Simple business plan outline

I don’t recommend developing the plan in the same order you present it as a finished document. For example, although the Executive Summary obviously comes as the first section of a business plan, I recommend writing it after everything else is done. It will appear first, but you write it last.

• Executive Summary: Write this last. It’s just a page or two of highlights.
• Company Description: Legal establishment, history, start-up plans, etc.
• Product or Service: Describe what you’re selling. Focus on customer benefits.
• Market Analysis: You need to know your market, customer needs, where they are, how to reach them, etc.
• Strategy and Implementation: Be specific. Include management responsibilities with dates and budgets. Make sure you can track results.
• Web Plan Summary: For e-commerce, include discussion of website, development costs, operations, sales and marketing strategies.
• Management Team: Describe the organization and the key management team members.
• Financial Analysis: Make sure to include at the very least your projected Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables.