Sample Business Plan Outline
(for a product-based company)
Executive Summary (derived from below, 3-5 pages total)
The Pain/The Solution We Provide (quantify this – hopefully in huge numbers)
Business Opportunity/Market Size (be sure to mention future markets you can easily penetrate without massive additional risk or technology change)
Objectives of Company
- Market Analysis
- Market Background
- Future Directions of Market
- Market Size/Forecast
- Customers/Customer Segmentation
- Competitive Analysis
- Barriers to Entry (what are they? How sustainable?)
- Universal Problems with Current Solutions
The Product
- Product Definition and Goals
- Product Specifications
- Expected Product Lifecycle
- Follow-on Products
Marketing Plan
- Target Market Segments
- Pricing
- Product Positioning
- Sales Strategy
- Partnering
- Promotion
The Team
- Current Staff (list as many “brand names” as possible -- VP Engineering is from Microsoft, went to MIT, etc etc)
- Additional Staffing Plans
- Board of Directors
- Advisory Board (this is a great place to get more brand names)
Risk Management
(analysis of specific risks and address various scenarios)
- Financial Projections and Resources Required
- Near Term Milestones and Expenses
- Long Term Projections
Appendices (only include information to back up assumptions in plan)
- Financial Summaries
- Data Sheets
- White Papers
- Press Coverage
For more information on small business plans and business assistence, visit bizcoach.org.
