business plan database

How to Write a Business Plan in 2023 [Examples Included]

Table of contents

Enjoy reading this blog post written by our experts or partners.

If you want to see what Databox can do for you, click here .

So you have come up with a business idea that will turn your company into a Forbes 500 enterprise? Sounds great!

However, you are going to need much more than an idea. You will need to do some comprehensive research, create operational standpoints, describe your product, define your goals, and pave out a road map for future growth.

In other words, you are going to need a business plan.

A business plan is a document that precisely explains how you are going to make your startup a success. Without it, your chances of attracting funding and investments significantly decrease.

Do you want to learn how to create a winning business plan that will take your company to the next level? We created a guide that will help you do just that.

Let’s dive in.

What Is a Business Plan?

Why and when do you need a business plan, types of business plans (what to include in each).

• How Do You Write a Business Plan?

Best Practices for Writing a Winning Business Plan

Business plan examples.

• Monitor the Performance of Your Business with Databox

A business plan is a comprehensive document that defines how a business will achieve its goals. It is essentially a road map for growth that includes operational standpoints from all the key departments such as marketing, financial, HR, and others.

Startups use business plans to describe who they are, what they plan to do, and how they plan to achieve it. This is an extremely valuable document for attracting investors.

However, they are valuable for the company members as well. A good business plan keeps executive teams on the same page regarding the strategies they should implement to achieve their set objectives.

Related : Reporting to Investors: 6 Best Practices to Help Increase Funding

While business plans are especially useful for startups, each business should include them. In the best-case scenario, this plan will be updated from time to time and reviewed whether the goals of the company have been met.

The main things that investors want to check out in the business plan are:

• Product-market fit – Have you researched the market demand for your products and services?
• Team efficiency – Does your startup have devoted professionals that will work on achieving your goals?
• Scalability – How probable is growth in sales volumes without proportional growth or fixed costs?

An organized business plan is essentially a blueprint of your goals and it showcases your abilities as an entrepreneur.

Related : Business Report: What is it & How to Write a Great One? (With Examples)

If you want to persuade venture capitalists and banking institutions to invest in your startup, you won’t be able to do it without a solid business plan. Following a clear business plan format is crucial, as it structures your plan in a way that is easily understandable and demonstrates your business’s potential. 

A business plan is helpful in two ways – it allows you to focus on the specific goals you set for the future and it provides external parties with evidence that you have done your research in advance.

But don’t just take our word for it – here are some of the things that researchers from Bplans found out when they were analyzing the benefits of business plans with the University of Oregon.

• Companies that use business plans have recorded a 30% faster growth compared to those that didn’t use them.
• Getting investments and loans is twice as likely to happen with the help of business plans.
• There is a 129% increased chance for entrepreneurs to go past the ‘startup’ phase through business plans.

You should create a business plan before you decide to quit your regular job. It can help you realize whether you are ready or not.

Also, creating a business plan is helpful when:

• You want to attract investments or funding from external parties
• You want to find a new partner or co-founder
• You want to attract talented professionals to join your startup
• You need to change things up due to the slow growth

While creating a business plan is an important step, you first have to know how to differentiate all the different types. This will help you choose the one that is most suitable for your business.

Here are the most common types of business plans and what you should include in each.

One-Pager Business Plan

Startup business plan, internal business plan, strategic business plan, feasibility business plan.

The one-pager is a business plan that only includes the most important aspects of your business. It is essentially a simplified version of a traditional business plan.

When creating the one-pager business plan, your primary focus should be on making it easily understandable.

Since this business plan is rather short, you should avoid using lengthy paragraphs. Each section should be around 1-2 sentences long.

The things you should include in a one-pager business plan are:

• The problem – Describe a certain problem your customers have and support the claim with relevant data.
• The solution – How your products/services can solve the issue.
• Business model – Your plan on how to make money. Include production costs, selling costs, and the price of the product.
• Target market – Describe your ideal customer persona. Start with a broad audience and narrow it down by using TAM, SAM, and SOM models. This lets investors in on your thought process. To understand these models better, check out, for example, the importance of proper TAM evaluation for B2B startups .
• Competitive advantage – How are you different from your competitors?
• Management team – Include your business’s management structure.
• Financial summary – This part should revolve around the most significant financial metrics (profit, loss, cash flow, balance sheet, and sales forecast).
• Required funding – Define how much money you need to make your project a success.

PRO TIP: How Well Are Your Marketing KPIs Performing?

Like most marketers and marketing managers, you want to know how well your efforts are translating into results each month. How much traffic and new contact conversions do you get? How many new contacts do you get from organic sessions? How are your email campaigns performing? How well are your landing pages converting? You might have to scramble to put all of this together in a single report, but now you can have it all at your fingertips in a single Databox dashboard.

Our Marketing Overview Dashboard includes data from Google Analytics 4 and HubSpot Marketing with key performance metrics like:

• Sessions . The number of sessions can tell you how many times people are returning to your website. Obviously, the higher the better.
• New Contacts from Sessions . How well is your campaign driving new contacts and customers?
• Marketing Performance KPIs . Tracking the number of MQLs, SQLs, New Contacts and similar will help you identify how your marketing efforts contribute to sales.
• Email Performance . Measure the success of your email campaigns from HubSpot. Keep an eye on your most important email marketing metrics such as number of sent emails, number of opened emails, open rate, email click-through rate, and more.
• Blog Posts and Landing Pages . How many people have viewed your blog recently? How well are your landing pages performing?

Now you can benefit from the experience of our Google Analytics and HubSpot Marketing experts, who have put together a plug-and-play Databox template that contains all the essential metrics for monitoring your leads. It’s simple to implement and start using as a standalone dashboard or in marketing reports, and best of all, it’s free!

You can easily set it up in just a few clicks – no coding required.

To set up the dashboard, follow these 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Get the template 

Step 2: Connect your HubSpot and Google Analytics 4 accounts with Databox. 

Step 3: Watch your dashboard populate in seconds.

Related : Check out our comprehensive guide on writing a marketing plan report .

New businesses use startup business plans to outline their launching ideas and strategies to attract funding and investment opportunities. When creating startup business plans, you should primarily focus on the financial aspect and provide evidence that supports it (e.g. market research).

These are some of the main things that should be included:

• Vision statement – Explain your vision for the company and include the overall business goals you will try to achieve.
• Executive summary – A quick overview of what your company is about and what will make it successful. Make sure to include your products/services, basic leadership information, employees, and location.
• Company description – A detailed overview of your company. Talk about the problems you will solve and be specific about customers, organizations, and growth plans. This is the place where you should state your business’s main advantages.
• Market Analysis – Show investors that you have a good understanding of your industry and target market by providing a detailed market analysis. Try to point out certain trends, themes, or patterns that support your objective.
• Organization and management – This section explains the structure and the management hierarchy. Also, describe the legal structure of your business.
• Service or product line – Go into detail about the products and services you are going to sell. Explain the benefits they bring and share your intellectual property plans.
• Marketing and sales – Talk about your marketing strategy and describe how you plan to attract new customers.
• Financial projections – This section should be about convincing your readers why the business will be a financial success. Create a prospective financial outlook for the next few years and it includes forecasts.

An internal business plan is a document that specifically focuses on the activities within your company. While external business plans focus on attracting investors, internal business plans keep your team aligned on achieving goals.

Related : Internal vs. External Reporting: What Are the Differences?

This business plan can differentiate based on how specific you want it to be. For example, you can focus on a specific part of the business (e.g. financial department) or on the overall goals of the whole company.

Nonetheless, here are some things that should universally be included in all internal business plans:

• Mission statement – Focus on the practical, day-to-day activities that your employees can undertake to achieve overall objectives.
• Objectives – Provide specific goals that you want your company to achieve. Make the objectives clear and explain in which way they can be reached. Focus more on short-term objectives and set reasonable deadlines.
• Strategies – Talk about the general activities that will help your team reach the set objectives. Provide research that will describe how these strategies will be useful in the long term.
• Action plans – These plans revolve around particular activities from your strategy. For example, you could include a new product that you want to create or a more efficient marketing plan.
• Sustainability – This refers to the general probability of achieving the goals you set in the internal report. Sometimes, plans may seem overly ambitious and you are going to have to make amends with certain things.

A strategic business plan is the best way to gain a comprehensive outlook of your business. In this document, forecasts are examined even further and growth goals tend to be higher.

By creating a strategic business plan, you will have an easier time aligning your key stakeholders around the company’s priorities.

Here is a quick overview of what a strategic business plan should include:

• Executive summary – Since strategic business plans are generally lengthy, not all executives will have time to go through it. This is why you should include a quick overview of the plan through an executive summary, you can also create an executive summary template to make the step easily repeatable.
• Vision statement – Describe what you wish to achieve in the long term.
• Company overview – This refers to past achievements, current products/services, recent sales performances, and important KPIs.
• Core values – This section should provide an explanation of what drives the business to do what it does.
• Strategic analysis of internal and external environments – Talk about the current organizational structure, mission statements, and department challenges.
• Strategic objectives – Go into detail about the short-term objectives your team should reach in a specific period. Make sure the objectives are clear and understandable.
• Overall goals – This section should include operational goals, marketing goals, and financial goals.

A feasibility business plan is also known as a feasibility study. It essentially provides a foundation for what would be a full and comprehensive business plan. The primary focus of a feasibility plan is research.

The things you should include in a feasibility plan are:

• Product demand – Is there a high demand for your product? Would customers be interested in buying it?
• Market conditions – Determine the customer persona that would be interested in buying your products. Include demographic factors.
• Pricing – Compare your desired price with the current pricing of similar products. Which price would make your service profitable?
• Risks – Determine the risks of launching this new business.
• Success profitability – Is there a good way to overcome the risks and make your company profitable?

How Do You Write a Business Plan Report?

As we explained in the previous heading, there are a few different types of business plan. Depending on the audience you are referring to, the language you use in the plan should be adjusted accordingly.

Nonetheless, there are certain key elements that should be included in all business plans, the only thing that will vary is how detailed the sections will be.

Include these elements in your business plan.

Executive summary

Company description, market opportunity and analysis, competitive landscape, target audience, describe your product or service, develop a marketing and sales strategy, develop a logistics and operations plan, financial projections, explain your funding request, compile an appendix for official documents.

An executive summary is a quick overview of the document as a whole that allows investors and key stakeholders to quickly understand all the pain points from the report.

It is the best way to layout all the vital information about your business to bank officials and key stakeholders who don’t have the time to go through the whole business plan.

If you summarize the sections well, the potential investors will jump into the sections they are most interested in to acquire more details.

You should write the executive summary last since you will then have a better idea of what should be included.

A good executive summary answers these questions:

• Who are you?
• What do you sell?
• How profitable is it?
• How much money do you need?

This section of the business plan aims to introduce your company as a whole. The things you include in the company description can vary depending on if you are only starting a business or you already have a developed company.

The elements included in this section are:

• Structure and ownership – Talk about who the key shareholders in your company are and provide a full list of names. Also, mention details such as where the company is registered and what the legal structure looks like. In most countries, this is a legal requirement for AML regulations.
• History – This segment is if you already have an existing company. Use this section to show your credibility. Include company milestones, past difficulties, and a precise date for how long your company has been operating.
• Objectives – Describe the overall objectives of your company and how you plan to reach them.

Market analysis refers to creating your ideal customer persona and explaining why they would be interested in buying your products.

Market opportunities are the gaps that you found in the current industries and creating a way for your product to fill those gaps.

The most important step in this section is to create a target market (persona) through demographic factors such as location, income, gender, education, age, profession, and hobbies.

Make sure that your target market isn’t too broad since it can put off potential investors.

A good idea is to also include a detailed analysis of your competitors – talk about their products, strengths, and weaknesses.

Related : 12 Best Tools Marketers Use for Market Research

Although you may include a competitive analysis in the market analysis section, this segment should provide a more detailed overview.

Identify other companies that sell similar products to yours and create a list of their advantages and disadvantages. Learning about your competitors may seem overwhelming, but it’s an indispensable part of a good business plan.

Include a comparison landscape as well that defines the things that set you apart from the competitors. Describe the strengths of your product and show which problems it could solve.

Related : How to Do an SEO Competitive Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide

Use the target audience section to fully describe the details of your ideal customer persona. Include both demographic and psychographic factors.

Ask yourself:

• What are the demographic characteristics of the people who will buy my product?
• What are their desires?
• What makes my product valuable to them?

Make sure to answer all of these questions to get in the mindset of your customers.

If you need more details on how to identify your target audience , check our full expert guide.

When talking about your products and services, be as precise as possible. Mention your target audience and the marketing channels you use for targeting this audience.

This section should reveal the benefits, life cycle, and production process of your products/services. Also, it is a good idea to include some pictures of your products if possible.

When describing your products, you should highlight:

• Unique features
• Intellectual property rights
• What makes the product beneficial

Marketing is the blood flow to your business’s body. Without a good marketing and sales strategy, the chances of your product succeeding are very slim.

It’s always best to already have a marketing plan in place before launching your business. By identifying the best marketing channels, you will show your investors that you researched this topic in detail.

Some of the things you should include are:

• Reach – Explain why a specific channel will be able to reach your target market
• Cost – Is the marketing strategy going to be cost-effective? How much money do you plan on spending on the strategy?
• Competition – Are your competitors already using this channel? If so, what will make your product stand out?
• Implementation – Who will be taking care of the implementation process? Is it a marketing expert? Which suppliers did you reach out to?

Related : 14 Reasons Sales And Marketing Alignment Is Crucial for Skyrocketing Company Growth

This section should explain the details of how exactly your company is going to operate.

These are the things you should include:

• Personnel plan – Define how many people you plan to employ and their roles. Also, if you plan on increasing your staff, you should explain what would be the cause of that.
• Key assets – This refers to assets that will be crucial for your company’s operation.
• Suppliers – Mention who your suppliers will be and what kind of relationship you have with them. Your investors will be interested in this part of the section since they want to be reassured that you are cooperating with respectable counterparties.

The financial projections section is one of the most important parts of your business plan. It includes a detailed overview of expected sales, revenue, profit, expenses, and all the other important financial metrics .

You should show your investors that your business will be profitable, stable, and that it has huge potential for cash generation.

Monthly numbers for the first year are crucial since this will be the most critical year of your company.

