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We have started back blogging and look forward to sharing interesting content with you.

In today’s “Tallahassee Democrat,” the newspaper profiled an El Salvadoran restaurant called El Viroleno. The Central American restaurant is located on Tennessee street and is a small business with one cook who specializes in authentic cuisine. I ran across the article in my Facebook feed and clicked on the link to the newspaper to learn more. Additionally, I searched for the restaurant’s Facebook page because the newspaper shared in the article that El Viroleno has one. My experience is an excellent example of how social media can get the word out about your business. I wasn’t even looking for a restaurant; however, since it was in my feed (and caught my interest), I clicked through to find out more information about the restaurant and the next time I am trying to feed my stomach for lunch I might just stop by.

Internet marketing works! Promote your business where the consumers are—on the Internet, whether it’s on a computer or handheld, electronic device like a tablet or smartphone.

Resource:

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/food/2014/07/09/el-viroleo-brings-south-american-flavors-tallahassee/12405373/

Check out El Viroleno’s Facebook page:

Have you noticed just like the country has gone CUPCAKE CRAZY we also love anything being sold to us from a FOOD TRUCK! This is great news for those of us who promote diversity and cultural awareness because business owners with a passion for cooking their delectable, authentic, multicultural cuisine can share their edible fares to the masses—thanks to their wheels.

Here are some interesting articles on the Web about the topic:

• YaleNews – “Students map diversity and culture of New Haven through food trucks”
• The New York Times – “Blending of Cultures Visible in the Food Trucks”
• Smithsonian Magazine – “How America Became a Food Truck Nation”
• Forbes – “Exploring Toronto’s Diverse Food Truck Scene”
• Good Magazine – “GOOD Ideas for Cities: Building a Food Truck Movement”
• BeyondChron – “Food Trucks Key to San Francisco’s Food Diversity & Culture”

In our February 11, 2014 blog post, “Business Plan 101: What is an Executive Summary,” we discussed the basics of this all-important section of your business plan.

Eric Markowitz has written an interesting article about how to write an executive summary. In the article he discusses how to make sure that your executive summary is the perfect sales pitch to use when pitching your business to a potential investor. Markowitz states that “the process of distilling the essence of your business down to a page forces you to think hard, decide what’s important, and discard things that aren’t essential to the story line.” This is so true because a lot of times you only have a few minutes to capture someone’s attention, especially a potential financial backer. Make every word count.

Resources:

Cleaver, Joanne. Starting a Business: An Easy, Smart Guide to Starting Your Own Business. Barnes and Noble Books: New York (2003).

Entrepreneur.com. “Starting a Business: How to Write Your Mission Statement.” http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/65230. October 30, 2003.

Markowitz, Eric. Inc.com. “How to Write an Executive Summary.” http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/09/how-to-write-an-executive-summary.html

The one or two page executive summary is the most important part of your business plan because it offers an overview and briefly summarizes the overall plan for your business. According to Joanne Cleaver, the executive summary “highlights the market need and market opportunity and how you plan to take advantage of that opportunity” (64). It’s the first impression when potential financial backers ask to see what you’re about in writing.

Even though it is the opening pages of your business plan, you should write it last so that you can include a strong summary of your overall plan.

For established businesses include the following:

• Mission Statement
• Company Information
• Growth Highlights
• Your Products/Services
• Financial Information
• Summary of Future Plans

New businesses should focus on experience, background, and a thorough understanding of your place in the market, along with projections for your growth potential.

Resources:

Cleaver, Joanne. Starting a Business: An Easy, Smart Guide to Starting Your Own Business. Barnes and Noble Books: New York (2003).

Pinson, Linda. “Anatomy of a Business Plan: The Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Business and Securing Your Company’s Future,” 7th Edition. Out of Your Mind . .. and Into the Marketplace, California (2008).

SBA.gov – “Create Your Business Plan: Executive Summary” – http://www.sba.gov/content/business-plan-executive-summary

A mission statement, a few short and sweet sentences that capture the heart and soul of your business, is vital to your organizational philosophy, as well as the overall business plan its entirety. A mission statement includes your business goals and offers a first glance to others about what your business is about and stands for.

Resources:

Cleaver, Joanne. Starting a Business: An Easy, Smart Guide to Starting Your Own Business. Barnes and Noble Books: New York (2003).

Entrepreneur.com. “Starting a Business: How to Write Your Mission Statement.” http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/65230. October 30, 2003.