Comprehensive Business Planning Model for Success

1. Section 1 - Introduction

2. Business Planning A Model for Consideration It is a well known fact that the first step in building a business is to build a business plan. Many good ideas perish on the rock of poor business planning failing to attract financial investment, support from suppliers and orders from the target market. If however, you have come up with the new invention or great idea, the hard work is already done. All that business planning should do is help you to fine tune your idea, re-examine your assumptions and ensure that you have really thought of everything. The model of business planning presented here is simply that, a model. It should be used as a starting point in the business planning process. In trying to be comprehensive and cover a range of issues for differing scenarios, for example; a new business start-up; business expansion or business take-over, some of the sections may be less relevant than others depending on your particular circumstances. There may also be areas not dealt with that are necessary given your own local context and these can be added where needed. Most importantly, be confident, business planning should help you confirm what you already know and assist you in selling your idea to others whatever segment of the marketplace they operate. Good luck and have fun.

3. Title Page – put you title here

4. Agenda • List the sections to be covered in your business plan

5. Executive Summary • Summarise your business concept with an emphasis on why you are worthy of funding and/or support

6. Section 2 – Company Background

7. Mission Statement • Describe the purpose of your business and identify the market need it fulfils

8. Product / Service Positioning • Describe the planned positioning in the marketplace of the product or service you are developing.

9. Competitive Advantage • State clearly how your product or service is better and or different to those already available. Say clearly why your good idea is actually a good idea.

10. Section 3 – Market Overview

11. Target Market Description • Describe your target market using text and graphics to demonstrate the potential capacity for you product or service

12. Target Market Profile • Present in-depth analysis of your target market and its profile

13. Purchase Criteria • List the key factors in the purchasing or placing of business decisions made by those in your target market

14. Target Market Growth Rates • Show the historical and projected growth rates for your target market

15. Section 4 – Product / Service Overview

16. Products / Services • Present a table to list and describe your primary products or services and give dates of introduction

17. Pricing • Identify price points for your products or services and review your pricing policy and assumptions.

18. Revenue Forecast • Create a chart of forecast revenues by product/service and review assumptions

19. Section 5 – Business Strategy

20. Marketing Channels • Use a diagram to show how your products or services will reach your customers

21. Marketing Mix • Describe your mix of marketing tools and your strategy

22. Selling • Describe how your company will organise and manage its sales force

23. Value Added • Describe the value you add to create your product or service

24. Suppliers • List and review your suppliers

25. Section 6 - Competition

26. Key Competitors • Identify your key competitors in your target market and list their products or services.

27. Competitor Evaluation • Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the major competitors in your market.

28. Competitor Positioning • Position your products or services and those of key competitors in a diagram.

29. Section 7 - Risks

30. Barriers To Entry • List barriers that could prevent you from entering or being successful in this market

31. Substitutes • Describe substitute products or services that may pose a threat to your business

32. Other Risks • Identify other possible risks and propose a method or alternative strategy for addressing each risk

33. Section 8 – Business Team

34. Organizational Structure • Create an organization chart of your company, including names, titles and functions of key executives

35. Management Profile • Profile your senior management team, including responsibilities and experience

36. Board of Directors • Describe the composition of your Board of Directors

37. Company Ownership • Show both the existing and proposed ownership structure of your company

38. Section 9 – Funding Request

39. Total Funding Required • State clearly the specifics of your total funding needs

40. Exit Strategy • Review and examine possible exit strategies

41. Timeline of Events • Show diagrammatically the most important events in your business development

42. Section 10 – Financial Statements

43. Financial Summary • Provide a top-line financial summary of your business

44. Financial Statements • List the financial statements you are planning to include in the appendix, to include, • Overhead Projection • Revenue Forecast • Profit & Loss Account • Projected Balance Sheet