Wondering about arranging sections in a business plan? To say there's no hard and fast way would be untrue, but that doesn't mean there isn't at least a little leeway. Think about what elements of your business are most important. If it's all in the marketing and the service itself is less important than the delivery, can you toggle those pieces and talk about promotions and advertising first? Sure. If you think the market analysis is the only real key to understanding why your venture will be a hit, could you go ahead and put it before the description of the company and its products? If you think that's prudent, why not. The presentation is your to make. However, without good reason, there's not much sense deviating from the accepted line-up of materials in a business plan:
• Executive Summary
• Product/Service Description
• Market Analysis
• Marketing/Implementation
• Management & Personnel
• Financial Forecasts
The business plan should include subsections for any part that needs one. You will be the guide for this, because arranging sub-sections in a plan is definitely more of an art than a science. Make sure the plan covers topics like your target market segment strategy, the market need you meet, the industry analysis, and a thorough competitive comparison. You should also note any future services, give a company profile or history report if you're an existing business, and go into topics like marketing initiatives, competitive edge, and even management team gaps (provided you have some). The financials, too, should be comprehensive: use of funds, revenue forecast, break-even, profit and loss, cash flow, and a balance sheet. Want to talk to the professionals about arranging what you've got, or perhaps making a new plan from scratch? Call today at 877-453-2011.
