by: Dave Lavinsky
Business plans continue to be an essential element of the capital-raising process. They must convince investors to take notice - investors that are shrewder today due to the ups-and-downs they have experienced over the past few years.
Adding to the financing challenge is the plethora of high-quality companies, both public and private, in which investors can choose to invest. In this environment, more and more investors are asking companies seeking capital the question "Why You, Why Now"?
The question seems simple at first, but has many complexities. The management team must clearly delineate what it is about the business opportunity that makes it such a good investment now. Should this investment have been made a year ago to cement a market leadership position? Or, is the venture before its time - will slow market adoption cause slow sales over the next few years, and as such, should the investment wait. Questions like these, based on investment failures from the past few years, continue to surface and must be addressed by the management team in their business plans.
Likewise the team must address what it is that makes them uniquely qualified to succeed. Does the team have proprietary (and protectable) technology, management talent and experience that competitors do not, long-term strategic partners? According to Growthink president, Dave Lavinsky, "Management teams must prove to investors why they are unique and why they will succeed. They can't just state how wonderful they are - they need to prove it through detailing past successes and unique qualifications."
A business plan that fails to address the "Why You, Why Now" question, is most likely a business plan that will remain in the stack of "not now" business plans. Business plans must present a compelling argument as to why the investor should invest and in our fast-paced world with unbelievable opportunities and opportunity costs, why investors should invest now.
About The Author
Dave Lavinsky Since its inception, Growthink has developed over 200 business plans. Growthink clients have collectively raised over $750 million in financing, launched numerous new product and service lines and gained competitive advantage and market share. Growthink has become the firm of choice for venture capital firms, angel investors, corporations and entrepreneurs in the know.
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Financial Incentives for Your Business to Use Solar Power
Financial Incentives for Your Business to Use Solar Power
by: Rick Chapo
When it comes to running a business, much of the necessary focus is on the bottom line. Many businesses, however, fail to realize they can seriously cut energy costs by going solar.
Tax Incentives
Federal and State governments know the best way to initiate change is to provide an economic benefit. When it comes to energy, governments try to make the use of solar energy as economically attractive as possible to businesses. This is done through granting tax incentives in the form of tax credits and deductions. Depending upon which government agency is involved, federal or a particular state, corporations can get tax credits and deductions ranging from 10 to as high as 35 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing solar energy systems.
Net Metering
On top of the tax incentives given to businesses for going solar, a majority of states now offer incredible...
Financial Incentives for Your Business to Use Solar Power
Financing > Financial Incentives for Your Business to Use Solar Power
Car Auctions 101
Car Auctions 101
by: Gregory Ashton
Car auctions are a good place to get good a bargain on cars. But buying cars from auctions can be very complicated. This is particularly true for the uninitiated. Of course the cars in auctions are generally cheaper. But they are cheap because they lack the guarantees that come with cars bought from dealers. The rules in auctions are simple, you bid an item, you pay for it, and you own it.
It is therefore not advisable for persons without much experience in motor vehicles to just go to an auction and buy a car.
What you?ll need if you?re planning to buy a car in an auction is a good eye, good observation skills and a willingness to learn the car auction process.
You can even make it a business by buying cars at auction and then selling them at a profit. There are several people who have made huge profits by buying and selling cars at auction.
There are basically two kinds of car auctions,...
Car Auctions 101
Financing > Car Auctions 101
Finding the Right Online Loan for You
Finding the Right Online Loan for You
by: John Mussi
If you're looking for an online loan, you might be having problems deciding which type of loan and lender is best for you. While you can get an online loan from several different types of lenders, the interest rates, loan terms, and collateral requirements tend to differ from one to the next.
Below you'll find information on the different types of online lending services, from online branches of traditional banks to solely online lending companies, as well as information about the differences from one type of online loan to the next.
Exploring loan options
Several different types of loans can be found via online services, and it can sometimes be difficult to decide which online loan is the right loan for your needs.
Low value secured and unsecured loans can be found, usually on the websites of real-world finance companies. These loans provide small amounts of cash at the...
Finding the Right Online Loan for You
Financing > Finding the Right Online Loan for You
A Simple Real Estate Investment Plan To Make A Million Dollars or More!
A Simple Real Estate Investment Plan To Make A Million Dollars or More!
by: David Schneider
This is a very simple Real Estate Investment Plan that anyone can do. In fact, because it?s so simple most people won?t do it. There are only three simple steps.
>> STEP 1. Go out and borrow one million dollars.
>> STEP 2. Use the million dollars and buy one million dollars worth of well-selected real estate.
>> STEP 3. Get other people to agree to pay off the million dollar loan for you.
Sounds easy. Right? Well it is. Think about this.
In the next year, I want you to go into your real estate marketplace and see if you can find two single-family houses, townhouses or condos in a starter price range. The price range will vary depending on the area of the county that you are in. For my example, I'm going to use a range of $150,000 to $200,000 per property.
I want you to buy these two properties and you should be able to borrow...
A Simple Real Estate Investment Plan To Make A Million Dollars or More!
Financing > A Simple Real Estate Investment Plan To Make A Million Dollars or More!
Making Money In Real Estate - 10 Basic Ways
Making Money In Real Estate - 10 Basic Ways
by: Steve Gillman
Making money in real estate is an endless topic that includes all the various types of real estate investments. There is land, apartment buildings, homes, commercial buildings and more. Whatever the type however, you'll make your profits in some of the basic ways listed below. Use this list to get yourself thinking of the possibilities.
1. Appreciation. Making money in real estate can be as simple as holding on and waiting. To really get the most appreciation in value, however, you should buy in an area where demand is growing faster than the supply.
2. Depreciation. Remember that after all the tax law changes, you still get to declare a loss for depreciation that doesn't really exist. That can save you a lot at tax time, meaning more after-tax profit. To maximize this, buy property that has its value primarily in the buildings,
because you can't depreciate the value...
Financing > Making Money In Real Estate - 10 Basic Ways
Student Loan Options For Financing Your Education
Student Loan Options For Financing Your Education
by: Sintilia Miecevole
When you begin applying for colleges, you will find that tuition and boarding fees are extremely expensive. Unless they are independently wealthy, few people can pay for college outright. If you do not qualify for scholarships, financing your education can seem virtually impossible, even with the help of regular financial aid grants. However, there are many low interest student loans available for students that qualify for them. Rather than putting off your education, you can borrow money and defer payment until your have graduated and have found a full-time job with which you can pay back what you owe.
The first step toward applying for student loans is to fill out a financial aid application form called the Federal Application for Student Financial Aid. Once you have been accepted to a college or university, you will be sent a packet of financial aid information. You...
Student Loan Options For Financing Your Education
Financing > Student Loan Options For Financing Your Education
Financing Basics
Financing Basics
by: Matt Bacak
The term financing is commonly used to explain the acquisition of loans from banks or other financial institutions. Financing is usually provided to business owners, either to be utilized as start-up capital or to support an on-going business. Some businesses may require financing to help them through a rough patch, or simply to provide some liquidity until more current assets are turned into cash. Additionally, financing is also given to companies who are expanding their businesses rapidly and require the money to support their new operations and facilities.
Due the high interests and high risks that come with financing, small business owners are often compelled to evaluate their situation from all angles before making a financing decision. This is because there is a full range of loan types available in the market, each of them for different purposes and with different interest rates, repayment terms and loan...
Financing Basics
Financing > Financing Basics
Financing
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