key components for a business plan

11 Key Components of a Business Plan

3 min. read

Updated August 1, 2024

Somebody asked me what the key components of a good business plan were, and I’m glad they did—it’s one of my favorite topics.

It gives me a chance to review and revise another of the lists that I’ve done off and on for years (such as the one from yesterday on  common business plan mistakes ).

• 1. Measure a business plan by the decisions it causes

I’ve written about this one in several places. Like everything else in business, business plans have business objectives.

Does the plan accomplish its objective ? Whether it is better management, accountability, setting stepping stones to the future, convincing somebody to invest, or something else?

Realistically, it doesn’t matter whether your business plan is well-written, complete, well-formatted, creative, or intelligent. It only matters that it does the job it’s supposed to do. It’s a bad plan if it doesn’t.

• 2. Concrete specifics

Dates, deadlines, major milestones, task responsibilities, sales forecasts, spending budgets, and cash flow projections.

Ask yourself how executable it is. Ask yourself how you’ll know, on a regular basis, how much progress you’ve made and whether or not you’re on track.

• 3. Cash flow

Cash flow is the single most important concept in business. A business plan without cash flow is a marketing plan, strategic plan, summary, or something else—and those can be useful, but get your vocabulary right.

A business model, lean canvas, pitch deck, and so on can be useful in some contexts, like raising investment. But those aren’t business plans.

• 4. Realistic

While it is true that all business plans are wrong , assumptions, drivers, deadlines, milestones, and other such details should be realistic, not crazy.

The plan is to be executed. Impossible goals and crazy forecasts make the whole thing a waste of time.

Brought to you by

Create a professional business plan

Using ai and step-by-step instructions.

Secure funding

Validate ideas

Build a strategy

• 5. Short, sweet, easy-to-read summaries of strategy and tactics

Not all business plans need a lot of text.

The text and explanations are for outsiders, such as investors and bankers; however, many companies ought to use business planning to improve their business operations. If you don’t need the extra information, leave it out.

Define strategy and tactics in short bullet point lists. Tactics, by the way, are related to the marketing plan, product plan, financial plan, and so on. Strategy without tactics is just fluff.

• 6. Alignment of strategy and tactics

It’s surprising how often they don’t match.

Strategy is focus, key target markets , key product/service features, important differentiators, and so forth. Tactics are things like pricing, social media, channels, and financials, and the two should match.

A gourmet restaurant (strategy) should not have a drive-through option (tactics.)

• 7. Covers the event-specific, objective-specific bases

A lot of components of a business plan depend on the usage.

Internal plans have no need for descriptions of company teams. Market analysis hits one level for an internal plan but often has to be proof of market or validation for a plan associated with investment. Investment plans need to know something about exits; internal plans don’t.

• 8. Easy in, easy out

Don’t make anybody work to find what information is where in the plan. Keep it simple.

Use bullets as much as possible, and be careful with naked bullets for people who don’t really know the background. Don’t show off.

• 9. As lean as possible

Just big enough to do the job . It has to be reviewed and revised regularly to be useful. Nothing should be included that isn’t going to be used.

• 10. Geared for change

A good business plan is the opposite of written in stone. It’s going to change in a few weeks.

List assumptions because reviewing assumptions is the best way to determine when to change the plan and when to stick with it.

• 11. The right level of aggregation and summary

It’s not accounting. It’s planning.

Projections look like accounting statements, but they aren’t. They are summarized. They aren’t built on elaborate financial models. They are just detailed enough to generate good information.

• Download a free business plan template

If you want to increase the chances of your business plan checking off everything in this list, then download our free business plan template . Created by experienced entrepreneurs, this template is investor-ready and structured to help you create a useful business plan.

Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software , a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning. He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching and evangelizing for business planning.

Table of Contents

Related Articles

11 Min. Read

Use This Simple Business Plan Outline Example to Organize Your Plan

10 Min. Read

When Should You Write a Business Plan?

7 Min. Read

5 Consequences of Skipping a Business Plan

12 Min. Read

Do You Need a Business Plan? Scientific Research Says Yes

The LivePlan Newsletter

Become a smarter, more strategic entrepreneur.

Your first monthly newsetter will be delivered soon..

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy .

The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

• Customer Reviews
• Net 30 Account
• Wise Services
• Steps & Timeline
• Work at a Glance
• Market Research at a Glance
• Business Plan Writing Services
• Bank Business Plan
• Investor Business Plan
• Franchise Business Plan
• Cannabis Business Plan
• Strategic Business Plan
• Corporate Business Plan
• Merge and Acquisition Business Plan (M&A)
• Private Placement Memorandums (PPM)
• Sample Business Plans
• Professional Feasibility Study
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Pitch Deck Presentation Services
• Business Plan Printing
• Market Research
• L-1 Business Plan
• E-2 Business Plan
• EB-5 Business Plan
• EB-5 Regional Centers
• Immigration Attorneys
• Nonprofit Business Plan
• Exit Business Planning
• Business Planning
• Business Formation
• Business License
• Business Website
• Business Branding
• Business Bank Account
• Digital Marketing
• Business Funding Resources
• Small Business Loans
• Venture Capital
• Net 30 Apply

8 Things You Need in a Business Plan

The Harvard Business Review says a good business plan is super important for entrepreneurs. It’s like a guide for them in the tricky world of business. The plan has different parts, and each part is like a piece of the puzzle for success.

For example, there’s the short and powerful Executive Summary that tells the most important things about the business. Then, there’s the smart Market Analysis that helps you understand what customers want.

All of these parts work together to make a strong plan. So, let’s take a closer look at these important pieces that help turn business dreams into successful reality.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a detailed document that explains how a business works and what it aims to achieve. It outlines the business’s goals, strategies , and resources. It’s like a roadmap for the business, helping it stay on course and navigate challenges.

 The plan typically includes sections about the business’s description , market research , marketing and sales strategies, operations, management, and financial projections .

 Entrepreneurs use it to clarify their vision, secure funding, and measure progress. It’s a crucial tool for anyone starting or running a business, helping them make informed decisions and work toward success.

Need assistance in writing a business plan?

Contact our award-winning business plan writers now!

Eight Key Components of Business Plans

Crafting a business plan is akin to laying the foundation for a grand architectural masterpiece. It’s your roadmap to success, a strategic blueprint that breathes life into your entrepreneurial dreams. Allow me to take you on a journey through the essential components of this vital document.

• Executive Summary
• Business Description
• Market Analysis
• Marketing and Sales Strategy
• Operations Plan
• Management and Organization
• Financial Plan

1. Executive Summary

Picture this as the dazzling opening act of your business plan, where you showcase your vision, mission, and why your venture is destined for greatness. It’s a compelling glimpse into the heart and soul of your business.

It’s like a short summary of your business, including what it does and what makes it special.

• Advice: Keep it concise and engaging. Think of it as a teaser that makes people want to read more. Highlight what makes your business unique.

2. Business Description

Here, we dive deep into the DNA of your business. You’ll spill the beans on what you do, your industry, your history, and your grand plans for the future. It’s a snapshot that captures the essence of your business.

This part explains your business in detail, like what it sells, the industry it’s in, and its history.

• Advice: Be clear about what your business does and why it matters. Describe your industry and explain how your business fits into it.

Free Example Business Plans

Explore our free business plan samples now!

3. Market Analysis

This section is where we turn detective. We unearth market trends, study customer behaviors, and dissect your competitors. It’s a treasure trove of insights that helps you navigate the marketplace.

Here, you look at the market your business is in. You study things like customer behavior and what other businesses are doing.

• Advice: Research thoroughly. Understand your customers’ needs and your competition. Show that you know your market inside and out.

4. Marketing and Sales Strategy

Imagine this as the stage where you reveal your magic tricks. Here, you outline how you’ll entice and retain your customers. It’s where the art of attracting and selling meets strategy.

This section talks about how you’ll get customers and sell your products or services.

• Advice: Outline your plan for attracting customers and selling your products or services. Focus on how you’ll reach your target audience and convince them to buy from you.

5. Operations Plan

Ever wondered how the show runs backstage? This is where you spill the beans. From location to logistics, it’s the nitty-gritty of daily operations. It’s the backbone that keeps your business standing tall.

It’s about how your business will work day-to-day, like where you’ll be located and how you’ll make your products.

Advice: Detail how your business will operate day-to-day. Discuss your location, equipment, suppliers, and how you’ll ensure quality.

6. Management and Organization

Introducing the cast and crew of your business. Who’s in charge? What’s their expertise? It’s where you showcase your dream team and the hierarchy that keeps everything in check.

This part introduces the people running the business and how it’s organized.

• Advice: Introduce your team and their qualifications. Explain who’s in charge and how your business is structured.

7. Financial Plan

This section is your crystal ball into the future. It predicts your financial performance, balances your books, and forecasts cash flows. Investors love it, and you will too.

It’s like a prediction of how much money your business will make and spend in the future.

Advice: Be realistic with your financial projections. Include income, expenses, and cash flow predictions. Show how you’ll make a profit.

8. Appendix

This is your secret stash. All those extra documents, licenses, contracts, and accolades find their home here. It’s the vault of credibility that adds weight to your plan.

This is where you put extra documents like licenses, contracts, and other important stuff.

• Advice: Use this section for supporting documents. Include licenses, contracts, and anything that adds credibility to your plan.

Hire our professional business plan writing consultants now!

Remember, your business plan isn’t set in stone. It’s a living, breathing document that evolves with your journey. It’s your guiding star, your go-to reference, and your pitch to investors, all rolled into one.

With a well-crafted business plan, you’re equipped to clarify your vision, rally support from investors, and steer your venture to success. So, let’s get started on your masterpiece!

Related Posts

What Are Mobile App Development Services? Guide for Businesses and Startups

Big Companies Using .NET technologies for Product Development

10 Essential Time Management Tips for Busy Professionals

Quick links.

• Investor Business Plans
• M&A Business Plan
• Private Placement
• Feasibility Study
• Hire a Business Plan Writer
• Business Valuation Calculator
• Business Plan Examples
• Real Estate Business Plan
• Business Plan Template
• Business Plan Pricing Guide
• Business Plan Makeover
• SBA Loans, Bank Funding & Business Credit
• Finding & Qualifying for Business Grants
• Leadership for the New Manager
• Content Marketing for Beginners
• All About Crowdfunding
• EB-5 Regional Centers, A Step-By-Step Guide
• Logo Designer
• Landing Page
• PPC Advertising

• Business Entity
• Business Licensing
• Virtual Assistant
• Business Phone
• Business Address
• E-1 Visa Business Plan
• EB1-A Visa Business Plan
• EB1-C Visa Business Plan
• EB2-NIW Business Plan
• H1B Visa Business Plan
• O1 Visa Business Plan
• Business Brokers
• Merger & Acquisition Advisors
• Franchisors

Proud Sponsor of

• 1-800-496-1056

• (613) 800-0227

• +44 (1549) 409190

• +61 (2) 72510077

• Start free trial

Start selling with Shopify today

Start your free trial with Shopify today—then use these resources to guide you through every step of the process.

The 12 Key Components of a Business Plan

There are 12 components of a business plan entrepreneurs must know as they lay out how their business will work.

Entrepreneurs who create business plans are more likely to succeed than those who don’t. 

Not only can a sound plan help your business access investment capital but—as the study found—it can even determine the success or failure of your venture. 

Here are the critical components of a business plan to help you craft your own.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a document outlining your business goals and your strategies for achieving them. It might include your company’s mission statement , details about your products or services, how you plan to bring them to market, and how much time and money you need to execute the plan. 

For a thorough explanation of how to write a business plan, refer to Shopify’s guide .

12 key components of a business plan

Business plans vary depending on the product or service. Some entrepreneurs choose to use diagrams and charts, while others rely on text alone. Regardless of how you go about it, good business plans tend to include the following elements:

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Market analysis
• Marketing plan
• Competitive analysis 
• Organizational structure
• Products and services
• Operating plan
• Financial plan
• Funding sources

1. Executive summary

The executive summary briefly explains your business’s products or services and why it has the potential to be profitable. You may also include basic information about your company, such as its location and the number of employees.

2. Company description

The company description helps customers, lenders, and potential investors gain a deeper understanding of your product or service. It provides detailed descriptions of your supply chains and explains how your company plans to bring its products or services to market. 

3. Market analysis

The market analysis section outlines your plans to reach your target audience . It usually includes an estimate of the potential demand for the product or service and a summary of market research . 

The market analysis also includes information about marketing strategies, advertising ideas, or other ways of attracting customers. 

Another component of this section is a detailed breakdown of target customers. Many businesses find it helpful to analyze their target market using customer segments , often with demographic data such as age or income. This way, you can customize your marketing plans to reach different groups of customers. 

4. Marketing plan

The marketing plan section details how you plan to attract and retain customers. It covers the marketing mix: product, price, place, and promotion. It shows you understand your market and have clear, measurable goals to guide your marketing strategy.

For example, a fashion retail store might focus on online sales channels, competitive pricing strategies, high-quality products, and aggressive social media promotion.

5. Sales plan

This section focuses on the actions you’ll take to achieve sales targets and drive revenue. It’s different from a marketing plan because it’s more about the direct process of selling the product to your customer. It looks at the methods used from lead generation to closing the sale, as well as revenue targets. 

An ecommerce sales strategy might involve optimizing your online shopping experience, using targeted digital marketing to drive traffic, and employing tactics like flash sales , personalized email marketing, or loyalty programs to boost sales.

6. Competitive analysis

It’s essential that you understand your competitors and distinguish your business. There are two main types of competitors: direct and indirect competitors. 

• Direct competitors. Direct competitors offer the same or similar products and services. For example, the underwear brand Skims is a direct competitor with Spanx .
• Indirect competitors. Indirect competitors, on the other hand, offer different products and services that may satisfy the same customer needs. For example, cable television is an indirect competitor to Netflix.

A competitive analysis explains your business’s unique strengths that give it a competitive advantage over other businesses.

7. Organizational structure

The organizational structure explains your company’s legal structure and provides information about the management team. It also describes the business’s operating plan and details who is responsible for which aspects of the company.

8. Products and services

This component goes in-depth on what you’re actually selling and why it’s valuable to customers. It’ll provide a description of your products and services with all their features, benefits, and unique selling points. It may also discuss the current development stage of your products and plans for the future. 

The products and services section also looks at pricing strategy , intellectual property (IP) rights, and any key supplier information. For example, in an ecommerce business plan focusing on eco-friendly home products, this section would detail the range of products, explain how they are environmentally friendly, outline sourcing and production practices, discuss pricing, and highlight any certifications or eco-labels the products have received.

9. Operating plan

Here is where you explain the day-to-day operations of the business. Your operating plan will cover aspects from production or service delivery to human and resource management. It shows readers how you plan to deliver on your promises. 

For example, in a business plan for a startup selling artisanal crafts, this section would include details on how artisans are sourced, how products are cataloged and stored, the ecommerce platform used for sales, and the logistics for packaging and shipping orders worldwide.

10. Financial plan

The financial plan is one of the most critical parts of the business plan, especially for companies seeking outside funding.

A plan often includes capital expenditure budgets, forecasted income statements , and cash flow statements , which can help predict when your company will become profitable and how it expects to survive in the meantime. 

If your business is already profitable, your financial plan can help with convincing investors of future growth. At the end of the financial section, you may also include a value proposition , which estimates the value of your business.

11. Funding sources

Some businesses planning to expand or to seek funds from venture capitalists may include a section devoted to their long-term growth strategy, including ways to broaden product offerings and penetrate new markets.

12. Appendix

The final component of a business plan is the appendix. Here, you may include additional documents cited in other sections or requested by readers. These might be résumés, financial statements, product pictures, patent approvals, and legal records.

Components of a business plan FAQ

What are 8 common parts of a good business plan.

Some of the most common components of a business plan are an executive summary, a company description, a marketing analysis, a competitive analysis, an organization description, a summary of growth strategies, a financial plan, and an appendix.

What is a business plan format?

A business plan format is a way of structuring a business plan. Shopify offers a free business plan template for startups that you can use to format your business plan.

What are the 5 functions of a business plan?

A business plan explains your company’s products or services, how you expect to make money, the reliability of supply chains, and factors that might affect demand.

Keep up with the latest from Shopify

Get free ecommerce tips, inspiration, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify.

popular posts

The point of sale for every sale.

Subscribe to our blog and get free ecommerce tips, inspiration, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

Unsubscribe anytime. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify.

Learn on the go. Try Shopify for free, and explore all the tools you need to start, run, and grow your business.

Try Shopify for free, no credit card required.

• Search Search Please fill out this field.

What Is a Business Plan?

Understanding business plans, how to write a business plan, common elements of a business plan, the bottom line, business plan: what it is, what's included, and how to write one.

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

• How to Start a Business: A Comprehensive Guide and Essential Steps
• How to Do Market Research, Types, and Example
• Marketing Strategy: What It Is, How It Works, How To Create One
• Marketing in Business: Strategies and Types Explained
• What Is a Marketing Plan? Types and How to Write One
• Business Development: Definition, Strategies, Steps & Skills
• Business Plan: What It Is, What's Included, and How to Write One CURRENT ARTICLE
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Meaning, Types, Impact
• How to Write a Business Plan for a Loan
• Business Startup Costs: It’s in the Details
• Startup Capital Definition, Types, and Risks
• Bootstrapping Definition, Strategies, and Pros/Cons
• Crowdfunding: What It Is, How It Works, and Popular Websites
• Starting a Business with No Money: How to Begin
• A Comprehensive Guide to Establishing Business Credit
• Equity Financing: What It Is, How It Works, Pros and Cons
• Best Startup Business Loans
• Sole Proprietorship: What It Is, Pros & Cons, and Differences From an LLC
• Partnership: Definition, How It Works, Taxation, and Types
• What is an LLC? Limited Liability Company Structure and Benefits Defined
• Corporation: What It Is and How to Form One
• Starting a Small Business: Your Complete How-to Guide
• Starting an Online Business: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Start Your Own Bookkeeping Business: Essential Tips
• How to Start a Successful Dropshipping Business: A Comprehensive Guide

A business plan is a document that outlines a company's goals and the strategies to achieve them. It's valuable for both startups and established companies. For startups, a well-crafted business plan is crucial for attracting potential lenders and investors. Established businesses use business plans to stay on track and aligned with their growth objectives. This article will explain the key components of an effective business plan and guidance on how to write one.

Key Takeaways

• A business plan is a document detailing a company's business activities and strategies for achieving its goals.
• Startup companies use business plans to launch their venture and to attract outside investors.
• For established companies, a business plan helps keep the executive team focused on short- and long-term objectives.
• There's no single required format for a business plan, but certain key elements are essential for most companies.

Investopedia / Ryan Oakley

Any new business should have a business plan in place before beginning operations. Banks and venture capital firms often want to see a business plan before considering making a loan or providing capital to new businesses.

Even if a company doesn't need additional funding, having a business plan helps it stay focused on its goals. Research from the University of Oregon shows that businesses with a plan are significantly more likely to secure funding than those without one. Moreover, companies with a business plan grow 30% faster than those that don't plan. According to a Harvard Business Review article, entrepreneurs who write formal plans are 16% more likely to achieve viability than those who don't.

A business plan should ideally be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect achieved goals or changes in direction. An established business moving in a new direction might even create an entirely new plan.

There are numerous benefits to creating (and sticking to) a well-conceived business plan. It allows for careful consideration of ideas before significant investment, highlights potential obstacles to success, and provides a tool for seeking objective feedback from trusted outsiders. A business plan may also help ensure that a company’s executive team remains aligned on strategic action items and priorities.

While business plans vary widely, even among competitors in the same industry, they often share basic elements detailed below.

A well-crafted business plan is essential for attracting investors and guiding a company's strategic growth. It should address market needs and investor requirements and provide clear financial projections.

While there are any number of templates that you can use to write a business plan, it's best to try to avoid producing a generic-looking one. Let your plan reflect the unique personality of your business.

Many business plans use some combination of the sections below, with varying levels of detail, depending on the company.

The length of a business plan can vary greatly from business to business. Regardless, gathering the basic information into a 15- to 25-page document is best. Any additional crucial elements, such as patent applications, can be referenced in the main document and included as appendices.

Common elements in many business plans include:

• Executive summary : This section introduces the company and includes its mission statement along with relevant information about the company's leadership, employees, operations, and locations.
• Products and services : Describe the products and services the company offers or plans to introduce. Include details on pricing, product lifespan, and unique consumer benefits. Mention production and manufacturing processes, relevant patents , proprietary technology , and research and development (R&D) information.
• Market analysis : Explain the current state of the industry and the competition. Detail where the company fits in, the types of customers it plans to target, and how it plans to capture market share from competitors.
• Marketing strategy : Outline the company's plans to attract and retain customers, including anticipated advertising and marketing campaigns. Describe the distribution channels that will be used to deliver products or services to consumers.
• Financial plans and projections : Established businesses should include financial statements, balance sheets, and other relevant financial information. New businesses should provide financial targets and estimates for the first few years. This section may also include any funding requests.

Investors want to see a clear exit strategy, expected returns, and a timeline for cashing out. It's likely a good idea to provide five-year profitability forecasts and realistic financial estimates.

2 Types of Business Plans

Business plans can vary in format, often categorized into traditional and lean startup plans. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) , the traditional business plan is the more common of the two.

• Traditional business plans : These are detailed and lengthy, requiring more effort to create but offering comprehensive information that can be persuasive to potential investors.
• Lean startup business plans : These are concise, sometimes just one page, and focus on key elements. While they save time, companies should be ready to provide additional details if requested by investors or lenders.

Why Do Business Plans Fail?

A business plan isn't a surefire recipe for success. The plan may have been unrealistic in its assumptions and projections. Markets and the economy might change in ways that couldn't have been foreseen. A competitor might introduce a revolutionary new product or service. All this calls for building flexibility into your plan, so you can pivot to a new course if needed.

How Often Should a Business Plan Be Updated?

How frequently a business plan needs to be revised will depend on its nature. Updating your business plan is crucial due to changes in external factors (market trends, competition, and regulations) and internal developments (like employee growth and new products). While a well-established business might want to review its plan once a year and make changes if necessary, a new or fast-growing business in a fiercely competitive market might want to revise it more often, such as quarterly.

What Does a Lean Startup Business Plan Include?

The lean startup business plan is ideal for quickly explaining a business, especially for new companies that don't have much information yet. Key sections may include a value proposition , major activities and advantages, resources (staff, intellectual property, and capital), partnerships, customer segments, and revenue sources.

A well-crafted business plan is crucial for any company, whether it's a startup looking for investment or an established business wanting to stay on course. It outlines goals and strategies, boosting a company's chances of securing funding and achieving growth.

As your business and the market change, update your business plan regularly. This keeps it relevant and aligned with your current goals and conditions. Think of your business plan as a living document that evolves with your company, not something carved in stone.

University of Oregon Department of Economics. " Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Business Planning Using Palo Alto's Business Plan Pro ." Eason Ding & Tim Hursey.

Bplans. " Do You Need a Business Plan? Scientific Research Says Yes ."

Harvard Business Review. " Research: Writing a Business Plan Makes Your Startup More Likely to Succeed ."

Harvard Business Review. " How to Write a Winning Business Plan ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Write Your Business Plan ."

SCORE. " When and Why Should You Review Your Business Plan? "

• Terms of Service
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy

• Sources of Business Finance
• Small Business Loans
• Small Business Grants
• Crowdfunding Sites
• How to Get a Business Loan
• Small Business Insurance Providers
• Best Factoring Companies
• Types of Bank Accounts
• Best Banks for Small Business
• Best Business Bank Accounts
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Bank Accounts for Small Businesses
• Free Business Checking Accounts
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Build Business Credit Fast
• Business Loan Eligibility Criteria
• Small-Business Bookkeeping Basics
• How to Set Financial Goals
• Business Loan Calculators
• How to Calculate ROI
• Calculate Net Income
• Calculate Working Capital
• Calculate Operating Income
• Calculate Net Present Value (NPV)
• Calculate Payroll Tax

How to Write a Business Plan in 9 Steps (+ Template and Examples)

Every successful business has one thing in common, a good and well-executed business plan. A business plan is more than a document, it is a complete guide that outlines the goals your business wants to achieve, including its financial goals . It helps you analyze results, make strategic decisions, show your business operations and growth.

If you want to start a business or already have one and need to pitch it to investors for funding, writing a good business plan improves your chances of attracting financiers. As a startup, if you want to secure loans from financial institutions, part of the requirements involve submitting your business plan.

Writing a business plan does not have to be a complicated or time-consuming process. In this article, you will learn the step-by-step process for writing a successful business plan.

You will also learn what you need a business plan for, tips and strategies for writing a convincing business plan, business plan examples and templates that will save you tons of time, and the alternatives to the traditional business plan.

Let’s get started.

What Do You Need A Business Plan For?

Businesses create business plans for different purposes such as to secure funds, monitor business growth, measure your marketing strategies, and measure your business success.

1. Secure Funds

One of the primary reasons for writing a business plan is to secure funds, either from financial institutions/agencies or investors.

For you to effectively acquire funds, your business plan must contain the key elements of your business plan . For example, your business plan should include your growth plans, goals you want to achieve, and milestones you have recorded.

A business plan can also attract new business partners that are willing to contribute financially and intellectually. If you are writing a business plan to a bank, your project must show your traction , that is, the proof that you can pay back any loan borrowed.

Also, if you are writing to an investor, your plan must contain evidence that you can effectively utilize the funds you want them to invest in your business. Here, you are using your business plan to persuade a group or an individual that your business is a source of a good investment.

2. Monitor Business Growth

A business plan can help you track cash flows in your business. It steers your business to greater heights. A business plan capable of tracking business growth should contain:

• The business goals
• Methods to achieve the goals
• Time-frame for attaining those goals

A good business plan should guide you through every step in achieving your goals. It can also track the allocation of assets to every aspect of the business. You can tell when you are spending more than you should on a project.

You can compare a business plan to a written GPS. It helps you manage your business and hints at the right time to expand your business.

3. Measure Business Success

A business plan can help you measure your business success rate. Some small-scale businesses are thriving better than more prominent companies because of their track record of success.

Right from the onset of your business operation, set goals and work towards them. Write a plan to guide you through your procedures. Use your plan to measure how much you have achieved and how much is left to attain.

You can also weigh your success by monitoring the position of your brand relative to competitors. On the other hand, a business plan can also show you why you have not achieved a goal. It can tell if you have elapsed the time frame you set to attain a goal.

4. Document Your Marketing Strategies

You can use a business plan to document your marketing plans. Every business should have an effective marketing plan.

Competition mandates every business owner to go the extraordinary mile to remain relevant in the market. Your business plan should contain your marketing strategies that work. You can measure the success rate of your marketing plans.

In your business plan, your marketing strategy must answer the questions:

• How do you want to reach your target audience?
• How do you plan to retain your customers?
• What is/are your pricing plans?
• What is your budget for marketing?

How to Write a Business Plan Step-by-Step

1. create your executive summary.

The executive summary is a snapshot of your business or a high-level overview of your business purposes and plans . Although the executive summary is the first section in your business plan, most people write it last. The length of the executive summary is not more than two pages.

Generally, there are nine sections in a business plan, the executive summary should condense essential ideas from the other eight sections.

A good executive summary should do the following:

• A Snapshot of Growth Potential. Briefly inform the reader about your company and why it will be successful)
• Contain your Mission Statement which explains what the main objective or focus of your business is.
• Product Description and Differentiation. Brief description of your products or services and why it is different from other solutions in the market.
• The Team. Basic information about your company’s leadership team and employees
• Business Concept. A solid description of what your business does.
• Target Market. The customers you plan to sell to.
• Marketing Strategy. Your plans on reaching and selling to your customers
• Current Financial State. Brief information about what revenue your business currently generates.
• Projected Financial State. Brief information about what you foresee your business revenue to be in the future.

The executive summary is the make-or-break section of your business plan. If your summary cannot in less than two pages cannot clearly describe how your business will solve a particular problem of your target audience and make a profit, your business plan is set on a faulty foundation.

Avoid using the executive summary to hype your business, instead, focus on helping the reader understand the what and how of your plan.

View the executive summary as an opportunity to introduce your vision for your company. You know your executive summary is powerful when it can answer these key questions:

• Who is your target audience?
• What sector or industry are you in?
• What are your products and services?
• What is the future of your industry?
• Is your company scaleable?
• Who are the owners and leaders of your company? What are their backgrounds and experience levels?
• What is the motivation for starting your company?
• What are the next steps?

Writing the executive summary last although it is the most important section of your business plan is an excellent idea. The reason why is because it is a high-level overview of your business plan. It is the section that determines whether potential investors and lenders will read further or not.

The executive summary can be a stand-alone document that covers everything in your business plan. It is not uncommon for investors to request only the executive summary when evaluating your business. If the information in the executive summary impresses them, they will ask for the complete business plan.

If you are writing your business plan for your planning purposes, you do not need to write the executive summary.

2. Add Your Company Overview

The company overview or description is the next section in your business plan after the executive summary. It describes what your business does.

Adding your company overview can be tricky especially when your business is still in the planning stages. Existing businesses can easily summarize their current operations but may encounter difficulties trying to explain what they plan to become.

Your company overview should contain the following:

• What products and services you will provide
• Geographical markets and locations your company have a presence
• What you need to run your business
• Who your target audience or customers are
• Who will service your customers
• Your company’s purpose, mission, and vision
• Information about your company’s founders
• Who the founders are
• Notable achievements of your company so far

When creating a company overview, you have to focus on three basics: identifying your industry, identifying your customer, and explaining the problem you solve.

If you are stuck when creating your company overview, try to answer some of these questions that pertain to you.

• Who are you targeting? (The answer is not everyone)
• What pain point does your product or service solve for your customers that they will be willing to spend money on resolving?
• How does your product or service overcome that pain point?
• Where is the location of your business?
• What products, equipment, and services do you need to run your business?
• How is your company’s product or service different from your competition in the eyes of your customers?
• How many employees do you need and what skills do you require them to have?

After answering some or all of these questions, you will get more than enough information you need to write your company overview or description section. When writing this section, describe what your company does for your customers.

The company description or overview section contains three elements: mission statement, history, and objectives.

• Mission Statement

The mission statement refers to the reason why your business or company is existing. It goes beyond what you do or sell, it is about the ‘why’. A good mission statement should be emotional and inspirational.

Your mission statement should follow the KISS rule (Keep It Simple, Stupid). For example, Shopify’s mission statement is “Make commerce better for everyone.”

When describing your company’s history, make it simple and avoid the temptation of tying it to a defensive narrative. Write it in the manner you would a profile. Your company’s history should include the following information:

• Founding Date
• Major Milestones
• Location(s)
• Flagship Products or Services
• Number of Employees
• Executive Leadership Roles

When you fill in this information, you use it to write one or two paragraphs about your company’s history.

