business plan en word

Comment faire un business plan ?

Par l'équipe de Modelesdebusinessplan.com

C ombien de temps pour faire un business plan ? Par où commencer ? Est-ce qu’il faut suivre une structure particulière ? Quel logiciel dois-je utiliser ? Est-ce que je suis obligé de me plonger dans Excel et ses formules horribles ? Est-ce qu'il me faut une étude de marché ? Pourquoi le banquier m’a parlé d’un “Executive Summary” ? Quid du plan de financement ? Est-ce que quelqu’un peut le faire à ma place ? Combien cela va me coûter ? Où est-ce que je trouve ce consultant pour business plan ? Et puis d’abord, c’est quoi, exactement, un business plan ? Lorsqu’on doit faire un business plan, les questions sont nombreuses et on se retrouve facilement face à un océan d’incertitudes. À moins d’avoir étudié en école de commerce ou d’avoir déjà monté une entreprise dans le passé, très peu d’entrepreneurs savent exactement quoi faire lorsqu’il s’agit de rédiger un business plan. Tout d’abord, il faut savoir que la majorité des personnes ne savent même pas correctement définir un business plan. Ensuite, personne ne peut faire un business plan complet sans aide extérieure. Que ce soit des articles sur le net, des modèles de business plan à télécharger ou un consultant, vous devrez trouver des ressources pour faire votre business plan. Cependant, sans la bonne méthode, vous pouvez facilement passer plus d’un mois sur un business plan … qui ne sera même pas réussi. Cela ne sera pas de bonne augure pour créer un business rentable . Il ne faut pas se lancer tête baissée dans la rédaction d’un business plan. Sinon vous allez faire beaucoup d’erreurs et perdre un temps considérable. Un business plan est un exercice difficile mais précieux, dans la mesure où il vous permettra de lever des fonds, de trouver des partenaires, d’être intégré dans un incubateur ou de présenter votre entreprise. Autant d’enjeux qui peuvent changer le destin de votre projet. Notre équipe a réalisé des centaines de business plans et connait toutes les erreurs à ne pas faire, les conseils à appliquer et les méthodes qui vous feront gagner du temps . On vous explique comment faire un business plan dans la suite de l’article.

BESOIN D'UN BUSINESS PLAN ?

Nous avons plus de 150 modèles, trouvez-le vôtre : 

On commence par définir correctement le terme business plan

Dans un groupe de 10 personnes différentes qui pensent savoir ce qu’est un business plan, on retrouvera probablement 5 ou 6 définitions différentes. Et nous ne sommes pas sûrs d’en obtenir une qui sera correcte. Voici une définition simple et correcte d’un business plan : "Un business plan est un document (ou un ensemble de documents) qui présente la stratégie pour le développement de votre entreprise sur le court, le moyen et le long terme ." Un business plan décrit en détail comment une entreprise, généralement en phase de démarrage, va atteindre ses objectifs. Nous avons également écrit un article pour comprendre la définition d'un business plan en 5 minutes.  Le business plan a deux fonctions principales : 1) présenter votre entreprise à de potentiels investisseurs et partenaires 2) servir de feuille de route par la gestion future de votre entreprise Bien qu’ils soient particulièrement utiles pour les jeunes pousses, chaque entreprise devrait avoir un business plan. Idéalement, une entreprise devrait revoir périodiquement son business plan pour voir si les objectifs ont été atteints ou ont changé et évolué. C’est une sorte de feuille de route.

Concrètement, à quoi ressemble un business plan ?

Un business plan est généralement rédigé sur Word ou sur Powerpoint. . Si vous voulez u n business plan esthétique, concis et facile à comprendre, vous devez utiliser Powerpoint. Nous utilisons Powerpoint pour nos modèles de business plan. Les formats sur Word sont souvent trop longs et difficilement lisibles. Or, vous ne voudriez pas que votre business plan tombe des mains de votre banquier.  À côté de cela, il y a de fortes chances pour que vous utilisiez Excel … afin de rédiger votre prévisionnel financier. Ou alors, un consultant ou un comptable utiliseront un logiciel pour le réaliser.  Les éléments financiers devront être inclus dans votre business plan sur Word ou sur Powerpoint. Cependant, vous pouvez joindre le modèle Excel lorsque vous envoyez un email à votre banque ou votre investisseur.

Le format Powerpoint est à privilégier pour avoir une présentation esthétique et impactante.

Quelle longueur pour faire un bon business plan ?

Généralement, un bon business plan sur Powerpoint ne doit pas faire moins de 15 slides (diapositive) et ne doit pas dépasser le nombre de 50 slides. `Nos modèles de business plans font environ 40 slides. Comme vous pouvez le voir dans notre exemple gratuit de business plan . Bien entendu, rien ne sert de meubler avec du verbiage ou des images de grande taille ; les investisseurs et banquiers ne sont pas dupes. Pour le prévisionnel financier, celui ci peut s’étaler sur 1 an, 3 ans (l’option la plus classique) ou sur 5 ans. Vous pouvez voir à quoi ressemble ce document en téléchargeant notre exemple gratuit de prévisionnel financier .

Combien de temps nécessaire pour faire un business plan ?

Si vous avez passé moins de 3 heures sur votre Business Plan, alors vous avez probablement fait des erreurs. D’après notre expérience, pour un débutant, un bon business plan, solide et structuré, ne prend jamais moins de 20 heures. Bien entendu, vous pouvez télécharger un prévisionnel financier gratuit, ne rien y comprendre mettre des chiffres au hasard, puis écrire 3 pages sur votre entreprise. Oui, vous aurez un business plan. Non, vous ne convaincrez personne avec ce business plan. Oui, faire un business plan est un exercice pénible, qui fait mal à la tête. Oui, vous pouvez facilement y passer des mois. Après tout, vous devez penser à tous les aspects de votre projet. Vous devez tout décortiquer : marché, concurrence, marketing, embauches, revenus, coûts, rentabilité etc Vous devez être béton. Vous ne devez rien oublier. Pour cette raison, beaucoup trop de personnes passent des heures sur un business plan, avant d’abandonner. Vous devez adopter une méthode précise et une approche structurée. En moyenne, vous passerez entre 30 et 50 heures sur votre business plan. Nous sommes conscient que cela est difficile, et c'est pour cela que nous avons créé des modèles de business plans. Pour que nos entrepreneurs puissent gagner du temps et faire leur business plan rapidement.  Réussir votre business plan est primordial.   Un bon business plan vous donnera une feuille de route claire pour le futur. Un bon business plan vous aidera à lever des fonds et donc assurer la survie de votre projet. Un bon business plan vous donnera l’occasion de réfléchir à tous les aspects de votre projet. Un bon business plan vous permettra d’anticiper tous les risques liés à votre activité. C’est un exercice fastidieux mais qui comporte de nombreuses récompenses.

Est-ce que quelqu’un peut faire un business plan à ma place ? Combien ça coûte ?

Vous êtes un entrepreneur et vous n’avez probablement pas beaucoup de temps libre. Oui, quelqu’un peut le faire pour vous. Vous pouvez demander à un expert comptable. Mais il est fort probable pour que celui-ci ne vous aide pas du tout avec votre stratégie . Seulement avec le prévisionnel financier. Il se contentera de vous demander vos hypothèses financières, il les rentrera dans son logiciel et il sortira un prévisionnel financier. Ce prévisionnel financier sera très probablement correct, mais vous ne saurez pas l’expliquer à vos investisseurs. Un expert comptable ne sera probablement d’aucune aide lorsqu’il s’agira d’établir une stratégie marketing, d’analyser la concurrence ou même tout simplement de rédiger un business plan sur Powerpoint. La meilleure solution reste de faire appel à un consultant qui : 1) vous aidera à concevoir des hypothèses financières 2) construira un modèle financier complet 3) vous conseillera sur votre stratégie 4) jouera le rôle d’un investisseur potentiel et vous posera des questions 5) rédigera le business plan à votre place 6) vous expliquera toutes les hypothèses qu’il a fait à votre place 7) s’assurera que vous avez bien compris le déroulé de votre business plan Lorsque vous êtes en contact avec un consultant, demandez lui de vous envoyer des exemples de business plans qu’il a réalisé. Assurez vous qu’il respecte tous les points ci-dessus. Le budget se situe entre 350 et 2 000 euros et varie selon les points suivants : - l’avancement de votre projet - le nombre de documents dont vous avez besoin - la complexité de votre activité - la complexité de votre prévisionnel financier - le type d’investisseurs que vous allez contacter - le niveau de précision demandé - si vous avez besoin d’un business plan dans plusieurs langues En tant qu’entrepreneur, c’est très bien de vouloir faire des économies. Cependant, c’est une mauvaise idée de vouloir économiser quelques centaines d’euros et de se retrouver avec un business plan qui ne va convaincre personne . N’oubliez pas que ce document peut être déterminant pour la survie de votre projet. Oui, le prix n’est pas non plus un gage de qualité. Si un consultant vous propose un prix au dessus de 1 000 euros pour un business plan, vous pouvez lui demander des références et parler à certain de ses anciens clients. Si vous rencontrez un consultant qui vous propose une tarification avec un % de votre levée de fonds (exemple : 1% du montant de votre levée de fonds), alors c’est une bonne chose. Cela montre que le consultant est intéressé par le succès de votre entreprise et qu’il fera de son mieux pour vous rendre un business plan de grande qualité. Une méthode efficace est d'acheter un modèle pré-rempli et de le compléter avec ces informations. Nous proposons plus de 100 modèles pré-remplis . Concernant, l'étude de marché, nous vous conseillons de la faire vous même. En effet, c'est essentiel que vous soyez la personne qui aille parler à votre marché cible et qui analyse vos concurrents. Cependant, pour la mise en forme de l'étude de marché, vous pouvez faire appel à un consultant ou bien utiliser notre exemple gratuit d'étude de marché .

Quels sont les critères d'un bon business plan ? 

Un bon business plan répond à plusieurs critères. Tout d’abord il doit être détaillé. Ne dites pas “je vais faire 1 million de chiffre d’affaires dans 3 ans” sans expliquer comment vous allez faire. Ensuite, il doit être chiffré. Ne dites pas “je vais avoir une forte croissance”. Donnez des chiffres. Puis, il doit être structuré. Ne commencez pas par parler de vos coûts pour finir sur le fonctionnement de votre produit. Puis, il doit être complet. N’oubliez pas de parler de votre marché, de votre besoin de financement où de votre stratégie de croissance. Puis, il doit être concis. Pas la peine de mettre des formules toutes faites qui n’impressionnent personne. De plus, personne n’a envie de lire 100 pages sur Word. Puis, il doit être agréable à lire. 50 pages sans graphique ni image ? Personne ne le lira Puis, il doit être simple à comprendre. Peut-être que vos investisseurs ne sont pas du tout familier avec votre industrie. Ne mettez pas d’abréviation et expliquez les termes compliqués. Puis, il doit aller à l’essentiel. Rien ne sert de mentionner le collège où ont étudié vos cofondateurs. Pas la peine de détailler le prix de chacun de vos produits si vous lancez un site eCommerce. Puis, il doit être propre. 0 faute d’orthographe, pas de langage familier, pas de police d’écriture douteuse, pas de capture d’écran horrible, pas de couleurs flashy etc Enfin, il doit être r éaliste. Non, vous n’allez pas faire 5 millions de chiffre d’affaires en un an sans investir en marketing et communication . Non, tout le monde ne se jettera pas sur vos produits. Non, vous n’êtes pas tout seul sur votre marché.

Finalement, faire un business plan n’est pas si difficile lorsqu’on utilise la bonne méthode. Tout d’abord, il faut être au clair avec la définition d’un business plan. Il s’agit d’un document ou d’un ensemble de documents qui explique clairement votre plan pour votre entreprise sur les prochaines années. Pourquoi faire un business plan ? Il y a deux objectifs principaux : 1) réaliser une feuille de route qui guidera vos décisions futures 2) obtenir un document de présentation de votre projet de sa stratégie Ensuite, il faut choisir le bon logiciel : - Excel pour votre plan financier - Powerpoint ou Word pour la partie rédactions Si vous utilisez Word, visez environ 30 pages. Si vous utilisez Powerpoint, visez environ 30 slides. Nous vous conseillons également de lire nos conseils pour réussir un business plan . Vous pouvez bien évidemment décider de faire faire votre business plan. Soyez sûr de la personne que vous embaucherez. Cela vous coûtera entre 350 et 2 000 euros. Une solution plus économique et qui peut s'avérer gagnante est l'achat d'un modèle . Si vous le pouvez, prenez un modèle spécialisé dans votre industrie.  Quoiqu’il en soit, votre business plan doit respecter les critères suivants : - Détaillé - Chiffré - Structuré - Complet - Concis - Agréable à lire - Simple à comprendre - Aller à l’essentiel - Propre - Réaliste Bon courage !

• le choix d'une sélection entraîne une actualisation complète de la page

Create a business plan

You've been dreaming of starting your own business. You've started with some concrete steps, and you're ready to put your proposal together. But how do you start, and how do you know when you have the right information?

How to get it done

Create a business plan with templates in Word:

Start with a template

Download these templates from the Office Templates site to create your plan:

Fill in your Business plan .

Analyze your market with the Business market analysis template .

Detail your financials in a Financial plan .

Divide up the work and track deliverables with this Business plan checklist .

Wrap up with this Business startup checklist .

Need a little help?

Learn how to:

Start a document from a template .

Apply themes to change your plan's look.

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Must follow steps for starting a successful business

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Powerful business plan templates

Plan for the future, no matter what your business plans are or the size of your business with these designs and templates. whether it's just one big project or an entire organization's worth of dreams, these templates will keep you and your company on track from ideation to completion..

Put your ideas to work with simple templates for every business plan

Every successful business took a lot of planning to get there, and these templates will be cornerstones of your future success. Whether you're looking to attract new business, pitch your services or reimagine your company, with these simple, customizable templates at your fingertips you can turn complexity into something tangible. These templates can become marketing assets or simply remain internal touchpoints for your team. And as your dreams change, you'll always have this template to refer to – it's easy to change what exists on paper. If you're a small business, focusing on your niche can help you dominate in your field, and you can forge a plan to figure out exactly what that niche might be and how to target your ideal customer . When it's time to share your vision with stakeholders, craft a presentation that outlines your plan succinctly and with style. Let these templates from Microsoft Designer be your partner in business strategy for years to come.

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10 Free Business Plan Templates in Word, Excel, & ClickUp

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

February 13, 2024

Turning your vision into a clear and coherent business plan can be confusing and tough. 

Hours of brainstorming and facing an intimidating blank page can raise more questions than answers. Are you covering everything? What should go where? How do you keep each section thorough but brief?

If these questions have kept you up at night and slowed your progress, know you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve put together the top 10 business plan templates in Word, Excel, and ClickUp—to provide answers, clarity, and a structured framework to work with. This way, you’re sure to capture all the relevant information without wasting time. 

And the best part? Business planning becomes a little less “ugh!” and a lot more “aha!” 🤩

What is a Business Plan Template?

What makes a good business plan template, 1. clickup business plan template, 2. clickup sales plan template, 3. clickup business development action plan template, 4. clickup business roadmap template, 5. clickup business continuity plan template, 6. clickup lean business plan template, 7. clickup small business action plan template, 8. clickup strategic business roadmap template , 9. microsoft word business plan template by microsoft, 10. excel business plan template by vertex42.

A business plan template is a structured framework for entrepreneurs and business executives who want to create business plans. It comes with pre-arranged sections and headings that cover key elements like the executive summary , business overview, target customers, unique value proposition, marketing plans, and financial statements.  

A good business plan template helps with thorough planning, clear documentation, and practical implementation. Here’s what to look for:

• Comprehensive structure: A good template comes with all the relevant sections to outline a business strategy, such as executive summary, market research and analysis, and financial projections 
• Clarity and guidance: A good template is easy to follow. It has brief instructions or prompts for each section, guiding you to think deeply about your business and ensuring you don’t skip important details
• Clean design: Aesthetics matter. Choose a template that’s not just functional but also professionally designed. This ensures your plan is presentable to stakeholders, partners, and potential investors
• Flexibility : Your template should easily accommodate changes without hassle, like adding or removing sections, changing content and style, and rearranging parts 🛠️ 

While a template provides the structure, it’s the information you feed it that brings it to life. These pointers will help you pick a template that aligns with your business needs and clearly showcases your vision.

10 Business Plan Templates to Use in 2024

Preparing for business success in 2024 (and beyond) requires a comprehensive and organized business plan. We’ve handpicked the best templates to help you guide your team, attract investors, and secure funding. Let’s check them out.

If you’re looking to replace a traditional business plan document, then ClickUp’s Business Plan Template is for you!

This one-page business plan template, designed in ClickUp Docs , is neatly broken down into the following sections:

• Company description : Overview, mission, vision, and team
• Market analysis : Problem, solution, target market, competition, and competitive advantage
• Sales and marketing strategy : Products/services and marketing channels
• Operational plan : Location and facilities, equipment and tools, manpower, and financial forecasts
• Milestones and metrics: Targets and KPIs

Customize the template with your company logo and contact details, and easily navigate to different sections using the collapsible table of contents. The mini prompts under each section guide you on what to include—with suggestions on how to present the data (e.g., bullet lists, pictures, charts, and tables). 

You can share the document with anyone via URL and collaborate in real time. And when the business plan is ready, you have the option to print it or export it to PDF, HTML, or Markdown.

But that’s not all. This template is equipped with basic and enterprise project management features to streamline the business plan creation process . The Topics List view has a list of all the different sections and subsections of the template and allows you to assign it to a team member, set a due date, and attach relevant documents and references.

Switch from List to Board view to track and update task statuses according to the following: To Do, In Progress, Needs Revision, and Complete. 

This template is a comprehensive toolkit for documenting the different sections of your business plan and streamlining the creation process to ensure it’s completed on time. 🗓️

If you’re looking for a tool to kickstart or update your sales plan, ClickUp’s Sales Plan Template has got you covered. This sales plan template features a project summary list with tasks to help you craft a comprehensive and effective sales strategy. Some of these tasks include:

• Determine sales objectives and goals
• Draft positioning statement
• Perform competitive analysis
• Draft ideal customer persona
• Create a lead generation strategy

Assign each task to a specific individual or team, set priority levels , and add due dates. Specify what section of the sales plan each task belongs to (e.g., executive summary, revenue goals, team structure, etc.), deliverable type (such as document, task, or meeting), and approval state (like pending, needs revisions, and approved).

And in ClickUp style, you can switch to multiple views: List for a list of all tasks, Board for visual task management, Timeline for an overview of task durations, and Gantt to get a view of task dependencies. 

This simple business plan template is perfect for any type of business looking to create a winning sales strategy while clarifying team roles and keeping tasks organized. ✨

Thinking about scaling your business’s reach and operations but unsure where or how to start? It can be overwhelming, no doubt—you need a clear vision, measurable goals, and an actionable plan that every member of your team can rally behind. 

Thankfully, ClickUp’s Business Development Action Plan Template is designed to use automations to simplify this process so every step toward your business growth is clear, trackable, and actionable.

Start by assessing your current situation and deciding on your main growth goal. Are you aiming to increase revenue, tap into new markets, or introduce new products or services? With ClickUp Whiteboards or Docs, brainstorm and collaborate with your team on this decision.

Set and track your short- and long-term growth goals with ClickUp’s Goals , break them down into smaller targets, and assign these targets to team members, complete with due dates. Add these targets to a new ClickUp Dashboard to track real-time progress and celebrate small wins. 🎉

Whether you’re a startup or small business owner looking to hit your next major milestone or an established business exploring new avenues, this template keeps your team aligned, engaged, and informed every step of the way.

ClickUp’s Business Roadmap Template is your go-to for mapping out major strategies and initiatives in areas like revenue growth, brand awareness, community engagement, and customer satisfaction. 

Use the List view to populate tasks under each initiative. With Custom Fields, you can capture which business category (e.g., Product, Operations, Sales & Marketing, etc.) tasks fall under and which quarter they’re slated for. You can also link to relevant documents and resources and evaluate tasks by effort and impact to ensure the most critical tasks get the attention they deserve. 👀

Depending on your focus, this template provides different views to show just what you need. For example, the All Initiatives per Quarter view lets you focus on what’s ahead by seeing tasks that need completion within a specific quarter. This ensures timely execution and helps in aligning resources effectively for the short term.

This template is ideal for business executives and management teams who need to coordinate multiple short- and long-term initiatives and business strategies.

In business, unexpected threats to operations can arise at any moment. Whether it’s economic turbulence, a global health crisis, or supply chain interruptions, every company needs to be ready. ClickUp’s Business Continuity Plan Template lets you prepare proactively for these unforeseen challenges.

The template organizes tasks into three main categories:

• Priorities: Tasks that need immediate attention
• Continuity coverage: Tasks that must continue despite challenges
• Guiding principles: Resources and protocols to ensure smooth operations

The Board view makes it easy to visualize all the tasks under each of these categories. And the Priorities List sorts tasks by those that are overdue, the upcoming ones, and then the ones due later.

In times of uncertainty, being prepared is your best strategy. This template helps your business not just survive but thrive in challenging situations, keeping your customers, employees, and investors satisfied. 🤝

Looking to execute your business plan the “lean” way? Use ClickUp’s Lean Business Plan Template . It’s designed to help you optimize resource usage and cut unnecessary steps—giving you better results with less effort.

In the Plan Summary List view, list all the tasks that need to get done. Add specific details like who’s doing each task, when it’s due, and which part of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) it falls under. The By Priority view sorts this list based on priorities like Urgent, High, Normal, and Low. This makes it easy to spot the most important tasks and tackle them first.

Additionally, the Board view gives you an overview of task progression from start to finish. And the BMC view rearranges these tasks based on the various BMC components. 

Each task can further be broken down into subtasks and multiple checklists to ensure all related action items are executed. ✔️

This template is an invaluable resource for startups and large enterprises looking to maximize process efficiencies and results in a streamlined and cost-effective way.

The Small Business Action Plan Template by ClickUp is tailor-made for small businesses looking to transform their business ideas and goals into actionable steps and, eventually, into reality. 

It provides a simple and organized framework for creating, assigning, prioritizing, and tracking tasks. And in effect, it ensures that goals are not just set but achieved. Through the native dashboard and goal-setting features, you can monitor task progress and how they move you closer to achieving your goals.

Thanks to ClickUp’s robust communication features like chat, comments, and @mentions, it’s easy to get every team member on the same page and quickly address questions or concerns.

Use this action plan template to hit your business goals by streamlining your internal processes and aligning team efforts.

For larger businesses and scaling enterprises, getting different departments to work together toward a big goal can be challenging. The ClickUp Strategic Business Roadmap Template makes it easier by giving you a clear plan to follow.

This template is packaged in a folder and split into different lists for each department in your business, like Sales, Product, Marketing, and Enablement. This way, every team can focus on their tasks while collectively contributing to the bigger goal.

There are multiple viewing options available for team members. These include:

• Progress Board: Visualize tasks that are on track, those at risk, and those behind
• Gantt view: Get an overview of project timelines and dependencies
• Team view: See what each team member is working on so you can balance workloads for maximum productivity

While this template may feel overwhelming at first, the getting started guide offers a step-by-step breakdown to help you navigate it with ease. And like all ClickUp templates, you can easily customize it to suit your business needs and preferences.

Microsoft’s 20-page traditional business plan template simplifies the process of drafting comprehensive business plans. It’s made up of different sections, including:

• Executive summary : Highlights, objectives, mission statement, and keys to success
• Description of business: Company ownership and legal structure, hours of operation, products and services, suppliers, financial plans, etc.
• Marketing: Market analysis, market segmentation, competition, and pricing
• Appendix: Start-up expenses, cash flow statements, income statements, sales forecast, milestones, break-even analysis, etc.

The table of contents makes it easy to move to different sections of the document. And the text placeholders under each section provide clarity on the specific details required—making the process easier for users who may not be familiar with certain business terminology.

No business template roundup is complete without an Excel template. This business plan template lets you work on your business financials in Excel. It comes with customizable tables, formulas, and charts to help you look at the following areas:

• Highlight charts
• Market analysis
• Start-up assets and expenses
• Sales forecasts
• Profit and loss
• Balance sheet
• Cash flow projections
• Break-even analysis

This Excel template is especially useful when you want to create a clear and visual financial section for your business plan document—an essential element for attracting investors and lenders. However, there might be a steep learning curve to using this template if you’re not familiar with business financial planning and using Excel.

Try a Free Business Plan Template in ClickUp

Launching and running a successful business requires a well-thought-out and carefully crafted business plan. However, the business planning process doesn’t have to be complicated, boring, or take up too much time. Use any of the above 10 free business plan formats to simplify and speed up the process.

ClickUp templates go beyond offering a solid foundation to build your business plans. They come with extensive project management features to turn your vision into reality. And that’s not all— ClickUp’s template library offers over 1,000 additional templates to help manage various aspects of your business, from decision-making to product development to resource management .

Sign up for ClickUp’s Free Forever Plan today to fast-track your business’s growth! 🏆

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25+ Simple Business Plan Templates for Word for Startups + Funding 2024

Business plans are like road maps: it’s possible to travel without one, but that will only increase the odds of getting lost along the way.

A business plan is a 20-30 page document that outlines how you will achieve your business objectives and includes information about your product, marketing strategies, and finances. You should create one when you’re starting a new business and keep updating it as your business grows.

Sometimes, the prospect of cobbling together a business plan from scratch is daunting. That’s why templates are the perfect solution in these cases. This roundup of the best Microsoft Word business plan templates gives you plenty of premium and free options to choose from. Read on.

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Minimal business plan word template.

Minimalism is often considered a sign of professionalism and authority. With this business plan template, you can make sure to include both aspects in your brochure design. It comes with a clean yet stylish page design that suits all types of brands. There are 32 different page layouts included in the template.

Modern Business Plan Template for Word

If you prefer to give a more dark and modern look to your business plan brochure, this Word template is perfect for your business. It includes 56 different page layouts with professionally crafted designs. The template is available in Word, InDesign, and Apple Pages formats.

Multipurpose Business Plan Template Word & InDesign

This Word business plan template features a creative design across all of its pages. There are 64 different pages for you to choose from. And it comes in A4 and US Letter sizes as well. You can easily edit the template using MS Word or InDesign.

Simple Business Plan Template for MS Word

You can use this Word template to create a simple and basic business plan document with ease. It includes 4 different page layouts that allow you to create a short and concise business plan. It comes in InDesign and Word formats.

Clean Business Plan Template for Word

This template features a clean and modern design that’s perfect for the business plan of a startup company. It offers 16 unique pages customizable in Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign. This business plan template Word DOC works well for nearly all kinds of businesses.

MS Word Business Plan Template

This is a solid choice for anyone looking to hunt down the best Microsoft Word business plan templates. It features 20 meticulously designed pages in A4 size, free fonts, and a help file. Use this template to create an impressive business plan.

Simple Business Plan Template Word DOC

Print ready and fully customizable, this business plan template comes with 52 pages of remarkable design. This completely layered template is compatible with Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign and will make you skate through the tedious task of editing.

Microsoft Word Business Plan Template

If you’re looking for a minimal, and strictly professional business plan template for Word, the above-featured product is an excellent contender for your cash. It will help state your company’s ambitions, strategies, timelines, and finances in the best way possible.

