How to Write a Business Plan: With Sample

Introduction

An effective business plan offers guidance through every stage of starting and managing a business. It acts as a roadmap for running, structuring, and growing your business. A plan also gives potential clients the motive of comprehending how your business works. It acts as a gateway to seeking loan funds as it provides lenders with detailed information regarding the company’s projections. A business plan needs to be concise and still contain all relevant information. This guide will ensure you create a definite plan to impress investors and clients and have a robust foundation. Check top business plan writing services.

Tip to be Specific

It would be best to answer the following questions before writing your plan.

Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? How Much? Notably, ensure to have an answer to all these questions at the beginning of your business plan in a paragraph. Then expand more on each question in your next paragraph. These will enable you to get the direction of your business easily. For instance, who are you targeting, and what are your projections. When would you like to start the business, why do you think your services will be unique, and how you will promote your product. Finally, indicate the amount needed for your business to be a success. 

Steps of Writing a Business Plan

Here are important steps that you should observe when writing a business plan.

 Cover Sheet

The cover sheet is the first page of your business plan. This is where you indicate your company’s name, the address (based on where you want your business to be), your phone number, and the business logo (if it is available). Additionally, include the month and year in which the plan was submitted. 

Statement of Purpose

It is also referred to as the executive summary or mission statement. It should contain relevant business details like legal structure, capital, and important dates. In this sector, use the questions provided above to create content or look for professional business plan writing services. Notably, this will help you be concise and clear. The executive summary should be one page and appear after the cover sheet. You can write it as the last part of your plan to ensure you capture everything included in the plan. If you will provide your plan to a lender, ensure to include specificity on the use of money. Also, support the amount you request with purchase orders, rate sheets, and all other relevant data. Let the lender know when you plan to repay the loan. This will show them the business’s ability to repay the loan and the interest.

Part 1:  About the Business

i. Introduction

In this section, you provide the details of your business. The first 3 to 4 paragraphs provide a summary addressing the major elements of the business. Discuss all the topics logically relating to your business. For instance, general information about your business. Ensure your conduct research to provide backup statements and justify projections, and put in place you skills to write business plan writing services on another level.

ii. Company ownership

Having a well-defined legal structure will help have clear guidance on how your business should run. For instance, if you choose to be a sole proprietor, ensure that you have a copy of your business license. However, if you opt for partnership, ensure you have all legal documents showing your agreement with your partner. It is crucial to involve a lawyer when it comes to partnership. 

iii. Company locations and facilities

Indicate the location of your business and why that area will benefit the firm. For instance, it may be near the target audience. Additionally, provide supporting information on why you choose the location of your site. Besides, indicate other possible locations that could work out. 

iv. Company services

Describe your products, from raw materials to finished products. Include the cost of buying, paying suppliers, and other costs incurred. In addition, have details of suppliers. Include what to do in case your business incurs a challenge that threatens its growth. It is crucial to have alternatives and prepare for any unexpected occurrence like a loss to run your business smoothly. How to go about hiring people and the roles they will perform.

Part 2: Marketing & Sales

In the second part of your plan, ensure to include the following: what your firm will be doing, realistic sales projections, marketing sales analysis and description of the market, how the target market will grow, competition, and a sales plan. 

Remember that a well-strategized marketing plan is crucial to your business development. Always have in mind your target audience and include the best way to reach them. You would rather spend much time researching but come up with the best marketing tool. Foremost comprehend your target audience or people interested in your service. Also, write all your unique selling points. We shall expound on the target market and competition. 

i. Target market

These people with common interests make them different from other customers. Include the criteria used to select your target market and what your considerations were. Also, give demographics of your potential consumers like age, location, work, and buying habits. Additionally, have believable projections concerning the size of your target market. 

ii. Competition

You can never ignore your competitors. Include your direct competitors, those who offer the same product as you. Also, include your indirect competition; these are firms offering the same product but targeting a different market. Analyze and write how you will be different from them. What will make you stand out?

Part 3: Management and Operation

Here include the following: operations plan, quality control, and future company projections. Give an outline of who will be in charge in the different areas. Also, indicate whether you will hire people to help run the business. The quality control shows how you will maintain quality, i.e., purchase the best machinery. Also, show a future growth projection of the company; for instance, spreading to other areas. Besides, note down the assets and reports in your inventory like the worth, frequency of turnover, and available market. Include the tendencies in the business, your unique selling point, and how the customers will benefit. Provide 3 to 5 years’ projections of accomplishments.

Part 4: Finance

Here include the budget, assumptions, finance needed, debt options, profit projections, commercialization strategy, and an existing plan. Remember that financial records provide data on past, current and projected finances. It would help if you were realistic when providing financial data. On the assumption page, you describe how your finances would look if many people were to purchase your products. Also include the amount of money you will borrow and how you will spend it. Before you finish your plan, give a profit and loss analysis. Then complete by giving an existing strategy if the plan does not work.

****Sample of a Business Plan****

Retrieved from professional business plan writing services

Notably, these are some of the major areas that you should consider while writing a plan.

1. Cover Sheet

2.Executive Summary

3. Part One

Introduction, Company Ownership, Company Locations and Facilities, Company Service, Environmental analysis

4.Part Two

Marketing and sales, Picture of industry doings, Realistic sales projection, Market analysis summary, Description of the market, estimate of the largeness of the market, how to target market will grow, Competition, Sales plan

5.Part Three

Management and operation, Operations plan, Quality control, Future of the company

6.Part Four

Finance, Budget cost, Assumption page, Financial needed and debt options, Three-year profit loss projection, Commercialization Strategy, Exit strategy

Executive Summary

ABC advertising agency provides advertising services to businesses in California. The company’s main activity is to provide digital marketing services to organizations through various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The company is a partnership type of business managed by three individuals. Notably, for the business to succeed, the business needs exposure. Different consumers should be aware of its existence and services to profit. ABC Advertising Agency will be providing such services to business owners to ensure that they increase their sales at the low price of only 50 dollars per advert and offer monthly subscriptions to the business owners to ensure they constantly get our services.

****End of Sample****

Tips For Writing a Successful Business Plan

● To retain value, always ensure that you update your plan regularly.

● Remember that your business plan is your blueprint; it will always keep you on track.

● Besides, planning ensures you can foresee challenges that you avoid and other needless frustrations eliminated. 

Conclusion

Always remember that there is no specific length to a business plan. Ensure to include all the necessary details. However, it can be between 30 to 40 pages for official purposes. Remember that this includes the supporting documents and cover sheets. Besides, ensure that the timelines provided are achievable. Also, you should be disciplined and ensure to conduct intensive research when writing your business plan. Always remember that your plan greatly determines the success of your business. Hence critically analyze all detail before you declare that you are done. Remember that people who fail to plan are planning to fail. Also check writing related articles.