AI ASSISTANTS
Upmetrics AI Your go-to AI-powered business assistant
AI Writing Assist Write, translate, and refine your text with AI
AI Financial Assist Automated forecasts and AI recommendations
AI Research Assist Your go-to AI-powered research assistant
TOP FEATURES
AI Business Plan Generator Create business plans faster with AI
Financial Forecasting Make accurate financial forecasts faster
INTEGRATIONS
QuickBooks Sync and compare with your QuickBooks data
Strategic Planning Develop actionable strategic plans on-the-go
AI Pitch Deck Generator Use AI to generate your investor deck
Xero Sync and compare with your Xero data
See how easy it is to plan your business with Upmetrics: Take a Tour →
AI-powered business planning software
Very useful business plan software connected to AI. Saved a lot of time, money and energy. Their team is highly skilled and always here to help.
- Julien López
BY USE CASE
Secure Funding, Loans, Grants Create plans that get you funded
Starting & Launching a Business Plan your business for launch and success
Validate Your Business Idea Discover the potential of your business idea
E2 Visa Business Plan Create a business plan to support your E2 - Visa
Business Consultant & Advisors Plan with your team members and clients
Incubators & Accelerators Empowering startups for growth
Business Schools & Educators Simplify business plan education for students
Students & Learners Your e-tutor for business planning
- Sample Plans
Plan Writing & Consulting We create a business plan for you
Business Plan Review Get constructive feedback on your plan
Financial Forecasting We create financial projections for you
SBA Lending Assistance We help secure SBA loans for your business
WHY UPMETRICS?
Reviews See why customers love Upmetrics
Blogs Latest business planning tips and strategies
Strategic Planning Templates Ready-to-use strategic plan templates
Business Plan Course A step-by-step business planning course
Customer Success Stories Read our customer success stories
Help Center Help & guides to plan your business
Ebooks & Guides A free resource hub on business planning
Business Tools Free business tools to help you grow
How to Write an Industry Analysis in Your Business Plan?
The Market Analysis Kit
- September 12, 2024
- 12 Min Read
You can’t always make the best decisions for your business without understanding how your industry works. You can’t simply enter a shooting competition without understanding how a gun works, right?
That’s why industrial analysis is a really important part of your business plan.
When you nail industrial analysis, you tell investors you’ve done your homework, know your stuff, and are here to last. You also get the opportunity to substantiate any claims of new innovation.
In this article, we will explore what industry analysis is, why it’s important, and how to write it in your business plan.
Let’s begin.
What is industry analysis in a business plan?
Industry analysis is a market assessment methodology that helps businesses and entrepreneurs understand how their company fares against competitors and works within the larger industry it’s a part of.
You can use it to extract essential industry insights like:
- Supply and demand metrics in your industry
- Understand your competitive landscape better
- See industries that are overlapping or affecting your industry
- New opportunities for Innovation and exploration
Why is industry analysis important for a business plan?
Industry analysis is an important part of a business plan since it gives you a clear vision regarding multiple aspects of the field your company is or wants to occupy.
It will help you get insights like:
- The current size and growth rate of your industry
- Key trends and drivers shaping the industry
- The main players, and their strengths and weaknesses
- The market share distribution among key players
- The customer segments within the industry, and their needs and preferences
- The major challenges and barriers to entering the industry
- The regulatory and legal considerations affecting the industry
- How technology impacts your industry, and emerging innovations
- The typical financial metrics and performance benchmarks for the industry
- The potential risks and uncertainties within the industry, and how they should be mitigated
Comprehensive industry analysis helps you internally strategize your next moves in the business and builds accurate expectations for potential investors.
5 Steps to conduct your own industry analysis
Use the following steps to conduct a thorough industry analysis:
1. Conduct industry background research
Start with researching the background of your industry or a specific subsection of it. Decide what key questions you want your analysis to answer, like competitor behavior, market growth, or industry standards.
