{"id":7004,"date":"2018-10-29T00:00:55","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T00:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/?p=7004"},"modified":"2019-11-06T14:08:01","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T14:08:01","slug":"business-plan-common-mistakes-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/business-plan-common-mistakes-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"40 Common Business Plan Mistakes to Avoid when Writing your Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"7004\" class=\"elementor elementor-7004\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5dbbf645 elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5dbbf645\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-744d8173\" data-id=\"744d8173\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-535f69d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"535f69d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">40 Common Business Plan Mistakes<br>  to avoid when writing your Business Plan<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2127df03 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"2127df03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-cc4bd02 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/author\/entrepreneursgateway-com-team\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-user-circle-o\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEntrepreneursGateway.com Team\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-3e861b9 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/2018\/10\/29\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-calendar\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 29, 2018\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1cd0f39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1cd0f39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"494\" height=\"373\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/40-common-BP-mistakes-81.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-7005\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/40-common-BP-mistakes-81.png 494w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/40-common-BP-mistakes-81-300x227.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 494px) 100vw, 494px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8aabb79 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"8aabb79\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;shake&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c734428\" data-id=\"c734428\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f087aab elementor-view-framed elementor-shape-circle elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"f087aab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-hand-o-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05b5af8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05b5af8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><i>This article is part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/business-plan-hub\/\"><strong><u><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Business Planning Hub<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/a> where you\u2019ll find lots of guides and resources to help you create the perfect business plan!<\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6194598 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6194598\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cb2aac8\" data-id=\"cb2aac8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b414354 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b414354\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Would you like to be ahead of your competitors and <b>avoid some the most obvious business plan mistakes<\/b> people make?<\/p><p>Then you are in the right place.<\/p><p>Be sure to check out the <b>top\u00a040 common pitfalls<\/b> I&#8217;ve listed below, because they are the main reasons business plans fail or are ineffective.<\/p><p>Good business planning comes from experience \u2013 and, of course, from trial and error. But not necessarly your own!<\/p><p>By learning from other people&#8217;s mistakes, you will be sure to speed up your journey and be one step ahead of your competitors.<\/p><p><b>Ready? Let&#8217;s go.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b391bcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b391bcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/entrepreneursgatewaybp-hub.pages.ontraport.net\/FREE_BP_training\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Free-Business-Plan-Training.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12534\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Free-Business-Plan-Training.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Free-Business-Plan-Training-300x72.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Free-Business-Plan-Training-768x184.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7990d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b7990d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"818\" height=\"306\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-01.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7008\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-01.jpg 818w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-01-300x112.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-01-768x287.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 818px) 100vw, 818px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4814996 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4814996\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d806516\" data-id=\"d806516\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28429c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"28429c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7769a28\" data-id=\"7769a28\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-275b979 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"275b979\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fd0806 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7fd0806\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unrealistic_Financial_Projections\"><\/span>Unrealistic Financial Projections<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c40f41 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c40f41\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">One of THE most common business plan mistakes people make is<b> unrealistic financial projections<\/b>.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">Investors or lenders expect a realistic picture of where your business currently is and where you expect it to be in the future.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\"> How can you avoid this mistake? <b><br \/><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">Be sure to <b>be realistic <\/b>and not overly optimistic. <br \/><\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\"><b>Give clear explanations<\/b> of your projections. <br \/><\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\">If you don&#8217;t do this, alarm bells will ring, and all your hard work will be rejected!<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f64a85c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f64a85c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1008\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-02.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7009\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-02.jpg 1008w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-02-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-02-768x368.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4b9c9ca elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4b9c9ca\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1f9c178\" data-id=\"1f9c178\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44449ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"44449ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec328a9\" data-id=\"ec328a9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d05057 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5d05057\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-313bbb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"313bbb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_defining_who_your_target_audience_is\"><\/span>Not defining who your target audience is<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0a835d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f0a835d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">It&#8217;s essential that you <b>define your specific target market<\/b>, as your business isn&#8217;t going to appeal to everyone. <br \/><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">Make sure that you present your assumptions and <b>outline how you will target and communicate with your audience. <\/b><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">Unless you can talk to them, they&#8217;re not going to listen and your business won&#8217;t take off!