Bernice Said:

How to write a Business Report? What software is used to create one?

We Answered:

Business Reports are generally never presented, so you wouldn't need PowerPoint or PhotoShop.

Title the document. Include Section summaries and then the detail. If pictures are essential include, but not if they are just fluff. Remember the people reading the report want just the meat.

Here are some Word templates:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templa…

-MM

Kristen Said:

How to write or give a conclusive end to a business proposal?

We Answered:

Balance sheet items individually can be used to support you proposal.

Stockholder equity

Amount of debt

amount of cash

A business proposal should include something forward looking so it makes sense that income statement items should also be included.

Juan Said:

I need to know what a completed business report looks like?

We Answered:

"Business report" is a very generic term. It could be in many styles.

Gilbert Said:

I have been asked to write a report about Nike, i need the format?

We Answered:

see

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Skills/pack/repo…


there is a download sample structure

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Skills/pack/stru…



PARTS OF A REPORT

Cover Sheet This should contain some or all of the following: full title of the report; your name; the name of the unit of which the project is a part; the name of the institution; the date.

Title Page Full title of the report. Your name.

Acknowledgements A thank you to the people who helped you.

Contents or Table of Contents

Headings and subheadings used in the report with their page numbers. Remember that each new chapter should begin on a new page.

Use a consistent system in dividing the report into parts. The simplest may be to use chapters for each major part and subdivide these into sections and subsections. 1, 2, 3, etc, can be used as the numbers for each chapter. The sections for chapter 3 (for example) would be 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and so on. For a further subdivision of a subsection you can use 3.2.1, 3.2.2, and so on.

Example

There are no hard and fast rules about the structure. Compare what follows with his example of a "standard format", and see if you can understand the principals.

1. Theoretical overview (incorporating any necessary literature review)
2. Outline of your methodology
3. Analysis and presentation of your findings
4. Discussion (or summary) and conclusions


Abstract or Summary or Executive Summary or Introduction
This is the overview of the whole report. It should let the reader see, in advance, what is in it. This includes what you set out to do, how reviewing literature focused and narrowed your research, the relation of the methodology you chose to your aims, a summary of your findings and of your analysis of the findings.

Example


BODY

Aims and Purpose or Aims and Objectives

Why did you do the work? What was the problem you were investigating? If you are not including a literature review, mention here the other research which is relevant to your work.

Literature Review: This should help to put your research into a background context and to explain its importance. Include only the books and articles which relate directly to your topic. Remember that you need to be analytical and critical and not just describe the works that you have read.

Example

Methodology

Methodology deals with the methods and principles used in an activity, in this case research. In the methodology chapter you explain the method/s you used for the research and why you thought they were the appropriate ones. You may, for example, be doing mostly documentary research or you may have collected you own data. You should explain the methods of data collection, materials used, subjects interviewed, or places you visited. Give a detailed account of how and when you carried out your research and explain why you used the particular methods which you did use, rather than other methods. Included in this discussion should be an examination of ethical issues.

Example

Results or Findings

What did you find out? Give a clear presentation of your results. Show the essential data and calculations here. You may want to use tables, graphs and figures.

Analysis and Discussion

Interpret your results. What do you make of them? How do they compare with those of others who have done research in this area? The accuracy of your measurements/results should be discussed and any deficiencies in the research design should be mentioned.

Conclusions What do you conclude? You should summarize briefly the main conclusions which you discussed under "Results." Were you able to answer some or all of the questions which you raised in your aims? Do not be tempted to draw conclusions which are not backed up by your evidence. Note any deviation from expected results and any failure to achieve all that you had hoped.

Example

Recommendations Make your recommendations, if required. Positive or negative suggestions for either action or further research.

Appendix You may not need an appendix, or you may need several. If you have used questionnaires, it is usual to include a blank copy in the appendix. You could include data or calculations, not used in the body, that are necessary, or useful, to get the full benefit from your report. There may be maps, drawings, photographs or plans that you want to include. If you have used special equipment, you may want to include information about it.

The plural of an appendix is two or more appendices or appendixes. If an appendix or appendices are needed, design them thoughtfully in a way that your readers will find convenient to use.

Bibliography List all the sources to which you refer in the body of the report. These will be referenced in the body of the text using the Harvard method.

You may also list all the relevant sources you consulted even if you did not quote them.

A more confusing method is sometimes asked for in which you provide two lists of sources, one labelled "References" and the other "Bibliography". If you can avoid doing this, do so.

Lloyd Said:

How do you write a business plan and cash flow report?

We Answered:

Here are some resources that can help you write your business plan:

- SBA Business Plan Basics http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/pla…
- PowerHomeBiz.com Creating a Business Plan section http://www.powerhomebiz.com/startup/busi…
- Entrepreneur.com Writing a Business Plan section http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizplan/0,72…

You may also want to review some sample business plans to see how it actually looks like:

- Bplans.com http://www.bplans.com/sp/businessplans.c…
- MOOT Corp Business Plan competition winners
http://www.businessplans.org/businesspla…
- VFinance - View hundreds of real business plans in pdf format. http://www.vfinance.com/home.asp?bps=1&T…
- Business Owners Toolkit Sample business plans and information on how to create a plan. http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/buspln_…
- PlanWare Planning software and information. http://www.planware.org/
- Virtual Business Plan Walk through the design of a business plan. http://www.bizplanit.com/vplan.html
-SBA Business Planning Guide http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/pla…
- Small Business Advancement Center http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/business_plan/b…
- Sample Business Plan General planning guide created by the Canadian Business Service Center. http://www.cbsc.org/servlet/ContentServe…
- Business Plans Index - A subject guide to sample business plans and profiles for specific business types from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. http://216.183.184.20/subject/business/b…
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Some recommended books are :

- Business Plans Kit for Dummies
- The Complete Book of Business Plans : Simple Steps to Writing a Powerful Business Plan
- Writing Business Plans That Get Results : A Step-By-Step Guide
- Business Plans For Dummies®
- Your First Business Plan : A Simple Question and Answer Format Designed to Help You Write Your Own Plan