Business Objectives

Your business objective must be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.) Failure to clearly identify your business objectives does not inspire confidence and makes it hard for your team members to work towards a common purpose.

3. Perform Market and Competitive Analyses to Proof a Big Enough Business Opportunity

The third step in writing a business plan is the market and competitive analysis section. Every business, no matter the size, needs to perform comprehensive market and competitive analyses before it enters into a market.

Performing market and competitive analyses are critical for the success of your business. It helps you avoid entering the right market with the wrong product, or vice versa. Anyone reading your business plans, especially financiers and financial institutions will want to see proof that there is a big enough business opportunity you are targeting.

This section is where you describe the market and industry you want to operate in and show the big opportunities in the market that your business can leverage to make a profit. If you noticed any unique trends when doing your research, show them in this section.

Market analysis alone is not enough, you have to add competitive analysis to strengthen this section. There are already businesses in the industry or market, how do you plan to take a share of the market from them?

You have to clearly illustrate the competitive landscape in your business plan. Are there areas your competitors are doing well? Are there areas where they are not doing so well? Show it.

Make it clear in this section why you are moving into the industry and what weaknesses are present there that you plan to explain. How are your competitors going to react to your market entry? How do you plan to get customers? Do you plan on taking your competitors' competitors, tap into other sources for customers, or both?

Illustrate the competitive landscape as well. What are your competitors doing well and not so well?

Answering these questions and thoughts will aid your market and competitive analysis of the opportunities in your space. Depending on how sophisticated your industry is, or the expectations of your financiers, you may need to carry out a more comprehensive market and competitive analysis to prove that big business opportunity.

Instead of looking at the market and competitive analyses as one entity, separating them will make the research even more comprehensive.

Market Analysis

Market analysis, boarding speaking, refers to research a business carried out on its industry, market, and competitors. It helps businesses gain a good understanding of their target market and the outlook of their industry. Before starting a company, it is vital to carry out market research to find out if the market is viable.

The market analysis section is a key part of the business plan. It is the section where you identify who your best clients or customers are. You cannot omit this section, without it your business plan is incomplete.

A good market analysis will tell your readers how you fit into the existing market and what makes you stand out. This section requires in-depth research, it will probably be the most time-consuming part of the business plan to write.

• Market Research

To create a compelling market analysis that will win over investors and financial institutions, you have to carry out thorough market research . Your market research should be targeted at your primary target market for your products or services. Here is what you want to find out about your target market.

• Your target market’s needs or pain points
• The existing solutions for their pain points
• Geographic Location
• Demographics

The purpose of carrying out a marketing analysis is to get all the information you need to show that you have a solid and thorough understanding of your target audience.

Only after you have fully understood the people you plan to sell your products or services to, can you evaluate correctly if your target market will be interested in your products or services.

You can easily convince interested parties to invest in your business if you can show them you thoroughly understand the market and show them that there is a market for your products or services.

How to Quantify Your Target Market

One of the goals of your marketing research is to understand who your ideal customers are and their purchasing power. To quantify your target market, you have to determine the following:

• Your Potential Customers: They are the people you plan to target. For example, if you sell accounting software for small businesses , then anyone who runs an enterprise or large business is unlikely to be your customers. Also, individuals who do not have a business will most likely not be interested in your product.
• Total Households: If you are selling household products such as heating and air conditioning systems, determining the number of total households is more important than finding out the total population in the area you want to sell to. The logic is simple, people buy the product but it is the household that uses it.
• Median Income: You need to know the median income of your target market. If you target a market that cannot afford to buy your products and services, your business will not last long.
• Income by Demographics: If your potential customers belong to a certain age group or gender, determining income levels by demographics is necessary. For example, if you sell men's clothes, your target audience is men.

What Does a Good Market Analysis Entail?

Your business does not exist on its own, it can only flourish within an industry and alongside competitors. Market analysis takes into consideration your industry, target market, and competitors. Understanding these three entities will drastically improve your company’s chances of success.

You can view your market analysis as an examination of the market you want to break into and an education on the emerging trends and themes in that market. Good market analyses include the following:

• Industry Description. You find out about the history of your industry, the current and future market size, and who the largest players/companies are in your industry.
• Overview of Target Market. You research your target market and its characteristics. Who are you targeting? Note, it cannot be everyone, it has to be a specific group. You also have to find out all information possible about your customers that can help you understand how and why they make buying decisions.
• Size of Target Market: You need to know the size of your target market, how frequently they buy, and the expected quantity they buy so you do not risk overproducing and having lots of bad inventory. Researching the size of your target market will help you determine if it is big enough for sustained business or not.
• Growth Potential: Before picking a target market, you want to be sure there are lots of potential for future growth. You want to avoid going for an industry that is declining slowly or rapidly with almost zero growth potential.
• Market Share Potential: Does your business stand a good chance of taking a good share of the market?
• Market Pricing and Promotional Strategies: Your market analysis should give you an idea of the price point you can expect to charge for your products and services. Researching your target market will also give you ideas of pricing strategies you can implement to break into the market or to enjoy maximum profits.
• Potential Barriers to Entry: One of the biggest benefits of conducting market analysis is that it shows you every potential barrier to entry your business will likely encounter. It is a good idea to discuss potential barriers to entry such as changing technology. It informs readers of your business plan that you understand the market.
• Research on Competitors: You need to know the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors and how you can exploit them for the benefit of your business. Find patterns and trends among your competitors that make them successful, discover what works and what doesn’t, and see what you can do better.

The market analysis section is not just for talking about your target market, industry, and competitors. You also have to explain how your company can fill the hole you have identified in the market.

Here are some questions you can answer that can help you position your product or service in a positive light to your readers.

• Is your product or service of superior quality?
• What additional features do you offer that your competitors do not offer?
• Are you targeting a ‘new’ market?

Basically, your market analysis should include an analysis of what already exists in the market and an explanation of how your company fits into the market.

Competitive Analysis

In the competitive analysis section, y ou have to understand who your direct and indirect competitions are, and how successful they are in the marketplace. It is the section where you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, the advantage(s) they possess in the market and show the unique features or qualities that make you different from your competitors.

Many businesses do market analysis and competitive analysis together. However, to fully understand what the competitive analysis entails, it is essential to separate it from the market analysis.

Competitive analysis for your business can also include analysis on how to overcome barriers to entry in your target market.

The primary goal of conducting a competitive analysis is to distinguish your business from your competitors. A strong competitive analysis is essential if you want to convince potential funding sources to invest in your business. You have to show potential investors and lenders that your business has what it takes to compete in the marketplace successfully.

Competitive analysis will s how you what the strengths of your competition are and what they are doing to maintain that advantage.

When doing your competitive research, you first have to identify your competitor and then get all the information you can about them. The idea of spending time to identify your competitor and learn everything about them may seem daunting but it is well worth it.

Find answers to the following questions after you have identified who your competitors are.

• What are your successful competitors doing?
• Why is what they are doing working?
• Can your business do it better?
• What are the weaknesses of your successful competitors?
• What are they not doing well?
• Can your business turn its weaknesses into strengths?
• How good is your competitors’ customer service?
• Where do your competitors invest in advertising?
• What sales and pricing strategies are they using?
• What marketing strategies are they using?
• What kind of press coverage do they get?
• What are their customers saying about your competitors (both the positive and negative)?

If your competitors have a website, it is a good idea to visit their websites for more competitors’ research. Check their “About Us” page for more information.

If you are presenting your business plan to investors, you need to clearly distinguish yourself from your competitors. Investors can easily tell when you have not properly researched your competitors.

Take time to think about what unique qualities or features set you apart from your competitors. If you do not have any direct competition offering your product to the market, it does not mean you leave out the competitor analysis section blank. Instead research on other companies that are providing a similar product, or whose product is solving the problem your product solves.

The next step is to create a table listing the top competitors you want to include in your business plan. Ensure you list your business as the last and on the right. What you just created is known as the competitor analysis table.

Direct vs Indirect Competition

You cannot know if your product or service will be a fit for your target market if you have not understood your business and the competitive landscape.

There is no market you want to target where you will not encounter competition, even if your product is innovative. Including competitive analysis in your business plan is essential.

If you are entering an established market, you need to explain how you plan to differentiate your products from the available options in the market. Also, include a list of few companies that you view as your direct competitors The competition you face in an established market is your direct competition.

In situations where you are entering a market with no direct competition, it does not mean there is no competition there. Consider your indirect competition that offers substitutes for the products or services you offer.

For example, if you sell an innovative SaaS product, let us say a project management software , a company offering time management software is your indirect competition.

There is an easy way to find out who your indirect competitors are in the absence of no direct competitors. You simply have to research how your potential customers are solving the problems that your product or service seeks to solve. That is your direct competition.

Factors that Differentiate Your Business from the Competition

There are three main factors that any business can use to differentiate itself from its competition. They are cost leadership, product differentiation, and market segmentation.

1. Cost Leadership

A strategy you can impose to maximize your profits and gain an edge over your competitors. It involves offering lower prices than what the majority of your competitors are offering.

A common practice among businesses looking to enter into a market where there are dominant players is to use free trials or pricing to attract as many customers as possible to their offer.

2. Product Differentiation

Your product or service should have a unique selling proposition (USP) that your competitors do not have or do not stress in their marketing.

Part of the marketing strategy should involve making your products unique and different from your competitors. It does not have to be different from your competitors, it can be the addition to a feature or benefit that your competitors do not currently have.

3. Market Segmentation

As a new business seeking to break into an industry, you will gain more success from focusing on a specific niche or target market, and not the whole industry.

If your competitors are focused on a general need or target market, you can differentiate yourself from them by having a small and hyper-targeted audience. For example, if your competitors are selling men’s clothes in their online stores , you can sell hoodies for men.

4. Define Your Business and Management Structure

The next step in your business plan is your business and management structure. It is the section where you describe the legal structure of your business and the team running it.

Your business is only as good as the management team that runs it, while the management team can only strive when there is a proper business and management structure in place.

If your company is a sole proprietor or a limited liability company (LLC), a general or limited partnership, or a C or an S corporation, state it clearly in this section.

Use an organizational chart to show the management structure in your business. Clearly show who is in charge of what area in your company. It is where you show how each key manager or team leader’s unique experience can contribute immensely to the success of your company. You can also opt to add the resumes and CVs of the key players in your company.

The business and management structure section should show who the owner is, and other owners of the businesses (if the business has other owners). For businesses or companies with multiple owners, include the percent ownership of the various owners and clearly show the extent of each others’ involvement in the company.

Investors want to know who is behind the company and the team running it to determine if it has the right management to achieve its set goals.

Management Team

The management team section is where you show that you have the right team in place to successfully execute the business operations and ideas. Take time to create the management structure for your business. Think about all the important roles and responsibilities that you need managers for to grow your business.

Include brief bios of each key team member and ensure you highlight only the relevant information that is needed. If your team members have background industry experience or have held top positions for other companies and achieved success while filling that role, highlight it in this section.

A common mistake that many startups make is assigning C-level titles such as (CMO and CEO) to everyone on their team. It is unrealistic for a small business to have those titles. While it may look good on paper for the ego of your team members, it can prevent investors from investing in your business.

Instead of building an unrealistic management structure that does not fit your business reality, it is best to allow business titles to grow as the business grows. Starting everyone at the top leaves no room for future change or growth, which is bad for productivity.

Your management team does not have to be complete before you start writing your business plan. You can have a complete business plan even when there are managerial positions that are empty and need filling.

If you have management gaps in your team, simply show the gaps and indicate you are searching for the right candidates for the role(s). Investors do not expect you to have a full management team when you are just starting your business.

Key Questions to Answer When Structuring Your Management Team

• Who are the key leaders?
• What experiences, skills, and educational backgrounds do you expect your key leaders to have?
• Do your key leaders have industry experience?
• What positions will they fill and what duties will they perform in those positions?
• What level of authority do the key leaders have and what are their responsibilities?
• What is the salary for the various management positions that will attract the ideal candidates?

Additional Tips for Writing the Management Structure Section

1. Avoid Adding ‘Ghost’ Names to Your Management Team

There is always that temptation to include a ‘ghost’ name to your management team to attract and influence investors to invest in your business. Although the presence of these celebrity management team members may attract the attention of investors, it can cause your business to lose any credibility if you get found out.

Seasoned investors will investigate further the members of your management team before committing fully to your business If they find out that the celebrity name used does not play any actual role in your business, they will not invest and may write you off as dishonest.

2. Focus on Credentials But Pay Extra Attention to the Roles

Investors want to know the experience that your key team members have to determine if they can successfully reach the company’s growth and financial goals.

While it is an excellent boost for your key management team to have the right credentials, you also want to pay extra attention to the roles they will play in your company.

Organizational Chart

Adding an organizational chart in this section of your business plan is not necessary, you can do it in your business plan’s appendix.

If you are exploring funding options, it is not uncommon to get asked for your organizational chart. The function of an organizational chart goes beyond raising money, you can also use it as a useful planning tool for your business.

An organizational chart can help you identify how best to structure your management team for maximum productivity and point you towards key roles you need to fill in the future.

You can use the organizational chart to show your company’s internal management structure such as the roles and responsibilities of your management team, and relationships that exist between them.

5. Describe Your Product and Service Offering

In your business plan, you have to describe what you sell or the service you plan to offer. It is the next step after defining your business and management structure. The products and services section is where you sell the benefits of your business.

Here you have to explain how your product or service will benefit your customers and describe your product lifecycle. It is also the section where you write down your plans for intellectual property like patent filings and copyrighting.

The research and development that you are undertaking for your product or service need to be explained in detail in this section. However, do not get too technical, sell the general idea and its benefits.

If you have any diagrams or intricate designs of your product or service, do not include them in the products and services section. Instead, leave them for the addendum page. Also, if you are leaving out diagrams or designs for the addendum, ensure you add this phrase “For more detail, visit the addendum Page #.”

Your product and service section in your business plan should include the following:

• A detailed explanation that clearly shows how your product or service works.
• The pricing model for your product or service.
• Your business’ sales and distribution strategy.
• The ideal customers that want your product or service.
• The benefits of your products and services.
• Reason(s) why your product or service is a better alternative to what your competitors are currently offering in the market.
• Plans for filling the orders you receive
• If you have current or pending patents, copyrights, and trademarks for your product or service, you can also discuss them in this section.

What to Focus On When Describing the Benefits, Lifecycle, and Production Process of Your Products or Services

In the products and services section, you have to distill the benefits, lifecycle, and production process of your products and services.

When describing the benefits of your products or services, here are some key factors to focus on.

• Unique features
• Translating the unique features into benefits
• The emotional, psychological, and practical payoffs to attract customers
• Intellectual property rights or any patents

When describing the product life cycle of your products or services, here are some key factors to focus on.

• Upsells, cross-sells, and down-sells
• Time between purchases
• Plans for research and development.

When describing the production process for your products or services, you need to think about the following:

• The creation of new or existing products and services.
• The sources for the raw materials or components you need for production.
• Assembling the products
• Maintaining quality control
• Supply-chain logistics (receiving the raw materials and delivering the finished products)
• The day-to-day management of the production processes, bookkeeping, and inventory.

Tips for Writing the Products or Services Section of Your Business Plan

1. Avoid Technical Descriptions and Industry Buzzwords

The products and services section of your business plan should clearly describe the products and services that your company provides. However, it is not a section to include technical jargons that anyone outside your industry will not understand.

A good practice is to remove highly detailed or technical descriptions in favor of simple terms. Industry buzzwords are not necessary, if there are simpler terms you can use, then use them. If you plan to use your business plan to source funds, making the product or service section so technical will do you no favors.

2. Describe How Your Products or Services Differ from Your Competitors

When potential investors look at your business plan, they want to know how the products and services you are offering differ from that of your competition. Differentiating your products or services from your competition in a way that makes your solution more attractive is critical.

If you are going the innovative path and there is no market currently for your product or service, you need to describe in this section why the market needs your product or service.

For example, overnight delivery was a niche business that only a few companies were participating in. Federal Express (FedEx) had to show in its business plan that there was a large opportunity for that service and they justified why the market needed that service.

3. Long or Short Products or Services Section

Should your products or services section be short? Does the long products or services section attract more investors?

There are no straightforward answers to these questions. Whether your products or services section should be long or relatively short depends on the nature of your business.

If your business is product-focused, then automatically you need to use more space to describe the details of your products. However, if the product your business sells is a commodity item that relies on competitive pricing or other pricing strategies, you do not have to use up so much space to provide significant details about the product.

Likewise, if you are selling a commodity that is available in numerous outlets, then you do not have to spend time on writing a long products or services section.

The key to the success of your business is most likely the effectiveness of your marketing strategies compared to your competitors. Use more space to address that section.

If you are creating a new product or service that the market does not know about, your products or services section can be lengthy. The reason why is because you need to explain everything about the product or service such as the nature of the product, its use case, and values.

A short products or services section for an innovative product or service will not give the readers enough information to properly evaluate your business.

4. Describe Your Relationships with Vendors or Suppliers

Your business will rely on vendors or suppliers to supply raw materials or the components needed to make your products. In your products and services section, describe your relationships with your vendors and suppliers fully.

Avoid the mistake of relying on only one supplier or vendor. If that supplier or vendor fails to supply or goes out of business, you can easily face supply problems and struggle to meet your demands. Plan to set up multiple vendor or supplier relationships for better business stability.

5. Your Primary Goal Is to Convince Your Readers

The primary goal of your business plan is to convince your readers that your business is viable and to create a guide for your business to follow. It applies to the products and services section.

When drafting this section, think like the reader. See your reader as someone who has no idea about your products and services. You are using the products and services section to provide the needed information to help your reader understand your products and services. As a result, you have to be clear and to the point.

While you want to educate your readers about your products or services, you also do not want to bore them with lots of technical details. Show your products and services and not your fancy choice of words.

Your products and services section should provide the answer to the “what” question for your business. You and your management team may run the business, but it is your products and services that are the lifeblood of the business.

Key Questions to Answer When Writing your Products and Services Section

Answering these questions can help you write your products and services section quickly and in a way that will appeal to your readers.

• Are your products existing on the market or are they still in the development stage?
• What is your timeline for adding new products and services to the market?
• What are the positives that make your products and services different from your competitors?
• Do your products and services have any competitive advantage that your competitors’ products and services do not currently have?
• Do your products or services have any competitive disadvantages that you need to overcome to compete with your competitors? If your answer is yes, state how you plan to overcome them,
• How much does it cost to produce your products or services? How much do you plan to sell it for?
• What is the price for your products and services compared to your competitors? Is pricing an issue?
• What are your operating costs and will it be low enough for you to compete with your competitors and still take home a reasonable profit margin?
• What is your plan for acquiring your products? Are you involved in the production of your products or services?
• Are you the manufacturer and produce all the components you need to create your products? Do you assemble your products by using components supplied by other manufacturers? Do you purchase your products directly from suppliers or wholesalers?
• Do you have a steady supply of products that you need to start your business? (If your business is yet to kick-off)
• How do you plan to distribute your products or services to the market?

You can also hint at the marketing or promotion plans you have for your products or services such as how you plan to build awareness or retain customers. The next section is where you can go fully into details about your business’s marketing and sales plan.

6. Show and Explain Your Marketing and Sales Plan

Providing great products and services is wonderful, but it means nothing if you do not have a marketing and sales plan to inform your customers about them. Your marketing and sales plan is critical to the success of your business.

The sales and marketing section is where you show and offer a detailed explanation of your marketing and sales plan and how you plan to execute it. It covers your pricing plan, proposed advertising and promotion activities, activities and partnerships you need to make your business a success, and the benefits of your products and services.

There are several ways you can approach your marketing and sales strategy. Ideally, your marketing and sales strategy has to fit the unique needs of your business.

In this section, you describe how the plans your business has for attracting and retaining customers, and the exact process for making a sale happen. It is essential to thoroughly describe your complete marketing and sales plans because you are still going to reference this section when you are making financial projections for your business.

Outline Your Business’ Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

The sales and marketing section is where you outline your business’s unique selling proposition (USP). When you are developing your unique selling proposition, think about the strongest reasons why people should buy from you over your competition. That reason(s) is most likely a good fit to serve as your unique selling proposition (USP).

Target Market and Target Audience

Plans on how to get your products or services to your target market and how to get your target audience to buy them go into this section. You also highlight the strengths of your business here, particularly what sets them apart from your competition.

Before you start writing your marketing and sales plan, you need to have properly defined your target audience and fleshed out your buyer persona. If you do not first understand the individual you are marketing to, your marketing and sales plan will lack any substance and easily fall.

Creating a Smart Marketing and Sales Plan

Marketing your products and services is an investment that requires you to spend money. Like any other investment, you have to generate a good return on investment (ROI) to justify using that marketing and sales plan. Good marketing and sales plans bring in high sales and profits to your company.

Avoid spending money on unproductive marketing channels. Do your research and find out the best marketing and sales plan that works best for your company.

Your marketing and sales plan can be broken into different parts: your positioning statement, pricing, promotion, packaging, advertising, public relations, content marketing, social media, and strategic alliances.

Your Positioning Statement

Your positioning statement is the first part of your marketing and sales plan. It refers to the way you present your company to your customers.

Are you the premium solution, the low-price solution, or are you the intermediary between the two extremes in the market? What do you offer that your competitors do not that can give you leverage in the market?

Before you start writing your positioning statement, you need to spend some time evaluating the current market conditions. Here are some questions that can help you to evaluate the market

• What are the unique features or benefits that you offer that your competitors lack?
• What are your customers’ primary needs and wants?
• Why should a customer choose you over your competition? How do you plan to differentiate yourself from the competition?
• How does your company’s solution compare with other solutions in the market?

After answering these questions, then you can start writing your positioning statement. Your positioning statement does not have to be in-depth or too long.

All you need to explain with your positioning statement are two focus areas. The first is the position of your company within the competitive landscape. The other focus area is the core value proposition that sets your company apart from other alternatives that your ideal customer might consider.

Here is a simple template you can use to develop a positioning statement.

For [description of target market] who [need of target market], [product or service] [how it meets the need]. Unlike [top competition], it [most essential distinguishing feature].

For example, let’s create the positioning statement for fictional accounting software and QuickBooks alternative , TBooks.

“For small business owners who need accounting services, TBooks is an accounting software that helps small businesses handle their small business bookkeeping basics quickly and easily. Unlike Wave, TBooks gives small businesses access to live sessions with top accountants.”

You can edit this positioning statement sample and fill it with your business details.

After writing your positioning statement, the next step is the pricing of your offerings. The overall positioning strategy you set in your positioning statement will often determine how you price your products or services.

Pricing is a powerful tool that sends a strong message to your customers. Failure to get your pricing strategy right can make or mar your business. If you are targeting a low-income audience, setting a premium price can result in low sales.

You can use pricing to communicate your positioning to your customers. For example, if you are offering a product at a premium price, you are sending a message to your customers that the product belongs to the premium category.

Basic Rules to Follow When Pricing Your Offering

Setting a price for your offering involves more than just putting a price tag on it. Deciding on the right pricing for your offering requires following some basic rules. They include covering your costs, primary and secondary profit center pricing, and matching the market rate.

• Covering Your Costs: The price you set for your products or service should be more than it costs you to produce and deliver them. Every business has the same goal, to make a profit. Depending on the strategy you want to use, there are exceptions to this rule. However, the vast majority of businesses follow this rule.
• Primary and Secondary Profit Center Pricing: When a company sets its price above the cost of production, it is making that product its primary profit center. A company can also decide not to make its initial price its primary profit center by selling below or at even with its production cost. It rather depends on the support product or even maintenance that is associated with the initial purchase to make its profit. The initial price thus became its secondary profit center.
• Matching the Market Rate: A good rule to follow when pricing your products or services is to match your pricing with consumer demand and expectations. If you price your products or services beyond the price your customer perceives as the ideal price range, you may end up with no customers. Pricing your products too low below what your customer perceives as the ideal price range may lead to them undervaluing your offering.

Pricing Strategy

Your pricing strategy influences the price of your offering. There are several pricing strategies available for you to choose from when examining the right pricing strategy for your business. They include cost-plus pricing, market-based pricing, value pricing, and more.

• Cost-plus Pricing: This strategy is one of the simplest and oldest pricing strategies. Here you consider the cost of producing a unit of your product and then add a profit to it to arrive at your market price. It is an effective pricing strategy for manufacturers because it helps them cover their initial costs. Another name for the cost-plus pricing strategy is the markup pricing strategy.
• Market-based Pricing: This pricing strategy analyses the market including competitors’ pricing and then sets a price based on what the market is expecting. With this pricing strategy, you can either set your price at the low-end or high-end of the market.
• Value Pricing: This pricing strategy involves setting a price based on the value you are providing to your customer. When adopting a value-based pricing strategy, you have to set a price that your customers are willing to pay. Service-based businesses such as small business insurance providers , luxury goods sellers, and the fashion industry use this pricing strategy.

After carefully sorting out your positioning statement and pricing, the next item to look at is your promotional strategy. Your promotional strategy explains how you plan on communicating with your customers and prospects.

As a business, you must measure all your costs, including the cost of your promotions. You also want to measure how much sales your promotions bring for your business to determine its usefulness. Promotional strategies or programs that do not lead to profit need to be removed.

There are different types of promotional strategies you can adopt for your business, they include advertising, public relations, and content marketing.

Advertising

Your business plan should include your advertising plan which can be found in the marketing and sales plan section. You need to include an overview of your advertising plans such as the areas you plan to spend money on to advertise your business and offers.

Ensure that you make it clear in this section if your business will be advertising online or using the more traditional offline media, or the combination of both online and offline media. You can also include the advertising medium you want to use to raise awareness about your business and offers.

Some common online advertising mediums you can use include social media ads, landing pages, sales pages, SEO, Pay-Per-Click, emails, Google Ads, and others. Some common traditional and offline advertising mediums include word of mouth, radios, direct mail, televisions, flyers, billboards, posters, and others.

A key component of your advertising strategy is how you plan to measure the effectiveness and success of your advertising campaign. There is no point in sticking with an advertising plan or medium that does not produce results for your business in the long run.

Public Relations

A great way to reach your customers is to get the media to cover your business or product. Publicity, especially good ones, should be a part of your marketing and sales plan. In this section, show your plans for getting prominent reviews of your product from reputable publications and sources.

Your business needs that exposure to grow. If public relations is a crucial part of your promotional strategy, provide details about your public relations plan here.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a popular promotional strategy used by businesses to inform and attract their customers. It is about teaching and educating your prospects on various topics of interest in your niche, it does not just involve informing them about the benefits and features of the products and services you have,

Businesses publish content usually for free where they provide useful information, tips, and advice so that their target market can be made aware of the importance of their products and services. Content marketing strategies seek to nurture prospects into buyers over time by simply providing value.

Your company can create a blog where it will be publishing content for its target market. You will need to use the best website builder such as Wix and Squarespace and the best web hosting services such as Bluehost, Hostinger, and other Bluehost alternatives to create a functional blog or website.

If content marketing is a crucial part of your promotional strategy (as it should be), detail your plans under promotions.

Including high-quality images of the packaging of your product in your business plan is a lovely idea. You can add the images of the packaging of that product in the marketing and sales plan section. If you are not selling a product, then you do not need to include any worry about the physical packaging of your product.

When organizing the packaging section of your business plan, you can answer the following questions to make maximum use of this section.

• Is your choice of packaging consistent with your positioning strategy?
• What key value proposition does your packaging communicate? (It should reflect the key value proposition of your business)
• How does your packaging compare to that of your competitors?

Social Media

Your 21st-century business needs to have a good social media presence. Not having one is leaving out opportunities for growth and reaching out to your prospect.

You do not have to join the thousands of social media platforms out there. What you need to do is join the ones that your customers are active on and be active there.

Businesses use social media to provide information about their products such as promotions, discounts, the benefits of their products, and content on their blogs.

Social media is also a platform for engaging with your customers and getting feedback about your products or services. Make no mistake, more and more of your prospects are using social media channels to find more information about companies.

You need to consider the social media channels you want to prioritize your business (prioritize the ones your customers are active in) and your branding plans in this section.

Strategic Alliances

If your company plans to work closely with other companies as part of your sales and marketing plan, include it in this section. Prove details about those partnerships in your business plan if you have already established them.

Strategic alliances can be beneficial for all parties involved including your company. Working closely with another company in the form of a partnership can provide access to a different target market segment for your company.

The company you are partnering with may also gain access to your target market or simply offer a new product or service (that of your company) to its customers.

Mutually beneficial partnerships can cover the weaknesses of one company with the strength of another. You should consider strategic alliances with companies that sell complimentary products to yours. For example, if you provide printers, you can partner with a company that produces ink since the customers that buy printers from you will also need inks for printing.

Steps Involved in Creating a Marketing and Sales Plan

1. Focus on Your Target Market

Identify who your customers are, the market you want to target. Then determine the best ways to get your products or services to your potential customers.

2. Evaluate Your Competition

One of the goals of having a marketing plan is to distinguish yourself from your competition. You cannot stand out from them without first knowing them in and out.

You can know your competitors by gathering information about their products, pricing, service, and advertising campaigns.

These questions can help you know your competition.

• What makes your competition successful?
• What are their weaknesses?
• What are customers saying about your competition?

3. Consider Your Brand

Customers' perception of your brand has a strong impact on your sales. Your marketing and sales plan should seek to bolster the image of your brand. Before you start marketing your business, think about the message you want to pass across about your business and your products and services.

4. Focus on Benefits

The majority of your customers do not view your product in terms of features, what they want to know is the benefits and solutions your product offers. Think about the problems your product solves and the benefits it delivers, and use it to create the right sales and marketing message.

Your marketing plan should focus on what you want your customer to get instead of what you provide. Identify those benefits in your marketing and sales plan.

5. Focus on Differentiation

Your marketing and sales plan should look for a unique angle they can take that differentiates your business from the competition, even if the products offered are similar. Some good areas of differentiation you can use are your benefits, pricing, and features.

Key Questions to Answer When Writing Your Marketing and Sales Plan

• What is your company’s budget for sales and marketing campaigns?
• What key metrics will you use to determine if your marketing plans are successful?
• What are your alternatives if your initial marketing efforts do not succeed?
• Who are the sales representatives you need to promote your products or services?
• What are the marketing and sales channels you plan to use? How do you plan to get your products in front of your ideal customers?
• Where will you sell your products?

You may want to include samples of marketing materials you plan to use such as print ads, website descriptions, and social media ads. While it is not compulsory to include these samples, it can help you better communicate your marketing and sales plan and objectives.

The purpose of the marketing and sales section is to answer this question “How will you reach your customers?” If you cannot convincingly provide an answer to this question, you need to rework your marketing and sales section.

