checklist for business plan

Business Plan Checklist

Whether it’s for a bank, investors, validation, and/or a roadmap, your company needs a written business plan to convert your ideas into an organized, professional document.

The business plan format will change depending on why you’re writing it and who you’re writing it for. If you’re seeking validation, it’s best to start with a simple one-page pitch. On the other hand, if you’re pursuing funding, you’ll need a professional, formal business plan.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

Regardless of the intentions behind your business plan, having a checklist of what needs to be included is helpful to make sure you’re effectively getting your ideas and strategies down on paper.

As a baseline, your business plan should include these 10 sections:

Executive Summary

Company Overview

Industry Analysis

Customer Analysis

Competitive Analysis

Marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan, the essential business plan checklist.

Here, I will explain the different elements you need to include in each section. Use this resource as a business plan questions checklist and mark them off as you go.

Your executive summary should explain the problem you are solving and how you intend to solve it. When reviewing your business plan, address the following:

The function of your business
Competitors
Target customers
Key financial highlights
Key members of your team
Business goals

Essentially, you want to ensure that your executive summary introduces your business in a detailed yet concise form, explaining the key parts of your business and the market.

Company Overview

Here, you will give a brief summary of your company as a whole and how it functions. Be certain to include:

Company history
Founding members
Milestones you have achieved
The legal structure of your business

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

Your industry analysis will provide a summary of your market research. After doing your research, include answers to the following questions in your business plan:

How big is the market?
Where is the market currently: growing or declining?
Who are some of the key competitors?
What is influencing the industry?

Customer Analysis

In your customer analysis, you will explain the audience you are targeting and expect to serve. Be sure to focus on your target customers and the customer needs. It should explain the:

Demographic profile of your target market
Customer segments within that market

Your competitive analysis will address your competition in the market. It should have three subsections as follows:

Direct Competitors: other businesses in your market (example: if you own an ice cream shop, other ice cream shops are direct competitors)
Indirect Competitors: other businesses that may not specifically be in your business’s market, but provide similar results to that of your company (example: if you own an ice cream shop, grocery stores that sell ice cream are indirect competitors)

For each competitor, identify both their strengths and weaknesses. Be sure to address the following:

What features do they offer?
What is their pricing?
Who are their customers?
What are they good at?
What are their weaknesses?

Describe your competitive advantages or what your business will do better. Here, provide answers to the following questions:

Will you offer more or better features?
Will you ensure better results for your users?
Will you offer better pricing?
Will your customer service be more efficient?

Be sure that your competitive analysis describes just how your business will succeed and stand out in its competitive market.

Your plan should include the following marketing plan sections:

Product : detail the specific features of your business’s product
Price : identify your business pricing and if there will be different pricing levels (e.g., free, premium) and what exactly those levels will be
Place : name where your business will be located
Promotions : how you will attract customers to your business (social media advertising, pay-per-click advertising, magazine advertising, public relations, etc.)

Here, you will describe how your company will effectively meet the goals you identified in the earlier sections of your business plan. Your operations plan should have two sections:

Every day short-term processes: all necessary daily operations completed simply for the function of your business (providing customer service, writing code, fixing bugs, etc.)
Long-term goals: milestones you hope to achieve (reaching $X in sales, having Y amount of employees, etc.)

It is essential to have a strong management team for the function and success of your business. Be sure to include the following:

Management team: highlight your key players’ backgrounds and describe their skills and talents
Management team gaps: any experience that you think your business will need in order to succeed
Board members

Your financial plan will document your 5-year financial projections , broken down in monthly or quarterly projections for the first year, and then annually thereafter. Your focus here is to show how much money you need, how much income you will earn, and when you will be profitable.

Your financial plan should include:

Profit & Loss statement
Cash flow statement
Balance sheet
Sales forecast
Personnel plan
Break-even analysis

To provide evidence to your numbers, include supporting documentation in your financial plan.

Your appendix will provide any and all other documentation or information that you believe supports your business plan. If necessary, your appendix can include:

Resumes of key management, blurbs on other management members
Job descriptions/titles
Copies of forms
Copies of licenses
Personal and business tax returns (if applying for a loan)
Marketing materials

To ensure that your business plan effectively portrays the mission and potential success of your business, go through this checklist and make sure you have included each concept mentioned. A fill in the blank business plan also includes each of these key sections and can help you quickly and easily complete your business plan.

Business Plan Checklist FAQs

How do i make a business plan checklist.

We’ve completed the hard work for you! You can download this Business Plan Checklist PDF for quick reference as you complete your business plan.

What are the 10 Components of a Business Plan?

Read our article detailing the 10 Key Components of the Business Plan .

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Click here to finish your business plan today.

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Business startup checklist: How to launch a startup step by step

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Here, we'll walk you through all the things you need to launch a startup. And you can download our business startup checklist to keep you on track as you take your first steps as a new business owner .

Checklist for starting a business

Image of Zapier's business startup checklist

1. Write a business plan

A business plan will help you nail down your goals and expectations and give you a roadmap for getting your company off the ground. If you plan to pitch investors or apply for a business loan, you'll need a business plan—most won't even consider a pitch unless there's a business plan attached.

Parts of a business plan

Depending on the complexity of your business idea, a business plan can be as short as a page or as big as a thick, data-packed document. No matter how simple or complex, every business plan should have at least a few key parts:

An executive summary , or a top-level outline of everything in the business plan.

A business description , including your company's structure, industry, value proposition , background information, and both short- and long-term business objectives.

A market analysis that evaluates where your business stands in relation to competitors, target customers, and industry trends.

A description of your products or services.

Financial projections like pricing and sales strategy, profit goals, and investor details.

An operational overview laying out the logistical "how"s of your business, including logistics, distribution, and production plans.

Business planning software

If you have any basic business experience or know-how, you can probably get through writing a business plan on your own, but if you're feeling totally lost or if you just want something to help move you through the steps more efficiently, business plan writing software might be the way to go.

BizPlan and Enloop are two examples of business plan platforms with reasonable monthly costs. IdeaBuddy is another platform that's meant to be used earlier in the process when you're still fleshing out ideas to help develop and refine your business concept, then guide you toward a formalized plan.

2. Estimate your startup costs

Calculating your startup costs will help you appeal to investors and estimate when your new business will start to become profitable.

Types of startup costs

To begin, you'll need to calculate your exact startup costs. These may include:

One-time startup costs: state business registration fees, lease deposits, etc.

Labor costs: your salary plus worker salaries

Overhead costs: monthly office rent, utilities, taxes, computer equipment, production costs

Spreadsheets are your friend with planning business finances—and we have a set of business budget templates to help you estimate monthly and one-time expenses for your business.

Start saving

Just like homeowners need an emergency fund for when the roof starts leaking, you also need an emergency fund for your new business. How much you need depends on the size of your operation and whether you're keeping your current job or going all-in on your new endeavor. It takes most startups at least a few months (and usually more) to become profitable, so if your startup is going to be your main source of income, you'll need at least a few months of operating expenses plus your own living expenses stashed away.

Find funding

Skip the family loan and second mortgage. Better loan options include the Small Business Association , your local bank, or new types of online lenders .

You might even start a crowdfunding campaign to generate cash—which is also a good way to test out your business idea's viability. Remember, though, that your purpose isn't to raise money. Your purpose is to create a viable business with products or services that genuinely help your customers.

3. Register your business

Before we dive into the details of business registration, a disclaimer: what we're providing here is a basic overview of the general requirements for most businesses in the United States. If you operate internationally or work in some niche industry like long-haul tobacco and airplane fuel shipping , these guidelines are one hundred percent guaranteed not to cover everything you need to know about registering your business.

Even if your company is fairly small, there may be specific requirements in your state or county that aren't covered here. No matter what, make sure you do your own research with local and state governments or consult with a lawyer to determine the legal requirements that apply to you.

Pick a business structure

Business structures boil down to four main types: sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. For legal and tax purposes, decide which type you'll operate under—though you can always switch to a different business type as your company grows.

Sole proprietorships: This is the simplest type of business to start and run. It means that you are the company, and all assets and debts of the company are yours too. This also means you'll be personally liable for all business obligations like lawsuits or unpaid debts, so this is the riskiest business structure.

Partnerships: T hese are like sole proprietorships, except there's more than one owner. Co-owners typically structure their business relationship with partnership operating agreements. Partners split the company's legal and financial obligations and also share in the profits.

Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships (LLCs and LLPs): When you form an LLC or LLP, you work as a "member" of the company, along with any company partners. If the company goes into debt or gets sued, your personal assets are protected. Compared to corporations, there's less paperwork and smaller startup costs.

Corporations: When you incorporate, you create a separate legal entity that owns all of the assets and liabilities for the company. Corporations are usually more attractive to outside investors—you can "go public" with an initial public offering (IPO) and raise money through selling stock in the company.

Illustration of hands shaking, a person working alone in an office and a group of three individuals representing the four business structure types

Choose a business name

Start by writing down every single name that pops into your head, including the ridiculous names ( bad idea brainstorms work!). This will get your creativity flowing. Plus, you can pull elements that you like from the throwaway names and incorporate them into your more serious ideas.

If you plan to register a trademark on your business's name, keep in mind what can't be trademarked:

Any person's name who hasn't given expressed permission

Swears or other offensive content

Government flags and insignia

Your name also needs to meet the U.S. Trademark Office's requirements for "distinctiveness," which just means your trademark needs to be unique enough to avoid confusion between yourself and other similarly named businesses.

Register your company

All businesses except sole proprietors with no employees must register with the IRS and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This is your company's federal tax identification, which you'll use when paying taxes, opening a bank account, applying for business licenses, and hiring employees.

You may need to register your business with your state government. Use the Small Business Administration's state lookup tool to find information for your state. Similarly, contact your local government office to find out if additional registrations or permits are necessary.

4. Open accounts and obtain permits

With your business plan in hand, it's time to lay the operational and financial groundwork to get your company off the ground.

