how to make a cover page of a business plan

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How to Write a Business Plan Cover Page Complete Guide with Examples

Fill the form to download business plan cover page examples.

A business plan cover page may not come to mind when you think of writing your business plan. Although it’s traditionally one of the last sections of a business plan, it’s one of the most crucial.

Your business plan only has one chance to make a good impression on your reader. The cover page of a book or business plan can easily make a person make a decision.

In this article, we will explain the importance of business plan cover pages and provide a step-by-step guide to help you create your own cover page for your business plan. See our real world business plan examples to see what should be included in the other sections of your business plan.

What is a business plan cover page?

The cover page of a business plan summarizes all the important aspects of the business and serves as an introduction to the full business plan. Bankers and investors can quickly determine the purpose of a business plan by viewing the cover page.

You should include the name of your company, your logo, addresses, and other information that identifies your business. This is the first page of your plan, so it should look professional, visually pleasing, and informative.

What is the purpose of a cover page?

The purpose of the cover page is to communicate what the document enclosed is and to provide information that enables a reader to contact you about your business.

Make sure your business plan’s cover page is visually appealing, free of errors, and concise to set the tone for its content.

A strong business plan cover page should be simple, clean, and powerful. Don’t clutter your cover page with details about how your business will operate. Save those details for the executive summary .

Whether you are writing a business plan , marketing plan, or proposal, the business plan cover page is an essential part of your plan. Read on to find out which elements your business plan cover page should contain and how to design it for maximum impact.

What to Include in the Business Plan Cover Page?

Although there are no specific rules regarding what should be included on your business plan cover page, we have prepared some essential information that you should not overlook.

Company logo

• Business name
• Document title
• Tagline (optional)
• Contact information and address
• Completion date
• Confidentiality statement

Now let’s look at each of these elements in greater detail so you know what you need to include on your business plan cover page.

1. Company Logo

Use a neat, clean, high-quality logo to make your business plan cover page look professional. The logo should be placed at the top of the page.

The image should be large enough to see details, but not so large that it becomes a distraction. Brand identity begins with your logo. The company logo is the first and most significant section that will capture your readers’ attention immediately.

People are 90% more likely to remember your logo if you place it in the top left corner.

2. Business Name

After the company logo, your company name is the second most important section of your cover page as you want your reader to remember your company name as they read the document.

To make your company name stand out from the rest of the information on the business plan cover page, you should use a readable, bold font that is the largest font on the page.

Please keep in mind that if your company logo includes your company name, you can remove either your company logo or name from the cover page.

You can download 50+ Free Business Plan Templates here that include not only pre-built cover pages but also provide step-by-step guidance in the creation of your entire business plan.

3. Document Title

Plan titles tell the reader immediately what the document is about, whether it is a business plan , marketing plan, expansion plan, recovery plan, or anything else.

It is commonly referred to as a “Business Plan,” but you can also customize it by saying “Five-Year Business Plan” or “Merger Business Plan” if you want to outline more specific objectives.

The title of the plan should be large and prominent on the cover page. Readers should know the purpose of the document immediately.

Increase readability by using a clear, bold font, such as Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial. It may be difficult to read script lettering and doesn’t appear professional.

Please Note: Make sure your name isn’t more prominent than your business plan title cover page.

4. Tagline (optional)

Business owners sometimes use taglines to describe what they do and how they’re different. It’s optional, but you can also include a catchy slogan or motto describing your business.

A tagline becomes an essential part of your cover page if you want your reader to immediately understand what you do.

Generally, your business plan will be more interesting to investors or readers if the tagline is memorable. A business tagline is a short catchy marketing slogan that signifies your brand or company name, as well as other important aspects of your business.

Create a tagline by describing what you do in a few words. Put your tagline under your company logo on your cover page so readers understand what you do immediately.

5. Contact Information and Address

“Prepared By” contains contact information the reader can use to contact the person. It includes information about the company’s mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, and website.

To make investors aware of where to direct their inquiries, include your name as the business owner as well as the names of any partners or executives.

Try to center this information on the page to maintain consistency in formatting. As long as the information is clearly visible and readable, you may use a smaller font size than you used for the company name and title.

6. Completion Date

When was this plan written? The date is important to readers, so include it (month and year are sufficient).

Under the contact information, write the year (or the year and month) in which the business plan was finalized and published. It’s a good idea to update your business plan throughout the year if you’re including the month, so readers don’t think it’s old.

It is important to note that your company name should appear more prominently than your title and date. Depending on your business plan’s writing style, you may spell out the date, like Jan 20, 2023, or write it numerically, like 20/1/23.

Dates should be formatted consistently throughout the document. To maintain consistency, center the text and use the same font size as your address and contact information.

7. Confidentiality Statement

Adding a confidentiality statement to your cover page protects your idea from being disclosed. It is not required, but you may want to include a confidentiality statement on the cover page, or just text “Confidential” to emphasize that this is a confidential document such as the following:

Example of Confidentiality Statement

It is understood that the information provided in this [Company’s Name] Business Plan is totally confidential, and the reader undertakes not to disclose any aspect of it without the express written consent of the business owner.

How to write a business plan cover page that captures investors' attention?

• Keep it concise and to the point: Investors are busy people, so they don’t want to read a long and rambling cover page. Keep your cover page brief and to the point, highlighting your key business strengths and unique selling points.
• Use clear and concise language: Avoid using jargon or technical language that your target audience may not understand. Use clear and concise language to communicate your business vision and goals.
• Highlight your key business strengths and unique selling points: What makes your business unique and different from the competition? What are your key strengths? Highlight these things on your cover page to grab investors’ attention.
• Make sure your cover page is visually appealing and professional: Your cover page is the first thing that potential investors will see, so it’s important to make a good impression. Use a professional design and layout, and avoid using too many colors or fonts.
• Proofread carefully for any errors: Typos and grammatical errors on your cover page will make you look unprofessional. Proofread your cover page carefully before submitting it to any potential investors.

What are some creative business plan cover page design ideas?

• Use high-quality images or graphics that are relevant to your business: Images and graphics can be a great way to add visual interest to your cover page and make it more engaging for potential investors. Choose high-quality images or graphics that are relevant to your business and that will help to communicate your brand message.
• Use a unique and eye-catching font scheme: Your cover page should stand out from the crowd, so use a unique and eye-catching font scheme. Avoid using overused or generic fonts.
• Use your company colors and branding to create a cohesive look: Your cover page should be consistent with your overall branding. Use your company colors and fonts to create a cohesive look and feel.
• Keep your design simple and elegant: A simple and elegant design is often the most effective. Avoid cluttering your cover page with too much text or too many images and graphics.

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What makes a great cover page for a business plan

Formatting should be consistent.

Messy or unprofessional cover pages can create negative perceptions in your readers’ minds before they even open your business plan.

The cover page of your business plan is the first impression of your company, so your logo, fonts, and brand colors should all work together to capture the reader’s attention.

Follow these best practices to create a cover page that stands out:

Keeping your cover page neat and consistent will allow your reader to perceive your organization and professionalism. Use consistent formatting through

• Maintaining equal spacing between characters and lines
• Choosing fonts that are similar or identical
• Make sure each line of your cover page is centered

When it comes to fonts, it’s best practice to stick to one type of typeface, such as serif or sans serif. It’s also important to choose fonts that are simple, easy to read, and represent your brand.

It is important to ensure your business plan’s cover page is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Make sure you proofread your document several times before publishing the final version, and ask others to review it as well.

The less the better

In your business plan executive summary , you will summarize its contents. The cover page should not do the same. It is also unwise to create a business plan cover that is graphically complicated because the information will be difficult to discern. A strong business plan cover page should be simple, clean, and powerful.

Make use of the color scheme of your company

Color plays a crucial role in establishing your brand’s credibility and trustworthiness. Choosing the right brand color will reveal more about your business than you could ever imagine.

In addition, using the right colors can enhance your brand value by creating a strong visual identity. To make your business plan more appealing, your brand color should be incorporated everywhere, such as titles, subtitles, features, images, etc.

Ensure the colors don’t distract from the important information and consider coordinating them with your company’s brand or logo.

Colors represent 90% of your brand’s personality and elicit the right emotions from your customers, so choose colors that represent your brand’s personality and evoke the right emotions.

When it comes to choosing a logo, simplicity is key. Try to create something that represents your brand and speaks to your audience without being too busy (in other words: white space is your friend).

It’s also important to remember to be practical: your logo should look good in any medium, size, color, and even time period. Beyond your business plan cover page, you’ll need it for your social media, marketing material, or labels.

Download Pack of 6 Business Plan Cover Page Examples

We will show you some real-world business plan cover page examples so you may know how to design your own.

Download Business Plan Cover Page Templates

Here are a few business plan cover examples to illustrate the structure and format. Download and customize it according to your needs.

Business Plan Cover Page Example 1

Business Plan Cover Page Example 2

Business Plan Cover Page Example 3

Business Plan Cover Page Example 4

Business Plan Cover Page Example 5

Business Plan Cover Page Example 6

If you’re not confident in your ability to create a business plan on your own, or if you simply don’t have the time to do so, Wise Business Plans can help.

Our expert business plan writers have years of experience crafting comprehensive plans for businesses of all sizes and industries. We’ll work with you to understand your unique vision and goals, and we’ll create a customized plan that outlines your marketing strategy, target market, financial projections, and more.

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How to write your business plan cover page

When you think of putting together your business plan , the business plan cover page may not be the first thing that comes to mind. While it’s traditionally one of the last sections you create in a business plan, it’s one of the most important.

Definition: What is a business plan cover page?

The cover page of a business plan is used to give an overview of all the key information of your business. This includes your company name, logo, address, and any other information that may define your business. It's the first page of your plan, so it should look professional, visually pleasing, and informative.

When potential investors or banks read a business plan, their first impression is the cover page—but don’t overthink it. A business plan cover page is meant to be simple and straightforward, with some important contact information and, more importantly, your logo.

Use this breakdown to find out what the purpose of your cover page is, which elements you need to include, and how to structure it to maximize your impact:

What is the purpose of a cover page?

Your cover page exists to communicate what the enclosed document is and to provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you about your business.

The appearance and quality of a business plan cover page will set the tone for your business plan’s content, so make sure it’s visually appealing, free of errors, and concise.“ Simple, clean and powerful are the three goals of a strong business plan cover,” suggest the experts at Growthink . Don’t clutter your cover page with details about how your business will operate—save those important details for the executive summary .

What should you include on a business plan cover page?

To keep it simple, your business plan cover page should include:

Company logo

• Document title
• Business name
• Business address and contact information
• Business plan completion date
• Confidentiality statement

How should you format a business plan cover page?

Once you know what information belongs in this section, all that remains now is to organize it. If you need some further guidance, these downloadable templates can streamline the process of drafting a cover page—and the rest of your business plan, too.

1. Company logo

Add a high-resolution thumbnail of your logo at the top of the cover page. This will help establish a brand identity and allow readers to connect visually to the business right from the start.

Hot tip: people are 89% more likely to remember your logo if you put it in the top left corner.

Give the logo some space and then include the words “Business Plan” in a large, bold font. You can also frame the title as “Three–” or “Five–Year Business Plan,” if you intend to make those kinds of financial projections in the document.

3. Business name

Beneath the title, write your company name in a bold font. This should be the most noticeable and prominent feature on the page, so choose a large typeface.

4. Tagline (optional)

This part is optional, but you can also include a catchy slogan or motto that describes your company and what you do.

5. Address and contact information

Under the company name, include your business’s physical address and website if you have one. Provide the details necessary for interested parties to contact you, such as a phone number and email address.

It’s also helpful to include your name as the business owner and the names of any partners or executive officers so that potential investors know where to direct their inquiries.

6. Date of completion

Below the contact information, write the year (or year and month) in which this business plan was finalized and issued. If you’re including the month, it’s a good idea to update it throughout the year as you send out your business plan so readers don’t assume it’s outdated.

7. Confidentiality Statement

At the bottom of the page, include a sentence to the effect of:

“This document contains confidential and proprietary information created by [business name]. This document is issued exclusively for informational purposes and should not be reproduced without the consent of [business name].”

Adding this confidentiality statement offers a protective measure against the disclosure of your business idea , according to this cover page guide .

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Cover page design

Now it’s time for the finishing touches: the actual design of your cover page. Your business plan’s cover page gives the first impression of your business, so your company logo, fonts, and brand colors should all work together to make people want to read more.

