Intro to Business Paper

Business Plan Outline 1. Cover letter (1 p., but is separate from plan) 2. Title page (1 p.) 3. Table of contents (1 p.) 4. Executive summary (1– 2 pp.) 5. The company

5a. Company description (1– 2 pp.) 5a1. Vision statement 5a2. Mission statement 5a3. Objectives (optional) 5a4. Company background

5b. Product/ service and industry (1– 8 pp.) 5b1. Product/ service description 5b2. Industry description

6. The market 6a. Market and target customer (1– 3 pp.) 6b. Competition and competitive advantage (1– 2 pp.) 6c. Marketing strategy (1– 3 pp.)

6c1. Overall strategy 6c2. Sales plan 6c3. Competitive plan 6c4. Research and development or growth plan

7. The organization 7a. Legal and organizational structures (1/ 2– 1 p.) 7b. Key personnel (1/ 2– 3 pp.) 7c. Related service providers (1/ 2– 1 p.) 7d. Location (1/ 2 p.)

8. The financials 8a. Critical risks (1 p.) 8b. The deal (1 p., if needed) 8c. Income statement (2 pp.) 8d. Cash flow projection (2 pp.) 8e. Balance sheet (1 p.) 8f. Start- up costs (1 p., if needed) 8g. Assumptions (1 p.) 8h. Schedule (1 p.)

9. The appendixes (optional) 9a. Owner’s résumé 9b. Examples of other popular appendixes: Product or service pictures or specifications; customer/

investor contracts; marketing studies or pilot sales efforts; industry reports; price lists; floor plans; advertising copy; customer or spokesperson testimonials; letters of opinion.