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PRE-WRITTEN BUSINESS PLANS FOR SOUTH AFRICA (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL): COMPREHENSIVE VERSION, SHORT FUNDING/BANK LOAN VERSION AND AUTOMATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Posted by BizBolts | All Articles , Business Plans

PRE-WRITTEN BUSINESS PLANS FOR SOUTH AFRICA (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL): COMPREHENSIVE VERSION, SHORT FUNDING/BANK LOAN VERSION AND AUTOMATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have several payment methods which you can use to buy the business plans.

Payment Method 1 (Visa card, Mastercard, Credit card, Debit Card) – R500

To purchase the business plans using Visa Card/Master Card click here: Business Plans Store . After you have purchased, you will instantly see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. We will also email you the download link. Click the button below to purchase business plans using Visa Card/ Mastercard.

South Africa Business Plans

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

Payment Method  2 – (Instant EFT – FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, CapitecBank, Investec, TymeBank and African Bank. )

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Other Payment Methods

  • Cash deposit into our FNB Company Bank Account
  • EFT Transfer to our FNB Company Bank Account

Call/Whatsapp us on +27606334830 for the other payment methods. (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/27606334830 ). Email: [email protected] .

Testimonial 6

It is with excitement and pleasure to inform you that I have been successful in securing a loan from my bank. This would not have been possible if not for the BizBolts Business Plan. Thank you for your help, my dreams are now coming true.

Testimonial 3

The business plan has a highly professional look and feel. The research really helps me look deep into the market that I am targeting, it’s well suited for the South African market. The business plan clearly outlined everything I need to start the business and the costs. It’s now easier to budget and plan. Thank you very much.

Testimonial 7

Thank you BizBolts for the business plan. I received the business plan immediately after payment, it was money well spent ! I was able to easily edit the business plan. After using the BizBolts business plan, I can wholeheartedly recommend their products and skills.

Testimonial 5

The BizBolts poultry business plan led us down the path from start to finish. Contact details of suppliers of key requirements were included in the business plan. It helped us crystallize our strategy, and the business plan was well received by the bank.

Testimonial 4

The business plan was very helpful, you did a great job of taking ideas and putting them into words as well as pointing out other aspects of the business plan I wouldn’t have thought of. I got funding using your business plan and it’s now 4 months since I started my poultry business, and everything is going well.

Testimonial 2

I am extremely pleased with the business plan and financial statements. The business plan is very detailed & it meets my requirements. I feel better equipped with tools that can help me secure funding.  I would have no hesitation of recommending your business plans to other people.

Testimonial 1

Many thanks to the BizBolts team for putting together a fantastic business plan, I could not have done this business plan on my own. I managed to get funding from investors to start my butchery business using your business plan.

About the Business Plans

We decided to introduce the South African business plans after noting that many South Africans were venturing into businesses without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the businesses, the risks involved, profitability of the businesses and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of the start-ups.

Our business plans will make it easier for you to launch and run a business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the business plans will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the business. They are designed uniquely for the South African market.

USES OF THE BUSINESS PLANS (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

These business plans can be used for many purposes including:

  • Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
  • Applying for a bank loan
  • Start-up guide to launch your business
  • As a project proposal
  • Assessing profitability of the business
  • Finding a business partner
  • Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
  • Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

CONTENTS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS PLANS (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

All our pre-written plans include, but not limited to:

  • Market Analysis
  • Industry Analysis
  • 5 Year Automated Financial Statements [ Income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, monthly cash flow projections (3 years monthly cash flow projections, the remaining two years annually),break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortisation]
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Risk Analysis
  • SWOT & PEST Analysis
  • Operational Requirements
  • Operational Strategy
  • Why some South Africans in that type of business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
  • Ways to raise capital to start your business in South Africa

All our agriculture pre-written business plans include technical aspects of how to keep and rear the animals / farm the crops. They also include a mini-directory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running the business. E.g. for broiler poultry we will provide the contact details for South African suppliers of feeds, equipment, day old chicks, abattoirs, training companies etc)

The Business plan package consist of 4 files

  • Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – Between 70-105 pages)
  • Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – Between 70-105 pages)
  • Business Plan Funding Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – between 35-50 pages)
  • Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)

The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change an item eg unit price, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

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About The Author

BizBolts

BizBolts (Pty) Ltd is a business research company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We sell prewritten business plans for various industries including livestock production, crop farming and retail businesses. BizBolts also publishes articles on business ideas, business news, business tips, personal finance, and entrepreneur profiles.

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A Free Business Plan Example to Launch Your South African Business This free Business Plan example provides you with a sample business plan as well as guidance on how to write a business plan and important sections to include in your plan.

By Catherine Bristow Scott May 28, 2019

You're reading Entrepreneur South Africa, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

It pays to plan.

Research conducted by Harvard Business Review found that "entrepreneurs who write formal plans are 16% more likely to achieve viability than the otherwise identical non-planning entrepreneurs."

Simply put, writing a business plan could make the difference between business success and failure – which is why planning now could pay dividends as your business gets off the ground.

But where do you start when writing a business plan? In this comprehensive business plan example, we provide you with what to include in your business plan and a sample business plan to help you to create a compelling plan for your start-up.

1. Executive Summary

If you have seven seconds to make a strong first impression in person, an Executive Summary will be the make-or-break section of your business plan – so make this section count.

As a brief outline of your company's purpose and goals, the Executive Summary should generally take up 1 to 2 pages of your business plan. Some key components to include in your business plan are:

  • A company description
  • A brief summary of your products or services
  • The company objectives
  • A short but thorough overview of the market
  • A justification for viability, particularly "why now?"
  • A snapshot of your business's growth potential
  • A short description of the organisation team
  • Your marketing plan
  • Financial projections

Importantly, your Executive Summary must clearly depict the Problem, the Solution, and carry a sense of timeliness – why now should your business be considered as the solution to solve this problem.

NOTE: The following Business Plan Example is based on a fictional company. Figures will not reflect the exact financials of a similar company.

Example of a Business Plan Executive Summary

business plan pdf in south africa

Snug Sneakers is a sneaker shoe range based in Cape Town that currently focuses exclusively on selling locally produced men's and women's custom sneakers.

The business was founded by David Smith and Stewart Bruce, who have both been working within the retail industry for over 20 years, David Smith, a serial entrepreneur has also founded successful brands – Creative Caps and women's cycling brand Pedal Power.

The brand is currently selling online, however has also recently diversified to selling in independent shoe shops.

The company is projecting to sell R2 million in year 1 and R8 million in three years' time. Additionally, there are expansion plans within year 2 to set up distribution networks in Johannesburg, and Durban in the early part of year 3.

Both David and Stewart are social entrepreneurs at heart and believe in providing sustainable jobs for impoverished communities.

As such, the company has started a recycling and training academy in Khayelitsha, where consumers can return old sneakers that are then repaired by Khayelitsha residents and donated to those in need of shoes. This also provides learners within the academy with shoe-making and recycling trade skills.

Industry research has shown that, on average SA consumers own 4 pairs of sneakers, with 4 in 4 consumers indicating that shoe fit and sizes vary across brands.

3 in 4 consumers indicated that their number one concern when purchasing is having to "settle' for the best fitting shoe, despite the fit not being 100% correct.

Based on these and additional industry research statistics, the company's sneaker products are driven to provide the best shoe fit, with the tagline of "shoes that fit so good, you'll never go barefoot again.'

The main competition to Snug Sneakers comes from 1 local brand, SuperStars, and 2 overseas brands Sassy Sneakers and Rock Your Sneakers.

Although SuperStars supports sustainable use of local manufacturers, the competitor does not provide custom fit sneakers. Sassy Sneakers and Rock Your Sneakers both offer custom fit sneakers, both brands are manufactured in China and do not promote sustainable, social conscious value propositions.

The primary means of marketing will mainly be focused on digital marketing, through evidence-based approaches, including search engine optimisation, Google Ads, Facebook Advertising as well as utilising social media channels that have proven very popular for the company, including Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

The locally sourced raw materials, which include cotton, rubber and leather, will be supplied from a sustainable cotton mill and tannery in the Limpopo Province.

Funding for the company was derived through the 2 founders, as well as private investment.

2. Business Overview and Objectives

business plan pdf in south africa

Creating an overview of your business when you are already established makes it easier, but it may be a little harder when you're either just starting out or haven't even kicked off your operations yet.

When you're just starting out, think about your products and services as your starting point.

  • What will you be providing your market with?
  • How will you be sourcing/ producing these items?
  • What do you need to have in place before you can start selling your products?
  • Who will be distributing/ manufacturing your products?
  • Importantly, who will your target market or customer be?

In our example business plan, Snug Sneakers serves both retail and online customers, although the bulk of the business is through their online clientele.

This means that Snug Sneakers will need a secure e-commerce platform and a website that has carefully considered the user journey when buying custom sneakers.

The company will also need employees to assist with technical challenges, customer support, and warehouse staff for the packing and distribution of their products.

Similarly, you would need to consider the following when identifying their business objectives:

  • What industry will you operate in?
  • Who will be your customer?
  • What is the problem that you will be solving?
  • How will you solve this problem?
  • Where will my business be located?
  • What equipment and resources will I need within my business?
  • What type of employees do I need?
  • How will I differentiate my offering from my competitors?

After answering these questions, you will have a better understanding of what it is that you will be offering and what you need to make it happen. A summary of these points will make up your Business Overview and Objectives for your Business Plan.

Example of a Business Overview and Objectives

Snug Sneakers, based in Cape Town South Africa, is focused on providing sustainable, locally produced custom footwear to South Africa, and internationally through its e-commerce platform and local distributor network.

Founded by entrepreneurs David Smith and Stewart Bruce in December 2017, from Stewart's garage, Snug Sneakers grew exponentially within 1 year from 5 online purchases a month to an average of 200 per month within 12 months.

From the company's rapid growth, it became very clear to the founders that there is a gap in the South African market for locally produced, quality sneakers.

The founders' vision for Snug Sneakers is to become a socially conscious, sustainable brand that supports the South African economy by buying 80% locally produced raw materials.

Additionally, the duo noticed a gap in the market where consumers were looking for custom-fitted shoes and remain loyal to the brand that fit them best. To this end, Snug Sneakers offers a wide range of shoe sizes including quarter and half sizes to ensure that all customers find the right snug fit for their feet.

The overarching philosophy and ethos for the company are:

  • "Soul sneakers' that allow customers to purchase sneakers that promote social consciousness.
  • "South African sourced' sourcing locally produced raw materials that provide job sustainability.
  • Superior sneakers' ensuring that customers still get a high-quality product that outmatches popular brands in workmanship and quality.

Company Status

Snug Sneakers was registered as a PTY (Ltd) on 1 December 2017. The main directors are David Peter Smith and Stewart Owen Bruce. Company shares are held by the founders.

The company currently operates out of rented commercial property in Blackheath, Cape Town.

Company Objectives

Snug Sneakers is currently selling custom sneakers primarily through its online store https://www.snugsneakers.co.za , with market penetration nationally, and highest market penetration in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Sporadic orders have also been received from the USA and the United Kingdom.

The company has also partnered with 3 independent shoe and clothing retailers focused on selling locally-sourced South African apparel.

The company has identified a 2 phased upscaling approach for growing sales and operations:

  • Increase online sales by 40% within a 6-month period of 2019
  • Increase brick-and-mortar retail partnerships from 2 stores in Cape Town to an additional 4 stores in Johannesburg by year end.
  • Increase online sales by 50% by end of year 2020
  • Explore opening up a brick-and-mortar store in the Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Cape Town
  • Increase brick-and-mortar retail partnerships to include 1 store in Durban.