Go beyond a simple Google search to look for industry associations by making an additional effort of referencing to things like:
- Reports from firms like Gartner, Forrester, and McKinsey that provide in-depth analyses and forecasts
- Nielsen, Statista, and IBISWorld that offer comprehensive market data and industry statistics
- Data from government sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and Eurostat
- Data from trade associations like the National Retail Federation (NRF) or American Marketing Association (AMA)
- Business news outlet data from Financial Times, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal for current trends
Make a list of your competitors and explore ways to gather research on them.
2. Collect data
Gather relevant industry data to answer key questions about your target market and competitors. Dive into the latest industry analysis reports, both from your company and others, to spot the latest trends in your business environment.
You should also review competitor ads, promotions, product placements, and financial data to learn about their profits and target consumers. Don’t forget to tap into secondary sources like government stats, marketing reports, and journal articles for additional insights.
Here are some data points to focus on:
- Industry participants: Look at the other players in the industry, both small and big, and see what they’re doing, how they’re innovating or gaining investments.
- Distribution patterns: To effectively manage distribution in your industry, assess whether you need to utilize regional distributors, direct sales, or intermediaries, and adapt your strategy to leverage current technologies and distribution models to optimize reach and efficiency.
- Competition and buying patterns: An industry analysis isn’t complete without a clear mention of how customers decide between competitors when making a purchase decision. What are the factors they look at? What makes certain competitors more successful than others? What’s the sweet pricing spot?
3. Analyze the collected data
Next, use an industry analysis model to examine the data you’ve collected on your particular industry. You can choose from one of the following:
Porter’s 5 Forces or Competitive Forces Model
Porter’s model proposes that if you analyze these five forces, you can get an accurate impression of your industry, making further analysis easier:
1. Intensity of industry rivalry
The number of players in an industry and their market shares reflect its competitiveness. For instance, in the smartphone industry, the lack of product differentiation intensifies competition among brands.
2. Threat of potential entrants
This highlights how easily new firms can enter a market. For instance, entry into the electric vehicle industry is difficult due to factors like high R&D costs and regulatory hurdles. Thus, established companies can enjoy prolonged benefits, facing a consistent set of rivals.
3. Bargaining power of suppliers
When the bargaining power of suppliers is high, your suppliers could set higher prices or reduce the quality of what you buy.
For example, if a semiconductor manufacturing company relies on a limited number of chip suppliers, those suppliers hold significant leverage. This can heavily impact smaller tech companies, as it directly affects both the cost and quality of their products.
4. Bargaining power of buyers
The reverse occurs when customers hold the bargaining power. In the retail industry, if a supermarket chain represents a significant portion of sales for multiple suppliers, it can negotiate lower prices, demand higher quality, or secure additional services and discounts.
5. Threat of substitute goods/services
Industries constantly face competition from others producing substitute products. For example, in the beverage industry, soda companies compete with bottled water and energy drink producers. This rivalry limits their ability to charge high prices.
SWOT Analysis
SWOT stands for S trengths, W eaknesses, O pportunities, and T hreats. These parameters are a great way of getting a quick idea about various facets of the industry. You can use this image for reference:
Broad Factor Analysis or PESTEL Analysis
PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors. It’s beneficial when you’re analyzing such external elements that might affect your business.
4. Pen down your analysis
Once you’re done with collecting and analyzing your data, it’s time to pen it down as an industry analysis document.
Remember to highlight the following sections in your draft:
- Introduction: Give an overview of your industry, competitors, and key industry trends.
- Aim: Clearly state the purpose of your analysis and outline the key questions.
- Data: Present the data you gathered with supporting charts and graphs.
- Analysis: Discuss your findings and answer the questions from the aim.
- Future: Highlight the short- and long-term impacts on the company and any potential challenges.
- Summary: Wrap it up with a brief 3-4 line summary
Tip: You should also use the pointers in this article’s next section to present an ideal industrial analysis document. Don’t forget to proofread and edit once you are done.
5. Evaluate your business position
Once you have the document in front of you, thoroughly evaluate your business. Use the analysis section you created to guide the company’s direction in your focus area.
Let’s say you make soft drinks, and you see a notable shift in consumer’s drinking patterns through industry analysis. You see a lot of your competitors are now launching low-sugar alternatives for their global markets, and the consumer demand for healthier beverages is increasing continuously.
