Business Plan (United States) Form

Type of Business

In what industry will your business operate?

Retail sales or services

Professional or technical services

Food and accomodation services

Other

Frequently Asked Questions

Why create a Business Plan?Lenders and investors are constantly presented with new business proposals. If you provide all the required information in a consistent format then lenders and investors can make an efficient and fair analysis about the viability of your business ideas.

By preparing a comprehensive business plan you send a message to your lenders and investors that you have already made an objective assessment of your business ideas and that you are serious about your business plan.

New or Existing Company

Is this a new or existing company?

New company

Existing company

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save my answers and return later?Yes. If you have not already selected a license option, click the Create Free Account button at the top right hand side of the page to save your answers.

Company Info

Company name:

Full address:

(e.g. Street, City, State, ZIP code)

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the company has not been named yet?If the company does not yet have a name, then for the purpose of this Business Plan, just make up a name that is reasonable.What is the company's address?Use the physical street address of the business. If the company does not yet have a physical location then use the address of one of your ideal proposed locations. If you use a proposed location, then identify the address as 'tentative' or 'proposed' so that your final document will not appear misleading. Otherwise use the home address of one of the owners.

Company Background

Do you want to describe the company's history?

YesNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save my answers and return later?Yes. If you have not already selected a license option, click the Create Free Account button at the top right hand side of the page to save your answers.Outline the accomplishments of the company to date:
- How long has the Company been in business?
- Is the product line the same or has it evolved?
- Has the Company grown? How has it grown?
- If the Company is a new startup, how did the Company come together?
Use complete sentences.

Company Forecast

Describe the company's goals and objectives:

Briefly describe the business goals of the Company:
(Describe the company's growth in measureable terms.)
- What do you think the company can reasonably accomplish?
- What are the company's sales forecasts?
- Will you grow the company's market share?
- What do you want to accomplish in the next 12 months?
- What do you want to accomplish in the next 5 years?
Use complete sentences.

Describe the planned timeline for reaching the objectives:

Describe the organizational timeline:
- When will planning be complete?
- When will the new plan be implemented?
- By what date will you need to secure funding?
- When will you hire employees?
- When will new production begin?
- When will you be in full production?
- When will the new product/service be available for sale?
- When will this new business open its doors?
Use complete sentences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to use complete sentences?What you write will be used directly in the final document. You should use complete sentences in a paragraph format. Develop your ideas in a logical and convincing way so that your reader will easily understand the strength of your ideas.

Ownership Info

Company structure:

Sole proprietorship

Partnership

Corporation

Limited Liability Company (L.L.C.)

Other

Who owns the company?

Owner

Full name:

Describe the owner's experience and training:

Describe the qualifications of the owner:
- What is the relevant work experience of this owner?
- What are the educational & professional qualifications of this owner?
- What are the major business accomplishments of this owner?
Use complete sentences.

Remove

Add another Owner

Frequently Asked Questions

Different methods of business organizationCompany structure:

Sole proprietorship: A type of business where a single individual is fully and personally responsible for all the debts and obligations of the business.
Partnership: A type of business where 2 or more people share in the profits and losses of the business.
Corporation: A corporation is a legal entity in its own right, having analogous rights and obligations to those of a real person. A corporation is owned by shareholders who enjoy limited liability for any losses or obligations of the corporation.
Limited Liability Company (L.L.C.): A limited liability company (LLC) is a business entity that enjoys the attractive features of both a partnership and a corporation. It is similar to a corporation in that the liability exposure of individual members is limited to what each member has invested in the business. In addition, an LLC can be structured to be taxed only at one level, similar to a partnership.

Management Info

Describe the company's management structure:

Describe the Company management structure:
- Who is in charge?
- How will decisions be made?
- Is there a board of directors?
- Is the company managed by the owners or by a hired manager?
- Are there silent partners?
- Do a few select partners make all management decisions?
Use complete sentences.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is management different than ownership?In a small company the owner and the manager may be the same person. In a larger company where management of day-to-day operations requires more time and specialized skills, the owners may wish to hire a manager instead.

Company Assets

Describe the company's assets:

Describe any substantial assets owned by the Company:
- Does the company own any land or buildings?
- Does the company own any manufacturing equipment?
- Does the company own business furnishings or fixtures?
- Does the company own any inventory?
- Does the company own any cars or trucks or other vehicles?
- What is the approximate resale value of each asset?
Use complete sentences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save my answers and return later?Yes. If you have not already selected a license option, click the Create Free Account button at the top right hand side of the page to save your answers.

Product/Service Info

Describe the primary product/service offered by the company:

Briefly describe the main products of the company:
- What is the company's main product?
- What does the product do?
- Is there a technical aspect that distinguishes the company's product from the competition?
- If you are opening a retail outlet, what is unique about the company's service?
- How does the company's product address demand in this marketplace?
- If the company is a restaurant, what will be on the menu?
- What atmosphere will you try to create in the restaurant?

Be thorough but remember that your audience may not be familiar with all the technical aspects of your products. Make your description easy to understand.
Use complete sentences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save my answers and return later?Yes. If you have not already selected a license option, click the Create Free Account button at the top right hand side of the page to save your answers.

