Business Plan Resource Support

Section II: The Company, Concept, and Product(s) or Service(s)

Now the focus turns to your own venture. Outline the nature of the entity you plan to create and where you are in that process. Capture the essence of your business concept and explain that concept, then detail the products and services you anticipate selling. Lastly talk about your entry approach and your vision for growth over the next five years (Nuts & Bolts of Great Business Plans).

Books id="books"

There are numerous books in the University of Florida Business Library to assist you with your own venture. Listed below are a few subject search terms that link to books in entrepreneurship.

• Small Business
• Creative Strategy in Direct Marketing
• Success in Business

E-Journals id="e-journals"

Many of these journals will offer research articles on entrepreneurship:

• MIT Sloan Management Review

Databases id="databases"

Search the University of Florida Business Library for magazine and newspapers articles on profiles of entrepreneurs, new business ventures, or small business issues. These articles may give you some insight as you prepare this section:

• Academic LexisNexis
• Business Source Premier
• Factiva

Internet Resources id="internet-resources"

• Harvard Business School Entrepreneurs
  Video archive where speakers (all of whom are a part of Harvard) “speak on a common set of themes including their development as entrepreneurs, strategies for identifying opportunities and leadership.”
• Bplans
  “Business Planning made easy.” Guide to writing business plans, including samples. Links to calculators and business plans/planning software as well.
• Entrepreneurship Corner – Stanford University
  Archive of podcasts and videos of lectures delivered at Stanford by entrepreneurs from companies such as Google and Facebook
• Harvard Business School Working Knowledge: Entrepreneurship
  Links to current and past feature articles about Entrepreneurship as well as links to featured web sites.
• SBA’s Business Plan Basics
  U.S. Small Business Administration’s tips about writing business plans.
• EntreWorld
  Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration partner to provide resources for the entrepreneur.
• USAGov
  The official business link to the U.S. Government is managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in a partnership with 21 other federal agencies. This partnership, known as Business Gateway, is a Presidential E-government initiative that provides a single access point to government services and information to help the nation’s businesses with their operations.
• Small Business Administration
  Created as an independent agency of the federal government to counsel to assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain, and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
• Entrepreneurs’ Organization
  A global network of more than 7,300 business owners in 42 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life.