You must actively join the bandwagon and present and document all your efforts to launch healthy beverages from your own brand.
If your findings raise more questions, consider running a follow-up analysis to dig deeper into other industry factors.
How to write the industry analysis section of your plan
Here’s a step-by-step approach to writing a meaningful and actionable industry analysis section for your business plan:
Brief overview
This part highlights the key findings of the analysis and quick recommendations. Herein, you can mention the level of your research, whether it’s on a local, regional, provincial, national, and/or global level. You can also briefly highlight the core points that you will be expanding upon in the upcoming sections.
Industry overview
In the industry overview section, include a short description of your industry with the prime products/services and markets. Make sure you document recent developments, news, and innovations.
For instance, if you’re working in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, this section should answer questions like:
- What are the latest technological advancements in battery efficiency?
- How are government policies influencing the adoption of electric vehicles?
- Who are the leading manufacturers, and what market share do they hold?
- What are the current challenges and opportunities in the EV market?
Government regulations
Be sure to mention any recent laws that impact your industry and the licenses or permits you’ll need to operate in your target market. Don’t forget to cover any associated fees or costs that might come into play
Competitor landscape
This section needs to have an analysis of the major players, market dynamics (share and positioning), competitor strategies, future competition, as well as competitive forces and their unique selling proposition.
Your unique position
Describe what sets you apart in the competitive landscape. For instance, if you’re entering the plant-based food industry, you might highlight how your product’s unique blend of ingredients offers superior taste and nutritional value compared to existing options.
Remember to mention the following:
- Industry forecast: Gather economic data and industry forecasts for various time frames, such as 5, 10, and 20 years, and be sure to cite your sources. Also, clarify whether the industry is new and emerging, growing, maturing, or declining.
- Potential risks and limitations: Discuss the factors that could negatively affect your business, along with your short-term and long-term outlook
Spend more time researching, less writing
Make business plans in minutes with AI
Plans starting from $7/month
Tips to write your industry analysis
Two Simple tips you don’t want to miss:
1. Never make it too long
The structure of the industry analysis section of your business plan depends a lot on your intended audiences and the overall plan’s depth. That being said, an ideal industry analysis section usually occupies around 1-2 pages of a 40-50 page business plan.
Any longer would make it hard for a reader to skim through.
2. Use visuals
Include visual aids like charts, graphs, and tables. They help convey relevant information in a streamlined manner. An ideal analysis should have a mix of text and visuals, with visuals accounting for 20-30% of the content.
Business plan industry analysis example
You can’t simply haphazardly present an industry analysis by lugging together all the collected info on a few pages. You need a well-defined structure. So, here’s an example of a simplified industry analysis draft for you to extract inspiration from.
Business Name: Urban Fusion Bistro Location: Brooklyn, New York Type of Business: Boutique Coffee Roastery
Urban Fusion Bistro is a boutique coffee roastery in Brooklyn, New York, aiming to offer a premium coffee experience with artisanal roasting and a modern atmosphere. Our goal is to serve coffee enthusiasts and casual drinkers with high-quality, single-origin coffees and unique blends.
Government Regulations
Operating requires compliance with local health, safety, and business regulations. Key permits include a business license, food service permit, and possibly a retail food permit, with initial costs of around $25,000.
Competitor Landscape
Brooklyn’s coffee market includes chains and independent cafes. While competition exists, the boutique coffee segment is less saturated. Urban Fusion Bistro’s focus on artisanal roasting and premium products offers a competitive edge.
Unique Position
Urban Fusion Bistro will stand out with its artisanal roasting, curated coffee selection, and modern, inviting ambiance. This approach targets both coffee connoisseurs and casual drinkers seeking a unique experience.
Industry Forecast
The coffee industry in Brooklyn is set to grow steadily, with specialty coffee projected to increase by 7% annually over the next decade. Urban Fusion Bistro is positioned to meet the rising demand for high-quality, artisanal coffee.
