creation of business plan

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Simple Business Plan

By Joe Weller | October 11, 2021

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A business plan is the cornerstone of any successful company, regardless of size or industry. This step-by-step guide provides information on writing a business plan for organizations at any stage, complete with free templates and expert advice. 

Included on this page, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan and a chart to identify which type of business plan you should write . Plus, find information on how a business plan can help grow a business and expert tips on writing one .

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a document that communicates a company’s goals and ambitions, along with the timeline, finances, and methods needed to achieve them. Additionally, it may include a mission statement and details about the specific products or services offered.

A business plan can highlight varying time periods, depending on the stage of your company and its goals. That said, a typical business plan will include the following benchmarks:

• Product goals and deadlines for each month
• Monthly financials for the first two years
• Profit and loss statements for the first three to five years
• Balance sheet projections for the first three to five years

Startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses all create business plans to use as a guide as their new company progresses. Larger organizations may also create (and update) a business plan to keep high-level goals, financials, and timelines in check.

While you certainly need to have a formalized outline of your business’s goals and finances, creating a business plan can also help you determine a company’s viability, its profitability (including when it will first turn a profit), and how much money you will need from investors. In turn, a business plan has functional value as well: Not only does outlining goals help keep you accountable on a timeline, it can also attract investors in and of itself and, therefore, act as an effective strategy for growth.

For more information, visit our comprehensive guide to writing a strategic plan or download free strategic plan templates . This page focuses on for-profit business plans, but you can read our article with nonprofit business plan templates .

Business Plan Steps

The specific information in your business plan will vary, depending on the needs and goals of your venture, but a typical plan includes the following ordered elements:

• Executive summary
• Description of business
• Market analysis
• Competitive analysis
• Description of organizational management
• Description of product or services
• Marketing plan
• Sales strategy
• Funding details (or request for funding)
• Financial projections

If your plan is particularly long or complicated, consider adding a table of contents or an appendix for reference. For an in-depth description of each step listed above, read “ How to Write a Business Plan Step by Step ” below.

Broadly speaking, your audience includes anyone with a vested interest in your organization. They can include potential and existing investors, as well as customers, internal team members, suppliers, and vendors.

Do I Need a Simple or Detailed Plan?

Your business’s stage and intended audience dictates the level of detail your plan needs. Corporations require a thorough business plan — up to 100 pages. Small businesses or startups should have a concise plan focusing on financials and strategy.

How to Choose the Right Plan for Your Business

In order to identify which type of business plan you need to create, ask: “What do we want the plan to do?” Identify function first, and form will follow.

Use the chart below as a guide for what type of business plan to create:

Is the Order of Your Business Plan Important?

There is no set order for a business plan, with the exception of the executive summary, which should always come first. Beyond that, simply ensure that you organize the plan in a way that makes sense and flows naturally.

The Difference Between Traditional and Lean Business Plans

A traditional business plan follows the standard structure — because these plans encourage detail, they tend to require more work upfront and can run dozens of pages. A Lean business plan is less common and focuses on summarizing critical points for each section. These plans take much less work and typically run one page in length.

In general, you should use a traditional model for a legacy company, a large company, or any business that does not adhere to Lean (or another Agile method ). Use Lean if you expect the company to pivot quickly or if you already employ a Lean strategy with other business operations. Additionally, a Lean business plan can suffice if the document is for internal use only. Stick to a traditional version for investors, as they may be more sensitive to sudden changes or a high degree of built-in flexibility in the plan.

How to Write a Business Plan Step by Step

Writing a strong business plan requires research and attention to detail for each section. Below, you’ll find a 10-step guide to researching and defining each element in the plan.

Step 1: Executive Summary

The executive summary will always be the first section of your business plan. The goal is to answer the following questions:

• What is the vision and mission of the company?
• What are the company’s short- and long-term goals?

See our  roundup of executive summary examples and templates for samples. Read our executive summary guide to learn more about writing one.

Step 2: Description of Business

The goal of this section is to define the realm, scope, and intent of your venture. To do so, answer the following questions as clearly and concisely as possible:

• What business are we in?
• What does our business do?

Step 3: Market Analysis

In this section, provide evidence that you have surveyed and understand the current marketplace, and that your product or service satisfies a niche in the market. To do so, answer these questions:

• Who is our customer? 
• What does that customer value?

Step 4: Competitive Analysis

In many cases, a business plan proposes not a brand-new (or even market-disrupting) venture, but a more competitive version — whether via features, pricing, integrations, etc. — than what is currently available. In this section, answer the following questions to show that your product or service stands to outpace competitors:

• Who is the competition? 
• What do they do best? 
• What is our unique value proposition?

Step 5: Description of Organizational Management

In this section, write an overview of the team members and other key personnel who are integral to success. List roles and responsibilities, and if possible, note the hierarchy or team structure.

Step 6: Description of Products or Services

In this section, clearly define your product or service, as well as all the effort and resources that go into producing it. The strength of your product largely defines the success of your business, so it’s imperative that you take time to test and refine the product before launching into marketing, sales, or funding details.

Questions to answer in this section are as follows:

• What is the product or service?
• How do we produce it, and what resources are necessary for production?

Step 7: Marketing Plan

In this section, define the marketing strategy for your product or service. This doesn’t need to be as fleshed out as a full marketing plan , but it should answer basic questions, such as the following:

• Who is the target market (if different from existing customer base)?
• What channels will you use to reach your target market?
• What resources does your marketing strategy require, and do you have access to them?
• If possible, do you have a rough estimate of timeline and budget?
• How will you measure success?

Step 8: Sales Plan

Write an overview of the sales strategy, including the priorities of each cycle, steps to achieve these goals, and metrics for success. For the purposes of a business plan, this section does not need to be a comprehensive, in-depth sales plan , but can simply outline the high-level objectives and strategies of your sales efforts. 

Start by answering the following questions:

• What is the sales strategy?
• What are the tools and tactics you will use to achieve your goals?
• What are the potential obstacles, and how will you overcome them?
• What is the timeline for sales and turning a profit?
• What are the metrics of success?

Step 9: Funding Details (or Request for Funding)

This section is one of the most critical parts of your business plan, particularly if you are sharing it with investors. You do not need to provide a full financial plan, but you should be able to answer the following questions:

• How much capital do you currently have? How much capital do you need?
• How will you grow the team (onboarding, team structure, training and development)?
• What are your physical needs and constraints (space, equipment, etc.)?

Step 10: Financial Projections

Apart from the fundraising analysis, investors like to see thought-out financial projections for the future. As discussed earlier, depending on the scope and stage of your business, this could be anywhere from one to five years. 

While these projections won’t be exact — and will need to be somewhat flexible — you should be able to gauge the following:

• How and when will the company first generate a profit?
• How will the company maintain profit thereafter?

Business Plan Template

Download Business Plan Template

Microsoft Excel | Smartsheet

This basic business plan template has space for all the traditional elements: an executive summary, product or service details, target audience, marketing and sales strategies, etc. In the finances sections, input your baseline numbers, and the template will automatically calculate projections for sales forecasting, financial statements, and more.

For templates tailored to more specific needs, visit this business plan template roundup or download a fill-in-the-blank business plan template to make things easy. 

If you are looking for a particular template by file type, visit our pages dedicated exclusively to Microsoft Excel , Microsoft Word , and Adobe PDF business plan templates.

How to Write a Simple Business Plan

A simple business plan is a streamlined, lightweight version of the large, traditional model. As opposed to a one-page business plan , which communicates high-level information for quick overviews (such as a stakeholder presentation), a simple business plan can exceed one page.

Below are the steps for creating a generic simple business plan, which are reflected in the template below .

• Write the Executive Summary This section is the same as in the traditional business plan — simply offer an overview of what’s in the business plan, the prospect or core offering, and the short- and long-term goals of the company. 
• Add a Company Overview Document the larger company mission and vision. 
• Provide the Problem and Solution In straightforward terms, define the problem you are attempting to solve with your product or service and how your company will attempt to do it. Think of this section as the gap in the market you are attempting to close.
• Identify the Target Market Who is your company (and its products or services) attempting to reach? If possible, briefly define your buyer personas .
• Write About the Competition In this section, demonstrate your knowledge of the market by listing the current competitors and outlining your competitive advantage.
• Describe Your Product or Service Offerings Get down to brass tacks and define your product or service. What exactly are you selling?
• Outline Your Marketing Tactics Without getting into too much detail, describe your planned marketing initiatives.
• Add a Timeline and the Metrics You Will Use to Measure Success Offer a rough timeline, including milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs) that you will use to measure your progress.
• Include Your Financial Forecasts Write an overview of your financial plan that demonstrates you have done your research and adequate modeling. You can also list key assumptions that go into this forecasting. 
• Identify Your Financing Needs This section is where you will make your funding request. Based on everything in the business plan, list your proposed sources of funding, as well as how you will use it.

Simple Business Plan Template

Download Simple Business Plan Template

Microsoft Excel |  Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF  | Smartsheet

Use this simple business plan template to outline each aspect of your organization, including information about financing and opportunities to seek out further funding. This template is completely customizable to fit the needs of any business, whether it’s a startup or large company.

Read our article offering free simple business plan templates or free 30-60-90-day business plan templates to find more tailored options. You can also explore our collection of one page business templates . 

How to Write a Business Plan for a Lean Startup

A Lean startup business plan is a more Agile approach to a traditional version. The plan focuses more on activities, processes, and relationships (and maintains flexibility in all aspects), rather than on concrete deliverables and timelines.

While there is some overlap between a traditional and a Lean business plan, you can write a Lean plan by following the steps below:

• Add Your Value Proposition Take a streamlined approach to describing your product or service. What is the unique value your startup aims to deliver to customers? Make sure the team is aligned on the core offering and that you can state it in clear, simple language.
• List Your Key Partners List any other businesses you will work with to realize your vision, including external vendors, suppliers, and partners. This section demonstrates that you have thoughtfully considered the resources you can provide internally, identified areas for external assistance, and conducted research to find alternatives.
• Note the Key Activities Describe the key activities of your business, including sourcing, production, marketing, distribution channels, and customer relationships.
• Include Your Key Resources List the critical resources — including personnel, equipment, space, and intellectual property — that will enable you to deliver your unique value.
• Identify Your Customer Relationships and Channels In this section, document how you will reach and build relationships with customers. Provide a high-level map of the customer experience from start to finish, including the spaces in which you will interact with the customer (online, retail, etc.). 
• Detail Your Marketing Channels Describe the marketing methods and communication platforms you will use to identify and nurture your relationships with customers. These could be email, advertising, social media, etc.
• Explain the Cost Structure This section is especially necessary in the early stages of a business. Will you prioritize maximizing value or keeping costs low? List the foundational startup costs and how you will move toward profit over time.
• Share Your Revenue Streams Over time, how will the company make money? Include both the direct product or service purchase, as well as secondary sources of revenue, such as subscriptions, selling advertising space, fundraising, etc.

Lean Business Plan Template for Startups

Download Lean Business Plan Template for Startups

Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF

Startup leaders can use this Lean business plan template to relay the most critical information from a traditional plan. You’ll find all the sections listed above, including spaces for industry and product overviews, cost structure and sources of revenue, and key metrics, and a timeline. The template is completely customizable, so you can edit it to suit the objectives of your Lean startups.

See our wide variety of  startup business plan templates for more options.

How to Write a Business Plan for a Loan

A business plan for a loan, often called a loan proposal , includes many of the same aspects of a traditional business plan, as well as additional financial documents, such as a credit history, a loan request, and a loan repayment plan.

In addition, you may be asked to include personal and business financial statements, a form of collateral, and equity investment information.

Download free financial templates to support your business plan.

Tips for Writing a Business Plan

Outside of including all the key details in your business plan, you have several options to elevate the document for the highest chance of winning funding and other resources. Follow these tips from experts:.

