Business Plan Examples

To help entrepreneurs and business owners start and grow their own businesses, we have compiled over 250 free business plan samples and examples within a variety of industries. From startups to established companies, our business plan templates provide the guidance and structure necessary for success.

Business Plan Templates by Industry

Sample Business Plan Template

A well-crafted business plan provides a comprehensive overview of your company, including its mission, products or services, target market, financial projections, and marketing strategies. When it comes to creating a business plan template, it’s important to include specific sections that address each of these key components in detail.

The following sections should be included in your business plan template:

Executive Summary

The executive summary is the first section of your business plan, and it should provide a concise overview of your company and its goals. This section should include a brief description of your company, the products or services you offer, your target customer, and your 5-year financial model. It’s important to keep this section short and to the point, as it is often the first part of your plan that investors or lenders will read.

Company Description

The company description should provide a more detailed overview of your business, including your history, mission statement, and current status. This section should also include information about your products or services, your target customer, and your marketing strategy. It’s important to use this section to highlight your company’s unique selling proposition and to explain why your business is poised for success. Also highlight any past successes and accomplishments your business has achieved.

Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should provide an in-depth analysis of your customer, including demographic information, consumer trends, and industry insights. It’s important to use this section to demonstrate a clear understanding of your market and to explain how your products or services will meet the needs of your target customers. You must also convince readers that your market size is large enough to support your business’ success.

Products and Services

The products and services section should provide a detailed overview of the products or services your company offers. This section should include information about the features and benefits of your products or services, as well as any intellectual property (IP) or patents you hold. Use this section to demonstrate how your products or services are unique and how they will provide value to your customers.

Marketing and Sales Plan

The marketing and sales strategies section provides an overview of your marketing plan. This section should include information about your pricing strategy, your sales channels, and your promotional activities such as radio ads, social media marketing, etc. It’s important to use this section to demonstrate how you plan to cost-effectively reach your target audience.

Management and Organization

The management and organization section provides an overview of your company’s management team and organizational structure. This section should include information about the key team members in your company and any business partners. It should outline their roles, responsibilities and qualifications. It’s important to use this section to demonstrate that your company has a strong leadership team in place and to explain how each member of the team will contribute to the success of the business.

Financial Plan

This section of your business plan should provide detailed information about your company’s financial performance, including revenue, expenses, and cash flow. This section should include financial forecasts for the next five years and should provide a clear explanation (detailing the assumptions you used) of how you arrived at these projections. It’s important to use this section to demonstrate your understanding of your company’s financial plan and to explain how you plan to use your resources to achieve your goals. Be sure to include a 5-year income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement in this section of your business plan.

Appendix

The appendix is the final section of your business plan, and it should include any supporting documents that are relevant to your plan. This might include market research reports, financial statements, customer list, architectural designs or legal documents. It’s important to use this section to provide additional information that will help investors or lenders understand your business and your plans for growth.

Overall, a successful business plan template should include all of these sections in a clear and concise format. By following a business plan template like this, entrepreneurs and business owners can save time and effort while ensuring that their business plans are comprehensive and effective.