Trying to figure out the operation portion of business plan? It's a tough part to cover because, as the saying goes, it's hard to know when you're done. Every business plan has some sort of operational component. In smaller documents – for example, a modest funding request to launch a retail operation – the operational portion might be as simple as stating who performs which job function. But in more advanced plans for private investment, or for companies where the operational tiers are complex or multi-layered, the question of how to address the operational plan is much more involved. In fact, in some cases, a separate operational plan – wholly independent of the business plan itself – is required to lay down the basics of interrelationships between departments and personnel. For the most part though, you can get away with covering just these points:
• Who will you need to hire in the next five years?
• What will be their title, role, salary, and review schedule?
• What members of the team report to your C-level executives?
• Are there managerial gaps you need to fill?
These questions are of course just part of the larger context for your business plan. The document needs to identify your ongoing market targets, your penetration strategy for each sector, and the roles that key employees will play in this continued growth. These elements should also tie into the financial pro forma, which ought to show the intended use of proceeds and five years of data in tables including a revenue forecast, break-even point (if applicable), P&L, cash flow, and balance sheet. Need help with the operational elements in your document? MasterPlans and its expert writers and modelers can help. Call us today to learn more: (877) 453-2011.
