How to write business plans is the simplest example. How to write a business plan: step-by-step instructions


A business plan is a short-term course of action for a business entity. The document contains information about the company and ways of its further profitable operation. It contains information and proposals for the production of a new product, the provision of a service, the sales market is assessed, and calculations are made necessary materials and equipment, marketing moves, and also a conclusion is drawn about the feasibility of implementing the project from a financial point of view, the profit received and the payback period are predicted.

A business plan is important tool strategy, management and planning. Any investment agreements and transactions are concluded subject to the mandatory availability of this document. Having seen the forecasts set out on paper, confirmed by real figures, investors will make a deal with the entrepreneur, enter into a contract, and invest the necessary resources.

When issuing loans to start-up entrepreneurs, the bank needs a guarantee of repayment of funds. The provided business plan informs the credit institution about the existing or future activities of the businessman in a succinct, understandable form. By and large, such a document answers the question that interests every business owner: is it worth investing in a particular project?

Writing a business plan is lengthy labor-intensive process, which will require the author to have extensive knowledge in the subject area and the ability to analyze - in total, this data will allow one to clearly define tactics and strategy for achieving desired result. There are 3 ways to become the owner of a finished document:

  • Compose yourself. In this case, the entrepreneur will need knowledge of the economy, legislative acts, all the nuances of his business, and, finally, the rules for drawing up a business plan.
  • Use the services of specialists. There are companies that, in a number of services provided, prepare and compile similar documentation. To the negative aspects this method The high cost of the service and the subjectivity of the information presented should be attributed.
  • Download from the Internet. Rather, this option is recommended to help the first.

You can see how to correctly compose such a document in the following video:

Stages of document preparation

A competent business plan should contain maximum information about the company’s activities.

Its approximate structure:

  1. Summary.
  2. Review section.
  3. Description of the product (service).
  4. Marketing plan.
  5. Production plan.
  6. Financial plan.
  7. Assessment of upcoming risks.

Although a summary belongs to sections, it should be written separately, after completing the entire document. It performs the function of an extended output, a summary. After reading it, an investor, lender or business owner will have general idea about what is written below.

A standard resume is 1 page in A4 format.

If you have not yet registered an organization, then easiest way do this using online services, which will help you generate all the necessary documents for free: If you already have an organization, and you are thinking about how to simplify and automate accounting and reporting, then the following online services will come to the rescue, which will completely replace an accountant in your company and save a lot money and time. All reporting is generated automatically, signed electronically and sent automatically online. It is ideal for individual entrepreneurs or LLCs on the simplified tax system, UTII, PSN, TS, OSNO.
Everything happens in a few clicks, without queues and stress. Try it and you will be surprised how easy it has become!

Overview section

The purpose of compiling this paragraph is to provide information about the enterprise. The section should provide answers to next questions:

  • What is the organizational and legal form of doing business?
  • The main activities of the company?
  • Job profile: sales, production, intermediary, etc.?
  • What does the company intend to offer to the potential target audience?
  • What goals does the organization pursue in implementing this project?
  • In what geographical area does the company plan to develop?
  • What is the main difference between this company and its main competitors?
  • How does the company see its development prospects in the next few years?

At the end of the paragraph, the legal details of the organization must be provided: address, contact phone number, website (if available).

Description of the product (service)

The main objective of this section is to present in a concise form the features, qualities and characteristics of a product or service offered by a specific business. The section should contain a physical description of the product or service, a description of the benefits, possibilities of use, problems that the described product helps to solve, and the stage of readiness to enter the market.

It would not be amiss to indicate the data of experts and consumers who had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the products and give positive feedback. If we are talking about a product, it is recommended to attach high quality photos from different angles.

Marketing plan

The section allocated for marketing research is one of the largest and most important parts of the business plan. The main task of the compiler is to explain how the described business will influence the market and respond to its rapidly changing trends in order to ensure the sale of goods in the stated volumes. The marketing plan should reflect the following aspects:

  • demand for the products offered;
  • market expansion opportunities;
  • analysis of competitors, factors influencing the internal and external environment;
  • market research results;
  • projected sales volumes.

To confirm the information described, one can cite ready-made versions of SWOT analysis tables. To summarize the point, a description of the marketing strategy is given (the expediency of using marketing means is explained, in particular a description of sales strategies, product promotion, advertising, pricing, and sales promotion).

Production plan

The purpose of creating this section is to describe the technological process of product production. A general approach to organizing production is indicated. Characteristics are given to suppliers of raw materials and auxiliary materials that will be used. A description of the main technological processes is attached. Options for purchasing equipment, its main characteristics, and power are considered.

A separate paragraph indicates the qualification requirements for personnel involved in production. Units are formed (if we are talking about big business). The terms of payment, labor incentives, and proposed changes in the personnel structure as the enterprise's capabilities expand are considered.

Below it is recommended to draw up a production flow diagram that will clearly demonstrate the processes of receipt of raw materials and components, the processes of their processing into a finished product, where the goods will be stored, how and where they will be delivered from the enterprise.

