Can you apply for a Bank Loan with a Pitch Deck? Business Plan vs. Pitch Deck

 

When applying for a loan, it makes sense to present detailed documentation about your business, including all of its most important (financial) aspects of course. The purpose of these documents is to show your business’s prospects of repaying your debt. So it is understandable to submit the most thorough bank loan business plan you can formulate. However, you may be surprised to know that you can apply for a bank loan with a Pitch Deck just as well.

Namely, because loan officers can be overwhelmed with dozens of lengthy applications, having something compact that conveys the most important information will immediately stand out in the sea of Bank Business Plan pages. So here are some pros and cons, to help you choose the best application format.

Business plan - a comprehensive description

Business plans are a necessity for operating any business. Besides providing great guidelines that can help you make better business decisions, they are a detailed description of your business as well. This makes them extremely beneficial, especially if you wish to apply for a bank loan.

Bank loan business plans include your business’s past, present and even future finances, in addition to everything else that will convince loan officers just how successful your business is, and more importantly, will be. Lenders will be looking for all of the factors that show your business will keep producing a steady revenue: how it is organized, how it is operating, how skilled your personnel is, and how responsible you are with your finances.

• Dangers of TL;DR

Like mentioned before, keep in mind that long bank loan Business Plan can be an immense strain to the reader. Being bombarded with information can be tiresome, therefore, submitting lengthy documents can backfire on you. Loan officers can get lost in the array of data you have to offer about your business. The goal is not to make them yawn and want to skip to the next page (or worse - next business plan), but to keep them engaged and interested instead.

Pitch deck - when less is more

Applying for a loan with a mere presentation can seem unorthodox, but it surely has it’s benefits. Because you will be limited to a few slides, you will be forced to put only the most crucial information in them. Stripping your business to its bare bones will instantly show loan officers exactly what they are looking for. Skipping all the formalities, and getting straight to the point is surely a great way to grab someone’s attention. But not only that, having a limited number of slides will also force you to get creative, and find the best way to present your business’s heart and soul, leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

• Sometimes, less is just less

Making an attention grabbing Pitch Deck is definitely not as easy as it looks, because what seems to be its strength can also be its weakness. Since pitch decks are limited to only a few slides, you really need to make an impactful presentation, or things can easily go sour. You have a small window of opportunity to impress your audience, so make sure every slide counts and think carefully about how you will present your information to them.

Both Bank Business Plans and pitch decks have their good and bad qualities. When it comes to the battle of the formats there is just not a clear winner. But knowing all of the benefits and downfalls can definitely help you make the best decision. It all comes down to the individual case, so think long and hard what is best suited for you and your business. In either case, make sure your chosen format addresses a loan officers main concern: whether or not you’ll be able to repay your loan!

5 Common Market Research Mistakes when Writing a Bank Loan Business Plan

 

Market research is an important component for any business plan, but that can especially be said for a Bank Business Plan. Getting a bank loan is not easy, there are many requirements for getting a loan approved, one of them being a well composed business plan based on solid research. With such a huge emphasis on the research, it is important to do it right, so here are some common mistakes to avoid.

Not using all available information sources

The first step of any research is to gather all of the available and relevant information. In case of Market Research, this is done through surveys, questionnaires, test groups and interviews; in other words, data is collected directly from the customers themselves. This type of information would be considered primary data, and many make the mistake of using it as their only resource.

However, there is another way of collecting information, which is through secondary research. This includes all of the data and research collected and done prior to your own, such as news articles, government census, industry reports, studies, etc.

Overlooking the competition

Focusing on your brand is great, but you are not operating in a vacuum. There are other companies climbing the ladder of success, and you do not want to be at the bottom of it. Therefore, gather as much information as you can on your competition, so you can see how you are positioned on the market and how you can improve.

How you compare to your competition is an indicator of your business’s potential success. This is crucial information for loan officers, since it will give them an idea of your business’s value in the marketer and ability to repay your debt.

Thinking the market does not change

If you need market research for a bank business plan, don’t dust off your old research and use it again for a new document. The market is constantly changing and your Bank Business Plan will not benefit from outdated research. Doing regular research and keeping an eye on the market will show loan officers you are aware of any new market trends and are able to overcome or create opportunities from changes. This is valuable information for getting a loan approved since it shows you will be able to adjust to the market and keep producing a steady revenue.

Cherry picking information

The reason you are conducting market research may be for your bank business plan, with an overall goal to get a loan approved, but that should not be your research objective. The desire to make an impeccable business plan, can make people cherry pick information for their research, sometimes without even realizing it. The result of this may be a seemingly bulletproof business plan, but in reality it is flawed.

Therefore, you need to have a scientific approach to your research, which means that it needs to be:

systematic - following a clear plan and path; using good methods and research techniques

and objective - not being biased in your research is crucial. If you only make it your goal to get approved for a loan, you might lose your perspective. Your objective with market research is to present reality as it is.

Presenting an unreadable paper

Do not oversaturate your findings with charts and graphs. By all means, use them, you need to after all, but know that you should tell a story. Your research should be easy to follow, read and understand. Knowing how to present your findings is crucial. And keep in mind that your readers may not be as knowledgeable of your industry as you may think, so avoid using industry jargon as well.