Business Plan Template for Word

Print ready and fully editable, this brochure template includes 28 pages of extraordinary design. It’s Microsoft Word-friendly and completely layered to make your work life a lot easier. So kick-start 2020 with this efficient corporate brochure template.

Create your own opportunities with this awesome business plan template. Originally designed with Adobe InDesign, this template also comes in the latest versions available for Microsoft Word.

Need a creative corporate business plan template? Then check out this next print template created in Adobe InDesign. A special Microsoft Word file has also been included for quick updates. Get 36 custom pages and a premade cover layout.

Professional Business Plan Template for Word

Use this template to prepare a detailed business plan for your startup and probably land funding. It features a modern, and eye-catching design that can be personalized to your branding and aesthetics. You’ll have a difficult time finding free business plan templates for Word with quality this good.

Elegant Business Plan Template Word DOC

If you really want to make a good impression on potential investors, you should take a closer look at this MS Word business plan template. It offers 28 custom pages in A4 size, CMYL color space, free fonts, and more. Try it out, or add it to your shortlist at the very least.

Minimalistic Business Plan Template for Word

This clean, sophisticated design includes 36 pages for you to customize in any way you like. The creative business plan template also includes files for Microsoft Word, for your convenience.

This clean and professional template will help you craft amazing opportunities for your business. Enjoy the stylish design which features a grid-based layout and only free fonts. Invoice and letterhead templates are also included for a well-rounded brand package.

Take control of your business dreams with this professional business plan. Available in both Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Word formats, this brochure features A4 and US Letter sizes with 16 custom pages. Just drag and drop your photos and information to get started.

Enjoy three stunning yet simple color schemes with this next business plan template. This no-hassle design includes a minimalist theme perfect for beginners. Break down your expense reports, project descriptions and more with one helpful set.

Writing your business plans takes up enough time and energy. So cut your worries in half with a professionally designed template you can customize to your needs. This helpful resource comes with fully layered documents and a custom cover design for a fast turnaround.

Highlight your company’s finances with this extraordinary brochure. This template features 22 custom pages designed with intriguing layout options. Enjoy the trendy design with beautiful colors you can update yourself. Check it out!

This professional template includes 16 pages originally designed with Microsoft Word. Describe your company’s strategy, projections, and services with an effective template available in seven color samples.

Get started on your next creative project with this minimalist proposal template. Designed for entrepreneurs and business professionals, this template features 24 fully layered pages in high-resolution formats. Easily access text and paragraph styles for a custom look!

Free Business Plan Templates For Word

Free business plan template for word.

This free business plan template is ideal for making a very basic brochure to showcase your business plan. It’s made with advertising agencies in mind. The template is available in MS Word, Apple Pages, and Google Docs formats.

Free Simple Business Plan Word Template

You can make a simple business plan brochure for a small business using this free Word template. It includes all the main page layouts you’ll need to cover the important aspects of your business plan.

Free Commercial Contractor Business Plan Template Word

This free business plan template is designed with commercial contractors in mind. It includes several useful page layouts with easily editable designs. The template comes in Word, Google Docs, and Apple Pages formats.

Use this professional services business plan template to help you create a solid plan. This business planning template tells the story of your business’s vision and how you expect to achieve success. Use this professionally written business plan template to clarify your plan and to share with it your team, outside investors, and future leaders.

Define and communicate the vision for your business with this business plan template for Word. This business plan template includes guidance on what makes a great plan using a new coffee shop as an example. Fill in this simple business plan template with the details of your business for a stunning plan you can present to your stakeholders and potential clients.

35+ Best Business Plan Templates for Word 2024

Are you writing a business plan for a brand new startup? Or updating an old business plan for an established brand? Then this collection of MS Word business plan templates will definitely come in handy.

The key to making an effective business plan brochure that wins over investors and inspires employees is to use a modern and attractive design.

No one wants to read through a 100-page brochure that looks like a VCR manual from the 1960s. Today, people prefer cleaner brochure layouts with proper paragraph formatting that offer a much smoother reading experience.

Designing such modern business plan documents is not that difficult. In fact, you can easily create them using Word templates.

In this post, we showcase high-quality business plan templates for Word that have been designed by professionals. They feature modern designs and clean layouts that are perfect for all kinds of startups, businesses, and corporate companies. Have a look.

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Explore Word Templates

Education Business Plan Word Template

This Word template is designed for making business plan documents related to educational brands and businesses. However, you can easily customize the design to make business plans for various other industries. The template includes 20 unique page layouts with modern designs.

Business Plan & Proposal Template for Word

You can use this Word template to make both business proposals and business plans. It has a very flexible page design that you can change to make brochures for startups, agencies, and other businesses. There are 20 pages in this template in A4 size.

Bold Business Plan Word Template

If you want to make a bold business plan with a high-end luxury feel, this Word template will come in handy. It features a dark color theme that will fit in nicely with luxury brands, hotels, corporate agencies, and more. The template has 56 different page layouts. It comes in Word, Apple Pages, and InDesign formats.

Big Business Plan Brochure Template for Word

Get started with this Word template to make business plan documents with clean and minimal design. It includes 28 unique pages with easily editable layouts. You can change its colors, fonts, and images with ease. The template is available in multiple formats, including Word, InDesign, Affinity Publisher, and more.

Free Simple Business Plan Word Template

While this free business plan template only has 4 page layouts and a simple design, it’s more than enough for making a basic business plan document for a small business. It comes in Word and Apple Pages formats.

Tropo – Minimalist Business Plan for Word

Tropo is a minimalist business plan template designed for Microsoft Word. It’s user-friendly, designed with organized files for effortless customization, and is suitable for creating business proposals. Tropo offers 32 editable pages, customizable fonts, and colors, well-organised layers, and is print-ready.

Business Proposal Template for Word

This is a professional-quality business proposal template for Word that offers flexibility and ease of customization. This 20-page template can be easily edited to suit your unique business needs without jeopardizing the layout or the readability. It’s fully customizable, well-layered, and organized.

This is an adaptable template, perfect for showcasing your unique services and business plans to new clients. It’s a user-friendly, customizable template, enabling designers to express their brand and work competence professionally. The pack includes a 20-page InDesign and Microsoft Word templates.

Business Proposal Template for Word & InDesign

A versatile business proposal template ideal for constructing thorough business plans or proposals. Compatible with Microsoft Word 2010 and higher, as well as Adobe InDesign CS4 and above, the template offers a comprehensive 16-page document that can adapt for print or digital output.

Business Plan & Project Proposal Template

This is a comprehensive business proposal template for Word. Boasting 40 pages of editable sections such as company details, project timelines, budget specifics, and more, the template utilizes a structured editorial layout to organize information efficiently.

Multipurpose Business Brochure Word Template

This brochure template features multipurpose page layouts. This means you can edit and customize each page to make many different types of documents, including business plans and proposals. It has 20 unique pages in A4 size.

Creative Business Plan Template for Word

This is a massive business plan template that comes with more than 60 different page layouts to choose from. It’s especially suitable for agencies and startups for making a high-quality business plan document. The template is available in Word and InDesign formats.

Company Proposal & Business Plan Word Template

Whether you want to make a business plan or a proposal document, this Word template can handle both. It features a modern and professional layout for making documents for corporate businesses. The template includes 20 pages in A4 size.

Education School Plan Template for Word

You can use this Word template to make a stylish business plan or educational plan for a school. The template has fully customizable paragraph styles, editable colors, fonts, images, and much more. It has 20 page custom layouts.

Free Agency Business Plan Word Template

This free business plan template includes 5 page layouts with very simple and basic designs. You can use it to make business plan documents for advertising and design agencies. It’s available in Apple Pages format too.

Modern Business Plan Template for Word

A business plan document is about presenting your goals, missions, and vision for the company in an appealing way. Having a great-looking design is a must for achieving that task. This Word template will help you create such a business plan document. It includes 20 different page layouts with modern designs. And you can edit it using either MS Word or InDesign.

Clean Business Plan Microsoft Word Template

If you want to make sure your business plan looks more professional, a clean and minimal design is the best choice for your brochure. With this template, you can design a clean and professional-looking business plan to showcase your business goals. It includes 16 page layouts with fully customizable designs. You can also choose from 3 different color schemes to design your document.

Simple Business Plan Template for Word

This Word business plan template uses a very simple design. It doesn’t have too many design elements, images, or lots of colors. Instead, the design puts more focus on the contents of the document. This approach makes it a great template for designing a highly effective business plan for many different types of businesses. It includes 12 page layouts as well.

Business Plan Brochure Template for Word

If you want to make an impressive and attractive business plan brochure for a big company or a corporate brand, this Word template will come in handy. It features 48 different page layouts with modern and stylish designs. The template is available in both MS Word and InDesign formats. And, as a bonus, you also get letterhead and business card templates.

One Page Business Plan Template for Word

Sometimes a simple one-page document is more than enough to highlight the key points of a business plan. This template is ideal for making such brochures. The template comes with 4 page layouts but you can easily customize it to create one-page or even multi-page documents.

Professional Services Free Business Plan Word Template

This free business plan template for Word comes directly from the official MS Office templates directory. It’s free to download and features page layouts with modern designs. It’s ideal for creating a business plan for small agencies.

Free Word Business Plan Template for Freelancers

Another free Word business plan template from the Office directory. This template is designed with freelancers and agencies that specialize in home-based professional services. It includes a fully editable layout as well.

Editable Business Plan Template for Word

Every Word template should give you the freedom to edit, customize, and do anything you want with the design. This template lets you do all that and more. It features a fully editable layout that you can customize to your preference. The template also includes 40 page layouts that come in A4 and US Letter sizes.

Minimal Business Plan Word Template

Looking for a clean, simple, and minimalist business plan template? Then this Word template is made just for you. It has a very light and simple layout that allows you to showcase all elements of your business plan in a professional way. The template includes 32 page layouts and it’s available in Word and InDesign formats.

Startup Business Plan Word Template

This Word business plan template is designed specifically for startups and agencies. It features a set of modern page layouts, 20 custom page designs to be exact. You can also customize each page layout by changing colors and fonts. It comes in US Letter and A4 sizes as well.

4-Page Business Plan Template for Word

You can create a powerful four-page business plan using this Word template. It features an effective page design that is ideal for creating a summary of your business plan. The template is fully customizable and it’s available in Word, IDML, and INDD formats.

One Page Simple Business Plan Word Template

This simple and minimal business plan template is perfect for making a one-page brochure or even a two-page document. The template comes with 2 page layouts that you can use to create a simple double-sided one-page business plan. Or you can print them separately too. It’s very basic but quite effective at the same time.

Free Simple Business Plan Template for Word

A free business plan template that you can edit and customize in Word. This template has a very basic and blank design that you can use however you like. You can make this template your own by adding a few design elements as well.

Free One-Page Business Plan Template for Word

This is a free one-page business plan template that has a minimal layout for making a straightforward business plan brochure. It includes multiple sections for detailing different aspects of your business plan.

Marketing & Sales Plan Word Template

Marketing and sales plans are also part of a business plan, especially for marketing agencies. With this Word template, you can design an effective sales plan for your business. The template features 32 different page layouts in A4 size. It comes in Word and InDesign versions as well.

Real Estate Business Plan Template for Word

This Word template features a very clean and visual-centric design that’s ideal for making business plans for real estate and rental property businesses. There are more than 30 unique page layouts in this template with easily editable designs. You can change colors, fonts, and paragraphs however you like to fit your brand.

Basic Microsoft Word Business Plan Template

If you want to make a simple and basic business plan for a small company, this Word template is for you. It features a minimal layout with a basic design for making a small brochure. You can use 4 different page layouts to create your business plan. And it’s fully customizable too.

Simple Word Business Plan Template

This business plan template also features a simple design. It’s ideal for startups, agencies, and even small businesses for making a business plan to motivate employees and even set goals for your future. The template includes 4 page designs in A4 size.

A creative business plan Word template that comes with more than 50 different page designs. With this template, you can make all kinds of business plan brochures for various types of brands. The template also includes editable colors, paragraphs, objects, free fonts, and so much more.

Business Project Plan Template for Word

A simple business plan template for small brands. This template includes 3 unique page layouts for crafting a basic business plan. It’s ideal even for solopreneurs and freelancers for creating a strategy for your business. It comes in A4 size.

Free Healthcare Business Plan Word Template

This free business plan template is made with businesses and companies in the healthcare industry. It features a clean design with several page layouts you can use to craft an effective business plan.

Free Editable Business Plan Template for Word

Another blank and basic business plan Word template you can download for free. This template has very simple page layouts but they are ideal for creating an effective business plan brochure for small businesses.

Be sure to check out our best Word templates collection for more design inspiration.

Free Business Plan Template

One of the reasons that so many small businesses fail is that they don't do the necessary up front work to create an accurate and realistic business plan. Creating a business plan doesn't guarantee success, but the process of writing a plan is critical for any successful new business. It isn't our goal to try to tell you everything you need to know about creating a business plan. Instead, our goal is to make the process easier by providing a professionally designed business plan template that you can edit easily using Word and Excel .

Business Plan Template

License : Private Use (not for distribution or resale)

Authors : Jon Wittwer and Jim Wittwer

Update (7/22/2016) : We've added a basic break-even analysis worksheet to the companion Excel workbook.

Description

This template provides a business plan outline with sample questions, tables, and a working table of contents. It was created for newer versions of Word and Excel (Office 2007 or later) so that you can easily change the fonts and color scheme and the file will be compatible with the mobile and web-based Word & Excel apps.

It is best to use Excel for financial statements, data tables and charts. So, we have provided a companion Excel workbook with these sample financial statements and other tables and graphs that you can copy and paste into your Word document.

