YouTube Business Plan Template
If you want to start a successful YouTube business or expand your current YouTube channel business, you need a business plan.
Fortunately, you’re in the right place. Our team has helped develop over 100,000 business plans over the past 20 years, including thousands of YouTube business plans.
The following YouTube business plan template and example gives you the key elements you must include in your plan. In our experience speaking with lenders and investors, the template is organized in the precise format they want.
Sample Business Plan For YouTube Businesses
I. Executive Summary
Business Overview
[Company Name], located in [Location] is a new YouTube business that focuses on providing informative, step-by-step makeup tutorials and honest beauty product reviews. The company is led by [Founder Name], a certified esthetician who has been working in the makeup industry for over a decade. [Company Name] aims to be the most useful, engaging, and fun beauty channel on YouTube.
Services
[Company Name] will provide weekly 30-minute tutorials on makeup application techniques for a variety of purposes from everyday wear to weddings and other special events.
The company will include new beauty and skincare products in each video, providing honest reviews while trying the products out for the first time. All products used will be from brands promoting clean, healthy, and eco-friendly production methods.
Customer Focus
[Company Name] will serve YouTube viewers who are interested in makeup application techniques and clean beauty products worldwide. The demographics of this audience are as follows:
- An estimated 46% of global YouTube users are female
- Approximately 81% of all U.S. adults watch YouTube
- 80% of female adults in the U.S. watch YouTube
- 95% of 18 to 29 year-olds in the U.S. watch YouTube
- 91% of 30 to 49 year-olds in the U.S. watch YouTube
- Roughly 39% of women wear makeup daily and an estimated 9 out of 10 of these women prefer clean beauty products.
- Average income $46,000
- Median age: 35 years
Management Team
[Company Name] is led by [Founder’s Name], a certified esthetician who runs a salon in [Location]. She has been providing makeup and skincare services for over ten years. [Founder] has been featured in multiple beauty magazines and has gained a large following for her award-winning makeup application techniques. [Founder] now wants to share her expertise with a wider audience through her new YouTube channel.
Success Factors
[Company Name] is uniquely qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:
- The company will be providing valuable information to its audience in a fun and engaging way.
- The company is led by a well-known esthetician who has amassed a dedicated fanbase for her award-winning makeup application techniques.
- The YouTube channel business is a proven business model that has brought success to creators throughout the world.
- There has been significant growth in the number of beauty customers looking for clean makeup and skincare products. Companies who cater to this market have been thriving.
Financial Highlights
[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $100,000 of debt capital to start its YouTube channel business.
- Salon set design/build-out: $25,000
- Materials, supplies, and initial products: $25,000
- Working capital: $50,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and operational costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even
Top line projections over the next five years are as follows:
| Financial Summary | FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $560,401 | $782,152 | $1,069,331 | $1,379,434 | $1,699,644 |
| Total Expenses | $328,233 | $391,429 | $552,149 | $696,577 | $776,687 |
| EBITDA | $232,168 | $390,722 | $517,182 | $682,858 | $922,956 |
| Depreciation | $7,000 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $7,000 |
| EBIT | $225,168 | $383,722 | $510,182 | $675,858 | $915,956 |
| Interest | $6,016 | $5,264 | $4,512 | $3,760 | $3,008 |
| Pre Tax Income | $219,152 | $378,458 | $505,670 | $672,098 | $912,948 |
| Income Tax Expense | $76,703 | $132,460 | $176,985 | $235,234 | $319,532 |
| Net Income | $142,449 | $245,998 | $328,686 | $436,864 | $593,416 |
| Net Profit Margin | 25% | 31% | 31% | 32% | 35% |
II. Company Overview
Who is [Company Name]?
[Company Name], located in [Location] is a newly established YouTube business that will provide informative and fun makeup and beauty videos showcasing honest product reviews on clean skincare products. The company is owned and operated by [Founder], a licensed esthetician with over ten years of experience working in the beauty industry. She has gained a dedicated following for her unique makeup application techniques and wants to share her knowledge with a wider audience through her new YouTube channel.
[Company Name]’s History
[Founder] began researching what it would take to create her own YouTube company and did a thorough analysis on the costs, market, demographics, and competition. [Founder] has compiled enough information to develop her business plan in order to approach investors.
