Tips on Formatting Your Business Plan

A business plan is much more than just words; it is your business. How you present that business to others has significant impact on its ultimate success.

Perhaps in your research

you came across one or more business plans to use as guides. These can also be potential templates for formatting your business plan. Keep in mind that there is not a single correct way to present your business idea.

This is your plan. Allow it to speak for you. You may change the order in which specific sections of your plan are presented, with a few exceptions.

What's Set in Stone? What's Flexible?

Always begin your plan with an executive summary and end it with supporting documents.

What appears between these two components is up to you. Add a section, drop a section, or change the section title to better represent your content. Again, your plan is a direct reflection of you and your business idea. Don't be afraid to adapt the content and its order to fit your idea of coherence and fluidity.