Chapter 1: The 21st Century Entrepreneur
2. Can sell the business to investors
3. Participate in IPO’s
4. The size of the business dictates the sales parameter
iii. Rapid growth
iv. Heavily laden with debt
v. Developed organizational structure
vi. Experienced leadership is required
vii. Operations are initiated in multiple locations simultaneously
viii. High-risk operations
ix. Growth is dependent on speculative business
x. Employs many employees
E. Entrepreneurial business start-up
i. The start-up is self-funded or closely funded
ii. Oriented around a positive cash flow
iii. The management structure takes advantage of founder(s) skills
iv. Operation design in the image of the founder
v. Business is oriented toward the personal goals of the founder(s)
vi. One or less employees is typical
vii. The maximum employees are between 50 and 100
F. Compare and contrast the difference between entrepreneurial businesses
and venture capital-backed firms.
i. An entrepreneurial business has constrained resources and a
venture capital-backed firm’s resources are not constrained.
ii. In a small business a business plan is used as a guide in running
the business; and in a venture capital-backed firm, the business plan
is a promotional tool sent to investors.
G. Business Plans-Another difference in types of firms
i. Size of plan
1. Entrepreneurial business plan is usually 15-25 pages.
2. Venture capital-backed plan is usually 25-45 pages.
ii. Goal of business plan
1. Used as a guide in early development of the business.
2. Provides self- evaluation and analysis of the business.
3. Provides critical information to investors.
iii. Successful business plans have the following characteristics.
1. They do not use cookie-cutter business plan programs.
2. The plan is developed following the chapters of this text.
3. The plan should not intimidate the author by the effort to
4. Prepare a one-page pitch for the business. – example p.16
H. Review (pages 17 and 18)
IM 1-8
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