Vancouver business plan writers – with so many choices available, you may be wondering how to go about hiring someone to write your business plan. Consider the following questions before you hand over your cheque.

Note: If you’re looking to hire someone to write your business plan, email me, call 604-345-7942 or see my company.

Questions to ask before you hire a business plan writer

Does the business plan writer have writing experience and training? Any person off the street can take the title of business plan writer. You’ll want to make sure you’re working with someone who has a strong background in writing.

Does the business plan writer have business experience? Sure, a good writer can make a business plan sound good, but you probably also want some business guidance and a plan that makes business sense. Investors and lenders have specific needs and it takes someone who knows business to create a business plan – not just an essay.

How long has the business plan writer been doing this?

Have they been trained in business planning? You’ll want to be sure that the person you hire knows how to write a business plan, not just string words together.

Does the business plan writer have references? Watch out for business plan writers who trot out the business secrets of past clients by showing you their “portfolio”. It’s one thing to share a portfolio of brochures or websites. But most clients would never want anyone to share their business plans.

How long has the business plan writer been running their own business? Someone who has successfully run their own business for years will be better able to help.

How much do they charge? Really, you should be considering the overall project cost and the value you will get for your money. A consultant who charges $75 per hour is meaningless when set against one who charges $300, if the more expensive consultant works faster and solves your problems more efficiently. Take a good look at the project proposal and the experience the consultant brings to the project.

How do they charge? An experienced consultant will expect a fee for 35 to 50 percent of the project up front. Beyond the deposit, they will generally charge by the milestone. Most will work on the business overview, product/service, industry analysis and marketing analysis first, then move on to operations and financial plans.

Does the consultant provide a contract and conditions? Never hire a business plan writer or consultant without having a good understanding of the proposal and contract.

Does the consultant feel like a fit for you? If you don’t have a high level of confidence and trust in the business plan writer, move on. No matter how fantastic the plan they produce may be, you won’t ever feel like implementing it if you have less than full confidence in their abilities.

Those are just a few of the questions you should ask a business plan writer or business plan consultant. What questions are on your hot list?

If you’re looking to hire someone to write your business plan, email me, call 604-345-7942 or see my company.

Tips for hiring a business plan writer in Vancouver. (c) 2011 by Andrea Coutu. Vancouver Marketing Consultant. All rights reserved.