In the case of the provision of services, the scheme will have a slightly modified form. It should reflect the way services are provided to clients, where initial stage will provide necessary tools and materials.

The following aspects of the production process should not be ignored:

  • estimated production capacity;
  • need in land plots, buildings, structures;
  • the need to purchase equipment;
  • terms of supply of raw materials;
  • quality control of received materials;
  • requirements for sources of energy, water, gas;
  • quality control of manufactured products.

Financial plan

An important condition drawing up a business plan is to determine the financial indicators of the business. These calculations are based on taking into account costs and sales (income) forecasts. The result of the calculations will be the amount of profit that the enterprise will receive from the implementation of this project. In essence, this is basic information that is of interest to investors and credit institutions.

Investment costs (to start a business):

  • registration of an organization;
  • purchase or lease of production space;
  • arrangement of the premises;
  • acquisition of equipment and auxiliary materials;
  • registration of a license.

Basic costs are usually divided into fixed and variable.

The volume of fixed costs does not change depending on the increase (decrease) in the volume of output:

  • rental of premises;
  • depreciation of fixed assets;
  • employee salary (rate);
  • tariffs for water, heating, electricity, gas, communications;
  • equipment servicing;
  • payment of taxes.

As a rule, the basis for calculation is a time period: month, six months, year, etc.

The volume of variable costs is directly proportional to the volume of production:

  • costs of raw materials;
  • salaries to employees (piece-rate form of accrual);
  • transportation costs (gasoline, etc.);
  • payment for communications equipment.

To determine operating profit, it is necessary to subtract expenses from the cost of production. An important condition for making correct calculations is the construction of a break-even point - a graph displaying the minimum permissible volume of production and sales at which costs will “cover” income. This means that the production and sale of each subsequent unit of production will bring profit.

To calculate the level of profitability of production, it is necessary to relate the cost of goods for a certain period to the amount of costs. The calculation of the payback period for production is carried out by the ratio of investment costs to net profit.

Risk assessment

This section provides an approximate assessment of the risks that are most likely to occur for this project. In addition, a number of preventive measures to prevent or minimize their negative impact on business.

Availability of business – great way start making money on your own, but it is impossible to open it without first developing a special project. In this publication you will find the answer to the following questions: what is a business plan, how to draw up this document, are there any nuances of its design.

What is a business project?

A business project describes all the features of the future organization. It analyzes possible problems, identifies options for solving them, and predicts the result. How to draw up a correct business plan is a question asked by people who are planning to attract investors. Competent preparation of the document will guarantee the successful future of your enterprise.

Drawing up a correct business project is not easy even for an experienced entrepreneur, so it is advisable to entrust this work to a team of competent economists. The plan must contain, regardless of the type of activity:

  1. Justification of economic feasibility.
  2. The state of the economic environment in which it is planned to open a business.
  3. Financial results (sales volume, revenue and profit).
  4. Sources of financing.
  5. Task execution schedule.
  6. Appointment of people responsible for the implementation of the business.
  7. Determine indicators that allow you to monitor intermediate results.

Business plan has many definitions, but in short: This is a step-by-step instruction for bringing any business idea to life. Planning a future business or improving an existing enterprise is not only a basic requirement for investors, creditors and partners, but also a necessity for a businessman.
Drawing up a business plan implies a deep and accurate analysis of all aspects of the future enterprise, and this allows you to turn the idea into specific goals and numbers. And also, a business plan is always an unfinished book, since in the process of changes in economic conditions, the competitive environment, and the investment market, adjustments can always be made to successfully promote the business.

Any business idea can become a successful business if the future entrepreneur clearly understands what he needs to implement his plans. It is the business plan that is the starting point for starting a business, which makes possible assessment the real state of affairs, study the market and competitors, give an adequate assessment of your capabilities, and think about how to make your business unique, and therefore in demand.

Basic principles for preparing a business plan

So what should must be in the business plan .

1) Project summary. This is a concise description of a business idea, a vision of development and tools to achieve results. The resume should also show what advantages you see in your business compared to other players in the market. In a word, this section should give brief description your business idea.

2) Information about the company. Here it is necessary to indicate the name of the enterprise, form of ownership, legal and actual address of the company, and describe the structure of the enterprise.

It is also necessary to describe the goods or services that you are going to market with the production or sale of.

Indicate the main goals of the enterprise.


3) Market analysis.
This part involves considering the conditions in which you are going to enter the market - the competitive environment, demand, what price you are going to charge, and what profit you will make over the next three years. It is also necessary to indicate which advantages of your products or services will be especially attractive to consumers.

4) Product. This part should contain detailed description future products or services that you will offer to the consumer. You also need to indicate which target audience your activities will be aimed at, indicate future suppliers, partners, contractors and other contractors with whom you plan to cooperate.

5) Development strategy. This section involves a description of the development tools for the future enterprise - growth rates, advertising, possible expansion.

6) Tools for the operation of the enterprise. This chapter needs to reflect information about what equipment you are going to use, how to package the goods, deliver them, and if these are services, then where you will provide them and by what means.

Also in this section it is worth including information about your team - from management to support workers.