Potential Risks and Limitations
Risks include economic downturns, increased competition, and fluctuations in coffee prices. Regulatory changes and evolving consumer preferences may also impact operations. Strategic planning and high-quality standards will be crucial for long-term success.
Financial Position
Urban Fusion Bistro expects first-year revenues of $800,000 with a 20% profit margin. Below are the financial projections:
Urban Fusion Bistro is set to thrive in Brooklyn’s growing coffee market with its focus on artisanal roasting and a unique café experience. Our solid financial plan and understanding of market trends position us for success, promising a distinctive coffee experience for Brooklyn’s coffee lovers.
The bottom line
And with that, you’re all set to write your impressive industry analysis section of your comprehensive business plan.
If you’re still a bit hesitant to do all of this on your own or don’t really know where to start, you can always put your trust into a good business plan software like Upmetrics .
Its AI-powered business plan generator will provide you with both step-by-step guidance and AI assistance so you can generate a perfect business plan with the perfect industry analysis section to help you grab the pulse of your industry.
Build your Business Plan Faster
with step-by-step Guidance & AI Assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can i gather data for an industry analysis.
Collect data from industry reports, competitor advertisements, financial data, government statistics, trade associations, and marketing reports. These sources provide a comprehensive view of market trends, competitor strategies, and industry performance.
What is the function of industry analysis in a business plan?
Industry analysis helps you create resilient strategies and showcase the overall opportunities and risks involved in your field by using a nutshelled presentation of the market environment, opportunities, and threats.
What tools can help in conducting an industry analysis?
Models like Porter’s 5 Forces, SWOT analysis, and PESTEL analysis are effective tools for conducting an industry analysis for your own business. If writing plans yourself is challenging, digital tools are available to help automate the process and ensure accuracy.
How do I present industry analysis in my business plan?
Take up 1-2 pages of your business plan to provide a brief overview of core industrial facets like opportunities, risks, competitors, and ROI expectations. Use visuals like charts and graphs to make the information easily digestible and engaging.
About the Author
Upmetrics Team
Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more
Get started with Upmetrics Al
- 400+ sample business plans
- Al-powered financial planning
- Collaborative workspace
Reach Your Goals with Accurate Planning
18 of My Favorite Sample Business Plans & Examples For Your Inspiration
Updated: July 01, 2024
Published: November 08, 2018
I believe that reading sample business plans is essential when writing your own.
hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(53, 'e9d2eacb-6b01-423a-bf7a-19d42ba77eaa', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"});
As you explore business plan examples from real companies and brands, it’s easier for you to learn how to write a good one.
So what does a good business plan look like? And how do you write one that’s both viable and convincing? I’ll walk you through the ideal business plan format along with some examples to help you get started.
Table of Contents
Business Plan Types
Business plan format, sample business plan: section by section, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.
Ultimately, the format of your business plan will vary based on your goals for that plan. I’ve added this quick review of different business plan types that achieve differing goals.
For a more detailed exploration of business plan types, you can check out this post .
Free Business Plan Template
The essential document for starting a business -- custom built for your needs.
- Outline your idea.
- Pitch to investors.
- Secure funding.
- Get to work!
Download Free
All fields are required.
You're all set!
Click this link to access this resource at any time.
1. Startups
Startup business plans are for proposing new business ideas. If you’re planning to start a small business, preparing a business plan is crucial. The plan should include all the major factors of your business.
You can check out this guide for more detailed business plan inspiration .
2. Feasibility Studies
Feasibility business plans focus on that business's product or service. Feasibility plans are sometimes added to startup business plans. They can also be a new business plan for an already thriving organization.
3. Internal Use
You can use internal business plans to share goals, strategies, or performance updates with stakeholders. In my opinion, internal business plans are useful for alignment and building support for ambitious goals.
4. Strategic Initiatives
A strategic business plan is another business plan that's often shared internally. This plan covers long-term business objectives that might not have been included in the startup business plan.
5. Business Acquisition or Repositioning
When a business is moving forward with an acquisition or repositioning, it may need extra structure and support. These types of business plans expand on a company's acquisition or repositioning strategy.