Brand colors

90% of a customer’s impression of your business comes from the brand colors you choose, so it’s important to choose colors that represent your business’s personality and elicit the right emotions from your readers.

Don’t know where to start? Grab a pen and paperand write down three emotions you want your customers to feel when they think of your brand. Now you can brainstorm some colors that represent those emotions. For example, you might choose blue if your product is associated with reliability, or yellow if your product is supposed to make your clients feel happy. It’s safer to only choose 2-3 colors , including black, for your color scheme.

You can also analyze the competition and choose colors that help you stand out. Canva has more detailed instructions on how to create your brand color palette .

When it comes to fonts, it’s best practice to stick to one type of typeface, such as serif or sans serif . It’s also important to choose fonts that are simple, easy to read, and represent your brand.

Serif fonts give off the impression that your brand is trustworthy and dependable, and work great for more traditional businesses, like law practices. “Serif fonts have been widely used in books, newspapers, and magazines, which is why they remind us of more classical, formal and sophisticated themes—think of Old English and Roman scripture,” Robyn Young, founder of branding agency robyn young & co, told Canva .

But if you’re going for a more contemporary and youthful feel, then sans serif is the way to go. “Brands that want a modern aesthetic that scales well at different sizes and is easy to read on screens are going to choose sans serif for their main branding elements,” said Young .

When it comes to choosing a logo, simplicity is key. Try to create something that represents your brand and speaks to your audience without being too busy (in other words: white space is your friend).

It’s also important to remember to be practical: your logo should look good in any medium, size, color, and even time period. Beyond your business plan cover page, you’ll need it for your social media, marketing material, or labels.

Business plan cover page examples

To further illustrate the structure and format of a business plan cover page, we’ve compiled a few cover page template examples. The first example from officetemplatesonline is simple but attractive and effectively emphasizes pertinent information. The next cover page example is from a fictional clothing store . They usea pop of color to instantly tell you about their brand personality.

Keep your business plan cover page simple

As you prepare to write your business plan , remember to keep your cover page simple and concise. With your logo, business name, and contact information, you’ll introduce the reader into your business plan quickly and easily—and set yourself up for success as a result.

Just don’t forget to proofread and keep an eye out for typos!

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How to Design a Cover Page for a Business Plan?

Free Business Plan Cover Pages

Paresh Balar

• April 12, 2024

Many entrepreneurs spend hours preparing and writing their business plans. However, do not pay much attention to the cover page. This is a big mistake.

The business plan cover page can create a strong first impact. It sets the platform for how investors or readers will engage with your document.

In this article, we will understand the importance of a cover page and how you can design one yourself.

What Is a Business Plan Cover Page & Why Is It Necessary to Design It?

The cover page is an integral part of the business plan. It is the first page of your business plan that highlights the key information of your company like a company logo, company name, address, and other key information.

By looking at the business plan cover page, a banker or investor can get a quick idea about the purpose of the presented document.

Your business plan cover should be neat, clean, attractive, and professional enough to draw your reader’s attention.

Whether you are writing a business plan, marketing plan, or business proposal , the cover page is an essential part of all.

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What to Include in the Business Plan Cover Page?

There is no specific rule about what to include and what not on your cover page. But we have prepared some essential information that you should not miss including in it.

1. Company Logo

Your company logo will be the first and most essential section that will draw your reader’s attention immediately, so you must include your company logo on your cover page.

A neat-clean, high-quality logo should be used to make your business plan cover page look like a professional cover page. It should be placed at the top of your business plan cover page.

Placing the logo on the business plan cover page sets a strong brand association that focuses a reader’s attention throughout the document.

2. Company Name

The second most important section of the cover page after the company logo is your company name. You will always want your reader to remember your company name through the document reading process.

Your company name font should be readably bold and should be the largest font on the page so that it stands out from the rest of the information on the business plan cover page.

3. Business Tagline or Motto

A business tagline is a short catchy marketing slogan that is usually written with a company name or brand and is also sometimes used to indicate key features of your business. Some businesses use a tagline to show what they do and how they are different from the competition.

If you want your readers to understand your business, then a tagline plays a crucial role. Usually, a memorable tagline can excite an investor or reader that they will take a special interest while reading your business plan.

4. Branding Color

Brand color is most important in establishing trust and confidence in your customers. Your brand color will speak more than you can think about your business. Also, the right use of colors can increase your brand value by creating a strong visual identity in the industry.

Most successful companies have a strong association with their logos and brand colors. Their colors always tend to reflect their branding, even when they don’t include any text on them.

Brand color can help in establishing trust and familiarity by evoking the right emotions in your reader’s brains and sending the right message to them. Also, your brand color should be integrated into your business plan everywhere, like titles, subtitles, features, images, etc to make your business plan template more attractive.

5. Plan Title and Plan Year

The plan title will give a clear idea about what the presented document is about, whether it is a business plan, marketing plan, business expansion plan, recovery plan, or anything else.

The plan title is the notable feature of the cover page and should be in large font size. Immediately, the reader should know the purpose of the presented document.

There is no rule about which should be of the largest font size, “Company Name” or “Plan Title” as both have their benefits. It is the owner’s choice to decide what they want to highlight on the cover page for their document.

Also, readers will want to learn about what is the business plan creation time or what will be the execution time for the presented document. Thus it is important to specify the plan year on your cover page.

It should be written relatively in a smaller size and frequently below the plan title.

6. Prepared By

The “Prepared By” section is used to specify who is presenting the document and it should be the name of the company CEO, President, Owner, or sometimes another key person.

This information will help the reader to know about the key person in the company and whom they should contact in the case for more information.

7. Contact Information

Contact information contains the information reader can use to contact the person specified in the “Prepared By” section. This information includes the company’s physical address, phone number, email address, and company website .

Contact information should always be on the business plan cover page. It lets the reader learn who is presenting the document and how to contact that person.

8. Confidentiality Statement

While it is not required, you may want to include a confidentiality statement on the cover page. Or just state “Confidential” to let the reader know that this document is confidential and not directed to share with others without the owner’s consent.

The confidentiality statement on your cover page will look like this:

Example of Confidentiality Statement

Tips to make a cover page remarkable.

Now, that you know what to include in a cover page of the business plan, let’s see how to make it memorable:

Check the formatting

Before presenting or submitting your business plan to the readers, make sure the formatting (spacing, fonts, size, color) everything is consistent. This will increase the readability and help your audience to understand the things you want to deliver.

Keep it all simple

Keep your cover page for a business plan free from any clutters. The design should be classy and elegant. It should sync with the goals of your business. Ensure consistency by using the same brand color for both your business’ branding and cover page.

Review—Re-review

Double-check the cover page for any typos or grammatical errors. The better option is to have another person review it. This way, he/she will find the mistakes that you might be missing out on.

How to Design a Business Plan Cover Page?

Upmetrics gives you a beautifully designed business plan cover page template with no work on your side. Industry experts recommend our cover pages. Thus, you can trust us for your cover page without any doubts.

You can use a cover page theme that suits the personality of you and your business. Upmetrics comes with professionally designed cover pages that immediately transform the reader’s plain business plan reading experience into an interesting opening.

Upmetrics provides a feature where you can control which information and section you want to highlight on the cover page. Also, you can remove any section that you feel is not necessary for your cover page.

We also allow you to upload your own custom cover page design, so you can personalize your business plan with the cover page of your choice. So, wait no more, and start designing your cover page!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does a business proposal have a cover page.

Yes, a business proposal includes a cover page. The cover page is the first impression of your proposal and should include key information, such as the title, company name, date, and logo.

The cover page can make your business proposal look more professional as it sets the tone for the proposal. 

What three aspects must be included in the cover page?

The three main things to include in a cover page of a business plan are:

• Clear title: It should be focused on the main topic of the plan & business idea.
• Contact information: Include the name of your company and the ways to contact you.
• Date: Readers would want to know the execution time and the timeline of the business plan.

What is the best format for a cover page?

A business plan cover page is the first thing that your potential investors will see. So, the best format for a cover page is to keep it simple & clean so that it draws your audience’s attention to read the whole business plan.

About the Author

Paresh Balar is the co-founder of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He loves sharing his thoughts on business and financial planning and its challenges through his blog posts. Read more

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Everything you need to know about business plan cover pages

You have only one chance to make a good first impression with the readers of your business plan.

People do judge books—and business plans—by their covers. A quick glance at the cover can easily be enough to make up one’s mind.

So set yourself up for success with a powerful cover page that stands out and entices the reader to find out more about your business.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Definition: What is a Business Plan Cover Page?

Cover page (also known as title page or cover sheet) is the first page of a business plan that communicates what the enclosed document is about and highlights the key company information like name, logo and contact details, making a good impression with professional and attractive appearance.

Purpose: Why is Business Plan Cover Page Important?

Many businesses spend hours preparing their business plans but then do not pay enough attention to the title page. This is a huge mistake .

5 ways a strong cover page can help you make a positive first impression:

• Clearly indicate what the presented document is about
• Provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you
• Create a powerful first impact that sets the stage for how readers will engage with your document
• Avoid falling victim to negative preconceived notions as a result or unprofessional or unattractive cover
• Maximize the chance of the plan being read by making the document stand out from the crowd and immediately drawing your reader’s attention

Keep reading to find out which elements you need to include in the cover page, how to structure it to maximize the impact of your business plan, and to take a look at some successful examples .

Contents: What Should You Include in a Business Plan Cover Page?

Surprisingly, there are no strict rules about what to show on your business plan cover sheet, but there certainly are best practices that you should follow.

Here are 9 elements that are typically included on business plan covers, 3 of which are essential and you should not miss to include them. The remaining 6 are optional for your consideration.

1. Must-haves: 3 mandatory cover page elements

1.1. Business name: The name of the company that is the subject of the plan.

1.2. Document title: The words “ Business Plan ” in a prominent spot so that it is clear what kind of document this is.

1.3. Contact information: Name, title and contact details (e.g., phone, email, social media, website, address) of the primary contact persons presenting the plan (e.g., CEO, Founder, Owner, President) so that any interested parties know exactly to whom to direct their inquiries and can reach them quickly and easily.

2. Nice-to-haves: 6 optional cover page elements:

2.1. Company logo: The logo of the company if available and desired.

2.2. Tagline: Short, memorable summary of the business described in the plan.

2.3. Date: In order to make sure your plan does not look outdated, include only the year of the business plan completion date. If you are including both the month also, it is advisable to create a new cover sheet each time you send out the plan.

2.4. Version control: Numbering each copy of the plan enables you to more easily keep track of who you sent what version of the document to.

2.5. Disclaimer: Disclaimer can help protect you and your company from confidentiality and other legal issues resulting from the distribution of the business plan by indicating that the plan is for information only, not an offering of stock in the company, and not to be shared with third parties without your prior consent.

2.6. Visuals: Graphic elements or images to enhance the professional look and visual appeal of the document.

Let’s have a more detailed look at these cover page elements so you know what exactly to include into each of them:

Business Name

The most prominent feature on your business plan cover is the name of your company.

Instantly, the reader should notice the name of your business. In fact, if readers take away nothing else from the cover page, they should remember your company’s name.

As this is the most noticeable feature on the page, use a large font that stands out, but is easy to read, looks professional and corresponds to the typeface that you used for the rest of the document.

Company Logo

Placing a high-quality company logo on the cover page helps to make the business plan look more professional and establish a brand identity by allowing readers to connect visually to the business right from the beginning.

If your logo includes the full name of the company, you do not have to display both the company name and logo on the cover page, it is sufficient to choose one of the two.

Document Title

The readers need to know what the presented document is about – immediately and clearly.

The cover page should clearly state whether it is a Business Plan, Executive Summary, Financial Forecast, Marketing Plan, Recovery Plan, or any other kind of plan.

For example, write the words “ Business Plan ” in a prominent spot on the cover sheet to make it crystal clear what type of document this is. You may include any additional words that are part of the title, such as “Three/Five-Year Business Plan” if needed or relevant.

As a focal point on the cover page, the document title should be in a large font size .

There is no rule though about whether the Document Title or Company Name and Logo should be of the largest font size, as all are of key importance. So it is entirely your decision what feature you prefer to highlight on the cover page of the document.

Contact Information

Contact details should always be on the business plan cover page, letting the reader know who is presenting the document and how to contact them if they need more information.

