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On Thursday, United Parcel Service (UPS) predicted downbeat 2025 revenue as it cut back service with its largest customer, Amazon, in order to focus on more profitable businesses. The decision will cut Amazon’s transported volumes by more than 50% by the second half of 2026. The unexpected announcement came with disappointing revenue results, with UPS failing to meet expectations for 2024. UPS’s Q4 revenue was $25.3 billion, slightly below the predicted $25.42 billion. This decision came at a time when UPS is struggling due to a decline in parcel demand following the e-commerce boom of the pandemic and an increase in shipments from discount online retailers such as Shein and Temu. UPS stock was down more than 14% as of Thursday afternoon, after falling during premarket trading. The decline was on track to break the current record for the stock’s worst day, which occurred in July 2024, as MarketWatch reports. Shares have lost half their value since 2022, though the company said that carrying less freight for Amazon will eventually boost its revenue per piece. “Amazon is our largest customer, but it’s not our most profitable customer,” CEO Carol Tomé told investors on a conference call Thursday. “Foundational changes” Amazon and its affiliates represented about 12% of UPS revenue in 2023, which is nearly all of its United States package business. The package carrier is hoping to gain volume from more profitable segments, such as healthcare-product shippers, small- and-medium-size businesses, and international markets. UPS expects revenue of about $89 billion for 2025, down from $91.1 billion in 2024. The parcel service has brought all of its UPS SurePost products in-house and will launch multiyear “efficiency reimagine” initiatives to drive about $1 billion in savings by rethinking its business design. The company aims to cut costs by closing buildings, reducing the size of its vehicle and aircraft fleets, and decreasing the size of its workforce. “We are making business and operational changes that, along with the foundational changes we’ve already made, will put us further down the path to becoming a more profitable, agile, and differentiated UPS that is growing in the best parts of the market,” said Tomé in the annual earnings report. In 2025, UPS expects average daily U.S volume to drop about 8.5% year-over-year while revenue per package is projected to increase by 6%. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I just saw the below post on LinkedIn, and I thought I’d send it along and get your thoughts on this strategy. After years of reading your blog, it makes me cringe so much. (Why would you write someone a reference if you weren’t their manager? Why would you pester every person at every interview stage with this letter? What if it’s not helpful information for them? Etc.) But everyone in the comments was praising this, saying how it’s so actionable and helpful and “gold,” which I found perplexing. Curious to hear your take on these kinds of strategies, especially as these sort of “advice posts” become more common. This is the post: Just went through a RIF but weren’t impacted? Are you saying, “let me know what I can do” to the people impacted? Stop. Here’s your play — the Reference in Advance play — or RIA, as the kids call it: 1. Write an email reference template for the person — helps if you were the direct manager or person that hired them — but doesn’t have to be. 2. Tell the person to send you the email addresses of the people of every interview they have. 3. Ask the person when the interview is and when they need it sent. 4. Then copy and paste your letter and send it to those people IN ADVANCE of the interview (makes people stand out immediately, nobody really does this before an interview). 5. You can send it more than once to a specific company as they move through the process by forwarding it to the new people, referencing that you sent it to the previous and wanted to share with them as well. The results can be pretty astounding. And in total, it should take 15 minutes to write the letter and 30 seconds for each send. Put your action where your (maybe empty but maybe you really mean it but don’t know what to do) words are. And we were just saying that there are fewer gimmicks these days! This is indeed a bad idea. First, written references aren’t a thing in most fields (although there are some exceptions, like teaching and some parts of law). When most hiring managers are ready to talk to references, they want to ask about the things that matter most to them, and most will want to talk — so we can hear tone and hesitations and ask follow-up questions. Plus, no one puts critical info in reference letters, so they’re not terribly useful. (I also don’t see anything in this advice about making sure the letters are nuanced or speak to what the job the person is applying for requires, so they really won’t carry any weight.) Second and more importantly, this behavior is way too salesy and annoying. It’s going to look like the candidate is the one organizing it, and it’s going to make them look pushy and out of touch with how hiring works. It will not make them stand out — or at least, it won’t make them stand out in a good way; it is likely to make them stand out in an annoying way. And then sending the letter over and over as the process moves on? It’ll just keep annoying people, and at some point when they realize they’re all getting the same letter, it’s going to feel really spammy. Third, the hiring manager won’t know anything about who these letters are coming from. Are they all your friends? Family members? Is the candidate herself emailing the letters from a bunch of fake email accounts? Someone actually did this to me years ago and it was concerning, not impressive. To be clear, it’s different if the person contacting your interviewer knows them personally. If you hear that I’m interviewing Valentina Warbleworth who used to work for you and you email me to rave about how great she is, that’s something that will carry weight — because I know you, I know your judgment, and it’ll be clear that it was our existing relationship that moved you to do me the favor of giving me intel on a candidate. None of that is in effect with a bunch of unsolicited letters from strangers that will appear to be coordinated by the candidate herself. View the full article

Google is launching a limited test using AI to automatically generate background images for Shopping Ad product listings. How it works. The AI system will: Generate contextual background scenes for existing product images. Maintain the original product appearance without alterations. Require human review and approval before ads go live. Why we care. This update represents a significant shift in how product photography can be handled in ecommerce advertising. Moreover, since product presentation directly influences consumer purchasing decisions, this automated enhancement could potentially improve conversion rates without requiring additional investment in creative assets. On the other hand, do you want Google automating the image that shows on the background of shopping ads, when we have hears advertisers lack of confidence in AI being able to reflect brand guidelines in AI generated creatives accurately? Worth noting. Advertisers can opt out of the test if they prefer to maintain complete control over their product imagery. The big picture. This move aligns with Google’s broader strategy of integrating AI across its advertising products, potentially democratizing access to high-quality product presentation for smaller retailers who can’t afford professional studio photography. First seen. This update was first brought to our attention by Samantha Noble, founder of Biddable Moments, who shared an email from Google on LinkedIn: What we’re watching. How consumers respond to AI-generated backgrounds and whether this leads to measurable improvements in shopping ad performance. Bottom line. Google is betting that AI-enhanced product imagery will drive better ad performance, though advertisers maintain the final say in whether their products participate in this experimental feature. View the full article

President cites ‘moment of anguish’ after 67 people die after helicopter collides with commercial jetView the full article

Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week here. After a week of DeepSeek freakout, doubts and mysteries remain The Chinese company DeepSeek sent shockwaves through the AI and investment communities this week as people learned that it created state-of-the-art AI models using far less computing power and capital than anyone thought possible. The company then showed its work in published research papers and by making its models available to other developers. This raised two burning questions: Has the U.S. lost its edge in the AI race? And will we really need as many expensive AI chips as we’ve been told? How much computing power did DeepSeek really use? DeepSeek claimed it trained its most recent model for about $5.6 million, and without the most powerful AI chips (the U.S. barred Nvidia from selling its powerful H100 graphics processing units in China, so DeepSeek made do with 2,048 H800s). But the information it provided in research papers about its costs and methods is incomplete. “The $5 million refers to the final training run of the system,” points out Oregon State University AI/robotics professor Alan Fern in a statement to Fast Company. “In order to experiment with and identify a system configuration and mix of tricks that would result in a $5M training run, they very likely spent orders of magnitude more.” He adds that based on the available information it’s impossible to replicate DeepSeek’s $5.6 million training run. How exactly did DeepSeek do so much with so little? DeepSeek appears to have pulled off some legitimate engineering innovations to make its models less expensive to train and run. But the techniques it used, such as Mixture-of-experts architecture and chain-of-thought reasoning, are well-known in the AI world and generally used by all the major AI research labs. The innovations are described only at a high level in the research papers, so it’s not easy to see how DeepSeek put its own spin on them. “Maybe there was one main trick or maybe there were lots of things that were just very well engineered all over,” says Robert Nishihara, cofounder of the AI run-time platform Anyscale. Many of DeepSeek’s innovations grew from having to use less powerful GPUs (Nvidia H800s instead of H100s) because of the Biden Administration’s chip bans. “Being resource limited forces you to come up with new innovative efficient methods,” Nishihara says. “That’s why grad students come up with a lot of interesting stuff with far less resources—it’s just a different mindset.” What innovation is likely to influence other AI labs the most? As Anthropic’s Jack Clark points out in a recent blog post, DeepSeek was able to use a large model, DeepSeek-V3 (~700K parameters), to teach a smaller R1 model to be a reasoning model (like OpenAI’s o1) with a surprisingly small amount of training data and no human supervision. V3 generated 800,000 annotated text samples showing questions and the chains of thought it followed to answer them, Clark writes. DeepSeek showed that after processing the samples for a time the smaller R1 model spontaneously began to “think” about its answers, explains Andrew Jardine, head of go-to-market at Adaptive ML. “You just say ‘here’s my problem—create some answers to that problem’ and then based on the answers that are correct or incorrect, you give it a reward [a binary code that means “good”] and say ‘try again,’ and eventually it starts going ‘I’m not sure; let me try this new angle or approach’ or ‘that approach wasn’t the right one, let me try this other one’ and it just starts happening on its own.” There’s some real magic there. DeepSeek’s researchers called it an “aha moment.” Why haven’t U.S. AI companies already been doing what DeepSeek did? “How do you know they haven’t?” asks Jardine. “We don’t have visibility into exactly the techniques that are being used by Google and OpenAI; we don’t know exactly how efficient the training approaches are.” That’s because those U.S. AI labs don’t describe their techniques in research papers and release the weights of their models, as DeepSeek did. “There’s a lot of reason to believe they do have at least some of these efficiency methods already.” It should come as no surprise if OpenAI’s next reasoning model, o3, is less compute-intensive, more cost-effective, and faster than DeepSeek’s models. Is Nvidia stock still worth 50X of earnings? Nvidia provides up to 95% percent of the advanced AI chips used to research, train, and run frontier AI models. The company’s stock lost 17% of its value on Monday when investors interpreted DeepSeek’s research results as a signal that fewer expensive Nvidia chips would be needed in the future than previously anticipated. Meta’s Yann LeCun says Monday’s sell-off grew from a “major misunderstanding about AI infrastructure investments.” The Turing Award winner says that while DeepSeek showed that frontier models could be trained with fewer GPUs, the main job of the chips in the future will be during inference—the reasoning work the model does when it’s responding to a user’s question or problem. (Actually, DeepSeek did find a novel way of compressing context window data so that less compute is needed during inference.) He says that as AI systems process more data, and more kinds of data, during inference, the computing costs will continue to increase. As of Wednesday night, the stock has not recovered. Did DeepSeek use OpenAI models to help train its own models? Nobody knows for sure, and disagreement remains among AI experts on the question. The Financial Times reports Wednesday that OpenAI believes it has seen evidence that DeepSeek did use content generated by OpenAI models to train its own models, which would violate OpenAI’s terms. Distillation refers to saving time and money by feeding the outputs of larger, smarter models into smaller models to teach them how to handle specific tasks. We’ve just experienced a moment when the open-source world produced some models that equaled the current closed-source offerings in performance. The real cost of developing the DeepSeek models remains an open question. But in the long run the AI companies that can marshal the most cutting-edge chips and infrastructure will very likely have the advantage as fewer performance gains can be wrung from pretraining and more computing power is applied at inference, when the AI must reason toward its answers. So the answers to the two burning questions raised above are “probably not” and “likely yes.” The DeepSeek breakthroughs could be good news for Apple The problem of finding truly useful ways of using AI in real life is becoming more pressing as the cost of developing models and building infrastructure mounts. One big hope is that powerful AI models will become so small and efficient that they can run on devices like smartphones and AR glasses. DeepSeek’s engineering breakthroughs to create cheaper and less compute-hungry models may breathe new life into research on small models that live on edge devices. “Dramatically decreased memory requirements for inference make edge inference much more viable, and Apple has the best hardware for exactly that,” says tech analyst Ben Thompson in a recent Stratechery newsletter. “Apple Silicon uses unified memory, which means that the CPU, GPU, and NPU (neural processing unit) have access to a shared pool of memory; this means that Apple’s high-end hardware actually has the best consumer chip for inference.” Stability AI founder Emad Mostaque says that reasoning models like OpenAI’s o1 and DeepSeek’s R1 will run on smartphones by next year, performing PhD-level tasks with only 20 watts of electricity—equivalent to the human brain. OpenAI releases an AI agent for government workers OpenAI this week announced a new AI tool called ChatGPT Gov that’s designed specifically for use by U.S. government agencies. Since sending sensitive government data out through an API to an OpenAI server presents obvious privacy and security problems, ChatGPT Gov can be hosted within an agency’s own private cloud environment. “[W]e see enormous potential for these tools to support the public sector in tackling complex challenges—from improving public health and infrastructure to strengthening national security,” OpenAI writes in a blog post. The Biden Administration in 2023 directed government agencies to find productive and safe ways to use new generative AI technology (Trump recently revoked the executive order). The Department of Homeland Security, for example, built its own AI chatbot, which is now used by thousands of DHS workers. OpenAI says 90,000 users within federal, state, and local government offices have already used the company’s ChatGPT Enterprise product. More AI coverage from Fast Company: Microsoft posts 10% growth for Q4 as it plans to spend $80 billion on AI AI assistants for lawyers are a booming business—with big risks Why we need to leverage AI to address global food insecurity Alibaba rolls out AI model, claiming it’s better than DeepSeek-V3 Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium. View the full article

