Preparing your business plan

Every business plan begins with a brief executive summary introducing the key components of the project. It is knowing how to tailor it to your audience that will lead to the project's success.

When writing the executive summary--or any presentation for that matter--learn who your audience is before you begin. Be sure to mold the presentation to your audience's needs and desires. If you are speaking to the chief executive officer, make sure your presentation solves a problem that directly affects the hospital's bottom line or addresses specific regulations such as those mandated by The Joint Commission or the state.

Other things to factor into your presentation are relativity and timing. For example, if your hospital chose to close its obstetrics business, then writing a business plan for an obstetrics clinic would be a waste of everyone's time, plus you would seem uninformed about the hospital. Timing also is important. For example, if you are requesting money, be sure your request does not follow closely on the heels of layoffs or after the executives have just revealed less than satisfactory financial statements to staff.

How have you prepared for business plans?