<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"eop\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 13.5pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e352fdf elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e352fdf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-cd185f1\" data-id=\"cd185f1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3d92ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e3d92ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a4488a7\" data-id=\"a4488a7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2910b95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2910b95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22bd461 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"22bd461\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_business_plan_is_poorly_written\"><\/span>The business plan is poorly written<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7591872 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7591872\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Punctuation, spelling, grammar, style&#8230;<\/p><p>They are all very important when it comes to putting a business plan down on paper.<\/p><p>If investors see a plan full of spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors<b>, they will immediately wonder what else might be wrong with your business<\/b>!<\/p><p>As there is no shortage of people looking for capital, investors won&#8217;t wonder for long&#8230; <\/p><p>They&#8217;ll just move right on to the next plan.<\/p><p>Make sure your business plan is as well written as it could be, then hire a freelancer to go through it and fix any mistakes you might have missed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6b4a7a8 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6b4a7a8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ba6e3c2\" data-id=\"ba6e3c2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8cc8a40 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8cc8a40\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-69001d1\" data-id=\"69001d1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db6d54f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"db6d54f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3059dae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3059dae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sloppy_plan_presentation\"><\/span>Sloppy plan presentation <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6859199 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6859199\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Once the written part of your business plan is impecable, you need to <b>make sure that the presentation matches<\/b>.<\/p><p>Investors do not like to see inconsistent margins, charts without labels, tables without headings, or missing page numbers.<\/p><div>It&#8217;s also always a good idea to <b>have someone proofread your plan<\/b> before you show it to any investors.<\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><p><b>Remember: <br \/><\/b><\/p><p>A bad business plan could result in an investor moving on to a much more organized plan in the stack!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-8990ef6 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8990ef6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f3954bf\" data-id=\"f3954bf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-974765e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"974765e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9c8b937\" data-id=\"9c8b937\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa10ab5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fa10ab5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f74acd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9f74acd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_incomplete_plan\"><\/span>An incomplete plan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-279e13c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"279e13c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>All business plans need to have details on:<\/p><ul><li>Products and Services,<\/li><li>Marketing and Sales,<\/li><li>Operations,<\/li><li>Customers,<\/li><li>Competitors,<\/li><li>Management team.<\/li><\/ul><p><b>All plans, at an absolute minimum, must cover all these areas<\/b>.<\/p><p>A good business plan template should include discussions about the industry, trends and whether the market is shrinking or growing.\u00a0<\/p><p>Finally, your plan should also have detailed financial projections; including income statements, monthly cash flows, and yearly balance sheets.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-815efdf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"815efdf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/complete-bp.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8312\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/complete-bp.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/complete-bp-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/complete-bp-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3c8aed6 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3c8aed6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b18d4f8\" data-id=\"b18d4f8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be4f67b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"be4f67b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b9d226\" data-id=\"4b9d226\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8ef71f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a8ef71f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">6<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7667e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f7667e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_business_plan_is_too_vague\"><\/span>The business plan is too vague<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5873189 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5873189\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Always remember:<\/p><p>A business plan isn\u2019t a poem, a novel, or a cryptogram! <\/p><p><b>If a reasonably educated person has difficulty understanding your plan, then it needs to be re-written.<\/b><\/p><p>If, on the other hand, you feel you need to be vague because your plan involves confidential material, technologies or processes, then simply present the executive summary first.\u00a0<\/p><p>After that, if they are interested in finding out more, you can have them sign a non-disclosure and non-compete agreement before showing them the rest of the plan.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4d9ee24 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4d9ee24\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e55c24\" data-id=\"0e55c24\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9c23f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a9c23f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-47e6649\" data-id=\"47e6649\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d2b9af elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8d2b9af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">7<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0339046 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0339046\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_business_plan_is_too_complicated\"><\/span>The business plan is too complicated <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb4ab50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb4ab50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>One of the pitfalls of writing a business plan is making it too technical. This is usually one of the main problems for technology-based start-ups.<\/p><p>You should always keep <b>technical details to a minimum<\/b> within the main plan.<\/p><p>If you need to include them, you should do so in the appendix.\u00a0<\/p><p>A good idea is to <strong>break your business plan into three parts<\/strong>. For example:<\/p><ul><li>a 2-3-page Executive Summary,<\/li><li>a 10-20-page Business Plan,<\/li><li>an Appendix, which can include as many pages as required.<\/li><\/ul><div>In this way you&#8217;ll be able to convey all you need to without overwhelming your readers.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cfc9d57 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cfc9d57\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d79e152\" data-id=\"d79e152\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb3f9fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cb3f9fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6740f24\" data-id=\"6740f24\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06af380 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"06af380\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">8<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93457fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"93457fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_business_plan_makes_unrealistic_or_unfounded_assumptions\"><\/span>The business plan makes unrealistic or unfounded assumptions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-615a7a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"615a7a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Business plans are full of assumptions \u2013 the most important being that the business will succeed.