It is helpful to indicate the names and titles of the company’s primary contact persons for investors and other business plan readers, such as:

• External distribution: company founder, owner, president, partner, CEO
• In-house corporate plans: head of division, departmental manager, executive officer

Next, provide the contact details that will allow the interested parties to reach these primary contact persons quickly and easily, including:

• Name and title of primary contact(s)
• Phone number
• Email address
• Social media handles
• Website address
• Postal address

The contact information is typically displayed in the smallest font on the cover page.

Company tagline, or a motto , is a catchy memorable marketing slogan that captures the essence of a business in a few short and simple words: >> What you do >> How you do it >> Why are you different from the competition

For example, you will undoubtedly recognize the following company mottos:

As such, the tagline is a useful part of the cover page as it helps the business plan readers better understand what you do straight away, and even excite them to read the business plan and study it with more interest.

When was this business plan finalized and issued ? The readers will be interested to know. Hence, it is advisable to state the document completion date on the cover page.

Strictly speaking, you do not need to denote anything more specific that the year in which you completed the business plan. (“Business Plan: 2021”) This will ensure that the plan does not appear outdated for an entire year.

Imagine that you are a potential investor who in December 2021 receives a business plan dated January 2021. It would be natural to assume that the document has been rejected many times by other investors over the last 12 months.

Alternatively, you can include both the current month and year on the cover sheet. (“Business Plan: January 2021”) Each time you update the document and send it out or present it, you will need to check if this date of completion needs updating .

The date is featured on the cover sheet less prominently and in a smaller font size than the document title and company name, and is often displayed below the plan title.

Version Control

As your business develops, you may revise your business plan any number of times and send it to multiple recipients . To keep track of the different versions of the plan that you produce and which version you sent to whom, you may decide to use a version control system.

However, it does not make the best impression when someone receives a “Version 25” of your plan.

Instead, consider devising a simple coding system . For example: “Copy D.5” would indicate it is the fifth copy of a fourth version of the document or “Version 4.5” could mean a fifth copy of a document version completed in April.

Numbering each copy of your business plan before distribution, and keeping a list of which individual has received which copy, would enable you to keep track of how many copies are in circulation, and, if needed, ask to have a copy returned, or trace the responsible party in case a copy is circulated without your permission.

Confidentiality Statement & Disclaimer

Why should your plan include a disclaimer.

Legal issues may arise as a result of circulating your business plan. 

For example, anyone who is in the possession of the document could potentially divulge the confidential information. 

Also, in some countries, offering ownership in your company in return for an investment is considered as selling of stock, which is a regulated activity. The best way to protect yourself is to consult a lawyer.

Nevertheless, including a disclaimer in the business plan helps to protect your company by indicating the plan itself is not an offering of stock for sale but rather a document for information purposes only.

The same disclaimer can also be used to help protect the confidentiality of the information disclosed in your business plan by informing the reader that the plan is confidential and not to be shared with other parties without the owner’s consent, especially when you are not adding a non-disclosure agreement.

What Should the Disclaimer Say?

These are the two most common ways how to show the disclaimer in the business plan:

1. Display a brief disclaimer , just one or two sentences, directly on the front cover , probably at the bottom of the page. Consult a lawyer for the most appropriate wording, but a standard disclaimer might look something to the effect this:

2. Write “ Confidential ” on the cover sheet and include a longer disclaimer and confidentiality statement in the main body of the business plan, perhaps on the first page after the cover sheet.

In addition, you can also include the text “Confidential” into the header or footer of the document.

Design: How Should You Format a Business Plan Cover Page?

The cover page is the first thing the readers will see when they open your business plan. Thus, your business plan cover should be neat , clean , attractive , and professional enough to draw your readers’ attention , make a good first impression and set the tone for your business plan’s content.

Cover page that is messy, dated, unattractive or in any way unprofessional can create negative preconceptions in the recipients’ minds before they even start reading the business plan.

Your design should be clean and professional, which can be accomplished by observing the following best practices:

Visual Identity

Most successful businesses have a strong association with their brand identity , including a company logo, typeface and color scheme. Visual identity helps to establish recognition, familiarity, trust and confidence in customers by evoking the right emotions and sending the right message.

As a result, companies take care to develop a brand identity and keep consistent across all marketing collateral and business materials.

Likewise, your brand identity should be integrated into all parts of your business plan, including the cover page. The best practice is to make the plan consistent with the logo, font type and color scheme as they appear across your other company’s documents.

If you do not have a brand identity created yet, keep the color scheme of the plan cover simple.

The easiest is to have a logo designed, which is inexpensive and easy to do nowadays, and then use your logo colors across the business plan. Alternatively, consider using an online color scheme generator to select colors that go well together.

To stay on the safe side, use maximum of two to three colors, one of which should be black. You can use different shades of the same color (e.g., light blue and dark blue).

First and foremost, the fonts you use in the business plan, including its cover, need to be readable .

The most important information should be displayed in a way that it stands out from the rest of the elements on the business plan cover page, for example, differentiated by font size , weight or color .

Ideally, the typefaces and their color(s) should be consistent with the brand identity used in all of the other company’s marketing materials.

Do not combine more than two typefaces. It is ok to combine a sans-serif (e.g., Times New Roman) with a sans-serif (e.g., Arial) typeface.

Again, less is definitely more here. Refrain from cluttering the business plan cover sheet with photos and graphics.

If you do use a visual element, make sure to leave enough white space around it so the page does not look too busy.

The resolution of any images, including the company logo, should be of high enough quality to not look pixelated.

There is no need for a fancy over-designed cover page, unless you are a large corporation or perhaps a design agency. Equally, beware of any templates with outdated designs that will make your cover look like it was created back in 1999.

Professional designers often combine different alignments (left / right / center) of elements on a page (text, images) to achieve a desired design effect. However, a design novice should play it safe and keep the alignment simple and consistent , especially when it comes to professional documents, such as a business plan.

You should be able to comfortably fit all of the recommended elements on the cover sheet (e.g., company name and logo, document title, contact details, date, disclaimer), and still leave enough white space on the page.

Making a great first impression does not equal to creating a cover that is graphically busy and cluttered with unimportant details. Instead, set yourself up for success by keeping the business plan cover sheet neat , clean , simple and concise .

Proofreading

Carefully proofread the cover page to avoid, at all costs, any mistakes and typos , which would do you a great disservice in the eyes of the reader. Even better, have someone else to look it over.

Finally, make sure that the cover page looks good in every format you will be distributing the business plan in, probably including a PDF electronic file and a printed hard copy.

Some common issues include:

• Photos look pixelated due to low image resolution
• Colors do not print well (e.g., dark font color on a dark background)
• White space left at the edges of a printout because and image does not stretch (i.e., “bleed” in designer terms) enough into the edges of the page

Most importantly, the cover page should look professional and stand out from the crowd so that your business plan has a better chance of being read.

Finally, remember that these aren’t rigid rules. The overall goal for a cover page is to look neat and professional so that it stands out from the crowd and your business plan has a better chance of being read. In the end, that’s the most important outcome.

The cover sheet is the first thing the readers of your business plan will see. Make a good first impression.

Examples: Sample Images

Here are some examples to further illustrate the structure and format of a business plan cover page:

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How to write a business plan cover page: 5 essential tips.

Writing a comprehensive business plan is a great first step in making a successful business.

It’s a good idea to create a business plan, even if you are writing the plan just for yourself. 

If you are writing the plan for potential investors, you’ll want to include a strong business proposal cover page. This helps to entice the recipient to read through your plan.

We’ll break down the 5 steps to creating a successful cover page and some essential tips that will help you along the way.

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

1. Use a Business Cover Page Template 

2. use your business logo, 3. the document title, 4. company information and date, 5. write a confidentiality statement, key takeaways.

Writing a business plan cover page is relatively straightforward.

But when you’re staring at a blank page, the task may suddenly seem very daunting. 

That’s why we recommend using a cover page template. 

Even if you don’t end up using the template, it can inspire ideas and help you get over that initial writing block. 

When somebody looks at your cover letter, it needs to stand out and be unique.

What better way to be unique than by including your business’s logo?

Your logo should be at the top of the page so that it’s the first thing that they see. Make sure that it’s a high-resolution image of the logo, as a blurry or pixelated image will look unprofessional. 

It’s also a good idea to keep the themes of your cover page consistent with your logo. So make sure your cover letter is using the same font type and color scheme as your logo. 

This will help your cover letter catch the eye of the reader and establish brand association.  It also helps them to start associating your logo with your business’s name. 

Next up is writing a short, yet strong document title. 

This is a short step, but it’s an important one. 

When choosing your document title you should be including your company name, and the duration the business plan will cover.

For example:

“Park Avenue Mechanics: A Five-Year Business Plan”

It’s short, simple, and tells the reader exactly what to expect. This should be placed below the logo in large print.  

Another simple, yet important step.

Underneath the title, you’ll need to write the physical business address. This is the address that your company is registered to. Then you should write the business’s contact information and the date. 

The physical address is where the investors or interested parties should send all their inquiries. 

The contact information should include the business phone number, email address and fax number. 

It is also a good idea to include your website address, if you have one, for people wanting to learn more about the public front of your business. 

Then directly below your contact information, write the date that the business plan was completed. This is so the reader can see when the information inside was relevant. Though it’s obviously important to keep your business plan as up-to-date as possible. 

Last but not least is your confidentiality statement. 

This is good legal practice as it can protect your business against anybody leaking the contents of your business plan. 

Your confidentiality statement should be along the lines of this: 

“This document contains confidential information created by [your company name]. This document is issued exclusively for informational purposes, and may not be reproduced or shared without the consent of [your company name].”

This should clear up any confusion that may arise as to the privacy of the document. 

Think of your business plan cover page as your first impression. Don’t put hours upon hours of effort into the business plan itself but then just throw together a quick cover page. 

You could well be shooting yourself in the foot. 

The entire job of the cover page is to make sure the reader not only picks up your business plan but turns the page over and starts reading. 

So once you’ve finished your business plan, make sure you write a good cover letter. 

It could just be the difference. 

Are you looking for more business advice on everything from starting a new business to new business practices? 

Head over to our resource hub .

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How to Design a Cover Page for Your Business Plan

Paula Kehoe

Reviewed by

December 22, 2021

This article is Tax Professional approved

If you're starting a new business or growing an existing one, it’s critical to have a successful business plan to guide your decisions.

I am the text that will be copied.

Why? A good plan helps you understand your business expenses and cash flow, and it can lay out your goals and track milestones along the way. It’s also important if you’re applying for a loan or approaching potential investors who may be interested in your future business.

That means when you’re writing your business plan, you have one chance to make a good first impression and catch your reader’s attention. It takes a lot of research and planning, but after you’ve finished the hard work of compiling the contents of your plan, you’re still not done. Your business plan’s cover page may seem like an afterthought, but it shouldn’t be. As they say, never judge a book by its cover, but that’s precisely what happens when it comes to business plan cover pages.

A glimpse at the cover page can be enough for someone to decide if they want to pay attention to your business or ignore it. So, before you distribute your business plan, design a cover that stands out and entices interested parties to find out more about your company.

Helpful resource: How to Write Your First Business Plan

What is a business plan cover page?

Think of the cover page (also called a title page) as a welcome mat that leads to your full business plan. It’s meant to be simple and highlight the legal information of your business like a company logo, company name, address, contact details, and other key information.

The quality and appearance of the cover page may influence the perception of the material that follows in your plan—and the credibility of your business. If you want to spark the interest of prospective investors or lenders, you need to make sure that it’s professional, informative, and easy to read.

What is the purpose of a business plan cover page?

The main purpose of any business plan cover page is to inform and enhance your report. Your cover page should communicate a little about the business plan itself and provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you about the business you’re spotlighting.

Keep the cover page concise and focus only on the introductory basics. There’s no need to get into the weeds here. Instead, save those details about how your business will operate for the executive summary, which underlines the most crucial pieces of your plan, such as your short-term and long-term goals.

What should you include on a business plan cover page?

There are no hard-and-fast rules about what to show on your business plan cover page. But there are a few standard elements you should consider adding. Once you know what information you want to use, you just have to arrange it.

1. Document title

Often, the title of these documents is merely “Business Plan.” But you can also customize it with “Five-Year Business Plan” or “Business Acquisition Plan” if you want to outline more explicit goals of your business plan.

Use a clear, bold font to increase readability, like Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial. Avoid script lettering as it doesn’t come across as professional and may be challenging to read.

2. Business name

Add your company name below the title of the document. Use the same font of the title, but increase the font size slightly, so it stands out. Your company name is a significant part of the cover page, so use sharp, bold text that’s big enough to read clearly. Also, center your company name a few spaces below the title to continue a clean and consistent appearance.