The scope of market research can be intense, which leaves a lot of room for mistakes. So, avoid the mistakes others make and base your bank business plan on the most accurate research you can do. If you find the Market Research portion of business planning difficult, consult experts that can do it for you. This will mitigate the chance of being biased in your findings as well.

4 Common Financial Projection Mistakes when Writing an Information Memorandum

 

If you wish to sell your business or to do a merger, you – or an M&A advisor - might already be busy writing your Information Memorandum. By now, you might have noticed that it is not as easy to write it as initially seemed, especially when it came to making financial projections. Making projections is a long and complicated process and it is understandable that you are having trouble writing them. People usually make the same mistakes when projecting their finances for any business plan, and the same can be said for information memorandums. So here are a few common mistakes to avoid.

1. Making incomplete projections

When doing mergers and acquisitions it is logical to want to present your business in the best light possible. Information memorandum is a way to introduce your business to potential buyers, and it is therefore imperative to leave a good impression on them. However, for exactly this reason many people fall into a trap. They present only the good side of their business, while hiding the ugly. When presenting your projections it is imperative to be honest and show the whole picture, even if it is not favorable. But, fear not, a good strategy in this case, would be to include solutions to any future problem you may predict. After all, that is what Financial Projections are for anyway.

2. Not making enough assumptions

Another way people make incomplete financial projections is by making their list of assumptions too short. Making assumptions is a basic step in writing your projections, and maybe one of the most important ones. All of your projections will be based on these assumptions, therefore you should make as long a list as you can, in order to be able to make the most accurate projections.

3. Not doing market research

Entrepreneurs who underestimate market research, are missing out on all of the benefits it can bring to their business, especially when it comes to making financial projections. Having a good grasp of the market and its trends can be of great help when making your projections. All the data collected through Market Research can help you make your list of assumptions. Knowing all the changes the market is undergoing, or the ones that are about to happen, is a sure way to make the most precise financial predictions for your business.

4. Not basing your claims on data

Your Information Memorandum has to be based on facts about your business. So, when casting your projections, do not make your assumptions out of thin air, they have to come from somewhere. Just because you experienced a steady revenue growth for the past couple of years, does not mean it will continue into the next one. There are many contributing factors that can change the course of your business operations. That is why gathering all the information you can get your hands on and making your assumptions on actual data is what will make your financial projections credible, and consequently your information memorandum.

Avoiding these common mistakes will help you make the most realistic and accurate Financial Projections and a well formulated and well written information memorandum. Both of them are needed for a smooth merger and acquisition process, since they may be the biggest contributing factor for a successful transaction.

Why You Should Get a Professional Business Plan Writer to Write your Financial Projection

When running your small business, cutting out the middleman may seem like a good way of decreasing your costs and expenses. But a lot of the time this kind of business strategy leads to a DIY mentality that can, quite frankly, be detrimental to your bottom line. Sure, if you are capable and know what you are doing then go for it. Just be aware of the toll that it can take on you and your business. Be aware of your limitations. Taking on more than you can handle can have serious consequences. So if you need to write your financial projection, consider hiring a Professional Business Plan Writer, and here is why.

Experience is everything

Having expertise means you’ve seen it all. It means you’ve been through enough to know what works and what doesn't. But can you really say that for writing financial projections yourself? Well, professional business plan writers can. They know the ins and outs of writing them and know all the tips and tricks.

Writing projections is definitely no easy task. It involves complex calculations, tests and analysis. Not to mention the various steps needed to complete them. It can definitely be an overwhelming task for a novice, but a walk in the park for someone with experience in this field.

It's all about getting the job done

Let's face it, a lot is hanging on the line when it comes to writing Financial Projections, the success of your business to be more exact. Writing them properly and diligently is a necessity and something to be taken very seriously.

Most of the time projections are used to gain investments or loans, or even just for organizing and managing a company. Therefore, when your reason for writing them is so immensely important, then half baked projections will not get the job done. Investors and loan officers will not take them nor your business seriously and brush them off immediately. But, professional Business Plan Writers know how to make the most complete and accurate projections. So do not take for granted the quality work they can provide you, especially when the stakes are so high.

Better task management

Like mentioned before, doing everything yourself may seem tempting but it is definitely not necessary. Multitasking may seem like a useful skill, but it can result in jobs half done, which is not something you want for operating a successful business. When running your business there are a lot of things to do and take care of. It is hard work to stay afloat or maintain growth, so why burden yourself unnecessarily? Outsourcing your Financial Projection writing to experts, can free your hands, and let you focus on other aspects of your business.

Having a professional business plan writer write your projections for you is not only freeing your hands, but mind also. Making projections is a long number crunching process and being free from it will give you an opportunity to set your mind on other projects. This way you will have better focus for your tasks and therefore, better outcomes for your business.

Do not take writing financial projections for granted. It is not an easy process and it most definitely needs to be done properly. The success of your business depends on it. So having Professional Business Plan Writers make them for you will save you a lot of headache in the long run. Rest assured that they can provide you with the best possible projections for the best possible achievements. So next time, think about hiring one when you’re in need of financial projections.

