A well-thought business plan can help clarify your business strategy and determine all the potential problems. Besides that, it discovers all the resources you’ll need to set up a business and evaluate the potential of the business becoming successful.

It’s not guaranteed that your business will be 100% successful if you follow a professional business plan but it reduces the chances of business being flopped by a high margin.

Therefore, careful, and strategic planning is your best bet before starting a business. Before learning about how to make a good business plan, let’s find out what a business plan is.

Defining a Business Plan

It’s a document that explains the business idea, products, services, revenue generation, management, finances, operational model, hierarchy, and so many other essential information that’s necessary to plan out for the successful launch of the business.

Why Is It Important to Make a Business Plan

Most large businesses depend on funding to grow the business. However, the investors usually ask for the business plan to judge its potential. Besides that, the following are some of the reasons due to which making a business plan is highly recommended.

Planning

This can help you understand the business idea better and make the implementation process easier.

Research

A business plan requires extensive research to help you make better and more strategic decisions.

Recruiting

A business plan is the only way to gain employee trust in your business, especially when you’re a start-up.

Collaboration

A professional business plan can help you in forming valuable partnerships that can provide the kickstart you need for your new business.

Step-By-Step Process

To make sure things are done professionally you need to form a business plan that has a structured outline and all the key information related to your business.

Step 1: Executive Summary

The main purpose of an executive summary is to offer a high-level overview of the business to the potential lenders or investors. If the executive summary captures their attention, they’ll be willing to read more.

Make sure you only write down the key point and don’t exceed the summary on more than one page.

Following are some of the things that an executive summary must include:

• Business concept

• Mission and vision.

• Product description.

• USP.

• Target market.

• Marketing strategy.

• Employees.

Step 2: Company Description

A company description must be able to answer two essential questions: what is the company’s name and what are its objectives?

Besides that, the following are some of the business aspects that you must include in your company description:

• Business structure.

• Business model.

• Industry overview.

• Value proposition.

• Background information & history.

• Short-term and long-term goals.

Step 3: Market Analysis

Market analysis is crucial to decide the right target market. Following are some of the key features of market analysis:

• Understanding customer profile.

• Discover industry trends.

• Make informed decisions.

• Perform SWOT analysis concerning the market opportunities and threats.

• Conduct a competitive analysis to differentiate your business from the competitors.

Step 4: Management & Organization

This section of the business plan talks about the management who’s running the business. Tell people whether your business is a partnership or sole proprietorship.

Use an organizational chart to show the business hierarchy including the job responsibilities and designation. Also, talk a little about their good attributes.

Step 5: Products & Services

If your product line is big you can explain the products generally in a few lines but if your business has a limited amount of products or services then you may put additional information.

Step 6: Customer Segmentation

To give an overall view of your target market, you may describe their demographics or psychographics which include:

• Residential location.

• Age.

• Educational background.

• Buying behavior.

• Purchasing power.

• Occupation.

• Values & Beliefs.

Step 7: Marketing Plan

A marketing plan typically includes four aspects of the business: Price, Product, Promotion, Place.

Information related to the price of the product, its attributes, its promotional techniques, and the place you’ll sell it.

About Urban Pixel

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