The document provides guidance on creating a business plan, including templates for key sections such as the executive summary, general company description, products and services, and marketing plan. It emphasizes that the process of researching and planning is most valuable, as it helps systematically think through the business idea to avoid costly mistakes. The document is a generic model that should be modified for each specific business type and circumstances.
A business plan is a document that brings together the key elements of a business that include details about the products and services, the cost, sales and expected profits.
This business plan outlines a company seeking funding. It includes sections on management, industry analysis, market research, marketing strategy, operations, and financial projections. The executive summary would highlight the following key points in 3 sentences or less:
The company operates in the [industry] industry and offers an innovative [product/service] that addresses current weaknesses in the market. It plans to capture [x]% of the growing [$x million] market within 3 years. The management team has the experience needed to execute the strategy, and $x million in funding is being sought to support research, operations, and market expansion.
Business Plan Sample - Great Example For Anyone Writing a Business PlanThe Business Plan Team
We are often asked for an example of a professional business plan. Here is one for a Technology (Hosting) company that we did 3 - 4 years ago which enabled the owner to secure an exit from the business. In terms of structure it is fairly typical of any business plan. However, there are some specific issues that you should address for a technology business that de-risks the plan for investors which a business plan writer should include. There is a post about this on our blog http://thebusinessplanteam.blogspot.co.uk.
If you are writing your own plan go to this section on our web-site where you can find links to affordable software here: http://www.thebusinessplanteam.co.uk/buy-business-plan-software.html
Alternatively, if you are looking for help developing your business plan and are looking to engage a business plan writer or business plan consultant take a look at some tips about how to select a consultant we have listed out here: http://www.thebusinessplanteam.co.uk/business-planning-consultants.html. You can also reach us on 0845 026 0198 if you would like to see how we can help.
This document provides an overview of key components to include in a business plan, including: an executive summary that tells your business story in 1-2 pages; a company description that outlines your business structure, goals, and funding needs; an analysis of the target market and industry; a marketing plan that explains how you will reach customers and position your business; descriptions of daily operations, management team, and sales/financing projections; and 3 years of financial projections. It also discusses common mistakes like poor research or formatting errors and emphasizes keeping the plan concise while engaging the reader.
Presenting this set of slides with name - Market Penetration Strategy Powerpoint Presentation Slides. This aptly crafted editable PPT deck contains thirty five slides. Our topic specific Market Penetration Strategy Powerpoint Presentation Slides presentation deck helps devise the topic with a clear approach. We offer a wide range of custom made slides with all sorts of relevant charts and graphs, overviews, topics subtopics templates, and analysis templates. Speculate, discuss, design or demonstrate all the underlying aspects with zero difficulty. This deck also consists creative and professional looking slides of all sorts to achieve the target of a presentation effectively. You can present it individually or as a team working in any company organization.
Eduardo Cojuangco, CEO of San Miguel Corporation, is reassessing the company's business strategy due to slower growth of their flagship beer product, San Miguel Beer, which has a large market share. Cojuangco diversified the company into non-allied industries like energy and infrastructure, but credit agencies downgraded San Miguel's rating, lowering its stock price. Cojuangco must now evaluate if the diversification strategy was correct or if he should change the company's marketing approach to boost beer sales through new flavors, improved packaging, and celebrity endorsements.
The document summarizes a business plan writing workshop that covers the key components of an effective business plan, including an outline, sample sections, and general tips. The workshop agenda includes introductions, a business plan outline writing exercise, lunch, and a writing workshop with time for questions. The workshop reviews the purpose and general rules of business plans, and outlines the typical sections which include an executive summary, company history, products/services description, and financial plan.
A business plan is a document that brings together the key elements of a business that include details about the products and services, the cost, sales and expected profits.
This business plan outlines a company seeking funding. It includes sections on management, industry analysis, market research, marketing strategy, operations, and financial projections. The executive summary would highlight the following key points in 3 sentences or less:
The company operates in the [industry] industry and offers an innovative [product/service] that addresses current weaknesses in the market. It plans to capture [x]% of the growing [$x million] market within 3 years. The management team has the experience needed to execute the strategy, and $x million in funding is being sought to support research, operations, and market expansion.
Business Plan Sample - Great Example For Anyone Writing a Business PlanThe Business Plan Team
We are often asked for an example of a professional business plan. Here is one for a Technology (Hosting) company that we did 3 - 4 years ago which enabled the owner to secure an exit from the business. In terms of structure it is fairly typical of any business plan. However, there are some specific issues that you should address for a technology business that de-risks the plan for investors which a business plan writer should include. There is a post about this on our blog http://thebusinessplanteam.blogspot.co.uk.
If you are writing your own plan go to this section on our web-site where you can find links to affordable software here: http://www.thebusinessplanteam.co.uk/buy-business-plan-software.html
Alternatively, if you are looking for help developing your business plan and are looking to engage a business plan writer or business plan consultant take a look at some tips about how to select a consultant we have listed out here: http://www.thebusinessplanteam.co.uk/business-planning-consultants.html. You can also reach us on 0845 026 0198 if you would like to see how we can help.
This document provides an overview of key components to include in a business plan, including: an executive summary that tells your business story in 1-2 pages; a company description that outlines your business structure, goals, and funding needs; an analysis of the target market and industry; a marketing plan that explains how you will reach customers and position your business; descriptions of daily operations, management team, and sales/financing projections; and 3 years of financial projections. It also discusses common mistakes like poor research or formatting errors and emphasizes keeping the plan concise while engaging the reader.
Presenting this set of slides with name - Market Penetration Strategy Powerpoint Presentation Slides. This aptly crafted editable PPT deck contains thirty five slides. Our topic specific Market Penetration Strategy Powerpoint Presentation Slides presentation deck helps devise the topic with a clear approach. We offer a wide range of custom made slides with all sorts of relevant charts and graphs, overviews, topics subtopics templates, and analysis templates. Speculate, discuss, design or demonstrate all the underlying aspects with zero difficulty. This deck also consists creative and professional looking slides of all sorts to achieve the target of a presentation effectively. You can present it individually or as a team working in any company organization.
Eduardo Cojuangco, CEO of San Miguel Corporation, is reassessing the company's business strategy due to slower growth of their flagship beer product, San Miguel Beer, which has a large market share. Cojuangco diversified the company into non-allied industries like energy and infrastructure, but credit agencies downgraded San Miguel's rating, lowering its stock price. Cojuangco must now evaluate if the diversification strategy was correct or if he should change the company's marketing approach to boost beer sales through new flavors, improved packaging, and celebrity endorsements.
The document summarizes a business plan writing workshop that covers the key components of an effective business plan, including an outline, sample sections, and general tips. The workshop agenda includes introductions, a business plan outline writing exercise, lunch, and a writing workshop with time for questions. The workshop reviews the purpose and general rules of business plans, and outlines the typical sections which include an executive summary, company history, products/services description, and financial plan.