Open a company bank account

Even if you run a sole proprietorship and your business is just you, life will be easier if you have a separate bank account to manage your business finances. If you want to accept credit card payments either online or in person, look into credit card payment processing services .

Get licenses and permits

In certain industries, you'll need licenses and permits in order to operate legally. This usually applies in industries where there's a risk of damage to the customer—think construction, hair salons, and financial consulting. Some municipalities also require home-based businesses to hold a "home occupation permit," so make sure you find out what licenses you need before you open your doors, no matter what industry you're in.

Find out if you need a Sales Tax Permit

If you sell physical products and you operate in a state that collects sales taxes, you likely need to register for a Sales Tax Permit. Most states administer these permits for free or for a nominal fee.

Illustrated table showing the common types of business licenses and permits

5. Set up a financial accounting system

Money can get complicated very quickly, so you want to have an automated system for financial accounting, budgeting, and documentation before you start making any sales.

Basic bookkeeping 101

There are a number of bookkeeping records that small business owners need to update on a regular basis to keep their business finances in order. These tasks include:

Income statements

Balance sheets

Cash flow statements

Bills and invoices

Quarterly financial statements

Tax returns

Unless you're very confident in your skills with an Excel spreadsheet, you should invest in accounting software or consider hiring a part-time bookkeeper . Check out Zapier's list of the best accounting software for small businesses for some apps to try out.

Understand your tax liability

Business taxes are very different from employee taxes. The biggest difference is that small businesses are required to file taxes quarterly instead of annually. You need to have enough cash on hand to remit payment to the IRS every three months, which can take some getting used to.

If you have employees, you'll also need to keep in mind that employee taxes are paid to the government by the employer. If you've ever looked at your own pay stubs, you'll know that each includes a record of what taxes were taken out of your paycheck. Those taxes aren't taken by the government directly—they're taken out by the employer, who is then responsible for sending employees' taxes to the IRS.

6. Buy business insurance

As soon as you hire employees, open a physical location, or begin to scale your business, you'll need liability insurance of some sort. General liability insurance covers you in case someone is injured on your property or as a result of your company's activities.

Additional policies that are common for new businesses include:

Professional liability: Covers you in case an error or omission on your part costs your clients money.

Workers' compensation: Covers medical expenses and lost wages for employees who are injured while working.

Business interruption insurance: Helps replace lost revenue if your business is forced to close temporarily due to a natural disaster or other event.

Property insurance: Covers your physical property, from company equipment to office or warehouse space.

7. Create a management system

For a single-person business, a management system can be as simple as a set of to-do lists for keeping track of budgets and schedules. Larger businesses will need to formalize processes for managing workflows, finances, schedules, team organization, and more.

Management setup

When getting your management system up and running, focus on the essentials. At a minimum, you'll need a structure for managing:

Calendars and scheduling

Customer communications

Budgets, invoices, and other financial documents

Industry-specific KPIs

Purchasing and order fulfillment

If you're starting with a team, you'll also want to put together an organizational chart . Determining each person's responsibilities will help eliminate confusion and oversights.

Invest in branding and marketing

The fun part, of course, comes at the very end of all the operational logistics. Take some time to think through your marketing strategy before launching your business. At a minimum, you'll need to start with a website, a logo, and social media accounts.

Establishing a brand identity

Start by thinking through how you want to come off to others as a brand. Usually, your brand voice will align closely with the industry you're in—financial and legal firms tend to be serious and authoritative, while creative agencies need to be witty and innovative.

Consistency is far more important than trying for fancy, versatile, or expensive branding. A company with a simple, casual tone and one or two brand colors and basic designs will do far better than a company that tries out a different tone with each social post.

List of things needed to start a business

Starting a business doesn't need to be an overwhelming undertaking. With a bit of organizational planning and this business startup checklist , you can get your company up and running quickly. Of course, the more tasks you automate on this list, the smoother everything will run, and the quicker you'll be able to start making sales. Learn more with this small business guide to automation .

Improve your productivity automatically. Use Zapier to get your apps working together.

A Zap with the trigger 'When I get a new lead from Facebook,' and the action 'Notify my team in Slack'

Business Plan Checklist

The Business Plan Checklist is a comprehensive guide to help entrepreneurs create an effective business plan. It covers a range of topics, from the basics of business plans to detailed information on each section. It includes a simple set of questions to help entrepreneurs assess if their business plan is complete. Additionally, it provides tips and suggestions for improving the plan and contains links to additional resources. It's an invaluable tool for anyone starting a business or revising their existing business plan. It's easy to follow, and can help entrepreneurs create a plan that meets their needs and get the most out of their business.

Executive Summary: Provide a concise overview of your business plan..
Business Description: Describe the nature of your business, including the products or services you offer, the target market, and the competitive advantages you possess..
Market Analysis: Identify and analyze your target market and assess the potential for your business..
Organization and Management: Describe the organization of your business, including its legal structure, ownership, management team and key personnel..
Products and Services: Describe the products and services you offer, how they are priced, and how you will promote them..
Marketing Plan: Describe your marketing strategy, including how you will attract and retain customers..
Financial Plan: Provide an overview of your financial projections, including your income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, and break-even analysis..
Funding Request: Outline your funding needs and how you plan to use the funds..
Appendix: Include any additional information or supporting documents that you believe are necessary..

Checklist Category

Startup Essentials

You may be also interested in

Startup Funding Checklist
Strategic Planning Checklist
Business Model Canvas Checklist
Financial Planning Checklist
Market Research Checklist
SWOT Analysis Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a business plan, a business plan is a written document that outlines a company's goals, plans and strategies for achieving them. it is typically created by the company's founders or management team and outlines the company's vision, mission, financial projections, and other important considerations., what information should be included in a business plan, a business plan should include a detailed description of the business, its product or service, its target market, its competitive advantage, its financial projections, and its management team. it should also include a detailed timeline for achieving the goals outlined in the plan., how do i create a business plan, the best way to create a business plan is to start by outlining the company's objectives and goals. from there, you can develop a detailed strategy for achieving those goals. finally, you can include financial projections and other details to help support the plan., when should i review my business plan, business plans should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they remain effective and up-to-date. it is important to review the plan on a regular basis to ensure that it is still in line with the company's goals and objectives..

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Start » strategy, ready, set, startup checklist: 25 steps to starting a new business.

Before you start your new business, here are 25 tasks to check off on your startup to-do list.

Two women entrepreneurs hang a Now Open sign in front of their storefront.

Starting a new business can be daunting. Breaking it down into smaller steps can make the process feel more manageable and help you build momentum until your first sale. If you have a great idea, but you’re not sure where how to get it off the ground, start with this checklist.

1. Perform market research

Whether you have an idea already, or you’re ready to build something from scratch, the first step is to do some research. Investigate how much demand there is for your product or service, as well as the existing competition. The information you learn can help you narrow down your business concept.

Market research encompasses both primary and secondary sources. In practice, it entails conducting focus groups, surveys, and interviews with potential customers (primary research) and reading government statistics and market reports (secondary research).

2. Test your concept

Before you dive in, test your business idea to make sure it’s based on a valid market need. Perform a competitive analysis to make sure your product or service doesn’t already exist. You may want to create a prototype or conduct beta testing to get user feedback on the product or service you plan to launch.

3. Work on your pricing model

There are a few ways to price your product or service, such as a subscription model, flat-rate pricing, or premium pricing. Your pricing model should help you find the right balance of value and revenue as well as fine-tune your price per item.

4. Build a business plan

A business plan is necessary for when you apply for funding. It also helps guide your operations. The goal of your business plan, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is to:

Help find financing.
Show you’ve vetted the market.
Fully detail your execution strategy.

A business plan generally consists of a combination of market analyses, financial projections, and details about your business operations. This plan should be iterative and revisited as your business grows to reflect your expansion and future goals.

5. Work on your sales pitch

Hone in on what makes your business different from everyone else’s. When you’re just starting out, you must craft an elevator pitch that articulates what sets you apart and why investors and customers should care. A great sales pitch will explain what you do or sell to whom and why in two to three sentences.

6. Find funding

There are many sources of funding for new businesses. Some business financing options include:

Short-term loans .
SBA loans .
Crowdfunding .
Angel investments .
Venture capital .
Working capital loans .

Many entrepreneurs also bootstrap their ventures using their personal finances or by asking their friends and family for initial capital. Use your business plan to decide what option is right for you.

7. Decide on a business structure

The way you structure your business entity has tax and liability implications. No matter which business structure you choose — a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or a nonprofit — if it’s more complicated than a sole proprietorship, you will need a lawyer to help set it up correctly. Consult an expert from the start to avoid any tax complications.

8. Get the right licenses and permits

Some businesses, like restaurants and cafes, need specific licenses to operate. Depending on where you operate and your industry, you may need several permits and licenses. Check this list from the SBA to find out what, if any, you need to procure.

9. Open a business bank account

Even when you start a sole proprietorship, it’s critical to keep your business and personal finances separate. Open a separate bank account for your new entity to keep your cash flow organized and trackable when it comes time to do your taxes.

[Read more: 5 Easy-to-Start Business Ideas ]

10. Organize your accounting

Anticipate tax time and set up your accounting system to make April much less stressful. Organize your expenses and income into three categories: business income, inventory costs, and other expenses (like payroll, rent, and other overhead). Find and hire an outside accountant , or buy an accounting tool to help you stay organized as you grow your business.

Advertise your grand opening on your social media channels and in local media outlets, like your town newspaper.

11. Develop your supply chain

Does your business idea revolve around a new product? If so, you’ll need to find a way to get it made that’s scalable. You may be able to make items yourself in the beginning, but as your business grows, that won’t be sustainable.

"Getting referrals from fellow business owners via social media and forums can be a great starting point and a way to get feedback on suppliers you've been evaluating," said Liz Bertorelli, owner of online lifestyle brand Shop Passionfruit , in Martha Stewart .

Or use a directory like ThomasNet , Maker's Row , MFG , Kompass , Alibaba , or Oberlo to find available manufacturers.