<\/p><p>However, keep in mind the following:<\/p><ul><li>The <b>most successful business plans<\/b> both highlight the critical assumptions <i>and <\/i>provide some kind of rationalization for them.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>The <b>bad business plans<\/b>, on the other hand, just bury assumptions within the plan, leaving investors to wonder where the assumptions actually end and the facts begin.<\/li><\/ul><p>Many aspects of a business plan to involve assumptions \u2013 such as acceptable pricing, market size, and customer purchasing habits. That&#8217;s unavoidable. Just make sure that any assumption is made from benchmarks within the same industry, and then tie in your assumptions with facts.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-9c2f0a3 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9c2f0a3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-983d02e\" data-id=\"983d02e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1e0a4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e1e0a4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d59ad25\" data-id=\"d59ad25\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c1cbf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6c1cbf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">9<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb089f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eb089f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_plan_includes_inadequate_research\"><\/span>The plan includes inadequate research <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef7fafc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ef7fafc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>It is important to support your assumptions with facts, but <b>it is even more important to ensure that your facts are actually facts<\/b>. <\/p><p>When writing a business plan, you need to identify and analyze various sources of information.<\/p><p>Find out all you can about the industry that your business focuses on, including customer purchasing habits and overall market trends.\u00a0<\/p><p>Keep in mind that <b>investors will usually check your numbers against industry data<\/b>, so that any mismatches could be the difference between receving funding or not!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a2f0034 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a2f0034\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-65a5085\" data-id=\"65a5085\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df0b81d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"df0b81d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4825c0c\" data-id=\"4825c0c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78c085e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"78c085e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">10<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02b67a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"02b67a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Claims_that_there_are_no_risks_involved_within_the_new_venture\"><\/span>Claims that there are no risks involved within the new venture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a764a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a764a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Sensible investors understand and know that there isn\u2019t such a thing as a \u2018no risk&#8217; businesses.<\/p><p>Naturally, there are always risks.<\/p><p>However, it is important that <i>you<\/i> understand the risks before presenting the plan. Should any of them be mentioned, you need to be able to <b>emphasize how they will be minimized<\/b>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57248d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"57248d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"926\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Risk.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8313\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Risk.jpg 960w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Risk-300x289.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Risk-768x741.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-df530c6 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"df530c6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a465506\" data-id=\"a465506\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19741e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"19741e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ff3ab8\" data-id=\"1ff3ab8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5f1714 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c5f1714\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">11<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16fae62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"16fae62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_claim_that_you_have_no_competition\"><\/span>You claim that you have no competition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b8d1b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b8d1b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>It is unbelievable how many potential business owners use this statement within their business plans. And this one sentence couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p><p><b><i>All<\/i> successful businesses have competition, be it direct or indirect. <\/b><\/p><p>You should plan for this from the outset.<\/p><ul><li><b>Identify and analyze<\/b> how you can accentuate your competitive advantages.<\/li><li><b>Show<\/b> within you business plan how you can use them to compete.<\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-72e982b elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"72e982b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-febeb91\" data-id=\"febeb91\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ac5acc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ac5acc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-46385b2\" data-id=\"46385b2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b50dc14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b50dc14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">12<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e3b50d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6e3b50d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_business_plan_isnt_a_business_plan\"><\/span>The business plan isn\u2019t a business plan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b73cc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b73cc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Good business plans present an overview of the entire business. This is, surprisingly, something most people get wrong, so&#8230; <b>how do you avoid this? <\/b><\/p><p>Well, it&#8217;s not difficult.<\/p><p>Make sure to:<\/p><ul><li>Include the present, the short term, and the long term.<\/li><li>Have a description of how the different stages will be reached \u2013 almost like a roadmap.<\/li><li>Include milestones<b>, <\/b>together with the major steps that will be taken to complete each one.<\/li><\/ul><p>You are sorted.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-61d9061 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"61d9061\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d4af100\" data-id=\"d4af100\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfe65d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bfe65d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e23c3fe\" data-id=\"e23c3fe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9937e42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9937e42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">13<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f230b5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f230b5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Weak_market_research\"><\/span>Weak market research<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b41e20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6b41e20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Before asking for investment (or investing any money in the business plan yourself!),<b> ensure that all research is airtight<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p><p>Don\u2019t settle for a quick Google search! <\/p><p>Read books about your industry, download relevant white papers&#8230;<\/p><p>This will prove that you have done your research and are knowledgeable within your area \u2013 which will make all the difference when pitching to investors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7e2603 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a7e2603\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-04.