Why You Should Research your Market and Industry for an Information Memorandum

 

When doing mergers and acquisitions it is necessary to provide the most accurate information about your business, but also be persuasive and convincing. So if you're wondering what to include in your Information Memorandum, a first step would be to collect all the relevant data you can find. While gathering statistics and figures from your own busines’s archives is a good way to start, there is much more to consider. Namely, one of the most important aspects of your business is how it fares on the market, which is exactly what the buyers are looking for. So market research helps you paint the whole picture of your business in a few ways:

• It helps you estimate your potential sales volume

Understanding the market and it’s needs is key for running a successful business. Market Research can show you if there is a need for your products in the market, and how much do the customers value them. The math is simple, if there is a demand for your products or services and room for you in the market, your business is more likely to have higher sales. Knowing this in advance is of great benefit.

The merger and acquisition process will go smoothly if the buyers know that your business will be able to make a considerable profit. If the research is in your favour, it will be easy to convince potential buyers your business is a good investment. If not, well, at the very least you’ll know exactly which areas of your business need improving. Therefore, you’ll have a chance to work on them before you put everything in your information memorandum.

Additionally, data collected through market research is crucial for writing other documents included in an Information Memorandum like financial projections. They are of great interest to any potential buyer in mergers and acquisitions, since they predict your business future financial state.

• It helps you find your place in the industry

Another benefit of market research is getting to know your competition. It is not enough to just offer products that are desired in the market, because they will not fare well if you are outperformed by your competition. If your competitors cast a shadow on your business, you will not be able to stay afloat. Therefore, including in your information memorandum how your business compares to others in the industry is important. Potential buyers will want to know if your business will be able to outrank the competition. Moreover, having a watchful eye on your competitors will help you make business decisions that will keep you in the race.

• It helps you stay on top of the market trends

In the ever-changing market it is important to do regular market research. This way nothing will pass you by unnoticed. Regularly tracking market trends is crucial for running your business. This way you are making sure there are no surprises. Being prepared for any curve ball thrown your way is important for maintaining a successful business. By doing research repeatedly you are keeping a close eye on any new laws and regulation or changes in customer preferences that can affect your business. This way you are making sure you are not including outdated data in your information memorandum. Moreover, it reassures your buyers that you have done your homework, and are prepared for anything.

All in all, Market Research is a great asset to any information memorandum. It provides crucial and complete information to potential buyers. They will know just what is the value of your business in the market and how it is able to compete in it.

The Necessity and Benefits of Financial Modeling in a Business Plan

 

A business plan is an extremely useful document that can serve a few purposes: as a detailed step-by-step road map to follow, a document to make business decisions and track progress, and a tool for gaining investments and loans. But no matter its intent, its components are universal, one of them being your business’s finances. And what better way to present your business’s finances than through Financial Modeling, a process in which all of a business's earnings and expenses are put through a mathematical equation, designed to test multiple different scenarios and predict future financial outcomes?

There are a few reasons why financial models are a necessity for any business plan.

Making financial projections

Financial models are used to cast predictions on a business’s future performance, in other words making Financial Projections. Making models is a long number crunching process but to put it simply, models are made by making various assumptions, based on which numerous scenarios can be made to calculate multiple possible outcomes.

Having several scenarios (or financial projections) for your business is very beneficial, as it will show you the full spectrum of possibilities for your business. Making the most realistic, the best and the worst scenarios will show you what to expect, what you can aim for, but also what to be on the lookout for. Seeing exactly where your business might be headed can help you make decisions early on, that can prevent disasters, or at the very least, help you make a plan b.

Gaining funds for your business

Furthermore, financial projections are one of the most important aspects of your business plan, since many investors or lenders will be interested to see if your business will be able to make a profit in the future. Investors are looking for an ROI, and lenders will want to make sure you can repay your debt. So if your goal is to get investments or lonas, doing financial modeling for your Business Plan, you will greatly increase your chances for success.

Making decisions

One of the biggest benefits of financial modeling is just how great of a decision making tool it is:

• It is a great way for planning projects and deciding on their budgets. For a successful project, good planning is needed from the start. Financial modeling can provide a perfect overview of the funds needed for the project and whether they can fit in your budget. But, it can also predict the losses in the event that the project fails. Having all of the possibilities displayed can help you make the best possible decision.

• Models can show whether there is excessive spending in certain areas of the company or if others are lacking resources, showing ideal opportunities for better allocation of funds, and making your business operate more smoothly and efficiently.

To make a long story short, Financial Modeling is necessary for any decision making process in a business, but also for gaining funds and investments. It is not only necessary for making the most optimal business plan, but it is of great benefit when aiming for success.

7 Things to Know When Writing a Business Plan – Professional Business Plan Writer’s Tips

 

When starting your business, you will most definitely need to write a business plan. This document will help you organise your business, help you make good decisions and even help you get fundings. Because of their importance, having a well written plan is a must, so here are some tips from a Professional Business Plan Writer.

1. Write with a purpose and know your audience

There are many reasons you will need a Business Plan and know that in order to achieve your goal, you will have to adjust your plan depending on its intended purpose. Knowing your audience helps as well, if you are for example looking to get investments, you will make investors ROI the main focus of your plan.

2. Consider what to include

While business plans are a detailed description of your business, know that they do not necessarily need to be too long. You should of course cover all of the main and most important aspects of your business, but you should not oversaturate your plan with unnecessary text. Professional Business Plan Writers know that while painting a full picture of your business is important, omitting some of the minor details is fine, as long as the integrity of the plan is intact.

