free business plan template ireland

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Irish Business Plans has over fifteen years experience preparing business plans. We cater for clients applying for loans, investment, grants and more.

Below you will find the typical format we use. It is free for you to download and tailor to your needs. The sample is available in both Word and PDF formats. ​

Please feel free to get in touch if writing your plan becomes too time consuming or if it needs professional input. Our expert business plan service is efficient and affordable. 

Contact us  for a free quotation, our prices start at €590. 

WHAT OUR PLANS CONTAIN

The executive summary is effectively a synopsis of the entire business plan. It should capture the essence of the business, setting out the rationale and logic behind the likelihood for its success. The style of writing should capture the reader’s attention without being overly dramatic. Typically, the section starts with an introductory paragraph or overview, after which the following headings will be discussed at a high level.

Business Description 

Products or Services

Market or Industry Synopsis

Entrepreneur’s Background and Staffing Plan

Sales History or Projections

Funding and Expenditure

Key Financial Indicators

COMPANY OVERVIEW

The company overview is generally the shortest section in the business plan. It should include a mission statement, details of the company’s legal structure and ownership, a brief history of the business/idea, and the business location. Conclude with short term objectives, focusing on the areas such as operations, sales and revenue, marketing, and funding.

PRODUCTS OR

This is where the business plan begins to get meaty. Both the problem which the business is solving and the actual solution are described in detail. Identify customers’ main pain point. Address what sets your solution apart from other alternatives. Areas such as pricing, sourcing and fulfilment, and future products or services are also covered in this section.

MARKET OVERVIEW

Next, attention turns to the market. Who is the business selling to? Who are its competitors? What forces are influencing the market? How will the company build and sustain a competitive advantage? What research have you done?

The section can be broken down into a number of sub-headings:

Target Markets

Market Influences e.g. social, suppliers, legal, technological, environmental

Competition & Building a Competitive Advantage

S.W.O.T. Analysis i.e. strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats

The company’s sales forecasts are outlined here. The level of complexity will vary depending on the nature of the business or the purpose of the plan. The company will need to have decided on its pricing strategy, and come-up with realistic sales targets.

The forecast is typically broken down into several rows, with a row for each core product or service that you are offering. However, the sales forecast should not be overly detailed. A high level breakdown is sufficient. The section also shows the cost of sales.

Marketing is a complex discipline, however, for the most part this section will focus on the promotional elements of the marketing mix.

To begin with, set out goals and objectives which the company hopes to achieve from the promotional activity. Then outline what these activities will consist of.

Most modern business plans will contain a mixture of traditional and digital marketing. Budgets and timelines may also be include here.

OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT

Investors don’t invest in ideas, they invest in people. Can you actually accomplish what you have planned? Do you have the right team in place to turn a good idea into a great business? Here is where you answer these questions. The operations section is where the best case is made that the right team is in place to execute the business idea. It shows that the important roles and responsibilities within the business have all been carefully considered. Include brief bios of each team member with their relevant experience and education highlighted. Also make provision for future personnel requirements. Conclude with a projected payroll table.

Normally, this section will include two sets of financials – a Profit & Loss (P&L) projection and a Cash Flow projection.

The P&L is where all the numbers come together and show if the business is making a profit or loss. It pulls data from the sales forecast and personnel plan and also includes a list of all other ongoing expenses associated with running the business. The P&L also contains the all important “bottom line” where expenses are subtracted from earnings to show if the company is making a profit each month or potentially incurring some losses as it grows.

The Cash Flow statement keeps track of how much cash (money in the bank) a business has at any given point. A typical cash flow statement starts with the amount of cash the business has on hand, adds new cash received through cash sales and paid invoices, and then subtracts cash that the business has paid out as it pays bills, interest, taxes, etc. This then leaves a total cash flow (cash in minus cash out) and ending cash (starting cash + cash in – cash out = ending cash).

More complex plans may also require a Balance Sheet.

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Business plan template.

BUSINESS PLAN EXAMPLE

(WORD FORMAT)

(PDF FORMAT)

Vincent Belingard (Director)

Belingard trading ltd. blanchardstown retail sector.

The quality of the document was sharp and slick with robust financials! It gave us the confidence to engage with investors. Mark understood my vision and ensured the document reflected it. I found everybody that I dealt with committed, efficient and to have strong business acumen.

Sandra Horan (Owner)

The beauty boutique killarney beauty sector.

Without doubt a 5-star service, our business plan was so thorough and professional that the commercial loan manager remarked on it when applying for the loan - and again 4 days later when we went to the bank to draw down our loan!

Stephen Walsh (CEO)

Aerhaus ltd. dungarvan manufacturing sector.

