AI ASSISTANTS
Upmetrics AI Your go-to AI-powered business assistant
AI Writing Assist Write, translate, and refine your text with AI
AI Financial Assist Automated forecasts and AI recommendations
AI Research Assist Your go-to AI-powered research assistant
TOP FEATURES
AI Business Plan Generator Create business plans faster with AI
Financial Forecasting Make accurate financial forecasts faster
INTEGRATIONS
QuickBooks Sync and compare with your QuickBooks data
Strategic Planning Develop actionable strategic plans on-the-go
AI Pitch Deck Generator Use AI to generate your investor deck
Xero Sync and compare with your Xero data
See how easy it is to plan your business with Upmetrics: Take a Tour →
AI-powered business planning software
Very useful business plan software connected to AI. Saved a lot of time, money and energy. Their team is highly skilled and always here to help.
- Julien López
BY USE CASE
Secure Funding, Loans, Grants Create plans that get you funded
Starting & Launching a Business Plan your business for launch and success
Validate Your Business Idea Discover the potential of your business idea
E2 Visa Business Plan Create a business plan to support your E2 - Visa
Business Consultant & Advisors Plan with your team members and clients
Incubators & Accelerators Empowering startups for growth
Business Schools & Educators Simplify business plan education for students
Students & Learners Your e-tutor for business planning
- Sample Plans
Plan Writing & Consulting We create a business plan for you
Business Plan Review Get constructive feedback on your plan
Financial Forecasting We create financial projections for you
SBA Lending Assistance We help secure SBA loans for your business
WHY UPMETRICS?
Reviews See why customers love Upmetrics
Blogs Latest business planning tips and strategies
Strategic Planning Templates Ready-to-use strategic plan templates
Business Plan Course A step-by-step business planning course
Customer Success Stories Read our customer success stories
Help Center Help & guides to plan your business
Ebooks & Guides A free resource hub on business planning
Business Tools Free business tools to help you grow
How to Write an Operations Plan Section of your Business Plan
Free Operations Plan Template
- June 26, 2024
An operational plan bridges the gap between high ambitions and actual achievements. This essential integral section helps businesses thrive, achieve their goals, and handle challenges with accuracy and purpose.
But is it challenging for you to write one in a manner that shows a clear picture of your business operations? Drafting the operations plan section can be tricky due to the uncertainties of the business environment and the risks associated with it.
Well, worry not you’re at the right place! Here, we will see how to write an engaging operational plan in a business plan with an example. So let’s get going.
What is an operations plan?
An operations plan of a business plan is an in-depth description of your daily business activities centered on achieving the goals and objectives described in the previous sections of the plan. It outlines various departments’ processes, activities, responsibilities, and execution time frame.
The operations section explains in detail the role of a team or department in the collective accomplishment of your goals. In other words, it’s a strategic allocation of physical, financial, and human resources toward reaching milestones within a specific timeframe.
Key questions your operational plan should address
A successful operational plan section of your business plan should be able to answer the following questions:
- Who is responsible for a specific task or department?
- What are the tasks that need to be completed?
- Where will these operations take place?
- When should the tasks be completed? What are the deadlines?
- How will the tasks be performed? Is there a standard procedure?
- How much is it going to cost to complete these tasks?
Let’s see how to write the operations section that answers all the above questions:
Create winning business plans with our
AI Business Plan Generator
Plans starting from $7/month
How do you write an operations plan section?
Writing an operations plan within a business plan involves summarizing the day-to-day tasks necessary to run the business efficiently and meet its goals in both the development and manufacturing phases of the business.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Development phase
In this stage, you mention what you’ve done to get your business operations up and running. Explain what you aim to change and improvise in the process. These are the elements your development section will contain:
Production workflow
Explain all the steps involved in creating your product. Provide a detailed description of each step, including any inefficiencies and the actions needed to address them. Here, you also mention any inefficiencies that exist and talk about the actions that need to be taken to tackle them.
Write down the risks involved in the production and potential problems you may face later down the line. State the safety measures employees take to avoid any misfortune while working. Explain how you store hazardous material and discard waste.
Mention any industry organizations and associations you’re a part of or plan to join. It’s essential to include this information to convey to the reader that you’re aware of the organizations and associations in your industry.
