Now that you are familiar with the basics of your business plan, you need to know how to organize the information. The following pages describe in detail each section of the plan, providing a step-by-step guide through the various stages of writing.

Table of Contents

Readers often use the table of contents to locate, at a glance, the part of the business plan that interests them. The table of contents should therefore clearly show the sections and subsections of your business plan. Wait until the plan is completed before adding page numbers.

Summary

The summary is the most important part of the plan, allowing you to draw the reader’s attention to its key points. Briefly describe the nature of your business and why you are sure of its success, keeping in mind that your readers might not read your plan from beginning to end. You should wait till you’ve completed the plan before writing the summary. In this way, you’ll have a better understanding of the big picture and can go directly to the basics.

The summary addresses the following points:

• What is the basic concept of your business? State your industry sector (e.g. retail, manufacturing, wholesaling), your market and your competitive advantage.
• How does your product or service stand out from that of your competitors?
• What is the legal structure of your business? (e.g. sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation)
• Is your business already operating or is it in start-up phase? If it is operating, provide a brief summary of its evolution to date, including achievements, patents, prototypes, contracts and market research confirming its feasibility.
• Who are the players? Briefly summarize your management team’s experience and references.
• How much money are you requesting (if applicable) and for what purpose?
• How much has the founder invested in the business to date? How has he or she used this money?
• In brief, what are the expected financial results? State gross revenue and net profits for the first year of operation.
• Do you intend to draw a salary from your business in the first year? If so, how much? Otherwise, how will you support yourself?