The document provides guidance on developing an effective business plan, including key components and considerations. An executive summary introduces the purpose of a business plan, which is to define business goals and strategies. The document then outlines various sections that should be included in a business plan, such as descriptions of the business concept, market analysis, management team, marketing plan, financial plan, and operations plan. Tips are provided on tailoring a business plan for different audiences and securing funding.
Netflix faces new competitors that threaten its dominance in the online movie rental industry. The strategic audit analyzes Netflix's mission, vision, strengths/weaknesses, finances, and competitors like Apple, Amazon, and Google. It recommends Netflix diversify its services beyond DVD rentals and streaming to differentiate itself in the changing market.
You have a great new idea and you want to start an own business? Don’t jump into business waters without a plan. What will you do? How will you find clients? How will you find suppliers? Are there too many competitors already? How will you find the money? What if something goes wrong?
These are important questions that should be answered before starting a new company. The business plan is simply a document that gives an overview of your business idea and how you intend to make money out of it.
BUSINESS PLANNING 101: ENTREPRENEURIAL MASTERCLASSTaiwo Adepoju
BUSINESS CONCEPT, BUSINESS IDEA, BUSINESS PLAN, WHY AND HOW OF BUSINESS PLAN, STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVELY WRITING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PLAN, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, BUSINESS PLAN FORMAT
Visited National Foods Ltd to make a report for Mangement course. where we met Abdul Munam who gave us every possible ans which we needed. I must say as we studied NFL, there are running a wonderfull corporation, they know their responsibility not only to make revenue but also social and moral responsibility.
The document provides guidance on developing an effective business plan, outlining 12 key sections to include such as the executive summary, market opportunity, products/technology, competition, marketing strategy, management team, financials, and exit strategy. It emphasizes that the business plan should clearly explain the problem being solved, the solution, market potential, and management capabilities in order to attract investors. The business plan is a critical tool to formally outline the company's goals and assess risks.
This document provides an overview for writing a business plan for an innovation business competing in an intellectual property-based business plan competition. It discusses key topics to cover such as the business idea, product description, market analysis, marketing plan, financial plan, and risks. Business plan structures and outlines are presented, along with tips for the executive summary, presentation, and appendices. The goal is to help entrepreneurs develop a comprehensive yet concise plan that clearly communicates their innovative business concept.
Summer slush plans to introduce new flavors of slush and juices in Vehari. Their products include slush, juices, smoothies and milkshakes. The document outlines their mission, vision, competitors, marketing plan, management team, and financial projections. It summarizes their strategy to provide healthy refreshments at reasonable prices and capture the health conscious market in Vehari through quality products and good customer service.
Five Sisters Bakery is a proposed bakery and coffee shop in Oceanside, California. The business plan outlines opening a retail and wholesale bakery with 6 partners contributing $300,000 in capital. The bakery will offer breads, pastries, cakes and coffee. It will target local residents, especially laborers, with quality products at competitive prices. The plan projects $350,000 in first year sales based on market needs in the area and limited competition locally. The bakery aims to establish itself as the premier bakery in Oceanside through high quality products, promotions and utilizing local events for advertising.
Regardless if you’ve been operating for a long time already, by writing up a business plan for your retail store, you can get an overview of what you want to achieve with your business, and guidelines for how you’ll achieve your goals. A retail business plan is a solid foundation for the success of your business, whether you seek funding or not. It helps you see clearly what your business looks like and how it’s positioned in your target market. If you need to get funding, your retail business plan will work as proof that you and your business are good for investment. Studies suggest you can double your chances of securing a loan with a business plan and grow your business.
This document provides a business plan for a smoothie and juice bar called Smoothie Bar-celona. The plan outlines the vision, mission, and strategic goals of providing healthy, natural fruit juices and smoothies. It analyzes the smoothie industry, target market, and competitive landscape. Financial projections estimate increasing sales over five years as additional locations are opened. The plan also addresses operations, marketing, human resources, and risks to establish a viable smoothie business.
The document provides a template for a business plan, including sample sections and outlines for an executive summary, mission statement, company overview, product/service description, market analysis, competition, management team, and financial plan. It recommends including information on the company history and structure, unique product features, research and development activities, production process, market size and trends, target customer segments, and current and projected financials. The template is intended to guide business owners in developing a comprehensive plan to provide investors with an understanding of the company and seek funding.
Batti Express Gifts is an online gift shop and e-commerce organization based in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 2015 and has grown to become the largest e-commerce company in Batticaloa District. The company offers a wide range of gift items for online purchase and delivery as well as local delivery and courier services. Batti Express Gifts aims to provide excellent customer service and expand its operations across Sri Lanka.
Before you start writing your daycare business plan, spend as much time as you can to reading through some samples of a service related business plans. Not only will that give you a good idea of what it is you’re aiming for, but it will also show you the different sections that different entrepreneurs include and the language they use to write about themselves and their future plans.
We have created a sample daycare business plan example for you to get a good idea about how a perfect day care business plan should look like and what details you should include in your business plan.
Source: https://upmetrics.co/template/day-care-business-plan-example
This document provides expert recommendations for writing case studies. It outlines two main approaches - the analytical approach which examines what happened and why, and the problem-oriented method which identifies and suggests solutions to major problems. A successful case study analyzes a real-life situation, identifies problems, selects major issues, recommends solutions, and details how the best solution should be implemented. It usually contains eight common sections - synopsis, findings, discussion, conclusion, recommendations, implementation, references, and appendices. The document encourages seeking professional help from qualified writers for guidance on case study formats.
This document provides a business plan for a proposed restaurant called Azka Restaurant in Karachi, Pakistan. It includes an executive summary, project outlook, company description, background on the partners investing in the restaurant, market analysis, menu options and pricing, engineering and technical aspects, and 3-year financial projections. The restaurant will be located in a dense, upper middle class area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal and aims to provide quality food and service while competing with other local restaurants.
Planning is essential for business success. It involves thinking ahead about objectives, strategies, finances, production, marketing, profits and growth. Effective planning must be realistic, based on available resources, and flexible to adjust to changing conditions. Planning also develops over time, from an initial unplanned stage to eventually implementing annual and strategic plans. Proper planning can eliminate risks, minimize costs and improve business operations. Overall, planning is needed to organize resources and activities to accomplish business goals.
The document provides an overview of a generic business plan template that can be modified for any business. It includes sections for an executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, finances, appendices, and tips for refining the plan. The operations plan section recommends describing your production methods, location needs, legal/regulatory environment, and hours of operation.
The document provides an overview and template for a business plan, including sections on executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, finances, and more. It emphasizes that the process of researching and planning is most valuable, as it helps systematically think through the business idea to avoid costly mistakes. The template is meant as a starting point to be modified for each user's specific business circumstances and goals.
The document provides guidance on developing an effective business plan, including key components and considerations. An executive summary introduces the purpose of a business plan, which is to define business goals and strategies. The document then outlines various sections that should be included in a business plan, such as descriptions of the business concept, market analysis, management team, marketing plan, financial plan, and operations plan. Tips are provided on tailoring a business plan for different audiences and securing funding.