• Keep It Simple: Avner Brodsky , the Co-Founder and CEO of Lezgo Limited, an online marketing company, uses the acronym KISS (keep it short and simple) as a variation on this idea. “The business plan is not a college thesis,” he says. “Just focus on providing the essential information.”
• Do Adequate Research: Michael Dean, the Co-Founder of Pool Research , encourages business leaders to “invest time in research, both internal and external (market, finance, legal etc.). Avoid being overly ambitious or presumptive. Instead, keep everything objective, balanced, and accurate.” Your plan needs to stand on its own, and you must have the data to back up any claims or forecasting you make. As Brodsky explains, “Your business needs to be grounded on the realities of the market in your chosen location. Get the most recent data from authoritative sources so that the figures are vetted by experts and are reliable.”
• Set Clear Goals: Make sure your plan includes clear, time-based goals. “Short-term goals are key to momentum growth and are especially important to identify for new businesses,” advises Dean.
• Know (and Address) Your Weaknesses: “This awareness sets you up to overcome your weak points much quicker than waiting for them to arise,” shares Dean. Brodsky recommends performing a full SWOT analysis to identify your weaknesses, too. “Your business will fare better with self-knowledge, which will help you better define the mission of your business, as well as the strategies you will choose to achieve your objectives,” he adds.
• Seek Peer or Mentor Review: “Ask for feedback on your drafts and for areas to improve,” advises Brodsky. “When your mind is filled with dreams for your business, sometimes it is an outsider who can tell you what you’re missing and will save your business from being a product of whimsy.”

Outside of these more practical tips, the language you use is also important and may make or break your business plan.

Shaun Heng, VP of Operations at Coin Market Cap , gives the following advice on the writing, “Your business plan is your sales pitch to an investor. And as with any sales pitch, you need to strike the right tone and hit a few emotional chords. This is a little tricky in a business plan, because you also need to be formal and matter-of-fact. But you can still impress by weaving in descriptive language and saying things in a more elegant way.

“A great way to do this is by expanding your vocabulary, avoiding word repetition, and using business language. Instead of saying that something ‘will bring in as many customers as possible,’ try saying ‘will garner the largest possible market segment.’ Elevate your writing with precise descriptive words and you'll impress even the busiest investor.”

Additionally, Dean recommends that you “stay consistent and concise by keeping your tone and style steady throughout, and your language clear and precise. Include only what is 100 percent necessary.”

Resources for Writing a Business Plan

While a template provides a great outline of what to include in a business plan, a live document or more robust program can provide additional functionality, visibility, and real-time updates. The U.S. Small Business Association also curates resources for writing a business plan.

Additionally, you can use business plan software to house data, attach documentation, and share information with stakeholders. Popular options include LivePlan, Enloop, BizPlanner, PlanGuru, and iPlanner.

How a Business Plan Helps to Grow Your Business

A business plan — both the exercise of creating one and the document — can grow your business by helping you to refine your product, target audience, sales plan, identify opportunities, secure funding, and build new partnerships. 

Outside of these immediate returns, writing a business plan is a useful exercise in that it forces you to research the market, which prompts you to forge your unique value proposition and identify ways to beat the competition. Doing so will also help you build (and keep you accountable to) attainable financial and product milestones. And down the line, it will serve as a welcome guide as hurdles inevitably arise.

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How to Write a Business Plan: Step-by-Step Guide + Examples

Noah Parsons

24 min. read

Updated March 18, 2024

Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be complicated. 

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to write a business plan that’s detailed enough to impress bankers and potential investors, while giving you the tools to start, run, and grow a successful business.

• The basics of business planning

If you’re reading this guide, then you already know why you need a business plan . 

You understand that planning helps you: 

• Raise money
• Grow strategically
• Keep your business on the right track 

As you start to write your plan, it’s useful to zoom out and remember what a business plan is .

At its core, a business plan is an overview of the products and services you sell, and the customers that you sell to. It explains your business strategy: how you’re going to build and grow your business, what your marketing strategy is, and who your competitors are.

Most business plans also include financial forecasts for the future. These set sales goals, budget for expenses, and predict profits and cash flow. 

A good business plan is much more than just a document that you write once and forget about. It’s also a guide that helps you outline and achieve your goals. 

After completing your plan, you can use it as a management tool to track your progress toward your goals. Updating and adjusting your forecasts and budgets as you go is one of the most important steps you can take to run a healthier, smarter business. 

We’ll dive into how to use your plan later in this article.

There are many different types of plans , but we’ll go over the most common type here, which includes everything you need for an investor-ready plan. However, if you’re just starting out and are looking for something simpler—I recommend starting with a one-page business plan . It’s faster and easier to create. 

It’s also the perfect place to start if you’re just figuring out your idea, or need a simple strategic plan to use inside your business.

Dig deeper : How to write a one-page business plan

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• What to include in your business plan

Executive summary

The executive summary is an overview of your business and your plans. It comes first in your plan and is ideally just one to two pages. Most people write it last because it’s a summary of the complete business plan.

Ideally, the executive summary can act as a stand-alone document that covers the highlights of your detailed plan. 

In fact, it’s common for investors to ask only for the executive summary when evaluating your business. If they like what they see in the executive summary, they’ll often follow up with a request for a complete plan, a pitch presentation , or more in-depth financial forecasts .

Your executive summary should include:

• A summary of the problem you are solving
• A description of your product or service
• An overview of your target market
• A brief description of your team
• A summary of your financials
• Your funding requirements (if you are raising money)

Dig Deeper: How to write an effective executive summary

Products and services description

This is where you describe exactly what you’re selling, and how it solves a problem for your target market. The best way to organize this part of your plan is to start by describing the problem that exists for your customers. After that, you can describe how you plan to solve that problem with your product or service. 

This is usually called a problem and solution statement .

To truly showcase the value of your products and services, you need to craft a compelling narrative around your offerings. How will your product or service transform your customers’ lives or jobs? A strong narrative will draw in your readers.

This is also the part of the business plan to discuss any competitive advantages you may have, like specific intellectual property or patents that protect your product. If you have any initial sales, contracts, or other evidence that your product or service is likely to sell, include that information as well. It will show that your idea has traction , which can help convince readers that your plan has a high chance of success.

Market analysis

Your target market is a description of the type of people that you plan to sell to. You might even have multiple target markets, depending on your business. 

A market analysis is the part of your plan where you bring together all of the information you know about your target market. Basically, it’s a thorough description of who your customers are and why they need what you’re selling. You’ll also include information about the growth of your market and your industry .

Try to be as specific as possible when you describe your market. 

Include information such as age, income level, and location—these are what’s called “demographics.” If you can, also describe your market’s interests and habits as they relate to your business—these are “psychographics.” 

Related: Target market examples

Essentially, you want to include any knowledge you have about your customers that is relevant to how your product or service is right for them. With a solid target market, it will be easier to create a sales and marketing plan that will reach your customers. That’s because you know who they are, what they like to do, and the best ways to reach them.

Next, provide any additional information you have about your market. 

What is the size of your market ? Is the market growing or shrinking? Ideally, you’ll want to demonstrate that your market is growing over time, and also explain how your business is positioned to take advantage of any expected changes in your industry.

Dig Deeper: Learn how to write a market analysis

Competitive analysis

Part of defining your business opportunity is determining what your competitive advantage is. To do this effectively, you need to know as much about your competitors as your target customers. 

Every business has some form of competition. If you don’t think you have competitors, then explore what alternatives there are in the market for your product or service. 

For example: In the early years of cars, their main competition was horses. For social media, the early competition was reading books, watching TV, and talking on the phone.

A good competitive analysis fully lays out the competitive landscape and then explains how your business is different. Maybe your products are better made, or cheaper, or your customer service is superior. Maybe your competitive advantage is your location – a wide variety of factors can ultimately give you an advantage.

Dig Deeper: How to write a competitive analysis for your business plan

Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan covers how you will position your product or service in the market, the marketing channels and messaging you will use, and your sales tactics. 

The best place to start with a marketing plan is with a positioning statement . 

This explains how your business fits into the overall market, and how you will explain the advantages of your product or service to customers. You’ll use the information from your competitive analysis to help you with your positioning. 

For example: You might position your company as the premium, most expensive but the highest quality option in the market. Or your positioning might focus on being locally owned and that shoppers support the local economy by buying your products.

Once you understand your positioning, you’ll bring this together with the information about your target market to create your marketing strategy . 

This is how you plan to communicate your message to potential customers. Depending on who your customers are and how they purchase products like yours, you might use many different strategies, from social media advertising to creating a podcast. Your marketing plan is all about how your customers discover who you are and why they should consider your products and services. 

While your marketing plan is about reaching your customers—your sales plan will describe the actual sales process once a customer has decided that they’re interested in what you have to offer. 

If your business requires salespeople and a long sales process, describe that in this section. If your customers can “self-serve” and just make purchases quickly on your website, describe that process. 

A good sales plan picks up where your marketing plan leaves off. The marketing plan brings customers in the door and the sales plan is how you close the deal.

Together, these specific plans paint a picture of how you will connect with your target audience, and how you will turn them into paying customers.

Dig deeper: What to include in your sales and marketing plan

Business operations

The operations section describes the necessary requirements for your business to run smoothly. It’s where you talk about how your business works and what day-to-day operations look like. 

Depending on how your business is structured, your operations plan may include elements of the business like:

• Supply chain management
• Manufacturing processes
• Equipment and technology
• Distribution

Some businesses distribute their products and reach their customers through large retailers like Amazon.com, Walmart, Target, and grocery store chains. 

These businesses should review how this part of their business works. The plan should discuss the logistics and costs of getting products onto store shelves and any potential hurdles the business may have to overcome.

If your business is much simpler than this, that’s OK. This section of your business plan can be either extremely short or more detailed, depending on the type of business you are building.

For businesses selling services, such as physical therapy or online software, you can use this section to describe the technology you’ll leverage, what goes into your service, and who you will partner with to deliver your services.

Dig Deeper: Learn how to write the operations chapter of your plan

Key milestones and metrics

Although it’s not required to complete your business plan, mapping out key business milestones and the metrics can be incredibly useful for measuring your success.

Good milestones clearly lay out the parameters of the task and set expectations for their execution. You’ll want to include:

• A description of each task
• The proposed due date
• Who is responsible for each task

If you have a budget, you can include projected costs to hit each milestone. You don’t need extensive project planning in this section—just list key milestones you want to hit and when you plan to hit them. This is your overall business roadmap. 

Possible milestones might be:

• Website launch date
• Store or office opening date
• First significant sales
• Break even date
• Business licenses and approvals

You should also discuss the key numbers you will track to determine your success. Some common metrics worth tracking include:

• Conversion rates
• Customer acquisition costs
• Profit per customer
• Repeat purchases

It’s perfectly fine to start with just a few metrics and grow the number you are tracking over time. You also may find that some metrics simply aren’t relevant to your business and can narrow down what you’re tracking.

Dig Deeper: How to use milestones in your business plan

Organization and management team

Investors don’t just look for great ideas—they want to find great teams. Use this chapter to describe your current team and who you need to hire . You should also provide a quick overview of your location and history if you’re already up and running.

Briefly highlight the relevant experiences of each key team member in the company. It’s important to make the case for why yours is the right team to turn an idea into a reality. 

Do they have the right industry experience and background? Have members of the team had entrepreneurial successes before? 

If you still need to hire key team members, that’s OK. Just note those gaps in this section.

Your company overview should also include a summary of your company’s current business structure . The most common business structures include:

• Sole proprietor
• Partnership

Be sure to provide an overview of how the business is owned as well. Does each business partner own an equal portion of the business? How is ownership divided? 

Potential lenders and investors will want to know the structure of the business before they will consider a loan or investment.

Dig Deeper: How to write about your company structure and team

Financial plan

Last, but certainly not least, is your financial plan chapter. 

Entrepreneurs often find this section the most daunting. But, business financials for most startups are less complicated than you think, and a business degree is certainly not required to build a solid financial forecast. 

