[your business logo]

[businessaddress]

[telephone number]

[website]

[email address]

[Business Name]

Business Plan

Prepared by [author name]

[date]

Contents

1Business Overview

1.1Vision statement

1.2Mission statement

1.3Business objectives

1.4Products/Services

1.5Business structure

1.6Business commencement date

1.7Owner profile

1.8Licences, registrations and permits

1.9Insurance

1.10Business advisors

1.11Risk management

2Market Analysis

2.1Market research

2.2Environmental analysis

2.3Industry description

2.4Competitor analysis

2.5SWOT analysis

3Marketing Plan

3.1Customer profile

3.2Pricing strategy

3.3Advertising and promotion strategy

3.4Sales and distribution strategy

4Operational Plan

4.1Business premises

4.2Production process

4.3Plant and equipment

4.4Major suppliers

4.5Stock control

5Financial Plan

5.1Financial objectives

5.2Start-up costs

5.3Balance sheet forecast

5.4Profit and loss forecast

5.5Cash flow forecast

5.6Break-even analysis

6Action Plan

7Supporting Documentation

1Business Overview

1.1Vision statement

[The vision statement is a broad statement outlining the future of your business, it is the dream for your business.]

1.2Mission statement

[The mission statement describes the business purpose andbusiness activities. It is the how you will achieve your vision.]

1.3Business objectives

[The business objectives are the specific and measurable steps to reach your goal within a certain time frame. Include a mix of long-term, medium-term and short-term objectives.]

1.4Products/Services

[List all your existing products and/or services in the table below.]

Product/Service / Description / Price
[Product/service 1] / [Brief description of product/service] / [$]
[Product/service 2] / [Brief description of product/service] / [$]

1.5Business structure

[What is your business structuree.g. sole trader, company?]

1.6Business commencement date

[The date you plan to start your business or the date you started your business.]

1.7Owner profile

[Outline your business and industry experience, qualifications/certifications,business/industry achievements, awards and any other relevant information.Also include any areas of weakness and what you will do to compensate shortcomings.]

1.8Licences, registrations and permits

[List all your business licences, registrations and permits in the table below.]

Licence/registration/permit / Date obtained / Expiry date
[Licence/registration/permit type] / [XX/XX/20XX] / [XX/XX/20XX]

1.9Insurance

[List all your business insurances in the table below.]

Type of insurance / Insurer/policy number / Items/sum insured / Annual premium / Start date / Expiry date
[e.g. indemnity insurance, business assets] / [Insurance company and policy number] / [List the items in the policy and the sum insured] / [$] / [XX/XX/20XX] / [XX/XX/20XX]

1.10Business advisors

[List all your business advisors in the table below.]

Professional advisor / Name / Address / Phone / Email
[e.g. accountant, lawyer, mentor] / [Name] / [Address] / [Phone] / [Email]

1.11Risk management

[List all the potential risks in order of severity (risk rating) that could affect your business in the table below.]

Risk description / Likelihood / Impact / Risk rating / Strategy to manage
[Description of the risk] / [Very likely, likely, unlikely] / [Major, moderate, minor] / [Extreme, high, medium, low] / [What will you do to minimise/manage the risk?]

2Market Analysis

2.1Market research

[Detail the results and findings of your market research such as the size of your market, growth potential,customer demographics/psychographics, number of potential customers in your geographic area, any unmet needs of your customers.]

2.2Environmental analysis

[Describeany political, economic, social and technological opportunities or threats in the external environment that may positively or negatively impact your business and what you will do to take advantage of an opportunity or reduce the impact of a threat.]

2.3Industry description

[Provide an overview of the industry in which your business will operate in such as industry history, industry size, any trends affecting the industry, industry leaders.]

2.4Competitor analysis

[List each of your major competitorsin the table below.]

Competitor / Date Established / Size / Value to customers / Strengths / Weaknesses
[Competitor name] / [When they were established?] / [Number of staff and/or turnover] / [Their unique value to customers. e.g. convenience, quality, price or service] / [Their main strengths] / [Their main weaknesses]

[Explain the competition, how your business is different from your competitors, any competitive advantages your business has over competitors and any possible barriers to entering the market and how you plan to address them.]

2.5SWOT analysis

[List your businesses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the table below.]

Strengths / Weaknesses
[Positive business attributes and advantages over competitors e.g.
  • Excellent customer service]
/ [Areas for improvements and business disadvantages e.g.
  • Unfamiliar business to locals]

Opportunities / Threats
[Favourable and positive external marketplace factors e.g.
  • Unfulfilled customer need]
/ [External negative factors and unfavourable situations e.g.
  • Nearest competitor is only 1km away]

[Address how you plan to take advantage of your strengths and opportunities and reduce or eliminate your weaknesses and threats.]

3Marketing Plan

3.1Customer profile

[Your customer profile provides in-depth information on the demographics, characteristics and behaviours of your customer such asage, gender, location, income, education, buying patterns, motivation.]

3.2Pricing strategy

[What is your pricing strategy (e.g. cost-plus pricing, premium pricing, penetration pricing) and why have you chosen this strategy?]

3.3Advertising and promotion strategy

[List your advertising and promotion activities for the next 12 months in the table below.]