Since incorporation, the Company has achieved the following milestones:
- Developed the company’s name, logo, website, and YouTube channel.
- Began reaching out to skincare and beauty product brands to start getting products to review.
- Determined equipment requirements for filming professional-looking YouTube videos.
- Began recruiting key personnel to help with video editing, social media marketing, and other administrative tasks.
[Company Name]’s Products/Services
[Company Name] will provide its audience with high quality videos on the following topics:
- Everyday makeup tutorials
- Special event makeup tutorials
- Costume/Halloween makeup tutorials
- Skincare and beauty vlogs
- Clean beauty and skincare product reviews
- Videos with sponsored brand ambassadors for popular products
III. Industry Analysis
YouTube creators belong to the $104B creator market that also encompasses creators on platforms such as Twitch, Shutterstock, Apple Podcasts, Patreon, Podia, and Udemy.
There are currently more than 51M YouTube channels, up 36% from this time last year. There are approximately 29,000 YouTube channels with a high volume of subscribers (1M or more subscribers each). Of these 29,000 channels, 700 have more than 10M subscribers.
YouTube creators operate within a wide range of niches. Some of the most popular channel niches include DIY tutorials, fashion, beauty, product reviews, vlogs, technical videos, gaming, storytime, and educational content.
Differentiation can be a challenge for new YouTube creators. To be competitive in the market, it’s important for creators to determine their unique niche and target audience, and then make sure to create videos that cater to that specific audience.
IV. Customer Analysis
Demographic Profile of Target Market
[Company Name] will serve YouTube viewers who are interested in makeup application techniques and clean beauty products worldwide. The demographics of this audience are as follows:
- An estimated 46% of global YouTube users are female
- Approximately 81% of all U.S. adults watch YouTube
- 80% of female adults in the U.S. watch YouTube
- 95% of 18 to 29 year-olds in the U.S. watch YouTube
- 91% of 30 to 49 year-olds in the U.S. watch YouTube
- Roughly 39% of women wear makeup daily and an estimated 9 out of 10 of these women prefer clean beauty products.
- Average income of $46,000
- Median age: 35 years
Customer Segmentation
The Company will primarily target the following three customer segments:
- Gen Z and millennial YouTube viewers who wear makeup on a daily basis and prefer clean beauty products: These two age groups are the most likely to use YouTube product reviews as a guide for their beauty product purchases.
- Makeup enthusiasts: This group of people likes to try out new application techniques and new beauty products. They are also likely to make purchasing decisions based on YouTube reviews.
- People getting ready for special events: The company will also target people looking for unique makeup application techniques to use for events such as weddings, costume parties, professional photoshoots, or any other special occasion where they want to look their best.
V. Competitive Analysis
Direct & Indirect Competitors
The following Youtube creators expected to be the key competitors for [Company Name] due to their current brand and resources:
Amy Makeup
Amy Makeup is a successful YouTube creator who has gained a large subscriber list over the past five years with her engaging makeup tutorials. Amy Makeup also sells her own makeup products through her YouTube channel. She specializes in Halloween and costume makeup and has been featured in some of the top beauty magazines for her one-of-a-kind looks. The biggest drawback of Amy Makeup’s channel is that it does not focus on clean beauty brands, but rather promotes products from a variety of less-than-reputable brands.
Emily’s Makeup & Beauty Vlog
Emily’s Makeup & Beauty Vlog provides detailed makeup tutorials and product reviews on a weekly basis. The YouTube channel features a wide range of makeup brands from all over the world. Emily’s channel focuses on products she uses as well as products she would not use and provides inside information on the ingredients and production process. Emily focuses on everyday makeup applications and is not well versed in special event makeup.
Surely Skincare
Surely Skincare is a popular YouTube channel featuring a pair of enthusiastic hosts that promote various skincare and beauty products. They are mostly known for their live makeup application tutorials and their fresh approach to skincare. The company has been in business for about ten years and has developed a large following of YouTube subscribers due to their unique branding.
Competitive Advantage
[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. Those advantages include:
- Name Recognition: [Founder] has already gained a massive following for her unique makeup application techniques and charismatic personality.
- Niche: [Company Name] has identified a niche in the beauty industry for people looking specifically for clean makeup and skincare products.
- Known Expertise: Part of the marketing strategy is to showcase the founder’s expertise and knowledge in the industry. As a proven esthetician, she is an expert in makeup application and has a wide knowledge of beauty products.
