Dear George,

Actually, there is very little difference in writing a business plan for a
for-profit business and a non-profit museum. I firmly believe that creating
a business plan is an excellent way to sharpen the thinking of senior staff
and board when used in a retreat. The essentials of any business plan are
simple: What do we want to do (Mission)? Why do we think it will succeed
(Needs)? How are we going to accomplish our goals (Strategy)? Over what
period of time are we going to accomplish our goals (Timeline)? What
resources do we need to succeed (Resources)? The single most important part
of any good business plan is the a priori definition of success!!

I highly recommend buying any one of the better (cheap) business plan
computer software programs (approx cost $80- $150) dollars or a freebie such
as Microsoft Business Plan module included in many versions of Microsoft
Office. All your intern will have to do is answer the questions presented by
the program. If (s)he does not know the answer you can give the appropriate
response. You will find that some questions you may not even have considered
in the course of normal museum operations, but it will become obvious why
these questions are important.  For example, a standard question is who is
you closest competitor? The actual answer might surprise you, because it
could turn out to be an amusement park and not another museum. The critical
part of planning is to examine your situation as realistically as possible
without the preconceptions we so often carry with us.

Good luck and have fun

Nicholas Burlakoff
Consultant

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of George Garner
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 6:04 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Museum Business plans vs. for-profit business plans

Dear all,

We are beginning the dreaded, but vital process of writing a business plan.
I am working with an undergraduate student from a local college's business
department. However, having little experience with business plans I want to
offer him some guidance - especially about the differences between business
plans for the profit and non-profit worlds.

What differences exist, if any, between for-profit and not-for-profit
business plans? Also, if anyone would mind sharing a copy of theirs (a table
of contents will suffice - just enough to get a template) I would greatly
appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
George Garner
National Speedskating Museum and Hall of Fame
George Garner, Director and Curator
P.O. Box 3120, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 587-2609

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