This document outlines the components of a business plan, including an executive summary, company description, products/services, marketing plan, operational plan, management/organization, startup expenses/capitalization, financial plan, and additional appendices. The executive summary should briefly explain the business idea, product/service, goals, target market, competition/differentiation, management team, and financial outlook. Subsequent sections provide guidelines for describing the company, products/services, marketing strategy, daily operations, management team, funding needs, financial projections, and optional appendices.

1. How to Write a Business Plan Step by Step

2. The Business Plan Components
1. An Executive Summary
2. Your Company Description
3. Products and Services
4. Company Marketing Plan
5. Operational Plan
6. Management & Organization
7. Startup Expenses & Capitalization
8. Financial Plan
9. Additional Appendices

3. The Executive Summary should briefly explain each of the below.
1. An overview of your business idea
2. A description of your product and/or service.
3. Your goals for the business.
4. Your proposed target market.
5. Your competition and what differentiates your business
6. Your management team and their prior experience.
7. Financial outlook for the business.
An Executive Summary

4. This section explains the basic
elements of your business:
1. Business Name
2. Company Mission Statement
3. Company Philosophy/Values
4. Company Vision
5. Goals & Milestones
6. Target Market
7. Industry/Competitors
8. Legal Structure/Ownership
Your Company Description

5. This section expands on the basic information
about your products and services
1. Your company’s products and/or services.
2. The problem the product or service solves
3. Any proprietary features that give you a competitive
advantage
4. How you will price your product or service
Products and Services

6. This section includes:
1. Market research
2. Barriers to entry
3. Threats and opportunities
4. Product/service features and benefits
5. Target customer
6. Key competitors
7. Positioning/Niche
8. How you will market your product/service
9. Promotional budget
10. Pricing
11.Location or proposed location
12.Distribution channels
13.12-month sales forecast
Marketing Plan

7. This section explains the daily operation
of your business:
1. Production
2. Quality control
3. Location
4. Legal environment
5. Personnel
6. Inventory
7. Suppliers
8. Credit policies
Operational Plan

8. This section should give readers an
understanding of the people behind your
business, their roles and responsibilities, and
their prior experience:
1. Biographies
2. Gaps
3. Advisors
4. Advisors
Management & Organization

9. In this section, detail the expenses
involved in opening for business and how
much capital you’ll need:
1. Start-Up Expenses
2. Opening Day Balance Sheet
3. Personal Financial Statement
Startup Expenses & Capitalization

10. Include the following:
1. 12-month profit & loss projection
2. Optional: 3-year profit & loss projection
3. Cash flow projection
4. Optional: 3-year cash flow statement
5. Projected balance sheet
6. Break-even calculation
7. Use of capital
Financial Plan

11. Below are some elements many business
owners include in their Appendices.
1. Agreements
2. Intellectual property
3. Resumes of owners/key employees
4. Advertising/marketing materials
5. Public relations/publicity
6. Blueprints/plans
7. List of equipment
8. Market research studies
9. List of assets that can be used as
collateral
Additional Appendices

12. The Ultimate Business Plan Template
Download the ultimate business plan template:
https://ehopper.com/guides/guide-the-ultimate-business-plan-
template/

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