Technology Business Plan Sample

Funding Request for Business Start up

Graphics For You Inc. is seeking $20 twenty thousand dollars cash plus $20 line of credit in start up funding for graphic logo and web site design business. Graphics For You Inc. is ready to launch with an operational web site and line of existing products available for immediate sale. Funding is required for additional staff and operating expenses.

The Objectives

Graphics For You Inc. has been developed to offer an affordable image branding product for new start up businesses and existing small to mid sized companies. By purchasing from Graphics For You Inc companies can acquire professionally designed logo that is unique to their business while keeping their overall costs down. We offer unique stylish logos for our clients. Other graphics companies may charge 10 20 times more for logos of this quality.

Using our less expensive services will allow our clients to direct more money into other aspects of their businesses. Our designers have over six years of experience in the web and graphics world which gives our company competitive edge. Our technical expertise allows us to also offer solutions such as web templates web design commerce printing services and design services for custom logos and other graphical elements. In addition we are offering resource collection of free articles on topics from advertising and promotion to software and start up companies.

We are targeting users in all areas and trying our best to deliver support for all of their needs. Our articles are intended to help them get their businesses up and running online as well as to propose solutions to important questions such as how to drive customers to their web sites.

Highlights

Innovative Professionally Designed Affordable Products Our products have been designed with the user client in mind. We offer many services not seen on other logo template sites such as text changes color changes and up to five other possible revisions per logo. All source files and fonts are included with each logo sale.

We sell only the highest quality logos. Each design must meet our standard of excellence before we will offer it on our site. Experienced Developers and Management Our management team and developers have over six years of experience in the world of web design and graphics.

Their familiarity with industry trends has taught them how to create sophisticated designs that will stand the test of time. Understanding of the Importance of Logo A logo is vital to company. It represents that business and is recognizable image to its customers. We know that no matter what else may change companies want to stick with logo.

That’s why we strive to create unique timeless designs. When new business purchases logo from us that company can rest assured that the logo design will work well for the entire life of the business. Customer Graphics For You Inc. will generally target home based businesses start ups and small to mid sized companies.

We will also approach larger companies through our custom logo creation services. About Us – The current owner of Graphics For You Inc. is Jim Spears. Future registration of our business as well as partners may change at any time. Graphics For You Inc. employs two people with third to be added shortly.

Graphics For You Inc. is headquartered in Wilmont WA. We are currently web based company only; physical locations or facilities have not been purchased or rented. At this time to keep costs down the company runs from an office in the owner’s home.

Products – Because our logos are already created our online logo shop will offer customers way to purchase great looking logo without the hassle and expense of contracting with graphics designer. Customer simply selects from our extensive collection of logos over logos in our shop at any time and orders logo online. When we receive the order we remove the logo from our web site to ensure that it is sold only once and then we contact the customer to ask if revisions are needed such as name change color change and up to five other possible revisions.

We provide all source files as well as the final logo files for print and web use. Services Graphics For You Inc. will be an online provider of logos and graphical design business identities and of business to business solutions focusing on the home based and small to mid sized business market. This will be combined with strategic advertising that will drive traffic to our web site and allow businesses to showcase and promote their product company on our site for fee. Our services of business identity and business promotion will be augmented by our ability to offer an effective range of web design and commerce services.

How to Contact Graphics For You Inc. If you need to contact us for any reason you can reach us at Graphics For You Inc. The mission of Graphics For You Inc. is to become recognizable North American web based company utilizing the connective power of the Internet to become leader in the unique logo templates market. We will offer start ups home based businesses and small to mid sized companies the opportunity to own unique high quality professional logo at lower price than our competitors charge.

Further we plan to deliver an environment that creates trust in Graphics For You Inc. as web resource as well as huge marketplace where businesses can promote their own products.

Purpose Statement

To accomplish this Graphics For You Inc. will combine high quality products and cost effective solutions along with effective and targeted marketing while creating alliances with similar supporting products to give our customers and users an all around company for their needs. As well as offering web resources such as place to promote their businesses Graphics For You Inc. will enable customers to request quotes for our other services such as web design and to gather information from our free web articles. Following is Graphics For You Inc.’s legal structure. Graphics For You Inc. is incorporated as an Corporation in the state of Washington.

Legal name. Graphics For You Inc. Type of company. Graphic and web site design products and services. Graphics For You Inc. will be an online provider of logos and graphical design and of business identities and business to business solutions focusing on the home based and small to mid sized business market. This will be combined with effective advertising that will drive traffic to our web site and allow businesses to showcase and promote themselves and their products on our site for fee. Our business identity and promotion applications will be strengthened by our ability to offer an effective range of web design and commerce services.

Product sales of pre designed logos will also be used to drive custom logo design web site design and commerce development sales. Custom Logo and Graphic Design Custom creation of business logos. Marketing and Promotion Online marketing of clients’ web sites. Web Site Design Custom creation of web sites for clients.