3. Contact information

Below your company name, include a physical address, phone number, email, website, and other details about your business. You can also add a section titled “prepared by” to list your name and credentials, as well as the names of partners or collaborators, so readers know where to direct their inquiries.

To keep consistent formatting, center this information on the page. You can use a smaller font size than you used for your company name and title, as long as the information is clearly visible and legible.

4. Date of completion

Under your company’s contact information, include the month and year you completed your business plan. Use the same font size as your address and contact information, and center the text for consistency.

5. Company logo

Your logo is the foundation of your brand identity. It can draw interest and pique the curiosity of your audience. If you have a high-resolution thumbnail of your company’s logo, add and center it at the top of the page. The logo should be large enough that readers can easily see details, but not so big that it’s a distraction from the rest of the content.

6. Business tagline

Some businesses use a tagline to show what they do and how they’re different from the competition. Think Nike’s “Just Do It” or Dollar Shave Club’s “Shave Time. Shave Money.”

If you have a tagline, add it to your cover page under your company logo so readers understand straight away what you do or how you do it. A memorable tagline can excite an investor so that they’ll take a special interest while evaluating your business plan.

7. Confidentiality statement

At the bottom of your cover page, add a brief confidentiality statement to protect your business’s intellectual property or sensitive information. This may prevent others from disclosing your business plan without your permission.

For this section, use a slightly smaller font size, but try to make sure the text is still visible. Here’s an example of a typical confidentiality statement:

“This document contains confidential, proprietary information created by (your company’s name). It is issued exclusively for informational purposes and should not be reproduced without the consent of (your company’s name).”

Business plan cover page templates

Looking to create a standout cover page? There are dozens of professionally-designed business plan templates, including cover pages, available online. You can download and customize these in a matter of minutes.

If you need help getting started, try one of these:

• Microsoft Word
• Business in a Box
• MS Office Templates

You might even be able to adapt one of Canva’s proposal templates to suit your needs.

How to make your business plan cover page stand out

A cover page that’s messy or unprofessional in any way can create negative preconceptions in your reader’s minds before they even look at your business plan.

Set yourself up for success with a cover page that stands out by following these best practices:

Use consistent formatting

Inconsistent formatting can turn a stable document into chaos. Try to stay consistent when using styles and line spacing. Make sure your fonts are complementary, and don’t select too many—that could be overwhelming.

Proofread it

Because your cover is the first page of a business plan, it’s important to ensure there are zero spelling typos or mistakes within your content. Carefully proofread your document before distributing the final draft and ask someone else to read your work. Having a second set of eyes can smooth out any rough spots and save you potential embarrassment.

Show your brand’s personality

The design elements (color scheme, font type, images) you use can create a memorable, bold statement for your cover page that’ll make a positive impression on your audience. Still, do keep it professional. Coordinate the colors with your company’s logo or brand, and be sure the elements don’t distract from the important details on the cover page.

How Bench can help

While we can’t design a beautiful business plan cover page for you, we can help you out with the contents of that plan. Bench is America’s largest professional bookkeeping service for small businesses. We can handle your bookkeeping and tax filing for you while you focus on starting and running your business. Even if you’re pre-revenue , you need a solid bookkeeping setup—plus, reliable bookkeeping can give you the numbers you need to prove to investors that you’re a good bet.

Even if you aren’t using your business plan to seek funding, including your financial projections offers major benefits. By looking into the future of your business, you can make plans for growth and set realistic goals to reach along the way. Get started with our guide to financial forecasting .

Make a great first impression

Although your business plan cover page has a big job to do, it’s meant to be simple and straightforward. With just a few business details, like your company name, logo, and contact information, the cover page is your first opportunity to stand out and persuade readers that you’re worth the investment.

Join over 140,000 fellow entrepreneurs who receive expert advice for their small business finances

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How to design your business plan cover page?

You're probably familiar with the saying, " You don't get two chances to make a lasting impression. ".

In simple words, the first perception that people have about a person, place, or thing is often the one that lasts forever. 

Your cover page acts as a preview and is the first thing that readers will see when they view your business plan - meaning it is imperative that your design is professional, informative and attractive.

There’s no room for negligence and nor should there be considering that the success of your business might hinge on it. A well-designed business plan cover page will encourage investors or lenders to continue reading and learn more about your business.

In this guide:

What is the role of the business plan cover page?

What information should you include on your business plan title page.

• What tools can I use to design my business plan cover page?
• Business plan cover page examples and templates

Design and editorial tips for a professional and impactful cover page

Key takeaways.

A business plan cover page usually includes basic details about the business, such as its name, logo, tagline, and contact details.  

The introductory page or cover page should aim to give the reader an overview of your business’s personality. For both startups and existing businesses, this provides a great opportunity to impress.

Let’s take a look at some of the key roles that a cover page plays in a business plan.

Showcases your brand’s personality

Think of the first page of your business plan as your company's business card. Make it visually appealing and professional to help capture the reader's attention. 

It’s important that both your company logo and color scheme is consistent with your branding and corporate identity. The design should be professional and trustworthy.

Gives a feel for your business

Your business plan cover page design introduces your business plan to potential investors, lenders, partners, and other stakeholders and gives them an insight into your business’s values.

When crafting the cover page, the design chosen should appeal to relevant parties. Whilst you could go for something fancy, it’s often the simple and sleek designs that work best. Remember that professionalism is something that needs to be showcased in your business plan throughout, especially if you are seeking funding from investors or lenders.

Key information, such as your business name, company logo, and contact details, should all be included in your business plan cover page so that the reader doesn’t have to scan the document looking for it.

By showcasing your brand's personality and giving a glimpse into your business, the cover page sets the tone for the rest of your business plan.

Need a solid financial forecast?

The Business Plan Shop does the maths for you. Simply enter your revenues, costs and investments. Click save and our online tool builds a three-way forecast for you instantly.

Now that we've established the importance of the cover page, let's break down the key elements you should include to make it effective.

Your business plan title page should be clear and concise, and the information provided easy to understand. Aim to avoid clutter or unnecessary information because it doesn’t add any value to your business plan.

Nevertheless, the content present on the cover page should provide sufficient detail to the reader regarding the nature of your business, your brand values and contact information. 

Company name and logo

Ensure that your company name and logo are both clearly displayed on the cover page. This will help increase brand recognition and enhance the document's visual appeal. 

Including a short tagline or slogan can help convey the purpose of the business and creates a positive first impression, but is not mandatory.

Main point of contact

The business plan front cover should also include the phone number and email address of the main point of contact. 

This saves the reader unnecessary hassle because they don’t have to go searching for those details inside your business plan.

Value proposition

Your business plan cover page is the first impression potential investors, partners, or lenders will have of your business.

It's your opportunity to succinctly communicate the unique value your business offers to its target audience.

The value proposition is the essence of what makes your business special.

To write a professional yet catchy value proposition, start by identifying your target market and their pain points. Then, highlight how your product or service solves these pain points better than anyone else:

• For instance, if you're in the retail sector, your value proposition might emphasize convenience, quality, or affordability.
• In the hospitality industry, it could be exceptional customer service or a unique experience.
• In manufacturing, it might focus on efficiency or innovation.
• Agriculture might emphasize sustainability or locally sourced products.
• Construction & real estate could highlight craftsmanship or reliability.
• And business services might emphasize expertise, efficiency, or cost-effectiveness.

Examples of how a business plan cover page value proposition might look like:

• Empowering small businesses with seamless, all-in-one digital marketing solutions.
• Elevating fitness routines with personalized workout plans and virtual coaching.
• Delivering gourmet, farm-to-table meal kits for health-conscious foodies.
• Simplifying travel booking with a user-friendly platform offering personalized itineraries and insider tips.
• Creating memorable event experiences through bespoke, technology-driven event planning services.

Remember that value propositions in this case don't have to be lengthy - in fact it's probably better if you keep yours short and snappy to ensure that the cover page looks attractive. Including a paragraph or two on the cover page can be off-putting for the reader.

By clearly defining your value proposition on your business plan cover page, you set the stage for success and capture the attention of potential stakeholders.

Need inspiration for your business plan?

The Business Plan Shop has dozens of business plan templates that you can use to get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like.

Date of publication 

To provide context to the reader, it's important to include the date that the business plan was written or last updated. This gives the reader an idea about how up-to-date your forecast and other editorial details are likely to be.

Should I include a confidentiality statement on my business plan cover page? 

Your business plan contains sensitive and proprietary information, so it's a good idea to mark the document as confidential. 

From a practical standpoint, however, unless you have a binding non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in place with the reader, any confidential statement you include is unlikely to be enforceable (and, in most cases, it would probably not be economical to enforce even if it was enforceable).

If you are concerned about any future legal implications, it might be better to include a full disclaimer at the end of the document, rather than just a confidentiality statement on your business plan cover page. 

A full disclaimer allows you to address the following aspects clearly:

• Confidentiality statements
• Forward-looking statements (the reader shouldn't rely on your forecasts and should form their own assesment)
• Notice that the document is not an offer to sell securities

In most cases a full disclaimer is an overkill, but you should take advice from your lawyer if you are concerned.

Should I include an index page or table of content on my business plan cover page? 

You should include a table of content but it should be after the first page of a business plan and not on it.

Business plans often span 15 to 30 pages (or more) and having a well-structured table of contents that summarise where each of the main sections and subsections can be found is vital.

It helps readers navigate through your business plan with ease. Be sure to provide page numbers for each section and subsection too (for readers who print the document), and clickable links (for PDF readers).

What tools can I use to design my business plan cover page? 

Now that you have a clear understanding of what your cover page should entail, let's explore some tools that can help you bring your design to life.

During the 1990s, word processors and spreadsheets were commonly used to draft business plans. Their limitations often necessitated to use of external tools to create a professional-looking cover page.

Nowdays, utilising business plan software is considered the optimal approach to write a business plan without making calculation errors in the forecast. And most tools also come equipped with options to design a stylish cover page.

The Business Plan Shop , in particular, offers you the ability to create a visually appealing cover page design that showcases your brand identity. You can customise a cover page template by replacing the information with your own business name, logo, brand colors, and contact information.

Using our business plan software to design your cover page and draft your business plan offers numerous benefits:

• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can be inspired by already written business plan templates
• You can easily make your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You get a professional document, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• The software will enable you to easily track your actual financial performance against your forecast and update your forecast as time goes by

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try our software for free by signing up here .

Business plan cover page examples and templates 

With The Business Plan Shop, you can customize a cover page template by replacing the information with your own business name, logo, contact information, colours, and other details.

You can also adjust the size of the text, layout and design of the cover page to suit your preferences and make it more visually appealing. 

There are four key design and editorial tips to keep in mind whilst drafting your business plan title page:

Choosing the right font and typography

Utilizing colors strategically to make the business plan cover page visually appealing, layout and alignment, obtaining feedback from stakeholders.

Let's explore each of them in more detail.

Your business plan cover page's font and typography play a crucial role in conveying professionalism and readability.

Font selection may seem trivial, but it can significantly impact how your cover page is perceived.

Opt for clean, easily readable fonts like Arial, Poppins or Helvetica and avoid overly decorative fonts that can be difficult to read.

Consider the personality of your business and target audience when choosing fonts. For example, a law firm might choose a more traditional serif font for a professional look, while a creative agency might opt for a modern sans font to convey innovation.

Similarly, if you're a small manufacturing company creating a business plan, you might choose a bold, straightforward font like Arial for headings to convey strength and reliability, while using a simple sans-serif font like Helvetica for body text to ensure readability.

Color is a powerful tool for capturing attention and conveying brand identity on your cover page.

Color psychology can influence how your audience perceives your business and message.

Choose colors that align with your brand identity and evoke the desired emotions.

For instance, blue conveys trust and professionalism, green suggests growth and sustainability, and red signifies energy and urgency.

Use colors sparingly and strategically to draw attention to key elements like your company name or value proposition.

Suppose you're a small construction company creating a business plan.

You might use earthy tones like brown or green to evoke a sense of stability and reliability, while incorporating pops of orange or yellow to convey energy and enthusiasm.

The layout and alignment of your business plan front cover can enhance readability and visual appeal.

A well-organized layout ensures that important information is easy to find and understand.

Keep your layout clean and uncluttered, with ample white space to avoid overwhelming your audience and align elements like text and images consistently to create a cohesive look

Use hierarchy to prioritize information, with key details like your company name and value proposition prominently displayed.