Netflix faces new competitors that threaten its dominance in the online movie rental industry. The strategic audit analyzes Netflix's mission, vision, strengths/weaknesses, finances, and competitors like Apple, Amazon, and Google. It recommends Netflix diversify its services beyond DVD rentals and streaming to differentiate itself in the changing market.
You have a great new idea and you want to start an own business? Don’t jump into business waters without a plan. What will you do? How will you find clients? How will you find suppliers? Are there too many competitors already? How will you find the money? What if something goes wrong?
These are important questions that should be answered before starting a new company. The business plan is simply a document that gives an overview of your business idea and how you intend to make money out of it.
BUSINESS PLANNING 101: ENTREPRENEURIAL MASTERCLASSTaiwo Adepoju
BUSINESS CONCEPT, BUSINESS IDEA, BUSINESS PLAN, WHY AND HOW OF BUSINESS PLAN, STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVELY WRITING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PLAN, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, BUSINESS PLAN FORMAT
Visited National Foods Ltd to make a report for Mangement course. where we met Abdul Munam who gave us every possible ans which we needed. I must say as we studied NFL, there are running a wonderfull corporation, they know their responsibility not only to make revenue but also social and moral responsibility.
The document provides guidance on developing an effective business plan, outlining 12 key sections to include such as the executive summary, market opportunity, products/technology, competition, marketing strategy, management team, financials, and exit strategy. It emphasizes that the business plan should clearly explain the problem being solved, the solution, market potential, and management capabilities in order to attract investors. The business plan is a critical tool to formally outline the company's goals and assess risks.
This document provides an overview for writing a business plan for an innovation business competing in an intellectual property-based business plan competition. It discusses key topics to cover such as the business idea, product description, market analysis, marketing plan, financial plan, and risks. Business plan structures and outlines are presented, along with tips for the executive summary, presentation, and appendices. The goal is to help entrepreneurs develop a comprehensive yet concise plan that clearly communicates their innovative business concept.
Summer slush plans to introduce new flavors of slush and juices in Vehari. Their products include slush, juices, smoothies and milkshakes. The document outlines their mission, vision, competitors, marketing plan, management team, and financial projections. It summarizes their strategy to provide healthy refreshments at reasonable prices and capture the health conscious market in Vehari through quality products and good customer service.
Five Sisters Bakery is a proposed bakery and coffee shop in Oceanside, California. The business plan outlines opening a retail and wholesale bakery with 6 partners contributing $300,000 in capital. The bakery will offer breads, pastries, cakes and coffee. It will target local residents, especially laborers, with quality products at competitive prices. The plan projects $350,000 in first year sales based on market needs in the area and limited competition locally. The bakery aims to establish itself as the premier bakery in Oceanside through high quality products, promotions and utilizing local events for advertising.
Regardless if you’ve been operating for a long time already, by writing up a business plan for your retail store, you can get an overview of what you want to achieve with your business, and guidelines for how you’ll achieve your goals. A retail business plan is a solid foundation for the success of your business, whether you seek funding or not. It helps you see clearly what your business looks like and how it’s positioned in your target market. If you need to get funding, your retail business plan will work as proof that you and your business are good for investment. Studies suggest you can double your chances of securing a loan with a business plan and grow your business.
This document provides a business plan for a smoothie and juice bar called Smoothie Bar-celona. The plan outlines the vision, mission, and strategic goals of providing healthy, natural fruit juices and smoothies. It analyzes the smoothie industry, target market, and competitive landscape. Financial projections estimate increasing sales over five years as additional locations are opened. The plan also addresses operations, marketing, human resources, and risks to establish a viable smoothie business.
The document provides a template for a business plan, including sample sections and outlines for an executive summary, mission statement, company overview, product/service description, market analysis, competition, management team, and financial plan. It recommends including information on the company history and structure, unique product features, research and development activities, production process, market size and trends, target customer segments, and current and projected financials. The template is intended to guide business owners in developing a comprehensive plan to provide investors with an understanding of the company and seek funding.
Batti Express Gifts is an online gift shop and e-commerce organization based in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 2015 and has grown to become the largest e-commerce company in Batticaloa District. The company offers a wide range of gift items for online purchase and delivery as well as local delivery and courier services. Batti Express Gifts aims to provide excellent customer service and expand its operations across Sri Lanka.
Before you start writing your daycare business plan, spend as much time as you can to reading through some samples of a service related business plans. Not only will that give you a good idea of what it is you’re aiming for, but it will also show you the different sections that different entrepreneurs include and the language they use to write about themselves and their future plans.
We have created a sample daycare business plan example for you to get a good idea about how a perfect day care business plan should look like and what details you should include in your business plan.
Source: https://upmetrics.co/template/day-care-business-plan-example
This document provides expert recommendations for writing case studies. It outlines two main approaches - the analytical approach which examines what happened and why, and the problem-oriented method which identifies and suggests solutions to major problems. A successful case study analyzes a real-life situation, identifies problems, selects major issues, recommends solutions, and details how the best solution should be implemented. It usually contains eight common sections - synopsis, findings, discussion, conclusion, recommendations, implementation, references, and appendices. The document encourages seeking professional help from qualified writers for guidance on case study formats.
This document provides a business plan for a proposed restaurant called Azka Restaurant in Karachi, Pakistan. It includes an executive summary, project outlook, company description, background on the partners investing in the restaurant, market analysis, menu options and pricing, engineering and technical aspects, and 3-year financial projections. The restaurant will be located in a dense, upper middle class area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal and aims to provide quality food and service while competing with other local restaurants.
Planning is essential for business success. It involves thinking ahead about objectives, strategies, finances, production, marketing, profits and growth. Effective planning must be realistic, based on available resources, and flexible to adjust to changing conditions. Planning also develops over time, from an initial unplanned stage to eventually implementing annual and strategic plans. Proper planning can eliminate risks, minimize costs and improve business operations. Overall, planning is needed to organize resources and activities to accomplish business goals.
The document provides an overview of a generic business plan template that can be modified for any business. It includes sections for an executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, finances, appendices, and tips for refining the plan. The operations plan section recommends describing your production methods, location needs, legal/regulatory environment, and hours of operation.
The document provides an overview and template for a business plan, including sections on executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, finances, and more. It emphasizes that the process of researching and planning is most valuable, as it helps systematically think through the business idea to avoid costly mistakes. The template is meant as a starting point to be modified for each user's specific business circumstances and goals.
This document provides guidance on creating an effective business plan. It recommends conducting thorough market research to understand the target market and industry. The marketing plan section should describe the overall market size, trends, barriers to entry, and unique value propositions of the products/services from the customer's perspective. Research findings should be backed by credible sources and statistics. The goal of the business plan and marketing plan is to systematically evaluate the business concept and marketing strategy.
Business plan for a startup business 0 (1)Pratik Panwala
The document provides guidance on creating a business plan, including sections on company description, products/services, marketing, operations, management, finances, and appendices. It emphasizes that the process of researching and planning is most valuable for systematically thinking through all aspects of the business. An effective business plan is tailored to the specific business and intended audience such as investors.