A typical financial forecast in a business plan includes the following:

• Sales forecast : An estimate of the sales expected over a given period. You’ll break down your forecast into the key revenue streams that you expect to have.
• Expense budget : Your planned spending such as personnel costs , marketing expenses, and taxes.
• Profit & Loss : Brings together your sales and expenses and helps you calculate planned profits.
• Cash Flow : Shows how cash moves into and out of your business. It can predict how much cash you’ll have on hand at any given point in the future.
• Balance Sheet : A list of the assets, liabilities, and equity in your company. In short, it provides an overview of the financial health of your business. 

A strong business plan will include a description of assumptions about the future, and potential risks that could impact the financial plan. Including those will be especially important if you’re writing a business plan to pursue a loan or other investment.

Dig Deeper: How to create financial forecasts and budgets

This is the place for additional data, charts, or other information that supports your plan.

Including an appendix can significantly enhance the credibility of your plan by showing readers that you’ve thoroughly considered the details of your business idea, and are backing your ideas up with solid data.

Just remember that the information in the appendix is meant to be supplementary. Your business plan should stand on its own, even if the reader skips this section.

Dig Deeper : What to include in your business plan appendix

Optional: Business plan cover page

Adding a business plan cover page can make your plan, and by extension your business, seem more professional in the eyes of potential investors, lenders, and partners. It serves as the introduction to your document and provides necessary contact information for stakeholders to reference.

Your cover page should be simple and include:

• Company logo
• Business name
• Value proposition (optional)
• Business plan title
• Completion and/or update date
• Address and contact information
• Confidentiality statement

Just remember, the cover page is optional. If you decide to include it, keep it very simple and only spend a short amount of time putting it together.

Dig Deeper: How to create a business plan cover page

How to use AI to help write your business plan

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can speed up the business plan writing process and help you think through concepts like market segmentation and competition. These tools are especially useful for taking ideas that you provide and converting them into polished text for your business plan.

The best way to use AI for your business plan is to leverage it as a collaborator , not a replacement for human creative thinking and ingenuity. 

AI can come up with lots of ideas and act as a brainstorming partner. It’s up to you to filter through those ideas and figure out which ones are realistic enough to resonate with your customers. 

There are pros and cons of using AI to help with your business plan . So, spend some time understanding how it can be most helpful before just outsourcing the job to AI.

Learn more: 10 AI prompts you need to write a business plan

• Writing tips and strategies

To help streamline the business plan writing process, here are a few tips and key questions to answer to make sure you get the most out of your plan and avoid common mistakes .  

Determine why you are writing a business plan

Knowing why you are writing a business plan will determine your approach to your planning project. 

For example: If you are writing a business plan for yourself, or just to use inside your own business , you can probably skip the section about your team and organizational structure. 

If you’re raising money, you’ll want to spend more time explaining why you’re looking to raise the funds and exactly how you will use them.

Regardless of how you intend to use your business plan , think about why you are writing and what you’re trying to get out of the process before you begin.

Keep things concise

Probably the most important tip is to keep your business plan short and simple. There are no prizes for long business plans . The longer your plan is, the less likely people are to read it. 

So focus on trimming things down to the essentials your readers need to know. Skip the extended, wordy descriptions and instead focus on creating a plan that is easy to read —using bullets and short sentences whenever possible.

Have someone review your business plan

Writing a business plan in a vacuum is never a good idea. Sometimes it’s helpful to zoom out and check if your plan makes sense to someone else. You also want to make sure that it’s easy to read and understand.

Don’t wait until your plan is “done” to get a second look. Start sharing your plan early, and find out from readers what questions your plan leaves unanswered. This early review cycle will help you spot shortcomings in your plan and address them quickly, rather than finding out about them right before you present your plan to a lender or investor.

If you need a more detailed review, you may want to explore hiring a professional plan writer to thoroughly examine it.

Use a free business plan template and business plan examples to get started

Knowing what information you need to cover in a business plan sometimes isn’t quite enough. If you’re struggling to get started or need additional guidance, it may be worth using a business plan template. 

If you’re looking for a free downloadable business plan template to get you started, download the template used by more than 1 million businesses. 

Or, if you just want to see what a completed business plan looks like, check out our library of over 550 free business plan examples . 

We even have a growing list of industry business planning guides with tips for what to focus on depending on your business type.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re writing your business plan. Some entrepreneurs get sucked into the writing and research process, and don’t focus enough on actually getting their business started. 

Here are a few common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Not talking to your customers : This is one of the most common mistakes. It’s easy to assume that your product or service is something that people want. Before you invest too much in your business and too much in the planning process, make sure you talk to your prospective customers and have a good understanding of their needs.

• Overly optimistic sales and profit forecasts: By nature, entrepreneurs are optimistic about the future. But it’s good to temper that optimism a little when you’re planning, and make sure your forecasts are grounded in reality. 
• Spending too much time planning: Yes, planning is crucial. But you also need to get out and talk to customers, build prototypes of your product and figure out if there’s a market for your idea. Make sure to balance planning with building.
• Not revising the plan: Planning is useful, but nothing ever goes exactly as planned. As you learn more about what’s working and what’s not—revise your plan, your budgets, and your revenue forecast. Doing so will provide a more realistic picture of where your business is going, and what your financial needs will be moving forward.
• Not using the plan to manage your business: A good business plan is a management tool. Don’t just write it and put it on the shelf to collect dust – use it to track your progress and help you reach your goals.
• Presenting your business plan

The planning process forces you to think through every aspect of your business and answer questions that you may not have thought of. That’s the real benefit of writing a business plan – the knowledge you gain about your business that you may not have been able to discover otherwise.

With all of this knowledge, you’re well prepared to convert your business plan into a pitch presentation to present your ideas. 

A pitch presentation is a summary of your plan, just hitting the highlights and key points. It’s the best way to present your business plan to investors and team members.

Dig Deeper: Learn what key slides should be included in your pitch deck

Use your business plan to manage your business

One of the biggest benefits of planning is that it gives you a tool to manage your business better. With a revenue forecast, expense budget, and projected cash flow, you know your targets and where you are headed.

And yet, nothing ever goes exactly as planned – it’s the nature of business.

That’s where using your plan as a management tool comes in. The key to leveraging it for your business is to review it periodically and compare your forecasts and projections to your actual results.

Start by setting up a regular time to review the plan – a monthly review is a good starting point. During this review, answer questions like:

• Did you meet your sales goals?
• Is spending following your budget?
• Has anything gone differently than what you expected?

Now that you see whether you’re meeting your goals or are off track, you can make adjustments and set new targets. 

Maybe you’re exceeding your sales goals and should set new, more aggressive goals. In that case, maybe you should also explore more spending or hiring more employees. 

Or maybe expenses are rising faster than you projected. If that’s the case, you would need to look at where you can cut costs.

A plan, and a method for comparing your plan to your actual results , is the tool you need to steer your business toward success.

Learn More: How to run a regular plan review

Free business plan templates and examples

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How to write a business plan FAQ

What is a business plan?

A document that describes your business , the products and services you sell, and the customers that you sell to. It explains your business strategy, how you’re going to build and grow your business, what your marketing strategy is, and who your competitors are.

What are the benefits of a business plan?

A business plan helps you understand where you want to go with your business and what it will take to get there. It reduces your overall risk, helps you uncover your business’s potential, attracts investors, and identifies areas for growth.

Having a business plan ultimately makes you more confident as a business owner and more likely to succeed for a longer period of time.

What are the 7 steps of a business plan?

The seven steps to writing a business plan include:

• Write a brief executive summary
• Describe your products and services.
• Conduct market research and compile data into a cohesive market analysis.
• Describe your marketing and sales strategy.
• Outline your organizational structure and management team.
• Develop financial projections for sales, revenue, and cash flow.
• Add any additional documents to your appendix.

What are the 5 most common business plan mistakes?

There are plenty of mistakes that can be made when writing a business plan. However, these are the 5 most common that you should do your best to avoid:

• 1. Not taking the planning process seriously.
• Having unrealistic financial projections or incomplete financial information.
• Inconsistent information or simple mistakes.
• Failing to establish a sound business model.
• Not having a defined purpose for your business plan.

What questions should be answered in a business plan?

Writing a business plan is all about asking yourself questions about your business and being able to answer them through the planning process. You’ll likely be asking dozens and dozens of questions for each section of your plan.

However, these are the key questions you should ask and answer with your business plan:

• How will your business make money?
• Is there a need for your product or service?
• Who are your customers?
• How are you different from the competition?
• How will you reach your customers?
• How will you measure success?

How long should a business plan be?

The length of your business plan fully depends on what you intend to do with it. From the SBA and traditional lender point of view, a business plan needs to be whatever length necessary to fully explain your business. This means that you prove the viability of your business, show that you understand the market, and have a detailed strategy in place.

If you intend to use your business plan for internal management purposes, you don’t necessarily need a full 25-50 page business plan. Instead, you can start with a one-page plan to get all of the necessary information in place.

What are the different types of business plans?

While all business plans cover similar categories, the style and function fully depend on how you intend to use your plan. Here are a few common business plan types worth considering.

Traditional business plan: The tried-and-true traditional business plan is a formal document meant to be used when applying for funding or pitching to investors. This type of business plan follows the outline above and can be anywhere from 10-50 pages depending on the amount of detail included, the complexity of your business, and what you include in your appendix.

Business model canvas: The business model canvas is a one-page template designed to demystify the business planning process. It removes the need for a traditional, copy-heavy business plan, in favor of a single-page outline that can help you and outside parties better explore your business idea.

One-page business plan: This format is a simplified version of the traditional plan that focuses on the core aspects of your business. You’ll typically stick with bullet points and single sentences. It’s most useful for those exploring ideas, needing to validate their business model, or who need an internal plan to help them run and manage their business.

Lean Plan: The Lean Plan is less of a specific document type and more of a methodology. It takes the simplicity and styling of the one-page business plan and turns it into a process for you to continuously plan, test, review, refine, and take action based on performance. It’s faster, keeps your plan concise, and ensures that your plan is always up-to-date.

What’s the difference between a business plan and a strategic plan?

A business plan covers the “who” and “what” of your business. It explains what your business is doing right now and how it functions. The strategic plan explores long-term goals and explains “how” the business will get there. It encourages you to look more intently toward the future and how you will achieve your vision.

However, when approached correctly, your business plan can actually function as a strategic plan as well. If kept lean, you can define your business, outline strategic steps, and track ongoing operations all with a single plan.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Noah is the COO at Palo Alto Software, makers of the online business plan app LivePlan. He started his career at Yahoo! and then helped start the user review site Epinions.com. From there he started a software distribution business in the UK before coming to Palo Alto Software to run the marketing and product teams.

Table of Contents

• Use AI to help write your plan
• Common planning mistakes
• Manage with your business plan
• Templates and examples

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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?

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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.

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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 ."

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How to make a business plan

Table of Contents

How to make a good business plan: step-by-step guide.

A business plan is a strategic roadmap used to navigate the challenging journey of entrepreneurship. It's the foundation upon which you build a successful business.

A well-crafted business plan can help you define your vision, clarify your goals, and identify potential problems before they arise.

But where do you start? How do you create a business plan that sets you up for success?

This article will explore the step-by-step process of creating a comprehensive business plan.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a formal document that outlines a business's objectives, strategies, and operational procedures. It typically includes the following information about a company:

Products or services

Target market

Competitors

Marketing and sales strategies

Financial plan

Management team

A business plan serves as a roadmap for a company's success and provides a blueprint for its growth and development. It helps entrepreneurs and business owners organize their ideas, evaluate the feasibility, and identify potential challenges and opportunities.

As well as serving as a guide for business owners, a business plan can attract investors and secure funding. It demonstrates the company's understanding of the market, its ability to generate revenue and profits, and its strategy for managing risks and achieving success.

Business plan vs. business model canvas

A business plan may seem similar to a business model canvas, but each document serves a different purpose.