Commerce Services Custom creation of commerce business solutions for clients. Our online logo purchase shop will offer customers way to acquire great looking pre designed logo without the lengthy process of contracting with graphics designer. Our customers simply review our extensive collection of logos over logos in our shop at all times and then select and order one online. When we receive an order we remove the logo from our web site to ensure that it is sold only once and then we contact the customer to take care of any revisions such as changes to text colors or up to five other possible alterations.

We provide all source files as well as finished logo files for the customer’s print and web use. Graphics For You Inc. simplifies the design process by eliminating the need for expensive and time consuming back and forth consultations with graphic designer. Clients are able to peruse many high quality finished logos and choose the perfect design that fits their needs. They can request any necessary changes and within just few hours of purchase the final unique logo is delivered to their mail address with all files needed for their business.

The standard logo design process would usually take 14 business days and cost 10 15 times more than purchasing logo from us. When customers deal with Graphics For You Inc. they know up front exactly what they are getting. Saving time and money is important for any business and especially so for our primary target market of small to mid sized companies and home based businesses. Logos on Demand Pre designed logos for sale online.

Customers save costs by ordering pre designed logos that will not be made available after purchase to any other company. Our logos are sophisticated professional designs. We focus on offering smaller number of high quality designs as opposed to competing sites that sell large numbers of mostly lower quality products. Following is list of major assets owned by Graphics For You Inc.

Business Identity Our business identity which includes logo promotional tag and slogan have been developed to be used and recognized by businesses and customers. Our logo is unique to us displaying an eye appealing unique symbol that is easily recognized as Graphics For You Inc. creating brand labelling. Commerce Service Graphics For You Inc. features fully operational commerce web site system that allows products to be added through an admin section on the site.

Our site can also receive and process orders; remove sold products; create promotional offers coupons and vouchers; and display featured products on the front page. Also included in the commerce program is an area to add create and manage web site ads placed on the Graphics For You Inc. front page. Web Site Development All graphics for the web site have already been developed coded and integrated into the commerce system. The company web site is live and ready to start taking orders for our logo products.

Products Products such as logos have already been developed and an inventory of over products are on the web site at any given time. New logos of the highest quality are continually being developed and added to the web site. Equipment - We have purchased four computers one for office use and three for product development as well as the web site design graphic design and office management software required to launch the business. Intellectual Property - Graphics For You Inc. owns the web site domain "GraphicsForYou.com" and all of the web site and logo design template copyrights.

The following is description of Graphics For You Inc.’s operations. All products and services developed by Graphics For You Inc. logo products advertising web design graphic art etc. will originate from designers located in the USA. Customer Service After purchasing services from Graphics For You Inc. all customers will be able to work with the respected division of our company to allow initial enhancements of services. All forms of products will be delivered via mail or other electronic method.

All services and associated files except advertising can also be requested via CD ROM. In the event of an error caused by us the customer shall be re issued the service at no extra charge to correct the error. In the event of an error caused by the customer such as an incorrect URL in an advertisement we will correct the error in timely fashion as soon as we are notified by the customer. Customers will have the option of contacting us via mail as well as by other means such as phone call or messenger service on pre scheduled occasions.

Sales and Marketing Our promotion will focus mainly on the North American market principally on the United States but also on Canada. Our services however will be available worldwide. Our marketing will utilize ad campaigns targeting large numbers of webmaster related sites as well as individual business sites in order to direct attention to our services. Our advertising campaign is currently in the planning stage.

Production Our in house designers continually create new logos for sale as stock products and also provide custom services to our clients. When specialized services or heavier than anticipated workload requires additional staffing independent contractors or part time help will be hired on an as needed basis. Technology Our technology will be scrutinized each month including hardware that pertains to services computers servers as well as software programs licensed from third parties to manage our forum banner placing and commerce setup. Core technology needs are web site and graphic design software and suite of Windows Mac and Linux computers for development and testing.

Management currently consists of Jim Spears Owner of Graphics For You Inc. He also acts as the web master having over six years of experience in web development. Janet Spears will act as Assistant Manager delivering assistance when needed and participating in required meetings as well as delivering opinions and ideas on plans.

The following personnel will be required to operate the company. Personnel have been selected based on their ability to work together as team with specialties in related projects. Jim Spears – Web Site Designer Manager Jim Spears is professional software engineer with over years experience programming variety of computer systems and over six years of web site development and graphic design experience. Jim’s focus will be on creating the web site infrastructure to support the automated sales of pre designed logo graphics commerce web site development and custom programming services for clients.

Prior to starting Graphics for You Inc. Jim was the Director of Engineering for Global Concepts Inc. Jim has graduate degree in software engineering from Stanford. Janet Spears – Assistant Manager Janet Spears is professional human resources department manager with years of related experience.