This document provides a template and guidance for creating a business plan. It includes sections for an executive summary, general company description, products/services, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, finances, and more. The guidance emphasizes the importance of research and thinking systematically about all aspects of the business. It notes that the process of planning is as valuable as the finished document, as it helps avoid costly mistakes by considering ideas critically.
This document provides a template and guidance for creating a business plan. It discusses that the business plan consists of a narrative and financial worksheets. The narrative answers over 150 questions about the business divided into several sections. The real value is in the research and planning process, not just the finished document. The template is generic but should be modified for each specific business. Creating a good plan typically takes several weeks to properly research and develop assumptions. Assistance is available from SCORE to help with the business plan.
The document provides an overview of a generic business plan template that can be modified for any business. It discusses the key components of a business plan, including an executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operational plan, management team, startup expenses, and financial projections. The template is meant to guide business owners through researching and planning their business in a systematic way.
This document provides a template and instructions for creating a business plan. It includes sections for an executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operational plan, management team, finances, and appendices. The introduction explains that the narrative answers over 150 questions to describe all aspects of the business and should be edited into a smooth narrative. It emphasizes that the value is in the research and planning process, not just the finished document. Business owners should modify the template to suit their specific business and goals.
Business plan-startup-pet-care-business-05252011clearh20brooke
This document provides a template and guidance for creating a business plan for a startup pet care business. It outlines various sections to include such as executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operational plan, management team, startup expenses/capitalization, and financial plan. The template emphasizes the importance of researching the market and competitors to develop effective marketing strategies and realistic financial projections. It also notes that the process of researching and planning is most valuable for avoiding costly mistakes later on.
This document provides a template and guidance for creating a business plan. It includes sections for an executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operations, management, finances, and appendices. The introduction explains that the business plan template contains over 150 questions to help systematically research and plan the business. It emphasizes that the most important part is the planning process, not just the final document, as it helps avoid costly mistakes. The document advises customizing the template to the specific business and researching thoroughly to populate each section with accurate details, statistics, and financial projections.
This document provides an overview and template for a business plan. It explains that the plan consists of a narrative and financial worksheets. The narrative addresses over 150 questions divided into sections about the business. Research and thinking through the questions systematically is valuable for avoiding costly mistakes. The document notes that completing a good plan typically takes several weeks. It emphasizes modifying the generic template to suit the reader's specific business and goals.
This document provides a template and guidance for creating a business plan. It explains that the business plan consists of a narrative and financial worksheets. The narrative addresses over 150 questions divided into sections about the business. Though time-consuming, creating a thorough business plan is valuable as it requires thoroughly researching and systematically planning the business. The template provided is a generic model that should be modified for each specific business and industry. It emphasizes key areas to focus on like operations, management, marketing and financial projections. Completing a good business plan typically takes several weeks.
This document provides a template and instructions for creating a business plan. It explains that the business plan consists of a narrative and financial worksheets. The narrative addresses over 150 questions divided into several sections about the business. It emphasizes that the value in creating a business plan is in the research and systematic planning it requires. The template is meant to be modified based on the specific type of business. Completing a good plan typically takes several weeks.
Introduction to EntrepreneurshipPage 21 of 27Business Plan for aTatianaMajor22
This document provides guidance on creating a business plan. It recommends answering over 150 questions divided into sections to develop a collection of essays covering topics like the business description, products/services, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, and financial projections. The value is in the research and systematic thinking required. It typically takes several weeks to properly complete a good plan.
Business Plan for a Startup Business The business plan.docxdewhirstichabod
The document provides guidance on creating a business plan, with sections on general company description, products/services, marketing plan, operational plan, management/organization, finances, and appendices. It emphasizes that the business plan outlines the narrative of the business and contains over 150 questions to help structure the plan. The real value is in the research and planning process itself, to systematically think through the business idea and avoid costly mistakes.
This document provides a template for a business plan, including an executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operations plan, management overview, financial statements, expenses/capitalization, financial plan, and appendices. The business plan template guides the user through various sections to help research and develop their business idea in a systematic way. The document emphasizes that the process of creating a business plan is valuable for avoiding costly mistakes even if the written plan itself is not perfect.
This document provides a template and guidance for creating a business plan. It outlines the typical sections included in a business plan such as the executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operational plan, management team, financial plan, and appendices. The template includes descriptions of the key information to include in each section and prompts to help the user develop the content. It emphasizes that the process of researching and planning is valuable for systematically thinking through the business even if the written plan is not the final goal.
Question 1 Which of the following is NOT one of the three main.docxaudeleypearl
Question 1
Which of the following is NOT one of the three main elements of radical design?
Changes to existing process
Training
Measuring the results using the predetermined metrics
A vision of which specific performance metrics will best reflect the success of overall business strategy
Question 2
Differentiation can best be described as:
Results when an organization has the lowest cost.
The organization has identified itself as unique in the marketplace.
The difference between price and cost.
Value of the product and the actual cost to provide or produce.
Question 3
Which of the following is NOT a common risk of offshoring?
Long transition periods that decrease the cost of savings
Additional technology, telecommunications, travel, process changes, and management overhead required in order to relocate and supervise operations outside one’s own country
Increase labor costs
Geopolitical unrest (war and crime)
Question 4
Identify the 3 Organization Structures:
Formal, Informal, Open
Deductive, Inductive, Conductive
Hierarchical, Flat, Matrix
Open, Hierarchical, Formal
Question 5
Radically changing a business is not easy task. Research done to determine why companies failed to reach their goals reveal some of the more common reasons include:
Lack of training
Introducing unnecessary complexity into the new process design
Lack of a coherent communications program
all of these
Question 6
Which of the following is NOT a support activity in the value chain of a firm?
Human Resources
Purchasing
Service
Technology
Question 7
As the Manager of a new work group you are to explain the dynamics of System Hierarchy. Explain the 3 levels of the hierarchy along with the function and value of the different components. Finally, how do these components build upon each other and with each other.
H
essay-ans-_17933
Question 8
Enterprise systems address knowledge capture and use across many functions of an organization. Identify three different types of enterprise systems that solve common business strategy needs. Briefly describe the logistical flow of information through that system. Use the kind of description that you would use with a client while have lunch or dinner with them.
Question 9
Explain designing a framework for getting work done? Your answer should be approximately 2 or 3 paragraphs (300 words). Please clearly state the necessary components and explain how they work in developing an effective framework. Please cite a minimum of 2 resources including material external to the course.
Question 10
Select a company of your choice and explain their approach to the three primary strategies for achieving a competitive advantage according to Michael Porter. Your answer should be a minimum of 200 words and cite all resources.
Page 28 of 28
Page 27 of 27Business Plan for a Startup Business
The business plan consists of a narrative and several financial works ...
