WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN Marketing Operations Financials
WHAT ARE BUSINESS PLANS FOR? Applying for loans Evaluating a new business idea Determining details about your business idea Growing a business Selling a business
ONE-PAGE BUSINESS PLANS Helpful in early planning or redirecting a business
FARM BUSINESS PLANS
BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATES General Business plan generators SBA
BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATES
PARTS OF BUSINESS PLAN Cover Page (Table of Contents) Executive Summary Company Description Product/Services Description Market Research Marketing Financials Profit & Loss Cash Flow Balance Sheet Break Even Analysis
COVER PAGE Logo Business Name Address Date
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Summary of the whole business plan Include loan amount and payment timeline if requesting a loan Often written last (though it is 1 st item in plan) No longer than 2 – 4 pages
COMPANY DESCRIPTION Company name Business structure (Sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership or corporation) Ownership/management team Location Company history Mission statement Products/services and target market Objectives and growth goals. Vision statement
PRODUCT/SERVICES DESCRIPTION Products Services Value Prices Comparison to other products in market
MARKET RESEARCH Overview of Industry & Statistics Target Market Often uses census data Competition
SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
MARKETING How to Price How to Promote How to Sell How this business ‘fits’ in marketplace
OPERATIONS Management Team
FINANCIALS: INTRO & START-UP COSTS Financials: Start-up costs Profit & Loss Cash Flow Balance Sheet Break Even Analysis Financial Ratios
FINANCIALS: PROFIT & LOSS Financials: Profit & Loss Cash Flow Balance Sheet Break Even Analysis
FINANCIALS: CASH FLOW Financials: Profit & Loss Cash Flow Balance Sheet Break Even Analysis
FINANCIALS: BALANCE SHEET Financials: Profit & Loss Cash Flow Balance Sheet Break Even Analysis
FINANCIALS: BREAK EVEN ANALYSIS Financials: Profit & Loss Cash Flow Balance Sheet Break Even Analysis
BUSINESS PLANNING QUESTIONS GROW SBTDC IDA organizations