12. File a copyright or patent

Once you have a solid plan for your product or service, protect your intellectual property with a copyright or trademark. You can file to protect the rights to your company’s name, logo, content, creative ideas, or original creations in addition to a product design or service offering.

13. Decide where to sell

There are many companies that launch online before moving into a physical retail space. Warby Parker, Glossier, Casper, and Everlane are all companies that were founded as online-first retailers. Launching online can be a good way to keep costs down, but there are some serious benefits to having a brick-and-mortar location .

14. Develop a brand

Create a strong brand identity, including a memorable name, logo, and branding materials. Your brand identity communicates to consumers your business’s mission, values, and personality. It helps your company stand out from competitors and attract customers. You may want to work with a designer who can translate your brand identity into visual cues.

15. Design product packaging

Once you have your brand identity, it’s time to create the packaging , shipping materials, and any in-store physical assets that you will need to bring that identity to life. Even service businesses should consider using branded invoices or adding a logo to vehicles to help encourage brand recognition.

16. Negotiate a lease

Should you decide to open a storefront, you will need to find real estate property. That usually means negotiating a business lease . Make sure you know how much space you need, carefully vet the neighborhood, and read the contract thoroughly before signing.

17. Get the right insurance policies

The insurance policies you need will depend on the size of your company (i.e., how many employees you hire) in addition to your assets and liabilities. Here are a few policies you might need:

Workers' compensation .
Professional liability insurance .
Product liability insurance .
Business vehicle insurance .
Small business health insurance .
General liability insurance .
Property insurance .

18. Set up a website

Your website is crucial to help customers learn more about your brand. Build a business website that tells your story to build excitement before your grand opening and help people learn about your product or service. Even entrepreneurs who don’t intend to sell online need a website with their store hours, location, and phone number, at a minimum.

19. Register your business

New businesses may need to register with their state government, the federal government, or they may not need to register at all. Generally speaking, if you want to file for trademark protection, or if you need a federal tax ID, you need to register with the federal government .

20. Get the right tools

When you’re just getting started, you don’t need a lot of fancy technology to start selling. But you do need some basics, like a point-of-sale system , wireless internet , and telephone service. You may also need office equipment, like desks and chairs, or software to enable remote work.

21. Prepare for order fulfillment

Retailers and some restaurants need to consider how they will get the product to the customer . If you offer online ordering, what logistics partner will you work with to ensure the item is delivered? Do you offer curbside pickup? For retailers, this means determining what shipping partner has the best rates and reliability — such as DHL, UPS, Fedex, or USPS. For restaurants, this could mean working with a third party like Uber Eats or Caviar.

22. Set up your social media channels

Social media is how many customers discover new brands. Create Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter profiles for your business. These platforms are where you can share news about your upcoming grand opening, launch your products, and generate buzz.

23. Hire an employee

If you have the budget, it’s time to bring an employee on board. Find someone you can trust to delegate part of the day-to-day operations so you can continue to focus on the big picture. This might be a manager, a partner, or your first hourly worker who can oversee the store.

24. Advertise your grand opening

Ready to meet your first customers? Make sure they know you’re about to open for business. Advertise your grand opening on your social media channels and in local media outlets, like your town newspaper. You might run an opening day discount or promotion to improve foot traffic or work with an influencer who can quickly spread the word about your brand.

25. Open your doors for business

Congratulations, you’re ready to go. Good luck selling! CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here .

Join us for our Small Business Day event!

Join us at our next event on Wednesday, May 1, at 12:00 p.m., where we’ll be kicking off Small Business Month alongside business experts and entrepreneurs. Register to attend in person at our Washington, D.C., headquarters, or join us virtually!

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For more startup tips

Micro-business vs. startup: what’s the difference, micro businesses: what are they and how do you start one, how to use ai tools to write a business plan.

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Business Plan Checklist

Introduction to Business Plan Checklist:

Small Business Economics found that entrepreneurs that take the time to turn their idea into a structured plan are 152 percent more likely to start their business.

Are you bursting with ideas and eager to get the ball rolling on your business venture?

If so, you have come to the right place.

This business plan checklist will help you transform all of those brilliant ideas into a coherent, organized, and professional business plan.

Having a business plan will add legitimacy to your idea and will guide you in taking the appropriate steps to enable your business to blossom.

Writing a business plan shouldn’t be complicated and we are here to help with the whole process.

Before you get stuck in, here is a little bit about us:

Process Street is super-powered checklists. It’s the easiest way to manage your recurring tasks , procedures, and workflows.

Create a checklist template and run individual checklists for each member of your team. You can check tasks off as you work through them, set deadlines, add approvals , assign tasks , and track each team member's progress .

You can also connect to thousands of Apps through Zapier and automate your workflows even more.

Let's get started.

Complete the following tasks in a step-by-step fashion and you will see how quick (and easy) it is to write a professional business plan.

Enter your basic information

Update this plan on a Q uarterly Basis. If you are running this checklist as a result of a drastic change within your business then run the checklist as though you are creating a new business plan from scratch.

Having an up-to-date business plan is CRITICAL for the smooth running of any business.

We recommend running through this checklist every few months and updating it whenever a change of plan occurs.

Even if you haven't made any changes it is important to consistently check-in with your mission, values, and goals.

The following tasks help to keep a record of who is editing the plan and how often.

One-Page-Pitch:

A One-Page-Pitch is the simplest business plan you can write.

Think of it as a one-page executive summary of your business.

It is a great way to sort through all of your thoughts and get them down on paper before you begin writing a standard plan (this comes later in this business plan checklist).

If you already have a One-Page-Pitch then upload it in the following task.

If not then no worries, just follow the checklist below.

Prepare one-page-pitch

Select the appropriate option from the dropdown below.

If you have not yet created a OPP then create a document on your computer or on Google Docs. Then follow the subtasks below when creating the OPP.

1 Describe your business in one sentence
2 Describe the problem your potential customers have
3 Describe your solution to the problem
4 Explain who your target market/ ideal customer is
5 Describe your competitive advantage
6 Describe how you will sell to your customers
7 Describe what marketing activities you will use to attract customers
8 Detail your business model, what are your revenue streams
9 List your startup costs
10 List your primary goals and milestones that you want to accomplish over the next few months
11 Outline whether you wish to run the business alone or with a team/ freelancers
12 List any partners and resources you need to help you launch.

Whether you have just created a OPP or you already had one, upload it to this checklist for safe keeping.

Link OR Upload One-Page-Pitch below:

Standard Business Plan:

Why create a Standard Business Plan alongside a One-Page-Pitch?

Whilst a One-Page-Pitch is GREAT for getting your ideas on paper it lacks the components that make a business plan actionable.

The Standard Business Plan delves deeper into the ways you plan on making your business happen. Most importantly, this plan is what investors and banks will expect to see.

Are you ready to legitimize and set the infrastructure for your business?

Remember to follow the tasks in a linear fashion.

Let's build your business.

Define the opportunity

Use the opportunity section of your business plan to demonstrate what sets your product or solution apart from the crowd .

Explain the problem that you’re solving, your solution, who you plan to sell to, and how your product or service fits into the existing competitive landscape.

This section will also give you the opportunity to identify future plans and the vision for your business.

Determine your mission

Bear all of your previous answers in mind and write a brief mission statement.

Consider the problem you are solving; the customer's needs; your solution to the problem; and how you will benefit.

Identify future plans

A vision statement determines the current and future objectives and plans of your business.

A business's vision guides your business in making decisions that should align with its values and goals. A good vision statement is short, simple, specific to your business, and leaves nothing open to interpretation.

Use this section to validate your ideas and identify your future plans.

Prepare your vision statement

Now, briefly summarize your idea, future plans, and what you wish to accomplish with a vision statement.

Write the Market Analysis:

A target market is a set of individuals sharing similar needs or characteristics that you and your business intend to serve.

Because markets are constantly changing we have created sub-tasks within this section that allow you to quickly update the marketing analysis of your business plan.

If this is your first time completing this checklist select: first run-through from the dropdown menu below.

If you have already completed this checklist but your business has witnessed big changes then run the checklist from scratch: as though it were the first time.

Alternatively, select check-in from the dropdown menu for any recent changes. This selection will save time and will not require you to go through the entire list of tasks within this section.

Identify customers

Pinpoint who your customers are.

The first step in ascertaining your place within your target market is forming a relationship with your future customers.

Like any relationship, the more you know about someone the more likely you are to know what they want and how they want it.

Get personal , picture your future customer in detail:

How old are they? What sex do they identify themselves as? What are their tastes? What are their spending habits?

There are lots more questions you can ask to REALLY get to know your target market.

Remember, the more questions you ask, the closer you get to identify your customer's wants and needs.

Do some research, then tick each of the boxes once you have the data:

1 Do you know how old your customers are?
2 Do you know what sex they identify as?
3 Do you know their tastes?
4 Do you know their spending habits?

Highlight competitors

Establish your place within the industry.

Before you embark on your venture you need to know what industry your business falls into; who your competitors are; and where you and slot into the mix.

Unsure of your industry or your place within it?

A thorough Google search should provide plenty of information for your market analysis. There are websites for business analysis, financial statistics, demographics, trade associations, and just about everything you'll need to complete this checklist and your business plan.

This section of your business plan requires regular updating. All industries are fluent, ever-changing, and growing. Good business management involves consistent industry analysis. To stay on top of the game you need to know who the key players are.

Consider what buying factors make a difference in the success or failure of your competitors:

Is it price? Product features? Service? Support? Website? Branding? Online presence? Delivery dates?

Establish keys to success

Consider all the data you have gathered in relation to your customers and your competitors.

Given the data, what do you think are the vital components in ensuring your business's success? Ideally, you will have between four and six keys to success (KTS).

Struggling to narrow down your ideas? Here are a couple of examples:

• Excellent product and service that will build and maintain customer loyalty.

• A commitment to continuous improvement and total quality services.

Calculate TAM SAM SOM

TAM – Your total addressable market refers to the overall demand for the products or services your company provides.

SAM – Your serviceable available market refers to the segment of your TAM which you can reach.

SOM – Your serviceable obtainable market is kind of like your actual goal. This is how much of the market in your location you can realistically reach.

