possible questions in business plan defense

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50 Questions Your Business Plan Should Answer

S adly, most investors don't read business plans. However, writing one is the only way you will be able to answer the following 50 questions which an investor will ask you:

1. What is the price of your product or service and why?

2. How much capital is required to execute your business plan?

3. How much is the company is worth?

4. What existing products/services does your company provide?

5. What is the use of the proceeds?

6. On a summary basis, what is the historical financial performance of the company (even if, and perhaps particularly if, you have no revenues)?

7. On a summary basis, what is the projected financial performance of the company?

8. What new products/services are being developed and when will they be ready for market?

9. What is the size of the market for your product in dollars?

10. What is the size of the market in terms of units?

11. How has the market for the product/service changed over the past 5 years and why?

12. How do you anticipate it will change going forward?

13. At what rate is the market for your product growing?

14. Is the competition highly concentrated or highly fragmented?

15. What is your distribution channel and why is it the best one?

16. On a broad level, what are the elements of your marketing strategy?

17. What does it cost to generate a lead, and what is the ratio of leads to sales?

18. What funding is being allocated to new product development from the financing and from ongoing operations?

19. How many potential customers have you talked to?

20. What are the gross and margins on your product/service? Why are they superior or inferior to a competitor?

21. What is your assumptions on the bad debt and collection period for outstanding receivables?

22. What are your working capital needs once sales take off and how will these needs be addressed?

23. What will happen to gross and operating margins as sales rise and why?

24. What percentage of your sales are recurring?

25. Who are your top five executives and what is their professional and educational background?

26. What regulatory or legal threats are present?

27. Are there international markets for this product and is the company positioned to take advantage of them?

28. Who is the largest competitor in your industry?

29. What criteria will be used to choose locations for geographic expansion?

30. How will you get this product into mass market distribution channels?

31. Is the product/service patented?

32. Who are your suppliers and or vendors?

33. Do you have more than one for each supplier/vendor of your basic raw materials or services?

34. What are your payment terms with vendors or suppliers?

35. What will cause gross and operating margins to improve as volume increases or decreases?

36. Where is the company located and how many square feet does it lease or own?

37. What is the length of the sales cycle?

38. How did you estimate returns and allowances?

39. How are sales personnel compensated? Incentivized?

40. What, as a percentage of sales, is the industry norm for R&D expenditures?

41. What is the earnings multiple of public companies like yours?

42. What is your immediate marketing objectives?

43. Does the company have a board of directors or advisors?

44. What is the ownership structure of the company? Who else is an owner?

45. How has the company been financed to date? What other financial transactions have occurred in the past?

46. Has the product generated any publicity? Where?

47. How old are the current liabilities on the balance sheet?

48. Who has prepared the historical financial statements and have they been compiled, reviewed or audited?

49. Is there any cyclically in sales?

50. What are the competitive advantages of your products?

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

David Evanson

David R. Evanson has more than 30 years working in the media, on Wall Street and in media relations. He has worked with investment banks, asset managers, private equity investors and institutional brokers on a variety of marketing and communications challenges. David is also a recognized financial writer, having authored five books on finance and economics, and articles in Barron’s, Forbes, Investment Dealers’ Digest, On Wall Street, Financial Planning and Entrepreneur, among others. David brings to the table a well-developed understanding of the capital markets, investments and corporate finance, and a talent for creating targeted media communications programs for financial services providers.

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6 Critical Questions Your Business Plan Must Answer If you want to lay the groundwork for a stable business and attract investors, make sure you're hitting these points.

By Larry Alton Edited by Dan Bova Mar 18, 2015

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Never underestimate the importance of your business plan . It is the backbone of your company, a foundational pillar from which your enterprise will be built. It's going to serve as the first impression for countless potential partners and investors, and it's going to serve as a roadmap for your whole business -- at least for the first several years.

In some ways, writing a business plan is easy -- there are no rules or requirements for length, format, presentation, or even subject matter. But finding the right answers to the right questions is critical if you want to lay the groundwork for a stable business and attract sufficient attention from investors.

Related: 25 Common Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

1. What need are you addressing?

This is an important question because it extends beyond the simple "What does your business do?" It's one thing to outline your business in general, describing what products you make or what services you offer, but if you want a solid business plan you have to take it to the next level.

It's nice to imagine your business as providing something useful, and if you're excited about the idea, it's that much easier to think about people buying it. But you need to be logical and critical when you consider the driving force behind your customers' purchasing decisions: what fundamental customer need is your business addressing? You'll want to back this up with research that shows the need actually exists.

2. What makes you different?

It's a big world out there, and startups are constantly coming on and off the radar. Chances are, there are multiple businesses out there who are already serving the crucial need you outlined from question one. That doesn't mean you can't serve it better, or serve it in a different way, but therein lies the challenge—figuring out what makes you different.

First, you'll need to acknowledge all the major players in your space, and this is going to require some research. Acknowledge what they're doing right, what they're doing wrong, and how they're going about their business. Identify the differentiating factor that will allow you to stand out, and emphasize it.

Related: Struggling to Define Your Business Goals? Ask Yourself These Questions.

3. Who is your audience?

Here's a hint: the answer can't be "everybody." No matter how useful or practical your product or service is, there's no way you're going to be able to sell to everyone in the world. Think about factors like age, sex, education, geographic location, working status, marital status, and perform some preliminary market research to determine the best path forward.

Your key demographic may evolve over time, so don't stay too committed to one niche. Also remember, that it's easy to expand to other markets once you've established yourself in one, so if you have multiple key demographics, it may be wise to focus on one to start things off.

4. How is your business going to make money?

This seems like an obvious question to answer, but you'd be surprised how many entrepreneurs fail to elaborate on their plan. The brief answer to this question is "sell products/services," but how are you going to sell? Where are you going to sell? How much are you going to sell for?

The other side of the question is what are your operating expenses? Who are you going to pay? What services or partners will you need to pay for? And ultimately, will the amount you sell be able to surpass the amount you owe? When will you break even?

5. How will you promote your business?

Promoting your business is just as important as creating it. Otherwise, people will never know who you are. Your marketing strategy should start off based on what similar businesses before you have done. Do they rely on traditional advertising or online marketing? Do they attend tradeshows and local events, or use technology to spread the word about their existence?

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Business Plan

6. What do you need to get started?

For many potential partners and investors, this is the bottom line. All businesses have to start somewhere, but that starting line varies dramatically from industry to industry and from entrepreneur to entrepreneur. Do you need any advanced equipment? Who will you need to hire? How much will you need for an initial run? These questions should give you an idea exactly how much capital and what resources you need initially.

It may seem counterintuitive, but answering these questions isn't a one-time process. Your business plan should be a living, changing document that evolves along with your company. Throughout your course of entrepreneurship, you're going to encounter new challenges, new opportunities, and hundreds of factors you never considered as significant to your business when you were writing the initial plan. To survive, you're going to have to revise your answers to these questions and update your business plan accordingly.

Related: The Essential Ingredients to Startup Success

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135 Business Plan Questions

Embarking on the business journey of your dreams begins with a robust business plan. This plan is not just a document—it’s the roadmap to your success, painting a clear picture of where you’re headed and how you plan to get there.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a hopeful startup pioneer, the questions I’ve compiled are designed as your compass, guiding you through the intricate landscape of business strategy.

From your executive summary to the details of your financial projections, each question serves to dig deep into the essence of your vision, solidifying your plan with precision and care.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

• What is the core mission of your business?
• How would you describe your company’s business model in simple terms?
• What unique problem does your business solve for its customers?
• What are the short-term and long-term goals of the company?
• Who are the intended clients or customers of your business?
• What is the vision statement for your business?
• Who are the founders and key team members, and what are their roles?
• How does your company set itself apart from the competition?
• What are the main achievements or milestones of your business to date?
• What key opportunities do you see in the market?
• How much funding are you seeking, and how will it be used?
• What are the main products or services your company offers?
• What is the current stage of your business (concept, start-up, growth)?
• How do you see your company evolving in the next five years?
• Can you summarize the financial outlook and projections for your company?

Company Description Considerations

• What is the legal structure of your business (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation)?
• How did the idea for the business originate, and how has it been developed?
• Who are the target customers, and why will they choose your business?
• What are the key elements of your business’s operations?
• What are the specific advantages of your location or facilities, if any?
• How does your company’s history and background set it up for success?
• What business sector or industry does your company fall under?
• How does your company contribute to the economy and community?
• What partnerships or collaborations are essential to your business?
• What are the core values and culture of your company?
• How does your business respond to changes in the market?
• What relevant certifications, licenses, or permits does your business hold?
• What are the main risks and challenges your business faces?
• What role does sustainability play in your company’s operations?
• How does diversity and inclusion manifest in your company?

Market Analysis

• Who is your primary target market, and what are their defining characteristics?
• How large is the target market, and what is its projected growth?
• What are the trends and themes currently shaping your target market?
• Who are your top competitors, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?
• What is your market share, or what market share do you project to capture?
• How do your target customers make their purchasing decisions?
• What factors influence the demand for your products or services?
• What barriers to entry exist in your market, and how can they be overcome?
• How does pricing play a role in your market position?
• What is your value proposition to customers in comparison to competitors?
• How might technology impact your market in the future?
• What are the legal or regulatory factors affecting your market?
• How have external factors like the economy affected your market historically?
• How does geography affect your market and business model?
• What are the risks associated with your target market?

Organization and Management Structure

• Who comprises the leadership team, and what are their backgrounds?
• What is the organizational structure of your business?
• How will your management team help achieve the business’s goals?
• What gaps exist in your current team, and how do you plan to fill them?
• What are the roles and responsibilities of your management team members?
• How does the management structure align with your business strategy?
• How does your team make decisions and communicate internally?
• What systems are in place for performance management and accountability?
• What is your plan for recruiting and retaining skilled employees?
• How do you approach leadership development and training?
• How does the current team’s expertise align with the business goals?
• What are the board of directors’ roles, if applicable?
• How do you plan to create a productive company culture?
• What external advisors or consultants does the business use, and why?
• How have you planned for succession in key management roles?

Service or Product Line Inquiry

• What are the main products or services your business offers?
• How do these products or services fulfill customer needs?
• What is unique about your products or services?
• How does product/service quality compare to competitors?
• What is the lifecycle of your products or services?
• How is your product or service produced or delivered?
• Are there any patents, copyrights, or trademarks involved?
• What research and development activities are you pursuing?
• How do you plan to expand your product or service range?
• What customer feedback have you received about your product or service?
• How does your product or service adapt to changes in the market?
• What is the pricing strategy for your products or services?
• How does your product or service contribute to your brand image?
• What are the future plans for developing your product or service?
• How do warranty or guarantee terms play into your offering?

Marketing and Sales Strategies

• What marketing channels will you use to reach your target audience?
• How will you position your company within the market?
• What promotional strategies will you utilize to attract customers?
• What is your sales forecast for the first year and beyond?
• How will you set sales targets and measure success?
• What sales tactics will you employ to enhance customer acquisition?
• How will your marketing and sales strategies evolve as the business grows?
• What is your approach to online and social media marketing?
• What customer relationship management processes will you put in place?
• How do you plan to establish your brand identity?
• What partnerships or sponsorships will you leverage to enhance marketing?
• What are your strategies for repeat business and customer loyalty?
• What is your process for tracking marketing ROI?
• How do customer service and support fit into your sales strategy?
• How does your marketing strategy cater to different customer segments?

Funding Request Fundamentals

• How much total funding is required to reach your business objectives?
• What specific purposes will the funding be used for?
• What is your proposed timeline for the utilization of funds?
• What types of funding (e.g., equity, loan) are you pursuing?
• How will investors or lenders get a return on their investment?
• What is the current financial position of the business?
• How much equity are you willing to exchange for investment?
• What are the key financial milestones that the funding will help achieve?
• What are the terms you’re seeking for any loans?
• How do you plan to manage cash flow and ensure financial stability?
• What collateral, if any, are you offering to back up your funding request?
• How does the funding impact your business’s financial projections?
• What is the exit strategy for investors?
• How will additional funding influence your strategic business decisions?
• What contingencies do you have in place if you don’t secure the expected funding?

Financial Projections and Feasibility

• What are your financial forecasts for the next three to five years?
• How did you arrive at your revenue and expense estimates?
• What are the key assumptions underlying your financial projections?
• What are the projected cash flow statements for the next few years?
• What is your break-even analysis showing?
• What are your strategies for maintaining a healthy profit margin?
• How do you plan to monitor and manage financial risks?
• What is your approach to pricing and cost control?
• How will you balance reinvestment in the business with profitability?
• What financial metrics will you use to gauge business performance?
• How will you handle unexpected financial shortfalls or emergencies?
• What is your strategy for financial record-keeping and accounting?
• How do customer payment terms and cycles affect your cash flow?
• What financial software or tools do you use for projections?
• How will financial trends and economic conditions potentially impact your projections?

Appendix and Supporting Documents

• What supporting documents will you include in the appendix?
• How will these documents reinforce your business plan’s credibility?
• What resumes or biographies of your team members will you present?
• What legal documents are relevant to include (e.g., licenses, permits)?
• How can we access extensive market studies mentioned in the plan?
• What are your key technical product specifications or service descriptions?
• How do your financial statements and accounting documents get audited?
• What testimonials or case studies from customers can you showcase?
• What press coverage or media mentions has your business received?
• Can you provide industry endorsements or expert opinions?
• How will technology prototypes or demos be made available for review?
• What are your policies and procedures manuals like?
• How do your charts, graphs, and tables support your plan’s data?
• What correspondence or contracts with suppliers/partners are appropriate to include?
• How does your intellectual property documentation reflect on your business’s value?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i write a business plan myself, or should i hire a professional.

Writing a business plan yourself is possible, especially with the aid of specific questions that cover all business aspects. However, hiring a professional can provide expertise and a polished result, particularly if you seek significant funding.

How often should I update my business plan?

Regular updates are crucial—annually at minimum or more often if your business is rapidly changing. This keeps your business plan relevant and useful as a dynamic, guiding document.

What’s the most critical part of a business plan?

While all sections are important, the Executive Summary is critical as it’s often the first (and sometimes only) part read by potential investors or partners. Clear and compelling financial projections are also vital for potential funders.

Final Thoughts

As your blueprint comes together, remember that the strength of your business plan lies in its details and its ability to represent the vision and practicalities of your enterprise honestly.

The questions outlined will challenge you to think critically, anticipate future hurdles, and prepare for success. With these comprehensive inquiries as your cornerstone, you can turn your business from a dream into an actionable, thriving reality.

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Original text

Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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6 Questions Every Business Plan Should Answer

Lay out your goals and a road map for achieving them.

Table of Contents

An actionable business plan is crucial, whether your business is brand-new or an established player in its field. A business plan is especially vital for SMBs, which often must contend with lower name recognition, fewer loyal customers and other typical business challenges. While it doesn’t guarantee success, creating a business plan with research and care can help a business prepare for any future uncertainties.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners must ensure their business plans address six primary questions. Thinking through these questions and developing potential solutions helps set up your venture for success. 

What is a business plan, and why does it matter?

A business plan is a formal document designed to help you set achievable business goals and outline how you’ll accomplish them. The business plan should include various road maps dedicated to the following operational elements:

• Product creation
• Operational goals

A business plan is a valuable tool internally and externally.

• Internal business plan functions: Internally, a business plan helps align its decisions with an overall road map to help it stay on track. Businesses can also use road maps to help think through difficult choices, such as headcount decisions.
• External business plan functions: Externally, a road map is critical for securing funding from outside investors like angel investors . A business must demonstrate to investors that it has a solid business plan with achievable goals and a road map to success. 

What should a business plan include?

Typically, a business plan should include the following elements: 

• Executive summary. An executive summary highlights a business plan’s essential elements. Readers should be able to understand your business plan by reading your executive summary, even if they don’t read the rest of the document.
• Budget. A small business budget should include overall operational and personnel costs. Consider your payroll budget , marketing budget and other departmental budgets.
• Market analysis. A market analysis should include a thorough market assessment that identifies competitors, your target customer , customer buying habits, marketing demographics and what customers are willing to pay. A market analysis may include a competitive analysis that dives more deeply into direct and indirect competitors.
• Product analysis. A product analysis outlines decisions about optimal product pricing. While you want to sell as many products as possible, low prices can scare off customers and eat into your profit margins, while prices that are too high will have customers turning to your competitors. 
• Marketing strategy. Your marketing plan should outline how best to market the business and its products or services. Consider digital marketing targeted to specific online and social platforms, email marketing and local marketing. 

Business plans vary in length depending on your business’s size, industry and scope. An SMB typically has a shorter and more succinct business plan than a larger, established business that operates across industries. 

Questions every business plan should answer

We spoke with six business leaders who shared their thoughts on the crucial questions a business plan should answer. Consider these six essential questions to optimize your business plan.

1. What is the competitive advantage?

Scott Locke, chair of the intellectual property department at Dorf and Nelson LLP, advises thoroughly researching copyright infringement issues when determining your competitive advantage. 

“I always look for what will give the business a competitive advantage relative to businesses that want to offer the same or similar goods and services and an analysis of the competitive landscape,” Locke explained. “I pay particular attention as to whether there is valuable intellectual property, be it patents, trademarks, copyrights or trade secrets, that will serve as barriers to entry for competitors. Similarly, I like to see a discussion of the intellectual property of the most direct competitors and how the new business will avoid infringing on it.”

2. Is the business in a growth market?

Walter Recher, principal consultant at SmallBall Marketing, says your business plan should emphasize how you plan to grow your business . 

“The key to any successful business is to be a growing company in a growth market. A business plan should articulate how the entrepreneurs will enter the market, apply their investment to prepare them to grow quickly, and participate in the expansion of an industry that is thriving, with a better-than-average growth trajectory,” Recher said. “As I have spent my career working for hyper-growth companies in rapidly expanding markets, a founder of several small businesses and adjunct professor of a course on entrepreneurship, this has been the common denominator.”

3. Will customers pay for it?

Andi Gray, founder and president of Strategy Leaders, advises examining the risks of entrepreneurship and determining what and how customers will pay for their products and services. 

“When looking at business plans, I always want to know how the owners plan to get paying customers to engage at a fee and quantity that allows them, as owners, to be in business and sustain themselves,” Gray advised. “My frequently asked question is, ‘How do you plan to feed and clothe yourself, and where do you plan to sleep while you’re getting this venture off the ground?’ My hope is that it will cause the students to consider why they are planning to take the risks of entrepreneurship.” 

4. How will the business be staffed?

Larry Holfelder, senior consultant at DJL Insurance Services Inc., emphasizes the importance of staffing considerations. 

“In every business plan, I like to see the recognition of the need to cover and staff the production, sales and finance parts of the business. Roles should be established for the entity as if it were mature and successful,” Holfelder advised. “Multiple roles should be assigned at first, if necessary, and filled with the right people as the entity grows and the timing is right.” 

