How to Create a Business Plan as a Small Business or Entrepreneur

Why You Need a Business Plan as an Entrepreneur or Small Business?

Every business needs to have a plan in order to succeed, and this is especially true as a start-up or small business! A business plan is a blueprint for the future of your business. It is where you lay out your goals and objectives, while also outlining how you plan to reach them. A business plan will help you better understand your company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It will also provide a clear vision for what you want your company to look like in the future. A well-written business plan can help prove the potential of the business idea and attract investment.

Writing a business plan is a difficult task and might seem overwhelming if this is your first time. However, there are many steps that you can follow to help you write a successful business plan. 

The 7 Main Components of any Good Business Plan

In order to write the best business plan possible, it’s important to first know what sections you need to cover. Below I’ve highlighted the main components you should include:

 1. Executive Summary

The executive summary provide readers with a brief overview of what the business plan contains, without overwhelming them with too much information. A good executive summary will help potential investors to decide whether or not to invest in a company and should. It should include the company's mission and goals alongside high level financial information.

2. Company Description

This section should includes the business objective, vision of the business, it’s structure or ownership, location and information about the management team

3. Market Analysis

This section will provide an overview of the market, including the market size, demographics and competitor analysis. The section should also include a SWOT analysis of the market, which is a strategic tool that analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by an organization.

4. Products & Services

In the business plan, you will need to provide a complete list of your products and services. This section is crucial in order to give the reader an idea of what your company offers.

In this section, you should provide a list of all the services that your company provides. You must also include prices for each service and any other relevant information such as delivery time frames.

Providing a description of each service is also recommended because it will help readers understand what they are getting with each purchase.

5. Marketing Strategy

The marketing strategy section explains how you are going to promote your business to potential customers. It includes information about pricing, distribution channels, and advertising campaigns.

The marketing strategy section also includes details about how you are going to maintain customer loyalty. This could include information about returning customers, customer service levels, and customer feedback channels.

6. Financial Plan

A financial plan is a document that outlines the future goals and objectives of a company. It includes the company's budget, projected income, and expenses. A financial plan also includes projections for future growth and investment.

The Financial Plan section of a business plan should include:

  • A summary of the company’s current financial situation
  • An overview of the company’s expected cash flow in the coming years
  • A summary of projected costs in each department or division
  • An explanation of how to achieve these projections

7. Roadmap

A roadmap is a plan for the future. It is a strategic document that helps to map out the short-term and long-term goals of a business. It also defines how those goals will be achieved. This section should be updated periodically to reflect any changes that have occurred since the last update. It’s important to show a clear picture of where you are going with your business and how you are getting there.

How to Create a Business Plan using our Templates

Business plans can be a daunting task to complete and time consuming to start from scratch! But with our templates, you can create a professional-looking business plan in no time! Our templates are designed for small businesses who want to create their own business plans from scratch or as a starting point for their own unique plans.

Don’t have time to create your own business plan? We have the templates so you can create your own in no time!

We have included 17 templates that cover everything from introducing your business, outlining your target market and competitors, to breaking down your business finances, your marketing plan and business roadmap.

Concentrate on the content and leave the design to the template! This editable bundle of templates has everything you need to put your business plan together in the most efficient way!

★ BUNDLE INCLUDES ★

✔ 17 editable business plan templates

✔ Executive Summary

✔ Introduction to your business and a template to outline the problem your business solves

✔ Page to outline your Target Market

✔ Competitor Analysis Templates including SWOT Analysis

✔ Give an overview of the Products and Services you offer

✔ Highlight your Marketing Strategy

✔ Break down your business Finances and projections

✔ Your future Roadmap for the business

Bonus text layout pages in case you need to add more content to a particular section of your business plan

★ FEATURES ★

✔ Available to edit in Canva (no need for CanvaPro!) AND Microsoft Word

✔ Fully EDITABLE! Edit colors, fonts, text and photos to suit you!

✔ Edit on your laptop/tablet or on your phone directly!

✔ Edit with unlimited revisions - use the template over and over again

Elevate and grow your business with this Business Plan template!