A Successful Business Plan Template

July 30, 2010 by · Leave a Comment  

I have been writing business plans for over twenty years and have perfected a business planning process that works for most businesses and business plan purposes. The final result of that process is an eight section business plan. Here is the winning template for that business plan. You can adapt it for your business planning purposes and change the order of the sub-sections to meet your particular requirements. My business planning process is detailed in my business plan book which is a series of questions on a section by section basis, one section building on the next, until you complete the business plan.

1.0 Executive Summary

  1. Company Information
  2. Business Plan Purpose & Objectives
  3. Company Goals & Vision
  4. Company Mission Statement
  5. Company Description
  6. Company Purpose
  7. Company Situation
  8. Founders, Management & Principals Capabilities
  9. Products & Services
  10. The Competition
  11. Keys to Success
  12. Finance
  13. Growth & Expansion Goals
  14. Sales Forecast
  15. Return on Equity / Return on Investment

2.0 Company Overview

  1. Company Establishment
  2. Company History
  3. Company Structure
  4. Company Ownership & Legal Formation
  5. Facilities & Locations
  6. Products & Services Overview
  7. Trends Affecting the Company
  8. Customers
  9. Competitive Strategy
  10. Company’s Strengths & Weaknesses
  11. Company Performance
  12. Company Finance
  13. Company Assets

3.0 Management and Operations

  1. Employees
  2. Management Philosophy
  3. Management Requirements
  4. Management Gaps
  5. Organizational Structure
  6. Founders / Directors / Principals / Management / Key People
  7. Management Administrative Procedures & Controls
  8. Decision Making Teams & Processes
  9. Company and Management Objectives, Goals and Strategy
  10. Compensation Structure
  11. Human Resources
  12. Outsourcing
  13. Consultants and Advisors
  14. Products and Services Production and Delivery
  15. Distribution System
  16. Order Turn Around
  17. Suppliers and Vendors
  18. Service Standards
  19. Customer Service Plan
  20. Quality Control
  21. Costs Minimization
  22. Technology
  23. Production and Operation Advantages
  24. Capacity
  25. Safety Procedures
  26. Inventory
  27. Environmental Considerations

4.0 Products and Services

  1. Products and Services Description
  2. Awards, Honors & Achievements
  3. Case Studies
  4. Product and Service Mix and Price Points
  5. Life Cycle
  6. Production Strategy
  7. Research and Development Strategy
  8. Space Utilization
  9. Departments Descriptions
  10. Future Products and Services
  11. Effects of Technology
  12. Computerization Requirements
  13. Company Sales Literature and Brochures
  14. Internet Strategies
  15. Electronic Ordering and Fulfillment
  16. Inventory Method and Management
  17. Regulatory Compliance
  18. Product and Service Liabilities

5.0 Marketing Plan

  1. Industry Overview
  2. Industry Distribution
  3. Market Segments Description
  4. Market Segment Needs
  5. Market Segmentation Strategy
  6. Market Trends
  7. Market Growth
  8. General Nature of the Competition
  9. Customer Choice Factors
  10. Product and Service Competitive Comparison
  11. Competitive Analysis
  12. Competitive Positioning
  13. Competitive Edge
  14. Marketing Strategy
  15. Marketing Programs

6.0 Strategic and Sales Plan

  1. Company Objectives
  2. Potential Problems and Risks
  3. Risk Analysis
  4. Company Strategies, Strategic Tactics and Strategic Programs
  5. Sales Strategy
  6. Sales Programs
  7. Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures
  8. Operating Budget
  9. Sales Forecast
  10. Milestones
  11. Control Mechanisms

7.0 Financials

  1. Sources and Uses of Funds
  2. Financial Strategy
  3. Capital Equipment Valuation
  4. Company Collateral
  5. Assumptions
  6. Financials / Valuations / Financial Analysis / Budgets
  7. Exit Strategy
  8. Harvesting Value Strategy
  9. Venture Risk
  10. Effects of Investment and Finance on Cash Flow
  11. Tax Strategies

8.0 Appendix

  1. Resumes
  2. Customer Testimonials / Recommendation Letters
  3. Letters of Intent and Interest / Memorandums of Understanding
  4. Reference Letters
  5. Joint Venture and Strategic Alliance Agreements
  6. Land Purchase Agreements
  7. Product and Service Agreements
  8. Other Agreements
  9. Contracts, Leases and Pre-Sale Commitments
  10. Patents, Trademarks, Service Marks, Copyrights and License Agreements
  11. Brochures and Advertising Materials
  12. Industry and Marketing Analysis and Studies
  13. Market Research and Supporting Articles
  14. Product Line Pictures, Renderings and Illustrations
  15. Facilities and Equipment Pictures and Layouts
  16. Maps and Photos of Business Locations
  17. Construction Plans, Timelines and Disbursement Schedule
  18. Engineering Studies
  19. Company Registration and Charter
  20. Company and Principals’ Credit Reports
  21. Tax Returns
  22. Quarterly and Annual Reports
  23. Appraisals and Valuations
  24. Feasibility Studies

About this Article Writer

Frank Goley is a business consultant, business planner, and business turnaround consultant for ABC Business Consulting, and he has been helping companies to succeed for many years. He is an expert in developing business plans, marketing plans, funding plans, strategic plans, turnaround plans, web marketing strategies, and project specific business plans. Frank is also a business coach and a web development, web marketing and web seo consultant. Frank is author of the business plan book, The Comprehensive Business Plan Workbook – A Step by Step Guide to Effective Business Planning, and he has over 50 published articles on business success strategies. He also writes the Business Success Strategies Blog

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