How to write a business plan?

1. UbD – Writing an effective business plan
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Stage 1 – Desired Results
Established Goals
1. Overall Learner Goals.
The overall goal of this lesson is to create well organized business plan that can potentially be
used as a tool in attracting and engaging potential investment partners in the form of grants
and/or crowdfunding.
The plan should clearly outline and appropriately define the overall strategy and goals of the
business.
The learner will be tasked to develop multiple sections of the business which should include
the following:
1.1. Mission and Executive Summary
1.1.1. The learner will be able to create well defined Executive Summary that outlines
the specifics of their business.
1.1.2. The learner will be able to develop a consistent message that adequately
outlines their offerings.
1.1.3. The learner will be able to deliver and effectively communicate its mission.
1.2. Marketing Plan & Strategy
1.2.1. The learner will be able to successfully define marketing strategy for their
business.
1.2.2. The learner will be able to present and concise message that relays
advantages of doing business with them.
1.2.3. The learner will be able to identify its target market and methods by which to
engage them.
1.2.4. The learner will perform a deeper analysis of its competitors.
1.3. Financial Plan & Projections
1.3.1. The learner will identify the appropriate cost(s) of doing business. The learner
will appropriately chart startup and maintenance costs, as it relates to each facet
of the business (where applicable) to include but not limited to: marketing, supply
and distribution, location, marketing collateral, licensing, permit and insurance.

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2. Competencies.
The following is a list of competencies that will determine if the learner understands of
the overall goals as outlined above.
2.1. The learner will be able to create a strategic business plan.
2.2. The learner will be able to present an engaging elevator pitch.
2.3. The learner will be able to identify varying types of business plans.
2.4. The learner will be able to communicate their valuation effectively either verbally or
written.
2.5. After careful evaluation, the learner will be able to identify its target market, as well as,
appropriately assess its competitors by comparing and contrasting offerings.
2.6. The learner will be able to think strategically as it relates to the businesses long term
and short term goals.
2.7. The learner will be able to implement an appropriate strategy to obtain the businesses
long term and short term goals.
2.8. The learner will be able to identify, evaluate, and analyze strengths and weaknesses
of their business for the betterment of their business.
2.9. The learner will be able to identify, evaluate, and analyze strengths and weaknesses
of themselves for the betterment of their business.
3. Outcomes.
3.1. Detailed Mission Statement
3.1.1. At least 1-2 paragraph outlining services and/or product offering.
3.2. Detailed Development Plan
3.2.1. At least 2-4 page document that outlines both short term and long term goals
and clear strategy to obtain those goals.
3.3. Detailed Financial Plan & Projection
3.3.1. The learner will create financial worksheets that detail plan to achieve an
incremental increase in each the following:
3.3.2. Sales by targeted percentage
3.3.3. Investment by targeted percentage
3.3.4. Partnership requests by targeted percentage
3.3.5. Increase exposure within defined market segments.
3.4. Myers Briggs Personality Test
3.4.1. The learner will participate in Myers Briggs personality test to better understand
their business, self, and how they deal with others. Link to website:
http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/my-mbti-results/

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3.5. SWOT Analysis
3.5.1. The learner will create a SWOT Analysis to identify its strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats. Link to template :
http://www.wordmstemplates.com/swot-analysis-template-free.html
4. Standards.
The goal of the each standard is to develop the learner’s ability to disseminate and apply
applicable knowledge for each defined goal. The standards will be derived from multiple
sources that will provide the learner a successful way forward in crafting their business plan.
4.1. Small Business Administration.
https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/write-your-business-plan
4.2. SCORE.org
https://www.score.org/resource/business-planning-financial-statements-template-
gallery
4.3. FBLA – Future Business Leaders of America
http://www.fbla-pbl.org/files/1814/7109/3556/Business-Plan-Rating-Sheets-FBLA-Competitive-
Events.pdf
Transfer
1. Students will be able to independently use their learning to develop future goals and
milestones for their business.
2. A business plan than can scale with the growth of their business.
3. Develop key verbiage that can be used in multiple ways. (e.g. social media sites as well
as media kits).
4. A SWOT Analysis that can scale with the growth of their business.
Meaning
Understandings
Students will understand that…
 Learners will understand that by
developing a clear and concise
business plan, they will understand
the totality of work required to start
and maintain their business.
 Learners should understand that by
providing a financial overview of their
business it will demonstrate their
ability to be fiscally responsible and
Essential Questions
Students will keep considering …
1. Does the learner understand their
mission?
2. Can the learner provide a comprehensive
view of their business offerings?
3. Can the learner provide development plan
as it relates to their overall growth?
4. Does the learner understand their own
value proposition?