Holfelder says thoughtful staffing coverage shows that the business owners are realistic. “I like to see that type of thought process because it shows me they recognize that they won’t be able to do it all themselves and that business success revolves around collaboration and management,” Holfelder said. “It also shows that they recognize their own limitations, their ability to focus on their strengths, and the need to bring in others who know what they don’t in order to reach the goals they envision.”

5. Is the product innovative?

Irwin Glenn, chief identity scientist at Hunova, stresses the importance of innovation and inventiveness as well as the team’s level of inspiration. 

“Is the idea for the product or service innovative, a unique invention, or is the dream truly inspired? Glenn asked. “By innovative, I want to understand if the business plan is centered around a new twist on already-existing technology or services delivered in a new and compelling way. If inventive, can the idea be protected against new or existing competition? Finally, is the team assembled an excellent group that can’t be stopped from succeeding? Are they inspiring to me, each other, and their marketplace?”

6. Are the plans and goals realistic?

Charles North, former president and CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, prioritizes a realistic business plan with reasonable expectations. 

“I look for it to be a realistic business plan, not something that is pie-in-the-sky. I want to see reasonable expectations,” North explained. “I tend to look more on the conservative side, since I feel that is the safest way to go. The idea doesn’t have to be reasonable; the plan does. The idea can be anything.”

North also emphasizes the importance of sales forecasts . “I always look for projections on what the business will do in the first year, second year, third year and fourth year showing sales, expenses [and the] bottom line as the business progresses. Those assumptions have to be reasonable.”

How planning for success pays off

A great business idea is no guarantee of success, but a solid business plan is a way to start a new business off the right foot and prepare your venture for a lucrative future. 

Business plans are a vital resource for businesses of all sizes. While business plans should, at minimum, lay out a series of goals and a road map for achieving them, a business plan should also help answer questions ranging from analyzing a business’ competitive advantages to considering if its goals are realistic. 

If you think through these questions while creating your business plan, your business will be in a better position to achieve its goals and weather any challenges it may face. 

David Mielach contributed to the reporting and writing in this article.

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17 Thesis Defense Questions and How to Answer Them

A thesis defense gives you the chance to show off your thesis work and demonstrate your expertise in your field of study. During this one- to two-hour discussion with the members of your thesis committee, you'll have some control over how you present your research, but your committee will ask you some prodding questions to test your knowledge and preparedness. They will all have read your thesis beforehand, so their questions will relate to your study, topic, methods, data sample, and other aspects.

A good defense requires mastery of the thesis itself, so before you consider the questions you might face,

1. What is your topic, and why did you choose it?

Give a quick summary in just a few sentences on what you've researched. You could certainly go on for hours about your work, but make sure you prepare a way to give a very brief overview of your thesis. Then, give a quick background on your process for choosing this topic.

2. How does your topic contribute to the existing literature? How is it important?

Many researchers identify a need in the field and choose a topic to bridge the gaps that previous literature has failed to cover. For example, previous studies might not have included a certain population, region, or circumstance. Talk about how your thesis enhances the general understanding of the topic to extend the reach beyond what others have found, and then give examples of why the world needs that increased understanding. For instance, a thesis on romaine lettuce crops in desert climates might bring much-needed knowledge to a region that might not have been represented in previous work.

3. What are the key findings of your study?

When reporting your main results, make sure you have a handle on how detailed your committee wants you to be. Give yourself several options by preparing 1) a very general, quick summary of your findings that takes a minute or less, 2) a more detailed rundown of what your study revealed that is 3-5 minutes long, and 3) a 10- to 15-minute synopsis that delves into your results in detail. With each of these responses prepared, you can gauge which one is most appropriate in the moment, based on what your committee asks you and what has already been requested.

4. What type of background research did you do for your study?

Here you'll describe what you did while you were deciding what to study. This usually includes a literary review to determine what previous researchers have already introduced to the field. You also likely had to look into whether your study was going to be possible and what you would need in order to collect the needed data. Did you need info from databases that require permissions or fees?

5. What was your hypothesis, and how did you form it?

Describe the expected results you had for your study and whether your hypothesis came from previous research experience, long-held expectations, or cultural myths.

6. What limitations did you face when writing your text?

It's inevitable — researchers will face roadblocks or limiting factors during their work. This could be a limited population you had access to, like if you had a great method of surveying university students, but you didn't have a way to reach out to other people who weren't attending that school.

7. Why did you choose your particular method for your study?

Different research methods are more fitting to specific studies than others (e.g., qualitative vs. quantitative ), and knowing this, you applied a method that would present your findings most effectively. What factors led you to choose your method?

8. Who formed the sample group of your study, and why did you choose this population?

Many factors go into the selection of a participant group. Perhaps you were motivated to survey women over 50 who experience burnout in the workplace. Did you take extra measures to target this population? Or perhaps you found a sample group that responded more readily to your request for participation, and after hitting dead ends for months, convenience is what shaped your study population. Make sure to present your reasoning in an honest but favorable way.

9. What obstacles or limitations did you encounter while working with your sample?

Outline the process of pursuing respondents for your study and the difficulties you faced in collecting enough quality data for your thesis. Perhaps the decisions you made took shape based on the participants you ended up interviewing.

10. Was there something specific you were expecting to find during your analysis?

Expectations are natural when you set out to explore a topic, especially one you've been dancing around throughout your academic career. This question can refer to your hypotheses , but it can also touch on your personal feelings and expectations about this topic. What did you believe you would find when you dove deeper into the subject? Was that what you actually found, or were you surprised by your results?

11. What did you learn from your study?

Your response to this question can include not only the basic findings of your work (if you haven't covered this already) but also some personal surprises you might have found that veered away from your expectations. Sometimes these details are not included in the thesis, so these details can add some spice to your defense.

12. What are the recommendations from your study?

With connection to the reasons you chose the topic, your results can address the problems your work is solving. Give specifics on how policymakers, professionals in the field, etc., can improve their service with the knowledge your thesis provides.

13. If given the chance, what would you do differently?

Your response to this one can include the limitations you encountered or dead ends you hit that wasted time and funding. Try not to dwell too long on the annoyances of your study, and consider an area of curiosity; for example, discuss an area that piqued your interest during your exploration that would have been exciting to pursue but didn't directly benefit your outlined study.

14. How did you relate your study to the existing theories in the literature?

Your paper likely ties your ideas into those of other researchers, so this could be an easy one to answer. Point out how similar your work is to some and how it contrasts other works of research; both contribute greatly to the overall body of research.

15. What is the future scope of this study?

This one is pretty easy, since most theses include recommendations for future research within the text. That means you already have this one covered, and since you read over your thesis before your defense, it's already fresh in your mind.

16. What do you plan to do professionally after you complete your study?

This is a question directed more to you and your future professional plans. This might align with the research you performed, and if so, you can direct your question back to your research, maybe mentioning the personal motivations you have for pursuing study of that subject.

17. Do you have any questions?

Although your thesis defense feels like an interrogation, and you're the one in the spotlight, it provides an ideal opportunity to gather input from your committee, if you want it. Possible questions you could ask are: What were your impressions when reading my thesis? Do you believe I missed any important steps or details when conducting my work? Where do you see this work going in the future?

Bonus tip: What if you get asked a question to which you don't know the answer? You can spend weeks preparing to defend your thesis, but you might still be caught off guard when you don't know exactly what's coming. You can be ready for this situation by preparing a general strategy. It's okay to admit that your thesis doesn't offer the answers to everything – your committee won't reasonably expect it to do so. What you can do to sound (and feel!) confident and knowledgeable is to refer to a work of literature you have encountered in your research and draw on that work to give an answer. For example, you could respond, "My thesis doesn't directly address your question, but my study of Dr. Leifsen's work provided some interesting insights on that subject…." By preparing a way to address curveball questions, you can maintain your cool and create the impression that you truly are an expert in your field.

After you're done answering the questions your committee presents to you, they will either approve your thesis or suggest changes you should make to your paper. Regardless of the outcome, your confidence in addressing the questions presented to you will communicate to your thesis committee members that you know your stuff. Preparation can ease a lot of anxiety surrounding this event, so use these possible questions to make sure you can present your thesis feeling relaxed, prepared, and confident.

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What is you company

Why do customers need your product or service?

What is your business concept or business model?

What are the conditions and overview of your industry?

Who is your target market / customer?

Who is your competition ?

Is your competition local or national?

Are there many or few competitors?

What is your Marketing Plan?

Describe your target market.

What is your product strategy?

What is your pricing strategy?

What is your distribution strategy?

How will you advertise or promote your product or service?

What is your sales forecast?

How will your company operate?

Location and facilities

How will you grow your business?

Development strategy

Who is the Management Team?

What risks does your business face?

Risks from competitors

Risks from changes in the marketplace or economy

Changing consumer needs or tastes

What type of financing and how much will you need?

Venture capital

What is your financial plan?

Gross and operating margins

Balance sheets

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The top 10 thesis defense questions (+ how to prepare strong answers)

Crafting a thesis is significant, but defending it often feels like the ultimate test. While nerve-wracking, proper preparation can make it manageable. Prepare for your thesis defense with insights on the top questions you can expect, including strategies for answering convincingly.

Mastering the thesis defense: cultivate a success mindset

Question 1: why did you choose this particular topic for your research, question 2: how does your research contribute to the existing body of knowledge, question 3: what are the key findings of your research, question 4: can you defend your research methodology, question 5: how did you analyze the data and what challenges did you encounter, question 6: what theoretical frameworks or references underpin your research, question 7: how did you address ethical considerations in your research, question 8: in what ways does your research contribute to the field, question 9: how did you ensure your research was free from bias, question 10: where can future research go from here.

Nurturing a success mindset for your defense is pivotal. This means adopting a mental outlook geared towards achieving favorable outcomes during your thesis defense. To truly excel in this pivotal academic moment, it’s imperative to cultivate both confidence and composure.

Confidence enables you to present your research with conviction, while composure allows you to navigate any challenges with grace and clarity.

Remember, you know your thesis best, so trust in your expertise.

In essence, a success mindset encompasses the belief in your abilities, coupled with the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.

Stay composed and focused, relying on your thorough preparation. If you encounter a question you can’t answer, gracefully guide the conversation back to familiar topics.

Use strategic responses when needed. For example, if a question goes beyond your thesis scope, acknowledge its relevance but steer back to your focused areas. Similarly, if you’re unfamiliar with a theory or literature, admit it but offer related insights or perspectives.

By embracing these principles and staying confident and adaptable, you’ll navigate your thesis defense with ease.

This question delves into the origins of your academic journey, aiming to understand not just what you studied, but the underlying motivations and processes that drove your exploration. It’s not merely about the superficial aspects of your research, but rather about the deeper intellectual curiosity that ignited your quest.

To effectively respond, take the opportunity to elaborate on the intricacies of your journey. Begin by unpacking the specific interests or questions that sparked your intellectual curiosity in the subject matter. What events, experiences, or influences led you to delve into this particular area of study? Providing an anecdote or example that vividly illustrates the genesis of your scholarly pursuit can be helpful.

Moreover, discuss the gaps you identified in the existing literature that motivated you to contribute to your field. What deficiencies or unanswered questions did you observe? How did these gaps inspire you to embark on your research journey with the aim of filling these voids? By articulating the specific shortcomings in the current body of knowledge, you demonstrate a nuanced understanding of your research area and underscore the significance of your work.

Additionally, highlight any personal or academic experiences that played a pivotal role in steering you towards your chosen topic. Whether it was a transformative educational experience, a profound personal interest, or a meaningful encounter, these experiences can offer valuable insights into the origins of your scholarly pursuits.

In summary, when articulating your narrative, consider the following key points:

• Unpack the specific interests or questions that sparked your intellectual curiosity.
• Discuss the gaps in the existing literature that motivated your research.
• Highlight any personal or academic experiences that influenced your choice of topic.

This question delves into the vital role your research plays within the existing body of knowledge, urging you to articulate its significance and impact. It’s not merely about the subject matter you’ve studied, but also about the unique contributions and advancements your research brings to your field. To effectively respond, delve into the intricacies of your work and its implications for the broader academic landscape.

Begin by emphasizing the novelties and breakthroughs your research introduces. Highlight specific aspects of your study that represent advancements in understanding or methodologies. Whether it’s a novel approach to a longstanding problem, the discovery of new phenomena, or the development of innovative methodologies, these contributions underscore the significance of your research within the academic community.

Next, describe how your work engages with or challenges current conversations in your field. Discuss the existing paradigms or theories your research builds upon or critiques. Articulate how your findings contribute to ongoing debates or reshape prevailing understandings. By positioning your research within the broader context of scholarly discourse, you showcase its relevance and impact on the evolving landscape of your field.

Illuminate how your findings could influence future research trajectories. Explore potential avenues for further inquiry that emerge from your research findings. Consider how your work opens up new questions or areas of exploration for future researchers. By identifying these potential research directions, you demonstrate the forward-looking nature of your work and its potential to shape the future trajectory of your field.

In summary, when addressing how your research contributes to the existing body of knowledge, consider the following key points:

• Emphasize the novelties and breakthroughs your research introduces.
• Describe the conversations in your field that your work engages with or challenges.
• Illuminate how your findings could influence future research trajectories.

Addressing the question of your research’s key findings demands skill, as it necessitates succinctly summarizing your work while conveying its significance. To effectively respond, distill your findings into digestible takeaways that encapsulate the essence of your research. Identify the central discoveries or outcomes of your study, ensuring clarity and conciseness in your presentation.

Furthermore, relate these findings to the broader implications they hold for your field. Articulate how your research contributes to advancing knowledge or addressing pressing issues within your academic discipline. Consider the potential impact of your findings on theory, practice, or policy, highlighting their relevance and significance within the larger scholarly community.

Additionally, be prepared to elucidate the nuances and complexities involved in your results. While providing a concise summary of your findings is essential, it’s equally important to acknowledge the intricacies and limitations of your research. Discuss any methodological considerations, unexpected outcomes, or areas for further investigation, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of your work.

In summary, when addressing the key findings of your research, consider the following key points:

• Distill your findings into digestible takeaways.
• Relate the outcomes to the broader implications they hold for your field.
• Be prepared to shed light on the nuances and complexities involved in your results.

Defending your research methodology entails a comprehensive understanding of its rationale, alignment with research objectives, and acknowledgment of potential limitations. It’s not merely about explaining the methods employed but also justifying why they were chosen over alternative approaches. To effectively respond, delve into the intricacies of your methodology and its implications for the study.

Begin by elucidating the reasons for selecting the chosen methodology over alternatives. Discuss the specific advantages or suitability of the selected approach in addressing the research questions or objectives. Consider factors such as feasibility, appropriateness for the research context, and compatibility with the theoretical framework guiding your study.

Furthermore, explain how your chosen methods align with your research objectives. Articulate how the selected methodology enables you to achieve the intended outcomes and contribute to answering the research questions. Discuss how each methodological choice supports the overall research design and furthers the overarching goals of the study.

Be prepared to discuss the limitations inherent in your chosen methodology and how you mitigated them. Acknowledge any constraints or shortcomings associated with the selected approach, such as potential biases, sample size limitations, or data collection challenges. Demonstrate your awareness of these limitations and discuss the strategies implemented to address or minimize their impact on the validity and reliability of your findings.

In summary, when defending your research methodology, consider the following key points:

• Justify the methodology with reasons for selecting it over alternatives.
• Explain the methods’ alignment with your research objectives.
• Be ready to discuss the limitations and how you mitigated them.

Addressing the intricacies of data analysis involves not only outlining the techniques employed but also navigating the challenges encountered and evaluating the reliability and validity of the interpretations drawn. When responding to inquiries about data analysis, it’s essential to provide a comprehensive understanding of the methodologies employed, the obstacles faced, and the strategies utilized to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the findings.

Begin by outlining the techniques used for data analysis. Describe the specific methods, tools, and software employed to process and interpret the data collected. Whether it involved quantitative statistical analysis, qualitative coding techniques, or a combination of both, provide insights into the analytical framework guiding your study. Additionally, discuss the rationale behind the chosen analytical approach and how it aligns with the research objectives and questions.

Next, share the hurdles faced during the data analysis process and how you overcame them. Reflect on any challenges encountered, such as data cleaning issues, missing data, or unexpected patterns in the dataset. Discuss the steps taken to address these challenges, whether through iterative refinement of analytical techniques, consultation with peers or supervisors, or adaptation of the research design. Highlighting your ability to navigate obstacles demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness in overcoming methodological challenges.

Furthermore, discuss the reliability and validity of your data interpretation. Evaluate the rigor and credibility of your analytical process, considering factors such as data integrity, consistency, and relevance to the research objectives. Discuss any measures taken to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings, such as inter-coder reliability checks, triangulation of data sources, or member checking with participants. By critically examining the reliability and validity of your data interpretation, you provide insights into the robustness of your analytical approach and the credibility of the conclusions drawn.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about data analysis, consider the following key points:

• Outline the techniques used for data analysis.
• Share the hurdles faced during the process and how you overcame them.
• Discuss the reliability and validity of your data interpretation.

Exploring the theoretical underpinnings of your research involves delving into the foundational frameworks and seminal works that informed your study’s conceptual framework and analytical approach. When responding to inquiries about theoretical frameworks , it’s essential to provide a comprehensive understanding of the theories and references that shaped your research, elucidate their influence on your hypothesis and analysis, and reflect on the potential contributions or revisions your study may offer to existing theoretical foundations.

Begin by naming the key theories and seminal works that guided your research. Identify the theoretical frameworks that provided the conceptual scaffolding for your study, as well as the seminal works that shaped your understanding of the research area. Discuss how these theories and references informed your research design, methodology, and analytical approach, providing a theoretical lens through which to interpret your findings.

Elucidate on how these frameworks shaped your hypothesis and analysis. Describe how the theoretical perspectives and insights gleaned from seminal works informed the development of your research questions, hypotheses, and analytical framework. Discuss the ways in which these theoretical frameworks guided your data collection and interpretation, influencing the selection of variables, measures, and analytical techniques employed in your study.

Reflect on how your research may contribute to or revise these theoretical foundations. Consider the implications of your findings for advancing existing theoretical frameworks or revising established paradigms within your field. Discuss how your research extends or challenges current theoretical perspectives, offering new insights, conceptual refinements, or empirical evidence that may enrich or reshape prevailing theories. By critically examining the relationship between your research and existing theoretical frameworks, you provide insights into the broader theoretical implications and contributions of your study.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about theoretical frameworks, consider the following key points:

• Name the key theories and seminal works that guided your research.
• Elucidate on how these frameworks shaped your hypothesis and analysis.
• Reflect on how your research may contribute to or revise these theoretical foundations.

When addressing ethical considerations in your research, it’s essential to demonstrate a commitment to upholding ethical standards and protecting the rights and well-being of participants. Responding to inquiries about ethical protocols involves explaining the steps taken to ensure ethical conduct throughout the research process, describing the consent process and data protection measures implemented, and mentioning any institutional review board (IRB) approvals obtained.

