Day 13 - Market Opportunities and Competitive Analysis

As you craft your section on market opportunities, you should be attentive to the trends of the market: is it growing and, if so, by how much? If it is not growing, can you identify an ancillary market that is growing, so that you can help potential investors see the promise in your enterprise? Keep in mind that it rarely makes sense to launch new businesses when a market is in decline, so you will need to be more creative if that is the case.

After you complete the market opportunity assessment, you need to work through the market and competitive analysis portion of your business plan. This section should identify the top 5 or so companies you identify as your primary competition. Be sure to include how much each company is worth, how much product they sell each year, and what they have done to separate themselves from the pack and establish themselves as leaders in this sector.