What does a business project look like? How to write a quality business plan: a guide to action

Business plan: sample and purpose of the document + reasons for drawing up + 5 stages of creation + features of writing for investors and for personal purposes + structure + 15 tips + 7 illustrative examples.

Any actions must be planned and displayed on paper. This is especially true for entrepreneurship. Without business planning, i.e. detailed optimization of resources and determination of further tasks, even an experienced entrepreneur will not be able to achieve their goals.

That's why it's so important to have sample business plan and compose it correctly. This material will help you with this.

Why and who needs a business plan?

There are several definitions of a business plan on the Internet.

Here are the most common ones:

Those. A business plan is a document that details how to implement it. Thanks to it, you can fully justify your project, evaluate the effectiveness of the decisions made from all sides, and understand the feasibility of funding for a particular activity.

The business plan shows:

• business development prospects;
• volumes of the sales market, potential consumers;
• profitability of the project;
• forthcoming expenses for the production and sale of products, their supply to the market, etc.

A business development plan is a tool that evaluates the final results of activities for a specific period of time. It can be used to attract investors and is necessary in creating a business concept, company strategy.

Drawing up a business plan is one of the important, crucial stages of planning. It is developed both for those enterprises that produce goods, and for those whose specialization is the provision of services.

Before writing a business plan, specialists or the owner of the company determine the tasks and means for their implementation. The developed document can attract creditors to implement ideas. For this reason, its importance cannot be overstated.

The purpose of the business development plan:

• analysis of aspects of entrepreneurship;
• competent management of finances, operations;
• justification of the need to obtain investments (bank loans, equity participation of companies in the project, budget allocations, etc.);
• accounting of financial opportunities and threats (risks) of the enterprise;
• choice of the optimal direction of development.

Entrepreneurs write business plans for the following reasons:

Features of drawing up a plan for personal purposes and creditors

It is important to see the difference between a business plan, which is written for internal use, and a document, so to speak, "ceremonial", to be transferred to creditors.

1. Create a plan for personal goals.

If you intend to use the sample business plan and write it for yourself, please note that it will be in the form of a practical guide to further actions.

The business development plan in this case should answer the following questions:

1. What activities do you (will you) do?
2. What product/service does your company offer to the market?
3. Who are the consumers, clients?
4. What goals should you achieve?
5. What means are needed to achieve the goals?
6. Who is responsible for performing certain tasks?
7. How long does it take to get it done?
8. What capital investment will be required?
9. What results should the actions lead to?

You need to understand that when drawing up a working document, you need to reflect the real state of affairs in order to know in which direction to move, what to do, what to strive for.

2. Document for investors.

When developing a business plan to provide to lenders/investors, the methodology is different. The person or organization that will finance your venture should receive a document detailing the situation and the main tasks.

You have to convince depositors that their money will be used rationally, to identify benefits for them. A business plan must be drawn up logically, each action must be justified.

If you have doubts in any area, study it more carefully, because according to the program you outlined, creditors will certainly have “uncomfortable” questions. And how you answer them will depend on the amount of initial investment in opening / developing your own business.

Also of particular importance is the confidence of the serve. It’s good if you manage to display statistics in a business plan, referring to the example of another company. This will increase your chances of getting an investment.

When writing a business plan, you should adhere to the business style and follow the structure.

Sample business plan: structure

Regardless of the purpose for which you draw up a plan, working with it takes place in 5 stages:

As a business builder, you can make up the first two without any problems. But what should be the competent structure of a business plan?

We will analyze the main sections, what information they contain and how to correctly compose them.

No. 1. Title page.

It acts as such a calling card. It indicates: the name of your company, contact information, address data, phone numbers of the founders.

In addition, the title should contain the content of the entire document (chapter - page number). When composing the title, be concise, state the information concisely.

The total volume of the business plan is about 30-35 pages, including applications.

*Business plan (sample title page)

No. 2. Introductory part of a sample business development plan.

It takes approximately 2 A4 sheets. The introduction describes the main aspects of your business, its essence, what advantages it has.

It is necessary to write what is attractive for buyers of the product / service, what is the expected profit. If you intend to raise funds for the business, the introductory part indicates the amount of capital you need.

Usually the introduction is devoted to such points of the plan:

The introductory part is the last one, because. it describes the overall picture of the company's activities.
You can fully portray it only after studying all the nuances of the case.

You can study a sample of this and other parts of the plan at the end of this material - there are collected examples of this document for the main lines of business.

Number 3. The main part of the business plan.

The main section concerns the type of activity and all its key points, the cost of the project.

It consists of subsections:

• production;
• financial;
• marketing;
• organizational;
• business efficiency calculation;
• risks.

We will consider them separately.

At the end it follows final part. In it, you need to summarize the work done, give a clear definition of the tasks.

Subsections of the main part of business plans

No. 1. Development of the production subsection of the business plan.

The main section of the document is the largest. Its subsections describe each aspect of your case.

For example, industrial shows what equipment will be used, what premises you have, how much money will be needed to purchase and start a business.

Also, this plan is designed to allow you to calculate production capacity, determine the likely prospects for growth in production volumes.

