How to Write a Christian Business Plan
Writing a Christian business plan requires a reliance on the Biblical principles that concern how to treat your fellow man and money. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ and his principles of how to live a full life. The business plan should adhere to the laws of the Bible. It requires a combination of business management skills and the ability to implement the plan effectively.
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Instructions
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Select the Biblical version to be referenced for the business plan and any supporting resources for the business operation. For instance, what is the preferred Bible version to read and understand? For some, it may be the New Living Translation (NLT). See the Reference section. This choice may depend on who the intended reader will be and what type of business is being planned. For instance, a new church just starting might find selecting the version of Bible to be easy depending on its denomination. But selecting a structure for the organizational chart could be challenging. Who will have certain responsibilities and report to whom? Use a sample chart from the Internet as a resource for further direction.
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Choose Scripture passages that can be used to help create/support the parts of a business plan. For example, the mission statement and vision are great places to start this process. Remember, Christian business plans must still be profitable (i.e., winning souls, generating money, etc.) to be considered worthwhile. A Christian business plan may include social responsibility. A Scripture to support this action could be Psalm 112:5. It states, "Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly."
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Determine the business plan style. Using a template is a common practice. It saves time and is generally acceptable in many situations. The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides templates to use in the business world. Also, Christian principles can easily be applied by inserting words and ideas of Christ into a template (see Reference section).
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Ask yourself as the writer of the plan: What would Jesus do? As a follower of Jesus, you must be familiar with what he said about money transactions. Business is frequently discussed in the New Testament. Additionally, it should be the main resource for subjects such as marketing. Use the question about Jesus for all situations involving business affairs. Treating customers well at all times is a perfect example of what Jesus would do.
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Write the plan to reflect what is learned from using Scripture and business concepts. A Christian business plan is not any different from a regular business plan, except for the types of principles that are considered important to the company's success. For instance, some of the same steps apply, like writing the executive summary last. Typically, writers begin with the vision, to start with a purposeful direction that can be tied to Christ's precepts to live by. The vision tells what the future goal is for the company. The mission statement could be next because it describes what is the purpose of the business. Therefore, knowing fundamental details about a business could be the foundation for the Christian plan. Starting with a clear direction will ensure that the rest of the plan follows through. Refer to the Reference section for the specific plan steps from the SBA template.
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Complete all sections with reverence for Christ and make sure to proofread what you've written. Make sure that everything is coherent. There are some subjects that are not going to be faith oriented, such as finance. However, management decisions regarding lending to someone, which may be seen as a risk by worldly standards, may be seen as worthy in the eyes of God. Prayer and a relationship with God (the father of Jesus) are required for the business plan to be ultimately effective.
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Tips & Warnings
Read Christian books about business and other resources. Connect with others doing the same task in creating a business plan with Christian principles in mind. Pattern the business after Jesus' life: service, fairness, and positive results for all who believe.
Take time to think about how the business plan will be created (i.e., in groups or individually).
As an entrepreneur, walking by faith and not by sight will be required at some point, and this idea should be mentioned as a method for decision-making.
References
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