3. Products and Services

business plan pdf in south africa

In this section, you will be unpacking your product and services offering, especially your key product differentiation from your competitors. Importantly, in this section you will also need to validate why your product is needed by your customers.

If you have applied for any patents, copyrights, or trademarks, you would also include these in this section.

Products and services that already exist may not need a deep analysis of what they are within your business plan.

However, if you're creating a completely new product or service (if you were the first Uber of the world), carefully detail in this section what your product is about, it's uses and the value it brings to the market so your readers will be able to evaluate the value of your product and services.

Some important aspects to cover include:

  • The anticipated timeline to bring your new product to the market.
  • What differentiates your product or service from those already available in the market.
  • What will your operating costs be and profit margins.
  • How will you source/ manufacture your product.
  • How will the product be distributed to customers.

Example of Products and Services

Snug Sneakers will provide a line of custom sneakers for both men and women. The main product lines include:

  • Casual Range: Everyday sneaker footwear
  • Active Range: Active gym range of sneakers
  • Fashion Forward Range: Formal but funky range of sneakers

Current pricing of the sneakers as follows:

  • Casual Range: R550
  • Active Range: R950
  • Fashion Forward Range: R850

Competition

There are three main competitors that have been identified within the market. These include:

Local competitor:

1. SuperStars 40% locally made raw materials, with 60% of the raw materials originating from China. The brand however does not provide custom-fit sneakers.

Foreign competitors:

2. Sassy Sneakers are based in Australia, with the product line produced in China. The company offers custom fit sizes, however customers have to pay extra for the custom fit and product quality is low.

3. Rock Your Sneakers is a US based company, with the product line produced in China. The company offers some custom fit sizes, however the sizes are limited and the product is only available to South African's online and with a long lead time to delivery.

Snug Sneakers products have a unique differentiator within the market:

  • A greater range of custom fit sizes ranging from ¼ - to half sizes as well as broad and narrow width ranges.
  • The company will be the only brand within South Africa to offer 80% locally manufactured sneakers.
  • Quality of the products is superior to the current locally-made competitor, due to locally sourced high-quality raw materials.

Future Products

The company has also been looking into introducing a line of sneaker care products to assist customers in increasing the longevity of their purchases.

4. Competitive and Market Analysis

business plan pdf in south africa

Providing evidence that there is demand for your product or service is one of the most critical components of your business plan. Key to this is understanding your market and your competition within that market.

Embarking on market research requires you to have a deep understanding of what your market is and the opportunities inherent within it. You should be able to define:

  • Target Market. The types of customers you will be targeting with your product or service.
  • Market Need. If there is demand for your products and services and whether this is increasing or declining.
  • Competition. The positioning of your competitors in the market and how you will differentiate your offering from them.
  • Barriers to Entry. What will prevent someone else from providing the same offering or better.
  • Regulation. Regulations that will be applicable to the industry that your business will be operating in.

Example of a Market Analysis

Target market.

With our initial line of casual, active and fashion forward sneakers, we're looking to target the following consumer segment:

  • Age: 16 -36
  • Digital Savvy: Researching and shopping online is part of this customer's DNA. The target market is also very active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
  • On Trend: Fashion forward and looking to illustrate their unique personalities, the target market is always looking for fashion to express their uniqueness.
  • Social Consciousness: The target market is proudly South African and are highly conscious of the socio-economic issues and have a keen desire to take part in improving the SA economy, uplifting communities and supporting local initiatives.

Market Need

According to a Global View Research Marketing Report, the global athletic and leisure footwear market size was valued at USD 67.8 billion in 2017. The report found that this value is expected to expand at a CAGR of over 8.0% from 2018 to 2025.

The ever-growing awareness with regards to the health benefits of sports and fitness activities, as well as an expanding retail e-commerce sector globally, including increasing levels of disposable income amongst millennials are estimated to be the key reasons for increasing market growth in this market.

Additionally, the Global Sneaker Market 2018 Industry Trends and Sales report found that although the global brands reported increased profit margins in 2017, these have decreased by 1.5% from 2016.

On the other hand, independent Sneaker retailers have reported a 15% increase in sales, particularly online, in 2017, indicating that consumers are moving away from global brands to pursue lesser known boutique footwear retailers.

  • SuperStars is based in Johannesburg and provides sneakers with 40% locally made raw materials, with 60% of the raw materials originating from China. The brand however does not provide custom-fit sneakers.
  • Sassy Sneakers are based in Australia, with the product line produced in China. The company offers custom fit sizes, however customers have to pay extra for the custom fit and product quality is low.
  • Rock Your Sneakers is a US based company, with the product line produced in China. The company offers some custom fit sizes, however the sizes are limited and the product is only available to South African's online and with a long lead time to delivery. (Repeated above)

5. Marketing/Sales Strategy

business plan pdf in south africa

You're on the right track when you have established that there's a market for your product and service and you have identified who your target market is quantifiably, but how will your market segments know to look out for or even buy your product and services?

This is where your marketing and sales strategy comes into play.

A well-defined marketing strategy goes beyond simply advertising your product and service – it includes a deeper understanding of how your customers will view your brand, what is the best way to reach your customers, the benefits that your customer will receive from using your service or buying your product.

Your marketing strategy must also include the budget for your marketing and sales efforts, whether you will require sales staff to sell your products and offer post-sales support, as well as how you will measure your marketing and sales efforts to evaluate their effectiveness.

Example of a Marketing Strategy

Marketing plan.

  • Search Engine Optimisation : Our website pages will be optimised for search engine rankings, with the objective to rank within the top 3 search positions for keywords "custom sneakers", "custom size sneakers" and "custom made sneakers".
  • Paid Search : Snug Sneakers will be investing in Google Ads and Facebook Advertising and well as Programmatic Advertising to increase landing page conversion rates.
  • Social Media : We will be establishing a targeted social media strategy to increase followers across the social media platforms that have shown the highest engagement with the target market. High frequency posts will be created target at highest engagement times to increase engagement and brand awareness.
  • Business Network : We will partner with independent apparel and footwear retailers to drive link building and link sharing both on website and on social media.

Customer Value Proposition and Value Differentiator

Although there is one locally produced sneaker competitor within the market, the founders believe that the customer value proposition being brought to the market is a unique offering and therefore a strong differentiator within the market.

The founders are cognisant that without this differentiator, the only differentiator will be price, which will ultimately have a negative impact on profit margins.

As a unique differentiator and value proposition, Snug Sneakers provides customers with Sneakers with South African Sole, leveraging the Proudly South African heritage and support for local initiatives to help grow South Africa's job economy and promote community upskilling and learnership programmes.

Additionally, Snug Sneakers will ensure that the quality of the products far outweighs those of global brands manufacturing in China. The most important differentiator, however is the ability to custom size shoes to each individual's unique size requirements.

6. Staffing and Operations

business plan pdf in south africa

Strategy is irrelevant without execution – which is where your Operations Plan comes into play in your business plan. How will you serve your customers, while keeping your operating costs low enough to make sufficient profitability?

Your Operations Plan will detail how you will manufacture, staff, fulfil and stock your products, including your day-to-day operational requirements. Ultimately, this section describes how you will run your business.

Some questions to answer in this section include:

  • Where will your operations be based?
  • What is your management structure?
  • What are your staffing requirements?
  • What equipment, facilities and supplies will you need?
  • How will you establish your suppliers?
  • What will be the operational changes required should your company grow?
  • What will your production methods entail?
  • How will you service/ deliver goods to customers?
  • What regulatory requirements must be in place? (Licences, permits etc.)
  • How will you manage your inventory levels?

Example of Staffing and Operations

Management team.

David Smith is a serial entrepreneur who founded successful and well-known brands Creative Caps and women's cycling apparel Pedal Power.

David graduated from Stellenbosch University with a B Comm in Economics and went on to study an MBA at GIBS Business School. David heads up Snug Sneakers as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Stewart Bruce has worked in the retail industry as a Senior Designer for well-known retail brands, including Puma and Sketchers.

With over 20 years' experience in designing active and casual footwear, as well as sourcing and overseeing materials for the product range, Stewart brings excellent experience to the management mix as Chief Design Officer.

7. Financial Projections

business plan pdf in south africa

The bottom line counts the most when it comes to writing your business plan.

Without the numbers to prove whether your business will be profitable or not, potential investors or lenders will have a difficult time objectively deciding if your business will be a sound investment.

Aside from persuading potential investors, crucially, the numbers that you have crunched will also indicate whether you have a viable business.

There are five basic reports or cash projections to include in your business plan:

  • Income Statement
  • Balance Sheet
  • Cash Flow Statement
  • Operating Budget
  • Break-Even Analysis

It's important to come up with credible financial projections for your business to illustrate that it is feasible.

One way to tackle this section is to break down the figures into various components, such as by sales channel or target market segment.

At this stage, you won't be able to supply exact figures, because you're still estimating your future financials, but by breaking down your guesses into components you will be able to determine a more realistic figure for each component, rather than hazarding guesses as a whole.

The business plan should be an ongoing, living document that can be used as your guide for running your business. It requires continuous adjustment as your business changes and grows.

Entrepreneur Staff

Sales Enablement - Content Division Manager

Catherine Bristow Scott is the Content Division Manager for Entrepreneur South Africa. With specialist expertise in developing SEO content, effective sales enablement content to drive lead generation, as well as digital strategy, Catherine brings an in-depth understanding of developing both written and video content to assist businesses in remaining competitive and growing their revenue.

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Download a Free Business Plan Template

What is a business plan.

The written plan of goals you want to achieve with your business, and how you want to achieve them, is called a business plan. It is a decision-making tool used when beginning or extending a venture.

Any new business requires a business plan to ensure that the business can make a profit. Fund-seeking entrepreneurs use a formal business plan to convince investors to contribute towards the capital of the business.

Existing businesses – looking to expand or change the business – also use business plans to prospect for new business, attract key employees or deal with suppliers. By revising their business plan regularly, existing companies can devise strategies to manage their companies better.

Most commonly, a business plan is used to apply for a bank loan to fund a business. To learn how to create a business plan for a bank in South Africa, see FNB and Standard Bank’s business plan guidelines. You can also download Standard Bank’s free business plan template in Word or PDF format.

A business plan consists of three primary parts:

  • The business concept – details about the industry, the structure of the business, the product or service and the strategy for the success of the business.
  • The marketplace section – an analytical description of potential customers and the strategy for achieving success against competitors.
  • The financial section – the income and cash flow statement, balance sheet and other financial information.

The length of a business plan varies depending on the nature of the business and the purpose of the business plan. Typically, a business plan is 15 to 20 pages long. It usually details the goals for the business for the next three to five years.

An important part of compiling a business plan is in-depth research into the market and industry. Try to gain as much insight into the market you are targeting by talking to business owners, suppliers, potential customers, existing customers, staff members, business experts, etc. Also, research the industry online.

Business plan format

Although there are several types, the key components of all business plans are essentially the same. The format varies based on who the intended reader of the business plan is. Here is an example of a standard business plan format:

1. Table of Contents (1 page)

The table of contents page should include the correct page numbers of the sections of the business plan. Therefore, it is best to write this page last. In addition to the table of contents page, the plan must also have a cover and a title page.

