It is TOTALLY Different.

The SBA 8(a) Business Plan is almost totally different than a standard business plan. Although you may already have a business plan - even a business plan you used to obtain SBA loans - it will probably be of little use to you in preparing the SBA 8(a) Business Plan.

Establishing 8(a) business development objectives:

Most business plans are for strategic planning, or obtaining financing. By contrast, the SBA 8(a) Business Plan is for the specific purpose of establishing 8(a) business development objectives.

SBA Form 1010C:

Your 8(a) Business Plan will be submitted on SBA Form 1010C. The form asks 52 detailed questions that are specific to the 8(a) program. The questions require comprehensive and detailed answers in written narrative form that address your plan for developing your company through the 8(a) program. Otherwise, SBA will not accept the plan. 

30 days:

SBA requires each newly certified firm to file an 8(a) Business Plan within 30 days of its initial program orientation. (SBA may grant one 15-day extension). If not, you face early termination from the 8(a) program.

Waiting to prepare the 8(a) Business Plan is a costly mistake:

Astute owners of newly certified firms do not wait until their initial orientation session to get their 8(a) Business Plans prepared and submitted. They do so immediately upon notification that they have been approved - or as soon thereafter as possible. Many even begin preparing the plan before they are notified that they have been approved. 

Why? Two reasons:

• SBA District Offices typically only schedule 8(a) program orientation sessions for newly certified firms once a month. Some do so even less frequently. Waiting for the initial orientation session in order to start in on your 8(a) business plan simply wastes precious time. Remember, you are in the 8(a) program for exactly 9 years from the date you were approved. Do you really want to shorten that time by a few months?
• Over $300,000,000 in 8(a) contracts are awarded each week. Since you cannot be awarded an 8(a) contract until you have submitted your 8(a) Business Plan - and until it has been approved - delaying means that contracts you could perform will be awarded to other 8(a) companies. That business, as well as any follow-on opportunities that may stem from it, is permanently lost to you - a very costly mistake.

Termination from the 8(a) Program:

If you fail to file your 8(a) Business Plan in a timely manner, SBA will commence termination procedures against your firm. If you are terminated from the 8(a) program, you cannot be reinstated or re-apply. 

Without help, it typically takes between one and three solid weeks of research and writing time:

SBA estimates it will take you 520 hours (10 hours per response). While we feel that estimate is too high, it gives a good idea of the level of detail that SBA is expecting to see.

Without our assistance, it typically takes the average 8(a) company owner between 40 and 100+ hours of research and writing time to prepare his/her own 8(a) Business plan. The problem, of course, is that it involves your time. You are the owner of the firm - the person whose time is most valuable and who can least afford to turn your attention away from running your business for even a single day - let alone a few weeks.

Probably not. A subordinate - even if one is available - is unlikely be able to adequately address the many complex questions about your 8(a) business development objectives in a manner acceptable to SBA. Unless someone is familiar with what SBA is looking for and how to address it, they will probably miss the mark on the first try - leading to multiple revisions, wasted time and lost opportunities.

It is Guaranteed:

We guarantee that SBA will accept the 8(a) Business Plan we produce using our system. We can confidently make this guarantee because ARA Consulting Solutions has prepared many hundreds of successful SBA 8(a) Business Plans for clients. All have been accepted by SBA to date.

Typically in a just few business days: 

How can that be?

Our system for gathering your information and creating your business plan is very efficient. The only part you have to do is to provide information about your company. The system organizes this process by using an easy-to-answer questionnaire consisting of check boxes, some number fields, and short word answers. It is extremely easy and can be completed in under 3 hours.

After that is complete, we can create your custom SBA Business Plan in just a few business days.

It could not possibly be any faster or easier!