The
Business Center created The Enterprising Woman Business Plan Competition
as a vehicle for supporting female entrepreneurs and woman-owned businesses
in the Philadelphia area. Now in its eighth year, the Competition provides
women with tools they need to launch, improve and grow their businesses.
Conceptual and smaller to midsized businesses earning less than $250,000
annually are invited to compete for awards in *cash and prizes.
*Disclaimer - Cash and prizes are based on amounts secured by sponsors
and are subject to change from year to year. Due to state funds payment
may not be disbursed immediately.
- Applicant
must be female and at least 18 years old
- Applicant
must provide proof that existing or proposed business will be located
in Philadelphia county
- Applicant’s
sales must not have exceeded $250,000 in revenue in any given year
*Disclaimer: Checks will be made payable to the business
entities only, not to individuals.
Retail –
This category recognizes an exceptional business plan from a woman
owned business that sells hard goods directly to the public.
Restaurant / Food Services / Caterer – This category recognizes
an exceptional business plan from a woman owned restaurant, caterer,
café, or food supplier.
Service – This category recognizes an exceptional business plan
from a woman owned firmed that delivers consulting or professional
service such as, but not limited to accounting, finance, legal, marketing,
technology, architectural, construction, day care, extermination, information
technology; or a firm that makes or processes raw material into finished
products.
Registration and submissions for this year’s
competition will be via email. Interested participants may download, complete and email registration application and executive summary to tew@thebizctr.com.
A non-refundable registration application fee of $35 is required.
Submissions received without an application fee will not be
accepted. Hand deliveries of executive summaries must be on
a CD in order to be accepted.
Cash, Check, Money Order, Visa, MasterCard and Discover
are valid forms of payment. Cash payments must
be made in person at The Business Center. Office hours
are 9am – 5pm Monday – Thursday. Checks and
Money Orders must be made payable to: The Business Center,
7500 Germantown Avenue, Elders Hall, Suite 113, Philadelphia,
PA 19119. To pay by credit card, include MasterCard, Visa,
or Discover, credit card number with expiration date. Also
include billing address of the credit card. For additional
questions you may email us at tew@thebizctr.com or
you may contact us directly at 215-247-2473 x3.
|
|
Executive Summary
Submit an email document of no more than two pages not including
the cover page, which describes your company. The Executive
Summary provides a brief summary of the business, highlighting
the main ideas of the plan which include: Description of
Product or Service, Business History & Development,
Location, Market, Competition, Management and Financial
Information. Deadline for Executive Summary submission
is February 5, 2010 at 11:59 PM. Executive Summary must
be submitted in Word or PDF format.
|
|
The Business Plan
Semi-finalist will be selected and notified by the end of February
2010. Business Plans must include an Executive Summary;
a Marketing Plan, describing strategies for achieving revenue
targets and competitive advantage; an Operations Plan,
including listing of required permits, licenses and insurance;
brief bios of the management team, hours of operation,
and location; a Financial Plan, including a 2 year projections
of cash flow analysis & income statements and a balance
sheet of current assets and liabilities. Business Plan
may not exceed 20 total pages including Appendix. The Business
Plan submission deadline is April
16, 2010 at 11:59 PM. Business Plans must be submitted
in Word or PDF format.
|
Finalist Presentation
Finalists will be selected and notified by mid May 2010, to
submit a business plan presentation. The Business Plan
Competition participants will present their business plans
before an independent judging panel comprising a diverse
group of small business development professionals from
both the private and public sectors. All finalists will
be required to present a summary of all the components
of the business plan components (Executive Summary, Marketing
Plan, Operations Plan & Financial Plan). Presentations
will be scheduled between 9am and 4pm on June 11th
in 15 minute increments. Mark your calendars as finalists
who are not able to attend will not be considered. Please
do not bring any food or items to be hung on the wall for
display.
|
|
Awards Ceremony
All finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony on July
16th at Philadelphia University, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. You will
receive 2 complimentary tickets which includes the finalist
and a guest. Additional tickets can be purchased at $40
per ticket. Winners will be announced during the awards
ceremony and ad space is available for the program booklet.
Speak to a Business Center representative to RSVP and for
pricing of ad space. |
**Additional
cash grants and technical assistance may be available to the
with winning Retail &
Restaurant business plans that propose to open a store front within
the Northwest region are available from our collaborative partner
community development corporations. These funds will be available
for façade improvements, visual merchandising and fit-out
assistance. All cash awards are granted for valid business expenses,
as evidenced by invoice receipt or written explanation.
|
|
Information
Session & Business Plan Review
The information session is an opportunity to have all your questions
answered. The Business Center is offering an opportunity to have
your business plan reviewed by our team of consultants for the
best support for an effective business plan and the overall presentation
of your business. Semi-finalists are invited to bring your plan
for a final check up on March 23th at The Business Center. |
Important Dates
September 9, 2009 – Kick Off Event @ Sovereign Bank, Cheltenham & Easton Rd, 6pm – 7:30pm
January 21, 2010 – Information Session #1 @ The Business Center,
7500 Germantown Ave., Elders Hall Conference Room, 6pm – 7:30pm
February 5, 2010 – Registration & Executive Summary Deadline
by 11:59pm
End of February 2010 – Semifinalist Notification & 1st Round
Eliminations
March 23, 2010 – Information Session #2 & Business Plan Check
up @ Philadelphia University, 6pm - 8pm
April 16, 2010 – Business Plan Submission
Deadline by 11:59pm
Mid May, 2010 – Finalist Notification & 2nd Round Eliminations
June 11, 2010 – Finalist Presentations @ Philadelphia University 9am – 4pm
July 16, 2010 – Awards Ceremony @ Philadelphia University, 6:30 –
8:30pm |
