How To Write A Startup Business Plan - Page 8

Step 6: Putting It All Together

Once you have analyzed your product, your customers, your competition, market strategy and financing it's time to put it all together in a document known as a business plan.

There is no single format for writing a business plan. The best way to write a business plan is to study business plans. You can find some business plans on the web to study.


Here is a basic overview of the things you should provide in a business plan.

1. Cover Sheet
2. Statement of Purpose
1. Part 1: Business Analysis
1. Description of the Business
2. Marketing Strategy
3. Competitive Landscape
4. Operating Flow
5. Management and Personnel
6. Exit Strategy
7. Insurance Information
2. Part 2: Financial Information
1. Equipment, Supply List and Assets
2. Balance Sheet
3. Break-even Analysis
4. Pro-forma Projections Including
1. 3 year summary
2. Detailed projection by month of the first year
3. Detailed quarterly projects for year 2 and 3
4. Assumptions or how you reached your projections
5. Pro-forma Cash Flow
3. Part 3: Supporting Documentation
1. Tax returns of the principals involved in the business for the last 3 years
2. Franchise contracts, proposed leases and purchase agreements
3. Any licenses or legal documents the business needs
4. Resumes of all the principals involved in the business
5. Letters of intent from suppliers and other services

Remember that not all of these things need to be included right off the bat. If you are not going to have proposed leases at this time while you are starting your plan, it can go on your task list of things to do.

The most important part is getting started on your business plan so that you can spot the things you need to get done to complete it.

Most investors are not going to just hand you money without a pretty solid business plan though, so if you're not too good at doing the financials you better get to work on learning how to project pro-forma cash flow and projections.

Once you have your business plan you are well on your way to creating a successful startup!

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