7) Financial analysis. This section is key in a business plan , which should support your idea in numbers. Here it is necessary to analyze and calculate all the costs associated with the organization of the enterprise, its location, maintenance costs, payment of employees, payments to suppliers, etc. You need to take everything into account, right down to buying a pack of paper.

Also in this section, include information about your actions in the event of debt from partners, customers or suppliers. What debt repayment schemes are you going to use, and how can you protect yourself from such situations.

8) Accompanying documents. This is certainly not a section, but an important component of the business plan. It is necessary to attach all documents directly related to the enterprise as legal entity, lease agreements, resume, job descriptions etc.

Common mistakes in business plans


Examples of business plans
can be viewed endlessly, but a beginner cannot always see the main shortcomings of a business plan. Often, a business idea does not come to fruition because it is absolutely impossible to see the main essence and advantages of the future enterprise in the business plan.

So let's consider main mistakes that inexperienced businessmen make when working on a business plan:

  • Unnecessary information. Often business plans are written in such a way that behind the description of the professional skills of employees, information about the business itself is lost, or a story about competitors turns into an essay “Who today offers the same products as mine and what a great guy I am, what can I do better (or cheaper) )". In fact, a list of competitors, a few words about the pros and cons of their work, pricing policy and an indication of your advantages in comparison with them is enough.
  • Unreasonable numbers . As mentioned earlier, financial analysis is decisive for the business plan, so all calculations must be made based on real numbers. Of course, it’s easier and faster to estimate by eye, but if you seriously decide to run your own business, then remember that any business loves accuracy.

In order for an investor to become interested in you, work hard to ensure that everything the numbers in the business plan were reasonable. Keep in mind that investors and creditors go into negotiations prepared, since it is their money that is at stake. And, if there is even a slight uncertainty about the reality of your calculations, you can forget about investing in your business.

  • Vague information about goals and tools for achieving them . This problem usually arises when there is an idea, but there is no vision for its implementation, or this vision does not have a finished form. Roughly speaking, if the future businessman has not thought everything through.

A business plan must disclose a list of specific goals and ways to implement them, work with the target audience, assessment of its solvency, a clear definition of the place in the market that you plan to occupy, and who exactly will be your main competitor. Indicate what is the basis for such conclusions (analysis, market research, survey, etc.).

  • Overestimated expected result . Often, when calculating the potential profitability of a future business, entrepreneurs' dreams take precedence over real numbers. You shouldn’t get carried away by what you want, but rather take an honest look at reality. If in financial analysis If adequate figures are taken into account, then the expected financial result will also have a realistic appearance.

Don't try to impress creditors, partners and investors with profits of 500%. Believe me, they will calculate your result much faster and more accurately in their heads, because their experience and knowledge will be greater than yours. And if the idea presented is worthwhile, even if not profitable from the first day, but promising in the future, it will not be ignored.

Example of a business plan

So let's consider example of a business plan for a cafe " Goodtime ».

  1. Summary .

Name – Cafe “Goodtime”.

Organizational and legal form – Limited Liability Company.

Location – Kyiv

Services provided - Cafe, bar, karaoke, holding festive events, conducting trainings, seminars.

Working hours – 8.00-23.00 without breaks and days off.

Staff – 1 manager, 2 administrators, 1 bartender, 4 waiters, 2 cooks, 1 art director, 1 cleaner, 2 dishwashers.

Necessary start-up capital– 500,000.00 UAH.

Expenses per month – 197,000.00 UAH.

The planned return on investment period is 18 months.

Competition is high

Demand is high

Planned income per month – 180,000.00 UAH.

Planned consumption – 120,000.00 UAH.

Planned net profit – 60,000.00 UAH.

  1. Cafe services and goods .

Cafe "Goodtime" will provide the following services:

1) Cafe, bar services.

2) Conducting trainings and seminars.

3) Themed parties.

4) Karaoke services.

5) Providing Wi-Fi for visitors.

6) Separate game room for children.

Products that the Goodtime cafe will sell:

1) Confectionery products of our own production.

2) Semi-finished products of our own production.

3) Lunch/dinner delivered to your home or to-go.

4) Sale of coffee and tea by weight.

  1. The target audience .

The cafe is aimed at people aged 18-55 with average and above average income. They should be interested in spending time in a cozy atmosphere, with the opportunity to participate in interesting programs and sing karaoke songs. Each client must generate income in the amount of 50-250 UAH.

Also planned consumers of services are small companies that are interested in holding events for small groups of people of 10-30 people.

  1. Marketing methods .

1) Distribution of flyers-invitations to the opening.

  1. Customer Retention Tools .

1) Interesting menu, the ability to prepare dishes to order.

2) Promotions, discounts for regular customers.

3) Holding interesting themed parties.

4) Gifts for regular customers in the form of desserts and drinks.

5) Service at the highest level.

  1. Competitors .

The Goodtime cafe will be opened in the center of the residential area, where there are also 4 cafes of a similar level. But our cafe will have the following advantages:

1) Availability of karaoke;

2) Availability of a children's playroom;

3) Possibility of ordering food at home;

4) Theme evenings.

