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قبل أن يؤسس Entrepreneur their startup, they should write خطة عمل جيدة، and it makes sense to start with a simple one, then gradually expand it to convince
investors to provide funding.
Do you remember that idea that came to you and that you set out to pursue, only to end up forgetting about it? Or the idea you later discovered someoneر- في وقت لاحق–
Did you execute the idea, build a company around it, and succeed in the market? Well, perhaps both ideas succeeded because the right business plan was in place—and you weren’t the one who created it.
في اعتبارك!
A business plan shouldn’t be overly detailed, or too simplistic. Investors prefer a reasonable plan that makes it possible to launch the product or service and keep the company going
during its early stages.
You don’t need to include a lot of figures or cash flow statements in the plan. What you need is a simple business plan that takes the potential market
and competition into account.
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العناصر التسعة
These are questions entrepreneurs should answer and include in more advanced business plans:
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1. المهمة:
What makes your service or product different from the competition? Who will benefit from your offering? What problem will you solve for your customers? What benefit do you want to
provide your customers? What do you intend to change through your product?
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2. رأس المال:
How much capital do you need to start your company? Remember that the first few months are the hardest for a newly launched business, so always budget for more than the
actual amount of capital you expect to need. This can create cash flow problems in the early months if it takes the company longer than expected to become profitable.
Cash flow is one of the main challenges that cause most startups to fail in their early stages, especially in the B2B sector, where you often
sell on credit to customers who account for a good portion of your revenue. If any of these customers delay or miss a payment, it’s best to
be prepared.
Entrepreneurs should keep six to 12 months’ worth of cash reserves in their accounts so they can weather the challenges they may face.
ROI is the metric that shows how long it takes to recoup the money initially invested. Once the company reaches its break-even point, it begins to
create value each month.
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3- Products and Services:
The key question here is: What problem does my company solve, and what opportunities does it offer customers? Once you’ve answered this question, you’re ready
to define your product and service offering. Focus on a small set of offerings that your team is ready to deliver, keeping in mind that timing makes a difference
compared with offering a broad range of options.
To define your product or service portfolio, you need to understand the needs and wants of your potential customers. Once you’ve identified them, think about what motivates your customer
to purchase your product.
A company’s value proposition is what sets it apart from its competitors. It is defined by various factors, such as performance, customization, design, condition, and reducing
costs and risks, convenience, ease of use, and so on.
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3. Target Market:
The more you know about the market you compete in, the better. This requires thorough research, no matter how long it takes, including consulting
experts, reading financial and industry news, and learning about the people or companies that will buy your product or service, how many there are, and their profiles
People buy your product, so make it easy for them to find you—geographically and demographically. This will help you build the best possible database and make informed decisions.
القرار الصحيح.
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4- Revenue, Expenses, Losses, and Profits:
Forecasting your cash flow can be an extremely powerful tool. Your business plan should show shareholders, founders, and participating employees that your business
will be economically viable.
List all your expenses (rent, electricity, salaries, taxes, supplies, etc.) and calculate how much will be left at the end of the month. What is your net profit margin?
Capital may be the most important factor. You should always aim to manage these figures and increase your profit margin without compromising the quality of your product
or service, your team’s cohesion, or the incentives that drive the development of your product and employees.
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6- فريق العمل:
There are important questions that need thoughtful answers:
– How many employees need to be hired to complete the required tasks?
– Do I need an experienced person to lead my company?
– And can I afford to compensate this person, or is it better to hire a few committed people instead of a rising star?
Your business plan should include employee profiles and positions, as well as the activities and attributes of each founder and manager. The more
detail you provide in these descriptions, the clearer things will be for everyone. Each employee should focus on their own activity or area; this helps avoid misunderstandings.
and unnecessary discussions.
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7- المنافسون:
Who are your leading competitors? Who are they, how much do they spend to offer a similar product or service, and what is their differentiation strategy?
Here’s an important lesson: in a commodity market, do more to serve customers. In a niche market, do more to keep developing your product and move
forward. In most cases, this approach works: you can avoid price wars and protect your company from being undercut by competitors.
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8- التسعير:
If you fail to price your product correctly, you’ll undermine almost all your efforts. Consider operating costs, profit margins, and the return on
investment you need when pricing your offerings (product or service), and include a factor that’s directly proportional to the value your product provides to the customer.
For example, if your product helps customers save electricity, it may be easier to charge them based on the savings achieved, then invoice them for a fixed amount;
That’s why pricing is one of the most important elements to include in your business plan.
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9. Marketing and Sales Channels:
How will you spread the word and make your startup known? Will you rely on online promotion, print advertising, or word of mouth?
Your business plan should include a one- or two-page marketing plan focused on your sales channel strategy.
Sales channel strategy is overlooked in one way or another in 90% of business plans; most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize how important it is to choose the right sales channels.
that suit their offerings.
Choosing between distributors and representatives can affect your numbers and operations in ways you may not realize until a problem arises in
the business. Usually, a mix of sales channels is the best solution, depending on your expectations and your specific market.
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استنتاج:
Being able to identify and describe those key points—and answer questions about them—helps guide your startup in the days ahead. So, you should bring together
your team during times of crisis and take the opportunity to review the elements from time to time.
If you’re thinking of presenting your business plan to investors or seeking venture capital to fund your startup, you’ll need a proven track record,
Present your market data with exceptional accuracy, demonstrate growth over the months, and highlight your competitive advantage.
A useful resource and a solid foundation for any business plan is the Business Model Canvas methodology; you can draw some of these elements from it
—a visual way to brainstorm with your co-founders and team.