2.  Executive Summary (2 pages)

The purpose of the executive summary of a business plan is to entice the reader to read the rest of the plan. The executive summary is an overview of the key aspects of the plan. It should be compelling but also concise.

The executive summary should include:

  • the business concept (a description of the business, product, market and target market);
  • key financial aspects (sales, profits, cash flows, investment returns and capital requirements); and
  • a short company overview (type of company, date formed, owners and key personnel and achievements).

3. Company Overview (1 – 2 pages)

This section is a high-level overview of the company and the industry in which it operates. It is a description of the business, the product and the industry.

The following should be included in the company overview:

  • The name of the company and the type of ownership and registration;
  • Details about the business location (address, zoning, reason for choosing location, monthly rentals, etc.)
  • Significant assets and financial contributions to the business;
  • The mission statement of the business;
  • Company objectives and goals;
  • The main features of the industry in which the business will operate;
  • The most important company strengths and core competencies;
  • An explanation of the product, target market and profitability of the plan.

4. The Opportunity, Industry and Market Description (2 – 3 pages)

The research you conducted will come into play in this section. This section offers a detailed explanation of the market and industry and the business’ position therein.

They key is to determine who your target market is through a market analysis. Then clearly explain how your products/services will fulfil the needs of your target market. A market analysis also helps to determine pricing, distribution strategies and growth potential within the industry.

Describe the following:

  • The opportunity – the gap in the market;
  • The industry – the forces affecting the industry (i.e. obstacles to entry, customers, suppliers, substitute products and competition); and
  • The market – insights into the target market (i.e. size, growth and trends).

5. Strategy (1-2 pages)

Detail your positioning strategy and how the business will compete in the chosen market. In other words, what is unique about your product/service and how will the target market benefit from what you have to offer.

6. Business Model Explanation (1 page)

The business model depicts how the business will make money/profit. A business model covers the following aspects:

  • Sources of revenue;
  • Costs involved in generating the revenue;
  • The profitability of the business (revenue minus costs);
  • The investment required to get the business up and running; and
  • Success factors and assumptions for making the profit model work.

7. Management and Organisation (2 pages)

The biographies of the members of your management team and their roles in the business. Who will be responsible for running the business and why are they well-suited to the task?

This section should include:

  • The founders of the company and their qualifications and experience;
  • The day-to-day management team and their individual competencies and responsibilities;
  • The type of support staff needed to run the business; and
  • An organisational chart to show the management hierarchy.

8. Marketing Plan (2 – 3 pages)

The marketing plan is a comprehensive explanation of your marketing strategy. In other words, how will you sell your service/product to your target market?

Your marketing plan should include:

  • The value of your product/service to customers;
  • A detailed description of the target market;
  • How you want your target market to perceive your product/service;
  • The pricing strategy for the product/service;
  • Sales and distribution channels that will be used to get the product/service to the customer; and
  • The promotion strategy (budget, public relations activities, promotions, advertising, etc.).

9. Operational Plan (2 pages)

The operational plan is a description of how the business will function. Include a description of the following:

  • The operating cycle – how the business will deliver the service or create and sell the product;
  • How skills and materials will be sourced;
  • Which tasks will be outsourced and how business relationships will be managed; and
  • The cash payment cycle of the business.

10. Financial Plan (3 – 5 pages)

A very important part of any business plan is the financial plan. It is a reasonable projection of the company’s financial future.

A good financial plan will determine how much capital the business needs to launch and/or grow. This section is especially important to potential investors and banks – who will determine the odds for the continued survival of the company based on this information.

A financial plan should include:

  • Start-up expenses and capital: What it would cost to start/grow the company and how the money will be generated.
  • Profit and loss projections/income statement : Financial sales and expenses projections (i.e. income, cost of goods, gross profit margin, net profit, total expenses, etc.).
  • Cash flow projection: Reflects how much cash will be needed to cover expenses and when it will be needed. The cash flow projection amounts to a profit or loss at the end of each month or year.
  • A balance sheet: A summary of the business’ equity, assets and liabilities.
  • A break-even calculation

Income statements and cash flow projections must be generated for every month of the first year, every quarter of the second year and annually for every year thereafter. The balance sheet is only generated on an annual basis.

Short summaries of the analyses of the income statement, cash flow projection and balance sheet must also be included. Do not include too much detail in this section. Additional projections, charts and calculations must be added to the Appendix.

11. Appendix

Additional reference documents are included in the appendix. This could include:

  • Brochures and advertising materials;
  • Industry studies and market research;
  • Plans and blueprints;
  • Photos and maps of location;
  • Magazine or other articles;
  • Detailed lists of equipment owned or to be purchased;
  • Copies of leases and contracts;
  • Letters of support from future customers;
  • List of assets available as collateral for a loan; and/or
  • Detailed financial calculations and projections.

Find more business plan examples and templates from Entrepreneur Magazine .

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Download a Free SWOT Analysis Template

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Download a Free Company Profile Template

Download an Organogram Template (Organisational Chart)

Business Plan Template for Small Businesses

This Business Plan template can help you with the following – formulate a clear statement of your business mission and vision, put together a roadmap and timetable for achieving your goals and objectives and clear description of your marketing strategies. (Courtesy: New Discovery Business Solutions)

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Your business plan is the blue-print of your business and provides a roadmap for future development. Your business plan holds a clear statement of your business mission and vision and provides a roadmap and timetable for achieving your goals and objectives

Download the Business Plan template to:

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  • Help you obtain financing and attract potential investors
  • Identify and arrange strategic alliances

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How to create the perfect business plan in 10 steps

Every business needs a plan. But how do you write one? Here are 10 steps to help you get it right.

A business plan written up in a notebook

What is a business plan?

A business plan is the roadmap for a business and shows the overall strategy, goals and vision for success. It shows how a business operates and how it will make money.

It’s different from a business proposal which is a pitch to sell a product or service to a prospective customer.

Why do you need a business plan?

You may be wondering why you need a plan in the first place. After all, you have a clear idea in your mind about what you want to achieve. You know the market, you have the necessary skills. So why do you need a plan?

There are many good reasons. Here are just a few of them:

  • To clarify your ideas: Writing something down gives it structure and substance. Your ideas will be clearer on paper than in your head.
  • To discover and solve problems: The business idea you have in mind may have some holes – you might not have covered everything. This will become much more apparent when your words are on the page.
  • To get feedback from others: A properly written business plan can be shared with trusted people to get their advice.
  • As a formal document: Banks, investors, accountants and lawyers will want proof that you’re serious about your business. A written plan will provide that proof.
  • To guide you as your business grows: A good business plan will keep you on track and focused, even as day-to-day work becomes a distraction.

If you’ve never written a business plan before, it can be a daunting prospect. But these 10 steps will help you create the perfect business plan.

1. The executive summary

This is where you describe your company and the product or service that it will sell. This must be brief, to catch and hold people’s attention.

Try to describe the goal and mission of your business in just a couple of sentences. Work hard at this and try to make it memorable.

Treat this section as an elevator pitch document – it should be succinct and easy to remember.

You can read more about how to create the executive summary in our guide What is an Executive Summary in a Business Plan?

2. Who are your customers?

Do you have a clear idea of the type of people (or businesses) who will buy your product or service? If not, think carefully until you do.

This is one of the first questions any investor will ask you about your business plan. Have your answers ready.

  • Know whether your customers will be consumers or businesses. If they are businesses, who will you target within those companies? Maybe it’s the salesperson, or perhaps it’s the CEO?
  • Determine whether you'll have regular clients or one-off buyers.
  • Make sure you’ve actually spoken to some of your potential customers.

3. Evaluate the target audience

There’s no room for guessing here. You need to identify the people or businesses who will buy from you. Think about the following:

  • Demographics – such as age, gender and social status
  • Firmographics – includes size of the company, revenue of the company and services or products of the company
  • Location – perhaps a specific area, town, or even country
  • Profession – maybe you’re targeting accountants, police or lawyers, for example
  • Groups – such as people with shared interests or habits

The better you evaluate your target audience, the more comprehensive your business plan will be.

4. What are your opportunities?

Successful businesses think big. You might be starting small, but you don’t have to stay that way. So write down the possible opportunities for your business as it grows.

For example, perhaps you’re planning to start by selling over the internet. That’s great, but how will you get traffic to your site? How will people find you online? Will you need salespeople? If not, how will you convince people to buy from you?

As the business grows, is there scope for a bricks-and-mortar retail outlet? What other opportunities will you have if your business grows as planned?

5. Understand the competition

Every business has competition. If you don’t mention yours, investors will think you’re unprofessional – or just plain naive. Be thorough, and list all your existing and potential competitors:

  • Who are your direct competitors – those selling the same products as you?
  • Who are your indirect competitors – those whose market overlaps yours?
  • What will prevent other companies competing with you – what are the barriers to entry?
  • What is your USP (unique selling proposition)? In other words, what’s your point of difference that makes you different from your competitors?

That last point is important. You need to explain how your business will differentiate itself from all the others. That might be based on price, service, quality, range or value. Make sure you spell it out.

6. Build a simple financial plan

All business plans should contain some financial information. This should include the overall costs of setting up your business. For example:

  • Cost to make or buy products
  • Costs for labour and manufacture, including raw materials
  • Employee costs, especially for service businesses
  • Distribution and marketing costs
  • Fixed and variable overheads

Good accounting software will help you create a draft financial model. We’ll look into this in more detail in a future guide. For now, talk to your accountant or bookkeeper for help and advice.

7. Include an outline marketing plan

For this section of your business plan, you need to think about the five ‘Ps’:

  • Pricing – how will you price the end product?
  • Positioning – how does your product or service fit into the market?
  • Promotion – what channels will you use to attract and communicate with customers?
  • Profit – how much do you expect to make per item sold?
  • Place – what are your sales outlets?

8. Plan your operations

Put your vision to one side for a moment. What are the daily tasks that need to be done when running the business? Include all business processes such as manufacturing and packaging. Try to cover all departments too, including sales and customer service.

9. Get the right people

This is one of the most important factors. Think about who you want to hire . How will you find people whose skills complement yours? And how will you convince them to work for you?

Also think about who you want as your business advisors. You'll need people you can trust, to guide and mentor you at times when you need it.

10. Simplicity is the key

Keep it simple. Complex and long documents won’t be read – either by you or by potential investors. A business plan should be brief, relevant and focused (you can use our free business plan template ).

If you find yourself getting carried away while writing, stop and take a break. Then go back and edit what you’ve written. Shorter is better. The core of a good business plan should be just a few pages long.

Plan your business around your strengths

As you write your business plan , keep in mind your strengths – and also any areas for improvement. This will help you construct a plan that makes the most of your abilities, while still being realistic. That's more likely to convince investors that you're serious.

Your business plan is a roadmap for your business – but it's not set in stone. Review it at least once a year and make changes if necessary.

Above all, keep getting feedback from your advisors – official and unofficial ones. With their help, you'll create the perfect business plan that takes you where you want to go.

Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This guide has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business or before taking action in relation to any of the content provided.

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Business Plan: What It Is and How to Write One in 9 Steps

Business plans aren’t just for entrepreneurs who need to secure funding—they can help you plan and evaluate new ideas or growth plans, too. Find out how to write a business plan and get the most out of the process in this comprehensive guide.

Illustration of two people looking at a business plan

A great business plan can help you clarify your strategy, identify potential roadblocks, determine necessary resources, and evaluate the viability of your idea and growth plan before you start a business .

