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Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies

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This number-one selling business planning guide in the U.S. includes expert help, worksheets to jumpstart the process, a sample business plan, tips on impressing funders, winning tips for competitions, and more. Used in the top business schools throughout the nation, including Stanford; M.I.T.; University of Denver; Hass School of Business, UC Berkeley; and Cornell. Hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs have used this book to launch their businesses.Named by Inc. and Forbes magazines as one of the top ten essential books for small business, this fully revised and updated fifth edition of Successful Business Secrets & Strategies is a complete, step-by-step guide to researching and writing a business plan to get your company funded!With a foreword by legendary venture capitalist John Doerr, Successful Business Secrets & Strategies is packed with insider tips and insightful advice on writing and formatting a business plan th

425 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

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Rhonda Abrams

38 books12 followers

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5 stars
94 (33%)
4 stars
102 (36%)
3 stars
54 (19%)
2 stars
17 (6%)
1 star
12 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Marc.
Author 9 books59 followers
March 23, 2010
Since I'm starting a business I decided to have a plan. I bought this book to figure out how to make a business plan.

This book was great in helping me decide how to go about it. It also made me realize there's a lot more to making a business than I thought. Luckily for me, my business won't be big so most of the stuff I didn't have to worry about but it was still good to learn about them.

I think the failing of this book was that it assumed that you're going to start a huge business and will need venture capitalists for it. Most businesses are small start-ups that don't need that much money. It was a small failing but was annoying that it kept talking about things as if you were going to start up a huge corporation.

Another thing I wish the book had was tearable worksheets. You can still write on them but it was a bit awkward trying to write in the book. A CD-ROM with the worksheets would have been a lot better.

Most businesses fail within the first five years and I think it's because they don't have a plan. If you're starting a business, you should read it. You might not need everything this book provides but it'll give you a great starting point and important things to think about.
Profile Image for Jeffrey.
Author 4 books89 followers
September 25, 2008
OK, you've got a business idea, you need a plan. Daunting task? Certainly. But don't fret; just get reading Abrams' book. There's enough information here to help you get almost any business started. This is a proven source, for it's been through several re-prints since 1991. It's not just a theory book but a workbook that helps you think about some of the most overlooked, critical issues in starting or growing a business: market research; change and adaptability; personal issues: control, challenges, creativity; and so on.

And what really helps are the insights made by those who've been there, those priceless tips that not only inform but more times than not settle the nerves as the reader discovers businesss success is often more about passion and integrity than numbers and forecasting.

Warning: Writing a Business Plan is not for weak o heart.

This book is over 400 pgs. There's a lot here. You're not going to use it all (some of it is reference or may not apply to your business), but the bottom line is that it's going to take some work. But you really can't avoid the process. Not only for funding but for knowing your business, you, your market, and the intangibles better so that you have a greater chance at success.

But considering it's also got a lot of up-to-date advice and info. makes it an even better buy. For example, insider secrets from venture capitalists, owners, CEOs; sample business plan (a must for those who need to "see" not merely read directions); starting a business in a weak economy (timely, for sure); latest research and trends in business planning and finance; and worksheets, worksheets, worksheets.

The last version was printed June 2003, so it's a few years behind, but if you want up-to-the-minute info., go to Abrams web page.

Good luck with planning and building your business.

To your success!!!
Profile Image for Denis Vasilev.
845 reviews112 followers
June 29, 2018
Ликбез по составлению бизнес-плана, затянутый.
93 reviews
June 24, 2019
It helped me make a business plan. It was used for school. I learned about business websites, where to find laws and regulations pertaining to business licensing, as well as the directions for creating a business plan, and more. It was a very helpful book throughout school, and I will continue to use as a resource when developing a business plan, and determining the rules and regulations within the city and state I want to create a business entity.
Profile Image for Eslam الغني.
Author 3 books979 followers
May 14, 2017
It was a little bit long reading, but the book,however, is a good detailed directory for those who are interested in business entrepreneurship issues.

Of course I'm not one of them, but it's work demands as usual.

Till we meet.
Profile Image for Sarah.
8 reviews
July 19, 2020
Highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to put together their business plan. This book helped me tremendously!
Profile Image for Assel.
63 reviews
April 8, 2016
I saw it in a book store and immediately grabbed it. Been a slow reader gradually digesting information and practising collecting some information that the author recommends to do as your homework before setting up your business. I shall admit, however, this book is one of very fewest in its niche that is so easy to understand and implement later on. Excellent book among other business plan guides!
Profile Image for R.M. Willis.
Author 2 books29 followers
August 9, 2016
I have read and continue to read parts of this as I explore what it means to own a small business in America. It has provided some valuable insight however there are parts that seemed to get caught up in jargon rather than in explaining what I as a reader really wanted to know. It has a great toolkit for putting together a solid business plan if you're seeking investment capital. I would recommend it!
Profile Image for John.
20 reviews5 followers
March 26, 2007
One of the best books on writing business plans I have ever read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to start a business and could use a first class guide.
Profile Image for Justin Jaeger.
134 reviews6 followers
September 17, 2013
Very comprehensive reference for business plan generation. We used it as a way to begin as well as an 11th hour checklist to make sure we'd covered the relevant bases.
1 review
Want to Read
November 17, 2015
I think for many plans in my mind but can not arrange my plans i dont know why is it ?
2 reviews
March 24, 2009
Great for getting you started and a useful guide. Reading it will help you get it done.
Profile Image for Ces Mejía.
19 reviews1 follower
March 28, 2017
From not knowing anything from business planning I read this book and came out knowing the essentials and now I feel ready to make my own business plan
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews