Write a Winning Business Plan

Standard Business Plan Format

The form of every good business plan, although not set in stone, tends to run along the same basic lines, containing the following key sections:

Cover page. The cover page should be professional and informative and should contain an appropriate confidentiality legend.

Executive summary. The executive summary is the introduction to your business plan and the most vital section. Although it comes first, you generally write it last because it summarizes the entire plan. Effective summaries generally cover:

• The company's origins.
• The product or service and its uniqueness or competitive advantage.
• The company's goals.
• The market potential for the product or service.
• A three- to five-year summary of key financial forecasts, especially sales and profit/loss. For new businesses, do some market research and make realistic assumptions about how your business can compete.
• The management team and its track record.
• The financing required to grow the business.
• The exit strategy.