Women In Business

     There is a quiet, yet powerful revolution happening right now in the small business world.  Right before your eyes, women (especially black women) are making more studies and gains than ever before.  According to a recent survey, minority women-owned business composed one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. economy.  Cassandra Hayes from Women Business Achievers magazine says that in 1996 13% of the nearly 8 million (1,040,000) women-owned business in the nation were owned by minority women (Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American / Alaska Native).  They employed nearly 1.7 million people and generated some $184.2 billion in sales annually.
     In 1994, nine girls from Girls Inc. of Carpenteria, California, under the leadership of Suzi Bohnett, attended the very first session of Camp $tart-Up TM to learn business skills to take their fledging silkscreen business to the next level.  Now, 6 years later, the business (Girls Inc.) is still flourishing!  The Birmingham YWCA, to increase its programming for the teenage girl population, has generated enthusiasm from girls for expanding the program to Saturdays and after-school.  Diedre Quinlan from Habitat Health Services, Central High School in Duluth, MN conducted 2 summer school classes for high risk girls entitled, "English Means Business" that incorporated technical writing skills with business basics, and invited women mentors to lead hands-on activities with the teens.
     Now that you have an idea of what a business plan is, I will give you more information on how it should all be put together for presentation to who you will ask to invest in your business idea.  It's really not as hard as it all sounds, but it is tedious and it should be done properly if you expect someone to hand a wad of money over to you for your idea.  You need to sell them with the same enthusiasm you had when you first thought of the idea.  Okay the layout goes like this…

1. The Summary - A summary of your business idea and a brief description of the contents of your business plan.

2. The Company and it's Employee Team

• A history of the company whether the company is new or already in business.  If the company is new, then give a history of the idea and how you thought of the idea.
• A description of your qualifications that pertains to the business idea.
• A description of anyone on your team who provides valuable qualifications for your business idea.

• A description of your target market.  Provide demographics for backup.
• A summary of competitors and how you will "fit in" to this market.
• A summary of your market analysis prediction.
• A summary of potential distributors of your product or service.

• A description of your product or service.
• A cost analysis of producing your product or service.
• An estimated value of your product or service.
• A description of how you are going to manufacture and produce your product or service.
• A description of how you are going to "deliver" your product or service.

• A description of how and where you are going to sell your product.
• A description of how and where you are going to promote your product or service.

• A description of your "estimate" of how much money you will need to borrow.
• An outline of each and every expense you plan to have in the first year.
• An outline of your projected sales for the first year.
• A credit history report.

This outline is not a professional one.  You should hire a professional if you are very serious about your business plan and have a deep wish to succeed.  Also note that your business plan should be updated yearly.  Good Luck!
 
 

Dolkilisa Rojas
EJ8
Ms. Scragg