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7011\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-04.jpg 701w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-04-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-29a48b8 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"29a48b8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fb43e2a\" data-id=\"fb43e2a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-146c404 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"146c404\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-70f03d9\" data-id=\"70f03d9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44712be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"44712be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">14<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcaf95b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fcaf95b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_taking_general_expenses_into_consideration\"><\/span>Not taking general expenses into consideration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-412a530 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"412a530\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>One of the pitfalls of business planning is <b>not considering taxes, insurance, utility bills, and other everyday expenses<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p><p>It is all too easy to omit one or more of these bills \u2013 and this can cause huge financial miscalculations.<\/p><p><b>Have you added all your expenses to your business plan?<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-be9812d elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"be9812d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5cd43b1\" data-id=\"5cd43b1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b52794 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2b52794\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-58870b6\" data-id=\"58870b6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d022ce7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d022ce7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">15<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6740709 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6740709\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Limited_understanding_of_cash_flow\"><\/span>Limited understanding of cash flow<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c37453 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c37453\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>The bane of most businesses \u2013 especially small ones \u2013 is <b>cash flow.<\/b><\/p><p>It is all too common to see a viable business go under as a result of a temporary cash flow problem; that is to say, a situaion where there are enough customers, but not enough accessible money to pay the bills.<\/p><p>Ensure that your business plan includes the possibility of <b>unexpected expenses, late payments, or short-term losses<\/b>, as well as a buffer to help if times get difficult.<\/p><p>You will find this extremely helpful when something you weren&#8217;t expecting to go wrong actually goes wrong (which, believe me, happens!).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-25946dc elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"25946dc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5a19b76\" data-id=\"5a19b76\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b92f0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1b92f0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-faaa8d1\" data-id=\"faaa8d1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56d9112 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56d9112\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">16<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5afa3f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5afa3f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"No_objectives\"><\/span>No objectives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83abfac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"83abfac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Investors need to be given a reason to invest. From the onset, <b>be very clear about the time span<\/b> necessary for the investor to get their money back, PLUS how much more they can expect to amass.<\/p><p>It is still advisable to include an objective within the business plan, even if an investment isn&#8217;t being sought. Perhaps a franchise is in the pipeline, or maybe an expansion within the business&#8230; <\/p><p>Basically, <b>success is easier to measure<\/b> when you know what it is you want out of your business.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2712574 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2712574\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"688\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Objectives-BP.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8311\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Objectives-BP.jpg 800w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Objectives-BP-300x258.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Objectives-BP-768x660.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4acba05 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4acba05\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fbfb6a8\" data-id=\"fbfb6a8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-803d133 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"803d133\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-42c1405\" data-id=\"42c1405\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ad316d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ad316d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">17<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ac9dcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8ac9dcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Failing_to_show_real_demand\"><\/span>Failing to show \u2018real\u2019 demand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e3cba9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e3cba9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Just because you think a product is amazing, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that there is a market for it.<\/p><p><b>It is important to see what sort of demand there is for the product.\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p>What does this mean?<\/p><p>Basically, before pumping lots of money into the idea, it is advisable to test the product on a smaller scale \u2013 especially if the business start-up costs are high.<\/p><p>This will ensure you are on the right track and won&#8217;t incur evitable losses.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-93fa416 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"93fa416\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4142157\" data-id=\"4142157\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77ecce4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"77ecce4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7b8b160\" data-id=\"7b8b160\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6c86e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c6c86e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">18<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bfd748 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3bfd748\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lack_of_Experience\"><\/span>Lack of Experience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e136d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e136d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Ensure that the individuals running the business have the correct skill set.<\/p><p><b>If you don\u2019t have the necessary skills yourself, hire someone who does!<\/b><\/p><p>This is definitely one of the most common pitfalls that can be avoided when preparing a business plan. <\/p><p>Remember: <\/p><p>Saving on this point now won&#8217;t do you any favour in the long run.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b096253 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b096253\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3478918\" data-id=\"3478918\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fee9bb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fee9bb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-06dc861\" data-id=\"06dc861\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c09276 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2c09276\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">19<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4412dec elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4412dec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_updating_the_plan\"><\/span>Not updating the plan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41825ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41825ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>It may take a few years for the business to get off the ground, but this doesn&#8217;t mean that the same business plan should be relied on every year.\u00a0<\/p><p>Consumer markets are ever-changing. <\/p><p>Realistically, <b>your business plan should be re-visited on average every six months<\/b>, which also allows for new market research to be carried out.