7. Clearly Show Your Funding Request

If you are writing your business plan to ask for funding from investors or financial institutions, the funding request section is where you will outline your funding requirements. The funding request section should answer the question ‘How much money will your business need in the near future (3 to 5 years)?’

A good funding request section will clearly outline and explain the amount of funding your business needs over the next five years. You need to know the amount of money your business needs to make an accurate funding request.

Also, when writing your funding request, provide details of how the funds will be used over the period. Specify if you want to use the funds to buy raw materials or machinery, pay salaries, pay for advertisements, and cover specific bills such as rent and electricity.

In addition to explaining what you want to use the funds requested for, you need to clearly state the projected return on investment (ROI) . Investors and creditors want to know if your business can generate profit for them if they put funds into it.

Ensure you do not inflate the figures and stay as realistic as possible. Investors and financial institutions you are seeking funds from will do their research before investing money in your business.

If you are not sure of an exact number to request from, you can use some range of numbers as rough estimates. Add a best-case scenario and a work-case scenario to your funding request. Also, include a description of your strategic future financial plans such as selling your business or paying off debts.

Funding Request: Debt or Equity?

When making your funding request, specify the type of funding you want. Do you want debt or equity? Draw out the terms that will be applicable for the funding, and the length of time the funding request will cover.

Case for Equity

If your new business has not yet started generating profits, you are most likely preparing to sell equity in your business to raise capital at the early stage. Equity here refers to ownership. In this case, you are selling a portion of your company to raise capital.

Although this method of raising capital for your business does not put your business in debt, keep in mind that an equity owner may expect to play a key role in company decisions even if he does not hold a major stake in the company.

Most equity sales for startups are usually private transactions . If you are making a funding request by offering equity in exchange for funding, let the investor know that they will be paid a dividend (a share of the company’s profit). Also, let the investor know the process for selling their equity in your business.

Case for Debt

You may decide not to offer equity in exchange for funds, instead, you make a funding request with the promise to pay back the money borrowed at the agreed time frame.

When making a funding request with an agreement to pay back, note that you will have to repay your creditors both the principal amount borrowed and the interest on it. Financial institutions offer this type of funding for businesses.

Large companies combine both equity and debt in their capital structure. When drafting your business plan, decide if you want to offer both or one over the other.

Before you sell equity in exchange for funding in your business, consider if you are willing to accept not being in total control of your business. Also, before you seek loans in your funding request section, ensure that the terms of repayment are favorable.

You should set a clear timeline in your funding request so that potential investors and creditors can know what you are expecting. Some investors and creditors may agree to your funding request and then delay payment for longer than 30 days, meanwhile, your business needs an immediate cash injection to operate efficiently.

Additional Tips for Writing the Funding Request Section of your Business Plan

The funding request section is not necessary for every business, it is only needed by businesses who plan to use their business plan to secure funding.

If you are adding the funding request section to your business plan, provide an itemized summary of how you plan to use the funds requested. Hiring a lawyer, accountant, or other professionals may be necessary for the proper development of this section.

You should also gather and use financial statements that add credibility and support to your funding requests. Ensure that the financial statements you use should include your projected financial data such as projected cash flows, forecast statements, and expenditure budgets.

If you are an existing business, include all historical financial statements such as cash flow statements, balance sheets and income statements .

Provide monthly and quarterly financial statements for a year. If your business has records that date back beyond the one-year mark, add the yearly statements of those years. These documents are for the appendix section of your business plan.

8. Detail Your Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projections

If you used the funding request section in your business plan, supplement it with a financial plan, metrics, and projections. This section paints a picture of the past performance of your business and then goes ahead to make an informed projection about its future.

The goal of this section is to convince readers that your business is going to be a financial success. It outlines your business plan to generate enough profit to repay the loan (with interest if applicable) and to generate a decent return on investment for investors.

If you have an existing business already in operation, use this section to demonstrate stability through finance. This section should include your cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements covering the last three to five years. If your business has some acceptable collateral that you can use to acquire loans, list it in the financial plan, metrics, and projection section.

Apart from current financial statements, this section should also contain a prospective financial outlook that spans the next five years. Include forecasted income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, and capital expenditure budget.

If your business is new and is not yet generating profit, use clear and realistic projections to show the potentials of your business.

When drafting this section, research industry norms and the performance of comparable businesses. Your financial projections should cover at least five years. State the logic behind your financial projections. Remember you can always make adjustments to this section as the variables change.

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section create a baseline which your business can either exceed or fail to reach. If your business fails to reach your projections in this section, you need to understand why it failed.

Investors and loan managers spend a lot of time going through the financial plan, metrics, and projection section compared to other parts of the business plan. Ensure you spend time creating credible financial analyses for your business in this section.

Many entrepreneurs find this section daunting to write. You do not need a business degree to create a solid financial forecast for your business. Business finances, especially for startups, are not as complicated as they seem. There are several online tools and templates that make writing this section so much easier.

Use Graphs and Charts

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section is a great place to use graphs and charts to tell the financial story of your business. Charts and images make it easier to communicate your finances.

Accuracy in this section is key, ensure you carefully analyze your past financial statements properly before making financial projects.

Address the Risk Factors and Show Realistic Financial Projections

Keep your financial plan, metrics, and projection realistic. It is okay to be optimistic in your financial projection, however, you have to justify it.

You should also address the various risk factors associated with your business in this section. Investors want to know the potential risks involved, show them. You should also show your plans for mitigating those risks.

What You Should In The Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projection Section of Your Business Plan

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section of your business plan should have monthly sales and revenue forecasts for the first year. It should also include annual projections that cover 3 to 5 years.

A three-year projection is a basic requirement to have in your business plan. However, some investors may request a five-year forecast.

Your business plan should include the following financial statements: sales forecast, personnel plan, income statement, income statement, cash flow statement, balance sheet, and an exit strategy.

1. Sales Forecast

Sales forecast refers to your projections about the number of sales your business is going to record over the next few years. It is typically broken into several rows, with each row assigned to a core product or service that your business is offering.

One common mistake people make in their business plan is to break down the sales forecast section into long details. A sales forecast should forecast the high-level details.

For example, if you are forecasting sales for a payroll software provider, you could break down your forecast into target market segments or subscription categories.

Your sales forecast section should also have a corresponding row for each sales row to cover the direct cost or Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). The objective of these rows is to show the expenses that your business incurs in making and delivering your product or service.

Note that your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) should only cover those direct costs incurred when making your products. Other indirect expenses such as insurance, salaries, payroll tax, and rent should not be included.

For example, the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for a restaurant is the cost of ingredients while for a consulting company it will be the cost of paper and other presentation materials.

2. Personnel Plan

The personnel plan section is where you provide details about the payment plan for your employees. For a small business, you can easily list every position in your company and how much you plan to pay in the personnel plan.

However, for larger businesses, you have to break the personnel plan into functional groups such as sales and marketing.

The personnel plan will also include the cost of an employee beyond salary, commonly referred to as the employee burden. These costs include insurance, payroll taxes , and other essential costs incurred monthly as a result of having employees on your payroll.

3. Income Statement

The income statement section shows if your business is making a profit or taking a loss. Another name for the income statement is the profit and loss (P&L). It takes data from your sales forecast and personnel plan and adds other ongoing expenses you incur while running your business.

Every business plan should have an income statement. It subtracts your business expenses from its earnings to show if your business is generating profit or incurring losses.

The income statement has the following items: sales, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), gross margin, operating expenses, total operating expenses, operating income , total expenses, and net profit.

• Sales refer to the revenue your business generates from selling its products or services. Other names for sales are income or revenue.
• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) refers to the total cost of selling your products. Other names for COGS are direct costs or cost of sales. Manufacturing businesses use the Costs of Goods Manufactured (COGM) .
• Gross Margin is the figure you get when you subtract your COGS from your sales. In your income statement, you can express it as a percentage of total sales (Gross margin / Sales = Gross Margin Percent).
• Operating Expenses refer to all the expenses you incur from running your business. It exempts the COGS because it stands alone as a core part of your income statement. You also have to exclude taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Your operating expenses include salaries, marketing expenses, research and development (R&D) expenses, and other expenses.
• Total Operating Expenses refers to the sum of all your operating expenses including those exemptions named above under operating expenses.
• Operating Income refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It is simply known as the acronym EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Calculating your operating income is simple, all you need to do is to subtract your COGS and total operating expenses from your sales.
• Total Expenses refer to the sum of your operating expenses and your business’ interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
• Net profit shows whether your business has made a profit or taken a loss during a given timeframe.

4. Cash Flow Statement

The cash flow statement tracks the money you have in the bank at any given point. It is often confused with the income statement or the profit and loss statement. They are both different types of financial statements. The income statement calculates your profits and losses while the cash flow statement shows you how much you have in the bank.

5. Balance Sheet

The balance sheet is a financial statement that provides an overview of the financial health of your business. It contains information about the assets and liabilities of your company, and owner’s or shareholders’ equity.

You can get the net worth of your company by subtracting your company’s liabilities from its assets.

6. Exit Strategy

The exit strategy refers to a probable plan for selling your business either to the public in an IPO or to another company. It is the last thing you include in the financial plan, metrics, and projection section.

You can choose to omit the exit strategy from your business plan if you plan to maintain full ownership of your business and do not plan on seeking angel investment or virtual capitalist (VC) funding.

Investors may want to know what your exit plan is. They invest in your business to get a good return on investment.

Your exit strategy does not have to include long and boring details. Ensure you identify some interested parties who may be interested in buying the company if it becomes a success.

Key Questions to Answer with Your Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projection

Your financial plan, metrics, and projection section helps investors, creditors, or your internal managers to understand what your expenses are, the amount of cash you need, and what it takes to make your company profitable. It also shows what you will be doing with any funding.

You do not need to show actual financial data if you do not have one. Adding forecasts and projections to your financial statements is added proof that your strategy is feasible and shows investors you have planned properly.

Here are some key questions to answer to help you develop this section.

• What is your sales forecast for the next year?
• When will your company achieve a positive cash flow?
• What are the core expenses you need to operate?
• How much money do you need upfront to operate or grow your company?
• How will you use the loans or investments?

9. Add an Appendix to Your Business Plan

Adding an appendix to your business plan is optional. It is a useful place to put any charts, tables, legal notes, definitions, permits, résumés, and other critical information that do not fit into other sections of your business plan.

The appendix section is where you would want to include details of a patent or patent-pending if you have one. You can always add illustrations or images of your products here. It is the last section of your business plan.

When writing your business plan, there are details you cut short or remove to prevent the entire section from becoming too lengthy. There are also details you want to include in the business plan but are not a good fit for any of the previous sections. You can add that additional information to the appendix section.

Businesses also use the appendix section to include supporting documents or other materials specially requested by investors or lenders.

You can include just about any information that supports the assumptions and statements you made in the business plan under the appendix. It is the one place in the business plan where unrelated data and information can coexist amicably.

If your appendix section is lengthy, try organizing it by adding a table of contents at the beginning of the appendix section. It is also advisable to group similar information to make it easier for the reader to access them.

A well-organized appendix section makes it easier to share your information clearly and concisely. Add footnotes throughout the rest of the business plan or make references in the plan to the documents in the appendix.

The appendix section is usually only necessary if you are seeking funding from investors or lenders, or hoping to attract partners.

People reading business plans do not want to spend time going through a heap of backup information, numbers, and charts. Keep these documents or information in the Appendix section in case the reader wants to dig deeper.

Common Items to Include in the Appendix Section of Your Business Plan

The appendix section includes documents that supplement or support the information or claims given in other sections of the business plans. Common items you can include in the appendix section include:

• Additional data about the process of manufacturing or creation
• Additional description of products or services such as product schematics
• Additional financial documents or projections
• Articles of incorporation and status
• Backup for market research or competitive analysis
• Bank statements
• Business registries
• Client testimonials (if your business is already running)
• Copies of insurances
• Credit histories (personal or/and business)
• Deeds and permits
• Equipment leases
• Examples of marketing and advertising collateral
• Industry associations and memberships
• Images of product
• Intellectual property
• Key customer contracts
• Legal documents and other contracts
• Letters of reference
• Links to references
• Market research data
• Organizational charts
• Photographs of potential facilities
• Professional licenses pertaining to your legal structure or type of business
• Purchase orders
• Resumes of the founder(s) and key managers
• State and federal identification numbers or codes
• Trademarks or patents’ registrations

Avoid using the appendix section as a place to dump any document or information you feel like adding. Only add documents or information that you support or increase the credibility of your business plan.

Tips and Strategies for Writing a Convincing Business Plan

To achieve a perfect business plan, you need to consider some key tips and strategies. These tips will raise the efficiency of your business plan above average.

1. Know Your Audience

When writing a business plan, you need to know your audience . Business owners write business plans for different reasons. Your business plan has to be specific. For example, you can write business plans to potential investors, banks, and even fellow board members of the company.

The audience you are writing to determines the structure of the business plan. As a business owner, you have to know your audience. Not everyone will be your audience. Knowing your audience will help you to narrow the scope of your business plan.

Consider what your audience wants to see in your projects, the likely questions they might ask, and what interests them.

• A business plan used to address a company's board members will center on its employment schemes, internal affairs, projects, stakeholders, etc.
• A business plan for financial institutions will talk about the size of your market and the chances for you to pay back any loans you demand.
• A business plan for investors will show proof that you can return the investment capital within a specific time. In addition, it discusses your financial projections, tractions, and market size.

2. Get Inspiration from People

Writing a business plan from scratch as an entrepreneur can be daunting. That is why you need the right inspiration to push you to write one. You can gain inspiration from the successful business plans of other businesses. Look at their business plans, the style they use, the structure of the project, etc.

To make your business plan easier to create, search companies related to your business to get an exact copy of what you need to create an effective business plan. You can also make references while citing examples in your business plans.

When drafting your business plan, get as much help from others as you possibly can. By getting inspiration from people, you can create something better than what they have.

3. Avoid Being Over Optimistic

Many business owners make use of strong adjectives to qualify their content. One of the big mistakes entrepreneurs make when preparing a business plan is promising too much.

The use of superlatives and over-optimistic claims can prepare the audience for more than you can offer. In the end, you disappoint the confidence they have in you.

In most cases, the best option is to be realistic with your claims and statistics. Most of the investors can sense a bit of incompetency from the overuse of superlatives. As a new entrepreneur, do not be tempted to over-promise to get the interests of investors.

The concept of entrepreneurship centers on risks, nothing is certain when you make future analyses. What separates the best is the ability to do careful research and work towards achieving that, not promising more than you can achieve.

To make an excellent first impression as an entrepreneur, replace superlatives with compelling data-driven content. In this way, you are more specific than someone promising a huge ROI from an investment.

4. Keep it Simple and Short

When writing business plans, ensure you keep them simple throughout. Irrespective of the purpose of the business plan, your goal is to convince the audience.

One way to achieve this goal is to make them understand your proposal. Therefore, it would be best if you avoid the use of complex grammar to express yourself. It would be a huge turn-off if the people you want to convince are not familiar with your use of words.

Another thing to note is the length of your business plan. It would be best if you made it as brief as possible.

You hardly see investors or agencies that read through an extremely long document. In that case, if your first few pages can’t convince them, then you have lost it. The more pages you write, the higher the chances of you derailing from the essential contents.

To ensure your business plan has a high conversion rate, you need to dispose of every unnecessary information. For example, if you have a strategy that you are not sure of, it would be best to leave it out of the plan.

5. Make an Outline and Follow Through

A perfect business plan must have touched every part needed to convince the audience. Business owners get easily tempted to concentrate more on their products than on other sections. Doing this can be detrimental to the efficiency of the business plan.

For example, imagine you talking about a product but omitting or providing very little information about the target audience. You will leave your clients confused.

To ensure that your business plan communicates your full business model to readers, you have to input all the necessary information in it. One of the best ways to achieve this is to design a structure and stick to it.

This structure is what guides you throughout the writing. To make your work easier, you can assign an estimated word count or page limit to every section to avoid making it too bulky for easy reading. As a guide, the necessary things your business plan must contain are:

• Table of contents
• Introduction
• Product or service description
• Target audience
• Market size
• Competition analysis
• Financial projections

Some specific businesses can include some other essential sections, but these are the key sections that must be in every business plan.

6. Ask a Professional to Proofread

When writing a business plan, you must tie all loose ends to get a perfect result. When you are done with writing, call a professional to go through the document for you. You are bound to make mistakes, and the way to correct them is to get external help.

You should get a professional in your field who can relate to every section of your business plan. It would be easier for the professional to notice the inner flaws in the document than an editor with no knowledge of your business.

In addition to getting a professional to proofread, get an editor to proofread and edit your document. The editor will help you identify grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and inappropriate writing styles.

Writing a business plan can be daunting, but you can surmount that obstacle and get the best out of it with these tips.

Business Plan Examples and Templates That’ll Save You Tons of Time

1. hubspot's one-page business plan.

The one-page business plan template by HubSpot is the perfect guide for businesses of any size, irrespective of their business strategy. Although the template is condensed into a page, your final business plan should not be a page long! The template is designed to ask helpful questions that can help you develop your business plan.

Hubspot’s one-page business plan template is divided into nine fields:

• Business opportunity
• Company description
• Industry analysis
• Target market
• Implementation timeline
• Marketing plan
• Financial summary
• Funding required

2. Bplan’s Free Business Plan Template

Bplans' free business plan template is investor-approved. It is a rich template used by prestigious educational institutions such as Babson College and Princeton University to teach entrepreneurs how to create a business plan.

The template has six sections: the executive summary, opportunity, execution, company, financial plan, and appendix. There is a step-by-step guide for writing every little detail in the business plan. Follow the instructions each step of the way and you will create a business plan that impresses investors or lenders easily.

3. HubSpot's Downloadable Business Plan Template

HubSpot’s downloadable business plan template is a more comprehensive option compared to the one-page business template by HubSpot. This free and downloadable business plan template is designed for entrepreneurs.

The template is a comprehensive guide and checklist for business owners just starting their businesses. It tells you everything you need to fill in each section of the business plan and how to do it.

There are nine sections in this business plan template: an executive summary, company and business description, product and services line, market analysis, marketing plan, sales plan, legal notes, financial considerations, and appendix.

4. Business Plan by My Own Business Institute

My Own Business Institute (MOBI) which is a part of Santa Clara University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers a free business plan template. You can either copy the free business template from the link provided above or download it as a Word document.

The comprehensive template consists of a whopping 15 sections.

• The Business Profile
• The Vision and the People
• Home-Based Business and Freelance Business Opportunities
• Organization
• Licenses and Permits
• Business Insurance
• Communication Tools
• Acquisitions
• Location and Leasing
• Accounting and Cash Flow
• Opening and Marketing
• Managing Employees
• Expanding and Handling Problems

There are lots of helpful tips on how to fill each section in the free business plan template by MOBI.

5. Score's Business Plan Template for Startups

Score is an American nonprofit organization that helps entrepreneurs build successful companies. This business plan template for startups by Score is available for free download. The business plan template asks a whooping 150 generic questions that help entrepreneurs from different fields to set up the perfect business plan.

The business plan template for startups contains clear instructions and worksheets, all you have to do is answer the questions and fill the worksheets.

There are nine sections in the business plan template: executive summary, company description, products and services, marketing plan, operational plan, management and organization, startup expenses and capitalization, financial plan, and appendices.

The ‘refining the plan’ resource contains instructions that help you modify your business plan to suit your specific needs, industry, and target audience. After you have completed Score’s business plan template, you can work with a SCORE mentor for expert advice in business planning.

6. Minimalist Architecture Business Plan Template by Venngage

The minimalist architecture business plan template is a simple template by Venngage that you can customize to suit your business needs .

There are five sections in the template: an executive summary, statement of problem, approach and methodology, qualifications, and schedule and benchmark. The business plan template has instructions that guide users on what to fill in each section.

7. Small Business Administration Free Business Plan Template

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers two free business plan templates, filled with practical real-life examples that you can model to create your business plan. Both free business plan templates are written by fictional business owners: Rebecca who owns a consulting firm, and Andrew who owns a toy company.

There are five sections in the two SBA’s free business plan templates.

• Executive Summary
• Company Description
• Service Line
• Marketing and Sales

8. The $100 Startup's One-Page Business Plan

The one-page business plan by the $100 startup is a simple business plan template for entrepreneurs who do not want to create a long and complicated plan . You can include more details in the appendices for funders who want more information beyond what you can put in the one-page business plan.

There are five sections in the one-page business plan such as overview, ka-ching, hustling, success, and obstacles or challenges or open questions. You can answer all the questions using one or two sentences.

9. PandaDoc’s Free Business Plan Template

The free business plan template by PandaDoc is a comprehensive 15-page document that describes the information you should include in every section.

There are 11 sections in PandaDoc’s free business plan template.

• Executive summary
• Business description
• Products and services
• Operations plan
• Management organization
• Financial plan
• Conclusion / Call to action
• Confidentiality statement

You have to sign up for its 14-day free trial to access the template. You will find different business plan templates on PandaDoc once you sign up (including templates for general businesses and specific businesses such as bakeries, startups, restaurants, salons, hotels, and coffee shops)

PandaDoc allows you to customize its business plan templates to fit the needs of your business. After editing the template, you can send it to interested parties and track opens and views through PandaDoc.

10. Invoiceberry Templates for Word, Open Office, Excel, or PPT

InvoiceBerry is a U.K based online invoicing and tracking platform that offers free business plan templates in .docx, .odt, .xlsx, and .pptx formats for freelancers and small businesses.

Before you can download the free business plan template, it will ask you to give it your email address. After you complete the little task, it will send the download link to your inbox for you to download. It also provides a business plan checklist in .xlsx file format that ensures you add the right information to the business plan.

Alternatives to the Traditional Business Plan

A business plan is very important in mapping out how one expects their business to grow over a set number of years, particularly when they need external investment in their business. However, many investors do not have the time to watch you present your business plan. It is a long and boring read.

Luckily, there are three alternatives to the traditional business plan (the Business Model Canvas, Lean Canvas, and Startup Pitch Deck). These alternatives are less laborious and easier and quicker to present to investors.

Business Model Canvas (BMC)

The business model canvas is a business tool used to present all the important components of setting up a business, such as customers, route to market, value proposition, and finance in a single sheet. It provides a very focused blueprint that defines your business initially which you can later expand on if needed.

The sheet is divided mainly into company, industry, and consumer models that are interconnected in how they find problems and proffer solutions.

Segments of the Business Model Canvas

The business model canvas was developed by founder Alexander Osterwalder to answer important business questions. It contains nine segments.

• Key Partners: Who will be occupying important executive positions in your business? What do they bring to the table? Will there be a third party involved with the company?
• Key Activities: What important activities will production entail? What activities will be carried out to ensure the smooth running of the company?
• The Product’s Value Propositions: What does your product do? How will it be different from other products?
• Customer Segments: What demography of consumers are you targeting? What are the habits of these consumers? Who are the MVPs of your target consumers?
• Customer Relationships: How will the team support and work with its customer base? How do you intend to build and maintain trust with the customer?
• Key Resources: What type of personnel and tools will be needed? What size of the budget will they need access to?
• Channels: How do you plan to create awareness of your products? How do you intend to transport your product to the customer?
• Cost Structure: What is the estimated cost of production? How much will distribution cost?
• Revenue Streams: For what value are customers willing to pay? How do they prefer to pay for the product? Are there any external revenues attached apart from the main source? How do the revenue streams contribute to the overall revenue?

Lean Canvas

The lean canvas is a problem-oriented alternative to the standard business model canvas. It was proposed by Ash Maurya, creator of Lean Stack as a development of the business model generation. It uses a more problem-focused approach and it majorly targets entrepreneurs and startup businesses.

Lean Canvas uses the same 9 blocks concept as the business model canvas, however, they have been modified slightly to suit the needs and purpose of a small startup. The key partners, key activities, customer relationships, and key resources are replaced by new segments which are:

• Problem: Simple and straightforward number of problems you have identified, ideally three.
• Solution: The solutions to each problem.
• Unfair Advantage: Something you possess that can't be easily bought or replicated.
• Key Metrics: Important numbers that will tell how your business is doing.

Startup Pitch Deck

While the business model canvas compresses into a factual sheet, startup pitch decks expand flamboyantly.

Pitch decks, through slides, convey your business plan, often through graphs and images used to emphasize estimations and observations in your presentation. Entrepreneurs often use pitch decks to fully convince their target audience of their plans before discussing funding arrangements.

Considering the likelihood of it being used in a small time frame, a good startup pitch deck should ideally contain 20 slides or less to have enough time to answer questions from the audience.

Unlike the standard and lean business model canvases, a pitch deck doesn't have a set template on how to present your business plan but there are still important components to it. These components often mirror those of the business model canvas except that they are in slide form and contain more details.

Using Airbnb (one of the most successful start-ups in recent history) for reference, the important components of a good slide are listed below.

• Cover/Introduction Slide: Here, you should include your company's name and mission statement. Your mission statement should be a very catchy tagline. Also, include personal information and contact details to provide an easy link for potential investors.
• Problem Slide: This slide requires you to create a connection with the audience or the investor that you are pitching. For example in their pitch, Airbnb summarized the most important problems it would solve in three brief points – pricing of hotels, disconnection from city culture, and connection problems for local bookings.
• Solution Slide: This slide includes your core value proposition. List simple and direct solutions to the problems you have mentioned
• Customer Analysis: Here you will provide information on the customers you will be offering your service to. The identity of your customers plays an important part in fundraising as well as the long-run viability of the business.
• Market Validation: Use competitive analysis to show numbers that prove the presence of a market for your product, industry behavior in the present and the long run, as well as the percentage of the market you aim to attract. It shows that you understand your competitors and customers and convinces investors of the opportunities presented in the market.
• Business Model: Your business model is the hook of your presentation. It may vary in complexity but it should generally include a pricing system informed by your market analysis. The goal of the slide is to confirm your business model is easy to implement.
• Marketing Strategy: This slide should summarize a few customer acquisition methods that you plan to use to grow the business.
• Competitive Advantage: What this slide will do is provide information on what will set you apart and make you a more attractive option to customers. It could be the possession of technology that is not widely known in the market.
• Team Slide: Here you will give a brief description of your team. Include your key management personnel here and their specific roles in the company. Include their educational background, job history, and skillsets. Also, talk about their accomplishments in their careers so far to build investors' confidence in members of your team.
• Traction Slide: This validates the company’s business model by showing growth through early sales and support. The slide aims to reduce any lingering fears in potential investors by showing realistic periodic milestones and profit margins. It can include current sales, growth, valuable customers, pre-orders, or data from surveys outlining current consumer interest.
• Funding Slide: This slide is popularly referred to as ‘the ask'. Here you will include important details like how much is needed to get your business off the ground and how the funding will be spent to help the company reach its goals.
• Appendix Slides: Your pitch deck appendix should always be included alongside a standard pitch presentation. It consists of additional slides you could not show in the pitch deck but you need to complement your presentation.

It is important to support your calculations with pictorial renditions. Infographics, such as pie charts or bar graphs, will be more effective in presenting the information than just listing numbers. For example, a six-month graph that shows rising profit margins will easily look more impressive than merely writing it.

Lastly, since a pitch deck is primarily used to secure meetings and you may be sharing your pitch with several investors, it is advisable to keep a separate public version that doesn't include financials. Only disclose the one with projections once you have secured a link with an investor.

Advantages of the Business Model Canvas, Lean Canvas, and Startup Pitch Deck over the Traditional Business Plan

• Time-Saving: Writing a detailed traditional business plan could take weeks or months. On the other hand, all three alternatives can be done in a few days or even one night of brainstorming if you have a comprehensive understanding of your business.
• Easier to Understand: Since the information presented is almost entirely factual, it puts focus on what is most important in running the business. They cut away the excess pages of fillers in a traditional business plan and allow investors to see what is driving the business and what is getting in the way.
• Easy to Update: Businesses typically present their business plans to many potential investors before they secure funding. What this means is that you may regularly have to amend your presentation to update statistics or adjust to audience-specific needs. For a traditional business plan, this could mean rewriting a whole section of your plan. For the three alternatives, updating is much easier because they are not voluminous.
• Guide for a More In-depth Business Plan: All three alternatives have the added benefit of being able to double as a sketch of your business plan if the need to create one arises in the future.

Business Plan FAQ

Business plans are important for any entrepreneur who is looking for a framework to run their company over some time or seeking external support. Although they are essential for new businesses, every company should ideally have a business plan to track their growth from time to time.  They can be used by startups seeking investments or loans to convey their business ideas or an employee to convince his boss of the feasibility of starting a new project. They can also be used by companies seeking to recruit high-profile employee targets into key positions or trying to secure partnerships with other firms.

Business plans often vary depending on your target audience, the scope, and the goals for the plan. Startup plans are the most common among the different types of business plans.  A start-up plan is used by a new business to present all the necessary information to help get the business up and running. They are usually used by entrepreneurs who are seeking funding from investors or bank loans. The established company alternative to a start-up plan is a feasibility plan. A feasibility plan is often used by an established company looking for new business opportunities. They are used to show the upsides of creating a new product for a consumer base. Because the audience is usually company people, it requires less company analysis. The third type of business plan is the lean business plan. A lean business plan is a brief, straight-to-the-point breakdown of your ideas and analysis for your business. It does not contain details of your proposal and can be written on one page. Finally, you have the what-if plan. As it implies, a what-if plan is a preparation for the worst-case scenario. You must always be prepared for the possibility of your original plan being rejected. A good what-if plan will serve as a good plan B to the original.

A good business plan has 10 key components. They include an executive plan, product analysis, desired customer base, company analysis, industry analysis, marketing strategy, sales strategy, financial projection, funding, and appendix. Executive Plan Your business should begin with your executive plan. An executive plan will provide early insight into what you are planning to achieve with your business. It should include your mission statement and highlight some of the important points which you will explain later. Product Analysis The next component of your business plan is your product analysis. A key part of this section is explaining the type of item or service you are going to offer as well as the market problems your product will solve. Desired Consumer Base Your product analysis should be supplemented with a detailed breakdown of your desired consumer base. Investors are always interested in knowing the economic power of your market as well as potential MVP customers. Company Analysis The next component of your business plan is your company analysis. Here, you explain how you want to run your business. It will include your operational strategy, an insight into the workforce needed to keep the company running, and important executive positions. It will also provide a calculation of expected operational costs.  Industry Analysis A good business plan should also contain well laid out industry analysis. It is important to convince potential investors you know the companies you will be competing with, as well as your plans to gain an edge on the competition. Marketing Strategy Your business plan should also include your marketing strategy. This is how you intend to spread awareness of your product. It should include a detailed explanation of the company brand as well as your advertising methods. Sales Strategy Your sales strategy comes after the market strategy. Here you give an overview of your company's pricing strategy and how you aim to maximize profits. You can also explain how your prices will adapt to market behaviors. Financial Projection The financial projection is the next component of your business plan. It explains your company's expected running cost and revenue earned during the tenure of the business plan. Financial projection gives a clear idea of how your company will develop in the future. Funding The next component of your business plan is funding. You have to detail how much external investment you need to get your business idea off the ground here. Appendix The last component of your plan is the appendix. This is where you put licenses, graphs, or key information that does not fit in any of the other components.

