Thread: Business plan for dummies?

What are ressources to help writing a business plan? I am a decent writer, but this is not something I have ever learned. Books, websites - ???

There should be several books available at your local library. Go browse their business section and see what they have. I just picked one up at a garage sale called "Business Plan in a Day" that looks good, but I haven't really done any of the worksheets in it yet.

Oh that's a good book, IMO.

It looked good and it was only .50!! One of these days I'm going to take the next step and actually read it!! ..l;,

I'm going through "Hurdle: The Book on Business Planning" right now and it's very useful!!

The US Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) has a business plan software download for free, as well as tutorials and such. Also, you can see if there is a SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) office in you area. It is staffed by retired smart folks who volunteer to help small businesses and they can help you refine your plan. There is no charge for their services.

I agree with using the SBA. Also check with your city or county. My city has a small business department that was very helpful when I was getting started.

I really like and highly recommend the book Small Time Operator by Bernard Kamoroff. Only a small part focuses on business plans specifically, but the whole book really takes you through the steps of getting your business started (and staying started!).

Can I sort of hijack this thread a bit and ask a possibly stupid question?

What would a business plan for a bellydancer look like? Just a general idea - I mean, I know to make money you need to dance more gigs and teach more classes. So, what kind of "plan" doe one need and how will it help?

I am clueless about business stuff, but if I should have a plan, I want one!

A business plan can help you determine what you need to do to meet your goals, and help keep you on track for meeting goals and budgeting expenses.

If your goal is, for example, to support yourself (or a large part of your income) with money you make from teaching and performing your dance, you have to figure out your income goal, budget your expenses (e.g., studio rental or lease, music, costuming, insurance, taxes, marketing expenses like flyers, website costs, etc), and make decisions about how many classes you will teach, how many people you need to have in class to meet your goal, how many gigs and what you need to make...

A business plan is very important for someone making a jump to becoming a full-time dancer, or someone deciding to commit to a studio purchase or long-term lease of studio space, for example.

For the original poster: many community colleges have classes or seminars on creating a business plan. Web resources are also available. Books are good too but you might consider having a dance mentor to consult with, as you may inadvertently leave something out of your plan that the books do not consider, but that professional dancers know to be important.

Originally Posted by Monica

I really like and highly recommend the book Small Time Operator by Bernard Kamoroff. Only a small part focuses on business plans specifically, but the whole book really takes you through the steps of getting your business started (and staying started!).

That's another one I'm going through right now... I like it too. Very useful!

The need for a business plan can arise when talking to local arts associations that provide funding or other support or to urban community agencies - fabulous organizations that use the client's business plan to get a better grip on the proposed projects.

I took a 3-credit class on "small business management" at a local community college and it was soooooo relevant to any bellydancer who performs, teaches, or would one day dream of opening a school.

Basically we learned the basics of starting a business, registering business a name, got accounting tips, etc. Also learned about getting loans, and how to find a property, lease vs. buying (not too useful for performers, but good for anyone trying to start a dance academy).

One really informative section was when each of us had to document much it cost to keep our business running, and learned how to price a product. it gave me a lot of confidence in dealing with owners and party hosts; when you know that dancing for $X dollars would literally put you into debt, it is a lot easier to stick to your guns!

All during the semester we worked on our business plans. Then we pitched them in class and got feedback. It was really a great class, and hearing the plans of other students was a morale booster too.

there is a slew of sample free business plans at Business Plan Templates and Free Sample Business Plans - Bplans.com

Actually I think the value is not so much in the document itself as in the process of sitting down and writing it out...defining your dreams. It's actually kind of fun in a weird way!