If you're a small retail store, you might align your company name and logo to the center for a traditional look, with your value proposition below to draw attention.

Need a convincing business plan?

The Business Plan Shop makes it easy to create a financial forecast to assess the potential profitability of your projects, and write a business plan that’ll wow investors.

Seeking feedback from stakeholders can provide valuable insights and improve the effectiveness of your cover page.

Feedback helps ensure that your cover page resonates with your target audience and effectively communicates your message.

Share your cover page draft with trusted colleagues, mentors, or advisors for constructive criticism whilst asking for specific feedback on clarity, professionalism, and impact.

By implementing these design and editorial tips, you'll create a cover page that not only looks professional but also effectively communicates your business's identity and purpose.

Let's recap the key points to remember when designing your business plan cover page:

• Your business plan title page is the first impression stakeholders will have of your business, so it's essential to make it professional and impactful.
• The business plan cover page aims to showcase your brand's personality and give a feel for what your business is like.
• Utilize colors strategically to evoke emotion and reinforce your brand identity, ensuring consistency with your overall branding.
• Include key information such as your main point of contact and date of publication on the business plan's first page.
• Utilising business plan software, such as The Business Plan Shop is the best way to create a business plan cover page in no time.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• How to format a business plan and make it look good
• How investors analyse business plans
• Executive Summary - The most crucial part of your business plan
• How to do a market analysis for a business plan

Know someone looking to design a business plan cover page? Share this article with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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How to Write Your Business Plan Cover Page

The business plan cover page is crucial in the application process for any visa. It serves as a preview and offers a valuable opportunity to make a first positive impression. A well-organized business plan cover page contributes to expanding a business and securing funds. Keep reading this blog to learn how to write your Business Plan Cover Page.

When writing your business plan, leaving a first strong impression and catching your reader’s attention is highly important. After spending time on a lot of research and planning and finishing up the hard work of compiling the contents of your plan, you’re still not getting what you expect. This means you’re somewhere making a mistake. And that would probably be your business plan cover page.

What is a Business Plan Cover Page?

The business plan cover page is a single-page blueprint containing the basic information related to your business, such as company name, logo, address, and contact details for investors or lenders to reach you. Both the startups and the existing businesses should keep the cover page concise and to the point to impress. It acts as an introductory document that leads you to a more extensive explanation of a business plan.

Ensure the overall appearance, quality of material you use, and tone of your cover page intrigue prospective investors and make them eager to learn more about your services. Although multiple software and online websites offer many professional designs or templates for business plans that you can customize according to your needs.

Why should you include a Cover Page in your Business Plan?

Demonstrating your business plan with a professional tone on the cover page creates a positive perception of your competence.

Here are a few reasons why including a cover page in your plan is necessary.

• To convey the informative data within the document
• To provide an overall information of your business
• Contact details for readers to reach out you
• Sets the tone for the rest of the business plan and build credibility

Main Characteristics to Include in Your Business Plan Cover Page

Understand what functions and essential items to include in your business plan cover page, so then you’ll require no professional assistance in creating an impactful business plan cover page. Below, we have shared some key elements that must be added to your business plan cover page to make it look appealing and professional.

• Business Plan title
• Company Logo and Name
• Contact information
• Completion date
• Confidentiality statement

Quick Steps- How to Write an Effective Business Plan Cover Page

With the well-designed business plan cover page, you understand your business expenses and cash flow, and it can lay out your goals and track milestones. As well as it offers a great chance to impress stakeholders and secure the necessary capital from investors, financial institutes, and partnerships.

Follow these quick steps to write an effective business plan cover page.

1. Get started with Your Company Logo

The attractive cover page starts with a high-resolution photo of your company’s logo. Use an appropriate size and place your logo at the top of the page. The graphics should be high-quality and large enough that readers can easily see details but not too much that it distracts the viewer from the content. Including a high-quality logo image helps readers identify your brand quickly and allows your organization to remain unforgettable. You might have seen a significant number of brands such as McDonalds, Nike, and Verizon whose logos are designed in such a way to always be remembered.

2. Add Title

Secondly, on the same cover page, you have to drop a title in the center a few spaces below the image of your logo. Make sure to use a clear, bold font style and avoid using script or some fancy letters to remain professional and enhance brand identity. Frequently, the title of this file is Business Plan. Still, you may customize this with a short intro like a 5-Year of Business Plan or Meet Grill Restaurant’s business plan if the document highlights the more specific purpose of your business plan.

3. Add Company Name

Moreover, add the company’s name under the document titles. Consider using the same font in titles but slightly increasing the font size. The company name helps people to identify you, so make sure it is bold text and large enough that it is easy to read and immediately noticeable. Also, giving some space below the titles on your cover page ensures a visually appealing and cohesive look.

4. Provide company Address & Contact Information

Now comes the details of your contact information and address that must be set below the company name. If applicable, include the company’s mailing address, phone number, email, and website. In this section, you can add the business owner, partners, or executive officers so readers know where to inquire. It would help to put the formatting of these informative data in the center of the page. You may choose font size and colors wisely rather than using them for the company name and title as long as the information is easily read and perfectly demonstrated.

5. Include the Date of Completion

Think of the completion, after putting the company’s contact information informed about the month and year your organization completed the business plan. It is up to you to either spell out the date like May 5, 2022 or write the entire date numerically, like 13/2/2024. Meanwhile, use the exact font size as your address and contact information and center the text for consistent formatting for dates throughout the document that make a good first impression to prospective investors and you become successful.

6. Finalize with a Confidentiality Agreement

Your business plan cover page should end with a confidential statement commonly appearing at the bottom of your cover page for legitimate measures. Adding this information could restrain others from disclosing your business plan without your consent. You may use a smaller font size for this section, but ensure the text is readable.

Additional Tips for Creating a Cover Page

These tips help you showcase your business’s uniqueness and exclusivity in a well-organized manner. So, let’s begin now.

1. Use Consistent Formatting

Thoroughly examine that your cover page maintains a neat and consistent appearance that represents a formal touch and conveys a sense of professionalism to your readers. Consider using consistent formatting throughout the document.

• Use equal character and line spacing.
• Choose identical or similar fonts
• Centering each line of your business plan cover page

2. Double Check Your Document

The cover page prompts potential customers to explore your business plan further, so it must include persuasive language with no spelling mistakes and no errors within your text. Also, consider proofreading or double-checking your document before the final draft publication.

3. Use Colors that Matches Your Branding

Focus on coordinating the colors that evoke professionalism and relevant color schemes to your business logo or industry. Avoid distracting the readers from important info. It can add to consistent aesthetic visuals and convey to your readers a thoughtful sense of professionalism and attention to detail.

4. Get Your Business Plan Cover That Stands Out

The first glimpse at your business plan cover page reveals everything about you and your company. Any business plan cover page follows a professional, informative, and attractive approach, the readers will be automatically motivated to engage further and be influenced that you’re worth the investment.

So, before you present your business plan to the concerned authorities, create a cover page by following the given steps that help you outline the most critical piece of your plans, align with your brand, and eventually maximize your impact.

When applying for a loan or approaching potential investors, you require a compelling business plan cover page. However, you can hire various Business Plan Writing Services . At the same time, people are usually unaware of Business Plan Writers Costs as the charges for plans including the Immigration Business Plan Writer and SBA Business Plan Writer , Strategic Business Plan , and Investor Business Plan Writing Service  vary.

Here, we suggest some entrepreneurs get a business plan cover page created by our experts, who understand breakthrough tactics to gain instant attention from your ideal investors.

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Everything You Need to Know About a Business Plan Cover Page

An integral but potentially overlooked part of a business plan is its cover page. Business plans work to secure financial resources and partnerships, while driving a business towards growth and expansion. As such, a business plan aims to create a brand with an established reputation. If done right, a cover page for a business plan acts as a preview and builds a positive impression that will benefit a business in various ways.  

What is a Cover Page?

A business plan cover page serves as a one-page introduction to a comprehensive business plan, capturing the main points of an organization. It includes basic company information, similar to a title page, and allows readers to immediately determine a business plan’s purpose with one look.

Purpose of a Cover Page

An effective business plan cover page exhibits an excellent quality, design, and a professional tone that aligns with a business’s goals and ideas. With this, the cover page communicates the essence of a business plan, while also outlining contact information that enables readers to reach out to the business and owners themselves. 

New businesses or even reputable organizations may benefit from well-designed and detailed business plan cover pages. The cover page is an essential first impression that pushes readers, and investors alike, to read through the entirety of the business plan. Below summarizes the significance of a business cover page:

• Effectively convey the content of a business plan
• Provide concise and straightforward business details
• List contact details for readers’ reference
• Establish an overarching tone for the business plan

Elements of a Good Business Plan Cover

Here are some key components that good cover pages should include:

Business Plan Title

Cover pages do not exist for business plans only. Cover pages can be used in marketing plans, strategic plans , and other documents. Including a business plan title in the cover page communicates what a document is about, at a glance. A business plan title will boost a business plan’s readability by using clean and striking fonts like Arial. It is best to avoid script font styles, such as Lucida Writing, since they reduce the professional appearance of the business plan.  

Company Name

The company name or business name should be the most noticeable element in the cover page. Formatting the company name using bold and large typefaces makes it stand out. This pushes the business name to be stuck in the readers’ minds.

Business Logo

The business logo should be simple but memorable. It is best to match it with the company’s color scheme and include relevant features that refer to the business’s brand identity. The logo is usually placed at the top most part of the business plan cover page.

A tagline or slogan will catch the interest of business plan readers since its focuses on immediately describing a business’s activities and how these differ from their competitors. Take note that this is a discretionary element but a welcome addition to the cover page as signifies a business’s brand, similar to a logo.

Contact Information

The “presented by” or “prepared by” portion of the cover page presents contact information a reader can refer to when reaching out to a business. Contact information may include a business’s phone number, e-mail address, website, or mailing address. Investors know where to direct their queries if the contact information also includes the names of the business owner, partners, and other key contacts. The cover page should place the contact information at the center and make it readable even in a smaller font size.

Completion Date

Placing the month and year of completion in the cover page is vital information that informs the readers when a business plan was accomplished and reported. It is ideal to keep the completion date at the same font size of the contact information to channel consistency in the business plan.

Confidentiality Statement

A business plan confidentiality statement safeguards the business concept from being spread outside of its intended use in the business plan. A short statement or even placing the world “confidential” in the cover page will place emphasis on the business plan’s confidentiality.

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How to Design a Business Plan Cover Page

To design a powerful and creative business plan cover page, it is best to consider the following guidelines:

• Be consistent : The cover page’s formatting should exhibit consistency. The colors, design, and fonts of the cover page should work in harmony to create a good impression and catch readers’ attention. Proofreading further ensures that the cover page will avoid grammatical and spelling errors that may cause a negative impression from a business plan’s readers.
• Less is more: A creative business plan cover page does not entail complicated and intricate graphics. A simple page that neatly and clearly lays out relevant business information creates more impact than complex designs.
• Establish a brand : Since the cover page is a reader’s first look at a business plan, it should communicate a brand’s personality and pique the interest of its readers. There are various applications and techniques to developing a successful business plan cover page.  In recent years, entrepreneurs have adopted a growing design platform, Canva , and other applications such as Adobe , to utilize cover page business plan templates or to create cover pages from scratch. Keeping a uniform color scheme helps with building a business’s brand and crafts a strong visual identity that will resonate to its audience. Colors should blend in the cover page instead of taking away the attention from the business plan. 

Business Plan Cover Page Examples

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How to Make a Business Plan Cover Page

by Sampson Quain

Published on 25 Jul 2019

An effective business plan details how your company will achieve its goals by describing your products or services, your organizational structure, marketing ideas and how your company will distinguish itself from competitors.

Business plans are most often used to attract potential investors, but some companies also use these plans to communicate their culture to employees or to provide compelling reasons for a merger. Although it may seem minor, the business plan cover page can create a powerful first impression that sets the stage for how readers will engage with the document.

Use Your Company Logo

Your business plan cover page should include your company’s logo centered at the top of the page. The best practice is to create a high-resolution image of the logo and make it consistent with the font type and color scheme of the logo, as it appears in all your company’s documents. The logo should be the first thing that catches your readers' eyes and helps them associate that logo with your company name. Placing the logo at the top of the page establishes a strong brand association that focuses a reader's attention throughout the document.

