How to Write a Business Plan for a Dog Walking Business
If you really want to ensure success, nothing helps a new business like a written out business plan. It has been shown over and over and over again that entrepreneurs who write out their business plans have double the chances of success over entrepreneurs who don't write anything down.
Even if you think you've worked out all the details, it makes a difference to actually put them down on paper. One reason for this is because then you can more clearly and easily share your dog walking business idea with others (which means you'll get better advice). The second reason is that one to six months from now you will forget some of what you know now, and you will definitely forget how you came to the conclusions you've drawn now. Finally, if you even think you might want a business loan, know that most bankers won't even talk to you without a business plan. So do yourself a huge, huge favor and sit down for even one afternoon and type out your plan.
Business plans can be written in a number of different ways, but the sections outlined below are the traditional style. You can make variations on this outline, but do not stray too far. If this is the first business plan you've ever written, don't be intimidated. You do not have to get an "A" on this paper. Just do your best. You also do not have to write a book -- even one page per section is a very good start.
Executive Summary
This is a one page or less summary of your business plan. You write this last. It should be as concise and clear as possible -- in many cases people will read the executive summary and decide from that whether or not they will have any further interest in your business.
Market Analysis
Where are you going to run your business? Who is your ideal customer? Are you going to be in a certain niche of the dog walking and dog care industry? Also talk about what comparable services are currently available to this market. How does their pricing compare to yours? What is your pricing, product/services offering? What do you expect your gross margins (how much you spend to earn the money you make) to be?
Ideally, you'll have at least one full page devoted to outlining who your business is for, and then at least another full page analyzing the current market for your services (where your industry is going, what's changing etc) along with a pretty detailed analysis of your competition. This is traditionally known as a SWOT analysis -- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Make out at least notes on SWOTs for your business and your competitors (even if they aren't in 100% exactly the same business you are).
Company Description
Write a few paragraphs about how you envision your company to be, including the company's mission statement. What are your company's advantages, your strong points? How will you demonstrate excellence to your clients so clearly that client referrals become your major marketing tactic (referrals are always the best kind of marketing)?
Continue to How to Write a Dog Walking Business Plan, Organization & Management
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