At the very least, you should provide:

• Funding needs
• Profit-and-loss statement forecast
• Balance sheet forecast
• Cash-flow statement forecast

Related : How to Write a Great Financial Report? Tips and Best Practices

When providing the funding request, be realistic. Explain why you need that exact amount of money and where it will be allocated.

Also, create both a best-case and worst-case scenario. New companies don’t have a history of generating profits which is why you will probably have to sell equity in the early years to raise enough capital.

This will be the final section of your business plan. Include any material or piece of information that investors can use to analyze the data in your report. 

Things that could be helpful are:

• Local permits
• Legal documents
• Certifications that boost credibility
• Intellectual properties or patents
• Purchase orders and customer contracts

After reading the previous heading, you should have a clear idea of how to write a compelling business plan.

But, just to be sure, we prepared some additional information that can be very helpful.

Here are some of the best practices you should implement in your business plan according to the most successful companies.

Keep it brief

Make it understandable, be meticulous about money, design is important.

Generally, business plans will be around 10-20 pages long. Your main focus should be to cover the essentials that we talked about, but you don’t want to overdo it by including unnecessary and overwhelming information.

In business plan, less is more.

Create a good organizational outline of your sections. This will allow investors to easily navigate to the parts they are most interested in reading.

Avoid using jargon – everyone should be able to easily understand your business plan without having to Google certain terms. 

Make a list of all the expenses your business incurs. Financial information should be maximally precise since it will directly impact the investor’s decision to fund your business idea.

After you wrap up your business plan, take a day off and read it again. Fix any typos or grammatical errors that you overlooked the first time.

Make sure to use a professional layout, printing, and branding of your business plan. This is an important first impression for the readers of the document.

Now you know what a business plan is, how you can write it, and some of the best practices you can use to make it even better.

But, if you are still having certain difficulties coming up with a great business plan, here are a few examples that may be helpful.

HubSpot’s One-Page Business Plan

Bplan’s free business plan template, small business administration free business plan template.

This One-Page Business Plan was created by HubSpot and it can be a great way to start off your business plan journey on the right foot.

You already have fields such as Implementation Timeline, Required Funding, and Company Description created so you will just need to provide your specific information.

This free business plan template highlights the financial points of the startup. If your primary focus will be your business’ financial plan and financial statements, you can use this template to save up some time.

It can also be useful for making sure everyone in your company understands the current financial health and what they can do to improve it.

If you need additional inspiration to kick start your own business plan, you can check out this free template by small business administration .

You just have to decide which type of plan you want to create and then review the format of how it should look like.

Monitor and Report on the Performance of Your Business with Databox

Tracking your company’s performance is an indispensable part of quality decision-making. It is crucial that you know how your business strategy is performing and whether it needs to be optimized in certain areas.

However, doing this manually will undoubtedly take a hefty amount of your valuable time. You will have to log into all of the different tools, copy-paste the data into your reports, and then analyze it. And this isn’t a one-time thing – you have to do it at least once a month.

Luckily, Databox can lend a helping hand.

By using customizable dashboards from Databox, you will be able to connect data from all your different tools into one comprehensive report. Not only that, but you can also visualize the most important metrics to make your presentation to shareholders immensely more impactful.

Did you spend a lot of time cutting and pasting? Say ‘no more’ to that. You will be able to use that time to better analyze your business performances and monitor any significant changes that occur.

Leave the grueling business reporting process in the past and sign up for a free trial with Databox.

Do you want an All-in-One Analytics Platform?

Hey, we’re Databox. Our mission is to help businesses save time and grow faster. Click here to see our platform in action. 

• Databox Benchmarks
• Future Value Calculator
• ROI Calculator
• Return On Ads Calculator
• Percentage Growth Rate Calculator
• Report Automation
• Client Reporting
• What is a KPI?
• Google Sheets KPIs
• Sales Analysis Report
• Shopify Reports
• Data Analysis Report
• Google Sheets Dashboard
• Best Dashboard Examples
• Analysing Data
• Marketing Agency KPIs
• Automate Agency Google Ads Report
• Marketing Research Report
• Social Media Dashboard Examples
• Ecom Dashboard Examples

Does Your Performance Stack Up?

Are you maximizing your business potential? Stop guessing and start comparing with companies like yours.

A Message From Our CEO

At Databox, we’re obsessed with helping companies more easily monitor, analyze, and report their results. Whether it’s the resources we put into building and maintaining integrations with 100+ popular marketing tools, enabling customizability of charts, dashboards, and reports, or building functionality to make analysis, benchmarking, and forecasting easier, we’re constantly trying to find ways to help our customers save time and deliver better results.

Filip Stojanovic is a content writer who studies Business and Political Sciences. Also, I am a huge tennis enthusiast. Although my dream is to win a Grand Slam, working as a content writer is also interesting.

Get practical strategies that drive consistent growth

12 Tips for Developing a Successful Data Analytics Strategy

What Is Data Reporting and How to Create Data Reports for Your Business

What Is KPI Reporting? KPI Report Examples, Tips, and Best Practices

Build your first dashboard in 5 minutes or less

Latest from our blog

• The State of B2B Content Creation: Navigating the Future of In-House Marketing Innovation May 9, 2024
• New in Databox: Analyze the Performance of Any Metric or KPI with Metric Insights April 22, 2024
• Metrics & KPIs
• vs. Tableau
• vs. Looker Studio
• vs. Klipfolio
• vs. Power BI
• vs. Whatagraph
• vs. AgencyAnalytics
• Product & Engineering
• Inside Databox
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Talent Resources
• We're Hiring!
• Help Center
• API Documentation

• Search Search Please fill out this field.

What Is a Business Plan?

Understanding business plans, how to write a business plan, common elements of a business plan, how often should a business plan be updated, the bottom line, business plan: what it is, what's included, and how to write one.

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

A business plan is a document that details a company's goals and how it intends to achieve them. Business plans can be of benefit to both startups and well-established companies. For startups, a business plan can be essential for winning over potential lenders and investors. Established businesses can find one useful for staying on track and not losing sight of their goals. This article explains what an effective business plan needs to include and how to write one.

Key Takeaways

• A business plan is a document describing a company's business activities and how it plans to achieve its goals.
• Startup companies use business plans to get off the ground and attract outside investors.
• For established companies, a business plan can help keep the executive team focused on and working toward the company's short- and long-term objectives.
• There is no single format that a business plan must follow, but there are certain key elements that most companies will want to include.

Investopedia / Ryan Oakley

Any new business should have a business plan in place prior to beginning operations. In fact, banks and venture capital firms often want to see a business plan before they'll consider making a loan or providing capital to new businesses.

Even if a business isn't looking to raise additional money, a business plan can help it focus on its goals. A 2017 Harvard Business Review article reported that, "Entrepreneurs who write formal plans are 16% more likely to achieve viability than the otherwise identical nonplanning entrepreneurs."

Ideally, a business plan should be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect any goals that have been achieved or that may have changed. An established business that has decided to move in a new direction might create an entirely new business plan for itself.

There are numerous benefits to creating (and sticking to) a well-conceived business plan. These include being able to think through ideas before investing too much money in them and highlighting any potential obstacles to success. A company might also share its business plan with trusted outsiders to get their objective feedback. In addition, a business plan can help keep a company's executive team on the same page about strategic action items and priorities.

Business plans, even among competitors in the same industry, are rarely identical. However, they often have some of the same basic elements, as we describe below.

While it's a good idea to provide as much detail as necessary, it's also important that a business plan be concise enough to hold a reader's attention to the end.

While there are any number of templates that you can use to write a business plan, it's best to try to avoid producing a generic-looking one. Let your plan reflect the unique personality of your business.

Many business plans use some combination of the sections below, with varying levels of detail, depending on the company.

The length of a business plan can vary greatly from business to business. Regardless, it's best to fit the basic information into a 15- to 25-page document. Other crucial elements that take up a lot of space—such as applications for patents—can be referenced in the main document and attached as appendices.

These are some of the most common elements in many business plans:

• Executive summary: This section introduces the company and includes its mission statement along with relevant information about the company's leadership, employees, operations, and locations.
• Products and services: Here, the company should describe the products and services it offers or plans to introduce. That might include details on pricing, product lifespan, and unique benefits to the consumer. Other factors that could go into this section include production and manufacturing processes, any relevant patents the company may have, as well as proprietary technology . Information about research and development (R&D) can also be included here.
• Market analysis: A company needs to have a good handle on the current state of its industry and the existing competition. This section should explain where the company fits in, what types of customers it plans to target, and how easy or difficult it may be to take market share from incumbents.
• Marketing strategy: This section can describe how the company plans to attract and keep customers, including any anticipated advertising and marketing campaigns. It should also describe the distribution channel or channels it will use to get its products or services to consumers.
• Financial plans and projections: Established businesses can include financial statements, balance sheets, and other relevant financial information. New businesses can provide financial targets and estimates for the first few years. Your plan might also include any funding requests you're making.

The best business plans aren't generic ones created from easily accessed templates. A company should aim to entice readers with a plan that demonstrates its uniqueness and potential for success.

2 Types of Business Plans

Business plans can take many forms, but they are sometimes divided into two basic categories: traditional and lean startup. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) , the traditional business plan is the more common of the two.

• Traditional business plans : These plans tend to be much longer than lean startup plans and contain considerably more detail. As a result they require more work on the part of the business, but they can also be more persuasive (and reassuring) to potential investors.
• Lean startup business plans : These use an abbreviated structure that highlights key elements. These business plans are short—as short as one page—and provide only the most basic detail. If a company wants to use this kind of plan, it should be prepared to provide more detail if an investor or a lender requests it.

Why Do Business Plans Fail?

A business plan is not a surefire recipe for success. The plan may have been unrealistic in its assumptions and projections to begin with. Markets and the overall economy might change in ways that couldn't have been foreseen. A competitor might introduce a revolutionary new product or service. All of this calls for building some flexibility into your plan, so you can pivot to a new course if needed.

How frequently a business plan needs to be revised will depend on the nature of the business. A well-established business might want to review its plan once a year and make changes if necessary. A new or fast-growing business in a fiercely competitive market might want to revise it more often, such as quarterly.

What Does a Lean Startup Business Plan Include?

The lean startup business plan is an option when a company prefers to give a quick explanation of its business. For example, a brand-new company may feel that it doesn't have a lot of information to provide yet.

Sections can include: a value proposition ; the company's major activities and advantages; resources such as staff, intellectual property, and capital; a list of partnerships; customer segments; and revenue sources.

A business plan can be useful to companies of all kinds. But as a company grows and the world around it changes, so too should its business plan. So don't think of your business plan as carved in granite but as a living document designed to evolve with your business.

Harvard Business Review. " Research: Writing a Business Plan Makes Your Startup More Likely to Succeed ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Write Your Business Plan ."

• How to Start a Business: A Comprehensive Guide and Essential Steps 1 of 25
• How to Do Market Research, Types, and Example 2 of 25
• Marketing Strategy: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Create One 3 of 25
• Marketing in Business: Strategies and Types Explained 4 of 25
• What Is a Marketing Plan? Types and How to Write One 5 of 25
• Business Development: Definition, Strategies, Steps & Skills 6 of 25
• Business Plan: What It Is, What's Included, and How to Write One 7 of 25
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Meaning, Types, Impact 8 of 25
• How to Write a Business Plan for a Loan 9 of 25
• Business Startup Costs: It’s in the Details 10 of 25
• Startup Capital Definition, Types, and Risks 11 of 25
• Bootstrapping Definition, Strategies, and Pros/Cons 12 of 25
• Crowdfunding: What It Is, How It Works, and Popular Websites 13 of 25
• Starting a Business with No Money: How to Begin 14 of 25
• A Comprehensive Guide to Establishing Business Credit 15 of 25
• Equity Financing: What It Is, How It Works, Pros and Cons 16 of 25
• Best Startup Business Loans for May 2024 17 of 25
• Sole Proprietorship: What It Is, Pros and Cons, and Differences From an LLC 18 of 25
• Partnership: Definition, How It Works, Taxation, and Types 19 of 25
• What Is an LLC? Limited Liability Company Structure and Benefits Defined 20 of 25
• Corporation: What It Is and How To Form One 21 of 25
• Starting a Small Business: Your Complete How-to Guide 22 of 25
• Starting an Online Business: A Step-by-Step Guide 23 of 25
• How to Start Your Own Bookkeeping Business: Essential Tips 24 of 25
• How to Start a Successful Dropshipping Business: A Comprehensive Guide 25 of 25

• Terms of Service
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices

Create Your Business Plan in Minutes

Type your business idea below.

What Our Users Say

Zakariya A.

How it Works

Questionnaire

Respond to a series of targeted questions about your business goals and objectives.

AI Business Plan Generator

The engine analyzes your responses and generates a business plan tailored to your vision.

SBA Approved Business Plan

Receive a detailed, tailored business plan that aligns with your requirements. Ready for funding.

WHO BENEFITS FROM Plannit?

Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Analyze your ventures through extensive business plans aligned with your vision and goals.

Business Owners

Back your business with a solid plan that aligns with your vision and goals. Perfect for startups and small businesses.

Educational Institutions

Develop your business understanding and vocabulary by analyzing your business idea and creating a plan.

Startups Accelerators

Work alongside your founders as they build their plan to ensure they have a solid roadmap for growth and scalability.

Try Plannit AI For Free

Funding ready business plan, executive summary, company overview.

Problem Statement

Business Description

Mission Statement

Business Model

Products and Services

Additional Features

Revenue Model

Market Analysis

Target Market

Market Size and Segments

Unique Value Proposition

Risks and Mitigations

Identified Risks

Mitigation Strategies

Financial Overview

Income Statement

Marketing and Sales Plan

Focus On Your Vision

Key features & benefits, ai editing companion.

Modify and regenerate sections of your business plan using premade or custom prompts. Our AI will help you refine your plan to perfection.

Multi-User Collaboration

Invite team members with easy sharing to collaborate on your business plan in real-time. Communicate and make changes together. Collaborate with your partners in real-time as you perfect your plan.

Education Center

Immerse yourself in a rich library of articles, tools, templates, webinars and resources for continuous business and professional growth. Learn all about the key aspects of starting, running and growing a business.

Powered by Chat GPT

Our algorithms are powered the latest in AI technology to ensure the most accurate and relevant output. We use OpenAI's GPT 4 and 3.5 engines for the perfect blend of accuracy and speed.