Write the Title and Company Name

Skip several lines after the company logo and write the words “Business Plan”. Center this title on the cover page and make sure that it is in bold. Include any additional words that are part of the title. For example, you could write, “Five-Year Business Plan,” or “Three-Year Business Plan.” The title should have the second largest font after your company name.

Skip two lines. Then, under the title of your business plan, write and center the name of your business. Your business name should be in bold and set off in the largest font on the page so that it stands out. If readers take away nothing else from the cover page, they should know and remember the name of your company.

Write the Company Address and Date

Under the company name and logo, write and center your business address. This is the address where investors or other interested parties should send all their inquiries. If you already have a website that is up and running, you can include the web address after the physical address. Include your business phone number and business fax number. Directly below the contact information, write and center the month and year in which you completed the business plan.

Write a Confidentiality Statement

Centered at the bottom of the page, include a confidentiality statement. For example, you could write, “This document contains confidential and proprietary information created by [your company name]. This document is issued exclusively for informational purposes, and may not be reproduced without the consent of [your company name].”

Business Plan Cover Page

What to include in your business plan cover page, the important elements of a business plan cover.

A strong business plan cover page will include all the essential elements shown below.

• Your company name
• Slogan or business tagline (optional)
• A company logo (recommended)
• A confidentiality statement. This can be as easy as the word “CONFIDENTIAL” in all capital letters
• A copyright notice, similar to © 2023, Your Company Name, City, State
• The date and possibly a revision number, as in, “January 20, 2023. Revision 3”
• Contact Information: Your Name, phone number, email address and mailing address. Try to use a professional email address that reflects your new business, as in “[email protected]”
• A company’s mailing address is optional at best. In the post-covid, digital world, it is not essential.

Important Considerations

A slogan or business tagline is optional but should be included if your business is in an industry that is considered timely or hot. Similarly, if you’ll be sending your business plan to an investor or bank that is known for working with businesses of your type, let them know through a tagline or slogan that you are in that space.

If you don’t currently have a slogan, use something purely descriptive, such as “A social networking web business.” The tagline you use on your business plan does not have to be the same slogan you might use with customers.

If you have a logo you are pleased with, include it on your cover page; however, there is no need to rush to create a logo just so you’ll have it to include in your business plan.

Your Business Plan Cover Page Matters – a lot.

First impressions are important.

The cover page of a business plan is the first impression that a potential investor or lender will have of the entrepreneur and their business idea. As such, it is important for the entrepreneur to put time and effort into making sure that the cover page is professional and well-designed.

One way to make the cover page stand out is by using a high-quality paper and printing the cover page in full color. This will give the cover page a polished and professional look. Additionally, the entrepreneur should consider using a simple and clean design, with a clear and easy-to-read font, to ensure that the cover page is easy to read and understand.

Binders, Staples and Paper Clips

It is not necessary for the cover page to be bound, but it can be placed in a special folder or binder to keep the business plan together and organized. However, it is important to avoid using paper clips or staples as it may give off a unprofessional and unorganized appearance.

Overall, the cover page of a business plan is an important component that can play a significant role in making a positive impression on potential investors or lenders. By putting time and effort into the design and presentation of the cover page, entrepreneurs can increase the chances of their business plan being taken seriously and ultimately secure the funding they need to start or grow their business.

The Main Job of the Business Plan Cover Page

When your business plan is sitting on a banker’s desk with your small business loan application, or being reviewed by an investor or venture capital firm, the business plan cover page is all they will see. therefore, the main purpose of the business plan cover page is to entice the viewer to pick it up and see what’s inside! Imagine an investor with too many business plans and not enough time. He or she will likely put them quickly into three piles: 1) Unprofessional or unpolished; 2) Too flashy; 3) Interesting. They’re easy to tell apart!

Business Plan Cover Examples

You want your business plan cover page to get you noticed–for the right reasons. Look at the images below. Which one will get reader’s attention immediately and get read? Which one looks complete and professional? Do you think the “most noticeable” business plan cover gets noticed for the right reasons? (We don’t either!)

An Incomplete Business Plan Cover Page

The business plan cover page image below is clean and simple. While it is not unprofessional, it is incomplete. The company logo would have made it appear more interesting, but even leaving out the company logo is forgivable. But, do you want your business plan cover to omit your contact information? No! Frankly, this cover page is designed to have a coffee cup set on it.

A Business Plan Cover Page that is Professional and Complete

As you can see in the business plan cover page example below, a proper cover page takes only a little more effort. This can be considered a professional, formal business plan cover.

The company logo was added and serves two purposes. First, it grabs your attention. More importantly a company logo makes your plan document instantly recognizable the second, third and ‘next’ time it is read.

The founder’s contact information has been added to the cover page which is both an essential element, but a courtesy to the reader as well. Make it easy for the reader to contact you.

The tagline below the company logo gives interested parties quick insight into what is inside. Make sure your tagline is descriptive and differentiating. If your business plan cover is going to have a slogan or tagline, it should add clarity.

Finally, we can see that the business plan cover page has a confidentiality statement and a copyright notice. Professional cover pages include this information. It conveys to the reader that this is an important document created by someone with business experience.

A Business Plan Cover Page that is Over the Top

Will business plan covers like the one below get noticed? Let’s agree that’s a yes. Will it get read? Less likely. All the important aspects are there, but this plan tells a LOT about the founder and CEO. Something had him thinking that his photo would make his business plan more compelling. In fairness, he does look like a stock photography image of a young CEO. In complete fairness, that’s exactly what he is! Great picture, just not for the business plan cover page.

The highlighted text is an unnecessary way to draw attention to important details on the business plan’s cover page. Bold, italics and font sizes are better suited for the job. There aren’t that many words on business plan cover pages that you really need to draw attention to specific elements.

Finally, the blue box with the founder’s message in the first person, is non-traditional. There is little to be gained when the business owner introduces him or herself in this way.

Including all the important elements such as your company name, company slogan, business logo, confidentiality statement and contact information is the goal. Dressing it up, or over dressing your cover page, doesn’t do anything to get your entire business plan read. Sending Your Business Plan Digitally – The Business Plan Cover Still Matters

When sending a business plan to a potential investor or lender, it is generally best to send the plan as a PDF file. PDFs are a more secure and universal format, as they cannot be easily edited or altered and can be opened on any device with a PDF reader. Additionally, PDFs maintain the formatting and design of the document, ensuring that the business plan looks professional and polished.

Sending the business plan as a Word document may cause formatting issues, as the document may not look the same on different devices or in different word processing programs. Additionally, Word documents can be easily edited, which may be a concern for some investors or lenders.

Passwords and Watermarks

As for password protecting the file, it is not necessarily wrong to password protect a business plan, but it is not recommended. Password protection can be seen as a barrier to access and may make it appear that the entrepreneur is not transparent or willing to share the information with potential investors.

It is also not recommended to watermark the business plan with the recipient’s name, as it may be seen as unprofessional and may give off the impression that the entrepreneur is not confident in their business idea. It is better to have a clean and professional looking business plan that is easy to read and understand.

Overall, sending a business plan as a PDF file is the best option to ensure that the document is secure, easy to read and looks professional. It is not recommended to password protect or watermark the business plan as it may be seen as unprofessional or as a lack of transparency.

Most people have judged a business plan by its cover. The purpose of the business plan cover page is to present your plan in a way that conforms to professionally accepted standards. Attempts to dazzle the reader with an extraordinary or artsy cover page are risky (unless you’re starting an art supply store). Let the cover page simply be a cover page and allow the inside of your plan to do its job. By following the simple guidelines and template below, you’ll do just that.

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Creating a Killer Business Plan Cover Page

There are a thousand things to consider when creating a business plan, from cash flow projections and competitive analyses to marketing plans. Because a business plan is the foundational text of a business, creating one takes both umbrella and granular thinking presented in a digestible and appealing format.

One of the most impactful elements of a plan is the one easiest to disregard: the cover page. A killer cover page elevates a pitch and defines a company’s aesthetic. A substandard cover page insinuates laziness and a possible lack of creativity.

Would a cover page benefit your business plan? Let’s find out.

What is a Cover Page for a Business Plan?

Just like the cover of a book or magazine, a business plan cover page is the face of the document—its first impression. To succeed, it needs to incite enough curiosity in the reader to take the next step by opening the cover page and reading the plan. 

A cover page also functions as an introduction to what the business plan contains. The entire cover page should be as simple and streamlined as possible while relaying the necessary information. Use a clean and uncluttered design with an easy-to-read and visually appealing font. Think like an investor: consider what kind of cover page would make you want to read a business plan and design accordingly.

What to Include on a Business Plan Cover Page

Think of a cover page like a large and slightly expanded business card: use the space to relay vital information about your business succinctly. While there are no hard-and-fast rules about what goes into a cover page, always include the following details at a minimum:

• Creation date
• Company name
• Headquarters/primary address
• Contact information
• Business partners’ names (if any)

Consider including a creative element to grab attention, like a tagline or motto (think of Nike’s Just Do It and other iconic catchphrases).

The most important elements of your cover letter include the following: 

Company Information 

Include all identifying information about the company: name, headquarters address, and contact information. Your name and title, and those of partners or significant stakeholders, should make the cover page too. The business name should be the page’s most prominent, bold text. Bold it, center it, and let it stand out from across a table.  

Don’t forget the month and year you created the business plan. Also, consider including the business’s date of incorporation (this conveys longevity and expertise). 

Company Logo 

Utilize visual memory to your advantage – it helps people remember what your business is and does. If you don’t already have a company logo, this is the time to enlist the services of a graphic designer to create one. It needs to be clean, bold, and high-resolution (because nothing says “I made this in my basement” like visible pixelation).

Spend a little time perusing the most iconic company logos to understand what images do and don’t succeed. Remember, a logo is a brand identity. There are very few circumstances in which it makes sense to change a logo after it’s been created and marketed, so design wisely. 

Effective Date 

This one’s pretty obvious, but it’s worth noting that if you love a cover page, you can use it repeatedly. The completion date, or effective date, is the year and month you finalized or updated the plan. It’s important to periodically review and revise the plan as your business evolves.

Confidentiality Statement

A confidentiality statement is a legally binding agreement confirming that anyone who attempts to steal ideas or information from your business plan can be held legally liable. The cover page is arguably the most impactful place to put it. If the statement is too long to include on the cover page, insert it elsewhere in the business plan but add a note on the cover page referring to its existence and location in the document. 

A confidentiality statement should include the consequences of the breach, effective date, parties involved, termination date, terms and conditions, and a notice that any reader of the document assumes liability under the confidentiality statement.

What Should a Business Plan Cover Page Look Like?

The short answer is that it should look good. What does “good” mean, though? “Bold,” “sleek,” “eye-catching,” and “attractive” are subjective assessments, so let’s unpack what makes a cover page earn these superlatives. A cover page is, first and foremost, a business document, not an art project, but it still needs to grab attention. Use design elements judiciously, and avoid clutter at all costs.

Here are some excellent starting ideas:

• Bright colors (used sparingly)
• Sans serif fonts give off “disruptor startup” vibes
• Serif fonts connote classic venerability
• Text that is large enough to read easily
• White backgrounds with black text

The following three formatting suggestions will make your cover page extremely user-friendly:

• Always center titles, not just as a matter of convention but as a way to compliment how the human eye tracks text as it reads.
• Center alignment is not ideal for paragraph text because the reader’s eye naturally wants to move from left to right. It can, in some circumstances, be beneficial for headline text because it makes the reader slow down and take note. 
• Anything you want your audience to read in full (like a confidentiality statement) should be left-justified , and make sure the text color has sufficient contrast with the background color.

Due to the concise format, every cover page element must align with the business’s brand identity. Fonts, colors, structure, and voice must reflect the brand’s overall aesthetic. For example, hot pink Times New Roman text may not be the most fitting choice for an offroad-vehicle mechanic.

Design Tools and Templates

There are some great design tools and templates out there to help you create your business plan cover page, whether you’re highly design adept or you just want to drag and drop into something that looks good. Check out these well-loved favorites that can help you make a cover page that you’re proud to put your name on. 

LivePlan consistently makes the top of best-in-class software lists, and for good reason. For subscription pricing starting at $15 per month (or $20 per month for a pay-as-you-go plan), you get over 500 template options that are geared toward specific industries. Every template is customizable, and your subscription comes with lots of video tutorials, instructions, and excellent customer support. You can cancel your plan anytime you want, and there’s even a money-back guarantee for 60 days. 

On LivePlan, you can create as many business plans as you want (a great feature if you have several ideas for how to present your business, or if you have multiple side hustles). 

