How to Write a Business Plan
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How to Write a Business Plan

Business Plan
If you're considering starting a business, each step requires a solid plan and each step is important. The better organized you are, the firmer the foundation you will create for your new company to be built upon.  Think of your business plan as a navigational tool to guide you on your journey through each stage of starting your business.
1. Executive Summary
Create your executive summary. This should explain the purpose of your business, its current stage, and where you envision it being in five years. 
  • Strive to keep the executive summary one to two pages in length. 
  • Design the document to stand alone or be the introduction to your business plan.  Consider it your 'Elevator Pitch' that you have rehearsed and are ready to furnish to potential investors.
  • Include a mission statement paragraph, general company information such as names of founders and the number of employees, financial highlights, descriptions of products or services, and future plans.
2. Company Overview
A company overview should add more detail to the information provided in the executive summary. The company overview  should include in-depth information about how the company is structured and what the company does.
  • Start the company overview by describing what the business does or what service it provides.
  • Explain your industry and marketplace and how the company fits into it.
  • Describe the legal business structure of the company and the ownership structure. 
3. Market Analysis
Analyze your niche, the marketplace,  and your competition. The market analysis enables potential investors to understand the company and feel confident about investing if they understand where your business model fits in the market.
  • Include a description of the industry, its size, recent growth, and forecasts about future growth.
  • Describe your target market, why consumers need your product or service, and how you intend to reach them.
  • Provide information about the size of the target market, how they make purchases, how often they buy, and if there are stronger times of the year when they buy.
  • Make a prediction about how much of the market share you expect to capture.
  • Give an estimate of product pricing based on market research.
  • Discuss any barriers to market entry that the company might face.
  • Highlight top competitors, including their market share, barriers they present, and information about their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Don't forget to include what makes your product unique from your competitors OR is your product/business a disruptor in the industry.
4. Business Organizational Structure
Outline the who's who in your company and the role they will fill in your company.  Provide information about the experience and background of everyone on your team.
  • Create an organizational chart that shows your business structure.
  • Provide more information about how the company is structured legally, who owns what, and the percentages of ownership.
  • Give more information about the background and expertise of partners, managers, and other high-ranking people on your team.
  • Make a list of potential hiring you may need to do in the future for growth.
5. Description of Products and Services
Your business plan needs to fully describe the products and services you will be selling. Provide more information about the consumers who need or want your product and the need the products fulfill.
  • Outline what makes your product special and how what you sell serves consumers' needs. How is your product or service different from what others are selling?
  • Describe the status of your products, whether things are still being developed or you have a finished product ready to sell.
  • If you are still in the development stage, share information about how you will bring the product to the final stage.
  • Explain any intellectual property matters if you have a proprietary concept that is part of your product development.
  • Include information about outside sourcing if you will be relying on vendors to provide a product or service.
6. Marketing and Sales Plan
Explain how you will market and sell your product or service. Go into detail about how you will get consumers interested in what you are selling.
  • Outline how customers will find you and interact with you. Give details about how you will stand out from your competition.
  • Share how you plan to reach customers, including advertising methods, packaging ideas, public relations, and content marketing.
  • Describe who will sell the product or service and the size of your sales staff. Outline how employees will be trained.
  • Explain your team's selling strategy, whether employees will cold call customers or possibly set up sales meetings. Outline how sales people will close deals.
7. Financial Plan and Projections
If your company has already been operating, provide data to show the state of its current finances. If your company is brand new, provide financial projections as determined by research and analysis.
  • Financial data for an operating company should include income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, accounts receivable and payable statements, and information about debt.
  • Financial projections for a new company should include cash flow forecasts, statements of projected income, and capital expenditure budgets.
  • Include information about funding needs immediately and in the future.
8. Appendix
Add an appendix at the end of the business plan that provides supporting information. The appendix is for any information you did not specifically cover in the plan.
  • Add legal documents, business licenses or permits, and contracts.
  • Provide product pictures, if applicable.
  • Furnish your professional résumé and résumés of high-ranking team members in the appendix.
Although drafting a business plan was broken down and illustrated in 8 steps above, that doesn't mean it's quick and easy. It takes a lot of time, thought and assistance from others to put together the information to get  you a well rounded business plan that is effective and complete. Do not feel like you have to do this all on your own! Consult attorneys, business consultants, tax  consultants, bankers and even your local economic development authority. There may be some local incentives for business owners that you're unaware of that could be beneficial to your business plan. 

If you are interested in starting a business in Dodge County, do not hesitate to reach out to our Economic Development Authority Coordinator, Laura Qualey at laura.qualey@cedausa.com or at 651-329-5116.