A business model canvas is a high-level overview that helps entrepreneurs and business owners quickly test and iterate their ideas. It is often a one-page document that briefly outlines the following:

Key partnerships

Key activities

Key propositions

Customer relationships

Customer segments

Key resources

Cost structure

Revenue streams

On the other hand, a Business Plan Template provides a more in-depth analysis of a company's strategy and operations. It is typically a lengthy document and requires significant time and effort to develop.

A business model shouldn’t replace a business plan, and vice versa. Business owners should lay the foundations and visually capture the most important information with a Business Model Canvas Template . Because this is a fast and efficient way to communicate a business idea, a business model canvas is a good starting point before developing a more comprehensive business plan.

A business plan can aim to secure funding from investors or lenders, while a business model canvas communicates a business idea to potential customers or partners.

Why is a business plan important?

A business plan is crucial for any entrepreneur or business owner wanting to increase their chances of success.

Here are some of the many benefits of having a thorough business plan.

Helps to define the business goals and objectives

A business plan encourages you to think critically about your goals and objectives. Doing so lets you clearly understand what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there.

A well-defined set of goals, objectives, and key results also provides a sense of direction and purpose, which helps keep business owners focused and motivated.

Guides decision-making

A business plan requires you to consider different scenarios and potential problems that may arise in your business. This awareness allows you to devise strategies to deal with these issues and avoid pitfalls.

With a clear plan, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions aligning with their overall business goals and objectives. This helps reduce the risk of making costly mistakes and ensures they make decisions with long-term success in mind.

Attracts investors and secures funding

Investors and lenders often require a business plan before considering investing in your business. A document that outlines the company's goals, objectives, and financial forecasts can help instill confidence in potential investors and lenders.

A well-written business plan demonstrates that you have thoroughly thought through your business idea and have a solid plan for success.

Identifies potential challenges and risks

A business plan requires entrepreneurs to consider potential challenges and risks that could impact their business. For example:

Is there enough demand for my product or service?

Will I have enough capital to start my business?

Is the market oversaturated with too many competitors?

What will happen if my marketing strategy is ineffective?

By identifying these potential challenges, entrepreneurs can develop strategies to mitigate risks and overcome challenges. This can reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes and ensure the business is well-positioned to take on any challenges.

Provides a basis for measuring success

A business plan serves as a framework for measuring success by providing clear goals and financial projections . Entrepreneurs can regularly refer to the original business plan as a benchmark to measure progress. By comparing the current business position to initial forecasts, business owners can answer questions such as:

Are we where we want to be at this point?

Did we achieve our goals?

If not, why not, and what do we need to do?

After assessing whether the business is meeting its objectives or falling short, business owners can adjust their strategies as needed.

How to make a business plan step by step

The steps below will guide you through the process of creating a business plan and what key components you need to include.

1. Create an executive summary

Start with a brief overview of your entire plan. The executive summary should cover your business plan's main points and key takeaways.

Keep your executive summary concise and clear with the Executive Summary Template . The simple design helps readers understand the crux of your business plan without reading the entire document.

2. Write your company description

Provide a detailed explanation of your company. Include information on what your company does, the mission statement, and your vision for the future.

Provide additional background information on the history of your company, the founders, and any notable achievements or milestones.

3. Conduct a market analysis

Conduct an in-depth analysis of your industry, competitors, and target market. This is best done with a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Next, identify your target market's needs, demographics, and behaviors.

Use the Competitive Analysis Template to brainstorm answers to simple questions like:

What does the current market look like?

Who are your competitors?

What are they offering?

What will give you a competitive advantage?

Who is your target market?

What are they looking for and why?

How will your product or service satisfy a need?

These questions should give you valuable insights into the current market and where your business stands.

4. Describe your products and services

Provide detailed information about your products and services. This includes pricing information, product features, and any unique selling points.

Use the Product/Market Fit Template to explain how your products meet the needs of your target market. Describe what sets them apart from the competition.

5. Design a marketing and sales strategy

Outline how you plan to promote and sell your products. Your marketing strategy and sales strategy should include information about your:

Pricing strategy

Advertising and promotional tactics

Sales channels

The Go to Market Strategy Template is a great way to visually map how you plan to launch your product or service in a new or existing market.

6. Determine budget and financial projections

Document detailed information on your business’ finances. Describe the current financial position of the company and how you expect the finances to play out.

Some details to include in this section are:

Startup costs

Revenue projections

Profit and loss statement

Funding you have received or plan to receive

Strategy for raising funds

7. Set the organization and management structure

Define how your company is structured and who will be responsible for each aspect of the business. Use the Business Organizational Chart Template to visually map the company’s teams, roles, and hierarchy.

As well as the organization and management structure, discuss the legal structure of your business. Clarify whether your business is a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or LLC.

8. Make an action plan

At this point in your business plan, you’ve described what you’re aiming for. But how are you going to get there? The Action Plan Template describes the following steps to move your business plan forward. Outline the next steps you plan to take to bring your business plan to fruition.

Types of business plans

Several types of business plans cater to different purposes and stages of a company's lifecycle. Here are some of the most common types of business plans.

Startup business plan

A startup business plan is typically an entrepreneur's first business plan. This document helps entrepreneurs articulate their business idea when starting a new business.

Not sure how to make a business plan for a startup? It’s pretty similar to a regular business plan, except the primary purpose of a startup business plan is to convince investors to provide funding for the business. A startup business plan also outlines the potential target market, product/service offering, marketing plan, and financial projections.

Strategic business plan

A strategic business plan is a long-term plan that outlines a company's overall strategy, objectives, and tactics. This type of strategic plan focuses on the big picture and helps business owners set goals and priorities and measure progress.

The primary purpose of a strategic business plan is to provide direction and guidance to the company's management team and stakeholders. The plan typically covers a period of three to five years.

Operational business plan

An operational business plan is a detailed document that outlines the day-to-day operations of a business. It focuses on the specific activities and processes required to run the business, such as:

Organizational structure

Staffing plan

Production plan

Quality control

Inventory management

Supply chain

The primary purpose of an operational business plan is to ensure that the business runs efficiently and effectively. It helps business owners manage their resources, track their performance, and identify areas for improvement.

Growth-business plan

A growth-business plan is a strategic plan that outlines how a company plans to expand its business. It helps business owners identify new market opportunities and increase revenue and profitability. The primary purpose of a growth-business plan is to provide a roadmap for the company's expansion and growth.

The 3 Horizons of Growth Template is a great tool to identify new areas of growth. This framework categorizes growth opportunities into three categories: Horizon 1 (core business), Horizon 2 (emerging business), and Horizon 3 (potential business).

One-page business plan

A one-page business plan is a condensed version of a full business plan that focuses on the most critical aspects of a business. It’s a great tool for entrepreneurs who want to quickly communicate their business idea to potential investors, partners, or employees.

A one-page business plan typically includes sections such as business concept, value proposition, revenue streams, and cost structure.

Best practices for how to make a good business plan

Here are some additional tips for creating a business plan:

Use a template

A template can help you organize your thoughts and effectively communicate your business ideas and strategies. Starting with a template can also save you time and effort when formatting your plan.

Miro’s extensive library of customizable templates includes all the necessary sections for a comprehensive business plan. With our templates, you can confidently present your business plans to stakeholders and investors.

Be practical

Avoid overestimating revenue projections or underestimating expenses. Your business plan should be grounded in practical realities like your budget, resources, and capabilities.

Be specific

Provide as much detail as possible in your business plan. A specific plan is easier to execute because it provides clear guidance on what needs to be done and how. Without specific details, your plan may be too broad or vague, making it difficult to know where to start or how to measure success.

Be thorough with your research

Conduct thorough research to fully understand the market, your competitors, and your target audience . By conducting thorough research, you can identify potential risks and challenges your business may face and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Get input from others

It can be easy to become overly focused on your vision and ideas, leading to tunnel vision and a lack of objectivity. By seeking input from others, you can identify potential opportunities you may have overlooked.

Review and revise regularly

A business plan is a living document. You should update it regularly to reflect market, industry, and business changes. Set aside time for regular reviews and revisions to ensure your plan remains relevant and effective.

Create a winning business plan to chart your path to success

Starting or growing a business can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, a well-written business plan can make or break your business’ success.

The purpose of a business plan is more than just to secure funding and attract investors. It also serves as a roadmap for achieving your business goals and realizing your vision. With the right mindset, tools, and strategies, you can develop a visually appealing, persuasive business plan.

Ready to make an effective business plan that works for you? Check out our library of ready-made strategy and planning templates and chart your path to success.

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How to write a business plan in 9 steps

Robert Bruce

Bryce Colburn

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Published 7:54 a.m. UTC Jan. 2, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

andresr, Getty Images

Starting a business is a risky venture. 

Even the smartest of entrepreneurs have many questions to consider as they develop and execute their business idea. One of the best outlets for creating a successful company is having a business plan in place before you launch on day one. 

A solid business plan will provide a game plan for your company, both now and in the future. It should guide all of your decisions and allow you to navigate difficult times by providing a resource by which you operate and strategize. 

A business plan is a vital part of any successful company. 

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What is a business plan?

A business plan is simply an outline of a company’s future goals and how it plans to achieve those goals. A solid business plan will guide a company’s strategy and decision-making and help it navigate through any unforeseen obstacles. 

Companies of all sizes can benefit from a business plan. Smaller-sized companies can use this plan to develop a strategy for growth, development and investor strategy. Larger, more established companies can use a business plan to expand, explore other profit possibilities and stay on track with its original vision. 

Business plans are also important when it comes to funding, as many investors will want to see your plan before funding your project or company. 

How to write a business plan

One of the most important parts of writing a business plan is the realization you need one in the first place. If that’s you, congratulations on overcoming that initial obstacle. 

Now that you understand why a business plan is important let’s take a look at the steps you’ll need to follow to create a successful one. 

1. Write an executive summary

Think of your executive summary as a Cliffs Notes for your business plan. This summary will condense the entire business plan that follows into one easy-to-follow package. It should contain all the highlights while giving a solid overview of the entire plan. 

The plan should also briefly offer key company information, such as business goals and vision, product descriptions, marketing strategy and current financials — as well as other relevant information like leadership, employees and location.

In addition to offering a brief overview of your business strategy, the executive summary is a useful tool to give to potential investors who might not have the time to read the entire plan. 

2. Draft a company description

This section simply covers the basics of your company — what you do, how you separate yourself in your industry, what makes the services and/or products you provide worthwhile and why your company would be a smart investment. 

You should also include information like your business’s mission statement, its structure, short- and long-term goals, business history and other similar facts. This is also a good place to list your company’s core values. 

A lot of these issues should be well thought out before you draft a company description or business plan. By this point, you should be able to easily articulate all of this. If not, take a breath and meet with your team to go back through this to make sure you have all your bases covered.  

3. Include a description of your products and services

This is where you outline what you sell and why your target market should care. You should outline key specs like price, size and material quality. If you provide a service, you should offer information about availability, quality and durability. 

Give a brief overview of the multiple products you offer, as well as those that are a part of your future plans. 

4. Consider your company goals and objectives

You’ve already briefly mentioned your goals and objectives in prior sections, but this section allows you to go a little more in-depth. 

Here, expand on your mission statement and why it’s important to your company. You might talk about the thought process behind the statement and how it came to be. Who was involved in crafting it, and what were the important elements they wanted to include?

Then, begin going more in-depth on your specific business goals — both short-term and long-term. What are some of your priorities for the next year? Five years? Decade? Listing out these objectives shows you not only have a good grasp of your company’s current situation but also of where it is headed. 

5. Perform market research and competitor analysis

Performing market research and competitive analysis is an extremely important part of your business plan. Getting familiar with other businesses in your market will help you see what works and what doesn’t. 

You should be able to list out the size of your market and who might be interested in your products or services, how you fit into that market and what other competitors are doing. Along those lines, what is your brand’s differentiation with that market — what sets you apart?

Knowing your market and how you approach it strategically can make or break your business. 

6. Create a marketing plan

Who is your ideal customer? And, strategically, how do you plan on reaching them? This is the foundation of your marketing plan. 