5) The location of the cafe has convenient access and parking space.

  1. Action plan for opening a cafe .

1) Market analysis.

2) Team selection.

3) Renovation of the premises.

4) Purchasing necessary equipment and equipment for work.

5) Development of the menu and plan for upcoming events.

6) Registration of activities and obtaining all necessary permits.

8) Checking the cafe for functionality.

9) Opening.

  1. The financial analysis .

One-time costs:

  1. Purchase of equipment and inventory – 350,000.00 UAH.
  2. Repair of premises – 150,000.00 UAH.

Total: 500,000.00 UAH.

Recurrent costs:

  1. Rent – ​​50,000.00 UAH.
  2. Salary – 48,000.00 UAH.
  3. Utility bills, internet – 8,000.00 UAH.
  4. Purchase of products – 70,000.00 UAH.
  5. Taxes and fees – 21,000.00 UAH.

Total: 197,000.00 UAH.

Payback period:

Provided that the cafe will be visited by 50 people per day and the income from each will be 150 UAH, the payback period will occur in 18 months.

50 people *150 UAH*30 days =225,000.00 UAH.

225,000.00 UAH. – 197,000.00 UAH. = 28,000.00 UAH.

500,000.00 UAH/28,000.00 UAH. = 17.86 ≈18 months.

Conclusion

Subject to proper implementation of the idea and efficient work advertising company, cafe administration and art director, you can count on profit after the first month of work. Considering that the cafe opens in the fall, high traffic is expected in the next 6-9 months. To retain customers in the summer, it is possible to open a summer area in the future.

So, it is possible to draw up a business plan yourself. A simplified version is given here due to the fact that it concerns production issues. Also, keep in mind that this is just an example, so the numbers shown are very approximate. If you decide to use it as a basis, conduct a thorough analysis of the financial side of the issue yourself.

And yet, if you are not sure about the issue of business planning, then you can always use the services of professionals who will work through your idea well and turn it into quality business plan.

But, the main thing is to persistently move towards your goal and not despair, because mistakes are always possible. The most important thing in business is not that you should not make mistakes, but the ability to quickly navigate the situation and choose the right direction to solve problems.

If you couldn't find the right business plan with calculations, then the best solution will compose it yourself. What are the stages of document preparation? What sections should it contain? How to write it in such a way as to interest investors? Read more in the article “Business.ru”.

Business plan, what is it?

BP is a management, financial and marketing strategy of a company, drawn up in the form of a document. Within its framework, all aspects of future activities are covered, taking into account possible risks, a calculation is made of the volume of investments in the development of the project and the approximate date of return of the invested funds.

Let’s take a closer look at what a business plan is and give as an example the business plan of two small businesses:

  • small coffee shop;
  • fitness club.

Functions of a business plan

The main requirement for creating a detailed business plan for an enterprise is the ability to demonstrate your idea of ​​a future business clearly to those who will provide funds for its development (investors, banks, various funds, potential partners, etc.).

Business planning will help systematize and structure all information about the project. It will also allow you to set up the planned deployment of future infrastructure and help you correctly determine the time to invest money in its development. Most aspiring entrepreneurs have only a basic understanding of the functions of a business plan. All possible varieties are listed below.

  1. Simple and clear wording in the text, without the possibility of other interpretations;
  2. Try not to exceed 25 pages. The file must be arranged according to generally accepted standards;
  3. The investor must receive full information about the project, after reading the business plan;
  4. All your calculations and conclusions should be based on verifiable figures, research and facts;
  5. Each section should be interconnected and should complement a comprehensive positive opinion about the project. Having familiarized himself, the investor must discern the future potential of the enterprise;
  6. Try to remain flexible. If your business plan allows you to make changes, clarifications and additions, then your project is already better than its competitors;
  7. Be sure to indicate methods for monitoring the future enterprise.

Creating a business plan yourself is not difficult if you think through the idea of ​​a startup. You have already viewed ready-made examples business plans for small businesses and haven’t found the right one? Let's give step-by-step algorithm, which will allow you to develop it yourself. Each item of the BP will be described in detail below.

First of all, you need to determine the “negative” and “positive” aspects of your business idea. There is no need to quit what you started if the negative aspects at first glance outweigh the positive ones. Every minus can become a growth point for a business.

The cornerstones of a successful business are a stable position in the market and the ability to compete in the chosen niche. The sales market will require a detailed analysis. If, after conducting the above research and calculating the initial financial indicators, you have not changed your mind about starting a business, you should start creating a business plan.

Mandatory sections of a business plan

The structure of a business plan, consisting of 12 mandatory sections, is widely used. The volume of each of them will depend on the specifics of the project; a small enterprise can do without some of them completely. But in general, the power supply should look exactly like this.

1.Cover page

This should include:

  • The name of the project and the company in which this project will be developed and launched. It is required to provide detailed contact information (contact number, legal address, etc.);
  • Full name of the head of the company;
  • The person or group responsible for creating the BP;
  • Date of creation of the BP;
  • It is possible to add the most significant indicators project.