VI. Marketing Plan
You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.
[Company Name] seeks to position its YouTube channel as a high quality source of information and entertainment. Viewers can expect to receive the best beauty and skincare advice on YouTube from a skilled esthetician.
The [Company Name] Brand
The [Company Name] brand will focus on the Company’s unique value proposition:
- Providing engaging and detailed makeup tutorial videos for both novices and experts to emulate.
- Providing honest product reviews on various beauty and skincare products.
- Promoting clean beauty products and brands.
Promotions Strategy
[Company Name] expects its target market to be Gen Z and millennial YouTube viewers worldwide. [The Company]’s promotion strategy to reach these individuals includes:
Social Media Marketing
[Company Name] will invest heavily in a social media advertising campaign. The marketing manager will create the company’s social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. It will use targeted marketing to appeal to the target demographics.
Website/SEO
The Company will develop its website in such a manner as to direct as much traffic from search engines as possible. The original website designer will use knowledge of search engine optimization to orient the website’s content towards this end and begin a program of link exchange to move up the search engine rankings (particularly Google). Ongoing search engine optimization of this type will be executed by the marketing manager.
Pay-Per Click Advertising
[Company Name] will use highly-focused, specific keywords to draw traffic to its website through pay-per-click advertising on Google Adwords and banner ads on other appropriate websites (brokered by Google or another ad placement company).
Email Marketing
[Company Name] will publish a monthly email newsletter to tell customers about upcoming videos, events, and product reviews. Email addresses will be gathered from users who opt-in when using the website. In addition, emails presenting exciting new offers or products may be sent as often as once a week to customers who have opted-in to keep them informed of the latest information on the website.
Affiliate Website Partnerships
[Company Name]’s affiliate web program will allow other businesses and websites to earn commissions on products sold on the [Company Name] website by referring their site visitors to its website through links to the homepage or to specific products. Potential affiliates include beauty and skincare brands that have been endorsed by [Founder].
Pricing Strategy
[Company Name]’s pricing for advertisers will be moderate and on par with other YouTube creators. Advertisers will be charged $8.00 per 100 views of their ads that appear on the YouTube channel.
VII. Operations Plan
Functional Roles
[Founder] will hire a small team of personnel to carry out most of the day-to-day production operations. There will also be some administrative functions involved.
Production Functions
- Creating engaging videos
- Video editing
- Ongoing YouTube channel and website management
Administrative Functions
- General and administrative functions such as marketing, bookkeeping, scheduling, etc.
- Hiring and training small team of personnel
- Brand management and ongoing social media management
- Beauty product procurement
- Ongoing relationship management with advertisers
Milestones
The following are a series of steps that lead to our vision of long-term success. [Company Name] expects to achieve the following milestones in the following [xyz] months:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| [Date 1] | Finalize lease agreement |
| [Date 2] | Design and build out [Company Name] |
| [Date 3] | Hire and train initial staff |
| [Date 4] | Kickoff of promotional campaign |
| [Date 5] | Launch [Company Name] |
| [Date 6] | Reach break-even |
VIII. Management Team
Management Team Members
Company Name] is led by [Founder’s Name], an established certified esthetician who runs a salon in [Location]. She has been providing makeup and skincare services for over ten years. [Founder] has been featured in multiple beauty magazines and has gained a large following for her award-winning makeup application techniques. [Founder] now wants to share her expertise with a wider audience through her new YouTube channel. Although she has no video production experience herself, she is comfortable in front of the camera and has hosted many successful public appearances.
Hiring Plan
[Founder] will serve as the Owner and Manager of [Company Name]. In order to launch, she needs to hire the following personnel:
- Sourcing Assistant who will be responsible for finding new beauty products and making deals with suppliers.
- Video Editor who will be responsible for helping with the video editing process to ensure all videos are of professional quality before being uploaded to YouTube.
- Administrative Assistant who will manage [Founder]’s schedule, meetings, appearances, correspondence, and related duties.
- Marketing Manager who will be responsible for the website, social media, public relations, and advertising activities for the company.
IX. Financial Plan
Revenue and Cost Drivers
[Company Name]’s revenues will come primarily from advertising revenue from YouTube sponsors and paid product reviews from beauty brands.