How much money and effort do you plan on putting into marketing, or will you rely more heavily on sales? With your marketing, this is where you’ll outline the platforms you plan on using to reach your audience — whether that’s through social media, online ads, television or radio commercials.

Ultimately, this section will provide the details on your product or service, how much it will cost, how you plan to promote it and where you plan on selling it. 

7. Define your operating procedures

This section explains the framework of your organization and how you operate. 

You’ll outline your leadership structure with an organizational chart if you have one. Explain some of the key members of your team and how they make your business run successfully. You might consider including resumes or CVs. 

This is where you’ll lay out the legal structure of your company as well. Do you plan on incorporating, or are you a limited liability company (LLC) or sole proprietor ?

In terms of operations, outline who your suppliers will be, how your production process will work, which facilities and equipment you’ll use to develop your products, how you plan on shipping and the amount of inventory you’ll keep on hand. 

8. Create a financial plan

Obviously, your financials are the backbone of your business. With a solid financial plan, your company will thrive. Without one, it may whither. The basics of your financial plan will include a balance sheet, income statement and cash-flow statement. 

The balance sheet shows your total assets and liabilities. The income statement will show your revenue and expenses — the two main factors that ultimately reveal your business’s profit or loss. The cash-flow statement shows how much cash your business will have available at any given time — based on when you pay your bills and deposit revenue.

9. Set a timeline for progress and goals

In this section, you’ll set the timeline for your company’s progress. You’ll break down different milestones and when you expect to reach them, as well as what progress will look like for your business. 

Be specific. List out the exact amount of profit you hope to have over a certain time frame. This should be as detailed as possible. So when writing out your goals, don’t use generalized phrases like “increase revenue.” Instead, go into the specifics of those goals. 

Additional business planning resources

In addition to a business plan, you definitely want to make sure you have other aspects of your business covered. Some business planning topics to think about include:

• Business structures: Starting out, will you form your business structure as a limited liability company (LLC), which protects you from your company’s debts and liabilities in the event of a lawsuit? Or are you forming a partnership or sole proprietorship ? 
• Business licenses: Most businesses will require a business license , which may be needed at the county, state and federal level, depending on the type of business you operate.
• Business taxes: The type of business you have will dictate how you pay taxes. You may be required to pay income tax, payroll tax, self-employment tax, employment taxes and excise tax. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

You don’t necessarily need a business plan to start your business, but creating one will put you at a great advantage. 

A business plan communicates your vision and mission to your company as well as potential investors. It also allows you to get buy-in from your current employees and how you plan to build your business into the future.

A solid business plan will include the following:

• Executive summary: A quick overview of the entire business plan. 
• Company description: A description of your company and what it does.
• Products and services description: A description of the products and services your company offers.
• Company goals and objectives: An outline of your company’s future goals. 
• Market research: Who are your competitors and how do you fit into the industry?
• Marketing plan: Details about how you plan to reach your ideal customer. 
• Operating procedures: Outline the framework of your organization and how it operates. 
• Financial plan: Provide details about your balance sheet, income statement and cash-flow statement.
• Progress and goals: A breakdown of company milestones and your timeline for reaching them. 

A business plan allows you to precisely define the basic information and values of your company, as well as its viability, vision, mission, marketing strategy and future goals. A solid plan will outline all the above while explaining, in detail, how you plan to make these ideas a reality.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Robert Bruce has been a full-time writer for nearly 20 years. His work has been featured in US News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, The Penny Hoarder, The Money Manual, WGN Chicago, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, among others.

Bryce Colburn is a USA TODAY Blueprint small business editor with a history of helping startups and small firms nationwide grow their business. He has worked as a freelance writer, digital marketing professional and business-to-business (B2B) editor at U.S. News and World Report, gaining a strong understanding of the challenges businesses face. Bryce is enthusiastic about helping businesses make the best decisions for their company and specializes in reviewing business software and services. His expertise includes topics such as credit card processing companies, payroll software, company formation services and virtual private networks (VPNs).

How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

Business Eric Rosenberg

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Writing a business plan: here’s how to plan your venture

Prospective entrepreneurs use a business plan to work out their business idea in writing and to document the planned implementation. Using the business plan, you can verify how feasible your business idea is as early as possible.. Additionally, it takes on the role of a roadmap for the foundation phase and often guides the newly-founded business throughout the following years. A business plan fulfills the following functions for prospective entrepreneurs:

• Assessment of feasibility and profitability: In creating a business plan, you assess whether your business idea is attainable. The goal of this assessment is to figure out the feasibility (is my idea executable?) and profitability (is my idea financially advantageous?).
• Information document: Potential sponsors such as investors, funding institutions, and banks require a business plan. However, the business plan is also a significant document for potential business partners.
• Roadmap: A business plan supports the founder before as well as after business creation by implementing necessary tasks. The business plan acts as a road map, which notes future goals that require taking into account and planning for new developments.

Who is a business plan written for?

Business plan template, business plan tool, writing a business plan yourself: advantages and disadvantages, who knows how to make a business plan, cost and duration of the creation, receiving external help with writing your business plan: advantages and disadvantages, what goes in a business plan, additional business plan requirements.

As a prospective entrepreneur, you should create the business plan principally for your own benefit. Nevertheless, you are generally dependent on the financial support of external institutions when founding a business. Accordingly, a business plan should aim to represent its start-up plans in a meaningful way. The following groups take the business plan’s entrepreneurial template seriously and use it as a basis for making decisions:

• Business plan for investors and banks: Banks and investors use the business plan to decide whether to offer a credit.
• Business plan for business partners: Potential business partners are interested in your business plan, as well, although the evaluation of the business idea is paramount in this case.
• Business plan for the unemployment office: In the United States, some states have Self-Employment Assistance programs that include financial support for the newly-founded business throughout the following years.

How to write a business plan: here are your options

The preparation of a business plan represents the first big challenge, especially for new and unexperienced entrepreneurs. It is very time-intensive, but ultimately worthwhile. There is no better way to prepare yourself for your upcoming self-employed status than intensely grappling with the intricacies of your business idea. First and foremost, founders should decide whether they want to write a business plan themselves or have it built by someone else.

How to make a business plan yourself

Many founders decide to resort to templates and tools due to the complexity of a business plan and how time-intensive making one is. Searching online for supportive resources often results in being presented with countless free and fee-based offers. But how do templates and tools differ in terms of their usage, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of creating a business plan yourself?

Business plan templates provide the user with an overall structure as well as additional information and tips for content-related requirements. The pre-prepared structure of the document and the available notes will make it possible for you to create your business plan quickly and with less effort than if you were doing it on your own. However, the templates in question are usually general templates that should be personalized.

Free business plan templates can be downloaded from websites oriented toward business founders, such as bplans.com . Another helpful resource is the website of the United States Small Business Administration, which includes free tips and templates to help you create your business plan.

If you are a founder who is creating a business plan for the first time, we recommend that you use a tool. During the software-supported creation process, you will work through the structural elements step by step and answer predetermined questions. Furthermore, business plan tools utilize a plausibility check , which detects possible inconsistencies in your plan. With the aid of prefabricated wording templates, the tool will ultimately assist you in entering all of your entered data into a continuous text.

Most available tools help you create the entire business plan, including your budget and liquidity plan, but vary in price. The Enloop web app is an example of a powerful, comprehensive solution. With it, you can create one simple business plan for free, and more complicated ones by choosing from one of their different fee-based packages, the most expensive of which costs $39.95 per month. Another example of comprehensive business plan software is StratPad , which also allows you to complete one business plan for free, in addition to various fee-based options, of which a $179 annual payment is the most expensive.

Having your business plan built externally

A professional business plan is especially significant for potential sponsors, investors, and lenders. Often, the first impression determines whether or not financial assistance is given. Consequently, founders can lower their risk of a rejection by working together with an external specialist. Besides the complete creation of your business plan by experts, there is also the option have a self-created business plan proofread or to simply have a part of it replaced.

Countless management and tax consultants are trained in creating business plans. Founders profit from the experience and know-how of these experts. The professionals are trained to avoid common mistakes and identify possible weaknesses in the business idea. Even though the actual creation is handled by the professionals, a successful business plan requires close cooperation with the founder during this process. The founder supplies not only content-related information, but is also actively involved in important decisions and developments. In the end, the founder should fully understand their own business plan and be able to convey its contents to possible lenders in a comprehensible way.

While there are already many free templates and tools available online, working with an external expert is tied to high prices. The offers available on the internet vary widely and are dependent on individual factors, like your objective and business idea. If you want to apply for a founder credit or other financial assistance, the stakes for having a high-quality business plan are significantly higher, which requires putting more effort into its creation. This is also the case when your business idea entails a new and extraordinary concept that necessitates a comprehensive explanation.

The price of having a business plan created for you starts at an average of $1,500 if you choose to seek a consulting firm’s help, and ranges anywhere from $3,000 to $50,000 if you hire a private consultant. The exact price depends on the complexity of the business plan, among other factors. Considering the scope of the project and the size of the desired credit, you can make sense of it and compare prices. Exercise caution with exceptionally affordable offers, as these are usually not trustworthy. How long it takes to create is also dependent on the scope of the business plan, and can vary widely.

What should you watch out for when writing a business plan?

If you know how to write a business plan and choose to do so, you get to determine its content, composition, and form on your own. However, if you don’t yet have any experience with the creation process, a factor as small as the implementation of the structure can be difficult. Experts, on the other hand, know exactly what a strong structure looks like, which parts of the content are crucial, and which formal aspects must be taken into account.

There are currently no internationally standardized guidelines for the content, composition, or form of a business plan. Nevertheless, it is possible to determine elements that are found in every good business plan. We advise you to take the following points into account when drafting:

• Executive summary: summary of the business plan
• Company description: unique selling point, goals, products and services, customer benefits
• Founder profile: expertise, experiences, leadership qualities
• Market analysis: industry, competition
• Target group: customers, customer segments
• Strategy and implementation: proposal, price, sales, advertising, marketing budget
• Company organization: legal structure, organization, management team, departments and employees
• SWOT analysis : strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats
• Financial plan and projections: capital requirements, financing model, repayment schedule, interest schedule, cash flow statement, operating costs plan, sales plan, gross proceeds calculation, viability plan, minimum sales calculation, liquidity plan

Decisions about the sequence and prioritization of your points should be made based on the nature of your business. A business model with never-before-seen products or services, for example, requires a more comprehensive description of the business idea than a model that is based on established concepts. With an established business model, on the other hand, you should precisely depict how your idea differs from its competition.

You can find additional information about business plans in the free How to Write a Business Plan course provided by the United States Small Business Administration. This course provides an extensive explanation about business plans and their components, as well as a “Checklist for Success” for guidance.

It is not only the content of a business plan that needs to be convincing, but also its composition and form. The content of a successful business plan is comprehensibly and logically structured . A recognizable structure illustrates a thoughtful approach when creating a business plan, and therefore a well-prepared foundation. However, the final document should usually be a maximum of 50 pages for basic plans and a maximum of 100 pages for more complex ones. The complexity of your business plan is ultimately determined by factors like the scope of the business idea and the information that needs to be conveyed.

Making the content concrete is just one of the five tips that we want to send you on your way with. Here are the others:

• Make your content concise: Formulate the content of your business plan with as much precision as possible, and avoid unnecessary filler words. Potential investors want to find out the relevant information quickly and easily.
• Set yourself apart from the competition: The more skillfully you differentiate your product or service from its competition, the more success your prospective business creation promises.
• Be realistic: To be able to take on real challenges and opportunities, it is important that your business plan is written objectively.
• Take advantage of visual tools: Use graphics, diagrams, and images to illustrate your idea. That being said, be careful to only use these visual tools at meaningful points and in moderation.

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What is a business plan and why is it important.

• 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.
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• 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.

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• 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.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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• 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.

How can ChatGPT help me to create business plans?

• 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.

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A business journal from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Knowledge at Wharton Podcast

Why creating a business plan is a ‘waste of time’, may 24, 2018 • 23 min listen.

