e-Business Plans

E-Business plans are tough to put into hard copy on a number of levels, not the least of which is simply defining what the business is.

Your eBusiness:  A Stand Alone, or An Extension?

Many ebusinesses are pure stand alone businesses, with no comparable business in the brick and mortar world.  This website is one of them.  I would bet that you haven't seen a bookstore solely devoted to business plans.  It wouldn't work as a brick and mortar store, but it works well as an online business.   The internet is perfect for all manner of niche topics and ideas.  As you browse the web, you will discover thousands of websites that are clearly stand alone e-businesses, businesses like ...

• Travel related sites to nearly every country and city imaginable;
• Idea sites, such as how to succeed;
• Dating sites -- all kinds;
• "Web service" sites for teaching people how to build websites, etc.
• Niche products, such as organic items or mystery books;

... and just lots more.  Some of these are big businesses, but most are small, run by one or two people.  Probably 95% of the sites presently online are small businesses, mostly operated as home based businesses. 

Very few online businesses have brick and mortar counterparts.  Some of the big names do, of course, like Sears and Bank of America.  But they are the exception.  But where there is an existing brick and mortar business, the online business is an extension of that business, not a new business by itself.

So how does your business fit into this paradigm?  Is it a stand alone?  or will you follow in the footsteps of some of the large retailers and create both a land based store, and an online store?

How you answer that questions sets the tone for the rest of your e-business plan.

Creating An e-Business Plan For A Standalone Online Business

A business plan for an e-business is quite like a business plan for any other business.  The focus just changes.  You will still need a formal written plan outlining your project, with information on the business, the potential market, your background and financial projections. 

But you will need one thing more:  The ability to convince your lender/investor that you can succeed online, and that is quite different from succeeding in a traditional business.  In addition to knowing your product/service, you will also need to demonstrate expertise in the online business world.

Choose one the business plans from our start up business library.  This will help you with the major components of the ebusiness plan, and will focus your efforts on a market niche.  This series also includes bonus books on starting a business online.  Use the tools presented here to demonstrate the strength of your market.

E-Business Plans for An Extension Of Your Business

This kind of e-business plan is easier to create.  You already have an existing business, and now you want to expand it to reach a broader audience.  Great.  This is something that most lenders and investors can comprehend pretty readily.

This website actually began as an extension of a service business, one that created business plans for individual businesses.  In looking for ways to reach a wider audience, the website was born.  Many services businesses on the internet go through that growth trend, as do many retailers and wholesalers.

The start up business plan series will probably be most helpful to you as you grow your business, especially if you are relatively new to online marketing.

The big plus to your e-business plan is that you likely won't need a huge investment -- a computer, some software, perhaps more product, or a web designer.  Compared to the costs of starting a traditional business, the costs are minimal.  (And, Yes, the reward can be immense!)

Focus, Focus, Focus

E-business plans succeed when they can focus on the business at hand -- the customer, the supplier, and the need for the business.  Unless your is a very high tech sort of endeavor, don't talk about the lead generation or SEO skills your provider has.  It isn't important.  What IS important is that you can keep your eye on the ball:  succeed with your customer base.

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