3. Be honest

It is logical to want to present your business in the best light possible but do not fall into the trap of using your business plan as an advertising tool, especially if you are pitching it to investors. They will want to know everything about your business before they make a decision, the good and the bad. So do not fret about including your business’s weakness in it as well. It may seem counter intuitive, but professional business plan writers say it is necessary. Just be sure to provide ways to overcome your business’s shortcomings too.

4. Market research is a helpful tool

Your Business Plan greatly depends on the information you manage to gather. So, the more, the most accurate and up to date information you can find, the better your plan will be. Market research can be of great help in making your plan failure proof.

5. Think about the language and structure

Since you are writing a formal document, formal language should be used, your document should be professional. However, this rule can be seen more as a suggestion, if you consider who your audience is. Your writing style should be adjusted to your reader’s style and preferences, so your plan is easy to read and understand.

6. Do not forget to use references and support assumptions

Investors will not take you seriously if you do not have anything to support your claims. Sure, you say your product will sell well, but based on what? Have you done your market research? Have you made your financial projections? Always show where your numbers are coming from and where you are drawing your conclusions from.

7. Double check

Professional business plan writers know that the job is not done until everything is proofread (multiple times even). Always make sure everything checks out and is in order. Edit and make changes where necessary. And then check again, because it is better to be safe than sorry.

Having a well formulated business plan is essential for operating a business and for gaining funding, but it can be quite a challenge to write it. Asking Professional Business Plan Writers for help can certainly put some pressure off. Their tips can help you write the best possible plan to reach your goals and achieve success.

How to do Financial Modeling for an Information Memorandum: 5 Simple Steps

An information memorandum is necessary to prepare for mergers and acquisitions. It provides a summary of your business to potential buyers, so naturally it is important to write it properly. Keep in mind that your business’s biggest selling point will be it’s past financial performance, but the buyers will want to know about the potential for future success as well. And here is where Financial Modeling comes into play.

What are financial models?

Financial modeling is a process of making an overview of a company's finances in the form of a spreadsheet. Using a mathematical equation a financial model is made in which any variable can be changed to create different scenarios and outcomes. They are usually used for making business decisions, managing a company, setting budgets and organising projects. But they are also a necessary component in mergers and acquisitions, which is why they are included in Information Memorandums.

Financial modeling process can be lengthy, but it can be broken down into a few steps.

• Collect your financial information

Financial modeling starts by collecting all of your financial history, your sales records, costs and expenses. The further back you go the better. But for the most optimal results, collecting at least 3 years of your financial history will be enough for making the most accurate financial models.

• Study your numbers

After gathering every financial piece of information you have, it is time to analyze it. Try spotting common trends and reocccurancess. Study growth rates and turnovers. Learn everything you can form your financial ratios. This will later be useful when trying to make financial projections for your business.

• Make assumptions

Making assumptions about your business’s future performance is done through drawing conclusions from what you previously learned from your analysis, or by doing market research. Understanding market trends can greatly help with determining the future performance of your business. Since you will make assumptions based upon what you already know, it is beneficial to collect as much information as possible, and Market Research can be of great help.

• Make financial projections

After making your assumptions, proceed to build upon them by creating financial projections based on a three statement model (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow). This may be the most important part of your information memorandum since it will show the buyers your business may have a promising financial future.

• Run assessments and analyses

The next step is to conduct additional tests and analysis, because Financial Modeling can not be complete without them:

• Discounted cash flow analysis (DCF model) - calculate the value of your company

• Sensitivity analysis - make different scenarios by changing the variables in the model to test different outcomes. This means adjusting the assumptions you made and seeing how the changes to the assumptions will impact the final result.

• Stress testing - test the model by assuming the worst case scenario. This way you will be able to see if your business will be able to withstand extreme circumstances.

Since financial modeling is such an integral part of an Information Memorandum it is important to do it right. Going carefully through each step will assure your model will be convincing and accurate.

How to create a Winning Pitch Deck - Professional Business Plan Writer's Advice

Chances are you are not the only one needing investments for your business. There are many other businesses looking for fundings and pitching their business plans to investors, in hopes of impressing them. So, the question is, how do you make your business stand out in a sea of others? Well, a winning Pitch Deck is the one that grabs the investors attention. This might seem like a lot of pressure, but here are some tips from Professional Business Plan Writers to ease you through it.

Know your audience

Most professional business plan writers know that the most memorable pitch decks provide the audience with what they are looking for, or to be more precise, what the investors are looking for in a business. Therefore, the focal point of your presentation should be the investor's ROI. And don’t forget to support your claims with numbers, otherwise they’ll lose interest if you do not have anything to show for your bold statements.

Keep it short

Do not make too many slides! It is not necessary to include every single detail in your presentation. Investors are on a tight schedule, they do not have the time to sit and listen to you drag on about your business, nor do they really wish to. There is an unwritten rule that your presentation should not be longer than 10 slides (give or take). Listen to professional Business Plan Writers when they say: “the fewer slides the better”.

So, anything you wish to include in your pitch deck should fit on those 10 slides. That means curating the information you would like to include in your presentation. Having a limited number of slides will force you to provide only the most important facts about your business, in other words, it’s heart and soul. This way you are more likely to spark investors' interest in your business.

