| The format of a Business Plan is something that has | | | | and detaileddescription of the nature of your business. |
| beendeveloped and refined over the years and is | | | | It's important tokeep the description easy to read using |
| something that shouldnot be changed. Like a good | | | | common terminology. Neverassume that those reading |
| recipe, a business plan needs toinclude certain | | | | your business plan have the same levelof technical |
| ingredients to make it work. | | | | knowledge that you do. Describe how you plan |
| When you create a business plan, don't attempt to | | | | tobetter serve your market than your competition is |
| recreate itsformat. Those reviewing this type of | | | | currentlydoing. |
| document have expectationsyou must meet. If they do | | | | Market Analysis Section |
| not see those crucial decision-makingcomponents, | | | | An analysis of the market shows that you have done |
| they'll see no reason to proceed with their review | | | | your homework. |
| ofyour business plan, no matter how great your | | | | This section is basically a summary of your Marketing |
| business idea. | | | | Plan. Itneeds to show the demand for your product or |
| Executive Summary Section | | | | service, theproposed market, trends within the industry, |
| Every business plan must begin with an Executive | | | | a description ofyour pricing plan and packaging and a |
| Summary section. | | | | description of your companypolicies. |
| A well-written Executive Summary is critical to the | | | | Financing Section |
| success ofthe rest of the document. Here is where | | | | The Financing section must show that you are as |
| you need to capture theattention of your audience so | | | | committed to yourbusiness venture as you expect |
| that they will be compelled to readon. Remember, it's a | | | | those reading your business planto be. Show the |
| summary, so each and every word must becarefully | | | | amount of personal funds you are contributing andtheir |
| selected and presented. | | | | source. Also include the amount of capital you need |
| Use the Executive Summary section of your business | | | | andyour plan to repay this debt. Include all pertinent |
| plan toaccurately describe the nature of your business | | | | financialworksheets in this section: annual income |
| venture includingthe need that you plan to fill. Show the | | | | projections, abreak-even worksheet, projected cash |
| reasons why people needyour product or service. | | | | flow statements and abalance sheet. |
| Show this by including a brief analysisof the | | | | Management Section |
| characteristics of your potential market. | | | | Outline your organizational structure and management |
| Describe the organization of your business including | | | | team here. |
| yourmanagement team. Also, briefly describe your | | | | Include the legal structure of your business whether it |
| sales and marketingplan or approach. Finally include the | | | | is apartnership, corporation or limited liability corporation. |
| numbers that thosereviewing your business plan want | | | | Include resumes and biographies of key players on |
| to see - the amount of capitalyou seek, the carefully | | | | your managementteam. Show staffing projection data |
| calculated sales projections and yourplan to repay the | | | | for the next few years. |
| loan. | | | | By now you're probably thinking that you don't need |
| If you've captured your audience so far they'll read on. | | | | Business Planjust yet. Well you do, and there is |
| Otherwise, they'll close the document and add your | | | | business plan buildingsoftware that can help you |
| business planto the heap of other rejected ideas. | | | | through this immense project. Thesesoftware |
| Devote the balance of your business plan to providing | | | | packages are easy to use and affordable. Use one |
| details ofthe items outlined in the Executive Summary. | | | | todayand produce a professional-quality Business Plan |
| The Business Section | | | | - including allcritical components - tomorrow! |
| Be sure to include the legal name, physical address | | | | |