Business Resources

We recommend a variety of useful tools and resurces that help sustain your growth. We only recommend the best in the business. Filter your needs and equip yourself with the best tools.

Plan Samples

Explore a library of sample business plans we generated to get the idea of what to expect. Currently able to generate viable plans for 50+ industries.

Financial Projections

Take an additional questionnaire about your financial trajectory and get a detailed financial projection + 3 year income statement for your business.

Tools and Templates

Plannit's comprehensive suite that accompany business planning. From pitch decks to financial models, we have you covered.

Plan Export

Download your business plan in an editable .docx format. Fully edit & share your plan with investors, partners, and stakeholders.

Privacy & Security

Rest assured, your privacy is our top priority, and we're committed to keeping your information safe and confidential.

PLANNIT BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Initiate with Your Business Concept: Lay the Groundwork: Start by introducing your business idea into Plannit AI's Business Plan Generator. This first step is crucial, as it sets the tone for a tailored, insightful business plan that truly resonates with your vision. Capture the Essence: Our platform is designed to grasp the nuances of your concept, ensuring that the generated plan accurately reflects the core and potential of your business.
• Navigate Through the AI-Guided Questionnaire: Tailored Interactive Experience: Plannit AI’s AI-guided questionnaire is your interactive guide through the planning process. It meticulously gathers information about your business's objectives, strategies, and market positioning, ensuring a comprehensive and reflective plan. Intelligent Feedback and Suggestions: As you progress through the questionnaire, benefit from smart prompts and suggestions, ensuring that your plan is not just detailed but also strategically sound and aligned with industry standards.
• Generate Your Plan with Advanced AI: Intuitive Plan Creation: With the questionnaire complete, Plannit AI's advanced algorithms intelligently analyze your responses. They then craft a detailed, customizable, and strategically aligned business plan, providing you with a structured, coherent, and actionable format. Benefit from AI-Powered Insights: Plannit AI offers AI-driven insights and suggestions, ensuring your plan is not just a document but a strategic tool equipped with tailored AI prompts and an in-app plan editor. Get inspired by browsing through our sample business plans, a collection of successful strategies across various industries.
• Finalize Your Plan with Confidence: Dynamic Adaptation and Refinement: Plannit AI recognizes that a business plan is a living document. Our platform allows for continuous adaptation and refinement, ensuring your strategy remains agile, relevant, and aligned with your evolving business goals. Professional Presentation and Sharing: Once your plan meets your standards, utilize Plannit AI's export features to present your plan professionally. Choose between various formats for exporting your business plan, ready to impress stakeholders, attract investors, or guide your team. Review and Adapt: Ensure your business plan is a living document, ready to evolve with your growing business. Plannit AI's dynamic platform allows you to adapt your strategy as new opportunities or challenges arise.
• Roadmap for Success: At its core, a business plan acts as a strategic guide, providing detailed steps on how your business will achieve its objectives. It helps you navigate the startup phase, manage growth effectively, and tackle unforeseen challenges with a well-thought-out strategy.
• Securing Funding: For startups and businesses looking to expand, a business plan is crucial for securing loans or attracting investors. It demonstrates to potential financial backers that your business has a clear vision, a solid strategy for profitability, and a plan for delivering returns on their investment.
• Informed Decision-Making: A well-prepared business plan offers valuable insights into your market, competition, and potential challenges. This information is vital for making informed decisions, from day-to-day operations to long-term strategic shifts.
• Market Analysis and Strategy: It allows you to conduct an in-depth analysis of your target market, understand customer needs, and position your product or service effectively. The marketing strategy outlined in your business plan helps in identifying the best channels and tactics to reach your audience and achieve market penetration.
• Financial Planning: One of the most critical components of a business plan is the financial forecast. It outlines your funding requirements, expected revenue, profit margins, and cash flow projections. This section is essential for budgeting, financial management, and ensuring the financial viability of your business.
• Goal Setting and Performance Measurement: A business plan sets clear, measurable goals and objectives. It provides a framework for monitoring performance, measuring success, and making necessary adjustments to stay on track.
• Aspiring Entrepreneurs: If you're at the idea stage, looking to transform your vision into a viable business, Plannit AI offers the tools and guidance to bring your concept to life. Our platform helps you articulate your business idea, define your target market, and develop a solid plan to turn your dream into reality.
• Students and Educators: For students delving into the intricacies of business planning and educators teaching the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, Plannit AI serves as an invaluable resource. It provides a practical, hands-on tool for learning and teaching how to create detailed business plans, analyze markets, and understand financials in a real-world context.
• Startup Founders: In the dynamic startup environment, Plannit AI is the ideal partner for founders looking to pivot quickly, secure funding, or understand their competitive landscape. With our AI-driven insights and market analysis tools, startups can make informed decisions and adapt their strategies to thrive in competitive markets.
• Small Business Owners: For small business owners seeking to optimize their operations, expand their customer base, or explore new markets, Plannit AI offers targeted solutions. Our platform simplifies the planning process, enabling owners to focus on growth while managing the day-to-day challenges of running their business.
• Consultants and Freelancers: Consultants and freelancers specializing in business development, strategic planning, or financial advising will find Plannit AI a powerful addition to their toolkit. It allows them to provide clients with comprehensive, data-driven business plans and strategies, enhancing the value of their services.
• Non-Profit Organizations: Leaders of non-profit organizations can leverage Plannit AI to plan initiatives, secure funding, and manage resources more efficiently. Our platform helps non-profits articulate their mission, set achievable goals, and measure their impact, ensuring they can make a difference in their communities.
• Innovators and Inventors: Individuals looking to commercialize innovative products or technologies can use Plannit AI to navigate the complexities of bringing new ideas to market. From patent strategies to go-to-market plans, our platform covers all bases, ensuring innovators can focus on what they do best.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Government Agencies: Government and SBA backed entities can greatly benefit from integrating Plannit AI into their services, enhancing their ability to support a larger number of clients more efficiently. By facilitating quicker, more in-depth business plan development, these organizations can spend more time assisting with plan execution and less time on creation, ultimately serving their communities more effectively.
• Anyone with a Business Idea: Ultimately, Plannit AI is for anyone with a business idea, regardless of industry, experience, or stage of business development. Our mission is to democratize business planning, making it accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone.
• Interactive Questionnaire and ChatGPT Integration: Plannit AI transforms the business planning process into an engaging conversation. Through our advanced ChatGPT integration, we offer a questionnaire that dynamically adapts to your responses, ensuring your plan is personalized, comprehensive, and aligned with your business goals.
• Dynamic Planning Environment: Unlike static templates provided by many, Plannit AI introduces a living platform that grows with your business. It features real-time updates, strategic insights, and a feedback mechanism that keeps your business plan current and actionable.
• Extensive Educational Resources: Our Education Center is packed with articles, guides, and sample plans to bolster your planning process. It's designed to arm you with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of your industry confidently.
• Enhanced Collaboration and Customization: Recognizing the collaborative essence of business planning, Plannit AI supports team efforts with multi-user editing, annotations, and feedback features, ensuring a comprehensive approach to your strategy.
• Customer Success Stories: Our users' achievements are a testament to Plannit AI's effectiveness. These success stories illustrate how diverse businesses have utilized our platform for strategic planning and growth.
• Tailored Business Plan Creation: Our platform stands out with its tailored approach, featuring customizable templates that directly cater to your business type and industry, making plan creation straightforward and relevant.
• Content Generation:: ChatGPT helps draft various sections of a business plan, from executive summaries to marketing strategies, by providing structured and coherent text based on the prompts given.
• Strategic Insights: It can offer suggestions on business strategies by analyzing trends and providing examples from a wide range of industries.
• Financial Planning: While it can't replace professional financial advice, ChatGPT can guide the structure of financial projections and statements, helping you consider important financial aspects of your plan.

Take The First Step Towards Success With our AI-Generated Business Plans

Columbia University Libraries

Entrepreneurship: business plans.

• Market Research
• Competitors
• Costs & Funding
• Social Entrepreneurship

Where to Begin with a Business Plan?

Resources for business plans, alternative or specialty business plans.

• Ideas & Pitches
• Case Studies
• Patents & Trademarks

If you want to understand the components of a Business Plans, the resources on this page will take you through the steps involved in writing a business plan,  prepare your pitch, and presenting ideas.

Once you’ve learned more about what should be included in a good business plan, use Company Research Guide to help you with specific sections of your plan. Additionally, it's helpful to conduct a SWOT analysis and market research; they can improve your pitch and help you grow your business in the right direction.

If you are creating a plan for a startup, consider using the Business Model Canvas rather than a traditional business plan.

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC Entrepreneur's Toolkit) - Free web tools for business assessments, bench-marking, webinars, eBooks, publications templates and guides from the Business Development Bank of Canada. Includes business plan template

Business Plan Archive - A research database of sample business plans from the dot.com era (late 1990s to 2007). All interested users conducting academic, non-commercial research, must submit a research proposal describing the intended scope and purpose of their research. On completing the registration process, users are required to print their proposal and mail it to the Archive office at the University of Maryland, along with a letter of support from your host institution. Register via the Access the Archive link.

• Example of a High-Tech Marketing Business Plan - Work through this sample high-tech business plan of a fictional company, "Acme Consulting," provided by the Canada Business Network.

Shopify's Ultimate Guide to Business Plans - Looking to write a business plan for your ecommerce store? This comprehensive guide walks you through the nuts and bolts of writing your very own business plan.

U.S. Small Business Administration: Starting & Managing a Business - Provides access to a wealth of resources, including articles on the essentials of writing a good business plan.

• Lean Canvas - Provides content and coaching for entrepreneurs, including a guide to help you communicate your business idea in one page.

The $100 Start Up - Provides downloadable guides that can help you quickly promote your idea, the site's "Resources" section includes a One-Page Business Plan and a 39-Step Product Launch Checklist.

The Right-Brain Business Plan - Create a visual map for the success of your business.

10 Alternatives to the Formal Business Plan - Think outside the business plan with these ideas for alternatives to traditional plans.

• << Previous: Social Entrepreneurship
• Next: Ideas & Pitches >>
• Last Updated: Feb 14, 2024 12:15 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.columbia.edu/entrepreneurship
• Donate Books or Items
• Suggestions & Feedback
• Report an E-Resource Problem
• The Bancroft Prizes
• Student Library Advisory Committee
• Jobs & Internships
• Behind the Scenes at Columbia's Libraries

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Write a Business Plan, Step by Step

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

What is a business plan?

1. write an executive summary, 2. describe your company, 3. state your business goals, 4. describe your products and services, 5. do your market research, 6. outline your marketing and sales plan, 7. perform a business financial analysis, 8. make financial projections, 9. summarize how your company operates, 10. add any additional information to an appendix, business plan tips and resources.

A business plan outlines your business’s financial goals and explains how you’ll achieve them over the next three to five years. Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan that will offer a strong, detailed road map for your business.

ZenBusiness

A business plan is a document that explains what your business does, how it makes money and who its customers are. Internally, writing a business plan should help you clarify your vision and organize your operations. Externally, you can share it with potential lenders and investors to show them you’re on the right track.

Business plans are living documents; it’s OK for them to change over time. Startups may update their business plans often as they figure out who their customers are and what products and services fit them best. Mature companies might only revisit their business plan every few years. Regardless of your business’s age, brush up this document before you apply for a business loan .

» Need help writing? Learn about the best business plan software .

This is your elevator pitch. It should include a mission statement, a brief description of the products or services your business offers and a broad summary of your financial growth plans.

Though the executive summary is the first thing your investors will read, it can be easier to write it last. That way, you can highlight information you’ve identified while writing other sections that go into more detail.

» MORE: How to write an executive summary in 6 steps

Next up is your company description. This should contain basic information like:

Your business’s registered name.

Address of your business location .

Names of key people in the business. Make sure to highlight unique skills or technical expertise among members of your team.

Your company description should also define your business structure — such as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation — and include the percent ownership that each owner has and the extent of each owner’s involvement in the company.

Lastly, write a little about the history of your company and the nature of your business now. This prepares the reader to learn about your goals in the next section.

» MORE: How to write a company overview for a business plan

The third part of a business plan is an objective statement. This section spells out what you’d like to accomplish, both in the near term and over the coming years.

If you’re looking for a business loan or outside investment, you can use this section to explain how the financing will help your business grow and how you plan to achieve those growth targets. The key is to provide a clear explanation of the opportunity your business presents to the lender.

For example, if your business is launching a second product line, you might explain how the loan will help your company launch that new product and how much you think sales will increase over the next three years as a result.

» MORE: How to write a successful business plan for a loan

In this section, go into detail about the products or services you offer or plan to offer.

You should include the following:

An explanation of how your product or service works.

The pricing model for your product or service.

The typical customers you serve.

Your supply chain and order fulfillment strategy.

You can also discuss current or pending trademarks and patents associated with your product or service.

Lenders and investors will want to know what sets your product apart from your competition. In your market analysis section , explain who your competitors are. Discuss what they do well, and point out what you can do better. If you’re serving a different or underserved market, explain that.

Here, you can address how you plan to persuade customers to buy your products or services, or how you will develop customer loyalty that will lead to repeat business.

Include details about your sales and distribution strategies, including the costs involved in selling each product .

» MORE: R e a d our complete guide to small business marketing

If you’re a startup, you may not have much information on your business financials yet. However, if you’re an existing business, you’ll want to include income or profit-and-loss statements, a balance sheet that lists your assets and debts, and a cash flow statement that shows how cash comes into and goes out of the company.

Accounting software may be able to generate these reports for you. It may also help you calculate metrics such as:

Net profit margin: the percentage of revenue you keep as net income.

Current ratio: the measurement of your liquidity and ability to repay debts.

Accounts receivable turnover ratio: a measurement of how frequently you collect on receivables per year.

This is a great place to include charts and graphs that make it easy for those reading your plan to understand the financial health of your business.

This is a critical part of your business plan if you’re seeking financing or investors. It outlines how your business will generate enough profit to repay the loan or how you will earn a decent return for investors.

Here, you’ll provide your business’s monthly or quarterly sales, expenses and profit estimates over at least a three-year period — with the future numbers assuming you’ve obtained a new loan.

Accuracy is key, so carefully analyze your past financial statements before giving projections. Your goals may be aggressive, but they should also be realistic.

NerdWallet’s picks for setting up your business finances:

The best business checking accounts .

The best business credit cards .