Begin by explaining the ethical protocols you followed. Detail the ethical guidelines, codes of conduct, or regulatory frameworks that informed your research design and conduct. Discuss how these guidelines influenced decisions regarding participant recruitment, data collection methods, confidentiality protocols, and data storage procedures, emphasizing your adherence to ethical principles throughout the research process.

Describe the consent process, if applicable, and how you protected participants’ data. Provide insights into how informed consent was obtained from participants, including the procedures used to inform participants about the research purpose, risks, benefits, and their rights. Discuss any measures taken to safeguard participants’ privacy and confidentiality, such as anonymizing data, securing data storage, and limiting access to sensitive information, ensuring the protection of participants’ identities and personal information.

Mention any institutional ethics review board approvals you obtained. Highlight any formal ethical review processes or approvals obtained from relevant regulatory bodies, such as IRBs or ethics committees. Discuss how the research protocol was reviewed for compliance with ethical guidelines and standards, including considerations of participant welfare, informed consent procedures, and data protection measures. By acknowledging the oversight and approval of institutional review bodies, you demonstrate your commitment to ethical integrity and accountability in conducting research involving human subjects.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about ethical considerations in your research, consider the following key points:

• Explain the ethical protocols you followed.
• Describe the consent process and data protection measures implemented.
• Mention any institutional ethics review board approvals obtained.

When discussing the contributions of your research to the field, it’s essential to highlight the novel insights and potential impact your thesis offers. Responding to inquiries about your research’s significance involves detailing the unique perspectives and fresh understanding it brings to the academic discourse, as well as considering its implications for future research or practice and arguing its relevance within the broader academic community.

Begin by detailing the novel insights your thesis provides. Articulate the key findings, discoveries, or perspectives that distinguish your research from existing literature and contribute to advancing knowledge within your field. Discuss how your study fills gaps in current understanding, challenges established assumptions, or offers innovative approaches to addressing pressing issues, highlighting its potential to generate new avenues of inquiry and broaden the scope of scholarly discourse.

Discuss how your findings might influence future research or practice. Consider the implications of your research for shaping future scholarship, informing policy decisions, or guiding professional practice within relevant domains. Reflect on the potential practical applications, theoretical advancements, or methodological innovations stemming from your findings, highlighting their significance for advancing the field and addressing real-world challenges.

Be prepared to argue the relevance of your research within the broader academic community. Articulate the broader significance of your study within the context of current debates, trends, or priorities within your discipline. Discuss how your research aligns with existing scholarly agendas, contributes to interdisciplinary dialogue, or addresses pressing societal concerns, underscoring its relevance and potential impact on shaping the direction of future research and practice.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about the contributions of your research to the field, consider the following key points:

• Detail the novel insights your thesis provides.
• Discuss how your findings might influence future research or practice.
• Be prepared to argue the relevance of your research within the broader academic community.

When ensuring the integrity of your research and minimizing bias, it’s crucial to maintain objectivity and rigor throughout the study. Responding to inquiries about bias involves discussing the steps taken to uphold objectivity, describing any blind or double-blind procedures employed, and acknowledging and mitigating any unavoidable biases that may have arisen during the research process.

Begin by discussing the steps taken to maintain objectivity and rigor. Detail the strategies implemented to minimize the influence of personal biases, preconceptions, or external factors on the research outcomes. This may include adhering to a predetermined research protocol, using standardized procedures for data collection and analysis, and engaging in peer review or validation processes to ensure the reliability and validity of the findings.

Describe any blind or double-blind procedures employed in the study. Explain how blinding techniques were used to prevent bias in data collection, analysis, or interpretation. This may involve withholding certain information from researchers or participants to minimize the potential for conscious or unconscious bias to influence the results. Discuss how these procedures were implemented and their impact on enhancing the credibility and impartiality of the research outcomes.

Acknowledge any unavoidable biases that may have emerged during the research process and discuss how they were mitigated. Reflect on the inherent limitations or sources of bias in the study design, data collection methods, or participant selection criteria. Discuss the steps taken to minimize the impact of these biases, such as conducting sensitivity analyses, controlling for confounding variables, or triangulating data sources to corroborate findings.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about bias in your research, consider the following key points:

• Discuss steps taken to maintain objectivity and rigor.
• Describe any blind or double-blind procedures employed.
• Acknowledge any unavoidable biases and discuss how they were mitigated.

When considering the potential trajectory of your research topic, it’s essential to identify areas where further investigation could yield valuable insights, discuss unexplored questions that emerged from your research, and reflect on the limitations of your study as starting points for future research endeavors. Responding to inquiries about the future direction of research involves suggesting fruitful areas for further investigation, highlighting unresolved questions, and leveraging the limitations of your study as opportunities for future exploration.

Begin by suggesting areas where further investigation could be fruitful. Identify specific gaps, ambiguities, or unanswered questions within the existing literature that warrant additional inquiry. Consider emerging trends, advancements in technology or methodology, or pressing societal issues that may inform potential research directions. Propose research topics or hypotheses that build upon the findings of your study and extend the boundaries of current knowledge within your field.

Discuss unexplored questions that arose from your research. Reflect on any unexpected findings, anomalies, or areas of ambiguity that emerged during the course of your study. Consider how these unanswered questions or unresolved issues could serve as catalysts for future research endeavors, prompting further investigation into related phenomena, alternative explanations, or novel research methodologies.

Reflect on the limitations of your study as starting points for future research. Acknowledge any constraints, biases, or methodological shortcomings that may have influenced the outcomes or interpretations of your study. Discuss how these limitations provide opportunities for future research to refine methodologies, address confounding variables, or explore alternative theoretical frameworks. Consider how addressing these limitations could enhance the validity, reliability, and generalizability of future research findings within your field.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about the potential trajectory of your research topic, consider the following key points:

• Suggest areas where further investigation could be fruitful.
• Discuss unexplored questions that arose from your research.
• Reflect on the limitations of your study as starting points for future research.

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8 Critical Questions Every Business Proposal Must Answer

Sooner or later you’re going to write a business proposal, either because someone asked for it, or because you want to make a persuasive case that leads to a sale. Where do you start? What should you include? What are the rules? Since one of the goals of a business proposal is to persuade a potential customer to do business with you, it is important that you answer all questions.

Notice I use the word "persuade."

Not only are you trying to drum up business by introducing yourself to potential customers, but you are also trying to make a first and last impression on your prospect. So you want to ensure the proposal does its job- acting as a formal and much more dignified selling tool.

Let’s First Understand the Basics

There’s a lot of confusion on what a business proposal actually entails, so before we get to the questions your proposal must answer, let’s first learn the basics of a business proposal.

A business proposal is a document sent to a prospective client, outlining the products or services you’re offering and explaining why you’re the best. At the bare minimum, its primary objective is to provide a compelling solution to a problem faced by a client ( https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/business-proposals.html )

That being said, a successful proposal usually results in a contract. But because there is usually a significant distinction between a proposal and a contract, your proposal should be laid out in a question and answer format.

However, there is an exception. If your proposal is in response to an RFP or RFQ, it may contain formatting instructions that you have to follow. In this case, a question and answer format may not be practical ( https://www.clientpoint.net/types-of-business-proposals/ ).

Key Questions to Answer in Your Proposal

Writing a business proposal is easy- there are no set rules or pre-requisites for format, presentation, length or even subject matter. But finding the right answers to the right questions is critical if you want to attract sufficient attention from a potential client. We compiled a list of the typical questions your business proposal must answer:

1. Who are you and What Are Your Qualifications?

Go ahead, brag a bit- this is the section where you get to convince your potential customer that you are the most qualified person for the job. You can start by presenting your company and mission in a way that relates to your client’s needs. Feel free to include a brief story that will give your customer a feel for your brand and help build trust. The function of this section is to grab the attention of the customer so he will read the whole proposal and not just skip to the pricing details, like most clients do.

2. What Are the Client’s Problems?

The secret behind writing a winning business proposal is understanding what the customer’s problems are and offering the best solution to these challenges. This part is paramount because you cannot expect to seal a deal if you don’t know what the client’s problems are ( https://www.clientpoint.net/ultimate-business-proposal-checklist/ ). Most customers will decide whether they are going to read the rest of the proposal just by going through this section. So take this opportunity to show your client that you fully understand their needs and are aware of the issue they want to solve.

3. How Do You Plan To Solve the Problems?

This is the million dollar question your proposal has to answer. In this segment, you need to outline how you’re going to tackle the project from the beginning to the end. Get into the nitty-gritty of the steps you’ll take, highlighting anything notable that sets you apart from the competition. Ensure that you make it realistic with accurate statistics and sound projections, so the client knows exactly what they are agreeing to upfront. This section simply speaks into the details the project will be responsible for, and addresses each and every need in the most comprehensive way.

4. How Long Will Your Proposed Project Take?

Be clear with your prospective client, how long it will take for you to complete the project. Here, you should ensure that you set out realistic expectations so that both of you are on the same page right from the onset. While you might be tempted to underquote the time frame, it’s usually not a good idea. Don’t promise what you may not deliver. If you’re offering a product, time frames might not be applicable, so feel free to omit them. The format of a proposal is usually very flexible, so tailor it to suit your business.

5. How Much Will it Cost?

Cost is a fundamental component of your business proposal. In fact, it’s almost certainly what the client is going to spend most time combing through. How you outline this part depends entirely on what solutions you’re offering. An itemized fee summary may be sufficient if the solution proposed will serve for a short period; otherwise, a fee schedule for periodic milestones may be appropriate if the solution will serve an extended period. If there are any legal/contractual issues to be addressed, such as licensing or permits, include this information here.

6. What is the Return on Investment?

This is the section many people miss. Maybe, it’s assumed that the client will immediately see the return on investment, but that’s highly unlikely. A proposal is your final sell- so don’t be afraid to detail to your prospect what they have to gain by choosing your business. If possible, spell it out so that the client can fully comprehend how your solution will either make money or save money. Being able to demonstrate the return on investment adequately, can almost win you a deal majority of the time ( https://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/return-on-investment-roi ).

7. Who Will Work on the Project?

For you to clinch a deal, the people you plan to use cannot be left to speculation. This is the section where you get to some level of detail explaining the team members behind the project. Start by identifying each team member and writing a short resume for each. This will not only help the client know the team, but the individual members as well ( https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-write-a-winning-proposal.html ). However, be careful to keep the jargon to a minimum. You want the client to have a clear and concise document. Perhaps, the best way to present this part is to use bullet points.

8. What Is Your Company’s Experience with Similar Projects?

This is your final chance to leave your client with a testimonial from a customer who has had a favorable outcome with your solution. The good thing about testimonials is that they have the power to influence even the most hesitant customers. Let’s call them the trust signals of a proposal. With a testimonial, you have the chance to make a strong final impression on the customer. Not only will it double your chances of closing, but you can as well be prepared to make your potential client smile and then give you a call.

Happy proposal writing.

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Business Plan | 60 questions to ask yourself

Today, I will present to you the 60 good questions to ask yourself when creating your business plan . Here we go !

60 questions to ask yourself to create a Business Plan

Find in this video the questions to ask yourself to make a business plan  :

Below is the support I used for my presentation on the business plan :

So initially, to be completely honest with you, I didn’t necessarily want to write an article on business plans. The reason is quite simple. I’m not a big fan of business plans and I’ll tell you why.

In fact, 99% of business plans always have the same form, if we take a graph with revenue on the abscissa and time on the ordinate, we always go through the following phases: we are very poor at the start and afterwards as if by “magic”, we become very rich!

The question that arises is therefore that of the credibility of a business plan when creating a business.

Why does this simplistic approach bother me?

When you start a business, if there’s one thing that’s difficult to predict, it’s revenue levels. Simply because it is impossible to know in advance whether you will succeed in obtaining many customers or not, after how long, etc.

In other words, the only thing that we can predict more or less correctly are the costs, because with that, we can have a vision that is a little finer and a little more realistic.

On the other hand, for income, objectively, even if you base yourself on statistics, even if you base yourself on market phenomena or trends, these will always be big approximations.

This is why often when people talk to me about a business plan, I tend to take a step back and say to myself “Okay, what are they going to tell me now? “.

So why did I finally decide to write an article about it?

I decided to write today about business plans for a simple reason. I had the opportunity to read an article from Express Entreprise called “ Business plan, the 60 questions to ask yourself to develop it  ». 

And actually, I thought this article was really well done. For what ? Quite simply because this article allows you to ask yourself some really good questions.

Indeed, beyond a simplified curve as I was able to show you before, a good business plan or rather a good way of making a business plan, is above all the fact of asking the right questions, and therefore, to defend your project more effectively to a banker, a business angel or an investor.

These different questions will allow your investors, partners or financiers to see that you have understood all of the different parameters necessary to set up your business.

So, I decided to play the game as well.

The 60 questions I am going to ask myself and make sure to answer them for my business concern SEO advice .

On commence !

These 60 questions to ask yourself for your business plan will be organized into 6 main parts:

• Your profile
• The team you will form
• The commercial marketing strategies you are going to undertake
• Protect your know-how and your product

Find funding

I would like to make two comments before we begin the round of questions.

Obviously, certain questions will be more or less conducive to my activity. Indeed, to the extent that I am going to launch an activity in SEO consulting, do not be surprised if I quickly go over certain questions which will be more linked to industrial companies.

Second point that I would like to mention, the opinion or rather the perspective that I am going to give you will be perfectly “personal” and “subjective”. For example, in my current situation, I will not immediately need financing to start my business.

Indeed, I have personal resources and I am not going to spend thousands and cents in any case, so I am not going to call on a banker or an investor. Therefore, my perspective is going to be a little biased.

The objective of your business plan is to try to seduce, to show a “white paw” to an investor to try to convince them that you know what you are talking about, and you know in which direction your business is going.

Come on, let’s start!

First of all, we will talk about market-related issues.

A) The market

Having a good understanding of your market, the players and what your customer wants is essential. This is the first part, one of the most important from my point of view. So first question,

1) How big is your market? Is it local, national or global?

The size of the market is indeed important. Quite simply, because there are markets that are really small and where we can’t do much. Then, there are markets that are huge and sometimes that can be scary.

To the question, “Is it local, national, global?” “.

Objectively, if you start your company, don’t say to yourself from the start “I am a company that is global”. If you can become a “global” company, good for you. That’s really what I wish for you. The thing is, in the beginning, it never happens like that. We are in a local, national business, why not. But global, no.

We will try to take it step by step. For the size of your market, you can see this from the different types of statistical studies that exist in your sector or from your market research. Knowing that, this type of information, we must try to take it with a step back.

For what ? It’s good to have a view of an industry’s overall revenues. The problem is that it doesn’t really give you any indication of how and how many customers you will be able to convert. You just know that there is a market and you see that the trends are positive.

Now I will answer you in a concrete way for the SEO sector.

In SEO, the only numbers I have been able to find are industry-wide from a global perspective. In France in particular, I searched and I didn’t find anything in particular.

In any case, what I know will be more along the lines of trends . Unsurprisingly, there are more and more websites, on the one hand. On the other hand, companies are investing more and more money in SEO campaigns to improve their organic traffic.

Am I going to approach this from a local, national or global perspective?

So first of all, my business will be located in a very specific location, namely Paris. Therefore, I will make sure to find clients in Paris and its surroundings. Afterwards, the advantage I have with SEO is that it is an online business. So, I will have the possibility of doing some of my activities remotely. For example audit or even consulting activities.

As long as I have information like Google Analytics or Google Search Console, I can work from just about anywhere. So initially, it will be from my point of view, local and national.

The world, why not? You have to have ambition, that’s for sure, but it’s clearly not the priority. If at any given time growth is strong from a local and national perspective, why not consider something else. But right now, no.

Afterwards, you also need to know if the content and services that I offer are likely to be of interest abroad. I think so. But in all cases, we start “small”, we start local, potentially national. The world in a second phase, but not immediately.

2) How many customers can you expect?

When you are going to start your business, it is important at the outset to gauge how many clients you can hope to get.

Obviously, when you start your business, the number of customers most of the time is zero, and that is completely normal. Little by little, you will succeed in having customers, succeed in convincing them, etc.

Knowing that my activity will be SEO consulting, the objective will be to give the maximum added value to my clients to try to have a true qualitative approach .

What does it mean ?

This means in concrete terms that I initially aim for between 1 to 5 clients per month.

Why am I sure of this ratio?

Because I could have said 20 customers. The problem is that in fact if you have 20 clients from the start, and only one person takes care of them, the quality will inevitably plummet.

With my agence SEO , I do not want to tend towards a low-end service, but rather towards a service that is mid-range initially, to have low prices and customers who are interested. And little by little move upmarket. So between 1 to 5 SEO clients, that seems good to me to have a qualitative approach.

3) In this market, is there a shortage or excess of supply?

Indeed, there are very competitive markets where there will be a lot of people, and others, much less competitive, where there will be very few people. Therefore, if you have a particular skill that is in high demand, good for you.

This means that you will succeed in obtaining significant growth for your activity and your business. Knowing that competition, or having for example an excess of supply is not always a problem in itself.

I will have the opportunity to say this again in other questions that follow. But in essence, if there are people in a market, that most of the time means that there is income in that market. Therefore, you have the opportunity to create a business in this market.

Always be careful of markets where there are no people. If there is no one, it is either that everyone has missed out, so it is a golden opportunity, or it means that there is not necessarily any money to be made in this sector.

In SEO, there is neither shortage nor excess of offers. I would say it’s really somewhere in between actually. There are very good freelancers, but also very good agencies. So I don’t think we are in a sort of excess offer in terms of SEO advice. There is, but I think there is enough space!

4) Can new players appear in the short term?

Sometimes, it happens to find markets in which players are there historically. So, if you want to enter this market, it will be possible, but it will be more complicated. So it will depend on your sector, your products, your service, etc.

Regarding SEO, my answer is clearly yes. I think new players may appear. Currently, there are no dominant players to speak of. There are some very good actors, but none who are particularly above the rest. Regarding the barrier to entry, we will say that it is relatively low. So yes, there is the possibility of new actors appearing.

5) Is your activity BtoB (business to business) or BtoC (business to consumer)?

Depending on your business, your activity will tend towards BtoB or BtoC, and of course between the two, the approach will be radically different. In BtoB, you will contact professionals.

In BtoC, it will be for consumers. We do not approach consumers and professionals in exactly the same way. So, be aware of the nature of your audience. In this way, you will be able to adjust your communication, your marketing, commercial aspects, etc.

In SEO, we are clearly in BtoB. Knowing that in the communications that I am going to make, there will be a large part BtoB and a very little bit of BtoC (for example on YouTube). But basically, the actual SEO consulting service that I am going to offer will be for professionals above all.

6) Is your offer in line with market expectations?

It seems logical, but sometimes we can miss the obvious. So take some time to look at what the competition is doing.

For what ? Quite simply because if you come up with a product or service that is not at all aligned with what your customer wants, you are not going to sell absolutely anything, and your revenue will be 0. Therefore, really try to know market expectations, so you will be able to offer an offer that will be adapted.