2. Non-disclosure memorandum or NDA (non-disclosure agreement)

This important agreement will ensure that your unique business idea is protected and prevents anyone from stealing it. finished project. This file contains information about the requirement to keep confidential any information that was obtained while reading this document. Duplicating a business model in this form, copying documents and other facts of copyright infringement within the framework of this business plan will be prosecuted by law.

3. Brief summary

The order of this section of the business plan should not mislead you; you should begin filling out this part only at the end of writing it. This is a kind of excerpt from the entire document: briefly describe the main points related to financial indicators and your business idea.

Instructions on how to write a resume:

  1. Describe your product or service;
  2. Give a description of the target audience;
  3. Indicate how many products will be sold/produced and what the company's total revenue will be within one calendar year after the launch;
  4. The total volume of required investments and planned costs;
  5. Organizational and legal aspects;
  6. Data on the required labor force within the project;
  7. Possibility and list of sources of subsidizing the project;
  8. Indicate the time frame for reaching the break-even point and the payback period in general.

Important! The investor pays attention to this section first of all. Therefore, the fate of your business idea largely depends on your resume. In this case, you need to keep it to one page.

In this section you also need to write: total income for the year, total funds at the end of the year, profitability of the enterprise and net present value (NPV).

4. Project description

This section should reflect the main aspects that prompted you to believe in the presented business idea. The following clarifications will help:

  • The essence of the project ( in simple words, without the possibility of erroneous interpretation)
  • What does the company need to do to achieve its goals?
  • Are there barriers to the success of your business model? If yes, how to overcome them?
  • What can you personally offer (specific steps) for the company to achieve profit in as soon as possible? Indicate a specific period of time (3 months, six months, a year, 10 years, etc.).

Important! Be precise, concise and include only reliable facts. Try to keep it to 2 pages

It will be useful to clearly demonstrate the viability of your enterprise using a SWOT analysis (analysis of opportunities and risks). The main thing to remember is that you are analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of your business, not a product. Entrepreneurs often mistakenly do the opposite.

Example of a SWOT analysis for a coffee shop chain:

5. Description of the market niche

When drawing up a business plan, try to demonstrate the viability of your idea as part of a marketing study of the market situation.

The following numbers will help:

  • Sales volume of a similar product over a significant period of time (quarter, year, 5 years);
  • The overall growth rate of the niche you are applying for;
  • Specifics and trends of pricing policy;
  • Detailed information about competitors;
  • Identification of startups and small players, description of their advantages and disadvantages;
  • Characteristics of your buyer. What does he think a familiar product? What does he want to buy? His financial capabilities;
  • Influence external factors to the market (politics, society, science, economics);
  • Possible promising aspects of a niche in the chosen industry.

6. Detailed information about the project

In this section of the business plan, you need to reveal the essence of the project in more detail. The degree of readiness for launch and the availability of all the necessary resources for this should be mentioned.

Be sure to indicate in this chapter of the business plan:

  1. Primary goals;
  2. Detailed description of the target audience;
  3. Important aspects (measurable) of success in the chosen market;
  4. Detailed product description. It should be noted that its qualities should be higher than the average of its analogues;
  5. Phased production of the product (for existing enterprises). Copyright information, availability of patents, certificates of conformity;
  6. Description of the company;
  7. General cost indicator with details of the time and volume of each tranche from the potential investor;
  8. Primary costs for building marketing and management structures in the company.

7. Marketing strategy

Describe its essence, main performance indicators and tools for achieving the goals outlined in the business plan. It is required to indicate the responsibilities of each employee in the marketing department, as well as the timing and methods for achieving results. Calculate how much money you will need to invest in promoting your product or service.

What must be included in a marketing plan?

  • Market analysis.
  • Quantitative indicators of the release of future products and product line, product release schedule with time indicators and an indicator of the moment of 100% production load.
  • Product improvement in the process of enterprise development.
  • Description of pricing and external indicators of the product (packaging).
  • Information about the sales and procurement system.
  • Methods of promoting a product to the target audience.
  • Measurable indicators.
  • Service maintenance.
  • Measures to monitor the implementation of the marketing strategy.

Important! There are no strictly documented instructions for creating the ideal business plan. You can exclude, add or change items at your discretion

8. Production plan

Enter here all the information about the production of the product, taking into account seasonality. If you plan to sell finished products, you can omit this item when creating a business plan.

When creating a production facility from scratch, indicate the required production capacity, the specifics of the production process, and outsourced operations. In addition, you will need full list equipment, its technical parameters and cost, as well as information about leasing purchases.

IN production plan you also need to include:

  • Information about areas for the enterprise;
  • Required materials;
  • Output costs at each stage of the production cycle.

Important! Do not forget to indicate any factor that directly or indirectly affects the cost of the final product

9. Organizational plan

This section of the business plan reveals the features of hiring workers, managing and distributing responsibilities between them. This section should not be neglected, even when it comes to existing enterprises. It is he who helps to understand whether the current organizational structure intended goals.

This section specifies:

  • Legal and actual address of the enterprise/company;
  • Name of the organizational and legal form (joint stock company, LLC, individual entrepreneur, etc.);
  • Control circuit. It is important to reflect the relationship of each employee and department, as well as direct instructions for each unit of staff;
  • Information about the founders and co-founders;
  • Management composition ( CEO, executive, financial, etc.);
  • Instructions for communicating with staff;
  • Supply issues for the administrative part of the enterprise.

10. Financial plan. What needs to be calculated?

A section of the business plan that describes all the financial nuances of the project. We need data on profitability, payback period, movements in the foreign exchange market (if the product is tied to imported raw materials), etc.

What data and calculations are required:

  • Tax calculation (what and how much you need to pay);
  • Composition of the enterprise's capital (loans, investments, issued shares, etc.);
  • Plan-report of income and expenses;
  • Cash flow in the form of a table (cashflow);
  • Enterprise balance sheet;
  • Payback period of the project.

In addition, it is advisable to calculate such indicators of the effectiveness of investments in a project as the investment return index (PI) and the internal rate of return (IRR) at several discount rates. PI is calculated using the formula: PI=(NPV+I) / I, where NPV is NPV for Last year, I – initial investments.

The project is unprofitable if the index is less than or equal to one. For example, the amount of discounted flows for the year was 14 million rubles, the initial investment was 7 million. PI= (14,000,000 +7000,000) /7000,000 = 3. Low profitability. For every ruble invested, the discounted profit is 3 rubles.

IRR is the interest rate at which the value of all cash flows of the investment project is zero. That is, such a bet will allow you to recoup the initial investment, but without profit.

11. Risk management

In this section of the business plan, you need to examine the possible risks associated with the project. Factors that directly affect profit are especially important. You should pay attention to each of the possible risks (industry, social, financial and others). Do not forget to indicate the exact actions to reduce damage or prevent the impact of such risks on the functioning of the company.

To do this you need to specify: detailed list possible risks, tools and techniques for mitigating, eliminating and preventing possible problems, as well as modeling situations with zero growth of the enterprise and clear regulations for actions in such a situation. We can mention the low probability of such an outcome.

12. Applications

The final part of the business plan, in which you can describe the sources used, display tables that were used for calculations, provide links to external sources, organization documents (certificates, research results, etc.). Is not mandatory item, but not superfluous to interest the investor.

Documents for download:

Sample with calculations for a business plan for a fitness club (download)

Sample with calculations for a coffee shop business plan (download)

Three months of accounting, HR and legal support FREE. Hurry up, offer is limited.

Many people come up with business ideas – the question is what these ideas are worth. That is why, if you are going to implement an idea into a business, it is worth creating a business plan in which you can detail your concept and prove its effectiveness, both organizationally and financially.

A business plan is a document in general outline describing your business. In it, you talk about what exactly you will do, the structure of the business, the state of the market, how you plan to sell your product or service, what resources you need, what your financial forecast is, and also provide permits, lease agreements and any other necessary documents. documentation.

In fact, a business plan helps you prove to yourself and others whether your business idea is worth pursuing. This The best way take a step back, consider the idea from all sides and protect yourself from possible problems for years to come.

In this article, we share tips for writing a successful business plan, describe items that should be included in the plan, and provide examples.

Translation of the article was prepared with the support of the online school in English. Before we get into the details, let's start with some basic, general tips.

Focus on your features

Before you dive headfirst into creating a business plan, you should carefully consider what makes your business unique. For example, if you're going to start a sportswear brand, you need a way to stand out from the crowd. sports brands that are already on the market.

What makes your brand stand out from others? Do you plan to create clothing for a specific type of workout or activity, such as yoga, tennis or hiking? Do you use environmentally friendly materials? Do you give part of your proceeds to charity? Does the brand promote positive body image?

Remember: you are not just selling a product or service - you are selling a product, value and brand experience. Consider these important questions and answer them before diving into the details of the research for your business plan.

Be brief

The modern business plan is required to be shorter and more concise than ever before. Resist the temptation to include all the results of your marketing research, talk in detail about each product you plan to sell, and describe in detail what your website will look like. In the format of a business plan, this information will not provide much benefit, rather the opposite.

All of the above details are important to collect and keep in mind, but Only the most important things should be included in the business plan itself. Otherwise, readers may lose interest in you.

Make a good design

Your business plan should not only be easy to read - it is important that the reader can understand the essence without going into details. Formatting plays a big role here. Use headings and bulleted lists, and highlight those in bold text or color. key points and indicators you want to draw readers' attention to. You can even use shortcuts and bookmarks throughout your document (both digital and print) for ease of reference.

Edit as you go

Remember that your plan is a living, breathing document, which means you can edit it as you work. For example, update the plan a year or two after launching the business, before submitting a new funding request.

Here are the key elements in a business plan template:

  1. Marketing and sales plan
  2. Application

Let's take a closer look at what is included in each element of a business plan:

The purpose of this section is to give readers a clear understanding of the company and the market before you delve into the details. Tip: Sometimes it is worth writing the main points after you have written the rest of the business plan so that you can easily isolate the key points.

