10 Common Business Plan Mistakes

There are many elements that make a good business plan. It often takes time, patience and many revisions before you get it right. Unfortunately if you rush to get your funding in place and launch your business, your plan can get neglected. Below we have highlighted a few of the very common mistakes made when writing a business plan:

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 1. UNREALISTIC FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS

Most people are familiar with the businesses that go on Dragons’ Den and grossly overestimate the value of their company which results in them being chastised and shot down by the dragons. Lenders and investors expect to be shown a realistic picture of where your business is now and where it expects to be, therefore if the plan is overly optimistic with no explanation of the projections, it will ring warning bells and cause the plan to be rejected.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 2. NOT DEFINING THE TARGET AUDIENCE

No business will appeal to everyone. You must define your specific target market, present how you have made these assumptions and outline how you will specifically target this market.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 3. OVER-HYPE

You may believe your business idea is the next big thing but you need to be able to back-up your claim. Over-hyping your business idea and littering your plan with superlatives like hottest and greatest does not substantiate your product or service. Wow them with your business idea, research and financial plan, not with the words you think they want to hear.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 4. BAD RESEARCH

All research must be double checked and substantiated. By using incorrect or out of date information you will discredit your business idea and the remainder of the plan.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 5. NO FOCUS ON YOUR COMPETITION

Even if you think you have a ‘unique’ business idea and are sure that no other business like yours exists, check and double check. There is no such thing as no competition. Even if your business is one of a kind, it comes down to the cash; if your business didn’t exist but the customers’ need still existed, where would they spend their money?

Equally if you highlight your competition too much the investor will worry that the business will not survive. Focus on your niche, what differentiates you from the competition, how you plan to compete in the marketplace and paint an accurate picture of what the industry is like now and where you see it going in the future.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 6. HIDING YOUR WEAKNESSES

Do not hide your weaknesses but do not highlight them too much. Every business has its weaknesses but by hiding them or highlighting them too much you will put off the investor. The only way to address these weaknesses is to include a detailed strategy of how you plan address these problems.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 7. NOT KNOWING YOUR DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

Have a secure plan how to provide your service or distribute your product. Including all possible channels in your plan without substantiating why these are the correct channels and how they will reach your target market will make the investor assume that you have just thought of the list off the top of your head. The ability to articulate your strategy about how your product or service will reach your client is vital.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 8. INCLUDING TOO MUCH INFORMATION

If you were an investor, would you want to read a 200 page business plan? Most investors have a mental checklist of 10 to 12 points that they are looking for in the plan, everything else just gets in the way. The purpose of your plan is not to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge but to focus on the key elements of your business. Clear and concise writing is always appreciated and if you have additional information which you would like to include in the document, create an appendix.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 9. BEING INCONSISTENT

Highlighting different target markets, quoting conflicting statistics or having competing strategies within a plan will make an investor challenge whether you know your business and its market well enough. Sections of plans are often written on different days or by different people and then pasted together into one document resulting in inconsistency. Take time to review each section of your business plan.

BUSINESS PLAN MISTAKE 10. ONE WRITER, ONE READER

Make sure you ask several people to review your plan before submitting it. It is easy for you to glaze over spelling mistakes and grammatical errors because you know the information inside and out. Another set of eyes will help your plan to look more professional and ensure that it reads correctly.

Written by Mitchell Linnett
Pro-actions UK

As ever, if you would like external perspective or help on any of the above, do get in touch or book a free business help session here.