This unit has been designed to cover the required elements in an interesting way. There is a good chance that you will end up running your own small business or be asked to give clients advice in running theirs. Use these templates and guides to get a fee

Using this template

Before you complete this business plan template and start using it, consider the following:

1. Do your research. You will need to make quite a few decisions about your business including structure, marketing strategies and finances before you can complete the template. By having the right information to hand you also can be more accurate in your forecasts and analysis.

2. Determine who the plan is for. Does it have more than one purpose? Will it be used internally or will third parties be involved? Deciding the purpose of the plan can help you target your answers. If third parties are involved, what are they interested in? Although don’t assume they are just interested in the finance part of your business. They will be looking for the whole package.

3. Do not attempt to fill in the template from start to finish. First decide which sections are relevant for your business and set aside the sections that don’t apply. You can always go back to the other sections later.

4. Use the [italicised text]. The italicised text is there to help guide you by providing some more detailed questions you may like to answer when preparing your response. Please note: If a question does not apply to your circumstances it can be ignored.

5. Download the Business Plan Guide. The business plan guide contains general advice on business planning, a complete overview of the business plan template and a glossary explaining the main terms used throughout this template.

6. Get some help. If you aren’t confident in completing the plan yourself, you can enlist the help of a professional (i.e. Enterprise Connect Centre, Business Enterprise Centre, business adviser, or accountant) to look through your plan and provide you with advice.

7. Actual vs. expected figures. Existing businesses can include actual figures in the plan, but if your business is just starting out and you are using expected figures for turnover and finances you will need to clearly show that these are expected figures or estimates.

8. Review. Review. Review. Your business plan is there to make a good impression. Errors will only detract from your professional image. So ask a number of impartial people to proofread your final plan.

For advice and examples on how to complete this template, please download the business.gov.au Business Plan guide from www.business.gov.au/businessplan .

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[Your Name] [Student number]

[Business Name]

[Main Business Address]

ABN: [Made up]

[Signature]

[Kelly’s Accountant]

Business Plan

Prepared: [Date of submission]

Table of Contents

3 The Business

3 Business details

3 Registration details

3 Business premises

4 Organisation chart

4 Management & ownership

4 Key personnel

5 Products/services

6 Insurance

6 Risk management

6 Legal considerations

7 Operations

8 The Market

8 Market research

8 Market targets

8 Environmental/industry analysis

8 Your customers

9 S.W.O.T. analysis

10 Your competitors

11 Advertising & sales

12 The Future

12 Vision statement

12 Mission statement

12 Goals/objectives

12 Action plan

13 The Finances

13 Key objectives & financial review

13 Assumptions

14 Start-up costs for [YEAR]

15 Profit and loss forecast

16 Expected cash flow

The Business

Business details

Products/services: [What products/services are you selling? What is the anticipated demand for your products/services?]

Registration details

Business name:

Kelly's Accountant

Business premises

Business location: [Describe the location and space occupied/required. What is the size of the space you occupy/require? Which city or town? Where in relation to landmarks/main areas? If you have a retail business, where are you in relation to other shops? What is the retail traffic like?]

Location in Melbourne Australia

Organisation chart

[Outline your business structure in the chart below.]

Management & ownership

Names of owners: Kelly

Key personnel

Current staff

[List your current staff in the table below.]

Job Title	Name	Expected staff turnover	Skills or strengths
[e.g. Marketing/ Sales Manager]	[Mr Chris Brantley]	[12-18 months]	[Relevant qualifications in Sales/Marketing. At least 5 years experience in the industry. Award in marketing excellence.]

Products/services

Product/Service	Description	Price
[Product/service name]	[Brief product/service description]	[Price including GST]

Market position: [Where do your products/services fit in the market? Are they high-end, competitive or budget? How does this compare to your competitors?]

Insurance

Workers compensation: [Provide details if you have workers compensation insurance? This is mandatory if you have employees.]

Risk management

[List the potential risks (in order of likelihood) that could impact your business.]

Risk	Likelihood	Impact	Strategy
[Description of the risk and the potential impact to your business.]	[Highly Unlikely, Unlikely, Likely, Highly Likely]	[High, Medium, Low]	[What actions will you take to minimise/mitigate the potential risk to your business?]

Legal considerations

[List the legislation which will have some impact on the running of your business. For example: consumer law, business law, or specific legislation to your industry.]

Operations

Suppliers

[Who are your main suppliers? What do they supply to your business? How will you maintain a good relationship with them?]

Plant & equipment [List your current plant and equipment purchases. These can include vehicles, computer equipment, phones and fax machines.]

Equipment	Purchase date	Purchase price	Running cost
Computer
Pinter

The Market

Market research

[What statistical research have you completed to help you analyse your market? Did you use a survey/questionnaire? If so, you may like to attach a copy of your survey/questionnaire to the back of this plan.]

Your customers

Key customers

[Identify your key customers. (These can be large consumers of your products or individuals whose satisfaction is key to the success of your business.) How will you target your products/service to them?]

S.W.O.T. analysis

[List each of your businesses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities or threats in the table below and then outline how you plan to address each of the weaknesses/threats.]

Strengths	Weaknesses
Opportunities	Threats

Your competitors

[How do you rate against your competitors? How can your business improve on what they offer?]

Competitor details

[List at least 5 competitors in the table below.]

Competitor	Established date	Size	Market share (%)	Value to customers	Strengths	Weaknesses
[Competitor name]	[When were they established?]	[Number of staff and/or turnover]	[Estimated percentage of market share]	[Unique value to customers. E.g. convenience, quality, price or service?]	[What are your competitor's main strengths?]	[What are your competitor's main weaknesses?]

Advertising & sales

Advertising & promotional strategy

[What strategies do you have for promoting and advertising your products/services in the next 12 months?]

Planned promotion /advertising type	Expected business improvement	Cost ($)	Target date
[Print media advertising, online advertising, mail-out, giveaway, media release, social media campaign or event.]	[How do you expect it will improve your business success?]	[$]	[Month/Year]

The Future

Vision statement

[What is your business' vision statement? It should briefly outline your future plan for the business and include your overall goals.]

Mission statement

[What is your business' mission statement? I.e. how will you achieve your vision?]

Goals/objectives

[What are your short & long term goals? What activities will you undertake to meet them?]

Action plan

Please note: This table does not include sustainability milestones as they are listed in the sustainability section above.

Milestone	Date of expected completion	Person responsible
[What are the business milestones that you need to complete starting from today?]	[When do you expect to complete them?]	[Who is responsible for delivering this milestone?]

The Finances

Key objectives & financial review

Financial objectives

[List your key financial objectives. These can be in the form of sales or profit targets. You could also list your main financial management goals such as cost reduction targets.]

Finance required

[How much money up-front do you need? Where will you obtain the funds? What portion will you be seeking from loans, investors, business partners, friends or relatives, venture capital or government funding? How much of your own money are you contributing towards the business?]

Assumptions

The financial tables on the subsequent pages are based on the assumptions listed below:

· [List your financial assumptions. These can include seasonal adjustments, drought or interest rates etc.]

Chart of Accounts

· Considering the tables below prepare a simple, number based chart of accounts. This may be in any format you like and may be completed separately and attached as an appendix.

Documentation

· Include a brief list of the financial documentation you will be required to keep in your business. Also indicate the length of time you would need to keep it

Security

· You have decided to use an MYOB system to run your business. Please provide a detailed analysis of the security requirements you will use to protect both the MYOB data, other data and physical records that you hold in your business.

Start-up costs for [YEAR]

[Double-click the table below to enter your details or attach your own start up costing sheet at the back of this business plan.]