Janet will be responsible for the day–to day company operations sales and client support liaison. Prior to starting Graphics for You Inc. with Jim Janet was the Human Resources Director for Harland Medical Diagnostics LLC. Janet graduated with bachelor’s degree in Communications from Stanford.

Jennifer Osgood – Graphic Designer Jennifer Osgood is professional graphic designer with four years of experience. Jennifer will be joining Graphics For You Inc. as full time graphic designer as soon as additional funding is secured. Jennifer will focus full time on creating new logo products and custom design services for clients and on creating marketing material for Graphics For You Inc.

Jennifer is currently freelance graphic designer. Jennifer graduated with bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Seattle Art Institute and specializes in multimedia. The graphic design and web site design industry targeted at the small business market is trending towards more commodity based industry with add on services.

In the past when the Internet was getting started as business platform most development was only available in the form of high priced custom services that were out of reach for most small businesses. Now the Internet is the perfect platform for providing affordable low cost high quality services to businesses of all sizes. Pre designed templates are booming business and in constant need of new material. These trends show that virtual business with low start up costs such as Graphics For You Inc. can successfully sell to global market of qualified customers who already purchase pre designed templates and graphics online and will also purchase add on services to customize the pre designed products.

Looking forward there is never ending supply of new business ventures and products being created worldwide and constantly increasing number of people worldwide using the Internet to find and purchase such products and services. Graphics For You Inc. will target new companies as well as focus on existing home based businesses and small to mid sized companies. Our reach of business will be global but our main focus and target area will be North America mostly the United States but also Canada. We will continually strive to deliver high quality graphics as well as other products that go hand–in hand with our main focus of service.

Also we plan to continually attract more clients with promotional offers quality logos and great savings on price. Graphics For You Inc. will also target businesses for advertising growing huge community and providing virtual shopping mall for companies to display their products. We will seek out advertisers who are already interested in the development side of business and the web guaranteeing efficient use of their advertising dollars.

Our greatest competitors are www.Templatemonster.com – This company has been in the template business for many years now and has expanded and spawned few more successful sites with their current selection of templates. They do not offer unique logo templates nor do they have the high quality logos that most businesses need. Their logo templates are sold many times over and can be seen on many different businesses. www.LogoYes.com – This company allows people and businesses to create their own logos using their template program. Customers can select symbols add text pick colors and use the resulting logo in any fashion.

However the symbols used in the logos are used many times over. The company charges $99 for this service. www.LogoPixel.com – This company offers combination of unique and non unique logos. Their non unique logos are sold many times over for the price of $39.99; many businesses end up with basically the same logo. Their unique logos only sold once retail at price of $199 which can be major expense for start up company.

To improve overall sales additional funding will be used to augment our sales department. The target market has been described in the "Market and Audience" section of this proposal.

Strategic Sales Objectives

Generate enough income from product sales to cover all non payroll expenses at minimum. Generate enough income from custom services to cover all payroll expenses. Generate an overall profit with combination of product and service sales.

Methods

Drive traffic to the web site for product sales. Convert percentage of product sales into custom service sales. Generate custom service sales from local mailings and cold calls.

Custom proposals will be generated and sent to qualified prospects.

Additional Sales Improvements

Establish monthly training meetings to improve sales techniques. Increase volume of sales calls per day. Analyze results of past proposals to improve future proposals. Monitor online marketing resources such as MarketingSherpa.com to assist in improving printed and online advertising.

Following is an evaluation of Graphics For You Inc.’s strategic position in the marketplace. Our edge in the market will be our price and our high quality selection of logos. Our main target audience of new businesses and home based businesses is growing every day.

For our main audience budgets are usually tight which makes the acquisition of quality logo for the business challenge. We aim to fill this gap and help new small to mid sized and home based businesses purchase great unique logo for great price. Our online store offers these businesses the security of seeing what they are buying while saving them the hassle and the time involved in hiring graphic artist.

Market and Audience

Graphics For You Inc.’s advertising side of the business will focus on building huge community of users interested in the web world as well as in the structural aspects of it design commerce programming software etc. Our site and community will be place where users can visit view our products study our articles and communicate in our forum. The forum will be an important part of our strategy as it will integrate and involve our users allowing them to maintain an active interest in our web site.

Market Approach

Our community will consist of thousands of members interested in business development commerce and virtual communities. From portals to web hosting businesses will be able to identify which markets to target and thus will be able to increase the size of their client base as well as their sales. Through advertising on our site companies will be able to display products that compliment our products and will be of interest to our user community.

Analysis

Graphics For You Inc. is at this time the only known provider of low cost pre designed unique logos. This approach of offering immediate gratification with one of kind designs at an affordable price should provide consistent income and create customer base for add on services. To facilitate creating an environment where sales can take place the following marketing plan is to be implemented. The target market has been described in the "Market and Audience" section of the proposal.

