VI. Management

 

A good management team can take even a mediocre idea and make it fly. In fact, strong entrepreneurial teams have been known to move from business idea to business idea, repeatedly creating and running thriving companies. Conversely, weak management often cannot build a strong business out of even the best idea. For this reason, the management section of your business plan must demonstrate that the team you have assembled, or will assemble, is a winner. Each member of management must of course be talented and have experience relevant to your business, but it is also important that the people on your team have complementary skills.

 

Description

Use this section to describe company management including the responsibilities and expertise of each person. Many lenders and venture capitalists base their investment decisions on the strength of the company's principals. Demonstrating that your management team possesses, or will possess, an array of complementary skills will help convince investors that your business has a bright future.

For positions you have yet to fill, detail who you will need to hire to achieve the goals set out in the product development schedule. Describe the talents this person needs to possess and how the addition of that person will help the company meet its objectives.

 

Tips

 

Ownership

A short section on who owns and controls your company will help readers derive a better understanding of who will be making decisions. Potential lenders, many of whom will require a significant stake in the company in exchange for funds, will also be interested in what portion of the company's equity is available.

 

Board of Directors/Board of Advisors

A strong board of directors or board of advisors is an asset to a business. It can add credibility to your management team and increase your likelihood of success. In this section, outline who is on your board, listing their names, employment, training, education, and expertise. Highlight each board members' experiences and how they will help your business thrive.

Many small business owners use the skills of board members to provide expertise and assistance they currently cannot afford to hire. If this is the case in your business, use this section of your business plan to play up the fact that your company has acquired this expertise by having a board. If the board members have industry connections, good reputations, or potential to raise capital for your business, be sure to include these facts.

 

Tips

 

Support Services

Strong support services - including attorneys, accountants, advertising agencies, as well as industry-specific services - help indicate others' faith in your business as well as your ability to attract talent to your business. Having support services in place also indicates to readers of your plan that you have thought through all of the support you will need for the business to thrive. In your description of each support service, describe what strengths the company or individual possesses, as well as what experience or contacts they bring to your company.

 

Tips

 

Next: Creating a Business Plan: VII. Financials

 

Twitter: @ihavenet

 

 

Copyright © 2011 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.