This week’s discussion is worth 70 points. Before completing this discussion post, review these resources:
· Textbook Chapter 16, “The Financials,” pages 289–332.
· Your business plan.
Also review the appropriate guidelines:
· Snack Food Company Guidelines [DOCX].
· Company of Your Choice Guidelines [DOCX].
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
· Complete all worksheets in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template using your business plan and the appropriate set of guidelines for the company, whether it is a startup company of your choosing or based on the snack food company scenario.
. If you are working with the Snack Food Company, input the applicable numbers from the guidelines.
. Completing all these worksheets will enable you to finalize the Income Statement, Cash Flow Projections, and Balance Sheet worksheets in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template.
· Attach the Business Plan Financials Excel Template to the discussion submission area and click Submit.
. To do this, choose one of these options:
1. Click on the Browse the Computer button under the discussion area.
1. Select the Attachment option within the discussion window.
. No additional text needed.
Post at least one substantive comment to another student’s post.
Notes
· You have already completed the Setup and Marketing Budget worksheets in your Marketing Plan and Budget assignment.
. Make any desired adjustments to these worksheets.
.
Week 8
Before beginning work on this discussion post, review Chapter 16, “The Financials,” in your textbook. You have already read this chapter during the previous week. With your review this week, specifically examine:
· “Assumption Sheet,” pages 323–324 and “Sample Plan: Assumptions,” page 332.
· “Sources and Use of Funds,” page 317 and “Sample Plan: Sources and Use of Funds,” page 331.
· “Break-Even Analysis,” pages 320–321.
The financial plan must be based on decisions and facts. Investors want to know whether your business plan is realistic.
For This Week’s Discussion, Please Respond to the Following
Provide a written overview of the plan assumptions and key financials based on the information contained in your business plan and your Business Plan Financials Excel Template.
Use headings (bold) to address each required topic.
Be sure to include:
| Key Financial | Specific Worksheet in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template where the information can be found |
| Projected Sales
(clarify the product lines you have) |
Sales Projections worksheet |
| Personnel Overview | Setup and Staff Budgeting worksheets |
| Financing to Date and Funds you plan to raise from investors | Capital Investments worksheet |
| Use of Funds | Capital Expenditures worksheet |
| Break-Even Analysis | Break-Even worksheet |
| Projected Profits | Income Statement worksheet |
Important: do not copy tables from the Excel document in your discussion response. This is an overview of the key financials.
Week 9
To prepare for this week’s discussion post:
· Watch these LinkedIn Learning videos from the series Giving Your Elevator Pitch with Todd Dewett (use your student login for LinkedIn.com if prompted):
. Benefits to an Elevator Pitch.
. Making an Initial Connection.
· Read Robert W. Bly’s article “The 3-Part Elevator Pitch Formula You Need to Know.”
This Week’s Discussion Post
For this week’s discussion, please respond to the following:
· Develop a 30-second elevator pitch for your selected company (whether you’re working with the snack food company scenario or the company of your choice), using the tips provided in the videos and article.
. Enclose your elevator speech within quotation marks.
· Provide a rationale for the components included in your pitch.