The best accounting software .

Before the end of your business plan, summarize how your business is structured and outline each team’s responsibilities. This will help your readers understand who performs each of the functions you’ve described above — making and selling your products or services — and how much each of those functions cost.

If any of your employees have exceptional skills, you may want to include their resumes to help explain the competitive advantage they give you.

Finally, attach any supporting information or additional materials that you couldn’t fit in elsewhere. That might include:

Licenses and permits.

Equipment leases.

Bank statements.

Details of your personal and business credit history, if you’re seeking financing.

If the appendix is long, you may want to consider adding a table of contents at the beginning of this section.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Here are some tips to write a detailed, convincing business plan:

Avoid over-optimism: If you’re applying for a business bank loan or professional investment, someone will be reading your business plan closely. Providing unreasonable sales estimates can hurt your chances of approval.

Proofread: Spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors can jump off the page and turn off lenders and prospective investors. If writing and editing aren't your strong suit, you may want to hire a professional business plan writer, copy editor or proofreader.

Use free resources: SCORE is a nonprofit association that offers a large network of volunteer business mentors and experts who can help you write or edit your business plan. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers , which provide free business consulting and help with business plan development, can also be a resource.

On a similar note...

Find small-business financing

Compare multiple lenders that fit your business

Please sign in

You need to log in to use the bookmarking feature.

• Baker Library
• Special Collections
• Fast Answers
• All Services
• Plan Your Visit
• Working Knowledge
• Academic Programs
• Faculty & Research
• Harvard Business Review
• Initiatives
• Map / Directions

Business Plans Handbook

Sample business plans, templates, listings, glossary and bibliography.

About this Database

Sample business plans, templates, listings, glossary and bibliography. Comprising sample plans from entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses in North America, the collection includes diverse sectors such as manufacturing, retail, and services, with only company names and addresses altered.

Go To Database

Access method

Authorized Baker Visitors HarvardKey

Related Resources

Entrepreneurship Toolkit

Ask Yale Library

My Library Accounts

Find, Request, and Use

Help and Research Support

Visit and Study

Explore Collections

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Research: Business Plans & Models

• Quick Links to Popular Business Publications
• Data on Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Business Plans & Models
• Company & Competitor Information
• Industry & Market Research
• Consumers & Demographics
• Financing Deals & Transactions
• Intellectual Property
• Suggested Reading

Featured Resource

• Business Plan Export Tool in Statista Statista's Business Plan Export tool helps you create your business plan in three steps: select market, select region, and export business plan. To access Business Plan Export from the Statista database landing page, click on Expert Tools and select Business Plan Export .

Books at Yale Library

Industry Norms and Ratios

• Dun & Bradstreet Key Business Ratios (Available in Mergent Intellect) Online access to industry benchmarking data, featuring 14 key business ratios for public and private companies in 800 lines of business. Users can choose a one-year or three-year set of ratios.

Librarians That Can Help

Allison Gallaspy

Librarian for Business and Management Marx Science and Social Science Library 203-432-3306 [email protected]

Schedule an appointment with Allison

Librarian for Engineering & Applied Science, Chemistry and Mathematics Marx Science and Social Science Library 203-432-7460

[email protected]

Schedule an appointment with Andy

Erin Wachowicz Librarian for Business and Management Marx Science and Social Science Library 203-432-3306 [email protected]

Schedule an appointment with Erin 

Business Plans Online

The Business Model Canvas

The Strategyzer Business Model Canvas is a tool that allows you to describe, design, challenge, invent, and pivot your business model. Learn more by watching the  Business Model Canvas Explained from Strategyzer on Vimeo .

• Business Model Canvas
• B Plans: How to Write a Business Plan A step-by-step overview. Does not included access to software.
• BEOnline - Business Plans & Forms Resources suggested by the Library of Congress
• Create Your Business Plan - an SBA Guide Includes downloadable templates.
• SCORE Business Planning & Financial Statements Template Gallery Find free business planning, finance, sales, marketing and management templates & guides.
• << Previous: Data on Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Next: Company & Competitor Information >>
• Last Updated: May 8, 2024 9:52 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.yale.edu/entrepreneurship

Site Navigation

P.O. BOX 208240 New Haven, CT 06250-8240 (203) 432-1775

Yale's Libraries

Bass Library

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Classics Library

Cushing/Whitney Medical Library

Divinity Library

East Asia Library

Gilmore Music Library

Haas Family Arts Library

Lewis Walpole Library

Lillian Goldman Law Library

Marx Science and Social Science Library

Sterling Memorial Library

Yale Center for British Art

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

@YALELIBRARY

Yale Library Instagram

Accessibility       Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion      Giving       Privacy and Data Use      Contact Our Web Team    

© 2022 Yale University Library • All Rights Reserved

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Business plans

• Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurial business strategy
• Entrepreneurial exit strategy
• Entrepreneurial finance
• Entrepreneurial financing

Business Plans and Other Works of Fiction

• Scott Anthony
• Scott D. Anthony
• November 06, 2013

How to Write a Great Business Plan

• William A. Sahlman
• From the July–August 1997 Issue

Deviating from the Business Plan

• Steven S. Rogers
• June 22, 2015

Forget Business Plans; Here's How to Really Size Up a Startup

• Jim Dougherty
• October 17, 2013

Crap Circles

• Gardiner Morse
• From the November 2005 Issue

How to Write a Winning Business Plan

• Stanley R. Rich
• David E. Gumpert
• From the May 1985 Issue

The CEO of Cabot Creamery on Beating Sustainability Benchmarks

• From the May–June 2020 Issue

Secure Your Plan with the Right Team

• Heide Abelli

Value Captor's Process: Getting the Most Out of Your New Business Ventures

• Rita Gunther McGrath
• Thomas Keil
• From the May 2007 Issue

Keeping Your Business Plan Flexible

• September 02, 2010

Build a Flexible Business Plan

• Anthony K. Tjan
• February 28, 2012

Starting Up in High Gear: An Interview with Venture Capitalist Vinod Khosla

• Vinod Khosla
• David Champion
• Nicholas G. Carr
• From the July–August 2000 Issue

Crossing the River

• Lynda M. Applegate
• March 06, 2011

Gearing Up at REI

• Dennis Madsen
• From the May 2003 Issue

Making Social Ventures Work

• James D. Thompson
• Ian C. MacMillan
• From the September 2010 Issue

Spinning Out a Star

• Michael D. Lord
• Stanley W. Mandel
• Jeffrey D. Wager
• From the June 2002 Issue
• March 30, 2011

When It's Time to Pivot, What's Your Story?

• Rory McDonald
• Robert Bremner
• From the September–October 2020 Issue

Great Businesses Don't Start With a Plan

• May 16, 2012

Create Your Rules of the Road

• April 13, 2020

• Stefanos Zenios
• Joshua Spitzer
• September 08, 2006

Business Plan Development: Frameworks and Formulas (HANDOUT)

• Gregory B Fairchild
• Jacqueline Temkin
• Buzz Becker
• September 11, 2022

Zandu Pharmaceutical Works: The Takeover Bid (B)

• Kavil Ramachandran
• Jayshree Suresh
• Navneet Bhatnagar
• November 01, 2014

National Cranberry Cooperative

• Jeffrey G. Miller
• R. Paul Olsen
• August 01, 1974

Cabot Corporation: The Fuel Cell Decision A

• January 08, 2013

Carmichael Roberts: To Create a Private Equity Firm?

• Kenneth Cooper
• January 24, 2017

Heather Evans

• Howard H. Stevenson
• Michael J. Roberts
• September 23, 1983
• Thomas R. Piper
• Jeremy Cott
• January 26, 2000

Extend Fertility: Conceiving the Market for Egg Preservation (A)

• Debora L. Spar
• Olivia Hull
• February 13, 2019

Galen: Co-Creating the Future of Medical Technology

• Filip Ziolek
• May 21, 2020

Cabot Corporation: The Fuel Cell Decision (B)

• Shikhar Ghosh
• Christopher Payton
• August 17, 2015

Maritimes Credit Union

• Brooke Klassen
• Vince Bruni-Bossio
• July 18, 2016

Environmental Technology Fund Partners and E-Leather

• Vikram Gandhi
• January 17, 2018

Bally Total Fitness (B): The Fall, 2005-2016

• John R. Wells
• Gabriel Ellsworth
• October 12, 2016
• Joseph B. Lassiter
• February 11, 2014

Mastering Finance Fundamentals: A Harvard ManageMentor Skill Pack

• Harvard Business Review
• January 31, 2011

Cat Fight in the Pet Food Industry (A)

• David J. Collis
• Toby Stuart
• April 09, 1991

Kaiser Steel Corporation, 1987

• Timothy A. Luehrman
• William A. Teichner
• September 22, 1992

Bratwurst, Beer and Business: Planning for Growth at Wurstküche

• Thomas Knapp
• Zephyr James
• July 17, 2017

Zandu Pharmaceutical Works: The Takeover Bid (A), Teaching Note

Trimming the Fat: Your Operating Model--Learn from Competitors to Rethink Your Operating Costs

• John Mullins
• Randy Komisar
• September 08, 2009

Popular Topics

Partner center.

Upmetrics AI Assistant: Simplifying Business Planning through AI-Powered Insights. Learn How

Entrepreneurs & Small Business

Accelerators & Incubators

Business Consultants & Advisors

Educators & Business Schools

Students & Scholars

AI Business Plan Generator

Financial Forecasting

AI Assistance

Ai Pitch Deck Generator

Strategic Planning

See How Upmetrics Works  →

• Sample Plans
• WHY UPMETRICS?

Customer Success Stories

Business Plan Course

Small Business Tools

Strategic Planning Templates

E-books, Guides & More

400+ Business Plan Examples

Select your Business Category

IT, Staffing & Customer Service (16)

Construction, Architecture & Engineering (17)

Food, Beverage & Restaurant (57)

Real Estate & Rentals (16)

Mobile Apps & Software (6)

Education & Training (14)

Beauty Salon & Fitness (19)

Medical & Health Care (39)

Retail, Consumers & E-commerce (80)

Entertainment & Media (43)

Transportation, Logistics & Travel (26)

Agriculture, Farm & Food Production (18)

Nonprofit & Community (9)

Manufacturing & Wholesale (33)

Services (213)

Clothing & Fashion (12)

Children & Pets (16)

Fine Art & Crafts (5)

Cleaning, Maintenance & Repair (22)

Hotel & Lodging (9)

Finance & Investing (13)

Consulting, Advertising & Marketing (22)

Accounting, Insurance & Compliance (5)

Didn't find what you are looking for.

The answer is simple.

It’s an informal business plan that can convince you that your idea makes sense to the outside world because you are investing your time, money, and everything into that idea.

To write a business plan, maybe you think you don’t need a step-by-step guide or a sample business plan . After all, some entrepreneurs achieved success without writing a business plan. With great timing, past business experiences, entrepreneurial ambitions, and a little luck, some entrepreneurs build successful businesses without even writing an informal business plan.

But the odds are greater than those entrepreneurs fail.

And that’s why writing a business plan will help you succeed .

The easiest way to simplify the work of writing a business plan is to start with sample business plans.

What is business plan sample?

Why you should refer a business plan example, who should use business plan examples, how to use sample business plans.

What is Business Plan Sample?

That’s why we created business plan examples to help you get started.

Use our 400+ business plan examples written for all industries and write your business plan in half of the time with twice the impact.

• Guidance on what to include in each section.  If you’ve never attended business school, you might never have created a  SWOT analysis   or a balance sheet before. Business templates that give guidance — in plain language — about what to include and how to fill in each section and create a complete and effective plan.
• A business plan is vital to get an investment.  If you’re seeking investment for your business, you’ll need to convince banks and investors why they should invest in your business . Lenders and investors will only risk their time and money if they’re certain that your business will be successful and profitable and they will get a great return on their investment.
• A business plan can help you prioritize.  A complete, well-balanced business plan is one of the most valuable tools in assisting you to reach your long-term goals. It gives your business direction, defines your goals, outlines out strategies to reach your goals, and helps you to manage possible bumps in the way.

Who should use Business Plan Examples?

Well Everyone, who wants to write a business plan should use these sample business plans. These plans apply to almost all industries.

We have created a library of professional sample business plans from a wide variety of industries to help you start writing your business plan with minimum effort.

Use our Upmetrics — business plan software that offers step by step guide to start writing your business plan , especially if you’re writing an informal business plan to get a bank loan or outside investment.

Our extensive sample business plans library includes  business plan templates  and  business plan examples  for almost all business industries.

Make your plan in half the time & twice the impact with Upmetrics.

How to use Business Plan Examples to write your own?

Having real-life and industry-specific business plan examples by your side can be incredibly resourceful to help you write a business plan from scratch. 

A well-planned structure helps you outline your plan, while content inspiration helps you set the tone for your business document. 

Let’s dive deep and understand how to use these examples effectively to write your business plan.

1. Use examples as a guide

2. understanding the structure.

Traditional business plans generally follow a similar structure. 

It starts with an executive summary followed by a company description, market analysis, product and services, sales and marketing strategies, operational plan, management team, financial plan, and appendix.

Using an example business plan is the best way to understand the structure and outline your plan. 

3. Gaining Inspiration

Reading industry-specific business plan examples can help you gain inspiration for your plan. You can gain insights on presenting your business idea, vision, mission, and values and persuade investors to invest in your idea.

4. Learning Industry-Specific Language

There’s no universal template for business planning that fits all. An industry-specific template can help you learn and understand the business language for your industry and the best way to communicate your message to your investors.

5. Identifying Key Elements

Reading business plan examples of similar businesses can help you identify the key elements and information to include in your plan. You can keep note of these and ensure everything necessary for investors to consider is present in your final draft.

6. Crafting Financial Projections

A financial plan is a critical component of your business plan, and a good business plan example can help you better understand how they project their financials which can be incredibly helpful while forecasting yours.

7. Refining Your Executive Summary

As mentioned earlier, your executive summary is a key factor influencing potential investors and lenders to invest or lend you money. Analyzing free business plan templates can help you optimize your executive summary to make it more brief, persuasive, and attention-grabbing.

8. Realizing What Works and What Doesn’t

Analyzing industry-specific and real-life examples can help you determine what works best and what doesn’t within your industry. Understanding these factors can help you avoid many significant pitfalls.

