The Small Farm Nation 1-Page Strategic Plan

Book excerpt: Why do so many farm businesses struggle to survive, let alone thrive?It's because they don't make clear strategic choices that reward them with a competitive advantage. Instead, most entrepreneurs start with a boilerplate business plan. Why? Because they think that's what they're supposed to do. Lenders may require a plan like that but boilerplate business plans are of little help in making the strategic choices that will determine if your business thrives, or dies. Given how much there is riding on your business success you'd think there would be a better tool to guide you through the strategic choices that will determine if your business succeeds or not.Now there is!In this book, you'll discover the step-by-step 1-Page Strategic Plan template that will allow you to: - Understand why "boilerplate" business plans are virtually worthless as a tool for creating a sustainably profitable business.- Clarify a vision and mission that will drive strategic choices.- Find profitable customers when you're located in a rural market.- Understand why the concept of the ideal customer is a myth and what you should look for instead.- Analyze various go-to-market strategies and choose the best distribution channel for your business model.- Learn the Farm Product Decision Matrix, a step-by-step tool that guides you on choosing the most profitable products to offer.- The three ways you can earn higher than average profit margins and how to choose the best strategy.- Understand the five competitive forces and how you can select your competitive advantage.- Define your critical success factors and focus on the key performance goals that have the greatest impact on your business success.- Understand how profitable businesses can still go bankrupt and how you can avoid that.Whether you're a farmer, an entrepreneur, or owner of any small business, The Small Farm Nation 1-Page Strategic Plan will transform the way you think about planning how your business will not only survive in the short-term but thrive in the long-term.