The Entrepreneur's Guide to Writing Business Plans and Proposals (Entrepreneur's Guides (Praeger))

Entrepreneurs—and entrepreneurial companies—live or die by the quality of their plans and proposals. Whether it's to get funding for a new product line or business from a client, writing hard-hitting prose that answers essential questions and makes specific requests is an indispensable skill. Entrepreneur, ad man, and writing teacher Dennis Chambers shows how entrepreneurs can persuade people, through skillful writing, to pony up capital or contracts. This ability—which can be learned—is rare in today's media-saturated world. But it counts more than ever if an entrepreneur wants to make it over the magical five-year hump and on into lasting business success. Numerous examples and exercises ensure that entrepreneurs understand how the writing game is played—and that they play it well. Unfortunately, most don't play this game well. Most business writers mistakenly believe their task is to inform. They write to fill an information gap or to update the reader on a particular project. Or they write about what's important to them. What these writers do not take into account is that the speed of today's work world has reached overdrive. The typical reader simply doesn't have time to ponder dense, poorly organized information and intuit the appropriate action. And readers don't give a hoot about what's important to the writer—they want to know what's in it for themselves. Business writers need to use all the tools at their command to persuade, inspire action, and in general move a project forward. This book is about how to be persuasive in two key skills in business: writing proposals and writing business plans. Step by step, Dennis Chambers illustrates the techniques of effective business writing, with numerous examples throughout. Whether the objective is to secure financing from an investor, lay out a marketing strategy, or secure a large contract, getting results requires crafting an effective structure for the proposal, and using words that sell. Chambers is an able guide in saving entrepreneurs time and undue effort while reaching the goal of long-term business success.

entrepreneurs -- And Entrepreneurial Companies -- Live Or Die By The Quality Of Their Plans And Proposals. Whether It's To Get Funding For A New Product Line Or Business From A Client, Writing Hard-hitting Prose That Answers Essential Questions And Makes Specific Requests Is An Indispensable Skill. Entrepreneur, Ad Man, And Writing Teacher Dennis Chambers Shows How Entrepreneurs Can Persuade People, Through Skillful Writing, To Pony Up Capital Or Contracts. This Ability -- Which Can Be Learned -- Is Rare In Today's Media-saturated World. But It Counts More Than Ever If An Entrepreneur Wants To Make It Over The Magical Five-year Hump And On Into Lasting Business Success. Numerous Examples And Exercises Ensure That Entrepreneurs Understand How The Writing Game Is Played -- And That They Play It Well.

unfortunately, Most Don't Play This Game Well. Most Business Writers Mistakenly Believe Their Task Is To Inform. They Write To Fill An Information Gap Or To Update The Reader On A Particular Project. Or They Write About What's Important To Them. What These Writers Do Not Take Into Account Is That The Speed Of Today's Work World Has Reached Overdrive. The Typical Reader Simply Doesn't Have Time To Ponder Dense, Poorly Organized Information And Intuit The Appropriate Action. And Readers Don't Give A Hoot About What's Important To The Writer -- They Want To Know What's In It For Themselves. Business Writers Need To Use All The Tools At Their Command To Persuade, Inspire Action, And In General Move A Project Forward. This Book Is About How To Be Persuasive In Two Key Skills In Business: Writing Proposals And Writing Business Plans. Step By Step, Dennis Chambers Illustrates The Techniques Of Effective Business Writing, With Numerous Examples Throughout. Whether The Objective Is To Secure Financing From An Investor, Lay Out A Marketing Strategy, Or Secure A Large Contract, Getting Results Requires Crafting An Effective Structure For The Proposal, And Using Words That Sell. Chambers Is An Able Guide In Saving Entrepreneurs Time And Undue Effort While Reaching The Goal Of Long-term Business Success. Besides Expert Advice And Insights, The Book Includes:

• examples And Practical Guidance, All Geared Toward The Entrepreneur/small Business Owner.
• exercises, Templates, Cases, Glossary, And Model Letters And Plans.

Front Matter......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Introduction......Page 11 End Matter......Page 0 I HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN......Page 15 1 Start from Strength: What’s in It for Me?......Page 17 2 Capture the Elusive Readers: What’s in It for Them?......Page 34 3 Conquer the First Draft: The Easy Part......Page 43 4 Edit for Power: The Hard Part......Page 58 5 Prepare for Success: Develop a Realistic Marketing Plan......Page 74 6 Demonstrate Financial Credibility: Money Still Makes the World Go ’Round......Page 82 7 Writing in the Twenty-First Century: A Guide to Today’s New Mechanics......Page 119 II HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PROPOSAL......Page 137 8 Raise the Bar: What You Are Really Proposing......Page 139 9 Tie the Knot: Why Your Proposal Makes the Prospect so Nervous......Page 145 10 The Art and Science of Persuasion: Convince Readers to See It Your Way......Page 157 11 Watch Winners at Work: A Model Proposal......Page 163 Appendices......Page 183 Index......Page 195 About the Author and Contributor......Page 199 Front Matter 1 Contents 7 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction 11 Chapters -1 I HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN 15 1 Start from Strength: What’s in It for Me? 17 2 Capture the Elusive Readers: What’s in It for Them? 34 3 Conquer the First Draft: The Easy Part 43 4 Edit for Power: The Hard Part 58 5 Prepare for Success: Develop a Realistic Marketing Plan 74 6 Demonstrate Financial Credibility: Money Still Makes the World Go ’Round 82 7 Writing in the Twenty-First Century: A Guide to Today’s New Mechanics 119 II HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PROPOSAL 137 8 Raise the Bar: What You Are Really Proposing 139 9 Tie the Knot: Why Your Proposal Makes the Prospect so Nervous 145 10 The Art and Science of Persuasion: Convince Readers to See It Your Way 157 11 Watch Winners at Work: A Model Proposal 163 End Matter -1 Appendices 183 Index 195 About the Author and Contributor 199 Start from strength : what's in it for me? Capture the elusive readers : what's in it for them? Conquer the first draft : the easy part Edit for power : the hard part Prepare for success : develop a realistic marketing plan Demonstrate financial credibility : money still makes the world go 'round Gerry young Writing in the 21st century : a guide to today's new mechanics Raise the bar : what you are really proposing Tie the knot : why your proposal makes the prospect so nervous The art and science of persuasion : convince readers to see it your way Watch winners at work : a model proposal