The Turner College of Business will host the 2017 Business Plan Competition. The competition will award prize money in the amount of $3,000 (1st), $2,000 (2nd), $1,000 (3rd). All CSU students are eligible to compete. This year's competition is open to all residents of the Chattahoochee Valley Region.

Your two-page business plan must be submitted to Dr. Kirk Heriot on April 11, 2017 via email by 12:00 noon ([email protected] ). Finalists will be notified on April 25, 2017. Finalists will present their plans to judges May 2, 2017 in the Auditorium of the Center of Commerce and Technology at Columbus State University. Judges will select prize winners no later than May 4, 2017. Prize winners will be recognized at a luncheon on May 9^th.   

Who is eligible?

Any resident of the Chattahoochee Valley region is eligible. Entries must be the original work of the entrant(s) and may be submitted by an individual or multi-member team. The size of the team is not restricted. The business plan must be based upon a realistic, marketable idea for a new business. The business may be located anywhere so long as the information is real. Ideas for not-for-profit new ventures or social entrepreneurship will not be accepted. All participants must be willing to publicize their business plan should they be recognized as a winner.

Who should I contact with questions?

Any questions should be directed to Kirk Heriot ([email protected])

2017 Business Plan Competition Schedule

• 4/11/2017 - Submit Business Plans

• 4/25/2017 - Finalists Contacted

• 5/2/2017 - Finalists Make Presentations

• 5/4/2017 - Notify Finalists

• 5/9/2017 - Luncheon and Winners Recognized

Criteria for Competing in the Business Plan Competition

·       WE ARE USING A NEW, TWO-PAGE BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE

We have intentionally chosen a simple format to encourage many people to participate.  However, the two-page template will require you to provide a very compelling story using the format we have developed.

·       AN INDEPENDENT NEW VENTURE DEFINED

The plan must deal with the startup of a new, independent business. Plans for expanding existing businesses do NOT qualify. Plans for starting new businesses as new divisions of existing companies do NOT qualify.

·       MUST BE A RESIDENT OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY REGION, INCLUDING EAST ALABAMA

If you live in this region, then you are welcome to participate.  Your proposed business may be planned for another geographic location. 

What should be included in the business plan?

We are using a new, two-page template for the business plan.

Format

A template for the business plan is provided on this webpage. The document should be professional in appearance, but not have a lot of unnecessary color, figures or art work. The business plan should be written in Times New Roman Font in 12 pt. size with one (1) inch margins on the top, bottom, left, and right margin of each page. Please provide a cover page.

Need Help?

Please contact Dr. Kirk Heriot if you would like him to speak to you or your team about how to write a business plan ([email protected]).

How will we be judged?

• All business plans must be submitted using our two-page business plan template.

• All business plans will be screened before being forwarded to the judges. The judges' decision is final. The judges reserve the right to select as many finalists as they choose. Finalists must be prepared to present their plan to the judges on May 2, 2017 on the campus of Columbus State University.

• The competition will have up to three prize winners, but the judges may choose not to recognize any winners.

• Prize money will be evenly distributed to all members of the winning team(s).

• All business plans will be judged using an overall score of 100 points, where 100 = "Absolutely Invest" and 0 = "Will Not Invest".

• Please contact Dr. Kirk Heriot, the Director of the 2017 CSU Business Plan Competition, if you have any questions ([email protected]).