EP 0186The Office

Business Plan

A

I’ve had it! I’m done working for a company that is taking me nowhere!

B

So what are you gonna do? Just quit?

A

That’s exactly what I am going to do! I’ve decided to create my own company! I’m going to write up a business plan, get some investors and start working for myself!

B

Have you ever written up a business plan before?

A

Well, it can’t be that hard! I mean, all you have to do is explain your business, how you are going to do things and that’s it, right?

B

You couldn’t be more wrong! A well written business plan will include an executive summary which highlights the idea of the business in two pages or less. Then you need to describe your company with information such as what type of legal structure it has, history, etc.

A

Well that seems easy enough.

B

Wait, there’s more! Then you need to introduce and describe your goods or services. What they are and how they are different from competitors’? Then comes the hard part, a market analysis. You need to investigate and analyze hundreds of variables! You need to take into consideration socioeconomic factors from GDP per capita to how many children on average the population has! All this information is useful so that you can move on to your strategy and implementation stage, where you will describe in detail how you will actually execute your idea.

A

Geez. Is that all?

B

Almost, the most important piece of information for your investors will be the financial analysis. Here you will calculate and estimate sales, cash flow and profits. After all, people will want to know when they will begin to see a return on their investment!

A

Umm. I think I’ll just stick to my old job and save myself all the hassle of trying to start up a business!

核心词汇

legal structurephrase

organization of the business

to exe cuteprinciple verb, present simple

to put into effect; carry out

financial analysisphrase

report on financial stability and profitability

return on one’s investmentphrase

profit made from one’s investment

hasslecommon noun, singular

a great deal of trouble; difficulty; nuisance

拓展词汇

entrepreneurcommon noun, singular

person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture

credentialscommon noun, plural

evidence of authority, status, rights

vision statementphrase

statement describing what you ultimately envision your business to be

prospectscommon noun, plural

an apparent probability of advancement, success, profit, etc.

feasibilityAdjective

capable of being done, effected, or accomplished