For more information on this topic check out this Process Street blog post: What is TAM SAM SOM? How to Calculate and Use It in Your Business.

Use the form fields below to record TAM SAM SOM data.

Risk Assessment:

“A major lesson in risk management is that a 'receding sea' is not a lucky offer of an extra piece of free beach, but the warning sign of an upcoming tsunami.” ― Jos Berkemeijer

Business risk can be understood as the factors and events that can impact a company's operational and financial performance.

From tsunamis to employees quitting; to pandemics and system failure. Risks can occur at any time and at varying degrees of disastrousness.

In fact, a lack of risk management strategies causes over 50% of startups to fail within their first four years.

However, all is not lost.

A thorough risk assessment of the environment surrounding your business is vital in mitigating risks.

By considering possible risks you develop short and long-term plans that promote the steadfastness of your business.

Consider any external risks

There are three main components of risk assessment:

Identifying the specific risks that your business faces.
Determining the potential impact of each type of risk identified. This is done by comparing the likelihood of occurrence vs. the extent of consequences faced.
Evaluating how your current resources and expertise can deal with the most significant risks you face

External factors

Economic Risk: Remember the financial crisis of 2007/8? That is the type of thing you consider when assessing economic risks, along with all changes in the market.

Natural Risk: Think of the tsunami example, this is a natural risk. Natural risk factors include natural disasters that affect normal business operations.

Political Risk: The 2010 crisis in Venezuela shows how political decisions take by governmental leaders can influence your business. Think taxes; currency valuation; trade tariffs or barriers; investment; wage levels; labor laws; environmental regulations and development priorities, can affect your business conditions and profitability.

For guidance on managing risk click here

Consider any internal risks

Internal risks.

Internal risks happen from within your organization.

Human-factor Risk: All things relating to you or your staff and your ability to work.

Human-factor risks include:

Union strikes

Dishonest employees

Ineffective management or leadership

Failure within the production and supply streams

Failure to pay by clients/customers

Technological risk: unforeseen changes in the manufacturing, delivery, or distribution of a company's product or service.

Technological risks include:

Failure of systems

Lack of skilled IT staff

Software and server problems

Dated technology and systems

Physical risk: is simply the loss or damage of assets belonging to a company.

Market and risk check-in

Consider any changes or developments within your target market or risk enviroment.

Be sure to consider the following questions.

1 Who are my potential customers?
2 What are their buying and shopping habits?
3 How many of them are there?
4 How much will they pay?
5 Who is my competition?
6 What have their challenges and successes been?
7 What are the internal and external risks?

Accessing the Target Market:

Complete the marketing strategy.

A quick note on the difference between marketing strategy and marketing plan: The marketing strategy informs the marketing plan, which is a document that details the specific types of marketing activities your business conducts.

Get out there.

You've established who your target market is and who your key competitors are. The next move is to establish how you plan to reach your customers.

What is a marketing strategy? Y our business's game plan for reaching your target market.

A marketing strategy contains:

Value proposition: how your product or service solves/improves problems, what benefits customers can expect, and why customers should buy from you over your competitors.

Key brand messaging: refers to conveying the value proposition and the language used in your content. It’s what makes buyers relate to your brand.

Nike : Just do it.
Subway : Eat fresh.
Levis : Quality never goes out of style.

Once you have determined your marketing strategy , complete the form fields below.

Data on target customer demographics: we touched on this when researching the target market. Demographics are subsets of a target market that share particular attributes.

Understand the marketing plan

A marketing plan is operational and outlines a detailed advertising strategy. It details how your business plans to reach customers.

The plan includes details on promotional campaigns you plan to run and how you plan to monitor the effectiveness of these initiatives.

Whilst the following tasks cover the most important steps for a marketing plan there is a lot more you can do to increase your outreach. If you wish to delve deeper into the realm of marketing and planning then click here .

Components of a marketing plan:

Market research to support pricing decisions and new market entries.
Platform selection for connecting with customers and promoting your product or service.
Tailored messaging that targets the demographics within your market.
Metrics that measure the results of marketing efforts and their reporting timelines.

Plan how to communicate with customers

"The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits them and sells itself." - Peter Drucker, These 10 Peter Drucker Quotes May Change Your World.

Be creative in determining how to communicate with your customers. Think online, digital, radio, trade magazines, blogs, newsletters.

If you are looking for inspiration then have a read through this blog :

Or this one .. .

This is also interesting

Definitely check this out.

*that'll do*

Once you feel suitably inspired, fill out the tasks below.

1 Instagram
4 Telephone

Consider tailored messaging

Consider your value proposition and take the same tone that you did when deciding your brand messaging.

Ever had something tailor-made? Remember the effort that went into customizing that item to be your perfect fit.

This is what you want to do for each and everyone one of your customers, make them feel as though you are the perfect fit for them.

A tailored message is customized for each and every customer. They are great for creating a personal connection with customers and generating new business.

Identify milestones

Milestones make your business plan specific, and concrete.

Milestones are dates, deadlines, tasks, and budgets.

Examples of milestones:

When you launch the product/service.
Open the new store.
Hire a new person (or expand in general).
Change locations online or offline.
Start a new marketing campaign.

Milestones list and categorize what’s supposed to happen—and when it’s supposed to happen.

They include launch dates, review dates, prototype availabilities, advertising, social media, website development, and programs to generate leads and traffic.

The milestones set the plan tactics into practical, concrete terms with real budgets, deadlines, and management responsibilities. They are the building blocks of strategy and tactics. They are essential to your ongoing plan-vs-actual management and analysis, which is what turns your planning into management.

As you need tactics to execute strategy, so too you need milestones to execute tactics. Normally you’ll look for a close match between tactics and milestones.

You develop your milestones by thinking through strategy, tactics, and actions you need to take.

Once you have determined your milestones, use the form fields below to record them.

Identify metrics

Metrics are performance measurements that you track as part of your regular planning process.

They are numbers that you gather to analyze and compare.

The most obvious metrics are in financial reports: sales, cost of sales, expenses, and so on.

Understanding and managing financial reports and numbers closely helps to build accountability in your business.

Identify Product Details:

Input data concerning your product or service.

Hopefully, by this stage in your business plan, you know what your product or service is. In which case the following steps should be self-explanatory.

Use this section to outline the details of your product.

Write sourcing strategy

When considering where you are going to source your products it is really important that you consider three things:

Delivery time
Quality control

Another thing to consider is sustainability.

Climate conscious brands are becoming increasingly popular. Being a sustainable brand means that you can positively influence the environment whilst growing your business at the same time!

Determine pricing strategy

Pricing strategy refers to the method you use to price your products or services.

A good approach to take is to base the price of your product on production, labor, and advertising expenses and then add on a certain percentage so that you can make a profit.

Use the form field below to input your pricing strategy.

Indicate location and facilities

Consider where your business is based:

Will your business have an online presence?
Will you require the use of any extra facilities?
How do you plan to distribute your product?

Establish Your Financials:

Assess your financial needs.

What do you need to get your business off the ground?

The following tasks feature checklists that guide you in getting your finances planned, documented, and organized.

Remember to upload the final document to this checklist so that everything is stored securely in one place.

Establish funding requirements

Use the form fields below to determine your business's financial needs.

Complete projected balance sheet

If you already have a projected balance sheet then upload it below and move on to the next task.

If not then follow this checklist to create your Balance Sheet Statement and upload the final document:

Determine your cash flow planning process

If you already have a cash flow then upload it below and move on to the next task.

If not then follow this checklist on The Financial Planning Process and upload/link the final document:

Legalize your business

The legal requirements for launching a business vary depending on your location, the size of the business, the number of employees you have, and so on.

Research the specific requirements for your business and considering the following:

1 Appropriate licenses and permits
2 Sales tax permit
3 Business License
4 Accounting and record-keeping system
5 Insurance

Write the Executive Summary:

Remember the One-Page-Pitch you wrote, this is a re-draft of that.

Take everything that you have inputted thus far into account when writing your executive summary.

Talk about the problem you are solving, what your solution is (your product or service usually), the market, the competition, and some key financial highlights.

Prepare executive summary

Use this task to guide you in preparing your executive summary.

Utilize the subtasks below to ensure you include all of the required information.

1 A summary of my business.
2 A summary of my products/services.
3 Your mission statement.
4 Your vision statement.
5 Summary of your organizational structure.
6 Summary of your target market and ideal customer.
7 Evaluation of the external and internal risks.
8 Summary of the future of my business and my industry.
9 Summary of my financial data and projections.
10 Summary of legalities.

Upload your executive summary in the appropriate form field below.

Your Standard Business Plan:

Create a standard business lan.

Create a document either in Google Docs or on your computer.

Input the following headings into the document to organize your business plan:

Opportunity

Market analysis, risk assessment, marketing strategy and plan, product details, executive summary.

The following steps will gather all the data from this checklist. Copy and paste the data from each of the sections into your document.

Then upload or link the document.

Basic Information

Use the form field below to upload your first d

Send business plan for review

Utilize the email widget to send the document for review. Getting someone to review your business plan is a key step in creating a professional and error free document.

Upload final sstandard business plan

Congratulations!

You have completed the checklist and created your business plan.

Once you have finished editing the document be sure to upload/link it here so that it is stored in a safe place.

Bplans Blog - How to Write a Business Plan: Use This Checklist to Keep Yourself on Task
Sba.gov - How to Write A Business Plan
Bplans Blog - Industry Analysis: Know Your Industry Before You Start Your Business

Lori Hubbard - Why Is Identifying the Target Market so Important to a Company?

