"COMPANY NAME" Business Plan

(tagline or philosophy)

add a photo or personal design (optional)

Owner(s)
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City, State, Zip Code

Telephone
Email
Fax

Website Address
Facebook Account
Twitter Account
Linkedin Account
 I. Table of Contents

I. Table of Contents

II. Executive Summary

III. General Company Description

IV. Products and Services

V. Market Research

VI. Operational Plan

VII. Marketing Plan

VIII. Management and Organization

IX Financial Statement

X. Startup Expenses

XI. Financial Plan

XII. Appendices

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 II. Executive Summary

Write Executive Summary section last.

We suggest that you make it two pages or fewer. Include everything that you would cover in a five
minute interview. Explain the fundamentals of the proposed business:

1. COMPANY DESCRIPTION: List the company name, type of business, location, and legal status,
e.g., corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership.

2. STATEMENT OF MISSION: Write the concise statement of company purpose you developed:

3. STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT: State whether your company is a startup or continuing business,

when it was founded, how far along the product or sever is in its creation, and if you've already
made sales or started shipping.

4. THE CONCEPT: Explain the background of your company, how the product came about, how the
market opportunity was recognized, the products and services:

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5. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: List the products or services your company sells or plans to sell; this
can be generic for a company with many products, e.g., women's sportswear, or specific for a
company with just a few.

6. TARGET MARKET(S): List the markets you intend to reach and why you chose them; indicate the
results of any market analysis or market research.

7. MARKETING AND SALES STRATEGY: Briefly describe how you intend to reach your target
market(s), and the advertising, direct mail, trade show, and other methods you will use to
secure sales.

8. COMPETITORS AND MARKET DISTRIBUTION: Indict the nature of your competition and how the
market is currently divided:

9. COMPETITVE ADVANTAGES AND DISTINCTIONS: Show why your company will be able to
compete successfully; list any import distinctions, such as patents, major contracts, or letter-of-
intent.

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10. MANAGEMENT: Briefly describe the histories and capabilities of your management team,
particularly those of company founders.

11. OPERATIONS: Outline your key operational features, such as locations, crucial distributors or
suppliers, cost saving production techniques, etc.

12. FINANCIALS: Indicate your company's expected revenues and profits for years one through
three.

13. LONG-TERM GOALS: Describe the expected status, e.g., sales, number of employees, number of
locations, market share of your company five years from now.

14. FUNDS SOUGHT AND EXIT STRATEGY: Indicate how much money you are seeking, how many
investors you plan to have, how the funds raised with be used, and how investors or lenders will
get their money out.

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 III. General Company Description

Company Description:

15. YOUR BUSINESS CONCEPT FROM CLASS #1

What business will you be in?

16. YOUR VISION CLASS #2

What will you do?

17. Mission Statement:

Many companies have a brief mission statement, usually in 30 words or fewer, explaining their reason
for being and their guiding principles. Example: Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information
and make it universally accessible and useful.

State your Mission:

18. Company Goals:

Definition: Goals are destinations—where you want your business to be. Example, a goal might be to
have a healthy, successful company that is a leader in customer service and that has a loyal customer
following.

State your Goals:

19. Company Objectives:

Definition: Objectives are progress markers along the way to goal achievement. Example: Objectives
might be annual sales targets and some specific measures of customer satisfaction.

State your Goals:

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Company Description (continues)

20. Demographics:

To whom will you market your products?

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IV. Products and Services

21. Purpose of Product/Service

a. What is the purpose of the product/services?

b. How does the product/service benefit the customer?

c. Address an opportunity?

d. Is it a luxury item or a needed good?

22. Features and Benefits

a. What are the unique features of the product/service, such as cost, design, quality, and
capabilities?

b. What benefits does the customer receive?

c. What problem is solved for the customers?

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 23. Stage and Development

Note: Just as businesses go through stages, so do products and services. If you are still defining
and planning your product or service, you are in the conception stage. At each stage of the life
cycle your product or service will product different levels of sales and require different approached
to marketing. The common stages that a product or service may go through during its life are the
conception, introduction, growth, maturity, and innovation or decline stages.

a. What is the history of product/service development?

b. At what stage of development is the product/service (model stage, working prototype, small
production runs, full manufacturing/production, or other)?

24. Product/Service Limitation

a. What are the inherent product/service limitations, if any?

b. Include perishability, limited shelf life, installation needs, legal restrictions, staff availability.
or other relevant limitations.

25. Product/Service Liability

a. What are the liabilities this product/service may pose?

b. What are the insurance requirements and costs?

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 c. What other factors may reduce or eliminate product/service liability?

26. Production

a. What is the production process?

b. How much will be produced internally, and how much of the production will be
subcontracted out?

c. What are the costs and services involved with subcontracting?

d. Who are the backup subcontractors; what are their costs, and who supplies the services?

27. Facilities

a. What are the plans for facilities (home base, manufacturing, office, retail?)

b. Include storage facilities if necessary.

28. Suppliers

Who are your suppliers? (only if needed)

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29. Related Products/Services and Spin-Offs

a. What related products/services will be provided, and how will they increase or enhance the
profitability of the venue?

b. What new product/service (spin-offs) could be developed to meet changing market needs
in this industry or others?

30. Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Royalties

a. How will you protect your intellectual property? (only if needed)

b. What patents, trademarks, or copyrights have been obtained or which ones will be
pursued? (only if needed)

c. What licenses or royalty agreement are associated with the product/services, and what
plans have been made for future agreements? (only if needed)

d. What distribution rights have been obtained or given away?

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 31. Governmental Approvals

a. What governmental agencies regulate businesses in your industry?

b. What governmental approvals are necessary, and what is the status of such approvals?

Some example of agencies providing governmental approvals include the FDA, EPA, FCC,
USDA, OSDA, IRS, State Department of Revenue and Taxation, Workers' Compensation
Division, health department, planning and zoning commissions.

- end of product/service plan -

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