Frequently Asked Questions

1. What industries do you specialize in?
2. Can you guarantee that your plans will be able to raise funding?
3. Can you help us raise funding once we have a business plan?
4. Does NVST invest capital in their clients?
5. Do we really need a business plan?
6. Why should we hire a professional to write our business plan?
7. What steps are involved in generation of my business plan?
8. What is the cost of a professionally prepared business plan?
9. Will NVST take all or part of its fees in equity, or defer them until after we raise capital?
10. Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement?
11. What is a typical customer/business profile?
12. How long will it take us to raise capital?

1. What industries do you specialize in?  [top]
Over the years we have addressed a large spectrum of industries.  We have had vast experience in working with investors and know what specific information investors look for when reviewing a business plan.  This experience is what separates our business plan services from others and is why investors will place your business plan on the top of their funding stack.

2. Can you guarantee that your plans will be able to raise funding?  [top]
Unfortunately, no. A good business plan and investor venue is essential, but these crucial tools alone will not get you funded. Although we will do our best to help you prepare, we have no control over how well you present yourself and your business to investors or how well you answer their questions. We can help, but at the end of the day it is still your business, and you who must close the deal.

3. Can you help us raise funding once we have a business plan?  [top]
Our Capital Motion program is designed to provide you with strategic introductions to potential investors or other intermediaries. In general, we do not accept compensation for helping raise private equity funding. We facilitate the capital-raising process — we to not participate in the structure of the deal. We advise you to seek legal counsel before finalizing your funding deal or hiring an advisor who offers to raise capital on your behalf.

4. Does NVST invest capital in their clients?  [top]
We invest our professional expertise in helping you and your business achieve your funding objectives. Generally, NVST prefers to avoid direct participation in providing funding and so avoid any issues regarding conflict of interest.  We encourage firms who are serious about finding funding to participate in our Capital Motion program.

5. Do we really need a business plan?  [top]
If you run a business and ever plan on attracting investors, then the answer is yes. A complete business plan can be used to provide a compact presentation of strategic content designed to entice potential investors to consider your business for funding. Additional sections are more detailed and document the tactics supporting your overall strategy. Your business plan needs to be an attractive document that sells — that contains a bound collection of spreadsheets, lists, research summaries, and other documents that you and your investment partners can refer to and update on a regular basis. We specialize in preparing these comprehensive business plans, suitable for multiple audiences.

6. Why should we hire a professional to write our business plan?  [top]
We have experience in working with investment professionals and know what they are looking for in a business plan.  You could easily spend hundreds of hours preparing a business plan, financial forecast, and investor presentation, and still miss the key points or the presentation style investors expect to see before providing funding. This is the time for you to engage a specialist.  Most people don't perform their own surgery — instead, they go to a professional with the skill and experience to ensure a successful outcome.  Your business plan is a make-or-break component in your path to achieving your funding objectives, so view its creation with the seriousness it deserves — engage a professional.

7. What steps are involved in generation of my business plan?  [top]

• We conduct an initial interview to gain a complete understanding of your business and objectives.
• A review of your existing business financials, marketing/sales materials/programs in conjunction with a review of your competitors.
• Through an iterative process we create a preliminary plan outline including key data points.
• Working with you and your team we incorporate your expense and financial data, elements crucial a successful plan.
• Final review and packaging of your business plan will enhance your presentations.
• If desired we can assist you in how to successfully present your business plan to potential investors and business intermediaries or prospective buyers and lenders.

8. What is the cost of a professionally prepared business plan?  [top]
We offer both fixed and variable pricing business plan services, depending on your needs. Generally, the following factors affect your expenses:

• The objectives of your plan and the audience.
• Availability and thoroughness of business materials and financials.
• Number of interactions required to capture your business vision, objectives, etc.
• Complexity if your business and competitive landscape.
• Urgency, availability, possible travel, etc. obviously impact the total expense. To the extent we can derive the content of the business plan from our offices, these costs can be avoided.
• Professional printing/binding.

Because of these factors, the fees for a typical project, consisting of the preparation of an investor-grade business plan, financial forecast, and investor presentation, can range from under $5,000 to over $30,000. The vast majority of our projects are in the lower half of this range. A professional plan is an investment and necessary expense when looking for funding.  If you amortize the expense against the number of hours it takes to assemble this crucial investment vehicle, the skills required and the expense as a percentage of your capital raised, the expense is usually quite reasonable and well justified.  Raising capital requires a budget. If you don't have a capital funding budget, you're not ready for external funding.

We are aware that there are a large number of business plan consultants offering their services — in some cases for rates below (or above) ours. Many of these consultants do fine work, but their typical client is the small business seeking SBA and bank loans, not individuals/companies seeking venture capital. You're looking for a business plan that warrants serious consideration by and makes a positive impression on the investment community that NVST has worked with since 1995.  Not many firms have this pedigree, brand recognition, or access to NVST's Private Equity Network.

9. Will NVST take all or part of its fees in equity, or defer them until after we raise capital?  [top]
As general rule, no.  There are obvious reasons why this is not good business practice.  Under extraordinary circumstances this may be an option.
 

10. Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement?  [top]
Reciprocal NDA's are available on request. We expect mutual protection of our trade secrets.
 

11. What does a typical customer/business profile look like?  [top]
Most of our customers/businesses are looking to raise $1/2 million to $15 million in various funding rounds from Angel, Series A, or Series C funding. We look to our clients to have a realistic view about what types of businesses have a real chance of raising venture capital. They should have enough financial resources to be able to operate for 6 months to a year before raising their round of capital.
 

12.  How long will it take to raise capital?  [top]
If you have a viable business, a good business plan, and the right investors, the process can range from 6-12 months. Be realistic when it comes to gaining access to other peoples money — it takes time.  All too often we see entrepreneurs looking for six-figure funding in 30 days, without having a business plan or budget for raising capital.  That sort of expectation is totally unrealistic in today funding environment.

* Learn how NVST Business Plan Development Services can serve your needs.
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