For some people, a business plan is a map to success that they're required to put together to raise money for a startup company. At best, it's a formality; at worst, it's a sizable pain in the neck. But a business plan doesn't exist just to garner financial support; it's also a powerful tool - one that's bound to make your company a better place to work and your business a more successful operation. Business Plans For Dummies can guide your business in the right direction no matter who you are or how your job description reads, whether you're part of a large corporation or a one-person show. If you've struggled through the planning process before - or if you're brand new to plotting out goals and objectives - this expert reference will show you how to * Create a right-on mission statement * Pinpoint the needs of your customers * Scope out the competition * Simplify all the financial stuff * Stay on top of trends * Foster a winning atmosphere for your staff Packing the greatest value into a business plan calls for a look back at where your company's been and how it's changed over the years, a look forward to where and how you'll compete in the marketplace, and a look around at what you want to show and tell the world about your enterprise. This down-to-earth guide steps you through every milestone in business planning, including * Determining where you want to go with your business * Checking out the business environment: customers and competition * Assessing your capabilities and resources * Getting into strategic thinking mode * Facing the facts about product life cycles * Motivating and appreciating the people who make it all happen in-house Riding marketplace tides isn't the sport of amateurs these days; only 25 per cent of new businesses survive beyond their first three years of operation. This invaluable resource gives you a no-nonsense approach to staying afloat, rising above the risks, and enjoying the rewards as you take care of business.