Once you have created a business plan the next key step of course will be to sell your plan and idea to a potential funder. Weather the funder is the bank or an investor, the key thing is that in order to convince them certain issues needs to be mentioned in the plan and you need to be answering the key questions that the investor may have in their mind.

The first and most important issue for any investor really will be, is this business viable? Is this a real opportunity based on facts and is there any evidence, and this can be in the form of marketing research or a number of other pieces of evidence, that shows that the business will generate a return. Although investors will be looking for opportunities for various reasons, a key issue for just about all investors will be the potential return on investment that they can expect or work towards.

There are of course many ways of raising money to fund a company. With the internet and "instant ompanies" as we have discussed in previous articles, you don't need much money to start a company. Many companies you can start with little or no start-up costs at all. There are even many  advertising resources on the internet from classified ads to press releases to link exchanges that make advertising on the internet free. As for print advertisers, many of these are discount.

However, there are many business people, including internet business professionals who do need funds for their companies. Some because you might want to hire employers who certainly are not going to work for free. So you might be required to pay these workers.

Some people have funded companies with credit cards and revolving lines of credit, but this is mainly for companies that require low start-up costs.

If you need real money to start a company, say in the hundreds of thousands or millions, then first you need a business plan.

There are many venture capitalists and those who help raise business capital and business financial brokers, but all of these need a business plan.

There are people who write business plans for you. But as a business professional, even if you hire a professional to write your business plan, some charging thousands of dollars, you should nevertheless learn how to write a business plan yourself, and learn the elements of a good business plan.

When writing your business plan, you must be clear on what product or services does your company provide, how is your company different and/or greater than others in these areas, and what needs does it fill for your clients. Note, you are not selling your company ideas to clients but to potential investors. Why should they invest in your company? What are the goals of your company? You should also include the resumes of the principles. They should have the credentials needed. If you yourself do not have the credentials that you think
would be sufficient for these investors, then you need to hire people with the necessary credentials.

You must have a current & pro forma balance sheet. There are many examples of this online. There should be an income statement, cash flow analysis. Understand that all these are potentials if yours is a start-up company.

Details in the business plan should be specific and well-organized. Again, you are "selling" your company to investors. If you are writing the business plan yourself then you should try to obtain copies of other business plans, read and study them. If you can find copies of business plans that have been successful in obtaining financing for their clients, then try to review copies of these business plans.

You must also include how your company intends to repay the money. What is your repayment schedule. How is your company to earn money for this repayment of the investor(s). Also, if
any of the investments are equity investment, then what percentage of the company do the equity investors own?

Its important that you know who your potential customers are, how to you sell to them, advertise to them, why should they want to buy your products and/or services? Again, what makes your company different or greater than your competitors. Also, if this is a truly original type of company, how is it original?

A business plan needs to have balance between being comprehensive yet not to drawn out. Remember that an investor or bank decision maker may be reading numerous plans every day so may not be to interested in the specific detail of your packaging for example. If you already have suppliers, include this information. If you already have potential buyers,include this information.

First, read these websites and find out if yours is the type of business that they are funding. Reread and proofread your business plan. Make use of the outline or software models. Or again you can hire a professional business plan writer.

At the end of the day yopu need to be innovative in the way that you find and sell to investors but most of all your idea needs to be a viable one.