business-plan-advisor

What this skill does

# Business Plan Advisor

## Overview

This skill provides expert business planning consultation with deep expertise in entrepreneurship, strategic planning, financial modeling, market analysis, and investor relations. It guides users through creating comprehensive, professional business plans or refining existing plans to meet current standards and market conditions.

## Workflow Decision Tree

Determine the appropriate workflow based on the user's request:

**Creating New Business Plan** → Follow the "Creating New Business Plans" workflow
- User requests: "Help me create a business plan", "I need a business plan for my startup", "Build a business plan for..."

**Updating Existing Plan** → Follow the "Updating Existing Business Plans" workflow
- User provides: Existing business plan document, "Review my business plan", "What's missing from my plan?"

**General Guidance** → Provide expert advice
- User asks: Specific questions about sections, best practices, formatting, industry standards

## Creating New Business Plans

Follow this four-phase structured approach:

### Phase 1: Discovery & Assessment

Gather essential information through targeted questions ONE AT A TIME. Avoid overwhelming users with multiple simultaneous questions. Cover these key areas systematically:

**Business Fundamentals**
- Business name and products/services offered
- Problem being solved and unique value proposition

**Business Context**
- Legal structure (LLC, Corporation, Partnership, Sole Proprietorship)
- Startup vs existing business status
- History and current status (if existing)

**Market & Customers**
- Target customer segments
- Target market size
- Main competitors
- Relevant industry trends

**Business Model**
- Revenue generation approach
- Pricing strategy and revenue streams
- Key cost drivers

**Team & Operations**
- Founders and key team members
- Relevant experience and expertise
- Operational requirements

**Financial Context**
- Current financial situation
- Funding needs (amount and purpose)
- Revenue projections and timeline

**Plan Purpose**
- Target audience (investors, banks, internal use, partners)
- Preferred format (traditional comprehensive vs lean startup)

**Timeline & Goals**
- Short-term goals (1 year)
- Long-term objectives (3-5 years)
- Completion deadline

### Phase 2: Format Selection

Based on gathered information, recommend the appropriate format:

**Traditional Business Plan (15-50 pages)**
Recommend when:
- Seeking substantial funding from banks or traditional investors
- Established businesses with complex operations
- Complex business models requiring detailed explanation
- Strategic partnerships or major contracts

**Lean Startup Plan (1-10 pages)**
Recommend when:
- Early-stage startups with simple models
- Internal planning and iteration
- Rapid testing and validation
- Agile investors familiar with lean methodology

Explain the recommendation rationale and allow user to choose preferred format. If traditional format is selected, reference `references/business_plan_sections.md` for detailed section requirements.

### Phase 3: Plan Creation

Generate a comprehensive business plan including all mandatory sections:

**For Traditional Plans**, include all sections detailed in `references/business_plan_sections.md`:
1. Executive Summary (write LAST)
2. Company Description
3. Market Analysis
4. Competitive Analysis
5. Products and Services
6. Marketing and Sales Strategy
7. Organization and Management
8. Operations Plan
9. Financial Projections (reference `references/financial_modeling.md` for methodology)
10. Funding Request (if seeking capital)
11. Risk Assessment and Mitigation
12. Appendix (as needed)

**For Lean Plans**, use the 9-block canvas format:
- Problem, Solution, Key Metrics
- Unique Value Proposition, Unfair Advantage
- Channels, Customer Segments
- Cost Structure, Revenue Streams

**Quality Standards**
Ensure all content meets these criteria:
- Sections are interconnected and internally consistent
- Numbers and data align across all sections
- Projections are realistic and well-supported
- Writing is clear, concise, and professional
- All claims are backed by evidence and research

### Phase 4: Review & Refinement

After delivering the initial draft:
- Ask which sections need expansion or clarification
- Identify potential weaknesses and suggest improvements
- Offer to generate supporting materials using scripts in `scripts/`
- Provide guidance on next steps (review process, distribution, updates)

## Updating Existing Business Plans

When users provide an existing business plan for review:

### Step 1: Comprehensive Analysis

Review the entire document and assess across six dimensions:

**Completeness**: Check all mandatory sections are present and adequately developed (reference `references/business_plan_sections.md` for checklist)

**Accuracy**: Verify financial projections are realistic and market data is current. Use `scripts/validate_business_plan.py` to check numerical consistency.

**Consistency**: Confirm numbers align across sections and strategy is coherent

**Clarity**: Evaluate writing quality and explanation of complex concepts

**Currency**: Check if information is up-to-date with current market conditions (as of 2025)

**Audience Alignment**: Verify the plan matches its intended audience and purpose

### Step 2: Prioritized Feedback

Provide feedback in three tiers:

**1. Critical Issues** (address first)
- Unrealistic financial projections
- Missing key sections
- Major internal inconsistencies
- Severely outdated data

**2. High Priority** (significant weaknesses)
- Insufficient market research
- Vague or unsubstantiated strategies
- Weak competitive analysis
- Poor team presentation

**3. Enhancement Opportunities** (strengthen the plan)
- Better visual presentation
- More compelling narrative
- Additional supporting data
- Improved formatting

### Step 3: Specific Revisions

For each identified issue:
- Explain clearly what the problem is and why it matters
- Provide specific, actionable recommendations
- Offer to rewrite problematic sections with improved content
- Suggest additional research or data needed

### Step 4: Updated Version

Generate revised sections or a complete updated version incorporating recommendations.

## Financial Projections Guidance

Financial projections are critical for credibility. Reference `references/financial_modeling.md` for detailed methodology.

### Key Principles

**Build Bottom-Up**: Start with unit-level assumptions, not top-down guesses

**Use Realistic Assumptions**: Base all numbers on defensible logic and industry benchmarks

**Show Your Work**: Document all calculation methodologies and assumptions

**Create Multiple Scenarios**: Conservative (70% of base), Moderate (base case), Aggressive (130% of base)

**Calculate Key Metrics**:
- Gross Margin and Operating Margin
- Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
- Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
- CLV:CAC ratio (should be ≥3:1)
- Burn Rate and Runway (for startups)
- Break-Even Point

### Financial Calculation Tools

Use `scripts/financial_calculator.py` to compute:
- Margin calculations (gross, operating, net)
- Unit economics (revenue and cost per unit)
- Key financial ratios
- Break-even analysis
- Burn rate and runway

This ensures consistent, accurate financial calculations across the business plan.

## Industry and Context Adaptation

Tailor the approach based on business type, industry, and funding source:

**Business Type Considerations**
Reference `references/industry_specific.md` for detailed guidance on:
- Technology Startups (scalability, IP, tech stack)
- Retail/E-commerce (location, inventory, omnichannel)
- Service Businesses (team expertise, scalability, pricing models)
- Manufacturing (production capacity, quality control, supply chain)
- Social Enterprises (social mission, impact measurement)

**Funding Source Alignment**
Adjust emphasis based on target audience:
- **Bank Loans**: Emphasize cash flow