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11f3e2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"11f3e2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"638\" height=\"471\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Common-BP-Mistakes-upd1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10044\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Common-BP-Mistakes-upd1.jpg 638w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Common-BP-Mistakes-upd1-300x221.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a9fd80f elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a9fd80f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d400171\" data-id=\"d400171\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6e8a3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a6e8a3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-635524a\" data-id=\"635524a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01323f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"01323f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">20<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bcdbb5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8bcdbb5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Failure_to_estimate_realistic_startup_costs\"><\/span>Failure to estimate realistic startup costs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a1e0aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3a1e0aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>When writing a business plan, a common mistake is to underestimate the costs of running and launching the business.\u00a0<\/p><p><b>It is better to over-estimate costs rather than underestimating them<\/b>, as this will ensure that the business is adequately covered, especially over the first couple of months.<\/p><p>It is also recommended to:<\/p><ul><li>Separate optional costs from essential ones;<\/li><li>List fixed costs as opposed to those that are variable.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e72226 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0e72226\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/entrepreneursgatewaybp-hub.pages.ontraport.net\/FREE_BP_training\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Need-a-BP.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12535\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Need-a-BP.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Need-a-BP-300x71.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Need-a-BP-768x183.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f878e4d elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f878e4d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-58312f4\" data-id=\"58312f4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3bd4a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f3bd4a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bbd5385\" data-id=\"bbd5385\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb376aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cb376aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">21<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe7b7b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fe7b7b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plans_that_try_to_be_all_things_to_all_people\"><\/span>Plans that try to be all things to all people<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e2904f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e2904f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>In your journey to secure an investor, you will no doubt meet different types of people, so <b>don\u2019t make the mistake of using one plan for different investors<\/b>. <\/p><p>Instead, prior to pitching, make sure to tailor and target your business plan to a specific investor, so that they&#8217;ll feel like you are both speaking the same language.<\/p><p>The golden rule is to keep the essential parts of the plan as they are, but to review the industry jargon. <strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-62115d0 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"62115d0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-036c71d\" data-id=\"036c71d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f72a6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f72a6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e45062\" data-id=\"0e45062\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4359df elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a4359df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">22<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0bd7549 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0bd7549\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_detailing_key_team_members_and_their_responsibilities\"><\/span>Not detailing key team members and their responsibilities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-646d19e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"646d19e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>The management team section ALWAYS needs to include the following:<\/p><ul><li>Who the team members are,<\/li><li>A short biography and outline of their responsibilities.<\/li><\/ul><p>These need to be tailored around different areas of the company.\u00a0<\/p><p><b>Start-up companies<\/b> should focus on their management&#8217;s success in growing and launching ventures, while <strong>mature companies<\/strong> should holm in on how their team members successfully work within the framework.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c683c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5c683c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"855\" height=\"362\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-07.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7014\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-07.jpg 855w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-07-300x127.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-07-768x325.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea97456 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea97456\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5ad537e\" data-id=\"5ad537e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b6f9abe elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b6f9abe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-677b75a\" data-id=\"677b75a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ec7d09 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9ec7d09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">23<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db292d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"db292d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Asking_Investors_to_Sign_a_Non-Disclosure_Agreement\"><\/span>Asking Investors to Sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c4a574a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c4a574a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Generally speaking, <b>this is something that most investors will not do<\/b> \u2013 simply because, typically, a business&#8217;s concept\/strategy is not confidential.<\/p><p>If the strategy\/concept has to remain confidential, then this could imply that no barriers apply to competitive entry; and if competitors are easily able to copy the concept, then this would indicate that the model is most likely not sustainable.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c37b245 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c37b245\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a61bfef\" data-id=\"a61bfef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73f73d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"73f73d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4879eb4\" data-id=\"4879eb4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16bafe5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"16bafe5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">24<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7398ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f7398ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_financials_arent_pro_forma\"><\/span>The financials aren\u2019t pro forma<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d81609 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1d81609\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>A good business plan is fundamentally <b>a map of the future<\/b> \u2013 therefore, it needs to be forward thinking.<\/p><p>Pro forma financial statements are similar to forecasts and allow room for creative projections. They can be utilized to show investors how the business should and can perform, but you must also <b>be prepared to back up any projections<\/b>.<\/p><p>These statements should be used to provide an overall vision of the dynamic of the business as well as what it can expect to achieve.