First, review the Business Idea Guidelines for Option 1. Your idea must meet every one of the requirements listed or it will be rejected by the instructor. Note: If you have chosen Option 1 (Mobile Dog Grooming), you still have to do this section - you need to flesh out a full value proposition for your cousin Gertie using the parameters provided. 

Then, once you think you have satisfied the requirements, submit your proposal idea here. 

Your submission must include a basic value proposition that follows the format below. 

 

In its simplest terms, a value proposition is a positioning statement that explains what benefit you provide for who and how you do it uniquely well. It describes your target buyer, the problem you solve, and why you're distinctly better than the alternatives. Your proposition must answer all of the elements below that are in parentheses. 

Business Idea (one sentence that answers who, what, where)

For (target customers - be specific)

• Who are dissatisfied with  (the current alternative)
• Our product is a (new product)
• That provides (key problem-solving capability)
• Unlike (the product alternative).

Example:

Business Idea: Emma Tisdale, along with (name partners if you have partners) proposes a business that produces a complete line of spearfishing performance apparel made specifically for women. Emma has been spearfishing for almost a decade, has worn gear from multiple brands, and has found a gap in the market. The business will be incorporated in Florida, USA, and will sell directly to consumers around the world. 

For: women who spearfish; this is a global market and is not constrained to one area. 

• Who are dissatisfied with the limited offerings provided by current wetsuit manufacturers? 
• Our product line includes lightweight spearfishing rash guards and tights, to high-quality neoprene at multiple thicknesses to women's spears. 
• That provides high-end, durable spearfishing performance apparel tailored to the female body. 
• Unlike current manufacturers who don't provide rash guards and leggings specifically made for the female spearfished (e.g., missing shooting pads, unisex design that is ill-fitting on women, or limited neoprene options for women).

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Business Plan Project Option 1: Mobile Dog Grooming Scenario Your 30-year-old cousin Gertie heard that you were working on a business degree at CFK and boy oh boy does she need your help! You see, last month Gertie got fed up after three years working as a groomer for the large company, PetsPetsPets, and decided to take her love of animals on the road by starting her own mobile pet grooming business in the Florida Keys. Gertie has asked for your help in getting this business going and although she as an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology (being a veterinary technician), she knows nothing about business. You are going to be her business consultant - you will help Gertie develop a business plan for her business. Your initial conversation with Gertie yielded a bunch of different pieces of information. Gertie talks fast; you hope you got it right! Gertie won $50,000 (net, after taxes) from a scratch-off lottery ticket and could use that amount towards starting her new business. Gertie also has a $5,000 limit on a credit card that she could use in a pinch. Although she hasn't yet decided where in the Florida Keys to operate, Gertie knows that she can't reasonably travel more than 25 miles in either direction for any reason and even then she will need to book multiple appointments on whatever Key she drives to in order to make it work to compensate her for the time and costs of travel. Assume that Gertie can park her van in a residential driveway (either hers or a friend's) at night, and there is no parking charge. Gertie is mysterious about her housing situation, but since her housing is separate from the business, you don't have to worry about it. However, Gertie needs to have positive cash flow to keep her business bills paid and the cash flow generated from loans, investors, and lottery money will only last so long before her sales better start covering things. Gertie will need some permits for her business to operate. You will need to help her identify what she needs and map out a timeline/cost for getting them.