This story was originally published by ProPublica. The icebreaker Aiviq is a gas guzzler with a troubled history. The ship was built to operate in the Arctic, but it has a type of propulsion system susceptible to failure in ice. Its waste and discharge systems weren’t designed to meet polar code, its helicopter pad is in the wrong place to launch rescue operations and its rear deck is easily swamped by big waves. On its maiden voyage to Alaska in 2012, the 360-foot vessel lost control of the Shell Oil drill rig it was towing, and Coast Guard helicopter crews braved a storm to pluck 18 men off the wildly lurching deck of the rig before it crashed into a rocky beach. An eventual Coast Guard investigation faulted bad decision-making by people in charge but also flagged problems with the Aiviq’s design. But for all this, the same Coast Guard bought the Aiviq for $125 million late last year. The United States urgently needs new icebreakers in an era when climate change is bringing increased traffic to the Arctic, including military patrols near U.S. waters by Russia and China. That the first of the revamped U.S. fleet is a secondhand vessel a top Coast Guard admiral once said “may, at best, marginally meet our requirements” is a sign of how long the country has tried and failed to build new ones. It’s also a sign of how much sway political donors can have over Congress. Edison Chouest, the Louisiana company that built the icebreaker, has contributed more than $7 million to state and national parties, to political action committees and super PACS, and to members of key House and Senate committees since 2012. Chouest spent most of that period looking to unload the vessel after Shell, its intended user, walked away. Members who received money from Chouest pressured the Coast Guard to rent or buy the Aiviq from the company. One U.S. representative from Alaska, where the ship will be stationed, told an admiral in a 2016 hearing that his service’s objections were “bullshit.” And there would be even tougher pressures to come. It’s now been a dozen years since the Aiviq set out on its first mission to Alaska, long enough for its troubles to fade from public memory. The ship, though owned and operated by Chouest, was part of Shell’s Arctic fleet, designed for a specific role: as a tugboat that could tow Shell’s 250-foot-tall polar drill rig, the Kulluk, around the coast of Alaska and help anchor it in the waters of the Far North. At its christening ceremony in Louisiana, attended by Shell executives, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, it was named after the Iñupiaq word for walrus. As a journalist, I’d been following the oil company’s multibillion-dollar play in the warming Arctic with interest. One June morning in 2012, I got word that Shell was on the move near my Seattle home, so I sped to a narrow point in Puget Sound with a good view of passing traffic. It was sunny, the water calm. The Aiviq bobbed past with Kulluk in tow. The icebreaker’s paint — blue at the time — was fresh, its hull shiny. It looked capable. The problems began once the Aiviq was out of view. A Coast Guard report said that while the ship towed the Kulluk northward through an Arctic storm, waves crashed over its rear deck and poured into interior spaces, which investigators determined may have caused it to list up to 20 degrees to one side. The water damaged cranes, heaters and firefighting equipment, and the vents to the fuel system were submerged. On its way back from Alaska’s Beaufort Sea two months later, the Aiviq suffered an electrical blackout, and one of its engines failed, necessitating a repair in Dutch Harbor in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Then the Aiviq and Kulluk set out on a wintertime voyage back to Seattle. The National Weather Service issued a gale warning predicting 15-foot seas and 40-knot winds. The sailors aboard the Aiviq and Kulluk exchanged worried messages. The cable with which the Aiviq was towing the Kulluk came free two days later when a shackle broke. The icebreaker’s captain made a U-turn in heavy swells to hook up an emergency tow line, and water again poured over its deck and into the fuel vents. The Aiviq’s four diesel engines soon began to fail, one after another. Although a Chouest engineer later testified that an unknown fuel additive must have caused the failures, Coast Guard investigators believe the likely cause was “fuel contamination by seawater.” They said the fuel system’s design, which they described as substandard, made contamination more likely. The Aiviq and Kulluk were reattached — but now, and for the next two days, adrift. Storms pushed them ever closer toward land. By the time the engines were repaired, it was too late. The Kulluk ran aground at an uninhabited island off Kodiak, Alaska, on New Year’s Eve. Shell’s Arctic dreams began to unravel. The oil company sold its drill rig off for scrap. (It did not respond to a request for comment.) And the Aiviq? A month after the accident, I visited Kodiak to report on what went wrong. I saw it anchored in the safety of a protected bay, an expensive, purpose-built ship now stripped of its purpose. Shell formally abandoned its Arctic efforts in 2015, after failing to find oil. The Aiviq eventually steamed back south. Chouest began looking around for someone to take the troubled icebreaker off its hands. The Coast Guard, which had criticized the ship’s role in the Kulluk accident, now became a potential customer. Traffic in the warming Arctic has surged as countries eye the region’s natural resources, and it will grow all the more if the storied Northwest Passage melts enough to become a viable route for freight in the decades ahead. The number of ships in the High North increased by 37% from 2013 to 2023. It’s the U.S. Coast Guard’s job to patrol these waters as part of an agreement with the Navy, projecting military strength while monitoring maritime traffic, enforcing fishing laws and rescuing vessels in distress. Although surface ice in the Arctic Ocean is shrinking on average, it can still form and move about the ocean unpredictably. A Coast Guard vessel needs to be able to cut through it to be a reliable presence. But the U.S. icebreaker fleet is deteriorating. The Coast Guard began raising alarms about the problem decades ago, starting with a study published in 1984. Russia, with its extensive northern coastline, now has over 40 large icebreakers, and more under construction. The United States has barely been able to keep two or three in service. An urgent Coast Guard report to Congress in 2010 highlighted what has become known as the “icebreaker gap”: If we didn’t quickly start building new ships, our existing icebreakers could go out of commission before replacements were ready. The study called for at least six new icebreakers. Subsequent Coast Guard analysis has called for eight or nine. To date, the United States has built zero. Congress dragged its feet for years on funding icebreaker construction. But the Coast Guard also slowed progress with overly optimistic timelines, fuzzy cost estimates and a tendency to keep fiddling with new designs, according to a 2023 Government Accountability Office report. More than a decade in, construction on the first of the new ships has finally just begun. The Coast Guard’s latest cost estimate is $1 billion per icebreaker, while the Congressional Budget Office last year put it at $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion. Icebreakers have “been the penultimate studied-to-death subject for 40 years,” said Lawson Brigham, a former Coast Guard heavy icebreaker commander who has a doctorate from Cambridge University and has researched polar shipping since the 1980s. The longer the Coast Guard failed to build the ships it did want, the more pressure it faced to settle for one it didn’t. Chouest seized the opportunity. The company invited Coast Guard officers to tour the Aiviq as early as 2016 and soon sent over a lease proposal. Canada rejected similar overtures that year. A middleman for Chouest promised Canadian lawmakers a “fast-track polar icebreaker” — the Aiviq — “at less than one-third of the price of the permanent replacement.” Also on offer were three smaller, Norwegian-built icebreakers. Canada bought those instead. The U.S. Coast Guard’s problem with the Aiviq, retired officers told ProPublica, was the ship’s design. Originally built for oil operations, it had a low, wet deck and a helipad near its bow, where it would be ill suited for launching rescue operations. Its direct-drive propulsion system was both less efficient and more likely to get jammed up in ice than the diesel-electric systems the Coast Guard used. “I mean, on paper it’s an icebreaker,” Adm. Paul Zukunft, the then-commandant of the Coast Guard, told Congress in 2017. “But it hasn’t demonstrated an ability to break ice.” (Years later, in 2022 and 2023, the Aiviq would make two successful icebreaking trips to Antarctica under contract with the Australian government.) The service estimated it would take years and hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade the Aiviq’s features to near-standard for a Coast Guard icebreaker. Even then, it wouldn’t be able to move forward through ice thicker than about 4.5 feet. The Coast Guard’s most immediate need was for heavy icebreakers, burlier ships that can handle missions in the Arctic as well as supply runs to the U.S. research station at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. So how would the U.S. Coast Guard use the Aiviq beyond flag-waving and general presence in the near Arctic? According to Brigham, the former icebreaker captain and polar-shipping expert, “No one that I know, no study that I’ve seen, no one I’ve talked to really knows.” But it wasn’t for the Coast Guard alone to turn down Chouest’s bargain offer. Members of Congress had their own ideas. The late U.S. Rep. Don Young represented Alaska, a state thousands of miles from Chouest’s home base in Louisiana. But as of 2016, when Chouest was looking to sell the Aiviq, Young had taken in hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions from the company — so many donations in one year that he had once faced a congressional ethics investigation concerning Chouest money. (He was cleared.) Young became the most vocal of many congressional critics to publicly dress down the Coast Guard for resisting Chouest’s offering of the Aiviq. At a House hearing that July, he began grilling the Coast Guard’s second-in-command, Adm. Charles Michel, about a “privately owned ship” with a “tremendous capability of icebreaking power.” “I know you have the proposal on your desk,” he scolded Michel. “It is an automatic ‘no.’ Why?” “Sir,” the admiral said, “that vessel is not suitable for military service without substantial refit.” Michel’s response sparked derision from Young. “That is what I call,” Young muttered, “a bullshit answer.” Michel, now retired, declined to comment on his exchange with Young. According to the representative’s former chief of staff Alex Ortiz, Young’s frustration stemmed from the fact that the Coast Guard lacked the money to build an icebreaker from scratch but showed “an unwillingness to accept the realities of that.” Young and many other lawmakers also supported getting new icebreakers, but perfect had become the enemy of the good the Aiviq had to offer right away. “I genuinely don’t think that he was advocating for leasing the vessel just because of Chouest’s support,” Ortiz said. Chouest, Young’s benefactor, is based in Cut Off, Louisiana. It’s led by its founder’s billionaire son and has long provided ships for the oil and gas industry. At the time of the 2016 hearing, Chouest was relatively new to Coast Guard contracts. One of the company’s affiliates would later take over the contract to build new heavy icebreakers, in 2022, making Chouest the supplier of both a ship the Coast Guard desired and the one it resisted. Chouest did not respond to questions for this article. More than 95% of Chouest’s $7 million in political contributions since 2012 has gone to Republicans, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks money from family members, employees and corporate affiliates. But when it comes to lawmakers who oversee the Coast Guard, Democrats also have been major recipients. The late Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, head of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation for five years, received $94,700 in the decade before his 2019 death. Rep. John Garamendi of California, a longtime committee member, started taking Chouest donations in 2021 and has since received a total of $40,500. (Garamendi’s office acknowledged the recent donations but issued a statement saying he has for many years “pushed the Coast Guard to build icebreakers expeditiously, particularly given the aging fleet and the national security imperative.”) Alaska politicians are particular beneficiaries of Chouest’s largesse, second only to those from Louisiana. Chouest’s interests in the 49th state, beyond icebreakers, have included a 10-year contract to escort oil tankers through Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Federal Elections Commission records show that Young, before his death in 2022, collected a career total of almost $300,000 from the company. Sen. Dan Sullivan has taken in at least $31,500, Sen. Lisa Murkowski $84,400. The year after Young swore at the Coast Guard admiral in public, Rep. Duncan D. Hunter of California brought up the issue once more at a different House hearing featuring a different admiral, Zukunft. Hunter’s total from Chouest would be $58,800 before he pleaded guilty to stealing campaign funds and stepped down in 2020. “Icebreakers,” Hunter said. “Let’s talk icebreakers.” Hunter was backed up by Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana, whose Chouest contributions now total $240,500. “Admiral, I think every time you’ve come before this committee, this issue has come up,” Graves said. “We need to see some substantial progress.” Weeks later at yet another hearing, Rep. John Carter of Texas, whose single biggest donor the previous election cycle was Edison Chouest at $33,700, pressed Zukunft again. “There’s this commercial ship that has been offered …” Carter began. In the end, the advocates for Chouest’s ship prevailed. The Alaskans played a particular role. In 2022, after Young’s death, Sullivan helped author the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act, which included an approval for the service to buy a “United States built available icebreaker.” Sullivan, who would later be praised for leading a revolt against his Senate colleague Tommy Tuberville’s blockade on promotions of military officers, also engaged in some quiet hardball. Until the country can complete a long-delayed near-Arctic port, icebreakers have been based in Seattle, where there are working shipyards and experienced contractors to do maintenance. But as a recent press release describes it, Sullivan “put a hold on certain USCG promotions until the Coast Guard produced a long promised study on the homeporting of an icebreaker in Alaska.” Last year, Sullivan, Murkowski and former Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska announced that Congress had finally appropriated $125 million for the Aiviq. The Coast Guard took possession of the ship last month. (Murkowski and Peltola, along with Hunter, Graves and Carter, did not respond to requests for comment.) In a statement to ProPublica, a Sullivan spokesperson wrote that the senator “has long advocated for the purchase of a commercially available icebreaker of the Coast Guard’s choosing but has never advocated for the purchase of the Aiviq specifically.” The way Congress wrote the specifications for a “United States built” icebreaker, however, ensured there was only one the Coast Guard could choose: the Aiviq. The icebreaker’s new home — based on the findings of the Coast Guard’s urgently completed port study — will be Alaska’s capital, Juneau. The city is facing what the Juneau Empire has called “a crisis-level housing shortage,” and it remains unclear how it will manage an influx of hundreds of sailors and family members. Juneau also lacks a shipyard. For repairs and upgrades, the Aiviq will have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles out of state. Former Coast Guard icebreaker captains were reluctant to criticize the purchase of the Aiviq when contacted by ProPublica, in part because it has taken impossibly long for the service to build the new heavy icebreakers it says it needs. “Is the Coast Guard getting the Aiviq a bad thing? No,” said Rear Adm. Jeff Garrett, a former captain of the Healy icebreaker. But “is it the ideal resource? No.” To reach the Arctic from Juneau, Garrett noted, the Aiviq will have to regularly cross the same storm-swept stretch of the Gulf of Alaska where it once lost the Kulluk. Lawson Brigham said he had questions about the Aiviq “since it’s our tax dollars at work,” but he granted that “it’s bringing some capability into the Coast Guard at a time when we’re awaiting whenever the shipbuilder can get the first ship out, which is still unknown.” Zukunft, who retired in 2018, stands by his past opposition to the Aiviq. “I remain unconvinced,” he wrote in response to questions from ProPublica, that it “meets the operational requirements and design of a polar icebreaker that have been thoroughly documented by the Coast Guard.” By acquiring the Aiviq, “the Coast Guard runs the risk that those requirements can be compromised.” In a statement, the Coast Guard described the purchase of the Aiviq as a “bridging strategy” and said the ship “will be capable of projecting U.S. sovereignty in the Arctic and conducting select Coast Guard missions.” The fuel vents that flooded during the Kulluk accident have since been raised, a Chouest engineer has testified. The Coast Guard did not respond to questions about the Aiviq’s fuel consumption or whether its waste systems will comply with polar code. It did not say whether its helicopter deck will be moved aft for safer search-and-rescue operations. It confirmed that there will be no changes to the propulsion system. “Initial modifications to the vessel will be minimal,” the statement reads. The Aiviq will be put into service more or less as is. Last month, an amateur photographer spotted the Aiviq at a Chouest-owned shipyard in Tampa, Florida, and posted images online. It had been repainted, its hull now a gleaming Coast Guard icebreaker red. New lettering revealed that the ship has been renamed the Storis, after a celebrated World War II vessel that patrolled for 60 years in the Bering Sea and beyond. From a distance, the icebreaker looked ready to serve. “The question is,” said Brigham, “What is this ship going to be used for? That’s been the question from Day 1. What the hell are we going to use it for?” —McKenzie Funk, ProPublica View the full article