The companion workbook combines many of the different spreadsheets you can find on Vertex42.com, but customized specifically for inclusion in a business plan.

Using the Business Plan Template

Editing headings and table of contents.

Word allows you to assign format Styles to text and paragraphs, and we've designed the template to use these Styles for defining headings, sub-headings, and figure captions.

If you want to add a new section so that the Table of Contents updates correctly, just add a new heading in the body of the document and assign it the Heading 1 or Heading 2 style.

To update the Table of Contents, go to the References tab and within the Table of Contents group of buttons, click on Update Table and then "Update entire table."

Copy/Paste From Excel to Word

For simple tables, you can use Copy/Paste (Ctrl+c / Ctrl+v) to copy a table from Excel to Word. This will typically paste the data as a formatted and editable table in Word, though none of the formulas will be functional within Word (and the table will not be linked to Excel). If you don't want the table to be editable in Word, you can "Paste as a Picture" using Paste Special or by choosing the "Picture" option when you right-click in Word to paste the table.

Important : When you paste a chart object into your business plan, make sure to "Paste as a Picture" because pasting the chart as an embedded object means that the entire spreadsheet becomes embedded in your Word document (even though what you see is only the chart).

If you want to insert a table into Word as a "Linked Object" so that when you edit Excel, the table in Word will update automatically, you may have a more difficult time preserving the formatting of the original. However, at the least the entire spreadsheet won't be embedded within your business plan Word document.

More Related Templates

Resources for Writing a Business Plan

• Write Your Business Plan at SBA.gov - Anybody starting a business should become familiar with the SBA (small business association). SBA.gov also has an online tool for creating a business plan .
• YouTube: How to Write a Business Plan - Business Wales (3 minutes) - This video offers a quick overview and tips for the essential parts of a business plan.
• YouTube: How to Write a Business Plan - Berkeley-Haas (71 minutes) - This presentation offers both the venture capitalist and entrepreneur perspective on how to write a business plan that can successfully attract funding.
• Write Your Business Plan at Entrepreneur.com - A book written by the staff of a company that should know what they are talking about.
• Sample Business Plans at bplans.com - Finding a business plan for similar businesses in your industry is a great way to get ideas for what to include in your plan. This site is a great resource for not only finding sample plans, but also for creating a business plan online using their step-by-step approach.

Other Free Business Plan Templates

• Business Planning Template Gallery at SCORE.org - This nonprofit organization (supported by the SBA) has provided expertise and free mentorship for millions of small business owners. They also have a useful collection of templates.
• Develop Your Business Plan at business.gov.au - This Australian Government site provides a really good business plan template for Word, including a detailed guide, questions to answer, and sample financial statements.

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Simple Business Plan Templates

By Joe Weller | April 2, 2020

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In this article, we’ve compiled a variety of simple business plan templates, all of which are free to download in PDF, Word, and Excel formats.

On this page, you’ll find a one-page business plan template , a simple business plan for startups , a small-business plan template , a business plan outline , and more. We also include a business plan sample and the main components of a business plan to help get you started.

Simple Business Plan Template

Download Simple Business Plan Template

This simple business plan template lays out each element of a traditional business plan to assist you as you build your own, and it provides space to add financing information for startups seeking funding. You can use and customize this simple business plan template to fit the needs for organizations of any size.

One-Page Business Plan Template

Download One-Page Business Plan Template

Excel | Word | PDF  | Smartsheet

Use this one-page business plan to document your key ideas in an organized manner. The template can help you create a high-level view of your business plan, and it provides easy scannability for stakeholders. You can use this one-page plan as a reference to build a more detailed blueprint for your business. 

For additional single page plans, take a look at " One-Page Business Plan Templates with a Quick How-To Guide ."

Simple Fill-in-the-Blank Business Plan Template

Download Simple Fill-in-the-Blank Business Plan Template

Use this fill-in-the-blank business plan template to guide you as you build your business plan. Each section comes pre-filled with sample content, with space to add customized verbiage relevant to your product or service.

For additional free, downloadable resources, visit " Free Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan Templates ."

Simple Business Plan for Startup

‌ Download Startup Business Plan Template — Word

This business plan template is designed with a startup business in mind and contains the essential elements needed to convey key product or service details to investors and stakeholders. Keep all your information organized with this template, which provides space to include an executive summary, a company overview, competitive analysis, a marketing strategy, financial data, and more. For additional resources, visit " Free Startup Business Plan Templates and Examples ."

Simple Small-Business Plan Template

Download Simple Small-Business Plan Template

This template walks you through each component of a small-business plan, including the company background, the introduction of the management team, market analysis, product or service offerings, a financial plan, and more. This template also comes with a built-in table of contents to keep your plan in order, and it can be customized to fit your requirements.

Lean Business Plan Template

Download Lean Business Plan Template

This lean business plan template is a stripped-down version of a traditional business plan that provides only the most essential aspects. Briefly outline your company and industry overview, along with the problem you are solving, as well as your unique value proposition, target market, and key performance metrics. There is also room to list out a timeline of key activities.

Simple Business Plan Outline Template

Download Simple Business Plan Outline Template

Word  | PDF

Use this simple business plan outline as a basis to create your own business plan. This template contains 11 sections, including a title page and a table of contents, which details what each section should cover in a traditional business plan. Simplify or expand this outline to create the foundation for a business plan that fits your business needs.

Simple Business Planning Template with Timeline

Download Simple Business Planning Template with Timeline

Excel | Smartsheet

This template doubles as a project plan and timeline to track progress as you develop your business plan. This business planning template enables you to break down your work into phases and provides room to add key tasks and dates for each activity. Easily fill in the cells according to the start and end dates to create a visual timeline, as well as to ensure your plan stays on track.

Simple Business Plan Rubric Template

Download Simple Business Plan Rubric

Excel | Word | PDF | Smartsheet

Once you complete your business plan, use this business plan rubric template to assess and score each component of your plan. This rubric helps you identify elements of your plan that meet or exceed requirements and pinpoint areas where you need to improve or further elaborate. This template is an invaluable tool to ensure your business plan clearly defines your goals, objectives, and plan of action in order to gain buy-in from potential investors, stakeholders, and partners.

Basic Business Plan Sample

Download Basic Business Plan Sample

This business plan sample serves as an example of a basic business plan that contains all the traditional components. The sample provides a model of what a business plan might look like for a fictional food truck business. Reference this sample as you develop your own business plan.

For additional resources to help support your business planning efforts, check out “ Free Strategic Planning Templates .”

Main Components of a Business Plan

The elements you include in your business plan will depend on your product or service offerings, as well as the size and needs of your business. 

Below are the components of a standard business plan and details you should include in each section:

• Company name and contact information
• Website address
• The name of the company or individual viewing the presentation
• Table of Contents
• Company background and purpose
• Mission and vision statement
• Management team introduction
• Core product and service offerings
• Target customers and segments
• Marketing plan
• Competitive analysis
• Unique value proposition
• Financial plan (and requirements, if applicable)
• Business and industry overview
• Historical timeline of your business
• Offerings and the problem they solve
• Current alternatives
• Competitive advantage
• Market size
• Target market segment(s)
• Projected volume and value of sales compared to competitors
• Differentiation from competitors
• Pricing strategy
• Marketing channels
• Promotional plan
• Distribution methods
• Legal structure of your business
• Names of founders, owners, advisors, etc.
• Management team’s roles, relevant experience, and compensation plan
• Staffing requirements and training plans
• Physical location(s) of your business
• Additional physical requirements (e.g., warehouse, specialized equipment, facilities, etc.)
• Production workflow
• Raw materials and sourcing methods
• Projected income statement
• Projected cash flow statement
• Projected balance sheet
• Break-even analysis
• Charts and graphs
• Market research and competitive analysis
• Information about your industry
• Information about your offerings
• Samples of marketing materials
• Other supporting materials

Tips for Creating a Business Plan

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the thought of putting together a business plan. Below, you’ll find top tips to help simplify the process as you develop your own plan. 

• Use a business plan template (you can choose from the variety above), or refer to the previous section to create a standard outline for your plan.
• Modify your outline to reflect the requirements of your specific business. If you use a standard business plan outline, remove sections that aren’t relevant to you or aren’t necessary to run your business.
• Gather all the information you currently have about your business first, and then use that information to fill out each section in your plan outline.
• Use your resources and conduct additional research to fill in the remaining gaps. (Note: It isn’t necessary to fill out your plan in order, but the executive summary needs to be completed last, as it summarizes the key points in your plan.)
• Ensure your plan clearly communicates the relationship between your marketing, sales, and financial objectives.
• Provide details in your plan that illustrate your strategic plan of action, looking forward three to five years.
• Revisit your plan regularly as strategies and objectives evolve.
• What product or service are we offering?
• Who is the product or service for?
• What problem does our product or service offering solve?
• How will we get the product or service to our target customers?
• Why is our product or service better than the alternatives?
• How can we outperform our competitors?
• What is our unique value proposition?
• When will things get done, and who is responsible for doing them?
• If you need to obtain funding, how will you use the funding?
• When are payments due, and when do payments come in?
• What is the ultimate purpose of your business?
• When do you expect to be profitable?

To identify which type of business plan you should write, and for more helpful tips, take a look at our guide to writing a simple business plan .

Benefits of Using a Business Plan Template

Creating a business plan can be very time-consuming, especially if you aren’t sure where to begin. Finding the right template for your business needs can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. 

Using a business plan template — instead of creating your plan from scratch — can benefit you in the following ways:

• Enables you to immediately write down your thoughts and ideas in an organized manner
• Provides structure to help outline your plan
• Saves time and valuable resources
• Helps ensure you don’t miss essential details

Limitations of a Business Plan Template

A business plan template can be convenient, but it has its drawbacks — especially if you use a template that doesn’t fit the specific needs of your business.

Below are some limitations of using a business plan template:

• Each business is unique and needs a business plan that reflects that. A template may not fit your needs.
• A template may restrict collaboration with other team members on different aspects of the plan’s development (sales, marketing, and accounting teams).
• Multiple files containing different versions of the plan may be stored in more than one place.
• You still have to manually create charts and graphs to add to the plan to support your strategy.
• Updates to the plan, spreadsheets, and supporting documents have to be made in multiple places (all documents may not update in real time as changes are made).

Improve Your Business Plan with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

Discover why over 90% of Fortune 100 companies trust Smartsheet to get work done.

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Comment faire un business plan ? Modèle gratuit !

Téléchargez notre modèle vierge de business plan et suivez nos conseils pour bien le remplir !

Vous êtes sur le point de lancer votre projet et cherchez comment faire un business plan ? Découvrez ce qu’est un business plan, pourquoi il est important d’en faire un et notre modèle de business plan gratuit à télécharger (modèle vierge). Suivez nos conseils et exemples pour bien le remplir !

Qu’est-ce qu’un business plan ?

Le business plan (plan d’affaires, en français) est un dossier synthétique qui présente un projet de création ou de reprise d’entreprise, en définissant sa stratégie commerciale et financière. Vous pouvez en quelque sorte le considérer comme un CV ou un “book” destiné à structurer et à vendre votre projet.

La création d’un business plan intervient après les recherches documentaires, la prospection, les études et des démarches que vous avez pu mener en amont comme : 

• Le choix d’une forme juridique pour votre entreprise
• La réalisation d’une étude de marché (ou d’un sondage en ligne )
• L’évaluation de vos ressources et de votre business model (modèle économique)

Pour le réaliser, vous aurez plusieurs choix que nous vous présenterons par la suite, mais vous pouvez aussi utiliser notre modèle de business plan gratuit.

Pourquoi faire un business plan ?

Un business plan vous sert d’abord à vous-même : il permet de structurer votre projet de création d’entreprise et de mettre à plat vos idées. Il n’est pas obligatoire. Vous n’êtes donc pas contraint de vous coller à sa conception, assez chronophage.

Dans certains cas de figure, le business plan ne présente pas vraiment d’intérêt. Par exemple, si vous venez de créer votre micro-entreprise et vendez une prestation de  services depuis votre domicile, un business plan se révélera sûrement inutile. À l’inverse, ce document nous paraît incontournable si vous souhaitez créer une boutique en ligne , par exemple ou bien ouvrir un restaurant.

Rappelez-vous : il s’agit aussi d’un outil de communication. Voici quelques exemples concrets pour lesquels on risque fort de vous demander un business plan : 

• lorsque vous désirez ouvrir un compte ou obtenir un prêt bancaire ou un autre financement ;
• lorsque vous recherchez des fournisseurs ;
• lorsque vous comptez vous associer et/ou trouver des partenaires ;
• lorsque vous souhaitez lever des fonds.

Concernant ce dernier point, on peut penser à une start-up qui se lance, souhaite financer son développement et/ou accélérer sa croissance. Faire un business plan doit permettre à l’investisseur de savoir s’il peut s’engager avec elle. Va-t-il y trouver son compte ? Est-ce un projet rentable ? Quels risques prend-il en investissant avec cette startup ?  Un business plan est là pour le séduire et le convaincre. Mais c’est également un outil qui doit inspirer confiance et rassurer sur l’équilibre financier de votre projet, mais aussi et surtout sur les perspectives de bénéfices.

Le business plan a aussi une utilité en interne. Grâce à lui, votre entreprise peut contrôler le pilotage de certaines opérations, tester différentes hypothèses, et réajuster au besoin en le mettant à jour, puisqu’il fournit un cadre de comparaison (ce dont vous manquez cruellement à votre lancement).

Enfin, si vous souhaitez reprendre un commerce ou une entreprise, vous pouvez aussi mettre sur pied un business plan. La trame de base est la même que pour un projet de création d’entreprise, sauf que vous devez aussi intégrer des éléments spécifiques sur l’entreprise que vous allez racheter (ex : historique, clientèle, produits, bilan financier etc.).

