Needing someone to develop a marketing plan
 

Can someone put me in touch with a person or firm who can develop a marketing strategy / business plan for a business Im trying to start? It's required by the lending institution. Thanks.

Eggers

Dear Egg, (I just really wanted to write that)

Can you give us some more info on the nature of the business? Different firms are good for different kinds of things.

Check out any local MBA programs. A lot of them will work with area businesses to write their business plans for experience.

I'm not sure about you but if I am about to present a business plan and marketing strategy to a bank for a loan I would be somewhat skeptical about handing over work done by a student rather than someone with experience.

Most good MBA programs don't accept students straight of college, they want you to work for a few years and get some work experience first.

Point taken. Thank you.


So any ideas other than MBA programs? Links to firms that specialize in general business planning and marketing strategies? With all the business majors out there somebody has to know of something.

Most MBA students have experience. And part of what they learn in MBA school is how to write a proper business plan with lots of help from professors and people the school works with. My company has done a lot of projects with local MBA schools where we have them work on business plans.

But hey, it's your plan and if you want to pay a lot of money for one, go right ahead.

Since your company has experience in dealing with MBA programs, off the top of your head much would it run me getting a plan drawn up through a local MBA program? I'm just looking for a ballpark figure for a basic plan as I am sure a more in depth plan would cost more.

We have never paid for one, but we also have a working relationship with all of the area universities.

Advertising and PR agencies specialize in marketing plans, and those are very different from a business plan. I think the suggestion to go with MBA students is a good one (particularly one with a business plan competition since it's extra incentive to give you a good product); the plan will likely include a little bit of marketing, then once you have your loan and your business together, go talk to a boutique agency about a more detailed marketing plan.