Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - Re: Business Plan

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "WB Carver" <wbcarver AT marketfarming.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Business Plan
  • Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001 20:10:02 -0400





>The Sustainable Food Center in Austin, Texas is working to establish a
>downtown farmers' market. As we continue to meet with stakeholders, two
>issues are being brought up -- the development of a business plan and a
>market analysis survey.

Terri,

This may be more than you want, but...

Development of a business plan is a double edged sword.

Edge one, is doing exactly that. Developing a plan for how you will

conduct your business. This plan may be as formal or informal as your
particular venture requires. But, it should be written down. Any business
needs to have a plan. Ironically, many do not. And those that do not,
usually don't make it to become an old business. The cliche, "If you fail
to plan; you plan to fail" applies here.

Edge two, is a written document for your "Stakeholders" and at some point
your bank or other financial backer. (Venture capitalists. etc.)
It has been my experience, that outside of a financial institution or a
serious player in the venture capital game, many "Stakeholders" wouldn't
know a properly drafted business plan from the notes left over from your
last brainstorming session.

However, it is definitely in your best interest to have a good business
plan drawn up. If for no other reason, than it makes you take a serious look
at your game plan. You will often find many of your own "Issues" just by
going through the steps to developing a proper business plan.

I used to have several, good sites with sample business plans, and tips on
developing one, but the Internet being the ever-changing beast that it is,
most of my old bookmarks are no longer where they used to be.

So here are a few of the ones that did still exist, along with a couple
resources you may or may not have already thought about.

Free Management Library
Great list of business planning documents and info.
http://www.managementhelp.org

Their Business Planning page is:

Business Planning
(for nonprofits or for-profits)
http://www.managementhelp.org/plan_dec/bus_plan/bus_plan.htm

The Canada Business Service Centres Web site has an "Interactive Business
planner" online.
Kind of a fill-in-the-blanks thing. I don't know if I would use it for a
final document, but it may give you some ideas.
Here is the link to the English version.
http://www.cbsc.org/english/index.cfm

Office Depot has an entire section of its site dedicated to Business
planning. There is a link to "Writing your business plan" but it is one of
those mile long links with a bunch of odd characters in it so here is the
main page:
http://www.officedepot.com/BusinessTools/sbh/


Two agencies which can help you with your business plan (usually free)

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
There is a SCORE office in most medium size cities.
http://www.score.org

Although not "MY" favorite people to deal with, the SBA does have some good
resources.
Personal Note: I take the SBA with a grain of salt. This might just be a
"sour grapes" thing on my part from a couple bad experiences

Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/


Hope this helps and wasn't overkill.

Regards,


Bill Carver
Laughing Brook Farm
Westfield, NC
wbcarver AT marketfarming.com
http://www.laughingbrookfarm.com









Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page