The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide, Third Edition

In today's competitive business environment, a well thought out business plan is more important than ever before. Not only can it assist you in raising the money needed to start or expand a business—by attracting the interest of potential investors—but it can also help you keep tabs on your progress once the business is up and running.

Completely revised and updated to reflect today's dynamic business environment, The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide, Third Edition leads you carefully through every aspect involved in researching, writing, and presenting a winning business plan. Illustrating each step of this process with realistic examples, this book goes far beyond simply discussing what a business plan is. It explains why certain information is required, how it may best be presented, and what you should be aware of as both a preparer and reviewer of such a proposal.

Divided into three comprehensive parts, The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide, Third Edition outlines the essential elements of this discipline in a straightforward and accessible manner. Whether you're considering starting, expanding, or acquiring a business, the information found within these pages will enhance your chances of success.

• Advice on how to write and develop business plans
• A realistic sample plan
• All new sections on funding and financing methods with provisions for restructuring and bankruptcy
• Tips for tailoring plans to the decision makers

About the Authors

Brian R. Ford, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Ernst & Young, has many years of experience in providing services to entrepreneurial businesses. He has been instrumental in the early development of our practice, a full-service organization specifically designed to provide services to growing businesses and serving the strategic growth markets in Philadelphia. He has worked with entrepreneurs from their "idea" stage to beyond their initial public offering. His career has been varied from mutual funds, to manufacturing, retail, and distribution. He has served Fortune 25 clients and has extensive expertise in the supply chain. For many years he has served as the firm's leader for services to the casino gaming industry and is a leading expert in this industry. Brian is one of the original authors of The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide.

Jay Bornstein, a tax partner in the Philadelphia office of Ernst & Young, has served as a tax adviser to entrepreneurial businesses and their owners for over 20 years. His clients include start-up businesses that eventually grew to become publicly traded companies to management buyouts of business units of some of the country's largest companies. Jay joined the author team for The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide for the second edition, published in 1993.

Patrick T. Pruitt, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Ernst & Young, is the newest member of The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide author team. He has spent his entire professional career working in Ernst & Young's Strategic Growth Markets practice, where he has assisted companies in all stages of the business cycle. He has extensive experience working with companies on financing alternatives, including obtaining early-round angel financing, private-equity financing, and entry into the public-capital markets.