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Pricing Strategies (Part 1) by Rolfe Larson
Figuring out how to price your products or services is often very challenging, especially for a new venture. Yet you need a pricing strategy for your business plan, to determine your break-even point...
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Porter’s Five Competitive Forces (Part I) by Rolfe Larson
Every business has competitors for its customers, who, after all, get to choose. Most business plans only focus on existing competitors. While that’s necessary, it’s not sufficient. You also need to...
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Porter’s Five Competitive Forces (Part 2) by Rolfe Larson
My previous blog identified the five competitive forces developed by Harvard professor Michael Porter, which should be addressed in every business plan. This blog profiles each of these forces....
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Why So Many Startups Fail by Rolfe Larson
US Bureau of Labor Statistics research indicates that almost 60% of businesses shut down within the first four years of operation. Why? Most fail for one of these reasons. 1. No viable market for...
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Business Plan in A Weekend? by Rolfe Larson
There’s been a fair amount of interest lately in how to write your business plan quickly, say in a weekend. The most well-known is called Startup Weekend, which promises to turn strangers into teams...
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Why Complaints Are Gifts by Rolfe Larson
Let’s face it; it’s no fun when someone complains. Some people, the saying goes, just like to complain. Best to give them what they want and send them away, right? Not really. Complaints can provide...
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Low-Cost Startups and Business Plans by Rolfe Larson
Not every would-be entrepreneur has deep pockets, or rich friends and family, to get their business started. Indeed, most small businesses are started on the cheap. Here are some tips on how to start...
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20-Minute Business Model? by Rolfe Larson
The drive to create a business plan in the least amount of time has reached a new high … or low. Last week, Inc. 5000 published an article suggesting you can and should be able to present your entire...
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Lessons from Michael Porter’s Monitor failure by Rolfe Larson
It’s been widely reported that the company co-founded by Michael Porter, the famous Harvard Business School professor who wrote The Book on business strategy, was forced into bankruptcy protection....
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Are “Creative” Business Plans A Good Thing? by Rolfe Larson
Most people agree that a rigorous business plan is a good idea. Clearly it’s best to research the market and risks as thoroughly and objectively as possible. In contrast, a “creative” plan, one that...
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