Supply chains
Here, you mention the vendors you work with to sell your products. Give a quick rundown of the agreements you signed with them. Mention the terms and conditions, prices, and timeframe of the contract. You can also mention if you have any backup suppliers if the existing ones fail to fulfill the requirements.
Quality control
Describe the measures you’re taking to assure and verify the quality of the end product. If you’re working towards getting a product certification, explain the steps you take to meet the set standards.
2. Manufacturing phase
The development stage acquaints the reader with the functioning of your business, while the manufacturing stage describes the day-to-day operation. This includes the following elements:
Outline of daily activities
Create an outline of the day-to-day activities of the production process. This includes the hours of operation, days the business will be open, and whether the business is seasonal or not.
Mention the location of your business , other branches you have, and their locations. If available, include images or drawings of the buildings, lease documents, real estate agreements, and other relevant documents. If you include these in your plan, mention why they’re crucial.
Tools and equipment
Describe the tools and machinery you use. You should also include the cost of the equipment; these will be important to predict financial requirements.
List down all your assets. These include land, buildings, tools, machinery, vehicles, and furniture. Include a legal description and the value of these assets.
Special requirements
If you require any additional facilities like water supply or power requirements, you mention them here. Specify what you need to do or have already done to acquire permissions for these requirements.
Raw materials
Mention your raw material suppliers. If you need any extra materials, you can also include them in your operations plan. Here, you also mention the contracts and agreements with your suppliers.
Productions
Explain the production process and the time required to produce one unit. Include the factors that may disrupt the production flow. Further, mention your strategies to tackle these inefficiencies to avoid delays in manufacturing.
Here, you state the process of storing manufactured products, managing the stock, and the costs of the storage spaces. Stringent management of inventory is essential to maintain product quality and assure customer satisfaction.
Feasibility
To ensure the viability and effectiveness of your product, detail any tests it has undergone. This includes prototype testing to evaluate the design and functionality.
Additionally, highlight product or service testing, such as performance, safety, and user experience assessments. These tests validate your product’s readiness for the market, ensuring it meets customers’ needs and regulatory standards.
Include the pricing strategy for your products or services. You can also include the final prices of your products.
Outline your pricing strategy including which approach you used, for example—cost-plus, value-based, or competitive pricing. Include the final prices of your products or services, providing a breakdown if there are different tiers or packages.
Why do you need an operations plan?
An operations plan is like an instruction manual for your business. It helps investors assess your credibility and understand the structure of your operations.
Internally, an operations plan works as a guide, which helps your employees and managers to know their responsibilities. It also helps them understand how to execute their tasks in the desired manner—all while keeping account of deadlines.
The operations plan helps identify and cut the variances between planned & actual performance and makes necessary changes.
It helps you visualize how your operations affect revenue and gives you an idea of when you need to implement new strategies to maximize profits. Some of the advantages of preparing an operations plan include:
Offers clarity
Operational planning makes sure that everyone in the audience and team is aware of the daily, weekly, and monthly work. It improves concentration and productivity.
Contains a roadmap
Operational planning makes it much easier to reach long-term objectives. When members have a clear business strategy to follow—productivity rises, and accountability is maintained.
Set a benchmark
It sets a clear goal for everyone about what is the destination of the company and how to reach it.
Manages resources
It supports you in allocating resources, such as human resources, equipment, and materials, ensuring that nothing is wasted and everything is used optimally.
Helps in decision making
An operations plan helps make smart decisions by showing how the business runs day-to-day. It provides details on resources, wise investments, and effective risk management, ensuring that decisions improve overall business operations.
Operations plan essentials
Now that you have understood the importance of the operations plan, let’s go through the essentials of an operations plan:
Strategic plan
Your operations plan is fundamentally a medium for implementing your strategic plan . Hence, it’s crucial to have a solid plan to write an effective operations plan.
Having clear goals is one of the most important things for an operations plan. For clear goals, you need to think SMART:
- Specific: Clearly define what employees should achieve
- Measurable: Quantify the goal to track progress
- Attainable: Set ambitious but achievable goals
- Timely: Provide a deadline
Different departments will have their objectives, all supporting the main goal. All these strategic objectives are flexible and should align with the company’s long-term goals.