Cuttles is a super simple option for plan design. The software takes you from idea to pitch deck and business plan one step at a time. The incredibly user-friendly process incorporates everything you want to include in your business plan into a custom design using your company’s visual branding and logo. Pricing is in Euros (Cuttles is a Danish company) and starts at €8 per month. 

Canva is great for folks who want a little more control over the design aspects of their business plan cover page, but don’t want to start from scratch. Using a huge library of template options or creating from a blank page with Canva’s design tools is a breeze, even if graphic design isn’t your wheelhouse. Pricing is split between a (very serviceable) free tier and the $120 annually Pro tier. 

Venngage facilitates visual media creation, and it can work really well for designing your cover page. Similar to Canva, but with more infographics options, Venngage is a good choice if you want to use a lot of charts, graphs, or diagrams. Pricing starts at a free tier (which is pretty limited) and then goes up to $16 monthly for the Premium tier, which has all the features you need to design a business plan and cover page. 

Business Plan Cover Page Examples

With a cover page, you’re constantly balancing visual appeal and function. Check out some of these sample cover page templates from Upmetrics that hit both nails on the head.

 Notice the details that make these templates successful: eye-grabbing colors, color gradients, and clean and consistent font choices. Other options are a bit more whimsical but still visually pleasing. A successful design template can be much better than a plain white page without overwhelming the reader.  

A Cover Page Worthy of Your Business

A business plan cover page isn’t just an afterthought. It’s the first (and potentially only) opportunity to convey the creativity, thoroughness, and excitement contained inside. Give your business plan the most substantial chance for success by knocking the cover page out of the park.

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8 Business Plan Templates You Can Get for Free

8 min. read

Updated April 10, 2024

A business plan template can be an excellent tool to simplify the creation of your business plan. 

The pre-set structure helps you organize ideas, covers all critical business information, and saves you time and effort on formatting.

The only issue? There are SO many free business plan templates out there. 

So, which ones are actually worth using? 

To help remove the guesswork, I’ve rounded up some of the best business plan templates you can access right now. 

These are listed in no particular order, and each has its benefits and drawbacks.

What to look for in a business plan template

Not all business plan templates are created equal. As you weigh your options and decide which template(s) you’ll use, be sure to review them with the following criteria in mind:

• Easy to edit: A template should save you time. That won’t be the case if you have to fuss around figuring out how to edit the document, or even worse, it doesn’t allow you to edit at all.
• Contains the right sections: A good template should cover all essential sections of a business plan , including the executive summary, product/service description, market/competitive analysis, marketing and sales plan, operations, milestones, and financial projections. 
• Provides guidance: You should be able to trust that the information in a template is accurate. That means the organization or person who created the template is highly credible, known for producing useful resources, and ideally has some entrepreneurial experience.
• Software compatibility: Lastly, you want any template to be compatible with the software platforms you use. More than likely, this means it’s available in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or PDF format at a minimum. 

1. Bplans — A plan with expert guidance

Since you’re already on Bplans, I have to first mention the templates that we have available. 

Our traditional and one-page templates were created by entrepreneurs and business owners with over 80 years of collective planning experience. We revisit and update them annually to ensure they are approachable, thorough, and aligned with our team’s evolving best practices.  

The templates, available in Word, PDF, or Google Doc formats, include in-depth guidance on what to include in each section, expert tips, and links to additional resources. 

Plus, we have over 550 real-world sample business plans you can use for guidance when filling out your template.

Download: Traditional lender-ready business plan template or a simple one-page plan template .

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2. SBA — Introduction to business plans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers two different business plan templates along with a short planning guide. 

While not incredibly in-depth, it’s enough to help you understand how traditional and lean plans are structured and what information needs to be covered. The templates themselves are more like examples, providing you with a finished product to reference as you write your plan.

The key benefit of using these templates is that they were created by the SBA. While they may provide less guidance, you can be assured that the information and structure meet their expectations.

Explore: The SBA’s planning guide and free templates

3. SCORE — Planning workbook

SCORE’s template is more like a workbook. It includes exercises after each section to help you get your ideas down and turn them into a structured plan.

The market research worksheets are especially useful. They provide a clear framework for identifying your target market and analyzing competitors from multiple angles. Plus, they give you an easy way to document all the information you’re collecting.

You will likely have to remove the exercises in this template to make it investor-ready. But it can be worth it if you’re struggling to get past a blank page and want a more interactive planning method.

Download: SCORE’s business plan template

4. PandaDoc — A template with fillable forms

PandaDoc’s library offers a variety of industry-specific business plan templates that feature a modern design flair and concise instructions. 

These templates are designed for sharing. They include fillable fields and sections for non-disclosure agreements, which may be necessary when sending a plan to investors.  

But the real benefit is their compatibility with PandaDoc’s platform. Yes, they are free, but if you’re a PandaDoc subscriber, you’ll have far more customization options. 

Out of all their templates, the standard business plan template is the most in-depth. The rest, while still useful, go a bit lighter on guidance in favor of tailoring the plan to a specific industry.

Explore: PandaDoc’s business plan template library  

5. Canva — Pitch with your plan

Canva is a great option for building a visually stunning business plan that can be used as a pitch tool. It offers a diverse array of templates built by their in-house team and the larger creative community, meaning the number of options constantly grows.

You will need to verify that the information in the template you choose matches the standard structure of a traditional business plan. 

You should do this with any template, but it’s especially important with any tool that accepts community submissions. While they are likely reviewed and approved, there may still be errors.

Remember, you can only edit these templates within Canva. Luckily, you only need a free subscription, and you may just miss out on some of the visual assets being used. 

To get the most value, it may be best to create a more traditional planning document and transfer that information into Canva. 

Explore: Canva’s business plan gallery

6. ClickUp — The collaborative template

Out of all the project management tools that offer free business plan templates, ClickUp’s is the most approachable.

Rather than throwing you into all the features and expecting you to figure it out—ClickUp provides a thorough startup guide with resource links, images, and videos explaining how to write a plan using the tool. 

There’s also a completed sample plan (structured like an expanded one-page plan) for you to reference and see how the more traditional document can connect to the product management features. You can set goals, target dates, leave comments, and even assign tasks to someone else on your team. 

These features are limited to the ClickUp platform and will not be useful for everyone. They will likely get in the way of writing a plan you can easily share with lenders or investors. 

But this is a great option if you’re looking for a template that makes internal collaboration more fluid and keeps all your information in one place.

Sign Up: Get a free trial of ClickUp and explore their template library

7. Smartsheet — A wide variety of templates

I’m including Smartsheet’s library of templates on this list because of the sheer number of options they provide. 

They have a simple business plan template, a one-page plan, a fill-in-the-blank template, a plan outline, a plan grading rubric, and even an Excel-built project plan. All are perfectly usable and vary in visual style, depth of instructions, and the available format.

Honestly, the only drawback (which is also the core benefit) is that the amount of templates can be overwhelming. If you’re already uncertain which plan option is right for you, the lengthy list they provide may not provide much clarity.

At the same time, it can be a great resource if you want a one-stop shop to view multiple plan types.

Explore: Smartsheet’s business plan template library  

8. ReferralRock affiliate marketing business plan

I’m adding ReferralRock’s template to this list due to its specificity. 

It’s not your standard business plan template. The plan is tailored with specific sections and guidance around launching an affiliate marketing business. 

Most of the template is dedicated to defining how to choose affiliates, set commissions, create legal agreements, and track performance.

So, if you plan on starting an affiliate marketing business or program, this template will provide more specific guidance. Just know that you will likely need to reference additional resources when writing the non-industry sections of your plan.

Download: ReferralRock affiliate marketing business plan template

Does it matter what business plan template you use?

The short answer is no. As long as the structure is correct, it saves you time, and it helps you write your business plan , then any template will work. 

What it ultimately comes down to, is what sort of value you hope to get from the template. 

• Do you need more guidance? 
• A simple way to structure your plan? 
• An option that works with a specific tool?
• A way to make your plan more visually interesting?

Hopefully, this list has helped you hone in on an option that meets one (or several) of these needs. Still, it may be worth downloading a few of these templates to determine the right fit. 

And really, what matters most is that you spend time writing a business plan . It will help you avoid early mistakes, determine if you have a viable business, and fully consider what it will take to get up and running. 

If you need additional guidance, check out our library of planning resources . We cover everything from plan formats , to how to write a business plan, and even how to use it as a management tool . 

If you don’t want to waste time researching other templates, you can download our one-page or traditional business plan template and jump right into the planning process.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Kody Wirth is a content writer and SEO specialist for Palo Alto Software—the creator's of Bplans and LivePlan. He has 3+ years experience covering small business topics and runs a part-time content writing service in his spare time.

Table of Contents

• Qualities of a good template
• ReferralRock
• Does the template matter?

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Free Webinar | May 7: How to Write Your One-Page Business Plan Workshop Did you know entrepreneurs with business plans are 260% more likely to launch? Join our workshop on May 7th and learn how to create a one-page business plan that will help you get your business off the ground. Register now!

By Entrepreneur Staff • Apr 16, 2024

Do you wish you could run a business that would make the most of your skills, experience and earn you the money that you're really worth?

Or perhaps you've already started your own business but it seems like no matter how hard you work you're no closer to the dream that inspired you to start your company in the first place.

If you're not hitting your goals, it's not due to a lack of ambition, you just need a better plan to make it happen.

Specifically, a business plan.

Related: Join our workshop on May 7th and learn how to create a one-page business plan that will help you get your business off the ground. Register now!

A study from BusinessDIT revealed that:

Entrepreneurs with business plans are 260% more likely to launch

71% of fast-growing businesses have plans

With the right business plan, you'll be more likely to launch and grow faster once you do.

So, why don't you have an updated plan? There are a few common reasons.

"I'm too busy"

"It's too confusing"

"I have too much else going on"

It's time to end the excuses so you can achieve predictable revenue growth without going back to school for an MBA.

Join Our Free How to Write Your Business Plan Workshop

During this workshop, you'll learn how to create a one-page business plan that will help you perfect your strategy, marketing and business processes.

You're just one hour away from having the clarity needed to reduce confusion, improve your offer and maximize your revenue potential.

You'll also receive a customizable one-page business plan so you can immediately apply what you've learned.

Now is the time to work on your business so the time you spend working in your business will be more efficient and rewarding.

Imagine knowing that at any given time, you're taking the right actions that are directly aligned with the vision you had when you first started your business.

There's no need to imagine. Just sign up for the workshop and then commit to applying what you've learned.

All registered attendees will get a recording of the presentation and a copy of the one-page business plan template. And if you know of anyone else who should attend, share this with them so they can hold you accountable.

Sign up now and turn your business idea into action.

About the Speaker:

Terry Rice is a high-performance coach to entrepreneurs, keynote speaker and journalist at Entrepreneur magazine. He's also the host of Reclaim + Advance, a podcast that helps entrepreneurs overcome setbacks and perform at their highest level.

Prior to becoming a creator-entrepreneur, Terry's previous experience includes internal consulting roles at Adobe and Meta.

In addition to his role as Director of Growth and Partnerships at Good People Digital, Terry is an instructor at New York University, speaks at events for leading companies - including Amazon and Google - and has been featured as a subject matter expert by Good Morning America, Fast Company and the Wall Street Journal.

Based in Brooklyn, he is a husband, father of five children, and is an advocate for mental and physical fitness.

Entrepreneur Staff

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How to create a farm business plan.

If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more .

Crafting a comprehensive farm business plan is a crucial step towards transforming your agricultural visions into tangible realities. This plan serves as a blueprint, enabling you to formally articulate your thoughts, ideas, and aspirations. Engaging in this process can lead to profound insights, illuminating the path to a thriving agricultural enterprise.

Even though the term ‘farm business plan’ might evoke a sense of formal rigidity, it’s important to remember that this document is, in fact, a living, evolving entity. Just like a seedling that sprouts, grows, and changes with the seasons, your business plan is not meant to be static.

It’s something you nurture, revise, and expand as circumstances dictate and as your farm business matures. Feeling pressure to perfect your business plan from the outset could be paralyzing. Instead, we suggest you view this document as a foundation that can be continuously built upon.

To get you started, we offer a detailed farm business plan template. This invaluable resource can be tailored and expanded to suit your unique agricultural venture, whether you’re cultivating a sprawling wheat field or nurturing a boutique organic herb garden.

