How to Format a Business Plan

There is good news and bad news when it comes to formatting a business plan. The good news is that there isn't a right way or a wrong way to format a business plan. The bad news is that a business plan takes a great deal of time. The average business plan is only 20 to 40 pages, but writing a business plan can take several days, if not months. But if you include the same elements listed below, the process of putting together your business plan will be much less time consuming.

Things You'll Need

• Word processing software
• Charts
• Graphs

Instructions

Begin Your Business Plan

1. Create a cover page for the business plan. Include all contact information for yourself and the business, such as your name, address, business telephone number and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all other owners or business partners.

2. Create an executive summary page. Write the summary last, but include a header in the document so that you can return to this step later. The summary is the most important element of the document because it provides the reader with a summary of your objectives. For instance, if you are requesting a loan, the summary specifies your financial needs, how money from the loan will be used and how the loan will be repaid. Since your objectives will change over the writing and planning process, it is easier to write the summary last. Writing the summary after the other elements have been completed also yields a more effective result.

3. Create a table of contents to help guide the reader through the business plan. List section headings and page numbers. Revise the table of contents throughout the planning process.

Create a Business Overview

1. Describe the business as specifically as possible. Write about the goals of the company, the legal structure, the status and historical context of the company. You may elaborate on the origin of the business concept or how you came up with the idea for the product or service. Explain why the business will succeed.

2. Provide a market analysis when formatting the business plan. Describe the scope of the industry and any expected growth. Identify priority markets and trends. Profile your customer using demographics, such as age, education and income or by corporate profile. Define legal issues. Highlight recent research. Describe the competition in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

3. Include a marketing strategy as part of the business plan. Address the details of distribution, advertising, specific sales strategies, customer service and plans for assessing marketing effectiveness.

4. Explain business operational procedures as part of the business plan format. Start a new section or subsection of the business overview. Use a heading that describes the contents of this section of the business overview, such as "Operational Procedures," "Operating Procedures" or simply "Operations." Outline the steps involved in the production process or delivery of service. Specify the requirements for facilities, equipment necessary and the sources of these supplies. List key members of personnel; summarize the qualifications of each person in one or two paragraphs.

Include a Financial Plan

1. Include a loan application, a summary of financial requirements and a loan fund dispersal statement (sources and uses of funds).

2. Include a cash flow statement, 3-year projection, a break-even analysis, quarterly budget analysis, a profit-and-loss statement, a balance sheet and a financial statement analysis ratio summary.

3. Provide documentation, and cite any sources of assumptions in projections.

Add Appendices to the Business Plan

1. Include resumes of members of management.

2. Add published media, contracts, agreements and letters of reference.

3. Add any additional documents to support the business plan.

4. Keep the addition of supporting documents to about 20 pages.

Revise Your Business Plan

1. Write the executive summary to the business plan.

2. Add page numbers to the business plan document.

3. Revise the table of contents. Add the titles and corresponding numbers.

4. Add or edit section headings in the text document.

Tips & Warnings

• Double-space your document. Be sure there is enough white space in the margins and between paragraphs.

• Use a legible typeface for the business plan. With the exception of the title page, use the same typeface consistently throughout the text document, including headings. You can use a different typeface for graphs and charts, but it may be wise to stick to the same type family.

• Remember that formats of business plans vary, but the elements do not.

Resources

• U.S. Small Business Administration
• Entrepreneurial Center at Old Dominion University