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-7007552 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7007552\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e657c02\" data-id=\"e657c02\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0361917 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0361917\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f56e106\" data-id=\"f56e106\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ced1ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ced1ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">25<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe569cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fe569cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Assume_investors_will_read_the_business_plan_from_back_to_front%E2%80%A6_or_wont_read_it_at_all\"><\/span>Assume investors will read the business plan from back to front\u2026 or won\u2019t read it at all<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91ff10e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"91ff10e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Even if investors don\u2019t read your business plan, you still need to produce one.\u00a0<\/p><p>A well-researched and constructed business plan is an essential component of any successful business, whether it is seeking investment or not.<\/p><p><b>Make sure it&#8217;s artight and that you know it by heart.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-82d9165 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"82d9165\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2def5a8\" data-id=\"2def5a8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7692fc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7692fc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-89ece23\" data-id=\"89ece23\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31560a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31560a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">26<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d34841d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d34841d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Writing_the_business_plan_in_one_big_push\"><\/span>Writing the business plan in one big push<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4209ee1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4209ee1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>You could think of a business plan as made of blocks and comprised of a set of connected modules.<\/p><p>It is probably best, to begin with, to work on the parts that you find the most interesting or that will provide the most benefit.<\/p><p>That is to say: <b>Don&#8217;t try to write a complete business plan in one go.<\/b><\/p><p>Break it down into manageable steps and pieces.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e288d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0e288d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"430\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-08.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7015\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-08.jpg 430w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-08-300x219.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-344d408 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"344d408\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b0d4845\" data-id=\"b0d4845\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c488e78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c488e78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-639c5bf\" data-id=\"639c5bf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51bece2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"51bece2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">27<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1314b0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1314b0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inadequate_test_procedures_and_testing\"><\/span>Inadequate test procedures and testing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89cec2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"89cec2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Another common pitfall which must be avoided when preparing a business plan is <b>not carrying out the correct and necessary test procedures<\/b>.<\/p><p>This could be as simple researching the need for the specific product, or physically testing whether the product actually works or not.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-79adb8f elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"79adb8f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-66023a2\" data-id=\"66023a2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68d6fc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"68d6fc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1f6910e\" data-id=\"1f6910e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a374d8b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a374d8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">28<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a30bdd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6a30bdd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hiding_Weaknesses\"><\/span>Hiding Weaknesses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a729db1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a729db1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><b>Don&#8217;t highlight your weeknesses but also don&#8217;t hide them. <\/b><\/p><p>This is important.<\/p><p>All businesses have weaknesses, and by highlighting or hiding them too much, you risk putting off an investor.<\/p><p>The way forward is to <b>include a strategy,<\/b> which outlines how any problems will be addressed. In this way they&#8217;ll see you are aware of your weeknesses and ready to face them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d532a3c elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d532a3c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9c0ff1b\" data-id=\"9c0ff1b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a48cd31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a48cd31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e00171e\" data-id=\"e00171e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b086efb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b086efb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">29<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06cf8ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"06cf8ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_Knowing_the_Distribution_Channels\"><\/span>Not Knowing the Distribution Channels<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72bfb1d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72bfb1d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>A secure plan outlining how the services will be provided or the products distributed is <b>an absolute must<\/b>.<\/p><p>All possible channels must be included. <\/p><p>If not, it may appear to the investor that the list has merely come off the top of your head.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>It is vital that you <b>articulate the strategy<\/b> as to how the service or product will reach the client.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd4f849 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fd4f849\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"594\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-09.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7016\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-09.jpg 594w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-09-300x218.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c34e9e7 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c34e9e7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e9e1479\" data-id=\"e9e1479\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da41944 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"da41944\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-da3b2f5\" data-id=\"da3b2f5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9faa7eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9faa7eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">30<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8da53c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8da53c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Being_Inconsistent\"><\/span>Being Inconsistent<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe60779 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe60779\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Quoting conflicting statistics, highlighting different target markets or even including conflicting strategies within a plan can set off alarm bells.\u00a0<\/p><p><b>These types of errors could result in an investor challenging exactly how well you know your business and market.<\/b><\/p><p>Often, different sections of a business plan are written by different people, then pasted into one document \u2013 which is the perfect recipe for inconsistency.<\/p><p>Make sure to carefully review each section of the plan to avoid this mistake.