Key performance indicators
It’s essential to choose the right Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It’s a good practice to involve all your teams while you decide your KPIs. Some of the important KPIs can be revenue growth, customer acquisition cost (CAC), net profit margin, churn rate, etc.
Creating a timeline with milestones is necessary for any business. It keeps everyone focused and helps track efficiency. If some milestones aren’t met in a certain period, then it’s time to re-evaluate them.
Examples of some milestones are:
- Hiring key team members in six months
- Setting checkpoints for different production phases like design, prototype, development, testing, etc.
- Acquiring the first 50 clients in a year
Now you’re all set to write an operations plan section for your business plan. To give you a headstart, we have created an operations plan example.
Operations Plan Example
We know this guide has been helpful for you in drafting a comprehensive operational plan section for your business plan.
If you’re still unsure or need help getting started, consider using business plan software like Upmetrics . It offers step-by-step guidance, so you won’t have to worry about what comes next.
Build your Business Plan Faster
with step-by-step Guidance & AI Assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a strategic plan and an operational plan.
A strategic plan outlines the long-term vision, mission, and goals of an organization, focusing on growth and direction over several years.
In contrast, an operational plan details the short-term tasks, processes, and resource allocation needed to achieve those strategic goals, emphasizing day-to-day efficiency and productivity.
What role does the operations plan play in securing funding for a business?
The operations plan defines the clear goals of your business and what actions will be taken daily to reach them. So, investors need to know where your business stands and it will prove the viability of the goals helping you in getting funded.
What are the factors affecting the operations plan?
Some of the factors that affect the operations plan are:
- The mission of the company
- Goals to be achieved
- Finance and resources your company will need
Can an operations plan be created for both start-up and established businesses?
Yes, both a startup and a small business need an operations plan to get a better idea of the roadmap they want for their business.
About the Author
Upmetrics Team
Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more
Get started with Upmetrics Al
- 400+ sample business plans
- Al-powered financial planning
- Collaborative workspace
Reach Your Goals with Accurate Planning
- Business Planning
How to Write the Operations Plan in Your Business Plan
Written by Vinay Kevadiya
Published Nov. 6 2024 · 11 Min Read
Your business is scaling, orders are coming in, and your team is working hard. But then you start to slip—a delayed shipment here, a missed deadline there, all without a proper plan.
Soon enough, you’re spending more time solving issues than making progress. This is where an operational plan in your business plan can make all the difference.
An operational plan gives structure to how your business runs each day, showing each role, steps, and timing needed to keep things on track.
If mapping out your operational plan feels like a lot, don’t worry—we’ll guide you through building a plan that’s clear, actionable, and geared for growth. Let’s begin!
What is an operations plan?
An operations plan in a business plan breaks down your day-to-day activities focused on reaching the organizational goals outlined earlier. It shows how each department works together, who’s responsible for what, and the timing needed to keep things on track.
This section clarifies each team or department’s role in hitting your milestones. In other words, it lays out how you’ll use resources—whether they’re physical, financial, or human—to move closer to your business objectives within a set timeframe.
How to write an effective operations plan
When building an operational plan, you're not setting up new goals or crafting fresh strategies. Instead, you’re to focus on what your team is already working on and what needs to be done regularly—whether daily or weekly—to reach your main goals.
Here’s how to approach it:
Describe processes and workflows
Describe each step involved in creating your product or service. Highlight any inefficiencies you’ve identified and the specific actions you plan to take to address them.
List potential risks in the process and any problems you might face later. Also, discuss the safety measures in place to protect employees while they work, as well as how you handle hazardous materials and waste disposal.
Outline your daily activities
Provide a clear outline of the daily activities involved in your production process.
This should cover your hours of operation, the days your business is open, and whether it operates year-round or seasonally.
Mention your business location details
Specify your business location and any additional branches, along with their addresses. If possible, include images, drawings of the buildings, lease documents, and real estate agreements. Explaining their importance in your plan helps underline how these elements support your overall strategic goals.
Highlight relevant industry affiliations and associations
List any industry, organizations, or associations you’re currently part of or plan to join. Including this information shows you’re engaged with the relevant key stakeholders in your field. This information shows your readers that you’re well-versed with the organizations and associations in your niche.
