This book provides the essentials to write a successful business plan. The represented methods and best practices have been approved over many years in practice with many management consulting engagements. The book is beautifully structured, it has a pragmatic emphasis and an autodidactic approach. The reader gets acquainted with the skills and competencies as well as tools, required for the planning and development of the business plan project.

Whether you seek financial backing or board consent, The Financial Times Essential Guide to Writing a Business Plan will give you the crucial knowledge you need to get the go-ahead. By focusing clearly on your objective, it will help you to gather the necessary evidence and address all your backer's concerns. This brand new edition draws out the specific challenges faced by start-ups, particularly on pinning down your perceived market niche and determining your competitive advantage. There are new chapters on pitching the plan and performing against the plan, using key performance indicators and milestones. Finally, new appendices outline alternative sources of funding and display an example business plan from start to finish.