Sample Business Plan

Elements of a Business Plan (from the Small Business Administration)

1. Cover sheet
2. Statement of purpose
3. Table of contents

I. The Business
A. Description of business

• Legalities - business form: proprietorship, partnership, corporation. The licenses or permits you will need.
• Business type: merchandizing, manufacturing or service.
• What you are selling.
• How your product or service will benefit the customer.
• Which products/services are in demand; if there will be a steady flow of cash.
• What is different about the product or service your business is offering.
• Is it a new independent business, a takeover, an expansion, a franchise?
• Why your business will be profitable. What are the growth opportunities? Will franchising impact on growth opportunities?
• When your business will be open (days, hours)?
• What you have learned about your kind of business from outside sources (trade suppliers, bankers, other franchise owners, franchisor, publications).
• What are your location needs?
• What kind of space will you need?
• Why is the area desirable? the building desirable?
• Is it easily accessible? Is public transportation available? Is street lighting adequate?
• Are market shifts or demographic shifts occurring?

B. Marketing

• Who are your customers? Define your target market(s).
• Are your markets growing? steady? declining?
• Is your market share growing? steady? declining?
• If a franchise, how is your market segmented?
• Are your markets large enough to expand?
• How will you attract, hold, increase your market share? If a franchise, will the franchisor provide assistance in this area? Based on the franchisor's strategy? how will you promote your sales?
• What pricing strategy have you devised?

C. Competition

• Who are your five nearest direct competitors?
• Who are your indirect competitors?
• How are their businesses: steady? increasing? decreasing?
• What have you learned from their operations? from their advertising?
• What are their strengths and weaknesses?
• How does their product or service differ from yours?

D. Operating procedures
E. Personnel
F. Business insurance
G. Financial data

II. Financial Data
    A. Loan applications
    B. Capital equipment and supply list
    C. Balance sheet
    D. Breakeven analysis
    E. Pro-forma income projections (profit & loss statements)

• Three-year summary
• Detail by month, first year
• Detail by quarters, second and third years
• Assumptions upon which projections were based

F. Pro-forma cash flow

• Follow guidelines for letter E.

III. Supporting Documents

• Tax returns of principals for last three years
• Personal financial statement (all banks have these forms)
• In the case of a franchised business, a copy of franchise contract and all supporting documents provided by the franchisor
• Copy of proposed lease or purchase agreement for building space
• Copy of licenses and other legal documents
• Copy of resumes of all principals
• Copies of letters of intent from suppliers, etc.

60 Sample Business Plans

http://www.bplans.com/samples/sba.cfm

(from bplans.com, maker of Business Plan Pro)