Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 So you need investors and need to write a business plan... October 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I did, so I bought five books. I will review them from worst to best.
"Finding an Angel Investor In a Day," by The Planning Shop (2007), told me nothing I didn't know, and I didn't know anything about business plans or angel investors. The title is ludicrous and the advice is obvious, e.g., "Your business plan should be concise, compelling, and irresistible to investors." 1 star.
"The ABC's of Writing Winning Business Plans," by Garrett Sutton (2005), walks you through writing business plans for a lawn mowing business and buying a pizza restaurant. If your business is more complicated, this is not the book for you. 1 star.
"The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide," by Brian Ford, Jay Boorstein, and Patrick Pruitt (2007), is a good book but hardly inspiring or insightful. If you follow this book your business plan will be competent but won't grab investors. 3 stars.
"Angel Financing for Entrepreneurs," by Susan Preston (2007). This book doesn't explain how to write a business plan, but it explains how to make a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation to investors -- a presentation that will grab investors. For example, one question is "How is your product or technology scalable?" I also learned some of the financials that angel investors look for, such as what IRR is expected. This book helped and inspired me to write an excellent presentation, that became the basis for my business plan. 5 stars.
"Raising Venture Capital for the Serious Entrepreneur," by Dermot Berkery (2008). This is a textbook for a business school course about venture capital. This book is full of insights. Every few pages new ideas would compel me to go to my computer and add stuff or rewrite my business plan, for example, Berkery emphasizes the need for clear milestones. Preston mentioned milestones but didn't make it clear why they are so important. The financials that were briefly presented in Preston's book are thoroughly presented in Berkery's book, for example, what gross margin investors look for (80% or more) and why they need such extremely profitable products or services. Plus you learn the jargon or key phrases of venture capitalists, e.g., "a large but well signaled market," the importance of "market power" and an effective "route to customers." I feel that my business plan now speaks to investors in their language, with the numbers they are looking for. 5 stars.
 Very informative! September 8, 2008
ABC'S of Writing Winning Business Plans is one of the most informative books I have read on the subject! There are plenty of examples and scenarios that I was able to relate to. I believe this is an excellent book for all stages of starting a business.
 Inspiring but basic .... August 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A great book for someone who is clueless about business and does not know where to start. The book has good examples and makes sense. However it is aimed at small businesses and people with hardly any business experience. If that's you, then get it, otherwise skip the read!
 practical and useful October 10, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Practical and useful book. A good refresher for someone who knows, and a good guide for someone who is starting.
Great book September 16, 2007
I didnt start any business before. Recently I am trying to start my own business but I have no idea how I can do it. After reading this book, I figure out that I have to plan on all stuff before I start. It saves me from making a mess while start building my own business. Awsome book.
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