Most business plans don't fail because the idea is bad—they fail because the plan is vague, unrealistic, or doesn't answer the questions serious investors will ask immediately.

In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy breaks down what a business plan is actually for (hint: it's not just a document to send lenders), the biggest mistakes first-time founders make, and how to build a plan that's clear, believable, and usable inside your company.

Richard shares what he looks for when someone hands him a business plan, why "pie-in-the-sky" projections kill credibility, and the "trick question" sophisticated investors always ask: What can go wrong? If you can't answer that honestly and intelligently, you're not ready to raise money.

You'll also learn:

• Why you must define your customer (and your top customers) early

• How to think about demographics, market size, and differentiation

• Why the plan needs to be a living, breathing document (not one-and-done)

• The #1 killer of small businesses: running out of money / being undercapitalized

• Why you shouldn't outsource your plan—or let AI write what you can't defend

• Why Richard prefers 5-year plans (even though years 4–5 will change)

• The difference between a "good plan on paper" and real-world cash flow

If you're starting a business, raising money from friends/family, pitching sophisticated investors, or trying to scale without losing focus—this episode is your roadmap.

📩 Have a question for Richard? Email: info@ScrushyOnBusiness.com
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