There are a whole host of decluttering methods you can try, but no matter which one you choose, at some point, you'll you'll be faced with the difficult task of picking up and considering every single item in your space to determine whether it should stay or go. Ideally, you'll do this with a particular criteria in mind, and for a lot of people, that means following the KonMari principle of pondering whether the thing you're looking at "sparks joy." But that doesn't work for everybody, or every object. Maybe you're less sentimental, and more practical. Maybe you already did a round of decluttering and found that too many things "sparked joy," so you're still overladen with stuff. Maybe you just want to shake up your approach and find another way to weed through your belongings. Here are eight other questions you can ask yourself when gauging your feelings of joy isn't cutting it. "When was the last time I used this?"This is my favorite decluttering question. It doesn't come from any well-established method or a cleaning guru's book. It's just a sensible, straightforward inquiry that can reveal a lot about the utility of the items you own. I find it most useful in the kitchen, because I'm not much of a chef or baker, but I have a habit of buying things like cake molds "just in case" I ever suddenly get the urge to whip up a confection in the shape of a large bear . When you use this question, you have two options: First, you can consider it a general survey, to determine how often you really use certain items so you get a better sense of your own habits; you can use that to tailor a more structured decluttering plan after that. Or, you can be a little more strict, and set a definitive timeline to determines what stays and goes. For instance, you could set out to declutter a cupboard with the goal of donating or tossing anything you haven't used in three months. "Do I want the job of managing this item?"This question comes from Tessa Hughes, a decluttering pro who posts helpful tips on Instagram Reels. I like it because it functions similarly to Marie Kondo's infamous question about joy, but is a little more realistic. You're still considering the feeling you'll get from interacting with the item in the future, but instead of ruminating over whether it might bring you some happiness, you'll also consider whether it might bring you some dread or a feeling of being overwhelmed. It's easy to hold onto things with the optimistic hope they'll make you happy, but considering whether they'll be drain on your resources, space, or time—another "job" you have to oversee—can help you figure out if you really need to hold onto them. Owning and using things does take up mental energy, after all: You have to clean your stuff, you have to store it, you have to relocate it when you move. All of those involve responsibility and effort, and, frankly, some of your stuff just isn't worth it. "Is this item working or functioning as it should?"It seems obvious that you should get rid of things that are broken or damaged, but as someone who is constantly making vague promises to myself to get things fixed, I know it's not. Similarly to asking yourself whether you want the "job" of managing the item, be realistic about what fixing a broken item will actually entail. I finally accepted the reality that I will not, in fact, ever take my 15-year-old shoes to the cobbler to replace the broken sole on the right one, nor am I likely to seek out a replacement part for the busted SodaStream I inherited from a friend who was decluttering their own apartment. Recently, I put both in the trash. It felt good. "Does this contribute to the life I want?"This question is based on Peter Walsh's decluttering method, which is similar to—but not the same as—Kondo's. Instead of thinking about the "joy" an item gives you, you should think about whether it has a role in the vision you see for yourself and your space. To utilize Walsh's method, you first create a vision for a space in your home and set an intention for it. For instance, you might want to declutter and overhaul your home office, so you imagine how it would look and operate if it were at its most functional, and you were at your most functional working within it. Having a clear goal for the space and keeping that vision in mind will help you declutter, because every item you go over will either fit into that vision, or it won't. "Would I know I had this if I needed it?"The inspiration for this question is Dana K. White's "Decluttering at the Speed of Life" approach, which calls on you to ask yourself two questions: “If I needed this item, where would I look for it?” and, “If I needed this item, would it occur to me that I already had one?” Even if you're not following White's five-step method, simply asking yourself if you would even know if you had a particular thing if you needed it can be really illuminating when you're decluttering. It happens to me all the time: I'll find, say, a bottle opener or hex key stuffed in a junk drawer or other mysterious location, think to myself, "Wow, I didn't even know I had this," and then justify holding onto it even though I probably have more stashed somewhere. But if I take a minute to ask myself if I would even remember I had it a hex key in a junk drawer when I actually needed a hex key, the answer will usually be usually no, which makes it a lot easier to get rid of the thing without making excuses for keeping it. "Could I replace this if I needed to?"This question is a distilled version of the Minimalists' famous "20/20 rule." Those decluttering masters suggest asking yourself if you could replace a particular item for under $20 and in under 20 minutes if you discovered had to have it. This works best for smaller items and things you use infrequently. As the argument goes, there is no need to hold onto something you rarely, if ever, actually use on the off chance you need it again, especially if you can't even imagine a scenario in the near future that will call for it. It's much likelier you're just making excuses to not get rid of something, so tricking yourself with reassurance that you could easily obtain a replacement can help you break those bonds. "Do I have something that could replace this?"Another great question to ask when decluttering is whether you have another item that can serve the same purpose. I had a lot of success with this when clearing out my kitchen over the summer. As it turns out, I owned way too many pairs of scissors. They were all shapes and varieties, so I justified keeping them because they "did different things," but that wasn't really true. Simply put, they all cut things. I can only cut one thing at a time, so I can only use one at a time, which means I only need one. Another example I came across in my own decluttering journey: bottle openers. First, I can't remember the last time I drank a from bottle without a twist-off cap (see also: "When was the last time I used this?"), and second, my wine opener has a bottle opener attachment in the handle, so there's no need to hold onto the keychain and tchotchke versions littering my bar table. "Would someone else benefit more from owning this than I do?"This is the question I ask myself when I am considering donating or listing clothes or accessories for sale, but it works for all manner of items. When I'm feeling cautious about getting rid of, say, a nice bag, I think about how much I enjoyed using it, question whether I'll reach for it again soon, and, most importantly, imagine how happy another person might be to have it instead. Applying this line of thinking to possible donations is really important: It's easy to selfishly hold onto something "just in case" you need it or because you have a sentimental attachment to it, but imagining someone else benefitting from it can shake you out of that pretty fast. Clothes that no longer fit you or your kids, school supplies, old kitchen appliances, furniture, and things you have duplicates of could all serve someone else better. View the full article