Modèle de business plan gratuit et conseils pour le remplir

Les modèles de business plan télécharger.

Vous êtes ici pour ça, donc ne faisons pas durer le suspense. Vous trouverez ci-dessous un modèle de business plan vierge à télécharger gratuitement. Nous l’avons décliné sous plusieurs formats, en fonction de vos besoins :

• Modèle de business plan gratuit word téléchargeable ici
• Modèle de business plan gratuit powerpoint (en cours de création)

Le format Word est idéal pour réaliser un business plan simplifié. Il vous suffira de remplir les différentes parties en suivants nos conseils et en l’adaptant au business d’un food-truck.

Nous vous fournissons uniquement le modèle Word, mais sachez que certains acteurs comme par exemple Créer-mon-business-plan fournissent des modèles beaucoup plus complets pour quelques dizaines d’euros qui vous permettront de recevoir à la fois un modèle Word et un outil Excel pour simuler les projections financières de votre projet de food-truck, ainsi que de l’aide pour le remplir.

Enfin, certains cherchent un modèle de business plan en PDF. Aucun intérêt à notre avis, il sera beaucoup plus facile de le modifier sous Word et d’en télécharger ensuite une version finalisée en PDF.

Exemple de trame du business plan

Le modèle de business plan que nous vous fournissons gratuitement intègre la trame suivante :

C’est un bon exemple de business plan simple et une trame relativement classique, que vous pouvez adapter développer certaines catégories ou au contraire en passer certaines sous silence, selon votre projet.

Nos conseils pour un business plan simple et efficace

Maintenant que vous avez en tête la structure et les éléments incontournables du business plan, il est temps de vous livrer quelques conseils pour concevoir un business plan simple et efficace. Ces conseils valent que vous utilisiez notre modèle ou non.

• Misez sur la clarté et la simplicité. N’en faites pas trop, en particulier si vous présentez un projet avec beaucoup de jargon technique. Mettez-vous toujours à la place de votre lecteur et n’entrez pas trop dans les détails. Adressez-vous à lui avec ses mots.
• Pensez à faire concis et synthétique . Il n’y a pas de règle préétablie sur le sujet, mais on estime qu’un business plan ne devrait pas contenir de 20 à 25 pages. 
• Aérez votre texte en faisant des paragraphes et organisez vos idées avec des parties et des sous-parties regroupées au sein d’un sommaire.
• Ajoutez des visuels lorsque c’est pertinent (ex : diagrammes, graphiques, images)
• Faites-vous relire . Il n’y a rien de pire que de se retrouver à parcourir un document truffé de fautes d’orthographes. Soyez vigilant là-dessus !
• Pensez aussi aux annexes . Elles vous permettent de joindre des documents complémentaires sans alourdir le coeur de votre business plan.
• Etayez votre propos en citant vos sources . Expliquez tous vos calculs et tableaux de chiffres. Justifiez tout ce que vous avancez, en particulier vos projections financières. 

Rappelez-vous, l’objectif du business plan est de convaincre votre interlocuteur, alors produisez un document sérieux et béton, qui ne laisse aucune place au doute. 

4 erreurs à ne pas commettre dans votre business plan

Que vous utilisiez notre modèle de business plan ou non, voici les 4 principales erreurs à éviter lors de la rédaction de votre plan d’affaires :

• Bâcler la forme du business plan
• Mal présenter l’équipe
• Ne pas être exhaustif dans l’étude de marché et de la concurrence
• Négliger le modèle économique et la stratégie commerciale

Comment faire un business plan ?

Les différentes parties.

Chaque business plan est propre à chaque projet. Si sa structure et sa présentation peuvent varier, il doit néanmoins comporter des éléments essentiels que l’on a regroupés en 2 grands domaines (+ 1 bonus) :

• La présentation de votre projet et de votre entreprise : c’est le modèle de business plan que nous vous avons fourni
• Les projections financières : en général un fichier excel

La présentation de votre projet et de votre entreprise 

Dans cette partie du modèle de business plan, vous allez notamment expliquer les modalités opérationnelles de votre business plan en suivant une trame : 

• Le statut de votre entreprise : date de création, forme juridique, nombre d’actionnaires, composition du capital etc.
• Qui vous êtes, les membres de votre équipe et vos associés : parcours, compétences, expérience. Expliquez qui fait quoi au sein de l’entreprise, tout en démontrant que vous disposez de l’ensemble des compétences nécessaires à la réussite de l’activité.
• Une synthèse de votre étude de marché . Elle contient la présentation du produit ou du service que vous souhaitez vendre, votre politique de prix, vos concurrents, le marché que vous souhaitez attaquer, vos avantages concurrentiels etc.
• Une présentation de votre business model .
• Votre stratégie et plan d’action . En premier lieu, on pense à la stratégie commerciale, qui doit présenter vos objectifs en termes de chiffre d’affaires et de croissance. Mais aussi au marketing, à la communication, à la distribution, ou encore à la gestion des ressources humaines.

Tous ces éléments sont bien évidemment inclus dans le business plan gratuit que nous vous avons fourni.

Les projections financières

C’est grâce à toutes ces projections financières que vous allez pouvoir démontrer à vos interlocuteurs la faisabilité et la solidité économique de votre projet. Votre business plan doit notamment contenir les éléments suivants : 

• Le compte de résultat prévisionnel . Il s’agit d’un des éléments-clés de votre plan d’affaires. Ce compte de résultat se présente sous la forme d’un tableau financier. Il doit déterminer le degré de rentabilité de votre entreprise, en démontrant que votre chiffre d’affaires à venir couvrira vos dépenses (charges). Les projections se font souvent sur les trois premières années d’existence de l’entreprise.
• Le seuil de rentabilité : il s’agit du chiffre d’affaires minimum à partir duquel l’activité d’une entreprise devient rentable.
• Le tableau ou plan de trésorerie : établi mensuellement, il présente les encaissements et les décaissements prévus au cours de la première année d’activité de l’entreprise.
• La capacité de financement , c’est-à-dire tous les capitaux et les sources de financement qui permettent de lancer le projet (ex : fonds propres, aides etc.).
• Le plan de financement à trois ans : il détaille vos besoins en financement sur les trois premières années d’activité. Il permet de vérifier que votre entreprise sera pérenne dans le temps.
• Le besoin en fonds de roulement (BFR) . Le BFR correspond aux sommes d’argent dépensées par l’entreprise au lancement de son activité et qu’elle ne pourra récupérer qu’après l’encaissement du paiement de ses premières factures.

Si la partie présentation de l’entreprise est assez facile à remplir, comme vous pouvez le voir dans l’exemple de business plan que nous vous avons fourni gratuitement, la partie financière est plus complexe. Pour cette partie, nous vous recommandons de vous faire accompagner.

Bonus : l’executive summary

L’executive summary – résumé opérationnel, en français – est un teaser d’une à deux pages qui doit donner envie de lire la suite de votre business plan et de découvrir votre projet. Il se place au début d’un plan d’affaires et doit mettre en avant de façon synthétique les informations les plus importantes :

• Votre projet et les problèmes qu’il résout
• Votre stratégie
• Votre offre avec votre avantage concurrentiel
• Votre business model
• Votre marché etc.

Vous disposerez ainsi d’une vision globale de tous les éléments à mettre en avant, ce qui vous facilitera la tâche.

Faire un business plan : quelles sont vos options ?

Plusieurs options s’offrent à vous pour réaliser un business plan : le faire vous-même sans aide tierce, utiliser un logiciel en ligne, ou faire appel aux services d’un professionnel. Chaque solution présente des avantages et des inconvénients.

Option n°1 : faire votre business plan gratuitement (mais vous-même)

Première possibilité pour faire votre business plan : vous y coller seul, sans l’aide d’un logiciel ou d’un professionnel. Pour cela, vous pouvez partir de notre modèle de business plan gratuit et vierge, ou bien d’un modèle de business plan déjà pré-rempli pour certains secteurs. En fonction de vos besoins, utilisez le format Excel, PDF et PowerPoint. 

Créer son business plan en partant de zéro présente d’abord un avantage financier. Vous n’avez aucun frais à prévoir si vous choisissez un modèle de business plan gratuit. Cette solution est idéale pour les entreprises aux budgets serrés, mais elle présente un autre avantage non négligeable : cela vous force à réfléchir en profondeur sur votre projet de création d’entreprise. Par contre, préparez-vous à y passer du temps. La conception d’un business plan est chronophage et peut se révéler fastidieuse, surtout lorsque l’on attaque les prévisions financières.

Notez enfin que certains acteurs (comme Créer-mon-business-plan par exemple), proposent à la fois des modèles de business plan payants à télécharger et la possibilité de le réaliser en ligne. Comptez quelques dizaines d’euros pour un modèle de business plan thématisé (c’est à dire adapté à votre secteur), ce qui à notre avis peut valoir le coup pour éviter de repartir de notre modèle de business plan vierge :

• Choix parmi des dizaines de modèles de business plan
• Business plan au format Word de 10 à 20 pages
• Exemples de textes fournis tout à long du modèle
• Volet financier au formt Excel.

C’est donc un bon compromis entre le business plan gratuit et l’accompagnement (en ligne ou par un professionnel).

Option n°2 : faire son business plan en ligne

La deuxième option consiste à se faire accompagner un peu plus en réalisant son business plan en ligne , à l’aide d’un logiciel dédié. De nombreux sites sont en concurrence sur le marché.

Voici les avantages à utiliser un outil en ligne : 

• Vous disposez de modèles de business plans payants prêts à l’emploi, adaptés à différents corps de métiers.
• Tous les modèles sont centralisés sur la même interface : vous gagnez du temps dans le processus de création. On vous aide à mettre en forme le document, à créer le prévisionnel financier etc.
• Pas besoin d’avoir de connaissances en comptabilité.
• Vous pouvez bénéficier de ressources complémentaires pour concevoir votre plan d’affaires, comme un accompagnement en ligne avec un conseiller.
• Certains logiciels de business plan sont gratuits.

En ce qui concerne les inconvénients, ces modèles de business plan ne sont pas gratuits (mais ils sont complets). Ensuite, en fonction du logiciel que vous choisirez, vous n’aurez pas le droit à du conseil et vous ne pourrez pas déléguer la partie rédactionnelle. Il faudra quand même consacrer du temps pour l’écriture et avoir un minimum de bases pour élaborer votre business plan. Ceci-dit, ces logiciels fournissent de nombreux conseils et des exemples de business plan pour vous aider à remplir le vôtre de manière efficace.

Option n°3 : passer par un professionnel

Si vous cherchez de l’aide pour faire votre plan d’affaires personnalisé sans utiliser un modèle de business plan, rien ne vous empêche de vous attacher les services d’un professionnel. On pense notamment aux professionnels suivants :

• L’expert-comptable local
• L’expert-comptable en ligne
• Les experts et consultants en business plan (ex : les spécialistes de la fiscalité, les avocats d’affaire).

Grâce à un professionnel du business plan, vous vous assurez de gagner du temps et disposez des conseils et du savoir-faire d’un expert. On le recommande en particulier aux projets complexes qui font appel à de nombreuses donnés financières.

Par contre, ce genre de service implique un coût financier plus important qu’avec un logiciel en ligne. Sans compter que vous risquez quand même de devoir collaborer à la partie descriptive du document. Un expert saura parfaitement jouer avec les chiffres, mais il aura besoin de vous pour comprendre la genèse de votre projet ainsi que tous les tenants et aboutissants.

Au cours de vos recherches, pensez aussi à vous rapprocher des structures d’accompagnement de créateurs, de certaines legaltech , des Chambres de commerce et d’industrie ( CCI ), ou encore des Chambres de métiers et de l’artisanat ( CMA ).  Ces différents organismes professionnels proposent souvent des formations et ateliers autour du business plan et pourront vous accompagner dans la construction de votre plan d’affaires.

Au final, quelle que soit la méthode choisie, gardez bien cela en tête : comme le dit l’expression, “on n’a qu’une seule chance de faire bonne impression.” Alors appliquez-vous, et utilisez nos conseils pour réaliser un business plan solide !

Combien coûte un business plan ?

Le coût d’une business plan dépend de l’option que vous allez choisir. Si vous vous utilisez notre business plan gratuit, vous n’y passerez que du temps. Si vous choisissez un modèle payant, vous en aurez pour entre 50 et 100€ environ. Si vous optez pour un logiciel de business plan en ligne , les prix varient d’une solution à l’autre.

La solution la moins économique consiste à passer par un professionnel. Les tarifs dépendent de la complexité et de la technicité du projet. Pour vous donner un ordre d’idées, on a recensé des tarifs partant de 300€ et pouvant aller jusqu’à 4 000€.

Un business plan gratuit, c’est possible ?

Faire un business plan gratuitement, oui, c’est possible en utilisant un modèle de business plan et en y passant du temps, ou bien via certains organismes comme la CCI.

Les personnes ayant téléchargé le modèle de Business plan ont également été intéressés par :

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Business Plan Template

Use this free Business Plan Template for Word to manage your projects better.

To start your business journey on the right foot, download our free business plan template and break down your business goals into actionable components.

Before you can start your business, you need to find your niche, seek financial backing and create a business plan to bring your idea to fruition. Our free business plan template will guide you through every step of the way. But first, let’s quickly define what a business plan is.

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a document that explains how a business will operate and establish itself in the market to generate profits. Business plans are usually created before a new business starts, to make sure there are no loose ends that could affect its profitability or ability to operate. They can also be created for business improvement purposes.

Business plans are also crucial for raising funds for new business ventures, as they’re used to provide the key details an investor should know to determine whether or not a business is a sound investment.

What Is a Business Plan Template?

Our business plan template outlines the business, product or service that you want to launch. It also details the market you’re targeting, the goals and objectives of the venture and how you propose to achieve them.