The business model canvas is a business management tool used to quickly define your business idea and model. It is often used when investors need you to pitch your business idea during a brief window.

A pitch deck is similar to a business model canvas except that it makes use of slides in its presentation. A pitch is not primarily used to secure funding, rather its main purpose is to entice potential investors by selling a very optimistic outlook on the business.

Business plan competitions help you evaluate the strength of your business plan. By participating in business plan competitions, you are improving your experience. The experience provides you with a degree of validation while practicing important skills. The main motivation for entering into the competitions is often to secure funding by finishing in podium positions. There is also the chance that you may catch the eye of a casual observer outside of the competition. These competitions also provide good networking opportunities. You could meet mentors who will take a keen interest in guiding you in your business journey. You also have the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs whose ideas can complement yours.

Exlore Further

• 12 Key Elements of a Business Plan (Top Components Explained)
• 13 Sources of Business Finance For Companies & Sole Traders
• 5 Common Types of Business Structures (+ Pros & Cons)
• How to Buy a Business in 8 Steps (+ Due Diligence Checklist)

Was This Article Helpful?

Martin luenendonk.

Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.

This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.

Table of Contents

How to make a business plan

How to make a good business plan: step-by-step guide.

A business plan is a strategic roadmap used to navigate the challenging journey of entrepreneurship. It's the foundation upon which you build a successful business.

A well-crafted business plan can help you define your vision, clarify your goals, and identify potential problems before they arise.

But where do you start? How do you create a business plan that sets you up for success?

This article will explore the step-by-step process of creating a comprehensive business plan.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a formal document that outlines a business's objectives, strategies, and operational procedures. It typically includes the following information about a company:

Products or services

Target market

Competitors

Marketing and sales strategies

Financial plan

Management team

A business plan serves as a roadmap for a company's success and provides a blueprint for its growth and development. It helps entrepreneurs and business owners organize their ideas, evaluate the feasibility, and identify potential challenges and opportunities.

As well as serving as a guide for business owners, a business plan can attract investors and secure funding. It demonstrates the company's understanding of the market, its ability to generate revenue and profits, and its strategy for managing risks and achieving success.

Business plan vs. business model canvas

A business plan may seem similar to a business model canvas, but each document serves a different purpose.

A business model canvas is a high-level overview that helps entrepreneurs and business owners quickly test and iterate their ideas. It is often a one-page document that briefly outlines the following:

Key partnerships

Key activities

Key propositions

Customer relationships

Customer segments

Key resources

Cost structure

Revenue streams

On the other hand, a Business Plan Template provides a more in-depth analysis of a company's strategy and operations. It is typically a lengthy document and requires significant time and effort to develop.

A business model shouldn’t replace a business plan, and vice versa. Business owners should lay the foundations and visually capture the most important information with a Business Model Canvas Template . Because this is a fast and efficient way to communicate a business idea, a business model canvas is a good starting point before developing a more comprehensive business plan.

A business plan can aim to secure funding from investors or lenders, while a business model canvas communicates a business idea to potential customers or partners.

Why is a business plan important?

A business plan is crucial for any entrepreneur or business owner wanting to increase their chances of success.

Here are some of the many benefits of having a thorough business plan.

Helps to define the business goals and objectives

A business plan encourages you to think critically about your goals and objectives. Doing so lets you clearly understand what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there.

A well-defined set of goals, objectives, and key results also provides a sense of direction and purpose, which helps keep business owners focused and motivated.

Guides decision-making

A business plan requires you to consider different scenarios and potential problems that may arise in your business. This awareness allows you to devise strategies to deal with these issues and avoid pitfalls.

With a clear plan, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions aligning with their overall business goals and objectives. This helps reduce the risk of making costly mistakes and ensures they make decisions with long-term success in mind.

Attracts investors and secures funding

Investors and lenders often require a business plan before considering investing in your business. A document that outlines the company's goals, objectives, and financial forecasts can help instill confidence in potential investors and lenders.

A well-written business plan demonstrates that you have thoroughly thought through your business idea and have a solid plan for success.

Identifies potential challenges and risks

A business plan requires entrepreneurs to consider potential challenges and risks that could impact their business. For example:

Is there enough demand for my product or service?

Will I have enough capital to start my business?

Is the market oversaturated with too many competitors?

What will happen if my marketing strategy is ineffective?

By identifying these potential challenges, entrepreneurs can develop strategies to mitigate risks and overcome challenges. This can reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes and ensure the business is well-positioned to take on any challenges.

Provides a basis for measuring success

A business plan serves as a framework for measuring success by providing clear goals and financial projections . Entrepreneurs can regularly refer to the original business plan as a benchmark to measure progress. By comparing the current business position to initial forecasts, business owners can answer questions such as:

Are we where we want to be at this point?

Did we achieve our goals?

If not, why not, and what do we need to do?

After assessing whether the business is meeting its objectives or falling short, business owners can adjust their strategies as needed.

How to make a business plan step by step

The steps below will guide you through the process of creating a business plan and what key components you need to include.

1. Create an executive summary

Start with a brief overview of your entire plan. The executive summary should cover your business plan's main points and key takeaways.

Keep your executive summary concise and clear with the Executive Summary Template . The simple design helps readers understand the crux of your business plan without reading the entire document.

2. Write your company description

Provide a detailed explanation of your company. Include information on what your company does, the mission statement, and your vision for the future.

Provide additional background information on the history of your company, the founders, and any notable achievements or milestones.

3. Conduct a market analysis

Conduct an in-depth analysis of your industry, competitors, and target market. This is best done with a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Next, identify your target market's needs, demographics, and behaviors.

Use the Competitive Analysis Template to brainstorm answers to simple questions like:

What does the current market look like?

Who are your competitors?

What are they offering?

What will give you a competitive advantage?

Who is your target market?

What are they looking for and why?

How will your product or service satisfy a need?

These questions should give you valuable insights into the current market and where your business stands.

4. Describe your products and services

Provide detailed information about your products and services. This includes pricing information, product features, and any unique selling points.

Use the Product/Market Fit Template to explain how your products meet the needs of your target market. Describe what sets them apart from the competition.

5. Design a marketing and sales strategy

Outline how you plan to promote and sell your products. Your marketing strategy and sales strategy should include information about your:

Pricing strategy

Advertising and promotional tactics

Sales channels

The Go to Market Strategy Template is a great way to visually map how you plan to launch your product or service in a new or existing market.

6. Determine budget and financial projections

Document detailed information on your business’ finances. Describe the current financial position of the company and how you expect the finances to play out.

Some details to include in this section are:

Startup costs

Revenue projections

Profit and loss statement

Funding you have received or plan to receive

Strategy for raising funds

7. Set the organization and management structure

Define how your company is structured and who will be responsible for each aspect of the business. Use the Business Organizational Chart Template to visually map the company’s teams, roles, and hierarchy.

As well as the organization and management structure, discuss the legal structure of your business. Clarify whether your business is a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or LLC.

8. Make an action plan

At this point in your business plan, you’ve described what you’re aiming for. But how are you going to get there? The Action Plan Template describes the following steps to move your business plan forward. Outline the next steps you plan to take to bring your business plan to fruition.

Types of business plans

Several types of business plans cater to different purposes and stages of a company's lifecycle. Here are some of the most common types of business plans.

Startup business plan

A startup business plan is typically an entrepreneur's first business plan. This document helps entrepreneurs articulate their business idea when starting a new business.

Not sure how to make a business plan for a startup? It’s pretty similar to a regular business plan, except the primary purpose of a startup business plan is to convince investors to provide funding for the business. A startup business plan also outlines the potential target market, product/service offering, marketing plan, and financial projections.

Strategic business plan

A strategic business plan is a long-term plan that outlines a company's overall strategy, objectives, and tactics. This type of strategic plan focuses on the big picture and helps business owners set goals and priorities and measure progress.

The primary purpose of a strategic business plan is to provide direction and guidance to the company's management team and stakeholders. The plan typically covers a period of three to five years.

Operational business plan

An operational business plan is a detailed document that outlines the day-to-day operations of a business. It focuses on the specific activities and processes required to run the business, such as:

Organizational structure

Staffing plan

Production plan

Quality control

Inventory management

Supply chain

The primary purpose of an operational business plan is to ensure that the business runs efficiently and effectively. It helps business owners manage their resources, track their performance, and identify areas for improvement.

Growth-business plan

A growth-business plan is a strategic plan that outlines how a company plans to expand its business. It helps business owners identify new market opportunities and increase revenue and profitability. The primary purpose of a growth-business plan is to provide a roadmap for the company's expansion and growth.

The 3 Horizons of Growth Template is a great tool to identify new areas of growth. This framework categorizes growth opportunities into three categories: Horizon 1 (core business), Horizon 2 (emerging business), and Horizon 3 (potential business).

One-page business plan

A one-page business plan is a condensed version of a full business plan that focuses on the most critical aspects of a business. It’s a great tool for entrepreneurs who want to quickly communicate their business idea to potential investors, partners, or employees.

A one-page business plan typically includes sections such as business concept, value proposition, revenue streams, and cost structure.

Best practices for how to make a good business plan

Here are some additional tips for creating a business plan:

Use a template

A template can help you organize your thoughts and effectively communicate your business ideas and strategies. Starting with a template can also save you time and effort when formatting your plan.

Miro’s extensive library of customizable templates includes all the necessary sections for a comprehensive business plan. With our templates, you can confidently present your business plans to stakeholders and investors.

Be practical

Avoid overestimating revenue projections or underestimating expenses. Your business plan should be grounded in practical realities like your budget, resources, and capabilities.

Be specific

Provide as much detail as possible in your business plan. A specific plan is easier to execute because it provides clear guidance on what needs to be done and how. Without specific details, your plan may be too broad or vague, making it difficult to know where to start or how to measure success.

Be thorough with your research

Conduct thorough research to fully understand the market, your competitors, and your target audience . By conducting thorough research, you can identify potential risks and challenges your business may face and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Get input from others

It can be easy to become overly focused on your vision and ideas, leading to tunnel vision and a lack of objectivity. By seeking input from others, you can identify potential opportunities you may have overlooked.

Review and revise regularly

A business plan is a living document. You should update it regularly to reflect market, industry, and business changes. Set aside time for regular reviews and revisions to ensure your plan remains relevant and effective.

Create a winning business plan to chart your path to success

Starting or growing a business can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, a well-written business plan can make or break your business’ success.

The purpose of a business plan is more than just to secure funding and attract investors. It also serves as a roadmap for achieving your business goals and realizing your vision. With the right mindset, tools, and strategies, you can develop a visually appealing, persuasive business plan.

Ready to make an effective business plan that works for you? Check out our library of ready-made strategy and planning templates and chart your path to success.

Get on board in seconds

Plans and pricing.

We earn commissions if you shop through the links below.  Read more

8 Components of a Business Plan

Back to Business Plans

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on February 19, 2023

A key part of the business startup process is putting together a business plan , particularly if you’d like to raise capital. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s absolutely essential, and an invaluable learning tool. 

Creating a business plan early helps you think through every aspect of your business, from operations and financing to growth and vision. In the end, the knowledge you’ll gain could be the difference between success and failure. 

But what exactly does a business plan consist of? There are eight essential components, all of which are detailed in this handy guide.

1. Executive Summary 

The executive summary opens your business plan , but it’s the section you’ll write last. It summarizes the key points and highlights the most important aspects of your plan. Often investors and lenders will only read the executive summary; if it doesn’t capture their interest they’ll stop reading, so it’s important to make it as compelling as possible.

The components touched upon should include:

• The business opportunity – what problem are you solving in the market?
• Your idea, meaning the product or service you’re planning to offer, and why it solves the problem in the market better than other solutions.
• The history of the business so far – what have you done to this point? When you’re just getting started, this may be nothing more than coming up with the idea, choosing a business name , and forming a business entity.
• A summary of the industry, market size, your target customers, and the competition.
• A strong statement about how your company is going to stand out in the market – what will be your competitive advantage?
• A list of specific goals that you plan to achieve in the short term, such as developing your product, launching a marketing campaign, or hiring a key person. 
• A summary of your financial plan including cost and sales projections and a break-even analysis.
• A summary of your management team, their roles, and the relevant experience that they have to serve in those roles.
• Your “ask”, if applicable, meaning what you’re requesting from the investor or lender. You’ll include the amount you’d like and how it will be spent, such as “We are seeking $50,000 in seed funding to develop our beta product”. 

Remember that if you’re seeking capital, the executive summary could make or break your venture. Take your time and make sure it illustrates how your business is unique in the market and why you’ll succeed.

The executive summary should be no more than two pages long, so it’s important to capture the reader’s interest from the start. 

• 2. Company Description/Overview

In this section, you’ll detail your full company history, such as how you came up with the idea for your business and any milestones or achievements. 

You’ll also include your mission and vision statements. A mission statement explains what you’d like your business to achieve, its driving force, while a vision statement lays out your long-term plan in terms of growth. 

A mission statement might be “Our company aims to make life easier for business owners with intuitive payroll software”, while a vision statement could be “Our objective is to become the go-to comprehensive HR software provider for companies around the globe.”

In this section, you’ll want to list your objectives – specific short-term goals. Examples might include “complete initial product development by ‘date’” or “hire two qualified sales people” or “launch the first version of the product”. 

It’s best to divide this section into subsections – company history, mission and vision, and objectives.

3. Products/Services Offered 

Here you’ll go into detail about what you’re offering, how it solves a problem in the market, and how it’s unique. Don’t be afraid to share information that is proprietary – investors and lenders are not out to steal your ideas. 

Also specify how your product is developed or sourced. Are you manufacturing it or does it require technical development? Are you purchasing a product from a manufacturer or wholesaler? 

You’ll also want to specify how you’ll sell your product or service. Will it be a subscription service or a one time purchase?  What is your target pricing? On what channels do you plan to sell your product or service, such as online or by direct sales in a store? 

Basically, you’re describing what you’re going to sell and how you’ll make money.

• 4. Market Analysis 

The market analysis is where you’re going to spend most of your time because it involves a lot of research. You should divide it into four sections.

Industry analysis 

You’ll want to find out exactly what’s happening in your industry, such as its growth rate, market size, and any specific trends that are occurring. Where is the industry predicted to be in 10 years? Cite your sources where you can by providing links. 

Then describe your company’s place in the market. Is your product going to fit a certain niche? Is there a sub-industry your company will fit within? How will you keep up with industry changes? 

Competitor analysis 

Now you’ll dig into your competition. Detail your main competitors and how they differentiate themselves in the market. For example, one competitor may advertise convenience while another may tout superior quality. Also highlight your competitors’ weaknesses.

Next, describe how you’ll stand out. Detail your competitive advantages and how you’ll sustain them. This section is extremely important and will be a focus for investors and lenders. 

Target market analysis 

Here you’ll describe your target market and whether it’s different from your competitors’.  For example, maybe you have a younger demographic in mind? 

You’ll need to know more about your target market than demographics, though. You’ll want to explain the needs and wants of your ideal customers, how your offering solves their problem, and why they will choose your company. 

You should also lay out where you’ll find them, where to place your marketing and where to sell your products. Learning this kind of detail requires going to the source – your potential customers. You can do online surveys or even in-person focus groups. 

Your goal will be to uncover as much about these people as possible. When you start selling, you’ll want to keep learning about your customers. You may end up selling to a different target market than you originally thought, which could lead to a marketing shift. 

SWOT analysis 

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and it’s one of the more common and helpful business planning tools.   

First describe all the specific strengths of your company, such as the quality of your product or some unique feature, such as the experience of your management team. Talk about the elements that will make your company successful.

Next, acknowledge and explore possible weaknesses. You can’t say “none”, because no company is perfect, especially at the start. Maybe you lack funds or face a massive competitor. Whatever it is, detail how you will surmount this hurdle. 

Next, talk about the opportunities your company has in the market. Perhaps you’re going to target an underserved segment, or have a technology plan that will help you surge past the competition. 

Finally, examine potential threats. It could be a competitor that might try to replicate your product or rapidly advancing technology in your industry. Again, discuss your plans to handle such threats if they come to pass. 

5. Marketing and Sales Strategies

Now it’s time to explain how you’re going to find potential customers and convert them into paying customers.  

Marketing and advertising plan

When you did your target market analysis, you should have learned a lot about your potential customers, including where to find them. This should help you determine where to advertise. 

Maybe you found that your target customers favor TikTok over Instagram and decided to spend more marketing dollars on TikTok. Detail all the marketing channels you plan to use and why.

Your target market analysis should also have given you information about what kind of message will resonate with your target customers. You should understand their needs and wants and how your product solves their problem, then convey that in your marketing. 

Start by creating a value proposition, which should be no more than two sentences long and answer the following questions:

• What are you offering
• Whose problem does it solve
• What problem does it solve
• What benefits does it provide
• How is it better than competitor products

An example might be “Payroll software that will handle all the payroll needs of small business owners, making life easier for less.”

Whatever your value proposition, it should be at the heart of all of your marketing.

Sales strategy and tactics 

Your sales strategy is a vision to persuade customers to buy, including where you’ll sell and how. For example, you may plan to sell only on your own website, or you may sell from both a physical location and online. On the other hand, you may have a sales team that will make direct sales calls to potential customers, which is more common in business-to-business sales.

Sales tactics are more about how you’re going to get them to buy after they reach your sales channel. Even when selling online, you need something on your site that’s going to get them to go from a site visitor to a paying customer. 

By the same token, if you’re going to have a sales team making direct sales, what message are they going to deliver that will entice a sale? It’s best for sales tactics to focus on the customer’s pain point and what value you’re bringing to the table, rather than being aggressively promotional about the greatness of your product and your business. 

Pricing strategy

Pricing is not an exact science and should depend on several factors. First, consider how you want your product or service to be perceived in the market. If your differentiator is to be the lowest price, position your company as the “discount” option. Think Walmart, and price your products lower than the competition. 

If, on the other hand, you want to be the Mercedes of the market, then you’ll position your product as the luxury option. Of course you’ll have to back this up with superior quality, but being the luxury option allows you to command higher prices.

You can, of course, fall somewhere in the middle, but the point is that pricing is a matter of perception. How you position your product in the market compared to the competition is a big factor in determining your price.

Of course, you’ll have to consider your costs, as well as competitor prices. Obviously, your prices must cover your costs and allow you to make a good profit margin. 

Whatever pricing strategy you choose, you’ll justify it in this section of your plan.

• 6. Operations and Management 

This section is the real nuts and bolts of your business – how it operates on a day-to-day basis and who is operating it. Again, this section should be divided into subsections.

Operational plan

Your plan of operations should be specific , detailed and mainly logistical. Who will be doing what on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis? How will the business be managed and how will quality be assured? Be sure to detail your suppliers and how and when you’ll order raw materials. 

This should also include the roles that will be filled and the various processes that will be part of everyday business operations . Just consider all the critical functions that must be handled for your business to be able to operate on an ongoing basis. 

Technology plan

If your product involves technical development, you’ll describe your tech development plan with specific goals and milestones. The plan will also include how many people will be working on this development, and what needs to be done for goals to be met.

If your company is not a technology company, you’ll describe what technologies you plan to use to run your business or make your business more efficient. It could be process automation software, payroll software, or just laptops and tablets for your staff. 

Management and organizational structure 

Now you’ll describe who’s running the show. It may be just you when you’re starting out, so you’ll detail what your role will be and summarize your background. You’ll also go into detail about any managers that you plan to hire and when that will occur.

Essentially, you’re explaining your management structure and detailing why your strategy will enable smooth and efficient operations. 

Ideally, at some point, you’ll have an organizational structure that is a hierarchy of your staff. Describe what you envision your organizational structure to be. 

Personnel plan 

Detail who you’ve hired or plan to hire and for which roles. For example, you might have a developer, two sales people, and one customer service representative.

Describe each role and what qualifications are needed to perform those roles. 

• 7. Financial Plan 

Now, you’ll enter the dreaded world of finance. Many entrepreneurs struggle with this part, so you might want to engage a financial professional to help you. A financial plan has five key elements.

Startup Costs

Detail in a spreadsheet every cost you’ll incur before you open your doors. This should determine how much capital you’ll need to launch your business. 

Financial projections 

Creating financial projections, like many facets of business, is not an exact science. If your company has no history, financial projections can only be an educated guess. 

First, come up with realistic sales projections. How much do you expect to sell each month? Lay out at least three years of sales projections, detailing monthly sales growth for the first year, then annually thereafter. 

Calculate your monthly costs, keeping in mind that some costs will grow along with sales. 

Once you have your numbers projected and calculated, use them to create these three key financial statements: 

• Profit and Loss Statement , also known as an income statement. This shows projected revenue and lists all costs, which are then deducted to show net profit or loss. 
• Cash Flow Statement. This shows how much cash you have on hand at any given time. It will have a starting balance, projections of cash coming in, and cash going out, which will be used to calculate cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.
• Balance Sheet. This shows the net worth of the business, which is the assets of the business minus debts. Assets include equipment, cash, accounts receivables, inventory, and more. Debts include outstanding loan balances and accounts payable.

You’ll need monthly projected versions of each statement for the first year, then annual projections for the following two years.

Break-even analysis

The break-even point for your business is when costs and revenue are equal. Most startups operate at a loss for a period of time before they break even and start to make a profit. Your break-even analysis will project when your break-even point will occur, and will be informed by your profit and loss statement. 

Funding requirements and sources 

Lay out the funding you’ll need, when, and where you’ll get it. You’ll also explain what those funds will be used for at various points. If you’re in a high growth industry that can attract investors, you’ll likely need various rounds of funding to launch and grow. 

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

KPIs measure your company’s performance and can determine success. Many entrepreneurs only focus on the bottom line, but measuring specific KPIs helps find areas of improvement. Every business has certain crucial metrics. 

If you sell only online, one of your key metrics might be your visitor conversion rate. You might do an analysis to learn why just one out of ten site visitors makes a purchase. 

Perhaps the purchase process is too complicated or your product descriptions are vague. The point is, learning why your conversion rate is low gives you a chance to improve it and boost sales. 

8. Appendices

In the appendices, you can attach documents such as manager resumes or any other documents that support your business plan.

As you can see, a business plan has many components, so it’s not an afternoon project. It will likely take you several weeks and a great deal of work to complete. Unless you’re a finance guru, you may also want some help from a financial professional. 

Keep in mind that for a small business owner, there may be no better learning experience than writing a detailed and compelling business plan. It shouldn’t be viewed as a hassle, but as an opportunity! 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Executive Summary 
• Products/Services Offered 
• Marketing and Sales Strategies

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Featured resources.

Crafting the Perfect Business Plan: A Deep Dive with Upmetrics’ Vinay Kevadiya

Carolyn Young

Published on October 13, 2023

In the first segment of our conversation with Vinay Kevadiya, the visionary behind Upmetrics, we explored the platform’s origins and itsunique ...

LivePlan Software Review: Features, Cost, Pros & Cons

Published on September 15, 2023

When you’re starting a business, a business plan is essential whether you’re going to obtain financing or not. Creating a business plan helpsyou ...

What to Include in Your Business Plan Appendix?

Published on September 13, 2023

Launching a business involves countless tasks, and one of the crucial early hurdles is writing a business plan. Many entrepreneurs who aren’tlooki ...

No thanks, I don't want to stay up to date on industry trends and news.

• Financial Analysis
• Budgeting Consultants
• Financial Reporting
• Financial Planning
• Financial Modeling
• Accounting & Bookkeeping
• Market research consultant
• Pakistan Taxation Services
• Company Registration In UAE
• Vat Registration In UAE
• Business Valuation
• Investor Ready Business Plan
• Professional Business Plan Revision
• Investor Ready Pitch Deck Presentation
• Investor Ready Executive Summary
• Investor Ready One Page Project Overview
• Professional Business Plan Review
• Pro Forma Statement of Financial Position/Balance sheet
• Cash Flow Analysis
• Full time CFO
• Special Purpose CFO
• Interim CFO
• Virtual CFO
• Marketing KPI
• Growth Plan KPI
• Financial Metrics KPI
• Break Even Analysis
• Unit Metrics Analysis
• Sales Performance KPI
• Cash Management KPI
• Inventory Management KPI
• Business Plan Packages
• Automotive Industry
• Blockchain Industry Financial Model Template New
• Cosmetics Industry
• Consulting Business
• Education Industry
• Entertainment Industry
• Fintech Industry
• Real Estate
• View All Financial Models
• Healthcare Industry
• Restaurant Business
• View All Business Plan
• Automotive Business
• Blockchain Industry Pitch Deck New
• Education Pitch
• View All Pitch Decks
• Automotive industry
• Testimonials
• Case Studies
• Startup CEOs
• Venture Capital Professionals

10 key components of a business plan: the ultimate checklist

Share this post

Essential elements of a business plan: a comprehensive guide.

Table of Contents

What Is a Business Plan?

In the intricate tapestry of entrepreneurship, a business plan is a meticulously crafted document that serves as more than just a roadmap; it is the compass steering a venture toward success. This comprehensive guide aims to dissect the components of a business plan, unraveling its layers to reveal the intricacies that transform an idea into a thriving business.

Ten Components of a Business Plan:

1. Executive Summary:

The executive summary serves as the gateway to the business plan, offering an initial handshake between the business and stakeholders. It goes beyond a mere introduction; it functions as a strategically crafted teaser, encapsulating the essence of the business in a concise narrative.

This pivotal section provides a sneak peek into the core elements, vision, goals, and strategic direction of the business. Crafted with a delicate balance of conciseness and clarity, the executive summary is designed to be an indispensable tool, especially for busy stakeholders who require a quick overview.

It plays a crucial role in shaping the first impressions of the business plan, setting the tone for what follows. The art lies in distilling complex information into a digestible format without losing the essence. In doing so, the executive summary becomes a compass, guiding stakeholders towards the comprehensive details within the business plan, ensuring they are well-prepared and informed for the journey ahead.

 2. Company Description: 

Positioned at the epicenter of the business plan, the company description serves as the narrative heart that intricately weaves the tale of your venture. It goes beyond being a mere introduction; it is a profound revelation of the business’s identity, mission, vision, and the unique value proposition it brings to the market.

By delving into the company description, readers gain a solid foundation for understanding the purpose and positioning of the business in the market landscape. It acts as a compass, guiding stakeholders through the motivations, aspirations, and distinctive qualities that define your venture.

This section sets the stage for deeper exploration, encouraging stakeholders to connect with the ethos of your business. It is here that the seeds of understanding are sown, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive comprehension of how your business aims to stand out and thrive in its chosen market.

 3. Market Analysis: 

The market analysis section of a business plan acts as a strategic guide, navigating the business through external complexities. It involves a deep exploration of industry dynamics, consumer behavior, and competitive forces. By understanding these aspects, businesses can leverage opportunities and tackle challenges in their chosen market. Analyzing industry trends, consumer preferences, and competitors’ strategies informs strategic decision-making. This section not only identifies growth prospects but also prepares the business to adapt to potential obstacles, ensuring a well-informed and resilient approach in a dynamic market.

 4. Organization and Management:

The organizational and management section of a business plan serves as a spotlight on the human capital that propels the business forward. This section introduces the key players of the management team, providing a comprehensive overview of their roles, responsibilities, and relevant experience. By showcasing the expertise and skills of the team members, the business establishes credibility and competence. This not only reassures stakeholders about the leadership driving the organizational ship but also instills confidence in their ability to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities. In essence, this section is a crucial element in building trust and showcasing the collective strength of the team that will be instrumental in the success of the business.

 5. Products or Services:

In business plans, the products or services section transcends simple descriptions, offering a thorough exposition that goes into the unique features, benefits, and value proposition for the target market. This section serves as the bridge connecting the business’s offerings with the specific needs and demands of its intended audience. By delving into the distinctive qualities and advantages of the products or services, businesses not only communicate what they offer but also articulate why it matters to their customers. This strategic approach not only helps differentiate the offerings in a competitive landscape but also ensures a clear alignment between what the business provides and what the market desires, laying a solid foundation for success.

 6. Marketing and Sales Strategy:

Crafting a successful business plan necessitates the development of a well-thought-out marketing and sales strategy. This section serves as the tactical blueprint for reaching customers and driving revenue. It goes beyond outlining generic approaches delving into specific details such as marketing channels, pricing strategies, and sales tactics, all meticulously tailored to the nuances of the target audience. By doing so, businesses ensure a systematic and strategic approach to market penetration. TThe marketing strategy is a dynamic roadmap to showcase products, convey value, and build brand loyalty. This intentional and detailed planning is vital for businesses to not only enter the market effectively but also sustain and grow their customer base over time.

 7. Financial Plan:

The financial plan turns raw data into a compelling narrative of the business’s economic viability. This section incorporates essential elements such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements , offering stakeholders a comprehensive view of the business’s fiscal health. The financial plan examines current status and charts a path for future growth by analyzing revenue, expenses, and cash movements. It’s a vital decision-making tool, allowing stakeholders to evaluate sustainable growth, investment opportunities, and potential risks for the business. In essence, the financial plan goes beyond mere numbers; it crafts a narrative that instills confidence, demonstrating the business’s financial acumen and its ability to navigate the complexities of the market while pursuing long-term success.

 8. Funding Request (if applicable): 

In scenarios where external funding is sought, the funding request section of a business plan serves as an open appeal for financial support. It requires a clear articulation of key elements: the funding amount, purpose, and expected returns or milestones tied to the investment. This section essentially provides potential investors with a compelling rationale for their involvement in the business.

By clearly specifying the funding amount, businesses demonstrate transparency and precision in their financial needs. The funds’ purpose specifies usage for product development, market expansion, or operational enhancements. This clarity is crucial in building trust and confidence among investors.

Furthermore, detailing anticipated returns or milestones associated with the investment provides a roadmap for investors to understand how their contribution will be translated into business growth. This data helps investors gauge their investment’s impact on the business’s success, including revenue targets, market share, and milestones.

In essence, the funding request section is not just a monetary ask; it is a strategic communication tool aimed at aligning the interests of the business and potential investors. A compelling funding request not only outlines financial needs but also emphasizes mutually beneficial outcomes through collaboration.

 9. Risk Analysis:

The risk analysis section in a business plan is a crucial component that identifies and assesses potential risks and challenges. It goes beyond mere recognition by providing proactive strategies to mitigate these risks. This boosts the business plan’s credibility and shows a keen awareness of uncertainties in the business environment. Confronting potential obstacles in the business plan reassures stakeholders about the company’s strategic risk management approach.