Games can help entrepreneurs hone various skills. For example, some games give you access to resources that you must use wisely — similar to how you must manage resources in business. If you’re looking for a resource management game to sharpen your skills in this area, read on for a guide. What is a Resource Management Game? A resource management game is one where the player is given a finite amount of necessary items that they must allocate wisely. For example, How Resource Management Games Could Help You in Business Resource management games aren’t just for fun. Here are some ways they may support your business: Sharpen management skills: Business owners need to get creative when managing limited resources. Games help you think differently and turn this into a fun process. Help with budgeting: All business owners must stay on budget. This involves many of the same skills used in resource management games. Foster collaboration: Multi-player games can serve as a team-building exercise. Exercise your brain: Business owners often experience burnout from continuous decision-making. Resource management games challenge your intellect while offering a refreshing break from the demands of managing your business. Best Resource Management Games Resource games can sharpen your management skills, support your team, and provide a fun hobby. Here are some of the best management games for business owners. Prison Architect Prison Architect requires building and maintaining a maximum-security prison. In addition to containing inmates, this management game requires managing federal money and applying for grants to maximize resources and profit. Various challenges may arise throughout each level. So you need to constantly adapt. Prison Architect is available on Steam, Gog, Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. Surviving Mars In Surviving Mars, you’re responsible for building a colony and surviving on Mars with limited resources. This not only requires managing what you do have but also requires resource gathering in an unfamiliar environment. This game may be especially appealing to space enthusiasts. But the concepts used to play are applicable to several areas of business and life. Play on Steam, Epic Games, Gog, Xbox, and PlayStation. Megapolis Megapolis is a city-building simulator that allows you to create your own urban environment. You will need to devise strategies for various aspects, including constructing buildings, establishing iconic landmarks, and supplying power to your community. Given the complexity of city building, multiple areas may demand your attention simultaneously, much like managing a business. This city building game is accessible on iOS, Android, and Steam. Read More: business strategy games Jurassic World Evolution Jurrasic World Evolution is a video game that allows you to oversee every facet of a Jurassic World theme park. You are responsible for planning attractions and addressing challenges as they come up. Being part of a well-known brand, the graphics and overall presentation of this game are more refined compared to many other strategic management games. Jurassic World Evolution is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. Two Point Hospital Two Point Hospital is a strategy game that allows players to create and oversee their own hospital. You will design the layout, work to cure various illnesses, and handle your staff and resources. The game is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. Stardew Valley Stardew Valley is a game where you manage your own farm and learn to live off the land. You can customize nearly all aspects of your surroundings and even interact with other farmers to share resources or tips. It’s available on Steam, Gog, Humble Games, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. Train Valley Train Valley is a puzzle strategy game that involves managing the construction of railways and various locomotive resources. With a range of locations and different types of trains, this game is likely to attract both train enthusiasts and history buffs. It is available on Steam, Humble Games, and iOS. Read More: business simulation games Foundation Foundation is a medieval city-building game. You create your own monuments and can even interact and share resources with other players. It’s an entirely open world, so there’s a lot of room for creativity and personalization. But you must still manage finite resources when creating your world. Foundation is available to play on Steam. Planet Coaster Planet Coaster allows you to design and manage your own roller coaster theme park. As you progress, you can expand your park and cater to customers as they explore. The PC version can be found on Steam and Frontier, while the console version is available on Xbox and PlayStation. This provides a range of options to suit your preferred gaming style. Dungeon Keeper Dungeon Keeper is a strategy game that involves raiding underworld dungeons to acquire additional resources for defending your own fortress. The strategic elements of this game can inspire entrepreneurs to think creatively about sourcing resources they currently lack. It is available on iOS, Android, Amazon, and PC. Read More: best business board games Hay Day Hay Day is a mobile game where you build and manage your own farm. As one of the top farming games available, you grow crops, manage animals, and take trips into town to purchase supplies and speak with townsfolk. The purpose is to build a sustainable operation and keep your farm thriving through various challenges. You can even connect with other players on iOS and Android devices. Escape Simulator Escape Simulator is a virtual escape room team-building game that you can play solo or with others. In this game, you must use only the resources available in the room to discover a way to escape. With various levels designed to offer continuous challenges, you can adapt to different environments. This game is particularly beneficial for developing resource management and problem-solving skills within your team. You can currently find Escape Simulator on Steam. Business Board Game Business Board Game is a mobile strategy game that stands out as one of the best business board games available for your phone. It’s particularly enjoyable if you’re looking to engage with others in a competitive virtual setting. The goal is to amass as much money and property as you can from your fellow players. This mobile game is accessible on both iOS and Android devices. No Man’s Sky No Man’s Sky is a stunning game that allows you to explore an alien planet and different locations in outer space. Your objective is to collaborate with your team to construct bases throughout the universe. With hours of narrative content to enjoy at your own pace, it stands out as one of the most relaxing games available. You can play it on Steam, Microsoft, Xbox, and PlayStation. Transport Tycoon Transport Tycoon is a video game series where you set up transportation infrastructure around your own town. These tycoon games teach you how to think creatively and solve problems surrounding transportation management. But many of the concepts may also be relevant to managing businesses or other organizations. There are various levels with different problems to solve. So it’s ideal if you want to be constantly challenged. Read More: farming games Fiz – Brewery Management Game If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a brewery, Fiz – Brewery Management Game should be at the top of your list. Like other business simulation games, you’re responsible for creating a brand and product and managing your budget. But it all has a beer-related spin. This resource management game is available for Android devices. What is the best resource management game? The best resource management games may vary based on your preferences and the level of challenge you’re looking for. However, some top options include Megapolis, Stardew Valley, and Jurrasic World Evolution. To find the best management games for your preferences, browse the entire list above and try the ones that appeal to you, or watch game plays and review videos on YouTube for a closer look. Read More: relaxing games Image: Depositphotos This article, "Resource Management Games for Small Business Owners" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Games can help entrepreneurs hone various skills. For example, some games give you access to resources that you must use wisely — similar to how you must manage resources in business. If you’re looking for a resource management game to sharpen your skills in this area, read on for a guide. What is a Resource Management Game? A resource management game is one where the player is given a finite amount of necessary items that they must allocate wisely. For example, How Resource Management Games Could Help You in Business Resource management games aren’t just for fun. Here are some ways they may support your business: Sharpen management skills: Business owners need to get creative when managing limited resources. Games help you think differently and turn this into a fun process. Help with budgeting: All business owners must stay on budget. This involves many of the same skills used in resource management games. Foster collaboration: Multi-player games can serve as a team-building exercise. Exercise your brain: Business owners often experience burnout from continuous decision-making. Resource management games challenge your intellect while offering a refreshing break from the demands of managing your business. Best Resource Management Games Resource games can sharpen your management skills, support your team, and provide a fun hobby. Here are some of the best management games for business owners. Prison Architect Prison Architect requires building and maintaining a maximum-security prison. In addition to containing inmates, this management game requires managing federal money and applying for grants to maximize resources and profit. Various challenges may arise throughout each level. So you need to constantly adapt. Prison Architect is available on Steam, Gog, Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. Surviving Mars In Surviving Mars, you’re responsible for building a colony and surviving on Mars with limited resources. This not only requires managing what you do have but also requires resource gathering in an unfamiliar environment. This game may be especially appealing to space enthusiasts. But the concepts used to play are applicable to several areas of business and life. Play on Steam, Epic Games, Gog, Xbox, and PlayStation. Megapolis Megapolis is a city-building simulator that allows you to create your own urban environment. You will need to devise strategies for various aspects, including constructing buildings, establishing iconic landmarks, and supplying power to your community. Given the complexity of city building, multiple areas may demand your attention simultaneously, much like managing a business. This city building game is accessible on iOS, Android, and Steam. Read More: business strategy games Jurassic World Evolution Jurrasic World Evolution is a video game that allows you to oversee every facet of a Jurassic World theme park. You are responsible for planning attractions and addressing challenges as they come up. Being part of a well-known brand, the graphics and overall presentation of this game are more refined compared to many other strategic management games. Jurassic World Evolution is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. Two Point Hospital Two Point Hospital is a strategy game that allows players to create and oversee their own hospital. You will design the layout, work to cure various illnesses, and handle your staff and resources. The game is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. Stardew Valley Stardew Valley is a game where you manage your own farm and learn to live off the land. You can customize nearly all aspects of your surroundings and even interact with other farmers to share resources or tips. It’s available on Steam, Gog, Humble Games, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. Train Valley Train Valley is a puzzle strategy game that involves managing the construction of railways and various locomotive resources. With a range of locations and different types of trains, this game is likely to attract both train enthusiasts and history buffs. It is available on Steam, Humble Games, and iOS. Read More: business simulation games Foundation Foundation is a medieval city-building game. You create your own monuments and can even interact and share resources with other players. It’s an entirely open world, so there’s a lot of room for creativity and personalization. But you must still manage finite resources when creating your world. Foundation is available to play on Steam. Planet Coaster Planet Coaster allows you to design and manage your own roller coaster theme park. As you progress, you can expand your park and cater to customers as they explore. The PC version can be found on Steam and Frontier, while the console version is available on Xbox and PlayStation. This provides a range of options to suit your preferred gaming style. Dungeon Keeper Dungeon Keeper is a strategy game that involves raiding underworld dungeons to acquire additional resources for defending your own fortress. The strategic elements of this game can inspire entrepreneurs to think creatively about sourcing resources they currently lack. It is available on iOS, Android, Amazon, and PC. Read More: best business board games Hay Day Hay Day is a mobile game where you build and manage your own farm. As one of the top farming games available, you grow crops, manage animals, and take trips into town to purchase supplies and speak with townsfolk. The purpose is to build a sustainable operation and keep your farm thriving through various challenges. You can even connect with other players on iOS and Android devices. Escape Simulator Escape Simulator is a virtual escape room team-building game that you can play solo or with others. In this game, you must use only the resources available in the room to discover a way to escape. With various levels designed to offer continuous challenges, you can adapt to different environments. This game is particularly beneficial for developing resource management and problem-solving skills within your team. You can currently find Escape Simulator on Steam. Business Board Game Business Board Game is a mobile strategy game that stands out as one of the best business board games available for your phone. It’s particularly enjoyable if you’re looking to engage with others in a competitive virtual setting. The goal is to amass as much money and property as you can from your fellow players. This mobile game is accessible on both iOS and Android devices. No Man’s Sky No Man’s Sky is a stunning game that allows you to explore an alien planet and different locations in outer space. Your objective is to collaborate with your team to construct bases throughout the universe. With hours of narrative content to enjoy at your own pace, it stands out as one of the most relaxing games available. You can play it on Steam, Microsoft, Xbox, and PlayStation. Transport Tycoon Transport Tycoon is a video game series where you set up transportation infrastructure around your own town. These tycoon games teach you how to think creatively and solve problems surrounding transportation management. But many of the concepts may also be relevant to managing businesses or other organizations. There are various levels with different problems to solve. So it’s ideal if you want to be constantly challenged. Read More: farming games Fiz – Brewery Management Game If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a brewery, Fiz – Brewery Management Game should be at the top of your list. Like other business simulation games, you’re responsible for creating a brand and product and managing your budget. But it all has a beer-related spin. This resource management game is available for Android devices. What is the best resource management game? The best resource management games may vary based on your preferences and the level of challenge you’re looking for. However, some top options include Megapolis, Stardew Valley, and Jurrasic World Evolution. To find the best management games for your preferences, browse the entire list above and try the ones that appeal to you, or watch game plays and review videos on YouTube for a closer look. Read More: relaxing games Image: Depositphotos This article, "Resource Management Games for Small Business Owners" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Bullion surpasses October peak as traders stockpile in New YorkView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Bose is a recognized name in audio tech and has been making capable active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones since 2016, when the company launched the QuietComfort line of devices. Right now, you can pick up the Bose's QuietComfort headphones for $179, $170 off the original price of $349. This is the lowest price they've reached, according to price-tracking tools, making them a good bet if you're looking to get a high-performance pair of ANC headphones without spending a fortune. You can get them "unopened" (which is exactly what it sounds like) from Woot for the lowest price they've ever been. Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping; otherwise, it’ll be $6 to ship. Bose QuietComfort ANC, Hi-Fi Audio, full EQ, 24-hour battery, multi-point connection, Aware Mode. $179.00 at Woot $349.00 Save $170.00 Get Deal Get Deal $179.00 at Woot $349.00 Save $170.00 Bose headphones are often found at the top of any roundup of the best headphones on the market and have been consistently praised for years. The Bose QuietComfort lineup in particular excels in comfort (hence the name) and ANC. If those are features you're after, these headphones are worth considering, especially at this price point. (If you're looking for earbuds, the ANC Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and open-ear Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are also at their lowest price right now.) Keep in mind that this is the lesser model in the current QuietComfort line; Bose released both the Bose QuietComfort and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra in 2023. The Ultras are more high-end and include extra functionality, but they retail for $250 more and aren't necessarily the best bet for every user—if you don't care about Bluetooth 5.3 versus 5.1, immersion mode (which allows you to hear the audio as if it is coming from different directions), or other extraneous features, you can save yourself some money and go with the basic Bose QuietComfort. These headphones can connect to multiple devices at once, so you can seamlessly transition from one device to the next. They also offer a transparency mode that lets you hear your surroundings while wearing them, a customizable EQ so you can listen to your music how you like it to sound, and an impressive 24 hours of battery life, according to PCMag's "excellent" review. Also worth noting: They have physical buttons rather than touch controls, which will be a plus or a minus, depending on your preferences. View the full article

Mortgage rates declined by one basis point this week, not enough to change the equation to bring consumers back into the housing market, Freddie Mac said. View the full article

We’ve already covered how we planned the event from start to finish and how we promoted the event. This time round, it’s about how our events can be better next time. Like any good event organizer, we sent out post-event…Read more ›View the full article

Supporting digital assets that could marginalise the dollar is ‘dangerous’, investor letter saysView the full article

Without a clear process, AI-generated content can feel generic, miss SEO opportunities, or just not sound like you. The trick? Use AI as a tool, not a shortcut. This AI content creation process helps you: Get AI to generate usable…Read more ›View the full article

It takes more than moolah. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

It takes more than moolah. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

DeepSeek is having a moment: With the release of its impressive R1 model, the AI company overtook ChatGPT (and every other app) to become the number one free app on both the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. If you gave the app a try this week, however, be warned: Your chats may have been exposed. As reported by The Hacker News, DeepSeek left one of its online databases exposed. While the company has issued a fix, this database is a treasure trove of user information. It contains over one million lines of log streams, which includes chat history, secret keys (used to encrypt and decrypt data), backend information, and other important data. As of this article, DeepSeek says they are continuing to investigate the issue, despite implementing a fix on Jan. 29. It isn't clear if any parties gained access to DeepSeek's database while it was vulnerable, but the vulnerability allowed for "complete database control," as well as privilege escalation within DeepSeek's network without any authentication needed. DeepSeek's privacy and security policies have been a point of concern as so many users flock to its service. The platform collects a lot of user data, like email addresses, IP addresses, and chat histories, but also more concerning data points, like keystroke patterns and rhythms. Why does an AI app need to not only know what I typed, but how I typed it, too? As DeepSeek is a Chinese company, it stores all user data on servers in China. As such, the company is beholden by law to share any data the Chinese government requests. These practices are among the reasons the United States government banned TikTok. There's no evidence this has happened, but the whole situation paints a precarious picture for the popular AI startup. If you do want to try DeepSeek, or if you're already using it, it's important to keep these points in mind. Your user data may not be quite so secure with this particular company. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: Recently in my office, corporate buzzwords have picked up like crazy among my colleagues. Sometimes it feels like senior management’s entirely vocabulary is only buzzwords. In a presentation last week, for example, a director said that a “new piece of work is a runway to manifest our brand value proposition.” What does that mean? Now my peers are using the same buzzwords in presentations, and they’re seeping into meetings and conversations. Another example that makes my eye twitch: Suddenly everyone is using the word “solutioning,” as in, “Thanks, Matt, for solutioning our IT request.” You know. Like a detective solutions a murder. I’m all for language evolving, but morale is poor right now and there’s been a lot of water-cooler griping about senior leaders acting inauthentically. I think buzzwords may be contributing to this. When senior leadership’s talking a lot but not saying anything, it doesn’t make anyone feel that what we do has much real-world value. I’m sick to death of conversations that don’t mean anything and waste everyone’s time. Am I overthinking this, or is it something I should address? If so, what’s the best way to do it? I answer this question — and two others — over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. Other questions I’m answering there today include: Should I correct clients who call me “Mrs.”? Can I talk to multiple acquaintances about the same job at my old employer? View the full article

GDP figure published before European Central Bank cut its benchmark rate to lowest level since early 2023View the full article

This process helps you: Find quality links quickly Improve your domain’s authority Close gaps against competitors In this guide, you’ll learn how to use our backlink gap analysis template to find relevant, high-quality websites that are worth reaching out to.…Read more ›View the full article

Google notifies users about mandatory migration of all reCAPTCHA services to Cloud platform. Service will remain free with a usage limit. The post Google To Migrate All reCAPTCHA Services To Cloud Platform appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