Not every successful business launches with a formal business plan, but many founders find value in the process. When you make a business plan, you get to take time to step back, research your idea and the market you’re looking to enter, and understand the scope and the strategy behind your tactics.

Learn how to write a business plan with this step-by-step guide, including tips for getting the most of your plan and real business plan examples to inspire you.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a strategic document that outlines a company’s goals, strategies for achieving them, and the time frame for their achievement. It covers aspects like market analysis , financial projections, and organizational structure. Ultimately, a business plan serves as a roadmap for business growth and a tool to secure funding.

Often, financial institutions and investors need to see a business plan before funding any project. Even if you don’t plan to seek outside funding, a well-crafted plan becomes the guidance for your business as it scales.

The key components of a business plan

Putting together a business plan will highlight the parts of your company’s strategy and goals. It involves several key business plan components that work together to show the roadmap to your success.

Your business plan’s key components should include: 

  • Executive summary: A brief overview of your entire plan.
  • Company description: An explanation of what your business does and why it’s unique. 
  • Market analysis: Research on your industry, target market, and competitors.
  • Organization and management: Details about your business structure and the people running it.
  • Products or services: A description of what you’re selling and how it benefits customers. 
  • Customer segmentation: A breakdown of your target market into different groups.
  • Marketing and sales plan: The strategy for promoting and selling your products and services.
  • Logistics and operations: An overview of how your business will run its daily activities and manage resources.
  • Financials: A complete look at projected income, expenses, and funding needs. 

How to write a business plan in 9 steps

  • Draft an executive summary
  • Write a company description
  • Perform a market analysis
  • Outline the management and organization
  • List your products and services
  • Perform customer segmentation
  • Define a marketing plan
  • Provide a logistics and operations plan
  • Make a financial plan

Few things are more intimidating than a blank page. Starting your business plan with a structured outline and key elements for what you’ll include in each section is the best first step you can take.

Since an outline is such an important step in the process of writing a business plan, we’ve put together a high-level overview to get you started (and help you avoid the terror of facing a blank page).

Once you have your business plan template in place, it’s time to fill it in. We’ve broken it down by section to help you build your plan step by step.

1. Draft an executive summary

A good executive summary is one of the most crucial sections of your business plan—it’s also the last section you should write.

The executive summary distills everything that follows and gives time-crunched reviewers (e.g., potential investors and lenders) a high-level overview of your business that persuades them to read further.

Again, it’s a summary, so highlight the key points you’ve uncovered while writing your plan. If you’re writing for your own planning purposes, you can skip the summary altogether—although you might want to give it a try anyway, just for practice.

FIGS health care apparel website showing staff in blue scrubs and company overview

An executive summary shouldn’t exceed one page. Admittedly, that space constraint can make squeezing in all of the salient information a bit stressful—but it’s not impossible. 

Your business plan’s executive summary should include:

  • Business concept. What does your business do?
  • Business goals and vision. What does your business want to accomplish?
  • Product description and differentiation. What do you sell, and why is it different?
  • Target market. Who do you sell to?
  • Marketing strategy. How do you plan on reaching your customers?
  • Current financial state. What do you currently earn in revenue?
  • Projected financial state. What do you foresee earning in revenue?
  • The ask. How much money are you asking for?
  • The team. Who’s involved in the business?

2. Write a company description

This section of your business plan should answer two fundamental questions: 

  • Who are you?
  • What do you plan to do? 

Answering these questions with a company description provides an introduction to why you’re in business, why you’re different, what you have going for you, and why you’re a good investment. 

For example, clean makeup brand Saie shares a letter from its founder on the company’s mission and why it exists.

Saie beauty brand website with founder’s letter and portrait

Clarifying these details is still a useful exercise, even if you’re the only person who’s going to see them. It’s an opportunity to put to paper some of the more intangible facets of your business, like your principles, ideals, and cultural philosophies.

Here are some of the components you should include in your company description:

  • Your business structure (Are you a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, or incorporated company?)
  • Your business model
  • Your industry
  • Your business’s vision, mission, and value proposition
  • Background information on your business or its history
  • Business objectives, both short and long term
  • Your team, including key personnel and their salaries

Brand values and goals

To define your brand values , think about all the people your company is accountable to, including owners, employees, suppliers, customers, and investors. Now consider how you’d like to conduct business with each of them. As you make a list, your core values should start to emerge.

Your company description should also include both short- and long-term goals. Short-term goals, generally, should be achievable within the next year, while one to five years is a good window for long-term goals. Make sure your goal setting includes SMART goals : specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.

Vision and mission statements

Once you know your values, you can write a mission statement . Your statement should explain, in a convincing manner, why your business exists, and should be no longer than a single sentence.

Next, craft your vision statement : What impact do you envision your business having on the world once you’ve achieved your vision? Phrase this impact as an assertion—begin the statement with “We will” and you’ll be off to a great start. Your vision statement, unlike your mission statement, can be longer than a single sentence, but try to keep it to three at most. The best vision statements are concise.

3. Perform a market analysis

Market analysis is a key section of your business plan, whether or not you ever intend for anyone else to read it.

No matter what type of business you start, whether a home-based business or service-based, it’s no exaggeration to say your market can make or break it. Choose the right market for your products—one with plenty of customers who understand and need your product—and you’ll have a head start on success. 

If you choose the wrong market, or the right market at the wrong time, you may find yourself struggling for each sale. Your market analysis should include an overview of how big you estimate the market is for your products, an analysis of your business’s position in the market, and an overview of the competitive landscape. Thorough research supporting your conclusions is important both to persuade investors and to validate your own assumptions as you work through your plan.

Market analysis example describing target market for tea company.

How big is your potential market?

The potential market is an estimate of how many people need your product. While it’s exciting to imagine sky-high sales figures, you’ll want to use as much relevant independent data as possible to validate your estimated potential market.

Since this can be a daunting process, here are some general tips to help you begin your research:

  • Understand your ideal customer profile. Look for government data about the size of your target market , learn where they live, what social channels they use, and their shopping habits.
  • Research relevant industry trends and trajectory. Explore consumer trends and product trends in your industry by looking at Google Trends, trade publications, and influencers in the space.
  • Make informed guesses. You’ll never have perfect, complete information about your total addressable market. Your goal is to base your estimates on as many verifiable data points as necessary.

Some sources to consult for market data include government statistics offices, industry associations, academic research, and respected news outlets covering your industry.

Read more: What is a Marketing Analysis? 3 Steps Every Business Should Follow

SWOT analysis

A SWOT analysis looks at your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. 

That involves asking questions like: 

  • What are the best things about your company? 
  • What are you not so good at? 
  • What market or industry shifts can you take advantage of and turn into opportunities? 
  • Are there external factors threatening your ability to succeed?

SWOT is often depicted in a grid or otherwise visual way. With this visual presentation, your reader can quickly see the factors that may impact your business and determine your competitive advantage in the market.

Competitive analysis

There are three overarching factors you can use to differentiate your business in the face of competition:

  • Cost leadership. You have the capacity to maximize profits by offering lower prices than the majority of your competitors. Examples include companies like Mejuri and Endy .
  • Differentiation. Your product or service offers something distinct from the current cost leaders in your industry and banks on standing out based on your uniqueness. Think of companies like Knix and QALO .
  • Segmentation. You focus on a very specific, or niche, target market, and aim to build traction with a smaller audience before moving on to a broader market. Companies like TomboyX and Heyday Footwear are great examples of this strategy.

To understand which is the best fit, you’ll need to understand your business as well as the competitive landscape.

You’ll always have competition in the market, even with an innovative product, so it’s important to include a competitive overview in your business plan. If you’re entering an established market, include a list of a few companies you consider direct competitors and explain how you plan to differentiate your products and business from theirs.

For example, if you’re selling jewelry , your competitive differentiation could be that, unlike many high-end competitors, you donate a percentage of your profits to a notable charity or pass savings on to your customers.

If you’re entering a market where you can’t easily identify direct competitors, consider your indirect competitors—companies offering products that are substitutes for yours. For example, if you’re selling an innovative new piece of kitchen equipment, it’s too easy to say that because your product is new, you have no competition. Consider what your potential customers are doing to solve the same problems.

4. Outline the management and organization

Woman with curly hair using laptop on carpeted floor next to couch and plant

The management and organization section of your business plan should tell readers about who’s running your company. Detail the legal structure of your business. Communicate whether you’ll incorporate your business as an S corporation or create a limited partnership or sole proprietorship.

If you have a management team, use an organizational chart to show your company’s internal structure, including the roles, responsibilities, and relationships between people in your chart. Communicate how each person will contribute to the success of your startup.

5. List your products and services

Your products or services will feature prominently in most areas of your business plan, but it’s important to provide a section that outlines key details about them for interested readers.

If you sell many items, you can include more general information on each of your product lines. If you only sell a few, provide additional information on each. 

For example, bag shop BAGGU sells a large selection of different types of bags, in addition to home goods and other accessories. Its business plan would list out those categories and key details about the products within each category.

BAGGU online store showing colorful patterned tote bags for sale

Describe new products you’ll launch in the near future and any intellectual property you own. Express how they’ll improve profitability. It’s also important to note where products are coming from—handmade crafts are sourced differently than trending products for a dropshipping business, for instance.

6. Perform customer segmentation

Your ideal customer, also known as your target market, is the foundation of your marketing plan , if not your business plan as a whole. 

You’ll want to keep this buyer persona in mind as you make strategic decisions, which is why an overview of who they are is important to understand and include in your business plan.

To give a holistic overview of your ideal customer, describe a number of general and specific demographic characteristics. Customer segmentation often includes:

  • Where they live
  • Their age range
  • Their level of education
  • Some common behavior patterns
  • How they spend their free time
  • Where they work
  • What technology they use
  • How much they earn
  • Where they’re commonly employed
  • Their values, beliefs, or opinions

This information will vary based on what you’re selling, but you should be specific enough that it’s unquestionably clear who you’re trying to reach—and more importantly, why you’ve made the choices you have based on who your customers are and what they value.

For example, a college student has different interests, shopping habits, and pricing sensitivity than a 50-year-old executive at a Fortune 500 company. Your business plan and decisions would look very different based on which one was your ideal customer.

Put your customer data to work with Shopify’s customer segmentation

Shopify’s built-in segmentation tools help you discover insights about your customers, build segments as targeted as your marketing plans with filters based on your customers’ demographic and behavioral data, and drive sales with timely and personalized emails.

7. Define a marketing plan

Bird’s eye view of hands typing on laptop keyboard, wearing mint green sweater and blue nail polish

Your marketing efforts are directly informed by your ideal customer. That’s why, as you outline your current decisions and future strategy, your marketing plan should keep a sharp focus on how your business idea is a fit for that ideal customer.

If you’re planning to invest heavily in Instagram marketing or TikTok ads , for example, it makes sense to include whether Instagram and TikTok are leading platforms for your audience. If the answer is no, that might be a sign to rethink your marketing plan.

Market your business with Shopify’s customer marketing tools

Shopify has everything you need to capture more leads, send email campaigns, automate key marketing moments, segment your customers, and analyze your results. Plus, it’s all free for your first 10,000 emails sent per month.

Most marketing plans include information on four key subjects. How much detail you present on each will depend on both your business and your plan’s audience.

  • Price: How much do your products cost, and why have you made that decision?
  • Product: What are you selling and how do you differentiate it in the market?
  • Promotion: How will you get your products in front of your ideal customer?
  • Place: Where will you sell your products? On what channels and in which markets?