While business plan examples can be incredibly helpful in writing a plan from scratch, ensure your plan is customized for your business and sends out a unique message. Your business plan must reflect its unique idea, vision, and target market.

Using your Business Plan as a Management Tool

It’s essential to have a business plan, but it’s also crucial to keep it up to date as your business progresses. A business plan is not merely a document that you write once and forget after you get started. It’s a business road map and vision that you should develop as your business progresses and evolves. It’s also important to update your business plan regularly as your business situation and position change.

How Business Plan Software can help you?

We have created Upmetrics — business plan software to simplify the process of business planning.

Our financial forecasting module will create all the essential reports automatically. You just need to enter numbers and the application will do all the math to generate your financial reports. Later you can embed those reports into your business plan.

After completing your business plan, you can download your business plan in PDF or DOC file using Upmetrics. Also, you can share it online with investors or with other important people just by a quick link.

Ready to take the next step?

Now that you have a business idea and you know how to write a business plan, it’s time to go for it . Our business plan software will take you through each step outlined above in more detail so there are no surprises on your journey.

Simplifying Business Planning through AI-Powered Insights.

Founder, CEO & Lead Scientist at Nanolyse Technologies

After trying Upmetrics, I wish to highly recommend this app to anyone who needs to write a business plan flexibly and to a high standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sample business plan, how do i write a business plan.

In business plan writing you will need to write the following sections into your business plan. These sections include an Executive Summary, Company Overview, Problem Analysis, The Solution, Market Analysis, Customer Analysis, Competitive Analysis, SWOT Analysis, Marketing Plan, Operations Plan, and Financial Plan.

Check out our article to learn how you can write these sections in detail for your business plan.

How long should my business plan be?

The length of your business plan depends on the type of plan you choose. There are one-page business plans that offer easy and practical planning. Then you have traditional business plans that usually vary from 20 to 50 pages. It’s worth noting that the quality of your business plan matters more than its length.

Should I hire someone to write my business plan for me?

Absolutely No, You as a business owner know all about your business idea, your business goals, target market and audience, and what you want to achieve by writing your plan. Don’t hire someone who doesn’t know what your readers will want, the reason is that, if you intend to raise funds, you are the best person that understands what investors will look out for in your business plan.

Consultants or  business plan writers  definitely can write a business plan but not better than you.

Looking for a faster way to finish your business plan?

No Risk – Cancel at Any Time – 15 Day Money Back Guarantee

Popular Templates

Writing a Business Plan? These Library Databases Will Boost Your Research

The New York Public Library offers a broad range of databases for company, industry, and market research to aid in developing your business plan. The business databases at NYPL’s Business Center comprise an excellent source of information available to anyone doing business, financial or market research.

Below we've highlighted a few of these business databases and many others are available onsite at the Thomas Yoseloff Business Center. 

Why Write a Business Plan? 

A business plan can help a business owner get a loan from a bank, help the owner evaluate the feasibility of their business model, improve their odds of success, and keep them on track. A business plan helps guide the direction of a company's first several years in business and gives potential investors an idea of the company structure, goals, and future plans.

Writing a business plan requires time and effort, as well as planning and research. A startup business owner needs to consider many things including: what they will sell or offer, who their target customers are, who their is competition, and what the industry environment is for their new business. A potential owner also needs to plan how they will operate, and how they will be profitable. 

Recommended Databases

Reference Solutions

Reference Solutions is a business directory which lists U.S. businesses, both private and public. It also includes a Lifestyles module, to find people based on their interests and buying habits.

What you can do:

• If you are writing a business plan, you can search Reference Solutions to find businesses which will be your competition.
• You can find the locations of your competitors, their estimated annual sales, and details about the business including owners' names, website URLs, and more.
• You can download a list of companies with details.
• You can find information about potential customers, based on their location and buying habits. 

From the  Articles & Databases section of our website, you can select Reference Solutions  (login with your library card). Next, select the "U.S. Businesses" module. Choose the "Advanced Search" tab. Then, click to search "Business Type". Enter a keyword to find companies in your industry. You can narrow results by County (use New York County for Manhattan) or ZIP code, company size, and more. To view your results, update and click. You can download the company details to a USB drive. 

Also be sure to check out the Charts and Heat Maps for neat visual displays of your results. These can also be downloaded, and are a very handy way to illustrate the competitive landscape for your new business.  

Reference Solutions is available in all NYPL locations and remotely for New York State residents with your library card.  

Ibisworld is an industry and market research database which profiles thousands of industries. Ibisworld includes all U.S. industries by NAICS code (North American Industry Classification codes), as well as very niche industries.

• You can use Ibisworld to find in-depth industry profiles, data industry trends, and market research for your business planning. 

This database is available onsite only at the Business Center. From the  Articles & Databases section of our website, you can select Ibisworld and then search by keyword to find industry profiles.

Also be sure to check the State reports for New York State, and the “Specialized Industries” reports for niche industries. When you find a report for your industry, review each tab to view the entire report. Printing is enabled, but not downloading. For more information about Ibisworld,  sign up for a consultation with a business librarian. 

Statista is a resource to find statistics, industry reports, digital trends, consumer outlooks, and more. 

• Use Statista to find statistics and reports about your industry.
• Find data and infographics you can include in a business plan. 
• Download industry reports and outlooks.

Statista is available in all NYPL locations, and remotely for New York State residents, with your library card.

From the  Articles & Databases section of our website, you can select Statista (login with your library card if you are not at an NYPL location) and begin searching for data and reports. 

If you need help with research for your business plan, you can work with a business librarian in a virtual consultation: Just sign up for a 30-minute video consultation .  

First Research – Access through Mergent Intellect 

First Research is a database which provides industry profiles. It includes market size, industry trends, financials, as well as challenges and opportunities. 

• Find profiles of industries for your business planning research.
• Find financial data specific to your industry.
• Find industry specific questions and answers you can use when contacting other business owners.
• Download profiles in PDF format.

This database is available in the Business Center only, not remotely. To access First Research, first log in to the Mergent Intellect database at the Business Center. Scroll down to view the First Research module and then browse industries or use a keyword to search. First Research includes a "Call Prep feature": a series of targeted questions with answers which  you can use when making "cold calls" to other small business owners for getting advice or tips about your industry. You can download industry profiles to a USB drive in PDF format. 

Plunkett Research Online

Plunkett Research Online provides industry sector profiles, with market research trends, industry analytics, statistics, company profiles and associations.

• Access industry profiles with market research trends.
• Find new developments in hundreds of industries.
• Build your own industry report to download in less than 5 minutes with just a few mouse clicks.

Plunkett’s is available in all NYPL locations and remotely for New York State residents, with your library card. If you are onsite in an NYPL library, you can access Plunkett's through the Articles & Database page. Also, please click the "Subscriber Login" box to access the content.   

For more information on doing business research, check out the Business Library's Research Guides.

If you need help with business research, sign up for a virtual consultation by video.   

You can follow the Business Library on Twitter at @NYPLBusiness .

Advertisement

Supported by

Biden, Announcing A.I. Center, Highlights a Win of His and a Failing of Trump’s

The president’s visit to Wisconsin celebrated the investment by Microsoft in a center to be built on the site of a failed Foxconn project negotiated by his predecessor.

• Share full article

By Erica L. Green

Reporting from Racine, Wis.

President Biden on Wednesday announced the creation of an artificial intelligence data center in Wisconsin, highlighting one of his administration’s biggest economic accomplishments in a crucial battleground state — and pointing to a significant failure by his predecessor and 2024 challenger.

At the Gateway Technical College in Racine, Mr. Biden said the $3 billion project, which will be built by Microsoft, was an example of how he has delivered on promises that former President Donald J. Trump did not.

The Microsoft data center will be built on grounds where Mr. Trump, as president, announced in 2017 that Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, would build a $10 billion factory for making LCD panels. Mr. Trump promised that it would be the “eighth wonder of the world,” and visited the site with elected officials and golden shovels. But the project never materialized as expected.

On Wednesday, Mr. Biden took direct aim at the failed promise. “Look what happened — they dug a hole with those golden shovels, and then they fell into it,” Mr. Biden told the crowd.

“During the previous administration, my predecessor made promises, which he broke more than kept, left a lot of people behind in communities like Racine,” Mr. Biden said. “On my watch, we make promises and we keep promises.”

In his fourth trip to Wisconsin this year, Mr. Biden continued his aggressive campaign to paint a contrast with Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, who is in the fourth week of his criminal trial in connection with payments to a pornographic film star.

While in Wisconsin, Mr. Biden also attended a campaign event, where he spoke to Black voters about the 2024 election.

“I really think democracy is at stake here,” Mr. Biden told the crowd of about 100 volunteers and supporters. He also warned that another Trump administration would threaten his accomplishments, telling the crowd that “Trump means what he says.”

The Microsoft project is part of Mr. Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda , which has focused on bringing billions of private-sector dollars into manufacturing and industries such as clean energy and artificial intelligence. Microsoft expects that the new data center will create 2,300 union construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs.

Mr. Biden called Racine a “great comeback story,” after the once-booming manufacturing town lost the Foxconn project, and thousands of jobs, under Mr. Trump. Mr. Biden said Wisconsin had seen substantial job and manufacturing growth during his tenure. “We’re doing what has always worked in this country,” Mr. Biden said, “giving people a fair shot, leaving nobody behind, growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down.”

The Republican National Committee issued a statement during Mr. Biden’s visit calling it part of his “Bankrupting America Tour.”

“Joe Biden is trying to save face in Racine County as Wisconsinites feel the pain of Bidenomics,” Michael Whatley, chairman of the committee, said in the statement. “Manufacturing has stalled, family farms are shuttering, and costs are up for everything from electricity and gas to food and housing.”

The Foxconn factory was supposed to be one of Mr. Trump’s marquee domestic manufacturing victories: the first major factory run by the electronics supplier in Wisconsin, with a promised 13,000 jobs.

Instead, the company abandoned its ambitious plans and produced only a fraction of the promised jobs, even after receiving millions in subsidies and bulldozing homes and farms to build the factory.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Foxconn defended its record in Wisconsin, saying that despite “changes in market demand and other challenges,” the company “continues to grow with its community in Wisconsin.”

Microsoft plans to work with Gateway Technical College to develop a “Datacenter Academy” that trains 1,000 workers across the state for data center and science and technology roles by 2030, according to the White House. The company also said it would expand its “Girls in STEM” program to two additional middle schools.

Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft, who is also a Racine native, said the project represented that “we are a country where people come together, where people work together, where they address hard challenges and we get great things done.”

Data centers can provide thousands of jobs to build, but they often do not require as many people to operate. The announcement’s focus on providing training, particularly for manufacturers, reflects a central anxiety over whether A.I.’s promise to boost productivity will kill more jobs than it can enable.

Microsoft has built a tight alliance with the White House, even as it has recently suffered damaging and embarrassing hacks by groups affiliated with China and Russia. The Biden administration has positioned Microsoft as a key partner to secure U.S. leadership in the race with China to develop A.I. Last month, it helped orchestrate Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in G42, an artificial intelligence giant in the United Arab Emirates, to put pressure on China’s influence in the Gulf.

(The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft in December, claiming copyright infringement of news content related to their A.I. systems.

Karen Weise contributed reporting from Seattle.

Erica L. Green is a White House correspondent, covering President Biden and his administration. More about Erica L. Green

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

President Biden’s economic adviser said lawmakers should sharply raise taxes on corporations and the rich  when tax cuts signed in law by former President Trump expire next year.

A partisan battle in Ohio has stalled an effort by state lawmakers to ensure that President Biden is on the ballot  in the state this November, teeing up what could be an expensive and protracted legal battle ahead of this year’s election.

Donald Trump told a group of oil executives and lobbyists that they should donate $1 billion to his presidential campaign  because, if elected, he would roll back environmental rules that he said hampered their industry.

Mexico Prepares for a Trump Win:  Behind the scenes, the Mexican government is talking to people close  to the Trump campaign about proposals such as a threat of a “universal tariff” on imported goods, and working to resolve trade disagreements before the U.S. election.

R.F.K. Jr. Signature Gatherers:  More than half a dozen New York City residents described encounters with people seeking  their signature who did not make clear that their aim was to place the independent 2024 candidate on the ballot.

Sensing Shift on Abortion:  Are Latinas — once considered too religious or too socially conservative to support abortion rights — changing their views on the issue? Democrats are optimistic .

A Wild Card in Texas:  Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate, expects to be on the ballot in Texas. His addition could lend a hand to the Democratic challenger seeking to unseat Senator Ted Cruz .

Microsoft announces $3.3 billion investment in Wisconsin data centers at Foxconn site

STURTEVANT, Wisconsin - President Joe Biden on Wednesday touted Microsoft's planned $3.3 billion investment in its Mount Pleasant data center as a product of his administration's economic growth agenda, contrasting it with the unfulfilled promise of the neighboring Foxconn International Holdings development deal that was negotiated during Donald Trump's presidency.

Biden joined Microsoft President Brad Smith and Gov. Tony Evers Wednesday at Gateway College's Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center to announce the expansion of Microsoft's data server complex, and the tech giant's plans to add about 2,000 permanent jobs over time. The new value of the development is more than three times what was announced a little more than a year ago when Microsoft signed its first deal to buy land in the village's Wisconsin Innovation Park.

Microsoft has aggressively been expanding its data center footprint, including several properties in central Ohio.

Biden said the Microsoft development is a "comeback story," playing out across Wisconsin and the nation, that stands in contrast to the 2017 efforts of Trump and state Republican officials to bring Foxconn to Mount Pleasant. Microsoft is building its data center on land that Foxconn was initially expected to use for a $10 billion LCD manufacturing plant that Trump touted as the "eighth wonder of the world." Neither the investment nor the 13,000 jobs Foxconn promised materialized.

"Foxconn turned out to be just that," Biden said. "A con."

Visit comes as Biden, Trump locked in close race

Biden's stop in Sturtevant, his fourth trip to the state this year, comes as he is locked in a tight presidential race with presumptive GOP nominee Trump, who held a narrow, 51-49 percentage point lead among Wisconsin's registered voters and likely voters, according to the most recent Marquette Law School Poll . On economic issues, the poll found voters favored Trump 52-34.

Biden referenced Trump and Foxconn early in his 20-minute speech before an audience of about 200, using that experience to contrast with the more than 700,000 jobs that he said have been added in Wisconsin under his watch.

