Introducing a simplified way to research and write a business plan, THE STARTUP - FROM OPPORTUNITY, TO FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS, TO THE BUSINESS PLAN was written specifically for first time entrepreneurs and business students. When writing a business plan the first time, there is an anxiety that a newcomer experiences when introduced to the complexity and length of the document. This book explores a simple approach to researching and writing a business plan in order to take the anxiety away. The book begins with an examination of opportunity identification and discusses the importance of timing and research to determine the profitability of the enterprise. A step by step feasibility analysis is explained in the book to determine profitability of the business opportunity. After data is researched and collected, the text stresses the importance of proving the assumptions so that there is more certainty in the profitability of the company and less risk for the founder. Once the opportunity is determined to be feasible, then the next step that is explored in the text is the business plan. The most important part of a business plan is utilizing data collected in the feasibility analysis to create financial statements that can be used for ratio analysis to prove the viability of the business. This sounds complicated and where anxiety sets in for the novice writer of a business plan. This book introduces a simplified 5-step approach to creating financial statements and calculating financial ratios. The book has dedicated chapters that detail the creation of each of the main statements required for a startup business - the Startup Cost Budget, the Cash Flow Statement, the Income Statement, and the Balance Sheet. After discussing each financial statement individually, the simple 5-step approach to creating these statements is explored using an example of a retail golf equipment store. Once the financial statements are created, financial ratios are calculated and ratio analysis is simply explained. As an added feature, each statement example has a color coded key to identify where the required data was found. The appendix of the book includes templates for the feasibility study, business plan and each of the financial statements. Also in the appendix, a sample completed business plan can be found. Anyone who is writing a business plan for the first time will find that this book takes the intimidation factor out of the equation. Once the financial statements are completed and financial ratios are calculated, the remaining parts of the business plan can be easily created using the researched information found in the feasibility study. You will find, just as my students found, that once financial data is complete, the business plan becomes less intimidating and the anxiety of writing the document will go away
About the Author: The author, F. Lee Frye, is an experienced business manager, entrepreneur, and educator. After graduating with a business degree from Wake Forest University and a MBA from Appalachian State University, Lee began his business career as the general manager of a franchised family owned hardware/variety store. At the time the franchise was the nation's largest non-food franchise in the country. The business set a variety of records for the franchise including the first franchised store to open with a POS system and sales records for the first year of operations. Additional awards were won by the store included the Top Gun award for sporting goods sales and numerous power equipment awards. Although no longer a member of the original franchise, over thirty years later, the store is still in business. In 2000, Lee opened two communication stores in Virginia, which later grew to six locations over a twelve year period. During that time, Lee became a founding partner in two other communication stores. Over the years, the stores have won numerous regional sales awards. In 2012, Lee became a sales consultant for a startup manufacturing company that has today become a strong, successful company. In that same year, Lee became an educator. In that same year, Lee took a teaching position at Ferrum College and since has taught at Patrick Henry Community College, Franklin County High School, and Virginia Western Community College. Lee has taught a variety of business classes, but specializes in Small Business Management, Entrepreneurship, and Finance.