This is the ultimate guide to creating a comprehensive and effective plan to start a business. In today’s dynamic business landscape, having a well-crafted business plan is an important first step to securing funding, attracting partners, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. This guide has been designed to help you create a winning plan that stands out in the ever-evolving marketplace. Using real-world examples and a free downloadable template, it will walk you through each step of the process. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or launching your very first startup, the guide will give you the insights, tools, and confidence you need to create a solid foundation for your business. How to Write a Business Plan Embarking on the journey of creating a successful business requires a solid foundation and a well-crafted business plan is the cornerstone. Here is the process of writing a comprehensive business plan and the main parts of a winning business plan. From setting objectives to conducting market research, this guide will have everything you need. Executive Summary The Executive Summary acts as the entrance to your business plan, providing a brief overview of the key elements of your venture. This section should engage and educate the reader, effectively summarizing the main points of your plan. It’s crucial to include a clear mission statement, a brief description of your primary products or services, an overview of your target market, and key financial projections or achievements. Think of it as an elevator pitch in written form: it should be compelling enough to engage potential investors or stakeholders and provide them with a clear understanding of what your business is about, its goals, and why it’s a promising investment. Example: EcoTech is a technology company specializing in eco-friendly and sustainable products designed to reduce energy consumption and minimize waste. Our mission is to create innovative solutions that contribute to a cleaner, greener environment. Our target market includes environmentally conscious consumers and businesses seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. We anticipate a 200% increase in revenue within the initial years of operation. Overview and Business Objectives In the Overview and Business Objectives section, outline your business’s core goals and the strategic approaches you plan to use to achieve them. This section should set forth clear, specific objectives that are attainable and time-bound, providing a roadmap for your business’s growth and success. It’s important to detail how these objectives align with your company’s overall mission and vision. Discuss the milestones you aim to achieve and the timeframe you’ve set for these accomplishments. This part of the plan demonstrates to investors and stakeholders your vision for growth and the practical steps you’ll take to get there. Example: EcoTech’s primary objective is to become a market leader in sustainable technology products within the next five years. Our key objectives include: Introducing three new products within the first two years of operation. Achieving annual revenue growth of 30%. Expanding our customer base to over 10,000 clients by the end of the third year. Company Description The Company Description section is your opportunity to delve into the details of your business. Provide a comprehensive overview that includes your company’s history, its mission statement, and its vision for the future. Highlight your unique selling proposition (USP) – what makes your business stand out in the market. Explain the problems your company solves and how it benefits your customers. Include information about the company’s founders, their expertise, and why they are suited to lead the business to success. This section should paint a vivid picture of your business, its values, and its place in the industry. Example: EcoTech is committed to developing cutting-edge sustainable technology products that benefit both the environment and our customers. Our unique combination of innovative solutions and eco-friendly design sets us apart from the competition. We envision a future where technology and sustainability go hand in hand, leading to a greener planet. Define Your Target Market Defining Your Target Market is critical for tailoring your business strategy effectively. This section should describe your ideal customer base in detail, including demographic information (such as age, gender, income level, and location) and psychographic data (like interests, values, and lifestyle). Elucidate the specific needs or pain points of your target audience and how your product or service addresses these. This information will help you know your target market and develop targeted marketing strategies. Example: Our target market comprises environmentally conscious consumers and businesses looking for innovative solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. Our ideal customers are those who prioritize sustainability and are willing to invest in eco-friendly products. Market Analysis The Market Analysis section demands comprehensive research and a deep understanding of the industry. It entails assessing current trends in your sector, grasping the needs and preferences of your customers, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors. This analysis will enable you to spot market opportunities and anticipate potential challenges. Include data and statistics to back up your claims, and use graphs or charts to illustrate market trends. This section should demonstrate that you have a deep understanding of the market in which you operate and that your business is well-positioned to capitalize on its opportunities. Example: The market for eco-friendly technology products has experienced significant growth in recent years, with an estimated annual growth rate of 10%. As consumers become increasingly aware of environmental issues, the demand for sustainable solutions continues to rise. Our research indicates a gap in the market for high-quality, innovative, eco-friendly technology products that cater to both individual and business clients. SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis in your business plan offers a comprehensive examination of your company’s internal and external factors. By assessing Strengths, you showcase what your business does best and where your capabilities lie. Weaknesses involve an honest introspection of areas where your business may be lacking or could improve. Opportunities can be external factors that your business could capitalize on, such as market gaps or emerging trends. Threats include external challenges your business may face, like competition or market changes. This analysis is crucial for strategic planning, as it helps in recognizing and leveraging your strengths, addressing weaknesses, seizing opportunities, and preparing for potential threats. Including a SWOT analysis demonstrates to stakeholders that you have a balanced and realistic understanding of your business in its operational context. Example: Strengths: Innovative and eco-friendly product offerings. Strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Skilled and experienced team with expertise in technology and sustainability. Weaknesses: Limited brand recognition compared to established competitors. Reliance on third-party manufacturers for product development. Opportunities: Growing consumer interest in sustainable products. Partnerships with environmentally-focused organizations and influencers. Expansion into international markets. Threats: Intense competition from established technology companies. Regulatory changes could impact the sustainable technology market. Competitive Analysis In this section, you’ll analyze your competitors in-depth, examining their products, services, market positioning, and pricing strategies. Understanding your competition allows you to identify gaps in the market and tailor your offerings to outperform them. By performing a detailed competitive analysis, you can uncover your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, which will help you create strategies to distinguish your business and secure a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Example: Key competitors include: GreenTech: A well-known brand offering eco-friendly technology products but with a narrower focus on energy-saving devices. EarthSolutions: A direct competitor specializing in sustainable technology but with a limited product range and higher prices. By offering a diverse product portfolio, competitive pricing, and continuous innovation, we believe we can capture a significant share of the growing sustainable technology market. Organization and Management Team Provide an overview of your company’s organizational structure, including key roles and responsibilities. Introduce your management team, highlighting their expertise and experience to demonstrate that your team is capable of executing the business plan successfully. Showcasing your team’s background, skills, and accomplishments instills confidence in investors and other stakeholders, proving that your business has the leadership and talent necessary to achieve its objectives and manage growth effectively. Example: EcoTech’s organizational structure comprises the following key roles: CEO, CTO, CFO, Sales Director, Marketing Director, and R&D Manager. Our management team has extensive experience in technology, sustainability, and business development, ensuring that we are well-equipped to execute our business plan successfully. Products and Services Offered Describe the products or services your business offers, focusing on their unique features and benefits. Explain how your offerings solve customer pain points and why they will choose your products or services over the competition. This section should emphasize the value you provide to customers, demonstrating that your business has a deep understanding of customer needs and is well-positioned to deliver innovative solutions that address those needs and set your company apart from competitors. Example: EcoTech offers a range of eco-friendly technology products, including energy-efficient lighting solutions, solar chargers, and smart home devices that optimize energy usage. Our products are designed to help customers reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, and contribute to a cleaner environment. Marketing and Sales Strategy In this section, articulate your comprehensive strategy for reaching your target market and driving sales. Detail the specific marketing channels you plan to use, such as social media, email marketing, SEO, or traditional advertising. Describe the nature of your advertising campaigns and promotional activities, explaining how they will capture the attention of your target audience and convey the value of your products or services. Outline your sales strategy, including your sales process, team structure, and sales targets. Discuss how these marketing and sales efforts will work together to attract and retain customers, generate leads, and ultimately contribute to achieving your business’s revenue goals. This section is critical to convey to investors and stakeholders that you have a well-thought-out approach to market your business effectively and drive sales growth. Example: Our marketing strategy encompasses digital advertising, content marketing, social media promotion, and collaborations with influencers. Additionally, we plan to participate in trade shows and conferences to display our products and engage with potential clients. Our sales strategy combines direct sales, partnerships with retail stores, and online sales via our website and e-commerce platforms. Logistics and Operations Plan The Logistics and Operations Plan is a critical component that outlines the inner workings of your business. It encompasses the management of your supply chain, detailing how you acquire raw materials and manage vendor relationships. Inventory control is another crucial aspect, where you explain strategies for inventory management to ensure efficiency and reduce wastage. The section should also describe your production processes, emphasizing scalability and adaptability to meet changing market demands. Quality control measures are essential to maintain product standards and customer satisfaction. This plan assures investors and stakeholders of your operational competency and readiness to meet business demands. Highlighting your commitment to operational efficiency and customer satisfaction underlines your business’s capability to maintain smooth, effective operations even as it scales. Example: EcoTech partners with reliable third-party manufacturers to produce our eco-friendly technology products. Our operations involve maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring quality control, and managing inventory. We also prioritize efficient distribution through various channels, including online platforms and retail partners, to deliver products to our customers in a timely manner. Financial Projections Plan In the Financial Projections Plan, lay out a clear and realistic financial future for your business. This should include detailed projections for revenue, costs, and profitability over the next three to five years. Ground these projections in solid assumptions based on your market analysis, industry benchmarks, and realistic growth scenarios. Break down revenue streams and include an analysis of the cost of goods sold, operating expenses, and potential investments. This section should also discuss your break-even analysis, cash flow projections, and any assumptions about external funding requirements. By presenting a thorough and data-backed financial forecast, you instill confidence in potential investors and lenders, showcasing your business’s potential for profitability and financial stability. This forward-looking financial plan is crucial for demonstrating that you have a firm grasp of the financial nuances of your business and are prepared to manage its financial health effectively. Example: Over the next three years, we expect to see significant growth in revenue, driven by new product launches and market expansion. Our financial projections include: Initial period: $1.5 million in revenue, with a net profit of $200,000. Year 2: $3 million in revenue, with a net profit of $500,000. Year 3: $4.5 million in revenue, with a net profit of $1 million. These projections are based on realistic market analysis, growth rates, and product pricing. Income Statement The income statement, also known as the profit and loss statement, provides a summary of your company’s revenues and expenses over a specified period. It helps you track your business’s financial performance and identify trends, ensuring you stay on track to achieve your financial goals. Regularly reviewing and analyzing your income statement allows you to monitor the health of your business, evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies, and make data-driven decisions to optimize profitability and growth. Example: The income statement for EcoTech’s first year of operation is as follows: Revenue: $1,500,000 Cost of Goods Sold: $800,000 Gross Profit: $700,000 Operating Expenses: $450,000 Net Income: $250,000 This statement highlights our company’s profitability and overall financial health during the first year of operation. Cash Flow Statement A cash flow statement is a crucial part of a financial business plan that shows the inflows and outflows of cash within your business. It helps you monitor your company’s liquidity, ensuring you have enough cash on hand to cover operating expenses, pay debts, and invest in growth opportunities. By including a cash flow statement in your business plan, you demonstrate your ability to manage your company’s finances effectively. Example: The cash flow statement for EcoTech’s first year of operation is as follows: Operating Activities: Net Income: $250,000 Depreciation: $10,000 Changes in Working Capital: -$50,000 Net Cash from Operating Activities: $210,000 Investing Activities: Capital Expenditures: -$100,000 Net Cash from Investing Activities: -$100,000 Financing Activities: Proceeds from Loans: $150,000 Loan Repayments: -$50,000 Net Cash from Financing Activities: $100,000 Net Increase in Cash: $210,000 This statement demonstrates EcoTech’s ability to generate positive cash flow from operations, maintain sufficient liquidity, and invest in growth opportunities. SectionDescriptionExample Executive SummaryBrief overview of the business planOverview of EcoTech and its mission Overview & ObjectivesOutline of company's goals and strategiesMarket leadership in sustainable technology Company DescriptionDetailed explanation of the company and its unique selling propositionEcoTech's history, mission, and vision Target MarketDescription of ideal customers and their needsEnvironmentally conscious consumers and businesses Market AnalysisExamination of industry trends, customer needs, and competitorsTrends in eco-friendly technology market SWOT AnalysisEvaluation of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and ThreatsStrengths and weaknesses of EcoTech Competitive AnalysisIn-depth analysis of competitors and their strategiesAnalysis of GreenTech and EarthSolutions Organization & ManagementOverview of the company's structure and management teamKey roles and team members at EcoTech Products & ServicesDescription of offerings and their unique featuresEnergy-efficient lighting solutions, solar chargers Marketing & SalesOutline of marketing channels and sales strategiesDigital advertising, content marketing, influencer partnerships Logistics & OperationsDetails about daily operations, supply chain, inventory, and quality controlPartnerships with manufacturers, quality control Financial ProjectionsForecast of revenue, expenses, and profit for the next 3-5 yearsProjected growth in revenue and net profit Income StatementSummary of company's revenues and expenses over a specified periodRevenue, Cost of Goods Sold, Gross Profit, Net Income Cash Flow StatementOverview of cash inflows and outflows within the businessNet Cash from Operating Activities, Investing Activities, Financing Activities Tips on Writing a Business Plan 1. Be clear and concise: Keep your language simple and straightforward. Avoid jargon and overly technical terms. A clear and concise business plan is easier for investors and stakeholders to understand and demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively. 2. Conduct thorough research: Before writing your business plan, gather as much information as possible about your industry, competitors, and target market. Use reliable sources and industry reports to inform your analysis and make data-driven decisions. 3. Set realistic goals: Your business plan should outline achievable objectives that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Setting realistic goals demonstrates your understanding of the market and increases the likelihood of success. 4. Focus on your unique selling proposition (USP): Clearly articulate what sets your business apart from the competition. Emphasize your USP throughout your business plan to showcase your company’s value and potential for success. 5. Be flexible and adaptable: A business plan is a dynamic document that should change as your business develops and evolves. Stay ready to update and modify your plan as you acquire new insights and learn from your experiences. 6. Use visuals to enhance understanding: Include charts, graphs, and other visuals to help convey complex data and ideas. Visuals can make your business plan more engaging and easier to digest, especially for those who prefer visual learning. 