Marketing Venues

Local postcard mailings targeted at local area businesses. Targeted local online advertising for custom services. Targeted North American online advertising for product sales. Advertising via partner companies to drive traffic to our web site.

Other marketing avenues are being researched such as affiliate marketing contests etc.

Marketing Budget

This budget covers costs of printing marketing material local postage for mailings targeted local online advertising for services and general North American targeted online advertising for pre designed logo products.

Marketing Time Table

Online advertising campaigns will start immediately. Local postcard mailings will start within two weeks of funding with follow up sales calls between two and three weeks.

Follow up Marketing Plan

Follow up sales calls will be made to local area businesses to whom marketing postcards have been mailed. Our web site will be used to generate mailing list. Monthly specials will be mailed to our lists.

Marketing Analysis

Online advertising will use tracking links. Web site sales will request additional "where did you hear about us" data collection. Phone sales will request information about where the customer found us. Results will be reviewed monthly to help refine marketing messages and expenditures.

The following summarizes Graphics For You Inc.’s request for funding. Funding is to be used for the current start up year and following year until our third year when we expect to be profitable.

Funding Requested

Graphics For You Inc. requests $20 twenty thousand dollars cash plus $20 line of credit for start up funding.

Repayment Plan

Graphics For You Inc.’s financials are calculated based on $20 twenty thousand dollars cash loan with payment terms of years at prime 4% calculated based on an average of 10%.

Required Funding

Start up Expenses Current Year – months, Rent Lease, New Equipment, Supplies General Operating Expenses, Marketing.

Personnel Salaries - Web Site Developer Manager, Assistant Manager, Graphic Designer

The following table outlines Graphics For You Inc.’s balance sheet for the current year. Value of existing intangible assets already created which are counted as owner equity for purposes of balancing the assets & liabilities equity in the balance sheet. The following table outlines Graphics For You Inc.’s projected income for the next three years.

Current Year projections are based on six month calendar. Sales forecasts for services are based on expected monthly billable hours at $60 billing rate. The following table outlines Graphics For You Inc.’s breakeven analysis. There are no direct financial fixed or variable costs for our pre designed logo graphics.

Because our logos are created by in house staff only hourly work is required to create logo designs. The fixed and per unit costs do not include the initial cost of hardware and software used to create the products. Expected Unit Sales is conservative number based on in house staff’s time available to create and replenish unique designs as they are purchased.

Sales of these pre designed logos will be used to drive additional sales of customized logo and web site design services. Following is list of all sources of funds for the business start up. Source of Funds #1 Name.

Graphics For You Inc. Amount - $5000.00 This constitutes the remainder of funds left at this point. To date personal funds have been used to build the web site and current line of products to the current stage where we are ready to launch the business by adding full time employee and starting sales and marketing campaign. Graphics For You Inc. requires funding for the completion of the project.

Funds are to be used as follows. Funds will be used as needed for payroll marketing and general operating expenses while product and service sales increase to the point where funding is no longer required. The most critical cash flow period is in the first six months.

An upfront lump sum of $20 twenty thousand dollars is requested to fund the first six months with $20 line of credit for use in the following year if needed. This will provide sufficient funds while also reducing the amount of debt servicing required to repay the loan. The owner’s salary is set at about 50% of the industry standard salary during the first three years.

Sales and Marketing Amount. Funds to be used for printing marketing materials for postage for sending postcards to local area businesses and for targeted online advertising. We expect this initial marketing effort to generate enough customers in the short term that sales of services and logo products will provide the income required to operate the business within the first year.

Payroll Amount. Funds to be used to pay accrued payroll. Full payment of payroll for our one planned employee is critical. Payroll for the owner will be kept as low as possible for the first six months and will gradually increase over the next two years as cash flow allows.

By strictly adhering to positive cash flow policy by regulating our highest cost item payroll as best we can our financial plan shows that we should break even by our second year and be profitable in the third year and beyond. Other Amount. Funds to be used as needed for general office expenses computer hardware and software taxes etc.

Graphics For You Inc. already has all of the office equipment hardware and software required to launch the business. Additional costs such as upgrades new platforms etc. will be evaluated as needed. We are building alliances and setting up web sites that offer complimentary services. This is an attempt to increase our visibility in the marketplace and also to create new areas of revenue for our company.

Building these partnerships allows us to offer broader range of services to our customers giving them access to more resources every time they visit Graphics For You Inc. This creates repeat visitors and recurring flow of cash into our business. Some of our key business partners are. EZ Business Start up Offers guides to businesses on how to start new business venture.

EZ Business Start up will promote Graphics For You Inc. as provider of start up services. The Template Store Offers their template customers special deals on related products such as Graphics For You Inc. logos. Business Weekly Offers weekly newsletter to business owners promoting low cost business start up products and services.