For my SEO business, I will ensure that the different offers that I propose are in line with customer expectations. There will be an SEO audit, “On Page SEO”, backlinks, etc.

7) What are your customers’ expectations? Are they loyal or captive?

Understanding and knowing customer expectations is absolutely crucial. For what ? Quite simply because when you start your business, you may have things in mind.

The problem is that between what you have in mind and reality, sometimes there is a sort of abysmal gap. Therefore, when starting a business, first of all, it is important to go see customers or potential customers, and ask them:

• “Concretely what do you want? »
• “How can I help you? »
• “How and what are the elements of added value that I will be able to give you? »

For SEO, the expectations are simple. Clients have one or more websites and want to get more organic traffic, that is, traffic coming directly from Google. This is what SEO allows. The other element that interests them will be the income linked to organic traffic. In other words, we increase organic traffic, as well as revenue.

SEO also allows you to do this. And that will be part of customer expectations. Others SEO KPIs can also be interesting, such as the return on investment of an SEO campaign.

This is indeed a question that investors can askFor example, if I invest 1 euro, how much will come into my pocket after this SEO campaign? 2, 3, 4, 5…, 10 euros?

Then, the other element: are the customers loyal or captive?

Indeed, it will be important, because some clients will be difficult to obtain because they are very loyal, for example to the SEO firm with which they work. And others much less. For example if they use freelancers.

Knowing that this is an example. I could very well have said the opposite. There are freelancers who are exceptionally good at what they do. So we shouldn’t be caricatured at all about that. In all cases, be aware of the loyalty of your customers.

8) What are the customer benefits of your product or service?

When you are going to offer a product or service, customers must buy it because they feel that there is some kind of added value or additional benefit compared to other products and services on the market. Depending on your sector and industry, these benefits may be different.

In SEO, the benefit for the client lies in having more organic traffic, and earning more money thanks to that.

9) Are you in direct or partial competition with an existing offer?

When you have more or less significant competition in your market, logically, it will be more or less easy to find your place. But to come back to what I said before, competition should not scare you at any time.

I know that when you are a new entrepreneur, you often say to yourself “Oh my! There’s competition, I can’t go there! “. Don’t take it like that.

Really consider the fact that there are people there as a real lever for growth. Consider that there is potentially money to be made in this market. Therefore, do not be afraid.

Is it going to be more complicated than a sector where there is no competition at all? The answer is yes “. But the thing is that sometimes, sectors where there is no competition at all can be explained simply by the fact that there are no profits to be made. So, don’t be afraid of the competition!

In terms of offers from an SEO point of view, services related to audit SEO , At “ On Page SEO » or to backlinks , are often the types of activity that are offered by companies in this sector.

10) Can you easily differentiate yourself and find a niche position?

When you start a business, try to start, if you have the possibility, in a niche, that is to say on a relatively small fragment of the market. For what  ? Quite simply because it will allow you to become an “expert” on a very specific part of your market, and to satisfy your customers.

This is a good gateway to obtaining new customers. Then, when you have gained the trust of your customers, you can increase the services offered and grow your business little by little.

In any case, I advise you not to start in a huge market. Start small, with a service or something that will allow you to differentiate yourself.

At the level of the business that I am going to launch in SEO consulting, the differentiation will be at the service level. I will really try to highlight my service in order to be perceived as an “expert” company in “On page SEO”.

This is one of the things I really want to be defined on, an axis on which I really want to focus on to succeed in convincing my clients.

So this is one of the differentiating aspects, and this is my niche part. Afterwards, there will perhaps be developments. We will see how things will evolve.

In terms of differentiation, there is also another element on which I think I can distinguish myself. This is about creating my content. There is already a lot of SEO content out there. And content is crucial.

Obviously, people who work in SEO know how important it is. So I’m going to try things a little different way.

This will notably involve the type of content, for example videos YouTube . I am also going to make a particular effort in terms of my blog, my articles, and the visuals. I really want to make a significant effort to show future customers what my company is capable of.

11) How many years of experience do you need to be credible with your customers?

There are sectors where experience is a determining criterion. So, if you don’t have 10, 15, or 20 years of experience, it’s going to be very problematic for you. In SEO, experience is important, but you don’t have to have been in this industry for many years.

For what  ?

What you need to understand about SEO is that it is a sector that evolves quickly and regularly. In other words, from the moment Google makes algorithm changes, each time it involves a new way of doing things, because the way of doing SEO evolves radically.

So years of experience, why not. But the real criterion from my point of view, to choose the right SEO company, will be above all to know which company is the most up to date on the latest developments which impact the algorithms.

Ultimately, it will be about its ability to evolve over time, which from my point of view is the most important element. For example, if a person who has 15 years of experience in SEO, does SEO as on the first day 15 years ago, I can assure you of one thing, it is that at present , it clearly doesn’t work anymore.

12) Who are your competitors?

Take a little moment to try and see who the different players are in the market. It could be something important. Afterwards, you have to know them, but you shouldn’t be obsessed with what they do either.

Otherwise the only mistake you risk making will be to reproduce a pale copy of the original, which would be a shame. So you have to keep an eye on the competition, but not be obsessed with it.

SEO is a market where on the one hand there are, let’s say, SEO agencies which are structured. From my point of view, there is no actor that particularly stands out from the others, even if there are very good agencies that already exist.

This is the first part of the market. And on the other side, there are the freelancers. Just like with agencies, there are freelancers who are extremely good, others who are not necessarily exceptional. So we can say that there is a sort of duality, with freelancers on one side and agencies on the other.

13) Does your know-how give you a real advantage?

Indeed, there are skills that are extremely rare and which will allow you to have a real advantage. For example, if you are an exceptional craftsman or if you have special know-how. Therefore, you will get a definite advantage to complete a mission that is difficult to do by others.

Speaking of SEO, I think there are several things that I think I have an edge on. These include “On Page SEO”, where I have the opportunity to bring a lot of things to the market. There are others, but at the moment, it is mainly this aspect that I wish to highlight.

14) Where is added value created in the sector?

Knowing where the generation of added value takes place in your industry is an important element to know, because it will be a criterion which will intervene on several elements, including the definition of price levels. For example, if you have an activity that does not create a lot of value, that means that in terms of price, it will be difficult to offer high prices.

The added value in SEO really comes down to the ability to grow a website in terms of organic traffic and increased revenue.

15) How do prices change?

In some markets, price fluctuations can be considerable. Therefore, it is important to know the specifics of your market in relation to this.

Take for example the milk market. Without surprises, you will experience world prices with incredible price changes. So depending on your sector, you may be enormously impacted by price changes.

In SEO, there are global trends in the market, with average prices for services. Afterwards it is negotiated, depending on the customers and the type of service that you are going to offer.

In the same way, I will set prices on the business that I am going to start. To the extent that I am in “start-up” mode, I cannot afford to arrive with what are called eccentric prices, that is to say very high or the highest on the market.

When you arrive in a market, you must first have your first customers, satisfy them and ask for a recommendation. So, subsequently, I could gradually increase my prices if I wish.

So these will be prices, let’s say at the market average, or even a little lower even, just to try to be as attractive as possible initially.

16) Will regulatory changes make it more expensive to start a business?

As I had the opportunity to tell you in the introduction, there are questions that will not necessarily be conducive to my activity. Maybe this will be the case for yours.

Indeed, legal changes can sometimes impact the launch of a business. Therefore, if you are in an industry prone to regulatory changes, I advise you to monitor developments regularly so as not to be caught off guard.

To my knowledge, regulatory changes have no impact on SEO consulting.

17) Who are your suppliers? Are there many of them? Concentrated?

In SEO, there are no direct suppliers per se. But if you are in the ready-to-wear sector, for example, having suppliers who are concentrated or not will play a huge role.

Because if you have problems with prices that are too high and there aren’t many people, that simply means that you will be able to compete. In the opposite case, if there is none, i.e. if the suppliers are concentrated, this situation will have a direct impact on your business. So knowing your suppliers well, understanding the very structure of the supplier market will really be relevant for your business.

18) Is it easy to change supplier?

This question has a lot of overlap with what I just said. Namely, if you have a problem with price or quality. You do not have to stay with the same supplier if you are not satisfied with them. This way, you can change it very quickly.

19) Will they have the power to influence the quality and cost of your offer?

Indeed, if there are not many suppliers and they offer you something that is not of good quality and at prices that are too high, you will have practically no room to negotiate.

This situation does not apply to SEO.[fusion_menu_anchor name=”B” class=””][/fusion_menu_anchor]

Now that we have completed this part on the market, we can now move on to the next one, relating to the profile of the entrepreneur.

B) The profile

Now, I will present to you the different questions relating to the profile.

Indeed, when you present your business plan, know that it is above all about you, just like business in general. Therefore, it is not surprising that investors are interested in what you have done in the past in order to understand your journey.

Sometimes, some questions can even go as far as personal life, as this is a relevant element for investors. They know that certain personal concerns can have a lasting impact on your business.

20) Have you ever run a business?

people who want to create their own company. Depending on your answer, investors or bankers will be able to assess the risk according to them.

In fact, investors have more confidence in people who have already managed companies. If you’ve never set up a company and this is your first, don’t stress out forever about it. There are a large number of examples where people who had never managed a company succeeded by becoming excellent leaders.

The best known cases, Bill Gates and Zuckerberg. But many others too. So for me, it’s not obligatory. It’s just a little extra. Some investors sometimes like to say that if the entrepreneur already has experience, it is more reassuring.

So, my answer is yes, I have already assembled boxes in the past. Some were completely wrong. So the objective is to try to capitalize on what did not work to ensure that the future succeeds.

21) Are you trained in management?

Same as the previous question. For me, being trained in management is both important, but not essential, if that is not your case.

If you have never studied management, business school or that sort of thing, and you want to set up your company, don’t hold yourself back for that reason. The fact of not being trained in management is a personal point of view after all, it is not the most problematic element.

Afterwards, on this subject, I have a slightly biased point of view. For me, management is not obligatory to learn in training or to attend business schools. In my opinion, most of the time, “management” is above all a matter of common sense.

Namely, are you able to put yourself in the shoes of others to understand what their interests are? What are its objectives ? What does he want to aim for? And many others. It turns out that there are people who are naturally good at management and who have never gone to school. Conversely, there are people who have gone to school or studied management, who find themselves at a given moment in a managerial position and are absolutely catastrophic.

For me, management is above all a relationship with people. Personally, I believe that there are many more management lessons in literature than in any other book that claims to teach you management. Again, this is my point of view, you don’t have to agree with me. So to the question, have I been trained in management? The answer is yes, I went to business school.

22) Can your family environment facilitate the realization of your project? Do you have the support of your spouse?

This question close to the intimate sphere can sometimes be disturbing. And yet, this is an extremely important and decisive point. For what ?

Simply to the extent that when you are going to set up your company, you will find yourself in the same situation as if you were creating a sort of boat to go to sea. Obviously, when you set up your company and especially for the first time, there is a tendency to really sway. There are doubts, uncertainties, you will have moments of loneliness and you will be afraid. In short, moments where you will feel alive. However, it is so difficult to start a business if you don’t have a family who supports you. It’s a kind of weight that we add to the boat and which can literally sink you.

Same thing with your spouse. It’s even stronger with the spouse. If you want to set up your company and your partner is not aligned with it, or is even formally opposed to it, it’s a really bad start! Because not only will you have to fight to exist as a business, but you will also have to fight in your home to show that your decision is the right one. So it’s very difficult.

On a personal level, does my family make it easier to carry out my project from a financial point of view? Let me be perfectly clear, the answer is no. I don’t come from some sort of upper middle class background. I’m going to start my business with my own finances, not asking anyone for money.

Is my family putting obstacles in my way when it comes to setting up my business? The answer is no. But there may be times when some members of my family are afraid.

Entrepreneurship ultimately also means knowing how to manage your own fears, managing the fears of others, and that can be a little more complicated. But over time, experience and confidence allow me to ensure that it is not a hindrance.

So my family doesn’t put obstacles in my way regarding that, but financially they don’t help me either. Especially since for the activity that I want to create, namely SEO consulting, there is no one in my family who has already set up companies in this field.

Then, in terms of support, I have Mariana’s support at 200%. At certain times, she will even help me with this business that I am going to start, particularly with all the design aspects linked to the brand identity. Mariana is therefore a support, and it’s a real pleasure to have someone who supports you on a daily basis because being an entrepreneur is difficult!

23) Do you know someone with whom you can regularly do update on the project?

Indeed, it is always a good idea to regularly take stock. It could be with a person in your industry, a person who has already set up a company in the same sector…

In short, different types of profiles, of people who will suit you, knowing that it is still better to make points with people who know your activity or people who have already set up companies.

If this is not the case, it’s a little more complicated in fact, because they will not necessarily, from my point of view, have the ability to really give you relevant advice for your specific situation. talk.

So, am I going to do it? In fact, the real people with whom I’m going to do the accounts, quote, is you. So you will watch my videos, you will see the evolution of my business, and regularly I will take stock. And why are points important?

Quite simply because it allows us to see what we have managed to do, and above all, what we will aim for next. So it’s a really good game to play. Afterwards, don’t spend 15 years there either. Spending time preparing for meetings to take stock when you are a start-up, when you are a large structure, is a little different. But when you’re a small start-up, you have to make points, but also not spend too much time on it.

24) Have you ever met an association of creators and support?

Indeed, if it’s your first time, it could really be interesting to join an association that will support you in creating your business. Knowing that in fact, it will also depend on another element, namely whether you are a solo entrepreneur or if you already have members in your team.

Depending on this, you will have to adapt your strategy. Because sometimes, when you start in entrepreneurship while you were in another sector, often in the end, you are not really competent as a business creator.

So this requires knowledge, sometimes basic knowledge, knowledge which can be of a human nature. In short, there are quite a few things to develop. And concerning myself, rather than very theoretical things, I prefer knowledge that is more pragmatic. After all, that’s my point of view.

So yes, I had the opportunity to go to certain support or creator associations in Paris, notably some which are quite large and well-known. I stayed there, but not very long.

To be honest, I only went three, four times to some of them. In any case, it was never really long term. Quite simply because in fact, I had the feeling that at certain moments, it didn’t help me move forward very much.

Once again, this is not a global vision that I wish to give. It’s mine. Simply sometimes, for example when I ask myself a question, I go on the Internet to find out, I watch videos, and in fact, that solves the point where I potentially have a problem or I wish to improve.

And the problem I find with associations is that they have so many things to deal with that sometimes, from my point of view at least, it’s a bit long, a bit theoretical. This means that in the end, it is added value that we lose, especially time. When you are an entrepreneur, don’t waste time!

25) Are you ready to make financial sacrifices?

Indeed, when you set up your business, and it is ultimately quite linked with the story of the spouses from earlier, the financial side will be something that you absolutely must discuss with your wife, or your man , never mind.

To set up your company, especially if you are in a position that is relatively comfortable, stable, if you have been in a company for a while and you have prospects, you do not necessarily pose any problems, the financial sacrifices you make, but not too much.

Also note that when you start a business, in general the income at the start is 0 and therefore, it can be complicated at the start to start your business. So what I advise you in relation to this is to really imagine what things or what activities you consider to be a sacrifice. The idea when you start a company is not to be frustrated.

Let’s say you love doing sports, gym, whatever, and that’s your passion. If ever when you set up your business, you say to yourself, ok to set up my business, I have to eliminate my sport or the activity that I particularly enjoy, you will end up being frustrated. So it’s not at all a good plan to do this kind of thing.

Try to think about things that don’t seem essential to you. And when there are some that really make you happy and you know that deleting them will frustrate you, don’t do it. Really, never delete things that will frustrate you because a frustrated entrepreneur is the worst thing!

26) What will your financial needs be in the coming years? (children / apartment)

We really get into the personal with these aspects. Indeed, depending on your business, you will have to give more of yourself. Let’s take the example of a Tech type business. The thing is, it requires R&D (Research and Development) for several years, before it starts generating revenue.

I actually mean that sometimes the personal calendar and the professional calendar can be a bit in conflict. When you have life goals, sometimes entrepreneurship involves shifting them a little. So you have to be aware of it to do things well. Then the third point is to form a team.

C) Form a team

This goes back to what I was saying earlier. You don’t build a business or an empire alone. We can start on our own, that will be the case for me. But the objective, of course, is to get people to join you to succeed in making your business explode.

27) Can you rely on a close-knit, complementary, experienced team?

Indeed, when you start entrepreneurship, at least a start-up, having a team that is united is extremely important from my point of view. Besides, the experience will come. Even if you’re not the most experienced at the start, it doesn’t matter. From the moment you are united, it will fix a lot of things.

Obviously, if you complement each other that’s also very good. For a very simple reason. Sometimes we can be very good at certain things and very bad at others. Therefore, if you can bring together people who have different skills, this allows you to accelerate your business much faster.

For now, I am starting as a solo entrepreneur on this project, therefore SEO consulting. Knowing that obviously the objective for me will subsequently be to grow the company and to succeed in creating a complementary, united and experienced team, of course!

28) Are the key skills for the success of your project represented?

It’s a good question. Because if, for example, you want to get into technology and you don’t have any engineers on your team, it’s complicated. So, still have a minimum of key skills in the activity you want to get into.

Again, you don’t have to know how to do everything. But at least have good foundations or key skills in certain aspects. This is really important for your business. Personally, I have good SEO skills. On the other hand, one of the elements where I think I will have to find someone fairly quickly to help me is, for example, at the commercial level.

I can do things myself, but there are people who are clearly much better than me on this subject. So that will be part of my priorities.

Furthermore, you should not create positions just for the sake of it when it comes to training your team. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see in many young companies positions such as deputy director which increase costs, without being of much use.

29) Failing that, can you count on external skills?

In fact, the idea is simple. It’s just a matter of understanding what your state of mind is regarding the subject. And understand that if you don’t know how to do everything when you set up your company, that’s normal!

Nobody knows how to do everything. A business is not created like that. You’re going to have to have several types of people, several types of skills, and that’s how you’re going to grow your team and then succeed in the end.

So the fact of relying on someone outside or external resources, really take it into consideration. Don’t tell yourself, to launch my company, I have to know how to do everything. Otherwise it will never happen.

30) Are your objectives understood and shared by everyone?

Indeed, when you start a company and you are a team from the start, it is really important to share your objectives with the other members. For what ? Quite simply because if you don’t share your objectives, you will gradually realize that ultimately, you are not going in the same direction at all.

The problem in fact is that a start-up at the beginning, if it ever starts to have a little growth and two types of teams are formed, there will be one which will want to go in this direction- there, and the second in the other direction. And I tell you, it’s going to breathe fire!

So what you will obviously have to do is communicate as much as possible, see if everyone agrees with you. And if this is not the case, which may be normal, really try to separate yourself as quickly as possible from people who do not potentially share your goals or your vision. Because otherwise, it’s not going to do it. A concrete example.

