How to Create a Winning Business Proposal

Identify a Viable Business Idea

Having investigated various options, you have concluded that your 'idea' is viable, it suits you and can be developed to be an interesting enterprise with rewarding financial results. Your project can be as small or as big as you want to. Similarly, your 'idea' does not have to be 'unique'. In fact you might consider bringing an established service or product to a new market or develop an existing concept to a new application. It is advisable that you select a business that is not totally fictitious or imaginary. The closest you are to reality, the easier it will be for you to think your project through properly and present it to others. Ideally, you want to present something that you are genuinely considering as an alternative for your future. Who knows? Maybe it will happen one day.

To get your new business started, you need to approach financiers / lenders / investors to help you raise the necessary capital for your purposes. You therefore need to put together a business proposal (else known as a Business Plan (BP)) which will include a comprehensive description of the new business and any other additional material that will convince your audience to back you up. You should be clear in how much funding you need, for how long and how you are going to pay back in a way that will be worthwhile for your supporters. The structure of a good plan has been discussed in class and further explained below. It is important that both your Business Plan and your presentation adequately cover what you plan to achieve, in a way that it generates interest and confidence in your arguments. It is worth keeping in mind at all times the golden rule: 

Depending on available time, there might be an oral presentation. In any event you should be preparing one for the purpose. Your presentation should be about 10 minutes and you are expected to have prepared power point slides on the topics of discussion, which you will submit in a CD or memory stick together with your Business Plan report (for plagiarism check purposes). Presentations — should they take place — will be followed by brief Q&A sessions.

The following headings should be used: 
1. Name of the business 2. Your name and course (F/T or PIT) 3. Executive Summary (maximum 2 pages) 4. Text of maximum 20 pages 5. Headings and sub-headings as appropriate 6. References if necessary 7. References if appropriate 
REPORT TO BE SUBMITTED IN 2 COPIES to us (not through official submission). You should indude an electronic copy of you report In the CD or memory stick In Microsoft Word format, together with your presentation in Microsoft Power / Point format. Make sure you use genuine software and the recording has been successful. 
Note on plagiarism: The Business Plan should be your own work and any material sourced should be properly referenced.