Business Plan Structure

Your business plan doesn't have to be lengthy but it needs to be clear.

 

There is a lot of good advice on the Smarta Business Planning Guide but below is a suggested simple structure for your plan is as follows:

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This is an overview of your business plan.

BUSINESS VISION

This is a summary of your vision for your business, ideally in 3 to 5 years time.
What is your unique selling point? Why will people buy from you and what value will you deliver to them.
Your brand and brand values.

MARKET ANALYSIS

a) EXTERNAL ANALYSIS – current situation only

  • The economy & business environment
  • The Market Place - key trends
  • Competitors - who are they, what do they offer

b) INTERNAL ANALYSIS – current situation only

  • Your business - products and services
  • Customers and Marketing
  • Sales
  • Your team and skills

c) SWOT analysis (from your analysis above)

  • Relative strengths
  • Relative weaknesses
  • Opportunities
  • Threats

WHERE ARE YOU GOING & HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THERE ?

Company Strategies – your plan

  • Your marketing approach
  • Your strategy
    • Diversification (new products to new customers),
    • Grow and maintain (existing products to existing customers)
    • Product development (new products to existing customers)
    • Acquisition (existing products to new customers)
  • Operations
  • Technology

FINANCES

  • The finance plan
  • Forecast, profit and loss account, balance sheet, cashflow
  • Investment from you or third parties