What entrepreneurs need is flexibility and innovation -- not a traditional business plan -- says economist and author Carl Schramm.

Economist and author Carl Schramm discusses his new book, 'Burn the Business Plan.'

The following is an edited transcript of the conversation.

Knowledge at Wharton: Why is a business plan unnecessary?

Carl Schramm: It’s the basis of much of the teaching about how to start a business, and so much of what’s taught is basically conjecture. My book is developed off 10 years of research that we did at the Kauffman Foundation. If you look at all our older major corporations  — U.S. Steel, General Electric, IBM, American Airlines — and then you look at our newer companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, none of these companies ever had a business plan before they got started. Empirically, it appears as if you don’t need a business plan.

Second, the business planning process is largely generated as a preview for venture capital. As I show in my book, from empirical studies, much less than 1% of all new startups ever see a venture capitalist. Much less than 1% of all new companies every year have venture backing of any kind. So, I largely view the creation of a business plan as something of a waste of time.

The third problem is that it seems to make starting a business somewhat like a cookbook. If you do this, and then you do this, and then you do this, the cake will come out okay. And that’s really not how it happens.

“Empirically, it appears as if you don’t need a business plan.”

Knowledge at Wharton: Let’s talk about age because many entrepreneurs are in their late 30s or 40s. These are people who made a shift in their career paths.

Schramm: Precisely. It goes to this question of, “What are we doing when we’re trying to teach high school kids?” Even grammar school children get courses and exposure to entrepreneurship. At the university level, it’s now a major in probably 3,000 colleges and universities. And the whole schema, including the notion of a business plan as the formal way to teach how to start a business in a college classroom, is geared to 20-year-olds.

Much of our mythology is that unicorn companies are started by people, like Mark Zuckerberg, who are in their 20s. But the reality is, the vast majority of people who start businesses are middle-career people who have been surprised by the fact that they actually had an idea, and their idea was good enough to build a business around.

Another thing wrong with how we write about entrepreneurship, how it’s taught, is that somehow people set out to be entrepreneurs as if they set out to be a dentist or an accountant. The vast majority of entrepreneurs were really amazed to find out that they became an entrepreneur. In my case, I was a professor at Johns Hopkins for 15 years, and then one day my research sort of slapped me in the face. I said, “Holy smokes, if I want to really make this work and actually change the world, I can’t do it by writing an academic paper. I have to start a business.”

Knowledge at Wharton: How should we teach our kids about entrepreneurship?

Schramm: I don’t think [the current curriculum] can be tweaked. I think it should be abandoned. I think it should be overthrown. Because if you look empirically at where entrepreneurs come from, if they have formal training, it’s not in entrepreneurship. It’s in engineering or the STEM subjects, the technical subjects.

Many, many more entrepreneurs come out of MIT because it’s an engineering and a technical school. Same thing for Caltech. Caltech doesn’t even teach entrepreneurship. At MIT, there’s one professor in the business program there who teaches entrepreneurship. But it doesn’t matter because if they didn’t teach it at all, these schools would be producing many, many new businesses all the time.

Knowledge at Wharton: You said not much funding comes from venture capitalists or angel investors. How are entrepreneurs getting the money they need to execute their ideas?

Schramm: One reason people can become entrepreneurs at midlife is they turn to their own savings, their own assets, to friends and families for loans. By the time you’re 40, which is the average age at which people start businesses, you’ve settled your student debt. You’ve got a house. You’re likely to have a spouse who has a job, which is a huge protection if you start a new company because she or he has health insurance and other benefits. So, most companies are self-funded.

Knowledge at Wharton: In the book, you also talk about the incubator. But you think the incubator isn’t having the desired effect that a lot of people are hoping for. Can you explain?

Schramm: Again, empirically, very few companies come out of these incubators. I was trained as a labor economist. I’m in the middle of writing an essay about incubators, and the premise is that as we turn towards 3% and 4% GDP, and much lower rates of unemployment and much higher demand for well-trained people, no one is going to want to spend time in an incubator. They can get a job. And that’s a really important part of the drama of becoming an entrepreneur.

In the book, I make the case that the most effective place to learn how to be entrepreneurial is to go into a big company. That’s where you see innovation happen. More innovation happens in big companies than, for example, university laboratories. It’s also where you learn all the skills that make a business work, where you’re exposed to what scale looks like in a business. This is critical and this is experiential knowledge. You can’t teach scale in a classroom. It has to be felt. You have to see it, to experience it.

“The vast majority of people who start businesses are middle-career people.”

Knowledge at Wharton: You give real-world examples in the book, including the story about vacuum cleaning company Dyson.

Schramm: Yes, Dyson is a fantastic story. James Dyson was an industrial designer by background, and he came to the view that vacuum cleaners had been a technology that hadn’t moved very far. He was using a vacuum cleaner and noticed that the more you used it, and the dirtier the dustbin got, the less power it had. This became the question that triggered his search.

Dyson built over 1,000 prototypes. He quit his job. His wife was a teacher, and he lived off a much more modest income. His wife did all the money-earning in the family. When he began to push his product out, no companies in the United States or England wanted any part of it. They resisted it because they were making a lot of money on selling paper bags for conventional, old-fashioned vacuum cleaners. He had to take it to Japan. When it became successful in Japan, American and British companies tried to steal his design. He successfully defended against that.

The best part of Dyson’s story is he never had outside investors. [Dyson] never wanted to be a public company. It’s a huge company now. He’s like most entrepreneurs. If your idea clicks and you can make it work, and you haven’t taken your company public — that is, you still control it — you’re going to work there for the rest of your life. They become places where your own creativity works, and you can keep at it. You can keep designing. Really, it becomes your life.

It’s an important point, particularly for people who are in higher education. Students in universities are programmed to think that somehow people who work in the government or in nonprofit or NGOs are somehow more creative. They’re like the people who take art and art history and design in college, or people who write music. They’re a different breed, and they’re really geniuses.

The reality is that 95% of kids graduating from college this year are going to work in companies. They’re not not creative. Look at our huge economy. That all happens because of people who are creative and gifted in business and the invention of things that help other people. And [taking] these things to market [requires] very, very creative skills.

Knowledge at Wharton: Would you say that passion and determination are two of the great qualities that a lot of entrepreneurs have?

Schramm: Yes, it’s true. Students in college are told to follow your passion and start a company. But a lot of times, the passion doesn’t make any sense. I’ve seen students who are passionate about having a web app for frying pans. I sort of make fun of it in the book. I’ve judged business plan competitions at the college level and seen the same idea come up five times. Invent a sensor for a frying pan, and it tells you on your phone when your eggs are cooked. Kids are passionate about that, but it’s not an idea that’s ever going to work. They’re making the simplicity of cooking an egg into a complex technical project.

Passion really clicks when you’ve got an idea and it starts to have market feedback. The thrill of it is when other people are saying, “What you came up with is valuable.” What they’re telling you is, “You created something out of your head that makes my life easier, and I value it. So, I’ll give my money to you for your idea.”

Knowledge at Wharton: Is Yeti one of those great ideas?

Schramm: Yeti is a fabulous story. It’s one of those things where those guys didn’t expect to be entrepreneurs. The idea snuck up on then. They love to go fishing, and they fell through regular Igloo boxes because they’re not all that well made. One of the two brothers said, “You know, what we ought to do is make a cooler that’s so sturdy, you could stand on it.” Yeti cooler came out of something just that simple.

Knowledge at Wharton: What are 20-somethings missing to be able to build that great company?

Schramm: They’re missing experience. If you really want to be an entrepreneur and you don’t have a really great idea when you’re 21, getting out of school, don’t fret. Just wait. What shall you do while you wait? Go learn stuff. The stuff you should learn is easiest learned in big businesses because you’ll go out there and watch the innovation process work.

I consult at several companies, and what I’m watching all time is these companies constantly trying to renew themselves with new, better products. They spend a lot of money on research and development. Anybody who’s working in one of these companies can see the constant iterative change that’s taking place. You actually get innovation into your normal daily routine. I think that’s one of the greatest things that you can learn.

The book points to the fact that many new companies come out of old companies. The entrepreneurs see stuff, and two routes are the way this happens. The companies decide that they’re going to stick to their core competency and reject a brand new idea. They often say to people, “if you love this idea so much, go do it with our blessing. You can have the intellectual property.” In some cases, like IBM, they actually finance the startups. That was the case with Cerner, the health care data company.

“More innovation happens in big companies than, for example, university laboratories.”

The other thing is a much more difficult problem. That is, people who go to management and say, “This is the better way to do it,” or “Here’s a new application or a new market, and we have all the technology. If we configure it differently, we can own and capture this market.” MBA-type managers often say, “no, we’re going to stick to our core competency. We don’t know how to do that. It’s not our karma, it’s not our destiny.” And frustrated employees walk out. I interview people like that in the book. They say again and again, “I could have made all this money for my old employer, but they just wouldn’t listen to me.”

Knowledge at Wharton: Are companies wasting their human capital?

Schramm: It’s happening in every single company. You’ve got creative people in there. They might be running a machine. They might be on the production line. They could be any place in your company. They could be at the loading dock. They see things, and they could do things differently.

One of my favorite examples that’s not in the book is container boxes. It’s one of the great logistics revolutions that permits all of our prices for consumer goods to be much, much lower than they would have been. The boxes on the back of a trailer that come off the trailer, go right on a ship.

That was developed by a truck driver in Newark, N.J., In the old days, when trailer trucks were inflexible, they were fixed. Every time you went into a yard or a loading dock, people had to go on the dock, take the stuff off and reload it. He said, “You know, it’s a big steel box. Why don’t you just take the whole box, the whole back end of the truck, and put it on a ship?” This is a truck driver who saw that. He gave us the container revolution that made a world revolution in logistics.

Knowledge at Wharton: There are some very well-known companies like Microsoft and Apple and Facebook that didn’t have a plan at the outset. But now they are working through a variety of plans.

Schramm: That’s right. They went and tried it. We have this drive in our society. I think it’s in human nature. We don’t think that important things happen by chaotic means. If you look around, there are academics and experts who are struggling constantly to make the process of starting a business somehow logical, planned, orderly. These are sort of cookbook approaches.

You don’t have the right answer at the beginning. You never have the right answer. The market changes, technology changes. Your customers’ tastes are changing. Price points change. Your competitors change. You’ve got to be at this all the time. And a lot of times, that’s a hidden assumption in all the advice that’s given to entrepreneurs. If you crack it once, you can go right to the bank. You buy a jet. You’re over with. You do a public offering, and you’re rich and out by 30.

That’s not the case at all. You start a business, that’s only the beginning. And it’s the beginning of trying to make it big because growth is what’s important. Scale is the critical issue. The only way you can get there is constantly reacting to the market and all the signals it’s sending as to what it needs.

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A business plan should offer a 3-5 year forecast for a new or developing business.  Business plans typically contain specific parts/information. Here are the basic parts of a business plan...

• Executive Summary -- The Executive Summary is the first opportunity to capture someone's attention. This section provides a brief introduction to the business and the  whole of the business  plan, i.e. mission, vision, where the business is, where the business will go and why the business will be successful.
• Company / Business Description -- Offer information about the business, the general industry and what sets this business apart from others.
• Product / Service -- What is the product or service being offered and how will it benefit customers?
• Market / Industry Analysis -- Know the playing field, illustrate the state of the industry, the market and potential and existing competitors.
• Organization and Management -- How will the business be organized and the management structured.
• Marketing -- Describe how the business, product or service will be marketed and customers target. 
• Financials -- Offer current and projected financial data, expenditures and funding sources.

Below are select articles and other resources for creating a business plan.

• SBA's How to Write a Business Plan
• Entrepreneur Magazine's How to Write a Business Plan
• Business Plans: a step by step guide from Entrepreneur Magazine
• 7 Essential Sections of a Business Plan from the NFIB

• The business plan in action: three case studies Video on Demand resource showing 3 case studies featuring 3 businesses and their business plans in action.
• How to do a business plan Video on Demand resource in which 2 business owners describe the business plan process, the what, the how and the ins and outs of financing.
• << Previous: Starting Your Business
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• Last Updated: Mar 1, 2024 10:58 AM
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Faire son business plan

Dans cet article :, créez votre business plan gratuitement .

