Now that you’ve decided to take the plunge into business ownership, you need to organize your thoughts and put your business plan down on paper. Sometimes novice business owners think that the business plan is something that can be skipped. It shouldn’t be. There are many benefits to your business and to yourself as an entrepreneur, to having a business plan.
Many times, excellent business ideas are conceived but lack a critical element. Writing a business plan can help you realize that you’re missing something as important as funding, marketing, supplies, and so on. Writing a business plan can be intimidating, and it’s hard to know where to start and what to include.
Let’s walk through writing a business plan together, step by step. Research will be a key component to each step, so be prepared to spend the time and do the work. It will be worth it in the end.
1. Executive Summary
Your executive summary will set the tone for your entire business plan. It should serve as a concise overview. If you write this section first, be sure to review it again when you are done to ensure that it has an accurate description of your business as you envision it.
The summary should be short and to the point; not drawn out or rambling. It should include things like your business name and location, a mission statement, and the products and or services you plan to offer. It should also clearly state the purpose of your business plan. Is it to outline your business strategy; or is it a plan you hope to send to potential investors?
2. Business Description
This section should be a detailed overview of your business. It should start with a brief history of your business and what needs you plan for it to meet. It also should include information about its legal structure. Are you operating as an LLC, a corporation, partnership, or a sole proprietor? It should also include summaries of your products, services, customers, vendors, growth plans and goals, financial projections, and long-term business goals.
3. Products and Services
It’s in this section that you should lay out in detail your plans for the products and services that you plan to offer. Your language should be clear and concise. You should include information about your pricing structure, suppliers, and the revenue that you plan to generate. It’s okay to be opinionated to an extent. Include the benefits of your products or services, as well as why your offerings are better than the competition’s. It’s also important to include any patent, copyright, or trademark information here. If you have plans for future expansion, including new products or services, include that in this section as well.
4. Marketing Strategies
This section will most likely require a large amount of research. If written well, it will demonstrate your knowledge of the market and how you plan to achieve success within it. It will include the demographics of your target market as well as specifics about your industry. Here, you will evaluate your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses as well as devise a marketing strategy of your own. Include information on both your planned and historical marketing efforts.
5. Design and Development Plan
This is perhaps the meat of your plan. This is where you should go into detail about your sales strategy. How do you plan to reach your target customers? How will you penetrate the market? The design and development section should outline exactly how you plan to operate your business throughout the entire cycle. It should include information on acquiring supplies and products, manufacturing, sales, delivery, and so forth. For a small business, this section can also include information on employees and management structure. If you are planning on hiring a team, this section should outline the organizational structure and responsibilities of the team.
6. Financial Factors
It is a good idea to solicit help from a certified accountant when preparing the financial section of your business plan. It should be one of your last steps after you’ve reviewed the market analysis and outlined your business’ overall goals. The numbers here should back up everything else that you’ve included in previous sections. It should include projections of profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheet.
Need More Help Writing Your Business Plan?
All fantastic business ideas have to start somewhere. Writing a business plan can help you sort out if your idea is a fantastic one or an unrealistic one that will require more resources and time than you have available. It can also make the picture clearer as to whether you need to be hired help or can manage the business creation alone.
Need help crafting your business plan? Download my free Simplified Business Plan Template, which will walk you through the questions and steps you need to take to get your business off the ground!
What questions or suggestions do you have for writing a business plan? We would love to hear from you!
Cynthia Elaine Barnave
Thanks for your post I have started in online wig business on hopes of making wearable products for Cancer patients mam or female but in reading your words my hopes is to open a store front so to cater one on one service is it best for me to apply for my LLC or sole proprietor??
Holly Reisem Hanna
Hi Cynthia,
It depends. They are pros and cons with each arrangement. Talking to a CPA or an lawyer can help you determine which structure is right for your situation.
All the best!
Irene Preston
I believe this information will help me because I’m scared to write a business plan and it’s like you said where to start first.
Sheron
Hi, my name is Sheron.
I want you to help me on to draft a business plan.
Holly - The Work at Home Woman
Hi Sheron,
If you need further assistance in writing your business, you can use this free business plan template: https://the-work-at-home-woman-llc.ck.page/e471670755
Good luck and keep me posted on your journey!
Danny Lew
This was a really good read. I was trying to take a few steps in creating a business plan for a golfing company I’ m planning to start with my son.
Holly - The Work at Home Woman
Glad you enjoyed the tips, Danny!
Mutinta
Helpful. It’s good I have somewhere to start from
Holly Reisem Hanna
Glad you enjoyed the article!
Billy
Hi my name is Billy,
I understand all sections of a business plan, however I’m struggling with what I am planning on starting. I have the vision the mission everything, I’m Trying to start a Non Profit, however the Financial Section is hard to project when I cant put an exact Income on Cash flow through Fundraising, or hopeful Grants. Was wondering if anyone here has some advice on this subject. I have everything else pretty much figured
Holly - The Work at Home Woman
Hi Billy,
Have you connected with a mentor on SCORE?
SCORE offers free mentorship and guidance — they are an excellent organization and will be able to point you in the right direction with your non-profit. https://www.score.org
Dawn
Creating a business plan is one of the most overlooked things when working at home. Tho many businesses do it in the offline world too. But it is easy to get sidetracked or to tell yourself what you want in your business and call it a day.
I struggled with business plans in the past and without them you really tend to slack off. Unfortunately it is something that people don’t believe until it happens too. I remember thinking to myself that I wanted a lot of traffic to my blog, had a vague idea of what I wanted to do with it and set out thinking I was going to be rich. Yeah, that didn’t work out as planned (mainly because I had no plan.)
I still am not the best planner, but I have learned through my mistakes. Great article and I cannot think of anything to add.
Jenny Rev
Hey Dawn,
Indeed a Great Post with valuable tips. A business plan is always important, doesn’t matter in which field we are working in, we should always have a proper plan before starting our business, either offline or online, but later on, it also becomes important to refine that plan according to the results we are getting.
So regarding business plan that, you article has some great tips. It will help many including me, as I am looking to start a new online business. Hope I will succeed.
~ Jenny
Holly - The Work at Home Woman
Glad you enjoyed Dawn’s post, Jenny.
Ivan
Hi Dawn,
Tim Berry suggested that a business plan is organic in that it should grown as your business grows.
It’s a good way of looking at it as you need to refine things as you go along and… remember that you can CHANGE the business plan.
It’s not a sacred document.
Regards,
Ivan
Taiwo Bello
A very helpful tool in business plan writing.
Kudos!
Holly Reisem Hanna
Glad you enjoyed the tips!