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Creating a
Business Plan

A business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines all aspects of a proposed/existing business. How much detail and depth you must develop in your business plan will depend on the size and scope of the venture. However, it must always summarize the business’s potential, outline the Marketing Plan, forecast its financial future, and state the funding required.

A Business Plan is an invaluable tool for managing a successful business. The Plan serves three main functions:

  • Determines the viability of your business idea
  • Organizes your planning
  • Helps to obtain financing

Usually, a Business Plan is written in the third person. Use phrases such as “the Proprietor” or “the Owner” and avoid saying “I”, “me”, “we”, “us” or “our”.

This document outlines the major components of a Business Plan. Although some questions may not apply to your business, complete as many sections as possible. If you require additional assistance, please call our offices or make an appointment to meet with one of the SLBDC staff.

Business Plan
Templates

Business Plan
Outline

1. Cover Page

  • Business name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Contact’s name
  • Address, phone number
  • Company logo (if available)

2. Executive Summary

Summary of main facts and plans, to be written after plan is completed funding requirements.

3. Table of Contents

  • List all topics
  • Page numbered index

4. Business Description

Describe your business in detail:

  • Product(s) and/or service(s) provided
  • Type of business (i.e. manufacturing, retail, service)
  • Status of business (i.e. start-up, expansion, takeover)
  • Ownership (i.e. sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, franchise)

If a new business:

  • Give the anticipated opening date
  • Describe the geographical trade area
  • List the hours of operation
  • Describe any seasonal trends
  • Explain where the idea for this business originated

If an existing business:

  • Provide a brief history of the business
  • Provide date of registration or incorporation list sales
  • Gross margins and profits to date

5. Business Objectives

Objectives or goals for your business should be outlined and should be SMART:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Realistic
  • Timely

Goals may be short-term (by end of year 1 or 2), or long-term (by end of year 5). For example, some objectives for consideration:

  • Gross sales expectations (e.g. to achieve $100,000 in sales in the first year of operation)
  • Number of clients/customers served
  • Plans to hire employees (number of employees at what stage)
  • Hours of operation
  • Making major purchases (e.g. to buy a newer model full size van by Month 12)
  • Plans for expansion (e.g. to build another plant, franchise the business, purchase another business, etc.)

Use the following format:

Year 1:

1. ____________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________

Year 2:

1. ____________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________

Year 3-5:

1. ____________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________

6. Market Description

The Business Environment
The “environment” in which your business operates is something you cannot control. Any or all of the following environmental factors may have an impact on your business. Explain whether or not these factors will create threats and/or opportunities for your venture, and why.

Demographic
i.e. aging population, increasing number of two-income families, more working women, increasing/decreasing population, etc.

Economy
i.e. trends in the inflation rate, average income levels, unemployment levels, general economy of the country or region, etc.

Social
i.e. increasing concern for the environment, people more value-conscious, etc.

Technological
i.e. any new technological advances, such as the Internet, that may affect your business either positively or negatively.

Political
i.e. any pending government regulations that could affect your business.

The Competition
Research the competitors who sell similar products and/or services in your trade area, and determine the exact number. Consider various levels of competition: Those which are exactly like you; those which might offer part of what you offer, or something similar to what you offer; and those which sell something entirely different than what you are offering, but they have the market you hope to gain. Indicate if the number of competitors is increasing or decreasing and explain why. Explain how you will compete with your competitors – what will make your business different or more desirable?

Describe your competitors in either a chart format or write a paragraph about each one. Include the following information (if available):

  • Name of competitor
  • Location
  • Age of business
  • Form of ownership (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, franchise)
  • Estimated sales volume
  • Estimated market share
  • Estimated number of employees
  • Major strengths, weaknesses
  • The Target Market

Target Market
Give a profile of your “target market” – i.e. the characteristics of customers who are most likely to purchase your product and/or service and explain whether your target market is the Industrial Market (you want to sell to other businesses) or Consumer Market (you want to sell to the general public).

Industrial Market
i.e. type of business, size, product application, frequency and size of typical orders, decision maker, etc.

Consumer Market
i.e. age, income, family size, education, lifestyle, frequency of purchase, decision- maker, etc. Explain why your target market buys the product(s) and/or service(s) you will sell and explain what need(s) is/are being filled by the product(s) and/or service(s). List the major criteria your customers use when deciding which business to purchase the product(s) and/or service(s) from. (i.e. price, quality, delivery time, level of customer service, credit terms, reputation, product features, etc.) Conclude with an actual number of potential customers in your target market.

Market Research: Market Survey
Now that you have identified your target market (potential customers), you want to know what they think about your product or service. Create a market survey, then go out and question people who could be your potential customers. Keep the questionnaire brief – only 8 to 12 questions. Use a variety of questioning techniques, keeping questions fair and free of bias. Ask if the person would use your product or service, how often they would use it and what they would pay for it. Include other questions that will help you determine how best to reach and serve your customers/clients. Be sure to survey a representative sample of your target market. Raw results compile your survey results, tabulating the numbers for each response.

Market Research: Sales Interpretation
Using the survey results, prove that a market exists for your product or service. Then project your sales figures for the first year of operation.