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b373d00 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b373d00\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-442c451\" data-id=\"442c451\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-887d748 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"887d748\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ad8a6d6\" data-id=\"ad8a6d6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-634dd69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"634dd69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">31<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95494b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"95494b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over-Hype\"><\/span>Over-Hype<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12147c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"12147c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Of course, you will no doubt believe that your business idea is the best thing ever \u2013 which is great.<\/p><p>However, these <b>claims need to be backed up<\/b>.<\/p><p>Over-hyping a business will not substantiate your service or product.<\/p><p><b>What you need to do<\/b> instead is to wow them with the business idea <i>supported by an outstanding financial and research plan<\/i>.<\/p><p>That&#8217;s what an investor wants to see.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2b68869 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2b68869\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fca2462\" data-id=\"fca2462\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f17b28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7f17b28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-655de7b\" data-id=\"655de7b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29587b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"29587b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">32<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0ddc8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b0ddc8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_Anticipating_Lenders_or_Investors_Requirements\"><\/span>Not Anticipating Lenders' or Investors' Requirements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce3d085 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce3d085\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>More often than not, business plans barely touch (or miss out completely) the meat and veg of financial planning&#8230; and don&#8217;t even consider the needs of those supplying the cash!<\/p><p><b>Here are a few things to keep in mind.<\/b><\/p><p>If you are dealing with <b>investors<\/b>, you must:<\/p><ul><li>Define the primary objectives within a defined exit strategy;<\/li><li>Put in place appropriate percentage ownership and prices.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>If you are dealing with<b> lenders<\/b>, consideration must be:<\/p><ul><li>Why the funds are required,<\/li><li>How much is needed,<\/li><li>Repayment conditions.<\/li><\/ul><div>If you do this, you are already one step ahead of most people.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1cbe2cc elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1cbe2cc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-28f5610\" data-id=\"28f5610\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b453b20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b453b20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f2c4169\" data-id=\"f2c4169\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2384f8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2384f8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">33<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1bff4d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f1bff4d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Writing_the_Executive_Summary_first_not_last\"><\/span>Writing the Executive Summary first, not last<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77422f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77422f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>The majority of people will read the Executive Summary first and then, based on this, will formulate their initial impressions.<b><br \/><\/b><\/p><p><b>These first pages are critically important and must be strong and well thought out<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p><p>Quite often business people will write the summary first, then support it with a plan. However, you should do exactly the opposite.<\/p><p><b>Why?<\/b><\/p><p>Because the executive summary provides you with the <b>opportunity to tie everything together<\/b>, allowing you to check your assumptions and to ensure that the story matches the data within the plan.<\/p><p>By writing the executive summary first, you are not using the process of business planning to learn, and this will show in your summary.<\/p><p>So don&#8217;t jump to the solution, but make use of the process!<\/p><p>In this way you&#8217;ll be able to produce a well thought out Executive Summary to wow your investors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2c427a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a2c427a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-010.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7017\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-010.jpg 668w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-010-300x162.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cee21bf elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cee21bf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d557a0\" data-id=\"1d557a0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9704854 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9704854\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7ec6017\" data-id=\"7ec6017\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c9912c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c9912c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">34<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-612f86f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"612f86f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inability_or_defensiveness_to_adapt_to_Feedback\"><\/span>Inability or defensiveness to adapt to Feedback<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a2cdf5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9a2cdf5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Always show your business plan to your lawyer and make sure they confirm that it meets all the necessary regulatory requirements. If it doesn&#8217;t, you need to revise it.<\/p><p>Most people are unable to listen to advice from experienced advisors \u2013 which is <b>a recipe for disaster<\/b>.<\/p><p>Of course, not all feedback is correct, but a key element of business failure is the inability to adapt to fair criticism.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e1b9ceb elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e1b9ceb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2db2bd1\" data-id=\"2db2bd1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9786ccd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9786ccd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f3b223e\" data-id=\"f3b223e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc7fbb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc7fbb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">35<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-298e8c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"298e8c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hiding_the_plan_from_your_team\"><\/span>Hiding the plan from your team <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fca8c36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fca8c36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><b>A business plan is a management tool.<\/b><\/p><p>Obviously, care needs to be taken when sharing with team members (such as salaries, etc).\u00a0 However, don&#8217;t be afraid to share measurements and goals.<\/p><p>Use the plan to <b>build up team spirit<\/b> and you&#8217;ll soon see the benefits of this approach.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf984b1 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf984b1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ce6b446\" data-id=\"ce6b446\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-738cbc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"738cbc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-76d5cca\" data-id=\"76d5cca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9b8d77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a9b8d77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">36<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35036c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"35036c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Confusing_cash_with_profits\"><\/span>Confusing cash with profits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f937cbb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f937cbb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>There is a big difference between the cash and profits. Your financial situation can be crippled by waiting for customers to pay, whereas the profits won&#8217;t be affected.