Get an action plan: how to prepare a business plan, what sections to include. Download instructions and Excel models for business planning, as well as 13 ready-made samples and examples of business plans.
The article contains step-by-step instructions for action that will help turn a raw business idea into a clear plan for implementing a project, because a business plan is a document that reveals the project’s intent, the process and mechanism for achieving it.
Step 3: Develop a Marketing Plan
Conclude the section with a marketing plan and sales forecast. Marketing activities are the basis for planning business expenses, sales forecast is a plan for future revenues.
Structure the section as follows:
1. Marketing strategic planning:
- , its characteristics;
2. Product Description:
- description of the product or service, assortment;
- main product characteristics, performance characteristics;
- attractiveness for the client, benefits of using the product;
- requirements for consumer properties of the product;
- competitive advantages of the product and competitiveness of the product;
- patents, licenses, certificates for the product;
- product packaging;
- delivery conditions;
- guarantees and service;
- taxation feature.
3. Pricing policy:
- factors influencing pricing;
How to build a pricing policy if you sell goods through networks
One of the promising areas of development for many companies remains building relationships with retail chains. But the specifics of working with them are such that the efficiency of sales through this channel is often lower compared to others.
The main mistake is in pricing, when some important factors remain unattended.
4. Sales of products:
- volume and level of development of the industry;
- main consumers and segments;
- target markets and their comparative characteristics;
- barriers to entry and development in the market;
- product sales strategy;
- product distribution scheme;
- sales channels.
5. Promotion:
- sales promotion methods;
- advertising.
6. Schedule planning of the intended strategic plan:
- dates for achieving intermediate goals;
- date of achievement of the final goal.
7. Plan details to specific performers and designated responsible persons. Answers to the questions of who should do what, when, where, with what resources and how it affects the final result.
8. Formation of a marketing budget:
- sales volume forecast;
- cost forecast;
- determining the budget for marketing activities.
Marketing planning will help determine the price level for a product or service - the maximum amount that a buyer is willing to pay for your offer. The more accurate this forecast is, the more stable the profit will be and the more effective promotion costs will be.
Before choosing a marketing campaign or loyalty program, you need to compare the launch costs with the expected effect. See which programs are most popular today, what benefits they provide, and.
It is equally important to correctly identify the choice of suppliers of equipment, tools, services and other things that are necessary in the implementation of the project. You also need to identify the sales market, potential buyers or service users.
No matter how reliable a small number of them may seem, the disappearance of the need for your product will reduce all the effort and cost to zero. Therefore, expand your customer base in advance. At the same time, it is important to correlate the search for clients with promotion costs. The business plan budget is not infinite, advertising agencies promise a lot, but be realistic, even large audience coverage does not always bring target clients.
An Excel model will help you conduct a SWOT analysis of an investment project
Owners often make strategic decisions based solely on financial metrics such as net present value and internal rate of return. But if external circumstances or internal restrictions are not taken into account, the risk of missing the project deadline increases.
Step 4: Create a production plan
The next section is the production plan. Here we should briefly explain how the system for producing goods or providing services is organized. The main task of this part of the plan is to justify the choice of a particular production process and equipment. Explore the following questions:
- production location;
- provision of production with access roads;
- availability of necessary communications;
- the need to construct production facilities;
- equipment supply issues;
- availability of qualified personnel;
- availability of production technology;
- cooperation with suppliers, subcontractors;
- waste disposal technology (if applicable).
When answering these questions, base your answers on information previously provided in your market research.
Production control
Particular attention should be paid to the description of the production of the product and the quality control system at each stage. See also what is a quality management system. To achieve this, the TQM control chart (process quality control chart) and the economic order quantity model are used.
The key point of the production plan is evidence of the need for the selected production technology (service provision). If there is a choice of production processes, then you need to mention them all, listing the serious disadvantages so that the merits of the technology the company needs appear reasonable. You can consider the possibility of saving budget funds at each point of the plan: using leasing, renting equipment, collaborating with freelancers instead of permanent employees, outsourcing some functions. It is very important to identify the most effective and low-cost opportunity to conquer an economic niche in the market.