 10. Appendix:

The appendix in a business plan serves as a valuable repository for supplementary materials that enhance and support the main content. This section goes beyond the narrative, offering additional documentation, charts, and graphs that enrich the business case. By providing stakeholders with access to a deeper layer of supporting data, the appendix reinforces key points made throughout the plan. Adding specific details enhances credibility and ensures a comprehensive understanding of the business’s strategies, market analysis, and financial projections. In essence, the appendix is a reservoir of valuable information that adds depth to the business plan, catering to the diverse needs and interests of stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions:

 How Often Should a Business Plan Be Updated? 

– Business plans should be updated annually or when significant changes occur, reflecting the evolving nature of the business.  

What’s the Difference Between a Business Plan and a Strategic Plan? 

-While a business plan outlines details, a strategic plan focuses on long-term goals, direction, and overall organizational strategy.  

Is the Business Plan, the Same as the Business Model? 

-No, they differ. A business plan details components, while the business model explains revenue generation and sustainability.

Conclusion:

Crafting an effective business plan is akin to orchestrating a symphony where financial statements, a solid marketing strategy, and a clear mission harmonize to ensure success in a competitive market. Each component plays a vital role in shaping the narrative of a business’s journey from concept to thriving reality. A well-crafted business plan not only navigates the complexities of entrepreneurship but also becomes the cornerstone of sustainable success. Elevate your venture with Oak Business Consultants’ ready-to-use business plan template, or opt for our custom business planning service . Your journey to success begins with a meticulously crafted plan—let Oak Business Consultants be your guide. Download our ready-to-use template or explore our services now.

Sadaf Abbas

Sadaf Abbas, with over 16 years in the financial consulting realm, has showcased her expertise across diverse industries like Blockchain, Gaming, and SaaS. As a CFO for leading companies, she's transformed complex financial scenarios into actionable strategies. Now, as the CEO of Oak Business Consultant, her leadership has driven the firm to unparalleled heights, marking it as a benchmark for excellence and innovation. Beyond her corporate achievements, Sadaf is also a revered educator, blending theoretical and practical insights to shape the future of financial analysts and consultants. With credentials like a Master's Degree in Finance and Economics and a title of CSP, she's a force in financial analysis, business planning, and more. Dive into Sadaf's world and discover a blend of knowledge, expertise, and transformative leadership.

Empower Your Business Decisions with Expert Financial Models

Automotive Industry Financial Model

Consulting Business Financial Model

Education Industry Financial Model

Real Estate Financial Model

Blockchain Industry Financial Model Template

Beauty Product and Service Financial Model

SaaS Industry Financial Model

Retail Industry Financial Model

Services/ Consulting Financial Model

Healthcare Financial Model

Software Business Financial model

Financial Excel Template

Entertainment Industry Financial Model

Restaurant Financial Model

Startup Financial Model

Fintech Industry Financial Model

Healthcare Industry Financial Model

Leasing Financial Model

Small Online Business Excel Financial Model Projection

Financial model excel template

E-commerce Financial Model

Agriculture Excel Financial Model

Artificial Intelligence Financial Model

Business plans that turn visions into ventures..

Automotive Industry Business Plan Template

Education Industry Business Plan

Entertainment Industry Business Plan

Real Estate Business Plan

Startup Business Plan

Healthcare Industry Business Plan

Retail Business Plan

SaaS Industry Business Plan

Restaurant Business Plan

Services/ Consulting Business Plan

Agriculture Industry Business Plan

Consulting Business Plan

Digital Budget Planner

Fintech industry business plan

Free Business Plan Template

Pitch perfection: elevate your ideas with our decks.

Automotive Business Pitch Deck

Education Pitch Deck Template

Entertainment Industry Pitch Deck Template

Consulting Business Pitch Deck Template

Fintech Industry Pitch Deck Template

Real Estate Pitch Deck Template

SaaS Industry Pitch Deck

Retail Pitch Deck Template

Restaurant Pitch Deck Template

Startup Pitch Deck Template

Agriculture Industry Pitch Deck

Beauty Product and Services Industry Pitch Deck Template

Blockchain Industry Pitch Deck

Business Pitch Deck Template

Editable Pitch Deck

Business Pitch Deck Template Canva

Health care Pitch Deck Template

Printable Pitch Deck

Online Pitch Deck

Pitch Deck Canva

Pitch Deck Template

Finding Investors

How Funding Works

Idea Validation Bootcamp

Pitch Deck Bootcamp

Pitching Investors

Product MVP

Product/MVP

Idea Validation

Customer Acquisition

Emotional Support

13 Key Business Plan Components

The Startups Team

As is the case with most big projects, crafting a business plan is one of those things that takes an incredible amount of diligence and no shortage of courage. After all, your business idea is probably more than just some passionless money-making ploy — it’s your dream that you’re getting ready to lay bare for the world to scrutinize!

Never fear!

We have 4 sample business plans here to make it all less scary.

If you approach this with a firm understanding of what key information to include in each section of your business plan and know how each section works together to form a cohesive, compelling, and — above all — persuasive whole, it will make the writing process a whole lot less daunting.

We’re about to help you do exactly that by deconstructing each of the core components of your business plan one at a time and showing you exactly what information you should present to your readers so when all is said you done, you can walk away confidently knowing you’ve penned the most effective business plan possible.

As we learned in the “ What is a Business Plan? ” article, a business plan generally consists of the following sections:

Executive Summary

Company Synopsis

Market Analysis / Overview

Product (How it Works)

Revenue Model

Operating Model

Competitive Analysis

Customer Definition

Management Team

Financial Statements

Let’s dive in, shall we?

1. Executive Summary

In the same way that a great movie trailer gives you a basic understanding of what the film is about while also enticing you to go check out the full-length feature, your Executive Summary serves as an overview of the main aspects of your company and business plan that you will discuss in greater length in the rest of your plan.

In other words, your Executive Summary is the highlight reel of your business plan.

Remember, you’re not giving away every last little detail about your company and business opportunity right up front. Just enough of the “good parts” to both inform and intrigue your reader to dig in further.

You do this by presenting a concise, 1-sentence outline of the following information:

Mission Statement

A “big idea” statement that introduces why your company exists, what it does for your customers, and why it matters.

Product/Service Summary

A brief description of your company’s products or services, with a special emphasis on what makes them unique.

Market Opportunity Summary

A quick explanation of the one or two key problems and/or trends your product/service addresses, and how it translates to a big opportunity for your company (and investors ).

Traction Summary

Highlight a few of the biggest accomplishments that you have achieved and describe how those accomplishments lay the groundwork for what’s to come.

Outline the next objectives or milestones that you hope to meet and what it means for the growth of your company.

Vision Statement

What is the scope or “big picture vision” of the business you are trying to build? If you’re in tech, are you trying to build the next Nest? If you’re in food and beverage, are you aiming to be the next Chipotle? In other words, how big is this company going to get, and why should an investor/partner/hire be excited to be a part of it?

A word of advice:

While your Executive Summary is the first piece of content people will read in your business plan, it’s usually a good idea to write this section last so you can take a step back after you’ve written everything and have a better sense of which high-level information you want to pull from the rest of your plan to focus on here.

First impressions are everything!

2. Company Synopsis

The Company Synopsis section is where you provide readers with a more in-depth look at your company and what you have to offer.

Before your readers will ever bother caring about things like your marketing strategy or your financial assumptions, they’ll want to know two absolutely fundamental details that will set up the rest of the plan that follows:

What painful PROBLEM are you solving for your customers?

What is your elegant SOLUTION to that problem?

You might have the most revolutionary product the world has ever seen, but if you don’t take the time to carefully articulate why your product exists in the first place and how it helps your customers solve a pain point better than anything else out there, nothing else in your business plan really matters from the reader’s perspective.

If you spend the majority of your time on any one part of your business plan, take the time to really nail this part. If you can build an engaging story around the problem that your audience can relate to, it makes the payoff of your solution statement all the more powerful.

When considering how to position your problem in the context of your business plan, think to yourself: what is the single greatest problem my customers face? How do other solutions in the market fail to alleviate that problem, thus creating a major need for my product?

Once you’ve thoroughly explained the problem you’re setting out to solve, it’s time to tell investors how your product/service solves that problem beautifully.

The goal here is less about describing how your product or service actually works (you’ll get to that in the “How It Works” section later) than it is about communicating how your solution connects back directly to the problem that you just described.

Key questions to consider:

What is the product/service you’re offering?

In what way does it solve my customers’ most painful problem?

What impact does my solution have on my customers’ lives?

How does my product/service effectively address the biggest shortcomings of other solutions currently in the market?

3. Market Overview

While your problem and solution statements help set the stage and provide readers with insight into why you’re starting this company in the first place, clearly defining your market will allow you to call attention to the trends and industry conditions that demonstrate why now is the time for your company to succeed.

You’re going to want to supplement your own expertise with plenty of evidence in the form of market statistics and research to show readers that you’re not only an expert when it comes to your product, but your industry as well. Your goal here is to help illustrate:

The SIZE of the market opportunity your company is positioned to address

The amount of GROWTH occurring in your market

The TRENDS driving the demand for your solution

The SUCCESS STORIES happening with similar companies in your industry

Market Size & Growth

Indicating to your readers that your problem addresses a big enough market will play a huge role in how excited they’ll be about getting involved in helping your company. This is where you’ll want to put your research cap on and start uncovering some numbers that help your reader better understand:

How big the market is (locally/nationally/internationally)

Approximately how much revenue it generates every year

If it’s growing

How much it’s expected to grow over the next 5-10 years

What recent emerging trends have you developed your product/service in response to?

Are there any new technologies that have emerged recently that make your product/solution possible? Are there any specific brands or products you can point to that illustrate the demand for products/services like (but not too like) yours?

Examples of Trends

An increasing number of consumers are “cutting the cord,” replacing traditional cable subscriptions with subscriptions to services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO NOW.

As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, there is a growing demand for products that empower them to stay safe and maintain their independence for longer.

Consumers are increasingly seeking food options that feature locally-sourced ingredients.

The emergence of image recognition technology for smartphones.

Industry Success Stories

Are there any examples of similar companies that investors have supported that you could point to? Are there any recent acquisitions (examples of larger companies buying up companies similar to yours) that could bolster the case for your own exit strategy ? Are there any similar companies that have recently IPO’d (gone public)?

4. Product (How it Works)

You used your Company Synopsis section to cover why your new product delivers crazy value to your customers by breaking down the ways that it benefits your customers and meets a highly specific need for them.

Now it’s time to use your Product or How it Works section to get into the finer details around the mechanics of how it does so.

This might sound like they’re one and the same. Not exactly. And here’s a good way to distinguish this.

Let’s say you were building a subscription box service for pet flea treatment. In your Company Synopsis section, you’d probably spend your time talking about how your solution conveniently spares pet owners the hassle of remembering to make a vet appointment, traveling to the clinic, and waiting to talk with the vet just to pick up Scrambles’ medication.

In your How it Works section, on the other hand, you’d shift your focus to describing how your customers have the ability to choose from a variety of brand name medications, set their own delivery schedule, enjoy 2-day delivery, and gain real-time support 24/7 from a team of industry experts.

What are some of your product’s key features ?

How will customers actually use your product or service?

Is there any technology underlying your solution you will need to explain in order for readers to fully understand what your company does and how it works?

If your product or service has some sort of proprietary element or patent at the core of what makes it work, you might be a bit hesitant to show your hand for fear that someone might run off with your idea. While this is a completely understandable concern, know that this pretty much never happens.

That being said, you can still give your readers a clear idea of how your product or service works by explaining it through the lens of how it relates to the problems that your customers face without giving up your secret sauce.

Put another way, you don’t have to explicitly tell your readers the precise source code to your new app, but you will want to call attention to all of the great things it makes possible for your customers.

5. Revenue Model

It’s the age-old question that every business owner has had to answer: how will your company make money?

If you’re just starting out , clearly defining your framework for generating revenue might seem like somewhat of a shot in the dark. But showing investors you have even a cursory idea of how you will convert your product or service into sales is absolutely fundamental in lending credibility to your business plan.

You’ll want to determine the following:

Revenue Channels

Are you leveraging transaction-based revenue by collecting one-time payments from your customers? Are you generating service revenue based on the time spent providing service to your customers? Are you following a recurring revenue model selling advertising and monthly subscriptions for your mobile app?

What are your price points and why have you set them that way? How does your pricing compare with similar products or services in the market?

Cost of goods sold, otherwise known as COGS, refers to the business expenses associated with selling your product or service, including any materials and labor costs that went into producing your product.

Your margin refers to the profit percentage you end up with after you subtract out the costs for the goods or services being sold. If you purchase your inventory for $8 per item from a supplier and sell them for $10, for example, your margin on sales is 20%.

Why is this revenue model the right fit for this product/market/stage of development?

Are there any additional revenue sources that you expect to add down the line?

Have you generated any revenue to date? If so, how much?

What have you learned from your early revenue efforts?

If you haven’t started generating revenue, when will you “flip the switch”?

6. Operating Model

Where your Revenue Model refers to how you’re going to make money, your Operating Model is about how you’re going to manage the costs and efficiencies to earn it.

Basically, it’s how your business will actually run. For this component, you’ll want to focus on the following:

Critical Costs

Your Critical Costs are the costs that make or break your business if you can’t manage them appropriately. These essentially determine your ability to grow the business or achieve profitability.

Cost Maturation & Milestones

Often your Critical Costs mature over time, growing or shrinking. For example, it might only cost you $10 to acquire your first 1,000 users, but $20 to acquire the next 10,000. It’s important to show investors exactly where costs might improve or worsen over time.

Investment Costs

Investment costs are strategic uses of capital that will have a big Return on Investment (ROI) later. The first step is to isolate what those investment costs are.  The second step is to explain how you expect those investments to pay off.

Operating Efficiencies

What can you do from an efficiency standpoint that no one else can? It could be the way you recruit new talent, how you manage customer support costs, or the increasing value your product provides as more users sign up.

7. Competitive Analysis

Now that you’ve introduced readers to your industry and your product, it’s time to give them a glimpse into the other companies that are working in your same space and how your company stacks up.

It’s important to research both your direct competitors (businesses that offer products or services that are virtually the same as yours) and your indirect competitors (businesses that offer slightly different products or services but that could satisfy the same consumer need).

A skimpy Competitor Analysis section doesn’t tell investors that your solution is unrivaled. It tells them that you’re not looking hard enough.

Pro tip: avoid saying that you have “no competitors” at all costs.

Why? Because while there may not be anyone exactly like you out there, if you say this, the investor is more than likely thinking one of two things: Either, “They don’t know what they’re talking about,” or, “If there’s truly no competition, is there even a market worth pursuing here at all?”

When you set out to identify your fiercest competitors, ask yourself this:

What products/services are my target customers using to solve this problem now?

What products/services could they potentially use to solve this problem now?

Identify at least three sources of competition and answer the following questions about each one:

Basic Information

Where is your competitor based? When was the company founded? What stage of growth is your competitor in? Are they a startup? A more established company?

How much revenue does your competitor generate each year? Approximately how many users/customers do they have? Have they received venture funding? How much? From whom?

Similarities & Differences

What are the points of similarity between your competitor and you in terms of the offering, price point, branding, etc?  What are the points of difference, both for the better and for the worse?

Strengths & Weaknesses

What are your competitors’ biggest strengths? What do you plan to do to neutralize those strengths? What are your competitors’ biggest weaknesses? How do they translate into an advantage for your company?

8. Customer Definition

The name of the game here is to know your audience !

This is where you show readers that you know who your audience is (who’s most likely to buy and use your product), where they are, and what’s most important to them. Are they price-conscious? Do they value convenience? Are they concerned about environmental impact? Do they tend to be early adopters of new technologies?

Once you have a good idea of your customer personas and demographics, you’ll want to explain how you’re designing your products/services, branding, customer service, etc. to appeal to your target audience and meet their needs.

Who are the people that your product/service is designed to appeal to?

What do you know about customers in this demographic?

Does your target audience skew more male or more female?

What age range do your target customers fall in?

Around how many people are there in this target demographic?

Where do your target customers live? Are they mostly city dwellers? Suburbanites?

How much money do they make?

Do they have any particular priorities or concerns when it comes to the products/services they buy?

9. Customer Acquisition

Now that we know who your customers are, the next question is — how do you plan on getting them ? This essentially refers to your marketing plan where you’ll go into detail about how you intend on raising awareness for your brand to expand your customer base .

Which channels will you use to acquire your customers? Direct sales? Online acquisition (paid ads, organic SEO, social, email)? Offline acquisition (newspaper, TV, radio, direct mail)? Channel partners (retailers, resellers)? Word-of-mouth? Affiliates?

Channel Cost Assumptions

There are hard costs associated with every customer acquisition channel. Yes, even social media. It’s your job here to forecast and compile all of the associated costs with a particular channel so that you can arrive at a preliminary budget for what it would cost to use this channel.

Are there specific subcategories of customers that you plan to target first?

Will you introduce your product in certain key geographic locations?

Are there specific components of your product offering that you will introduce to the market first?

Are there any existing brands that you are planning to partner with to increase brand awareness / expedite market penetration?

10. Traction

Many investors see hundreds of deals every year.

If you want to stand a chance of making any sort of meaningful impression, it’s important to show them that your business is more than just an idea and that you’ve already got some irons in the fire.

Traction is a huge part of making that case.

When investors see that Founders are already making things happen, they think to themselves, “Wow, look at everything they’ve already accomplished! If they can do that much by themselves, just think what they can do with my money behind them!”

Here are some common categories of traction that can help emphasize your business is gaining momentum:

Product Development

Where are you in the product development process? Do you have a working prototype? Is your product already in the market and gaining customers?

Manufacturing/Distribution

Do you already have an established partner for production/manufacturing? How about distribution? Tell us about your relationships and what they can handle.

Early Customers & Revenue

Do you have any existing customers? If so, how many, and how fast is your customer base growing? Have you started generating revenue? If so, how much?

Testimonials & Social Proof

Do you have any client reviews or comments that can illustrate positive customer responses to your product/service? Has your product/service been reviewed/endorsed by any industry experts? Do you have any high-profile customers (celebrities or industry experts if it’s a B2C product, well-known brands if it’s a B2B product)

Partnerships

Have you secured partnerships with any established or notable companies or brands?

Intellectual Property

Do you have any patents for the technology or ideas behind your company?

Is your company name trademarked?

Press Mentions

Has your company been featured by any media outlets? Which ones?

11. Management Team

Your Management Team section is where you introduce your team and, if possible, explain how each team member’s background is highly relevant to the success of your company.

You may have gotten a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, but if you’re building the next hot dating app, that doesn’t really lend much credence to why you’re uniquely qualified for this particular product.

An ideal Management Team section shows investors that your team’s combination of skills, experience, relationships, and expertise make you the best group of people on the planet to drive the success of your company.

Each team bio should cover:

The team member’s name

Their title and position at the company

Their professional background

Any special skills they’ve developed as a result of their past experience

Their role and responsibilities at your company

It’s important to keep team bios focused and to the point: readers don’t need to know where you were born or what your favorite hobbies were growing up. They don’t even necessarily need to know what you studied in undergrad (unless what you studied in undergrad is super-relevant to what they’re doing at your company.)

Aim for around 3-5 sentences of good information on each team member.

12. Funding

Chances are you’re shopping your business plan around to secure capital for your project. If that’s the case , don’t forget to actually ask for the one thing you set out to achieve!

In fact, you’ll want to devote an entire section to your request for funding. This is your opportunity to tell investors:

What your funding goals are

How they can help you achieve those goals

What they have to gain from getting involved in your company

Funding Goal

How much funding do you need to move forward with your goals? How did you arrive at this figure?

What will investors get in exchange for their investment in your company?

Use of Funds

How will you use the funding that you secure from investors? Provide a very basic breakdown, either by amounts or by percentages, of how you plan to allocate the funds you receive. For example:

25%: R&D

25%: Marketing

25%: Product Development

25%: Key Hires

What key milestones will you and your company be able to achieve with the help of this funding?

Why Invest? / Conclusion

Wrap up your Funding section with by driving home why investors should get involved with your company. Is it the experience of your team? The originality of your product? The size of the market? Identify a few key factors that make your company a great opportunity from an investment perspective.

13. Financials

At last, we’ve arrived at everybody’s least favorite section of the business plan: Financials !

Your Financials section comes last after what we’ll call the more “narrative”-driven content that makes up the vast majority of your business plan.

It’s here where you’ll present your various spreadsheets, charts, tables, and graphs that communicate to investors your projections for the company in dollars and cents over the next few years. And while this is a numbers-dominant section, you’ll still want to back-up all of your figures with either a quick intro or summary explaining how you got there.

Because despite the fact that some people underplay financials as merely a guessing game, it’s crucial to remember that investors are looking for estimates, not guesses.

Simply put, you want to build your financial forecasts on a series of assumptions that incorporate as many known parameters as possible. Indicate how you arrived at these assumptions (maybe you compared them against similar products in the market, for example).

Some common elements included in your Financials section are:

Income Statement

A financial statement that showcases your revenues, expenses, and profit for a particular period and whether or not your business is profitable at that point in time.

Balance Sheet

A summary of your business’s net worth at a particular point, breaking it into assets, liabilities, and capital.

Cash Flow Projection

An estimate of the amount of cash that is expected to flow in and out of your business. Your cash flow projection will give you a good idea of how much capital investment you need to secure.

Break-Even Analysis

Just like it sounds, your break-even analysis helps you determine when your total revenue equals your total expenses. In other words, your break-even point. The total profit here equals 0.

If this sounds intimidating, it’s because it kind of is. On the plus side, there are some great online tools available designed to help you create super sleek financials and still maintain your sanity.

We’ve spent time picking apart each core component of a business plan, and as it has probably become abundantly clear, each section is essentially its own in-depth presentation within the overarching plan itself.

While no two business plans will ever be exactly the same, the key takeaway here is that every great plan incorporates the same basic elements that give investors the information they need when determining whether your business idea has legs or not.

Now that you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and finally launch into the writing process , you can refer back to this as you start tailoring these elements to your specific business. If you find yourself getting hung up along the way, check out one of our many other resources on business planning to help you tackle this project head-on!

Karlina Popwell

This article was immensely helpful. Thank you for writing in such a thorough manner. Very grateful!!

Upgrade to join the discussion.

The 10 Key Components of a Business Plan

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1 million entrepreneurs and business owners write business plans. These plans have been used to raise funding and grow countless businesses.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

From working with all these businesses, we know what the 10 elements in any great business plan. Providing a comprehensive assessment of each of these components is critical in attracting lenders, angel investors, venture capitalists or other equity investors.

Get started with a title page that includes your company name, logo and contact information, since interested readers must have a simple way to find and reach out to you. After that be sure to include the 10 parts of a business plan documented below.

What are the 10 Key Components of a Business Plan?

The 10 sections or elements of a business plan that you must include are as follows:

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary provides a succinct synopsis of the business plan, and highlights the key points raised within. It often includes the company’s mission statement and description of the products and services. It’s recommended by me and many experts including the Small Business Administration to write the executive summary last.

The executive summary must communicate to the prospective investor the size and scope of the market opportunity, the venture’s business and profitability model, and how the resources/skills/strategic positioning of the company’s management team make it uniquely qualified to execute the business plan. The executive summary must be compelling, easy-to-read, and no longer than 2-4 pages.  

2. Company Analysis

This business plan section provides a strategic overview of the business and describes how the company is organized, what products and services it offers/will offer, and goes into further detail on the business’ unique qualifications in serving its target markets. As any good business plan template will point out, your company analysis should also give a snapshot of the company’s achievements to date, since the best indicator of future success are past accomplishments.

3. Industry or Market Analysis

This section evaluates the playing field in which the company will be competing, and includes well-structured answers to key market research questions such as the following:

• What are the sizes of the target market segments?
• What are the trends for the industry as a whole?
• With what other industries do your services compete?

To conduct this market research, do research online and leverage trade associations that often have the information you need.  

4. Analysis of Customers

The customer analysis business plan section assesses the customer segment(s) that the company serves. In this section, the company must convey the needs of its target customers. It must then show how its products and services satisfy these needs to an extent that the customer will pay for them.

The following are examples of customer segments: moms, engaged couples, schools, online retailers, teens, baby boomers, business owners, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of business you operate as different segments often have different needs. Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. With regards to psychographic variables, discuss whether your customers have any unique lifestyles, interests, opinions, attitudes and/or values that will help you market to them more effectively.

5. Analysis of Competition

All capable business plan writers discuss the competitive landscape of your business. This element of your plan must identify your direct and indirect competitors, assesses their strengths and weaknesses and delineate your company’s competitive advantages. It’s a crucial business plan section.

Direct competitors are those that provide the same product or service to the same customer. Indirect competitors are those who provide similar products or services. For example, the direct competitors to a pizza shop are other local pizza shops. Indirect competitors are other food options like supermarkets, delis, other restaurants, etc.

The first five components of your business plan provide an overview of the business opportunity and market research to support it. The remaining five business plan sections focus mainly on strategy, primarily the marketing, operational, financial and management strategies that your firm will employ.

6. Marketing, Sales & Product Plan

The marketing and sales plan component of your business plan details your strategy for penetrating the target markets. Key elements include the following:

• A description of the company’s desired strategic positioning
• Detailed descriptions of the company’s product and service offerings and potential product extensions
• Descriptions of the company’s desired image and branding strategy
• Descriptions of the company’s promotional strategies
• An overview of the company’s pricing strategies
• A description of current and potential strategic marketing partnerships/ alliances

7. Operations Strategy, Design and Development Plans

These sections detail the internal strategies for building the venture from concept to reality, and include answers to the following questions:

• What functions will be required to run the business?
• What milestones must be reached before the venture can be launched?
• How will quality be controlled?

8. Management Team

The management team section demonstrates that the company has the required human resources to be successful. The business plan must answer questions including:

• Who are the key management personnel and what are their backgrounds?
• What management additions will be required to make the business a success?
• Who are the other investors and/or shareholders, if any?
• Who comprises the Board of Directors and/or Board of Advisors?
• Who are the professional advisors (e.g., lawyer, accounting firm)?

9. Financial Plan

The financial plan involves the development of the company’s revenue and profitability model. These financial statements detail how you generate income and get paid from customers,. The financial plan includes detailed explanations of the key assumptions used in building the business plan model, sensitivity analysis on key revenue and cost variables, and description of comparable valuations for existing companies with similar business models.

One of the key purposes of your business plan is to determine the amount of capital the firm needs. The financial plan does this along with assessing the proposed use of these funds (e.g., equipment, working capital, labor expenses, insurance costs, etc.) and the expected future earnings. It includes Projected Income Statements, Balance Sheets (showing assets, liabilities and equity) and Cash Flow Statements, broken out quarterly for the first two years, and annually for years 1-5.

Importantly, all of the assumptions and projections in the financial plan must flow from and be supported by the descriptions and explanations offered in the other sections of the plan. The financial plan is where the entrepreneur communicates how he/she plans to “monetize” the overall vision for the new venture. Note that in addition to traditional debt and equity sources of startup and growth funding that require a business plan (bank loans, angel investors, venture capitalists, friends and family), you will probably also use other capital sources, such as credit cards and business credit, in growing your company.

10. Appendix

The appendix is used to support the rest of the business plan. Every business plan should have a full set of financial projections in the appendix, with the summary of these financials in the executive summary and the financial plan. Other documentation that could appear in the appendix includes technical drawings, partnership and/or customer letters, expanded competitor reviews and/or customer lists.

Find additional business plan help articles here.

Expertly and comprehensively discussing these components in their business plan helps entrepreneurs to better understand their business opportunity and assists them in convincing investors that the opportunity may be right for them too.

In addition to ensuring you included the proper elements of a business plan when developing your plan always think about why you are uniquely qualified to succeed in your business. For example, is your team’s expertise something that’s unique and can ensure your success? Or is it marketing partnerships you have executed? Importantly, if you don’t have any unique success factors, think about what you can add to make your company unique. Doing so can dramatically improve your success. Also, whether you write it on a word processor or use business plan software , remember to update your plan at least annually. After several years, you should have several business plans you can review to see what worked and what didn’t. This should prove helpful as you create future plans for your company’s growth.

Download The 10 Key Components of a Business Plan Here

How to Finish Your Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Click here to finish your business plan today.

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies that have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink business plan consultants can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

7 Key Components of a Precise Business Plan (2024)

Learn the art of entrepreneurship with a business plan. Dive into executive summaries, discover templates, and understand what to include for a strategic edge.

Hadar Peretz

7 minute read

Short answer

What is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a strategic document outlining a company's vision, objectives, market analysis, marketing and sales strategies, organizational structure, and financial projections to guide its growth.

Innovation in Planning: The Untold Ingredient to Business Success

In the turbulent landscape of entrepreneurship, where over 20% of small ventures falter in their early days , this blog post sheds light on the importance of a well-structured business plan.

It delves into the specifics of an executive summary, steps, what to include, and innovation in business planning , guiding businesses to thrive rather than become failure statistics.

3 Main Purposes of a Business Plan

Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey without a business plan is like sailing in turbulent waters without a map.

A business plan serves three pivotal roles that steer the helm of a startup toward the shores of success.

1) Navigation Tool: Direction for Your Business

A business plan is your business’s North Star, providing direction and ensuring you stay on course amidst the storm of uncertainties.

Let’s take the example of “Bean There Coffee Shop,” a start-up that envisioned being a community hub. Their business plan outlined their mission, target market, competition analysis, and financial forecasts.

This helped them navigate the competition and establish a loyal customer base by providing a cozy ambiance that encouraged customer interaction.

2) Attraction for Investments: Encouraging Potential Investors

Your business plan is your passport to the realm of investors. Bean There Coffee Shop required a modern interior to reflect its brand's personality.

The detailed business plan showcased their unique selling proposition to investors, who were enticed by the predicted ROI and agreed to fund the renovations.

3) Measurement of Success: Evaluating Progress and Growth

A business plan sets a baseline to measure progress. Bean There Coffee Shop sets quarterly targets for customer retention and revenue in its business plan.

By comparing actual performance with the plan, they gauged their success and identified areas for improvement.

6 Key Elements of a Business Plan

Drafting a business plan might seem daunting initially, but breaking it down into core components makes it manageable and effective.

It’s about telling your business’s story in a compelling way to garner support and guide your actions.

1) Executive Summary

The executive summary is your business narrative condensed into a snapshot. For instance, the executive summary of Bean There Coffee Shop encapsulated its vision, mission, the experience it aimed to provide, and financial aspirations succinctly, giving readers an essence of what to expect in the subsequent sections.