That growth, he said, stems from his " Investing in America " initiative, a package of bills passed in late 2021 and early 2022 that aims to encourage investments in domestic manufacturing and infrastructure, accelerate the nation's transition to clean energy, and create new, well-paying jobs.

"On my watch we make promises and keep promises," he said.

Microsoft workforce development efforts praised

Biden and Smith also highlighted Microsoft's expanded commitment to workforce development, business assistance and training and other initiatives designed to position the state as a hub for artificial intelligence-powered economic activity by helping workers and businesses adapt to working AI. That initiative includes a plan to help 100,000 workers learn new skills by 2030.

"What I want you to know is this isn't just about building a building. It is not just about manufacturing jobs today," Smith said. "More than anything, this project is about using the power of AI to fuel the future of manufacturing companies and jobs and skills across the state of Wisconsin and around the country. That is what we are building together."

The new value of the development reflects the torrid pace at which Microsoft has moved since it bought a 315-acre parcel in the business park in early 2023. It began construction of the first of two data center buildings just a few months later and by December had finalized a deal to acquire another 1,030 acres, for $176 million.

In April, Microsoft received preliminary approval from the village to begin grading land to the west of the construction site to prepare it for two additional buildings. In the near term, the construction project is expected to employ 2,300 union workers.

In Ohio, Microsoft has been accumulating land in Pataskala and New Albany , spending about $90 million to buy nearly 500 acres of land.

Microsoft is expected to build a data center on property along Beech Road has acquired in New Albany. The company did not say what exactly it planned for property it bought in Pataskala, but suggested that it would also be for data centers.

Smith in an interview said the fast movement in Wisconsin was made possible with the cooperation of local, regional and state agencies who help smooth the permitting process and had premade large investments to develop the business park and ensure it was ready for construction. He acknowledged that preparation was done for Foxconn.

AI training for 100,000 workers promised

Microsoft's push in southeast Wisconsin isn't only focused on buildings. Smith said it will also make a multimillion-dollar investment in training programs that will teach business and technical leaders how best to adapt AI and transform work culture, support start up businesses, prepare hundreds of students for careers as data center technicians, and provide boot camp-style training for more than 100,000 people who need new skills to work in the artificial intelligence economy.

The effort builds on Microsoft's previous investments in business and workforce development in Wisconsin and brings in many of the same partners, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Connected Systems Institute , the Green Bay Packers and the Titletown Tech business development center, the Madison startup accelerator gener8tor, United Way and Gateway Technical College.

To support it, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. will provide $500,000 to TitletownTech, the Green Bay-based Packers-Microsoft venture capital and business development partnership. The funds will help TitletownTech set up a Milwaukee office at UWM's Connected Systems Institute , a research and education center focused on advanced industrial processes. 

Microsoft also intends to open an  AI Co-Innovation Lab lab at the Connected Systems Institute to help Wisconsin manufacturers, entrepreneurs and other business connect with Microsoft AI experts for guidance on implementing AI technology to grow their businesses. WEDC will provide an additional $500,000 to cover capital expenses associated with the initiative.

"Looking to the future, we could not be more excited that Microsoft chose Wisconsin for its new and most important AI innovation." Evers said. "Located in UWM's Connected Systems Institute, the Wisconsin AI co-innovation lab will focus on bringing AI skills and capability to manufacturers to strengthen thus vital sector."

One of only three such labs in the country, the lab will be Microsoft's first east of the Rocky Mountains and the only lab that is both run in partnership with a university and also focused on manufacturing businesses. Staff at the lab are expected to work with at least 60 manufacturers a year.

Wisconsin Republicans accuse Biden of trying to 'hijack' credit for project

Local Republican officials walked a line between praising the Microsoft announcement and deriding Biden on a call with reporters ahead of the event.

“Microsoft's announcement of private-sector jobs in Racine is good for workers, and it's all the more important when workers and families find themselves falling further and further behind due to the reckless inflation brought on to us by the Biden administration,” said U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, whose district includes the Racine area.

Steil also noted that data centers use a large amount of electricity, and said Wisconsin will need a “solid domestic source of energy” going forward. He pointed to We Energies’ plans for a new $1.2 billion natural-gas powered generating plant in Oak Creek as a positive step in that direction.

“It's imperative that we continue that investment in our infrastructure, in particular, transitioning the Oak Creek facility to natural gas, but in doing so, we're going to have to make sure that the pipeline of natural gas is actually built,” Steil said.

State Sen. Julian Bradley, R-Franklin, and Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming echoed Steil’s thoughts. Bradley characterized Biden’s visit as an attempt to “hijack” an “awesome” announcement for Wisconsin workers because he’s “failing everywhere else.”

“Joe Biden is limping back to Racine today to look for a ‘Racine reset,’” Schimming said, noting that Republican former President Donald Trump carried Racine County in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

SVB Financial Securities Holders Bemoan Bankruptcy Plan Outline

By Randi Love

A group of SVB Financial Group’s securities holders accusing the company of costing them billions by mismanaging its risks challenged its proposed reorganization plan disclosures, saying they lack information on legal protections for insiders and affiliated entities.

The securities creditors, who are pursuing a putative class action against the company, hold senior notes and preferred equity in SVB Financial. The former Silicon Valley Bank parent has been battling the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., other government entities, and creditors since the bank collapsed last year.

A list of insiders and non-bankrupt entities with ties to SVB Financial that would receive litigation ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:

Learn about bloomberg law.

AI-powered legal analytics, workflow tools and premium legal & business news.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools.

Don't bother with copy and paste.

Get this complete sample business plan as a free text document.

Database Software Business Plan

Start your own database software business plan

JTB Integrated Technologies

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

This plan provides detailed investor information and includes the basic strategic business plan information necessary for initial establishment and operation of JTB Integrated Technologies. JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division is a sub-corporation of the larger JTB Technologies, Inc., a holding company. The other two divisions are JTB Industrial Sales, and JTB Products and Services. While all three divisions will work closely together, and share some common staff, the following plan outlines all aspects of the Integrated Technologies Division only.

JTB Integrated Technologies, Inc. will be formed in February with its primary location in Richfield, Louisiana as a corporation under the laws of the commonwealth of Louisiana.

JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division will develop and support a full line of P.C.-based business software applications. Additionally, JTB will develop and support ad-based Internet marketplaces, online magazines, custom-developed commercial websites, and other hosted business products tailored to the Industrial marketplace. The Integrated Technologies Division will develop these applications using JTB’s Industrial Sales and Industrial Products Divisions as a test bed and as a marketing referral for live product demonstration.

The managers have worked for the last twenty years as vendors in these businesses, and have seen a niche in helping businesses with their product presentations, internal customer management, and external job costing. Businesses in this industry are all currently using different software and databases to handle internal vendor information resources and external customer RFQ management. When our products are installed, their pre-sales and order processing will be available online, and function as they did internally without interruption, allowing the businesses utilizing the applications to extend their services and products into new markets, through our distributor partners.  Businesses integrated into the system can now offer the other partners products and services to increase their own business revenues, and possibilities of participating in larger contracts, as is the case with many larger corporations providing EDI (electronic data interchange). With high-end software and servers in place, these businesses can easily extend larger clients’ inventory, order tracking, and engineering information, filling in the gaps left by larger systems contracts. JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division will be a base partner in the network, providing support of the business applications.

The management team responsible for overseeing product design, development, integration, and company management of the daily operations are Mitchell R. Jeremy, and Rachel Jeremy. In addition, a team-oriented and customer-focused staff of 3 will support the management team, and in-house developers will create and maintain our software applications and websites.JTB Integrated Technologies, Inc. will retain the services of a CPA firm to perform professional company audits, prepare taxes and payroll, and serve as a business consultant to assist in setting achievable long-range strategic goals.

Based on the current prices in the Industrial Marketing Products and Services market, JTB Integrated Technologies, Inc. has the potential of making sales of  $220,000 within the first eighteen months of operation. With good management, a revenue growth averaging nearly 30% percent annually is expected. The projected ratios at the end of Fiscal Year 3 are quite solid.

The equity for each investor will be based on his or her investment. An in-depth look at Ratios can be found in the Financial Plan section. We anticipate that within 48 months, the business will be at a level to attract further investment, and will be able to pay out its initial investors.  

1.1 Objectives

  The primary objectives of JTB Integrated Technologies are to develop and support:

• Vendor relations software and inventory sharing technology systems.
• Purchasing and order management technology systems.
• Job costing and quotation management technology systems.
• Web-based E-marketing sites and systems.
• LAN and WAN based sales, marketing, engineering Intranet systems.

After developing these products, we will bring these applications into the market using our business as the test bed proving their worth, and then resell this technology and its required support services.

1.2 Keys to Success

• Seasoned management with over twenty-five years of business experience in servicing the Industrial Distribution and Tool industries as a service provider and a manufacturer.
• Focused and well-defined long range goals for longevity, to allow flexibility and growth.
• Strong marketing goals with niche products and services, targeted services and products delivered with  unique marketing approaches.
• Very low internal development costs at startup.
• Previous base of quality external support vendors available to build on, with over twenty years of industry  contacts.

1.3 Mission

JTB will develop and support only the highest quality marketing services and products. With this as our primary mission, we will embed our products and services into the metalworking, and manufacturing marketplace. Our software products will be a valuable resource as both a procurement product and an engineered sales resource. Combined with our quality Internet-based marketing websites and customer management tools, our clients can expect positive results and long term growth.

Using JTB’s Products and Services Division as a model and test bed for our P.C.-based business development software, JTB will provide the mid-sized corporate market with new and exciting ways to cost effectively  manage external vendor and customer transactions, online marketing, job costing, purchasing , and project management yielding continual savings for the users of our products and services.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

JTB’s Integrated Technologies, Inc. will be located in Richfield, Louisiana. This location is very close to the I-82 corridor providing excellent access to the Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas Industrial Markets. JTB’s management acquired it’s roots in the Industrial marketplace while managing  RL&I Tool and Machine, Inc, a privately held corporation that operated in Missouri for over twenty-five years.

Further experience was also acquired while managing RL&I’s Industrial supply division of  RL&I Tool and Machine. RL&I also produced its own line of  tools. In late 1999 the Missouri corporation was closed and the management shown in this plan relocated here to Louisiana. 

The primary partners in this plan are responsible for all phases of business and product development, with special emphasis on bringing the latest integrated technologies design into the business. With our roots firmly planted in the Industrial marketplace, JTB will provide integrated business development technology to Industrial and Commercial manufacturing accounts acquired over the last twenty-five years while working with the following business types:

• Automotive repair and Auto body industries.
• Auto Makers, and their support industries.
• Turbine, Valve, Specialty Manufacturers, and Machining industries.
• Sporting Goods manufacturers, and Services industries.
• Hole drilling (Mining) and Utility service providers.

2.1 Company Ownership

JTB will be a privately held corporation co-owned by Rachel L. Jeremy and her husband, Mitchell R. Jeremy. Rachel Jeremy has 10 years of experience in production management and customer services, acquired while she worked with RL&I Tool and Machine, Inc., where she was also the Secretary for that corporation. Rachel will also add a large percentage to the minority-owned shares, allowing the firm to participate in larger contracts requiring minority involvement.

Brought to you by

Create a professional business plan

Using ai and step-by-step instructions.

Secure funding

Validate ideas

Build a strategy

Mr. Jeremy has a proven track record of success in launching new business projects and directing operations for a previous MIssouri-based corporation as President of RL&I Tool and Machine, Inc. To achieve our objectives, Jeremy is seeking $27,150 in loan financing and $225,000 in investment for JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division. The loan will be repaid from the cash flow of the business. It will be secured by the assets of the company, and backed by the character, experience and personal guarantees of the owners.

Initial investors will have a choice in year three of opting out, with a repayment of $300,000, or of maintaining their equity investment and receiving yearly dividends over the next five years, after software is developed and sales are reaching full potential via all revenue streams. We anticipate that within 48 months of start-up, we will be in a position to attract new investment. Details of the first option are illustrated in the Cash Flow table, in the Financial Plan outlined below.

2.2 Start-up Summary

Initially, the Integrated Technologies Division will work from the offices of JTB’s Industrial Sales Division. Start-up will consist of hiring two Application developers and one Web Developer to begin development of the Internet-based software to later drive the inventory-sharing and customer-interactivity aspects of the business. We will hire database experts and Web-based application specialists to achieve the desired results. The expense line for “Headhunter fees” represents anticipated fees to head-hunters with whom we are working to complete the hiring process.

Our largest Start-up expenses are for office and computer equipment to set up our development center, and licensing of a proprietary version-control software to help maintain the integrity of the code during development and upgrades. Other Current Assets includes networkable servers and backup systems as insurance for the software-development process.

In addition to the above, we will buy and install approximately $15,000 of high-speed color printing equipment, and specialty CD duplicator equipment in the business development office area. This equipment will allow the JTB’s sales and marketing department to produce the businesses marketing literature, custom burn our developed applications, and resell the latest technology in printing equipment.

Our start-up period, after receiving funding, is one month. We have already scouted some potential developers, and this will give us the time to complete their employment contracts and set up the offices for software development, including the networked servers and backup drives.

2.3 Company Locations and Facilities

JTB will initially work from its Richfield, Louisiana location, alongside the Industrial Sales Division. This proximity will allow us to test the inventory-sharing and customer-support functions of the software with real-time feedback from employees of the other JTB divisions. In addition, warehousing space in the Industrial Sales Division can support the storage of completed CD-packages of the standard software.

The Richfield location provides sufficient space for offices for each of the developers, for a server room, and for backup storage. Additional backup plans include off-site storage at a contracted secure location in the Northeast, in the event of physical damage to the Richfield area (floods, hurricanes, etc.).

Products and Services

JTB Integrated Technologies will develop and support P.C.-based sales and customer support applications. Our primary product will be a set of data management applications for businesses in the industries served by our other divisions, as described above in the Company Summary. These applications will provide our staff, and our clients’ inside sales staff, with database-driven, market-specific product information, quotation, and RFQ processing. Our custom solutions will provide a rich source for sales and engineering information to aid in completing orders, and pre-sales marketing.

After development of the standard software packages for inventory-sharing, marketing and customer-support tracking and management, we will train our own sales and support personnel in the software, so they can demonstrate and support its features. In the second year, we will begin working with medium-sized industrial clients contacted through the other JTB divisions to develop customized version of the software to suit their needs.