Jeddah Fit I have eight points to make and adjust accordingly.docxchristiandean12115
Jeddah Fit
I have eight points to make and adjust accordingly:
1) follow this Table of Contents as you can & You can see the attachment - sample plan - :
I. Table of Contents
I. Table of Contents
II. Executive Summary
III. General Company Description
IV. Products and Services
V. Marketing Plan
VI. Operational Plan
VII. Management and Organization
VIII. Personal Financial Statement
IX. Startup Expenses and Capitalization
X. Financial Plan
XI. Appendices
XII. Refining the Plan
2) Change the number of loan like this :
The total cost of starting up the business is SAR 1,640,552 where the owner,
Mr. Ahmed will provide SAR 1,235,161 . The remaining amount, which is will be funded SAR 405,391 by loan form bank.
3) Change name of owner from Mr. Ahmed TO Ms. Dania Ahmed.
4) Description and talk Repeater, please require explanation and more non-recurring details.
5) Mentioned numbers such as pricing for subscriptions on average and so on.
6) The situation is two to three years continuous and when the profit is.
7) Use Use the excel files in the attached financial numbers and add them in the plan.
The table is ready in the four attached Excel files. Just add the base numbers and calculate the rest of the table directly. Use realistic numbers not exaggerated.
8) What is the point ? (External groups are expected to raise about 25% of the total revenue of the establishment) I think it is inappropriate or incomprehensible and slightly overpriced!
Page 1 of 29
Business Plan for a Startup Business
The business plan consists of a narrative and several financial worksheets. The narrative
template is the body of the business plan. It contains more than 150 questions divided into
several sections. Work through the sections in any order that you want, except for the Executive
Summary, which should be done last. Skip any questions that do not apply to your type of
business. When you are finished writing your first draft, you’ll have a collection of small essays
on the various topics of the business plan. Then you’ll want to edit them into a smooth-flowing
narrative.
The real value of creating a business plan is not in having the finished product in hand; rather,
the value lies in the process of researching and thinking about your business in a systematic
way. The act of planning helps you to think things through thoroughly, study and research if you
are not sure of the facts, and look at your ideas critically. It takes time now, but avoids costly,
perhaps disastrous, mistakes later.
This business plan is a generic model suitable for all types of businesses. However, you should
modify it to suit your particular circumstances. Before you begin, review the section titled Refining
the Plan, found at the end. It suggests emphasizing certain areas depending upon your type of
business (manufacturing, retail, service, etc.). It also has tips for fine-tuning your plan to make
an effective pre.
The document provides guidance on creating a business plan for an established business. It outlines the various sections that should be included such as executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operations, management, finances, and appendices. The narrative emphasizes that the real value is in the research and planning process, which allows you to systematically think through your business ideas and avoid costly mistakes. It suggests customizing the plan to suit your specific business type and goals, whether seeking financing from investors or bankers. Research and attention to presentation are also emphasized.
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1. Page 1 of 31
Business Plan for a Startup Business
The business plan consists of a narrative and several financial worksheets. The narrative
template is the body of the business plan. It contains more than 150 questions divided
into several sections. Work through the sections in any order that you like, except for
the Executive Summary, which should be done last. Skip any questions that do not apply
to your type of business. When you are finished writing your first draft, you’ll have a
collection of small essays on the various topics of the business plan. Then you’ll want to
edit them into a smooth-flowing narrative.
The real value of creating a business plan is not in having the finished product in hand;
rather, the value lies in the process of researching and thinking about your business in a
systematic way. The act of planning helps you to think things through thoroughly,
study and research if you are not sure of the facts, and look at your ideas critically. It
takes time now, but avoids costly, perhaps disastrous, mistakes later.
This business plan is a generic model suitable for all types of businesses. However, you
should modify it to suit your particular circumstances. Before you begin, review the
section titled Refining the Plan, found at the end. It suggests emphasizing certain areas
depending upon your type of business (manufacturing, retail, service, etc.). It also has
tips for fine-tuning your plan to make an effective presentation to investors or bankers.
If this is why you’re creating your plan, pay particular attention to your writing style.
You will be judged by the quality and appearance of your work as well as by your
ideas.
It typically takes several weeks to complete a good plan. Most of that time is spent in
research and re-thinking your ideas and assumptions. But then, that’s the value of the
process. So make time to do the job properly. Those who do never regret the effort. And
finally, be sure to keep detailed notes on your sources of information and on the
assumptions underlying your financial data.
If you need assistance with your business plan, contact the SCORE office in your area to
set up a business counseling appointment with a SCORE volunteer or send your plan
for review to a SCORE counselor at www.score.org. Call 1-800-634-0245 to get the
contact information for the SCORE office closest to you.
2. Page 2 of 31
Business Plan
OWNERS
Your Business Name
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City, ST ZIP Code
Telephone
Fax
E-Mail
3. Page 3 of 31
I. Table of Contents
I. Table of Contents ................................................................................................... 3
II. Executive Summary ............................................................................................... 4
III. General Company Description ............................................................................ 5
IV. Products and Services............................................................................................ 6
V. Marketing Plan ....................................................................................................... 7
VI. Operational Plan .................................................................................................. 16
VII. Management and Organization ......................................................................... 21
VIII. Personal Financial Statement ............................................................................. 22
IX. Startup Expenses and Capitalization ................................................................ 23
X. Financial Plan ....................................................................................................... 24
XI. Appendices ........................................................................................................... 27
XII. Refining the Plan .................................................................................................. 28
4. Page 4 of 31
II. Executive Summary
Write this section last.
We suggest that you make it two pages or fewer.
Include everything that you would cover in a five-minute interview.
Explain the fundamentals of the proposed business: What will your product be? Who
will your customers be? Who are the owners? What do you think the future holds for
your business and your industry?
Make it enthusiastic, professional, complete, and concise.
If applying for a loan, state clearly how much you want, precisely how you are going to
use it, and how the money will make your business more profitable, thereby ensuring
repayment.
5. Page 5 of 31
III. General Company Description
What business will you be in? What will you do?
Mission Statement: Many companies have a brief mission statement, usually in 30
words or fewer, explaining their reason for being and their guiding principles. If you
want to draft a mission statement, this is a good place to put it in the plan, followed by:
Company Goals and Objectives: Goals are destinations—where you want your business
to be. Objectives are progress markers along the way to goal achievement. For example,
a goal might be to have a healthy, successful company that is a leader in customer
service and that has a loyal customer following. Objectives might be annual sales targets
and some specific measures of customer satisfaction.
Business Philosophy: What is important to you in business?
To whom will you market your products? (State it briefly here—you will do a more
thorough explanation in the Marketing Plan section).
Describe your industry. Is it a growth industry? What changes do you foresee in the
industry, short term and long term? How will your company be poised to take
advantage of them?
Describe your most important company strengths and core competencies. What factors
will make the company succeed? What do you think your major competitive strengths
will be? What background experience, skills, and strengths do you personally bring to
this new venture?
Legal form of ownership: Sole proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, Limited liability
corporation (LLC)? Why have you selected this form?
6. Page 6 of 31
IV. Products and Services
Describe in depth your products or services (technical specifications, drawings, photos,
sales brochures, and other bulky items belong in Appendices).
What factors will give you competitive advantages or disadvantages? Examples include
level of quality or unique or proprietary features.