Bplans Blog - How to Write a Market Analysis
Effectuation.org - The Multiple Effects of Business Planning on New Venture Performance
Larry Myler - 7 Ways To Make Your Business Stand Out In A Crowd Of Competitors
AppSuccess - Bussiness Plan PDF
Minutehack - Why Your Startup Should Use A Risk Assessment
Investopedia - How Companies Can Reduce Internal and External Business Risk
Process Street - Marketing Process Toolkit: 10 Checklists to Crush Your Competition | Process Street | Checklist, Workflow , and SOP Software
Neil Patel - 20 Uncommon Marketing Strategies That'll Kickstart Your Startup

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Business Plan Checklist

By Jake R Brady on Dec 22, 2011

Gather your basic financial statements
Provide documentation Financial statements are ;formal records of your business' financial activities. There are four basic statements:
Income statement: Your bottom line subtracting costs from revenue to come up with net profit
Balance sheet: A financial snapshot that shows what you own, what you owe, and what your company is worth
Cash flow statement: A cash monitor that follows the flow of cash in and out of your company
Budget: Your financial forecast that indicates where you plan to make and spend money
Determine your audience
Identify customers and the competition This is a critical part of a successful business plan. ;Incorporate research on both groups.
Ask these questions of customers: Who is buying, what do they buy, and why ;do they buy?
Ask these questions of competitors: How big are they, which customers are they after, and what is their strategy?
Incorporate these elements
Executive summary
Company overview
Business environment
Company description
Company strategy
Financial review
Action plan
Consider these topics
Plans: Company mission, vision, goals, and objectives that all work together
Organization: A structure for your company that makes sense
Procedures: Efficient and effective ways of doing things
Leadership: An ability to influence and encourage others around you
Skills: The talents and expertise your people need to succeed
Culture: Beliefs and attitudes that lead to doing the right thing
Consider the other factors on this list of business-planning essentials:
Get everyone involved in setting goals and objectives
Learn all you can about your customers
Understand who your competitors are
Identify your strengths and weaknesses relative to opportunities and threats
Determine which capabilities you absolutely need to succeed
List all the things you do that add customer value
Make sure that you do your financial homework
Imagine several different versions of your company's future
Avoid business failure
Do your research, and prepare If you're not prepared, your business will likely fail.
Establish a long-term company vision Be sure to establish and follow clear goals and objectives to meet the vision.
Prepare for change Stay flexible and you will succeed.
Focus on the customers And whatever you do, don't underestimate the competition.
Be a strong leader Communicate well, and often.
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A well-developed business plan is critical for any start-up business. To develop a thorough business plan, research your customers and competition; avoid mistakes that lead to business failure; and know how to implement a business plan and make it work. Your business plan should include a basic financial statement, all major pieces of a business plan, and information from your business-planning checklist.

Keep your focus on these three things:
Cut costs to the bone
Offer something unique
Focus on one customer group

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Business Plan Checklist: Your Roadmap to Business Success

August 31, 2023

A business plan acts as a roadmap to success for your business, outlining the financial, marketing, and operational processes you’ll use to make money. This business plan checklist will show you what to include in this essential document.

👉 We’ll discuss the following business plan setup essentials:

Executive summary

Company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, financial plan.

There’s a lot to get through, so let’s get started!

Business plan checklist

An executive summary provides a detailed overview of the problem your business aims to solve and how you solve it. This should include the following information:

The purpose of your business
Notable competitors
Target audience
Financial highlights
Important members of your team
Your business goals

Note that this section may be easier to fill in after you’ve completed the rest of your business plan. The reason it comes first is that the executive summary should go in the front of your business plan document.

This is a brief overview of important facts about your business. You’ll need to include the following information in this part of the business plan checklist:

Company history
Profiles of founding members
Milestones you have achieved
The legal status of your business

You can think of this part of your business plan as being similar to the “About” section of your website.

This section will summarize the overall state of the industry your business is part of. You’ll want to include some key details:

The current size of the industry
Whether the industry is currently growing, stable, or in decline
Who the biggest players are
Influences on the industry such as changing tech, legal, or environmental factors

Sites like Statista collect general statistics about a wide range of industries. For more detailed information, you can check out MarketResearch or simply Google “[your niche] industry analysis”.

Next in our business plan checklist is the customer analysis section, where you’ll detail who your target audience is. You want to include the following:

Demographic profile for your core target audience
Demographic profiles for your secondary audiences (people who aren’t the most likely to buy your products/services but may still have an interest in them)
Customer segments dividing your target and secondary audiences into more specific groups

You can learn more about customer analysis from our guide, What is a Target Audience?

Business plan checklist: Competitive strategic overview template from HubSpot

In the industry analysis, you looked at the whole of your target industry. The competitive analysis looks more closely at your direct competitors. For example, if you’re starting a fitness blog to market your personal training programs your industry analysis will look at fitness blogs and your competitive analysis will specifically look at blogs by personal trainers.

Your competitive analysis should include two types of competitors:

Direct competitors , who sell similar products/services to your target audience.
Indirect competitors , who sell different product/services but are in a similar category (for example, personal trainers and group fitness classes).

For each competitor, answer the following questions:

What products/services do they offer?
What are the notable features of their products/services?
What is their pricing model?
Who are their customers?
What does this company do well?
What does this company do poorly?

You may also want to include overall audience statistics, such as the number of followers they have on various social media platforms and how much traffic their websites get .

The other thing you need to do in your competitive analysis is describe how your business is positioned to compete against these companies. To do this, answer the following questions:

Will you offer better or different products/services?
Will your products/services have better or different features?
Will you offer more affordable pricing?
Will you offer better customer service?

Answer these questions in as much detail as possible to develop a clear understanding of how your business stands out from its competitors.

Feeling overwhelmed by everything in this section? You can get free competitive analysis templates from HubSpot .

Next in our business plan checklist is the marketing plan, which details how you’ll promote your business. This should focus on the four P’s:

Product . A detailed explanation of your business’s product/services.
Price . An outline of the pricing for your products/services, including all pricing tiers.
Place . Where people will find and buy your products/services. This can include both physical and online locations.
Promotion . How you’ll spread the word about your business. This should include content marketing, advertising, and any other forms of marketing you plan to use.

You can get a high-quality marketing plan template from Shopify .

This is where you’ll explain how your company will reach the goals you’ve set. You’ll want to divide this into two sections:

Short-term processes that occur every day. For example, if you’re starting an online thrift store , daily processes might include finding items to thrift and processing/shipping orders.
Long-term goals such as a goal to hit a certain amount of revenue or a certain number of employees by a specific date.

Once you’ve completed this, you can move on to the final part of our business plan checklist:

If you’re learning how to write a business plan, you’ll need to understand how to create a financial plan for your business.

Your financial plan will share monetary projections for your first five years of business, with the first year broken down into quarterly or monthly projections and annual projections for the following years. These projections should establish how much money you’ll need to operate, how much you expect to make, and when you expect your business to be profitable.

This part of your business plan should include the following documents:

Profit & Loss Statement
Cash flow statement
Balance sheet
Sales forecast
Personnel plan to establish when you’ll hire more people and what positions you’ll hire for
Break-even analysis

You may want to hire an accountant to help you develop these documents.

Business plan checklist: final advice 🏁

A business plan is an essential document that helps you understand the best path to success for your business. A well-written business plan can also help you secure grants, business loans, and investors to get your business off the ground.

📝 Keep this business plan checklist handy to make sure you’re not leaving anything out.

When you’re done, be sure to check out our guides on 👉 how to start an online business with no money and how to make a website .

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Starting a business checklist

March 16, 2022

Step 1: Conduct research to create a viable business plan

Step 2: secure funding.

Step 3: Pick a name & location
Step 4: Determine your business structure & incorporate, if necessary

Step 5: Register your business

Step 6: Obtain federal & state tax identification numbers
Step 7: Secure requisite licenses, permits, & certifications (oh my!)

Step 8: Purchase business insurance coverage

Step 9: get to work, subscribe to greenlight by thimble..

Join a community of 50,000+ small business owners and get insights and inspo every other week

Customers order meals from a popular food truck during their lunch hour, at

So, you’ve got an ironclad business idea rattling around your head. You’re pretty sure it’s going to be the next big thing—maybe even as successful as Apple, Google, or Microsoft (or all three combined).

But when it comes to opening your own enterprise, where do you even start?

You don’t have to be Bill Gates, Elon Musk, or Steve Jobs to create a thriving small business (in fact, you might be better off that way). All you need is hard work, passion, and this comprehensive starting a business checklist. Let’s dive in!

A business without a plan is like a ship without a sail—you won’t get very far, no matter the weather.

A well thought out plan starts with thorough research:

Market analysis to understand current trends, forces, and competition
Research and development to fine-tune your products or service offerings
Marketing strategizing for attracting and retaining customers
Financial projections to ensure a stable five-year financial forecast

This information, once compiled into an engaging business plan, will be invaluable during investor pitch meetings, loan applications, and personal planning. Working through a startup checklist ensures that your new business has a chance at success. Investors are going to want to see a marketing plan that includes financial projections and future cash flow.

It’s time to take your million-dollar idea to the bank (or perhaps a private investor).

If you don’t have the cash-on-hand to set up shop tomorrow, there are plenty of routes available to raise the capital you need:

Venture capital from investors – Set up meetings with individual investors or firms. Create a concise, compelling pitch presentation. Vet the interested investors before accepting their funds. Not all venture capital opportunities are created equal.
Crowdfund online – Become a business of the people by sourcing money from the community and providing a small incentive in exchange.
Take out a loan – Meet with banks, credit unions, and private lenders to secure a small business loan to get you started. Consider an SBA-guaranteed loan if traditional lenders won’t grant you the funds you need.

Step 3: Pick a name & location

Good businesses have great names—something clever, welcoming, professional, or whatever you want your brand identity to be. Double-check that the name isn’t trademarked or already registered. If so, you’ll have to go back to the drawing board.

Your location type will determine your next steps:

Home-based business – If you’re taking “home office” to the next level by running your business out of your living room, you’ll first have to check the zoning requirements in your area.
Commercial business property – Start looking into rental properties in your desired area. Don’t forget to factor in nearby neighborhoods with potential customer bases, available workforce, competing locations, and property taxes.

