Every day, an ambitious entrepreneur starts a new business. But did you know that many startup founders don’t adopt a business plan?
Well, if you are also starting your startup or company, creating a business plan is the first tip to start with the new business.
Regardless of what your company sells, writing a business plan is a crucial step. According to this research People who create and follow a business plan have twice as many opportunities for success than those who don’t.
So how do you create a business plan for your SME? Here are some tips that will simplify this process for you.
Executive summary
O executive summary This is an advanced overview of the document which ranks first in the business plan but must be written last.
This short section can make a significant difference to your business plan as it provides an overview of your SME, its vision and future goals. The executive summary should provide readers with an overview of the business plan.
Together with the company’s vision and objectives, you can also describe the team, its products and services and the mission statement.
Also, if you’re looking for lenders, be sure to provide information on your business finances and growth.
Company Description
This is where you present your business and explain to readers why it fits perfectly with today’s industry trends. Provide a brief history of your SME and what influenced you in creating it.
Include details of the company’s location, staff and competitive advantages. Mentioning how you intend to achieve long-term goals will also have a positive impact on readers.
Market analysis
Analyze the market around your business. In addition to the details of the size of the market in question, there should be a thorough analysis of the product and demand of the target audience. Also try including graphs and tables to estimate product demand volumes and units.
Make sure to answer questions like:
- Who are the competitors?
- What are the main trends?
- What are your potential customers looking for?
- How can you meet the needs of your customers?
In addition to evaluating your products against your competitors, this review will also shed light on how not to fail your rivals.
Business organization
A business plan is incomplete without a description of the legal structure of your business and key management functions. Make sure to mention the legal form your company will take, single company, single company or public limited company, etc.
Also, let your customers know who is part of the team, how the company is structured and who manages it. Include each owner’s ownership percentage and size in the company.
Also, if you are looking for funding, include the CVs of key team members and explain how your experience can help the company grow. This section is considered a little longer, so we recommend that you divide it into subsections such as management team, human resources, property structure and external resources and services.
In addition, the best CRM Customer Relationship Management can also help you manage your organization’s interaction with potential customers.
Products or services
In this section, it is necessary to define products and services together with their life cycle. Make sure to include why customers might want your products and what makes them unique.
You can also share your intellectual property plans, such as filing patents or copyrights. Google’s local business listing (known as Google’s local business card) can provide users with all the useful information about your business.
Sales and Marketing
Instead of including a global marketing plan For small businesses, simply add a description of how you intend to attract and retain customers.
The definition of marketing and sales strategies in basic terms will serve as a reliable reference point. In addition to highlighting the strengths of your business, focus on what sets your company apart from the competition.
Funding application
If you are looking for external financing or investors, you will need to outline your funding request in this section. Clearly explain how much finance your company needs and what resources it will serve.
Also, be sure to mention if you want third party shares or actions and include a description of your future strategic financial plans, such as selling the company or repaying the debt.
Financial projections
Financial plan it is undoubtedly the most important section of the business plan. Here you have to demonstrate to investors that your business will be a financial success. Provide graphs of expected earnings, cash flow, capital expenditure, etc. For the next five years. It is also possible to prepare quarterly or monthly projection reports for the first year of operation.
Final thoughts
It is not always possible to create the perfect business plan on the first try. By following the above steps, a good structure for this is likely to be obtained. Make sure to use simple, straightforward language in your business plan. Finally, do a thorough research and get to know your audience and competitors before you start preparing your business plan.
