Business Plan Templates
Starting a new business can be an exciting, yet challenging experience. One of the most crucial steps in this process is developing a comprehensive business plan. A business plan is a document that outlines your company’s goals, strategies, and financial projections. Creating a business plan can be a daunting task, but fortunately, there are many business plan templates available to help you get started.
Business plan templates are pre-formatted documents that provide a framework for developing a business plan. They typically include sections for the executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization and management, products and services, marketing and sales, financial projections, and appendices.
What do I need to know to create a Business Plan?
Although many inclusions in a Business Plan are optional, you should still have an understanding of the basics. When creating a Business Plan, you will be asked for information regarding:
- The type of industry that the business will conduct transactions in, e.g. retail, real estate, agriculture, or entertainment
- The company’s structure, which includes a partnership, sole proprietorship, corporation, or other
- The management structure of the business
- Your advertising strategy and target market
- Information about your competitors and your advantages over them
- Operational details
- Staffing requirements
- Financial requirements and business assets
The benefit of using a business plan template is that it saves you time and provides a structure to follow. You don’t have to start from scratch, and you can customize the template to fit your specific business needs. Additionally, using a template ensures that you cover all the essential components of a business plan, which is crucial if you plan on seeking funding from investors or lenders.
There are many sources for business plan templates, including online business resources, government agencies, and business plan software. Some popular options include SCORE, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and LivePlan. Here are some business plan software and templates to use:
PlanGuru | Business Budgeting Software, Business Planning Software PlanGuru helps thousands of businesses, nonprofits, and their advisors drive better decision making through these time-tested processes.
The Business Plan Shop: FP&A platform for SMBs and advisors The Business Plan Shop is the financial planning and analysis platform for small and medium-sized businesses, and their financial advisors.
Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is a government agency that provides resources and support to small businesses. They offer a free business plan template that includes step-by-step instructions and examples for each section. Write your business plan (sba.gov)
Business Planning & Financial Statements Template Gallery | SCORE You can use the templates below as a starting point to create your startup business plan or map out how you will expand your existing business. Then meet with a SCORE mentor to get expert business planning advice and feedback on your business plan. Their business plan template includes sections for an executive summary, a company description, market analysis, organization and management, products and services, marketing and sales, financial projections, and appendices. Business Plan Template for a Startup Business (score.org)
Canva is a graphic design platform that offers a variety of templates, including business plan templates. Their templates are customizable and include sections for executive summary, company description, market analysis, products and services, marketing and sales, financial projections, and appendices. You can access their templates for free with a Canva account here: https://www.canva.com/templates/business-plans.
PlanBuildr Business Plan Software Join over 125,000 entrepreneurs who have built their business plans with PlanBuildr.
Bizplan.com | Online business planning tools and software for startups. Get comprehensive education on business planning, direct access to planning experts, and a funding platform that’s helped raise over $500 million for startups. Free Fill-in-the-Blank Business Plan Template for Small Businesses and Startups (bplans.com)
Free Business Plan | Free to Print, Save & Download (rocketlawyer.com) A business plan is a blueprint of the goals, projections, financing, and other important features of a new business or venture. Use it to present a summary of your new business project, product, or service. It also provides details on how you plan to fund the project.
Free Business Plan | Free Trial Subscription | LawDepot
Helping Businesses Find Investors & Raise Capital | EquityNet
Free Business Templates and Resources | Bplans Downloads
Business Plan Software Online Free Trial (enloop.com)
In conclusion, using a business plan template can be a great way to save time and ensure that you cover all the essential components of a business plan.