Less is more

Making slides should be easy enough, but do not just put your numbers and spreadsheets in them and call it a day. Your presentation should be pretty to look at and easy to read. Professional Business Plan Writers know not to oversaturate pitch decks with text and long lists. Sure, you need to provide numbers to support your claims, but keep in mind that too much information at once can be extremely overwhelming for your audience.

Studies have shown that human memory capacity is limited. People's short term memory can only obtain about 7 pieces of information at a time. Any more than that increases people's contemplation time, which hinders their decision making, something you definitely do not want to happen with your audience.

Tell a story

Another tip from professional business plan writers is not to underestimate the power of storytelling. Any good story has a conflict and resolution, an issue that only the main character can resolve. So use these storytelling elements in your presentation to your benefit. Present a problem, or a need in the market that your business can solve. Here is where your products or services save the day by addressing the market demand. Presenting your business like a story narrative is a way to keep your audience engaged throughout your presentation, because everyone likes a good story, don’t they?

Look at pitch decks as an opening act to your business plan. They prepare the audience for what is to come, “the headliner”. They need to get them interested and curious about your business. So, using tactics from professional business plan writers for your Pitch Deck will surely score you a second meeting with the investors.

How to Create a List of Assumptions for a Financial Projections in a Business Plan

If we had a crystal ball to see the future, writing Financial Projections would be so much easier. But, unfortunately we don’t. So, the next best thing is to make educated guesses. Financial forecasts require making a long list of assumptions about the future financial state of your business and all of the conditions and circumstances you may encounter along the way. These can be very difficult to predict, but here is how you can make your list of assumptions for the most accurate forecasts in your Business Plan.

Start by collecting (your) data

First thing’s first, gather your numbers. All of them. Look at your business records, it’s sales history, all of the bills and receipts, cost, expenses and losses you had in the past. But know that, searching through your own company archive is not the only way to collect data. You can either conduct market research, or you can get information from public records. Libraries, government records, and industry associations have plenty of free information available to the public. So, do not overlook these treasure troves of data, because the more information you manage to get your hands on the better. It will guarantee more accurate assumptions.

Asume your expenses and production costs

After getting all the information you need (or can get), the best way to start making assumptions for your financial projection is to predict your costs. Most of them will be recurring. But be aware that these expenses can change in the future. For example, the price of materials can go up, causing your production cost to rise. So be sure to make multiple assumptions, including the worst case scenario. This way you will not be blindsided by an unexpected event, which is excely what makes a good financial projection and business plan.

Assume your sales

For an accurate Financial Projection Business Plan, you will also need to predict sales, or how many units you will be able to sell for a given period of time. This will later be necessary for projecting your income statement and cash flow. Use market research to determine what the demand for your product is, or will be, and just how fierce your competition is.

Price your product

While making assumptions you will need to know the value of your product, the exact need of your product on the market and how much your customers are willing to pay for it. To set the price right you need to take into account not only production cost, but your competition and customer’s needs as well. That is why Market Research will be necessary in determining your products market value. So don't be hasty by setting your product price only according to its production cost, it will be detrimental to your bottom line.

Cash flow planning

Cash flow planning is about predicting how much money you will have at hand for a certain time period. It compares cash inflow and outflow, and helps you make sure you do not run out of money in the future. If you plan well, and have a good cash flow, you will not run out of money to pay your expenses. Predicting cash flow is important for making reliable business plans.

Making assumptions for Financial Projections can be tricky, but it helps if you are well prepared and have all the information you need to make the most accurate assumptions. A business plan cannot be completed if you cannot predict your business’s financial future.

Tips from Professional Business Plan Writers on How to Present a Pitch Deck

 

So, you would like to present your business to an investor. You will likely contact a Professional Business Plan Writer to compose a business plan for you. But what if a business plan is not your first choice? There is a document that is made just for presenting - a pitch deck.

A pitch deck is a visually oriented brief presentation, that overviews your business plan. The most common way of using a pitch deck is in a face – to face meetings with potential investors.

But, having an adequate document does not mean your business journey is over. There is one crucial thing when you are presenting a Pitch Deck – the way you present it.

Here are professional business plan writers’ tips on how to present a pitch deck.

Have a Strong Beginning

Potential investors are busy people who have seen hundreds or thousands of presentations. Likely, the investors will not even pay attention to your presentation if you do not captivate their attention right from the start. There are many ways on how you can grab their attention:

- Personal story

Everyone loves to hear a good business story, and that definitely includes potential investors. Talk about your business journey, how it all started and your ideas in order to form that emotional connection with the audience, in this case, investors

- Imagination

Ask them to imagine a what-if situation, or to think of something that relates to their personal lives, etc.

- Tell a joke

You do not need to be a professional stand-up comedian to crack the investors up and use a joke as your ice breaker. However, if you go this route, make sure to test this out on a few different types of audiences first to make sure it will land.

Maintain Eye Contact

Not only professional business writers but everyone who communicates and has a conversation with someone should pay attention to eye contact. Maintaining eye contact makes you seem confident, and respectful towards your audience.

Professional Business Plan Writers suggest that the easiest way to maintain eye contact during your pitch deck presentation is to find a fixed point in the room. In this case, you should choose a wall behind your audience, so that it may seem that you are looking directly towards them.

