MICRO FISH BUSINESS
FEASIBILITY STUDY/BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE

"And you thought you were just gonna open a store and start making money ??"
Why "Micro fish"? Comes from ... to teach him how to fish ... :-)

* COVER SHEET
Project Title, Organization Name, Address, Contact Person(s), Telephone, Fax, & Internet Address (if applicable)

* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
One Page Outline Covering Overall Business Concept and Types/Amounts of Financial or other Assistance Being Requested

* TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Make it easy for potential lenders to find the information they're looking for.)

* NARRATIVE OUTLINE:
  • Type of Business -- Products and/or Services to be Offered
  • Proposed Location & Geographic Area
  • Overall Industry & Market Considerations/Activity Expectations
  • Types & Sources of Merchandise
  • Start-Up Inventory Requirements
  • Merchandise Mark-Up/Pricing Policy -- Anticipated Profit Margin
  • Customers/Clientele, & Demographics for Area to be Served
  • Advertising, Marketing, & Promotional Strategy
  • Competition Analysis (How do you plan to compete with shopping malls, national chain stores, mega-discount warehouses, factory outlets, franchise operations, high efficiency mail-order & Internet discount merchandisers ??)
  • Customer Satisfaction Assurance Policies
  • Type of Business Organization -- Sole Proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, etc.
  • Owners & Operators -- Background, Qualifications, Specialized Knowledge & Skills
  • Staffing/Personnel Requirements, & Personnel Management Considerations
  • Language & Format for Routine Business Correspondence/Transactions
  • Systems/Procedures for Recordkeeping, Filing, Information Storage & Retrieval
  • Accounting, Bookkeeping, Financial Management, & Tax Preparation ("Yuz throw all yer receipts inta a big cigar box, right ??")
  • Physical Facility Requirements, Lease/Purchase Arrangements
  • Specific Locational Factors Necessary for Success: Proximity to Clientele, Complimentary Businesses, Customer Parking Facilities and Pedestrian Traffic, etc. ("LOCATION, LOCATION, & LOCATION !!")
  • Access to Transport/Shipping Facilities & Services -- Mail, UPS, Highway, Railroad, Airport, etc.
  • Utilities & Services Access -- Start-Up & Estimated Monthly Costs for Water, Sewer, Trash & Garbage Removal, Gas, Electricity, Telephone/Computer/Fax
  • Zoning, Licensing, Insurance, Legal Consultation, Union Coordination, Environmental Impact, etc.
  • Store Layout, Merchandise Display Space & Fixtures, Decor, Lighting, Music, Scent, Refreshment, Rest Rooms, & Other Ambiance Factors.
  • Signage, Storage Space & Fixtures, Merchandise Handling/Processing Equipment, Office Facilities & Equipment, etc.
  • Projected Schedule & Time-Phased Plan for Start-Up & Operation
  • Critical Risks & Assumptions (if applicable)
  • Safety & Security Considerations (as necessary)

* FINANCIAL PLAN:
  • Sources & Amounts of Start-Up/Operating Capital
  • Methods of Fundraising to Utilized
  • Financial Assistance Being Requested
  • Start-Up & Initial Operating Budget
  • First Three Year Financial Forecasts by Quarter:
    • Sales, Profit, & Loss
    • Cash Flow Projectons
    • Quarterly Pro Forma Balance Sheets
  • Anticipated Break-Even Point
  • Amortization/Depreciation of Assets
  • Debt Service & Loan Repayment Plan

* APPENDICES & SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AS APPROPRIATE
Posted on the MICROENTERPRISE list, author unknown.
Hari Srinivas - hsrinivas@gdrc.org
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