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Financing | Templates

How To Write an SBA Business Plan [+Free Template]

Published June 13, 2023

Published Jun 13, 2023

REVIEWED BY: Tricia Jones

WRITTEN BY: Andrew Wan

This article is part of a larger series on Business Financing .

• 1. Write the Company Description
• 2. Identify Organization & Management
• 3. Specify the Market Analysis
• 4. Write Descriptions of the Products or Services
• 5. Indicate the Marketing & Sales Strategy
• 6. List Financial Data & Projections
• 7. Write the Financing Request
• 8. Fill In the Appendix & Supplemental Information
• 9. Complete the Executive Summary
• Additional Resources

Bottom Line

If you’re applying for a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), there’s a good chance that you’ll need a business plan to get approved. An SBA business plan provides a summary of the various aspects of your business, and we will guide you through the process of creating it, from writing your company description and marketing and sales strategies to completing financial data and projections and your executive summary.

Although there is no standard format, and to help you ensure nothing is overlooked, you can use our SBA business plan template to ensure you cover the most important areas of your company. A well-prepared business plan can improve your chances of getting an SBA loan.

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Step 1: write the company description.

This section should contain information about the purpose of your business. It should include a description of the problem or challenge your product or service aims to solve and what types of individuals or organizations will benefit.

A strong company description should also address the following questions:

• Why does your company exist?
• What problems does your business aim to address?
• What prompted you to start your business?
• What organizations or individuals will benefit from your company’s product or service?
• What makes your company different from others?
• What competitive advantages does your business offer?
• What would a successful product launch look like?
• Does your company have strategic partnerships with other vendors?

Step 2: Identify Organization & Management

Details about the legal and tax structure of your business should be included in this section. It can also be helpful to include an organizational chart of your company. You can include information about each team member’s background and experience and how it is relevant to your company:

• Highlight what business structure you have selected and why. Examples commonly include a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), partnership, S corporation (S-corp), and C corporation (C-corp)
• Include an organizational chart showing which team members are responsible for the various aspects of your company
• You can include resumes for members of your leadership team highlighting their experience and background

Step 3: Specify the Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your SBA business plan should look at who your competitors will be. Look at what they are doing well, what their weaknesses are, and how your company compares.

The SBA’s market analysis page contains information on how you can approach this. Questions you should also consider addressing should include:

• Who are the major competitors in the market?
• What are competitors doing well and are there areas for improvement?
• How does your company compare to the top competitors?
• How has the product or service evolved over time?
• Are there any trends for supply and demand throughout the year?
• What can your company do to stand apart from the top competitors?

Step 4: Write Descriptions of the Products or Services

In this section, you should detail the product or service offered by your business. You should explain what it does, how it helps your customers, and its expected lifecycle. You can also include things like any expected research and development costs, intellectual property concerns such as patents, what the lifecycle of your product looks like, and what is needed to manufacture or assemble it.

Here are some things to consider as you are working on this section:

• Description of what your product or service does
• How your product or service works
• How your customers will benefit from your product or service
• Illustration of the typical lifecycle
• Any patents or intellectual property you or your competitors have
• Pricing structure
• Plans for research and development
• Discuss plans for handling intellectual property, copyright, and patent filings

Step 5: Indicate the Marketing & Sales Strategy

Details of your marketing and sales strategy will be highly dependent on your business. It’s also something that may evolve and change over time in response to things like the overall economic environment, release of competitor’s products or services, and changes in pricing.

With that being said, here is a list of some items that should be addressed:

• Who is your target audience?
• How will you attract customers?
• How and where will sales be made?
• If applicable, what will the sales process look like?
• Where will you market and advertise your product or service?
• How does your marketing strategy compare to other companies in the industry?
• How much should you spend on marketing?
• What is the expected return on investment for marketing?
• Do you have any data showing the effect of marketing?

Step 6: List Financial Data & Projections

If your business has been running, you should include information about its finances. This should include all streams of revenue and expenses. Data for financial projections should also be included, along with a description of the methodology you used to reach those conclusions.

If available, you should be prepared to provide the following financial documents for at least the last three years to five years:

• Personal and business tax returns
• Balance sheets
• Profit and loss (P&L) statements
• Cash flow statements
• Hard and soft collateral owned by your business
• Business bank statements for the last six to 12 months

Financial projections should include enough data to offer some confidence that your business is viable and will succeed. It’s recommended that you provide monthly projections looking forward at least three years, with annual projections for years four and five.

• Projections for revenue and methodology used in arriving at these figures
• Expected shifts in revenue or expenses as a result of seasonality or other factors affecting supply and demand
• Expected expenses from loan payments, rent, lease payments, marketing and advertising fees, employee salaries, benefits, legal fees, warranty expenses, and more

You can use our SBA loan calculator to help you estimate monthly payments for the funding you’re currently looking for and projections for any additional loans you may need. Monthly payments can fluctuate depending on the terms of your loan. If you’re looking for accurate estimates, you can read our article on SBA loan rates .