Promotion may be the bulk of your plan, since you can more readily dive into tactical details, but the other three areas should be covered at least briefly—each is an important strategic lever in your marketing mix.

Marketing plan example showing positioning statement and customer acquisition strategies

8. Provide a logistics and operations plan

Logistics and operations are the workflows you’ll implement to make your business idea a reality. If you’re writing a business plan for your own planning purposes, this is still an important section to consider, even though you might not need to include the same level of detail as if you were seeking investment.

Cover all parts of your planned operations, including:

  • Suppliers. Where do you get the raw materials you need for production, or where are your products produced?
  • Production. Will you make, manufacture, wholesale , or dropship your products? How long does it take to produce your products and get them shipped to you? How will you handle a busy season or an unexpected spike in demand?
  • Facilities. Where will you and any team members work? Do you plan to have a physical retail space? If yes, where?
  • Equipment. What tools and technology do you require to be up and running? This includes everything from software to lightbulbs and everything in between.
  • Shipping and fulfillment. Will you be handling all the fulfillment tasks in-house, or will you use a third-party fulfillment partner?
  • Inventory. How much will you keep on hand, and where will it be stored? How will you ship it to partners if required, and how will you approach inventory management ?

This section should signal to your reader that you’ve got a solid understanding of your supply chain, with strong contingency plans in place to cover potential uncertainty. If your reader is you, it should give you a basis to make other important decisions, like how to price your products to cover your estimated costs, and at what point you anticipate breaking even on your initial spending.

9. Make a financial plan

No matter how great your idea is—and regardless of the effort, time, and money you invest—a business lives or dies based on its financial health. At the end of the day, people want to work with a business they expect to be viable for the foreseeable future.

The level of detail required in your financial plan will depend on your audience and goals, but typically you’ll want to include three major views of your financials: an income statement, a balance sheet, and a cash-flow statement. It also may be appropriate to include financial data and projections.

Here’s a spreadsheet template that includes everything you’ll need to create an income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statement, including some sample numbers. You can edit it to reflect projections if needed.

Let’s review the types of financial statements you’ll need.

Income statements

Your income statement is designed to give readers a look at your revenue sources and expenses over a given time period. With those two pieces of information, they can see the all-important bottom line or the profit or loss your business experienced during that time. If you haven’t launched your business yet, you can project future milestones of the same information.

Balance sheets

Your balance sheet offers a look at how much equity you have in your business. On one side, you list all your business assets (what you own), and on the other side, all your liabilities (what you owe). 

This provides a snapshot of your business’s shareholder equity, which is calculated as:

Assets - Liabilities = Equity

Cash flow statements

Your cash flow statement is similar to your income statement, with one important difference: it takes into account when revenues are collected and when expenses are paid.

When the cash you have coming in is greater than the cash you have going out, your cash flow is positive. When the opposite scenario is true, your cash flow is negative. Ideally, your cash flow statement will help you see when cash is low, when you might have a surplus, and where you might need to have a contingency plan to access funding to keep your business solvent .

It can be especially helpful to forecast your cash-flow statement to identify gaps or negative cash flow and adjust operations as required.

📚 Read more: Cash Flow Management: What It Is & How To Do It (+ Examples)

Why write a business plan?

Investors rely on business plans to evaluate the feasibility of a business before funding it, which is why business plans are commonly associated with getting a business loan. 

Business plans also help owners identify areas of weakness before launching, potentially avoiding costly mistakes down the road. “Laying out a business plan helped us identify the ’unknowns’ and made it easier to spot the gaps where we’d need help or, at the very least, to skill up ourselves,” says Jordan Barnett, owner of Kapow Meggings .

There are several other compelling reasons to consider writing a business plan, including:

  • Strategic planning. Writing out your plan is an invaluable exercise for clarifying your ideas and can help you understand the scope of your business, as well as the amount of time, money, and resources you’ll need to get started.
  • Evaluating ideas. If you’ve got multiple ideas in mind, a rough business plan for each can help you focus your time and energy on the ones with the highest chance of success.
  • Research. To write a business plan, you’ll need to research your ideal customer and your competitors—information that will help you make more strategic decisions.
  • Recruiting. Your business plan is one of the easiest ways to communicate your vision to potential new hires and can help build their confidence in the venture, especially if you’re in the early stages of growth.
  • Partnerships. If you plan to collaborate with other brands , having a clear overview of your vision, your audience, and your business strategy will make it much easier for them to identify if your business is a good fit for theirs.
  • Competitions. There are many business plan competitions offering prizes such as mentorships, grants, or investment capital. 

If you’re looking for a structured way to lay out your thoughts and ideas, and to share those ideas with people who can have a big impact on your success, making a business plan is an excellent starting point.

Business plan types

Business plan types can span from one page to multiple pages, with detailed graphs and reports. There’s no one right way to create a business plan. The goal is to convey the most important information about your company for readers.

Common business plans we see include, but are not limited to, the following types:

Traditional business plans

These are the most common business plans. Traditional business plans take longer to write and can be dozens of pages long. Venture capitalist firms and lenders ask for this plan. Traditional business plans may not be necessary if you don’t plan to seek outside funding. That’s where a lean business plan comes in.

Lean business plans

A lean business plan is a shorter version of a traditional business plan. It follows the same format, but only includes the most important information. Businesses use lean business plans to onboard new hires or modify existing plans for a specific target market. If you want to write a business plan purely for your own planning purposes when starting a new small business, a lean business plan is typically the way to go. 

Nonprofit business plans

A nonprofit business plan is for any entity that operates for public or social benefit. It covers everything you’ll find in a traditional business plan, plus a section describing the impact the company plans to make. For example, a speaker and headphone brand would communicate that they aim to help people with hearing disabilities. Donors often request this type of business plan.

📚 Read more: 7 Business Plan Examples to Inspire Your Own (2024)

7 tips for creating a small business plan

There are a few best practices when it comes to writing a business plan. While your plan will be unique to your business and goals, keep these tips in mind as you write.

1. Know your audience

When you know who will be reading your plan—even if you’re just writing it for yourself to clarify your ideas—you can tailor the language and level of detail to them. This can also help you make sure you’re including the most relevant information and figure out when to omit sections that aren’t as impactful.

2. Have a clear goal

When creating a business plan, you’ll need to put in more work and deliver a more thorough plan if your goal is to secure funding for your business, versus working through a plan for yourself or your team.

3. Invest time in research

Sections of your business plan will primarily be informed by your ideas and vision, but some of the most crucial information you’ll need requires research from independent sources. This is where you can invest time in understanding who you’re selling to, whether there’s demand for your products, and who else is selling similar products or services.

4. Keep it short and to the point

No matter who you’re writing for, your business plan should be short and readable—generally no longer than 15 to 20 pages. If you do have additional documents you think may be valuable to your audience and your goals, consider adding them as appendices.

5. Keep the tone, style, and voice consistent

This is best managed by having a single person write the plan or by allowing time for the plan to be properly edited before distributing it.

6. Use a business plan template

You can also use a free business plan template to provide a skeleton for writing a plan. These templates often guide you through each section—from financial projects to market research to mission statement—ensuring you don’t miss a step.

7. Try business plan software

Writing a business plan isn’t the easiest task for business owners. But it’s important for anyone starting or expanding a business. 

Fortunately, there are tools to help with everything from planning, drafting, creating graphics, syncing financial data, and more. Business plan software also has business plan templates and tutorials to help you finish a comprehensive plan in hours, rather than days.

A few curated picks include:

  • LivePlan : the most affordable option with samples and templates
  • Bizplan : tailored for startups seeking investment
  • Go Small Biz : budget-friendly option with industry-specific templates

📚 Read more:  6 Best Business Plan Software Platforms (2024)

Common mistakes when writing a business plan

Other articles on business plans would never tell you what we’re about to tell you: Your business plan can fail. 

The last thing you want is for time and effort to go down the drain, so avoid these common mistakes:

  • Bad business idea. Sometimes your idea may be too risky for potential investors or too expensive to run, or there’s no market. Aim for small business ideas that require low startup costs.
  • No exit strategy. If you don’t show an exit strategy, or a plan for investors to leave the business with maximum profits, you’ll have little luck securing capital.
  • Unbalanced teams. A great product is the cost of entry to starting a business. But an incredible team will take it to the top. Unfortunately, many business owners overlook a balanced team. They focus on potential profits, without worrying about how it will be done operationally. 
  • Missing financial projections. Don’t forget your balance sheet, cash flow statements, P&L statements, and income statements. Include your break-even analysis and return-on-investment calculations in your financial projections to create a successful business plan.
  • Spelling and grammar errors. All the best organizations have an editor review their documents. If someone spots typos while reading your business plan, sloppy errors like those can evoke a larger sense of distrust in your capabilities to run a successful company. It may seem minor, but legibility and error-free writing helps make a good impression on your business plan’s audience. 

Updating and revising a business plan

Business plans aren’t static documents. The business world moves fast and your plan will need to keep up. You don’t want it to get stale. 

Here’s a good rule of thumb for business plan revisions:

Review Period Action
Annual
Quarterly
Monthly
  • Monthly: Update KPIs like sales, website traffic, and customer acquisition costs. Review your cash flow. Is your money situation as expected? Make the necessary changes.
  • Quarterly : Are you hitting your targets? Be sure to update your financial performance, successful marketing campaigns, and any other recent milestones achieved.
  • Yearly : Think of this as a big overhaul. Compare projections to actuals and update your forecasts. 

When updating your plan, don’t just go with your gut. Use data like surveys and website analytics to inform each update. Using outdated information will only lead to confusion and missed opportunities.

Remember not to just update one part of your plan—it’s all connected. Fortunately, with business plan software you can easily give your plan attention and help your business thrive. 

How to present a business plan

Here are some tips for presenting your business plan to stakeholders.

Understand your audience

Start by doing homework on who you’ll be presenting to. Are they investors, potential partners, or a bank? Each group will have different interests and expectations. 

Consider the following about your presentation audience:

  • Background: What’s their professional experience?
  • Knowledge level: How familiar are they with your industry?
  • Interests: What aspects of your plan will excite them most?
  • Concerns: What might make them hesitant about your idea?

Depending on who you’re presenting to, you can tweak your presentation accordingly. For example, if you’re presenting to a group of investors, you’d probably want to highlight financial projections and market analysis. 

Structure your presentation

Once you know your audience, you can organize your presentation. Think of this as the story you’ll tell listeners. A well-structured presentation helps listeners follow along and remember key points. 

Your opening should grab attention and give a snapshot of what’s to come. It’s kind of like an elevator pitch that gives an overview of your business idea. 

From there, break your presentation into clear sections:

  • Problem: What issue are you solving?
  • Solution: How does your business address this problem?
  • Market: Who are your potential customers?
  • Competition: Who else is in this space, and how are you different?
  • Business model: How will you make money?
  • Financial projections: What are your expected costs and revenues?
  • Team: Who’s involved, and what makes them qualified?

Use visual aids to support your points. Graphs, charts, and even simple illustrations can make your information more digestible. Remember to practice your timing, too. A good presentation flows smoothly, giving each section the right amount of attention for its intended audience. 

Handle objections and questions

Facing objections or questions can be nerve-wracking, but it’s actually a great opportunity. It shows your listeners are engaged and thinking critically about your idea. The key is to be prepared and stay calm. 