Step 4: Determine your business structure & incorporate, if necessary

Select the type of business entity that works best for you. Make sure that your business entity type is a good choice for your business model, including your marketing plan. These are the most common types of business structures :

Sole proprietorship
Partnership
Corporation
S corporation
Limited liability company (LLC)

If you decide to incorporate or form an LLC, you’ll have several subsequent steps to follow, in addition to choosing a name and location: 4

Select managing personnel —either the directors of your corporation or the managers and members of your LLC
Appoint a registered agent to receive and forward you important legal and tax documents
File official documents in the state of your choice (which doesn’t have to be the same as your state of residence)—complete the Articles of Organization for LLCs or the Articles of Incorporation for corporations
Create legal agreement —either an LLC operating agreement or corporation bylaws
Apply for an EIN (but more on that shortly)

As a newly-formed LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit, you’ll likely have to register with the appropriate state agency where your business operates. This includes any state where you or your business: 2

Has a physical location
Conducts regular face-to-face client meetings
Receives a substantial chunk of revenue
Employs individuals

On a local level, you may also have to register your business’s trade name (a DBA, or “Doing Business As” title) with your city or county. Setting up the legal structure for your business is a critical step on our business startup checklist. Your business cannot thrive if you find yourself in legal trouble.

Step 6: Obtain federal & state tax identification numbers

On the federal level, you’ll need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to pay business taxes and hire employees.

An EIN separates you, the business owner, from your company, the business entity, which can sometimes protect you financially if your company goes under. You’ll also need it to open a business bank account and establish solid credit, which will make it easier to take out commercial loans later on.

Every state is different, but many require a state tax identification number (or state EIN) if your business has to pay state taxes. Check in with your state department for the specific process in your jurisdiction.

Step 7: Secure requisite licenses, permits, & certifications (oh my!)

Most businesses require at least one type of permit or license; some require several, on the federal, state, and municipal levels.

Here’s a breakdown of what you might need for your company:

Federal permits – Most businesses can skip this step, but some of the more heavily regulated industries require federal approval to conduct their operations:

Drug manufacturing
Ground transportation
Investment advisement
Broadcasting
Tobacco, alcohol, and firearms sales
Meat product preparation

State licenses – Every state is different, but you may need a few licenses depending on your services offered and products sold. Industries like insurance, accounting, real estate, construction, and more usually require a state license, plus sales of alcohol, gasoline, firearms, and lottery tickets.

Seller’s Permit – For any physical products sold within state lines, you’ll likely need a State Seller’s Permit or Resale Permit to properly collect, calculate, and remit sales tax.

Business license – At the very least, many companies need a business license from the city or county to run their operation.

As we near the end of our checklist, you can see just how much work you have to put into getting your business up and running.

You wouldn’t want all that hard work to go to waste, would you?

Insurance coverage is an essential piece of the pie, both for legal reasons and financial security. These insurance types are either mandatory or strongly suggested:

Workers’ compensation insurance – If your business has employees, you legally need workers’ compensation insurance in almost all 50 states to protect your staff in the event of workplace injury or illness.

General liability insurance – The most basic type of business coverage, general liability insurance provides investigation, defense, and settlement against non-employee third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury.

Commercial property insurance – To cover accidental loss or damage to your own property, rather than the homes of clients or job sites you work at, for example, you’ll need commercial property insurance to cover damages from fire, theft, and other natural disasters. To cover loss or damage to your own equipment that you regularly take with you on your jobs, you’ll need Business Equipment Protection .

Professional liability insurance – For experts and professionals, professional liability insurance protects you from the financial ramifications of providing bad advice, missing important deadlines, or otherwise making a costly mistake in your line of work.

There are other types still, but this is a great place to start.

With all this information under your belt, you’re almost there! Although, there is one final box to check off: rely on available resources to help you with the process.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is specifically designed to help you plan, create, and expand your small business with free consultations, business loan assistance, and government contracts. Your local and state departments will have similar programs to help you thrive.

For business insurance, here at Thimble, we provide convenient, affordable monthly and on-demand general liability and professional liability insurance. If you opt for a monthly plan, we’ll bundle it with Business Equipment Protection. This optional add-on ensures that your tools are covered too.

Click “Get A Quote” or download the app, and you can have insurance in under 60 seconds—if only the other requirements on the list could be that simple!

Put Your Best Business Foot Forward

Launching your own business can be scary, but it’s not impossible. With the right idea and a good head on your shoulders—plus this useful business checklist—you’ll be up and running in no time.

What are you waiting for? You’ve got a business to start!

Biz Filings. Incorporate Your Business Today: LLC, S Corp, C Corp, Non-Profit.
U.S. Small Business Administration. Register your business .

Written on March 16, 2022

Our editorial content is intended for informational purposes only and is not written by a licensed insurance agent. Terms and conditions for rate and coverage may vary by class of business and state.

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Free Business Plan Templates in Excel

By Joe Weller | September 27, 2020

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In this article, we’ve rounded up an extensive list of free business plan templates and samples for organizations of all sizes. You can download all of the plans in Excel.

Included on this page, you’ll find business plan templates in Excel , business plan checklists in Excel , business plan financial templates in Excel , and more.

Business Plan Templates in Excel

These Excel business plan templates are designed to guide you through each step of a well-rounded strategy that supports your marketing, sales, financial, and operational goals.

Business Plan Template in Excel

This Excel business plan template has all the traditional components of a standard business plan, with each section divided into tabs. This template includes space to provide the executive summary, target audience characteristics, product or service offering details, marketing strategies, and more. The plan also offers built-in formulas to complete calculations for sales forecasting, financial statements, and key business ratios.

Download Business Plan Template

Excel | Smartsheet

One-Page Business Plan in Excel

To check the feasibility of your business concept, use this single-page business plan template. The template allows you to jot down the core details related to your idea. This template also includes room for you to provide concise information about what you do, how you do it, why you do it, who your idea serves, your competitive advantage, your marketing strategies, and your success factors. At the bottom of this one-page plan, you’ll find a table to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. Find more downloadable single-page plans and examples at “ One-Page Business Plan Templates with a Quick How-To Guide .”

Download One-Page Business Plan

Excel | Word | PDF | Smartsheet

Sample 30-60-90-Day Business Plan for Startup in Excel

Sample 30 60 90 Day Business Plan for Startup Template

This 90-day business plan is designed for startup companies to develop a 90-day action plan. This template gives you room to outline the following: main goals and deliverables for each 30-day increment; key business activities; task ownership; and deadlines. This template also includes a built-in Gantt chart that adjusts as you enter dates. Visit “ 30-60-90-Day Business Plan Templates and Samples ” to download more free plans.

Download 30-60-90-Day Business Plan for Startup

For more free business plans in a wider variety of formats, visit “ Simple Business Plan Templates .”

Business Plan Checklists in Excel

These business plan checklists are useful for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to organize and track the progress of key business activities.

Business Planning Checklist with Timeline in Excel

Use this checklist to keep your business planning efforts on track. This template enables you to add tasks according to each phase of your plan, assign an owner to each task, and enter the respective start and end dates. The checklist also enables you to create and color-code a visual timeline when you highlight the start and end dates for each task.

Download Business Planning Checklist with Timeline Template

Business Plan Checklist with SWOT Analysis in Excel

Business Planning Checklist with SWOT Analysis

Use this business plan checklist to develop and organize your strategic plan. Add the name of the business activity, along with its status, due date, and pertinent notes. This template also includes a separate tab with a SWOT analysis matrix, so you can evaluate and prioritize your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Download Business Plan Checklist with SWOT Analysis - Excel

Business Startup Checklist in Excel

This checklist template is ideal for startup organizations. It allows you to list and categorize key tasks that you need to complete, including items related to research, strategic relationships, finance, development, and more. Check off each task upon completion to ensure you haven’t missed or overlooked any important business activities. Find additional resources by visiting “ Free Startup Plan, Budget & Cost Templates .”

‌Download Business Startup Checklist Template

Business Plan Financial Templates in Excel

Use these customizable templates to develop your organization’s financial plan.

Business Startup Costs Template in Excel

Use this template to estimate and track your startup and operational costs. This template gives you room to list line items for both funding and expenses; you can automatically calculate totals using the built-in formulas. To avoid overspending, compare budgeted amounts against actual amounts to determine where you can cut costs or find additional funding.

Download Business Startup Costs Template

Small-Business Budget Template in Excel

This simple business budget template is designed with small businesses in mind. The template helps you track the income and expenses that you accrue on a monthly and yearly basis. To log your cash balances and transactions for a given time frame, use the tab for cash flow recording.

Download Small-Business Budget Template - Excel

Startup Financial Statement Projections Template

This financial statement projections template includes a detailed profit and loss statement (or income statement), a balance sheet with business ratios, and a cash flow statement to analyze your company’s current and future financial position. This template also comes with built-in formulas, so you can calculate totals as you enter values and customize your statement to fit the needs of your business.

‌ Download Startup Financial Statement Projections Template

For additional templates to help you produce a sound financial plan, visit “ Free Financial Templates for a Business Plan .”

Business Plan Marketing and Sales Templates in Excel

Use these downloadable templates to support and reinforce the marketing and sales objectives in your business plan.

Sales Forecast Template in Excel

This sales forecast template allows you to view the projected sales of your products or services at both individual and combined levels over a 12-month period. You can organize this template by department, product group, customer type, and other helpful categories. The template has built-in formulas to calculate monthly and yearly sales totals. For additional resources to project sales, visit “ Free Sales Forecasting Templates .”

Download Sales Forecast Template

Marketing Budget Plan in Excel

This marketing budget plan template helps you organize and plan your campaign costs for key marketing activities, such as market research, advertising, content marketing , and public relations. Enter the projected quantity and cost under each campaign category; the built-in formulas enable you to calculate projected subtotals automatically. This template also includes a graph that auto-populates as you enter values, so you can see where your marketing dollars are going.

Download Marketing Budget Plan Template

Other Business Plans in Excel

Use these business plan templates to conduct analyses and develop a plan of action that aligns your strategy with your main business objectives.

Business Action Plan Template in Excel

Use this basic action plan template to develop a roadmap for reaching your goals. Add a description of each action item, assign the responsible party, and list the required resources, potential hazards, key dates, and desired outcome. You can use this template to develop an action plan for marketing, sales, program development, and more.

