A Business Plan is Not the End of the World

Guest Post by Jennifer Lynne

Author of Fashion Unraveled

A business plan is not the end of the world

Business plans can be intimidating for anyone, which probably explains why there are thousands of books on how to write one. But do YOU really need one? Answer this question:

Do you sell things you make, resell merchandise you buy or sell your services for a profit?

             a. Yes, I make a living doing it.

             b. Yes, I’m making some money but I’d like to make a living doing it.

             c. Yes, but it’s just a hobby that brings in a little extra cash.

             d. No.

If you answered d, please proceed to the next article, I don’t know why you would even be reading about business plans. If you answered a, b or c, well then, we need to talk business plans.

I think the scariest words to an entrepreneur is “business plan,” so let’s make this subject a little less frightening. Here are 5 reasons we use a business plan.

1. Entrepreneurs are creative individuals, and as you may know, creative individuals are highly susceptible to short attention spans and the curse of unending multi-tasking. A business plan keeps these brave souls in check and organized.

2. In the excitement of starting a business, entrepreneurs want to buy anything and everything to get the business going. The business plan makes you lay out your planned expenses so you don’t go bankrupt before you even launch your business.

3. Business plans make us take everything into account and bring everything into perspective. It lays out what you expect to get out of your business, when you expect to see a positive cash flow and how you plan to get your customers?

4. Everyone has a million dollar idea, but how many of those people are able to make a million dollars off of it. With careful budgeting and forecasting, you can see if your million dollar idea is going to be your life force, transform itself into a thousand dollar idea or become the bane of your existence.

5. Because it’s for you and no one else!

The words “business plan” gets the reaction out of most as if someone scratched their fingernails down the chalkboard. But you know what? You can call it something else. Call it your gold plan, your kids college fund or your retirement plan, but for a business to be successful, it is a good idea to create a business plan even if you never show it to anyone but your cat Murray.

About the Author & Book:
As an educator at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (San Francisco & LA), Jennifer Lynne Matthews, recognized that there was a need for a step by step educational manual to teach her students on how to start their own business. Consequently, Matthews wrote the first edition of Fashion Unraveled in 2008 to provide such educational material; the second edition is due out in early 2011. Matthews, also a lingerie designer and entrepreneur, began her path in the fashion industry in 1994. She attended Florida State University, then the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, completing her degree in 1999. With a specialization in intimate apparel, Matthews began working in the industry as a stylist and freelance designer.


In 2002, Matthews opened her own business, Porcelynne Lingerie. Fashion Unraveled is built on Matthews’ experience in both opening and sustaining a successful business. She brings the knowledge of running a small business and her expertise in the industry into her book and it continues into her classroom teaching.

Matthews has won numerous awards for her designs and has received worldwide accolades for her work, including the Best of the East Bay and the Best of San Francisco Mastermind awards for her lingerie designs. Her most recent project has been on a reality TV show (currently being pitched to networks) as a co-producer and fashion consultant for a lingerie design competition show.

Future plans include authoring a collection of books on lingerie design, draping and clothing construction. She also aspires to open a showroom and education studio in the garment district of Los Angeles.

For more information on Jennifer Matthews and her work, see www.fashionunraveled.com and www.porcelynne.com.