Do your Homework

Come prepared. Know your numbers and metrics. It can speak louder than words. To make your pitch deck presentation successful, it is crucial to know your numbers by heart and be prepared to answer any questions that may come up.

Speak freely, but clearly

Avoid reading your presentation from your slides or a piece of paper. Know your text. If you are not that confident about how you will present your pitch deck, have a few note cards but try not to read directly from them so your presentation still feels fluid.

Look out for filler words

We all have used – “um”, “uh”, “er”, “like”, “ah”, when talking, without even realizing that we do it. Try not to use them at all while presenting your pitch deck.

You will sound more professional, trust us. Our professional business plan writers advise you to slow down and make shorter sentences when talking. It will reduce the usage of filler words.

How you present your pitch deck is equally important as the document alone. Implement these tips from professional business plan writers, and you will present your pitch deck successfully.

To present a Pitch Deck, you need to have one. Find experts, like those in the Advisory division at Joorney Business Plans, who will not only write and design your deck but are also willing to give you tips for an effective presentation!

4 Key Customer Data Market Research Methods for an Information Memorandum

 

Market Research is beneficial for your information memorandum in many ways. You can gather data and learn more about your target audience, and if done effectively, you can bring home the victory of succeeding in your market industry.

Whether you have a B2C or B2B company, market research is a crucial part of your business journey. The goal of every business is to focus on the customer and to understand their needs. A common approach is to do customer data.

There are several methods of customer data market research you can do for your Information Memorandum.

Here are 4 crucial customer data methods that everyone should know.

Surveys

This is the most common method for doing customer data research. A survey is a list of versatile questions where you can collect specific data from a particular group of people. You can conduct this method either in person or online. These questions can be open or close-ended. Some of the close-ended surveys can be in a form of:

- Multiple-choice questions

- Demographic questions (besides the provided information, asking about gender, age, education, etc.)

- Ranking questions

- Checkbox

An important part of this method is knowing what questions to ask, but what is also important is how you ask them. Good questions with a good approach to the person you are questioning will lead to a good analysis.

Focus Groups

This is a simple yet often tricky method to put into practice. You carefully select a specific group of people, ask them questions about your product, services, their user experience, etc. By doing this, you will gain deeper insights. This is an open-end questionnaire, like a conversation, where the person can spontaneously talk and share their thoughts about the topic.

Business plan experts recommend using this method if you have a well-established business model and experience in the market.

Interviews

This is one of the most insightful customer data market research method. It is a face–to–face (in person or virtual), and one–on–one conversation with a selected target audience member. This method is insightful because it is personal and in-depth, with open-end questions. It also helpful because it allows you to ask follow-up and deeper question on the spot.

The only downside of doing interviews for an Information Memorandum is that it is time-consuming and it can get expensive. Be smart when with your resources and do whatever is most beneficial for your company.

Observation

This is the most powerful market research method where you monitor and observe your target audience. The key is that the audience behaves naturally with no pressure. This way, you will get real insights and get the most out of your results.

This method is often suggested for use in retail. Observing shoppers on special occasions or seasons is the most common way to get that insight.

As you can see, there are many customer data market research methods for an information memorandum or any other document. Understand your needs, and ways to achieve them, and you can easily choose the perfect Market Research for your business.

If you have doubts about choosing a customer data Market Research method, considering contacting professionals who can help you develop your methods and even be the ones to conduct the research for you!

6 Types of Financial Modeling in a Bank Loan Business Plan

 

Financial modeling to a bank loan business plan is like milk to cookies. When applying for a bank loan you need a bank loan business plan, and your document needs to contain financial projections which can only be created through Financial Modeling. It is a crucial section of any business plan.

Financial modeling is like a built-in spreadsheet tool created in MS Excel, that forecasts a future financial performance of a business.

There are more than a few types of financial modeling.

Here are 6 types of financial modeling for a Bank Business Plan or other business plans and documents you may need.

Three – Statement Model

This is the fundamental financial model. As the name says for itself, there are 3 linked statements with formulas in MS Excel. These three statements are:

- Income statement

- Balance sheet

- Cash flow

To link these three statements, you need to have strong accounting, finance, and Excel expertise.

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Model

This model builds on the previous three statements (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow). Discounted cash flow model estimates the value of your business. DCF model takes cash flows from these three statements, and with the XNPV function in MS Excel, discounts them back to today at the company’s Weighted Average Cost of Capital.

Merger Model (M&A)

M&A is a more advanced financial model. This model represents the final result of combining two companies into one through an M&A process. A new consolidated entity forms under a mutual agreement between these two companies.

The merger model occurs when one side proposes to offer cash or shares to merge with the other company.

We often use this model in investment banking and corporate development.

Initial Public (IPO) Model

We use this model in investment banking and corporate development to value a private business before going public. The initial public model compares equivalent company analysis and assumpts how much investors will pay for a specific company.

Leveraged Buyout (LBO) Model

This model evaluates a leveraged buyout transaction. LBO is the purchase of a company that is funded by using a great amount of debt. With the cash flow of the company, the company can pay down that debt. The exit cash flow of the company, exit multiple, and the paid-off amount determines the total return achieved by the investors in an LBO. This is an advanced form of financial modeling that requires strong financial skills.

