Why Your Business Plan’s First Draft Is Terrible

Revisions are where the magic happens. Here’s how.

You’ve written a first draft of your business plan, and you’re getting ready to shop it around to investors. But I don’t even need to read it. I already know it’s terrible.

You may consider this presumptuous of me. How could I possibly know what’s in your business plan if I haven’t looked at it?

The answer is simple. All first drafts of business plans are terrible, and generally not worth serious consideration. But why is this the case and what are you supposed to do about it?

All first drafts are terrible

First, let this sink in: Your first draft is awful. Ernest Hemingway is commonly credited with saying: “The first draft of anything is though this may not be an exact quote.

Any good writer will tell you that writing itself is actually a small part of the creation process. After writing, you need to revise and revise and revise to get your words the way you want them. No one writer, not even the best writer on the planet, is capable of getting a perfect first draft out on their first try. This is especially true when it comes to business plans, which are even more reliant on factual evidence and logical structures than other types of works.

But let’s dig into the details. What is it that makes your business plan’s first draft so terrible?

Formatting and high-level planning

Many new business owners follow an existing template to create their business plan. This isn’t a bad start, but it might not be the best long-term strategy for your business plan’s development. Your business plan’s formatting and structure should reflect the nature of the business; that could mean leaving out certain sections or adding new ones entirely.

Incomplete and inaccurate information

First drafts of business plans often leave out important pieces of information or are stuck with inaccurate information. This is especially true if the first draft was written some time ago. Statistics can change quickly, and your business plan should be reflective of the most recent information. Even if the majority of your first draft was effective, you will still need to go back and revise the numbers periodically.

Missing counterpoints

Most small-business owners focus on the positive aspects of their business in the first draft of their plan. They dote on the originality of the idea, the revenue potential and the runway for future growth. But it’s also important to include counterpoints; what are the strongest arguments against your business’s potential for success? What might a naysayer have to say about this business idea?

These are important to proactively address, especially if you’re trying to convince an investor to contribute to your initial funds. Only through time and experience will you be able to discover (and refute) more counterpoints.

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