In addition, it contains information on the full provision of raw materials, components, highlights the need for labor, temporary and fixed costs of business.

In order for the production subsection of the plan to have a clear structure and contain all the necessary information, indicate:

• how well the production process is, whether there are innovative solutions;
• ways of supplying resources, the degree of development of the transport system;
• a full description of the technologies, why they were chosen;
• Do I need to buy / rent a business premises;
• the composition of the required personnel and all data about it, labor costs;
• possible maximum volume of output;
• information about suppliers, business subcontractors;
• the cost of each product;
• an estimate with a mention of current expenses, etc.

No. 2. Development of the financial subsection of the plan.

Financial plan generalizes all the above data with economic indicators for business, i.e. in value terms.

This includes business reports:

• Balance plan (confirming the ability of the enterprise to timely settlement of its monetary obligations).

On financial results, profits and losses.

It highlights the sources of profit, how losses appeared, assesses the changes in business income / expenses that occurred in the reporting period, etc.

About the movement of money.

This report allows you to see operating results, long-term creditworthiness, short-term liquidity.

The financial subsection of the business plan is also characterized by the presence of:

• schedules for future financial activities,
• descriptions of likely investments.

Think carefully about the possibility of investing, whether it will be profitable, about the target orientation of the contribution. Write how you will return the funds attracted to the business.

Try to see the following in the financial part of your business plan:

Number 3. Development of the marketing subsection of the business plan.

The marketing subsection deals with the analysis of the sales market for your company's products. You must indicate in the plan the size, dynamics and trends of the market, its segments, conjuncture.

In addition, the subsection informs about who are the consumers of the business products, what strategy will be used to promote the product.

It calculates consumption volumes, estimated market share, describes the levers used to influence demand (advertising campaign, pricing, product improvement, etc.), business competitiveness.

It is necessary to evaluate your product from the consumer's point of view, what makes it attractive, what is its consumer value, is it safe to use, and how long does it last.

When compiling a marketing plan, rely on the following points:

To draw up a marketing plan, information is taken from the external environment, relevant research and surveys are carried out, and professional marketers are involved in order to study the market situation.

No. 4. Development of the organizational subsection of the plan.

In terms of doing business, organizational issues are considered no less important. Therefore, in this subsection, you are required to describe all the steps that will be taken to implement the project.

For example, as shown in the sample in the picture:

It is better to present information in the plan in tabular form, so that the sequence of your actions is clearly visible. It would not hurt to mention the normative and legislative acts that regulate the chosen branch of activity.

In the organizational plan, it is worth describing the managerial side, the duties of all employees, the system of subordination and incentives (remuneration), and describe the internal regime of the company.

Remember to follow the structure as in the example:

No. 5. How to issue a calculation of efficiency and possible risks?

In the penultimate sections, you need to give an objective assessment of the company's performance, show the expected prospects based on the estimate, balance sheet, profitability threshold, planned sales volume.

The developer of the business plan must write the payback period, NPV (net present value).

The best option would be to arrange this in a table, as in the example below:

Business risks should also be considered. Be sure to indicate in the plan what measures you will take if they occur to minimize them, which self-insurance program you will resort to.

Experienced business plan writers pay special attention to risks, and consider the likelihood of the worst possible outcome. By making notes on how to eliminate the expected difficulties, you will make your work easier in the future. If there are losses and financial losses, you will already know how to compensate for them.

When this section of the business plan causes difficulties, they turn to experts for help.

Often, a SWOT analysis of a business is used for this purpose:

This is a method of identifying external / internal factors that affect business development.

Thanks to it, you will be able to evaluate:

• their weaknesses (suppose the need to rent a building, unrecognizable brand),
• advantages (low price, high service, professional staff),
• designate opportunities (these include the availability of funds for the introduction of innovations, the use of modern equipment, coverage of a larger market segment, etc.).

And, ultimately, threats that you can't undo, such as:

• economic crisis,
• deterioration of the demographic situation,
• increase in customs duties,
• growing political tension,
• tough competition, etc.

If you provide a clear and justified algorithm for solving risks in the document, it is guaranteed that you can attract partners and creditors for your business.

15 tips for beginners to write a good business plan

very laborious and complex. In the process of its compilation, many questions will arise. For this reason, most beginners make mistakes.

To avoid them and make your business plan worthwhile, follow these guidelines:

Before you start writing, it is better to look at more than one example of a business plan.

It is easy to find illustrative examples on the Internet, and perhaps they will even relate to your line of work.

There is no need to “spill water”, thinking that the document is supposed to be voluminous.

The business plan should contain only important, realistic information that is of interest to investors and useful to you in doing business (as in the examples below).

1. Errors, corrections, misprints are strictly not allowed.
2. The business plan should reflect the ability of your enterprise to reach a higher level and the strengths of the management team.
3. When developing a business plan, one should not underestimate competition and possible difficulties.
4. If the information you want to display is subject to confidentiality, it should be skipped.

Don't rush the paperwork.

Such a plan would not have the desired effect on creditors. If you are compiling it for yourself, anyway, it should not look like a draft version.

Use more tables, graphs (as in the samples below).

Providing statistical data in this way makes the material more visual.