What are the pricing, fee, or leasing structures of your products or services?
7. Page 7 of 31
V. Marketing Plan
Market research - Why?
No matter how good your product and your service, the venture cannot succeed
without effective marketing. And this begins with careful, systematic research. It is very
dangerous to assume that you already know about your intended market. You need to
do market research to make sure you’re on track. Use the business planning process as
your opportunity to uncover data and to question your marketing efforts. Your time
will be well spent.
Market research - How?
There are two kinds of market research: primary and secondary.
Secondary research means using published information such as industry profiles, trade
journals, newspapers, magazines, census data, and demographic profiles. This type of
information is available in public libraries, industry associations, chambers of
commerce, from vendors who sell to your industry, and from government agencies.
Start with your local library. Most librarians are pleased to guide you through their
business data collection. You will be amazed at what is there. There are more online
sources than you could possibly use. Your chamber of commerce has good information
on the local area. Trade associations and trade publications often have excellent
industry-specific data.
Primary research means gathering your own data. For example, you could do your own
traffic count at a proposed location, use the yellow pages to identify competitors, and
do surveys or focus-group interviews to learn about consumer preferences.
Professional market research can be very costly, but there are many books that show
small business owners how to do effective research themselves.
In your marketing plan, be as specific as possible; give statistics, numbers, and sources.
The marketing plan will be the basis, later on, of the all-important sales projection.
Economics
Facts about your industry:
What is the total size of your market?
8. Page 8 of 31
What percent share of the market will you have? (This is important only if you
think you will be a major factor in the market.)
Current demand in target market.
Trends in target market—growth trends, trends in consumer preferences, and
trends in product development.
Growth potential and opportunity for a business of your size.
What barriers to entry do you face in entering this market with your new
company? Some typical barriers are:
o High capital costs
o High production costs
o High marketing costs
o Consumer acceptance and brand recognition
o Training and skills
o Unique technology and patents
o Unions
o Shipping costs
o Tariff barriers and quotas
And of course, how will you overcome the barriers?
How could the following affect your company?
o Change in technology
o Change in government regulations
o Change in the economy
o Change in your industry
9. Page 9 of 31
Product
In the Products and Services section, you described your products and services as you see
them. Now describe them from your customers’ point of view.
Features and Benefits
List all of your major products or services.
For each product or service:
Describe the most important features. What is special about it?
Describe the benefits. That is, what will the product do for the customer?
Note the difference between features and benefits, and think about them. For example,
a house that gives shelter and lasts a long time is made with certain materials and to a
certain design; those are its features. Its benefits include pride of ownership, financial
security, providing for the family, and inclusion in a neighborhood. You build features
into your product so that you can sell the benefits.
What after-sale services will you give? Some examples are delivery, warranty, service
contracts, support, follow-up, and refund policy.
Customers
Identify your targeted customers, their characteristics, and their geographic locations,
otherwise known as their demographics.
The description will be completely different depending on whether you plan to sell to
other businesses or directly to consumers. If you sell a consumer product, but sell it
through a channel of distributors, wholesalers, and retailers, you must carefully analyze
both the end consumer and the middleman businesses to which you sell.
You may have more than one customer group. Identify the most important groups.
Then, for each customer group, construct what is called a demographic profile:
Age
Gender
Location
10. Page 10 of 31
Income level
Social class and occupation
Education
Other (specific to your industry)
Other (specific to your industry)
For business customers, the demographic factors might be:
Industry (or portion of an industry)
Location
Size of firm
Quality, technology, and price preferences
Other (specific to your industry)
Other (specific to your industry)
Competition
What products and companies will compete with you?
List your major competitors:
(Names and addresses)
Will they compete with you across the board, or just for certain products, certain
customers, or in certain locations?
Will you have important indirect competitors? (For example, video rental stores
compete with theaters, although they are different types of businesses.)
How will your products or services compare with the competition?
Use the Competitive Analysis table below to compare your company with your two
most important competitors. In the first column are key competitive factors. Since these
vary from one industry to another, you may want to customize the list of factors.
11. Page 11 of 31
In the column labeled Me, state how you honestly think you will stack up in customers'
minds. Then check whether you think this factor will be a strength or a weakness for
you. Sometimes it is hard to analyze our own weaknesses. Try to be very honest here.
Better yet, get some disinterested strangers to assess you. This can be a real eye-opener.
And remember that you cannot be all things to all people. In fact, trying to be causes
many business failures because efforts become scattered and diluted. You want an
honest assessment of your firm's strong and weak points.
Now analyze each major competitor. In a few words, state how you think they compare.
In the final column, estimate the importance of each competitive factor to the customer.
1 = critical; 5 = not very important.
Table 1: Competitive Analysis
Importance to
Factor Me Strength Weakness Competitor A Competitor B
Customer
Products
Price
Quality
Selection
Service
Reliability
Stability
Expertise
Company
Reputation
Location
Appearance
12. Page 12 of 31
Importance to
Factor Me Strength Weakness Competitor A Competitor B
Customer
Sales Method
Credit Policies
Advertising
Image
Now, write a short paragraph stating your competitive advantages and disadvantages.
Niche
Now that you have systematically analyzed your industry, your product, your
customers, and the competition, you should have a clear picture of where your
company fits into the world.
In one short paragraph, define your niche, your unique corner of the market.
Strategy
Now outline a marketing strategy that is consistent with your niche.
Promotion
How will you get the word out to customers?
Advertising: What media, why, and how often? Why this mix and not some other?
Have you identified low-cost methods to get the most out of your promotional budget?
Will you use methods other than paid advertising, such as trade shows, catalogs, dealer
incentives, word of mouth (how will you stimulate it?), and network of friends or
professionals?
What image do you want to project? How do you want customers to see you?
13. Page 13 of 31
In addition to advertising, what plans do you have for graphic image support? This
includes things like logo design, cards and letterhead, brochures, signage, and interior
design (if customers come to your place of business).
Should you have a system to identify repeat customers and then systematically contact
them?
Promotional Budget
How much will you spend on the items listed above?
Before startup? (These numbers will go into your startup budget.)
Ongoing? (These numbers will go into your operating plan budget.)
Pricing
Explain your method or methods of setting prices. For most small businesses, having
the lowest price is not a good policy. It robs you of needed profit margin; customers
may not care as much about price as you think; and large competitors can under price
you anyway. Usually you will do better to have average prices and compete on quality
and service.
Does your pricing strategy fit with what was revealed in your competitive analysis?
Compare your prices with those of the competition. Are they higher, lower, the same?
Why?
How important is price as a competitive factor? Do your intended customers really
make their purchase decisions mostly on price?
What will be your customer service and credit policies?
Proposed Location
Probably you do not have a precise location picked out yet. This is the time to think
about what you want and need in a location. Many startups run successfully from home
for a while.
You will describe your physical needs later, in the Operational Plan section. Here,
analyze your location criteria as they will affect your customers.
14. Page 14 of 31
Is your location important to your customers? If yes, how?
If customers come to your place of business:
Is it convenient? Parking? Interior spaces? Not out of the way?