Step 7: Write the Financing Request

This section is where you should specify how much funding you need, why you need it, what you’ll use it for, and the impact you expect it will have on your business. It’s also a good idea to indicate when you expect to use the funds over the course of the next three to five years.

Here is a checklist of some important items you should cover:

• How much funding you need and why
• When you will use the funds over the next three to five years
• What you will use the funds for
• The expected impact this will have on your business and how it will help reach your business goals
• The anticipation of any recurring needs for additional funding
• Your strategy for how you expect to pay off the loan
• Any future financial plans for your business

Step 8: Fill In the Appendix & Supplemental Information

This last section of your SBA business plan should include any additional information that may be helpful for lenders. This can include more detailed explanations or clarifications of data from other sections of your business plan.

Here are some examples of documents you can include:

• Business licenses
• Certifications or permits
• Letters of reference
• Photos of products
• Resumes of business owners
• Contractual agreements and other legal documents

Step 9: Complete the Executive Summary

The executive summary, which is the first section in a business plan, should be no more than one to two pages and provide a high-level overview of the items listed below. Since each section above is already detailed, a brief description of those sections will be sufficient:

• Your company’s mission statement
• The background and experience of your leadership team
• The product or service and what purpose it serves
• Your target market for the product or service
• Competitive analysis of other products and services
• Your competitive advantage or why your company will succeed
• Marketing and sales strategy
• Financial projections and funding needs

Depending on the type of SBA loan you’re applying for, certain areas of your business plan may be weighed more heavily than others. You can learn about the SBA loan options you can choose from in our guide on the different types of SBA loans .

Additional Resources for Writing an SBA Business Plan

If you’re looking for additional resources to help you write a business plan, you can consider the options below. Since a business plan is just one of many documents you’ll need, you can also read our guide on how to get an SBA loan if you need help with other areas of the loan process:

• SBA: SBA’s business guide contains information on how you can start a small business. It includes steps on creating a business plan, funding your company, and launching a business.
• SCORE: Through SCORE, you can request to be paired with a mentor and get business-related education. Educational courses come in several formats, including webinars, live events, and online courses.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC): SBDCs provide training and counseling to small business owners. This can help with various aspects of your company such as getting access to working capital, business planning, financial management, and more. You can use the SBA’s tool to find your closest SBDC .

Having a strong SBA business plan can improve your chances of getting approved for an SBA loan. If you’re unsure where to start, you can use our guide and template to cover the most important aspects of your business. You can also see our tips on how to get a small business loan . To get even more ideas on creating a strong business plan, you can also utilize resources through organizations such as SCORE and the SBA itself.

About the Author

Find Andrew On LinkedIn

Andrew Wan is a staff writer at Fit Small Business, specializing in Small Business Finance. He has over a decade of experience in mortgage lending, having held roles as a loan officer, processor, and underwriter. He is experienced with various types of mortgage loans, including Federal Housing Administration government mortgages as a Direct Endorsement (DE) underwriter. Andrew received an M.B.A. from the University of California at Irvine, a Master of Studies in Law from the University of Southern California, and holds a California real estate broker license.

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How to Write an SBA Business Plan + Template

Noah Parsons

10 min. read

Updated November 21, 2023

Applying for a Small Business Administration loan typically requires a business plan.

Unfortunately, there’s no SBA loan business plan format that guarantees approval. The SBA even states you should “pick a business plan format that works for you.” 

While I agree with this sentiment, I’ve found that entrepreneurs who explain how funds will be used and how they will repay the loan tend to be more successful. 

Luckily, these details can be covered using our SBA-lender-approved business plan format . I’ll go over that structure in this article, and focus on the sections that the SBA prioritizes, so you can maximize your chances of getting funded .

You can even download a free SBA-lender-approved business plan template to fill out as you read. 

Let’s get started.

• Why you need a business plan for SBA loans

SBA loans require good documentation of your business and personal finances. You’ll need to pull together your past tax returns, bank statements, and various application forms depending on the type of SBA loan you apply for.

The bank issuing the loan will also want to know about the future of your business. 

They’ll want to see how the loan will be used and if future cash flow projections are realistic and indicate you can afford loan payments.

That’s where writing an SBA business plan comes in. 

Not only will your business plan describe your business to the lender, but it will include the financial projections the bank will use to determine if you qualify for the loan .

• What your business plan should include, according to the SBA

Business plans for SBA loans follow a fairly standard structure, but that doesn’t mean you need to follow it exactly. 

The SBA even recommends adjusting the plan outline to serve your needs. If a section does not apply to your business, it’s fine just to remove it.