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Recruitment
Recruitment is an important part of the production system. The description of the level of qualifications and the company's provision with the necessary specialists should reflect the real picture. If there is a need for additional recruitment of personnel and a management core, it is important to clarify whether it is possible to find them at the location of production or whether you will have to incur costs to motivate them to move from other cities.
Don't waste too many words on the management biography. It is necessary to show that each manager has a sufficient set of competencies. To do this, specific information about his role and participation in other projects is sufficient, while it is not necessary to describe exclusively successes. An adequate analysis of past mistakes and the ability to draw the right conclusions is positively perceived by investors.
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Loading production
This paragraph examines the company's PM in several categories: project, current, reserve, and from the point of view of its possible increase and decrease. Here you need to provide information about how flexible production will be - whether it is possible to quickly increase or reduce the production of goods without significant losses and breaks in the production-supply chain.
Aggregate plan and work schedule
An aggregate production plan for product sales is created to compare marketing data and production capacity for a period from one year to 5–7 years. Characterized by clear definitions of goods or services that must be produced to fulfill the business plan. The production and sales plan is usually divided into periods of up to a year. It can be adjusted every month, depending on the current situation in the company. The very concept of “aggregate” means to enlarge. In this case, we mean the generalization of individual indicators and their reduction into one position.
The next items are scheduling work and planning material requirements. For this it is convenient to use .
Common mistakes in investment plans
Before showing the company's management an investment plan, make sure that you have correctly assessed the volume and duration of financing, and also taken into account all the risks.
Step 5: Prepare a Financial Plan
This part of the business plan is designed to evaluate the project in terms of its costs and profitability. It should justify the need for finance, describe ways to replenish the project budget, and guarantees. It also provides a description of the economic situation in the area of interest of the project, difficult to predict factors and possible options for financial behavior under several scenarios for the development of events. The financial block of the business plan includes budgets of income and expenses (BDR), (BDDS), forecast balance for the entire project planning period.
It is important to list in detail all planned expenses for the project and the rationale for their necessity by year, dividing them into quarters. It is advisable to plan the first year monthly.
For each month (quarter, year) of the project, you need to reflect:
- taxes and their rates;
- inflation;
- information on capitalization methods;
- loan repayment schedule.
Recommendations to help you write a competent business plan yourself
- Reflect in the plan the approximate period when the invested funds will be returned and what specific steps are provided for this.
- When making forecasts, check project performance indicators.
- Experts advise, after accurately calculating the costs of implementing the project, to double this figure. Lack of funds can ruin the most promising project.
- Compare the timing of receipt of funds with the timing of the company’s regular expenses.
- Create a financial reserve while the income growth from the project exists only on paper.
- Create informed profitability forecasts. It is better to expect less than to be captured by illusory expectations and create a difficult financial situation for the company.
- Tightly control costs until operational returns are achieved.
Today, small business is a common phenomenon in the economies of various countries, including Russia. It can be represented either by a small private enterprise, that is, a legal entity, or by an individual in the individual entrepreneur format. Small businesses are represented in the field of sales and services.
Note that small businesses in Russia include organizations in which the number of workers does not exceed 100 people in the field of construction and industry, 30 people in retail trade, in agriculture and scientific and technical enterprises this figure reaches 60 people. In Europe and the USA, this figure is much higher and amounts to 300 and 500 people, respectively.
The importance of small business for the economy of any country is very great, especially for states that have high unemployment rates. Due to it, new jobs are created, and the needs of consumers for many services and goods are satisfied. In this regard, the state is pursuing an active policy in supporting small businesses. For its successful creation, development and existence, an effective plan is necessary, taking into account all possible scenarios.
A business plan at the initial stage of creating your own business helps to finalize the idea and methods of implementing the business, as well as determine the amount of investment. The main goal of any business plan is to describe all stages of business implementation, calculate the necessary costs, determine its elements, determine the time for the business to make a profit, calculate the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the risks and advantages of your own business.
Let us note that such an important matter as drawing up a strategy for the development of their own business is also carried out by large companies that have worked for more than one year. They have special departments involved in planning the further promotion of the business and keeping it afloat.
When starting your own business, you can create a strategy for developing your business yourself based on the templates and tips that will be given below. In this article we will tell you how to write a business plan with step-by-step instructions.
