Why Did My Business Plan Fail

A business plan defines a company's growth and development; essentially, it's a road map for a new business. It contains the business goals, how the goals are to be achieved, and the time frame in which the goals need to be met. But there are various reasons why business plans fail, and the solutions for them are just as vast.

The Entrepreneur Fails to Define Specialty

An entrepreneur needs to stand out from the crowd when pitching his business plan if the venture is to succeed. The most common and effective method to stand out is by clearly defining what makes his business unique. Remember, other companies offer similar products or services, and being unique will differentiate his business from the rest.

He can do this by clarifying what products and services his company offer. He can also mention the unique skill set that he brings to the market. For instance, if it's a new restaurant he is pitching, the unique feature may be to cater to a clientele whose needs have not been met, for example, vegans.

Overly Ambitious Financial Projections

A business plan must have realistic projections in the financial section. Many investors pay special attention to the financial projections, overly ambitious sales projections, and poorly researched salary scales will spoil the business plan's credibility and make investors flee.

Financial projections should be well thought out and researched. The projections should be based on the existing competitors' performance in the market.

Lack of Customer Need

Most unsuccessful ventures fail to understand the needs of their customers. When writing a business plan, the entrepreneur must understand customer needs and the gap in the market. Entrepreneurs should then research how to meet these needs.

Entrepreneurs should proceed to outline the plan to penetrate the relevant markets. Satisfying a customer's specific needs contributes to a business's success as the satisfied customer will always come back and most likely spread the word of their happiness.

Too Much Focus on the Future

The valuation for a company's growth is based on its projected future performance. However, the entrepreneur's track record and initial achievements are useful indicators for future performance as well. A good business plan should show what achievements an entrepreneur has. A preferably good history of setting and achieving goals is an indicator that an entrepreneur can deliver in the future.

Fails to Include Competitors in Market Analysis

Most entrepreneurs focus on showing their business plan's uniqueness but fail to list the existing competitors in the market. This does more harm than good. It implies that if there are a few or no similar companies in the marketplace. This portrays a lack of understanding of the market.

An adequately researched business plan should include successful companies in a competitive market place. This will show prospective investors that the entrepreneur has taken the time to research the market and a viable venture.

Sets Unrealistic Goals

While it is essential to have lofty goals, they need to be achievable and attainable. Good intentions do not necessarily point to a successful business venture. A business plan should have measurable and achievable goals. Goals should have a plan and strategy on how to meet them and a way to measure their success.

Lacks Market Research

One of the most common reasons business plans fail is the lack of market research before venturing into the business. Market research is crucial in starting a new business. The entrepreneur must fully understand the current situation of his market place and the competition levels there. Market research needs to be viewed realistically; if the market place has high competition, an entrepreneur needs to draft a plan that will differentiate the business from the rest and help it stand out.

Improper Budgeting

Most business plans fail because of poor budgeting. There is a need for the entrepreneur to conduct budget research well before venturing into business. Entrepreneurs should make fair estimates on the approximate cost of starting and operating a business through the growth phase. Moreover, funding sources should be established beforehand.

Business Idea Isn't Viable

There is no such thing as a bad business idea, but a business idea that is not viable is a reality. Most business ideas look lucrative on paper, but once they are actualized into investments, they don't work out as planned. To make sound business ideas, entrepreneurs should consider extensive market research. This will help to test the business idea before investing time and money into it.

Failure to Act on Investors' Feedback

Most business plans fail as a result of ignorance by the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs may present their document to an investor who reviews it and gives feedback suggesting corrections and revisits to specific sections. Failure of the entrepreneur to react positively to the feedback and make the proposed changes may lead to loss of the entire business plan.

Conclusion

For a business plan to be successful, one must be careful to avoid these pitfalls. A common theme is always to conduct extensive market research and be realistic in all business goals and financial projections.