Write about your vendor partnerships and agreements
Discuss the vendors you collaborate with to sell your products or services. Provide a brief overview of the agreements you've signed, covering terms, conditions, prices, and contract timelines. It’s also wise to mention any backup suppliers you have in place.
This makes sure that you meet your strategic objectives even if your primary suppliers fall short.
Allocate resources
Detail the tools and machinery essential for your operations. Don’t forget to include their costs, as this information will be important in predicting your financial needs.
Also, make a detailed list of your assets. This should cover land, buildings, tools, machinery, vehicles, and furniture. Providing a legal description and the estimated value of these assets can make your business strategy strong.
If you need any additional facilities, like water supply or specific power needs, mention them here. Clearly state what steps you’ve taken or need to take to secure the necessary permissions for these requirements.
Create a timeline
Outline the steps involved in delivering your service or creating one unit of your product, including the time required for each stage.
Identify any factors that could disrupt this workflow and share your strategies for managing these issues to avoid delays.
Establish performance metrics
Define measurable criteria for success. Metrics might include production efficiency, customer satisfaction scores, or adherence to quality standards.
If you’re pursuing certifications, describe the steps you’re taking to meet the necessary standards. Regularly tracking these metrics helps maintain high-quality outputs.
Implement Risk Management
Spot risks like supply delays or broken equipment. Plan how to fix these issues. Include ways to keep workers safe and backups for supplies and resources.
Detail your inventory and storage management
Describe how you store and manage the resources or products needed for your operations, along with any costs tied to storage or space. Effective inventory management helps maintain quality and ensures timely delivery to customers.
Describe your pricing strategy
Discuss your pricing strategy for products or services. Specify the approach you used—whether cost-plus, value-based, or competitive pricing. Include final prices, providing a breakdown if there are different tiers or packages. Also, make sure to connect these costs to your operating budget to ensure they fit within your overall financial plan.
Update and review
Once your operational plan is ready, share it with key stakeholders so everyone understands the main goals and daily tasks needed to achieve them. Use a shared tool to manage the plan and track progress in real-time.
Be aware that changes will happen. Regularly monitor your operational plan and provide updates, keeping stakeholders and team members informed about your progress. Aim to report monthly with written status updates to ensure alignment and clarity.
Some additional tips to remember when writing an operational plan
To build an effective operational plan, defining your goals is key. Follow these tips to create a practical and actionable operating plan:
1. Begin with your strategic framework
Before defining your operational goals, make sure your strategic objectives are well-established and relevant.
2. Focus on important activities first
Once your goals are clear, prioritize the important activities needed to achieve them. This strategy helps prevent your team from spreading their efforts too thin.
By concentrating on fewer tasks, everyone can work more efficiently and make better use of available resources.
3. Identify key stakeholders
It's important to decide who will take part in the operational planning process before you make an operational business plan. The involved members should have a good knowledge of the actions outlined in the plan.
For example, the design team's operational plan should be created by the head of the design team along with the team leads, depending on the team size.
After they finalize their operational plan, it's essential for them to share it with the head of marketing to get that final approval. This collaboration ensures everyone is on the same page and that the plan aligns with overall business objectives.
4. Define clear objectives and responsibilities
Your operational plan lays out the particular actions your team will take to meet your goals within a defined time frame. To create an effective operational plan, you should cover the following elements:
- Team objectives: Clearly define what your team aims to achieve.
- Deliverables: List the tangible results that the operational plan will deliver.
- Desired outcomes: Include any quality standards or outcomes that need to be met.
- Staffing and resources: Specify what staffing and resources are required, along with your operating budget.
- Monitoring progress: Describe how you’ll track and report on progress throughout the plan's implementation.
If you’re finding it challenging to identify all the necessary details for your operational plan, consider these guiding questions:
One: What do we need to accomplish? This should align with your strategic plan or yearly goals.
Two: What daily tasks are necessary to reach our objectives? Identify both ongoing tasks and new initiatives that need to start.
Three: Who’s responsible for these tasks? Assign one owner to each task to ensure clarity on who to consult for questions or updates. This approach helps maintain accountability and smooth communication within the team.
Operation plan in business plan example
Here’s the operational plan template for a software development company:
Difference between strategic and operational plans
Strategic and operational planning are two sides of the same coin. However, both have a different role.