7. Marketing Strategy

Product 
Create a “menu” of your products and/or services. Put your list into appropriate categories, if necessary.

Pricing 
List the prices you will charge for your product(s) and/or service(s) Show how these prices are calculated. Explain what pricing strategies you are using. i.e. most businesses price their products or services based on what the market will bear, using information they learned when they conducted their market survey. Provide the credit terms, if any, you will offer to your customers. List any discounts and/or allowances you will offer to your customers. Place.

A. Location

  • Describe your business location
  • Explain the advantages of your location
  • If you have not selected a location yet, explain the criteria you will use when selecting the site

(i.e. cost, access to customers, location of competition, appearance, zoning, security, access to transportation lines, parking facilities, traffic flow, access to employees, community services, compatibility of neighbouring businesses etc.)


B. Distribution (Manufacturers Only)

  • Explain how you will distribute your product to the end-user (i.e. wholesalers, distributors, retailers, etc.)
  • List and describe any of the agents who have already agreed to distribute your product
  • Include a copy of any contract(s) you have signed with your distributor(s) as an appendix to your Business Plan

Promotion

  • Describe the methods you will use to promote your product(s) and/or service(s).
  • List all costs associated with your promotional ideas.
  • Outline the amount you intend to spend in total for promotion in the next year (i.e. annual promotional budget).

A. Personal Selling

  • Describe your personal selling strategy and tactics

B. Advertising

  • List the form(s) of advertising which is/are the most effective for your business
  • Explain why this/these form(s) of advertising is/are the most effective for your business(i.e. website, social media, radio, business cards, newspaper, television, brochures, direct mail, etc.)

C. Sales Promotion

  • Outline your plans for promoting your product/services – give away items such as caps, fridge magnets, mugs, etc., coupons, samples, trail offers, frequent user cards, etc.

D. Public Relations and Publicity

  • Describe any plans you have for building positive public relations or obtaining free publicity for your business
  • Create a media release announcing your opening
  • Outline plans for media releases in the future

8. Operations

Personnel

  • List the job titles (include any owner(s)/manager(s)) of all people to be employed by your business; include any “angel helpers” (friends or family who will work without pay)
  • Indicate whether employees are full-time or part-time
  • Provide the wage or salary each of the employees will be paid.
  • If you plan to hire any additional employees within the next year, describe as above.

Advisors

  • List the names, addresses, and functions of any individuals or organizations who will be working with you to ensure your business is a success.
  • Include business advisors as well as technical advisors who are specific to your type of business. (i.e. lawyer, accountant, business consultant, government representatives, community/industry organizations, etc.)

Suppliers

  • List the major suppliers
  • List the product(s) and/or service(s) each supplier will sell to you
  • List back-up suppliers in case of emergency
  • Include any insurance requirements
  • Government Regulations
    List government regulations (business name registration, GST, PST, EHT, WSIB, employee deductions, etc.), licenses, permits and insurance requirements that pertain to your business Indicate whether the items have been addressed If applicable, explain proceedings for environmental assessment.

9. Financial Plan

Financing Requirements

  • List (be very specific) all items for which you require financing
  • Provide an estimated cost for each item listed
  • State the amount you will need for business start-up

Sources of Financing

  • List your proposed sources of financing
  • Give the amount that you anticipate each source is going to provide to your business
  • Detail the repayment terms for each funding source (i.e. personal investment, SLBDC loan, bank or credit union term loan, operating line of credit, venture capital company, private investors, etc.)
  • Include confirmation letters in your Business Plan for any lender(s) and/or investor(s) that have already agreed to help finance the business Collateral for Loan(s)
  • List the items you are willing to use as collateral for any loans as well as their estimated value

Business Collateral
i.e. accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, vehicles, etc.

Personal Collateral (include a Personal Financial Statement)
i.e. personal guarantee, home equity, stocks/bond, automobile, other investments, co-signer(s), etc.

Financial Statement Projections

  • Create a spreadsheet showing your projected cash flow for the next 12 months of business operations
  • Include a projected Income Statement and a projected Balance Sheet
  • Cash Flow and Income Statement projections should be done monthly for at least one year
  • Include year end projections for Years 2 and 3
  • Write “Assumptions” explaining how all projected amounts were calculated

10. Appendices

Include any extras that will support your Business Plan, for example:

  • Owner/management résumé(s)
  • Owner’s Personal Financial Statement(s)
  • Business mission statement
  • Media release samples
  • Letters from vendors
  • Letters from customers
  • Copy of major contract(s) or copy of lease agreement(s)
  • Copy of certificates, diplomas, licenses, etc. required by owner or personnel
  • Drawings/photos/brochures of products and/or services
  • Drawings/maps of business location, layout, competitors’ locations, etc.
  • Promotional campaign – samples of flyers, advertisements, etc.
  • Include any relevant social media pages & website links

Questions?
Contact Us

For More Information regarding your Business Plan contact:

Jennifer Jaecques
Business Advisor/Engagement Officer (Business Counselling)
email: [email protected]

Nicole Crosby 
Business Development Officer (Commercial Lending)
email: [email protected]

Sarah Reaume
CEO
email: [email protected]

Phone: (519) 383-1371
Fax: (519) 383-8115