The business plan is one of the three pillars that any new idea must stand on to be successful. The other two are a marketing plan and a financial plan. These will be touched upon in part within the business plan template and included in full as supporting documents.

What Should Be Included In a Business Plan Template?

Business plans vary from one organization to another. However, there are key elements that any business plan should have to provide a clear picture of a business, especially if you’re creating a business plan to request funding from investors. Here’s an outline that includes some of the most fundamental aspects to add to your business plans.

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Market analysis
• Marketing & sales strategy
• Operational plan
• Financial projections
• Organizational structure and management
• Legal structure

While you can decide how thorough you want your business plan to be, you’ll want to provide as many details as possible. A detailed business plan can reveal significant flaws in your business model. Business planning flaws such as ignoring industry trends can cost your company money, or could even lead to bankruptcy, so it’s important that you take your time when making a business plan.

How to Use This Free Business Plan Template

Now, let’s dive into each of those sections to have a better idea of how to use this business plan template for Word.

Executive Summary

Here’s where you lay out your idea. Your executive summary is the elevator pitch, something that encapsulates your business plan contents in just one page or a couple of paragraphs.

The main purpose of your executive summary is to highlight the key elements from your business plan thatyou wish to communicate to investors or stakeholders such as the market opportunity, an overview of how you’ll manage the venture, competitive advantages, key aspects of the company background, etc.

Company Description

This section explains what your company does and what it intends to achieve.

• Mission statement: The mission statement is a short action declaration that explains the purpose of your business and what it does. It should be one or two sentences long.
• Vision statement: The vision statement is similar to your mission statement in terms of length, but the vision statement states the future goals of the organization.
• Value proposition: The value proposition explains how your company will offer value to customers in a unique way that differentiates it from the competition.
• Core values: The core values are the guiding principles that shape your company’s organizational culture, such as integrity, innovation and collaboration.

Market Analysis

This section should explain to readers how your company intends to compete and position itself in a particular market. To do so, you should include the following:

• Industry analysis: Provide an overview of your business industry. Briefly explain if there are any current trends that might affect your business, either positively or negatively, such as new competitors, new technologies or any other changes. You should include statistics to explain how your industry has grown over the years to convince stakeholders of its value.
• Target market: The target market section should explain the ideal customer for your products. Your marketing activities will be focused on this type of customer, so it should be the most profitable customer to serve. You can easily express what your target market is by creating buyer personas.
• Direct competitors: Direct competitors are businesses that offer exactly the same type of product you do and also serve the same target market. For this reason, you should use your unique value proposition to differentiate from them. Think about two different brands of soda. They offer the exact same product to the same market, at the same place.
• Indirect competitors: Indirect competitors are businesses that offer substitute products to your target market, which means they don’t offer the same product as you do, but their product could also be used to satisfy the same customer need. Now think about butter and margarine. While the product isn’t exactly the same, it can be purchased by customers to satisfy the same need.
• SWOT analysis: SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A SWOT analysis is a very important part of a business plan because it allows you to do a quick assessment of your current competitive position by looking at the internal strengths and weaknesses of your business while also considering any opportunities and threats from the external environment, such as the risk of new competitors or the opportunity of an underserved market.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

The purpose of this section is to explain how your company will market the product to your customers. It uses the 4 Ps of marketing as the guiding principle.

• Product: Explain what your product is, how it works and how it’s meant to be used. Also, explain some of the main attributes or features that make it superior to other products on the market. This can be anything such as lower production costs , durability or ease of use.
• Price: Pricing is an important part of your marketing strategy. Use this template to indicate your estimated profit margin along with a general description of the expected costs.
• Place: Place simply refers to two main things. Your sales channels, which are the methods you use to sell your product, such as online e-commerce platforms or brick-and-mortar locations and your distribution channels, which are the methods of transportation you’ll use to bring your product from the production line to the final customer.
• Promotion: Use this section to explain the various methods you’ll use to advertise your product, such as websites, social media platforms or traditional methods such as TV, newspaper or radio ads.

Operational Plan

This section should provide a quick overview of how your business will operate by outlining the following areas:

• Day-to-day operations: Briefly explain how your business will serve customers or manufacture products. The goal is to provide a quick overview of the daily operations of your business for stakeholders and investors.
• Supply chain: Every business needs to purchase raw materials, parts and components to deliver products or services to its target market. Use this section to explain the key steps in your supply chain , and who are your key suppliers.
• Permits and regulatory compliance: Use this section to list any permits or regulatory compliance standards your products should meet, if any.

Financial Projections

Use this section to attach any financial documents you might have. If you’re starting a new business you can use financial forecasts. Here are some of the financial documents you can include.

• Income statements
• Balance sheets
• Cash flow statements
• Capital expenditure budgets
• Cost forecasts
• Gross profit projections
• Profit & loss statement
• Projected balance sheet

In addition to these documents, it’s advisable to include an exit strategy. The exit strategy is a contingency plan that’s executed to minimize losses for investors and business owners in the event of bankruptcy or if the business must be terminated at some point. Use this section to briefly explain how you’d execute your exit strategy.

Management Team and Key Personnel

It helps to build confidence and give investors a sense of the risk they’re dealing with if you can provide profiles of your executive and management team. In fact, anyone who will be instrumental in executing the business plan should be included. Their skills and experience can go a long way to realizing your business plan.

Legal Structure

Last but not least, use this section to explain whether your business is a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or any other type of legal structure.

While you can decide how thorough you want your business plan to be, the more details you provide the better, as a detailed business plan can reveal significant flaws in your business model. Business planning flaws such as ignoring industry trends can cost your company money, or could even lead to bankruptcy, so it’s important that you take your time when making a business plan.

Why Should You Use a Business Plan Template?

The main reason for a business plan template is to show off your idea in the best possible way to attract investors by collecting the points that show why your business, product or service is viable.

The other reason is that nothing is possible without a plan. Launching a new business, product or service is a project, and a project without a plan is like a boat without a rudder. It might not sink, but it’s unlikely to get where you want it to go.

There are more detailed reasons to take the time and effort required to fill in our business plan template. For example, a bank and investors won’t let you in the door without a business plan. The same is true for any potential partners.

On top of that, the template provides broad strokes as to how to implement your idea . This is vitally important if you sway your investors and need to make the plan a reality.

Once you have investors on board, you need to turn your business plan into a viable project. Project management software like ProjectManager can help. Our Gantt charts can organize tasks, track costs, allocate resources and more. Plus, live dashboards give you a high-level view of performance to catch issues before they become problems. With project management software, you can plan, track and report on everything that matters. We’ll help you make your business plan a successful venture.

When Should You Use This Free Business Plan Template for Word?

You should use a business plan template when you’re getting ready to shop your idea for the bank, investors or a partner. Before using our template, you’ll want to have done all the necessary due diligence.

In other words, once you have an idea for the business, product or service, you need to do market research to see where it fits in the larger commercial landscape. Then, you’ll need to figure out how much capital you’ll need to realize the idea.

Once you have all the work done for your proposal, then you can start the process of filling in the business plan template. The more thorough your preparation, the more convincing your plan and the more likely you’ll get it off the ground.

Who Should Use This Free Business Plan Template for Word?

Anyone who is planning to run a business needs to use our business plan template. It’s your roadmap  and provides you with a plan forward by outlining objectives, establishing priorities and more.

You’ll also need this business plan template if you already have an established business and are looking for buyers to sell it to. This is also true if you’re looking to determine the value of your business says for taxes or estate planning.

How to Track the Execution of Your Business Plan With ProjectManager

ProjectManager is award-winning software that helps you organize your plan and execute it more effectively. Once you’ve filled in your business plan template, the real work begins. Our tool helps you create a schedule and manage your resources to successfully deliver your plan.

Gantt Charts to Plan

Use our Gantt chart project view to input your tasks or import the task list from any spreadsheet. You can also use one of the many industry-specific templates loaded into the tool to get you started. Then add durations for your tasks and they’ll populate the timeline side of the Gantt, giving you a full picture of the plan laid out chronologically.

Dashboards to Track Progress

When you execute your plan, you need to monitor its actual progress to make sure you’re on track. Our real-time dashboard collects status updates and automatically monitors your schedule, costs and other vital metrics, displaying them in easy-to-read graphs and charts. This high-level view helps you catch issues before they become problems.

Reports for Your Stakeholders

Keeping executives and other stakeholders in the loop is important. One-click reporting makes it simple to get data on the performance of your plan as it’s executed and then share those reports. They can even be filtered to give stakeholders the only information they want.

There’s so much more that ProjectManager does to make sure your plan is a success. From unlimited file storage to resource and team management, we allow you to make your business plan and implement it successfully.

What Other Free Excel Templates Can Help You Build a Business Plan?

Our business plan template collects a lot of information, but in order to have a thought-through plan, you’ll want to use some of the other free project management templates we have free on our website.

Project Charter Template

For your plan to work, you need to have a project charter. Our free project charter template helps you figure out the scope of your project, identify objectives and deliverables and even start figuring out the tasks, resources and costs for the work to come.

Statement of Work Template

The statement of work outlines the course of your project plan, including activities, deliverables and the timetable. It defines these essential components of any plan and acts as the first step in your journey to creating a project plan. The free statement of work (SOW) template lays it all out for you.

Project Proposal Template

Before the plan comes the proposal. It’s the pitch to get your project approved so you can then create a plan. The free project proposal template sets the stage and all you have to do is add the details. When approved you have already made the first step towards a plan, which makes it that much easier.

Related Business Planning Resources

If you’re looking for more information about business and planning, then check out the resources page on our website. We have tutorial videos, blog posts and guides that address every aspect of project management. Here are just a few relevant articles.

• 15 Free Word and Excel Templates for Business 
• Strategic Planning in Business
• Why You Need a Reliable Business Continuity Plan
• How to Choose a Project Planner That’s Right for You

ProjectManager is an online tool that gives you real-time data to make better decisions when managing your project. Organize your teams, help them collaborate and drive your project more efficiently to a successful end. Join the tens of thousands of teams that already use ProjectManager and take your free 30-day trial today.

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Accueil » Vie de l'entreprise » Le business plan » Le business plan (plan d’affaires) : contenu, utilité, modèle

Le business plan (plan d’affaires) : contenu, utilité, modèle

Mis à jour 13/09/2021

Qu’est-ce qu’un business plan ou plan d’affaires ? Comment établir un business plan convaincant ? Que doit contenir un plan d’affaires ? Où trouver un modèle ou un exemple de business plan gratuit ?

Définition : Un business plan, ou plan d’affaires, est un dossier rédigé qui présente un projet de création ou de reprise d’entreprise, déroulant tous les aspects du projet.

Un business plan ou plan d’affaires n’est pas qu’un plan financier : les aspects financiers ne sont pas les seuls à être exposés.

Le business plan ou plan d’affaires est souvent élaboré sous Word ou Powerpoint , ou tout logiciel de ce type. Il n’y a pas de format type ni de longueur particulière à respecter.

Quel est l’utilité du business plan ou plan d’affaires ?

Le business plan ou plan d’affaires a un objectif principal : CONVAINCRE.

Le business plan ou plan d’affaires est rédigé en vue d’être présenté à des tiers, qui peuvent être des futurs associés, des partenaires, des fournisseurs, des clients, des prescripteurs, ou encore des financeurs : les banques, les proches, les capitaux-risqueurs ou encore les donateurs d’une opération de crowdfunding .

En lisant le business plan ou plan d’affaires, ces personnes :

• devront comprendre l’idée et le concept,
• devront être rassurées sur l’adéquation entre les porteurs de projet et le projet lui-même,
• devront être convaincues par le potentiel du marché,
• devront être convaincues par la stratégie marketing et commerciale prévue,
• devront être convaincues par le modèle économique et organisationnel imaginé,
• devront être rassurés sur tous les risques susceptibles de peser sur l’entreprise.

Voir aussi notre article : 5 façons de rater son entretien avec un banquier.

Un business plan ou plan d’affaires peut aussi se révéler nécessaire lors de la vente d’une entreprise, pour valoriser le fonds de commerce.

Le business plan ou plan d’affaires peut aussi être rédigé pour soi-même, c’est-à-dire rester interne à l’entreprise : l’idée est de poser les choses pour savoir où l’on va. Rédiger un business plan ou plan d’affaires permet de bien formuler son idée , d’aborder tous les aspects sans rien oublier, et de se poser les bonnes questions. Il est aussi un bon outil de travail entre associés , permettant de s’accorder sur une vision commune.

De la même manière qu’il est bon d’avoir un CV à jour en permanence, il est bon d’avoir un business plan ou plan d’affaires Word tenu à jour, afin d’être en mesure de présenter son projet à toute personne intéressée, à toute occasion.

Un business plan ou plan d’affaires est donc à la fois le résumé d’une étude de marché, l’exposé de l’offre, un plan financier et un point d’étape dans la vie de l’entrepreneur. C’est un test réel sur la capacité du porteur de projet a être lucide, réaliste et convaincant.

Quel est le contenu d’un business plan ou plan d’affaires ?

Le business plan ou plan d’affaires comprend plusieurs parties (le nombre et l’ordre sont donnés à titre indicatif) :

• la présentation des porteurs de projet : CV (compétences, expériences, diplômes…),
• l’historique du projet et de l’idée,
• la présentation du produit ou du service,
• la présentation du marché : l’ étude de marché,
• la description de la stratégie commerciale et marketing,
• les moyens techniques qui sont prévus,
• les moyens humains et l’organisation cible,
• le choix du statut juridique et les raisons de ce choix,
• les aspects financiers, c’est-à-dire le financement, la rentabilité et la trésorerie. Voir notre article sur le plan financier,
• les annexes : documents complémentaires ou détails concernant les points ci-dessus.