Our plan, written by IBP, was instrumental in our recent successful loan application. 

I would highly recommend the service and we will use them again should the need arise.

Free business plan template

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Xero is your partner in all aspects of your business, not just accounting software. Whether you need a multi-page or one-page business plan template, our free business plan template comes ready to fill in, complete with instructions. Download a business plan sample today.

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Fill in the form to get a free business plan template as an editable PDF. We’ll send a one-pager and a multi-pager to choose from.

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Why business templates are vital

A business plan is essential for the success of your small business or startup. It helps guide the direction of your business and explains your vision to others. A reusable single- and multi-page template lets you tailor your pitch for investors, staff, and prospects. Plans help:

• Included Startups decide if the idea is viable.
• Included Small businesses gauge the competition, determine their competitive advantages, set goals, and plan marketing strategies.

Download our guide on how to write a business plan

Why you’ll want to plan your business with our template

Our business plan template:

Helps you budget accurately

Our business plan’s customisable structure lets you accurately present your financial data.

Find out more about Xero analytics

Explains business plan components

Each business plan component comes with an annotated explanation to help you write your plan.

Read our guide on creating a business plan

Has multi-page and single-page versions

Simplify your mission, then focus it for investors with two different templates.

Download the single and multi-page templates

Getting started with the business plan template

Develop a concise mission statement about why your company exists and how it differs from similar companies. For example, Google’s statement is ‘To organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful’. LinkedIn’s statement is 'Connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful'. Then, develop business goals and objectives that fit with your statement. For example, LinkedIn’s objectives would specify metrics around the number of professionals and connections.

A value proposition presents the specific benefits your product or service brings to your customer, reinforces your brand identity, and give your team a focus. Business plan examples of value propositions might be: 'We help our customers feel good by fueling up with exceptional coffee in a community environment’, or ‘We help our customers choose the right gift in less than 10 minutes’.

A business plan for startups defines its target customers. All businesses should include market analysis in their business plans and update their analysis regularly. Start with your customers’ demographics. Then use the internet and primary sources like surveys and interviews) to learn more. Next, identify competitors and determine their strengths and weaknesses. Compare them with each other and decide where you fit within the competitive environment.

Successful small businesses promote their brands through websites, social media, broadcast ads, or sponsorships. They also use various sales channels, including online, brick-and-mortar stores, affiliates and distributors. Your business plan market analysis helps you decide the marketing strategies for your industry, product, and target audience. It also will help you predict annual sales – a key part of your financial planning.

Your business plan outline will also include your business structure, such as whether you are a limited corporation or partnership. It will list any operating agreements and information on supplier logistics. For example, how you will receive your raw materials and how you’ll deliver the product to customers. It will describe your daily operations and number of employees. Once you’ve completed your business plan, you’ll develop job descriptions for each role and begin hiring your team.

Financial forecasting is an important part of financial planning for businesses. Investors and lenders want to see your forecasts to determine whether to provide financing. The forecast also helps you budget to weather seasonal revenue dips and decide how many staff you can afford. It’s also a benchmark for gauging your performance, so you can take corrective action if necessary. Hiring a bookkeeper or accountant will help you make more accurate forecasts.

One-page business plan template

Writing about customers, competitors, income, and expenses will build your ideas in a short time. A single-page business plan template is:

• Included Easy for you and investors to read and understand
• Included Great for making a start
• Included Helps pin down the main idea
• Included Easy to update

Example of a business plan

Need an example of a simple business plan to get started.

Check out our filled-in, one-page business plan and be inspired to write your own.

When you’ll need a multi-page template

A multi-page business plan template has detailed forecasts and budgets, with evidence behind statements of costs, market size & competition

Pitching to investors

A multi-page business plan provides a comprehensive overview and is essential when you’re seeking funding.

Download multi-page business plan template.

Financing your business

Detailed financial planning for business demonstrates to lenders you manage funds responsibly.

Download our finance guide.

Forecasting and budgeting

A multi-page plan sets out expectations behind your business goals and objectives with detailed forecasting.

Learn about budgeting and forecasting.

FAQs about business plan templates

You want your team and investors to grasp your vision at a glance. A simple, concise plan is easier to understand, implement, and track. A complex plan can be overwhelming, leading to procrastination or inaction, and harder for your team to grasp. A simple plan is less daunting and more easily achievable, so you and your team are more likely to follow through with it.

Absolutely. The template is fully editable and customisable. You can change the content to create a plan that is unique, engaging, and personal, and update the plan easily as conditions change. The template guides you through the process, but doesn’t require you to do your plan a certain way.

Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This template has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business.

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