Edition Editor: Mireille Majoor
Second Edition Editor: Rebecca Gaspar
Third Edition Editor: Anne Marie Bonneau
Proofreading: Mark Woodworth
Cover and interior design: Arthur Wait; Diana Russell, www.DianaRussellDesign.com
Indexing: Theresa Duran
Rhonda Abrams’s photos: cover, Garrett Hubbard; page vii, Christopher Briscoe
ISBN 13: 978-1-933895-37-6 (print)
ISBN 13: 978-1-933895-44-4 (ebook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012948730
“This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.”
— from a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a committee of the American Bar Association and a committee of publishers.
Printed in the United States of America
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About the Author
Entrepreneur, author, and nationally syndicated columnist Rhonda Abrams is widely recognized as a leading expert on entrepreneurship and small business. Rhonda’s column for USA Today, “Successful Strategies,” is the most widely distributed column on small business and entrepreneurship in the United States, reaching tens of millions of readers each week.
Rhonda’s books have been used by millions of entrepreneurs. Her first book, Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies, is the best-selling business plan guide in America. It was named one of the top 10 business books for entrepreneurs by both Forbes and Inc. magazines. She is also the author of more than a dozen other books on entrepreneurship and has sold more than a million copies of her books. Rhonda’s other books are perennial best sellers, with three of them having reached the nationally recognized “Top 50 Business Best-Seller” list.
Rhonda not only writes about business—she lives it! As the founder of three successful companies, Rhonda has accumulated an extraordinary depth of experience and a real-life understanding of the challenges facing entrepreneurs. Rhonda first founded a management consulting practice working with clients ranging from one-person start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. An early web pioneer, she founded a website for small business that she later sold. Today, Rhonda is CEO of the publishing company PlanningShop, which focuses exclusively on the topics of business planning, entrepreneurship, and new business development. PlanningShop is America’s leading academic publisher in the discipline of entrepreneurship.
A popular public speaker, Rhonda regularly addresses leading industry and trade associations, business schools, and corporate conventions and events. Educated at Harvard University and UCLA, Rhonda lives in Palo Alto, California.
Rhonda Abrams:
facebook.com/RhondaAbramsSmallBusiness
PlanningShop:
The In A Day Promise
Get it done right, get it done fast!
You’re busy. We can help.
PlanningShop is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create and grow successful businesses. As entrepreneurs ourselves, we understand the many demands placed on you. We don’t assume that you’re a dummy, just that you’re short on time.
This In A Day book will enable you to complete a critical business task in a hurry—and in the right way. You’ll get it done right and get it done fast.
Can you complete this project in just twenty-four hours? Yes. Perhaps the twenty-four hours won’t be consecutive. You may start—pause for an hour, day, or week to take care of other business—then return to the task later. Or, you may have some research or other preparation to do before you can complete this project.
We’ll guide you through the process, show you what you absolutely have to do, and give you tips and tricks to help you reach your goals. We’ve talked to the experts and done the research so you don’t have to. We’ve also eliminated any unnecessary steps so you don’t waste your valuable time. That’s the In A Day promise.
When you have a business task you need to do now, PlanningShop’s In A Day books will help you get it done—in as little as a day.
Need a Business Plan Fast?
This Book Is for You!
You need a business plan—fast!
Maybe a potential investor has asked to see your plan by Tuesday. Perhaps you need a business plan to present at an upcoming staff meeting. Possibly you just want to get your business off the ground as quickly as possible.
Business Plan In A Day was created for busy people like you. This book delivers the critical, time-tested information and tools you need to develop a well-constructed and effective plan—quickly and efficiently.
Business Plan In A Day was designed to help you successfully achieve your goal. It’s for people who need a business plan to:
Seek financing from a bank or other lender
Approach investors, such as angel investors or venture capitalists
Create