Growth sometimes just happens as a business continues operations. But more often, a business needs to create a structure with specific targets to meet set goals for expansion. This business plan type can help a business focus on short-term growth goals and align resources with those goals.
I’m going to focus on a startup business plan that needs to be detailed and research-backed as well as compelling enough to convince investors to offer funding. In my experience, the most comprehensive and convincing business plans contain the following sections.
Executive Summary
This all-important introduction to your business plan sets the tone and includes the company description as well as what you will be exchanging for money — whether that’s product lines, services, or product-service hybrids.
Market Opportunity
Information about gaps in your industry’s market and how you plan to fill them, focused on demand and potential for growth.
Competitive Landscape Analysis
An overview of your competitors that includes consideration of their strengths and how you’ll manage them, their weaknesses and how you’ll capitalize on them, and how you can differentiate your offerings in the industry.
Target Audience
Descriptions of your ideal customers, their various problems that you can solve, and your customer acquisition strategy.
Marketing Strategy
This section details how you will market your brand to achieve specific goals, the channels and tactics you’ll utilize to reach those goals, and the metrics you’ll be using to measure your progress.
Key Features and Benefits
This is where you’ll use plain language to emphasize the value of your product/service, how it solves the problems of your target audiences, and how you’ll scale up over time.
Pricing and Revenue
This section describes your pricing strategy and plans for building revenue streams that fit your audiences while achieving your business goals.
This is the final section, communicating with investors that your business idea is worth investing in via profit/loss statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets to prove viability.
Okay, so now that we have a format established, I’ll give you more specific details about each section along with examples. Truthfully, I wish I’d had this resource to help me flesh out those first business plans long ago.
1. Executive Summary
I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. It is essentially an overview of and introduction to your entire project.
Write this in such a way that it grabs your readers' attention and guides them through the rest of the business plan. This is important because a business plan can be dozens or hundreds of pages long.
There are two main elements I’d recommend including in your executive summary: your company description and your products and services.
Company Description
This is the perfect space to highlight your company’s mission statement and goals, a brief overview of your history and leadership, and your top accomplishments as a business.
Tell potential investors who you are and why what you do matters. Naturally, they’re going to want to know who they’re getting into business with up front. This is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.
Need some extra help firming up your business goals? I’d recommend HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set meaningful goals that matter most for your business.
Products and Services
Here, you will incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive, as it is just a chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business. I recommend including snippets of information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here as well.
Keep in mind that you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. The executive summary should be clear and brief, only including the most important takeaways.
Executive Summary Business Plan Examples
This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template . What makes this executive summary good is that it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.
Our Mission
Maria’s Gluten Free Bagels offers gluten-free bagels, along with various toppings, other gluten-free breakfast sandwich items, and coffee. The facility is entirely gluten free. Our team expects to catch the interest of gluten-free, celiac, or health-conscious community members who are seeking an enjoyable cafe to socialize. Due to a lack of gluten-free bagel products in the food industry currently, we expect mild competition and are confident we will be able to build a strong market position.
The Company and Management
Maria’s Gluten Free Bagels was founded in 2010 by Maria Jones, who first began selling her gluten-free bagels online from her home, using social media to spread the word. In 2012 she bought a retail location in Hamilton, MA, which now employs four full-time employees and six part-time employees. Prior to her bagel shop, Maria was a chef in New York and has extensive experience in the food industry.
Along with Maria Jones, Gluten Free Bagel Shop has a board of advisors. The advisors are:
- Jeni King, partner at Winding Communications, Ltd.
- Henry Wilson, president of Blue Robin, LLP.
Our Product
We offer gluten-free products ranging from bagels and cream cheese to blueberry muffins, coffee, and pastries. Our customers are health-conscious, community-oriented people who enjoy gluten-free products. We will create a welcoming, warm environment with opportunities for open mic nights, poetry readings, and other community functions. We will focus on creating an environment in which someone feels comfortable meeting a friend for lunch, or working remotely.
Our Competitive Advantages
While there are other coffee shops and cafes in the North Shore region, there are none that offer purely gluten-free options. This restricts those suffering from gluten-free illnesses or simply those with a gluten-free preference. This will be our primary selling point. Additionally, our market research [see Section 3] has shown a demand for a community-oriented coffee and bagel shop in the town of Hamilton, MA.
