Still a necessary step

I had a banker comment this week on my earlier posted opinion that it is important to know all the requirements before starting on a futile business planning exercise that still won't get the financing required.

He disagreed.

It's always a necessary and useful step he said. And he's right.

At some point the entrepreneur has to test his plan against the real world and its better to know now, rather than later, that the plan needs to be changed for it be a successful business. If more equity is required or a new cost and risk reduced plan is necessary, then at least we now know exactly what is required before we get a third party to invest. It also helps to look further ahead to make sure we don't just have enough financing to dig ourselves into a hole and not enough to work our way out of it.

It's a good start along the path of "no surprises" management.