When writing a business plan, we must take into account and describe the following main points:
- goals for starting your own business;
- competitiveness in the market;
- managerial potential (in other words, the amount of work that a manager and his subordinates can handle);
- model flexibility;
- degree of exposure to external factors;
- financial component, as well as final results.
Registration of a business plan
A business plan can be in the form of an official document with a cover, written on a piece of paper by hand, or presented in electronic format. The structure of the business plan and the content of its main sections, including points that in some cases may be omitted:
- title page (not always used);
- a brief description of the project as a whole (summary);
- main ideas of the project;
- analysis of the sector and market in general, SWOT analysis, target audience;
- project implementation plan;
- profitability of the business idea;
- necessary regulatory framework;
- applications.
Title page
A project title page is a cover page that outlines the important elements of a business idea. These include: the name and author of the project (business), the year and place of creation of the project, you can also indicate its initial cost, that is, investments.
Summary
The summary in a business plan is a brief description of the business as a whole, which is compiled so that it interests potential investors and partners.
First, you need to describe the rationale for the relevance and demand of the proposed service or product. To do this, it is necessary to conduct a market analysis in this area. Determine the target audience to which your business will operate. To do this, it is necessary to pay attention to the business idea itself, its relevance, degree of prevalence, as well as the income generated. The second important point is a description of the factors influencing the viability of the business, its income and implementation according to plan. We pay special attention to describing the ideas, goals and objectives of the project.
Read also: How to open an account for a legal entity at VTB 24
Key Ideas
The next paragraph must be devoted to a complete and detailed description of the idea of the business itself. When compiling it, it is necessary not only to describe the basis, but to think through possible options and ways to expand the existing proposal. For example, expanding the product line or modifying it, expanding the range of services. Careful, competent and thoughtful writing of the previous paragraphs will allow you to draw up a plan for the implementation of the main activities and stages of running a business and its functioning.
Before putting forward an idea for its subsequent implementation, it is necessary to conduct a qualitative analysis of the market for goods and services. This will help you identify an empty and underdeveloped segment of proposals. After forming the idea, it is necessary to study the profile area in more detail in order to determine possible ways of business development, the target audience, that is, the consumer. It is necessary to indicate the following data: general, brief information about the industry, its main economic indicators, prospects and dynamics of development; A description of competitors and their financial indicators and market conditions is important.
Sector and market analysis in general, SWOT analysis, target audience
At the same time, it is necessary to determine the strengths and advantages of your project, opportunities, describe risks, threats - in other words, perform a SWOT analysis of the idea. For convenience, a table is compiled. For each risk, an action plan to overcome it or alternative courses of action must be drawn up.
It is necessary to pay special attention to the description of the target audience of consumers - to create a portrait of it. It includes information about gender, age and social group, values and motives that will motivate people to use your service or purchase a product. This work will identify ways to increase interest and consumption of your products and services among your existing target audience, as well as attract new groups. In the same paragraph, you need to describe the most profitable and cost-effective ways to sell your product or service. This point of your business plan is an important and integral part of it, so you must approach its writing responsibly.
Project Implementation Plan
When drawing up an action plan, it is not recommended to indicate exact dates and times for completion of a particular action. Here it is also necessary to remember that there are different types of plans that perform certain functions and include their own specific functions. The first of these is the strategic and marketing plan. It includes drawing up a table of activities with approximate time periods and the necessary funds and resources, as well as the construction of a strategy close to it (tasks and methods for their implementation). Here the principles of pricing for a product or service, their distribution channels are determined, and advertising tactics are developed.
Profitability of a business idea
Based on the previous plan, a financial plan is drawn up, which includes all items of income and expenses for the entire period of work, including salary accounting. If you are not confident in the correctness of its preparation, then it is better to entrust this function to a professional. The next step is to write a production plan. This is a description of the entire process of creating a product, from choosing a supplier and receiving raw materials, to manufacturing the product and its sale. It is imperative to write down an administrative plan, which includes defining the responsibilities of each work unit, the level of wages, as well as measures to optimize the work of employees. For example, participation in competitions, advanced training.
Profitability is an indicator of business performance.