For more information on executive summary design, delve into the design aspects of an executive summary. To glean insights on crafting a compelling and visually appealing executive summary for your startup venture.

2) Company Description

Delve into the what and why of your business. Bean There Coffee Shop described its longing to foster community interactions, reflecting its ethos in its service and interior design , resonating with the locals and creating a clientele.

3) Market Analysis

Understanding your market landscape is crucial. Analyze your competitors, the preferences of your target audience, and market trends.

For Bean There Coffee Shop, studying coffee consumption trends and identifying a locale lacking a community-centric cafe was a game-changer.

4) Organization and Management

Outline your business structure and team. Investors want to know who steers the ship.

At Bean There Coffee Shop, the experienced baristas and a seasoned manager showcased a competent team, instilling confidence in potential investors.

5) Product Line

Describe your offerings. Bean There Coffee Shop highlighted its organic coffee and locally sourced pastries, striking a chord with environmentally conscious consumers.

6) Marketing and Sales

How you plan to lure customers and keep them coming back is vital. Bean There Coffee Shop’s loyalty programs and community events were a hit, creating a buzz and building a loyal customer base.

What is a Business Plan in Entrepreneurship?

In the realm of entrepreneurship, a business plan goes beyond being just a document—it is a vibrant testament to your business vision and the roadmap illustrating how you aim to overcome challenges and achieve your objectives.

It's like the script of your entrepreneurial saga waiting to unfold.

A Framework for Strategy

A business plan embodies the strategy and operations of your entrepreneurial endeavor. Here's a simplified breakdown of what it may encompass:

Market Analysis: A thorough exploration of the market including size, demographics, and consumer behaviors.

Competitor Analysis: A detailed examination of competitors, their strengths, weaknesses, and market position.

Marketing Strategy: Tactics and channels you plan to use to promote your business.

Financial Projections: Anticipated income, expenses, and profitability over a certain period.

Risk Management

Venturing into entrepreneurship is akin to navigating turbulent waters, where risks are inevitable. A business plan aids in:

Identifying Potential Risks: Whether it's market fluctuation or operational challenges, a business plan helps in foreseeing possible hurdles.

Devising Contingency Plans: Strategies to mitigate identified risks, ensuring the business stays on the right track.

For instance, a cafe's business plan might highlight the risk of decreased foot traffic during winter months and propose hosting indoor events or offering seasonal promotions to maintain revenue.

Communication with Stakeholders

A business plan serves as a conduit between entrepreneurs and stakeholders, articulating the business vision, goals, and strategies.

When seeking investments for expansion, a well-drafted business plan can effectively communicate the growth potential and return on investment to investors, facilitating the funding process.

7 Steps of a Business Plan

Creating a business plan is a blend of art and science, distilled into seven systematic steps to ensure your entrepreneurial venture is on a trajectory toward success.

1) Research, Research, and Research

Before you set pen to paper, immerse yourself in thorough research about your industry, market, and competition. This step lays the groundwork for informed decision-making as you progress through subsequent stages of business planning.

Industry Insights: Delve into current industry trends, challenges, and opportunities to gain a comprehensive understanding.

Market Dynamics: Explore market demographics, customer preferences, and purchasing behaviors to tailor your business approach.

Competitor Analysis: Assess the strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning of competitors to identify your business’s unique selling proposition.

2) Defining Your Business Objectives

Having clear objectives is crucial. Whether it's capturing market share, hitting revenue targets, or achieving expansion goals, defining these objectives paves the way for a focused strategy.

Establishing well-defined objectives also serves as a yardstick for measuring your business’s performance over time.

3) Company Description

Articulate the ethos, offerings, and unique value proposition of your business.

Providing a compelling company description helps stakeholders, including potential investors and employees, to grasp your business's mission and the problems it aims to solve

4) Market Analysis

Delve into market trends, customer behavior, and competition analysis to tailor your strategies.

A robust market analysis provides the data necessary to target your audience effectively and position your business for success in a competitive landscape.

5) Organization and Management

Detail your organizational structure, key team members, and their expertise.

Illustrating a solid organizational structure demonstrates your business’s capacity to execute its strategies and achieve its objectives.

6) Service or Product Line

Describe your products or services, highlighting the benefits to customers. Detailing the attributes and advantages of your offerings allows stakeholders to understand the value your business brings to the market.

7. Marketing and Sales

Illustrate your marketing and sales strategy to attract and retain customers.

Outlining clear strategies for marketing and sales is crucial for driving business growth and achieving your financial objectives.

Market Positioning: Define how your products or services will be positioned in the market and how you intend to differentiate your offerings from competitors.

Promotional Strategies: Outline the various promotional tactics you will employ, such as social media marketing, search engine optimization, and paid advertising.

Sales Process: Describe the steps of your sales process from lead generation to closing sales, and identify the metrics you will use to measure sales effectiveness.

Customer Retention: Highlight the strategies for customer retention such as loyalty programs, excellent customer service (through call centers and customer relationship management software), and regular engagement to keep customers coming back.

Pricing Strategy: Determine the pricing strategy that will be most effective for your market, considering factors like cost, competition, and perceived value.

Time to Master Your Business Pitch

Now that you have a robust business plan, it’s time to translate it into a compelling business pitch.

The mastery of your pitch lies in knowing your audience, presenting data compellingly, and choosing the right format for resonance.

Understanding Audience Expectations

Understanding your audience is pivotal. Tailoring your pitch to meet the expectations of investors, potential partners, or customers enhances its effectiveness significantly.

Here’s our CEO, Itai Amoza, discussing the key elements that make a presentation engaging:

Emphasizing Data Visualization for a Better Appeal

Visual presentation of data, through graphs or charts, can make complex information easily digestible.

Using the right data visualization tools can effectively narrate the story of your venture compellingly.

PDF (conservative) vs. Interactive

Choosing between a traditional PDF or interactive presentations like those on Storydoc or PowerPoint can significantly impact the engagement level of your audience.

Interactive formats allow for dynamic presentations with embedded videos and other multimedia elements making your pitch more engaging and memorable.

Consider Business Plan One-pager

Creating a one-page business plan rather than a multi-page business plan involves summarizing your business's essential aspects concisely.

This includes your value proposition, company overview, market analysis, the problem and solution, marketing strategy, financial projections, and a call to action for potential investors or partners.

Ready to Narrate Your Story? Begin with This Business Plan Template

Ah, the exhilarating journey of a startup. It's like crafting a story, with characters, plots, and a dash of suspense on what the next chapter brings.

Now, before you get swept away in this narrative, remember, that every good story needs a structured outline, and in the startup world, that outline is your business plan.

Pick a business plan one-pager template:

Create story from scratch

I am a Marketing Specialist at Storydoc, I research, analyze and write on our core topics of business presentations, sales, and fundraising. I love talking to clients about their successes and failures so I can get a rounded understanding of their world.

Found this post useful?

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Get notified as more awesome content goes live.

(No spam, no ads, opt-out whenever)

You've just joined an elite group of people that make the top performing 1% of sales and marketing collateral.

Create your best presentation to date

Try Storydoc interactive presentation maker for 14 days free (keep any presentation you make forever!)

9 Components of a Strong Business Plan with Checklist

Table of contents.

Creating a strong business plan is essential for outlining your business strategy, securing funding, and guiding your company toward success. Here are the key components, along with detailed descriptions, recommendations, and common pitfalls to avoid for each:

9 Components of a Strong Business Plan With Checklist

1. executive summary.

An overview of your business plan, highlighting the key points.

• Be concise and compelling.
• Include your business name, location, and mission statement.
• Summarize the product/service, market, and financial highlights.
• Avoid too much detail.
• Don’t use jargon or technical language.
• Don’t skip this section; it’s crucial for first impressions.

2. Company Description

Information about your business, what it does, and its goals.

• Clearly state your business structure and ownership.
• Describe your business history and current status.
• Outline your short and long-term goals.
• Don’t be vague about your objectives.
• Avoid overly technical descriptions.
• Don’t neglect the importance of this section for investors.

3. Market Analysis

Research on your industry, market size, expected growth, and target customers.

• Use reliable sources for your data.
• Identify your target market and their needs.
• Analyze your competition and market trends. Business Analytics – Exceediance
• Don’t base your analysis on assumptions. 15 Important FAQs about Business Analytics – Exceediance
• Avoid outdated or irrelevant data.
• Don’t ignore potential market risks.

4. Organization and Management

The organizational structure of your business and details about the ownership and management team.

• Include an organizational chart.
• Provide bios of the management team.
• Highlight relevant experience and skills. :
• Don’t omit key team members.
• Avoid generic descriptions of roles.
• Don’t overlook the importance of team dynamics.

5. Products or Services

Description of the products or services your business offers.

• Clearly explain what you offer and how it benefits customers.
• Include details on the product lifecycle and any R&D.
• Highlight what makes your offering unique.
• Don’t be too technical or complex.
• Avoid incomplete descriptions.
• Don’t forget to address customer needs and benefits.

6. Marketing and Sales Strategy

How you plan to attract and retain customers.

• Outline your marketing strategy, including pricing, promotion, and distribution.
• Describe your sales process and tactics.
• Include your branding strategy.
• Don’t be overly ambitious without justification.
• Avoid ignoring the costs associated with marketing strategies.
• Don’t forget to include measurable goals.

7. Funding Request

If seeking funding, detail your funding requirements, potential future funding requirements, and how you will use the funds.

• Be specific about the amount needed.
• Explain how funds will be used.
• Outline your future financial plans.
• Don’t ask for more than you need without justification.
• Avoid vague descriptions of fund usage.
• Don’t neglect repayment or return on investment plans.

8. Financial Projections

Provide financial forecasts including income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets for the next three to five years. Recommendations:

• Base projections on solid data and realistic assumptions.
• Include a break-even analysis.
• Explain your assumptions and methodologies.
• Don’t overestimate revenue or underestimate expenses.
• Avoid using inconsistent financial figures.
• Don’t forget to update projections regularly.

9. Appendix

Supplementary information such as resumes, permits, lease agreements, legal documentation, and other pertinent documents.

• Include only relevant and necessary documents.
• Organize the appendix logically.
• Reference the appendix in the main sections of your plan.
• Don’t overload the appendix with unnecessary information.
• Avoid including outdated documents.
• Don’t assume investors will read it without a compelling reason.

A strong business plan is comprehensive yet concise, clearly communicating your business’s strategy, goals, and potential. By following these recommendations and avoiding common pitfalls, you can create a robust plan that guides your business toward success and attracts potential investors.

AI ASSISTANTS

Upmetrics AI Your go-to AI-powered business assistant

AI Writing Assist Write, translate, and refine your text with AI

AI Financial Assist Automated forecasts and AI recommendations

TOP FEATURES

AI Business Plan Generator Create business plans faster with AI

Financial Forecasting Make accurate financial forecasts faster

INTEGRATIONS

QuickBooks Sync and compare with your QuickBooks data

Strategic Planning Develop actionable strategic plans on-the-go

AI Pitch Deck Generator Use AI to generate your investor deck

Xero Sync and compare with your Xero data

See how easy it is to plan your business with Upmetrics: Take a Tour  →

AI-powered business planning software

Very useful business plan software connected to AI. Saved a lot of time, money and energy. Their team is highly skilled and always here to help.

- Julien López

BY USE CASE

Secure Funding, Loans, Grants Create plans that get you funded

Starting & Launching a Business Plan your business for launch and success

Validate Your Business Idea Discover the potential of your business idea

E2 Visa Business Plan Create a business plan to support your E2 - Visa

Business Consultant & Advisors Plan with your team members and clients

Incubators & Accelerators Empowering startups for growth

Business Schools & Educators Simplify business plan education for students

Students & Learners Your e-tutor for business planning

• Sample Plans

WHY UPMETRICS?

Reviews See why customers love Upmetrics

Customer Success Stories Read our customer success stories

Blogs Latest business planning tips and strategies

Strategic Planning Templates Ready-to-use strategic plan templates

Business Plan Course A step-by-step business planning course

Help Center Help & guides to plan your business

Ebooks & Guides A free resource hub on business planning

Business Tools Free business tools to help you grow

10 Essential Components of a Business Plan and How to Write Them

Business Plan Template

• July 15, 2024
• 13 Min Read

Entrepreneurs who write a business plan are 16% more likely to achieve business viability than those who don’t.

More and more entrepreneurs are realizing this and are choosing to write a business plan that corresponds with their vision.

Whether you are writing a lean plan or a detailed comprehensive plan—it must touch certain key points to aid in strategic decision-making and goal achievement.

Well, this blog post is here to help you. It talks about the 10 Business Plan Components that are quintessential for most plans.

So without beating around the bush, let’s dive right in.

10 Important Business Plan Components

Let’s now understand the key components that make a sound business plan.

1. Executive summary

The executive summary is one of the most important parts of a business plan. It’s the first thing potential investors will read and should therefore provide a clear overview of your business and its goals.

In other words, it helps the reader get a better idea of what to expect from your company. So, when writing an executive summary of your business, don’t forget to mention your mission and vision statement.

Mission statement

A mission statement is a brief statement that outlines your business objectives and what you want to achieve. It acts as a guiding principle that informs decisions and provides a clear direction for the organization to follow.

For instance, Google’s mission is to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” It’s short, inspiring, and immediately communicates what the company does.

A mission statement should be realistic, and hint towards a goal that is achievable in a reasonable amount of time with the resources you currently have or are going to acquire in the near future.

Vision statement

While a mission statement is more actionable and has an immediate effect on the daily activities of the company, a vision statement is more aspirational and has a much broader scope.

In other words, it highlights where the company aims to go in the future and the positive change it hopes to make in the world within its lifetime.

2. Company description

The second component of your business plan is the company description. Here, you provide a brief overview of your company, its products or services, and its history. You can also add any notable achievements if they are significant enough for an investor to know.

A company overview offers a quick bird’s-eye view of things such as your business model, operational capabilities, financials, business philosophy, size of the team, code of conduct, and short-term and long-term objectives.

Products and services

The products and services part of your company description explains what your business offers to its customers, how it’s delivered, and the costs involved in acquiring new customers and executing a sale.

Company history

Company history is the timeline of important events for your business from its origin to the present day. It includes a brief profile of the founder(s) and their background, the date the company was founded, any notable achievements and milestones, and other similar facts and details.

If you’re a startup, you’ll probably not have much of a history to write about. In that case, you can share stories of the challenges your startup faced during its inception and how your team overcame them.

3. Market analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan provides an in-depth analysis of the industry, target market, and competition. It should underline the risks and opportunities associated with your industry, and also comment on the attributes of your target customer.

Demographics and segmentation

Understanding the demographics of your customers plays a big role in how well you’re able to identify their traits and serve them.

By dividing your target audience into smaller and more manageable groups, you can tailor your services and products to better meet their needs.

You can use demographics such as age, gender, income, location, ethnicity, and education level to better understand the preferences and behaviors of each segment, and use that data to create more effective marketing strategies.

Target market and size

Understanding your target market lies at the core of all your marketing endeavors. After all, if you don’t have a clear idea of who you’re serving, you won’t be able to serve well no matter how big your budget is.

For instance, Starbucks’ primary target market includes working professionals and office workers. The company has positioned itself such that many of its customers start their day with its coffee.

Estimating the market size helps you know how much scope there is to scale your business in the future. In other words, you’re trying to determine how much potential revenue exists in this market and if it’s worth the investment.

Market need

The next step is to figure out the market need, i.e., the prevalent pain points that people in that market experience. The easiest way to find these pain points is to read the negative reviews people leave on Amazon for products that are similar to yours.

The better your product solves those pain points, the better your chances of capturing that market. In addition, since your product is solving a problem that your rivals can’t, you can also charge a premium price.

To better identify the needs of your target customers, it helps to take into account things such as local cultural values, industry trends, buying habits, tastes and preferences, price elasticity, and more.

4. Product Summary

The product summary section of your business plan goes into detail about the features and benefits that your products and services offer, and how they differ from your competitors. It also outlines the manufacturing process, pricing, cost of production, inventory, packaging, and capital requirements.

5. Competitive analysis

Unless you’ve discovered an untapped market, you’re probably going to face serious competition and it’s only going to increase as you scale your business later down the line.

This is where the competitive analysis section helps. It gives an overview of the competitive landscape, introduces your direct and indirect competitors, and highlights their strengths and market share.

In such an environment, it helps to have certain competitive advantages against your rivals so you can stand out in the market.

Simply put, a competitive advantage is the additional value you can provide to your customers that your rivals can’t—perhaps via unique product features, excellent customer service, or more.

Want to Perform Competitive Analysis for Your Business?

Discover your competition’s secrets effortlessly with our user-friendly and Free Competitor Analysis Generator!

6. Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan is one of the most important business plan components. It explains how you plan to penetrate the market, position your brand in the minds of the buyers, build brand loyalty, increase sales, and remain competitive in an ever-changing business environment.

Unique selling proposition

A unique selling proposition (USP) conveys how your products and services differ from those of your competitors, and the added value those differences provide.

A strong USP will stand out in a competitive market and make potential customers more likely to switch to your brand—essentially capturing the market share of your rivals.

Marketing Plan

Your product might be unique, but if people don’t even know that it exists, it won’t sell. That’s where marketing comes in.

A marketing plan outlines strategies for reaching your target market and achieving sales goals. It also outlines the budget required for advertising and promotion.

You may also include data on the target market, target demographics, objectives, strategies, a timeline, budget, and the metrics considered for evaluating success.

Sales and distribution plan

Once people are made aware of your product, the next step is to ensure it reaches them. This means having a competent sales and distribution plan and a strong supply chain.

Lay out strategies for reaching potential customers, such as online marketing, lead generation, retail distribution channels, or direct sales.

Your goal here is to minimize sales costs and address the risks involved with the distribution of your product. If you’re selling ice cream, for example, you would have to account for the costs of refrigeration and cold storage.

Pricing strategy

Pricing is a very sensitive yet important part of any business. When creating a pricing strategy , you need to consider factors such as market demand, cost of production, competitor prices, disposable income of target customers, and profitability goals.

Some businesses have a small profit margin but sell large volumes of their product, while others sell fewer units but with a massive markup. You will have to decide for yourself which approach you want to follow.

Before setting your marketing plans into action, you need a budget for them. This means writing down how much money you’ll need, how it will be used, and the potential return you are estimating on this investment.

A budget should be flexible, meaning that it should be open to changes as the market shifts and customer behavior evolves. The goal here is to make sure that the company is making the best use of its resources by minimizing the wastage of funds.

7. Operations plan

The operations plan section of your business plan provides an overview of how the business is run and its day-to-day operations. This section is especially important for manufacturing businesses.

It includes a description of your business structure, the roles and responsibilities of each team member, the resources needed, and the procedures you will use to ensure the smooth functioning of your business. The goal here is to maximize output whilst minimizing the wastage of raw material or human labor.

8. Management team

At the core of any successful business lies a dedicated, qualified, and experienced management team overlooking key business activities.

This section provides an overview of the key members of your management team including their credentials, professional background, roles and responsibilities, experience, and qualifications.

A lot of investors give special attention to this section as it helps them ascertain the competence and work ethic of the members involved.

Organizational structure

An organizational structure defines the roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes, and authority of each individual or department in an organization.

Having a clear organizational structure improves communication, increases efficiency, promotes collaboration, and makes it easier to delegate tasks.

Startups usually have a flatter organizational hierarchy whereas established businesses have a more traditional structure of power and authority.

9. Financial Plan

Financials are usually the least fun thing to talk about, but they are important nonetheless as they provide an overview of your current financial position, capital requirements, projections, and plans for repayment of any loans.

A financial plan mainly includes detailed financial statements and a funding overview. Let’s check these components.

Financial Statements

A business plan should include detailed financial projections for the next couple of years. An investor would likely require an income statement, cash flow statement, balance sheet, and break-even analysis to understand the profitability, growth, and revenue of your business.

Along with your financial statements, you should also include an analysis of your startup costs, operating and administration costs, and forecasted sales.

Present these statements visually to make your financial plan easy to digest.

Funding requirements

Once an investor has read through your business plan, it’s time to request funding. Investors will want to see an accurate and detailed breakdown of the funds required and an explanation of why the requested funds are necessary for the operation and expansion of your business.

10. Appendix

The appendix is the last section of your business plan that includes additional supporting documents such as resumes of key team members, market research documents, financial statements, and legal documents.

In other words, anything important or relevant that couldn’t fit in any of the former sections of your business plan goes in the appendix.

And those are the essential business plan components you need to include in your plan.

Write your Business Plan with Upmetrics

A well-written business plan is an asset that navigates the business risks, optimizes the business strategies, and serves as a roadmap to help you achieve your business objectives.

Think about it and you will realize that the benefits of having a detailed business plan are ample. However, writing a business plan that covers these essential components and that too from scratch is a bit excessive.

Don’t worry. Using the Upmetrics business planning app you can streamline your planning process and create a detailed business plan in about 10 minutes.

Ready to create your plan?

Build your Business Plan Faster

with step-by-step Guidance & AI Assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you conduct a market analysis for a business plan.

To conduct market analysis, determine your industry and market size. Identify the emerging trends in your industry and the challenges that may arise. Analyze the market need and define your target audience by creating a buyer’s persona.

Competitors analysis is also a part of market analysis for which you will conduct a SWOT analysis of your top competitors.

Where can I find help writing a business plan?

You can use online business planning tools like Upmetrics , Bizplan, and even websites like SBA (Small Business Administration) to get resources and templates for writing a business plan.

What information is needed for the organization and management structure section?

To write your organization and management structure, you need a detailed overview of the people who would run your business. This includes people at the top, managerial positions, and administrative roles.

You also need an outline of organizational hierarchy and the flow of responsibilities and roles in your organization.

What should be included in a funding request section?

The funding section of business plans should outline your funding demand and explain your plans to utilize that fund. It should also include your repayment plan to help investors and banks evaluate your funding request.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

Reach Your Goals with Accurate Planning

, , , , , , .

.

.

, , .

More From Forbes

The 6 key components of writing a business plan.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Having prepared a good business plan before starting your venture can often be the difference between startup success and failure.  I am not saying you need a 50 page detailed report, as investors don't typically have the time to read them anymore.  But, it is more about taking the time to think through the below 6 key components of preparing a business plan, to make sure you know what you are up against in your industry and have reasonable foresight into where the business is heading in terms of go-to-market strategies and financial returns for the company and its investors.

1. Industry & Competition

To me, this is the most critical research that needs to be done upfront.  How large is your industry?  Who are the key competitors?  How quickly is the industry growing?  Are you a first mover, or entering a crowded space?  What share of the market is reasonable to capture for your business?  Investors like to invest in large, growing markets as a first mover with limited competition where a business can scale up to 10-20% share.  So, pitching them the "next Google search engine" is a very large market opportunity, but would be very difficult to build with large, well capitalized competitors in the search space that would aggressively defend their turf.  On the flip side, pitching them the newest patentable innovation in door hinges may be perceived as less competitive and disruptive in the marketplace, but the market is really small to build material scale.  You need that right intersection of large market opportunity, disruptive/defensible business and limited competition.

2.  Business/Revenue Model

Now that you have found your ripe industry opportunity, what kind of business are you building?  A hardware solution?  An installed software solution?  Software as a service?  And, more importantly, how are you going to make money?  One time purchase? Recurring monthly revenues?  Heavy repeat usage?  Where are your prices vs. competitors?  What value are you bringing vs. current solutions in the market?  Investors obviously prefer large and recurring revenue streams for disruptive businesses that bring terrific value to their customers.

3.  Sales & Marketing Plan

The next step is figuring out your go-to-market strategy?  Does the product appeal to business clients (B2B) or consumers (B2C)?  Is it dependent on building a big team of salespeople?  Does it require a heavy investment in consumer marketing?  If marketing, is it going to be driven by the search engines online or direct mailers or trade shows?   Does it require any social media or viral elements for success?  Typically, sales-driven B2B business are cheaper to launch than marketing-driven B2C businesses.  But, seed stage B2B businesses are sometimes harder to get investor interest, as they have a much longer sales cycle (e.g., read longer cash burn) and it is very difficult for a startup to break open new B2B relationships, especially one going after large corporations.  And, B2C businesses that can be virally grown online, are much preferred to ones requiring heavy investment in expensive TV, radio or print (which frankly you should never use to launch a business until the concept is proven out, given their heavy expense and long-term branding aspects of such media).  And, in all cases, make sure the marketing or sales investment makes sense for the scale of revenues you are trying to build (e.g., is there a reasonable customer cost of acquisition metric compared to traditional industry norms).  As a high level rule, shoot to keep your cost of acquisition per customer below the 20-30% of revenues range, and shoot for  lifetime value of customer revenues in the 8-10x your initial cost of acquisition.  Obviously, each company and industry has its specific nuances, where there are exceptions to the rule.

4.  Management Team

To me, this is the most important element to any business.  I would rather have an A+ management team in a B+ industry, than a B+ management team in an A+ industry.  You want a team that has "been there and done that" before in a start-up environment, and will not be experimenting and learning with your limited startup capital.  Please re-read my previous post for more details on  how to build a team for your startup  in a way that will most appeal to investors.

5. Cash Requirements

Sales and marketing investment will drive revenues.  Revenues will have a cost of sales.  And the business will have overhead and other employee costs.  That will determine how much of an operating loss you will need to fund.  On top of that, will be any capital expenditures that need to be put into R&D for your product, capex for your office or whatever.  So, fully think through your cash requirements before approaching an investor.  And, two words of wisdom: (i) investors prefer lower burn rate, lower cash need businesses (so a $1MM need has a better chance than a $10MM need); and (ii) whatever the model says you need, double it for your cash raise (as things ultimately go wrong and you will want a cushion in place, to prevent going back to investors looking for more later--most likely at worse terms).

6.  Investor Requirements/ROI

The last component is a sanity check more than anything else.  Over the next five years, will the investor (and you) realize a 3x return or a 10x return on their investment?  And, there are two drivers of that: (i) the scale of the revenues/profits in that period; and (ii) the valuation at which the investor invested their money, compared to the estimated valuation five years from now.   Obviously, investors are looking for 10x+ opportunities, given the 1,000 competitive business plans they get exposed to each year, so make sure your financial model gives them a reasonable chance to achieve such, either via scale or equity return.

Be sure to read my companion piece, Market Research for Startups , to tackle step one in this process.

George Deeb is a serial entrepreneur and growth consultant at  Red Rocket Ventures , and author of "101 Startup Lessons--An Entrepreneur's Handbook".

• Editorial Standards
• Forbes Accolades

Financial modeling spreadsheets and templates in Excel & Google Sheets

• Your cart is empty.

Mastering The Key Parts Of A Business Plan

When embarking on the journey of launching a new venture, having a well-structured business plan is paramount. It serves not only as a roadmap for your business’s growth and development but also as a tool to attract potential investors and partners. By clearly outlining your vision, goals, and strategies, a business plan helps you navigate the complexities of the market and make informed decisions. However, crafting a business plan can be daunting without a clear understanding of what to include. This article will guide you through the essential parts of a business plan, providing insights that will empower you to create a compelling and effective document.

The various components of a business plan work together to portray a comprehensive picture of your enterprise. From the executive summary to market analysis and financial projections, each section plays a critical role in demonstrating the feasibility and potential of your startup. By thoughtfully addressing each of these components, you’ll equip yourself with the tools necessary to communicate your business model clearly. Whether you are seeking financing, honing your strategy, or simply aiming for clarity in your goals, understanding these parts is fundamentally important. Let’s delve into each of these essential parts of a business plan to set your path towards success.

Essential Parts of a Business Plan for Startups

Creating a business plan can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into essential parts makes it manageable and beneficial. Whether you are just starting out or refining your current strategy, understanding the core components will help you establish a solid foundation for your startup.

First up is the Executive Summary . This section gives a brief overview of your business and should grab the reader’s attention. Summarize your business idea, mission statement, and the key points about the market and financial projections. Think of it as the elevator pitch for your entire plan. Make it engaging to encourage investors to read further!

Next, you have the Business Description . Here, you will provide a more detailed explanation of your business, including its structure, objectives, and the products or services you plan to offer. Be sure to include:

• The name of your business
• The industry in which you are operating
• The business model (B2B, B2C, etc.)
• Your unique value proposition

This clarity will help your audience understand what makes your business special.

The Market Analysis is another critical part of your plan. In this section, you will analyze your target market. Discuss your audience’s demographics, preferences, and behaviors. You should also include an assessment of your competition, detailing their strengths and weaknesses. Understanding your market can help you identify opportunities and threats, making your business more resilient.

Don’t forget about the Organization and Management section. Here, you lay out your business’s organizational structure and the team. Describe the roles and responsibilities of team members and highlight their expertise. If you have an advisory board or partners, mention them too. This shows investors who is steering the ship and gives them confidence in your management capabilities.

The next part is the Products and Services section. Discuss what you are selling or the services you provide. Include details like:

• Product descriptions
• Unique features
• Pricing strategy
• Benefits to your customers

Clarifying these points can help your audience see how your offerings meet market needs.

Then comes the Marketing and Sales Strategy . This is where you explain how you plan to attract and retain customers. Identify your promotional channels, such as social media, email marketing, or traditional advertising. Additionally, describe your sales process and any partnerships you intend to establish. A strong marketing strategy can differentiate you from competitors and drive growth.

Next up is the Funding Request . If you are looking for investment, this section is essential. Specify how much funding you need and how you plan to use those funds. Break down your financial needs into categories such as equipment, hiring staff, or marketing expenses. Being clear and transparent about your funding request can build trust with potential investors.

The Financial Projections follow next in your business plan. Provide detailed forecasts for the next three to five years. Include statements on:

• Projected income statements
• Cash flow statements
• Balance sheets

Use graphs and charts to make this information visually appealing. Solid financial projections show that you’ve done your homework and understand your business’s potential profitability.

Don’t forget the Appendix . This section is optional but can include extra information that supports your business plan. You could add resumes of key team members, legal agreements, or product images. This appendix provides depth and can be referred to later by investors.

Each part of a business plan plays a vital role in presenting your startup’s vision clearly and compellingly. By meticulously crafting each section, you enhance your chances of securing funding, attracting customers, and succeeding in your entrepreneurial journey. Always remember, a well-organized and thought-out plan is your roadmap to success.

How to Structure Each Section of a Business Plan

Creating a business plan can seem daunting, but understanding how to structure each section can make the process easier and more effective. A well-organized plan not only guides your business development but also impresses potential investors or partners. Each section should serve a specific purpose and should be crafted clearly and concisely. Here’s how you can format each area of your business plan.

Executive Summary

The executive summary is the first impression of your business plan. Start with a brief overview that captures attention. Include the following elements:

• Business Name and Location: State the name of your business and where it will operate.
• Mission Statement: Express your goals and values.
• Business Objectives: Highlight short-term and long-term goals.
• Products or Services: Give a snapshot of what you will offer.
• Financial Overview: Include key financial information, such as funding needs and anticipated profits.