Market analysis is often inaccurate.

Therefore, responsibly approach the marketing section, collect all the necessary data.

Be sure to include competitive features in your business plan.

Throw out too abstruse expressions from the business plan, as well as those that are understood ambiguously and demonstrate your failure.

For example, “a product that has no analogues”, “under consideration”, “ease of implementation”, etc.

Keep track of all business expenses.

Lenders consider this column especially important. Therefore, they may have a lot of questions for you on such items as salaries for personnel, taxes, purchase of raw materials, etc.

Don't ignore risk considerations.

As already mentioned, this will serve as a protection against the problems encountered on the way to achieving the goals, as well as allow investors to see you as a serious, responsible entrepreneur.

5. Focus in the business plan not on the first profit, big earnings, but on a stable cash flow.

Don't forget to set time limits.

Any task has a deadline (quarter, year, several years).

If you are not sure that you can master the business plan on your own, even using the samples below, do not spare money on a specialist.

He understands this issue more than you, so he will draw up a document accurately, without technical, methodological and conceptual oversights that you can make without proper experience.

A detailed diagram of a quality business plan with explanations

you will find in this video:

Ready-made business plans (samples) for different areas of activity

The pharmaceutical business does not lose its relevance, because the need for medicines does not disappear. Moreover, most of the family budget, as a rule, goes to medicines.

Because of this, opening a pharmacy is a very profitable business.

Therefore, it makes sense to take a closer look at the example of designing such a business plan in this sample:.

If you want to go into another area, consider opening a cafe.

There are quite a lot of similar establishments and the competition is strong. However, the demand for them is growing. If you take into account all the points of arrangement, you offer healthy food, you will definitely succeed.

To properly draw up a document, check out a sample cafe business plan!

The male half of the population may be interested in the idea of ​​organizing a car service.

The owner of the service station will not be left without income if the activities for the repair and maintenance of vehicles are detailed with all the ensuing factors in the business plan.

You can sample it.

Having a business is a great way to start earning money on your own, but it is impossible to open it without first developing a special project. In this publication, you will find the answer to the following questions: what is a business plan, how to draw up this document, are there any design nuances.

What is a business project?

The business project describes all the features of the future organization. It analyzes possible problems, identifies options for their solution and predicts the result. How to draw up a business plan correctly - this question is asked by people who are going to attract investors. Proper drafting of the document will guarantee the successful future of your enterprise.

Drawing up a correct business project is not easy even for an experienced entrepreneur, so it is advisable to entrust this work to a team of competent economists. The plan must contain, regardless of the type of activity:

1. Substantiation of economic feasibility.
2. The state of the economic environment in which it is planned to open a business.
3. Financial results (sales volume, revenue and profit).
4. Sources of financing.
5. Task execution schedule.
6. Appointment of people responsible for the implementation of the business.
7. Define indicators that allow you to monitor intermediate results.

Many people come up with ideas for business - the question is what are these ideas worth. That is why, if you are going to turn an idea into a business, it is worth creating a business plan in which you can detail your concept and prove its effectiveness, both organizationally and financially.

A business plan is a document that outlines your business in general terms. In it, you talk about what exactly you will do, the structure of the business, the state of the market, how you plan to sell your product or service, what resources you need, what your financial forecast is, as well as provide permissions, lease agreements and any other necessary documentation.

In fact, a business plan helps you prove to yourself and others whether your business idea is worth developing. This is the best way to take a step back, consider the idea from all sides and protect yourself from possible problems for years to come.

In this article, we share tips for writing a successful business plan, describe the points to include in the plan, and give examples.

The translation of the article was prepared with the support of the online school of English. Before we get into the details, let's start with some basic, general tips.

Focus on your features

Before diving headlong into writing a business plan, you should carefully consider what makes your business unique. For example, if you're about to start a sportswear brand, you need a way to stand out from the many other sportswear brands that are already on the market.

What makes your brand stand out from the rest? Do you plan to create clothing for a specific type of training and activity, such as yoga, tennis or hiking? Do you use environmentally friendly materials? Do you donate part of your proceeds to charity? Does the brand promote a positive body image?

Remember: you're selling more than just a product or service - you're selling a product, value, and brand experience. Consider and answer these important questions before diving into the details of research for your business plan.

Be brief

The modern business plan is required to be shorter and more concise than ever before. Resist the temptation to include all of your marketing research, go into detail about each product you plan to sell, and describe in detail what your site will look like. In the format of a business plan, this information will not be of particular use, rather the opposite.

All of the above details are important to collect and keep in mind, but the business plan itself should include only the most important. Otherwise, readers may lose interest in you.

Make a good layout

Your business plan should not only be easy to read - it is important that the reader can understand the essence without delving into the details. Formatting plays a big role here. Use headings and bulleted lists, highlight with bold text or color those key points and indicators that you want to draw the attention of readers. You can even use labels and bookmarks in your document (both digital and printed) for ease of reference.

Edit as you write

Remember that your plan is a living, breathing document, which means you can edit it as you go along. For example, update the plan a year or two after starting a business, before submitting a new funding request.