Proprietary Rights

Does the company hold any patents, trademarks, licenses or other proprietary rights?

YesNo

Future Product/Services

Does the company have any additional products/services that may be developed in the future?

YesNo

Customers

Describe the company's target market:

Describe the target market:
- Who is the company's target market?
- Is the target market young adults? Seniors? Homeowners? The general public?
- Is the target market local? Municipal? Regional? National?
- Is the product intended for commercial customers?
Use complete sentences.

Does the company have any established customers?

YesNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save my answers and return later?Yes. If you have not already selected a license option, click the Create Free Account button at the top right hand side of the page to save your answers.

Pricing

Describe the company's pricing approach:

Describe the company's pricing strategy:
- Will you focus on the high-end luxury market?
- Does the company's product quality allow you to charge more?
- Will you be a 'least-cost' provider?
- What are the product costs?
- What will the profit margins be?
- What profit margins are typical in this industry?
Use complete sentences.

Marketing

Describe the company's advertising strategy:

Describe your advertising strategy:
- How will you advertise? Radio? Television? Newspaper? Storefront?
- How will your customers find you?
- How is your advertising designed to reach your target market?
- What is your advertising budget?
Use complete sentences.

Does the company's location give a competitive advantage?

YesNo

Competitors

Describe the company's competitors:

Identify and describe your competitors:
- Who are your competitors?
- Which competitors are the largest?
- How well is each competitor established in the market?
- What is the market share of each of your competitors?
- What is the annual revenue of each of your competitors?
- If your business is alone in the market then what potential competitors could appear?
Use complete sentences.

Do you wish to describe & compare your competitors's strategies?

YesNo

SWOT Analysis

Would you like to include a detailed analysis of the company's
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats?

YesNo

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a SWOT analysis?SWOT analysis is a planning method used to identify and quantify the key issues in a prospective business, ultimately to aid in predicting viability and to help bring strategic focus.

By objectively identifying yourself among your competitors, you can position your company to compete successfully in your market.

Operational Info

Would you like to describe your day-to-day operations?

YesNo

Would you like to describe the operational facilities?

YesNo

Do you have any outside suppliers?

YesNo

Staffing Requirements

How many staff does the company require?

I am the sole employee

Describe staffing requirements

Capital Requirements

Would you like to include a summary of the company's financial requirements?

YesNo

Would you like to describe how the company will repay any financial obligations?

YesNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save my answers and return later?Yes. If you have not already selected a license option, click the Create Free Account button at the top right hand side of the page to save your answers.

Financial Statement

Would you like to include an Income Statement?

An Income Statement is also called a Profit and Loss Statement.

YesNo

Accounting Information

Fiscal Year End:

January

1

The fiscal year is a 12-month accounting period of business operations beginning at any date.

A company can schedule their fiscal year-end to coincide with a less busy time of the business year.

If you do not yet know what your fiscal year will be, its ok to estimate what it is likely to be.

The financial data is Actual data or Projected:

Actual and Projected

If you are a new company then you should provide projected information showing what you expect in the coming years. If your company has been in business for a while then you should include actual information for recent years as well as your projections for the future.

Financial Statement

Reporting Year:

2000 Income Statement

Revenues

Gross Sales:

$

Less Cost of Goods Sold (COGS):

$

Retail or Wholesale: In a simple retail or wholesale environment COGS can be calculated as beginning inventory plus purchases minus ending inventory. Ideally this indicates the inventory consumed in the reporting period.

Manufacturing: In a manufacturing environment, Cost of Goods Sold is calculated as follows:

Beginning Finished Goods Inventory
+ Cost of Goods Manufactured
- Ending Finished Goods Inventory
= Cost of Goods Sold

(Cost of Goods Manufactured = Direct Material + Direct Labor + Manufacturing Overhead + Work In Process Beginning - Work In Process Ending)

Gross Profit:

$0.00

Expenses

Sales & Marketing:

$

Research & Development:

$

Insurance:

$

Legal & Professional Services:

$

Bookkeeping:

$

Rent:

$

Utilities:

$

Repairs and Maintenance:

$

General Office:

$

General office expenses can include telephone, printing, postage, stationary, and office supplies.

Entertainment:

$

Licenses:

$

Salaries and Benefits:

$

Normally this consists of all salaries including management, administration, sales, and accounting.
Remember: In a manufacturing environment you have already included your production salaries (direct labor costs) in your COGS.

Bank Fees:

$

Interest Expense:

$

Miscellaneous Expenses:

$

Total Expenses:

$0.00

Net Income (Before Tax):

$0.00

Add another Reporting Year

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my company is brand new?If the company is brand new and there is no history of profits and losses, it is still a useful exercise to estimate your future expenses and gross sales.

Document Date

This document will be dated:

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Type of Business

New or Existing Company

Company Info

Company Background

Company Forecast

Ownership Info

Owner

Management Info

Company Assets

Product/Service Info

Proprietary Rights

Future Product/Services

Customers

Pricing

Marketing

Competitors

SWOT Analysis

Operational Info

Staffing Requirements

Capital Requirements

Financial Statement

Accounting Information

Financial Statement

2000 Income Statement

Document Date