Strategic planning is more about the future. It's about predicting what’s ahead and planning for new opportunities or challenges.
A business operational plan, unlike a strategic plan, talks about execution. Operational plans outline the daily responsibilities, tasks, and other operations your team needs to know off to work effectively.
Plus, you’ll also need to specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This helps you to track your progress regularly and make sure your team is on the right path.
Why is an operations plan important in a business plan?
Operational planning turns big-picture strategies into actionable steps. While a strategic plan sets long-term goals, an operational plan tells about day-to-day activities that keep everyone on track.
According to research, only 26% of knowledge workers clearly understand how their tasks tie back to company goals. That’s where operational planning bridges the gap by setting specific short-term goals aligned with broader objectives.
Operational planning helps by:
Offering clarity
Operational planning makes sure that everyone on the team knows what needs to be done daily, weekly, and monthly. This clarity boosts focus and productivity across the board.
Providing a roadmap
With a functional operational plan, reaching your long-term goals becomes a lot easier. When your team has clear business goals to follow, productivity increases, and everyone stays accountable for their tasks.
Setting a benchmark
An operational plan establishes clear goals, showing everyone where the company is headed and how to get there.
Managing resources
This planning process helps you allocate resources effectively, whether it's your staff, equipment, or materials. It ensures nothing goes to waste and that everything is utilized to its fullest potential.
Helping in decision-making
An operations plan simplifies decision-making by providing insights into daily business operations. It highlights resource management, smart investments, and effective risk strategies, ensuring that every decision enhances overall business performance.
4 key elements of an operational plan
Now that you know why operational planning is important, let us learn about the key elements of operational plans:
1. Strategic Plan
Your business operations plan serves as a bridge to put your strategic goals into action. A solid strategic plan lays the groundwork for writing a successful operations plan.
Having clear goals is essential for any operations plan. Think about them in terms of SMART criteria:
- Specific: Clearly outline what you expect employees to achieve.
- Measurable: Quantify goals to track progress effectively.
- Attainable: Set ambitious yet realistic goals.
- Timely: Establish deadlines for achieving these goals.
Different departments will have their objectives, all supporting the main goal. These objectives should be flexible and align with the company's long-term vision.
3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Selecting the right KPIs is important. Involving all teams in this process can lead to better alignment. Important KPIs to consider might include:
- Revenue growth
- Customer acquisition cost (CAC)
- Net profit margin
4. Timeline
Creating a timeline with milestones is vital for any business. It keeps the team focused and helps measure efficiency. If milestones aren’t met on schedule, it's a good time to assess it again.
Examples of milestones:
- Launching the company website within three months.
- Completing product testing and feedback collection within four months.
- Securing partnerships with two key distributors by the end of the year.
Once you complete this section of your business plan, you'll have a well-defined operations plan ready for your readers. This plan will serve as a practical checklist of the steps needed to achieve business goals.
Creating this document allows you to refine your business ideas into a straightforward list that you can reference and use. As you tick off items, you can share your vision with investors, partners, and team members.
We hope this guide has been useful in helping you draft a solid operational plan section for your business plan.
If you still feel uncertain or need assistance getting started, consider utilizing business plan software like Bizplanr. It provides step-by-step guidance to help you navigate the planning process without the stress of what to tackle next.
Get Your Business Plan Ready In Minutes
Answer a few questions, and AI will generate a detailed business plan.
Generate your Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the operations plan of a business plan?
An operations plan outlines daily processes, operational goals, equipment needs, and production methods. It ensures your business runs smoothly by detailing how tasks will be accomplished.
Can I create an operations plan for a service-based business?
Absolutely! Service-based businesses benefit from operations plans to define service delivery, scheduling, and customer interactions, which helps streamline processes.
Do I need an operations plan if I’m a solopreneur?
Yes, an operations plan is essential for solopreneurs. It helps you stay organized, manage tasks effectively, and set clear priorities, ensuring you operate efficiently.
What is the difference between a company’s strategic plan and an operations plan?
A strategic plan outlines long-term objectives and vision, while an operations plan details the day-to-day actions needed to reach those goals. Both are vital for business success but serve different purposes.
As the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, Vinay Kevadiya has over 12 years of experience in business planning. He provides valuable insights to help entrepreneurs build and manage successful business plans.
