Business Plans for Canadians for Dummies

Expert tips and strategies to help Canadians create winning business plans
Business Plans For Canadians For Dummies guides your business in the right direction whether you're part of a large corporation or a one-person show. This down-to-earth book guides you through every milestone in business planning, including creating a right-on mission statement; pinpointing the needs of your customers; scoping out your best competitive position; simplifying all the financial stuff; staying on top of trends, and fostering a captivating atmosphere for your staff. Business Plans For Canadians For Dummies is a fun and informative read for any entrepreneur. Start planning -- find out what resources are available to help you build your business plan Craft your mission statement -- clarify your vision, values, and goals Take a closer look at your industry -- analyze your competition and your target market Discover your company's best -- and worst -- assets -- find out how to play to your strengths and improve upon your weaknesses Create your company's budget and forecast your sales -- delve into income statements and balance sheets Zero in on a business strategy -- use your strategy to establish your competitive advantage Learn from Canadian examples -- explore local inspirational stories and cautionary tales
Open the book and find: How to establish your company vision and values Ways to protect your intellectual property Market research strategies The importance of competition in the industry Secrets to understanding your customers' needs Tactics to recognize business opportunities and threats How to promote your business using traditional and new media A sample business plan, complete with income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statement
Learn to: Get better acquainted with your target market Craft a competitive strategy Write clear and concise mission and values statements Forecast and budget wisely

Paul Tiffany, PhD, is a professor at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley.
Steven D. Peterson, PhD, is the founder and Managing Partner of Strategic Play.
Nada Wagner, MBA, is one of the principals of Next Wave Marketing and a professor at The Business School, Humber ITAL.