When calculating it, all available resources are taken into account that can and should be used at the initial stage of creating a business, as well as throughout its development. Here we are talking about initial capital, as well as possible investment injections. This calculation allows us to determine the time to reach the break-even point and transition to profit. If the forecast is made for a long period, it is important to take into account the possible growth of the wage fund, the level of inflation, as well as possible costs for updating equipment and rising prices for materials.
Last update: 02/17/2020
Reading time: 24 min. | Views: 40326
Hello, dear readers of the online magazine about money “RichPro.ru”! This article will talk about how to write a business plan. This publication is a direct instruction to action that will allow you to turn a raw business idea into a confident step-by-step plan for implementing a clear task.
We'll consider:
- What is a business plan and why is it needed?
- How to write a business plan correctly;
- How to structure it and write it yourself;
- Ready-made business plans for small businesses - examples and samples with calculations.
To conclude the topic, we will show the main mistakes of novice entrepreneurs. There will be a lot of arguments in favor of creating quality And thoughtful business plan that will bring your idea to fruition and success things in the future.
Also, this article will provide examples of finished works that you can simply use or take as a basis for developing your project. Ready-made examples of submitted business plans can be found download for free.
In addition, we will answer the most frequently asked questions and clarify why not everyone writes a business plan, if it is so necessary.
So, let's start in order!
The structure of a business plan and the content of its main sections - a step-by-step guide to its preparation
1. How to write a business plan: detailed instructions on how to write it yourself 📝
7. Conclusion + video on the topic 🎥
For every entrepreneur who wants to develop himself and develop his business, a business plan is very important. He performs many important functions that no other person can do differently.
With its help, you can secure financial support and open and develop your business much earlier than you can raise a significant amount for the business.
Investors react mostly positively to a good, thoughtful, error-free business plan, because they see it as a way to make easy money with all the troubles invented and described.
In addition, even before the establishment opens, you see what awaits you. What risks are possible, what solution algorithms will be relevant in a given situation. This is not only favorable information for the investor, but also a necessary plan if you get into trouble yourself. In the end, if the risk calculation turns out to be too daunting, you can slightly redo it, transform the general idea in order to reduce them.
Creating a Good Business Plan is an excellent solution for searching for investment and developing your own action algorithms even in the most difficult situations, of which there are more than enough in business.
That is why, in addition to our own efforts It’s worth using “other people’s brains”. A business plan involves many sections and calculations, research and knowledge, only with successful operation, which can achieve success.
The ideal option would be to study all aspects yourself. To do this, it is not enough to sit and read the relevant literature. It is worth changing your social circle, turning to courses and trainings, finding specialists for consultation on certain issues. This is the only way really figure it out in the situation and dispel all your doubts and misconceptions.
A business plan is worth writing for many reasons, but home- this is a clear algorithm of actions by which you can quickly get from point A(your current situation, full of hopes and fears) to point B(in which you will already be the owner of your own successful business that generates stable and regular income). This is the first step towards achieving your dreams and secure middle class status.
If you have any questions, you may find answers to them in the video: “How to draw up a business plan (for yourself and investors).”
That's all for us. We wish everyone good luck in their business! We will also be grateful for your comments on this article, share your opinions, ask questions on the topic of publication.
A cheat sheet for dummies on how to write a business plan.
A serious project must begin by writing a competent business plan. This is a document that describes the main points of future activities, expected risks, financial indicators and much more.
Writing a business plan from scratch is often left to third-party firms. This entails a number of disadvantages:
- unnecessary costs - drawing up a document costs at least 50,000 rubles;
- consultants create it using standard tracing paper, without delving into the individual features of the case, which are understandable only “from the inside”;
- If a document is written in dry language, it will not attract the attention of investors.
It is up to current or future project leaders to do the work. They see the intricacies of the matter and will take responsibility for implementation.
If you figure out how to write a business plan, you will not only be able to make a forecast for future entrepreneurial activity, but also strengthen your faith in the success of the business.
How to write a competent business plan?
If a business plan is written correctly, it will accomplish three tasks:
- outlines the procedure for the entrepreneur;
- helps to assess development prospects;
The document should answer the questions: what is the value of the project described, who is the future competitor, what risks lie in wait?