• Principales caractéristiques du business plan de création d'entreprise
• Composition du business plan de création d'entreprise

Rédiger votre business plan en ligne

Replay webinaire bpifrance création - comment faire son business plan .

Faire un  business plan (ou plan d'affaires) consiste à rédiger un dossier solide de présentation du projet de création d'entreprise. C'est la première concrétisation de votre projet ! Ce travail utile et fructueux vous permettra de mesurer la maturité et le niveau d'aboutissement de votre projet, de vérifier son réalisme et sa rentabilité et surtout de convaincre vos interlocuteurs de vous suivre et vous soutenir : vos proches, vos partenaires, vos fournisseurs et naturellement les financeurs que vous allez solliciter.  "Un bon dossier est un dossier où souffle l'esprit d'entreprise" .

• Découvrez en vidéo notre outil gratuit de business plan en ligne

Pour accompagner les créateurs d'entreprise, Bpifrance Création a développé un outil simple, rapide et gratuit pour créer votre business plan en ligne .

• Pour construire votre business plan en ligne : créez votre Pass Cap Créa

Principales caractéristiques du business plan de création d'entreprise

Le dossier que vous allez constituer doit permettre au lecteur de :

- comprendre rapidement de quoi il s'agit, à quel besoin répond le produit ou service proposé, - savoir qui en est à l'origine, ses motivations, objectifs et atouts pour le mener à son terme, - évaluer sa valeur et le sérieux de sa préparation, - prendre position sur le projet. 

C'est pourquoi votre dossier doit être 

• Soigné : la première impression étant la bonne pour susciter un intérêt favorable chez le lecteur, votre business plan doit avoir une présentation impeccable.  
• Concis : il n'y a pas véritablement de règles en la matière. Un business plan comporte une dizaine à une trentaine de pages, hors annexes. Pour ne pas alourdir inutilement le dossier, il est judicieux de réunir toutes les pièces justificatives dans un dossier bis. En rédigeant votre business plan, pensez au lecteur ! Ce sera le plus souvent quelqu'un de très occupé et très sollicité. Le meilleur service que vous pouvez lui rendre - c'est de lui faciliter le travail, en lui confiant un document suffisamment synthétique. En effet, un banquier qui doit s'attaquer à la lecture d'un "pavé" commencera, inconsciemment ou pas, par un préjugé défavorable. Il faut donc aller à l'essentiel.  
• Complet : faire court, mais sans rien oublier de ce qui permet de juger de la faisabilité et de la viabilité du projet. Tous ces aspects doivent donc être traités dans votre business plan (voir plus loin "la composition du dossier").  
• Clair : il doit être rédigé dans un style simple et facilement compréhensible. Mettez-vous à la place d'un lecteur non initié en évitant tout jargon. Le texte doit avoir une bonne lisibilité (choix judicieux des caractères d'impression et des symboles, de la mise en page, etc.) avec une pagination correcte et un sommaire.  
• Bien structuré : il doit être ordonnancé de façon logique dans sa décomposition en parties et sous-parties. Les titres donnés aux chapitres doivent aider le lecteur dans l'appréhension de l'ensemble du sujet.  
• Précis : pour être crédible, il ne faut affirmer que des choses vérifiables. Soyez attentif à citer vos sources d'informations : références d'ouvrages ou d'études, coupures de presse, identité de l'expert dont vous rapportez les propos, etc. Faites figurer dans le dossier d'annexes, un maximum de justificatifs : copies d'articles, comptes rendus de conversations ou d'entretiens téléphoniques, ou des lettres que vous aurez demandée et su obtenir de l'expert pour qu'il confirme ses dires, etc.  
• Vendeur :  il s'agit de rester dans une teneur crédible, mais le dossier doit mettre en valeur les données essentielles du projet et plus particulièrement ses points forts. Ainsi les arguments développés, mis en caractères gras ou soulignés au moment où ils sont énoncés, seront repris en synthèse de chaque chapitre ou partie du dossier les concernant, de façon à influencer le lecteur et l'aider à structurer favorablement sa perception du projet.  
• Et n'hésitez pas à l'illustrer avec des photos et/ou vidéos de l'équipe, de vos produits et services, etc.

Composition du business plan de création d'entreprise

Il n'y a pas de règle absolue dans la présentation du contenu du business plan de création d'entreprise . Ce qui est important, c'est de respecter une certaine logique. Quel que soit l'ordre retenu, vous devrez y faire figurer les points ci-dessous. D'autres éléments pourraient être ajoutés pour des projets plus conséquents. 

1- L'executive summary Votre business plan doit s'ouvrir sur une présentation synthétique et "vendeuse" de votre projet. Cette présentation, qui ne doit pas dépasser une ou deux pages doit donner envie à votre interlocuteur de poursuivre sa lecture et de s'intéresser à votre projet. Pour cela, il doit comprendre immédiatement de quoi il est question. C'est "l'instant de découverte". Pesez vos mots, pour susciter l'intérêt du lecteur et l'inciter à poursuivre la lecture au-delà de l'executive summary !

2 - Vous et votre équipe La présentation du porteur de projet (c'est-à-dire vous) ou de l'équipe fondatrice doit se faire avec le même soin que la rédaction d'un CV d'embauche, en faisant valoir tout ce qui, dans votre expérience passée, se rattache de façon valorisante au projet en question. Cette présentation doit être "punchy". Dans certains projets, la personnalité du créateur ou la présentation de l'équipe est tout aussi importante que le projet en tant que tel. Et si vous êtes plusieurs, insistez sur la complémentarité de l'équipe !

3 - La présentation générale du projet de création d'entreprise Vous pouvez à ce stade parler de la genèse de votre projet : comment et pourquoi l'idée vous est venue ? Quelles sont les motivations qui vous poussent à vous lancer dans la création de cette entreprise ? Quels sont les objectifs que vous poursuivez ? Quels sont vos atouts pour sa réussite ?

4 - La partie économique du business plan Elle comporte plusieurs parties : - Une présentation du ou des produits et services que vous allez proposer. Attention à être compréhensible ! Évitez le jargon propre à votre profession ! - Une présentation du modèle économique (ou business model ) que vous allez adopter : décrivez comment l'entreprise délivre et partage de la valeur à destination de l'ensemble des parties prenantes. Pour en savoir plus sur  les différences entre le business plan et le business model . - Les conclusions de votre étude de marché : expliquez quel est le marché dans lequel vous vous situez, détaillez les caractéristiques des clients potentiels, indiquez quels sont vos concurrents directs ou indirects, exposez les éventuels risques liés à votre environnement économico-juridico-socio-professionnel, etc. - La  stratégie commerciale   que vous avez retenue pour vous insérer dans votre marché et développer votre activité : la segmentation opérée du marché, le choix du couple produit/marché, le positionnement retenu par rapport à la concurrence, ainsi que les décisions de mix marketing que vous avez prises (politique de produit, de prix, de distribution et de communication). - L'estimation du chiffre d'affaires prévisionnel , en vous appuyant le plus possible sur des éléments tangibles. - Les moyens à mettre en œuvre pour réaliser vos prévisions de vente : expliquez concrètement comment va fonctionner l'entreprise avec quoi et avec qui ? La rédaction de ce paragraphe doit être l'occasion de visualiser le futur marché de l'entreprise, en décomposant le processus de fonctionnement et en mettant en parallèle les équipements, les effectifs et les autres moyens, notamment incorporels, nécessaires.

5 - La partie financière du business plan  Elle comporte tous les éléments qui traduisent en termes financiers la partie économique . Sa composition dépendra naturellement du secteur d'activité et du potentiel de développement de votre projet. À titre indicatif, pour convaincre un investisseur, voici les éléments financiers que l'on retrouve fréquemment dans un business plan : - Le tableau des investissements : il indique le prix d'achat des investissements, leur date prévue d'acquisition, la durée d'amortissement comptable et la dotation annuelle d'amortissements qu'ils entraînent pour chacun des trois premiers exercices. - Le plan de financement initial : il indique les capitaux à réunir pour pouvoir lancer le projet dans de bonnes conditions. Afin de recenser correctement tous les besoins durables de financement (pour mettre en regard les ressources financières durables nécessaires), une analyse et un calcul approfondi doivent être menés pour déterminer correctement le montant du besoin en fonds de roulement . - Le compte de résultat pour les trois premières années : il permet de juger de la rentabilité future de la nouvelle entreprise. - Le plan de trésorerie sur 12 mois : ce tableau permet, sur une période relativement courte, de s'assurer que la nouvelle entreprise pourra toujours, sur la base de ce que l'on peut raisonnablement prévoir, faire face à ses engagements financiers. - Le calcul du seuil de rentabilité : il est important de connaître le chiffre d'affaires que l'entreprise devra impérativement réaliser pour couvrir l'ensemble de ses charges, et de déterminer le moment où ce seuil (point mort) sera atteint. Au-delà l'entreprise commence à faire des bénéfices. - Le plan de financement à trois ans : ce tableau est nécessaire pour apprécier l'évolution prévisionnelle de la structure financière de l'entreprise à moyen terme, car une bonne structure financière est une des conditions de pérennisation des nouvelles entreprises. - Le tableau des annuités de crédit (s'il y a emprunt à moyen ou long terme) : connaître la décomposition des remboursements d'emprunt est nécessaire pour alimenter le compte de résultat (charges financières) et le plan de financement à 3 ans (remboursement du capital emprunté).

6 -  La partie juridique  du business plan La présentation du régime juridique de la nouvelle entreprise doit servir à expliquer et justifier le choix retenu, à présenter la répartition du capital et des pouvoirs en découlant. En savoir plus sur le choix de la structure juridique

7 - Le sommaire A ne pas oublier pour faciliter la lecture du business plan ! Il est généralement placé en début de dossier, avant ou après l'executive summary.

8 - La partie documentaire Cette partie doit faire l'objet d'un dossier à part pour réunir toutes les pièces justificatives et ne pas alourdir le business plan.

Bpifrance Création met à votre disposition des outils pour vous aider dans la rédaction de votre business plan :

• Une application gratuite "Mon business plan" pour construire son business plan en ligne ( Pass Cap Créa ).
• Un modèle de business plan à télécharger et son  mode d'emploi pour vous aider à le remplir.

Ce webinaire qui s'est tenu le jeudi 25 mars 2021 avait pour objectifs de vous présenter notre outil gratuit de business plan en ligne et de vous donner des conseils pratiques pour l'élaboration de votre business plan de création d'entreprise en répondant aux questions suivantes : 

• Pourquoi faire un business plan ? 
• Pour qui faire un business plan ? 
• Quels sont les éléments indispensables à mettre dans un business plan ? 
• Quelles différences entre business plan et business model ?
• Qui peut vous accompagner à faire un business plan ?
• Consultez le replay : comment faire son business plan ?

• Téléchargez  le support de présentation  (Maj 26/03/2021)

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Comment ouvrir une agence immobilière en France ?

Avec 1,2 million de ventes réalisées , le nombre de transactions immobilières a atteint un record en 2021. Vous souhaitez créer votre entreprise dans le domaine de l’immobilier ? Découvrez notre guide pour ouvrir votre agence immobilière.

• La création d’une agence immobilière requiert obtenir une carte professionnelle d’agent immobilier qui prouve la capacité à exercer dans l’immobilier.
• Souscrire une garantie financière et une assurance responsabilité civile est obligatoire.
• Un budget initial entre 20 000 et 50 000 euros est nécessaire pour couvrir les frais de création et les premiers mois d’activité de l’agence immobilière.
• En complément d’une étude de marché et d’un business plan, posséder les compétences indispensables pour être un bon agent immobilier s’impose.

Qui peut créer une agence immobilière ?