If in your business, you are with a partner who wants to obtain money, let’s say extremely quickly, why not, it’s laudable, and your objective is to create a long-term business, which pays you money and will allow you to be satisfied over a long period of time, you clearly see that you are in opposition.

So gauge carefully, see everyone’s objectives and based on that, make decisions.

For example, I am a solo entrepreneur, I agree with myself, let’s say, in terms of my objectives. But really, the goal with my business, the business that I am going to create in SEO, is to try to set up an agency that will have a lot of authority in the coming months/years. Because the objective for me is to have a long-term activity.

I’m not looking for a first try where I earn money for a little while then, after that, I do something else and go off I don’t know where. So it’s really long term that I want to create. And that’s why my overall approach will always be long-term.

31) Have you planned to retain your key people?

Indeed, when you find people who will have the same objectives as you, people who will have important skills, what you will have to do is to succeed in keeping them.

It may seem trivial, but managing to retain key skills and people is essential for me. Maybe I have a vision that is a bit particular, but for me, a business is really, above all, about people. Above all, it is values ​​that you will share.

Therefore, if you ever find people who are aligned with your objectives, your values, and who are effective, do everything to keep them.

So there may be several levers, but try to do your best to keep them. It can sometimes be through remuneration, through financial aspects, but it’s not just that either. There are many other aspects that will come into play.

In any case, it is above all a team story, a company that is being set up. And for now, I’m not going to paraphrase Bill Gates, but at one point, he told a story where he said that ultimately, what he did with Microsoft was not so much him, but the 20 first people who joined Microsoft at the very beginning.

And I think he’s absolutely right. Quite simply because a business at the beginning, if there aren’t the right people or if you can’t keep your key people, it can quickly get out of hand.

Then the fourth part, marketing and sales strategy.

D) Marketing and sales strategy

Marketing and sales strategy. I tell you, the articles that I will write will clearly be mostly about SEO, but there will also be some on online marketing. Quite simply because it is absolutely crucial.

So if you have ideas like “yes, marketing is good on paper, but hey here…”, you will have to delete them, because marketing is going to be really crucial. It’s literally the fuel for your business model.

32) Do you know what types of customers you are going to target?

Indeed, when you start your business or when you wonder how to make a business plan, it will be important to know what type of customers you want to reach out to.

In the context of SEO, to the extent that I am going to start, I will not be able to address point blank let’s say, to large companies, for example from the CAC 40. Large structures, clearly, it will be inaccessible.

Because what’s more, getting into the selection process is a whole lot of things and in any case, it’s going to take time. Therefore, the big boxes later perhaps, but not immediately.

Initially, what I will really focus on will be start-ups, especially those that have raised funds. Because they will have funding.

Also generally speaking, start-ups that are doing well and already have money that they want to invest in SEO to increase their organic traffic. Because I love start-ups and I think that even beyond SEO, I could give them a lot of advice.

The other element that I’m really going to try to focus on is going to be VSEs. Because they already have a successful business, but do not necessarily have Internet skills, particularly in terms of SEO. And there clearly, I can give them my expertise, I could help them increase their organic traffic. Basically, these are the two types of customers that I will prioritize.

Besides, why do you need to prioritize clients? Quite simply because at first, you started with very few resources. So the objective will be to try to allocate your resources, your time, as best as possible, to obtain clients who will potentially last in the long term. And this as quickly as possible.

That’s why it’s actually interesting to know from the start which types of clients seem to you to be the most affordable and, above all, those who will also allow you to have a significant margin. If we consider two customers, one with an average margin and the other with a slightly larger margin, prioritizing the one with the larger margin will be interesting, because it will allow you to have more silver. As a result, you will be able to grow your business even faster!

33) Is your market segmented?

I’ll take the example of SEO, it will be simpler. The SEO market is clearly segmented, I would even say almost fragmented, in fact. On the one hand, there are the SEO agencies themselves, for which this is the core business. There are several on the market, at least in France. And on the other side, there are, let’s say, freelancers. So there you have it, on one side there are the agencies and on the other the freelancers.

34) Have you defined priority targets?

This goes back a bit to what I said before. When you are going to get clients, really try to initially focus on those who are the least difficult to obtain, with the best remuneration, therefore the best margins for you from the start. It’s important to prioritize because it will allow you to accelerate faster.

35) Will you face a network of priority prescribers?

Right now, I don’t know anything about it, I don’t even know what a network of priority prescribers is. So sorry. If this ever concerns you, look, but right now I don’t know.

36) What are the commercial means to implement to achieve your turnover objective?

Indeed, I am going to mix commercial means with marketing. Of course, when you’re in a company that’s just started, you do absolutely everything. So all domains in quotes are mixed.

We are not in a big company, where there are people who do the commercial aspects, some the marketing and others the finance. There, as a start-up, you will do a little bit of everything. So the commercial aspects, I will mix them with marketing.

Basically for me, the right way to obtain new customers is with inbound marketing on one side and outbound marketing on the other. I’ll explain to you what it is.

Inbound marketing in a very simple way is when customers will come to you to see your business and use your service. Outbound marketing is when you are the one who contacts customers. So you understand that in terms of approach, they are two different things.

I am someone who believes enormously in inbound marketing . And SEO is inbound marketing. Content creation is also inbound marketing.

The advantage with inbound marketing, it’s a huge advantage, is that when you start it and you do it well, it allows you to have customers on a regular basis, customers who will come non-stop. knock on your door asking you to work with them.

Outbound marketing is different. Because it is you who will take the time to pick up the phone or send an email. In short, prospecting to get a new client. So you should do inbound marketing from the start. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Because for me, that’s really the most crucial element.

In summary, inbound marketing from the start, in terms of content creation, and in parallel a little outbound marketing, the first three months.

Outbound marketing can be useful, effective, but the thing is that inbound marketing, from my point of view, is much more powerful. And that’s why I recommend putting it in place from the start.

So here are the different commercial means.

37) Is your marketing process defined?

The answer is no, I don’t have a process per se. Maybe it’s already clear in your head.

Yes, I know roughly how I am going to approach a client. Most of the time when doing SEO, one of the good entry points is the customer audit. Because it will allow you to see what technical problems there may be on the client’s website and therefore help them quickly resolve them. Afterwards, why not sell another service, annexed to SEO.

So there you have it, my marketing process is at that level. But objectively, it would be worth exploring on my part.

38) How will you organize your sales force?

So there, it’s the same. I think it’s good to ask yourself this kind of question. In a structure, with a team of 2 or 3 people, everyone will do a little of everything at the beginning. Except if you decide from the start to split the tasks with a person who will only do sales. Since I am a solo entrepreneur at the moment, the sales force will be me.

39) Have you planned a forecasting and reporting system?

Indeed, when you start a business, when you start an activity, the idea will be to follow your information, financial or otherwise. So having a reporting system is important. I think I have good Google Sheet and Excel skills in general. So this will be the kind of reporting that I will do when it requires a, say, manual aspect.

But above all from an automatic point of view, to the extent that I am going to work on my site, I am going to use a system called Google Analytics, which can also be coupled with Google Search Console. It doesn’t really matter.

But basically, on Google Analytics, you will see the sources of your traffic, your income and all that. So it’s going to be extremely effective to have a reporting system.

40) Do you need a marketing function?

So for now, my point of view on the subject will be partisan. But I almost want to say that no matter what you do, no matter whether you are a plumber, a pastry chef, whether you are a consultant or whether you are setting up your own business, marketing is very important. And to show you, I’m just going to give you one item.

For example, imagine two people with the same skills, and wanting to enter the same sector. They have the same money at the start. It can be said that at this point they are identical.

Now one of them is going to have much more developed marketing skills than the other. I can assure you of one thing, it is that with equivalent skills, the person who is good at marketing will explode their business much more quickly than the other.

So really take that into account. Marketing is not something to be taken lightly, especially not today. After saying that, I’m also going to put things into perspective. Let’s take the same example. There are two people who want to create a business on the same activity. One of them is very good at his core business. The other no. The person who is not good at their core business is, on the other hand, very good at marketing.

What’s terrible right now is that the person who is not good at their core business, but good at marketing, will do better in the short term. In the medium to long term, it is the other who will do best, quite simply because word of mouth will work. And since its customers will be satisfied, it will increase its business.

What I mean by that is don’t see marketing as some sort of superfluous element. It clearly shouldn’t be. Right now, to create a successful business, marketing from my point of view is more important today than ever.

And tomorrow it will be even more so. You will perhaps say to me “From what you say, the form is more important than the substance”. The thing is that when you put together a box, the shape and the content must be prioritized. There is no form more important than the substance, or substance more important than the form. Both have to be good.

41) Have you calculated your communications budget?

Bankers may ask you this question. With the company that I am going to set up in SEO, I am not going to bring an amount of money strictly speaking. On the other hand, I’m going to spend some time there. Because communication is really important, it’s really crucial at the start.

So yes, I will spend time there. Budgetarily no, but it is possible at certain times that I use certain tools. Some of these tools will be free, others will be paid.

Don’t worry, I will have the opportunity to show you concretely how I do it.

42) What communication tools do you have?

I have already answered a little but indeed, there are tools which will be more or less important. Afterwards, I don’t know exactly which ones. Because depending on the business, there may be things that we prioritize more or less.

Depending on your sector, you can prioritize social networks like Instagram, for example, others prefer Pinterest, or platforms like Linkedin.

In short, depending on your sector, whether you are BtoB or BtoC, and what the customer expects, the tool will vary. So for me, this question is not very relevant.[fusion_menu_anchor name=”D” class=””][/fusion_menu_anchor]

D) Protect your know-how and your product

Sometimes depending on your sector of activity, especially if you do R&D, you will spend time doing research, which can be extremely expensive. And so that just means that in the end, you’re going to have to protect what you’ve done. Because otherwise, there will always be smart people who will be there to steal your technology. Or your know-how.

43) Can your technological knowledge be subject to legal protection?

Don’t take this lightly. If this is your case, take the time. It’s true that it’s not the most glamorous time when you’re doing entrepreneurship, but it’s really important to protect, legally in any case, your business, to avoid the slightest glitch afterwards. Because sometimes things can go very wrong.

44) Can your solution establish itself as a standard in the sector?

Yes. Indeed, the more innovative a solution is, let’s say, the more important it is to protect it. Simply because when you arrive on the market, you potentially explode what is being done, and that can create tensions among other players. So keep that in mind. And that’s all I wish you.

If you have a solution like that, I say congratulations. This is exactly what we should try to do.

45) Are you going to have to convince other technological players?

Yes. Of course, there are certain technologies that are ultimately combined with others. And the problem is that if these actors do not agree to implement your solution, well it will simply not be viable.

It’s not that it won’t be viable, but it’s that it will never exist on the market. So sometimes, there are certain sectors where it can be extremely decisive to check this type of thing.

46) Is your innovation at risk of being quickly outdated?

Again, this is not a question that applies to SEO at all. But overall, if you do research and development (R&D) for two, three, four years, and you finally realize that when you put the product on the market, 6 months later there is no longer anyone buying your product, it’s a shame.

So it’s true that technology is moving at such a speed today that sometimes it’s a little difficult to predict what the next move will be. But simply put, it’s better to say “stop” rather than launching into something that ultimately won’t lead to anything. Or something obsolete.

47) Have you quantified your R&D needs?

If you are in technology, R&D, you will have to quantify it. Your banker or your business angel will be interested in it.

48) Will your production tool initially be sufficiently calibrated?

I don’t really know how to understand this question. In any case, the interpretation that I make of it is that if you have a business, for example in ready-to-wear, and you have machines that create your items, your new products, well from at a certain level, your machines will reach a sort of limit.

So that means that potentially, you will have to invest again if you want to increase your volume. Knowing that in certain sectors, if you don’t reach some kind of critical mass, it’s not actually worth it. So okay, I don’t know if that’s the way I should interpret it, but that’s how I understood it.

49) Do you know how to arbitrate between internal production and subcontracting?

What I recommend to you, in quotes, is that depending on what you do, if you have a core business, a core activity, it must remain internal. On the other hand, anything that is potentially supportive, or anything that is not essential and does not directly intervene in your core business, yes, you can subcontract it. But obviously, the fact of internalizing things, the fact of subcontracting, generally, it’s a bit on a case by case basis. Business by business. You really have to ask yourself questions. And there is no obvious answer to these kinds of questions.

Finally, the last part will be finding the funding.[fusion_menu_anchor name=”E” class=””][/fusion_menu_anchor]

This is the moment where we will talk about finances and where your banker or your business angel could potentially challenge you.

50) What is your overall financial need?

In addition to your business strategy, you also need to think about the financing plan. In many cases, to start your business, you will need resources. So resources can be linked to debt.

But there may also be resources which will be linked to your equity, therefore for example to your money or your savings. You can also use what some call “love money”. Love money is simply asking for money from loved ones.

That’s basically it. So, understanding your financial needs is important because it simply prevents you from asking for too much when ultimately, you are not going to need as much. So there you have it, this can really be an important thing for bankers.

51) What distribution between equity and debt?

That’s important at the moment. Your banker will challenge you on the subject. If, for example, you were planning to take out a bank loan, putting 0 of your personal contribution, I tell you, there is very little chance that it will work.

I’d be really curious to know the name of the banker with whom it would have worked, since most of the time it doesn’t happen.

Investors always expect you, as a business creator, to put your hand in your pocket too. It’s a question of credibility. And they too, the investors, will say to themselves that if they lose money, you lose money too.

52) Is your business a consumer or generator of income?

There are ultimately businesses where, in terms of earnings, it will be complicated. If that doesn’t speak to you, I’ll give you examples.

Take for example the case of supermarkets. Supermarkets are types of business that have a positive WCR (Working Capital Requirement). This simply means that supermarkets will receive money from customers.

For example, when you go to the supermarket, you pay the structure directly for the different products you buy. So the supermarket receives the money immediately from its customer. On the other hand, the supermarket will pay its suppliers a long time later. It could be in 30, 60 days.

And what does that mean from a cash flow point of view? This means that we will always have a cash flow which will be positive. So the supermarket will generate income. This is going to be extremely interesting. And the bankers absolutely want to know it. For what ?

Simply because if it is the opposite and you are a consumer of income or in other words, you have a negative WCR, that will mean that it is your bankers who will finance your lack of cash flow. And overall, they don’t really like it.

The thing with this is that it will really depend on your type of business. Ultimately, there are very few businesses that will be extremely revenue-generating, like the supermarket. So, be aware of this, because cash flow is essential. This must be taken into account.

53) What will your cash flow needs be in the first year of activity?

As I told you earlier, cash flow is really important. Indeed, money in general is the sinews of war. I don’t plan to give you finance lessons. But understand, the issues around cash flow are important.

There will be many challenges. Good investors will really challenge at this level. Because if you don’t have cash flow, if you can’t generate cash flow, it’s going to be extremely complicated to make your business last over time.

Afterwards, there may be activities where the WCR is negative, say structurally. But in this case, you have to have financing arrangements and others.

54-55) What will be the collection time for customers? Could you provide payment deadlines from suppliers?

It goes back a bit to what I just said, with the supermarket stories. In fact, I took for supermarkets, the cases where the cash flow was positive. Let’s take a reverse case. Let’s say you want to set up a company, in ready-to-wear fashion for example. With ready-to-wear, you are going to need working capital from a structural point of view.

For what ? Quite simply because in fact, for a collection, between the start and the moment when your client will pay you, the time will be very long. The problem with that is that when you create your collection, you will request products from suppliers.

And these will have to be paid for. You can set deadlines with suppliers, but you will have to pay them at one point or another. Here, your suppliers will ask for their money before your end customers have paid you. So that will mean that you will be in the negative.

So. When you are a start-up or an entrepreneur in general, the ability to negotiate the payment deadline of customers or that of suppliers can be a kind of lever on which you can pull, to try to improve your situation by Treasury.

56) After how many months will your cash flow be positive on a recurring basis? ?

When I told you that cash flow is a bit of a cakewalk, we weren’t there yet. What does it mean ?

Basically, this means that there will be what we call in finance, cash flow tables, which will allow you to see when you are going to spend and when you are going to receive money. You will be able to make forecasts thanks to this. And above all, it will allow you to know how many months you think everything will be positive.

57) What is the forecast amount of your cumulative financing requirement before reaching the cash flow break-even point?

It’s the same principle. You are asked how long it will take you to be positive. Basically that’s it. And once again, where it is problematic, and I am not at all enthusiastic about it, is in terms of sources of income and forecasted income, when we are an already established company.

When you are, for example, a sort of large liner, it is possible to have forecasts on income. In any case, in a much more serene way. But when you are a start-up, it is absolutely impossible.

So, the problem is that we are always making big assumptions. Sometimes there are things that work well, other times not. And the only good way to do it is to test. That’s why I’m not a big fan of all this.

58) When do you expect to break even?

It’s the same principle. Break-even point, break-even point… This is the cream of business plans.

59) Is the profitability generated over a three to five year horizon sufficient?

Here we are on things that I don’t necessarily like with the business plan, but that you must do if you ever ask for money from a banker, the BPI (bpifrance creation) or whoever you want. Because once again, the profitability generated will depend on the income that you are going to set. And when you start a company, you never know how much income will come. Just because you look at the numbers from a statistical point of view and a global point of view doesn’t mean that’s going to be the case. So we are on something very nebulous from my point of view.

There you have it, we’ve gone around with these many questions that others will call checklist. It took longer than expected. I am sorry. The idea for me was to dig deeper into the topics to try to show you exactly what questions it might be interesting to ask when making a business plan. The questions I presented to you are much more relevant than a curve that always rises. This is what will allow you to finally ask yourself the really good questions that can be useful for your business.

So there you have it, thank you for reading until the end. From the next articles, we will get into the pragmatic and thatwill be, of my point of view, much more interesting for you and for me to show you all that.

1 thought on “Business Plan | 60 questions to ask yourself”

This was very helpful,and informative, especially for those that are new to writing business plans it makes it more understandable and practical

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40 Thesis Defense Questions

Practicing answering thesis defense questions in a mock thesis defense is the best way to get ready for this challenging step in your academic career. Aside from knowing your research project inside and out, you must have solid strategies for tackling different question types and talking about why you chose your research topic. You might have already answered questions related to your research interests in your research interest statement and grad school interview questions , but now after years for in-depth study, it's time to really test what you have accomplished! Check out some of the hardest thesis defense questions below and read our expert responses!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 11 min read

What to expect in a thesis defense.

A thesis defense is your chance to demonstrate your in-depth knowledge and expertise in the topic of your research thesis. While you will be able to take charge of the narrative and present your research to those on your thesis committee, the professors will prod you to test how well you know and understand your topic. The questions are mostly open-ended and give you the chance to showcase your knowledge and understanding, as well as any future plans you may have regarding your research topic.

A thesis defense usually lasts between one and two hours, depending on the area of your research. It starts with you giving a presentation of your interest, findings, and conclusions. After you have finished, the committee members will ask you questions based not only on your presentation, but also on your written thesis as they will have read it before your presentation. Lastly, the committee might approve your thesis or suggest changes to your paper.