7. Seek feedback from trusted sources: Share your business plan with mentors, industry experts, or colleagues and ask for their feedback. Their insights can help you identify areas for improvement and strengthen your plan before presenting it to potential investors or partners. FREE Business Plan Template To help you get started on your business plan, we have created a template that includes all the essential components discussed in the “How to Write a Business Plan” section. This easy-to-use template will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you don’t miss any critical details. The template is divided into the following sections: Executive Summary Mission statement Business Overview Key products or services Target market Financial highlights Overview and Business Objectives Company goals Strategies to achieve goals Measurable, time-bound objectives Company Description Company History Mission and vision Unique selling proposition Target Market Demographics Psychographics Pain points Market Analysis Industry trends Customer needs Competitor strengths and weaknesses SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Competitive Analysis Competitor products and services Market positioning Pricing strategies Organization and Management Team Organizational structure Key roles and responsibilities Management team backgrounds Products and Services Offered Product or service features Benefits Competitive advantages Marketing and Sales Strategy Marketing channels Advertising campaigns Promotional activities Sales strategies Logistics and Operations Plan Supply chain management Inventory control Production processes Quality control measures Financial Projections Plan Projected revenue Expenses Profits Assumptions Income Statement Revenues Expenses Net income Cash Flow Statement Cash inflows Cash outflows Net cash flow What is a Business Plan? A business plan is a strategic document that outlines an organization’s goals, objectives, and the steps required to achieve them. It serves as a roadmap as you start a business, guiding the company’s direction and growth while identifying potential obstacles and opportunities. Typically, a business plan covers areas such as market analysis, financial projections, marketing strategies, and organizational structure. It not only helps in securing funding from investors and lenders but also provides clarity and focus to the management team. A well-crafted business plan is a very important part of your business startup checklist because it fosters informed decision-making and long-term success. Why You Should Write a Business Plan Understanding the importance of a business plan in today’s competitive environment is crucial for entrepreneurs and business owners. Here are five compelling reasons to write a business plan: Attract Investors and Secure Funding: A well-written business plan demonstrates your venture’s potential and profitability, making it easier to attract investors and secure the necessary funding for growth and development. It provides a detailed overview of your business model, target market, financial projections, and growth strategies, instilling confidence in potential investors and lenders that your company is a worthy investment. Clarify Business Objectives and Strategies: Crafting a business plan forces you to think critically about your goals and the strategies you’ll employ to achieve them, providing a clear roadmap for success. This process helps you refine your vision and prioritize the most critical objectives, ensuring that your efforts are focused on achieving the desired results. Identify Potential Risks and Opportunities: Analyzing the market, competition, and industry trends within your business plan helps identify potential risks and uncover untapped opportunities for growth and expansion. This insight enables you to develop proactive strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities, positioning your business for long-term success. Improve Decision-Making: A business plan serves as a reference point so you can make informed decisions that align with your company’s overall objectives and long-term vision. By consistently referring to your plan and adjusting it as needed, you can ensure that your business remains on track and adapts to changes in the market, industry, or internal operations. Foster Team Alignment and Communication: A shared business plan helps ensure that all team members are on the same page, promoting clear communication, collaboration, and a unified approach to achieving the company’s goals. By involving your team in the planning process and regularly reviewing the plan together, you can foster a sense of ownership, commitment, and accountability that drives success. What are the Different Types of Business Plans? In today’s fast-paced business world, having a well-structured roadmap is more important than ever. A traditional business plan provides a comprehensive overview of your company’s goals and strategies, helping you make informed decisions and achieve long-term success. There are various types of business plans, each designed to suit different needs and purposes. Let’s explore the main types: Startup Business Plan: Tailored for new ventures, a startup business plan outlines the company’s mission, objectives, target market, competition, marketing strategies, and financial projections. It helps entrepreneurs clarify their vision, secure funding from investors, and create a roadmap for their business’s future. Additionally, this plan identifies potential challenges and opportunities, which are crucial for making informed decisions and adapting to changing market conditions. Internal Business Plan: This type of plan is intended for internal use, focusing on strategies, milestones, deadlines, and resource allocation. It serves as a management tool for guiding the company’s growth, evaluating its progress, and ensuring that all departments are aligned with the overall vision. The internal business plan also helps identify areas of improvement, fosters collaboration among team members, and provides a reference point for measuring performance. Strategic Business Plan: A strategic business plan outlines long-term goals and the steps to achieve them, providing a clear roadmap for the company’s direction. It typically includes a SWOT analysis, market research, and competitive analysis. This plan allows businesses to align their resources with their objectives, anticipate changes in the market, and develop contingency plans. By focusing on the big picture, a strategic business plan fosters long-term success and stability. Feasibility Business Plan: This plan is designed to assess the viability of a business idea, examining factors such as market demand, competition, and financial projections. It is often used to decide whether or not to pursue a particular venture. By conducting a thorough feasibility analysis, entrepreneurs can avoid investing time and resources into an unviable business concept. This plan also helps refine the business idea, identify potential obstacles, and determine the necessary resources for success. Growth Business Plan: Also known as an expansion plan, a growth business plan focuses on strategies for scaling up an existing business. It includes market analysis, new product or service offerings, and financial projections to support expansion plans. This type of plan is essential for businesses looking to enter new markets, increase their customer base, or launch new products or services. By outlining clear growth strategies, the plan helps ensure that expansion efforts are well-coordinated and sustainable. Operational Business Plan: This type of plan outlines the company’s day-to-day operations, detailing the processes, procedures, and organizational structure. It is an essential tool for managing resources, streamlining workflows, and ensuring smooth operations. The operational business plan also helps identify inefficiencies, implement best practices, and establish a strong foundation for future growth. By providing a clear understanding of daily operations, this plan enables businesses to optimize their resources and enhance productivity. Lean Business Plan: A lean business plan is a simplified, agile version of a traditional plan, focusing on key elements such as value proposition, customer segments, revenue streams, and cost structure. It is perfect for startups looking for a flexible, adaptable planning approach. The lean business plan allows for rapid iteration and continuous improvement, enabling businesses to pivot and adapt to changing market conditions. This streamlined approach is particularly beneficial for businesses in fast-paced or uncertain industries. One-Page Business Plan: As the name suggests, a one-page business plan is a concise summary of your company’s key objectives, strategies, and milestones. It serves as a quick reference guide and is ideal for pitching to potential investors or partners. This plan helps keep teams focused on essential goals and priorities, fosters clear communication, and provides a snapshot of the company’s progress. While not as comprehensive as other plans, a one-page business plan is an effective tool for maintaining clarity and direction. Nonprofit Business Plan: Specifically designed for nonprofit organizations, this plan outlines the mission, goals, target audience, fundraising strategies, and budget allocation. It helps secure grants and donations while ensuring the organization stays on track with its objectives. The nonprofit business plan also helps attract volunteers, board members, and community support. By demonstrating the organization’s impact and plans for the future, this plan is essential for maintaining transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability within the nonprofit sector. Franchise Business Plan: For entrepreneurs seeking to open a franchise, this type of plan focuses on the franchisor’s requirements, as well as the franchisee’s goals, strategies, and financial projections. It is crucial for securing a franchise agreement and ensuring the business’s success within the franchise system. This plan outlines the franchisee’s commitment to brand standards, marketing efforts, and operational procedures while also addressing local market conditions and opportunities. By creating a solid franchise business plan, entrepreneurs can demonstrate their ability to effectively manage and grow their franchises, increasing the likelihood of a successful partnership with the franchisor. Type of Business PlanPurposeKey ComponentsTarget Audience Startup Business PlanOutlines the company's mission, objectives, target market, competition, marketing strategies, and financial projections.Mission Statement, Company Description, Market Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Structure, Marketing and Sales Strategy, Financial Projections.Entrepreneurs, Investors Internal Business PlanServes as a management tool for guiding the company's growth, evaluating its progress, and ensuring that all departments are aligned with the overall vision.Strategies, Milestones, Deadlines, Resource Allocation.Internal Team Members Strategic Business PlanOutlines long-term goals and the steps to achieve them.SWOT Analysis, Market Research, Competitive Analysis, Long-Term Goals.Executives, Managers, Investors Feasibility Business PlanAssesses the viability of a business idea.Market Demand, Competition, Financial Projections, Potential Obstacles.Entrepreneurs, Investors Growth Business PlanFocuses on strategies for scaling up an existing business.Market Analysis, New Product/Service Offerings, Financial Projections.Business Owners, Investors Operational Business PlanOutlines the company's day-to-day operations.Processes, Procedures, Organizational Structure.Managers, Employees Lean Business PlanA simplified, agile version of a traditional plan, focusing on key elements.Value Proposition, Customer Segments, Revenue Streams, Cost Structure.Entrepreneurs, Startups One-Page Business PlanA concise summary of your company's key objectives, strategies, and milestones.Key Objectives, Strategies, Milestones.Entrepreneurs, Investors, Partners Nonprofit Business PlanOutlines the mission, goals, target audience, fundraising strategies, and budget allocation for nonprofit organizations.Mission Statement, Goals, Target Audience, Fundraising Strategies, Budget.Nonprofit Leaders, Board Members, Donors Franchise Business PlanFocuses on the franchisor's requirements, as well as the franchisee's goals, strategies, and financial projections.Franchise Agreement, Brand Standards, Marketing Efforts, Operational Procedures, Financial Projections.Franchisors, Franchisees, Investors Using Business Plan Software Creating a comprehensive business plan can be intimidating, but business plan software can streamline the process and help you produce a professional document. These tools offer a number of benefits, including guided step-by-step instructions, financial projections, and industry-specific templates. Here are the top 5 business plan software options available to help you craft a great business plan. LivePlan LivePlan is a popular choice for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. It offers over 500 sample plans, financial forecasting tools, and the ability to track your progress against key performance indicators. With LivePlan, you can create visually appealing, professional business plans that will impress investors and stakeholders. Upmetrics Upmetrics provides a simple and intuitive platform for creating a well-structured business plan. It features customizable templates, financial forecasting tools, and collaboration capabilities, allowing you to work with team members and advisors. Upmetrics also offers a library of resources to guide you through the business planning process. Bizplan Bizplan is designed to simplify the business planning process with a drag-and-drop builder and modular sections. It offers financial forecasting tools, progress tracking, and a visually appealing interface. With Bizplan, you can create a business plan that is both easy to understand and visually engaging. Enloop Enloop is a robust business plan software that automatically generates a tailored plan based on your input. It provides industry-specific templates, financial forecasting, and a unique performance score that updates as you make changes to your plan. Enloop also offers a free version, making it accessible for businesses on a budget. Tarkenton GoSmallBiz Developed by NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, GoSmallBizis is tailored for small businesses and startups. It features a guided business plan builder, customizable templates, and financial projection tools. GoSmallBiz also offers additional resources, such as CRM tools and legal document templates, to support your business beyond the planning stage. SoftwareKey FeaturesUser InterfaceAdditional Features LivePlanOver 500 sample plans, financial forecasting tools, progress tracking against KPIsUser-friendly, visually appealingAllows creation of professional-looking business plans UpmetricsCustomizable templates, financial forecasting tools, collaboration capabilitiesSimple and intuitiveProvides a resource library for business planning BizplanDrag-and-drop builder, modular sections, financial forecasting tools, progress trackingSimple, visually engagingDesigned to simplify the business planning process EnloopIndustry-specific templates, financial forecasting tools, automatic business plan generation, unique performance scoreRobust, user-friendlyOffers a free version, making it accessible for businesses on a budget Tarkenton GoSmallBizGuided business plan builder, customizable templates, financial projection toolsUser-friendlyOffers CRM tools, legal document templates, and additional resources for small businesses Business Plan FAQs What is a good business plan? A good business plan is a well-researched, clear, and concise document that outlines a company’s goals, strategies, target market, competitive advantages, and financial projections. It should be adaptable to change and provide a roadmap for achieving success. What are the 3 main purposes of a business plan? The three main purposes of a business plan are to guide the company’s strategy, attract investment, and evaluate performance against objectives. Here’s a closer look at each of these: Guide the Company’s Strategy: A business plan serves as a roadmap for the organization, outlining its mission, vision, goals, and strategies to achieve them. By establishing these aspects, the business plan provides direction for all activities and decisions within the company. It outlines the company’s purpose and core values to ensure that all activities align with its mission and vision. It provides an in-depth analysis of the market, including trends, customer needs, and competition, helping the company tailor its products and services to meet market demands. It defines the company’s marketing and sales strategies, guiding how the company will attract and retain customers. It describes the company’s organizational structure and management team, outlining roles and responsibilities to ensure effective operation and leadership. It sets measurable, time-bound objectives, allowing the company to plan its activities effectively and make strategic decisions to achieve these goals. Attract Investment: For new or growing businesses, attracting investment is often a primary goal. A business plan serves as a tool to persuade potential investors that the company is a viable and profitable venture. It provides a comprehensive overview of the company and its business model, demonstrating its uniqueness and potential for success. It presents the company’s financial projections, showing its potential for profitability and return on investment. It demonstrates the company’s understanding of the market, including its target customers and competition, convincing investors that the company is capable of gaining a significant market share. It showcases the management team’s expertise and experience, instilling confidence in investors that the team is capable of executing the business plan successfully. Evaluate Performance Against Objectives :A business plan provides a framework for evaluating the company’s performance and progress. By comparing actual results with planned objectives, the company can assess its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments. It establishes clear, measurable objectives that serve as performance benchmarks. It provides a basis for regular performance reviews, allowing the company to monitor its progress and identify areas for improvement. It enables the company to assess the effectiveness of its strategies and make adjustments as needed to achieve its objectives. It helps the company identify potential risks and challenges, enabling it to develop contingency plans and manage risks effectively. It provides a mechanism for evaluating the company’s financial performance, including revenue, expenses, profitability, and cash flow. Can I write a business plan by myself? Yes, you can create a business plan on your own; however, it can be beneficial to seek feedback and insights from mentors, colleagues, or industry experts. Additionally, there are numerous creative business plan templates and business plan examples accessible online, including the ones mentioned above. We also have examples for specific industries, including a food truck business plan, salon business plan, farm business plan, daycare business plan, and restaurant business plan. Is it possible to create a one-page business plan? Yes, a one-page business plan is a condensed version that highlights the essential elements, including the company’s mission, target market, unique selling proposition, and financial goals. How long should a business plan be? A typical business plan ranges from 20 to 50 pages, but the length may vary depending on the complexity and needs of the business. What is a business plan outline? A business plan outline is a structured framework that organizes the content of a business plan into sections, such as the executive summary, company description, market analysis, and financial projections. What are the most common business plan mistakes? The five most common business plan mistakes include inadequate research, unrealistic financial projections, lack of focus on the unique selling proposition, poor organization and structure, and failure to update the plan as circumstances change. What questions should be asked in a business plan? A business plan should address questions such as: What problem does the business solve? Who is the specific target market? What is the unique selling proposition? What are the company’s objectives? How will it achieve those objectives? What’s the difference between a business plan and a strategic plan? A business plan focuses on the overall vision, goals, and tactics of a company, while a strategic plan outlines the specific strategies, action steps, and performance measures necessary to achieve the company’s objectives. How is business planning for a nonprofit different? Nonprofit business planning focuses on the organization’s mission, social impact, and resource management rather than profit generation. The financial section typically includes funding sources, expenses, and projected budgets for programs and operations. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Create a Business Plan: Examples & Free Template" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

