Business Plan Outline
Need help with your Business Plan? Business Planning is a high priority with SCORE counselors. This simple outline is a good format to start—don’t be concerned with making it fancy or formal. The content and quantification are what’s important. The business plan should serve, first and foremost, as your roadmap. It should help you measure progress and make adjustments as necessary—in an ongoing process rather than a document on-the-shelf. Having difficulty getting started? Keep it simple. Start with this sample Business Plan outline: 1. Description of Business. What is the product or service? Where is it located? Why will it succeed? 2. Organization of Business. Describe the legal entity (partnership, etc.). Mention the management’s special skills or abilities. 3. Marketing Strategy. Who is your intended customer? Include a market analysis (how big is the existing market or how you are going to creat e a new market). Who is the competition? How are you going to market the business? 4. Financial Strategy. Include pricing strategy and breakeven analysis. Develop cash flow projection on a monthly basis for the 1st year and quarterly for the 2nd and 3rd years. (Over for example) QUANTIFY wherever possible. Keep verbiage to a minimum. It is the content and clarity of thought, not the format, which are important! (Visit http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html for further business plan examples/resources.)
Colorado Springs SCORE Chapter 206 6 South Tejon St., Suite 700 (in the Chamber of Commerce) Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 719-636-3074 www.coloradospringsscore.org