• How to Use this Section
• How Will the Process Start?
• Working with Groups
• Cost and Financial Models - Plus Samples
• Assess Group Skills
• The Cycle of a Project
• Questions to Consider
• Factors in New Business Success
• Deals From a Banker’s Perspective
• Searching for Capital
• Making Use of Economic Developers
• Initial Thoughts on Marketing

Business Plan

• How to Write a Business Plan
• 10 Key Points
• Business Plan Outline
  • Request Page
  • Title Page
  • Table of Contents
  • Executive Summary
  • Business Description
  • Management
  • Market Analysis
  • Marketing Plan
  • Products or Services
  • Manufacturing Plan
  • Financial Data
  • Supporting Documents
• Cattle Producers Marketing Coop Sample Plan H

Creating Your Business Plan

• Overview
• Request page
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• Business Description
  • How to Write a Vision and Mission Statement
  • Legal Structures and Considerations for Businesses
  • Registering a New Business
• Management
  • Establishing Management for Your Business
  • Organization Characteristics
  • Who Needs to be at the Table?
  • Hiring Right and Retaining Good Employees
  • Incentives for Key Employees
  • Should I Join a New Processing Cooperative?
• Market Analysis
  • Market Research
  • Building Your Databases
  • Producer Survey
  • Analysis of Some Competitors
  • Beef Yield and Consumption
• Marketing Plan
  • Taking the Mystery Out of Marketing
  • A Marketing Primer
  • How Much Should You Spend?
  • Internet Marketing
  • Direct Marketing Options
  • Catering, Events and Festivals
  • Catalog and Mail Order Business
  • Working with Retailers
  • How to Approach Buyers
  • Federal Procurement
  • Halal and Kosher
  • Breed and Branded Marketing
  • Foreign Markets
  • Organic Markets
  • Marketing Targets
  • About Brokers
  • Pricing and Estimating Sales Potential
  • Distribution of Product
• Products or Services
  • Regulations
  • Exploring Patents and Trademark Needs
  • Packaging
• Manufacturing Plan
  • Quality in Meat Processes
  • Tips from the Experts on HACCP Implementation
  • Regulatory Compliance for the Small Slaughtering Facility (OSHA)
  • Survey of Iowa Locker Plants
  • Estimating Waste Stream (jpg)
  • Annual Volume Slaughtered and Utility Consumption (jpg)
  • Planning a Processing Facility
  • Developing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  • Safety Issues in Meat Handling in Home Businesses (jpg)
  • Iowa Laws for Home Food Businesses
• Financial Data
  • Understanding Accounting Procedures
  • Risk Analysis
  • Projected Cash Flow (jpg)
  • Definition of Terms for Projected Cash Flow Ratio Analysis (jpg)
  • Ratio Analysis Sample
  • Projected Income Statement (jpg)
  • Definition of Terms for Projected Income Statement (jpg)
  • Projected Balance Sheet (jpg)
  • Definition of Terms for Projected Balance Sheet (jpg)
  • Projected Income Statement Low-Middle-High (jpg)
  • Definition of Terms for Projected Income Statement (jpg)
• Supporting Documents

Case Studies

• Cory’s Country Lamb
• U.S. Premium Beef
• Niman Ranch Pork Company
• West Liberty Foods
• LamPost Meats
• Nahunta Pork Center
• Goridto’s Meats

Reference/Additional Resources

• Industry Associations
• Iowa Resources for Financial Assistance
• Contacts for Foreign Market Information and Assistance
• Employee Training Programs
• Industry and General Business Information Sources
• Iowa Councils of Government
• Iowa Processors
• CIRAS Services
• Plant Layout
• Financial Management Assistance
• ISO 9000
• Education for ISO 9000 Implementation
• Auditing to the ISO 9000 Standard
• Plan Your Future
• Unleash the Power of the Internet
• Business Development (pdf)

Links