Try to anticipate potential questions. Put yourself in the listener’s shoes: What would you want to know if you were them? Come up with clear answers to these questions ahead of time.

When handling questions:

  • Listen carefully: Make sure you fully understand the question before answering.
  • Stay positive: Even if the question seems critical, respond with enthusiasm.
  • Be honest: If you don’t know something, it’s OK. Offer to find out and follow up. 

Use questions as a way to highlight the strengths of your business plan. If a question needs more thought or refresh, it’s perfectly fine to say, “That’s a great question. I’d love to look further into it and get back to you with a detailed answer.”

Handling questions well shows that you’re knowledgeable, thoughtful, and open to feedback—all things that will impress listeners and make them feel confident in your business plan. 

Prepare your business plan today

A business plan can help you identify clear, deliberate next steps for your business, even if you never plan to pitch investors—and it can help you see gaps in your plan before they become issues. 

Whether you’re working on starting a new online business idea , building a retail storefront, growing your established business, or purchasing an existing business , you now understand how to write a business plan that suits your business’s goals and needs.

Feature illustration by Rachel Tunstall

Business plan FAQ

How do i write a business plan.

Learning how to write a business plan is simple if you use a business plan template or business plan software. Typically, a traditional business plan for every new business should have the following components:

  • Executive summary
  • Company description, including value proposition
  • Market analysis and competitive analysis
  • Management and organization
  • Products and services
  • Customer segmentation
  • Marketing plan
  • Logistics and operations
  • Financial plan and financial projections

What is a good business plan?

A good business plan clearly communicates your company’s purpose, goals, and growth strategies. It starts with a strong executive summary, then adequately outlines idea feasibility, target market insights, and the competitive landscape. 

A business plan template can help businesses be sure to follow the typical format of traditional business plans, which also include financial projections, details about the management team, and other key elements that venture capital firms and potential investors want to see.

What are the 3 main purposes of a business plan?

The three main purposes of a business plan are: 

  • To clarify your plans for growth
  • To understand your financial needs
  • To attract funding from investors or secure a business loan

What are the different types of business plans?

The types of business plans include startup, refocusing, internal, annual, strategic, feasibility, operations, growth, and scenario-based. Each type of business plan has a different purpose. Business plan formats include traditional, lean, and nonprofit. Find a business plan template for the type of plan you want to write.

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Farming Business Plan Proposal In South Africa

[Pdf Sample] Business Plan For Farming In South Africa Docx

In today’s fast-paced world, the farming industry continues to play a vital role in providing food security and economic stability. South Africa, with its rich agricultural resources, offers numerous opportunities for aspiring farmers and entrepreneurs to establish successful farming businesses.

[Pdf Sample] Farming Business Plan Proposal In South Africa Docx

To write a business plan , here is a breakdown of how it should be structured and what should be in each category. After this instruction, I will provide you with a sample of one I wrote for my farm , let us go:

Executive Summary

The executive summary provides an overview of your farming business plan , highlighting the key aspects and goals. It outlines the vision, mission, and objectives of your farm, along with a summary of the market analysis, financial projections, and marketing strategies. This section should be concise yet compelling, capturing the essence of your business plan and enticing potential investors or partners to delve deeper.

Introduction to Farming in South Africa

In this section, we will discuss the agricultural landscape of South Africa , exploring the diverse range of farming opportunities available. We will delve into the climatic conditions, soil types, and regional considerations that influence farming practices in the country . Additionally, we will highlight the government’s support and incentives for the agricultural sector, providing valuable insights for aspiring farmers.

Read Also:  [Pdf Sample] Business Plan For Goat Farming In South Africa Docx

Identifying Target Market and Products

Market analysis and competitor research.

Conducting a comprehensive market analysis is essential for assessing the viability of your farming business . This section will delve into market research techniques, including primary and secondary data collection methods. We will also explore competitor analysis, identifying key competitors in the market and determining strategies to gain a competitive edge.

Read Also:  [Pdf Sample] Business Plan For Cattle Farming In South Africa Docx

Farming Methods and Techniques

Equipment and infrastructure.

Investing in the right equipment and infrastructure is essential for efficient farming operations. In this section, we will guide you through the process of selecting appropriate machinery, tools, and infrastructure based on the specific needs of your farming venture. We will also discuss maintenance and operational considerations to maximize the lifespan and performance of your assets.

Human Resources and Management

Managing human resources effectively is key to the success of any business, including farming enterprises. This section will delve into strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining skilled farm workers. We will explore management structures and delegation of responsibilities to ensure smooth operations and a positive work environment.

Financial Projections and Funding

Developing accurate financial projections is crucial for securing funding and managing the financial aspects of your farming business . This section will guide you through the process of creating a financial plan , including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections. We will also discuss funding options and strategies for approaching investors or financial institutions.

Marketing and Sales Strategies

Risk assessment and mitigation.

Running a farming business involves inherent risks, including weather fluctuations, pest infestations, and market volatility. This section will guide you through the process of conducting a risk assessment and developing mitigation strategies. We will discuss insurance options, contingency plans, and diversification techniques to safeguard your farming business against potential risks.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Sustainability and environmental impact.

Sustainable farming practices are gaining significant importance in today’s agricultural landscape. This section will explore various sustainability initiatives and environmentally friendly farming practices that you can adopt. We will discuss water conservation , soil health management, and biodiversity preservation techniques to minimize your farm’s environmental impact.

Implementation Plan and Timeline

Developing an implementation plan and timeline is crucial for turning your farming business plan into action. In this section, we will guide you through the process of creating a detailed implementation plan, including the sequential steps and milestones to be achieved. We will also discuss project management techniques to ensure the timely execution of your farming operations.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluating the performance of your farming business is essential for making informed decisions and identifying areas for improvement. This section will delve into key performance indicators (KPIs), data tracking tools, and periodic evaluation methods. We will guide you in setting up a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to measure the success of your farming operations.

How long does it take to create a farming business plan?

The time required to create a farming business plan can vary depending on the scale and complexity of your venture. On average, it may take several weeks to thoroughly research, develop, and finalize a comprehensive business plan .

Are there any specific government incentives for farming businesses in South Africa?

Yes, the South African government offers various incentives and support programs for the agricultural sector. These include funding opportunities, training initiatives, and tax incentives. It is advisable to consult with local agricultural authorities or business development organizations for detailed information.

What are some key risks involved in farming businesses?

Can i start a farming business with limited capital.

Starting a farming business with limited capital is possible, but careful financial planning and resource management are essential. Consider alternative funding sources, such as government grants or loans, and explore cost-effective farming techniques to optimize your initial investment.

How can I market my farming products effectively?

Share this:, author: adewebs, you may also like:, [pdf sample] business plan for pig farming docx, starting a poultry farm with limited resources in ghana: a comprehensive guide for new farmers, how to register agribusiness company in kenya (see full guide), starting a poultry farm with limited resources in nigeria: guide for new farmers, one reply to “[pdf sample] business plan for farming in south africa docx”, leave a reply cancel reply.

Free PDF Business Plan Templates and Samples

By Joe Weller | September 9, 2020

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We’ve gathered the most useful collection of business plan PDF templates and samples, including options for organizations of any size and type.

On this page, you’ll find free PDF templates for a simple business plan , small business plan , startup business plan , and more.

Simple Business Plan PDF Templates

These simple business plan PDF templates are ready to use and customizable to fit the needs of any organization.

Simple Business Plan Template PDF

Simple Business Plan Template

This template contains a traditional business plan layout to help you map out each aspect, from a company overview to sales projections and a marketing strategy. This template includes a table of contents, as well as space for financing details that startups looking for funding may need to provide. 

Download Simple Business Plan Template - PDF

Lean Business Plan Template PDF

Lean Business Plan Template

This scannable business plan template allows you to easily identify the most important elements of your plan. Use this template to outline key details pertaining to your business and industry, product or service offerings, target customer segments (and channels to reach them), and to identify sources of revenue. There is also space to include key performance metrics and a timeline of activities. 

Download Lean Business Plan Template - PDF

Simple 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template PDF

Simple 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template

This template is designed to help you develop and implement a 90-day business plan by breaking it down into manageable chunks of time. Use the space provided to detail your main goals and deliverables for each timeframe, and then add the steps necessary to achieve your objectives. Assign task ownership and enter deadlines to ensure your plan stays on track every step of the way.

Download Simple 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template

PDF | Smartsheet

One-Page Business Plan PDF Templates

The following single page business plan templates are designed to help you download your key ideas on paper, and can be used to create a pitch document to gain buy-in from partners, investors, and stakeholders.

One-Page Business Plan Template PDF

business plan pdf in south africa

Use this one-page template to summarize each aspect of your business concept in a clear and concise manner. Define the who, what, why, and how of your idea, and use the space at the bottom to create a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) for your business. 

Download One-Page Business Plan Template

If you’re looking for a specific type of analysis, check out our collection of SWOT templates .

One-Page Lean Business Plan PDF

One Page Lean Business Plan Template

This one-page business plan template employs the Lean management concept, and encourages you to focus on the key assumptions of your business idea. A Lean plan is not stagnant, so update it as goals and objectives change — the visual timeline at the bottom is ideal for detailing milestones. 

Download One-Page Lean Business Plan Template - PDF

One-Page 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template

One Page 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template

Use this business plan template to identify main goals and outline the necessary activities to achieve those goals in 30, 60, and 90-day increments. Easily customize this template to fit your needs while you track the status of each task and goal to keep your business plan on target. 

Download One-Page 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template

For additional single page plans, including an example of a one-page business plan , visit " One-Page Business Plan Templates with a Quick How-To Guide ."

Small Business Plan PDF Templates

These business plan templates are useful for small businesses that want to map out a way to meet organizational objectives, including how to structure, operate, and expand their business.

Simple Small Business Plan Template PDF

Simple Small Business Plan Template

A small business can use this template to outline each critical component of a business plan. There is space to provide details about product or service offerings, target audience, customer reach strategy, competitive advantage, and more. Plus, there is space at the bottom of the document to include a SWOT analysis. Once complete, you can use the template as a basis to build out a more elaborate plan. 

Download Simple Small Business Plan Template

Fill-In-the-Blank Small Business Plan Template PDF

Simple Fill In The Blank Business Plan Template

This fill-in-the-blank template walks you through each section of a business plan. Build upon the fill-in-the-blank content provided in each section to add information about your company, business idea, market analysis, implementation plan, timeline of milestones, and much more.

Download Fill-In-the-Blank Small Business Plan Template - PDF

One-Page Small Business Plan Template PDF

One Page Business Plan For Small Business Template

Use this one-page template to create a scannable business plan that highlights the most essential parts of your organization’s strategy. Provide your business overview and management team details at the top, and then outline the target market, market size, competitive offerings, key objectives and success metrics, financial plan, and more.

Download One-Page Business Plan for Small Business - PDF

Startup Business Plan PDF Templates

Startups can use these business plan templates to check the feasibility of their idea, and articulate their vision to potential investors.

Startup Business Plan Template

Startup Business Plan Template

Use this business plan template to organize and prepare each essential component of your startup plan. Outline key details relevant to your concept and organization, including your mission and vision statement, product or services offered, pricing structure, marketing strategy, financial plan, and more.

‌Download Startup Business Plan Template

Sample 30-60-90 Day Business Plan for Startup

Sample 30-60-90 Day Business Plan for Startup

Startups can use this sample 30-60-90 day plan to establish main goals and deliverables spanning a 90-day period. Customize the sample goals, deliverables, and activities provided on this template according to the needs of your business. Then, assign task owners and set due dates to help ensure your 90-day plan stays on track.

