies affect business, and looks at business trends unique to Canada. With inspiring—and cautionary—anecdotes about Canadian businesses, Business Plans For Canadians For Dummies is a fun and informative read for any entrepreneur.

• Newly revised edition of the only book that helps Canadians write better business plans, loaded with all-new content
• Covers the key milestones in business planning at every stage
• Filled with anecdotes about real businesses to bring the concepts described vividly to life
• Includes a brand new sample business plan, complete with financial documents

An invaluable resource for entrepreneurs and business owners across the country, Business Plans For Canadians For Dummies, Second Edition is the definitive book on building a business plan, and creating a better business.

Part I: Knowing Where You Want to Go 7

Chapter 1: Preparing to Do a Business Plan 9

Chapter 2: Understanding the Importance of a Business Plan 23

Chapter 3: Setting Off in the Right Direction37

Chapter 4: Charting the Proper Course 51

Part II: Describing Your Marketplace 65

Chapter 5: Examining the Business Environment 67

Chapter 6: Slicing and Dicing Markets 87

Chapter 7: Getting Better Acquainted with Customers 107

Chapter 8: Checking Out Your Competition 123

Part III: Weighing Your Company’s Prospects 143

Chapter 9: Assessing Where You Stand Today 145

Chapter 10: Making Money Doing What You Do Best 163

Chapter 11: Figuring Out the Financial Details 179

Chapter 12: Forecasting and Budgeting 203

Part IV: Looking to the Future 223

Chapter 13: Managing Uncertainty 225

Chapter 14: Thinking Strategically 247

Chapter 15: Growing Up and Growing Bigger269

Part V: Putting Your Business Plan into Action 293

Chapter 16: Shaping Your Organization 295

Chapter 17: Leading the Way 307

Part VI: The Part of Tens 315

Chapter 18: Ten Signs That Your Business Plan Needs Refreshing 317

Chapter 19: Ten Questions to Ask about Your Plan 321

Chapter 20: Ten Business-Planning Never-Evers 325

Appendix: A Sample Business Plan 329

Index 345

Paul Tiffany, PhD, is a professor at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley.

Steven D. Peterson, PhD, is the founder and Managing Partner of Strategic Play.

Nada Wagner, MBA, is one of the principals of Next Wave Marketing and a professor at The Business School, Humber ITAL.

Expert tips and strategies to help Canadians create winning business plans

Business Plans For Canadians For Dummies guides your business in the right direction whether you're part of a large corporation or a one-person show. This down-to-earth book guides you through every milestone in business planning, including creating a right-on mission statement; pinpointing the needs of your customers; scoping out your best competitive position; simplifying all the financial stuff; staying on top of trends, and fostering a captivating atmosphere for your staff. Business Plans For Canadians For Dummies is a fun and informative read for any entrepreneur.

• Start planning — find out what resources are available to help you build your business plan
• Craft your mission statement — clarify your vision, values, and goals
• Take a closer look at your industry — analyze your competition and your target market
• Discover your company's best — and worst — assets — find out how to play to your strengths and improve upon your weaknesses
• Create your company's budget and forecast your sales — delve into income statements and balance sheets
• Zero in on a business strategy — use your strategy to establish your competitive advantage
• Learn from Canadian examples — explore local inspirational stories and cautionary tales

Open the book and find:

• How to establish your company vision and values
• Ways to protect your intellectual property
• Market research strategies
• The importance of competition in the industry
• Secrets to understanding your customers' needs
• Tactics to recognize business opportunities and threats
• How to promote your business using traditional and new media
• A sample business plan, complete with income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statement

Learn to:

• Get better acquainted with your target market
• Craft a competitive strategy
• Write clear and concise mission and values statements
• Forecast and budget wisely