Your Business Plan is a to your Success

Follow the Road Map To avoid Termination

The Role of Your Business Plan is to give the potential investors: A Description and Analysis of the Business Situation A Proposed Marketing Plan for your business. A Proposed Financial plan for beginning your business.

COMPANY NAME City, State Zip Student’s Name Business Plan Date Title Page

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE States the objective of this business plan for your business Keep it simple Should be concise Sample: This plan will be the operating guide and policy guide for XYZ, Inc. If used as a financial proposal, the objective should be in greater detail. Statement of Purpose

Executive Summary The purpose of the executive summary of the business plan is to provide your readers with an overview of the business plan. Executive Summary

Therefore, your business plan’s executive summary will include summaries of: Therefore, your business plan’s executive summary will include summaries of: A description of your company, including your products and/or services Your mission statement Your business’s management The market and your customer Marketing and Sales Your competition Your business’s operations Financial projections and plans Remember this is a summary. Keep it as brief as possible. You will explain in detail later in the plan.

Executive Summary The executive summary should end with a summary statement, a “last kick at the can” sentence designed to persuade the readers of your business plan “why is this a winning business?” Executive Summary

Description & Analysis of the Business Situation What type of business is this? What problem are you solving? How does your product/service solve the problem? How does this create financial value for your company and its investors? Content – Part 1

Rationale and marketing research on the acceptability of the products and services An overview of the industry sector that your business will be a part of, including industry trends and major players in the industry. This section of the business plan will also include a summary of your business's place within the industry. Industry Overview Industry Overview What is the size of your industry? What is the size of your industry? Who are the major players in this industry? Who are the major players in this industry? What national/economic trends have affected this industry and how? What national/economic trends have affected this industry and how? What national/economic trends might affect it in the future and how? What national/economic trends might affect it in the future and how? Content – Part 1

Description & Analysis of the Business Situation Introduction and Self-Analysis. What makes you capable of operating this business and being successful. Content – Part 1

Description & Analysis of the Business Situation Analysis of the Business Opportunity. Where will the business be located? Who will be the customer base? What is your competitive advantage in the market place? How does your customer benefit? Content – Part 1

Market Analysis This is an examination of the primary target market for your product or service, including geographic location, demographics, your target market's needs and how these needs are being met currently. The competitive analysis section can be the most difficult section to compile when writing a business plan. Before you can analyze your competitors, you have to investigate them. You need to know: You need to know: What markets or market segments your competitors serve; What markets or market segments your competitors serve; What benefits your competition offers; What benefits your competition offers; Why customers buy from them; Why customers buy from them; And as much as possible about their products and/or services, pricing, and promotion. And as much as possible about their products and/or services, pricing, and promotion. Description & Analysis of the Business Situation Content – Part 1

Description & Analysis of the Business Situation Proposed Organization List the CEO and key management by name Content – Part 1

Description & Analysis of the Business Situation PROPOSED ORGANIZATION Types of ownership Sole proprietorship Sole proprietorship Partnership Partnership Corporation, or limited liability company (LLC). Corporation, or limited liability company (LLC). There's no one choice that fits every business; your job is to pick the form that best meets your needs Content – Part 1

Description & Analysis of the Business Situation PROPOSED ORGANIZATION An Organizational Plan is basically a “to do” list for an organization. It lists out the plan of work, programs, and organizational growth over a period of time - six months, a year or five. The tasks involved, who is responsible for them, and when they’ll be done. People reading your business plan will be looking to see not only who's on your management team but also how the skills of your management and staff will contribute to the bottom line. Content – Part 1

Proposed Marketing/Promotion Plan This marketing plan section establishes the direction your business is going to take in order to promote your business, attract customers, exploit any identified opportunities and make a profit. Content – Part 2

Proposed Marketing/Promotion Plan Proposed Product/Services What are you going to sell? What position you are going to take in the market? (For example, high quality/high price or low quality low price high volume) Content – Part 2

Proposed Marketing/Promotion Plan Pricing Policies What price you are going to set? How much profit you think you are going to make at the price? Content – Part 2

Proposed Marketing/Promotion Plan Personal Promotion How you and your sales staff are going to promote your business? What level of service you are going to provide? Content – Part 2

Proposed Marketing/Promotion Plan Non-Personal Promotion How will you appeal to the public? What promotional plans will you use? Content – Part 2

Proposed Marketing/Promotion Plan Place Decisions Where you will distribute your goods and/services? Where will you obtain the materials or other items needed for your business? What is you channel of distribution? Content – Part 2

Proposed Financial Plan Basically, the financial plan section of the business plan consists of three financial statements: The income statement The cash flow projection and The balance sheet and a brief explanation/analysis of these three. First, you need to gather together some of the financial data you'll need to prepare these financial statements for your business plan by examining your expenses. Think of your business expenses as broken into two categories: Your start up expenses and Your operating expenses. Content – Part 3

Proposed Financial Plan Projected Year 1 Income Statement by month Content – Part 3

Proposed Financial Plan Projected Balance Sheet Year 1 Beginning Balance Sheet and Year 1 Ending Balance Sheet Content – Part 3

Proposed Financial Plan Projected Cash Flow Statement Projected Year 1 Cash Flow Statement by month Content – Part 3

Proposed Financial Plan Where will you go to get the money? Entrepreneur’s personal resources Financial institutions Angel investors Unusual resources Financing Options Venture capitalists Public offering Business development program Content – Part 3

Proposed Financial Plan Capital Repayment Plan Where are you getting the money from? What is the interest/loan arrangement? How and when will you retire the debt? Content – Part 3

“If you don’t know where you are going you may end up somewhere else”. Casey Stengel