Company Description

Your company description is where you provide detailed information about your business. Address the following points:

• Industry Overview: Describe the market you are entering and why it’s attractive.
• Business Model: Explain how your business will operate and make money.
• Legal Structure: Specify whether your business is a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, etc.
• Location: Discuss your physical or online presence, and why it’s strategic.

Market Analysis

Market analysis provides insights into the target audience and competitors. In this section, be sure to include:

• Target Market: Define your ideal customer with demographics and psychographics.
• Market Need: Identify the problem you’ll solve or the needs you’ll fulfill.
• Competition: Analyze your main competitors and their strengths and weaknesses.
• Market Trends: Discuss trends that could impact your business, such as economic or technology shifts.

Organization and Management

This section illustrates who will manage the business and how it is structured. Include the following:

• Organizational Structure: Use an organizational chart to show roles and responsibilities.
• Management Team: Provide bios for key team members, highlighting their experience and skills.
• Advisory Board: Mention any advisors or board members that bring additional expertise.

Products or Services

Detail your offerings in this section. Be clear and engaging, focusing on:

• Product Description: Provide specifics about your products or services.
• Unique Value Proposition: Explain what makes your offerings different or better than the competition.
• Lifecycle: Discuss the expected lifecycle of your products or services.
• Research and Development: Mention future offerings or enhancements you plan to develop.

Marketing Strategy

Your marketing strategy is crucial for enhancing visibility. Address these components:

• Marketing Objectives: Define what you aim to achieve, such as brand awareness or market penetration.
• Target Marketing: Specify how you will reach your audience through various channels.
• Pricing Strategy: Describe your pricing model and how it compares to competitors.
• Sales Strategy: Outline your sales funnel, from lead generation to closing.

Funding Request

If you are seeking funding, clearly state how much you need and what it will be used for:

• Funding Amount: State the total funding request.
• Use of Funds: Specify how the funds will be allocated.
• Future Financial Plans: Mention any anticipated future funding needs.

Financial Projections

To assure stakeholders of your financial health, present realistic projections:

• Revenue Projections: Forecast revenues for the next few years.
• Profit and Loss Statement: Include a projected profit-and-loss statement.
• Cash Flow Statement: Demonstrate expected cash flows.
• Break-even Analysis: Indicate when you expect to become profitable.

Writing a business plan involves precise structuring of each section to cover every essential aspect of your venture. By following this guide, you will have a comprehensive plan that communicates your business and its potential effectively.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Business Plan

Creating a business plan is an essential step in launching and running a successful business. However, many entrepreneurs fall into common traps that can weaken their plans and hinder their business growth. Being aware of these mistakes can help you craft a robust business plan that attracts investors and sets a solid foundation for your business’s future.

Overly Ambitious Projections

One of the most common pitfalls is creating financial projections that are far too optimistic. While it’s great to be ambitious, provide realistic numbers based on market research and industry standards. Investors want to see solid data that supports your forecasts.

• Research Industry Standards: Familiarize yourself with what similar businesses earn and their growth rates.
• Be Cautious with Growth Rates: If your plan shows exponential growth, illustrate how you’ll manage that growth effectively.

Neglecting Market Research

Skipping thorough market research can lead to misguided business decisions. Understanding your target audience, their needs, and the competitive landscape is crucial before entering a market.

• Identify Your Competitors: Explore who your competitors are and what they offer.
• Understand Your Customers: Gather data on customer preferences and behaviors to tailor your products or services accordingly.

Ineffective Executive Summary

The executive summary is often the first and most scrutinized part of a business plan. Failing to write a concise and compelling summary can cause potential investors to lose interest. Make sure to include essential information clearly and succinctly.

• Include Key Highlights: Summarize your vision, mission, product, and market potential in a few paragraphs.
• Present Financial Highlights: Offer a snapshot of projected revenue and funding needs.

Ignoring Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Every successful business has a unique selling proposition that differentiates it from competitors. If you don’t clearly articulate your USP in your business plan, it may confuse investors about your business’s value.

• Define What Makes You Unique: Highlight features, benefits, or customer service that set you apart.
• Demonstrate Value: Explain how your USP benefits your target customers and meets their needs better than alternatives.

Overcomplicating the Language

Using jargon or overly complex language can cloud your message and alienate readers. Aim for simplicity and clarity to ensure your ideas resonate with your audience.

• Use Plain Language: Avoid technical terms that may confuse your readers.
• Write for Your Audience: Tailor the tone and vocabulary to ensure it’s accessible to investors and stakeholders.

Failing to Update the Plan

A business plan isn’t a static document. New market trends, regulations, or shifts in consumer behavior can impact your strategy. Regular updates are essential to keep your plan relevant and effective.

• Schedule Reviews: Set aside time to revisit your business plan quarterly.
• Make Necessary Adjustments: Revise projections, strategies, or goals as needed based on new findings or changes in the market.

Neglecting Operational Details

While financials and marketing strategies often receive much attention, operational details are equally important. Outlining how your business will function on a day-to-day basis ensures that you have a structured approach to execute your plans.

• Identify Key Processes: Describe how products are made, marketed, and delivered.
• Set Clear Responsibilities: Clarify the roles and responsibilities of team members.

Avoiding these common mistakes in your business plan can significantly enhance your chances of success. Whether you are just starting or looking to grow an existing business, a well-prepared, realistic, and detailed business plan is vital. By focusing on clarity, research, and realistic expectations, you’ll create a roadmap that not only guides your business but also attracts the right investors who share your vision.

The Importance of Market Analysis in Business Planning

When you start a business, understanding the market is crucial. This is where market analysis comes in. It’s a powerful tool that helps you learn everything about your target audience, competitors, and the overall industry landscape. By conducting thorough market analysis as part of your business planning, you can make informed decisions that increase your chances of success.

Understanding Your Target Audience

Market analysis helps you identify who your customers are. Knowing this information is vital. You can segment your audience into various categories, such as:

• Demographics: Age, gender, income level, education, etc.
• Psychographics: Interests, values, lifestyle, etc.
• Behavioral patterns: Purchasing habits, brand loyalty, etc.

By gathering this data, you can tailor your products or services to meet the specific needs of your target market. This ensures that you’re not just creating something you think people want, but rather something they will actually buy.

Analyzing Competitors

Market analysis also involves studying your competitors. Knowing who they are and how they operate can give you an edge. You should look at:

• Product offerings: What are your competitors selling?
• Pricing strategies: How do their prices compare to yours?
• Marketing tactics: What approaches are they using to reach customers?
• Strengths and weaknesses: What are their key advantages and vulnerabilities?

This competitive insight allows you to differentiate your business. By understanding what makes your competitors successful—or not—you can shape your strategy to stand out in the marketplace.

Assessing Industry Trends

Another crucial aspect of market analysis is evaluating industry trends. This means keeping an eye on:

• Market size: Is the market growing or shrinking?
• Regulatory changes: Are there new laws that could impact your business?
• Technological advancements: Are new tools or software available that can improve your operations?

By staying updated on these trends, you can adapt your business plan accordingly. Whether it’s introducing new technologies or pivoting to meet changing consumer preferences, being aware of trends helps you remain relevant.

Improving Financial Forecasting

Effective market analysis contributes significantly to financial forecasting. By using collected data, you can project sales more accurately. This is important for:

• Budgeting: Knowing how much money you might make helps you allocate resources wisely.
• Sourcing funding: Investors want to see solid data that supports your revenue projections.
• Setting financial goals: Clear projections allow you to outline realistic milestones.

Having a grounded financial forecast means your business can grow sustainably.

Enhancing Marketing Strategies

A thorough market analysis lays the groundwork for effective marketing strategies. With insights into target audiences, competitor positioning, and industry trends, you can create marketing plans that resonate with potential customers. Focus on:

• Audience targeting: Reaching the right people with the right message maximizes engagement.
• Content creation: Informative and relatable content drives traffic and builds trust.
• Channel selection: Knowing which platforms your audience uses helps in optimizing outreach.

This ensures that your marketing dollars are spent efficiently, producing the best possible return on investment.

In the world of business, ignoring the importance of market analysis can lead to costly mistakes. It is not merely a step in the planning process; it is a foundation for making informed decisions. By understanding your audience, competitors, and market dynamics, your business can thrive in a competitive landscape. Remember, a strong market analysis is key to crafting a business plan that is not only visionary but also actionable and grounded in reality.

Financial Projections: Key Components of Your Business Plan

When creating a business plan, financial projections are some of the most critical components. They serve as a roadmap for your business’s financial future, helping you to plan and make informed decisions. Understanding the key elements of these projections can significantly increase your chances of success. In this article, we will break down the essential parts that make up effective financial projections.

Understanding Revenue Projections

Revenue projections estimate how much money your business expects to generate over a specific period. This estimation is vital for various reasons, including budgeting and securing financing. Typically, you will base your revenue projections on:

• Market Analysis: Understand your target market and estimate how many customers you can realistically reach.
• Pricing Strategy: Determine how much you will charge for your products or services.
• Sales Forecast: Predict the number of units you expect to sell within the given timeframe.

By accurately projecting your revenue, you can better manage your cash flow and give potential investors confidence in your business model.

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

The cost of goods sold is another crucial element in your financial projections. This figure represents the direct costs attributable to the production of the goods sold in your business. Knowing your COGS helps you develop a clear understanding of your profitability. To calculate COGS, consider:

• Materials: The costs of raw materials needed for production.
• Labor: The wages paid to those directly involved in producing your products.
• Overhead: Indirect costs that can be allocated to production, like utilities or rent for manufacturing space.

A good grasp of your COGS enables you to set your pricing effectively and manage your profit margins.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses are essential to understanding your overall financial health. These are the costs involved in running your business day-to-day but are not directly tied to the production of goods or services. Important components of operating expenses include:

• Fixed Costs: Expenses that don’t change with the volume of goods sold, such as rent and salaries.
• Variable Costs: Expenses that fluctuate depending on production levels, like shipping and materials.
• Marketing Expenses: The costs related to promoting your business and attracting customers.

Keeping a close eye on your operating expenses can help you to identify areas for cost reduction and improve your profitability.

Cash Flow Projections

Cash flow projections estimate the amount of cash that will flow in and out of your business over a specific period. This is vital for ensuring that you can meet your obligations and avoid cash shortages. Consider these key factors:

• Cash Inflows: This includes all the money coming into the business, such as revenues from sales, investments, or loans .
• Cash Outflows: These are all the expenses and costs that you need to pay out, from operating expenses to taxes.
• Timing: It’s crucial to consider when cash will be received versus when expenses are due.

Effective cash flow management can mitigate financial risks and ensure your business runs smoothly.

Projected Profit and Loss Statement

A projected profit and loss statement synthesizes all the above elements into a comprehensive view of your expected financial performance over a specified period. This document will include:

• Total Revenue: From your revenue projections.
• Total COGS: As calculated earlier.
• Gross Profit: Revenue minus COGS.
• Operating Income: Gross profit minus operating expenses.
• Net Profit: The final profit after all expenses are deducted.

A well-structured profit and loss statement will help you assess whether your business model is viable and sustainable.

Financial projections should be at the heart of your business plan. They guide you through the initial stages of your business, help to inform your strategies, and provide valuable insights for stakeholders. By understanding and meticulously preparing each component, you significantly enhance your chances of achieving financial success.

Crafting a Compelling Executive Summary

When creating a business plan, one of the most essential components is a well-crafted executive summary. This document acts as a snapshot of your overall business plan, capturing the key elements in a concise manner. It is often the first section investors, stakeholders, or potential partners read, so it needs to be engaging and informative.

To start with, the executive summary should provide a clear overview of your business concept. Consider addressing the following points:

• Business Goals: Define what your business intends to achieve in both the short and long term. Highlight any specific milestones you’ve set.
• Target Market: Identify who your ideal customers are. Describe their demographics and why they would be interested in your product or service.
• Value Proposition: Explain what makes your offering unique. What problem are you solving for your customers? This is your chance to showcase your competitive edge.
• Financial Highlights: Include key financial metrics such as projected revenue, expenses, and profitability timelines. Make sure to present these numbers clearly to catch the reader’s attention.
• Funding Requirements: If you are seeking investment, detail how much funding you need and how you plan to use it. Be specific about the impact this funding will have on your business growth.

Next, focus on the structure of your executive summary. Use brief, bullet-point statements and keep paragraphs concise to maximize readability. Aim for clarity to ensure your message isn’t lost in complex language or jargon. Remember, you want the reader to quickly grasp the essence of your business.

Another vital aspect is storytelling. People are more likely to remember a narrative. Craft a compelling story around your business journey and vision. Discuss your passion for the product or service and what inspired you to start your venture. This human element can help to engage potential investors, making your proposal more relatable.

To maintain the reader’s interest, it’s crucial to highlight your team’s qualifications. Briefly introduce key members and their backgrounds. Explain why they are the right people to execute this business plan. Demonstrating your team’s strengths can instill confidence in investors about your business’s potential.

In terms of length, an executive summary should ideally be one to two pages long. Each sentence must serve a purpose, so avoid filler content. Make sure to edit rigorously to eliminate any unnecessary information. This also means proofreading for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Presenting a polished document reflects professionalism.

Visual elements can also aid in catching the reader’s eye. While the executive summary is primarily text, infographics or charts can illustrate key financial data or market trends. Make sure any visuals are easy to interpret and directly relate to the summary’s content. This enhances understanding and retention of information.

Ensure your executive summary conveys action. End with a strong call to action that invites the reader to take the next step. Whether it’s scheduling a meeting, asking for feedback, or providing additional information, it’s essential to direct the reader’s energy toward how they can contribute or engage with your business.

A compelling executive summary is more than just a formality—it’s a critical tool for attracting interest and investment. By focusing on clarity, conciseness, and engagement, you can craft an executive summary that stands out and effectively showcases the potential of your business. Remember, this is your opportunity to make a lasting first impression. Don’t overlook its importance when drafting your business plan.

Adapting Your Business Plan for Different Audiences

When creating a business plan, one important factor to consider is your audience. Different stakeholders will have varying interests, backgrounds, and requirements. Adapting your business plan to meet these wants ensures it resonates more deeply. Here are key audiences you might engage with and how to tailor your content for each:

Investors are typically focused on financial returns and the potential for growth. When addressing this group, emphasize:

• Market Opportunity: Detail the market size, growth potential, and target demographic.
• Financial Projections: Include clear and concise financial forecasts. Graphs can be beneficial for visual representation.
• Exit Strategy: Explain the potential exit options for investors, whether through acquisition, public offerings, or other means.

Use straightforward language and highlight key metrics that can inspire confidence in your business’ success.

Employees and Team Members

A business plan for employees should focus on the company culture and operational aspects that keep the team engaged and productive. Important areas to cover include:

• Vision and Mission: Clearly communicate the company’s goals and values to foster a sense of belonging.
• Roles and Responsibilities: Outline how each team member contributes to the overall success of the business.
• Growth Opportunities: Highlight paths for personal and professional development within the organization.

This audience appreciates a more personable approach, so consider incorporating anecdotes or examples that reflect the company’s environment.

For customers, the emphasis should be on the product or service and its benefits. When modifying your plan for this demographic, ensure to cover:

• Value Proposition: Clearly state how your offering solves a problem or fulfills a need in the marketplace.
• Customer Experience: Describe the journey customers will experience when engaging with your business.
• Testimonials and Case Studies: Include real-life experiences from customers to build trust and credibility.

In your writing, utilize a compelling narrative that encourages potential customers to visualize their engagement with your brand.

Partners and Collaborators

When sharing your business plan with potential partners, focus on collaborative opportunities. Include key aspects such as:

• Synergies: Explain how partnerships can lead to mutual benefits. Highlight shared goals and objectives.
• Shared Responsibilities: Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expected outcomes for all parties involved.
• Strategic Alignment: Emphasize how your vision aligns with your partner’s goals for a stronger collaborative effort.

This approach nurtures a spirit of teamwork, helping partners see the advantages of working together.

Regulatory Bodies and Government Institutions

When presenting your business plan to regulators or governmental institutions, clarity and compliance are vital. You should focus on:

• Compliance Standards: Clearly outline how your business adheres to industry regulations and standards.
• Impact on Community: Highlight how your business benefits the local economy, creates jobs, and supports community development.
• Environmental Considerations: If applicable, discuss any sustainable practices or corporate social responsibilities your business is implementing.

Use formal tone and provide supporting documentation where necessary to convey professionalism and a commitment to compliance.

The effectiveness of your business plan hinges on how well you tailor it to address the needs of various audiences. Always remember that understanding your audience’s perspective is key to presenting a compelling case. By focusing on their specific interests and concerns while keeping your message clear and engaging, you are more likely to garner the support you need to bring your business vision to life.

Creating a robust business plan is fundamental to the success of any startup. By understanding the essential parts of a business plan, you can ensure that each section communicates your vision clearly and effectively. Structuring each section thoughtfully allows you to provide valuable insights into your business model, strategy, and market understanding.

Avoiding common mistakes is crucial; these pitfalls can undermine the credibility of your plan. Remember to ground your assertions in thorough market analysis, as it demonstrates that you have a clear grasp of trends and competitor dynamics. Financial projections are not just numbers; they represent forecasts of your business’s potential and are vital for securing funding.

Your executive summary serves as the first impression of your business plan, so crafting it compellingly can engage your audience right away. Also, adaptability is key—tailoring your business plan for different audiences ensures that your message resonates, whether you’re appealing to investors, partners, or even team members.

Ultimately, a well-rounded business plan serves as a roadmap for you and your team, guiding your startup through its critical early stages and beyond. With attention to detail in each of these areas, you position your business not just to survive but to thrive. Prioritize clarity, relevance, and purpose in your planning to pave the way for potential success and growth.

All My Financial Models, Spreadsheets, Templates, and Tools: 120+

Lifetime access to all future templates as well! Here is a set of spreadsheets that have some of the most valuable logic in the world. I have been thr... read more

•   All My Excel Tools  –  $499.00 Version 1

3D Printing (B2C) – 5-Year Financial Model

Specific logic that pertains to starting a 3D printing business.

•   Full Model  –  $45.00 Version 1

3D Printing Business Financial Model Excel Template

3D Printing Business Financial Plan Allows you to start planning with no fuss and maximum of help . Shop Now The 3D Printing Business financial projec... read more

•   Excel - Multi-User  –  $129.00 Version 1
•   Excel - Single-User  –  $99.00 Version 1
•   Free Demo  –  $0.00 Version 1

General Manufacturing Business Financial Model 10 years & Business Plan Template (Start-up or Expansion)

This Manufacturing Business Model is extremely versatile for virtually any type of Model. From basic Expenditure and Cost Inputs, we automatically pro... read more

•   Full Open Excel  –  $45.00 Version 1
•   Explainer PDF  –  $0.00 Version 1

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Business Planning

Business Model vs. Business Plan: Key Differences Explained

Written by Vinay Kevadiya

Published Sep. 24 2024 · 6 Min Read

“Failing to plan is planning to fail," as the old saying goes. This sentiment rings especially true in the modern business world.

For entrepreneurs, effective business planning can be the difference between a dream and a reality. And this reality hinges on two important blueprints: business models and business plans.

But what differentiates them, and when should you focus on each?

In this article, we will explore the key differences in the business model vs business plan debate and help you clarify these concepts.

What is a business model?

A business model is a plan that shows how a company creates, delivers, and captures value. It explains how a business operates, spends money, and makes money in a way that leads to profit.

A good business model answers key questions like:

• What problem are you solving?
• What is your target market?
• How much money do you need?
• What will you sell, and how will you make money?

Pricing and costs are the key factors that affect profitability.

Beyond the financials, some business models consider the broader social or cultural impact a company will have. Think of it as the exchange of value beyond just money–it's about the difference you'll make in your community or industry.

Here are some basic types of business models:

• Advertising: Show ads from other companies to specific groups of people. Think of platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube.
• Affiliate: Get a small commission for promoting other people's products. You've probably seen this on Amazon or through programs like ClickBank or Share-a-Sale.
• Franchise: Take a successful business model and let others open their own branches. You get a share of their profits. McDonald's and The UPS Store are prime examples.
• Bundling: Packaging multiple products or services together at a discounted price. (Common in telecoms.)
• Fee-for-service: Selling skills or expertise at an hourly rate or project-based fee. Consulting firms like McKinsey & Company and even freelance writers fall into this category.
• Freemium: Gives a basic version of something away for free, but you pay for the better version with more features. LinkedIn and Slack are the most common examples.
• Manufacturer: Takes raw materials and turns them into products people can buy. This is how we get cars, furniture, and even our phones.
• Pay-as-you-go: You only pay for what you use. Internet phone plans are the perfect example, where you buy internet data.

What is a Business Plan?

A business plan is your detailed guide, outlining everything from launching products and setting milestones to even planning your exit. It clearly defines what your company does, its long-term vision, and the strategies to achieve success.

In short, a business plan is your roadmap to growth.

Business plans typically come in two main styles: traditional and lean startup. The U.S. Small Business Administration notes that traditional business plans are the more commonly used format.

• Traditional business plans are like a detailed document for your business. They cover everything from your marketing strategy to your financial projections .
• Lean startup plans are more like a sketch–focusing on the core essentials. They highlight the key elements, like the problem you're solving, your target customers, and your unique value proposition.

Components of a business plan vs. business model

The components of your business model are the foundation of your business. They define your business operations and strategy for company success.

Here are some of the key ones you'll want to include when creating your business model:

• Customer segment
• Value proposition
• Revenue streams
• Customer relationships
• Key activities
• Key resources
• Key partners
• Cost structure

While a clear business model explains how your business works, a business plan is like your company's resume.

It’s a detailed document often shared with investors, lenders, and other stakeholders to give them a clear view of the company's potential for success.

Because of this, business plans tend to include more detailed sections, such as:

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Products and services
• Market analysis
• Customer analysis
• Competitor analysis
• Marketing and sales plan
• Operations plan
• Financial plan

Business model vs. business plan: what’s the difference?

Both business model and business plan are important for your business. However, they play unique roles at various stages of your business journey.

Let's break down those key differences:

When to use a business model vs. a business plan

A business model is best for early-stage startups or entrepreneurs who want to check or improve their ideas. It's a flexible organizational structure for outlining how your company will create and capture value for customers.

You can use a business model when you're:

• Testing the viability of a new business idea.
• Pitching the business concept to investors or partners.
• Evaluating revenue streams and cost structures.
• Making adjustments to an existing business or pivoting strategies.

A business plan is commonly used once a business idea has been approved or for businesses that are looking to grow or secure funding. It includes more detailed steps and formal strategies.

When to use a business plan:

• Seeking investment or loans.
• Managing long-term growth and scaling.
• Setting clear objectives and milestones for internal teams.
• Presenting a comprehensive roadmap to stakeholders.

For the best results, we recommend using both the business model and business plan together. Start with the business model to sketch out the essentials of your business and quickly test your ideas.

Once those ideas are approved, create a business plan to prep your execution strategy. This ensures that your detailed plan is rooted in a solid, tested foundation.

There's no single right way to choose between a business plan and a business model–it all depends on your specific goals.

Remember, planning is a continuous process. You can't just make a plan once and expect it to work forever!

To keep your business model and plan up-to-date, try a tool like Bizplanr. It uses AI to help you quickly create professional business plans, including essential financial projections, and makes it easier to move from idea to execution.

Get Your Business Plan Ready In Minutes

Answer a few questions, and AI will generate a detailed business plan.

Generate your Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both a business model and a business plan?

Yes, having both is ideal. The business model will lay out your revenue streams and how your business delivers value. On the other hand, a business plan will have strategies and steps to grow and manage the business. Together, they give a complete picture of how to operate and scale effectively.

Can a business plan include a business model?

Yes, a business model is usually part of the business plan. It forms the basis for understanding how you’ll generate income. The rest of the plan sheds more light on operational details like marketing and finances.

What is a better starting point, a business model or a business plan?

It’s generally advisable to start with a business model as it will give you a clear idea of how your business will create and capture value. Once that concept is clear, you can then create a detailed business plan to fill out the details like market research and strategies for execution.

How does a business model impact financial projections in a business plan?

It impacts because the business model defines revenue streams, cost structures, and pricing strategy. These details shape how you project your profits, losses, and cash flow in the business plan.

Is a business model canvas the same as a business plan?

No, they’re different tools. A business model canvas is a one-page snapshot that has key components like value propositions and customer segments. A good business plan is much more detailed. As it covers everything from market strategies to financial forecasts. The canvas helps with clarity, while the plan helps with execution.

As the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, Vinay Kevadiya has over 12 years of experience in business planning. He provides valuable insights to help entrepreneurs build and manage successful business plans.

Follow Vinay Kevadiya

Related Articles

What makes a good business plan

Pitch Deck Vs Business Plan: Which One Do You Need?

11 Common Business Plan Mistakes to Avoid in 2024

How to Write a Real Estate Business Plan That Secures Investors

Table of Contents

Nare Khachatryan

Business Analyst at PrometAI

In the competitive world of real estate , securing funding from investors isn't easy. In this post, you'll learn how to write a real estate business plan that investors can’t ignore. Plus, we'll show you how to use PrometAI's real estate business plan template to save time.

Why Do You Need a Real Estate Business Plan?

If you're serious about real estate, having a business plan for real estate is key. A real estate business plan gives you a clear path to follow and helps investors see your commitment.

Investors want to know how you plan to grow and make money. Without a solid real estate business planning , they may feel unsure about trusting you with their funds. A good plan will make them feel more confident about your business.

Think of it as a way to show that you’ve thought things through. You know where you're heading and how you’ll get there. This makes your real estate business stand out, giving you a better chance to attract the right investors.

Helpful Advice for Your Real Estate Business Planning Journey

When you're creating a business plan for real estate, it’s important to think beyond just your own goals. Investors need to see that you've carefully considered their concerns and the market. Here are some helpful tips to guide you on your real estate business planning journey:

1. Focus on Investor Goals, Not Just Your Own

It’s easy to focus on what you want out of your real estate business planning. But remember, investors have their own goals too. Show them how your plan will help them get a return on their money. Highlight how both of you can benefit.

2. Customize Your Financial Projections to What Investors Expect

Investors want to see numbers they can trust. When creating your financial plan, include the details that matter to them. Show realistic costs, profits, and timelines. Customize your projections so investors know you've done your homework.

3. Show Your Local Market Knowledge

Investors like when you know the market well. Make sure to include local trends, housing prices, and demand. Let them see you understand your area inside and out. Local market knowledge builds trust and makes your plan more solid.

4. Have a Clear Exit Strategy

Investors want to know how and when they’ll get their money back. That’s where having an exit strategy is key. A clear exit business plan shows them how you plan to sell or exit the business. It gives them confidence that their investment will pay off.

5. Avoid Common Mistakes When Seeking Investors

Don’t overlook key details. Many miss out by failing to show how they'll handle risks or changes in the market. Be honest about the challenges and how you’ll tackle them. Addressing these mistakes can help you avoid red flags for investors.

Real Estate Business Plan Structure: Key Components for Success

Here’s how to structure a business plan for real estate that will stand out to investors:

Executive Summary : A brief overview of your business and its potential.

Business Description : Explain what your real estate firm business plan focuses on—whether it’s property flipping, rentals, or development.

Market Analysis: Include facts, local data, and details on your competition.

Business Model : Explain how your business will make money.

Marketing and Sales Strategy : Show how you’ll find clients or tenants.

Operations Plan: Cover the day-to-day details of running your business.

Management Team: Highlight your team’s experience and strengths.

Financial Plan: Provide projections for the next 3-5 years.

Risk Analysis: Identify risks and explain how you’ll handle them.

Exit Strategy: Show how investors will get their money back, and when.

By following this real estate business plan structure, you'll cover everything investors care about.

Use PrometAI’s Real Estate Business Plan Templates to Create an Investor-Ready Plan

Writing a real estate business plan can feel overwhelming, but PrometAI makes it simple. With our real estate business plan sample, you can quickly build a plan that meets investor standards. Our templates are designed to save you time while covering all the important details.

You don't need to start from scratch—just customize the sample real estate business plan PDF to fit your needs. You can easily download any of our ready-to-use business plan templates in PDF format and start using them immediately. With PrometAI, creating an investor-ready plan is easier and quicker than ever!

Here are some key advantages of using PrometAI’s business plan templates :

Saves Time: Get a professional plan quickly without having to start from zero.

Investor-Ready: Each template is designed to meet the expectations of potential investors.

Easy Customization: Adjust the template to fit your specific business needs with ease.

Different Types of a Business Plan for Real Estate

When creating a business plan for real estate, it's important to choose the right type that fits your goals. Each real estate business plan serves a different purpose, whether you're an agent, investor, or developer. Understanding these types can help you build a plan that aligns with your specific needs and attracts the right investors. Below are the most common types of real estate business plans.

Real Estate Agent Business Plan

A business plan for real estate agents helps you stay focused and grow your career. It outlines how you'll find clients, market yourself, and handle the competition. You’ll also include goals for sales, income, and strategies for building strong client relationships. Having a clear plan shows you're organized and ready to succeed in a competitive market.

By laying everything out, you make it easier to track progress and adjust as needed. Investors or partners will see that you've thought through your path to success.

Real Estate Investment Business Plan

A real estate investment business plan helps you map out how to buy, manage, and grow properties. It includes details like your investment strategy, expected returns, and how you’ll handle risks. With a clear plan, you can show investors why your real estate investments are smart and profitable.

This type of plan also helps you stay on track with your goals and strategic decision-making process. It’s a useful guide for growing your real estate portfolio and attracting new partners or funding.

Real Estate Firm Business Plan

A real estate firm business plan is a roadmap for running a successful real estate company. It outlines your firm’s structure, services, and growth strategies. This plan includes how you’ll attract clients, hire agents, and compete in the market.

By creating a clear business plan, you can manage your firm more effectively and set achievable goals. It also helps show investors or partners that your firm is well-organized and ready for growth. A solid plan is key to making your real estate firm stand out.

Real Estate Brokerage Business Plan

A real estate brokerage business plan helps outline how you will manage and grow your brokerage. It includes strategies for recruiting agents, building client relationships, and standing out from other brokerages. You’ll also cover important details like finances, marketing, and your commission structure.

If you're looking for guidance, check out the Real Estate Brokerage Business Plan template on our website. Our real estate business plan template PDF is easy to download and customize for your specific needs. This template will help you create a clear and organized plan, making it easier to succeed.

Real Estate Development Business Plan

A real estate development business plan lays out your project ideas from start to finish. It covers how you’ll find land, secure permits, and manage construction. You’ll also include financial plans, timelines, and how you’ll market the finished properties.