Our website development is the secondary project of JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division. In addition to providing support for sales and marketing efforts in all three JTB divisions, the website will implement the JTB software in real-time, to provide additional testing for software during development. Starting in year two, the website will begin hosting other clients’ websites and client-version software for non-networked clients.

When completed, our products will also generate support income when installed at the various distributors. Further niche applications include industry-specific portal systems which will target specific markets, and provide direct access to our paid advertisers.

JTB Integrated Technologies will develop customized business growth and customer services solutions. As our clients will be throughout the U.S., most if not all of our work will be done online via the Internet. JTB will offer distributed software products from well known names in the engineering software field, and our own software titles as well. Our support services will help our clients implement their installations, and training support via contracted trainers will be offered when needed. As our niche market is small- to mid-sized corporations, we differ from larger firms like Peoplesoftware, Profit2100, Dimasystems, and Net2soft, which have developed very expensive software and netware packages starting at $10,000 – $50,000 and up.

Our cost analysis has shown that there are many more cost-competitive options available for businesses to choose from, which in many cases they are simply unaware they are available. As a service business that will utilize our own products, we can market and demo our products simultaneously, further reducing our costs per solicitation. 

3.1 Product and Service Description

Custom-developed P.C.- and network-based applications allowing as many as 100 users simultaneous access to order processing, quotation processing, pre-sales product request fulfillment, after-sales product support, and custom networked business solution products. These products can be thought of as support applications or tools for a business’ sales and marketing staff to work with daily to streamline many repetitive tasks. The products will be designed to work with Windows®-based software applications.

Basically, these software tools will fill in the gaps where businesses may have older accounting and marketing systems. Our products can run on older networks, and do not require a company to upgrade their computer systems past Windows 98. Additionally, management is professionally schooled in network management, allowing JTB to also offer complete turn-key applications with hardware.

Distributors of prototype engineering software and hardware – CAD software products, business applications software, Accounting and Database applications software.

A mix of product support and development services, supporting our applications and P.C.-based products. Distribution after-sales support of our resold products offering.

Custom support services – JTB will offer custom support services for all of our P.C.-based products, and turn-key business networks and software.

Internet based marketing and subscription services – Industrial marketing sites, search engines, and portal systems, Industrial website development, Industrial and commercial hosting.

3.2 Competitive Comparison

JTB will compete in the industrial media and business applications marketplace. This market is comprised of printed trade magazines, industrial content websites, and with custom Web developers. Our emphasis is on businesses that are looking for smart, cost-effective ways to develop new customers. This division will provide sales and support of our engineering software and services, and our developed applications and Web-based services.  In many respects our services offering is very similar to what is offered by some very large firms with one major difference, the cost to the end users.

Our integrated products will give smaller businesses better media opportunities to grow and market themselves with the much needed customer support features that many firms are lacking. It is no secret that most businesses do not implement a quality business plan or marketing plan. JTB will offer a mix of products geared to our industry. These products present all of the features and capabilities that a very large corporations staff would utilize, while keeping our products simplified to expedite the required tasks. Our other divisions will utilize, test, and help develop this technology.

In terms of competition, no other firm in our industry really will have a similar product offering. By distributing such high-quality business software, we can introduce JTB to all types of businesses, possibly opening up doors to clients on whom we otherwise could not call. Distributing the latest prototype development products also introduces the company to the engineering departments rather than the purchasing departments allowing further opportunity to introduce all of the JTB divisions. In general, this division could be considered an engineered sales and marketing firm that utilizes our own technology to grow our business. 

3.3 Sales Literature

JTB’s Integrated Technologies division will utilize the same methods of providing our clients with sales literature as our other divisions. We will purchase and manage our own color print systems allowing us to update and manage our printed goods as needed. These printed items will be mailed to our clients when written proposals on our products and services are dispatched to the customer. Other media will include product information via our websites and fax services.

3.4 Fulfillment

JTB’s Integrated Technologies division will fulfill its clients’ needs by developing its own media to support our Web-based products. This media will handle customer support and download capabilities for clients to access our products. Boxed CD versions of our products will available in our inventory, and shipped as needed. Further fulfillment comes when our staff or an outsourced engineer travels to a client to make a hardware or software installation.

3.5 Technology

JTB’s technology consists of the latest in high speed Unix based servers to support our PHP driven business applications, in addition to the server technology, JTB will also develop local P.C.-based applications with MYSQL Databases.

Additionally, management will personally build and implement a custom computer network throughout the entire corporation. Our in-house servers will support our corporate applications and our Accounting and Marketing systems.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

JTB Integrated Technologies is targeting the following markets:

• Aerospace Industry – High Tech Manufacturers, and supporting sub-industries.
• Automotive – Auto Makers, and their support industries.
• Primary Metals and Machining Industry – Turbine, Valve, Specialty Manufacturers, and Machining industries.
• Sporting Industry – Sporting Goods manufacturers, and Services industries.
• Mining and Contractor Industry – Hole drilling and Utility service providers.
• Industrial distributors throughout the U.S.
• Service providers for the above industries throughout the U.S.
• Distributor Partners

Our business-development goals are to integrate our marketing and business development services into the above markets. Our P.C.-based applications will make it possible for these businesses to partner with our distributor partners and service providers. These distributor partnerships with smaller businesses can then take on larger clientele they previously did not have the capacity to handle.

The approximate number of clients for JTB in the Louisiana region, in target markets 1-5, above, is 4,553.  The totals for the U.S market are 314,555. Categories 7 and 8 represent approximately 1,500 – 6,000 distributor partners who could participate in servicing categories 1-6. JTB anticipates additional marketing revenues from providing the channel partners access to the customer databases.

4.1 Market Segmentation

Key market segmentation highlights:

• All of the above businesses require Internet support services to conduct daily business.
• Over 70% of these businesses pay substantial monthly fees for online services.
• Over 80% of these businesses pay monthly software support fees.
• Each business spends a minimum of $3,000 or more annually on monthly access fees and advertising, creating a potential market of $961,665,000 annually.

Our conclusion is that all markets represent what we would call approachable potential customers, and sales could occur directly, or indirectly through a channel partner. JTB anticipates the low entry costs involved with accessing our server-based systems will stimulate a strong market response. We expect that these users will continue to subscribe to our services annually.

The following table and chart show the relative size and growth rates of the different national markets. Primary Metals and Machinery is by far the largest group.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

Our marketing strategy will vary slightly for each target market segment. We will directly market to the Aerospace, Automotive, Primary Metals and Machining, and Sporting Industries, introducing these clients to JTB’s Industrial Purchasing,  Marketing, and Vendor management solutions.

Additionally, the Integrated Technologies Division will draw its clients from the other divisions’ business contacts. Our interactive order management and inventory systems will further allow our integration into the market as it is developed, to form a closer, one-on-one relationship with the client, making for a more approachable environment to market our technology. Special incentives will be given to the businesses using the system.

We will target the Mining and Contractor Industry, Industrial distributors, and Service providers for our Internet-based products for Web management, and to develop their own individual marketplaces.

4.2.1 Market Trends

Over the last five years, we have been working with a limited budget to acquire as much knowledge as possible to test processes to drive user/owner-developed site content management systems that incorporate many of the features found in higher-end programs. JTB will bring these products to market for 1/10th of the cost, while earning additional revenues with paid support services.

4.2.2 Market Needs

JTB’s market is serviced by many types of media, marketing, and business applications development companies. Traditionally these developers dictate to the clients what it is exactly they can offer, or a potential client has seen a product they have produced that offers some features they like. In JTB’s case, all of our applications will utilize Web technologies to allow full customization and personalization of our products to exactly match the business’ marketing strategy.  

Our view is simple: the market is made up of businesses looking for work, businesses wanting to sell or distribute products, and a large offering of Web-based sites backed by large trade magazines. Ad rates for the industry are also very high, with most companies except the very large relying on other avenues to develop new clients. Caught in the mix is a large group of small- to mid-sized manufacturers using all types of low-end marketing to avoid these high-cost forms of marketing.

JTB’s management has been exploring this industry for the last 5 years, collecting information, and talking to businesses. As I was, most businesses are unhappy with the Web-development aspects of marketing, and many of the businesses in this group have not had great success with attracting additional business via their sites. Sites tend to stagnate and are not utilized effectively by the businesses, as they are at the mercy of the site developers demanding fees for continual changes. In most cases, the developers do nothing in the way of marketing the sites, and in some cases I have seen, websites are net even registered with the search engines.

JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division will develop interactive, Web-based products to replace older technology sites, or work with their existing site. We will develop our sales and marketing products to work interactively with the business’ website, providing real-time inventory and other customer-demanded interactivity.

4.3 Service Business Analysis

JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division is part of the Business-Oriented Computer Software industry. This industry ranges from giants like Microsoft Corporation to small, 1-2 people enterprises in smaller niche markets. We are generally competing with non-integrated, multiple software products, each of which can handle one part of the overall task management of buying, making, and selling products and support in our targeted markets. We will be the first in the industry to offer an integrated software package, from design to hosting, for small- to mid-sized companies in the industries.

4.3.1 Distributing a Service

JTB’s business development division will distribute its services in several forms: first, as a business development firm providing badly needed alternatives to customer support and marketing; second, as a business partner integrated with our other JTB divisions and marketing sites, providing work opportunities for businesses utilizing our software technologies. As mentioned in the fulfillment section 3.4, all of our services will eventually be accessible online. In plan year 5, there are also plans for 3 other satellite offices to further the businesses growth.

4.3.2 Competition and Buying Patterns

Things to consider about our competitors:

• They usually produce a generic offering of Internet-based applications not very well matched to the customer’s needs.
• Many developers force the users to have the latest in computer hardware and the highest Internet access speeds.
• Many competitors do not provide Internet support, or a well-combined offering of products and services.
• Many software and application developers do not integrate the badly needed marketing and customer support needed to develop clients and provide for long-term growth.

Client buying patterns vary greatly, and are normally driven by management’s needs to promote better customer support, and to further develop new sales territory. As with all businesses including our target markets, software and applications upgrades change as newer computer equipment is developed. It is our opinion that most small to mid-sized corporations do not have a well balanced interactive sales and marketing environment that is capable of growing with their business. This has been seen many times while interacting with these businesses in both a prospective client situation, and as a vendor.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

JTB’s strategy is to utilize our own products while working with new clients, as demonstrations are better than literature. Our sales staff will interact with potential clients and vendors simultaneously, providing a demonstration environment. Further attention will be drawn to our low-cost forms of marketing and marketing sites, all featuring our “powered by” logos. As these sites acquire users, we will accumulate detailed business information, allowing our staff to more accurately approach these businesses to review our products and services.

What will set JTB apart from the competition:

• JTB’s products have flexible core features to help make them more easily adaptable to our users’ needs.
• JTB’s P.C.-based applications do not require their users to have the latest in computer technology, as the hosting server provides most of the application’s required support.
• JTB’s offering of services will be a combined offering providing quality options, flexible features, and complete customization to suit our Industrial clients’ needs.
• JTB offers interactive media marketplaces for its clients as a part of its offering of quality services, our applications also interact with these marketplaces making quality customer access and support possible.

5.1 Sales Strategy

JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division has a simple sales strategy. By demonstrating the effectiveness of the software, as we use it, in all of our interactions with customers in the other two divisions, we will create an interest among the existing clients of JTB Industrial Sales and JTB Products and Services. Our sales agents will begin contacts with existing clients of the other divisions, and work closely with them to customize applications, hosting services, and support which meet their individual needs. These clients will then be used as further demonstrations to new potential clients of how our software is helping real businesses in these industries to improve their inventory tracking, customer service, sales, and internal communications.

5.1.1 Sales Forecast

With potential clients and distributor partners numbering near 330,000, the sales forecast for JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division looks strong. We are developing our own products and services for resale, in the form of renewable subscribed services. With the average business spending approximately $3,000 or more annually, this quickly becomes a $990 Million dollar marketplace. 

The following table and charts show our projected sales for the Integrated technologies Division. The first nine months of the plan are required lead-time for software development, during which we will have almost no sales. As the website functionality is established, we expect some small income from resale of distributed products beginning in July. After much internal testing, our launch date for the initial version of the standard integrated-software package is November 10th, 2005. After this point, we expect a heavy increase in sales, as customers of the other JTB divisions see the advantage of buying a low-cost, fully-integrated software system which suits their industry needs.

Direct inventory costs for these products and services is very low, since most of the related costs are R&D based, and are covered in regular employee payroll. Inventory costs are mostly applicable to resale of outside software and products. Direct costs for internally-developed software include outsourced packaging of the completed CD-ROMs and redelivery to the Richfield location for shipping. CD-ROM packaging will be outsourced to a reputable plant in the local area. Other costs include new software and upgrades to servers as we expand our hosting and support capabilities, and travel expenses for employees to personally install the software packages on clients’ computer systems.

Our sales forecast table uses the following assumptions:

• Auto body Products market growth rate of 14%.
• Auto body Services market growth rate of  7%.
• Commercial Drilling market growth rate of  22%.
• Sporting Goods Products market growth rate of 18%.
• Sporting Goods Services market growth rate of 15%.
• Metalworking and Manufacturing market growth rate of 14%..
• Service providers for the above industries, market growth rate of 4%.
• Distributor Partners market growth rate of 4%.

Categories 1-6 highlight our targeted market clientele all of which show a consistent growth growth rate that is consistent with the other JTB divisions. Categories 7 and 8 represent approximately 1,500 – 6,000 partners who could participate in servicing categories 1-6. JTB anticipates additional marketing revenues from providing the distributor partners access to the customer databases.

5.2 Strategic Alliances

JTB’s Integrated Technologies division will develop long-term relationships with many quality media developers, to provide our clients with a broad offering of products and services. Our developer partners and technology suppliers will be hand-picked for their products and capabilities. Our main goal while developing our strategic alliances is to select the best possible providers we can locate. JTB will network with our clients and distributor partners to create a unique collaborative environment capable of providing the needed input to fulfill and complete our media projects.

5.3 Marketing Strategy

• Develop a high profile sales environment, to bring our products to new and existing clients.
• Develop new ways to market our products to potential clients via our branded applications and software.
• Develop distributor partnerships utilizing our P.C.-based applications.
• Develop and maintain high-quality customer service and follow-up programs for all of the JTB divisions.
• Develop and utilize an ongoing automated marketing system to contact potential clients.
• Carefully target marketing expenditures to maximize returns on the campaigns.