The most effective business plans are those that exhibit flexibility and resilience, characteristics that are at the heart of any successful farm business. Agriculture, by its very nature, is a domain subject to the whims of Mother Nature. From unpredictable weather patterns to seasonal variations, farmers of all kinds grapple with an array of external factors.

Therefore, your farm business plan should not only anticipate these challenges but also prescribe adaptive measures to navigate through them. It’s this inherent adaptability that transforms a good farm business plan into a great one.

Writing a Farm Business Plan Template: 15+ Things Entrepreneurs Should Include

A farm business plan, like any strategic document, should be comprehensive, encompassing all aspects of your operation, be it agricultural (crops) or product-based. Utilize these 15 key sections to shape your farm business plan template.

Do bear in mind that while these sections are integral, they are by no means exhaustive. Your farm business plan may necessitate additional topics based on your specific farming operations.

Creating a robust business plan is of paramount importance, whether you’re kickstarting a farm venture or acquiring an existing one. Our farm business plan template starts off with an executive summary.

Executive Summary

The executive summary provides an essential overview of your farm business. It helps to streamline communication and understanding between various stakeholders, such as internal team members, potential lenders, business partners, and customers. When drafting your executive summary, consider the following key components:

• Business Profile : Provide a snapshot of your farm business, describing its nature and scope. Are you into crop cultivation, livestock rearing, or any specialized farming practices?
• Products : Clearly outline what product or products your farm will produce. These could range from dairy products to specific crops or even services like agrotourism.
• Production Methodology : Describe how you plan to achieve your production goals. This could involve discussing your farming techniques, usage of technology, or unique methodologies.
• Target Audience : Identify the individuals or groups who will be interested in your farm products or services. These might be local consumers, restaurants, farmers’ markets, or even online customers.
• Key Strategies : Highlight the strategies you plan to implement to run and grow your business. This could cover marketing techniques, sustainability practices, or partnerships.
• Mission and Vision : Briefly outline the mission and vision of your farm business. This helps to convey your long-term objectives and core values.

Remember, your executive summary is essentially the first impression of your business plan. Making it comprehensive, clear, and compelling will help attract interest and support from stakeholders.

Goals and Objectives

A well-crafted business plan should encapsulate both personal and economic goals and objectives. Many successful farm business plans also address environmental stewardship and community outreach. You may want to include goals around preserving farm resources for future generations, ensuring that both the operational and stewardship aspects remain within the family.

Introduction

Your introduction should provide information about the business owners, including their backgrounds and levels of industry experience.

Mission Statement and Values of Your Farming Business Plan

This section enables you to express the core values that led you to the farming business, whether it’s an urban farming venture or a homemade product-based farm. Your mission statement should reflect these values. Sustainable practices and conservation are often key motivations that draw people to farming, so don’t be shy to share your commitment to such principles.

Industry History

Understanding your place within the wider agricultural landscape is key. Be sure to research farms that have historically dominated your region, whether they specialize in vineyards, urban farming, or livestock rearing. Use this research to make educated projections about the future.

Company Background and History

Share the history of your farm if it has been a long-standing family venture or the journey leading up to your purchase if it wasn’t. If your farm business is a startup, focus on the business experience and backgrounds of the involved parties.

Competitor Analysis

Understanding your competition is crucial. In the agricultural sector, farmers often share resources, such as a high-tech corn planter , or cooperate in marketing endeavors. Factor in such synergies when analyzing competitors.

Target Market

Clearly define your target market. This can include area groceries, farmers’ markets, or online customers. If you’ll be relying on online sales, ensure your website is professionally designed, keyword optimized, and easily discoverable.

Products and Services

Describe each product or service offered by your farm, highlighting those features most appealing to your target market.

Organization, Human Resources, and Management Plans

These interconnected elements cover your farm’s day-to-day operations, employee roles and responsibilities (including their job descriptions ), and overarching management plans.

SWOT Analysis

Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify your farm’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This will help you strategize on how to leverage your strengths, mitigate your weaknesses, exploit opportunities, and neutralize threats.

Your vision is the roadmap for your farm’s future. It should express not just your financial aspirations but also your plans for the farm operation in the long run.

Growth Strategy

A comprehensive growth strategy should outline your plans for debt reduction, savings, and business expansion. Keeping detailed farm production records is key to evaluating the effectiveness of your growth strategy.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include elements like balance sheets, income statements, projected cash flows, loan repayment schedules, and depreciation factors.

Marketing Strategy

A robust marketing strategy is essential for your farm’s success. Look into brochures, advertisements, and joining co-op groups. Resources from institutions like the University of Minnesota and Cornell University offer comprehensive insights into effective marketing strategies for farm businesses.

Establishing a Farming Business Entity

Discuss the legal structure of your farm business. Will it be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, an LLC, or a corporation? Outline the pros and cons of each and why the chosen structure is the best fit for your farm business.

Detailed Description of Farm Operations

Include a section that provides an in-depth look at your day-to-day farm operations. This can cover everything from crop rotation plans, livestock breeding programs, to the use of technology and machinery in your farming activities.

Risk Management Strategies

Address potential risks and challenges your farm might face, such as natural disasters, market fluctuations, or pest infestations. Discuss the strategies you plan to implement to mitigate these risks, like insurance coverage, diversification, and emergency response plans.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Highlight your farm’s approach to sustainability and its impact on the environment. Discuss practices like organic farming, conservation techniques, and renewable energy usage, which demonstrate your commitment to environmental stewardship.

Community Involvement and Social Responsibility

Describe how your farm business plans to engage with and contribute to the local community. This could include hosting educational farm tours, participating in farmers’ markets, or supporting local food programs.

Supply Chain and Vendor Relationships

Detail your farm’s supply chain and vendor relationships. Explain how you plan to source inputs like seeds, feed, or equipment, and any partnerships with local suppliers or distributors.

Technology and Innovation

Discuss the role of technology and innovation in your farm business. This could include the use of precision agriculture, innovative irrigation systems, or the adoption of farm management software to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Training and Development Plans

Explain how you intend to train and develop your staff. Include plans for ongoing education, skill development, and potentially, leadership training for future farm managers.

Expansion and Diversification

Outline your long-term plans for expansion and diversification. This could involve adding new crops, branching into agrotourism, or exploring value-added products like farm-produced jams or cheeses.

Exit Strategy

Consider including an exit strategy for your farming business. This could be a plan for succession, selling the business, or transitioning to a different type of agricultural operation.

Wrap up your business plan with a conclusion that reiterates your farm’s core mission and vision, and express your enthusiasm and commitment to making your farm business a success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Include a FAQ section at the end of your business plan to address common questions potential investors or partners may have about your farm business. This can include queries about your business model, funding needs, or market potential.

Provide an addendum for additional documents that support your business plan. This can include resumes of key team members, detailed financial projections, market research data, or letters of support from future customers or partners.

Do I Need a Business Plan for My Farm?

Even if you’re knee-deep in the dirt, tending to your crops or livestock, every farming enterprise has the core elements of a business at its heart. These include aspects such as operations, marketing, human resources, and finances. When you embark on developing a farm business plan, it might astonish you to see where the journey takes you. You could end up discovering facets of your farm business that you hadn’t previously considered.

One of the many advantages of constructing your business plan is the opportunity it affords to involve others. Employees, family members, even your loyal farm dog might have innovative small farm business ideas that could significantly enhance your farm’s productivity and marketability. A different perspective can often yield solutions for issues you might not have even been aware of. Therefore, encourage an open exchange of thoughts and ideas. Who knows, the next great idea could be lying right under your hay bale!

More than just a document outlining your farm’s structure, your farm business plan should serve as a valuable decision-making tool. With it, you can confidently navigate the varied terrain of farm management, from daily operations to larger strategic initiatives. When you’ve got a meticulously crafted, robust farm business plan, it doesn’t just narrate your farm’s story, but also provides you with a roadmap to future growth and success.

Beyond this, a top-notch farm business plan can also be a lever that helps you access critical financing. Lenders and investors are more likely to support your venture when they see a well-structured, thoughtful business plan that articulates your vision, illustrates your understanding of the market, and demonstrates your commitment to fiscal responsibility.

So, where to begin? Let’s dive into our fundamental guide to crafting a farm business plan using our adaptable template. This resource has been designed to help you capture every aspect of your agricultural venture, laying a strong foundation for a bountiful future.

How Do I Write a Small Farm Business Plan?

Don’t sit down to write the whole thing. Chip away, one section at a time. Keep in mind that the plan doesn’t have to be the definitive last word. You can make adaptations.

How do you start a farm business plan?

Start with one piece of the business plan. One of the hardest sections of a business plan to write is the Mission Statement . If you get bogged down there, continue and come back to it later.

How much do farm owners make a year?

As you can imagine, the net income varies greatly by type of farm business.

The bottom line after expenses may not be high. Farmers need to consider net worth as assets grow and the farm property increases in value.

How much does it cost to start a small farm?

Getting set up to raise 100 beef cattle costs lots more than getting set up to raise 100 rabbits.

Things like property acquisition, soil preparation, equipment and machinery and the key costs. Other costs may be i rrigation systems , packaging and trucking.

What is the most profitable farming business?

Poultry farming is currently the most profitable – and common – farm business in the world. It includes chicken, turkey, quail, ducks and goose, that are being raised for meat or eggs.

It’s also one of the most expensive businesses to start, requiring significant capital investment. The industry is very labor-intensive and labor costs are high.

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How to Make Sure You Have Enough Auto Insurance Coverage

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Inflation and supply chain problems continue to impact Americans. Auto insurance rates have risen as a result, along with the prices of new and used cars, medical care and even car maintenance.

State-required car insurance limits haven’t followed suit, however, and even drivers with higher limits may not be protected. But if you’re driving around with only the minimum amount of car insurance required, then you’re probably underinsured.

Here are four ways to make sure you have enough coverage before a potential car accident puts you at risk.

Think twice about minimum coverage

Almost every state requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, which pays for injuries and property damage you cause in an accident. While minimum coverage is typically the cheapest policy you can get, your state’s minimum-required limits likely aren’t high enough to cover the full cost of injuries or property damage caused by an accident.

For example, the average bodily injury liability claim in 2020 included more than $24,000 in medical bills, according to the Insurance Information Institute's analysis of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. And medical costs have only increased since that study, with some reaching up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Many states require a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability, but even doubling that amount may not be enough. “If you only have $50,000 [...] that’s still not a lot of money to go to the hospital,” says Kevin Boggs, an agency owner with Goosehead Insurance in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

Cover your net worth

You’ll be held financially responsible for costs from an accident you cause, whether or not you have sufficient insurance coverage. If your liability limits aren’t high enough, then you’ll have to pay out of pocket.

NerdWallet recommends getting enough liability insurance to cover your net worth . Your net worth can be calculated by adding up all of your assets, including investment and retirement accounts, and subtracting any debt you owe.

Get uninsured motorist coverage

You should also protect yourself against the risks of being hit by a driver who doesn't have enough car insurance to pay for your medical bills and property damage — or doesn't have any car insurance at all.

About 1 in every 7 drivers is uninsured, according to a 2022 report from the Insurance Research Council. You can protect yourself from these drivers by including uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage on your policy. These coverage types pay for your own medical bills and damage to your car if you’re hit by a driver without car insurance or with very minimal liability limits that don’t cover all of your expenses.

While some states require these coverages, they’re optional in many others. But you shouldn’t skip them just to save money. “Declining underinsured motorist or uninsured motorist coverage is the biggest insurance mistake people make,” said Golnoush Goharzad, a personal injury lawyer in Irvine, California, in an email.

Consider full coverage

To pay for damage to your car, consider full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to liability insurance.

Collision insurance pays for damage to your vehicle, even if you’re the at-fault driver or the victim of a hit-and-run. Meanwhile, comprehensive insurance pays for damage caused by things like inclement weather or wild animals. It can even help you replace a stolen vehicle. Both coverage types pay out up to the current market value of your car, minus your deductible, which is the amount of money you’re responsible for.

How to save without cutting coverage

Here are some tips to save on a policy without reducing or dropping coverage:

Ask about discounts . Don't assume you're getting every discount you qualify for; speak with your insurer or agent to see if there are additional savings available.

Increase your deductibles . Insurers will lower your premium if you raise your deductibles, but be prepared to pay the higher amount in the event you need to file a claim.

Bundle your policy . Many insurance companies offer a discount if you combine multiple insurance policies with them, such as car and homeowners insurance.

Shop around . Comparing car insurance is the best way to get the cheapest policy. You should shop around once a year, and compare quotes from at least three different companies every time.

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