Is it consistent with your image?
Is it what customers want and expect?
Where is the competition located? Is it better for you to be near them (like car dealers or
fast food restaurants) or distant (like convenience food stores)?
Distribution Channels
How do you sell your products or services?
Retail
Direct (mail order, Web, catalog)
Wholesale
Your own sales force
Agents
Independent representatives
Bid on contracts
Sales Forecast
Now that you have described your products, services, customers, markets, and
marketing plans in detail, it’s time to attach some numbers to your plan. Use a sales
forecast spreadsheet to prepare a month-by-month projection. The forecast should be
based on your historical sales, the marketing strategies that you have just described,
your market research, and industry data, if available.
You may want to do two forecasts: 1) a "best guess", which is what you really expect,
and 2) a "worst case" low estimate that you are confident you can reach no matter what
happens.
15. Page 15 of 31
Remember to keep notes on your research and your assumptions as you build this sales
forecast and all subsequent spreadsheets in the plan. This is critical if you are going to
present it to funding sources.
16. Page 16 of 31
VI. Operational Plan
Explain the daily operation of the business, its location, equipment, people, processes,
and surrounding environment.
Production
How and where are your products or services produced?
Explain your methods of:
Production techniques and costs
Quality control
Customer service
Inventory control
Product development
Location
What qualities do you need in a location? Describe the type of location you’ll have.
Physical requirements:
Amount of space
Type of building
Zoning
Power and other utilities
Access:
Is it important that your location be convenient to transportation or to suppliers?
Do you need easy walk-in access?
What are your requirements for parking and proximity to freeway, airports, railroads,
and shipping centers?
17. Page 17 of 31
Include a drawing or layout of your proposed facility if it is important, as it might be for
a manufacturer.
Construction? Most new companies should not sink capital into construction, but if you
are planning to build, costs and specifications will be a big part of your plan.
Cost: Estimate your occupation expenses, including rent, but also including
maintenance, utilities, insurance, and initial remodeling costs to make the space suit
your needs. These numbers will become part of your financial plan.
What will be your business hours?
Legal Environment
Describe the following:
Licensing and bonding requirements
Permits
Health, workplace, or environmental regulations
Special regulations covering your industry or profession
Zoning or building code requirements
Insurance coverage
Trademarks, copyrights, or patents (pending, existing, or purchased)
Personnel
Number of employees
Type of labor (skilled, unskilled, and professional)
Where and how will you find the right employees?
Quality of existing staff
Pay structure
Training methods and requirements
18. Page 18 of 31
Who does which tasks?
Do you have schedules and written procedures prepared?
Have you drafted job descriptions for employees? If not, take time to write some.
They really help internal communications with employees.
For certain functions, will you use contract workers in addition to employees?
Inventory
What kind of inventory will you keep: raw materials, supplies, finished goods?
Average value in stock (i.e., what is your inventory investment)?
Rate of turnover and how this compares to the industry averages?
Seasonal buildups?
Lead-time for ordering?
Suppliers
Identify key suppliers:
Names and addresses
Type and amount of inventory furnished
Credit and delivery policies
History and reliability
Should you have more than one supplier for critical items (as a backup)?
Do you expect shortages or short-term delivery problems?
Are supply costs steady or fluctuating? If fluctuating, how would you deal with
changing costs?
Credit Policies
Do you plan to sell on credit?
19. Page 19 of 31
Do you really need to sell on credit? Is it customary in your industry and
expected by your clientele?
If yes, what policies will you have about who gets credit and how much?
How will you check the creditworthiness of new applicants?
What terms will you offer your customers; that is, how much credit and when is
payment due?
Will you offer prompt payment discounts? (Hint: Do this only if it is usual and
customary in your industry.)
Do you know what it will cost you to extend credit? Have you built the costs into
your prices?
Managing Your Accounts Receivable
If you do extend credit, you should do an aging at least monthly to track how much of
your money is tied up in credit given to customers and to alert you to slow payment
problems. A receivables aging looks like the following table:
Total Current 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days Over 90 Days
Accounts
Receivable Aging
You will need a policy for dealing with slow-paying customers:
When do you make a phone call?
When do you send a letter?
When do you get your attorney to threaten?
20. Page 20 of 31
Managing Your Accounts Payable
You should also age your accounts payable, what you owe to your suppliers. This helps
you plan whom to pay and when. Paying too early depletes your cash, but paying late
can cost you valuable discounts and can damage your credit. (Hint: If you know you
will be late making a payment, call the creditor before the due date.)
Do your proposed vendors offer prompt payment discounts?
A payables aging looks like the following table.
Total Current 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days Over 90 Days
Accounts Payable
Aging
21. Page 21 of 31
VII. Management and Organization
Who will manage the business on a day-to-day basis? What experience does that person
bring to the business? What special or distinctive competencies? Is there a plan for
continuation of the business if this person is lost or incapacitated?
If you’ll have more than 10 employees, create an organizational chart showing the
management hierarchy and who is responsible for key functions.
Include position descriptions for key employees. If you are seeking loans or investors,
include resumes of owners and key employees.
Professional and Advisory Support
List the following:
Board of directors
Management advisory board
Attorney
Accountant
Insurance agent
Banker
Consultant or consultants
Mentors and key advisors
22. Page 22 of 31
VIII. Personal Financial Statement
Include personal financial statements for each owner and major stockholder, showing
assets and liabilities held outside the business and personal net worth. Owners will
often have to draw on personal assets to finance the business, and these statements will
show what is available. Bankers and investors usually want this information as well.
23. Page 23 of 31
IX. Startup Expenses and Capitalization
You will have many startup expenses before you even begin operating your business.
It’s important to estimate these expenses accurately and then to plan where you will get
sufficient capital. This is a research project, and the more thorough your research
efforts, the less chance that you will leave out important expenses or underestimate
them.
Even with the best of research, however, opening a new business has a way of costing
more than you anticipate. There are two ways to make allowances for surprise
expenses. The first is to add a little “padding” to each item in the budget. The problem
with that approach, however, is that it destroys the accuracy of your carefully wrought
plan. The second approach is to add a separate line item, called contingencies, to
account for the unforeseeable. This is the approach we recommend.
Talk to others who have started similar businesses to get a good idea of how much to
allow for contingencies. If you cannot get good information, we recommend a rule of
thumb that contingencies should equal at least 20 percent of the total of all other start-
up expenses.
Explain your research and how you arrived at your forecasts of expenses. Give sources,
amounts, and terms of proposed loans. Also explain in detail how much will be
contributed by each investor and what percent ownership each will have.
24. Page 24 of 31
X. Financial Plan
The financial plan consists of a 12-month profit and loss projection, a four-year profit
and loss projection (optional), a cash-flow projection, a projected balance sheet, and a
break-even calculation. Together they constitute a reasonable estimate of your
company's financial future. More important, the process of thinking through the
financial plan will improve your insight into the inner financial workings of your
company.
12-Month Profit and Loss Projection
Many business owners think of the 12-month profit and loss projection as the
centerpiece of their plan. This is where you put it all together in numbers and get an
idea of what it will take to make a profit and be successful.