Advertising / promotion activity / Target date / Estimated
Cost / Expected result
[e.g. print media advertising, online advertising, trade show, giveaway, press release, social media campaign, event.] / [Month / year] / [$] / [What is the outcome you hope to achieve?]

3.4Sales and distribution strategy

[List the sales and distribution channels for your products/servicesin the table below.]

Channel type / Product/service / % of total sales
[e.g. retail outlet, online store, tradeshow, market stall, wholesale] / [What product/service will be sold via this channel?] / [What percentage of total sales is expected from this channel?]

4Operational Plan

4.1Business premises

[Describe the location, type of premise, size, facilities, fit-out, equipment, building condition and layout, passing vehicle and pedestrian traffic, accessibility and visibility etc. Provide ownership details or lease agreements and cost involved including fit out expenses and ongoing running and maintenance costs.For a home-based business, describe the area of the home being used.]

4.2Production process

[Describe the processes to make your products or deliver your services. If applicable, include which aspects of production are outsourced or completed by contractors. You might like to also include a flowchart to explain the production process.]

4.3Plant and equipment

[List your plant and equipment purchasesin the table below.]

Equipment item / Purchase date / Purchase price / Buy/Lease / Ongoing costs
[e.g. computer, phone] / [XX/XX/20XX] / [$] / [Buy or lease] / [$]

4.4Major suppliers

[List your major suppliersin the table below.]

Supplier / Product / Contact details / Terms of trade / Alternative supplier
[Supplier name] / [Product 1] / [Address, Phone, Email] / [e.g. price, payment period, warranties, return of goods] / [Backup supplier name and contact details]

4.5Stock control

[Describe how you will keep track of your stock, which stock control methods and systems will be used. Include other relevant information such as the type of stock held, storage size, any special storage requirements, reorder frequency, minimum stock levels, first in first out method.]

5Financial Plan

5.1Financial objectives

[Your financial objectives can include your targets in reference to sales, profit, debt reduction, cost reduction, investment and growth and the timeframe to achieve each objective. Include a mix of long-term, medium-term and short-term objectives.]

5.2Start-up costs

[List all your projected monthly and one-off start-up costs in the table belowor insert your own.]

Monthly expenses / Projected monthly expenses ($)
[rent]
[phone]
[insurance]
Total monthly expenses / $
One-off expenses / Projected one-off expenses ($)
[registrations, licences and permits ]
[starting inventory]
[tools and equipment]
Total one-off expenses / $
Total estimated start-up costs / $

5.3Balance sheet forecast

[Complete a 3 year forecast of your business financial position in the table below or insert your own.]

Balance Sheet Forecast / [Year 1] / [Year 2] / [Year 3]
Current assets
[cash]
[inventory]
Total current assets / $ / $ / $
Non-current assets
[equipment]
[vehicles]
Total non-current assets / $ / $ / $
TOTAL ASSETS / $ / $ / $
Current liabilities
[accounts payable]
[credit cards payable]
Total current liabilities / $ / $ / $
Non-currentliabilities
[loans]
Total non-current liabilities / $ / $ / $
TOTAL LIABILITIES / $ / $ / $
NET WORTH / $ / $ / $

5.4Profit and loss forecast

[Complete a 3 year profit and loss forecast in the table below or insert your own.]

Profit and Loss Forecast / [Year 1] / [Year 2] / [Year 3]
Revenue
[sales]
[interest]
Total revenue (sales) / $ / $ / $
Cost of goods sold (COGS) / $ / $ / $
GROSS PROFIT / $ / $ / $
Expenses
[rent]
[advertising]
[telephone]
Total expenses / $ / $ / $
NET PROFIT / $ / $ / $

5.5Cash flow forecast

[Complete a 12 month cash flow forecast in the table below or insert your own.]

Balance Sheet Forecast [Year] / [M1] / [M2] / [M3] / [M4] / [M5] / [M6] / [M7] / [M8] / [M9] / [M10] / [M11] / [M12]
OPENING BALANCE / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $
Cash incoming
[sales]
[asset sales]
Total incoming / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $
Cash outgoing
[expenses]
[stock purchases]
[loan repayment]
Total outgoing / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $
Net cash flow / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $
CLOSING
BALANCE / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $ / $

5.6Break-even analysis

[Complete a break-even analysisin the table below or insert your own.
To calculate the number of units to break-even use the formula: fixed costs÷ (averageprice of products/services – average variable costs of products/services).
To calculate the total dollar sales to break-even use the formula:number of units sold to break-even x average price of products/services.]

Break-even analysis
Timeframe / (monthly/yearly)
Average price of products/services
Average variable costs of products/services
Fixed costs for month/year
Number of unit sales to break-even
Total dollar sales to break-even

6Action Plan

[List the key tasks that need to be completed over the next 12 months in the table below.]

Task / Expected completion date / Person responsible
[What task needs to be completed?] / [When do you expect to complete the task?] / [Who is responsible for completing the task?]

7Supporting Documentation

[List all the attached documents that support the statements and decisions in your business plan in the table below e.g. detailed financial documents, resumes, market research information, legal documents.]

Attachment number / Document name
[Attachment 1] / [Name of document]

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