To avoid missing details, it is worth writing the document following a standard structure.
The most important point, which must be disclosed in detail, is the financial side of the issue. You need to write down future income and expenses, and supplement with information about the starting capital.
P.S. As for income, it is important to write in the document not only the amount of profit, but also when the amount will begin to arrive in the account. This point is especially relevant when writing a business plan for the purpose of lending.
A section with financial indicators (for an existing company) or a reliable forecast for a future one is included in the text or formatted as an appendix. Use more numbers and graphs.
Choosing a plan type
There are several types of business plans in Russia:- Business plan of the company.
The most popular and widespread type. To write a document, use a standard outline. Needed by entrepreneurs for market and financial analysis. - Loan document.
Used to justify obtaining a loan from a bank. Answers questions: where will the money go, how soon will the debt be repaid? - Investment plan.
Used for presentation to investors. Contains detailed case characteristics and research data on the market niche and target audience. - Grant document.
Used to receive development assistance from the government. Display the benefits of future activities for the region or the entire country.
Structure of writing a business plan
The plan looks like a complex document. In fact, it is clearly structured. To write a business plan yourself from scratch, you need to follow every point.
The history of the company's existence is described in stages: from the moment of creation to gaining stability. The text should be written in business language, but lively and exciting enough so that a potential investor would want to study it completely.
Any type of activity has its own characteristics, so a standard tracing paper of a document exists to build on it, adjusting it to your own needs.
How to write a business plan point by point?
- income and expenses;
- unexpected expenses;
- movement of finances;
- taxation system;
- form of receiving money;
- types of contracts for future partners.
- falling demand levels;
- decrease in sales level;
- deterioration of the economic situation in the country;
- failure to deliver raw materials or send products to customers on time;
- emergency circumstances (war, fire, volcanic eruption).
This part is called the “introduction” to the business plan or “abstract.”
It briefly reveals the essence of the project and consists of 5-7 sentences. It may seem that this part is not as important as the others. However, the more interesting the section is written, the greater the chance of captivating the reader.
Goals and objectives.
Here the entrepreneur must write what and how he wants to achieve. Unlike a summary, this part of the document is disclosed in detail, but without “water”.
Write in the business plan the address of the location, work schedule, characteristics of the building that is being purchased or rented.
Staff.
The plan must include a section on the future staff. You need to write a list of positions, job responsibilities, and create a payroll calculation table.
There should also be information about the schedule for going to work.
If you plan to increase your salary in the future, arrange refresher courses, or provide door-to-door delivery for those who work late, indicate this.
Financial part.
The most important section of a business plan. It is described here:
If it seems to you that you cannot write this part of the document from scratch yourself, delegate the financial section of the business plan to professionals.
The best option for formatting data for a business plan is graphs, tables and charts. Visual information is absorbed better and easier. All these figures must be supported by calculations.
Marketing.
This section of the business plan includes the following subparagraphs: an analysis of the state of affairs on the market, the presence or absence of a niche for the company, a description of competitors and advantages that will allow them to be overcome, and a potential target audience.
Based on this data, you need to write a conclusion in the document about the most suitable advertising techniques to be used.
Production.
This point of the business plan is necessary if a manufacturing business is planned.
In this case, in the section you need to indicate all the details of the production from scratch to finish (from ordering raw materials to shipping the goods to points of sale). All the important points are covered here: technology, the need for equipment, know-how. Taking into account every detail will help avoid problems when implementing the plan.
If you are not going to produce products, but to make wholesale purchases for further sale, indicate in the document the suppliers, delivery method, and place for storing the goods.
Risk analysis.
If the main goal of the document is to find investors, this section of the business plan is simply necessary to write.
It is important for any person who has a large amount of money sufficient to finance a project to invest it in a reliable company. To confirm the seriousness of your intentions, you must write down all the possible risks for the enterprise. These may include:
Problems must not only be listed in the document, but also solutions must be written in a given situation. This will not only emphasize your level of responsibility, but also instill confidence in your own abilities. In case of emergency, you will not panic, but will use the ready-made instructions from the business plan.
At the end of the business plan, the results are summed up.
They include data on the amount invested, a profit growth chart and the payback period for the project. All words must be supported by specific figures, calculations and graphs.
The text of the business plan must be literate, understandable and “alive”.
Your goal is to interest the investor and make them read to the end.
Avoid strong emotional assessments in your business plan.
To make it convincing and realistic, you need to use only numbers and reliable facts.
To find an approach to future investors, study their activities: the history of projects, work with other entrepreneurs.
Before you start drawing up a business plan, be sure to study ready-made examples.
Even if your activity is unique in its kind, find the closest analogues. This will help you better understand the structure and style of writing. But the calculations must be unique and based only on your specific indicators.
All calculations for a business plan must be written as accurately as possible.
Of course, it is simply impossible to correctly indicate the amount of future profit down to the penny. In this case, an analysis of the sales of your closest competitors and information about the average cost of your most popular services are provided.
Traditionally, calculations for a business plan need to be written for 3-4 years.
However, in the conditions of our unstable economy, it makes sense to take a term of no more than 1-2 years. Moreover, for the first year it is necessary to break it down by month. And from the second you can reduce it to a quarterly plan.
Don't pour water.
A good business plan requires brevity, but at the same time covering all the necessary aspects. It is enough to write 40-70 pages of a business plan.
It is allowed to submit additional materials in a separate appendix of the document.
Don't try to turn it into War and Peace. Having details and covering the topic fully is good. But only if dry facts are used, and not “water”. Leave artistic expressions for personal correspondence.
There is no need to write in the business plan the phrases “a product without analogues” or “there is no competition.”
The service market is huge and rapidly developing. Due to long-term planning, no one can guarantee that a product similar to yours will not appear in the near future. Even if at first glance it seems that you are a monopolist, tomorrow the situation may change.
Accurately analyze the market for prospects and potential customers.
The data in the business plan must be written in specific numbers. If you can't do this, it means you don't understand the situation well.
Try to adhere to the standard document structure outlined above.
Pay special attention to financial tables and graphs: they must be complete and correct. Otherwise, the document may simply not be accepted for consideration.
Detailed methodology for writing a competent business plan
presented in this video:
« How to write a business plan? - this is only the first question that a future businessman must answer.
The finished document should not be left to gather dust on a shelf. It is not enough to simply write a development course from scratch until you reach break-even. You need to constantly return to it: analyze successes, correct mistakes, fill in gaps...
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How to create a business plan?
Brief instructions
You have an idea. You want to create your own business. Great. What's next? Next, you need to “put everything in order,” think through the details (as far as possible) in order to first of all understand: is it worth developing this project? Perhaps after researching the market, you will realize that the service or product is not in demand, or you do not have sufficient funds to develop the business. Maybe the project should be improved a little, unnecessary elements should be abandoned, or, on the contrary, something should be introduced?
A business plan will help you consider the prospects of your idea.
End justifies the means?
When starting to write a business plan, keep its goals and functions in mind. First of all, you carry out preparatory work to understand how realistic it is to achieve the planned results, how much time and money is needed to implement your plans.
In addition, a business plan is necessary to attract investors, obtain a grant or a bank loan. That is, it must include information about the potential profit of the project, the necessary costs and the payback period. Think about what is important and interesting for your recipients to hear.
Use a small cheat sheet for yourself:
- Analyze the market you are going to enter. What leading companies exist in this direction. Research their experience and work.
- Identify your project's strengths and weaknesses, future opportunities and risks. In short, conduct a SWOT analysis*.
SWOT analysis - (English)Strengths,Weaknesses,Opportunities,Threats - strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A method of planning and strategy development that allows you to identify the main factors influencing business development.
- Decide clearly what you expect from the project. Set a specific goal.
The main purpose of a business plan is to help you, first of all, develop a company strategy and plan its development, as well as help in attracting investments.
