Warren Buffett's Business Planning Methods

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Warren Buffett's Business Planning Methods

Lars Stork

[Date: Friday, December 04, 2009] [Viewed: 153] [Comments: 0]
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Strategic planning and management is one of the keys to the success of the business. And this is what brought Warren Buffett to where he is now. He is the world's second richest man according to the Forbes Magazine. His net worth is approximately $62 billion. Buffett is often called the “Oracle of Ohama” or “Sage of Omaha”. Right now, he is the largest shareholder, chairman and CEO of the company Berkshire Hathaway.

From a capital of $35 when he was still a teen, he grew largely by billions. He has shown a potential during his early years .In 1945, when he was still a freshman, he and a friend purchased a second-hand pinball machine that they placed in a barber shop. After some few months, they already owned three machines in different locations, His interest and dedication for business was already noticeable at a very young age which continued until today.

Now, he is one of the world's greatest investor. Almost all businessman focusing on buying and selling industry have heard of Warren Buffett. Experts have now come up with the “Warren Buffett Business Factors”, a compilation of business principles that was used by the “Sage of Omaha”. He was the only man in Forbes rich list to have made it purely from buying and selling stocks and shares. In Buffett's own words, he quoted:

“I’m 15 percent Fisher and 85 percent Benjamin Graham. The basic ideas of investing are to look at stocks as business, use the market's fluctuations to your advantage, and seek a margin of safety. That’s what Ben Graham taught us. A hundred years from now they will still be the cornerstones of investing.”

This is a brief view of Warren Buffett's Business Factors that is applicable for all business owners.

1. Always stick to what you know, and that which is within your area of experience, expand on that experience, and stay focused.

2. Only enter into a business agreement, investment, or project where you can reasonably predict the outcome with certainty.

3. Only enter into a business agreement, investment, or project where you can reasonably predict the outcome with certainty.

4. Maintain emotional detachment in your business dealings. Invest only with a business perspective, do not let the others or “the crowd” persuade or dissuade you, but rather develop your self and your trust in your self. Make a point of learning from your mistakes.

5. Identify what kind of business deal you want, then determine what you are willing to pay. Small fluctuations in the price of what you need to buy can vastly affect your returns in the long run.

6. Work out the return on capital of your business, and try to make every business deal at least the same if not better than that return.

7. Use other peoples money to leverage returns. If your return on capital is greater than the cost of using other peoples money, then make sure you use their money as much as possible, not forgetting about your margin of safety. Warren has had great success with insurance companies, using this principle.

8. Only appoint or work with managers of outstanding quality. Use managers who act in the best of interest of the business and hence the owners of the business at all times.

Article Tags: Warren Buffet, strategic planning and management, Forbes Magazine, successful investment, investors

About Author:
FutureAfrica provides strategic planning consulting you need to insure your business plan is align with the visions and aims of your organization, company or business. Other services include business process modeling, organizational development, coaching and mentoring.

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