Here are the key elements in a business plan template:

1. Marketing and sales plan
2. Application

Let's take a closer look at what is included in each of the elements of a business plan:

The purpose of this section is to give readers a clear understanding of the company and the market before you get into the details. Tip: Sometimes it's worth writing the main points after you've put together the rest of the business plan so you can easily pick out the key points.

The main provisions should occupy about a page. Spend 1-2 paragraphs on each of the following points:

• Overview: Tell us briefly about what your company is like, where it will be located, what exactly and to whom you are going to sell.
• About the company: Describe the structure of your business, tell us about the owner, what experience and skills you already have and who you are going to hire first.
• Goods and/or services: Briefly describe what you will be selling.
• Market: Summarize the key findings of the market research.
• Financial forecast: Tell us how you plan to receive funding and what your financial expectations are.

An example of the section "Basic provisions"

Startup Jolly's Java and Bakery (JJB) is a coffee and bakery store located in southwest Washington. JJB plans to gain an audience of loyal customers by offering them a rich selection of coffee and confectionery. The company plans to establish a strong market position in the city due to the professional experience of partners and the mild competitive climate in the area.

JJB strives to offer products at a competitive price in order to meet the demand in the market among residents of the area and tourists with middle and upper incomes.

The next item in the plan is a description of the company. Here you can describe what your company does, state its mission, tell about the structure of the company and its owners, location, as well as the needs of the market that your company is trying to meet and how exactly you are going to do it.

Example of a "Company Description" section

NALB Creative Center is a startup that is entering the market this summer. We will offer customers a wide range of art and craft products, primarily products that are not currently available on the island of Hawaii. The Internet remains our competitor, as artists usually buy familiar products online. We will supply goods not necessarily well known to local artists. We will also continue to monitor prices and include items available online in price comparisons.

We will conduct master classes on working with new materials and techniques.

We also organize the tourist program "Artist's Oasis". We will provide local bed and breakfast reservations, plein air maps and itineraries, easel and supplies rental, paint and other supplies sales, and delivery of finished artworks to clients once the canvases have dried.

In the future, the store will turn into an art center that will combine: an art gallery where you can buy original works of art at wholesale prices; studio space with musical instruments; classrooms for music and art lessons; literature on music and art; coffee bar with live music; handicrafts such as branded t-shirts, badges, postcards, pottery for trade with tourists.

One of the first questions to ask yourself when testing a business idea is whether there is a place for it in the market. It is the market that will dictate how successful your business will be. Decide which audience you are targeting and why customers will want to buy from you.

Add specifics. Let's say you sell bedding. You should not include in your target audience everyone who sleeps in bed. First, define a small target group of customers for yourself. This may be, for example, adolescents from families with an average income level. Having decided on the target audience, try to answer the following questions:

• How many adolescents from middle-income families live in your country?
• What accessories do they need?
• Is the market growing or staying the same?

When analyzing the market, take into account both the research that is already available, conducted by others, and the primary data that you have collected yourself, through surveys, interviews, or in any other way.

This also includes competitor analysis. In our example, one might ask questions such as: how many other bedding companies already have market share, and who are these companies? Describe the strengths and weaknesses of your potential competitors, as well as strategies that will give you a competitive advantage.

An example of a summary section "Market Analysis"

Green Investments has identified two separate target client groups, which differ in terms of family wealth. One group included clients with a household income of less than a million dollars, the other - with an income of more than a million. The main thing that characterizes both of these groups and makes them attractive to us as a company is their desire to change the world for the better by making financial investments with environmental considerations in mind.

There are many different niches in the financial services industry. Some advisors provide general investment services. Others offer only one type of investment, such as mutual funds or bonds. Some service providers focus on a specific niche, such as technology or socially responsible business.

Market segmentation

Green Investments segmented the target audience into two separate categories, according to the level of family wealth: more and less than $1 million.

• <1 миллиона долларов (семейный бюджет): представители среднего класса, которых волнуют проблемы окружающей среды и которые вносят личный вклад в ее защиту, приобретая акции компаний, которые демонстрируют высокие экономические и экологические показатели. Так как свободных денег у таких людей немного, они предпочитают инвестировать в акции без особого риска. В целом акции составляют 35%-45% от общего портфеля.
• $1 million (family budget): These clients are average or above average income. They have saved over a million dollars and are investing quite carefully (either themselves or people they hire). Such people are usually concerned about return on investment, but they are also concerned about environmental issues.

Here you can delve into the details of what exactly you sell and what your advantage for customers is. If you can't articulate exactly how you can be of service to customers, your business idea may not be that great.

Start by describing the problem your business is solving. Then focus on how you plan to solve the problem and how well your product or service fits into the big picture. Finally, think about the competitive landscape: what other companies are providing solutions to this particular problem, and how is your solution different?

An example of the "Products and Services" section

AMT provides computer related products and services to help small businesses. We mainly provide network equipment and network maintenance for small and medium businesses. These include both LAN-based computer systems and server-managed minicomputer-based systems. Our services include development and installation of network systems, training and support.