So, any plan has a structure. Regardless of the specifics of the project and the requirements of investors, a business plan, as a rule, contains the following elements:
1. Company summary(short business plan)
- Product Description
- Description of the market situation
- Competitive advantages and disadvantages
- Brief description of the organizational structure
- Distribution of funds (investment and own)
2. Marketing plan
- Defining the “problem” and your solution
- Determining the target audience
- Market and competition analysis
- Free niche, unique selling proposition
- Methods and costs of attracting customers
- Sales channels
- Stages and timing of market penetration
3. Plan for the production of goods or services
- Organization of production
- Infrastructure Features
- Production resources and space
- Production equipment
- Production process
- Quality control
- Calculation of investments and depreciation
4.Organization of the work process
- Organizational structure of the enterprise
- Distribution of powers and responsibilities
- Control system
5. Financial plan and risk forecast
- Cost Estimation
- Calculation of the cost of a product or service
- Calculation of profit and loss
- Investment period
- Break-even point and payback point
- Cash flow forecast
- Risk forecast
- Ways to minimize risks
It is clear that a business plan is one whole and its parts are inextricably linked with each other. However, a well-designed structure will help you not to forget important things, as well as to take a deeper look at each aspect.
Company summary. Briefly about the main thing
Marketing plan. There are empty seats?
When creating a marketing plan, you will have to analyze the market you are going to enter. In this way, you will identify trends for yourself, collect information about competitors and get to know your consumer, your target audience, better.
Having assessed the potential client, his interests and preferences, you must determine the optimal location of the office, retail outlet, etc. It should be comfortable. Calculate the required number of clients for your business to pay off and compare it with the audience living or working around the intended location of the business. For example, for a business in the field of public services, the size of this audience should not be less than 2% of the number of people living within a short walk or five-minute car ride.
It is quite possible that the market you were planning to conquer is oversaturated at the moment. Analyze the actions of your competitors, create your own strategy, focus on your uniqueness, bring in something new to fill an empty niche in a certain area.
Of course, creating something that is not yet on the market is quite difficult. However, you can carefully analyze the situation and open, for example, a point where the consumer really needs it or play on the difference in prices and level of services provided relative to nearby competitors.
You also definitely have to decide on sales channels. After reviewing the existing methods on the market, find the ones that are best for you. Calculate how much it costs you to attract each client.
Finally, when deciding on pricing, you will need to calculate: what is more profitable? A high price with a small number of sales or a price lower than that of competitors, but a large customer flow. You should also not forget about service, because for many consumers it is crucial. They are willing to pay a price higher than the market average, but receive high quality service.
Production plan. What are we selling?
This is where you finally get into detail about the core of your business: what do you do?
For example, you decide to produce dresses and sell them. In the production plan, indicate suppliers of fabric and equipment, where you will locate the sewing workshop, and what the production volume will be. You will describe the stages of product manufacturing, the necessary qualifications of employees, calculate the necessary deductions to the depreciation fund, as well as logistics. The costs of future business will depend on many factors: from the cost of threads to the cost of labor.
When prescribing the technology for creating your final product, you will pay attention to many little things that you had not thought about before. There may be issues with storing goods or difficulties with imported raw materials, problems with finding employees with the necessary qualifications, etc.
When you have finally written down the entire path to creating a product or service, it’s time to calculate how much your project will cost you. It may well be that later, when making financial calculations, you will understand that you need to make adjustments to the production plan: cut some costs or radically change the technology itself.
Organization of the work process. How will it work?
Will you manage the business alone or with partners? How will decisions be made? You need to answer these and many more questions in the “Workflow Organization” section.
Here you can describe the entire structure of the enterprise and identify duplication of powers, mutual exclusions, etc. Having seen the entire organization diagram, it will be easier for you to optimally distribute rights and responsibilities between departments and employees.
Having understood, first of all, for yourself how your company functions, it will be possible to more effectively develop a system of interaction between structures, a system for monitoring employees and the entire personnel policy.
The importance of this section is that it describes who and how will implement the project in reality.
Financial plan. Main section
The financial section is directly related to all points of the business plan. Therefore, if changes or additions are made to one of the sections, then the financial calculations also change. The reverse process is also possible, if adjustments are made to the financial plan - this means changes in other structures. So, if you understand that you will have to reduce expenses in order to meet the amount of funds that you have, think about how you will carry out this optimization.
Of course, a business plan is an approximate model of how your project will develop and function. You need to remember that unforeseen situations will arise, because you are starting a business in real time, and in life it is impossible without surprises. However, if you follow the recommendations from BIBOSS, you will be able to create a detailed and workable business plan that will save you many problems.
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