The 2-Step Business Plan
Step 1: Find a customer with a problem
One of the key factors of running a business is identifying your customers problems and being in a place where you can solve those problems. I saw an amazing example of this as I left the fireworks display at our community park. On the way to the parking lot there was a brightly lit french fries stand with drinks freshly cut fries and well probably that’s it, drinks and french fries. This business put themselves in the perfect place to meet a need from the hundreds and probably thousands of people passing their location. Convenient hot fresh delicious french fries. This person placed their business right at the point where they could meet the need of the people going in to the park and the people going out of the park. When I walked by this food truck at the end of the night there is a line of 20 people probably each of them purchasing $5 to $15 of food before they went home. If the line wasn’t so long I might have gotten some fries myself. They were in the right place to deliver a solution to their customers. Small businesses provide solutions to customers.
The business that can solve a problem is halfway to success
This type of problem-solving does not happen without considering the customer. This food cart had anticipated where the customers were going to be. They had a study flow of customers all night long with rushes at the beginning and the end of the evening. Their service was convenient it was on the path that people were already traveling. Their service met a need because at the end of the evening people hadn’t eaten for 3 to 4 hours and now the smell of french fries was a very tempting offer. And who can say no to those fresh cut french fries that are cooked right in front of you?
Side note - Writing about food makes me hungry. When I go out tonight I will probably buy some french fries. It only costs $85 to buy your own commercial grade french fries cutter with suction feet. And an Insta Pot Air Frier is cheap too. I’m not saying you could open a business with these two items, but you might be a hit at the next family dinner, game night, or movie night.
Step 2: Solve Their Problem With Your Product or Service
There was another vendor who had tried the same thing. But instead of solving a problem they created one. Everyone who walked to the park for the fireworks display were funneled into a tunnel. This vendor had a great idea to get to that location and set up shop. Fine so far, but they position themselves inside the tunnel that everyone had to pass through. They were selling light swords and glow sticks. This cart took up about a third of the tunnel and created a bottleneck for the hundreds and thousands of people that were directed to go through the tunnel. Instead of being a welcome solution to a problem they were a major annoyance for the people crammed in the tunnel trying to exit. They had the right idea to be where the customers were, and I certainly applaud them for that. However they created an annoyance for their potential customer instead of a instead of solving a problem. They were their to sell glow sticks, not solve the problem of getting through the tunnel quickly. If your business does not solve the right problem it will not succeed.
What they could’ve done is position themselves outside the tunnel as the crowd was gathering and position themselves as a distraction for the kids so they would be scared to go through the tunnel with all the people. They could have sold their cracked glow stick half-price solving an inventory problem and the problem for the clients. Instead they blocked the path. This created a potential hazard and a major annoyance for hundreds of people. I saw several glances at this person with the with the intent behind the eyes of “what are you doing here?” They were there to sell glow sticks, not solve a problem.
The key is to find out what the customers need what is their problem and solve it and position yourself to solve that problem. Yes, a business plan is more complex than two steps, but you have to start somewhere. Start with a problem to solve.
Take Action: Get your Business Idea Down on Paper
If you would like to put your business plan onto paper we have a simple resource for you to identify 6 elements of a simple business plan. It could be the spark for you to start the greatest adventure of your life.
