Business Plan Outline

Business Plan Outline

I.    Cover Page   A.   Name, address, and phone number of business
  B.   Give your plan a professional appearance by printing it on high-quality paper and placing it in a

         vinyl or card stock binder. 

  C.   Name of Company
  D.   Company Address
  E.    Company Phone Numbers
  F.    Logo
  G.   Names, titles, and addresses of owners
  H.   Month and Hear in which the plan was completed
  I.     Indicate that the plan is “Confidential”


II. Table of contents


III. Executive Summary
A brief, one-page summary representing the various sections of your business plan. Address the following questions and add additional information that will help you achieve your goals.


IV.  Background Information A.   Business Concept
       a.  Mission Statement
       b.  Goals and objectives of business
       c.  Description of business

B. Answer as many of the following questions are appropriate:
     a.  What business are you in?
          i.   Merchandising
          ii.  Manufacturing
          iii. Wholesale
          iv. Service
    b.   What is the nature of your product(s) or service(s) 

    c.  What will be special about your business? 

C.   What market do you intend to serve?
    a.  What is the total market? 

    b.  What is your expected share? 

D.   How can you serve your market better than your competition? 

E.    Present status of the business:
    a.  Start-up
    b.  Expansion of growing concern
    c.  Takeover of an existing business

F. If you will be doing any contract work, what are the terms?
G. Reference any firm contract and include them as supporting documents.
H. Do you have letter of intent from prospective suppliers?

V.  Description of products or services
A.  Features of proposed products/services
B.  Describe benefits to your customer
C.  Intellectual property and proprietary rights issues
D.  Production plans
E.  Future products/services

VI.  The Market Plan
see Conducting an Industry Analysis - http://www.sbtdc.org/pdf/industry_analysis.pdf)

A.   Description of Industry
       a.  Background of industry
       b.  Current and future industry trends
       c.  Business fit in industry

B.  This Business’ Market - Your Market
      a.  Customer profile and target market
      b.  Description of your trade area
      c.  Size of your market
      d.  Market potential
      e.  Market Trends

C.  Competition
      a.  Direct Competition - Businesses with the same product or service and same target market.
           i.  include three to five businesses and locations
      b.  Indirect competition - A product that is in a different category altogether but which is seen as an        

           alternative purchase choice
           i.  For example, coffee and mineral water are indirect competitors.
      c.  Evaluation of competition - Strengths, weaknesses, size, age, status
      d.  Your competitive advantage
            i.  Briefly describe your competition and tell how their operations are similar AND dissimilar to         

                yours.
            ii. What is your unique selling proposition, and how will you use it to control your market 

                share?

D.  Market Strategies
    a.  Market positioning
    b.  Marketing tactics
    c.  Packaging
    d.  Pricing
    e.  Promotion
    f.   Distribution
    g.  Advertising
    h.  Public relations
    i.   Customer Service

VII.  Management structure and Organization

A.  Legal form of ownership
B.  Management and Personnel
   a.  How does your background and business experience help you in this business?
   b.  Describe your management team
   c.  Identify their strengths and weaknesses?
   d.  What will be their duties and responsibilities?
   e.  Do you have job descriptions that clearly define their duties?
   f.  Are there additional resources available to your business?
   g.  Will you have to train people and at what cost?

C.   Describe your organizational structure, and include a brief description of who does what (include  

       an organizational chart, if necessary)
D.   Are there additional resources or advisors?


VIII.   Business Operations
A.  Business Location
    a.  What is your business address and why did you choose that location?
    b.  Will the building be leased or owned?
    c.  What are the terms and length of the lease contract?
    d.  What renovations will be needed and at what cost?
    e.  Describe the neighborhood (e.g., stable, changing, improving, deteriorating)
    f.  What other kinds of businesses are in the area?

B.  Licenses and permits
    a.  Is your business name registered with the Secretary of State and/or local county Registrar of 

         Deeds?
    b.  How will you be affected by local zoning regulations?
    c.  What other licenses or permits will you be required to obtain?