Download Business Action Plan Template

Business Plan Rubric in Excel

Once you complete your business plan, use this rubric template to score each section to ensure you include all the essential information. You can customize this rubric to fit the needs of your organization and provide insight into the areas of your plan where you want to delve more deeply or remove unnecessary details. By following these steps, you can make certain that your final business plan is clear, concise, and thorough.

Download Simple Business Plan Rubric

Competitive Analysis Template in Excel

This template enables you to analyze the competitive landscape and industry for your business. By providing details related to your company and competitors, you can assess and compare all key areas, including the target market, marketing strategies, product or service offerings, distribution channels, and more.

Download Competitive Analysis Template

Excel | Smartsheet

For additional free templates for all aspects of your business, visit “ Free Business Templates for Organizations of All Sizes .”

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Original text

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Checklist for a Business Plan

Small Business
Business Planning & Strategy
Preparing Business Plans
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What Are the Six Elements of a Business Plan?

Business planning objectives, how to establish a new company.

What Is the Difference Between a Marketing & Business Plan?
How to Conclude a Business Plan

Business plans are written documents that outline specific information about new business ventures. Entrepreneurs commonly write business plans to help them develop their business idea. These plans often contain a large amount of information relating to the internal and external elements that will shape the small business. Not only do business plans provide entrepreneurs with a playbook for their company, but they can also help secure external financing for the business. Business plans often contain a few universal elements.

The business plan usually details an entrepreneur’s skill and expertise in the business environment. This information provides external business plan users with a brief history of the entrepreneur’s past successes. Business plans can also include information on the management team or organizational structure of the new business. Entrepreneurs attempting to start a larger business organization often include this information. The size and scope of business operations may also require entrepreneurs to provide more detail in this section.

Financial Plan

The most important part of the business plan usually relates to the financial outline of the new business venture. The financial plan outlines the initial start-up costs, first few months of estimated business expenditures and the amount of estimated external financing in potential sales based on current economic conditions. Business owners prepare this information primarily for banks, lenders and investors who may provide start-up capital for the company.

Market Analysis

Business owners can conduct a market analysis to review the overall stability of the current economy. Information can include the total market size, annual growth rate of the past few years and the various segments or industries in the market. Business owners may also need to provide information on whether they will sell goods or services in local, regional, domestic or international markets. Each market will have specific and distinct characteristics relating to current size and growth.

The target market or demographic analysis is another important part of a business plan. This section provides detailed information on customer’s age, race, sex, income level and other information. Business owners can also include information on current demand for certain goods or services in the economic marketplace. Business owners can use information to tailor their business operations to specific consumers. A customer analysis may be needed for each market in which the company will sell goods or services.

Competition

Business plans can also outline the amount of current competition in the business environment. Business owners can describe how they will create a competitive advantage to achieve a sufficient market share and profit in the marketplace. A competition section may also include the amount of regulations and taxes that the small business will face when attempting to establish themselves similar to other companies in the business environment.

&ldquo;Small Business Management: An Entrepreneurial Emphasis&rdquo;; Justin G. Longenecker, Carlos W. Moore &amp; J. William Petty; 2002

Business growth planning, 6 types of business plans, accounting concepts & practices for a business plan, business plan vs. business strategy, definition of business planning, what are the key elements of a business plan, what are the start up costs & long-term financing options for small businesses, about pro forma statements, key tools for planning finances, most popular.

1 Business Growth Planning
2 6 Types of Business Plans
3 Accounting Concepts & Practices for a Business Plan
4 Business Plan Vs. Business Strategy

How to Write a Nail Salon Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF

Elon Glucklich

7 min. read

Updated April 1, 2024

Download: Free one-page nail salon sample business plan

Nail trends are changing faster than ever. With social media fueling endless inspiration, people of all ages are embracing self-expression through their appearance, and their nails are no exception.

With the number of manicurists and pedicurists projected to grow 9% in the next decade, this burst of creativity is opening opportunities for nail technicians who dream of owning their own nail salon.

But just because the market is booming doesn’t mean anyone can start a nail salon and be successful. To build a financially stable business, you’ll need to have a sharp understanding of your ideal client, define the unique services that sets you apart, and develop smart marketing strategies to bring customers in your door.

A well-crafted business plan will help you focus your planning efforts on the tactics and strategies that attract loyal clients. And it’s key for convincing banks or investors if you need funding to get started.

Nail salon business plan checklist

Here are a few sections we recommend including in a nail salon business plan:

Executive summary

Products & services

Market analysis

Marketing & sales plan
Company overview
Financial plan & forecasts

Writing a business plan thorough enough to impress lenders typically requires following a standard format. But if you aren’t seeking outside funding, you shouldn’t feel like you have to stick to that structure.

For instance, don’t spend too much time on the products and services section of your business plan if you’re writing it to determine how to market your business. Just include the sections that are relevant to your situation.

Here’s an example of a nail salon business plan outline. Just remember that your business plan might have different sections. It’s all about what you need for your business.

A sample outline of a nail salon business plan.

The executive summary is essentially your nail salon’s opening pitch.

It shouldn’t be more than 1-2 pages, and should be written last, despite going first in the plan. Just outline the objective of your business, and your mission.

Are you focused on intricate nail art, speedy manicures, or a luxurious spa-like experience?

Then, describe the issue you solve for clients and your unique value proposition — the factor or factors that make you different from the competition. Some examples include:

A unique combination of services
An emphasis on naturally made products
Partnerships with other beauty service providers (hair, makeup, etc.)

The executive summary is all about being concise, but capturing the reader’s interest so that they’ll want to read more.

Products and services

The products and services section is all about detailing your revenue streams. Start with your core nail services. Maybe you offer:

Gel/acrylics

Once you’ve written down the basics, expand to emphasize any unique offerings, such as:

Intricate designs
Complementary services like aromatherapy
Plant-based ingredients

You should mention any retail products you plan to sell, such as:

Nail polishes
Nail care kits
Hand creams.

These are potentially additional revenue streams for your business. Use the products and services section to focus on your unique value proposition . Maybe you’re known for your eye-catching nail designs, or have partnerships with complementary businesses like hair salons. Anything that contributes to your sales and profitability is worth including.

This is where you get to know your target market and your competition. What’s the size of the nail salon market in your area? Can your customers be grouped factors like:

Spending habits

The market analysis section should outline the specific groups in your community that you aim to serve, such as working professionals, students, or individuals seeking luxury treatments.

If you’re already running a nail salon, you likely have a sense of your customer demographics. But studying industry trends (like the growing demand for natural nail care) and whether they can help you understand how your customers’ motivations and desires might change over time.

Use your business plan to compile that research, and zero in on the demographics and desires of your perfect client . Maybe they’re:

Busy professionals seeking quick lunchtime manicures
Trend-conscious teens and young adults
Parents looking for some relaxation

You should also scout out your competition . List other nearby salons in your plan, noting their strengths and weaknesses. How will you stand out and win customers over?

Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan describes your strategies to turn your target market into paying clients.

Start by detailing your strategies to reach customers.

We recommend you prioritize social media channels , as they’re a major driver for the beauty industry. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are ideal for showcasing your nail work.

Other marketing tactics to consider include:

Partnerships with local businesses
Loyalty programs for returning customers
Incentives for customers who bring friends to your business

Whichever marketing channels you choose to invest in, remember that your market research and unique value proposition should inform the content you put out to entice consumers.

For instance, if most of your customers are working professionals, determining other businesses they frequent and seeking our partnership opportunities with them could be a valuable approach. But if your clients are mostly high school and college students, you’re most likely to be successful with an engaging social media campaign.

Make sure to track the results of your marketing efforts as well, so you know which strategies are paying off.

Company Overview

The company overview is where you highlight your team and business history. (If you aren’t seeking a loan or investment, you can likely skip this section).

Outline your business structure . Are you a:

Sole proprietor
Partnership
Corporation

Then, highlight your team. Even if it’s just you, summarize your experience and any special certifications you hold. If you have key employees like nail salon technicians, a manager, or an administrative assistant, list their experience and skills. And if you plan on hiring, briefly mention the skills you’ll be looking for in future team members.

If you already have customers or brand partnerships, mention them in this section as well.

Financial Plan

The financial plan is all about deciding how successful your business can be. You’ll need a few things:

Sales Forecast : How much do you realistically expect to bring in each month? Consider the average price of services and how many clients you can serve.

Profit and Loss (P&L) : This lists your income minus expenses. Don’t forget things like rent, nail polish, and staff salaries.

Cash Flow Statement : This shows when money comes in and goes out, which is crucial for managing bills.

Startup Costs : If you’re seeking a loan, itemize costs like salon equipment, initial inventory, and any renovations.

Detail the assumptions behind your profitability and starting capital projections to provide clarity on your market analysis and expectations. Also, outline any potential risks, such as economic downturns affecting discretionary spending. And if you’re seeking funding, outline here how you will use those funds to support your business operations.

This optional section is where you include extra materials that strengthen your main points, but don’t fit in the actual plan.

Maybe you surveyed customers about their preferences for a new product line, or researched the demographics of your neighborhood online.

Include those reports in the appendix, if you think anyone reading the plan will benefit from the additional information.

Remember, only include items that truly add value to your plan.

Download your free nail salon one page sample business plan

Download our nail salon sample business plan template right now for free. You can also view other salon and spa business plan templates , or browse Bplans’ gallery of more than 550 sample business plans to find more inspiration.

In a space as full of entrepreneurs as the nail industry, standing out is crucial, and writing a business plan is one of the best ways to make sure you set yourself apart with a strategy that’s financially viable and built for long-term success.

And remember, you’ll need a plan if you’re looking for a loan or investment to fund your business.