The video equipment, makeup supplies, and labor expenses will be the key cost drivers of [Company Name]. The major cost drivers for the company’s operation will consist of:
- Salaries
- Video production equipment and makeup supplies
- Ongoing marketing expenses
- Business Insurance
- Taxes
Capital Requirements and Use of Funds
[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $100,000 of debt capital to start its YouTube channel business. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and video production equipment, hiring employees, marketing and branding expenses, and working capital.
Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:
- Salon set design/build-out: $25,000
- Materials, supplies, and initial products: $25,000
- Working capital: $50,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and operational costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even
5 Year Annual Income Statement
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | ||||||
| Product/Service A | $151,200 | $333,396 | $367,569 | $405,245 | $446,783 | |
| Product/Service B | $100,800 | $222,264 | $245,046 | $270,163 | $297,855 | |
| Total Revenues | $252,000 | $555,660 | $612,615 | $675,408 | $744,638 | |
| Expenses & Costs | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | $57,960 | $122,245 | $122,523 | $128,328 | $134,035 | |
| Lease | $60,000 | $61,500 | $63,038 | $64,613 | $66,229 | |
| Marketing | $20,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Salaries | $133,890 | $204,030 | $224,943 | $236,190 | $248,000 | |
| Other Expenses | $3,500 | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 | $5,500 | |
| Total Expenses & Costs | $271,850 | $412,775 | $435,504 | $454,131 | $473,263 | |
| EBITDA | ($19,850) | $142,885 | $177,112 | $221,277 | $271,374 | |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | |
| EBIT | ($56,810) | $105,925 | $140,152 | $184,317 | $234,414 | |
| Interest | $23,621 | $20,668 | $17,716 | $14,763 | $11,810 | |
| PRETAX INCOME | ($80,431) | $85,257 | $122,436 | $169,554 | $222,604 | |
| Net Operating Loss | ($80,431) | ($80,431) | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Income Tax Expense | $0 | $1,689 | $42,853 | $59,344 | $77,911 | |
| NET INCOME | ($80,431) | $83,568 | $79,583 | $110,210 | $144,693 | |
| Net Profit Margin (%) | - | 15.00% | 13.00% | 16.30% | 19.40% |
5 Year Annual Balance Sheet
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Cash | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 | $392,389 | |
| Accounts receivable | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Inventory | $21,000 | $23,153 | $25,526 | $28,142 | $31,027 | |
| Total Current Assets | $37,710 | $113,340 | $184,482 | $286,712 | $423,416 | |
| Fixed assets | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $73,920 | $110,880 | $147,840 | $184,800 | |
| Net fixed assets | $209,490 | $172,530 | $135,570 | $98,610 | $61,650 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $247,200 | $285,870 | $320,052 | $385,322 | $485,066 | |
| LIABILITIES & EQUITY | ||||||
| Debt | $317,971 | $272,546 | $227,122 | $181,698 | $136,273 | |
| Accounts payable | $9,660 | $10,187 | $10,210 | $10,694 | $11,170 | |
| Total Liabilities | $327,631 | $282,733 | $237,332 | $192,391 | $147,443 | |
| Share Capital | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Retained earnings | ($80,431) | $3,137 | $82,720 | $192,930 | $337,623 | |
| Total Equity | ($80,431) | $3,137 | $82,720 | $192,930 | $337,623 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $247,200 | $285,870 | $320,052 | $385,322 | $485,066 |
5 Year Annual Cash Flow Statement
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS | |||||
| Net Income (Loss) | ($80,431) | $83,568 | $79,583 | $110,210 | $144,693 |
| Change in working capital | ($11,340) | ($1,625) | ($2,350) | ($2,133) | ($2,409) |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 |
| Net Cash Flow from Operations | ($54,811) | $118,902 | $114,193 | $145,037 | $179,244 |
| CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS | |||||
| Investment | ($246,450) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net Cash Flow from Investments | ($246,450) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING | |||||
| Cash from equity | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Cash from debt | $317,971 | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) |
| Net Cash Flow from Financing | $317,971 | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) |
| SUMMARY | |||||
| Net Cash Flow | $16,710 | $73,478 | $68,769 | $99,613 | $133,819 |
| Cash at Beginning of Period | $0 | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 |
| Cash at End of Period | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 | $392,389 |