Description of goods and services

In the field of personal computers, we support three main areas:

1. Super Home is our smallest and least expensive line of computers that are originally marketed as home computers by the manufacturer. We mainly use them as inexpensive workstations for small businesses. Specifications include… [additional details omitted]
2. Power User is our main premium level business. It is our premier system for high performance home stations and primary workstations for small businesses, thanks to… Key System Benefits… Specifications include… [additional details omitted]
3. Business Special is a middle-level system, an intermediate link in positioning. Its specifications include… [additional details omitted]

As for peripherals, accessories and other hardware, here we provide a complete set of necessary equipment, from cables to molds and mouse pads. … [additional details omitted]

We offer a wide range of service and support services in our office and on site, as well as service contracts and warranties. So far, we have not succeeded in concluding technical support contracts. Our business opportunities… [more details omitted]

Competitive Analysis

The only way to gain an edge and stand out from the competition is to offer our clients IT partnerships. There is no way we can effectively compete with network vendors who offer out-of-the-box or hardware/software solutions. We must offer our clients a true partnership.

The advantages of this approach include many intangible assets: reliability and confidence that, at the right time, the client will always receive help and answers to their questions.

The products we supply and work with require serious knowledge and experience, while our competitors only sell the product itself.

Unfortunately, we cannot sell products at a higher price just because we provide service - market conditions show that this approach will not be effective. Therefore, we will provide service for a fee.

In this section, you can briefly describe the features of the organizational and management structure of the business (taking into account that it may change). Who will be responsible for what? How will tasks and responsibilities be assigned to each individual or each team?

Include here brief biographies of each member of your team. Justify why these people are the right people for this job - talk about their experience and education that are relevant to your business. If you haven't hired the people in the planned roles yet, that's fine - but make sure you clearly define those gaps for yourself and explain what the people in those roles will be responsible for.

An example of a personnel plan in the "Operational Management" section

DIY Wash N' Fix does not require a lot of labor. The company will hire a general manager who will work part-time, performing corporate duties and resolving issues of inter-organizational relations. DIY Wash N’ Fix will also hire three certified mechanics/managers to carry out day-to-day tasks at the firm. These responsibilities fall into two categories: managerial and operational. Managerial tasks include planning, inventory and basic bookkeeping. Employees are also responsible for operational tasks: safety, regulatory issues, customer service, and repair advice.

In addition, service staff will be hired to perform the most basic tasks. Their functions will include customer service and content and storage control. DIY Wash N’ Fix will hire one general manager to coordinate all external business operations and partnerships. Business relationships include accounting services, legal advice, communication with manufacturers and suppliers, as well as service providers, advertising and marketing, and investment services. This managerial position will be taken by Lori Snyder. She will receive her MBA from the University of Notre Dame in May 2001.

Daily business management tasks will be handled by a lead mechanic. Although DIY Wash N' Fix does not provide a complete repair service, you can expect some customers to attempt repairs they have never done before, which means they will need advice. Therefore, we intend to hire three fully certified mechanics. These mechanics will not be allowed to do any work on the customer's car, but they will be able to inspect the car and assess the damage. We believe that only professional mechanics should advise customers - this will reduce our liability for improperly performed repairs. The main task of the mechanics will be customer service and management functions.

6) Marketing and sales plan

Here you can describe your marketing and sales strategies, how exactly you are going to sell your product. Before you start working on a marketing and sales plan, conduct a complete market analysis and identify target personas - your ideal customers.

From a marketing standpoint, you may need to answer questions like: How are you going to market? How will you develop the business? What distribution channels will you focus on? How will communication with clients be organized?

When it comes to sales, try answering questions like: What is your implementation strategy? How will the sales department work, and how will you develop it in the future? How many sales calls will it take to close a deal? What is the average sale price? Speaking of average cost per sale, you can move on to the details of your pricing strategy.

Example of a Marketing Plan Section

The Skate Zone will be the first inline hockey venue in Miami, Florida. Thanks to the extraordinary growth in the popularity of inline hockey in the US, the company has the opportunity to advertise in various media and on advertising platforms. Below is a list of channels currently available.

Public relations. Press releases will be sent to trade magazines and leading business publications such as USAHockey Inline, INLINE rollersports magazine, PowerPlay and others.

Tournaments. Skate Zone will represent its services at annual championships throughout the United States.

Print ads and articles. Our advertising campaign includes advertisements in publications such as The Yellow Pages, Miami Express News, The Skate Zone Mailing, as well as school flyer printing and publications in specialized inline hockey magazines.

Internet. Skate Zone already has its own website where we have already received several applications. We are currently working on optimizing the site. We expect that in the future the site will become one of the main marketing platforms of the company.

Finally, detail your financial model, including start-up costs, financial plans, and required investments if you are approaching investors.

The initial cost of your business includes all the resources you need to get started, as well as an estimate of how much each of those resources will cost. Do you rent office space? Do you need a computer? Telephone? Make a list of your needs and expenses for them, try to be objective and economical. The last thing you need is to run out of budget.

Once you've figured out your expenses, justify them. To do this, write down your financial forecast in detail. This is especially important if you are looking for outside funding for your business. Make sure your financial model is 100% accurate so you can convince investors and lenders to support your business.