‌Download Sample 30-60-90 Day Business Plan for Startup Template 

For additional resources to create your plan, visit “ Free Startup Business Plan Templates and Examples .”

Nonprofit Business Plan PDF Templates

Use these business plan PDF templates to outline your organization’s mission, your plan to make a positive impact in your community, and the steps you will take to achieve your nonprofit’s goals.

Nonprofit Business Plan Template PDF

Fill-in-the-Blank Nonprofit Business Plan Template

Use this customizable PDF template to develop a plan that details your organization’s purpose, objectives, and strategy. This template features a table of contents, with room to include your nonprofit’s mission and vision, key team and board members, program offerings, a market and industry analysis, promotional plan, financial plan, and more. This template also contains a visual timeline to display historic and future milestones.

Download Nonprofit Business Plan Template - PDF

One-Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organization PDF 

One Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organizations Template

This one-page plan serves as a good starting point for established and startup nonprofit organizations to jot down their fundamental goals and objectives. This template contains all the essential aspects of a business plan in a concise and scannable format, including the organizational overview, purpose, promotional plan, key objectives and success metrics, fundraising goals, and more.

Download One-Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organization Template - PDF

Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan PDF Templates

Use these fill-in-the-blank templates as a foundation for creating a comprehensive roadmap that aligns your business strategy with your marketing, sales, and financial goals.

Simple Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan PDF

The fill-in-the-blank template contains all the vital parts of a business plan, with sample content that you can customize to fit your needs. There is room to include an executive summary, business description, market analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, financial statements, and more. 

Download Simple Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan Template - PDF

Lean Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan PDF

Fill-in-the-Blank Lean  Business Plan Template

This business plan is designed with a Lean approach that encourages you to clarify and communicate your business idea in a clear and concise manner. This single page fill-in-the-blank template includes space to provide details about your management team, the problem you're solving, the solution, target customers, cost structure, and revenue streams. Use the timeline at the bottom to produce a visual illustration of key milestones. 

Download Fill-In-the-Blank Lean Business Plan Template - PDF

For additional resources, take a look at " Free Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan Templates ."

Sample Business Plan PDF Templates

These sample business plan PDF templates can help you to develop an organized, thorough, and professional business plan.

Business Plan Sample 

Basic Business Plan Sample

This business plan example demonstrates a plan for a fictional food truck company. The sample includes all of the elements in a traditional business plan, which makes it a useful starting point for developing a plan specific to your business needs.

Download Basic Business Plan Sample - PDF

Sample Business Plan Outline Template

Simple Business Plan Outline Template

Use this sample outline as a starting point for your business plan. Shorten or expand the outline depending on your organization’s needs, and use it to develop a table of contents for your finalized plan.

Download Sample Business Plan Outline Template - PDF

Sample Business Financial Plan Template

Business Financial Plan Template

Use this sample template to develop the financial portion of your business plan. The template provides space to include a financial overview, key assumptions, financial indicators, and business ratios. Complete the break-even analysis and add your financial statements to help prove the viability of your organization’s business plan.

Download Business Financial Plan Template

PDF  | Smartsheet

For more free, downloadable templates for all aspects of your business, check out “ Free Business Templates for Organizations of All Sizes .”

Improve Business Planning with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

Discover why over 90% of Fortune 100 companies trust Smartsheet to get work done.

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Hair and Beauty Salon Business Plan | Download PDF

Hair and Beauty Salon Business Plan | Download PDF

Hair and Beauty Salon: Business Summary

The idea is on mind, owning a beauty salon business. Great! So what next? Step one is done, the objective is in mind, but in order for it to succeed, there must be a plan; a detailed Hair and Beauty Salon Business Plan which will show that the idea is going to succeed. 

Download business plan for a beauty salon

Do you remember the 5 w's in a the " Laundry Business Plan " article? What, When, Who, When, Why and How.  Well now we have the  What.  The following question would be:

"   How? "

I already know I want to make an investment in beauty salon, but how am I going to make this happen? With a very well structured business plan. In that document, the entrepreneur(s) must include, well, basically everything:

Describe your Company:Vision & Mission
Define your Target Market: Company's objectives
Creating a Marketing Plan 
Figure the Finances Out

Many people think that beauty salons are a cliché business, we have many of them already, but why? Because our society lives on stress, it is always stressed out and salons are convenient kind of retreats.

They are relaxing environments providing great customer services, stressed people go there to be taken care of. That is the magic of it, beauty salons will always have demand, there is no going back on this hectic world. People love to be taken care of, women love having great colored nails done and men love having perfect hands and beards. The people that is planing on having a beauty salon knows it will have a highly demand, they know people will go there and that if it is well managed it will work.

But remember, always be different. There are many investments in beauty salons , make yours be worth it. People love different!

Not sure yet? The following article might help! Top 10 Reasons to invest in Beauty Salon

1. Describe your Company

The objective is to have an added value, to be different, to have that something that makes people think about it. Will your business atmosphere be relaxing? Will soft drinks be offered to the clients or as they enter the store or until they sit down to get the service? Will you have televisions? Separate rooms depending on the service? To develop great business strategies, it is recommended to perform a SWOT analysis to make the right decision. 

What are some of the keys to success?

Environment:

Convenience:, reputation:.

Discover how to open your own beauty salon

Considering the list above, it is of extreme importance to vary, not to only offer one thing, but to have a range of products and services so the clients find everything they need in the same place, in your oasis. There is no exact number of product or services a beauty salon must offer, but never ever offer least than the competitors. Again, plan plan plan! Hair and Beauty Salon Business plan , that should be your focus. 

hair and beauty salon business plan

2. Define your Target Market

Even though there are many beauty salons, there are different types depending on the target. Some for example, are for men, other for women, other for both and so on... and as I stated before, even though the idea of having a beauty salon is there, people have to do a profound analysis on the message, on what do they want to communicate to others.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR SALON TO SAY?"

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR OTHERS TO SAY ABOUT YOUR SALON?"

WHAT IS THE HIDDEN MESSAGE?"

WHOM DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THE MESSAGE TO?"

Defining a target market does not only mean to think "oh ok, my beauty salon will be for both, men and women" No. It goes way beyond that. It is one of the parts of the business plan that requires the most analysis because it requires to stop everything and about the buyer's journey . People need to understand the process the buyer will go through in order to get to that precise beauty salon. And also, the key message.

"What will I do to get my customers to understand and retain the message I want to give to them?"

3. Creating a Marketing Plan

We are not done with the planing yet! We have the strategy, now lets go to marketing. In this stage people have to analyze and think which is the best marketing tool for the business. Is it people? Is it social media?

marketing plan hair and beauty business plan

For some hair and beauty salon business , when a client leaves with a new look, THAT is marketing. Some say their client wears the marketing and that is why most of a the clients of a beauty salon are referrals from existing clients. 

It is important to note that research has shown that word of mouth is the best advertising for this type of business. Although as everything, it depends on many factors.

4. Figure the Finances Out

And here we go... the tough part, excel sheets. What is the financial goal? Is it to be a profitable business in the first month? To have a break-even in the 6th month? Number time! This is where you write down everything. Fixed costs, variable costs, every single thing that will involve money.

A sales forecast is extremely important. People need to have expectations on income even if they're only approximate. This is so managers know how much are will they be able to spend during the years and what will be the project that gives the hair and beauty salon profits.

Owning a beauty salon business is a great idea because of its potential, it has a potential growth (it never stops growing), it gives great amount of profit and it will never end.

Beauty salons have been on the market since long time ago; people always need to have their hair cut, nails done, a massage is always a good idea, etc.. But it is important for people to know that getting thins up and going involves planification, remember our focus? Hair and Beauty Salon Business Plan! Thinking and analyzing. If you do things the right way since the beginning, there will be less problems. 

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How To Write a Business Proposal for a Small Business

September 3, 2024.

Businessman Shaking Hands With Builder

A great business proposal is like having an ace salesperson who never sleeps. It works around the clock, convincing clients why they should choose you over the competition.

A business proposal outlines your plan to solve a client’s problem or meet their needs. It explains what you can do, how you’ll do it, and why you’re the best choice.

Here’s how to write a business proposal that works. Learn everything from understanding your client’s needs to presenting your solution clearly—and creating proposals that turn potential clients into paying customers.

RELATED ARTICLE — What Is Customer Relations? Everything You Need To Know for Your Business

What Is a Business Proposal?

A business proposal is a written proposal that explains how you can solve a problem or meet a need for another company or person. It’s a powerful tool companies use to win new clients and projects. Think of it as a mix between a sales pitch and a project plan.

Because it focuses on a specific business opportunity, learning how to write a solid business proposal is very different from learning how to write a grant proposal for a small business. It’s also different from learning how to write a business proposal for funding—more commonly referred to as a business plan—which is a broader document aimed at securing investment in your company.

In a business proposal, you lay out all the details of what you’re offering. This includes what you’ll do, how you’ll do it, when you’ll get it done, and how much it’ll cost. But it’s more than just a list of facts and figures. A good proposal tells a story about why your solution is the best one out there.

RELATED ARTICLE — How To Write a Business Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide

Types of Business Proposals

Business proposals come in different shapes and sizes. Some are short and sweet, while others are long and detailed. The length and style often depend on what you’re proposing and who it’s for. But no matter the size, the goal is always the same: to convince the reader that your company is the right choice for the job.

Let’s look at the main types of business proposals you may write:

  • Solicited Proposals . These are proposals a client asks for. It’s like when a teacher gives you an assignment. They tell you exactly what they want, which makes it easier to follow.
  • Unsolicited Proposals . These are proposals you send without being asked. You’re putting out the feelers to see if the client is interested in working with you.
  • Formal Proposals . These are detailed professional documents. You need to follow specific rules and include lots of information.
  • Informal Proposals . These are shorter and more casual. Think of them like a quick email to a friend explaining an idea. 

RELATED ARTICLE — Communication Methods Within a Business and How To Improve Your Skills

What Should Your Business Proposal Outline Include?

Happy clothing store owners working

A great business proposal is like a well-organized toolbox. Each part has its place and purpose, working together to get the job done. Let’s look at the key sections you should include in your proposal to make it clear, convincing, and complete:

  • Title Page and Table of Contents . Start with a professional-looking front page and a list of what’s inside.
  • Proposal Snapshot . Give a quick overview of your main ideas and why they’re a great fit for the client’s needs.
  • Client’s Challenge . Show you understand the problem the prospective client needs to solve.
  • Your Game Plan . Explain how you’ll fix the client’s problem step by step.
  • Cost Breakdown . Be clear about pricing and how payment works.
  • Why Choose You . Share your (or your team’s) skills and past successes.
  • Next Steps and Wrap-up . Tell the client what to do next and remind them why your idea is the best.