5.3.1 Promotion Strategy

Much of our media marketing products, custom developed applications, P.C.-based sales and customer support products can be offered on a trial and demonstration arrangement. Promotion strategy will include a 100% performance guaranty with a limited-time money-back offer. Part of our strategy is to develop the products in such a way that modules can be added when the client would like additional features. All of our products will have a help and support area for the clients to access 24 hours; this will also allow a no-cost Web-based demonstration and product marketing environment.

5.3.2 Distribution Strategy

JTB will implement a Web-based distribution of its business applications, allowing JTB or other Web developers to instantly setup or install our applications on PCs. With Internet-based accessibility, the distribution costs are minimal. Some custom applications may use CD-ROMs to get the applications to the customer.

5.3.3 Positioning Statement

JTB Integrated Technologies will initially focus entirely on the development of its online media and business applications. When these initial software products are completed, JTB will position its industrial website technology in the industrial marketplace. Once established, marketing can immediately begin to develop the intended markets, with emphasis on marketing programs developed to generate subscription revenues as quickly as possible. As noted in the competitive edge, our mix of media products and services are developed to interact with sellers and buyers in the industrial marketplace, providing badly needed improvements in the marketing process. As our visitors and clients interact in our developed media environment, they will get a full appreciation of what JTB’s goals are in the marketplace.

Additionally, our representation of quality software products can be marketed within our media environment. 

5.3.4 Pricing Strategy

JTB’s product offering is developed to target small- to mid-sized corporations seeking overall improvements in the sales and marketing process. Our mix of products and services allows the client to cost-effectively develop their products, bring them to market, and provide the product with the highest possible level of support. Product and service pricing are based in part on time spent to customize applications, support services, subscription, licensing, and advertisement fees. As JTB will develop its own applications and media environments, our overall platform can be re-used many times over, making JTB’s offering extremely cost competitive.

5.4 Milestones

Hire Application Developers – JTB will seek multi-talented individuals to create the desired P.C.-based business applications we plan to develop as part of our product offering. These employees will work closely with management to custom-develop the base code needed for our application.

Hire Web Developer – JTB will seek a highly-experienced database applications Web developer to create the desired Internet applications to work in conjunction with our developed P.C applications. This employee will work closely with management to develop management’s concepts into logical, well-planned Web-based business development, customer service, marketing, and engineering related tools.

Applications development begins – JTB’s application developers will begin development of our sales, marketing and engineering applications for integration with the corporation’s websites, as an aid for staff members to manage customer requests, develop projects with other firms seeking engineering help, and exporting sales and engineering information about our products and services offering. When completed, these P.C.-based tools will interact with our Internet-based sites, and will become part of our applications offering of customer support products. 

Sales and Marketing program development – JTB will develop a substantial database-driven marketing program to contact new clients directly. JTB has a good overall view of the U.S. market, its buying patterns, and its marketing preferences. With this information, JTB can better tailor its product and service offerings, generating a better return on our marketing efforts.

Customer Service Associate Manager and Support Associate selection – JTB will screen applicants for skilled individuals seeking to develop a career in customer services. This person will need excellent computer skills, some previous website support experience, and previous sales experience. Both employees will work closely with Mr. Jeremy and the developers for intensive training in all areas of our products and services offering.

Marketing Sites are established – JTB will develop and manage multiple marketing sites dedicated to JTB’s entire line of industrial products and services. These sites will also generate revenue with additional product marketing from our distributor partners.

Revenue Sites are established – JTB will develop and manage multiple industry-specific sites. These sites will be a pay-per-ad situation, allowing businesses to highlight their products and services. The JTB media group’s logo will allow visitors to access our product and service sites. In some cases JTB will be a vendor in these sites as well.

Partnership Development Begins – JTB will implement its distributor partnership program to expand its client base throughout the U.S.

5.5 Competitive Edge

JTB’s combined competitive edge is an overall approach to market our goods and services to many different industries. Our unique approach of developing our own branded P.C.-based sales and marketing applications will strengthen our ties to our distributor partners and direct clients. As computer networking is a strong area for the owners personally, we see the benefits to businesses that have solid network based sales and marketing tools in place.

5.6 Value Proposition

JTB’s value proposition is entirely about working with businesses in a consulting fashion, working closely with the business’ sales, marketing, engineering, and management so our products can create a better working environment for our staff and clients. Our tailored products will streamline all aspects of customer support, creating continual savings for the client. As these products are scripted in a way that allows adaptability, the costs of a complete customization are minimal.

Further value is added when we can offer our intended clients a quality marketing and work procurement environment geared to helping their businesses grow.

Web Plan Summary

JTB’s Integrated Technologies Division will have the final responsibility for building, testing, updating, and maintaining the websites for all three subdivisions and the holding company which oversees them. JTB’s Web-based marketing plan is essentially the same for all of the JTB divisions, with the exception of how each division targets its clients. As JTB will be able to add its services offering into the marketplaces to be developed, we will get day to day information and feedback from the various paid ads we place in industrial trade magazines, and with other websites as well. The Web plan is to link our products and services with as many affiliate sites as possible. 

When established, these marketplaces and affiliate sites will serve as a very cost-effective marketing tool for all of the JTB divisions, again keeping in mind that each divisions approach to this will be tailored towards its intended potential clients. Each division will have dedicated websites operating under the JTB logo. With a track record available at all times via our servers, we can easily show others seeking a better marketing system, order processing, Web-based marketing, and special applications that JTB products perform as intended providing affordable long term results for our clients. 

6.1 Website Marketing Strategy

JTB will develop and manage as many industrial marketplaces as possible, seeking out niche marketing that drives customers to our industrial product and service sites. JTB will also embed itself into many other sites utilizing search engine technology, affiliate marketing programs, and paid banner ads.

As JTB will develop all of its sites and Internet-based applications internally, this will be done at a considerably lower overall cost that our competitors would spend to develop the same type of Web-based applications.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

President and Sales Manager Mitchell R. Jeremy will play a key role in working closely with the software and application developers to create the products to be offered by the business development division. We will jointly create the needed sample applications and provide the necessary creative environment needed to complete the interactive products. During this time I will also work to develop a team of support associates and train these individuals in all phases of marketing, customer support, and product support. 

NOTE: Mitchell Jeremy’s salary is paid at the level of the holding company, JTB Technologies, Inc., and is not reflected in the plan for this Division.

7.1 Personnel Plan

Customer Support Associate/Manager – the customer support associate/manager will work in all areas of  sales, marketing and customer support, providing customer support while continually training to market new products.

Customer Support Associate – Part-time . The customer support associate will be available to cover the operating hours of the office when the manager is unavailable. This role will focus more on developing new clients while also providing customer support when needed. 

Sales and Marketing Associate – (Shared) The Sales and Marketing Associate will work in a sales role, new customer development and follow up marketing.

Application Developer (Full-time)  – This employee will develop our products, create updates and provide any additional custom work when needed.

Assistant Application Developer/Quality Assurance Tester (Part-time) – This employee will assist in the development of certain modules of the standard integrated software package and be responsible for all QA testing, including maintaining a current bug list, processing feedback from other JTB employees, and from outside clients.

Web Developer – This is a full-time position, responsible for overseeing the creation of the company websites and for integrating the software package for use on the Intranet. The Web Developer will work with the App Developers to maintain database-driven content suitable for use in client demonstrations, as well as in day to day work at JTB’s different divisions.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

JTB’s financial plan is based on raising $225,000 by way of private equity to develop the Integrated Technologies Division of the corporation. To maintain Gross Margins of 36% or better, the Integrated Technologies division will develop, market and support  P.C.-based industrial sales applications and marketing portals.These products will be developed  in conjunction with input from our Industrial Sales, and Products and Services divisions, using our other divisions as a model and test bed. Our unique customer applications will help to speed the quotation and purchasing process of our 300,000 industrial products offered in our industrial divisions catalogs.

In just over one year, the Integrated Technologies Division will fully implement a large-scale Internet and catalog-based marketing program to develop its client base both locally and nationally.

We expect this division to show a net loss in the first two years, which will help to offset taxes on profits made by the other two divisions at the JTB Technologies level. The infrastructure built by this division will serve as a critical part of the daily operations of JTB Industrial Sales and JTB Products and Services beginning in month six. Given these benefits to the overall corporation, the long lead-time necessary for full software development is a worthwhile investment.

Important elements that will impact the financial plan include:

• How quickly the Industrial Sales division can pull its operations together, as this division will be situated within the same location as the other divisions. Management will have to develop and cross-train its sales teams as quickly as possible.
• While management is putting a lot of emphasis on the Internet based sales and marketing, we will initially implement a solid direct marketing plan with ads in many industrial magazines and websites.
• Although the business is a start-up company, the financial plan is solidly based on other software and application developers’ business profiles and cost structures. We have eliminated some corporate overhead expenses, such as warehouse and administrative costs, inventory penalties, and corporate nominal interest, as this division will carry only 1/3 of many of the normal operating expenses once established.

With all these factors considered, this division is capable of developing $443,000 in sales by year 5 of the plan. With tough financial planning, these financial goals will be fully realized when all aspects of the business divisions are in place, functioning as a complete corporation.

8.1 Important Assumptions

This plan is one part of a multi-division business plan providing details of each business segment for more accurate projections. For full forecasts, see the main plan (JTB Technologies, Inc.), which shows the overall development of the business in its entirety. Key assumptions around which we have developed this plan are as follows:

• Current business, banking, and economic trends continue to be stable.
• Customer buying trends and orders remain strong.
• Overhead and other external operating costs grow as projected.
• External outsourced costs grow as anticipated.
• Internet buying trends continue to grow in the industrial sector.

Note 8.1.1 Management has selected a quality networked accounting system with capabilities of having multiple businesses running while still offering full consolidation of the business for accounting purposes. This system is complete with project management capabilities and budgeting. As such, management will implement a budgeted approach for the projects while adjusting costs in JTB’s favor wherever possible.

All Profit and Loss forecasts in this plan include only the projections for the Industrial Products and Services Division . We suggest that each plan is reviewed, as each is quite different.

8.2 Break-even Analysis

As a start-up software firm, JTB Integrated Technologies will not reach break-even until year 3, although we will control costs to maintain a positive cash balance with the initial funding throughout the first two years.

The initial goal is to bring the subscription based products and services to market within 10 months, and to fully develop the linked websites for affiliate development in the first year. We will also offer numerous well accepted industrial software products for resale.  What will set JTB apart from the other industrial entities is its ability for flexibility, expansion, and its individual divisions with key individuals all under one roof targeting each market segment JTB will pursue.

With this in mind, the goal is to build a solid base for the corporation with our primary products and services while continuing the development phase of our distribution software.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

Please be sure to read note 8.1.1 in the Important Assumptions, section 8.1 regarding our Accounting system and methodology.

The Projected Profit and Loss table takes into consideration all of the basic operating expenses for the Integrated Technologies Division only. When management produced the table, we would have preferred to project a softer startup with more of a gradual expense growth as we added equipment and services. However, in software and Web development, up-front research and development expenses are significant. The plan does show a full depreciation schedule of relevant long-term assets.

One consideration not included in the Profit and Loss statement is the burden of management, and management’s output. Please remember when you do review the P&L, that the 3 JTB divisions will actually be operating under one roof; as such, management’s role will be to fill in, in all areas of production wherever needed to complete orders. Jeremy Mitchell will have primary management oversight ni the Integrated Technologies Division.

The Profit and Loss statement, below, includes an additional direct cost of sales in the fees paid to a contracted Graphic Designer, who will work with our developers to create the “look” of the software application UI and the JTB websites. We will keep this graphic artist on retainer to provide updates as we develop new and more customized versions of the software, and as we update the look and functionality of the website over the next five years.

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

JTB’s projected cash flow reflects the business’ position to repay the initial investors and the long-term loan. Please remember when you review this table, it is for the Integrated Technologies Division only. This division will operate at a loss for the first two years in order to build a solid, integrated software package to support the other divisions and to serve as the basis for future customized software and hosting for outside clients.

As the cash flow projects only the base products described in the business plan, it’s highly probable JTB will be involved with more outsourced products in years 2 thru 5 furthering our potential profitability. After initial decreases due to development lead-time, the cash position shows strong positive growth.

The Cash Flow table reflects one possible exit strategy for initial investors. Early in year three, as the business is becoming profitable with a stabilized software offering, we may seek a second round of outside investment and pay out our initial investors, with a $70,000 increase over the initial investment. We are confident that we can achieve this buy-out rate given the desperate need for software such as ours, the benefit of which will be proven after the first two years.

Please review section 8.1 regarding the Important Assumptions to get a better feel for the explained projected cash flow. 

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

JTB Integrated Technologies’s projected Balance Sheet shows the expected decrease in asset values (including cash reserves) over the two years, as we build, test, and establish our products and services. Once sales begin to pick up, we will make up this loss, reaching a strong net worth in year five.

8.6 Business Ratios

JTB’s business ratios are compared to standard industry ratios for the Business-Oriented Computer Software industry. Our ratios differ in some areas, as the industry profiles most likely reflect a complete business with a full overhead. Our ratios are lighter in overhead and assets, as most of the heavy assets are in our Industrial Products and Services Division, and are not shown in this division’s balance sheet.

Our sales growth is substantially greater as we are adding new products and services each year to the plan, and our average Gross Margins reflect the time and expense invested up-front in the development of many of our products. Overall, we feel our ratios are better than the industry as we have maximized our marketing budgets and marketing avenues while keeping costs in check. Further maximization comes in the form of training the sales staff on maintaining profit-per-order levels when processing orders. Our unique order processing makes for streamlined repeat ordering by customers, further allowing our staff to process orders more efficiently, while reducing the internal costs.

8.7 Long-term Plan

JTB’s Integrated Technologies Divisions long term plan has been projected out to a 10 year review to highlight the businesses long term results, and the added potential of the channel partnerships. Additionally, the fourth and fifth year cash position can be shown for pay-out analysis of the initial investors, this plan also give a much better equity picture.

• Gross Sales over $600,000 by year 8 of this plan.
• Gross Margins over $270,000 by year 5 of this plan.
• Net Income over $100,000 by year 5 of this plan.
• Current Assets back up over $200,000 by year 5 of the plan.
• Equity of over $260,000 by year 8 of this plan.

The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software