I don't know how to write a business plan and would like materials to use as a guide to help get me started. Associations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.
Research, research, research 鈥?this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:
* Writing a Convincing Business Plan by Arthur R. DeThomas Ph.D., Lin Grensing-Pophal
* The Definitive Business Plan: The Fast Track to Intelligent Business Planning for Executives and Entrepreneurs (2nd Edition) by Richard Stutely
* The Complete Book of Business Plans: Simple Steps to Writing a Powerful Business Plan (Small Business Sourcebooks) by Joseph A. Covello
* The One Page Business Plan with CD-ROM by James T., Jr. Horan
There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.
Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures! Here is the best thing that can happen to you when it comes to writing a business plan
Business Plan Pro by Palo Alto Software
http://www.paloalto.com
They have plans, samples, and tons and tons of stuff on their website - the software is just awesome. I have been their customers since 2000 - updating my software every 2 years regularly.
Since 2000 I have written around 8 proposals using this software some for myself and some for close friends and family. 3 out of the eight were used for financing purposes and all qualified.
The financial tables in this software are so great and detailed that when you present your plan the person reviewing it has no doubt in their mind that you are a professional and very serious about your business.
Now if you have experience you can use their website to write a fairly decent business plan without purchasing anything - by looking at samples and table of contents you will get a fair idea.
But if you have the software you will be able to save a lot of time and if the bank requires you to make changes you will be able to do it in no time.
Remember you will need to give it a week or so to get the hang of the software it used to come with two wonderful books - I am not sure if they give you one now or not.
It is an excellent tool - keeping your business in line with your targets and tracking your actual with your targets and etc.
I am a person who learns faster from examples then from theory and this thing comes with 400+ sample plan and for me that was the best.
Source(s):
http://www.paloalto.com/
here is a list of sample plans that come with the software
http://www.paloalto.com/ps/bp/samples.cf...
Startup Journal
http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizplan/0,72...
SBA Business Plan Basics
http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/pla...
Microsoft Tips on BP
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/r... There are several business plans available for starting a health agency or hospice care facility, some of which are free while some are paid. Here are some examples:
Palo Alto ($99.95)http://www.paloalto.com/ps/bp/samplebusi...
Elder Care Business Plan (FREE) http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/busi...
Here are some resources that can help you write your business plan:
- SBA Business Plan Basics http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/pla...
- PowerHomeBiz.com Creating a Business Plan section http://www.powerhomebiz.com/startup/busi...
- Entrepreneur.com Writing a Business Plan section http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizplan/0,72...
You may also want to review some sample business plans to see how it actually looks like:
- Bplans.com http://www.bplans.com/sp/businessplans.c...
- MOOT Corp Business Plan competition winners
http://www.businessplans.org/businesspla...
- VFinance - View hundreds of real business plans in pdf format. http://www.vfinance.com/home.asp?bps=1&T...
- Business Owners Toolkit Sample business plans and information on how to create a plan. http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/buspln_...
- PlanWare Planning software and information. http://www.planware.org/
- Virtual Business Plan Walk through the design of a business plan. http://www.bizplanit.com/vplan.html
-SBA Business Planning Guide http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/pla...
- Small Business Advancement Center http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/business_plan/b...
- Sample Business Plan General planning guide created by the Canadian Business Service Center. http://www.cbsc.org/servlet/ContentServe...
- Business Plans Index - A subject guide to sample business plans and profiles for specific business types from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. http://216.183.184.20/subject/business/b...
Some recommended books are :
- Business Plans Kit for Dummies
- The Complete Book of Business Plans : Simple Steps to Writing a Powerful Business Plan
- Writing Business Plans That Get Results : A Step-By-Step Guide
- Business Plans For Dummies庐
- Your First Business Plan : A Simple Question and Answer Format Designed to Help You Write Your Own Plan
Hope that the above resources help You've already received some really terrific responses. I might add that hopefully you have plenty of capital to get the agency running. While Home Health and Hospice are similar, there are many differences - reimbursement systems, provisions, regulations and more. Very few agencies actually have a hospice "care facility" until they have an established hospice.
It takes lots of $$$, partially because you have to have everything and everyone set up to go, and accept 2 patients before Medicare will even give you a provider number. So you can be looking at a LONG time before your first $$$ comes in.
So, if you do have the $ backing, I personally would not only do all the homework the other 3 have provided, but I would actually hire a consulting firm who specializes in this, and let them develop your entire plan from A to Z. One such company is The Corridor Group. I recommend them highly - they've been in the business for a long time and really know their stuff. They have a web site of:
www.corridorgroup.com
I also really hope you have experience because way too many folks in this world think that they can just get open an agency and make big bucks - and it really isn't that easy. It takes heart and smarts to run a good, successful homecare agency. |
