Required Outline for the Business Plan

*** Use the examples of business plans from the course website to help determine what kind of information goes in each section.  Also refer to the textbook when doing the financial information. IF YOU HAVE COVERED THE SECTIONS PROPERLY, THE PAPER SHOULD BE AT LEAST 15 PAGES LONG. (Times New Roman, 12 point font and this includes the financial statements and your resume.)***

I.  Cover Page/Title Page

II.  Executive Summary (This highlights the information that will be presented in the Business Plan.)

A.  Objectives (Goals you hope to accomplish in your business.)

1.  Year 1

2.  Year 2

3.  Year 3

B.  Mission (Your mission statement.)

C.  Keys to Success (Three things you can count on that will make your business successful.)

III.  Company Summary

A.  Company Summary (An overview of your company, the things you sell, and the services you provide, where are you located.)

B.  Company Ownership (How is your company owned - sole proprietorship, partnership, etc.)

C.  Start Up Summary (Generally how much money you need and what you need it for.  Include a list of the major purchases and costs.)

IV.  Products

A.  Products (In general, what products/services will you be selling.)

B.  Product Description (More specific about the products/services you will be selling.  More details included here.)

C.  Competitive Comparison (Who are you competing with a and what products/services to they sell?)

D.   Technology (Describe any special technology that you will need,  i.e. software, computers, etc.)

V.  Market Analysis

A.  Market Segmentation (The different groups/types of customers that could possibly utilize your products/services.)

B.  Target Market (Specifically the one group of customers you will concentrate on.  What are their demographics? Describe your target market.)

C.  Market Trends (What trends are making this idea of yours a good idea?  Is the market growing?)

VI.  Strategy Summary

A.  Competitive Edge (What is your competitive advantage?)

B.  Product (What products/services will you sell and why you selected those products?)

C.  Price (How much are your products/services and why did you pick those prices?  How much is your average customer ticket?  (i.e. $15.00 per person at a restuarant.))

D.  Placement (How does your customer get your product/services?  Do they come to you or do you go to them and why did you pick this placement strategy?)

E.  Promotion (How will you promote your business?  What kind of advertising and why did you select that kind of advertising?)

VII.  Management Summary

A.  Organizational structure (Who is charge of who?)

VIII.  Pro-Forma Financial Summaries

A.  Breakeven Analysis (Show calculation.  Determine how many of your products (using your Average Sales Price, fixed costs, and variable costs) you would need to sell to cover the amount of money you are borrowing.  Describe what the information tells you after you do the Breakeven Analysis.)

B.  Copy of your Balance Sheet (Show three years of numbers)

C.  Copy of your Income Statement (Show three years of numbers)

D.  Copy of your Cash Flow Statement (Show three years of numbers.)

IX.Copy of your Resume