The main points should take up about a page. Dedicate 1-2 paragraphs to each of the following points:

  • Overview: Tell us briefly about what your company is, where it will be located, what exactly you are going to sell and to whom.
  • About the company: Describe the structure of your business, tell us about the owner, what experience and skills you already have and who you are going to hire first.
  • Products and/or services: Briefly describe what you will sell.
  • Market: Briefly summarize the key findings of the market research.
  • Financial Forecast: Tell us how you plan to obtain financing and what your financial expectations are.

Example of a “Basics” section

Startup Jolly's Java and Bakery (JJB) is a coffee and baked goods store located in southwest Washington. JJB plans to gain an audience of regular customers by offering them a wide selection of coffee and confectionery products. The company plans to take a strong market position in the city thanks to the professional experience of its partners and the mild competitive climate in the area.

JJB strives to offer competitively priced products to meet market demand among area residents and tourists with middle and upper-middle incomes.

The next point in the plan is a description of the company. Here you can describe what your company does, state its mission, talk about the structure of the company and its owners, location, as well as the market needs that your company is trying to satisfy and how exactly you are going to do this.

Example of a “Company Description” section

NALB Creative Center is a startup that is entering the market this summer. We will offer customers a large selection of arts and crafts supplies, primarily items that are not currently available on the island of Hawaii. Our competition remains the Internet, as artists tend to buy familiar products online. We will be supplying items that are not necessarily well known to local artists. We will also continue to monitor prices and include products available online in price comparisons.

We will conduct master classes on working with new materials and techniques.

We also organize a tourist program “Oasis of the Artist”. We will provide local bed and breakfast reservations, maps and directions for plein air paintings, easel and material rentals, sell paints and other supplies, and deliver finished artwork to clients once the canvases have dried.

In the future, the store will turn into an art center, which will combine: an art gallery where you can purchase original works of art at wholesale prices; studio space with musical instruments; classrooms for music and art lessons; literature on music and art; coffee bar with live music; handicraft items such as branded t-shirts, badges, postcards, ceramic products for trade with tourists.

One of the first questions to ask yourself when testing a business idea is whether there is a place for it in the market. It is the market that will dictate how successful your business will be. Decide what audience you are targeting and why customers will want to buy from you.

Add specifics. Let's say you sell bedding. Don't include everyone who sleeps in bed in your target audience. First, identify a small target group of clients for yourself. These could be, for example, teenagers from middle-income families. Once you have decided on your target audience, try to answer the following questions:

  • How many teenagers from middle-income families live in your country?
  • What supplies do they need exactly?
  • Is the market growing or staying the same?

When analyzing the market, consider both already available research conducted by others and primary data that you have collected yourself, through surveys, interviews or any other means.

This should also include competitor analysis. In our example, questions might include: How many other bedding companies already have market share, and who are these companies? Describe the strengths and weak sides your potential competitors, as well as strategies that will give you a competitive advantage.

Example of a summary section “Market Analysis”

Green Investments has identified two separate target groups of clients, which differ in the level of family wealth. One group included clients with a family income of less than a million dollars, the other - with an income of more than a million. The main thing that characterizes both of these groups and makes them attractive to us as a company is their desire to change the world for the better by making financial investments that take into account environmental factors.

There are many different niches in the financial services industry. Some advisors provide general investing services. Others offer one type of investment, such as mutual funds or bonds. Some service providers focus on a specific niche, such as technology or socially responsible business.

Market segmentation

Green Investments segmented the target audience into two separate categories, by family wealth: more and less than $1 million.

  • <1 миллиона долларов (семейный бюджет): представители среднего класса, которых волнуют проблемы окружающей среды и которые вносят личный вклад в ее защиту, приобретая акции компаний, которые демонстрируют высокие экономические и экологические показатели. Так как свободных денег у таких людей немного, они предпочитают инвестировать в акции без особого риска. В целом акции составляют 35%-45% от общего портфеля.
  • $1 million (family budget): These clients have an average or above average income. They have managed to save over a million dollars and invest quite carefully (either themselves or the people they hire). These people are usually concerned about return on investment, but they are also concerned about environmental issues.

Here you can delve into the details of what exactly you sell and what your advantage is for customers. If you can't articulate how you can benefit your customers, your business idea may not be that good.

Start by describing the problem your business solves. Then address how you plan to solve the problem and how well your product or service fits into the big picture. Finally, think about the competitive landscape: what other companies are providing solutions to this particular problem and how is your solution different?

Example of the “Products and Services” section

AMT provides computer products and services to help small businesses. We primarily provide network equipment and network services to small and medium-sized businesses. These include LAN-based computer systems and server-controlled minicomputer-based systems. Our services include network system design and installation, training and support.