<\/p><p>Basically, profits are an accounting concept, whereas cash is the actual money in the bank.<\/p><p><b>Always keep this in mind!<\/b><\/p><p>After all, profits don&#8217;t pay bills \u2013 money does!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98658b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"98658b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"595\" height=\"437\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-011.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7018\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-011.jpg 595w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-011-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-0da1403 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0da1403\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-01caf18\" data-id=\"01caf18\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e6b270 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0e6b270\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4273917\" data-id=\"4273917\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa9ecb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"aa9ecb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">37<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1dc38d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f1dc38d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diluting_your_priorities\"><\/span>Diluting your priorities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb7883c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb7883c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>A plan with focus and power is one that stresses <b>between 3 and 4 priorities<\/b>. <\/p><p>These are easy for people to understand. <\/p><p>Any plan that lists, for example, 20 priorities&#8230; well, quite honestly doesn&#8217;t have any!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96fa074 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"96fa074\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/entrepreneursgatewaybp-hub.pages.ontraport.net\/FREE_BP_training\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Are-you-ENT-5-768x270.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-12532\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Are-you-ENT-5-768x270.jpg 768w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Are-you-ENT-5-300x105.jpg 300w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Are-you-ENT-5.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6e593d1 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6e593d1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c64130c\" data-id=\"c64130c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1e9157 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e1e9157\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f28f411\" data-id=\"f28f411\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56494bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56494bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">38<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c039e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2c039e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fudging_the_details_for_the_first_year\"><\/span>Fudging the details for the first year<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85dd95c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"85dd95c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>You <i>need<\/i> to take all details into account, <b>not just cash flow<\/b>. These include the financials, responsibilities, milestones, and deadlines.<\/p><p>Of course, cash flow is really important; but details regarding setting dates, assigning tasks to people, and outlining what is supposed to be done and by whom are just as important! <\/p><p>After all, a business plan wouldn&#8217;t be a business plan without them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce5a202 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ce5a202\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9a49a7a\" data-id=\"9a49a7a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd34948 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fd34948\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-88ed438\" data-id=\"88ed438\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34ce841 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34ce841\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">39<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac4b632 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac4b632\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sweating_the_details_for_the_future_years\"><\/span>Sweating the details for the future years<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90124ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"90124ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>This isn\u2019t about accounting, but about planning.<\/p><p>Monthly details are important at the beginning, but as time moves on, they become less important. After all, how can a monthly cash flow be predicted three years from now with uncertain sales forecasts?<\/p><p>Basically, <b>monthly details cannot be planned beyond the first year<\/b>. Nobody expects them, and nobody will believe them if you do; so make sure to focus on what&#8217;s really important. \u00a0 <strong><br \/><\/strong><\/p><div>\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-81240ee elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"81240ee\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d8efc7\" data-id=\"3d8efc7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4efce08 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4efce08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mistake<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-58b61c3\" data-id=\"58b61c3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a586e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4a586e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">40<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e94a268 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e94a268\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Overvaluing_the_business_idea\"><\/span>Overvaluing the business idea <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55e0d89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"55e0d89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Here&#8217;s something very important to keep in mind:<\/p><p><b>The value of an idea is the business that\u2019s built on it, not the idea itself.\u00a0 <\/b><\/p><p>For an idea to become a business, products need to be built, ordered and shipped; phone calls need to be answered; employees need to be coming to work every day; and customers need to be paying their bills. That&#8217;s it.\u00a0<\/p><p><b>Write a business plan that shows that you are creating a business around a great idea<\/b> \u2013 or simply don\u2019t bother. <\/p><p>A great business is not made by only an idea. <strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-883bf14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"883bf14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"399\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-012.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7019\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-012.jpg 399w, https:\/\/entrepreneursgateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Common-BP-Mistakes-012-253x300.jpg 253w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-36450f52 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"36450f52\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2b0079c8\" data-id=\"2b0079c8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c42815d elementor-view-framed elementor-shape-circle elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"7c42815d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-hand-o-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca8e0eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ca8e0eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Now, over to you...<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eddf20d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eddf20d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Now I&#8217;d love to hear from you:<\/p><p>Are you still unsure of which business plan you need?<\/p><p>Maybe you have written a business plan and would like us to review it?<\/p><p>Leave any comments below and I will be sure to answer as soon as they come in!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Be sure to avoid these common pitfalls when preparing to write your Business plan.<\/Strong><\/p>\n<p>Especially if you&#8217;re looking for funding&#8230; <strong>it\u2019s VITAL that all of your information is correct and your ideas aren&#8217;t misrepresented.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To help you, <strong>we&#8217;ve listed our top 40 Common Business Plan mistakes&#8230; Let&#8217;s take a look!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[29],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.2.1 - 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