This document provides an overview of what should be included in a business plan. It emphasizes that clarifying the purpose and direction of the business is most important. The main sections that should be included in a business plan are: executive summary, company overview, management team, product/service description, market overview, marketing strategy, financial information, implementation, controls and measurements, plan for scaling, and appendix. The executive summary section in particular should include: one sentence elevator pitch, problem being solved, solution offered, target market, competition, team, financial summary, funding requirements, traction achieved, and milestones. Keeping the business plan short, simple, and knowing the audience are important rules to follow when writing it.
2. “Would you tell me, please, which way I
ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you
want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where–” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you
go,” said the Cat.
6. • Clarify Direction
• Develop Vision
• Attract Funding
• Attract Employees
• Manage Company
7. Clarify Direction
The primary purpose of a business plan is to define what
the business is or what it intends to be over time.
8. Develop Vision
Businesses evolve and adapt over time, having vision for the future is
important to business growth. Vision should adjust with changing times.
14. • Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Management Team
• Product or Service Description
• Market Overview
• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Information
• Implementation
• Controls and Measurements
• Plan for Scaling
• Appendix
16. Executive Summary
A. One Sentence Elevator Pitch
B. Problem You Are Solving
C. Solution You Are Offering
D. Target Market
E. Competition
F. Team
G. Financial Summary
H. Funding Requirement
I. Traction
J. Milestones
18. “My company, <Company Name>,
is developing a
<Product/Service> to help <Customer
Segment> to <do> to solve <Problem
it solve>.”
19. “My company, ShimBi Labs, is developing a Cloud
hosted Invoicing application to help SMB/SME to
generate and manage their invoicing in easiest and
simplest possible way. Saving time and allowing
them to focus on acquiring new business.”
29. Executive Summary
A. One Sentence Elevator Pitch
B. Problem You Are Solving
C. Solution You Are Offering
D. Target Market
E. Competition
F. Team
G. Financial Summary
H. Funding Requirement
I. Traction
J. Milestones
49. Financial Information
A. Sales Forecast
B. HR Expenditure
C. Cash Flow Statement
D. Use Of Fund
E. Balance Sheet
F. Profite And Loss Statment
G. Exit Plan
57. Financial Information
A. Sales Forecast
B. HR Expenditure
C. Cash Flow Statement
D. Use of Fund
E. Balance Sheet
F. Profit and Loss Statement
G. Exit Plan
62. • Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Management Team
• Product or Service Description
• Market Overview
• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Information
• Implementation
• Controls And Measurements
• Plan for Scaling
• Appendix
63. Keep It Short & Simple, Know Your Audience, Don’t be intimidated
A Few Must Follow Rules For Writing A
Business Plan
66. Executive Summary
A. One Sentence Elevator Pitch
B. Problem You Are Solving
C. Solution You Are Offering
D. Target Market
E. Competition
F. Team
G. Financial Summary
H. Funding Requirement
I. Traction
J. Milestones