By Alejandro Cremandes
Business plan vs. pitch deck? Which should you be focusing on first as a startup founder?
For decades, entrepreneurs and business owners believed they needed to focus on building a comprehensive business plan. All before taking real action. There were good reasons for that. More recently, many entrepreneurs have gone almost exclusively with pitch decks in place of a traditional business plan.
Which of these two approaches is best? Does it depend on the type of business you are starting or if you plan any fundraising efforts? Is a hybrid approach the wisest move? Or should you stay intensely focused on one before the other?
Definitions: Business Plans Vs. Pitch Decks
As we share on Inner Circle, where we help entrepreneurs from A to Z with everything related to fundraising, a traditional business plan is a fairly lengthy text-based document. It lays out all of the parts of the business.
From the corporate structure to marketing plans to startup needs and growth plans and financial forecasts for the next five years. Plus the much longer-term game plan. This is typically in a Microsoft Word style format, and can easily run 25 pages. It begins with a brief executive summary. Which can be 1-3 pages long on its own.
A pitch deck is a slide-based presentation. Think PowerPoint or Google Slides formatting. Ideally, your pitch deck will run between 5 to 20 slides. It is a very short, simple and compact version of a traditional business plan. Pitch decks emerged specifically for pitching startups to potential investors for fundraising. However, they are increasingly replacing business plans.
Uses For A Business Plan Today
Are business plans still relevant today?
Yes and no. Every business and entrepreneur should have a plan. We all know what failing to plan means. Yet, what is effective and valuable in terms of business plans may be changing and evolving.
A business plan really helps you get depth and length in your plans. It gives more clarity than you could ever fit into a pitch deck. This process helps entrepreneurs really think through the details and big vision and long term game plan. It helps you get granular with marketing plans, startup costs, cash flow needs, and financial projections.
It also helps to give you a framework to start building on. As well as really thinking through a functional business model. Investors, advisors and other key players may be completely satisfied with seeing a one-page business plan, executive summary, and bullet-pointed action plan. Providing that accompanies a great pitch deck.
However, there may still be some scenarios in which you will be asked for your business plan. This includes applying for some types of loans, leasing space and joining certain groups or applying for licenses.
The Pros & Cons of Business Plans Today
The advantages of business plans:
Being forced to think through the details; Having an in-depth plan and awareness of your real needs;
Being able to back up the hype with something tangible; Credibility with potential partners and early investors ;Being prepared if you are asked for it; Having a comprehensive guide and roadmap to follow.
The cons of business plans:
Chances are no one else will ever read it; Things move so fast, most may be irrelevant in a couple of months; It’s a black hole for your time, energy and momentum ;Many entrepreneurs get bogged down here and miss their best opportunities ;Additional expenses with negligible returns; Appearing like a novice to experienced investors.
Uses For A Pitch Deck Today
A pitch deck is for more than just fundraising.
Pitch decks are synonymous with startup fundraising. Yet, they shouldn’t be exclusively tied to fundraising activities or only when you are out there actively raising for around.
In fact, you’ll find pitch decks useful from before day one through your exit.
These scenarios include:
Honing your initial concept and model, like with a business plan; Gaining initial feedback;
Recruiting co-founders; Enrolling advisors; Hiring early and key team members ;
Pitching investors on and offline; Securing early customers and strategic partnerships
;Through multiple fundraising rounds ;Getting to an exit.
The Pros & Cons Of Pitch Decks Today
The advantages of pitch decks:
Expected when raising capital ;A streamlined framework for creating a mini business plan
; Easily and efficiently updated for multiple purposes and ove-rtime; Much faster to create
More likely that you will use and refer to it often; Easier to share ;Enables you to get down to business faster.
The cons of pitch decks:
Can be an excuse not to have a real plan of model; Dangerous gaps from not thinking through the
and Very short term outlook.
Summary
There are many advantages and disadvantages of solely running on a traditional business plan or new modern pitch deck. Trying to juggle both simultaneously can further compound the cons, distraction, and length of time before you really get into the game.
Today, it seems the best-prepared entrepreneurs, especially when it comes to getting funded are those with a strong pitch deck, and at least a one-page business plan, and strong executive summary.
Do not dismiss the importance and value of having a real plan. You could be sabotaging your own mission and future. If you plan to stay small local business or solopreneur forever a real business plan is smart. Though as the founder of a fast-moving startup that needs funding, a pitch deck can be even more important. You’ll probably be moving so fast your business plan will never keep up.
If you have to choose one, it should be focusing on knocking out a winning pitch deck. This process will also give you many of the answers and framework for fleshing out your real business plan. At least this way you’ll be poised to raise money, and build out your team and gain early clients in the meanti
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