Follow Vinay Kevadiya
Related Articles
How to Write a Value Proposition With Examples
How to Write Management Team Section in Business Plan
How to Write an Internal Business Plan
How to Write the Operations Plan Section of Your Business Plan
The Operations Plan is a component of your business plan that is like the engine of your car. The operations plan holds the key parts of your business and it shows how those parts work together to keep the business running. If you are starting a business or your business is growing, the operations plan also shows that your business is more than just a good concept. It shows why the business is running smoothly and how key milestones ahead will be met as the business grows. The operations plan is the powerhouse engine in your business plan . Let’s start that engine together.
What is the Operations Plan in a Business Plan?
The key to putting your operations plan together is choosing which processes show how your business works and what the expected outcomes will be as a result. Include the processes that you believe are most important even if they are basic or simple. And, if you think your business is too new to create an operations plan, think again. Every business has processes, no matter how large or small they may be. Your operations plan may be considered by potential investors or lenders; make it the best it can be.
Components of a Comprehensive Operations Plan
The best operations plan includes a list of key processes with short explanations that detail each process. Some explanations will also include a brief sentence explaining how the key process will help the business meet the expected key milestones. For example, “Our Marketing team will post on social media each time our product sales reach one of our sales goals. This will drive new customers to our product offering.”
Main components of an operations plan:
Product Development
Describe how the product is being developed and if it is currently offered or is on target for launch. Include the production process for testing, improvements or revisions.
Key milestone : Note the forecast for new product development to expand the product line.
Manufacturing
Describe the process of manufacturing, from the first step to the delivery of products. This may include several bullet points. Add facilities maintenance in this section. Also, include the management processes of the staff.
Key milestone : Include a brief forecast with plans to increase manufacturing capabilities.
Administration/Human Resources
Include a description of day-to-day activities that are overseen by staff members, including facilities management, safety, reports and compliance, hiring staff and training.
Key milestone : Add a sentence regarding staff training for leadership as the business grows.
List the process of purchasing parts, services, products, and raw materials. Include a sentence about financial oversight of expenditures to control costs.
Key milestone : Indicate how the staff is preparing for purchasing increases to meet higher manufacturing demands.
Customer Service
List the processes that comprise customer service, including any customer relationship management software (CRM) or other processes that interact with customers. Provide details on processes for customer retention.
Key milestone : Add a sentence describing staff training to build customer relationships.
Describe how your business conducts sales, whether through online channels, via wholesale or retail sales, or by other means. Explain why the process works for your business and how it is positioned to be successful because of the sales process.
Key milestone : Indicate how planned sales strategies will expand to meet key milestones.
Note the process of current marketing campaigns and the response of the target audience. Note how responses are scored on social media.
Key milestone : Include operational plans for building brand awareness, key selling points, and entry positions.
At this stage of business, the finance process should be clearly outlined, with current and any expected funding included. Also, include a sentence about how the business has structured a repayment plan for any loans and is making on-time payments.
Key milestone : Describe any anticipated funding options that have already been put into place.
Accounting/Payroll:
Describe in a few sentences how timely accounting is completed on a regular basis. Add a sentence about the payroll system and the software that runs it.
Key milestone : Add a note about increasing software programs in accounting to increase performance during growth.
Include a sentence about the process of oversight for the business. Add the process of documentation, filings, and oversight of any copyrights, patents, or trademarks. Include any licensing payments that add revenue to the business.
Key milestone : Include a description of the legal process already in place to accommodate expansion and long-term growth.
How to Write the Operations Plan For Your Business
Now that you’ve read about the main components in a business operations plan, it’s time to connect them in writing your own operations plan. To do this, you can follow the easy steps ahead as you construct each process.
Remember, you may not need all of the processes listed here. You will want to choose those that make sense for your business and, if needed, add some others. When completed, your operations plan will flow smoothly from start to finish.
- Consider your Business Goals . Write out each goal. Read them as you decide which processes to include in your operations plan and think about how soon you will want to meet the company goals.
- Create a Process List . Look at the list of components and decide how to make them into a list for your own business. Don’t write out full descriptions yet. We’re building the list first. How do processes start in your business?