Here’s the successful business plan structure I recommend for SBA loans:

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1. Executive summary

A great executive summary is a short, simple overview of your business. It should be easy for a loan officer to read and clearly understand what your business does. 

When applying for an SBA loan, highlight your: 

• Business opportunity
• Financial forecast
• How much money you want to borrow and how it will be used

Remember, an executive summary should be short and to the point. The rest of your business plan will provide additional details.

[Dig deeper: How to write an executive summary ]

2. Company description

Some people call this section “Products and Services.” Either option is fine. The important thing is that you use this section to explain what your business opportunity is. 

You need to cover: 

• The problem you solve
• Who you’re solving it for
• What your solution is and why it’s better

Be specific and tell the story of your business and your customers. Focus on your strengths and what sets you apart from competitors. 

If your company is developing a product, include information on:

• What the product life cycle looks like
• Intellectual property filings
• Current research and development

If these topics don’t apply to your product, that’s fine. Just be sure that the description of what you sell is clear.

3. Market analysis

The market analysis chapter explains who your customers are. It provides an overview of your target market, competition, and industry.

Your target market is essentially a description of your ideal customers. Be sure to include specific demographic information (like age, gender, location, income) and psychographic information (hobbies, purchasing behaviors). 

This data should reinforce that your target market needs your solution .

It’s helpful to also include information on the size of your target market . Lenders will want to see evidence of enough potential customers to drive growth. 

While your target market information describes your customers, an industry overview discusses the type of business you’re in and its potential for growth. 

For example: If you’re starting a fast-casual restaurant, your industry overview might discuss the increased interest in fast-casual dining and how more people are eating in these types of restaurants every year. 

Finally, you’ll need to include a competitive analysis . This is a list of current competitors and alternatives, with explanations of why your business is a better option. 

Your goal is to show how your business is unique, what opportunities and threats there are, and how you plan to address the competition.

4. Organization and management

Also known as your company overview, this section is where you describe your legal structure, history, and team .

For your SBA loan application, you should focus on describing who is managing the business as clearly as possible. 

You may want to include an organizational chart. You should provide detailed resumes for everyone in leadership positions. Each team member’s experience, skills and professional qualifications can mitigate risk in the eyes of a lender .

To show you’re thinking ahead, it’s also helpful to include key positions you plan to fill as you grow. 

5. Sales and marketing plan

Your goal in this section is to summarize how you will attract, retain, and sell to your customers.

The marketing strategies and sales methods you describe should always have the customer top of mind, and demonstrate that you know how to connect with them. 

To help a loan officer visualize this, you can provide examples of marketing messaging, visuals, and promotions. If you have any research or results to show that your strategy has merit, include those as well. 

6. Financial projections

SBA lenders typically require 5 years of financial projections — including profit and loss statements , balance sheets , and cash flow statements . 

Be sure to include the SBA loan in your projections in the following areas: 

• A liability on your balance sheet.
• Payments on your cash flow.
• Interest expenses on your profit and loss statement. 

I’ll dive into specific details of what you should focus on in the “how to improve your chances” section.

Your first year of financial projections should include monthly details. After that, annual summaries are usually sufficient for most SBA lenders. Occasionally, a lender might require 24 months of monthly projections, so check with your bank before submitting your business plan. 

If your business is up and running, you must also provide historical financial reports for the past 12-24 months of operations—including income statements and a current balance sheet.

Typically, you will also need to provide reports on your personal finances , including any assets you have, such as a home or car. 

Finally, include a section explaining your use of funds—what exactly you plan to use the loan for.

7. Appendix

The appendix is your chance to provide additional documents that support sections of your business plan. 

When applying for a loan, these may include:

• Employee resumes
• Licenses and permits
• Patents and other legal documents
• Historical financial statements
• Credit histories

Don’t worry about stuffing your appendix full of additional documentation. Only include information if you believe it will strengthen your approval chances, or if your lender specifically asks for it.

• How to improve your chances of being approved for an SBA loan

Your SBA business plan needs to focus on the loan you are applying for and how that will impact your business financially. 

Make sure to include the following information in your financial plan to increase your chances of success with your lender:

Funding request 

In your executive summary, document how much money you are asking for. It’s best to put your number where it can be clearly read, instead of trying to bury it deep within your business plan.

Remember, there are limitations to how much you can borrow through SBA-backed loans.  Most have a maximum loan amount of $5 million, while SBA Express loans have a maximum loan amount of $350,000. 

Use of funds

You should also describe how you plan to use the loan and which aspects of the business you want to invest in. 

Some SBA loans are designed specifically for expanding export businesses or funding real estate transactions. So, make sure your use of funds description is appropriate for the loan you are applying for.

Cash flow forecast

Be sure to include the loan in your cash flow statements and projections . You want to demonstrate that you’ve planned how you will use and repay the loan.