Sum of the Parts Model

You build this type of model by taking different DCF models and linking them together. Any further components of the business that are not complementary for a DCF analysis will be added to that value of the business. For example, if you add segment A, segment B, and segment C of the business, you will get the total company value. Before the modeling, you need to determine the business segment and the valuation for each segment.

We still can not predict the future, but financial modeling can help predict the future of your business. These 6 types of financial modeling can help you compose a successful Bank Business Plan for your needs. If done well, your chance of bank loan approval will increase.

Not all of these models may be needed specifically for your bank loan business plan but, understanding them and being able to include them when appropriate will enhance any document.

But, if you are not familiar with accounting, finance, and Excel, business experts at companies like Joorney can help create perfect Financial Modeling for your company’s needs.

4 Questions to Answer when doing Market Research for a Bank Loan Business Plan

It is well known that Market Research is vital for any business. By doing market research, you will understand who your customers and competitors are, as well as the demand for the product/service you provide. A lack of funds when establishing a business may slow up your entrepreneur journey. One of the best ways to increase your business efficiency is to apply for a bank loan by composing a successful business plan.

Here are the 4 questions you need to know the answers to when doing market research for a Bank Business Plan.

What is the purpose of the research?

When doing any type of research for a bank loan business plan, first, you need to establish your purpose. What is the reason behind the market research? Is it to analyze past mistakes, problems, or successes? Or to establish who your customers are? Or, do you have other reasons?

Before even starting your research, determine the purpose.

What is the outlook of your industry?

Now, you have established the purpose of your Market Research, what is next? Summarize the state of your industry.

Determine the direction your industry is heading, and be sure to have reliable data from trusted sources to support your conclusion.

Your bank loan is more likely to be approved if you do your homework on the industry of your business.

Who are your target customers?

After acknowledging the outlook of your industry, focus on your customers.

This is an important segment of market research for a bank loan Business Plan. Not every person can be your customer. To establish who your potential customers are, you may consider the following criteria:

• Age
• Gender
• Location
• Education
• Income
• Occupation
• Family status

Implying these metrics, you will be able to define who your target customer is.

A common approach is to create a buyer persona. This is a fictional character that represents your ideal customer. Your business can have multiple buyer personas.

Creating our buyer persona

Let us say that we own a business plan writing company – like Joorney, for example, and that we need to establish our buyer persona based on the data that we have.

• Here is an example:
• Occupation: Immigration Lawyer
• Education: Harvard University
• Age: 45
• Income: $120,000
• Location: United States of America
• Gender: Male
• Family status: Married

Who is Your Competition?

The final segment of doing successful market research is to study your competition. It is crucial to understand who your competition is. Research what your competitors offer to the customers, and who is their target audience. It will not do you harm if you spy on your competition, because this is the smartest way to learn the strengths and weaknesses of your competition.

Doing thorough market research for your business will help you compose a successful business plan, and having a successful business plan means that your chance of bank loan approval will increase. Simple as that!

If doing deep market research seems difficult, our Professional Business Plan Writers at Joorney will be happy to help.

8 Things Professional Business Plan Writers Focus on when Writing a Business Plan

 

A business plan is not like any other document. It helps you determine and accomplish your goals. Professional Business Plan Writers are well aware of the importance of this document to any business owner.

“Without a plan, even the most brilliant business can get lost. You need to have goals, create milestones and have a strategy in place to set yourself up for success.” – Yogi Berra

Here are 8 things that professional business plan writers at Joorney focus on when writing a business plan.

Executive Summary

This is the first section of your Business Plan. It should capture your mission statement, the physical location of your company, and a summary of investments or purpose for your business plan.

Business and Product/Service Description

On this page, professional Business Plan Writers focus on a brief description of your business and the product or services you offer. Your product/service description should include:

- Explanation on the function of your product/service

- The pricing of the product/service

- Comparing your product/service to the competitors

- Describe the benefits of your product/service to the consumers

- Your buyer persona(s)

Industry and Market Analysis

These two analyses will assist you in recognizing the demand for your product or service and the possibilities your company might have. Industry and market analysis will show the position of your industry, and who your potential consumers are.

Competitive analysis

In this section of a business plan, you will focus on your competitors. This means that you will assess and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your current and potential competition. If you are a first-time business owner, you might be confused about gathering information about your competitors.

Professional business plan writer at Joorney have a few tips:

- Visit their website

- Check out their locations

- Review their marketing materials and campaigns

- Search the Internet (Google is your friend)

Marketing

This section is for your marketing plan where you can explain your marketing strategy and state your marketing assets – website, blog articles, social media, brochures, videos, etc.

Personnel

This is where you describe your current and future employees.

Here are the main components to consider when writing a personnel section for a Business Plan.

• Chart – this chart is made for the investor to have an overview of the staffing structure of your company.
• A description of the job function of every employee
• Salary – details on yearly or hourly pay
• Type of Hire – to state if an employee is a full time or part-time employed
• The time of hire – to state how often will you hire employees

Financials

One of the main sections of a business plan is the financial section. This will determine the outcome of an investor's decision or any other audience you may be using the business plan to appeal to.

Here you will present your sales forecast, break-even analysis, expenses and profit estimated, as well as a balance sheet.

Be cautious and realistic about your forecast.

