Business Plan General Outline

I.  Title Page

1. Business name, address, telephone, e-mail and web site
2. Name of owner(s)

II.  Table of Contents

III. Mission Statement

1. Description of company purpose
2. Identification of those served

IV.  Executive Summary

• Brief description of the company history
• Purpose of the plan
• Goals of the business
• Description of the products and services
• Customers
• Management team experience
• Amount required from lender*
• Other sources of funds/collateral*
• Method of repayment*

V.  Industry Status

• National/Regional economic growth or decline
• Industry outlook
• Projected opportunities
• Regulatory environment
• Technological influences

VI.  Target Market/Customer Base

1. Characteristics of the target market:
   1. Demographic profile (age, income, sex, education)
   2. Business customer (industry, size, purchaser)
   3. Geographic parameters
2. Size of the market/expected market share
3. Market segmentation
4. Customer buying habits (seasonality, quantity, average expenditure)

VII.  Marketing Plan

• Sales goals
• Description of all products and services
• Direct and indirect competition
• Pricing objectives/methods
  1. Wholesale and retail
  2. Discounts and special allowances
  3. Seasonality in pricing
  4. Credit terms
• Location
  1. Where products/services will be sold
  2. Analysis of advantages/disadvantages
  3. Plant/store atmosphere
  4. Transportation
• Promotion activities
  1. Advertising
  2. Public relations
  3. Publicity
  4. Trade or business shows Web site
• Packaging
• Customer service policies
• Sales training, management and methods
• Growth strategies

VIII.  Production and Operations Plan

• Facility
  1. Lease or purchase
  2. Size and floor plan
  3. Zoning, local regulations, taxes
  4. Renovation/expansion plans
• Equipment
  1. Machines/tools owned/needed
  2. Lease or purchase
  3. Maintenance procedures and costs
  4. Vehicles Telecommunications and data
• Production process and costs
• Suppliers/credit terms
• Transportation and shipping access and equipment
• Scheduling for completion of research and development

IX.  Insurance

• Product liability
• Personal/business liability
• Business interruption
• Vehicle
• Disability
• Workers’ compensation
• Unemployment
• Fire
• Theft

X.  Management and Human Resources Plan

• Key managers
  1. Responsibilities
  2. Training
  3. Reporting procedures
• Personnel
  1. Number of full- and part-time employees
  2. Special skills/education required/continuing education
  3. Job descriptions and evaluation methods benefits
  4. Wages, commissions, bonus plans
  5. Use of subcontracted personnel
  6. Policies
• Organizational chart
• Lists of stockholders and board members
• Amount of authorized stock and issued stock
• Professional assistance (attorney, accountant, banker, insurance representative, etc.)

XI.  Financial Plan

• Start-up costs (all one-time expenses such as equipment, deposits, fees, etc.)
• Monthly expenses (ongoing expenses for lease, insurance, utilities, etc.)
• Sources and uses of funds*
• Balance sheets (opening day and projected three years)
• Projected cash flow (monthly first year, quarterly year two and three)
• Profit and loss forecast or statement (annual for three years)
• Break-even analysis
• Existing business (historical statements for three years*)
• Personal financial statement of owner(s)*
• Assumptions used in preparation of financial projections

XII.  Attached Exhibits

• Managers’ resumes
• Advertisements, news articles and other promotional documents
• Contracts, leases, and filing documents (Fictitious Name, Employer Identification Number, Articles of Incorporation)
• Letters of support
• Pictures of the product or service
• Marketing research
• Patents, trademarks, copyrights, license agreements
• Income tax returns (three years)*
• Invoices or estimates for facility or equipment purchases*

(*) Items marked with an asterisk are added to the business plans being used to secure financing.
 

• Expanded Business Plan Outline
• Organizations proving business plan assistance
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