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

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

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Top Estate Planning & Probate Attorney Ashley Sharek Shares Checklist For A Robust Estate Plan - Warrendale, PA

Leading Estate Planning & Probate Lawyer Ashley Sharek founder of Entrusted Legacy Law, in PA, provides crucial advice for creating a strong estate plan and highlights the key components. For more information please visit https://www.entrustedlegacy.law/

Warrendale, Pennsylvania, United States - April 2, 2024 —

An estate plan that will stand the test of time has to be flexible to reflect the changing times of a person's life, advised Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Ashley Sharek this week.

For more information please visit https://www.entrustedlegacy.law/

She said the starting point for any plan is to draft a will or trust that addresses the critical components of how assets should be divested to beneficiaries. Sharek, the Founder of Entrusted Legacy Law in Warrendale, urged that the wording of the documents must convey a person's wishes.

Any plan must have a power of attorney and executor, enabling a trusted person assigned by a family member, spouse, or attorney to act in their interests and ensure estate details are followed to the letter.

"Without a power of attorney, a court could be forced to assign someone to consider what happens to your assets instead," Sharek pointed out. If circumstances change, it is ideal to have a backup or contingent executor or beneficiary.

Additionally, ensure all insurance policies and retirement plans have named beneficiaries.

A letter of intent – one left to an executor about any assets or funeral arrangements – should be included, as this will help if there is a challenge in asset distribution.

Where children are minors, an estate plan should carefully set out their futures regarding who should care for them legally and how they should be financially provided for out of the estate. To ensure they are never left in the care of strangers, it's crucial to name both long-term and short-term legal guardians.

Sharek said: "An estate plan should also be backed up with financial and medical power of attorneys. A financial power of attorney will allow an executor to act on the principal's behalf in financial matters.

"An agent should also be assigned to make healthcare decisions if a person becomes incapacitated and can no longer make decisions independently."

She said the plan should also include a living will that details a person's wishes regarding their medical treatment if they can no longer make their wishes known. This applies if a person has been incapacitated and is likely to die.

Using a Trust as the primary vehicle to distribute assets during incapacity and after death allows a person to design a custom plan for what happens to their assets far into the future. It also ensures their assets are carefully managed and protected. They can do this by creating contingencies and incentives in a Trust that encourage heirs to behave in specific ways.

Sharek said that once an estate plan is created with the help of a professional Estate Planning and Elder Law attorney, a person should review the details at least every three to five years. This will ensure they align with their current circumstances and the changing dynamics of their life.

She added: "An estate plan contains many streams of information and documents. But ticking off this essential checklist will give you peace of mind. It is also advisable to speak to beneficiaries about your plans and intentions so they are fully aware."

Source: http://RecommendedExperts.biz

Contact Info: Name: Ashley Sharek Email: Send Email Organization: Entrusted Legacy Law Address: 105 Maple Dr, Warrendale, PA 15086, United States Phone: 412-776-6758 Website: https://www.entrustedlegacy.law/

Release ID: 89125954

In case of detection of errors, concerns, or irregularities in the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we strongly encourage you to reach out promptly by contacting [email protected] . Our efficient team will be at your disposal for immediate assistance within 8 hours – resolving identified issues diligently or guiding you through the removal process. We take great pride in delivering reliable and precise information to our valued readers.

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How To Write A Business Plan (2024 Guide)
In addition to your high-level hopes and dreams, a strong business plan outlines short-term and long-term goals, budget and whatever else you might need to get started. In this guide, we'll walk ...
A Complete Business Plan Checklist
Explore our 200+ sample business plans prepared for a wide variety of industries to help you start writing and planning your business plan. Business plan checklist will also help you to write your business plan table of contents and outline of your business plan. This business plan checklist is a general guideline for any standard business plan.
Business Plan Checklist
The Essential Business Plan Checklist. Here, I will explain the different elements you need to include in each section. Use this resource as a business plan questions checklist and mark them off as you go. Executive Summary. Your executive summary should explain the problem you are solving and how you intend to solve it. When reviewing your ...
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How to Write a Simple Business Plan
A business plan is a document that communicates a company's goals and ambitions, along with the timeline, finances, and methods needed to achieve them. Additionally, it may include a mission statement and details about the specific products or services offered. A business plan can highlight varying time periods, depending on the stage of your company and its goals.
Business startup checklist: Launching a startup step by step
And you can download our business startup checklist to keep you on track as you take your first steps as a new business owner. Checklist for starting a business. 1. Write a business plan. ... A business plan will help you nail down your goals and expectations and give you a roadmap for getting your company off the ground. If you plan to pitch ...
Business Plan Checklist • Checkify
A business plan defines the business's goals, objectives and strategies for achieving them. Research has shown the writing a business plan makes your startup more likely to succeed. Successful start-ups created their business plan a year to six months before starting their business. According to them, "writing a plan in this timeframe ...
Write the Best 2024 Business Plan (Checklist Included)
Having a business plan is crucial to preparing for the future. Indeed, according to a Harvard Business Review study, 16% of entrepreneurs who develop formal business plans are more likely to have viable companies. Without question, a business plan can help you better target the right customers and identify the specific ways you'll go about reaching them.
Business plan checklist
This Business Plan Checklist provides an organized, step-by-step guide to help you create a comprehensive business plan. It covers key topics such as objectives and goals, financials, sales and marketing, operations, and management, and provides tools and tips for success. With this checklist, you'll have the confidence to create a plan that will set you up for long-term business success.
Ready, Set, Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to Starting a New Business
Fully detail your execution strategy. A business plan generally consists of a combination of market analyses, financial projections, and details about your business operations. This plan should be iterative and revisited as your business grows to reflect your expansion and future goals. 5. Work on your sales pitch.
Business Plan Checklist
Writing a business plan shouldn't be complicated and we are here to help with the whole process. Process Street is super-powered checklists. It's the easiest way to manage your recurring tasks, procedures, and workflows. Create a checklist template and run individual checklists for each member of your team.
Business Plan Checklist
Business Plan Checklist. Excellent. Provide documentationFinancial statements are ;formal records of your business' financial activities. There are four basic statements: Identify customers and the competitionThis is a critical part of a successful business plan. ;Incorporate research on both groups. Ask these questions of customers: Who is ...
Business Plan Checklist: Your Roadmap to Business Success
August 31, 2023. Business. A business plan acts as a roadmap to success for your business, outlining the financial, marketing, and operational processes you'll use to make money. This business plan checklist will show you what to include in this essential document. 👉 We'll discuss the following business plan setup essentials: Executive ...
Starting a business checklist
All you need is hard work, passion, and this comprehensive starting a business checklist. Let's dive in! Step 1: Conduct research to create a viable business plan. A business without a plan is like a ship without a sail—you won't get very far, no matter the weather. A well thought out plan starts with thorough research:
Free Business Plan Templates in Excel
Business Planning Checklist with Timeline in Excel. Use this checklist to keep your business planning efforts on track. This template enables you to add tasks according to each phase of your plan, assign an owner to each task, and enter the respective start and end dates. The checklist also enables you to create and color-code a visual timeline ...
PDF Business Plan Checklist
of the business. Use the checklist to measure where you are in the process of collecting the necessary material. Let's begin charting your path to writing your business plan! Checkpoint Preparing to Write a Business Plan Writing My Business Plan: Company Description Section Yes No I have decided the type of business plan to write.
PDF How to Start a Business Checklist Update
How to start a business in 15 steps. Use our comprehensive guide and this accompanying checklist to track your progress. Vet your business idea. Thoroughly evaluate your business idea to help identify key objectives early on. Write a business plan. This essential step forces you to think critically about your venture.
A Business Plan Checklist: Key Questions to Answer
Why is the venture a good risk? 2. BUSINESS DESCRIPTION • What type of business are you planning?•. What products or services will you sell?•. What type of opportunity is it (new, part time, expansion, seasonal, year round)?•. Why does it promise to succeed?•. What is the growth potential?•. How is it unique? 3.
Checklist for a Business Plan
Checklist for a Business Plan. Business plans are written documents that outline specific information about new business ventures. Entrepreneurs commonly write business plans to help them develop ...
How to Write a Nail Salon Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF
A well-crafted business plan will help you focus your planning efforts on the tactics and strategies that attract loyal clients. And it's key for convincing banks or investors if you need funding to get started. Nail salon business plan checklist. Here are a few sections we recommend including in a nail salon business plan: Executive summary
Top Estate Planning & Probate Attorney Ashley Sharek Shares Checklist
Top Estate Planning & Probate Attorney Ashley Sharek Shares Checklist For A Robust Estate Plan - Warrendale, PA. By: Press Release Distribution Service. April 02, 2024 at 15:04 PM EDT.

Business Plan Checklist

Executive Summary

Industry Analysis

Competitive Analysis

Company Overview

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Customer Analysis

Business Plan Checklist FAQs

What are the 10 Components of a Business Plan?

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Business startup checklist: How to launch a startup step by step

Checklist for starting a business

1. Write a business plan

Parts of a business plan

Business planning software

2. Estimate your startup costs

Types of startup costs

Start saving

Find funding

3. Register your business

Pick a business structure

Choose a business name

Register your company

4. Open accounts and obtain permits

Open a company bank account

Get licenses and permits

Find out if you need a Sales Tax Permit

5. Set up a financial accounting system

Basic bookkeeping 101

Understand your tax liability

6. Buy business insurance

7. Create a management system

Management setup

Invest in branding and marketing

Establishing a brand identity

List of things needed to start a business

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1. Perform market research

2. Test your concept

3. Work on your pricing model

4. Build a business plan

5. Work on your sales pitch

6. Find funding

7. Decide on a business structure

8. Get the right licenses and permits

9. Open a business bank account

10. Organize your accounting

11. Develop your supply chain

12. File a copyright or patent

13. Decide where to sell

14. Develop a brand

15. Design product packaging

16. Negotiate a lease

17. Get the right insurance policies

18. Set up a website

19. Register your business

20. Get the right tools

21. Prepare for order fulfillment

22. Set up your social media channels

23. Hire an employee

24. Advertise your grand opening

25. Open your doors for business

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Introduction to Business Plan Checklist:

Enter your basic information

One-Page-Pitch:

Prepare one-page-pitch

Standard Business Plan:

Define the opportunity

Determine your mission

Identify future plans