Preparing thesis defense questions requires you to start well in advance. While the duration of your thesis defense might vary as per your institution's requirements, the major idea is to defend your research. Thus, you should go about preparing for your thesis defense questions by taking the following steps.

Interested in a quick overview of the section below? Check out this infographic:

Re-read your thesis for clarity

Your thesis defense questions will be based on what you have written in your research paper. Hence, it is a good idea to re-read your paper. You should be clear on the concepts and understand your research well. It might have been some time since you would have submitted your paper, so a revision should be the starting point of your preparation.  

Have an answer strategy and structure

Plan a strategy to answer the panel’s questions. Keep your answers direct, but elaborate on the research details wherever necessary. If you do not know the answer to a question, that is alright. The key is to be able to formulate an answer even if you do not possess enough knowledge to answer at that point in time. For instance, if a question is about the content of your research, you can say something like “I am not certain my research touches on the question you are asking, but my research has led me to Dr. X. Based his evidence, I would have to conclude that…” Having a strategy for answering even the most unexpected questions can be a life saver in these situations!

Most of the thesis defense questions can be easily predicted based on your research. You can prepare a list of possible questions when you are going through your paper. Getting to know the committee can help you in preparing better. Their areas of expertise can help you in determining what they might ask. Once you have a list of questions, you can start brainstorming how you might answer them. 

Prepare your slides in advance

If you require visual aids such as slides, it is a good idea to prepare them beforehand. You can double-check the slides and make sure that your presentation will run smoothly on the day of your thesis defense. Make sure your slides are arranged in the correct order. 

Attend a thesis defense of other candidates if it is an open event

If your institution allows it, you can visit a thesis defense of other candidates. This will give you an excellent idea of what you can expect in your meeting. If it is not possible to attend the event, you can speak to your peers to find out how their meeting went and what questions were asked.

Dress appropriately for your meeting

The thesis defense meeting is a formal event, and hence you should be dressed in formal clothes. While there are no strict dressing rules, you should consider it something equivalent to a job interview. Don’t just wear your T-shirt and appear in front of the committee. Your formal suit is a better option for the occasion.

Practice speaking for your meeting

Take your preparation to the next level by practicing your presentation. This activity will give you the confidence for the actual meeting and presentation. You can request your academic peers to help you out in the practice task. Based on their feedback in the mock session, you can improve for the actual session. Make sure to prepare well for the mock session as if you are preparing for the actual session. You can also practice your speech and body language in the mock session. If you used thesis writing services , these professionals would also be the ideal people to test you in a mock thesis defense – don’t hesitate to reach out to them again!

Sample Thesis Defense Questions and Answers

1.    what is your research study all about.

In your answer, you should summarize your research in a few sentences. The question is simple but requires technical expertise for a better explanation of concepts. For instance, if you completed a thesis in an attempt to explain the constituents of dark matter in the universe and particle accelerators, you could frame your answer like this:

In this research, the different aspects of dark matter and its detection models have been investigated. The cosmic ray positron excess observed by the PAMELA detector has been discussed and explained through the construction of models of decaying dark matter. The cosmic-ray electron and positron spectra were studied assuming a general Dirac structure for the four fermion contact interactions of interest. A supersymmetric leptophilic Higgs model was constructed to explain the possible excess of gamma rays in the galactic center. Finally, by the use of Razor analysis, an improvement on the dark matter collider searches is considered.  

2.    Why did you choose this study?

This question requires you to answer what motivated you to pursue the study in the first place. Your answers could touch on your interests in the area of the study. For example, if you conducted a study called “Media Combat: The Great War and the Transformation of American Culture” then you can shape your answer like this:

The First World War (1914-1918) has always been a topic of fascination for me, and my prime interest lies in exploring the state of society at that time. I wanted to analyze the formation of a nationalized, wartime cultural apparatus during the United States' involvement in the war and how theatre and music transformed the relationship between the government and American citizens. 

3.    Why did you choose this particular title for your research?

The title of your thesis captures the main point of your research, which is why it is so important to use an appropriate title. Your committee will want to know how you came to the final decision of naming your work. For example,

I chose the title “Dark matter in the heavens and at colliders: Models and constraints” for my research thesis because my research attempts to explain the constituency of dark matter as it occurs in the universe. “The heavens” is another word for the universe. Dark matter can also be created in particle accelerators such as the CERN collider. I have attempted to provide an explanation for both of the cases through the use of models, along with describing the constraints which exist in the current times due to certain scientific limitations.

4.    What is the scope of your study?

In your answer, you have to define the boundaries of your project and define exactly what you are studying. There can be several elements involved but you have to define the parameters that you have chosen to study. For example,

My study is on the efficacy of equity stocks in the US market. For my study, I have chosen 50 companies listed on the NASDAQ. You can review the names of these companies on page 5 of my thesis.

5.    What phenomenon were you trying to understand with this research?

Describe the focus concept of your thesis in the answer. For example,

In our study “Motivation to volunteer”, we were looking to study the Theory of Planned Behavior by analyzing the behavioral and normative beliefs that influence attitudes and subjective norms.

Want increase your productivity and mainain a healthy work life balance to help get you through your thesis project? Here are some tips straight from our CEO:

6.    Who will be most interested in your research?

You can talk about who may be affected by your research and the parties who can potentially benefit from the research. Take a look at this example:

My sociology thesis on “Impact of social media on youngsters” can be of interest to sociology academics, social media companies, education experts, and parents of youngsters in general.

7.    Did your research questions evolve during the process? If so, how?

Often, qualitative research questions change over time with respect to the responses that you might get from your focus group. Or you might just change your question as you do lab research or general text research. You can describe the change to the evaluating committee. For example,

We started our study to understand the impact of the new public policy change on recycling of vinyl waste through installation of garbage bins specifically for vinyl products. However, after interviewing some of the respondents in the target community, we found that the rule is actually irrelevant to their behavior and thoughts because the percentage of vinyl waste in that specific locality was very low and it didn’t need the installation of dedicated bins for the purpose. Going by their frustrations with the current economic insecurity, our study evolved into the impact of costs incurred by public policy changes.           

8.    What gaps did you intend to bridge with your research?

Your research thesis must eliminate the present gaps in the concepts related to your subject topic.

The relationship between hard water and its effect on the size of the kidney stone is not clear yet, so we analyzed the mineral composition of hard water to determine its impact on the size of the kidney stone.

9.    Why is your research significant?

The answer to this research question should outline the impact of your research on your field of study. You may talk about the new insights contributed by your research and its impact on society.

Through my study on “The effect of chamomile in reducing stress and promoting better sleep,” patients with insomnia and anxiety will be able to find alternative treatments without the use of medicinal drugs. The medical abilities of chamomile will promote the usage of ingredients in nature and will encourage the community to plant more herbs and trees.

10. What did you find in your research?

You may describe your research in a few sentences in this answer. For instance,

In our study on “Impact of artificial fluoride in water on the human body,” we found that excessive exposure to high quantities of Fluoride can result in tooth discoloration and bone issues in humans since it has neurotoxic qualities. 

11. What research findings surprised you?

When you conduct research, you come across findings that you were not expecting earlier. If you had such an experience, you might describe the same to the evaluation committee when you answer this question. For example,

I was expecting that business promotion through social media would not be a good idea for rural enterprises in developing countries in my comparative analysis of the usage of traditional and contemporary marketing methods. But I was surprised to learn that 68% of rural textile businesses in Nigeria promote their products on Instagram.

12. What is the validity of your findings?

You have to talk about the conditions in which your research findings would be valid.

In my research, I have considered test anxiety to be involving both nervous system activation and negative thoughts. Thus, my measure of test anxiety has included the elements of both nervous feelings and negative thoughts, the conditions in which my findings are valid.

For example,

For studying the differential protein expression, its localization, and distribution at different levels, we used the method of immunostaining in our research.

14. What sources did you use for data collection?

You would have used several sources to search for data for your topic. You may elaborate on those sources. You might have referred to databases, content on the web, or even conducted primary research by interviewing prospects. Thus, you can talk about these sources. Refer to the following answer:

To understand the impact of the current tax regime on skilled workers, we interviewed 150 subjects in 5 months. Additionally, we referred to databases and scholarly works available by authors who had previously conducted such studies for previous tax laws and rates. 

15. How can your research be put into practice?

This question talks about the practical implications of your research. You should talk about how your research is beneficial for society and how it can help in eliminating current issues.

In our research titled “Effectiveness of Meditation on Reducing the Anxiety Levels of College Students in the US,” we discovered that students who practiced meditation at least thrice a week were two times more likely to score better in their exams, owing to the positive impact of meditation. So, this research finding can help in the reduction of mental health issues among students. A suitable course of action would be to hold meditating sessions a couple of times a week. 

16. How will your findings contribute to the related area of knowledge?

Our study on medicinal analysis of herbs conveys information about various medicinal benefits of chamomile in treating depression and contributes to the area of medicinal botany.

17. Did you experience any limitations in your research?

Our research on “Impact of smoking on β-cell function and risk for type 2 diabetes in US citizens” finds that smoking increases the risk of diabetes among smokers. However, smokers might be affected by some genetic conditions which can protect them from diabetes. 

18. What sampling techniques did you use?

When conducting research, it is practically not possible to study the entire number of elements. So, you would be using a method to select a sample population.

In our study “Impact of consumption of soda on the health of teenagers in Corpus Christi”, we used area sampling to divide the city into several areas and then selected some clusters for our sample group.

19. What are the dependent and independent variables in your research?

In research, several variable factors impact your study. You can describe these variables. Independent variables have values which are not affected by other variables in your study. On the other hand, the dependent variables have values that change with changes in the independent variable. For example,

In our study on “Impact of online tutoring on test scores”, the independent variable is the nature of the classes i.e., online and the participants' test score is the dependent variable.

20. What areas do you suggest for further research?

As a researcher, you should be able to describe what further areas are open for research with the addition of your research to the field. This can act as a starting point for future researchers. For example,

In my research on “Effectiveness of Acetaminophen in treating sports induced injuries”, I discovered that administering Acetaminophen is not very effective for treating joint pains such as the knee. This further suggests measures for the regulation of Acetaminophen in the production of painkillers for body pain and the search for alternative compounds.

Practice Questions

After taking a look at the sample answers, now try answering these questions by yourself:

Do you have any closing comments? "}]">

After submitting your research thesis for evaluation, you have to appear before a panel of professors and present your work; afterwards, they will ask you questions about your research.

You have to plan and prepare for your thesis defense. Review your paper and anticipate the questions that the committee can ask. Practice with mock defense sessions using professional servicesand make improvements based on their feedback. Be prepared with a strategy for answering any question asked by the panel.

Your research thesis should be on a topic of your interest. Scan your course syllabus to find something that makes you curious. Or, you can even refer to your grad school career goals statement to review what got you interested in grad school in the first place. Shortlist a few topics and zero down to the one that excites you the most.

The first step in preparing for a master’s thesis defense is to revise your research paper and write down a list of questions that the committee might ask. Find answers to those questions and get ready for your presentation. Practice your presentation beforehand. Try to attend a thesis defense of other candidates to know what you can expect in your session. 

You will get questions related to what you have mentioned in your research paper. The most common starting questions are “what is your research about?" and “what was your motivation behind choosing this topic?” Later on, the committee asks you more detailed questions on research methodology, literature review, study variables, research findings, recommendations, and areas of further research.

You can get help from a grad school essay tutor for your research thesis writing. They can help you in developing writing skills and reviewing your work. They can proofread your work and provide recommendations on areas of improvement.

You can include your research thesis on your grad school CV to show your practical knowledge and skills. You can add the details of the study in a separate section for research experience.

Immediately after the thesis defense, the evaluation panel will decide whether to approve your paper as submitted or request some changes, or reject it.

To pass a thesis defense, a majority of the panel members must approve the defense. In case of more than one vote against you, you can fail the thesis.

A thesis defense can last for two hours or longer, depending on your area of research.

Your thesis defense presentation should include the focus concept, findings, recommendation, and conclusion.

The contribution of your thesis towards your degree differs as per institution. You can refer to your course handbook for exact details. In most cases, the committee needs to approve your thesis for you to graduate from your degree.

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why did you choose this place for a research locale

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hi Jeff! Yes, this can also be one of the questions you are asked in a thesis defense!

That is good

Hello Eshetu! Thanks for your comment. Glad you found this helpful!

Very helpful

Thanks, Abel. Glad you found this helpful. 

Helpful thank you.

Hi Lagat! Thanks!

As an 11th-grade student, I don't have any experience in thesis or research defense in general. Me and my groupmates will be conducting our research title defense next week, this is invaluable information for us. Thank you!

You are very welcome, Kate!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS, I REALLY APPRECIATE.

Hello Stephanie! Thanks for your comment.

EMELDA NAFULA NYONGESA

This is a good guideline to post graduate students (Masters and PhD) CPA:Emelda Nyongesa

Hi Emelda! Thanks!

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• Entrepreneurship

In Defense of the Business Plan

The business plan is under attack and deservedly so. Why spend so much time writing a fictional plan when you are pretty much certain that the odds of it translating to reality are near to zero? Framed this way it is indeed difficult to see why a rational person would venture out to write a business plan! As my colleague Toni Dávila recently pointed out Business Plans Should Move to the Back Seat .  

What it’s not

However, critiquing the business plan based on its predictive performance may miss the point . The culprit perhaps is the word “plan,” that leads us to believe that a business plan is something to be executed with minimal deviations from the original, akin to conventional capital budgeting or financial plans.  That is definitely not the case. A business plan is not a plan!

This would not come as a surprise to those who have read and interiorized the classic William A. Sahlman piece on business plans: “ How to write a great business plan .” He rightly pointed out (long before the slew of criticism thrown at business plans for their poor predictive track record as well as the dot-com bubble, vastly fueled by investments in dubious and not so rigorous business plans):

“What’s wrong with most business plans? The answer is relatively straightforward. Most waste too much ink on numbers and devote too little to the information that really matters to intelligent investors. As every seasoned investor knows, financial projections for a new company – especially detailed, month-by-month projections that stretch out for more than a year–are an act of imagination.”

A business plan is essentially a document that presents the entrepreneurs vision and execution plans with its associated risks and rewards for consumption of investors . The goal is to help investors assess the business and make an informed decision. It is essentially an analysis and communication tool for the entrepreneur to provide the investor , akin to a due diligence report when buying a company for example. Therefore, if as an entrepreneur you are bootstrapping your business or are at a stage where the uncertainties are too high for you to grapple with, the business plan may be of little utility.

So indeed Business Plans Should Move to the Back Seat when demand uncertainties are too high and need to be further investigated and comprehended. In such cases the goal should be to search for a scalable business model through a deep understanding of the market by rigorous research and most importantly experimentation in the field. This crucial phase of the entrepreneurial process definitely does not require a business plan to be written beforehand!

Why it’s important

However, it is also certain that it is during this process that the entrepreneur generates the insights and knowledge that will form the basis of the business plan that will allow her to approach investors to raise financing for her startup if so desired. A business plan apart from providing information to investors is also a symbol of you as a person . It reflects how thoughtful, thorough, honest and diligent you are. Whether the plan is a 40-page document or a 20-slide pitch deck, at the end of the day it should reflect you and your vision and convictions while providing the necessary information to investors to make an informed decision .

Furthermore, we must also realize that a business plan is just the start of long journey full of ups and downs for both investors and entrepreneur. Risk is unavoidable in a startup and there are no tools that can predict the future with any accuracy. Thus it is crucial to realize that, “a business plan must not be an albatross that hangs around the neck of the entrepreneurial team, dragging it into oblivion. Instead, a business plan must be a call for action, one that recognizes management’s responsibility to fix what is broken proactively and in real time .” After all, investing in a fledgling startup is an act of faith based on trust. Both parties must strive to uphold that trust in the long journey to nurture a new venture.

• Business Plan

Related posts:

• Business Plans Should Move to the Back Seat
• How long will the entrepreneur fad last?
• Which is more important – the car or the driver? Ask Fernando Alonso…
• Google Plus

One thought on “ In Defense of the Business Plan ”

Good post, Anindya. I just read your colleagues post about business plans moving to the back seat as well. You both had some good points. I tend to be a little more on your side of things. Any good plan in business or military (I’ve been in both) must be well researched, well thought, out, but also be flexible, and have backup plans…contingencies. Most new startups that I’ve seen don’t fail because they over-planned…they fail because they had NO plan. The trick is to keep it flexible…adaptable, and see it as a work in progress. But I do agree with Toni in one sense because I do think too many people spend so much time on their initial business plans that they miss opportunities and don’t actually have time DO the business they were passionate about. I was talking with one of my good friends who’s starting an event planning business, and she was really stressed about having everything perfect right off that bat. I gave her some advice to not stress so much about the initial perfection, but get some key things done that would allow her to get started and learn on the fly. She took my advice and a couple months later she’s getting some clients and her business is at least off the ground. So, as I said on Toni’s post, I think the key is balance.

Comments are closed.

Prepare for your project defense with these common questions and answers

Introduction

Learn how to get prepared for your project defense with these common questions and tips

Project defense can be very easy once you completely understand your research work and are prepared for the questions. During the defense, the panel of assessors will ask you questions to test your knowledge of the research subject matter, depth of your work, the results and conclusions you arrived at. The questions that would be asked will fall within these four categories: -What is your research project about? -What did you do? -What did you find? -Why does that matter?

Image Credit: Freepik   Below are some of the likely questions you will be asked in a project defense room. Study these questions and suggested answers. You can also ask previous students in your department and your supervisor to guide you. Common project defense questions and answers

1. Why did you choose this topic ?

This might be the first question you will be asked, and you need to have a good response. You should talk about the motivations for the study. Talk about the research problem you wanted to address which made you embark on the study.

2. Briefly, explain what your research project is all about?

To respond to this question, you need to fully understand your research project. Basically, be able to repeat your abstract.

3. What is the scope of the study

Here you briefly state the specific aspects of your project topic that was covered.

4. What is the significance of the study?

To answer this question, you will need to state how your research work will help other researchers, educators, organizations(like the case study used), practitioners and policymakers.

5. Did you bridge any gap from your study?

Here you should talk about how your study addressed the existing problems/concerns that made you carry out the research.

6. What are your research variables?

This question is asked in order to find out if you really know what your research project is all about. Explain your independent and dependent variable(s) to show them you really grasp the concept of your research topic. Identify the variables in your project topic, define and explain them.

7. What research methodology did you use?

This is usually the chapter three of your project report. To respond to this question, you should briefly state the research design procedure you adopted for the research. Talk about the data collection methods and sampling techniques employed in the research.

8. Why did you use that research methodology?

This is where you state the reason(s) for the choice of research methodology used. For example, if you used the survey research method, you can state reasons such as: no interviewer bias, cost-effective, it enabled you (the researcher) to collect information from the sample without influencing the population of the study e.t.c

9. Why do you think your research is reliable?

To answer this question, simply tell your audience/panel of assessors that the threats to research reliability (which are participants error, participant bias, research error, and researcher bias) did not occur during the research. Or you can simply say that you made sure the threats were reduced to the barest minimum.

