Business Plan Outlines

We compare two popular outlines
and see the secret to strength
is flexibility, not rigid structure

Using the business plan outlines for the various business plan packages is a great way to present and compare which package might be best for your family's business.

To illustrate this process, outlines from two popular business plan packages are considered.

First, either business plan outline will provide you with a useful framework or backbone around which to organize and build your own business plan. As such, they will help you to break up the overall job of preparing a business plan into smaller component sections. Do a bit at a time - on whichever topic or section suits you at a particular moment; delegate portions; assemble the components and bits and pieces later; edit later to bring the parts into a smooth and integrated finished product. While you are laboring "amongst the trees" you will have the confidence that the business plan outline will help you to make sense of "the forest."

Second, you will immediately see one of the most important things you will need to know about writing your business plan. Look again for a moment at each plan outline... notice how the order of topics is a bit different; notice how each seems to have slightly different emphasis on topics. But see how each business plan really deals with the same points.

Jian's BizPlan Builder is a popular tool.

• Cover Page
• Table of Contents
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Vision and Mission
  • Present Situation
  • Vision and Mission
  • Goals
  • Objectives
• 3. Company Overview
  • Legal Business Description
  • Management Team
  • Board of Directors
  • Strategic Alliances
• 4. Product Strategy
  • Current Product
  • Research and Development
  • Production and Delivery
• 5. Market Analysis
  • Market Definition
  • Customer Profile
  • Competition
  • Risk
• 6. Marketing Plan
  • Sales Strategy
  • Distribution Channels
  • Advertising and Promotion
  • Public Relations
• 7. Financial Plan
  • Assumptions
  • Financial Statements
  • Capital Requirements
  • Exit/Payback Strategy
• 8. Conclusion
• 9. Supporting Documents

• I. COVER SHEET
• II. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (Mission Statement/Executive Summary)
• III. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• IV. PART I: THE ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN
  • A. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS
  • B. PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
  • C. LEGAL STRUCTURE
  • D. LOCATION Note: If location is important to marketing, cover in Part II - The Marketing Plan.
  • E. MANAGEMENT Note: If you are focusing on "total quality management" (TQM), you may wish to combine Sections E. & F. and address it at this point!
  • F. PERSONNEL
  • G. ACCOUNTING
  • H. INSURANCE
  • I. SECURITY
• V. PART II: THE MARKETING PLAN
  • A. TARGET MARKET
  • B. COMPETITION
  • C. METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION
  • D. PROMOTION
  • E. PRICING
  • F. PRODUCT DESIGN
  • G. TIMING OF MARKET ENTRY
  • H. LOCATION
  • I. INDUSTRY TRENDS
• VI. PART III: FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
  • A. SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL NEEDS
  • B. LOAN FUND DISPERSAL STATEMENT
  • C. PRO FORMA CASH FLOW STATEMENT (Budget)
  • D. THREE-YEAR INCOME PROJECTION
  • E. BREAK-EVEN ANALYSIS
  • F. BALANCE SHEET
  • G. PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT (Income Statement)
  • H. FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS
  • I. BUSINESS FINANCIAL HISTORY
• VII. PART IV: SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
  • A. PERSONAL RESUMES
  • B. OWNERS' FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
  • C. CREDIT REPORTS
  • D. COPIES OF LEASES, MORTGAGES, PURCHASE AGREEMENTS, ETC.
  • E. LETTERS OF REFERENCE
  • F. CONTRACTS
  • G. OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENTS
  • H. MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS

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The really key lesson from this for your business plan is that "What is important" is "what matters most to your reader." By the time you have written and edited each subject that is really relevant and important to your business, you will have a natural story to tell and a clear sense of how to tell it. The outline of your business plan for telling your story will stand out clearly to you. Don't be afraid to experiment, to vary from the business plan outlines you see from others. The flexibility to adopt a business plan outline that is suitable for your story will give strength to your plan. On the other hand, if you try to fit your story into someone else's rigid business plan outline, you risk making your story snap and crumble - it will be weaker.

Just as good writers eventually produce a stronger work thanks to input and review from their editor, so can you. One of the most useful roles we can help you with is in editing your business plan outline and the eventual plan itself. We not only have experience with the word crafting, but as family business consultants we are able to discern and understand quickly your strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. So we can help you emphasize the positive and deal with the negative.

Family Business Experts Understands
Family Values and Business Systems

Contact us to help you design your business plan outlines.
We'll help you ensure that your business plan outlines are truly the strong and flexible backbone of your family business.

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