What is the best format for a business plan?
We have been building our business plan and want to know the best format to put it in. Trying to figure out the flow and proper length for the sections.
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Jun 19, 2019
There are different kinds and formats of business plan depending on your needs. Like whether it's for a bank to get credit, or potential investors perhaps, or just for you.
Apr 20, 2016
The format of your business plan depends on many factors : what is your business about, your goals and ways to achieve these goals. If you feel, you're not sufficienly skiilled to prepare the business plan by yourself, then use professional services like https://www.ogscapital.com/locations (just pick your location). Anyway, I wish you good luck!
Apr 13, 2016
The best format is one that isn't too long and easy to read for those that need to follow it. If it blows out to many pages summarise the key points down to a couple pages and then you can be sure it can be easily referred to and not forgotten after the first read.
Apr 13, 2016
Hi, you need a strong executive summary that begins with one sentence stating what you plan to do. One paragraph on your relevant background, one paragraph expanding the business idea, one paragraph stating the purpose of the business you are starting, etc. One paragraph Stating the purpose of the document eg. to get a bank loan. One paragraph stating startup costs and outline briefly how the money is spent. Exec summary done!
Fit all this on one page and expand the information in the body of your business plan. If you need any more help, Google the business plan workbook.ie .
Best of luck! Brian Dolan
Apr 8, 2016
Good day Kirk, many good answers. I also separate the difference between a business plan (outside) and strategic plan (internal).
Your bus plan depends on the business you're starting, should project a 5 yr grade (forecast), and ready to update a need be.
While also using the business plan as the main stay, my company also uses a 3-D ROM showing precisely what is to be. We've had great out comes I've the post several years. Banks and investors get a full detailed look at what we're projecting on paper.
Apr 6, 2016
The best thing to do is to throw the idea of "format" out the window for now and just focus on getting all the ideas and details down on paper. After everybody gets everything out of their head go through each thing and elaborate on them, build new ideas onto the existing ones as you're inspired to. Once you have all the data in front of you it will tell you for itself how to structure it, communicate it and what order it should go in.
Apr 6, 2016
type of question [ JUST MAKE IT EASY ] & [ DO NOT INVENT A BICYCLE ]
A business plan includes a description of a company or small business, its services and/or products and how the business will achieve its goals. The plan includes the overall budget, current and projected financing, a market analysis and its marketing strategy approach. In a business plan, a business owner projects revenues and expenses for a certain period of time and describes operational activity and costs related to the business.
The idea behind putting together a business plan is to enable owners to have a more defined picture of potential costs and drawbacks to certain business decisions and to help them modify accordingly before implementing these ideas.
Apr 6, 2016
There really is no proper flow. However it is helpful to think of it as in a three ring binder so that elements can be pulled out and tweaked as you develop your business. What you plan for in the start usually changes the minute you begin. So think flexible.
Apr 6, 2016
One of my mantras is, "A business plan is a story in words and numbers". The narrative, divided by headings, is mostly words with some #;s to support the idea. The Appendix holds spreadsheets, etc., starting with the most important - Cash Flow for first 12 months supported by a Sales Forecast, Cash Receipts Forecast, etc., a Funds Needed list before the 1st month of business. Repeat forecasts for 2 to 3 years into the future.
Tell the whole story w/o drowning the reader. I've seen 7 pages of Narrative do a complete job. Usually 12 to 15 pages, never more than 20. Use "see appendix" in the narrative to keep length controlled.
Good Luck, Charlene Finerty