BusinessPlanTemplate
FiveImportantTips
BeforeYouStart!
1.Thebusinessplanshouldtellacompellingstoryaboutyourbusiness,explainingwho,what,when,where,howandwhy.
2.Yourplanshouldbefocusedandclear. It’snotaboutthenumberofpagesorstyleofthecover.
3.Theplanshoulddefinespecificbusinessobjectivesandgoalswithgeneralparameterstoguidetheorganization.
4.Writingabusinessplanshouldforcelogicanddisciplineintoabusiness.
5.Agoodbusinessplanisalivingdocument.
Itshouldbeupdatedregularly.
U.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationSmallBusinessTrainingNetwork
TitlePage
YourCompanyName
BusinessPlan
Date
StreetAddressCity,StateZipCode
PhoneNumberE-MailAddressWebAddress
2
TableofContents
1.TableofContents…………………………………
2.Executive Summary………………………………
3.BusinessDescriptionVision………………….
4.DefinitionoftheMarket………………………….
5.DescriptionofProductsandServices…………….
6.OrganizationManagement…………………….
7.MarketingandSalesStrategy…………………….
8.Financial Management……………………………
9.Appendices……………………………………….
3
ExecutiveSummary
Thissectionshould:•Bewrittenlast
•Provideanenthusiasticsnapshotofyourcompany,explainingwhoyouare,whatyoudoandwhy
•Belessthan2pages
Afterreviewingthissectionthereadershould:
•Wanttolearnmoreaboutyourbusiness
•Haveabasicunderstandingaboutyourcompany
Starthere…
4
BusinessDescriptionVision
Thissectionshouldinclude:
•Missionstatement(businesspurpose)
•Companyvision(statementaboutcompanygrowth)
•Businessgoalsandobjectives
•Briefhistoryofthebusiness
•Listofkeycompanyprincipals
Afterreviewingthissectionthereadershouldknow:
•Whothebusinessisandwhatitstandsfor
•Yourperceptionofthecompany’sgrowthpotential
•Specificgoalsandobjectivesofthebusiness
•Backgroundinformationaboutthecompany
Starthere…..
5
DefinitionoftheMarket
Thissectionshould:•Describeyourbusinessindustryandoutlook
•Definethecriticalneedsofyourperceivedorexistingmarket
•Identifyyourtargetmarket
•Provideageneralprofileofyourtargetedclients
•Describewhatshareofthemarketyoucurrentlyhaveand/oranticipate
Afterreviewingthissectionthereadershouldknow:
•Basicinformationabouttheindustryyouoperateinandthecustomerneedsyouarefulfilling
•Thescopeandshareofyourbusinessmarket,aswellaswhoyourtargetcustomersare
Starthere…..
6
DescriptionofProductsandServices
Thissectionshould:•Specificallydescribeallofyourproductsandservices
•Explainhowyourproductsandservicesarecompetitive
•Ifapplicable,referenceapictureorbrochureofyourproducts,whichwouldbeincludedintheplan’sappendix
Afterreviewingthissectionthereadershouldknow:
•Whyyouareinbusiness
•Whatyourproductsandservicesareandhowmuchtheysellfor
•Howandwhyyourproductsservicesarecompetitive
Starthere…..
7
OrganizationManagement
Thissectionshould:•Provideadescriptionofhowyourcompanyisorganizedaswellasanorganizationchart,ifavailable
•Describethelegalstructureofyourbusiness(proprietorship,partnership,corporation,etc.)
•Identifynecessaryorspeciallicensesand/orpermitsyourbusinessoperateswith
•Provideabriefbiodescriptionofkeymanagerswithinthecompany
Afterreviewingthissectionthereadershouldknow:
•Thelegalformofownershipforyourbusiness
•Whotheleadersareinyourbusinessaswellastheirroles
•Thegeneralflowofoperationswithinthefirm
Starthere…..
8
MarketingandSalesStrategy
Thissectionshould:•Identifyanddescribeyourmarket–whoyourcustomersareandwhatthedemandisforyourproductsservices
•Describeyourchannelsofdistribution
•Explainyoursalesstrategy,specifictopricing,promotion,productsandplace(4Ps)
Afterreviewingthissectionthereadershould:
•Whoyourmarketisandhowyouwillreachit
•Howyourcompanywillapplypricing,promotion,productdiversificationandchanneldistributiontosellyourproductsandservicescompetitively
Starthere…..
9
FinancialManagement
Thissectionshouldinclude:
Clickhere:forautomatedBalanceSheettemplate
Clickhere:forautomatedIncomeStatement template
Clickhere:forautomatedCashFlowStatement template
NewBusiness
•Estimateofstart-upcosts
•Projectedbalancesheet(1yearforward)
•Projectedincomestatement(1yearforward)
•Projectedcashflowstatement(12monthsforward)
ExistingBusiness
•Balancesheets(last3years)
•Incomestatements(last3years)
•Cashflowstatement(12months)
IfApplyingforaLoan
•Currentpersonalfinancialstatementoneachprincipal
•Federaltaxreturnforprioryear
Afterreviewingthissectionthereadershould:
•Haveagoodunderstandingregardingthefinancialcapacityand/orprojectionsforyourcompany
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10
Appendices
Thissectionshouldincludeasattachments:
•Companybrochures
•Resumesofkeyemployees
•Listofbusinessequipment
•Copiesofpressarticlesandadvertisements(ifavailable)
•Picturesofyourbusinesslocationandproducts(optional)
•Informationsupportingthegrowthofyourindustryand/orproducts(optional)
•Keybusinessagreements,suchaslease,contracts,etc.(optional)
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11