Financial Considerations
Our sales projections for the first year are $400,000. We project a 15% growth rate over the next two years. By year three, we project 61% gross margins.
We will have four full-time employees. The salary for each employee will be $50,000.
Start-up Financing Requirements
We are seeking to raise $125,000 in startup to finance year one. The owner has invested $50,000 to meet working capital requirements, and will use a loan of $100,000 to supplement the rest.
Example 2 :
Marianne and Keith Bean have been involved with the food industry for several years. They opened their first restaurant in Antlers, Oklahoma in 1981, and their second in Hugo in 1988. Although praised for the quality of many of the items on their menu, they have attained a special notoriety for their desserts. After years of requests for their flavored whipped cream toppings, they have decided to pursue marketing these products separately from the restaurants.
Marianne and Keith Bean have developed several recipes for flavored whipped cream topping. They include chocolate, raspberry, cinnamon almond, and strawberry. These flavored dessert toppings have been used in the setting of their two restaurants over the past 18 years, and have been produced in large quantities. The estimated shelf life of the product is 21 days at refrigeration temperatures and up to six months when frozen. The Beans intend to market this product in its frozen state in 8 and 12-ounce plastic tubs. They also intend to have the products available in six ounce pressurized cans. Special attention has been given to developing an attractive label that will stress the gourmet/specialty nature of the products.
Distribution of Fancy's Foods Whipped Dream product will begin in the local southeastern Oklahoma area. The Beans have an established name and reputation in this area, and product introduction should encounter little resistance.
Financial analyses show that the company will have both a positive cash flow and profit in the first year. The expected return on equity in the first year is 10.88%
Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary
- Start with a strong introduction of your company that showcases your mission and impact, then outline the products and services you provide.
- Clearly define a problem, explain how your product solves that problem, and show why the market needs your business.
- Be sure to highlight your value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential.
- Keep it concise and support ideas with data.
- Customize your summary to your audience. For example, you might emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists, whereas you might emphasize community benefits and minimal environmental impact for progressive nonprofits.
For more guidance, check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary .
2. Market Opportunity
This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market. Ask and answer: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?
To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, SOM analysis , a SWOT analysis , and perform market research on your industry to get some insights for this section. More specifically, here’s what I’d include.
- The size of the market
- Current or potential market share
- Trends in the industry and consumer behavior
- Where the gap is
- What caused the gap
- How you intend to fill it
Market Opportunity Business Plan Example
I like this example because it uses critical data to underline the size of the potential market and what part of that market this service hopes to capture.
Example: The market for Doggie Pause is all of the dog owners in the metropolitan area and surrounding areas of the city. We believe that this is going to be 2/3 of the population, and we have a goal of gaining a 50% market share. We have a target of a 20% yearly profit increase as the business continues.
Tips for Writing Your Market Opportunity Section
- Focus on demand and potential for growth.
- Use market research, surveys, and industry trend data to support your market forecast and projections.
- Add a review of regulation shifts, tech advances, and consumer behavior changes.
- Refer to reliable sources.
- Showcase how your business can make the most of this opportunity.
3. Competitive Landscape Analysis
Since we’re already speaking of market share, you‘ll also need to create a section that shares details on who the top competitors are. After all, your customers likely have more than one brand to choose from, and you’ll want to understand exactly why they might choose one over another.
My favorite part of performing a competitive analysis is that it can help you uncover the following:
- Industry trends that other brands may not be utilizing.
- Strengths in your competition that may be obstacles to handle.
- Weaknesses in your competition that may help you develop selling points.
- The unique proposition you bring to the market that may resonate with customers.
Competitive Landscape Business Plan Example
I like how the competitive landscape section of this business plan shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are. It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location. This demonstrates useful experience in the industry, helping to build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.
Competitive Environment
Currently, there are four primary competitors in the Greater Omaha Area: Pinot’s Palette Lakeside (franchise partner), Village Canvas and Cabernet, The Corky Canvas, and Twisted Vine Collective. The first three competitors are in Omaha and the fourth is located in Papillion.