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worthy of investment as potential
Investors are often only interested in
the bottom line.
 By providing a snapshot of the
organization’s financial future,
learners can provide investors with
sense of well-being and validation, if
they were to invest.
 Learners will have a better
understanding of how to deal with
outside influences and trends as it
relates to their self and business.
5. Does the learner understand proper
licensing requirements for their business?
6. Does the learner understand the proper
state laws and requirements as it relates
to the structure of their business?
7. Does the learner understand its long term
business objectives?
Acquisition
Students will know . . .
1. What facts and basic concepts should
students know and be able to recall?
1.1. Identify major sections of a business
plan.
1.2. Identify the following SWOT
components:
1.2.1. Strategy
1.2.2. Weaknesses
1.2.3. Opportunities
1.2.4. Threats
1.3. Identify Myers-Briggs personality
types.
Students will be skilled at . . .
1. What discrete skills and processes should
students be able to use?
1.1. The learner should be able to create
and modify a Word document and
effectively use grammar and spell
check.
1.2. The learner should be able to create
and modify a spreadsheet.
1.3. The learner should be able to think
strategically.
1.4. The learner should be able to analyze
data and create graphical and
pictorial representations.
1.5. The learner should be able to
communicate effectively and have the
ability to convince and convey its
message.
1.6. The learner will understand how to
identify and document financial
position of a business.
1.7. The learner will complete a SWOT
Analysis of their business that can
used annually to adjust overall goals
and quickly assess current state of
business..
1.8. The learner will be able to create a
management plan that can be

5. How to Develop a Business Plan
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revisited and reviewed.
1.9. Identify Myers Briggs Personality
types and understand the
implications of their own evaluation.

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Stage 2 – Evidence
Results
1. Pre-Assessment
1.1. Completed Myers Briggs Evaluation.
1.2. Completed SWOT Analysis.
2. Deliverable Assessment
The following is a list of deliverables that will be required to complete this course.
2.1. Business Plan
At least 4-8 page document that outlines both short term and long term goals and clear
strategy to obtain those goals utilizing Bplans.com, Google Docs, and/or Microsoft
Word.
(a) Business Plan & Strategy
(i) Strategy
(ii) Activities
(iii) Milestones
(b) Marketing Plan & Strategy
(i) Strategy
(ii) Activities
(iii) Milestones
(c) Financial Plan
(i) Profit/ Loss Statement (P&L)
(ii) Balance Sheet
(iii) Cash Flow
(iv) Startup and Maintenance costs
3. Peer Review
Peer review will be conducted by fellow learners and/or mentors to assist learner in ensuring
all best practices are being followed and all appropriate sections are included.
4. Reflection & Self-Assessment
An individual self-assessment will be conducted after each deliverable to provide learner an
opportunity to reflect on overall assignment.

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Evaluative Criteria
Categories of skill that will be assessed utilizing standards previously mentioned:
o Content
o Delivery
Rubric.
A 0-5 point scale will be used as part of the overall rubric to quickly assess each
deliverable.
0 : Not Demonstrated
1-2 : Does Not Meet Expectations
3-4 : Meets Expectations
5 : Exceeds Expectations
Additional comments will also be captured to provide additional comment.
Performance Tasks
Students will show that they really understand by evidence of the creation of business
plan draft by doing the following…
1. Identify 3 potential funding sources.
1.1. Identify and document 2 potential funding sources.
1.2. Identify documentation requirements for each.
1.3. Identify what changes will be required to update business plan, if any.
Other Evidence
Students will show they have achieved stage 1 goals by producing all required
deliverables…
- A Plus-Minus-Delta form will be used to collect useful information regarding their general
understanding of class assignments.
- A Podio Survey will be used to rate the overall assignment from the learner’s point of view.
- Modify business plan to accommodate the change required by the funding source.
- Identify milestones achieved.

