How to Prepare a Business Plan Presentation

Once you've piqued the interest of potential investors, you'll have 25 minutes or less to explain your business plan and tell why you think your venture will be the next big thing. Make every minute count by preparing an effective presentation.

Things You'll Need

• Business Plan
• Index Cards
• Spiral Notebooks

Instructions

1. Analyze the audience. Find out who will be attending your presentation. Try to get background on each investor. Determine what other types of businesses they've invested in. Get a sense of what impresses them.

2. Get organized. Draw up an outline of the key points you want to hit upon. Arrange your material in the same order that your business plan is organized in. Eliminate gaps and inconsistencies in your outline.

3. Prepare a script. Write your speech on 3-by-5-inch index cards, or type it using a large, easy-to-read font. If you don't want to write a full speech, jot down bullet points instead.

4. Keep your tone conversational. Give a quick overview of the business and then go into the specifics of the business plan.

5. Use visual aids during your presentation. The most effective presentations are accompanied by 10 to 15 slides, overheads or handouts to punctuate your remarks. You can use PowerPoint to prepare a computerized presentation as well. You may show a corporate video, but don't let it run for more than 5 minutes.

6. Review your presentation. Cut out lengthy sentences. Check for flow and continuity.

7. Practice. Read your script out loud alone. Then do a dry run by giving your whole presentation to a group of friends. Ask them to critique your performance. Be sure to rehearse the audiovisual portion of your presentation as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Ideally, you should spend 1 hour of preparation for every minute you plan to speak.

• Be flexible yet focused. If investors want to interject with questions, answer them and then get back on track.

• Try to anticipate what questions may arise during the question-and-answer period and be ready with a response.

• Don't give more information than is needed. You don't want to ramble on and bore your audience.