10. Why do you think your research is valid?

To answer this question, simply tell your audience/panel of assessors that the findings from your study can be generalized to other relevant settings, group or case study.

11. In what way(s) does your research project contributes to knowledge?

This question is similar to your significance of the study. You should talk about how your research is aimed at addressing a problem that was not addressed by previous researchers in your field of study. You should also briefly state how your project will advance understanding in your research field.

12. What are the limitations encountered

No research project is perfect. It is common for at least one limitation to be identified. To answer this question, talk about the weaknesses that were out of your control. You can talk about how weaknesses such as the short time frame for the research, lack of research studies/materials on the topic, lack of available data, the combination of lectures, exam and project research, limited sample size and selection, e.t.c impacted the analysis of your research data.

13. Which programming language did you use to write your program? (for computer science students)

State the programming language and database used in the development of your software/program. If you did not design the program yourself or you were assisted by a friend or colleague, find out from the person which programming language was used. You might also ask the person to give you a crash course on the programming language.

14. Show us how your software works (for computer science students)

Make sure you are familiar with how the software works. Also, be sure that there are no errors in the software. Go ahead and show the panel of assessors how the software functions. You can also show them some records which you entered previously.

15. What source of data was employed for the research?

Here, you simply state the data collection methods that were used in the study. You should state if primary sources such as questionnaires, interview, observation OR secondary sources such as textbooks, journals, articles, e.t.c were used. If you combined primary and secondary sources, briefly talk about it.

16. What are your findings?

Show the descriptive results from the study in a convincing and clear style. Make sure your findings refer to your research objectives/questions.

17. Based on your findings what are your recommendations/suggestions?

This is where you talk about the importance and implications of your findings from three levels namely:

1. Research (various ways other researchers can improve or refine the study)

2. Theory (the new contributions that you are adding to the body of knowledge) and

3. Practice (how the information gotten from your study can make practice better, improve the operational procedures, solve problems, improve policy making e.t.c).

Note: Avoid the temptation to make recommendations that are not supported by your findings. Do not recommend based on your beliefs.

18. What is the strongest point in your project?

The duration of the defense might just be 10 - 15 minutes, as such the questioners will not have the time to ask you about every detail. They will want to focus on the major ideas and ask you the most important aspects of your research. Be ready to answer.

19. If you could change something regarding your study, what would it be?

The answer to this question can be gotten from the limitations of your study. You can give answers such as: 1. Given the constraints (like the short time frame for the research or lack of sufficient funds) I was working with, this was what I was able to do but if I could do more, this is what I would have done.

2. In doing this I learned a problem with this kind of data collection. Next time, I will do it this way.

20. What questions do you have for us

You can ask them if there any revisions they want you to make in your report. Ask them to summarize the major revisions, so you can take some notes.

21. Do you have any closing comments

Thank the panel of assessors and let them know that the revisions/corrections that were given (such as rewriting the conclusion, tables/graphs that are not in the right format, something you said during the defense and they want you to include it in the report or some other issues they noticed you did not capture) would be implemented and shown to your supervisor.

In a project defense you are expected to:

- Present yourself as a scholar in the discipline and an authority on your subject. - Cogently and clearly explain your work. - Have a conversation with the panel of assessors. - Defend any idea that might be disagreed upon. (That is why it is called a project defense).

Project Defense tips

1. Be academically, mentally and physically prepared for your presentation. 2. Practice, practice, practice. Rehearse several times with the equipment you will use for your presentation. 3. Have a thorough understanding of the nature of your research problem. 4. Make eye contact with more than one member of the panel of assessors during the course of your presentation. 5. Don't speak too fast. Talk calmly with confidence. 6. Bring a copy of your project report with you for reference.

Learn more tips and tricks to ace your project defense

61  comments:

Anonymous Sep. 11, 2018

awsome great effort to help students.breife and through summary of questions

Reply   

Anonymous Apr. 17, 2019

Thanks so much, now I have an idea of what to expect

Anonymous Sep. 27, 2018

Thank you so much . This tips gives me courage To defend my project

Nonny01 Sep. 28, 2018

You are welcome

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2018

Thank you so much. This helped

Anonymous Oct. 14, 2018

Thanks so much, came in handy

Anonymous Oct. 26, 2018

wao....... tnx so much

Anonymous Dec. 30, 2018

thank you so much our final defense will be held this upcoming February thanks to this i get to read some important tips on how we will defend our study thank u again.

Nonny01 Jan. 1, 2019

Anonymous jan. 15, 2019.

Thanks for tips. They are so informative.

Anonymous Jan. 22, 2019

Thank you so much for the tips. very informative

Anonymous Feb. 7, 2019

It was so so insightful. Thanks to all team mates. Now have an idea of what I may be asked of during my defence. Once again, am very grateful.

Anonymous Feb. 13, 2019

Thanks so much very helpful

Anonymous Feb. 27, 2019

final defense is today, great tips

Nonny01 Feb. 27, 2019

You're welcome

Anonymous Mar. 4, 2019

Will be defending this week. Thanks for the tips, it's really helpful.

Anonymous Mar. 8, 2019

This is a really big help,thank you so much!!

Nonny01 Mar. 10, 2019

Anonymous mar. 13, 2019.

This has been really helpful. Thank you so much.

Anonymous Mar. 17, 2019

really helpful, thanks

Anonymous Apr. 6, 2019

Woah.......thank you very much for this info

This is very nice and helpful

Anonymous Apr. 30, 2019

This is well appreciated. God bless you

nonny01 Apr. 30, 2019

Anonymous may. 5, 2019.

Thank you very much for this. I never knew how to prepare until I saw this. I really appreciate. Defense is tomorrow

nonny01 May. 5, 2019

We are glad we could help

Anonymous May. 16, 2019

Im elated by this tips

Anonymous May. 29, 2019

Thank u so much...

Anonymous May. 31, 2019

thank you very much, i have gained alot of tips about about academic research questions and how to defend especially a trick questions. beat wishes to you

Anonymous Jun. 19, 2019

This is wonderful bcs am just think about how to defense my project which is going on in this week but with all dis guide infact there is no problem for me again, thanks

nonny01 Jun. 20, 2019

Glad we could be of help

Anonymous Jun. 26, 2019

Thanks alot , it's very important to me prior to my project defense

Anonymous Jul. 1, 2019

Anonymous aug. 7, 2019.

Awesome tips,thank you.Very helpful for my upcoming defence in two days to come.

Anonymous Aug. 16, 2019

So helpful Thanks alot

Anonymous Aug. 24, 2019

Thank you so much for the tips.

Anonymous Sep. 21, 2019

Thanks, very helpful

Anonymous Nov. 30, 2019

Nice one. I have learnt from this

Anonymous May. 1, 2020

Very helpful and thank you so much.

Anonymous May. 29, 2020

It’s awesome, this’s Betty from Nairobi Kenya

nonny01 May. 30, 2020

Thanks @betty

Anonymous Jun. 19, 2020

Anonymous sep. 2, 2020.

Wow i really feel happy based on this. I wil just say may god reward u for ur contribution

nonny01 Sep. 2, 2020

Anonymous sep. 7, 2020.

Thank you so much, this made everything easier for me. I appreciate❤️

Nonny01 Sep. 7, 2020

Anonymous oct. 12, 2020.

this was very useful thanks a lot

Anonymous Nov. 26, 2020

Am very are with this guide will be able to defend my project. Thank u

Anonymous Dec. 11, 2020

Thank you so much. It's really helpful

Anonymous Jan. 26, 2021

Thank you so much 🥰💯💯💯💯

Anonymous Apr. 17, 2021

Thank you so much for your help with this important instructions.

Anonymous Apr. 29, 2021

*thankful twerking*

Anonymous May. 11, 2021

No examples, its hard to know how and what will you show to your project defence.

Anonymous May. 27, 2021

Thank you for the tips, I have a defence seminar next week!

Anonymous Jun. 13, 2021

Thank you very much for this. You don't know how much you've helped me.

nonny01 Jun. 13, 2021

Anonymous jun. 14, 2021.

thank you so much this would be a great help in my defense

Thanks a lot very helpful

Anonymous Jun. 22, 2021

Amazing! thank you so much now I have an idea

Anonymous Jul. 3, 2021

Thank you, I am about to defend my proposal next week, and this has given me a picture of what to expect, and surely this will help me during my thesis defence in the coming months

nonny01 Jul. 3, 2021

You are welcome.

Anonymous Jul. 5, 2021

this is superp congrants keep the good work going

Anonymous Jul. 22, 2021

Thank you so much, it's helpful and my regards to this team

nonny01 Aug. 13, 2021

Anonymous aug. 13, 2021.

You're a live saver. My defense is this morning and I felt so out of place. God bless you for this.

Anonymous Aug. 15, 2021

Very helpful materials. what about being ask the "context" of your study?

Anonymous Sep. 14, 2021

Thank you so much

Anonymous Jan. 22, 2022

Thank you; my defense is scheduled for Friday. This is of great help.

Anonymous Mar. 2, 2022

Thank u so much..Ur tips and suggestions can help me a lot in defending my research study...More Power and God Bless!

Anonymous Apr. 12, 2022

I am a grade 8 student and this will be the first time for me to experience defense. i am scared because i am not used in speaking English.

Anonymous Aug. 7, 2022

Really waoh tnxs so much for the boosting confidence tap prescribed. This my first time to defend a project which is coming up next month. I'm nervous but pls pray wish me luck qualified approved

Anonymous Nov. 7, 2022

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, I REALLY APPRECIATE. THIS HAS REALLY BOOST MY CONFIDENCE. WITH THIS, I AM 100% READY TO FACE MY PANEL OF ASSESSORS FOR MY PROJECT DEFENSE.

Anonymous May. 18, 2023

you have tried, i love this. it will help me in my defense

Anonymous Jun. 13, 2023

Anonymous apr. 19, 2024.

Thank you so much Nonny for this, it came in handy since mine is just around the corner

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Nimble CRM review June 2024: Features, integrations and more

Nimble is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform that caters to the needs of various teams. The CRM software is suitable for solopreneurs and small businesses, packing contact management, marketing automation, sales intelligence, pipeline management, social media monitoring features, and more into a unified platform you can use from anywhere. 

We prepared this Nimble CRM review to show you its most popular functions, additional benefits you’ll get if you choose it, and how much it costs to help you determine whether or not it’s the best CRM for your business needs. Note that all rates and fees are current as of May 31, 2024, and are subject to change.

• It packs both sales and marketing features
• Expandable limits on offerings, including contacts, messages, and storage capacity
• Its interface is easy to navigate
• Multidevice compatibility (website login, browser extensions, and mobile devices)
• No free plan or money-back guarantee
• Lacks phone support
• Limited marketing and reporting abilities

Nimble service plan overview

The Nimble CRM adopts a straightforward pricing model. There’s only one plan available, and it combines sales and marketing features to help solopreneurs and small businesses find and walk prospects through sales processes. This plan is suitable for the average small- to medium-sized business (SMB) because it has the features you need for contact management, sales prospecting, sales forecasting, sales reporting, and managing your sales pipeline. Nimble CRM also packs work automation features and helps with social profile matching. 

Besides its customizable user dashboard and widgets, you’ll see where each contact is in the pipeline and access email templates for individual and group messaging. You’ll also get insight into email opens, conversation rates, revenues gained or lost, and more.

Some Nimble Business CRM features: 

• Task scheduling and reminders
• Team activity tracking
• Action-based triggers 
• Lead qualification 
• Lead follow-up reminders
• Customer segmentation 
• Call logging
• Web form capturing
• Event creation 

For as low as $29.90 per month for every user and a discounted price of $24.90 when you opt for an annual plan, you’ll get all of Nimble CRM features. This CRM allows users to expand their feature limits to accommodate more customers and business needs.

While Nimble doesn’t lock you into an annual contract, there’s no money-back guarantee or refund for unused services. However, your concern for its suitability is settled by a free trial. Nimble makes up for a missing free version by offering you 14 days to test drive its features for free—without entering your credit card details.

Pros and Cons of Nimble CRM Business Plan

Nimble customers continue to use it for several reasons. One common one is that you can customize multiple sales pipelines using the Kanban Board view, list view, and others so that everyone gets an insight into each customer’s communication history and knows what to do next. While Nimble CRM was built with small businesses in mind, it allows you to upgrade storage, contacts, and other offerings and integrate with a host of third-party apps. Unlike competitors, such as HubSpot and Zendesk, which have separate tools for sales and marketing, Nimble allows you to complete your processes in one place, and its pricing plan is straightforward. 

Its downsides include the absence of a free plan, which Nimble competitors, such as HubSpot and Zoho, offer to small businesses with limited budgets. What’s more—paying for extra features can become costly quickly, and some small businesses would prefer multiple plan options with precise CRM costs beforehand. Nimble’s lack of phone support is also discouraging, especially since its live chat and email channels are sometimes unhelpful. 

Other services Nimble offers  

Additional functions of Nimble, which enable seamless sales processes and customer interaction, include: 

• Team task management : With Nimble, you can create several customizable workflows to improve efficiency among departments. For example, triggers automate activities, tags indicate the steps and team members involved in specific projects, and workflow cards give an overview of customer history and where they are in the sales pipeline.
• Sales prospecting :  Nimble Prospector culls prospects’ phone numbers, email addresses, locations, and other information automatically from websites and applications visited to update their records. You’ll see how many employees a company has alongside its leadership details, revenue, social profiles, and more, which enhances your interaction with prospects. 
• Marketing functionality : Nimble creates segments, shares personalized content with groups, and sets automated actions and responses to promote a company’s brand and enhance customer relationships with individuals and segments that show interest in your product or service. 
• Third-party app integrations : Nimble integrates smoothly with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Outlook, and several other apps to enable collaboration, communication, email marketing, invoicing, and other sales activities. Nimble CRM application programming interface (API) access and Zapier further allow customers to connect to thousands of apps and create custom apps. 
• Mobile device compatibility : Nimble makes its features available on the go. You’ll see your contacts and their reports and interact with them on your Android or iOS devices. 

The Nimble platform and customer support  

The Nimble CRM platform stands out for its easy navigation. The user dashboard gives an overview of deals in progress, new messages and updates, upcoming events, and more. The ability to customize the information you’ll see and prioritize specific deals, messages, or updates makes it more appealing, especially for those who are new to using CRM tools. 

Its customer support also has a comprehensive help center, including a knowledge base of articles and videos, daily question and answer (Q&A) sessions, biweekly training webinars, and periodic case study webinars with recordings available on YouTube. Nimble also makes live demos available, but you can only contact the support team via email or live chat. There’s no phone support, and when we tried using the live chat option on a Monday afternoon, we received a message that Nimble was on break. While we received an email in less than two hours, it referred us to Nimble pages. 

Is Nimble secure?

Nimble CRM employs encryption technology, secure sockets layer (SSL) technology, and the single sign-on (SSO) feature to protect customer (you and your customers) data. It also complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Google API Services User Data Policy , so rest assured your data is safe whether at rest or in transit. Then, besides promising not to share your data with third parties, Nimble grants admin users control of the CRM tool. That way, they can issue user permissions to specific team members. 

Nimble user reviews

Nimble CRM earned several positive reviews, mainly because of its user-friendliness. Customers also applauded its artificial intelligence (AI) capability, which updates contact information automatically and the well-organized features that make it easy to customize CRM features and add items to their dashboard. 

On the flip side, some Nimble customers find the marketing and reporting functions of Nimble to be quite substandard for a business CRM. They also complained about how paying to expand feature limits is costly for growing businesses, saying they would have preferred the option of switching to other plans. A few of them were also unhappy that there’s still no desktop app available to Nimble customers. 

Compare Nimble alternatives

Is nimble right for you.

Overall, Nimble CRM suits businesses looking to improve customer relationships and increase sales. It also works well for those new to CRM systems because of its easy setup process, how all of the features you need for marketing and sales are in one place, and how seamlessly it integrates with other business apps. While it doesn’t provide a free plan or make enterprise-level plans available for customers, Nimble features are a great pick for small businesses and even larger enterprises since you can pay for more offerings. 

Frequently asked questions

Is nimble crm good.

Yes, CRM is good for automating sales processes and achieving customer acquisition and retention. Its ease of setup and use also make it enjoyable for beginners. On top of that, its pricing is transparent and affordable, so it’s a good CRM for businesses on a budget. 

Is Nimble CRM free? 

No, Nimble CRM is not free. The only way to use its features without paying is to hop on the 14-day trial, which Nimble gives prospective users to test its Business plan features. Discounted pricing is also available for nonprofit organizations that register with a .org email address and submit their registration documents with IRS-approved registration documents.

What are the disadvantages of Nimble?

While Nimble is suitable for most small businesses, it can be wrong for some because of a few disadvantages. Reasons to consider another software provider for your CRM needs include the absence of a free version, multiple plan options, and phone support for Nimble customers. Also, its reporting functionality is less advanced than that of other CRM software. 

About the author

Christiana Jolaoso-Oloyede is a freelance contributor to Fortune Recommends . For the past decade, Christiana has freelanced for multiple media publications, agencies and tech brands, covering various topics around business communication, cybersecurity, human resource management, sales and marketing, and web development.

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

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Here’s what you should know about Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money trial

The jury in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 felony counts against him. They delivered their verdict late Thursday afternoon after two days of deliberations that spanned 9 1/2 hours.

Donald Trump has been convicted in his New York hush money trial, a landmark jury verdict making him the first former American president to be found guilty of felony crimes in the nation’s nearly 250-year history.

Former President Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after a jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)

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Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)

A member of the media looks at news of former President Donald Trump on his phone after the conclusion of Trump’s hush money trial, in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Pool Photo via AP)

People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump speaks outside the courtroom after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts marks the end of the former president’s historic hush money trial, but the fight over the case is far from over.

Now comes the sentencing and the potential for a prison sentence. A lengthy appellate process. And all the while, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee still has to deal with three more criminal cases and a campaign that could see him return to the White House.

Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts marks the end of his historic hush money trial. But the fight is far from over. Here’s what to know.

• How did Trump respond? Trump falsely blasted a ‘rigged trial’ and attacked star witness in a speech on Friday. Follow the AP’s live coverage .
• When is the sentencing? July 11, just days before Republicans are set to pick Trump as the 2024 nominee.
• Can Trump vote? He may be convicted and reside in Florida, but can still vote as long as he stays out of prison in New York state.
• Will this impact the election? It’s unclear whether Trump’s once-imaginable status as a person convicted of a felony will have any impact at all on voters.

After more than nine hours of deliberations over two days, the Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in the case stemming from a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump angrily denounced the trial as a “disgrace,” telling reporters he’s an “innocent man.”

Some key takeaways from the jury’s decision:

AP AUDIO: Here’s what you should know about Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money trial

AP correspondent Norman Hall reports on reaction outside Donald Trump’s Florida residence.