Description of goods and services

In the field of personal computers, we support three main areas:

  1. Super Home is our smallest and least expensive line of computers, which are initially positioned by the manufacturer as home ones. We primarily use them as low-cost workstations for small businesses. Specifications include... [additional details omitted]
  2. Power User is our main premium area. This is our premier system for organizing high-performance home stations and basic workstations for small businesses, thanks to... Key benefits of the system... Specifications include... [additional details omitted]
  3. Business Special is a mid-level system, an intermediate link in positioning. Its technical characteristics include... [additional details omitted]

As for peripherals, auxiliary and other hardware, here we provide a full range of necessary equipment, from cables to molds and mouse pads. ... [additional details omitted]

We offer a wide range of in-office and on-site maintenance and support services, as well as service contracts and warranty agreements. So far we have not been successful in concluding technical support contracts. Our networking opportunities... [additional details omitted]

Competitive Analysis

The only way to gain an advantage and stand out from competitors is to offer information technology partnerships to our clients. We will in no way be able to compete effectively with network providers that offer out-of-the-box or hardware/software solutions. We must offer clients a true partnership.

The advantages of this approach include many intangible assets: reliability and confidence that the client will always receive help and answers to his questions at the right time.

The products we supply and work with require serious knowledge and experience, while our competitors only sell the product itself.

Unfortunately, we cannot sell products at a higher price simply because we provide service - market conditions demonstrate that this approach will not be effective. Therefore, we will provide service for a fee.

In this section, you can briefly describe the features of the organizational and management structure of the business (taking into account the fact that it may change). Who will be responsible for what? How will tasks and responsibilities be assigned to each person or team?

Include a short bio of each member of your team here. Justify why these people are the right people for the job - talk about their experience and education that is relevant to your business. If you haven't hired the roles you've planned yet, that's okay—but make sure you clearly identify those gaps and explain what the people in those roles will be responsible for.

Example of a personnel plan in the “Operations Management” section

DIY Wash N' Fix does not require much labor. The company will hire a general manager who will work part-time to perform corporate responsibilities and handle interorganizational issues. DIY Wash N’ Fix will also hire three certified mechanics/managers to perform day-to-day tasks for the business. These responsibilities fall into two categories: managerial and operational. Management tasks include planning, inventory control and general accounting. Employees are also responsible for operational tasks: security, regulatory affairs, customer service and repair consulting.

In addition, maintenance staff will be hired to handle the most basic tasks. Their functions will include customer service and content and storage supervision. DIY Wash N’ Fix will employ one general manager to coordinate all external business operations and partnerships. Business relationships include accounting services, legal advice, communications with manufacturers and suppliers, as well as persons providing service, advertising and marketing services, and investment services. This management position will be filled by Laurie Snyder. She will receive her MBA from the University of Notre Dame in May 2001.

The day-to-day business management tasks will be handled by the Lead Mechanic. Although DIY Wash N' Fix does not provide a full range of repair services, you can expect some customers to attempt repairs they have never done before, meaning they will need advice. Therefore, we intend to hire three fully certified mechanics. These mechanics will not be allowed to perform any work on the customer's vehicle, but will be able to inspect the vehicle and assess the damage. We believe that only professional mechanics should advise clients - this will reduce our liability for incorrectly performed repairs. The primary duties of mechanics will be customer service and management functions.

6) Marketing and sales plan

Here you can describe your marketing and sales strategies and tell us exactly how you are going to sell your product. Before you begin developing a marketing and sales plan, conduct a complete market analysis and identify target people - your ideal customers.

From a marketing perspective, you may need to answer questions like: How are you going to market? How will you grow the business? Which distribution channels will you focus on? How will communication with clients be organized?

When it comes to sales, try answering these questions: What is your sales strategy? How will the sales department work and how will you develop it in the future? How many sales calls will it take to close a deal? What is the average selling price? Speaking of average selling price, you can move on to the details of your pricing strategy.

Example of a Marketing Plan section

Skate Zone will be the first amateur inline hockey facility in Miami, Florida. Due to the extraordinary growth in popularity of inline hockey in the United States, the company has the opportunity to advertise in various media and advertising platforms. Below is a list of channels currently available.

Public relations. Press releases will be sent to specialized trade magazines and leading business publications, such as USAHockey Inline, roller sports magazine INLINE, PowerPlay and others.

Tournaments. Skate Zone will be presenting its services at annual championships throughout the United States.

Print advertisements and articles. Our advertising campaign includes advertising in publications such as The Yellow Pages, Miami Express News, The Skate Zone Mailing, as well as printing school flyers and publications in specialized inline hockey magazines.

Internet. Skate Zone already has its own website on which we have already received several applications. Currently, work is being planned to optimize the site. We expect that in the future the site will become one of the company's main marketing platforms.

Finally, detail your financial model, including start-up costs, financial plans and required investments if you are approaching investors.

The start-up cost of your business includes all the resources needed to get started, as well as an estimate of how much each of those resources will cost. Do you rent office space? Do you need a computer? Telephone? Make a list of your needs and expenses for them, try to be objective and economical. The last thing you want is to run out of budget.

Once you have decided on your expenses, justify them. To do this, write down your financial forecast in detail. This is especially important if you are looking for external funding for your business. Make sure your financial model is 100% accurate to ensure you convince investors and lenders to back your business.

Example of a financial plan for an online store

Application

If desired, you can add an appendix at the end of the plan. There is space here for your and co-owners' resumes, as well as legal documents, including permits and lease agreements.

That's all. We hope this article has helped you better understand what your business plan should look like. All that remains is to turn the idea into reality. Good luck!