Your sales projections will come from a sales forecast in which you forecast sales, cost of
goods sold, expenses, and profit month-by-month for one year.
Profit projections should be accompanied by a narrative explaining the major
assumptions used to estimate company income and expenses.
Research Notes: Keep careful notes on your research and assumptions, so that you can
explain them later if necessary, and also so that you can go back to your sources when
it’s time to revise your plan.
Four-Year Profit Projection (Optional)
The 12-month projection is the heart of your financial plan. The Four-Year Profit
projection is for those who want to carry their forecasts beyond the first year.
Of course, keep notes of your key assumptions, especially about things that you expect
will change dramatically after the first year.
Projected Cash Flow
If the profit projection is the heart of your business plan, cash flow is the blood.
Businesses fail because they cannot pay their bills. Every part of your business plan is
important, but none of it means a thing if you run out of cash.
The point of this worksheet is to plan how much you need before startup, for
preliminary expenses, operating expenses, and reserves. You should keep updating it
and using it afterward. It will enable you to foresee shortages in time to do something
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about them—perhaps cut expenses, or perhaps negotiate a loan. But foremost, you
shouldn’t be taken by surprise.
There is no great trick to preparing it: The cash-flow projection is just a forward look at
your checking account.
For each item, determine when you actually expect to receive cash (for sales) or when
you will actually have to write a check (for expense items).
You should track essential operating data, which is not necessarily part of cash flow but
allows you to track items that have a heavy impact on cash flow, such as sales and
inventory purchases.
You should also track cash outlays prior to opening in a pre-startup column. You
should have already researched those for your startup expenses plan.
Your cash flow will show you whether your working capital is adequate. Clearly, if
your projected cash balance ever goes negative, you will need more start-up capital.
This plan will also predict just when and how much you will need to borrow.
Explain your major assumptions, especially those that make the cash flow differ from
the Profit and Loss Projection. For example, if you make a sale in month one, when do
you actually collect the cash? When you buy inventory or materials, do you pay in
advance, upon delivery, or much later? How will this affect cash flow?
Are some expenses payable in advance? When?
Are there irregular expenses, such as quarterly tax payments, maintenance and repairs,
or seasonal inventory buildup, that should be budgeted?
Loan payments, equipment purchases, and owner's draws usually do not show on
profit and loss statements but definitely do take cash out. Be sure to include them.
And of course, depreciation does not appear in the cash flow at all because you never
write a check for it.
Opening Day Balance Sheet
A balance sheet is one of the fundamental financial reports that any business needs for
reporting and financial management. A balance sheet shows what items of value are
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held by the company (assets), and what its debts are (liabilities). When liabilities are
subtracted from assets, the remainder is owners’ equity.
Use a startup expenses and capitalization spreadsheet as a guide to preparing a balance
sheet as of opening day. Then detail how you calculated the account balances on your
opening day balance sheet.
Optional: Some people want to add a projected balance sheet showing the estimated
financial position of the company at the end of the first year. This is especially useful
when selling your proposal to investors.
Break-Even Analysis
A break-even analysis predicts the sales volume, at a given price, required to recover
total costs. In other words, it’s the sales level that is the dividing line between operating
at a loss and operating at a profit.
Expressed as a formula, break-even is:
Break-Even Sales = Fixed Costs
1- Variable Costs
(Where fixed costs are expressed in dollars, but variable costs are expressed as a percent
of total sales.)
Include all assumptions upon which your break-even calculation is based.
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XI. Appendices
Include details and studies used in your business plan; for example:
Brochures and advertising materials
Industry studies
Blueprints and plans
Maps and photos 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
Any other materials needed to support the assumptions in this plan
Market research studies
List of assets available as collateral for a loan
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XII. Refining the Plan
The generic business plan presented above should be modified to suit your specific type
of business and the audience for which the plan is written.
For Raising Capital
For Bankers
Bankers want assurance of orderly repayment. If you intend using this plan to
present to lenders, include:
o Amount of loan
o How the funds will be used
o What this will accomplish—how will it make the business stronger?
o Requested repayment terms (number of years to repay). You will
probably not have much negotiating room on interest rate but may be able
to negotiate a longer repayment term, which will help cash flow.
o Collateral offered, and a list of all existing liens against collateral
For Investors
Investors have a different perspective. They are looking for dramatic growth, and
they expect to share in the rewards:
o Funds needed short-term
o Funds needed in two to five years
o How the company will use the funds, and what this will accomplish for
growth.
o Estimated return on investment
o Exit strategy for investors (buyback, sale, or IPO)
o Percent of ownership that you will give up to investors
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o Milestones or conditions that you will accept
o Financial reporting to be provided
o Involvement of investors on the board or in management
For Type of Business
Manufacturing
Planned production levels
Anticipated levels of direct production costs and indirect (overhead) costs—how
do these compare to industry averages (if available)?
Prices per product line
Gross profit margin, overall and for each product line
Production/capacity limits of planned physical plant
Production/capacity limits of equipment
Purchasing and inventory management procedures
New products under development or anticipated to come online after startup
Service Businesses
Service businesses sell intangible products. They are usually more flexible than
other types of businesses, but they also have higher labor costs and generally
very little in fixed assets.
What are the key competitive factors in this industry?
Your prices
Methods used to set prices
System of production management
Quality control procedures. Standard or accepted industry quality standards.
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How will you measure labor productivity?
Percent of work subcontracted to other firms. Will you make a profit on
subcontracting?
Credit, payment, and collections policies and procedures
Strategy for keeping client base
High Technology Companies
Economic outlook for the industry
Will the company have information systems in place to manage rapidly changing
prices, costs, and markets?
Will you be on the cutting edge with your products and services?
What is the status of research and development? And what is required to:
o Bring product/service to market?
o Keep the company competitive?
How does the company:
o Protect intellectual property?
o Avoid technological obsolescence?
o Supply necessary capital?
o Retain key personnel?
High-tech companies sometimes have to operate for a long time without profits and
sometimes even without sales. If this fits your situation, a banker probably will not
want to lend to you. Venture capitalists may invest, but your story must be very good.
You must do longer-term financial forecasts to show when profit take-off is expected to
occur. And your assumptions must be well documented and well argued.
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Retail Business
Company image
Pricing:
o Explain markup policies.
o Prices should be profitable, competitive, and in accordance with company
image.
Inventory:
o Selection and price should be consistent with company image.
o Inventory level: Find industry average numbers for annual inventory
turnover rate (available in RMA book). Multiply your initial inventory
investment by the average turnover rate. The result should be at least
equal to your projected first year's cost of goods sold. If it is not, you may
not have enough budgeted for startup inventory.
Customer service policies: These should be competitive and in accord with
company image.
Location: Does it give the exposure that you need? Is it convenient for
customers? Is it consistent with company image?
Promotion: Methods used, cost. Does it project a consistent company image?
Credit: Do you extend credit to customers? If yes, do you really need to, and do
you factor the cost into prices?