Quelles sont les clés pour concevoir un business plan ou plan d’affaires de qualité ?

Nous l’avons vu plus haut, l’objectif n°1 du business plan ou plan d’affaires est de convaincre.

Pour rédiger un business plan ou plan d’affaires de qualité, il faut d’abord être convaincu soi-même par ce que l’on écrit !

• Faites des phrases simples, allez droit au but.
• Présentez les données sous forme de points ou de tableaux plutôt que sous forme de longs paragraphes.
• Mettez en exergue les données importantes.
• Renforcez vos arguments par des éléments factuels, concrets, vérifiables.
• Montrez que vous avez identifié tous les risques et que vous avez une réponse pour chacun d’eux.
• Séduisez le lecteur en lui permettant de se projeter à travers des éléments concrets : esquisse du produit, illustrations, mises en situation, exemples.
• Utilisez de la couleur, donnez envie.
• Relisez-vous.
• Faites relire votre dossier par des personnes extérieures.

Modèle Word de business plan / plan d’affaires à télécharger (gratuit)

Cliquez pour télécharger un modèle exemple de plan d’affaires sous Word (gratuit): Modèle exemple de business plan Word (plan d’affaires)

Ce modèle Word est simple, taillé pour convaincre.

Pour ce qui est du plan financier chiffré, utilisez notre modèle Excel gratuit, très simple à remplir (cliquez).

Bonus : 3 outils Excel pour gérer votre entreprise (gratuit).

  WikiCréa met à votre disposition des outils Excel gratuits pour gérer votre entreprise :

• un facturier permettant d’établir devis et factures : cliquez ici pour y accéder,
• un livre de recettes , obligatoire pour les auto-entrepreneurs : cliquez ici pour y accéder,
• un modèle de suivi de trésorerie : cliquez ici pour y accéder.

. Voir aussi nos articles :

• Les 20 qualités essentielles d’un bon entrepreneur
• Création d’entreprise : les meilleures idées peuvent vous tuer !

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Office 2021 vs. Microsoft 365: How to choose

Microsoft office may be the most common productivity tool for corporate users, but it's not a one-size-fits-all suite. here are the differences between office 2021 and microsoft 365 and how to decide which is best for you..

Microsoft Office is how billions of people around the world go to work and school, whether they do it from home, an office, a classroom, or a combination of any of those. This suite of productivity tools is used by people working in 106 languages in nearly every country in the world, and it’s available in versions for personal, small business, enterprise, and educational use.

But there is more than one way to buy Office — or, rather, to buy the license to use it. There’s the “perpetual” version of Office that’s available as a one-time purchase; the most current version is Office 2021 . Then there’s the subscription version that lives in the cloud and for which you pay a monthly or annual fee. When this version was introduced in 2011, Microsoft called it Office 365 , later renaming it Microsoft 365 for personal and small business subscriptions. At the enterprise level, both Office 365 and Microsoft 365 plans are available. In this story, we’ll use “Microsoft 365” as shorthand for all “365” subscriptions unless we’re referring to a specific plan.

Why choose to buy it one way and not the other? The answer can be confusing, especially since each suite of tools includes most of the same applications, give or take.

Microsoft has made its preference clear: The company believes that “ the cloud will power the work of the future ” and would love it if everyone purchased Microsoft 365. There are lots of incentives for doing just that. But you have options.

Office 2021 vs. Microsoft 365: What to consider

• microsoft office: the options (plans and pricing), • how you pay for office, • how each version of office is serviced, • how office hooks up with cloud services.

Here’s help deciding which version of Office is right for you or your company.

Microsoft Office: The options

For personal use.

• Office Home & Student 2021: $150, one-time purchase for use on one computer; includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
• Microsoft 365 Personal: $70 a year or $7 a month (1 user, multiple devices); includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Microsoft 365 Family: $100 a year or $10 a month (6 users, multiple devices); includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, and Family Safety.

For small businesses

• Office Home & Business 2021: $250, one-time purchase for use on one computer; includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Office Professional 2021: $440, one-time purchase for use on one computer; includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access; works with Teams.
• Microsoft 365 Apps for business: $8.25/user/month (up to 300 users); includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, Publisher, and Access.
• Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium: plans range from $6/user/month to $22/user/month (up to 300 users); tools included depend on the level of your subscription. Desktop versions of Word, Excel, and other Office apps require a Standard plan or higher; the Basic plan offers only web and mobile versions. All plans include Exchange email hosting, OneDrive, and SharePoint. The Premium plan adds advanced security and management features.

For enterprises

• Office LTSC 2021: available only through volume licensing ; this Office title stands for Long Term Servicing Channel — it’s the commercial version of Office 2021. According to Microsoft, it’s designed for regulated devices that can’t accept updates for security reasons and for systems that don’t connect to the internet. (Note, however, that it’s the only non-subscription version of Office available for large organizations.) Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, and Publisher.
• Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise: $12/user/month (up to 5 devices per user); annual commitment required; includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, OneNote, Access, and Publisher.
• Office 365 E1, E3, and E5: plans range from $10/user/month to $38/user/month; annual commitment required; tools included depend on the level of your subscription. Desktop versions of Word, Excel, and other Office apps require an E3 plan or higher; the E1 plan offers only web and mobile versions. All plans include Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and additional enterprise services. The E5 plan adds advanced security, compliance, and management features.
• Microsoft 365 E3 and E5: plans range from $36/user/month to $57/user/month; annual commitment required; these plans offer most of the same features as the Office 365 E3 and E5 plans, and also include Windows and additional Microsoft services such as Visio.
• Other plans: Microsoft offers additional Office 365 and Microsoft 365 plans for education , government , and nonprofit organizations, and for frontline workers .

How you pay for Office

One big difference between the “2021” and “365” options is how you pay for them. If you are buying a “perpetual license” (such as with Office Home & Business 2021 or Office LTSC 2021 ), you pay a larger sum than with the subscription’s offerings under the Microsoft 365 or Office 365 brand, but you do so only once. When you subscribe to any of the Microsoft 365 or Office 365 plans, you pay annually or monthly.

Office 2021: a perpetual license

Whether you buy a single copy of Office 2021 in a retail outlet or download hundreds of seats via volume licensing, Microsoft calls this is a “one-time purchase” because you pay only once, not every month. (Labels like “perpetual,” which have been widely used by  Computerworld , technically note the type of license rather than payment methodology, but in this case, the kind of license is tied to whether it was bought outright or simply “rented.”)

Microsoft defines the term as when “…you pay a single, up-front cost to get Office applications for one computer.” Up-front is the key adjective there. You have to ante up the entire purchase price before you get the software.

That purchase of a license to legally run the software gives you the right to use that version of Office 2021 in perpetuity. In other words, the license has no expiration date, and users may run the suite for as long as they want. Pay for Office 2021 this year and use it for the next seven years? Fine. Use it to operate your space portal in the year 2050? Nothing to stop you. (Except hardware compatibility. Though you could probably find an old, refurbished computer and drag that into space.)

But if you want new features that come out with the next update, you will have to pay full price again, whatever that is, when the next version comes out — if one comes out. There are no upgrade options on the perpetual license packages.

Microsoft 365: Office as a service

Microsoft 365, the purchase method Microsoft would prefer you choose, is a subscription service, where you pay the software giant monthly or annually. There is a discount, sometimes a tempting one, for going with the annual payment plan over the monthly one. (All enterprise plans, from Enterprise E1 to E5, require an annual commitment.) And the company is always sweetening this pot by offering more apps than you get with the perpetual license products and with a continuous supply of new features.

Like any subscription, Microsoft 365 provides a service — in this case, the right to run the suite’s applications and access the associated services — only as long as payments continue. Stop paying, and rights to run the apps expire. This happens in a progressive way , giving you time to download your data or update your payment plan, whichever you choose.

For 30 days after non-payment, your plan will be “Expired.” You will still have access to all your apps and files. If you don’t activate it again while it’s in the Expired stage, it moves to “Disabled,” where it will stay for 90 days. You won’t be able to access your apps or data until you pay up. If you still don’t pay for your plan, it will be “Deleted.” At that point, it’s gone.

A Microsoft 365 license, then, is contingent on sustained payments. Halt the latter, and the license is revoked. Restart the payments — but don’t wait too long — to restore the license.

How each version of Office is serviced

Although payments define one difference between Office 2021 and Microsoft 365, Microsoft’s development and release pace is ultimately more important to users — and the IT professionals who support them.

Think of Office 2021 as traditional software — a bundle of tools that typically don’t change much until the next major version. That holds for servicing, too. Microsoft does release monthly security and quality updates for the perpetual license versions of Office. (You can check from within any Office app if there are updates available . From, say, a Word document, go to File > Account and look for Product Information . Then choose Update Options and Update Now .)

But Office 2021 doesn’t get the continually upgraded features and functionality that Microsoft 365 does. What you get when you buy the suite, feature-wise, is it. If you want the updates, at some point in the future, you will have to buy whatever version Microsoft is selling as a perpetual license then.

(The company says of the release of Office LTSC 2021, “While this will not be our last perpetual release, we continue to make investments that make it even easier for customers to adopt Microsoft 365.” And in an online explainer about all Office products, the company says, “We are happy to confirm our commitment to another release of the perpetual version of Office in the future, beyond this release.”)

Microsoft regularly releases feature and security updates for Microsoft 365 apps, though. And it releases them as they happen. As new features and functionality accrete, and the applications in Microsoft 365 evolve, Microsoft will decide it’s time for a new version of Office. It will then package some of those features into an upgraded suite for customers who continue to make one-time, up-front purchases. How long they keep doing this likely depends on how long there is a demand for these “locked in time” versions.

One other important note: Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 will be supported with security updates only through Oct. 13, 2026. That’s just five years of support, down from seven years in Office 2019 and 10 years in prior releases. In contrast, with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, support never runs out — as long as you keep paying, of course.

How Office hooks up with cloud services

One reason to choose Office 2021 over Microsoft 365 is internet access. If you don’t have reliable access to the cloud, can’t be connected to the internet for security reasons, or — for whatever reason, maybe you live on a remote mountaintop — your computer is often offline, this is the type of software you need.

In fact, internet access is one of the main reasons Microsoft can’t force us all to subscribe to Microsoft 365. Microsoft 365 runs in apps that are downloaded to your computer, phone, or tablet, but those apps require near-constant internet access, especially if you use OneDrive and store all your files in the cloud.

In standard use, Microsoft 365 stops working if it can’t connect to the internet for 30 days. For some use cases, this is a deal breaker. But the company is making efforts to overcome this objection to the Microsoft 365 products. Last year, Microsoft launched features for enterprise users that allow Microsoft 365 keep working without issue even if it is offline for extended periods of time. An IT administrator has to set it up, but after that, a user can keep working, offline, for up to 180 days.

Office 2021, on the other hand, does not rely as heavily on an internet connection to operate, save files, and self-update. You can connect it when you have access and work offline when you don’t. This, as much as cost and a desire to stick to old-school software distribution models is, perhaps, the most compelling reason to insist on one of the perpetual license products.

Whichever license you ultimately choose, you will get many of the same tools. And the reasons for making one choice over another have less to do with price and features than with how you or your users work, support and security needs, reliability of internet access, online storage and collaboration needs, and how excited (or annoyed) you or your users are likely to be by new features that turn up, like a gift, in the software.

This article was originally published in July 2017 and most recently updated in June 2022.

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How to Implement a Referral Program That Grows Sales

Raul Galera

6 min. read

Updated April 9, 2024

Referral programs are a powerful marketing tool for driving sales.

Did you know that a consumer is up to 50x more likely to buy a product if it’s recommended by family or friends?  That’s exactly why you should count on loyal customers to act as brand advocates.  

People are more likely to trust their network so referrals are an effective means of getting new customers. Opinions of customers obviously have more weight than a sponsored ad.

Now, how can you use a referral program to boost sales? In this guide, you’ll learn the basics of referral marketing and tips for running your own referral program. 

• Why run a referral program?

Referral programs incentivize your brand advocates to promote your brand. 

Brand advocates get a referral code to share with their network. If a friend uses the code to make their first purchase,  this counts as a successful referral. Following that, the referrer is rewarded. This can be in the form of a discount, freebie, or monetary compensation. 

Of course, referrals can also happen organically without the need for any referral program. However, rather than waiting for that to happen, a referral program will create a real motivation to tell others about you.

Ultimately, this leads to more referrals, more new customers, and more rewards for brand advocates. It’s a win-win-win situation! 

For example, WoolOver’s referral program gives brand advocates 20% off when their friends make their first order. The referred friend also gets a 20% off discount to motivate them to make their first purchase.

• Why is word of mouth so effective?

Referral marketing relies heavily on word of mouth and it’s one of the most powerful marketing tactics to scale a business organically . 

Imagine the last time that you chose an eCommerce store, restaurant, or hotel. Prior to entering a restaurant, we bet that the most effective restaurant marketing tactic was a referral. You may have seen a social media post from your peers or learned about it from a conversation with your loved ones. 

Sharing branded experiences has been ingrained in our everyday lives. Naturally, we share good consumer experiences through in-person conversations or online social media posts. If we’re experts about a topic or service, we freely share our knowledge to guide the people around us. 

Alternatively, we ask for referrals when diving into unknown territory. Information may be available online, yet we seek validation from peers to make decisions. 

The prominence of word-of-mouth in everyday life will easily make you realize that it’s an impactful sales strategy.  In a nutshell, referrals are more relevant and trustworthy than sponsored ads and other marketing channels. 

If you need an example, look no further than those who create online courses . While they can do their best to create funnels, traffic sources, and a highly regarded reputation the easiest way to sell these courses is to create a community of engaged students that builds upon itself.

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• How does referral marketing affect your branding efforts?