An example of a financial plan for an online store

Application

Optionally, you can add an appendix at the end of the plan. There's space here for your CV and co-owners' CVs, as well as legal documents, including permits and leases.

That's all. We hope this article has helped you better understand what your business plan should look like. The only thing left to do is turn the idea into reality. Good luck!

Helpful guide on how to write a business plan. We take note!

Even if you first wondered how to write a business plan, then you understand that it is impossible to get a finished document in 10-15 minutes. However, all the time spent will fully pay off.

A well-designed plan will help outline the stages of opening, a project development plan, assess the risks of activities and get help from investors.

Being able to articulate what you want and how you plan to achieve it is half the battle.

It often happens that a novice entrepreneur, faced with risks that he did not draw up on paper in advance, loses motivation and abandons business development. Therefore, you need to give due diligence and write a competent business plan.

How to write a resume section in a business plan

This part of the document is the shortest, it is enough to make 5-7 sentences.

But its value cannot be underestimated. This is especially true for those who need to draw up a business plan to receive financial assistance from investors or a bank!

The summary should briefly indicate the essence of the project. Depending on how interesting and concise this section of the business plan is, potential investors will either enthusiastically study everything from cover to cover, or immediately close and put the document aside.

Having outlined the goals, you can proceed to the indication of practical information, figures and forecasts of activity.

We draw up a business plan: company activities

To draw up this section of the business plan, you need to dwell on the activities of your future company in more detail. And we are talking not only about the name, details, location and other characteristics.

• What are your goals?
• How should they be achieved?
• If there are several founders, indicate the distribution of roles.
• What will be the advantage over competitors?
• What prospects for the development of the business do you see?

Be sure to analyze your target audience. You need to present it as specifically as possible in order to be able to determine the ways of "enticement".

A separate item in the business plan should be a description of the goods or services provided by the company. This includes any information: from technical parameters to color and packaging design.

How to analyze a market niche when writing a business plan

An analysis of the current state of affairs in the market will help you and potential investors correctly identify a possible niche, potential risks of activity, customer flow and other important parameters.

The phrases “has no competitors” and “one of a kind” when drawing up a business plan should definitely be avoided. Even if at the time of opening you are a monopoly in the market.

In the case when the offered services or goods really have great development prospects, tomorrow there may be those who also want to make money on it. This must be taken into account and be able to predict.

In the case when there are already competitors, the situation is simplified. It is only necessary to concretize them and describe the activity using the following parameters:

• Quantity and names.
• The share that each occupies in the market.
  If there are too many competitors (as is often the case in retail), describe the main ones.
• Identify their strengths and weaknesses independently and honestly.
  Based on these data, you need to draw up competitive advantages for the previous section.
• Describe the methods of advertising used and their effectiveness in such activities.

During this work, you also need to isolate the strong behavioral factors of these firms (pricing, customer acquisition, special services) and use them to grow your business.

How to write a "Production" section for a business plan

Planning without action is a dream. Action without planning is a nightmare.
Japanese proverb

No less important is the section of the plan that describes the production.

In the business plan, you need to indicate how, from what and on what equipment products will be produced or services will be performed. What equipment is needed to achieve the goal, and what needs to be purchased? Technology matters, too, especially if you're planning to introduce some kind of innovation that no one else has.

But what if you do not plan to produce products, but will order them from suppliers?

In this case, you need to specify from whom you will buy the finished product. All the details are important: the name of the organization, terms and conditions of delivery, confirmation of reliability.

The main task of this section of the business plan is to convince investors that the activity will not “become” a day after the start due to the banal lack of the necessary materials.

Drawing up the financial section of the business plan

No matter how important all the previous chapters of the plan are, it is impossible to draw up a business plan without financial calculations and you need to pay special attention to them.

You can analyze costs without problems yourself. They are divided into two categories: costs for opening and monthly for development.

What do they include?

Starting costs

1. Cost of equipment.
   To describe the equipment, it is worth making a separate section in the business plan. It is necessary to make a list of equipment, specify the technical characteristics and the supplier.
2. Purchase of raw materials, consumables.
   As in the case of equipment, you need to not only list the items and their cost, but also the place where you will order them. The supplier must be reliable, and in addition - offer the most favorable prices.
3. Paperwork.
   This includes the costs of registering your PE, buying a seal, obtaining permits from the relevant authorities.
4. Repair and decor.
   If the room needs repair (and most often it does), you need to indicate who will do it and why. Also fix in the business plan who will supply the building materials.
5. Purchase of premises (only if it is not rented).

Monthly expenses

1. Staff salary.
   In a separate section of the business plan, you must make a list of positions that will be involved in the activities of the company. For each, you need to write your duties, based on the labor code. The salary is also indicated. The final data on regular expenses for the payment of wages is entered in the appropriate column of monthly expenses. If you plan to increase your salary in the future, as well as conduct training courses and refresher courses, you should also write about this.
2. Rent of premises.
   For most ideas of organizing a business, such a solution is needed. If in the future you want to become a full owner of the premises, look for an option with the possibility of subsequent redemption. As long as the building is rented, you risk nothing. If the case fails, you will simply break the contract. But if it is bought, in case of failure, significant monetary losses will have to be incurred.
3. Replenishment of stocks of materials.
   Specify in the business plan what, in what quantities and from whom you need to buy. The list of consumables may include groceries, stationery, household chemicals and other small related products.
4. Utilities.
   Most often, utilities are paid separately from the rent for the premises. Therefore, the data on the amounts also need to be entered in the table of expenses of the business plan.
5. Tax deductions.
   To analyze the potential income from activities, you need to study the sales figures of close competitors. It is somewhat easier for those who already have an existing business that required additional investment. Then it is enough to take current indicators and calculate their potential growth. Those who have not yet entered the market can make calculations based on data on the future value of the most potentially popular positions or services.