Writing a business plan is not as challenging as it may seem if you have the appropriate guidelines. We hope that these tips of our Professional Business Plan Writers may help you with composing your business plan.

If you have any difficulties with writing a business plan, feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help!

5 Important Steps for Creating Financial Projections in an Information Memorandum

If you are stuck writing your Financial Projections, fear not. There are a few crucial steps to take to make the whole process less daunting and a bit more palatable. So there are a few things to consider in order to make the best possible financial forecasts to include in your information memorandum.

Step 1: Gather all of your data

No matter the purpose for your financial projections, the first step is always the same. Collect all of your numbers, your history in sales and your business’s costs and expenses. This can include things like your rent/mortgage, utilities, payroll, etc.

Step 2: Consider doing market research

Market research can be a great source of information that can benefit your business and help you create the most accurate financial forecasts. It looks into consumer trends and relies on direct customer feedback that can determine how much potential customers value your product, and help you set the price for your products accordingly.

It will show your buyers that your business can compete in the market, have steady revenue and room for growth, which is what the buyers expect to see in an Information Memorandum.

Step 3: Crunching numbers

After you collected all the information and data you need, it is time to proceed with making your financial projections by putting all of your numbers into an Excel spreadsheet. There are three forms to consider making when making your financial forecasts.

• Income statement
• Cash flow statement
• Balance sheet

Income statements show how much revenue your business makes after all of it’s costs and/or losses. Cash flow statements show how much money you have on hand for a specific period. And balance sheets show your business’s assets, liabilities and owner’s equity.

While all of these documents can present potential buyers your company's previous financial statements, they can also be used for showing its financial future as well. This way the buyers will be able to see where your business is going and if it has potential for success.

Step 4: Short term vs. long term projections

Depending on your needs, Financial Projections can be based on yearly or quarterly time periods. However, sometimes monthly forecasts are made for startups or for internal business operations and planning.

But if you wish to sell your business, the potential buyers will be interested in seeing longer projections, spanning up to 5 years. Therefore, it is better to include longer financial forecasts in your information memorandum.

Step 5: Hope for the best, plan for the worst

Because a big part of financial forecasts is making assumptions about your business’s future performance, and the future is hard to predict, you will need to include multiple financial projections in your information memorandum.

That is why you will need to have the worst case, best case, and everything in between scenarios of your business’s potential finances. And you will have to present them all to potential buyers. You should be transparent and honest about your business’s shortcomings, especially because this can be a great opportunity to turn your weaknesses into your strengths.

Presenting possible problems, expenses and losses and including measures to overcome them will also show interested buyers that your business is taking everything into account and will have no future shortfalls.

The Steps Above are a Sure Path to Forecast Success

Financial projections may seem like a difficult task, but having a step by step approach to writing them makes for a better experience and produces better results. Breaking down your tasks to smaller objectives and goals ensures the most accurate financial predictions and a top notch Information Memorandum as well.

The Difference Between a Business Plan and a Pitch Deck

 

Whether you are a business professional, a startup founder, or an ambitious serial entrepreneur, you must have wondered: What is the difference between a Business Plan and a Pitch Deck? Which of these documents fits your needs the best? Are business plans outdated? Do you need both?

When you are busy building and growing your company, you do not have all the time in the world to experiment and try out all the options. You want what is best for your business.

Here is the difference between a business plan and a pitch deck.

Business Plan

A business plan is a vital document for any business. It is recommended since owning a business has become a thing. Forever, right?

So, what is a business plan? It is a document that contains all information about your company. It states your plans, as a business owner, for the future. It includes your company description, products, and services description, market analysis, Financial Projection, etc.

This is a 3- to 5-year forecast, that declares where your company will be and how it will get there. A business plan also describes your personnel, and what they will bring to the table.

A business plan is made for potential buyers to put their minds at ease when deciding whether or not to fund or purchase your company.

Main characteristics of a business plan:

- Created for investors and potential buyers

- Text-based

- Between 20 and 100 pages

- Fully researched document

Pitch Deck

We can all agree that in a world of business, everything is too busy and too fast. Capital investors do not have the time to read through every application and thousands of pages. It is almost impossible to read the whole business plan for every applicant. This is where a pitch deck comes in hand.

A Pitch Deck is a brief slide-style presentation of your business. This is a 10 to 20 slides presentation that includes:

- Your company description

- Employee description and their role

- Company advantages

- Company’s solution to a potential problem

- Product and Service description

- Market research

- Competition

- Business model description

- Funding requirements

- Financial overview

As you can see, a pitch deck is a shorter and more visually oriented document than a business plan. But do not be fooled, for a successful pitch deck, you need to do proper research and analysis. The aim of this document is to spark investors' initial interest in buying or funding your business. A perfect pitch deck is clear, concise, and engaging.

Main characteristics of a pitch deck:

- Created for investors and potential buyers

- Visually based

- Between 10 and 20 slides

- Fully researched presentation

Today, you may or may not need both of these documents. It depends on your goals. If you ask me, I would have both. After all, a pitch deck is like a younger, cooler, shorter sibling of a business plan. When having an established and well-researched Business Plan, you can easily summarize it into a presentation. With the help of a skilled designer, of course.

Whatever you decide to do, Joorney is here for you. Our business experts and experienced graphic designers can compose impeccable business plans and pitch decks. Feel free to contact us for more information.