| You may be a start up organization in need of a | | | | balance sheet and cash flow tables showing the past, |
| business plan layout to drive you towards success. Or | | | | present and future possibilities - where practical. |
| perhaps you are a Solo home based entrepreneur or | | | | Business Plan Layout Essential #4: Who and what will |
| a well established long term company. You may be a | | | | your management team be doing to drive growth? |
| large organization employing more than 100 people or | | | | Management Analysis for your plan will describe the |
| what if you are a not for profit charity or organization | | | | organization and the key team members and their |
| wanting to grow. One thing holds true; you need a | | | | exact tasks, key performance indicators and |
| business plan to move forward. | | | | accountabilities. Here is a summary below of a perfect |
| All types of businesses are obviously in existence in | | | | business plan layout: |
| hundreds of different industries and separate niche | | | | 1. Executive Summary: Write this last. It's just a page or |
| areas - but one thing holds true - you must have a | | | | two of highlights. |
| business plan to drive your growth. But why have a | | | | 2. Company Description: Legal establishment, history, |
| plan after all, only half of all businesses appear to have | | | | start-up plans, etc. |
| created one. Here are 5 compelling reasons why a | | | | 3. Product or Service: Describe what you're selling. |
| business plan is a must have tool. | | | | Focus on customer benefits. |
| Business Plan Layout Essential #1: You have a | | | | 4. Market Analysis: You need to know your market, |
| summary of your vision and goals | | | | customer needs, where they are, how to reach them, |
| Without a vision and goals summarized in the | | | | etc. |
| Executive Summary how do you ascertain where | | | | 5. Strategy and Implementation: Be specific. Include |
| your business is going? I mean you would not build a | | | | management responsibilities with dates and budgets. |
| house without a plan so why do so many people go | | | | Make sure you can track results. |
| into business without a written down plan of attack? | | | | 6. Web Plan Summary: For e-commerce, include |
| Studies show only around 56% of all small businesses | | | | discussion of website, development costs, operations, |
| has a current plan. | | | | sales and marketing strategies. |
| Business Plan Layout Essential #2: Analyse and plan | | | | 7. Management Team: Describe the organization and |
| your product and services benefits and how you will | | | | the key management team members. |
| take these to market. | | | | 8. Financial Analysis: Make sure to include at the very |
| The best approach to marketing anything is to analyse | | | | least your projected Profit and Loss and Cash Flow |
| each service or product offering, work out how it will | | | | tables. |
| benefit the end consumer and build a strategy around | | | | Lastly, ensure you will implement your plan so results |
| telling prospects or customers about it effectively. So | | | | happen. Too many companies spend months creating |
| your business plan layout must include a section on | | | | their plan only to see it gathering dust in the bottom of |
| Market Analysis and the key strategies you will use | | | | their desk drawer. No one intentionally does this. It is |
| over a 12 month period. | | | | just that the every day process of completing your |
| Business Plan Layout Essential #3: The crucial financial | | | | normal work duties can often mean implementation is |
| analysis | | | | put on the back burner. Take this business plan layout |
| The very best plans have a projection on profit and | | | | above and make it work for you. |
| loss for at least 12 months ahead. There is a budget, | | | | |