RELATED ARTICLE — How To Register a Business in the US: A Comprehensive Guide

10 Steps To Writing a Business Proposal

Crafting a winning business proposal requires following some key steps to build a solid foundation. Here’s a guide to help you write a proposal that stands out and gets results:

  • Pick an Eye-Catching Name . Choose a title that clearly explains your proposal and grabs attention.
  • Make a Roadmap . Create a table of contents to help readers find information.
  • Write a Summary . Briefly explain your main ideas and why they’ll work.
  • Describe the Challenge . Show you understand the client’s problem in detail.
  • Offer Your Solutions . Explain how you’ll solve the problem, being specific about your approach.
  • Highlight Your Strengths . Show off your company’s skills and past successes.
  • Plan the Project Timeline . Develop a realistic schedule for completing the work.
  • Explain the Costs . Be clear about prices and what’s included in different options.
  • Set the Ground Rules . Outline important terms and conditions to prevent misunderstandings.
  • Prepare for the Answer . Explain what happens next and how the client can move forward.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS — 5 Small Business Groups Advocating for You

A Business Proposal Example

The best way to learn is by seeing real examples. Here’s one for a small landscaping company. It’ll show you how to put all the pieces together in a way that works. You can also use it as a business proposal template for your own proposals.

Landscaping Company Proposal

“Green Thumb Landscaping: Transforming Your Backyard into a Personal Oasis”

Prepared for: The Johnson Family

Date: July 1, 2024

By: Green Thumb Landscaping

Table of Contents

Executive summary, your landscaping needs, our proposed solution, project timeline, cost breakdown, about green thumb, terms and conditions, next steps and closing remarks.

Green Thumb Landscaping will turn your ordinary backyard into a stunning outdoor living space. Our plan includes a custom patio, flower gardens, and a water feature, all designed to fit your family’s lifestyle and budget. With our expertise and your vision, we’ll create a backyard oasis for you to enjoy for years to come.

The Johnson family has a large but unused backyard. They want a beautiful outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining, but they’re not sure how to make the most of the area. The current space lacks visual appeal, functional areas for gathering, and proper landscaping to provide privacy and shade.

  • Design a 500 sq ft patio using eco-friendly materials
  • Create colorful flower beds along the property line
  • Install a small pond with a fountain as a centerpiece
  • Plant shade trees for privacy and comfort
  • Set up an efficient irrigation system

Week 1–2 : Design finalization and material ordering

Week 3–4 : Site preparation and patio installation

Week 5–6 : Landscaping and planting

Week 7 : Water feature installation

Week 8 : Irrigation system setup and final touches

Patio Installation : $8,000

Landscaping and Planting : $5,000

Water Feature : $3,000

Irrigation System : $2,000

_______________________

Total Project Cost : $18,000

Green Thumb has 15 years of experience creating award-winning landscapes. Our team includes certified horticulturists and eco-friendly design experts. We’ve completed over 500 projects, with a 98% customer satisfaction rate.

  • 50% deposit required to begin work
  • Balance due upon project completion
  • Any changes to the agreed plan may result in additional costs
  • Green Thumb provides a 1-year warranty on all plantings and installations

To transform your backyard, simply sign the attached agreement. We’ll schedule a final design meeting within a week and can start work within 14 days.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS — 10 Ways To Grow Your Small Business With Networking

5 Tips for Writing a Great Professional Business Proposal

Male small business owner working on laptop

Now that you know the basics of writing a business proposal, let’s look at some tips to make yours stand out from the crowd. Remember, a good proposal isn’t just about what you say, but how you say it.

  • Make It Look Good . Use a clean, professional design with plenty of white space. Choose easy-to-read fonts and use colors that match your brand. This is extra important for unsolicited proposals because a document that looks great is more likely to get read.
  • Keep It Short and Sweet . Aim for clear, simple language that gets to the point quickly. Break up long paragraphs into shorter ones.
  • Show, Don’t Tell . If possible, include charts, graphs, or images to make your points clearer. For example, if you’re talking about saving money, show a graph of how much the client will save compared to a competitor.
  • Tailor It . Don’t use the same proposal for everyone. Show that you understand each client’s specific needs and how your solution fits them perfectly.
  • Proofread (Then Proofread Again) . Spelling mistakes and typos can make you look careless. Read through your proposal several times, and consider asking someone else to look it over for you.

Stay on Brand and Look Professional With Invoice Simple

Custom branding adds polish to any client-facing document. And that includes your invoices.

Invoice Simple ’s estimate and invoice templates are fully brandable to your business. We never add a watermark, so your invoices always look professional and match your brand. Start with a clean, modern template design, then simply add your logo.

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Wednesday, September 4, 2024

FSCA approves JSE listing requirements dealing with market segmentation

The initiative is part of the JSE’s continuous commitment to improving accessibility and efficiency for international companies. Picture: Supplied

The initiative is part of the JSE’s continuous commitment to improving accessibility and efficiency for international companies. Picture: Supplied

Published 9h ago

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has approved the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) amendments to the listing requirements dealing with market segmentation which come into effect on September 23, 2024.

The Market Segmentation Project repositions the JSE’s Main Board into two segments: Prime and General.

The JSE says the new structure aims to offer a suitable and efficient level of regulation tailored to the size and liquidity of issuers on the Main Board, while continuing to uphold investor confidence in the market.

The General Segment affords issuers on the Main Board listing with different application of certain provisions of the listing requirements.

Issuers seeking to apply for the General Segment can submit an application to the JSE from September 23, 2024, with the effective launch date of the General Segment to be communicated.

Once approved, the issuer will be classified under the General Segment.

The General Segment affords meaningful regulatory relief to issuers while maintaining transparency and disclosure.

Some of the benefits include more enabling capital-raising measures; significant cost savings; efficient and cost-effective financial reporting; and greater flexibility for the boards to manage the business.

“We welcome the FSCA’s approval of the amendments to the JSE’s Listing Requirements in relation to the Market Segmentation Project as we believe it will create a flexible and enabling environment for certain companies listed on the Main Board to raise capital and undertake corporate actions within an appropriate and relevant regulatory framework,” said Andre Visser, the director for Issuer Regulation at the JSE.

The General Segment offers the following, to name a few:

  • An automatic annual rolling general authority to issue shares for cash without shareholders’ approval representing up to 10% of the issuer’s issued share capital.
  • A general repurchase authority not requiring shareholders’ approval, not exceeding 20% in any one financial year.
  • A specific repurchase authority not requiring shareholders’ approval, subject to it not involving related parties and does not exceed 20% in a financial year.
  • Removal of fairness opinions for related party corporate actions and transactions, with more focus being placed on governance arrangements and transparency (agreements open for inspection), and exclusion from voting for related parties and associates.
  • Removal of the requirement to release results announcements within three months. Issuers will be required to prepare an annual report within four months.
  • Removal of the preparation of pro forma financial information but rather inclusion of a detailed narrative on the impact of the transaction/corporate action on the financial statements.
  • Increasing the category 1 percentage ratio to 50% or more (an increase of 20%) which increases the category 2 threshold accordingly.
  • Requiring only two year audited historical financial information for the subject of a category 1 transaction (currently, three years of audited historical information).
  • Increasing the small-related party transaction percentage ratio to 3% and less than or equal to 10% (an increase from 0.25% and 5%).
  • Increasing the classification of a material shareholder, from 10% to 20%.

Classification into the General Segment is only available to Main Board issuers who are not included in the FTSE/JSE All Share Index.

The JSE said it remained committed to creating an enabling environment for listed companies and would continually assess its listing requirements to ensure they were relevant and applicable to the ever-evolving needs of the market.

Further to the approval of the Market Segmentation reforms, the JSE announced the expansion of its secondary listings framework and has added Tadawul as well as all the Euronext exchanges (Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Paris, Milan, Lisbon and Oslo) to its list of approved and accredited exchanges.

Tadawul and Euronext exchanges are now included in the group of global exchanges recognised for the fast-track process, including the London Stock Exchange, Australian Securities Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, Singapore Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd.

The initiative is part of the JSE’s continuous commitment to improving accessibility and efficiency for international companies.

The JSE said that together, the projects demonstrated its proactive approach to regulatory innovation and its dedication to enhancing the attractiveness and effectiveness of the South African capital markets.

BUSINESS REPORT

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Wednesday, 04 September

Lesotho counts foreign-owned businesses, says SA retailers must find local partners

Lesotho Trade and Industry Minister Mokhethi Shelile. (@UNLesotho/X)

  • Lesotho has rekindled moves to implement localisation rules for certain types of businesses dominated by foreigners.
  • Indians, Chinese and South Africans dominate the 47 reserved businesses.
  • SA firms will be under pressure to use local distributors, and not contract Basotho labour via SA-based agents.

Lesotho has restarted a plan to act against foreign-owned businesses, and to pressure South African companies to work via Basotho-owned distributors. 

The kingdom created new regulations in 2021 that could see foreign-owned businesses kicked out, but has been moving slowly on implementation for fear of paralysing the smallest economy in the region.

A list of 47 business types, from general dealers to barbers, are reserved for locals under those rules.

On Friday, Trade and Industry Minister Mokhethi Shelile told the National Assembly that an inspection in Maseru in June found that the overwhelming majority of businesses in areas reserved for locals were in the hands of foreigners.

"A total of 106 businesses were inspected and 80 belonged to foreigners. The foreign-owned businesses account for 90% of the jobs in this sector," he said.

READ |  Lesotho threatens to unleash military on criminal gangs but opposition say that's 'extreme'

In Maseru, Chinese and Indian owners dominated.

Their businesses were also far more likely to employ foreigners; foreign-owned businesses employed 119 expatriates, while Basotho-owned businesses employed only four foreigners between them, Shelile said.

business plan pdf in south africa

The government said it was seeing people from countries other than China and India move into sectors such as retail, and that it was seeing an increase in newly naturalised owners.

"There are 13 businesses whose owners were naturalised," Shelile said, adding that there was a likelihood the figure would increase because others claimed they were naturalised and said they would bring their documentation.

Shelile said the government had urged South African firms, mostly in the retail sector, to enlist local distributors.

The government wants to see about 800 SA businesses do such deals, covering 80% of imported goods.

The government also wants to end the practice of locals being employed by third-party agents in South Africa, who then provide their services to South African companies required to employ Basotho people.

The Minister of Trade, Industry & Business Development, Hon Mokhethi Shelile, emphasized the importance of horticulture in market diversification and export promotion during His Majesty’s King Letsie III’s Mahobong project visit. pic.twitter.com/n2125McsRm — UN Lesotho (@UNLesotho) August 4, 2024

That system means taxes go to South Africa rather than Lesotho, Shelile explained.

"Sales commissions that are paid to these sales representatives and foreign agents attract tax in South Africa, not Lesotho. Youth unemployment is very high and government debt is very high," he said.

A similar inspection was done in Leribe in mid-August, and another is due in Mafeteng this month.

The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.

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Media Alert: SAPO to Brief Communications Committee on Progress With Business Rescue Plan

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Parliament, Monday, 2 September 2024 –  The South African Post Office (SAPO) is expected to brief the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies tomorrow on progress made by its business rescue practitioners (BRPs) in implementing the Business Rescue Plan. Following severe financial constraints and a dire cash flow position, the High Court on 10 July 2023 granted government’s application to put SAPO in business rescue. The BRPs were then appointed in the same month. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is also expected to brief the committee on the KPMG Forensic Report on the Postbank’s R89.5 million fraudulent transactions. Details of the meeting are as follows: Date: Tuesday, 3 September 2024 Time: 10:00 – 13:00

Venue: S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, MS KHUSELA SANGONI DIKO. For media inquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer: Name: Justice Molafo (Mr) Parliamentary Communication Services Cell: 081 424 7481 Email: [email protected]

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    About the Business Plans. We decided to introduce the South African business plans after noting that many South Africans were venturing into businesses without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the businesses, the risks involved, profitability of the businesses and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of the start-ups.

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