- Finance (get funding)
- Product Development (buy a truck, provide services, equipment, tools)
- Manufacturing (maintain the garage and tow truck)
- Sales (make sales calls)
- Customer Service (answering texts, and emails)
- Marketing (getting referrals from friends)
- Accounting/Payroll (paying yourself and the bookkeeper)
- Legal (risk management assistance)
- Start filling in the Process Descriptions . Use the examples above to describe the processes of your business. A few sentences that explain each process are all you need in the operations plan.
- For example, key milestones for your tow truck business might be:
- Tow at least five vehicles daily during each week (sales/marketing)
- Buy a second tow truck within 6 months (finance)
- Add a second tow truck driver within 6 months (human resources)
- Buy a commercial truck within 12 months (finance/product development)
- Finish your Operations Plan . Re-read each Process Description and complete the Key Milestones for each operations section.
Sample Operations Plan for Badger Drains & Plumbing
Badger Drains & Plumbing, based in Milwaukee, WI, is dedicated to providing top-notch residential and commercial plumbing services. Our operations plan outlines the key processes that make our business run smoothly and how we plan to meet our key milestones as we grow.
Our services, instead of physical products, are continuously refined based on customer feedback and technological advancements in plumbing. This includes adopting newer, more efficient ways to conduct pipe repairs, installations, and maintenance services.
Key milestone : To introduce environmentally friendly and cost-effective plumbing solutions within the next year.
Our staff handle day-to-day operational tasks, prioritizing safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. This includes everything from scheduling service calls to conducting routine safety checks and equipment maintenance.
Key milestone : Implement a leadership development program for senior technicians to prepare them for managerial roles as the company expands.
We procure high-quality plumbing materials, tools, and technologies from reputable suppliers, ensuring we have the necessary inventory to meet customer demand without excessive expenditure.
Key milestone : Strengthen relationships with key suppliers to negotiate better prices and ensure priority fulfillment as service demand increases.
Customer service is a pillar of our operations, involving not just resolving issues but proactively enhancing customer satisfaction through follow-ups and feedback collection using CRM software.
Key milestone : Introduce a loyalty program by the end of the next quarter to increase customer retention rates.
Sales efforts are directed through personal client interactions and digital marketing to generate leads, with a strong focus on the benefits of choosing Badger Drains & Plumbing for reliability and professionalism.
Key milestone : Achieve a 20% increase in annual contracts by targeting commercial entities in the Milwaukee area.
Our marketing is focused on local SEO, targeted ads, and social media engagement to connect with the Milwaukee community, emphasizing our quick response times and quality service.
Key milestone : Launch a community-oriented campaign to increase brand visibility and customer engagement by participating in local events and sponsorships.
Our current financing includes business revenue and a small business loan, with a diligent approach to budgeting and a clear plan for loan repayment and future investments.
Key milestone : Secure a line of credit to fund an expansion of services within the next two years.
Accounting/Payroll
We use modern software solutions to ensure accurate and timely financial and payroll management, allowing us to focus more on serving our customers and less on back-office tasks.
Key milestone : Transition to a more comprehensive software suite that integrates CRM and finance for better overall management efficiency.
Our legal framework encompasses regular reviews of compliance, documentations, and the management of any intellectual property, ensuring all operations are above board.
Key milestone : Establish a retainer partnership with a legal firm specializing in small businesses to prepare for interstate licensing and expansion.
By following this operations plan, Badger Drains & Plumbing aims to enhance its service offerings, optimize operational efficiency, increase productivity, and achieve sustainable growth, maintaining its commitment to being Milwaukee’s trusted plumbing service provider.
If You Aren’t a Writer or Have No Time to Write…
The truth is, not all of us are writers and some of us don’t have time to spare. The good news is that we have a solution for you in the newest software designed for entrepreneurs and business owners who need a complete business plan–without having to write one.
If you would like to easily create a comprehensive business plan, you can join over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business leaders who’ve created their business plans with PlanBuildr.
Why do we offer PlanBuildr? We are business owners. We know your time is valuable. And, we know a comprehensive business plan is vital when it’s time to obtain funding or secure investors. Not all of us are writers, but we all know good value when we see it. Try PlanBuildr for free !
- Business Planning
- Venture Funding
IMAGES
VIDEO