Following is a template of the components within a business plan to guide you in the right direction, giving you an idea of the information you require.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• A one or two page overview of the key information that is found in the business plan, to give the reader a useful understanding of your business. Although it is the first thing read, it is the last thing written.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

• The nature of your business, who you are and the needs you are trying to satisfy
• Identify a gap in the industry and how you will fill it.
• Mission Statement - the what, who, where and how of your business
• Vision Statement - the "why" - what you hope to achieve, why you are starting this business

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

• Detailed description of your company's products and services; what makes them special and how they meet the user's needs
• Pricing and how it is established
• Competitive advantages that will lead to your success
• Competitive disadvantages and how you will overcome them
• Features/Benefits analysis
• Copyrights and patents - legal agreements that could affect your business
• R&D Activities - what's coming in later on

MARKET ANALYSIS

• Industry description and outlook - size of the industry, characteristics and trends, major customer groups, results of primary and secondary research
• Target markets - who are they, how big are they, what are their needs, how are these needs currently being met?
• Methods by which you can identify and communicate with your target markets
• Market penetration - anticipated market share by year three
• Primary data - focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, mail surveys
• Competition - identify who they are, their pricing strategies, share of the market, marketing and advertising strategies
• Your SWOT analysis - inside factors of strengths and weaknesses, outside factors of opportunities and threats

MARKETING & SALES ACTIVITIES

• Situational analysis - a review of the current status of the marketplace and your product
• Marketing plan - your specific and measurable objectives, the strategies by which you will achieve them, and the tactics involved in carrying out the strategies
• Sales strategies - your internal and external sales force and their activities

OPERATIONS

• Details of your production and service delivery procedures
• Staffing requirements - all the details of part-time, full-time, contract; how you will recruit, compensation, etc.
• Operating competitive advantages
• Suppliers - identify the suppliers critical to the production of your product or service, lead time requirements, risks of shortages
• Operating conditions - location, facilities, hours of operation, leasing, insurances, banking, government regulations, human resources

MANAGEMENT & OWNERSHIP

• Key managers/employees, their primary duties, backgrounds and unique skills
• Organizational structure - an organizational chart and its description
• Planned additions to the current management team
• Legal structure - sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership
• Ownership - names, percent involvement in operations
• Professional resource team/mentors
• Board of Directors (if incorporated)

FUNDS REQUIRED & THEIR USES

• A list of your current capital assets, their value, and any money you have put into the company so far and how it was used
• Current funding requirements and how you will source it
• Capital expenditures over the next three years and sources
• Long-term financing plan - merger, going public, liquidation of assets, sell business

FINANCIAL DATA

• Prospective financial data for the first three years
• Scenarios - ideal, realistic, pessimistic
• First year cash flow statement by month
• Final two years by year
• Summary of significant assumptions

APPENDICES

The following are examples of appendices which may be included to assist in the evaluation of this proposal

• Resumes of key managers
• Pictures of products
• Professional references
• Market studies
• Pertinent published information (magazine articles, references to books)
• Patents, Copyright, Trademark Agreements
• Significant contracts (leases, sales contracts, ownership agreements, etc.)

The costs involved in writing a business plan vary greatly depending on the type and size of your business, how much capital you require, if your plan is being updated for re-financing, etc. DD Consulting's time frame can vary from several hours for a simple re-write of some key components to several weeks when starting a large plan from scratch. DD Consulting charges a competitive rate of $50.00 per hour for this service and will gladly meet with you free of charge for a one hour consultation to discuss your needs, your business and the purpose of your particular plan.