This plan helps you stay organized and shows investors that your real estate projects are well thought out. With a solid real estate development business plan, you can manage risks, stay on budget, and make sure the project succeeds.

Creating a solid business plan for real estate is key to your success. Whether you're an agent, investor, or developer, a well-thought-out plan helps you stay on track and attract investors. With PrometAI’s real estate business plan template pdf, you can build your plan quickly and with less effort. Take the time to plan carefully, and you'll set yourself up for long-term growth in the real estate industry.

Related articles

In the competitive world of real estate, securing funding from investors isn't easy. In this post, you'll learn how to write a real estate business plan that investors can’t ignore.

8 Steps to Start a Small Clothing Business from Home in 2024

Starting a clothing line from home is a great way to get into the fashion world without spending a lot of money. Many people hold back because they worry about costs, time, or how to start. But with the right business plan, starting a home-based clothing business is easier than you think.

Why Data Analytics Simulation Matters in Strategic Decision Making

Markets change quickly, and new technologies keep popping up. It’s hard to make smart choices without good data. This is where Data Analytics Simulation Strategic Decision-Making comes in.

Unlocking the Power of AI: PrometAI's Business Blueprint AI Advantage

PrometAI uses AI to help businesses create better plans. With PrometAI, you get a clear roadmap for success. This is what we call the Business Blueprint AI Advantage.

What is a Stakeholder in Business? Identify Key Business Stakeholders

Understanding what is a stakeholder in business is key to any company’s success. Identifying and managing these business stakeholders is important. If you don’t, you might miss out on their valuable input or face conflicts.

Operational Planning vs. Strategic Planning: Key Differences Explained

Operational planning and strategic planning are key to every business. But many people mix them up. Knowing the difference can help you plan better for your business.

How To Make Financial Projections That Attract Investors? A Blueprint For Your Business Plan

Knowing how to make financial projections is key to building a solid business plan that attracts investors. Accurate financial projections help you plan for the future, manage risks, and show potential investors that you’re serious about growth.

The Role of Business Plans in Long-Term Business Forecasting Success

In today’s fast-changing business world, planning for the future is more important than ever. Business forecasting helps companies predict future trends, challenges, and opportunities.

How to Start a Business in Canada from USA: The Ultimate Guide

Expanding your business from the USA to Canada offers great new opportunities. Canada is known for its strong economy and business-friendly environment, making it an attractive option.

Building a Business Plan That Works for Canada Startup Visa Program

Starting a business in Canada for foreigners might seem challenging, but Canada Startup Visa Program can help make your dream a reality. A strong business plan is the key to getting your application approved.

When Would a Company Use a VRIO Analysis? 7 Key Scenarios

Understanding when would a company use a VRIO analysis can make a big difference in its success. In this blog, we’ll dive into the key scenarios when a company should put VRIO to use.

How to Use a Crypto Business Plan Template for Startups

Discover the best crypto business plan template for crypto startups. Create a winning strategy and attract investors with our easy-to-use business plan template.

How to Write a Business Proposal That Wins

Knowing how to write a business proposal that grabs attention is more important than ever. Writing a successful business proposal might seem challenging, especially with ever-changing business trends.

The Organizational Structure of a Company: A Guide for Business Plans

This guide will help you understand the different types of structures and why the organizational structure is important for a successful business plan.

Why Every Business Plan Needs a Strong Business Description

Creating a business plan is important for every company. One key part is the business description.

5 Reasons Why Every Startup Needs Business Plan Consulting Services

Along with the scientific and technical development in the modern business world, the need for new services arises. One such service is business plan consulting.

How To Write A Business Plan Template? 7 Major Elements

Turning your business idea into reality starts with knowing how to write a business plan template. This helps you map out your goals, strategies, and plans clearly.

From Startup to Sell-Off: The Importance of Business Exit Plans

In this blog, we’ll explore what a business exit plan is, when to create one, its benefits, types of exit strategies, and steps to develop your plan.

How to Calculate TAM SAM SOM? A Guide for Startups

Understanding your market size is crucial for any startup. Knowing your TAM, SAM, and SOM helps in business marketing, creating an effective marketing strategy, and performing a thorough market analysis.

10 Reasons to Use an AI Business Plan Generator

In today's competitive market, a solid business plan is crucial. Traditional methods can be slow and error-prone. An AI Business Plan Generator, like PrometAI, offers a faster, more accurate solution.

8 Practical Ways AI Improves Business Operations

In today's business world, staying competitive is crucial. Companies need to work smarter, not harder. This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in.

How to Impress Investors with Your Business Plan Presentation

Creating a business plan presentation is very important for anyone looking to get funding and support. It's your chance to show off your business idea and prove it can work.

What Is a Business Plan? Do You Really Need One?

In the busy world of startups and businesses, having a good business plan is very important.

The Importance of Business Glossary in Business Plans

Creating a strong business plan needs clarity and a good business plan structure. A key part of this is a business glossary.

Top Tools and Techniques for Effective Strategic Decision Making

Decision making in business often involves complex challenges and high stakes. Businesses face uncertainties and rapid changes that can impact outcomes. Strategic decision making is crucial for navigating these complexities and achieving long-term success.

• New visitor?
• Advertise with Us
• Write for us

Ask a Question | Questions | Login or Register

How to Create a Business Plan in Nigeria: Step-by-Step Guide with Templates

• by EMMA ONWUKA
• September 21, 2024 September 21, 2024

Creating a solid business plan is crucial for anyone looking to start or grow a business in Nigeria. A well-crafted business plan not only maps out your strategy but also demonstrates your vision to investors and stakeholders. It acts as a roadmap, guiding your business through challenges and helping you seize opportunities.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create a business plan in Nigeria, with the essential components of a business plan and show you how to tailor it to succeed in Nigeria’s unique market. We’ll cover everything from market research to financial projections, ensuring you’re equipped to create a robust business plan that stands out.

Understand What a Business Plan Is

A business plan is a written document that outlines your business goals, strategies, and the steps you’ll take to achieve them. It serves as a blueprint for your business , guiding your decisions and helping you stay on track. In Nigeria, a strong business plan is essential for attracting investors, securing loans, and navigating the competitive market.

There are several types of business plans you can create, including:

• traditional business plan 
• lean business plan
• strategic plans.

Each type serves a specific purpose, from detailed planning to quick overviews, depending on your business needs and goals.

Why You Need a Business Plan in Nigeria

In Nigeria’s competitive business environment, having a business plan is not just a formality; it’s a necessity. A well-structured business plan gives you a clear roadmap for success, helping you navigate challenges and seize opportunities in the market. It also plays a crucial role in attracting investors and securing funding, as it shows potential backers that you’ve thought through every aspect of your business. Beyond that, a business plan ensures you meet legal and regulatory requirements in Nigeria, keeping your business compliant and avoiding costly penalties.

How to Create a Business Plan in Nigeria: Step-by-Step Guide

Conduct thorough market research.

Before you start writing your business plan in Nigeria, thorough research is essential. Conducting market research helps you understand the Nigerian market, identify opportunities, and anticipate challenges. You’ll want to analyze your competitors closely to see what they’re doing right and where you can outshine them. Identifying your target audience is another critical step; knowing who your customers are and what they need will shape your entire business strategy. As you gather relevant data and insights, you’ll build a solid foundation for a business plan that resonates with the Nigerian market and sets you up for success.

 2. Outline Key Components of a Business Plan

When developing a business plan in Nigeria, covering the key components is essential to ensure your plan is both comprehensive and compelling.

– Executive Summary: Start with the Executive Summary , where you provide a brief overview of your business concept, clearly stating your business goals and mission. This section is crucial as it sets the tone for the rest of your plan, giving readers a snapshot of what your business aims to achieve.

– Company Description: Next, move on to the Company Description, where you outline your business structure and ownership details. Here, you’ll also mention your business location and the facilities you have or plan to acquire. This section helps potential investors understand the foundation of your business.

– Market Analysis: The Market Analysis is where you dive deep into the industry. Discuss current market trends, identify your target market, and segment your customers. A thorough competitive analysis will also show that you understand your position in the Nigerian market and how you plan to differentiate your business from competitors. For more insight, explore how to carryout market analysis for a business plan

– Organization and Management: In the Organization and Management section, outline your organizational structure and introduce key members of your management team. Highlight their experience and how their expertise will drive the business toward success.

– Products or Services: The Products or Services section is your chance to showcase what you’re offering. Provide a detailed description of your products or services, focusing on your unique selling proposition (USP) that sets you apart in the marketplace.

– Marketing and Sales Strategy: Your Marketing and Sales Strategy should outline how you plan to reach your customers and the channels you’ll use for marketing. Include your sales tactics and explain how you plan to acquire and retain customers in the Nigerian market.

– Operational Plan: The Operational Plan is where you detail the day-to-day operations of your business. Describe your production processes, facilities, and any technology requirements you’ll need to run your business efficiently.

– Financial Plan: The Financial Plan is a critical component that includes your financial projections , such as income statements, cash flow, and balance sheets. Clearly outline your funding requirements and how you plan to raise capital for your business .

– Appendix: Finally, include an Appendix with supporting documents like resumes, permits, and legal documents. This adds credibility to your business plan and provides additional information that can help investors or partners make informed decisions.

3. Write the Business Plan

Writing a business plan in Nigeria can seem daunting, but with the right approach, it becomes manageable and even rewarding. To start, break down each section of your plan and tackle them one by one. Here are some tips to ensure you write each section effectively.

First, be clear and concise in your writing. Investors and stakeholders should be able to quickly grasp your business concept, goals, and strategies without wading through unnecessary jargon. For the Executive Summary, keep it brief but impactful, as this is often the first section that readers will see.

When writing the Company Description, focus on giving a detailed but straightforward overview of your business structure, ownership, and location. Use clear language to describe what your business does and its objectives in the Nigerian market.

In the Market Analysis :

• back up your statements with solid data.
• avoid making assumptions without evidence.
• clearly define your target market, customer segments, and competitive market.

For the Organization and Management section:

• highlight the strengths of your team.
• don’t just list names.
• explain what each member brings to the table and how their skills will drive your business forward.

When you get to the Products or Services section:

• be detailed yet focused.
• describe your offerings to showcases their value and your unique selling proposition (USP).
• ensure your potential customers and investors understand why your products or services stand out.

In your Marketing and Sales Strategy :

• outline actionable steps.
• Avoid vague statements.
• detail the specific channels you will use, and how you will attract and retain customers in Nigeria.

In the Operational Plan :

• provide a clear picture of how your business will run daily.
• include details about your production processes, facility requirements,
• and any technology you’ll need to streamline operations.

The Financial Plan should be realistic. Avoid overly optimistic projections and ensure your financial data is grounded in reality. Accurate and detailed financial forecasts are crucial for gaining the trust of investors.

To avoid common mistakes, steer clear of being too vague or overly optimistic. Don’t neglect market research or financial details. Always tailor your business plan to the Nigerian market, considering the local economic environment and consumer behavior.

Using templates and tools can also be incredibly helpful. There are many online resources available that can guide you through the process, providing structure and ensuring you don’t miss any critical components.

By following these tips and using the right tools, you’ll be well on your way to writing a business plan that is clear, effective, and tailored to succeed in Nigeria’s dynamic business environment.

4. Review and Refine the Plan

After writing your business plan in Nigeria, the next crucial step is to review and refine it. Revising your business plan isn’t just a one-time task; it’s something you should do regularly. The business environment in Nigeria can change rapidly, so updating your plan ensures it remains relevant and aligned with your goals. Take the time to go through each section, checking for clarity, accuracy, and completeness. Look out for any gaps or outdated information that could weaken your plan.

It’s also beneficial to seek feedback from mentors and advisors who understand the Nigerian market. These experts can provide valuable insights and point out areas for improvement that you might have missed. Don’t hesitate to ask for their input; a fresh set of eyes can make a big difference in the quality of your business plan.

5. Present the Business Plan

Once you’ve fine-tuned your plan, it’s time to present it to potential investors. Pitching your business plan is a critical moment in your entrepreneurial journey. When preparing for your presentation, focus on the key elements that will capture an investor’s interest. Highlight your business concept, market opportunity, competitive advantage, and financial projections. Be sure to explain how your business plan is specifically tailored to succeed in the Nigerian market.

During the presentation, keep your pitch concise and engaging. Use visuals where possible to help convey your message effectively. Investors are often looking for confidence and clarity, so practice your delivery until you can present your plan smoothly and with conviction. Remember, your goal is to convince them that investing in your business is not just viable, but a smart decision.

By regularly reviewing and refining your business plan and mastering your pitch, you’ll significantly increase your chances of securing the funding and support you need to make your business thrive in Nigeria.

6. Address Legal and Regulatory Considerations in Nigeria

When crafting a business plan in Nigeria, it’s vital to address legal and regulatory aspects to ensure your business operates smoothly and remains compliant. Navigating these requirements might seem daunting, but it’s essential for avoiding legal issues and laying a solid foundation for your business.

First, get familiar with the relevant regulations for your industry. Each sector in Nigeria has specific guidelines, from food safety laws enforced by NAFDAC to data protection rules for tech businesses. Understanding and adhering to these regulations helps you avoid penalties and operate within the legal framework.

A crucial step is registering your business. In Nigeria, this involves registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Learn how to register your business name in Nigeria with CAC to make your business official, protect your brand, and gain legal recognition. Depending on your business structure—whether a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company—the registration process will vary, but it’s crucial to complete it correctly.

Additionally, you’ll need to obtain any necessary licenses and permits specific to your industry and location. These ensure that your business meets all legal requirements and can operate without interruptions. Whether it’s a local government permit or industry-specific licenses, having these in place is essential for smooth operations.

By addressing these legal and regulatory considerations in your business plan, you set the stage for long-term success in Nigeria. Compliance not only keeps your business legally sound but also builds credibility with customers, investors, and partners who value transparency and adherence to the law.

Creating a business plan in Nigeria involves several important steps, from understanding what a business plan is to refining it for presentation. Throughout this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know, including conducting market research, analyzing competitors, and understanding legal requirements. Now that you have a comprehensive overview, it’s time to take action. Start drafting your business plan today, and use it as a roadmap to guide your business towards success in the Nigerian market.

For specific examples, check out our poultry business plan (sample and template) and fish farming business plan (sample) . These samples can provide valuable insights and help you tailor your plan to fit your industry. If you’re venture into tech or phone accessories, explore our business plan for mobile phone accessories and spare parts to get a head start.

For more detailed guidance, check out our resource on how to start a business in Nigeria . This resource will provide additional insights and strategies to support your business planning and growth.

Q1. What is the purpose of a business plan?

A: A business plan serves as a blueprint for your business, outlining your goals, strategies, and the steps you need to take to achieve them. It’s essential for securing funding, attracting investors, and ensuring your business’s long-term success.

Q2. How often should I update my business plan?

A: It’s a good practice to review and update your business plan at least once a year or whenever significant changes occur in your business or the market environment.

Q3. Do I need a business plan to start a small business in Nigeria?

A: Yes, even for small businesses, having a business plan is crucial. It helps you clarify your ideas, plan your finances, and set clear objectives.

Q4. Can I use a business plan template?

A: Absolutely! Using a template can help structure your plan and ensure you don’t miss any critical sections. However, make sure to tailor it to your specific business needs.

Ready to create your business plan? Download our free business plan template to get started. If you need personalized assistance, don’t hesitate to seek professional help or consider consulting services that specialize in Nigerian businesses. Taking this step could be the key to transforming your business idea into a thriving venture.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment * -->

Notice: It seems you have Javascript disabled in your Browser. In order to submit a comment to this post, please write this code along with your comment: 5647ed03fb4d7799ee4845958ecf622b

Payment Terms and Conditions for Your Business With a Free Template

Imagine spending countless hours creating a high-quality product or service, only to have your customers delay or avoid payment.

When running an online business, setting the ground rules with clear payment terms and conditions isn’t just good practice. It’s crucial for your peace of mind and your bottom line.

Without it, you are essentially risking your operations and putting your financial stability on the line. Below, we’ll talk more about why you need one, as well as how you can draft fair payment terms and conditions to safeguard your business’ future.

• Clear payment terms and conditions help you get paid on time and secure your business cash flow.
• Including penalties for late payments in your terms discourages delays.
• Regularly updating payment terms keeps them effective as your business grows.

Table of Contents

PRO TIP: Take the hassle of writing your own terms and conditions away with our terms and conditions generator trusted by over 200,000 businesses. It’ll save you hours of work and possible costly legal mistakes.

What Are Payment Terms in Terms and Conditions?

Payment terms are the conditions outlined in a contract that specify when a payment is due, the accepted payment methods, and any late payment penalties.

So, when you include payment terms in your T&C, you’re setting clear expectations about how and when you expect to be paid.

But what does this look like in practice for an online business? For an online store, the payment terms are where you can specify whether payment is required before shipment or within 30 days of receiving an invoice.

It can also tackle how you handle late payments, including charges or the conditions under which services will be suspended.

Why Do You Need a Payment Terms Clause?

You need a payment terms clause in your T&C because it provides a structured approach to managing your business’s financial transactions.

Basically, contract payment terms are important:

• To ensure you have a predictable cash flow, which will then allow you to plan and manage your business finances more effectively;
• To align the delivery of goods or services with payment schedules;
• To build a stronger business relationship with your customers by reducing conflicts and misunderstandings;
• To accommodate the varying needs of your customers, such as by offering flexible payment options; and
• To handle disputes and non-payment in the best way.

As an online business owner myself, I’ve seen firsthand how a clear payment terms contract can make all the difference.

From my experience, payment terms serve not just as a guideline but as a cornerstone of your financial strategy. Having clear terms in place will help you avoid many potential headaches.

This is because when you define your payment expectations, you and your customers know exactly what to expect. In turn, you eliminate any ambiguity that might lead to delays or disputes.

A well-crafted payment terms clause isn’t just about protecting your interests. It’s about creating a professional and transparent environment where your business can thrive.

How To Determine Payment Terms for Your Business

To determine the payment terms for your business, you have to consider what will work best for both your operations and your customers. You can do that by following these steps:

Step 1: Assess Your Cash Flow Needs

How quickly do you need funds to maintain operations? The answer to this will guide you in setting payment terms in your terms and conditions that ensure you receive payments in a timely manner.

Step 2: Understand Common Payment Terms

Familiarize yourself with common payment terms used in your industry. Whether it’s net 30, net 60, or due on receipt, knowing the norms can help you align with standard practices while meeting your financial needs.

Step 3: Analyze Customer Payment Behaviors

Look at historical data to see how your customers typically make the payment. This can help you tailor your terms to match customer preferences and payment histories.

In my experience, using accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, or FreshBooks can be invaluable. These tools offer features that track and analyze payment histories, providing insights into typical payment timelines and methods your customers prefer.

Additionally, integrating a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system can help you correlate payment patterns with specific customer interactions and sales data, giving you a comprehensive view of customer habits.

Step 4: Consider Market Standards

When it comes to payment terms, aligning with what is commonly accepted in your market can prevent potential friction with clients. At the same time, it can also help maintain competitiveness.

Step 5: Consider Offering Flexibility

Depending on your industry and client base, payment terms also might include flexible options like early payment discounts or staggered payments to accommodate different customer needs.

For instance, according to Statista Consumer Insights , roughly half of U.S. adults have used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services and about 40% of those who haven’t could imagine doing so in the future.

This trend reflects a broader desire for flexibility in payment methods, particularly options that avoid additional costs. Offering flexible payment terms can meet these consumer preferences, potentially increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

PRO TIP: Before finalizing your terms & conditions of payment, communicate them with your customers. Be open to negotiation if it helps establish a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship.

8 Key Components of a Clear Payment Terms Clause

A well-crafted payment terms and conditions clause must be clear, fair, and enforceable so everyone involved understands their obligations from the start. Here are eight essential elements to include:

1. Payment Schedule

This section outlines the specific payment deadlines by which customers must make their payments, defining the payment due date and the frequency of these payments.

Here are the different types of payment terms you can implement:

• Immediate Payment Terms : This requires that payment is made immediately upon order placement or before delivery.
• Traditional Payment Terms : Often referred to as standard payment terms, these include scenarios where payment is made within a set number of days of the invoice date, such as Net 30, which means payment is due within 30 days after the invoice is issued.
• Extended Payment Terms : These allow for payments over a longer period. Extended payment terms may include interest or additional fees under specific conditions, such as for large-scale orders or repeat customers.

Communicate these details in your invoice payment terms to avoid any misunderstandings and to ensure payments are made timely.

2. Accepted Payment Methods

Here is where you outline the acceptable payment methods customers can use to pay for your products or services. Different types of payment methods are accepted to accommodate various customer preferences and provide convenience.

Common forms of payment include:

• Traditional payment methods like cash, checks, or money orders
• Online payment, including credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (e.g., PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay), and bank transfers
• Different payment channels, such as mobile payments, cryptocurrency, or other emerging payment technologies

Reflecting recent trends , it’s important to note that debit card and credit card payments remain the most popular online payment methods among U.S. consumers.

This data shows how traditional card payments are still holding strong, even as we dive deeper into the digital age.

Nevertheless, it’s my professional opinion that it’s always good to keep things fresh and varied. Offering a mix of payment options not only meets different customer needs but also makes the whole shopping experience smoother and more enjoyable.

3. Invoices and Billing Details

In this section, you outline the procedures and specifics for issuing invoices and detailing billing information. Doing this shows transparency in how you handle every financial transaction.

For example, in its Terms of Service page, Webbula states that an invoice is generated immediately following the delivery of services or, if the type of payment is on file, the client’s card is charged directly.

The experts at this data quality technology and consultancy company also saw how important it is to make payment terms clear, specifying that clients agree to pay all undisputed invoices within 30 days of receipt.

Furthermore, the terms include specific conditions like requiring disputes about invoices to be made within seven days, after which the right to dispute gets waived.

This structured approach ensures that both parties understand their financial obligations and the consequences of non-compliance.

4. Late Payment Penalties

As an online business owner, you know how crucial timely payments are for maintaining your cash flow and operational stability. This section is, therefore, an essential clause in your payment terms, serving as a deterrent against late payments.

List the charges or fees that will apply when payment is not made by the due date. These penalties can help encourage timely payments and compensate the business for the inconvenience and potential cash flow issues caused by the delay.

PRO TIP: Set an automatic reminder to notify clients a week before payment is due. It reduces late payments without needing to enforce penalties.

5. Early Payment Incentives

While late payment penalties can deter customers from delaying payments, offering early payment incentives can encourage them to pay promptly. This can benefit your business by improving cash flow and reducing the need for collection efforts.

Early payment incentives are rewards or discounts offered to customers who make payments before the due date. You can:

• Offer a discount on the total amount due if payment is made in advance;
• Provide a credit that can be used for future purchases;
• Waive a portion of the payment if settled early; or
• Reduce interest rates for those who availed of financing options.Offer a discount on the total amount due if payment is made in advance;
• Reduce interest rates for those who availed of financing options.

Remember to balance the benefits of advance payment incentives with the potential impact on your cash flow. If offering significant discounts or incentives could negatively affect your profitability, consider limiting them to certain customers or situations.

6. Consequences of Non-Payment

This section is where you outline the actions your business will take if invoices remain unpaid beyond the agreed payment terms. Let’s look at  DCS Solutions ’ non-payment clause:

In this payment terms and conditions example, DCS Solutions makes it clear that they can suspend services, exercise a security interest, and offset unpaid balances if customers fail to pay their dues on time.

PRO TIP: Ask for a lump sum payment upfront if you deal with large or complex projects. This will lower the risk of non-payment and ensure you have the necessary resources to complete the job.

7. Dispute Resolution Procedures

Any good business owner knows how important it is to have a method in place to discuss payment disputes efficiently.

To do this, outline the steps your customers should follow if they disagree with a charge. This could include who to contact, the information needed, and the timeframe for resolving the issue.

Additionally, you can specify whether:

• Mediation will be the initial step, where a neutral third party helps the parties reach a mutually agreeable solution;
• If mediation fails, arbitration will be used, where a neutral third party makes a binding decision; and/or
• As a last resort, legal action will be taken if the dispute cannot be resolved through mediation or arbitration.

8. Amendments and Updates Policy

This refers to the process for making changes or updates to the payment terms clause in the contract. For transparency, include in your terms the following:

• Notification of changes : Specify how you will notify customers of any changes to the payment terms. This could include email, website updates, or physical notices.
• Effective date : Indicate when any changes to the payment terms will take effect.
• Customer acceptance : State that customers will be deemed to have accepted any changes to the payment terms if they continue to use your products or services after the effective date.

By adding these key elements, you can ensure that your terms remain up-to-date and enforceable. This can help protect your business interests and avoid any misunderstandings with customers.

How to Write a Payment Terms Clause in Your Terms and Conditions?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write payment terms and conditions from scratch:

Step 1: Review Your Business Needs

Understanding payment terms and conditions starts by learning about your own business needs. Evaluate your current business operations and financial requirements. 

Step 2: Check out Free Templates

Look at pre-designed templates to understand how to structure payment terms and conditions. Our free template, for example, offers a user-friendly layout that includes all the essential elements of effective payment terms.

You simply select the sections that align with your business needs and fill in specific details like payment schedules and methods. This approach not only saves time but also ensures you cover all legal bases.

Step 3: Integrate All Necessary Components

Make sure it covers all essential aspects without redundancy. Doing this extra step helps guarantee that your terms are clear and enforceable.

Step 4: Implement and Communicate Changes

Once your payment terms are set, implement them clearly across your business platforms. Communicate any changes to these terms to existing customers through your chosen channels.

While crafting effective payment terms from scratch is possible, you can simplify the process using our terms and conditions generator . This tool is designed to adapt to the nuances of your specific business needs.

It will walk you through a series of questions about your business operations, payment methods, and preferences. Based on your responses, it will generate a tailored set of terms that are legally compliant and specific to your business model.

Best Practices When Writing a Payment Terms Clause

Adding a comprehensive payment terms clause to your T&C agreement is crucial for safeguarding your business operations. Here are some strategies to ensure your clause is both effective and enforceable:

• Check that your payment terms policy complies with local and international laws , especially if you deal with customers from different jurisdictions. This compliance helps prevent legal conflicts and enhances the enforceability of your terms.
• Be meticulous in defining the set of payment terms. Specify exact due dates, acceptable payment methods, and any interest on late payments to avoid ambiguity that could be exploited.
• Include provisions that address scaling, such as different terms for larger orders or long-term contracts. This is so that as your business grows, your terms and conditions agreement can help manage changes in volume and transaction size.
• While using legal terms is necessary, ensure your terms and how to use them are understandable to non-legal professionals . Clear language helps prevent misunderstandings and makes the agreement accessible to all parties involved.
• Provide examples when appropriate. Sometimes, illustrating how a term would work in a real scenario can clarify expectations. This is particularly useful when explaining the calculation of late fees or discounts for early payments.
• Mention in your payment terms clause in the contract how amendments will be handled and communicated. This way, both parties are aware of how updates to the terms will be made.

Payment Terms and Conditions Clause Template

This payment terms and conditions template provides a solid foundation for crafting your own terms and conditions. It outlines the key elements that every business should consider, including payment methods, pricing, billing information, and policies for refunds, chargebacks, and subscriptions.

Consider adding any details unique to your business, such as subscription plans or late payment fees. This way, you’ll create a personalized and legally sound document that protects both your business and your customers.

Examples of Payment Terms and Conditions

Below, you’ll find examples of payment terms and conditions that can serve as models for structuring your own agreements. These examples highlight various approaches tailored to different business needs:

Airbnb provides a prime example of a company that effectively employs clear and understandable payment terms and conditions.

For instance, as a global platform that connects hosts and travelers from various countries, Airbnb has to maintain transparency in its payment processes, especially considering the diverse banking regulations and practices across different regions.

In their payment terms, Airbnb uses clear language to outline the responsibilities of both hosts and guests.

They also make it easier for users to understand the payment conditions by providing examples, such as detailing how there may be extra charges if you pay using a currency different from the bank you used for booking.

2. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is another excellent example of a company with an effective payment terms clause in its Terms of Service.

More than anything, it balances the necessity of maintaining operational liquidity with the need to treat customers fairly. This makes their payment terms a model of clarity and equity.

This clause clearly outlines the terms related to payment by invoice. In turn, this transparency helps customers understand their obligations and the importance of timely payments.

It also shows reasonableness in terms of subscription renewal and fee adjustments. It not only allows for automatic renewal but also caps any potential increase in subscription fees, so customers are not caught off guard by significant price hikes.

AJE (American Journal Experts) provides another excellent example of how payment terms can be crafted to offer flexibility to customers.

Their payment terms and conditions in the contract demonstrate a commitment to accommodating various payment preferences and providing clear guidelines.

These terms demonstrate flexibility by offering multiple payment options, allowing for subscription cancellation within 14 days, and providing a credit for overpayments. This demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction and adaptability.

4. BambooHR

BambooHR provides a clear example of how payment terms and conditions sample for business can incorporate discounts to incentivize customers.

This part of their terms of service outlines specific conditions for obtaining and maintaining discounts. In turn, this demonstrates BambooHR’s focus on being transparent and fair.

Doing this not only enhances customer loyalty but also stabilizes the company’s revenue stream by encouraging longer subscription periods and service bundling.

5. Google Cloud

Google Cloud ’s payment terms within its Terms of Services show how you can strategically align your terms with broader business objectives. These terms incentivize timely payments by applying interest to late payments.

Moreover, Google Cloud specifies that this interest penalty does not apply to amounts under a good faith payment dispute if raised before the due date. This demonstrates their commitment to fairness and customer communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do payment terms and conditions protect businesses.

Payment terms and conditions protect businesses by ensuring timely cash flow and reducing financial risks. Establishing the right payment terms helps maintain operational stability.

How can businesses enforce payment terms and conditions?

Businesses enforce payment terms by setting clear penalties for late payments and suspending services if necessary. Legal action can also secure compliance.

Can I update the payment terms clause after the agreement is signed?

Yes, you can update the payment terms clause with mutual consent. Ensure changes are documented and agreed upon in writing.

How can I address disputes over payment terms in the agreement?

Include a dispute resolution process in the terms or even mediation clauses. It’s also important to establish clear communication channels.

What payment methods should be specified in the payment terms clause?

Specify all accepted payment methods like credit cards, bank transfers, and digital payments. This clarity helps avoid confusion and delays.

• Acceptable use policy generator
• Cookie policy generator
• Disclaimer generator
• DMCA policy generator
• Guest post agreement generator
• Privacy policy generator
• Refund policy generator
• Shipping policy generator
• Terms and conditions generator
• Cookie banner generator
• DSAR form generator
• Perks and benefits
• Data privacy laws
• Legal glossary
• Partnerships