Posts
Well, I am on the next or another phase of my sewing business development. My original plan was to rent/purchase a conference room/office space to teach my sewing classes, but when reality and my budget set in...well, I realized I must delay that dream for right now. So, with most plans and grand ideas, one must have a back up plan...so, my back up plan is to teach sewing classes in and around my area in community/recreation centers.
I have called a couple of places that I noticed did not offer sewing classes and much to my surprise...they want over 70% of the earnings from the class and they want a written proposal! While I understand these places have to make money for their operating expenses, and they are providing me with space...I am having the hardest time wrapping my head around the idea of giving 70% of my income, when I will be doing most of the working. I feel that amount is a bit excessive...I suppose I could think of it like my everyday job...
I then decided to calculate with rough math on my potential earnings...the amount I would have available to me was about $153.00...OUCH! Here is how I came to that number:
As of right now, I charge $85.00 per beginner sewing session-my sessions are 2 hours per session, twice per week for 6 consecutive weeks. I am actually getting paid $7.09 per hour when I divide 85 into 12 the total amount of hours in that equation; which is considerably less than what I make at my full time job...LOL! But, money is not, obviously, my motivation here. I want people to be able to afford to pay for basic sewing classes and not let a little thing called money get in the way of their creative journey, not only that, I want to do what I love and enjoy at the same time. Anyway, I have purchased 6 basic Singer sewing machines to teach students on, but students are required to bring their own sewing supplies, to which I provide them with a list of supplies when they register. I have included a picture of the sewing machine from Google Images, here:
I can feel myself getting a little off topic here...bare with me as I bring myself back...I will share more information with you about my business details and products in the future...now, back to my rough math in considering teaching classes at the community/recreation center...if I had a total of 6 students register at $85.00 per student that would be a total of $510.00 for 6 weeks. 70% of $510.00 is $357.00. That amount subtracted from my total earnings of $510.00, that leaves me with $153.00 for teaching beginning sewing classes, twice per week, two hours per session, for six weeks...hardly worth my time!!! Right? I would probably have to raise the prices of my classes, but I still want people to be able to afford lessons! Oh, what should I do, what would you do? I am seriously open for suggestions here!! :-)
The other decision I have to make is to come up with a proposal to present to Director of the recreation center, detailing my plans for the sewing class. A lesson plan at this point is not the problem...the proposal is what stagnates me... To clear myself of this stagnation (if that is even a word) I continue on Google search to find the 'elements of a proposal' and I came up with the following information:
Five How to Write a Business Proposal Tips
While the content of a business proposal will vary based on information specific to your company or idea, there are several important tips anyone who writes this type of document should follow.
· Follow Instructions: If you are responding to a request for proposal or submitting a document to a potential lender, you will likely receive very specific instructions regarding required content, desired length, and format for the document. Do not deviate from what is specified in the instructions. While creativity can be a great asset for entrepreneurs and sales professionals, this is one area where it is not rewarded. Proposal requirements are provided for a reason. Failure to follow them can result in disqualification regardless of the quality of the information provided.
· Focus on Persuasive Communication: Do not lose sight of the fact that business proposals must be written in a persuasive manner. While some background information and factual details are necessary for an effective proposal, they should not be the primary focus of the document. Emphasize the benefits of choosing to work with your organization rather than concentrating solely on the features of your products and services.
· Keep it Short and Simple: People who are passionate about their work and business ideas can likely talk and write at length about their companies. However, a written business proposal is not the place to write everything there is to be said about your company. People who are trying to make up their minds about whether or not to do business with a company - or otherwise get involved with the business - are not going to read page after page of information. Focus on key points, providing enough information to pique the interest of readers without boring them or providing so much content that they do not bother to read.
· Error Free Writing: If you want to convince a buyer or a potential partner or investor to do business with you, it's essential you come across as someone who is professional and competent in all of your communications. Turning in a poorly written proposal that contains errors - whether they are in the form of misinformation, typos or grammatical mistakes - sends a negative message about you and the company you represent. Don't miss out on an opportunity for success because of a failure to proofread carefully and have your document reviewed prior to submission.
· Review Sample Proposals for Ideas: Rather than starting from a blank piece of paper or computer screen when it's time to write a new business proposal, take the time to review a few sample business proposal documents. Consider looking back at business proposals you've received that caught your attention for ideas. You may also want to ask a few of your professional contacts - who are not in competition with you - to have example documents that they have written or received. Additionally, review example proposals that have been published online. Doing this can lead to great ideas about what to include in your own proposals, as well as tips for what not to do.
http://business.lovetoknow.com/business-communications/how-write-business-proposal ...and I also found the following additional information.
Elements of a Good Proposal
A good proposal has nine elements, and each is important in an effective presentation. The specific format and content of the elements may vary, depending on requirements in the solicitation or announcement. It is also important to remember the elements will not always appear as separate sections or in the order listed here.