Referral marketing has a lot of benefits not just in terms of profit but also in branding. Here are some of the main ones: 

Access to brand ambassadors 

Marketers emphasize the importance of quality content such as blog posts, social media updates, ebooks, and other marketing materials to boost brand awareness. But having a group of brand ambassadors willing to vouch for your business is equally important. 

A referral program enables businesses to have brand advocates that are willing to introduce their company and promote their latest products to customers. Instead of sponsored influencers, these brand ambassadors have established a loyal relationship with your business. They’re more than willing to simultaneously buy your products and promote your brand because they love what you do. 

Improve overall reputation 

Referral marketing programs provide you with a genuine method of sharing your brand story and improving your overall reputation. In fact, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and only 33% trust online ads. 

Customers that act as brand ambassadors are more trustworthy and authentic sources for your businesses’ information. While brand advocates only get a small token for their efforts, they will only take the time to promote a brand that they genuinely love. That’s because they want their friends and family to have positive consumer experiences.

Gain loyal customers 

Getting a new customer along the sales funnel costs considerable time, money, and effort —but a referral program makes it easier. Brand advocates can easily convince their friends and family to try the products that they love. 

For example, Sellfy invites its loyal customers to use referral links when spreading the word about the company. This allows new customers to get $15 off their first subscription payment and existing ones earn a $15 credit toward their next subscription payment.

Not only does it help satisfied customers get bonuses, but it also makes referred consumers to be more loyal. It’s proven that referred customers spend 13.2% more on average than regular customers. This proves that customers may establish a strong relationship with your brands when their friends get them onboard. 

• How to run a referral program effectively

1. Focus on your product and services

How do you get started? The first step is to have a great product that people will want to talk about and share. This is the ticket to a great customer experience, repeat purchases, and referrals. 

2. Choose an enticing incentive

The next step is to choose an incentive. Will you reward customers with cash, freebies, discounts, or exclusive products? Pick cost-effective prizes that can be distributed en masse to customers, without losing profits. 

For example, Greats’ “Give $30, Get $30” referral program lets referred friends get $30 off their first order, while brand advocates get the same reward on their next purchase.

3. Promote your program

Afterward, promote your referral program. Spread the word to your current customers through your website, emails, and social media posts. 

If you want to make things interactive and fun for your (potential) participants consider using chatbots to inform your site visitors about your program. You can set them up in a way that automates the whole sign-up flow and makes it seamless for both — you and your participants to move things forward.

4. Track your progress

Finally, monitor and track your progress through analytical tools. The main perk of a referral program is it gives you the ability to determine whether customers were referred by their friends or brought by your own marketing efforts. It also allows you to keep track of brand advocates and create campaigns that will boost customer engagement and retention. 

• Ready to launch your referral program?

Launching a referral program can have a big impact on your sales. 

Many consumers rely on the referrals of their friends and family. That’s precisely why launching a referral program can help you grow your customer base and reward your brand advocates. 

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Raul Galera is the Partner Manager at ReferralCandy and Candybar, two tools helping small and medium businesses run customer referral and loyalty programs. He has been working in the tech sector for the past seven years and regularly writes about marketing, eCommerce, and tech.

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What consultants and employees need to know about ‘treadmill leaders’.

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Will she ever get to her destination?

Some of the most common verbs found in business conversation, and especially on meeting agendas, are what I call “Treadmill Verbs.” These words invite people to talk without purpose. Like being on a treadmill, these words offer no destination—no lakeshore, no mountain top—you simply never “arrive.” On a treadmill, you can always walk another mile, and in response to a treadmill request , you can always talk another mile (or another ten minutes). As a result, you could conceivably keep talking forever. And those who like to talk, often seem to do exactly that!

Treadmill verbs

Unfortunately, there are many, many treadmill verbs . Here are some of the most common—and therefore some of the most harmful. Notice that in every case, you could do them forever; there is no way to know when you are done.

• Communicate

Have you heard those words much? Can you see why I call them treadmill verbs ?

When asked to review something, do you realize how many dimensions that review could take? Grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, organization, logic, accuracy, persuasiveness, credibility, strategic alignment, appropriate inclusion of backstory and historical and factual references, clarity of objectives and roles, appropriate emphasis, relevant prior and pending decisions, important opinions, and appropriate length. Imagine if you tackled all of them! And then you could start over and double check each one!

I coined the term treadmill verbs (along with the variations: treadmill activities , treadmill requests , treadmill conversations, and treadmill leaders ), to draw attention to the frequency with which these productivity killing verbs are used.

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Anyone who speaks in treadmill verbs is “Clarity Blind,” another term I coined to describe those who don’t realize how unclear they are and haven’t a clue as to how costly is that “Disclarity.”

How unclear is the word “clarity”?

Oh, yes, I coined disclarity as well because I got tired of typing “a lack of clarity.” As a matter of fact, in order to write the modern classic, The Power of Clarity , I had to coin a lot of new terms because one of the reasons we are so unclear is that we don’t even have the vocabulary to talk about how clear or unclear we are . The word “clarity” itself is incredibly unclear. As we struggle to distinguish between what is clear and what isn’t, we say things such as:

• It’s a little unclear.
• It’s very unclear.
• It’s confusing.
• Let me see if I can clarify.
• I’m not sure I understand completely.
• If only things were a little clearer.

It’s as if things are always just a smidgeon off from that nebulous point called “clarity.” As if a little nudge in the right direction would make things perfect.

When we talk that way, are we being diplomatic and polite? Maybe.

Or are we clarity blind and don’t realize how incredibly unclear things often are (such as requests like “Please review this”)? Probably.

But there is another answer as well. We simply don’t have the vocabulary to discuss levels of clarity.

Consider the following list of descriptors for the temperature of soup. I bet you would have no trouble organizing these from hottest to coldest. Furthermore, I bet you and your coworkers and friends would agree on the order!

• Nice and hot

Now can you make a similar sorted list for levels of clarity that you and your coworkers and friends would agree upon? Other than ranking “a little unclear” ahead of “very unclear,” I doubt it.

Destination verbs

Now back to those treadmill verbs . If you don’t want to look like a foolish clarity blind treadmill leader , you need to eliminate them from your vocabulary and choose “Destination Verbs” instead.

The really good news is that there are only six destination verbs that lead to true progress. These verbs leave no question as to the outcome. In every case, you will know when you are done. Furthermore, every single one unleashes next steps!!! And that is huge. That’s called progress!!! Especially in the cognitive zone . (Yup. Another term I coined. It comes up again, so make a point of reading that link or The Power of Clarity later.)

So here are the six awesome destination verbs . Notice that in every case, it’s pretty easy to know when you are done. Notice also that when you are done, you have unleashed next steps.

This is a biggie because decisions are arguably the most important and most common task in the cognitive zone . Once you reach a decision, you are done. And you’ve unleashed next steps.

Another biggie. Once you have a plan, you are done and you’ve unleashed next steps. Just be sure you don’t turn planning into a treadmill verb ! Some people are really good at that!

Once again, when you resolve a problem, you are done. And you’ve unleashed next steps. Isn’t that wonderful?

This one might look a little strange, but you need a number of lists to execute the previous destination verbs : decide, plan, and solve. For example, a decision requires a list of decision criteria, a list of alternatives, a list of risks, and a list of actions to mitigate those risks. A plan also requires lists such as objectives, action items, resources, milestones, risks, and mitigating activities. When you resolve a problem, you need to list possible causes, most likely causes, possible solutions, best solutions, and steps for verifying the best solution. As long as your list is in service to a decision, plan, or problem resolution, it’s a worthy list. And once you’ve made your list, you are done and you’ve unleashed next steps.

We’ve all needed confirmation at times. “I’ve done X and I’m about to do Y. Am I on the right track?” This is a simple Yes/No question. If the answer is No, a follow up conversation might be warranted to generate a new plan or list of factors to investigate further. Either way, this should be a quick response that unleashes next steps. Unfortunately, confirmation requests often lead to rambling answers about what to look out for later, old battle stories, and endless advice that was not asked for. When you ask for confirmation, be firm. Demand a Yes or No before allowing any other conversation.

Approve , like confirm , is another Yes/No request. “I’ve done X and I’m ready to do Y. Do I have permission to begin?” Like confirm , it ought to generate a quick answer, with a Yes unleashing next steps immediately.

Don’t be a treadmill leader !

Instead of asking others to update, share, communicate, inform, report, and the like, concentrate instead on accomplishing two things:

• Determine what decisions, plans, problem resolutions, lists, confirmations, and approvals you need to make real progress.
• Tell others what you are doing that may interfere with or influence their decisions, plans, problem resolutions, lists, confirmations, and approvals.

Bring that kind of clarity to your interactions, especially your meetings, and instead of talking endlessly, you will get off the treadmill, get to the point, and get what you need!

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Sri Lanka Development Update 2024

Thilina Kaluthotage

The Sri Lanka Development Update (SLDU) has two main aims. First, it reports on key developments over the past 12 months in Sri Lanka’s economy, places these in longer term and global contexts, and updates the outlook for Sri Lanka’s economy. Second, the SLDU provides a more in-depth examination of selected economic and policy issues. It is intended for a wide audience, including policymakers, business leaders, financial market participants, think tanks, non-governmental organizations and the community of analysts and professionals interested in Sri Lanka’s evolving economy.

Click here to download the latest Sri Lanka Development Update (April 2024).

RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

The economy contracted by 2.3 percent in 2023, despite growth in third and fourth quarters (1.6 and 4.5 percent, respectively) following six quarters of contraction. This was driven by shrinking construction and mining, financial and IT services, and textile manufacturing, amid weak demand, tight private credit, and shortages of inputs, and was partly offset by growth in transport, accommodation, food, and beverage services, resulting from a rebound in tourism. Inflation remained benign, after declining to single-digit levels in July 2023, supported by currency appreciation and improved supply. However, with the recent spike in food prices and pass-through of fuel and utility prices, headline inflation as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index increased to 5.9 percent in February 2024. Labor force participation declined (from 49.8 to 48.8 percent between 2022 and third quarter of 2023), especially in urban areas. Households have adopted risky coping strategies to deal with lower incomes and price pressures, including using savings, taking on more debt, and limiting their diets. Food insecurity rose during the second-half of 2023, with 24 percent of households being food insecure.

After almost two years of monetary tightening, the central bank cut policy rates by 650 basis points between June and November 2023. Combined with improvements in liquidity, this resulted in a sharp decline in the government’s cost of domestic borrowing. While growth rates remain negative, private sector credit has been recovering monthly since June 2023.

In 2023, the current account recorded a surplus for the first time since 1977, as remittances and tourism rebounded sharply, and imports remained subdued. The continued external debt service suspension, inflows from development partners, large purchases of foreign exchange, and postponed repayments on existing credit lines have helped build usable official reserves to about 2 months of imports (US$3.1 billion by end-February 2024, compared to US$500 million in December 2022). The Rupee appreciated by 10.8 percent against the US Dollar in 2023.

Despite the primary balance registering a surplus—due to a significant increase in revenue and the repayment of an on-lent amount by an State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), a sharp rise in interest payments is estimated to have contributed to a high overall fiscal deficit in 2023. Interest payments absorbed approximately three-fourths of revenue collected.

In 2022, Sri Lanka plunged into a severe economic crisis, as longstanding structural weaknesses were exacerbated by exogenous shocks and policy mistakes. After losing access to international financial markets in 2020, official reserves dropped precipitously, and the forex liquidity constraint led to severe shortages of essential goods. The country announced an external debt service suspension in April 2022, pending debt restructuring. The economy contracted by 9.5 percent in total during 2022 and 2023, and public and publicly guaranteed debt ballooned to 119.2 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022 amid high inflation (46.4 percent, annual average in 2022) and a sharp currency depreciation (81.2 percent, 2022). Food insecurity and malnutrition increased, poverty doubled, and inequality widened. Approximately 60 percent of households experienced a decline in income due to reduced work hours or job losses. The implementation of recent structural reforms, including cost-reflective utility pricing and new revenue measures, helped macroeconomic stability but strained household budgets. Domestic debt restructuring was completed in September 2023, while negotiations with external creditors are progressing. In March 2024, a Staff Level Agreement was reached between the authorities and International Monetary Fund staff on the second review of the Extended Fund Facility program. Key reforms focusing on debt, fiscal management, trade, investment, and SOEs continue to advance.

Growth prospects depend on progress with debt restructuring and the continued implementation of structural reforms. The primarily revenue-based fiscal adjustment is, however, likely to further reduce disposable incomes, weaken demand, and weigh down growth in the short-term. The modest recovery will be insufficient to reverse welfare losses experienced during the crisis, and poverty is estimated to remain above 22 percent until 2026.

Inflation is likely to rise moderately in the near-term, due to new revenue measures and the waning of favorable base effects, and remain benign in the medium-term as demand continues to be subdued. Further increases could reverse the marginal poverty reduction (1.1 percentage points) expected in 2024.

The current account is projected to remain in surplus, with subdued import growth and gradual recovery in tourism and remittances. Although the primary deficit is expected to decline further, the overall fiscal balance will remain high in 2024 due to the large interest bill. Debt restructuring and continued fiscal consolidation are projected to reduce the overall fiscal balance in the medium term.

While recent macroeconomic performance has been better than expected, downside risks remain high, given a narrow path to recovery and limited buffers. These risks include a protracted or insufficiently deep debt restructuring, reform fatigue or reversal following the elections, and a weaker recovery linked to scarring effects from the crisis. With declining household expenditure on health and education, concerns over the impact on future human capital remain high. Financial sector risks need to be carefully monitored as elevated nonperforming loans and significant exposure to the sovereign continue to hinder financial sector stability and impede credit intermediation. On the upside, a strong and sustained implementation of the structural reform program, could boost confidence and attract fresh capital inflows.

Last Updated: Apr 02, 2024