The LivePlan Method: Plan Phase Follow

Diane G.

March 29, 2023 18:30

In this phase of the project, you'll have a one-hour meeting with your client to complete a Lean Business Plan, using the Pitch tab in LivePlan. You already filled out a few sections in preparation for the Kickoff meeting. Now you'll dig a bit deeper with your client to flesh out the rest. You'll need a general understanding of this Pitch information in order to build a competent forecast.

Note: Keep the details captured in the Pitch brief and to the point. The character limits in the Pitch form help keep you from going into too much detail. You'll also skip two sections, which are detailed below.

Use our Strategic Advisor Plan Guide to conduct your Plan meeting. Simply fill out our Resource Guides request form to download a set of three guides, one for each of the three meetings in the LivePlan Method.

Step 2.01: Problem and Unique Solution

In this step, your client explains what problem his or her business is solving in the market, and how. If the client is having difficulty articulating these points, our Resource Guide above offers some questions you can ask in your meeting to help you elicit deeper information.

Basic instructions for this step: Pitch: Problem and Unique Solution

Helpful related article: Tips on the Problem and Solution sections of the plan

Step 2.02: Target Market

This step is about explaining who the business serves, and the approximate size of the potential market.

Basic instructions for this step: Pitch: Target Market

Helpful related article: Tips on the Target Market section of the Pitch

Note: For this process, skip the Competitors and Funding Needed sections of the Pitch form.

Step 2.03: Sales and Marketing Activities

This step is twofold: you'll list the methods the business uses to sell its products and services, and the marketing activities that will promote them. This step can include both current and future plans.

Basic instructions for this step: Pitch: Sales and Marketing Activities

Step 2.04 Team, Partners, and Resources

Here, you'll list the people, relationships and resources the business needs in order to run effectively.

Basic instructions for this step: Pitch: Team and Resources

Step 2.05 Milestones

In this step, you'll help your client establish some important scheduled tasks with specific deadlines. Your client may already have some contractual obligations in place that can be recorded among the Milestones as well.

Basic instructions for this step: Pitch: Milestones

Step 2.06 Publishing the Pitch

Once the Pitch is complete, you can either re-publish it as an updated web page for your client to access, or download it as a PDF.

It's up to you whether you issue guest access to LivePlan to your client. If you prefer not to, you can always share the downloaded PDF with them instead.

Basic instructions for this step:

Helpful related article: Adding and removing contributors and guests

Next Step: Analyze & Forecast Phase