Statement of the Problem
This section should include a clear and concise statement of the purpose or goal of the project. In a grant proposal, it consists of (1) the specific question(s) to be answered, (2) a brief explanation of the need for or significance of the study, and (3) an explanation of how the results will contribute to the existing body of knowledge. In a response to an RFP, this section consists of the offerer's interpretation of the government's requirements. Proposals that restate or paraphrase the RFP suggest that the offerer has not really thought much about the issues.
Literature Review
A proposal should reflect the offerer's understanding of relevant bodies of literature and where his/her study fits in that context. This section need not be lengthy, however it should be comprehensive. It should trace the central themes in the literature, highlight major areas of disagreement, and reflect a critical stance toward the materials reviewed. Citing weak research or poorly articulated theory does not help. RFP's frequently contain hints or directions for the literature review. Grant announcements usually do not, so offerers have considerable autonomy in identifying relevant bodies of literature. That autonomy requires careful thought and creativity in identifying appropriate sources.
Conceptual Framework
In this section, the offerer provides his/her own perspective. What theories or concepts will guide the study? How or why do they suggest the specific hypotheses or research questions? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed framework? RFP's sometimes specify a particular theoretical perspective that should guide the study. If so, the proposal should contain clear evidence that the offerer understands the theoretical perspective and can work with it. Grant programs usually do not specify a conceptual orientation.
Hypotheses or Research Questions
Following the description of the conceptual framework, there should be a clear, crisp statement of the research hypotheses, or, in the case of some qualitative studies, a concise description of the phenomena to be examined. Depending on the requirements of the solicitation, the hypotheses may be stated informally or formally. Finally, an explanation of why testing the hypotheses or answering the questions is appropriate for elucidating the research problems and is consistent with the conceptual framework should be included.
Methodology
This section consists of a description of plans for collecting and analyzing the data. What instruments will be used? Why are they appropriate for this study? Is there evidence of the instruments' reliability and validity? How and to whom will they be administered? What procedures will be followed in the data analysis? For qualitative studies, there should be an explanation of the purpose of observations and interviews, and, if possible, some indication of their content and format. The description of the proposed methodology should contain enough detail to indicate that the offerer knows what he/she is doing. Proposals that include the formula for a statistical test as the only information about plans for data analysis don't lend confidence that the study will yield robust findings or rich insights. Similarly, proposals that simply offer to use the newest research procedures may suggest that the investigator is attentive or attracted to fads, but may not be familiar with that particular research approach.
Task Structure (Scope of Work)
This section indicates exactly what will be done, the sequence of the various activities, and the products of deliverables that will be prepared. RFP's specify the tasks, deliverables, and schedule in some detail, although there is usually some latitude for offerers. In preparing grant proposals, there is more freedom to define the tasks. In both cases, it is important that the proposed task structure includes all of the activities necessary for completing the project. Planning a viable schedule for carrying out the tasks is often as important as developing a comprehensive list of tasks.
Management Plan
A crucial part of the plan is a creative and effective approach to project management. The approach should indicate who will be responsible for each part of the work, and who will be responsible for overall coordination. The management plan should also be carefully tailored to the unique nature of the individual project.
Staff and Institutional Qualifications
This section includes a full discussion of the qualifications and experience of the proposed staff. Sometimes it is useful to include brief summaries of the staff experience in the management plan and to attach complete resumes for each member of the team as appendices to the proposal. This information is essential should be presented in a way that demonstrates that the staff has the necessary qualifications and experience to conduct the research. This section should also include complete information about the relevant qualifications of the institution where the project will be located. Research projects often require a variety of hardware or software and there should be clear evidence that adequate facilities are available to support the project.
Budget
The project budget should include clear and reasonable estimates of the costs of each element of the project, and there should be enough supporting information to indicate how the estimates were developed. Base salaries for all staff, standard charges for computer use, and allowable travel costs are a few examples of useful background information. In preparing the budget, remember that the budget is a reflection of the offerer's understanding of the project and his/her ability to plan and manage effectively. A budget that is too low may indicate failure to grasp how much work is really necessary to do a good job. A budget that is too high may also suggest a lack of understanding of what is required, or it may reflect careless management. Both make the proposal unattractive. The grant programs and RFP's require that certain forms be used in preparing budgets, although background information can usually be presented in a number of ways. These forms should be filled out carefully and completely, since they are usually examined first when business sections of the proposal are reviewed. Even if a budget is not required, it is a good idea to have a budget for internal purposes.
A final note about good proposals
Quality writing is critical in all good proposals. It should be clear, concise, and free of jargon. There should be no spelling or grammatical errors, and the proposal should be easy to read. Sloppy proposals and proposals laden with jargon do not provide a positive image of the offerer, nor do they lend confidence that solid research will follow. Proposals that are well-written and attractive are a pleasure to read, and they make a good impression with reviewers.
http://www.centenary.edu/research/proposal/elements I have provided links to the sites I have visited, just in case you want more information. There is a whole host of information on this topic all over the Internet...it's just a matter of taking the time to research through...a task a little to daunting considering I don't suppose I will need to get as deep, but I must have enough detail. Well, I need to get started writing my proposal, it should not be as hard as I am putting on myself considering I have already wrote my business plan three years ago, I just have to update some of my information. I will talk with you guys soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment