Business Plan

Taken from: http://web.sba.gov/busplantemplate/BizPlanStart.cfm

This section should:

• Be written last.
• Provide an enthusiastic snapshot of your company, explaining who you are, what you do and why.
• Be less than 2 pages in length.

After reviewing this section the reader should:

• Want to learn more about your business.
• Have a basic understanding about your company.

Draft:

This section should include:

• Mission statement (business purpose).
• Company vision (statement about company growth).
• Business goals and objectives.
• Brief history of the business.
• List of key company principals.

After reviewing this section the reader should know:

• Who the business is and what it stands for.
• Your perception of the company’s growth & potential.
• Specific goals and objectives of the business.
• Background information about the company.

Draft:

This section should:

• Describe your business industry and outlook.
• Define the critical needs of your perceived or existing market.
• Identify your target market.
• Provide a general profile of your targeted clients.
• Describe what share of the market you currently have and/or anticipate.

After reviewing this section the reader should know:

• Basic information about the industry you operate in and the customer needs you are fulfilling.
• The scope and share of your business market, as well as who your target customers are.

Draft:

This section should:

• Specifically describe all of your products and services.
• Explain how your products and services are competitive.
• If applicable, reference a picture or brochure of your products, which would be included in the plan’s appendix.

After reviewing this section the reader should know:

• Why you are in business.
• What your products and services are and how much they sell for.
• How and why your products & services are competitive.

Draft:

This section should:

• Provide a description of how your company is organized as well as an organization chart, if available.
• Describe the legal structure of your business (proprietorship, partnership, corporation, etc.).
• Identify necessary or special licenses and/or permits your business operates with.
• Provide a brief bio description of key managers within the company.

After reviewing this section the reader should know:

• The legal form of ownership for your business.
• Who the leaders are in your business as well as their roles.
• The general flow of operations within the firm.

Draft:

This section should:

• Identify and describe your market – who your customers are and what the demand is for your products & services.
• Describe your channels of distribution.
• Explain your sales strategy, specific to pricing, promotion, products and place (4Ps).

After reviewing this section the reader should know:

• Who your market is and how you will reach it.
• How your company will apply pricing, promotion, product diversification and channel distribution to sell your products and services competitively.

Draft:

This section should include:

• For a New Business
  • Estimate of start-up costs.
  • Projected balance sheet (1 year forward).
  • Projected income statement (1 year forward).
  • Projected cash flow statement (12 months forward).
• For an Existing Business
  • Balance sheets (last 3 years).
  • Income statements (last 3 years).
  • Cash flow statement (12 months).
• If Applying for a Loan (in addition to the above)
  • Current personal financial statement on each principal.
  • Federal tax return for prior year.

After reviewing this section the reader should:

• Have a good understanding regarding the financial capacity and/or projections for your company.

Draft: