If you plan on presenting your small business to angel investors or venture capitalists to get funding, you’ll need to create a good elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a 3-minute verbal presentation that explains your business and your track record. A great elevator speech should be designed to sell your business to potential investors....

Whether your company is a startup or established business, it’s important that you can explain your business model to anyone who will have a vested interest in your company. Your business model should identify the resources required to successfully implement your business processes and generate revenue. People who have a vested interest in your company will want to know this information. This includes your potential business partners, banks and investors.

Whether your company is a startup or established business, it’s important that you can explain your business model to anyone who will have a vested interest in your company. Your business model should identify the resources required to successfully implement your business processes and generate revenue. People who have a vested interest in your company will want to know this information. This includes your potential business partners, banks and investors.

A sole proprietorship is usually the type of business entity many new entrepreneurs form. It’s very easy to start a sole proprietorship which is why so many entrepreneurs begin there. However, before launching business operations, it’s important to know and understand the different types of business entities that you can form. Knowing and understanding how they all work will help you make a more informed decision when registering your company. In this blog discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a sole proprietorship and other business entity types like a limited liability company and corporation. I also discuss the importance of choosing the right business structure if you plan on applying for sole proprietorship funding to fund your business.

An executive summary is often times the first piece of documentation an investor will ask you to provide when you express interest in raising capital for your business. An executive summary is usually a short version of the main body of an entire business plan. There are three main sections of a business plan—the business plan, marketing plan and financial plan (i.e. the financial projections). The intended audience (i.e. investors) should have a full understanding of your business industry, the products or services sold, target market, marketing strategy, and estimated sales, revenue, and return on investment after reading your executive summary. In this blog I identify what information needs to be included in an executive summary. Before approaching an investor, you’ll want to be 100% sure you cover all of the details they’ll want to hear. It will make you look well-prepared and potentially increase your chances of raising business capital from the investors you present to.

The right business plan outline will enable you to write a comprehensive business plan that your management team (and potential investors) will love! A business plan outline with instructions will make it easy for you to write a business plan on your own. While I always recommend you get expert help from a business planner...