Plan Checklist

Your business plan should accomplish at list for objectives; describing your business, describing your target market and how you will reach them, describing your financial forecast for your business, and describing how your business will operate. Below is a list of action points which you may use in compiling information to include in your business plan.

Business Description

Create a comprehensive description of your business.
List and describe the services or products offered.
Determine your short term and long term objectives.
Create a mission or vision statement for your business.
Describe the history of your company.

Market Analysis/Marketing

Describe your target market, including the size, history, and current trends.
Describe your target customer/client, including their location, income level, and desires.
List the major competitors within your industry or target market.
Describe your competition.
Describe your strategy for obtaining customers or clients.
Describe how you will market your services or products to your target customers/clients.
List the strengths of your business.
List the weaknesses of your business, including in comparison to your competitors.
List the threats to the success of your business.
List the current opportunities available within your target market.
List the advantages your business has over your competitors.

Financial Analysis/Forecast

Determine how much capital you are seeking to start your business.
Determine how startup capital will be obtained.
List all of your startup costs.
Determine your projected monthly sales for the first 12 months of operation.
Determine your projected Sales for the following two years of operation.
List the common expenses of running your business.
Determine your monthly expenses.

Operations & Management

List the management team, their position titles, and their relevant experience.
Determine where your business will operate.
Describe how your business will operate.