1.4 - Making The Business Idea. Flashcards
What is the role of a business plan?
To identify the business idea and the aims and objectives for this idea. Forces owner to think about what the business is going to do and how it will be organised and what resources it needs. This allows the owner to calculate how much money is needed. It will alsoe help reduce risk.
What is franchising?
Where they sell the products or use the trademarks of another firm. They then give the firm they’re franchising from a fee or percentage of profits. Franchises can trade under the name of the franchisee but advertise that they sell a particular manufacturer’s product. Or the franchisee may buy the right to trade under the name of the franchisor.
What is Product from the marketing mix?
A product is goods or a service that is sold to customers or other businesses. Customers buy a product to meet a need. This means the firm must concentrate on making products that best meet customer requirements.
A business needs to choose the function, appearance and cost most likely to make a product appeal to the target market and stand out from the competition. This is called product differentiation.
What is sole trader?
A sole trader describes any business that is owned and controlled by one person - although they may employ workers. Sole traders do not have a separate legal existence from the business. Sole Traders have unlimited liability.
What does Place involve?
This involves selecting the best channel of distribution. Potential methods include using:
> Retailers. Persuading shops to stock products means customers can buy items locally. However, using a middle man means lower profit margins for the producer.
> Producers can opt to distribute using a wholesaler who buys in bulk and resells smaller quantities to retailers or consumers. This again means lower profit margins for the manufacturer.
> Telesales and mail order. Direct communication allows a business to get products to customers without using a high street retailer. This is an example of direct selling.
> Internet selling or e-commerce. Online selling is an increasingly popular method of distribution and allows small firms a low cost method of marketing their products overseas. A business website can be both a method of distribution and promotion.
What is the problem with creating a budget brand?
An alternative marketing strategy is to produce a budget brand. If a mobile phone has limited functions and a standard design then it can be manufactured cheaply. The low production costs allow for discount pricing.
What are the two main types of pricing?
> Penetration pricing means setting a relatively low price to boost sales. It is often used when a new product is launched, or if the firm’s main objective is growth.
Price skimming means setting a relatively high price to boost profits. It is often used by well-known businesses launching new, high quality, premium products.
What the advantages and disadvantages of franchising?
ADV
- Customers recognise the brand already so it is less likely to fail.
- Less risky than starting from scratch and it is easier to get a loan.
- Franchisor may help with training or help with management and accounting.
DISADV
- Franchisor may have strict rules on how to operate so the freedom of the franchisee is limited.
- Franchisor usually has to pay a lot of money to start the business and then make regular payments. Also, the costs may mean that they end up with less money than to begin with.
What is the Boston Matrix?
Star products have a high market share in a fast growing market. (Top left)
Cash cows have a high market share in a slow growing market. (Bottom left)
Question marks or Problem children products have a low market share in fast growing markets. (Top right)
Dogs are products with a low market share in slow growing markets. (Bottom right)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a sole trader?
Advantages
- Easy to set up
- Small capital investment means reduced start-up costs
- Freedom to make decisions
Disadvantages
- Responsibility
- Long hours
- Unlimited liability
What is a PLC?
Public limited company. This means that shares in the company are traded on a stock market and can be bought and sold by anyone. This can bring a lot of extra finance into the business, if the shares on high demand, as this will increase their value.
What is promotion?
Methods of promotion such as TV advertising are unlikely to be used by small firms since they’re very expensive. A small firm is likely to use cheaper methods, such as flyers or free samples.
Promoting the right brand (the overall image of the company) is really important - especially for a new business as it will be trying to establish an image with its customers.
Small businesses are more likely to promote to local customers (unless they are mainly based online), which is likely to affect the way in which they promote themselves. E.g. it may be effective to advertise in local rather than national newspapers.
How does the labour supply affect business locations?
If the firm is in an area of high unemployment, it could allow low wages. Also, it means that there is a good selection of people to choose from, and the firm should be able to find enough workers. How
What is an Ltd?
Private limited company. This means that shares can only be sold if all the shareholders agree. The shareholders are often the members of the same family.
What should be included in a business plan?
- The business idea
- Business aims and objectives
- Target market
- Marketing mix
- Location
- Finance
What is place?
Place is the point where products are made available to customers. A business has to decide on the most cost-effective way to make their products easily available to customers.
What is limited liability?
If anything goes wrong, it is the company that is liable not the owners. The owners only risk losing the money that they have put into the business as they are legally separate from the business.
How does the location of raw materials affect business locations?
Raw materials located nearby will reduce transport costs
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a PLC?
ADV
- More capital raised by PLC than any other business
- Helps company expand and diversify
- PLCs are incorporated and have limited liability so if things go wrong, the owners only lose the amount of money they’ve invested.
DISADV
- Hard to get a lot of shareholders to agree on how the firm is run
- Each shareholder has little say.
- Someone could buy enough shares to takeover the company
- Accounts have to be made public - so everyone can see if you are struggling
- PLCs could have a lot of shareholders so there are lots of people wanting shares.
How is a product differentiated?
> Establishing a strong brand image (personality) for goods or a service.
Making clear the unique selling point (USP) of goods or a service, for example, by using the tag line ‘quality items for less than a pound’ for a chain of discount shops.
Offering a better location, features, functions, design, appearance or selling price than rival products.
What is a partnership?
Partnerships are businesses owned by two or more people. Doctors, dentists and solicitors are typical examples of professionals who may go into partnership together
What is price from the marketing mix?
Price is the amount customers are charged for items.
Firms think very carefully about the price to charge for their products. There are a number of factors to take into account when reaching a pricing decision:
> Customers - Price affects sales. Lowering the price of a product increases customer demand. However, too low a price may lead customers to think you are selling a low quality ‘budget product’.
> Competitors - A business takes into account the price charged by rival organisations, particularly in competitive markets. Competitive pricing occurs when a firm decides its own price based on that charged by rivals. Setting a price above that charged by the market leader can only work if your product has better features and appearance.
> Costs - A business can make a profit only if the price charged eventually covers the costs of making an item. One way to try to ensure a profit is to use cost plus pricing. For example, adding a 50% mark up to a sandwich that costs £2 to make means setting the price at £3. The drawback of cost plus pricing is that it may not be competitive.
How does the nature of the business affect its locations?
The nature of the business will influence what they prioritise when choosing their location. A firm relying on customer visiting its site is likely to be located near the market.
What is the problem with creating a premium brand?
Firms face a dilemma if they choose to launch a premium brand. Improving the quality or appearance of a product adds to the cost of making it. In turn, this means that the business must charge higher prices if they are to make a profit.