This is the ultimate guide to creating a comprehensive and effective plan to start a business. In today’s dynamic business landscape, having a well-crafted business plan is an important first step to securing funding, attracting partners, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. This guide has been designed to help you create a winning plan that stands out in the ever-evolving marketplace. Using real-world examples and a free downloadable template, it will walk you through each step of the process. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or launching your very first startup, the guide will give you the insights, tools, and confidence you need to create a solid foundation for your business. How to Write a Business Plan Embarking on the journey of creating a successful business requires a solid foundation and a well-crafted business plan is the cornerstone. Here is the process of writing a comprehensive business plan and the main parts of a winning business plan. From setting objectives to conducting market research, this guide will have everything you need. Executive Summary The Executive Summary acts as the entrance to your business plan, providing a brief overview of the key elements of your venture. This section should engage and educate the reader, effectively summarizing the main points of your plan. It’s crucial to include a clear mission statement, a brief description of your primary products or services, an overview of your target market, and key financial projections or achievements. Think of it as an elevator pitch in written form: it should be compelling enough to engage potential investors or stakeholders and provide them with a clear understanding of what your business is about, its goals, and why it’s a promising investment. Example: EcoTech is a technology company specializing in eco-friendly and sustainable products designed to reduce energy consumption and minimize waste. Our mission is to create innovative solutions that contribute to a cleaner, greener environment. Our target market includes environmentally conscious consumers and businesses seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. We anticipate a 200% increase in revenue within the initial years of operation. Overview and Business Objectives In the Overview and Business Objectives section, outline your business’s core goals and the strategic approaches you plan to use to achieve them. This section should set forth clear, specific objectives that are attainable and time-bound, providing a roadmap for your business’s growth and success. It’s important to detail how these objectives align with your company’s overall mission and vision. Discuss the milestones you aim to achieve and the timeframe you’ve set for these accomplishments. This part of the plan demonstrates to investors and stakeholders your vision for growth and the practical steps you’ll take to get there. Example: EcoTech’s primary objective is to become a market leader in sustainable technology products within the next five years. Our key objectives include: Introducing three new products within the first two years of operation. Achieving annual revenue growth of 30%. Expanding our customer base to over 10,000 clients by the end of the third year. Company Description The Company Description section is your opportunity to delve into the details of your business. Provide a comprehensive overview that includes your company’s history, its mission statement, and its vision for the future. Highlight your unique selling proposition (USP) – what makes your business stand out in the market. Explain the problems your company solves and how it benefits your customers. Include information about the company’s founders, their expertise, and why they are suited to lead the business to success. This section should paint a vivid picture of your business, its values, and its place in the industry. Example: EcoTech is committed to developing cutting-edge sustainable technology products that benefit both the environment and our customers. Our unique combination of innovative solutions and eco-friendly design sets us apart from the competition. We envision a future where technology and sustainability go hand in hand, leading to a greener planet. Define Your Target Market Defining Your Target Market is critical for tailoring your business strategy effectively. This section should describe your ideal customer base in detail, including demographic information (such as age, gender, income level, and location) and psychographic data (like interests, values, and lifestyle). Elucidate the specific needs or pain points of your target audience and how your product or service addresses these. This information will help you know your target market and develop targeted marketing strategies. Example: Our target market comprises environmentally conscious consumers and businesses looking for innovative solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. Our ideal customers are those who prioritize sustainability and are willing to invest in eco-friendly products. Market Analysis The Market Analysis section demands comprehensive research and a deep understanding of the industry. It entails assessing current trends in your sector, grasping the needs and preferences of your customers, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors. This analysis will enable you to spot market opportunities and anticipate potential challenges. Include data and statistics to back up your claims, and use graphs or charts to illustrate market trends. This section should demonstrate that you have a deep understanding of the market in which you operate and that your business is well-positioned to capitalize on its opportunities. Example: The market for eco-friendly technology products has experienced significant growth in recent years, with an estimated annual growth rate of 10%. As consumers become increasingly aware of environmental issues, the demand for sustainable solutions continues to rise. Our research indicates a gap in the market for high-quality, innovative, eco-friendly technology products that cater to both individual and business clients. SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis in your business plan offers a comprehensive examination of your company’s internal and external factors. By assessing Strengths, you showcase what your business does best and where your capabilities lie. Weaknesses involve an honest introspection of areas where your business may be lacking or could improve. Opportunities can be external factors that your business could capitalize on, such as market gaps or emerging trends. Threats include external challenges your business may face, like competition or market changes. This analysis is crucial for strategic planning, as it helps in recognizing and leveraging your strengths, addressing weaknesses, seizing opportunities, and preparing for potential threats. Including a SWOT analysis demonstrates to stakeholders that you have a balanced and realistic understanding of your business in its operational context. Example: Strengths: Innovative and eco-friendly product offerings. Strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Skilled and experienced team with expertise in technology and sustainability. Weaknesses: Limited brand recognition compared to established competitors. Reliance on third-party manufacturers for product development. Opportunities: Growing consumer interest in sustainable products. Partnerships with environmentally-focused organizations and influencers. Expansion into international markets. Threats: Intense competition from established technology companies. Regulatory changes could impact the sustainable technology market. Competitive Analysis In this section, you’ll analyze your competitors in-depth, examining their products, services, market positioning, and pricing strategies. Understanding your competition allows you to identify gaps in the market and tailor your offerings to outperform them. By performing a detailed competitive analysis, you can uncover your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, which will help you create strategies to distinguish your business and secure a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Example: Key competitors include: GreenTech: A well-known brand offering eco-friendly technology products but with a narrower focus on energy-saving devices. EarthSolutions: A direct competitor specializing in sustainable technology but with a limited product range and higher prices. By offering a diverse product portfolio, competitive pricing, and continuous innovation, we believe we can capture a significant share of the growing sustainable technology market. Organization and Management Team Provide an overview of your company’s organizational structure, including key roles and responsibilities. Introduce your management team, highlighting their expertise and experience to demonstrate that your team is capable of executing the business plan successfully. Showcasing your team’s background, skills, and accomplishments instills confidence in investors and other stakeholders, proving that your business has the leadership and talent necessary to achieve its objectives and manage growth effectively. Example: EcoTech’s organizational structure comprises the following key roles: CEO, CTO, CFO, Sales Director, Marketing Director, and R&D Manager. Our management team has extensive experience in technology, sustainability, and business development, ensuring that we are well-equipped to execute our business plan successfully. Products and Services Offered Describe the products or services your business offers, focusing on their unique features and benefits. Explain how your offerings solve customer pain points and why they will choose your products or services over the competition. This section should emphasize the value you provide to customers, demonstrating that your business has a deep understanding of customer needs and is well-positioned to deliver innovative solutions that address those needs and set your company apart from competitors. Example: EcoTech offers a range of eco-friendly technology products, including energy-efficient lighting solutions, solar chargers, and smart home devices that optimize energy usage. Our products are designed to help customers reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, and contribute to a cleaner environment. Marketing and Sales Strategy In this section, articulate your comprehensive strategy for reaching your target market and driving sales. Detail the specific marketing channels you plan to use, such as social media, email marketing, SEO, or traditional advertising. Describe the nature of your advertising campaigns and promotional activities, explaining how they will capture the attention of your target audience and convey the value of your products or services. Outline your sales strategy, including your sales process, team structure, and sales targets. Discuss how these marketing and sales efforts will work together to attract and retain customers, generate leads, and ultimately contribute to achieving your business’s revenue goals. This section is critical to convey to investors and stakeholders that you have a well-thought-out approach to market your business effectively and drive sales growth. Example: Our marketing strategy encompasses digital advertising, content marketing, social media promotion, and collaborations with influencers. Additionally, we plan to participate in trade shows and conferences to display our products and engage with potential clients. Our sales strategy combines direct sales, partnerships with retail stores, and online sales via our website and e-commerce platforms. Logistics and Operations Plan The Logistics and Operations Plan is a critical component that outlines the inner workings of your business. It encompasses the management of your supply chain, detailing how you acquire raw materials and manage vendor relationships. Inventory control is another crucial aspect, where you explain strategies for inventory management to ensure efficiency and reduce wastage. The section should also describe your production processes, emphasizing scalability and adaptability to meet changing market demands. Quality control measures are essential to maintain product standards and customer satisfaction. This plan assures investors and stakeholders of your operational competency and readiness to meet business demands. Highlighting your commitment to operational efficiency and customer satisfaction underlines your business’s capability to maintain smooth, effective operations even as it scales. Example: EcoTech partners with reliable third-party manufacturers to produce our eco-friendly technology products. Our operations involve maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring quality control, and managing inventory. We also prioritize efficient distribution through various channels, including online platforms and retail partners, to deliver products to our customers in a timely manner. Financial Projections Plan In the Financial Projections Plan, lay out a clear and realistic financial future for your business. This should include detailed projections for revenue, costs, and profitability over the next three to five years. Ground these projections in solid assumptions based on your market analysis, industry benchmarks, and realistic growth scenarios. Break down revenue streams and include an analysis of the cost of goods sold, operating expenses, and potential investments. This section should also discuss your break-even analysis, cash flow projections, and any assumptions about external funding requirements. By presenting a thorough and data-backed financial forecast, you instill confidence in potential investors and lenders, showcasing your business’s potential for profitability and financial stability. This forward-looking financial plan is crucial for demonstrating that you have a firm grasp of the financial nuances of your business and are prepared to manage its financial health effectively. Example: Over the next three years, we expect to see significant growth in revenue, driven by new product launches and market expansion. Our financial projections include: Initial period: $1.5 million in revenue, with a net profit of $200,000. Year 2: $3 million in revenue, with a net profit of $500,000. Year 3: $4.5 million in revenue, with a net profit of $1 million. These projections are based on realistic market analysis, growth rates, and product pricing. Income Statement The income statement, also known as the profit and loss statement, provides a summary of your company’s revenues and expenses over a specified period. It helps you track your business’s financial performance and identify trends, ensuring you stay on track to achieve your financial goals. Regularly reviewing and analyzing your income statement allows you to monitor the health of your business, evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies, and make data-driven decisions to optimize profitability and growth. Example: The income statement for EcoTech’s first year of operation is as follows: Revenue: $1,500,000 Cost of Goods Sold: $800,000 Gross Profit: $700,000 Operating Expenses: $450,000 Net Income: $250,000 This statement highlights our company’s profitability and overall financial health during the first year of operation. Cash Flow Statement A cash flow statement is a crucial part of a financial business plan that shows the inflows and outflows of cash within your business. It helps you monitor your company’s liquidity, ensuring you have enough cash on hand to cover operating expenses, pay debts, and invest in growth opportunities. By including a cash flow statement in your business plan, you demonstrate your ability to manage your company’s finances effectively. Example: The cash flow statement for EcoTech’s first year of operation is as follows: Operating Activities: Net Income: $250,000 Depreciation: $10,000 Changes in Working Capital: -$50,000 Net Cash from Operating Activities: $210,000 Investing Activities: Capital Expenditures: -$100,000 Net Cash from Investing Activities: -$100,000 Financing Activities: Proceeds from Loans: $150,000 Loan Repayments: -$50,000 Net Cash from Financing Activities: $100,000 Net Increase in Cash: $210,000 This statement demonstrates EcoTech’s ability to generate positive cash flow from operations, maintain sufficient liquidity, and invest in growth opportunities. SectionDescriptionExample Executive SummaryBrief overview of the business planOverview of EcoTech and its mission Overview & ObjectivesOutline of company's goals and strategiesMarket leadership in sustainable technology Company DescriptionDetailed explanation of the company and its unique selling propositionEcoTech's history, mission, and vision Target MarketDescription of ideal customers and their needsEnvironmentally conscious consumers and businesses Market AnalysisExamination of industry trends, customer needs, and competitorsTrends in eco-friendly technology market SWOT AnalysisEvaluation of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and ThreatsStrengths and weaknesses of EcoTech Competitive AnalysisIn-depth analysis of competitors and their strategiesAnalysis of GreenTech and EarthSolutions Organization & ManagementOverview of the company's structure and management teamKey roles and team members at EcoTech Products & ServicesDescription of offerings and their unique featuresEnergy-efficient lighting solutions, solar chargers Marketing & SalesOutline of marketing channels and sales strategiesDigital advertising, content marketing, influencer partnerships Logistics & OperationsDetails about daily operations, supply chain, inventory, and quality controlPartnerships with manufacturers, quality control Financial ProjectionsForecast of revenue, expenses, and profit for the next 3-5 yearsProjected growth in revenue and net profit Income StatementSummary of company's revenues and expenses over a specified periodRevenue, Cost of Goods Sold, Gross Profit, Net Income Cash Flow StatementOverview of cash inflows and outflows within the businessNet Cash from Operating Activities, Investing Activities, Financing Activities Tips on Writing a Business Plan 1. Be clear and concise: Keep your language simple and straightforward. Avoid jargon and overly technical terms. A clear and concise business plan is easier for investors and stakeholders to understand and demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively. 2. Conduct thorough research: Before writing your business plan, gather as much information as possible about your industry, competitors, and target market. Use reliable sources and industry reports to inform your analysis and make data-driven decisions. 3. Set realistic goals: Your business plan should outline achievable objectives that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Setting realistic goals demonstrates your understanding of the market and increases the likelihood of success. 4. Focus on your unique selling proposition (USP): Clearly articulate what sets your business apart from the competition. Emphasize your USP throughout your business plan to showcase your company’s value and potential for success. 5. Be flexible and adaptable: A business plan is a dynamic document that should change as your business develops and evolves. Stay ready to update and modify your plan as you acquire new insights and learn from your experiences. 6. Use visuals to enhance understanding: Include charts, graphs, and other visuals to help convey complex data and ideas. Visuals can make your business plan more engaging and easier to digest, especially for those who prefer visual learning. 