All articles by Dave Lavinsky

  1. "Why You, Why Now" - A Critical Component of a Winning Business Plan 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.

  2. Business Planning for College Students and First-Time Entrepreneurs by Dave Lavinsky

    More and more students, both in undergraduate and graduate institutions, are deciding to launch their own ventures upon graduation rather than taking the traditional route of working for another firm. Likewise, more and more individuals are leaving their jobs to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams.

  3. The Management Team Section of the Business Plan – Don't Just Include Resumes by Dave Lavinsky

    Even the best new concept or existing plan will fail if executed poorly. The Management Team section of the business plan must prove to the investor why the key company personnel are "eminently qualified" to execute on the business model.

  4. Two Types of Executive Summaries by Dave Lavinsky

    Companies seeking capital often ask how long the Executive Summary of their business plan should be. The answer depends upon the use of the summary, mainly determining if 1) it precedes the full business plan, or 2) it will be used as a stand-alone document.

  5. How to Size an Emerging Market by Dave Lavinsky

    In developing their business plans, companies of all sizes face the challenge of determining the size of their markets. To begin, companies must present the size of their "relevant market" in their plans. The relevant market equals the company's sales if it were to capture 100% of its specific niche of the market. Conversely, stating that you were competing in the $1 trillion U.S. healthcare market, for example, is a telltale sign of a poorly reasoned business

  6. The Ideal Length of Your Business Plan by Dave Lavinsky

    How long should a business plan be? A business plan needs to be whatever length is required to excite the investor, prove that management truly understands the market, and detail the execution strategy. From surveys of investor needs, Growthink has found that 15 to 25 pages of text is the optimum length in which to accomplish this. Any more and the time-constrained investor will be forced to skim certain sections of the plan, even if they

  7. How to Use Graphs and Charts in Your Business Plan by Dave Lavinsky

    I often hear the question, "how many graphs or charts should I have in my business plan?" As with most other business planning questions, the answer is "it depends." This article discusses the key factors influencing the number of graphs and charts to include in your business plan.