Aucune restriction particulière ne s’applique concernant le profil de l’entrepreneur qui souhaite créer sa propre agence immobilière.

Ainsi, toute personne physique ou morale peut ouvrir une agence immobilière en France.

Cependant, exercer dans le domaine de l’immobilier impose de se conformer aux obligations légales de ce secteur d’activité.

Selon une étude de l’INSEE, la France comptait 35 272 agences immobilières en 2021.

Quelles conditions faut-il remplir pour la création d’une agence immobilière ?

En vertu de la loi n° 70-9 du 2 janvier 1970 , dite loi Hoguet , et son décret d’application n° 72-678 du 20 juillet 1972, le fondateur doit respecter certaines conditions pour ouvrir une agence immobilière en France. À savoir :

• posséder une carte professionnelle d’agent immobilier  ;
• souscrire une garantie financière  ;
• souscrire une assurance responsabilité civile .

Obtenir la carte professionnelle d’agent immobilier

Toute personne qui souhaite créer une agence immobilière doit posséder une carte professionnelle, également appelée carte T .

Délivrée par la Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie (CCI), cette carte atteste de la capacité professionnelle du détenteur à exercer les activités d’entremise et de gestion immobilière .

Conformément à la loi, 3 voies d’accès permettent d’obtenir la carte professionnelle d’agent immobilier :

• être titulaire d’un diplôme spécifique (BTS Professions Immobilières, licence ou master en droit, économie ou commerce) ;
• posséder une expérience professionnelle d’au moins 3 années dans un poste à responsabilité au sein d’une agence immobilière ;
• effectuer une validation des acquis de l’expérience (VAE).

La durée de validité de la carte professionnelle est de trois ans et elle coûte 160 euros .

Notez que vous devez réaliser la demande de renouvellement de la carte dans les deux mois qui précèdent sa date d’expiration .

Le renouvellement de votre carte T est soumis à plusieurs conditions, notamment le suivi d’une formation continue d’une durée de 42 heures en lien direct avec l’activité, dont au moins quatre heures consacrées à la déontologie.

Vous pouvez exercer le métier d’agent immobilier mandataire sans posséder la carte T.

Souscrire une garantie financière

La garantie financière est une assurance qui sert à couvrir les fonds détenus par l’agence immobilière pour le compte de ses clients . Par exemple, le versement d’un acompte par un acheteur.

Elle permet de garantir la restitution des sommes versées par les clients en cas de défaillance de l’agence immobilière.

La garantie financière est obligatoire pour toutes les agences immobilières qui détiennent des fonds pour le compte de leurs clients.

Par conséquent, vous pouvez ouvrir une agence immobilière sans souscrire une garantie financière dès lors que vous ne pratiquez pas de gestion locative et que vous n’encaissez aucun montant pour le compte de vos clients.

Le montant de la garantie financière doit être supérieur à 110 000 euros pour ouvrir un syndic de copropriété professionnel.

Souscrire une assurance responsabilité civile

L’assurance responsabilité civile est une assurance destinée à couvrir les dommages causés par l’agence immobilière à ses clients ou à des tiers dans le cadre de son activité professionnelle.

Elle permet de garantir la réparation des préjudices engendrés par l’agence ou ses salariés. La souscription d’une assurance responsabilité civile est obligatoire pour toutes les agences immobilières .

Quel budget pour ouvrir une agence immobilière ?

L’ouverture d’une agence immobilière nécessite de prévoir un budget compris entre 20 000 et 50 000 euros pour couvrir les frais de création et les premiers mois d’activité.

Notez que ce montant dépend de plusieurs facteurs , tels que la localisation, la taille de l’agence, le nombre de salariés ou encore le coût du local commercial.

Certaines dépenses peuvent être réduites si vous optez pour des solutions alternatives, comme la location de bureaux partagés ou la sous-traitance de tâches administratives.

Comment bien préparer son projet d’agence immobilière ?

Réussir son projet d’ouvrir une agence immobilière implique d’effectuer les étapes suivantes :

• connaître les aptitudes et les compétences indispensables au métier d’agent immobilier  ;
• choisir entre agence immobilière indépendante ou en franchise  ;
• réaliser une étude de marché  ;
• préparer un business plan .

Connaître les aptitudes et les compétences pour être un bon agent immobilier

Connaître les aptitudes et les compétences requises pour exercer le métier d’agent immobilier se révèle indispensable avant de se lancer dans la création d’une agence immobilière.

Tout d’abord, avoir une parfaite connaissance du marché de l’immobilier apparaît comme une évidence.

De plus, un agent doit savoir évaluer les biens immobiliers pour que le prix de vente reflète le marché tout en apportant satisfaction à ses clients.

Une bonne capacité d’écoute des clients s’avère également essentielle pour comprendre leurs besoins et leur présenter des biens immobiliers qui correspondent à leur recherche.

La négociation et la communication font partie du quotidien d’un agent immobilier. Par conséquent, ne négligez pas ces aspects du métier.

La rigueur et l’organisation constituent deux qualités indispensables pour réussir votre projet d’ouvrir une agence immobilière. Ainsi, vous démontrerez votre sérieux auprès de votre clientèle cible.

Posséder une formation en droit immobilier et en gestion immobilière est un vrai plus pour ex ercer le métier d’agent immobilier.

Ne négligez pas la maîtrise de l’anglais si vous envisagez la vente de biens immobiliers de luxe auprès d’une clientèle internationale.

Choisir entre agence immobilière indépendante ou en franchise

Le choix entre une agence immobilière indépendante et une agence immobilière en franchise dépend des objectifs et des moyens du créateur d’entreprise.

Opter pour ouvrir une agence immobilière en franchise permet de bénéficier de plusieurs avantages :

• la notoriété d’une enseigne déjà connue ;
• un accompagnement dans le lancement de l’activité professionnelle ;
• une formation continue.

Cependant, l’entrepreneur doit verser une redevance annuelle au franchiseur et se conformer à certaines règles pour la gestion de son agence immobilière.

Une agence immobilière indépendante offre plus de liberté dans la gestion de l’entreprise et la prise de décision. Ainsi, vous pouvez développer votre propre concept et votre image de marque.

Toutefois, la création d’une agence immobilière requiert une plus grande implication pour s’imposer sur le marché et vous risquez de rencontrer plus de difficultés pour convaincre un établissement de crédit.

Une dernière option consiste à devenir mandataire immobilier. Le mandataire immobilier est un commercial rattaché à un réseau qui exerce le métier d’agent immobilier en totale autonomie.

À l’instar de la franchise, le mandataire profite de la notoriété de la marque pour développer son activité et rentrer des mandats.

Réaliser une étude de marché

La réalisation d’une étude de marché constitue une étape essentielle dans la préparation d’un projet d’ouverture d’une agence immobilière.

Cette analyse permet de :

• connaître les tendances du marché de l’immobilier ;
• appréhender les attentes des clients ;
• identifier les agences immobilières concurrentes.

Votre étude de marché doit notamment porter sur la zone géographique visée, les types de biens immobiliers proposés et les prix pratiqués par les autres agences immobilières.

L’entrepreneur peut se charger lui-même de cette étape ou la confier à des professionnels spécialisés.

Préparer un business plan

Le business plan est le document qui présente votre projet d’agence immobilière de manière détaillée et chiffrée .

En plus d’être une feuille de route indispensable pour l’entrepreneur, le business plan sert à convaincre les banques et les investisseurs de la solidité du projet.

Votre business plan doit comporter les éléments suivants :

• une présentation ;
• une analyse du marché ;
• une description de l’offre de services ;
• une stratégie commerciale et marketing ;
• un plan de financement  ;
• un plan d’action.

Afin de déterminer le seuil de rentabilité et les besoins en financement de l’entreprise, soyez vigilant sur l’évaluation des coûts et des revenus prévisionnels de l’agence.

Nous vous recommandons d’ actualiser régulièrement votre business plan pour intégrer les évolutions du marché et les résultats de votre entreprise.

Quel statut juridique choisir pour l’ouverture de son agence immobilière ?

Le choix du statut juridique dépend de plusieurs critères , tels que la taille de l’entreprise, ses besoins en financement et les perspectives d’évolution de l’activité. Zoom sur les différentes s’options qui s’offrent à vous pour ouvrir une agence immobilière.

L’exercice de l’activité en entreprise individuelle

L’entreprise individuelle est un statut juridique qui séduit les entrepreneurs avec ses démarches administratives simplifiées . En effet, une déclaration en ligne suffit pour créer son entreprise individuelle.

De plus, cette forme juridique possède de nombreux avantages, tels que :

• absence de capital social ;
• obligations comptables allégées.

Si vous souhaitez ouvrir une agence immobilière avec une faible activité , préférez le régime de l’auto-entrepreneur.

La micro-entreprise vous offre un cadre fiscal très avantageux , car votre imposition se calcule sur la somme de vos revenus après l’application d’un abattement forfaitaire.

Le régime de l’auto-entrepreneur est fortement déconseillé si votre projet intègre des coûts de démarrage élevés , car vous ne pourrez pas déduire ces montants de votre base imposable.

Sachez que votre patrimoine personnel est toujours protégé que vous optiez pour l’entreprise individuelle ou la micro-entreprise.

La constitution d’une société commerciale

La création d’une société commerciale implique le dépôt d’un capital social minimum , ce qui rassure les établissements bancaires dans l’optique d’obtenir un financement pour ouvrir votre agence immobilière.

Chaque forme juridique possède ses avantages et ses inconvénients qu’il convient de bien étudier avant de faire un choix.

Si vous lancez votre activité en solo , voici les options qui s’offrent à vous :

• l’entreprise unipersonnelle à responsabilité limitée (EURL) ;
• la société par actions simplifiée unipersonnelle (SASU).

Pour relever de plein droit de l’impôt sur le revenu (IR) , créer une EURL s’impose. En effet, la SASU est soumise à l’impôt sur les sociétés.

Si vous recherchez une protection sociale complète , préférez la création d’une SASU . En contrepartie, le montant des cotisations sociales est plus élevé qu’avec une EURL.

Dès lors que vous désirez créer une agence immobilière avec des associés , vous devez vous tourner vers :

• la société à responsabilité limitée (SARL) ;
• la société par actions simplifiée (SAS).

Créer une SARL vous offre de multiples avantages si vous vous lancez en famille . Par exemple, vous pouvez opter pour l’IR sans limitation de durée et vous bénéficiez d’une exonération sur la plus-value en cas de cession de parts sociales.

En revanche, la création d’une SAS vous donne plus de liberté pour définir les règles de fonctionnement de votre entreprise et les relations entre les associés.

Vous souhaitez gagner du temps et vous libérer des formalités administratives ? Faites confiance à Qonto et à notre partenaire Legalstart.

Leurs experts vous guident du choix du statut juridique jusqu’à l’obtention de votre numéro SIRET et Qonto vous délivre votre attestation de capital social sous 12 heures ouvrées .

Créer votre société en ligne

Questions fréquentes

Quel capital pour ouvrir une agence immobilière .

Comptez entre 8 500 et 100 000 euros d’apport personnel pour ouvrir une agence immobilière en franchise. Le capital nécessaire pour créer une agence immobilière indépendante est plus important.

Quel diplôme pour ouvrir une agence immobilière ?

Pour ouvrir une agence immobilière, être titulaire de l’un des diplômes suivants s’impose :

• BAC+3 en droit, économie ou commerce ;
• BTS Professions Immobilières ;
• Diplôme de l’Institut d’Études Économiques et Juridiques appliquées à la construction et à l’habitation, option vente et gestion d’immeubles.

Une expérience professionnelle d’au moins 3 années dans une agence immobilière affranchit l’entrepreneur de cette obligation.

Quel est le salaire d’un agent immobilier par mois ?

En moyenne, le salaire d’un agent immobilier avec 2 ans d’expérience oscille entre 2 000 et 3 500 euros brut par mois. Toutefois, ce montant varie en fonction de son expérience, de sa localisation et de ses performances.