7. Seek feedback from trusted sources: Share your business plan with mentors, industry experts, or colleagues and ask for their feedback. Their insights can help you identify areas for improvement and strengthen your plan before presenting it to potential investors or partners. FREE Business Plan Template To help you get started on your business plan, we have created a template that includes all the essential components discussed in the “How to Write a Business Plan” section. This easy-to-use template will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you don’t miss any critical details. The template is divided into the following sections: Executive Summary Mission statement Business Overview Key products or services Target market Financial highlights Overview and Business Objectives Company goals Strategies to achieve goals Measurable, time-bound objectives Company Description Company History Mission and vision Unique selling proposition Target Market Demographics Psychographics Pain points Market Analysis Industry trends Customer needs Competitor strengths and weaknesses SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Competitive Analysis Competitor products and services Market positioning Pricing strategies Organization and Management Team Organizational structure Key roles and responsibilities Management team backgrounds Products and Services Offered Product or service features Benefits Competitive advantages Marketing and Sales Strategy Marketing channels Advertising campaigns Promotional activities Sales strategies Logistics and Operations Plan Supply chain management Inventory control Production processes Quality control measures Financial Projections Plan Projected revenue Expenses Profits Assumptions Income Statement Revenues Expenses Net income Cash Flow Statement Cash inflows Cash outflows Net cash flow What is a Business Plan? A business plan is a strategic document that outlines an organization’s goals, objectives, and the steps required to achieve them. It serves as a roadmap as you start a business, guiding the company’s direction and growth while identifying potential obstacles and opportunities. Typically, a business plan covers areas such as market analysis, financial projections, marketing strategies, and organizational structure. It not only helps in securing funding from investors and lenders but also provides clarity and focus to the management team. A well-crafted business plan is a very important part of your business startup checklist because it fosters informed decision-making and long-term success. Why You Should Write a Business Plan Understanding the importance of a business plan in today’s competitive environment is crucial for entrepreneurs and business owners. Here are five compelling reasons to write a business plan: Attract Investors and Secure Funding: A well-written business plan demonstrates your venture’s potential and profitability, making it easier to attract investors and secure the necessary funding for growth and development. It provides a detailed overview of your business model, target market, financial projections, and growth strategies, instilling confidence in potential investors and lenders that your company is a worthy investment. Clarify Business Objectives and Strategies: Crafting a business plan forces you to think critically about your goals and the strategies you’ll employ to achieve them, providing a clear roadmap for success. This process helps you refine your vision and prioritize the most critical objectives, ensuring that your efforts are focused on achieving the desired results. Identify Potential Risks and Opportunities: Analyzing the market, competition, and industry trends within your business plan helps identify potential risks and uncover untapped opportunities for growth and expansion. This insight enables you to develop proactive strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities, positioning your business for long-term success. Improve Decision-Making: A business plan serves as a reference point so you can make informed decisions that align with your company’s overall objectives and long-term vision. By consistently referring to your plan and adjusting it as needed, you can ensure that your business remains on track and adapts to changes in the market, industry, or internal operations. Foster Team Alignment and Communication: A shared business plan helps ensure that all team members are on the same page, promoting clear communication, collaboration, and a unified approach to achieving the company’s goals. By involving your team in the planning process and regularly reviewing the plan together, you can foster a sense of ownership, commitment, and accountability that drives success. What are the Different Types of Business Plans? In today’s fast-paced business world, having a well-structured roadmap is more important than ever. A traditional business plan provides a comprehensive overview of your company’s goals and strategies, helping you make informed decisions and achieve long-term success. There are various types of business plans, each designed to suit different needs and purposes. Let’s explore the main types: Startup Business Plan: Tailored for new ventures, a startup business plan outlines the company’s mission, objectives, target market, competition, marketing strategies, and financial projections. It helps entrepreneurs clarify their vision, secure funding from investors, and create a roadmap for their business’s future. Additionally, this plan identifies potential challenges and opportunities, which are crucial for making informed decisions and adapting to changing market conditions. Internal Business Plan: This type of plan is intended for internal use, focusing on strategies, milestones, deadlines, and resource allocation. It serves as a management tool for guiding the company’s growth, evaluating its progress, and ensuring that all departments are aligned with the overall vision. The internal business plan also helps identify areas of improvement, fosters collaboration among team members, and provides a reference point for measuring performance. Strategic Business Plan: A strategic business plan outlines long-term goals and the steps to achieve them, providing a clear roadmap for the company’s direction. It typically includes a SWOT analysis, market research, and competitive analysis. This plan allows businesses to align their resources with their objectives, anticipate changes in the market, and develop contingency plans. By focusing on the big picture, a strategic business plan fosters long-term success and stability. Feasibility Business Plan: This plan is designed to assess the viability of a business idea, examining factors such as market demand, competition, and financial projections. It is often used to decide whether or not to pursue a particular venture. By conducting a thorough feasibility analysis, entrepreneurs can avoid investing time and resources into an unviable business concept. This plan also helps refine the business idea, identify potential obstacles, and determine the necessary resources for success. Growth Business Plan: Also known as an expansion plan, a growth business plan focuses on strategies for scaling up an existing business. It includes market analysis, new product or service offerings, and financial projections to support expansion plans. This type of plan is essential for businesses looking to enter new markets, increase their customer base, or launch new products or services. By outlining clear growth strategies, the plan helps ensure that expansion efforts are well-coordinated and sustainable. Operational Business Plan: This type of plan outlines the company’s day-to-day operations, detailing the processes, procedures, and organizational structure. It is an essential tool for managing resources, streamlining workflows, and ensuring smooth operations. The operational business plan also helps identify inefficiencies, implement best practices, and establish a strong foundation for future growth. By providing a clear understanding of daily operations, this plan enables businesses to optimize their resources and enhance productivity. Lean Business Plan: A lean business plan is a simplified, agile version of a traditional plan, focusing on key elements such as value proposition, customer segments, revenue streams, and cost structure. It is perfect for startups looking for a flexible, adaptable planning approach. The lean business plan allows for rapid iteration and continuous improvement, enabling businesses to pivot and adapt to changing market conditions. This streamlined approach is particularly beneficial for businesses in fast-paced or uncertain industries. One-Page Business Plan: As the name suggests, a one-page business plan is a concise summary of your company’s key objectives, strategies, and milestones. It serves as a quick reference guide and is ideal for pitching to potential investors or partners. This plan helps keep teams focused on essential goals and priorities, fosters clear communication, and provides a snapshot of the company’s progress. While not as comprehensive as other plans, a one-page business plan is an effective tool for maintaining clarity and direction. Nonprofit Business Plan: Specifically designed for nonprofit organizations, this plan outlines the mission, goals, target audience, fundraising strategies, and budget allocation. It helps secure grants and donations while ensuring the organization stays on track with its objectives. The nonprofit business plan also helps attract volunteers, board members, and community support. By demonstrating the organization’s impact and plans for the future, this plan is essential for maintaining transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability within the nonprofit sector. Franchise Business Plan: For entrepreneurs seeking to open a franchise, this type of plan focuses on the franchisor’s requirements, as well as the franchisee’s goals, strategies, and financial projections. It is crucial for securing a franchise agreement and ensuring the business’s success within the franchise system. This plan outlines the franchisee’s commitment to brand standards, marketing efforts, and operational procedures while also addressing local market conditions and opportunities. By creating a solid franchise business plan, entrepreneurs can demonstrate their ability to effectively manage and grow their franchises, increasing the likelihood of a successful partnership with the franchisor. Type of Business PlanPurposeKey ComponentsTarget Audience Startup Business PlanOutlines the company's mission, objectives, target market, competition, marketing strategies, and financial projections.Mission Statement, Company Description, Market Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Structure, Marketing and Sales Strategy, Financial Projections.Entrepreneurs, Investors Internal Business PlanServes as a management tool for guiding the company's growth, evaluating its progress, and ensuring that all departments are aligned with the overall vision.Strategies, Milestones, Deadlines, Resource Allocation.Internal Team Members Strategic Business PlanOutlines long-term goals and the steps to achieve them.SWOT Analysis, Market Research, Competitive Analysis, Long-Term Goals.Executives, Managers, Investors Feasibility Business PlanAssesses the viability of a business idea.Market Demand, Competition, Financial Projections, Potential Obstacles.Entrepreneurs, Investors Growth Business PlanFocuses on strategies for scaling up an existing business.Market Analysis, New Product/Service Offerings, Financial Projections.Business Owners, Investors Operational Business PlanOutlines the company's day-to-day operations.Processes, Procedures, Organizational Structure.Managers, Employees Lean Business PlanA simplified, agile version of a traditional plan, focusing on key elements.Value Proposition, Customer Segments, Revenue Streams, Cost Structure.Entrepreneurs, Startups One-Page Business PlanA concise summary of your company's key objectives, strategies, and milestones.Key Objectives, Strategies, Milestones.Entrepreneurs, Investors, Partners Nonprofit Business PlanOutlines the mission, goals, target audience, fundraising strategies, and budget allocation for nonprofit organizations.Mission Statement, Goals, Target Audience, Fundraising Strategies, Budget.Nonprofit Leaders, Board Members, Donors Franchise Business PlanFocuses on the franchisor's requirements, as well as the franchisee's goals, strategies, and financial projections.Franchise Agreement, Brand Standards, Marketing Efforts, Operational Procedures, Financial Projections.Franchisors, Franchisees, Investors Using Business Plan Software Creating a comprehensive business plan can be intimidating, but business plan software can streamline the process and help you produce a professional document. These tools offer a number of benefits, including guided step-by-step instructions, financial projections, and industry-specific templates. Here are the top 5 business plan software options available to help you craft a great business plan. LivePlan LivePlan is a popular choice for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. It offers over 500 sample plans, financial forecasting tools, and the ability to track your progress against key performance indicators. With LivePlan, you can create visually appealing, professional business plans that will impress investors and stakeholders. Upmetrics Upmetrics provides a simple and intuitive platform for creating a well-structured business plan. It features customizable templates, financial forecasting tools, and collaboration capabilities, allowing you to work with team members and advisors. Upmetrics also offers a library of resources to guide you through the business planning process. Bizplan Bizplan is designed to simplify the business planning process with a drag-and-drop builder and modular sections. It offers financial forecasting tools, progress tracking, and a visually appealing interface. With Bizplan, you can create a business plan that is both easy to understand and visually engaging. Enloop Enloop is a robust business plan software that automatically generates a tailored plan based on your input. It provides industry-specific templates, financial forecasting, and a unique performance score that updates as you make changes to your plan. Enloop also offers a free version, making it accessible for businesses on a budget. Tarkenton GoSmallBiz Developed by NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, GoSmallBizis is tailored for small businesses and startups. It features a guided business plan builder, customizable templates, and financial projection tools. GoSmallBiz also offers additional resources, such as CRM tools and legal document templates, to support your business beyond the planning stage. SoftwareKey FeaturesUser InterfaceAdditional Features LivePlanOver 500 sample plans, financial forecasting tools, progress tracking against KPIsUser-friendly, visually appealingAllows creation of professional-looking business plans UpmetricsCustomizable templates, financial forecasting tools, collaboration capabilitiesSimple and intuitiveProvides a resource library for business planning BizplanDrag-and-drop builder, modular sections, financial forecasting tools, progress trackingSimple, visually engagingDesigned to simplify the business planning process EnloopIndustry-specific templates, financial forecasting tools, automatic business plan generation, unique performance scoreRobust, user-friendlyOffers a free version, making it accessible for businesses on a budget Tarkenton GoSmallBizGuided business plan builder, customizable templates, financial projection toolsUser-friendlyOffers CRM tools, legal document templates, and additional resources for small businesses Business Plan FAQs What is a good business plan? A good business plan is a well-researched, clear, and concise document that outlines a company’s goals, strategies, target market, competitive advantages, and financial projections. It should be adaptable to change and provide a roadmap for achieving success. What are the 3 main purposes of a business plan? The three main purposes of a business plan are to guide the company’s strategy, attract investment, and evaluate performance against objectives. Here’s a closer look at each of these: Guide the Company’s Strategy: A business plan serves as a roadmap for the organization, outlining its mission, vision, goals, and strategies to achieve them. By establishing these aspects, the business plan provides direction for all activities and decisions within the company. It outlines the company’s purpose and core values to ensure that all activities align with its mission and vision. It provides an in-depth analysis of the market, including trends, customer needs, and competition, helping the company tailor its products and services to meet market demands. It defines the company’s marketing and sales strategies, guiding how the company will attract and retain customers. It describes the company’s organizational structure and management team, outlining roles and responsibilities to ensure effective operation and leadership. It sets measurable, time-bound objectives, allowing the company to plan its activities effectively and make strategic decisions to achieve these goals. Attract Investment: For new or growing businesses, attracting investment is often a primary goal. A business plan serves as a tool to persuade potential investors that the company is a viable and profitable venture. It provides a comprehensive overview of the company and its business model, demonstrating its uniqueness and potential for success. It presents the company’s financial projections, showing its potential for profitability and return on investment. It demonstrates the company’s understanding of the market, including its target customers and competition, convincing investors that the company is capable of gaining a significant market share. It showcases the management team’s expertise and experience, instilling confidence in investors that the team is capable of executing the business plan successfully. Evaluate Performance Against Objectives :A business plan provides a framework for evaluating the company’s performance and progress. By comparing actual results with planned objectives, the company can assess its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments. It establishes clear, measurable objectives that serve as performance benchmarks. It provides a basis for regular performance reviews, allowing the company to monitor its progress and identify areas for improvement. It enables the company to assess the effectiveness of its strategies and make adjustments as needed to achieve its objectives. It helps the company identify potential risks and challenges, enabling it to develop contingency plans and manage risks effectively. It provides a mechanism for evaluating the company’s financial performance, including revenue, expenses, profitability, and cash flow. Can I write a business plan by myself? Yes, you can create a business plan on your own; however, it can be beneficial to seek feedback and insights from mentors, colleagues, or industry experts. Additionally, there are numerous creative business plan templates and business plan examples accessible online, including the ones mentioned above. We also have examples for specific industries, including a food truck business plan, salon business plan, farm business plan, daycare business plan, and restaurant business plan. Is it possible to create a one-page business plan? Yes, a one-page business plan is a condensed version that highlights the essential elements, including the company’s mission, target market, unique selling proposition, and financial goals. How long should a business plan be? A typical business plan ranges from 20 to 50 pages, but the length may vary depending on the complexity and needs of the business. What is a business plan outline? A business plan outline is a structured framework that organizes the content of a business plan into sections, such as the executive summary, company description, market analysis, and financial projections. What are the most common business plan mistakes? The five most common business plan mistakes include inadequate research, unrealistic financial projections, lack of focus on the unique selling proposition, poor organization and structure, and failure to update the plan as circumstances change. What questions should be asked in a business plan? A business plan should address questions such as: What problem does the business solve? Who is the specific target market? What is the unique selling proposition? What are the company’s objectives? How will it achieve those objectives? What’s the difference between a business plan and a strategic plan? A business plan focuses on the overall vision, goals, and tactics of a company, while a strategic plan outlines the specific strategies, action steps, and performance measures necessary to achieve the company’s objectives. How is business planning for a nonprofit different? Nonprofit business planning focuses on the organization’s mission, social impact, and resource management rather than profit generation. The financial section typically includes funding sources, expenses, and projected budgets for programs and operations. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Create a Business Plan: Examples & Free Template" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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