{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:47:34+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T21:47:34+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:10:30+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"Strategic Planning","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34254"},"slug":"strategic-planning","categoryId":34254}],"title":"Business-Planning Checklist","strippedTitle":"business-planning checklist","slug":"business-planning-checklist","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"You have a number of essential tasks to complete before you write your business plan. 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Business-Planning Checklist

By: Paul Tiffany and Steven D. Peterson and

Updated: 03-26-2016

From The Book: Business Plans For Dummies

Business Plans For Dummies

Explore Book Buy On Amazon

You have a number of essential tasks to complete before you write your business plan. Having a clear picture of your goals and how to attain them is at the core; but consider the other factors on this list of business-planning essentials:

Get everyone involved in setting goals and objectives
Learn all you can about your customers
Understand who your competitors are
Identify your strengths and weaknesses relative to opportunities and threats
Determine which capabilities you absolutely need to succeed
List all the things you do that add customer value
Make sure that you do your financial homework
Imagine several different versions of your company’s future

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Business Plans For Dummies ,

About the book authors:

Paul Tiffany, PhD, is a professor at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley.

Steven D. Peterson, PhD, is the founder and Managing Partner of Strategic Play.

Nada Wagner, MBA, is one of the principals of Next Wave Marketing and a professor at The Business School, Humber ITAL.

Paul Tiffany, PhD, is a professor at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley.

Steven D. Peterson, PhD, is the founder and Managing Partner of Strategic Play.

Nada Wagner, MBA, is one of the principals of Next Wave Marketing and a professor at The Business School, Humber ITAL.

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Strategic Planning ,

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