PRISON TIME?

The big question now is whether Trump could go to prison. The answer is uncertain. Judge Juan M. Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just days before Republicans are formally set to nominate Trump for president.

The charge of falsifying business records is a Class E felony in New York, the lowest tier of felony charges in the state. It is punishable by up to four years in prison, though the punishment would ultimately be up to the judge, and there’s no guarantee he would give Trump time behind bars. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to say whether prosecutors would seek prison time.

It’s unclear to what extent the judge may factor in the political and logistical complexities of jailing a former president who is running to reclaim the White House. Other punishments could include a fine or probation. And it’s possible the judge would allow Trump to avoid serving any punishment until after he exhausts his appeals.

Trump faces the threat of more serious prison time in the three other cases he’s facing, but those cases have gotten bogged down by appeals and other legal fights, so it remains unclear whether any of them will go to trial before the November election.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE ELECTION

The conviction doesn’t bar Trump from continuing his campaign or becoming president. And he can still vote for himself in his home state of Florida as long as he stays out of prison in New York state.

Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who serves as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said in a Fox News Channel interview on Thursday that Trump would do virtual rallies and campaign events if he’s convicted and sentenced to home confinement.

In a deeply divided America, it’s unclear whether Trump’s once-unimaginable criminal conviction will have any impact at all on the election.

Leading strategists in both parties believe that Trump still remains well-positioned to defeat President Joe Biden, even as the Republican now faces the prospect of a prison sentence and three separate criminal cases still outstanding.

In the short term, at least, there were immediate signs that the guilty verdict was helping to unify the Republican Party’s disparate factions as GOP officials across the political spectrum rallied behind their embattled presumptive presidential nominee and his campaign reported a flood of fundraising dollars within hours of the verdict.

There has been some polling conducted on the prospect of a guilty verdict, although such hypothetical scenarios are notoriously difficult to predict. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found that only 4% of Trump’s supporters said they would withdraw their backing if he’s convicted of a felony, though another 16% said they would reconsider it.

AVENUES FOR APPEAL

After Trump is sentenced, he can challenge his conviction in a New York appellate court and possibly the state’s highest court. Trump’s lawyers have already been laying the groundwork for appeals with objections to the charges and rulings at trial.

The defense has accused the judge of bias, citing his daughter’s work heading a firm whose clients have included Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats. The judge refused the defense’s request to remove himself from the case, saying he was certain of his “ability to be fair and impartial.”

Trump’s lawyers may also raise on appeal the judge’s ruling limiting the testimony of a potential defense expert witness. The defense wanted to call Bradley Smith, who served on the Federal Election Commission, to rebut the prosecution’s contention that the hush money payments amounted to campaign finance violations.

But the defense ended up not having him testify after the judge ruled he could give general background on the FEC but couldn’t interpret how federal campaign finance laws apply to the facts of Trump’s case or opine on whether Trump’s alleged actions violate those laws. There are often guardrails around expert testimony on legal matters, on the basis that it’s up to a judge — not an expert hired by one side or the other — to instruct jurors on applicable laws.

The defense may also argue that jurors were improperly allowed to hear sometimes graphic testimony from Daniels about her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies ever happened. The defense unsuccessfully pushed for a mistrial over the tawdry details prosecutors elicited from Daniels. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued Daniels’ description of a power imbalance with the older, taller Trump, was a “dog whistle for rape,” irrelevant to the charges at hand, and “the kind of testimony that makes it impossible to come back from.”

A DEFENSE THAT CENTERED ON CREDIBILITY

People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

The verdict shows the jury wasn’t persuaded by Trump’s defense, which hinged on assailing the credibility of some key witnesses — especially Michael Cohen, the Trump attorney-turned-adversary who directly implicated Trump in the hush money scheme .

As in many criminal cases, Trump’s lawyers tried to make a lot of their points while questioning prosecution witnesses. The defense called just two witnesses of its own, including Robert Costello , a defense attorney who had sought to represent Cohen after the latter came under federal investigation due to his work for Trump.

The move may have backfired because it opened the door for prosecutors to question Costello about a purported pressure campaign aimed at keeping Cohen loyal to Trump after the FBI raided Cohen’s property in April 2018.

Costello buoyed the defense by testifying that Cohen denied to him that Trump knew anything about the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels.

But prosecutors portrayed Costello as a “double agent” whose agenda was really to keep Cohen from turning on Trump and confronted him with emails he sent to Cohen in which he repeatedly dangled his close ties to Trump ally Rudy Giuliani. In one email, Costello told Cohen: “Sleep well tonight. you have friends in high places” and relayed that there were “some very positive comments about you from the White House.”

The pugnacious Costello annoyed the judge — at times in view of the jury — by continuing to speak after objections and rolling his eyes. At one point, after sending the jury out of the room, the judge became enraged when he said Costello was staring him down. Merchan then briefly cleared the courtroom of reporters and scolded Costello, warning that if he acted out again, he’d be removed from the courtroom.

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A LOSS

While projecting confidence, Trump and his campaign also spent weeks trying to undermine the case ahead of a potential conviction. He repeatedly called the whole system “rigged” — a term he also used in false descriptions of the election he lost to Biden in 2020.

“Mother Teresa could not beat these charges,” Trump said Wednesday, invoking the Catholic nun and saint.

Trump has lambasted the judge and complained about members of the prosecution team as he tried to paint the case as nothing more than a politically motivated witch hunt brought by Bragg, a Democrat.

He has also complained about a gag order that restricted him from speaking about some people involved in the case. Instead of testifying in the case — and subjecting himself to cross-examination — Trump has focused on the court of public opinion and the voters who will ultimately decide his fate.

Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press reporters Steve Peoples and Jennifer Peltz contributed from New York.

Trump’s hush money trial concludes for the week after more witness testimony

• Defense — and judge — want Cohen to stop talking about Trump
• Court has been adjourned for the day. Next week, of the two remaining witnesses the Manhattan...
• Trump’s attorneys try to depict a different leader in the White House

Here's what to know:

Here's what to know, live coverage contributors 15.

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General election latest: Health secretary facing questions on Sky News as Tories pledge to bolster GPs - and Labour vow to cut migration

The Conservative government has pledged £1bn a year in a bid to increase the number of GP appointments in the UK. Watch our conversation with Health Secretary Victoria Atkins on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips from 8.30am.

Sunday 2 June 2024 07:30, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election news

• Coming up on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips from 8.30am
• Tories pledge £1bn to increase number of GP appointments
• Starmer announces plans to lower legal migration
• Be in the audience for our election leaders event
• Live reporting by  Faith Ridler

Expert analysis

• Adam Boulton: How Sunak and Starmer will try to parachute in their candidates
• Ali Fortescue:  Images both parties want to present are clashing with reality

Election essentials

• Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more: Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | How to register to vote | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Your essential guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

On 12 June, Sky News will host an election leaders' event in Grimsby - a key marginal seat and one of our Target Towns this election year.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Conservative leader Rishi Sunak have been invited to attend, and we are looking for a live audience to join us on the night.

If you would like to be part of this studio audience, and be given the opportunity to ask a question to one of the party leaders, please complete the short questionnaire in this link .

With the general election campaign officially under way, what better time to keep a close eye on the latest polling?

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

By Tamara Cohen , political correspondent

As AI deepfakes cause havoc during other elections, experts warn the UK's politicians should be prepared.

"Just tell me what you had for breakfast", says Mike Narouei, of ControlAI, recording on his laptop. I speak for around 15 seconds, about my toast, coffee and journey to their offices.

Within seconds, I hear my own voice, saying something entirely different.

In this case, words I have written: "Deepfakes can be extremely realistic and have the ability to disrupt our politics and damage our trust in the democratic process."

We have used free software, it hasn't taken any advanced technical skills, and the whole thing has taken next to no time at all.

This is an audio deepfake - video ones take more effort to produce - and as well as being deployed by scammers of all kinds, there is deep concern, in a year with some two billion people going to the polls, in the US, India and dozens of other countries including the UK, about their impact on elections.

You can read more from Sky News below:

By Adam Boulton , Sky News election commentator 

The last time there was a change in the main party of government an outgoing Labour minister famously left a note saying "I'm afraid there is no money". Never mind that, for the next five weeks until polls close at 10pm on 4 July the UK has no MPs.

At the stroke of midnight last Thursday all their writs expired. All those seeking to get into the Commons are now just prospective parliamentary candidates. They have until this Friday to make sure that their names are registered on the ballot paper.

Even if there are no gains and losses and not a single seat changes hands between the parties, the next parliament is certain to look very different from the last one.

So far 134 members of the 2019-2024 parliament have announced they will not be fighting them again. This means that a minimum of 20%, one in five, of the new MPs will be new faces.

Our flagship Sunday morning show, hosted by  Trevor Phillips , will be live on Sky News from 8.30am, and we have a packed line-up for you after this eventful first week of the campaign.

Trevor will be chatting to:

• Yvette Cooper , Labour's shadow home secretary;
• Victoria Atkins , health secretary;
• Stephen Flynn , SNP Westminster leader;
• Rhun ap Iorwerth , Plaid Cymru leader.

On Trevor's expert panel will be:

• Andrew Marr , broadcaster;
• Jo Tanner , former Conservative adviser;
• Anne McElvoy , Politico's executive editor.

Watch live on Sky News and in the stream at the top of this page - and follow updates here in the Politics Hub.

Watch  Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips  from 8.30am every Sunday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the  Sky News website  and  app  or on  YouTube .

The Conservative government has pledged £1bn a year in a bid to increase the number of GP appointments in the UK.

The Tories say they would build both GP surgeries and community diagnostic centres if they were re-elected to government.

The party wants to build 100 new GP surgeries and modernise another 150.

However, this bears echoes of the 2019 promise to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 - something the government will not be able to do, according to the National Audit Office.

The report released last year found only 32 of the 40 new hospitals promised by Boris Johnson would be built by the end of the decade - and some may be too small.

By Tim Baker , political reporter

Labour has announced its plans to reduce net migration - with Sir Keir Starmer accusing the Conservatives of having "repeatedly broken their promises" to get the number down.

It marks another attempt by the Labour Party to appeal to Conservative voters.

Figures published after Rishi Sunak called the general election showed a net of 685,000 arrived in the UK last year - down from a record of 764,000 in 2022.

The 2023 figure is still three times the number in 2019 when the last election took place. The Conservatives promised in their manifesto that year to get net migration down.

Good morning!

The tooth-and-nail fight for all 650 parliamentary seats, and the keys to Number 10, is well under way after parliament was officially dissolved on Thursday.

Political parties are spreading out across the country to get their message out ahead of polling day on 4 July.

Here's what you need to know as campaigning continues today:

•  The Conservative government has pledged £1bn a year in a bid to increase the number of GP appointments in the UK;
• The Tories say they would build both GP surgeries and community diagnostic centres if they were re-elected to government. The party wants to build 100 new GP surgeries and modernise another 150;
• Labour has announced its plans to reduce net migration - with Sir Keir Starmer accusing the Conservatives of having "repeatedly broken their promises" to get the number down;
• The SNP will be campaigning in Glasgow today, with the party's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney both set to give speeches;
• And Labour's Bridget Phillipson and Yvette Cooper will be in south London for a quick campaign visit - we will likely hear from them;
• Rishi Sunak will also be out and about today.

Join us on Sky News from 8.30am for Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips - we will be hearing from:

Stick with us for all the latest political news throughout the day.

We're wrapping up our coverage for tonight.

Join us on Sky News from 8.30am for Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips  - we will be hearing from:

Follow along in the morning as we keep up to date with the latest in 2024 General Election campaign.

The Liberal Democrats are announcing that they will "reverse Tory cuts" to the Public Health Grant and commit to investing £1bn a year as part of a key manifesto commitment.

The grant is paid to local authorities from the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) budget to provide preventative health services.

The party says there has been a 28% real-terms per person cut in the value of the Public Health Grant since 2015/16 - and that it has been cut in Rishi Sunak's Yorkshire seat by £5m.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said in a statement that the Tories have "decimated public health funding, leaving Britain with a ticking time bomb of health challenges".

She went on: "The public health crisis in our country has Rishi Sunak's fingerprints all over it. He has slashed funding for vital local services that support children, failed to fix our crumbling hospitals and overseen a stark rise in health inequality.

"The Liberal Democrats would reverse these scandalous cuts and invest in empowering local communities and individuals to lead healthier lives."

In response, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said all the Lib Dems have done during the campaign so far is "snipe from the sidelines and taken part in ridiculous gimmicks".

She said they would "prop up a Labour government" whose plans, in their view, have a £38.5bn "black hole".

"Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have a clear plan and have taken bold action," she added.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

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If Trump’s Conviction Lands Him in Prison, the Secret Service Goes, Too

The former president could face probation or prison time. Either option would be without precedent.

• Share full article

By William K. Rashbaum

• May 30, 2024

With Donald J. Trump’s unprecedented felony conviction on Thursday, what has long been a remote and abstract concept could move closer to a stunning reality: a former president of the United States behind bars.

But that wouldn’t happen fast.

A jury in Manhattan convicted Mr. Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a crime that under New York State law carries a possible sentence that ranges from probation to four years in prison.

But Mr. Trump is no ordinary defendant. And while most experts think a prison sentence is unlikely, the judge in the case, Juan M. Merchan, has made it known that he takes white-collar crime seriously. The judge set sentencing for July 11.

The Trump Manhattan Criminal Verdict, Count By Count

Former President Donald J. Trump faced 34 felony charges of falsifying business records, related to the reimbursement of hush money paid to the porn star Stormy Daniels in order to cover up a sex scandal around the 2016 presidential election.

If Justice Merchan hands down a punishment that lands the former president behind bars — what is known as a custodial sentence — Mr. Trump would be no ordinary prisoner.

That’s because the United States Secret Service is required by law to protect former presidents around the clock, which means its agents would have to protect Mr. Trump inside a prison if he was sentenced to serve time.

Even before the trial’s opening statements, the Secret Service was in some measure planning for the extraordinary possibility of a former president’s incarceration. In the days before the trial began in April, prosecutors asked Justice Merchan to remind Mr. Trump that attacks on witnesses and jurors could land him in jail even before a verdict was rendered.

Shortly thereafter, officials with federal, state and city agencies had an impromptu meeting about how to handle the situation, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

That behind-the-scenes conversation — involving officials from the Secret Service and other relevant law enforcement agencies — focused only on how to move and protect Mr. Trump if the judge were to order him briefly jailed for contempt in a courthouse holding cell before or during the trial, the people said.

The far more substantial challenge — how to safely incarcerate a former president if he were to be sentenced to prison — has yet to be addressed directly, according to interviews with some of a dozen current and former city, state and federal officials.

That’s at least in part because a drawn-out and hard-fought series of appeals, possibly all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, would be almost a certainty. That would most likely delay Mr. Trump’s serving any sentence for months, if not longer, said several of the people, who like other experts have suggested that a prison sentence is unlikely.

Justice Merchan, whom Mr. Trump has continually attacked as “biased” and “corrupt,” could well decide to sentence Mr. Trump to probation rather than prison time.

That would raise the bizarre possibility of the former — and possibly future — commander in chief reporting regularly to a civil servant at the city’s Probation Department.

Mr. Trump would have to follow the probation officer’s instructions and answer questions about his work and personal life until the term of probation ended. He would also be barred from associating with disreputable people, and if he committed any additional crimes, he could be jailed immediately.

Incarceration would present a far greater challenge, especially because Mr. Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president. “Obviously, it’s uncharted territory,” Martin F. Horn, who has worked at the highest levels of New York’s and Pennsylvania’s state prison agencies and served as commissioner of New York City’s correction and probation departments, has said. “Certainly no state prison system has had to deal with this before, and no federal prison has had to either.”

Steven Cheung, the communications director for Mr. Trump’s campaign, has said that the case against the former president was “so spurious and so weak” that other prosecutors had refused to bring it, and called it “an unprecedented partisan witch hunt.”

“That the Democrat fever dream of incarcerating the nominee of the Republican Party has reached this level exposes their Stalinist roots and displays their utter contempt for American democracy,” he said.

Protecting Mr. Trump in a prison environment would involve keeping him separate from other inmates, as well as screening his food and other personal items, officials said. If he were to be imprisoned, a detail of agents would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rotating in and out of the facility, several officials said. While firearms are strictly prohibited in prisons, the agents would, most likely, nonetheless be armed.

Former corrections officials said there were several New York state prisons and city jails that have been closed or partly closed, leaving large sections of their facilities empty. One of those buildings could serve to incarcerate the former president and accommodate his Secret Service protective detail.

Anthony Guglielmi, the spokesman for the Secret Service in Washington, declined in a statement to discuss specific “protective operations.” But he has emphasized that federal law requires Secret Service agents to protect former presidents, adding that they use state-of-the-art technology, intelligence and tactics to do so.

Thomas J. Mailey, a spokesman for New York State’s prison agency, has said that his department could not speculate about how it would treat someone who has not yet been sentenced, but that it has a system “to assess and provide for individuals’ medical, mental health and security needs.” Frank Dwyer, a spokesman for the New York City jails agency, recently said only that “the department would find appropriate housing” for the former president.

While each count carries the possibility of up to four years in prison, Justice Merchan would most likely order any sentence to run concurrently, meaning Mr. Trump would serve prison time on each of the counts simultaneously. Under normal circumstances, any sentence of one year or less would generally be served on New York City’s notorious Rikers Island, home to the Department of Correction’s seven jails. (That’s where Mr. Trump’s former chief financial officer, Allen H. Weisselberg, 76, is serving his second five-month sentence for perjury .)

Any sentence of more than a year would generally be served in one of the 44 prisons run by New York State’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

And what if Mr. Trump is elected president in November? He could not pardon himself because the prosecution was brought by New York State, not the federal government. But it is unclear what would happen if he were sentenced to a prison term and appellate courts upheld his conviction while he was in office.

William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter covering municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement topics in New York. More about William K. Rashbaum

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

Guilty Verdict : Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts  of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened his bid for the White House in 2016, making him the first American president to be declared a felon .

Next Steps: The judge in the case set Trump’s sentencing for July 11, and Trump already indicated that he plans to appeal. Here’s what else may happen .

Reactions: Trump’s conviction reverberated quickly across the country and over the world . Here’s what Trump , voters , New Yorkers , Republicans  and the White House  had to say.

The Presidential Race : The verdict will test America’s traditions, legal institutions and ability to hold an election under historic partisan tension , reshuffling a race that has been locked in stasis and defined by a polarizing former president.

Making the Case: Over six weeks and the testimony of 20 witnesses, the Manhattan district attorney’s office wove a sprawling story  of election interference and falsified business records.

Legal Luck Runs Out: The four criminal cases that threatened Trump’s freedom had been stumbling along, pleasing his advisers. Then his good fortune expired .

Connecting the Dots: As rumors circulated of Trump’s reported infidelity, two accounts of women  being paid to stay silent about their encounters became central to his indictment.