Based on these data, it is easier than ever to calculate the size of future profits and the time for the activity to reach the so-called break-even point.

P.S. Potential investors and representatives of the bank issuing commercial loans pay special attention to this data in the business plan.

All the above data must be compiled in the form of tables and placed in a separate application. This makes the metrics easier to read.

But information about the growth of profits or the development of the level of sales must be presented in the form of a graph. Do not overdo it, because the curve, which sharply goes from minus to exorbitant profit, is more likely to arouse suspicion than delight and approval.

We draw up a risk analysis in the business plan

No one will invest money in a project that can fail immediately after the start due to a lack of analysis of potential risks. Therefore, these data also need to be included in the business plan.

What can be included in this category?

• Decrease in consumer demand for your products or services.
• Too low sales.
• Changes in the economic state of the country ("jumps" in the exchange rate, price changes).
• Emergencies (fire, injury at work, natural disasters).

All these and other potential risks should not just be listed. It is necessary to draw up in a business plan a scheme for solving them for the company, if you suddenly find yourself in such a situation. Such an analysis will help to save the business and act correctly in an emergency. In addition, it inspires confidence in their activities and in themselves.

where practical and life recommendations are presented

on the correct preparation of a business plan!

What Not to Write When Writing a Business Plan

How to write a business plan, which will determine the vector of development of the business and will appeal to investors? It is necessary not only to follow the above recommendations. It is important to avoid the presence of some items.

1. Do not include people in the "team" who are not actually there.
   The likelihood that each item of the business plan will be checked for accuracy is quite high. This means that every person listed in the business plan among the participants in the activity can be studied "from and to", and investors will want to communicate with him personally.
2. The conclusions in the marketing section must be drawn up on the basis of real figures and facts.
   The assumption that “everyone needs this service”, “any buyer will be happy” must have a strong argument.
3. In the financial section, the phrases “funding under consideration”, “promised to finance” are not allowed.
   Either the money is already there, or it isn't.
4. Check your work carefully for errors.
   The presence of typos, and even more so when it comes to financial indicators, can be detrimental to business. If you are not sure that you will write absolutely correctly on your own, contact the services of professional proofreaders.
5. The average volume of a business plan is 15-20 pages, excluding appendices.
   It is not necessary to set yourself the goal of compiling a Talmud. If the text contains more water than facts and calculations, investors will not read past the first page.

• Registration of a company offshore: 5 reliable companies

The starting point of a business is always an idea, an initial impulse and a desire to engage in activities that generate income. The question of which direction to choose, which business will go better, is better to decide before opening your own individual entrepreneur, LLC or other legal status of the company.

Entrepreneurial people are not inclined to develop strategies on paper, those who are familiar with drawing up the right business plan can be counted on the fingers. But in vain, because it is this financial and economic tool that helps in advance, before the start of vigorous activity, to calculate possible errors.

Most ignore the importance of working out an action plan, considering it superfluous. However, one has to face situations when the owner of his own business is forced to prepare a business plan. On an emergency basis, a "plan" is thrown up with ephemeral, far from reality figures, but attractive to investors or, for example, to the credit department of a bank.

An entrepreneur who decides to present his miracle project in this way will, at best, face a simple refusal, and at worst, a damaged reputation. It is hardly worth underestimating the potential of a real, well-thought-out business plan. In fact, it is needed not for investors, but for the entrepreneur himself, so as not to burn out in the very first months from the start of the business.

2. The procedure for developing a business plan for a small enterprise

If you put together all the goals for which this tool is created, then the plan is based on strategic planning. Yes, it is desirable, even mandatory when opening a business. On the other hand, planning in the economy is a key moment and the key to success.

Therefore, not only beginners develop business plans, but also firms that have worked for more than one year. For what? To stay afloat. As a rule, in large reputable companies, a whole department is engaged in planning. Having ready-made figures for the company's work over the past years, it is much easier to analyze and make plans than it is for the pioneers.

So, let's try to explain where to start and how to finish. Let's agree that the business plan is used as a concept for doing business. So, the following key points need to be worked out:

• - why the case is being created;
• - what is the result of expectations;
• – managerial potential;
• – flexibility of the model;
• – exposure to external factors;
• - financial stability;
• - competitiveness.

3. How to write a business plan for a small business

The company's business plan contains goals and plans for which time frames are set. You should not rush here, so as not to draw castles in the air. Tasks should be realistically achievable and at the same time a little ambitious.

It is important for potential investors to see the potential of the business and the performance of the company if it has been operating for more than a year.