8. How to Develop a Business Plan
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Stage 3 – Learning Plan
Pre-Assessments
Who Are You?
1) Determine your Myers-Briggs Personality by completing the test.
Website: http://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-research-edition
Do you understand your business?
1) Conduct SWOT Analysis. SWOT Analysis will assist in evaluating current state of affairs of its
business.
2) Conduct Market Analysis. Utilize websites like Crunchbase.com, Gartner.com, LinkedIn.com,
Yahoo Money
3) Understand Positioning and Segment Augmentation.
Template:
Learning Events
Bloom
Taxonomy/SAMR
Analyze
Evaluate
Transform
UDL Mapping
Principle
Engage
Representation
Student success at transfer, meaning, and acquisition depends upon . .
The following activities will outline all three types of goals for an
effective UDL/UbD curriculum:
Activity 0. Myers Briggs Personality Test and Discussion
1) Complete Myers-Briggs Test at the following link:
http://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-research-edition
2) Create a post within Podio Share or Google + and discuss whether or not
you agree with its assessment. Is it an accurate description of your
personality? Why or Why not? How could your personality type affect or
impact how you do business?
Activity 1. SWOT Analysis
1) Prepare SWOT Analysis for your business. Include all sections including
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Use the following template: http://www.wordmstemplates.com/swot-
analysis-template-free.html
or
Use the following website: https://www.aha.io/product/features/strategy
2) Create a post within Podio Share or Google + and discuss whether the
following:
a) What challenges did you face in creating a strategy?

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Activity 2. Elevator Pitch
1) Prepare a 3-5 minute elevator speech that describes your business.
Specifications.
i) No more than 5 minutes.
ii) Content to be determined by learner.
iii) Upload recording to Podio Share or Google Youtube.
iv) If unable to provide electronic copy, schedule a meeting with the
instructor to complete.
Activity 3. Business Plan
1) Evaluate and Analyze SWOT Analysis and complete 6-8 page business
plan.
Specifications.
The following sections should be included:
I. Executive Summary and Mission
(a) 2 page document
II. Marketing Plan & Strategy
(a) 2-4 page document
III. Financial Plan and Projection
(a) 2-4 page document
Activity 4. Slideshow Presentation of Business Plan.
1) Select the audience and transform completed business plan into
condensed version of business plan.
Specifications:
i) No more than 2-3 slides
ii) Use either Slideshare and/or PowerPoint.
iii) Ensure it engages the audience.
2) Add post in Podio Share or Google+ and discuss inspiration for what was
included and why?

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Progress Monitoring
How will you monitor students’ progress toward acquisition, meaning, and transfer during
lesson events?
1. The learner will be initially assessed utilizing the SAMR Model, specifically the “Modification and
Redefinition” stages.
2. Plus Minus Delta evaluations will be carried out throughout the lesson to provide the learner an
opportunity to invest in their own learning by providing ways for improvement.
3. The following is a list of technologies to assist the learner at each stage of activity. If learner
would like to add an alternative technology to the list, they must provide a written request
including a link and general description of the site and its potential use.
Approved List
o Microsoft Word will be used to create the initial draft of the business plan.
o Bplans.com can be used to finalize and confirm whether or not the learner has a basic
understanding of each section by developing best practices.
o Google may be used to communicate and collaborate with the learner via email, Google
Docs, and Google Sheets.
o LinkedIn may be used to communicate feedback to the learner, obtain content management
strategies, and virtually exchange ideas with other likeminded business owners.
o Podio will be used to virtually collaborate and share strategies with other learners, partners,
and/or collaborators.
Method and Mode for Learner Communication
o To alleviate communication issues, the user should be given a basic overview of the
technology they are being asked to use.
o Instruction can be done utilizing Slideshare or Powerpoint.
o Instruction can also be accessed by video which may be provided by the site itself.
o Learners should respond within twenty hours to teacher/professor requests, feedback, unless
otherwise specified within the individual learning activity.
This template has been adapted from:
Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2011). Understanding by design guide to creating high-quality
units. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.
Small Business Administration. Retrieved From
https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/write-your-business-plan

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SCORE.org. Retrieved From
https://www.score.org/resource/business-planning-financial-statements-template-gallery
Future Business Leaders of America. Retrieved from
http://www.fbla-pbl.org/files/1814/7109/3556/Business-Plan-Rating-Sheets-FBLA-Competitive-
Events.pdf