Despite the competition, all locations have both public and private events. Each location has a few sold-out painting events each month. The Omaha locations are in new, popular retail locations, while the existing Papillion location is in a downtown business district.
There is an opportunity to take advantage of the environment and open a studio in a well-traveled or growing area. Pinot’s Palette La Vista will differentiate itself from its competitors by offering a premium experience in a high-growth, influential location.
Tips for Writing Your Competitive Landscape
- Complete in-depth research, then emphasize your most important findings.
- Compare your unique selling proposition (USP) to your direct and indirect competitors.
- Show a clear and realistic plan for product and brand differentiation.
- Look for specific advantages and barriers in the competitive landscape. Then, highlight how that information could impact your business.
- Outline growth opportunities from a competitive perspective.
- Add customer feedback and insights to support your competitive analysis.
4. Target Audience
Use this section to describe who your customer segments are in detail. What is the demographic and psychographic information of your audience? I’d recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear about why you're targeting them. Here are some questions I’d ask myself:
- What demographics will most likely need/buy your product or service?
- What are the psychographics of this audience? (Desires, triggering events, etc.)
- Why are your offerings valuable to them?
Target Audience Business Plan Example
I like the example below because it uses in-depth research to draw conclusions about audience priorities. It also analyzes how to create the right content for this audience.
The Audience
Recognize that audiences are often already aware of important issues. Outreach materials should:
- Emphasize a pollution-prevention practice
- Tell audience a little about how to prevent pollution
- Tell audience where they can obtain information about prevention.
Message Content
- Focus the content for outreach materials on cost savings, such as when and where pollution prevention is as cheap as or cheaper than traditional techniques. Include facts and figures.
- Emphasize how easy it is to do the right thing and the impacts of not engaging in pollution prevention.
- Stress benefits such as efficiency or better relations with government, for businesses not primarily concerned with public image.
Tips for Writing Your Target Audience Section
- Include details on the size and growth potential of your target audience.
- Figure out and refine the pain points for your target audience , then show why your product is a useful solution.
- Describe your targeted customer acquisition strategy in detail.
- Share anticipated challenges your business may face in acquiring customers and how you plan to address them.
- Add case studies, testimonials, and other data to support your target audience ideas.
- Remember to consider niche audiences and segments of your target audience in your business plan.
5. Marketing Strategy
Here, you‘ll discuss how you’ll acquire new customers with your marketing strategy. I think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier. I’d suggest including these details:
- Your brand positioning vision and how you'll cultivate it.
- The goal targets you aim to achieve.
- The metrics you'll use to measure success.
- The channels and distribution tactics you'll use.
Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example
This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler. In my opinion, it works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.
You’ll also learn the financial benefits investors can reap from putting money into your venture rather than trying to sell them on how great your product or service is.
This business plan guide focuses less on the individual parts of a business plan, and more on the overarching goal of writing one. For that reason, it’s one of my favorites to supplement any template you choose to use. Harvard Business Review’s guide is instrumental for both new and seasoned business owners.
7. HubSpot’s Complete Guide to Starting a Business
The Best AI Tools for Ecommerce & How They'll Boost Your Business
23 of My Favorite Free Marketing Newsletters
The 8 Best Free Flowchart Templates [+ Examples]
What is a Business Plan? Definition, Tips, and Templates
7 Gantt Chart Examples You'll Want to Copy [+ 5 Steps to Make One]
How to Write an Executive Summary Execs Can't Ignore [+ 5 Top Examples]
21 Free & Paid Small Business Tools for Any Budget
Maximizing Your Social Media Strategy: The Top Aggregator Tools to Use
The Content Aggregator Guide for 2024
16 Best Screen Recorders to Use for Collaboration
2 Essential Templates For Starting Your Business
The weekly email to help take your career to the next level. No fluff, only first-hand expert advice & useful marketing trends.
Must enter a valid email
We're committed to your privacy. HubSpot uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, check out our privacy policy .
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
IMAGES
VIDEO