The more goals are achieved, the higher the reputation.

It is unnecessary to give specific dates of events in the plan, because they will have to be tied to schedules and a set of goals. Being behind the calendar will cause a negative impression.

For internal use, you can draw up more detailed schedules, and in a business plan, just highlight important stages.

Leave dates only where they can be accurately calculated.

It is not the best option to completely refuse to describe the main stages of business development. The reviewer will criticize the dummy plan; in the case of drawing up a development project solely as a personal reference book, the phased implementation of the goals will more clearly demonstrate the correctness of the adopted strategy or reveal its shortcomings.

4. Small business business plan example

Below is a sample development plan for a small service business.

Paragraph 1.

The summary is an introductory paragraph, it is dedicated to those whom the company wants to interest in order to obtain additional funds for development.

It is recommended to write a summary after the completion of work on the entire plan. Why? Because in fact it sets out a summary of the intentions described in detail in each paragraph. The main role of the summary is to interest and encourage further reading.

Example.

This business plan represents the office equipment maintenance company "Epson Service Center", hereinafter referred to as SC, in order to attract investments in the amount of 1 million rubles, which will increase the list of services offered, expand the client base.

SC is a growing company created by an individual entrepreneur who is currently the sole and rightful owner. Address for contacts: city, street, phone.

Since the foundation of the business (2008), the entrepreneur has been regularly trained at Authorized Service Centers in Moscow and Novosibirsk.

There are certificates confirming the level of qualification signed by the management of the Japanese company for the repair of Epson office equipment.

Previous work experience allows us to repair printers, scanners, faxes, monitors, plotters, copiers from leading manufacturers of office equipment.

The survey of the market potential allows us to draw conclusions about the possibility of expanding the boundaries of activity.

There are no highly qualified specialists in the city of N, the nearest Epson service center is 25 km from the city.

In addition, budget organizations and credit organizations do not have the opportunity to apply for technical maintenance of equipment in a neighboring city, since it is located in another subject of the Russian Federation.

These organizations are forced to send equipment for service to city A, located 450 km from city N ... etc.

Point 2.

If you skip the “summary” item, open the business plan with the “goals and objectives of creating a business” item.

A consistent description of the goals is given, where the main task is the benefit of your vigorous activity. It is clear that the owner expects profit, the consumer, on the contrary, is not ready to give away his savings just like that - he wants to see the benefit, the benefit for himself.

Usually, the main points are also described here, if they were not previously indicated in the first paragraph, such as the legal form of the business, the availability of own funds, funds, human resources, marketing profile, competitor assessment.

Point 3.

Description of the proposed works and services.

The item answers the questions:

• What does your company offer to consumers?
• - description of the list of services (names of goods);
• - the target audience who is able to be interested in these services, works, goods;
• - why the range of services will be of interest to a certain category of people;
• - why the target audience may be interested in a similar offer from other companies, and so on.

Item 4.

Detailed marketing plan.

The marketing plan serves as a tool that determines the place of sale. What is to be sold, where, how, why exactly there; how to interest, how to sell, where to look for your consumer.

Market analysis based on marketing research in order to find out the demand for a business product, the ability of potential customers to pay for services, works, goods, price range of interests.

Item 5.

Market segment competition analysis.

It is necessary to fully assess the capabilities of rivals, identify obvious, hidden competitors, and consider options for protecting against the capture of the entire sales market.

Item 6.

Financial plan.

Companies planning to engage in the production of goods supplement the business plan with a “production plan” item.

1. The financial plan reflects all probable expenses, for example:

• – business registration (in person or through a specialized company);
• – organization of the workplace (purchase of furniture, equipment),
• – rent of premises, equipment;
• – advertising company (ads, signboard, business cards);
• - employee training;
• – taxes;
• - Procurement of consumables.

2. All incomes are taken into account.
It is advisable to be a real optimist: draw up a price list and calculate the amount of possible income.
3. On the basis of income and expenses, the company's profitability and payback periods are calculated.
4. Calculation of economic risks.
5. Determination of funding sources.

Item 7.

Development concept.

Activity development plan: where it starts, vision of the business in the future.

5. Download business plans for small businesses for free

Planning, developing an economic concept is a titanic work for a simple layman. There are plans designed for many small business models available for free. Any Internet user can download a ready-made plan. What audience are business plans designed for:

- your company has been standing firmly on its feet for a long time, nothing clouds confidence in the future, there is no time to draw up plans, but investors, founders, credit companies require a business plan;
- you are taking the first steps in the selected market segment, it is long and difficult to understand the nuances.

6. Conclusion

Entrepreneurship, even if it is small, requires knowledge of the basics of economics and tax legislation. The market mechanism works according to a long-established system of supply and demand. You can rely on luck, supernatural instinct, chance. Business loves a pragmatic approach and clear planning.

Rejoicing at the first profit, the main thing is not to miss the moment when the current costs of increasing the sales market begin to cover income. The action plan is created precisely in order to avoid fatal mistakes that lead to bankruptcy, the collapse of entrepreneurship. Calculate the risks with ready-made business plans, make the investment of funds reliable, guaranteeing income.

Watch the video: “The most successful small business in the world”