You need to show:

• When you anticipate receiving the loan.
• How the loan will impact your finances. 
• Loan payments for the life of the loan. 

Having this prepared won’t just increase the chances of your application being approved—It  will make it much easier to manage the loan after you receive funding . 

Balance sheet 

You’ll also want to put the loan on your projected balance sheet , and show how the loan will get paid down over time. 

The money you owe will show up on your balance sheet as a liability, while the cash you receive from the loan will be an asset. Over time, your forecasted balance sheet will show that the loan is getting paid back. 

Your lender will want to see that you have forecasted this repayment properly.

Profit & Loss forecast

Your P&L should include the interest expenses for the loan, and show how the interest will impact your profitability in the coming months and years.

• How long does an SBA business plan need to be?

The SBA doesn’t have an official recommended or required business plan length . As a general rule of thumb, you should make your business plan as short and concise as possible. 

Your business plan is going to be reviewed by a bank loan officer, and they will be less than excited about the prospect of reading a 50-page business plan.

If possible, keep the written portion of your business plan between 10-15 pages. Your financial forecasts will take up several additional pages. 

If you’re struggling to keep it short, try a one-page plan

A great way to start your business plan is with a simple, one-page business plan that provides a brief and compelling overview of your business. 

A good one-page plan is easy to read and visually appealing. Once you have your one-page plan, you can expand on the ideas to develop your complete written business plan, and use the one-page plan as your executive summary. 

Loan officers will appreciate a concise overview of your business that provides the summary they need before they start looking at your complete business plan and financial plan .

• Resources and tools for writing an SBA business plan

Remember, you can download a free SBA-lender-approved business plan template . It includes detailed instructions to help you write each section, expert guidance and tips, and is formatted as lenders and investors expect.

If you’re looking for a more powerful plan writing tool, one that can also help you create financial forecasts for the use of your loan, I recommend you check out LivePlan . 

With LivePlan, you get:

• AI-powered recommendations: Generate and rewrite sections of your plan to be more professional and persuasive.
• Step-by-step instructions: In-app examples, tutorials, and tips to help you write an impressive business plan.
• Automatic financials: Skip the spreadsheets and complex formulas, and quickly create accurate financial forecasts with everything a lender needs.
• A built-in pitch presentation: Print or share your full business plan, one-page pitch, and financial reports—all with a professional and polished look.

Whether you use the template, LivePlan, or try writing a business plan yourself, following the structure and tips from this article will improve your chances of getting an SBA-backed loan. 

And for additional SBA-focused resources, check out our guide on how to get an SBA loan .   

Create a business plan that maximizes your chances of securing funding

Noah is the COO at Palo Alto Software, makers of the online business plan app LivePlan. He started his career at Yahoo! and then helped start the user review site Epinions.com. From there he started a software distribution business in the UK before coming to Palo Alto Software to run the marketing and product teams.

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An Effective Business Plan Can Plot the Course for Small Business Success

December is National Write a Business Plan Month. The SBA encourages you to mark the occasion by learning how to put together an efficient, high-quality plan that will increase your chances of small business success in the year ahead.

You wouldn’t try to find a new destination without mapping the route first. By the same logic, you don’t want to start a business without a plan to guide your path. A business plan can help you navigate all the roadblocks that come with getting your business up and running.

Which Type of Business Plan Should You Choose?

While some business plans may be more effective than others, there’s technically no wrong way to write one. Every business is different, and the type of plan you choose should ultimately boil down to your unique needs and goals. The two most common types of business plans are traditional and lean startup.

A  traditional business plan  might be right for you if:

• You’re detail-oriented.
• You want a comprehensive plan.
• You plan to request financing from traditional sources.

A traditional business plan is a great way to show you’ve done your homework, which is why it’s the preferred method of many lenders and investors. While a traditional plan may take more time to write, the extra effort is worth it in the long run. The more thorough you are, the better you’ll be able to answer questions about what your company is, how it will stack up to competitors, and why it will be a financial success. You don’t have to stick to a set structure, but the following nine sections should be included in a traditional business plan: executive summary and company description; market analysis; organization and management structure; service or product line description; marketing and sales strategy; and funding requests and financial projections.

A  lean startup plan  might be right for you if:

• You want to explain or start your business quickly.
• Your business is relatively simple.
• You plan to regularly change and refine your business plan.

The lean startup format is ideal for entrepreneurs who want to keep things high-level and adaptable. At their core, lean startup plans focus on only the most important details — making them a viable streamlined alternative. Lean startup business plans can take as little as an hour to write and are typically only one page. By sticking to the following basics, expressed through visual tradeoffs and fundamental facts, you leave a lot of room to fill in the blanks later: partnerships, activities, and resources; value propositions; customer experience, target market, and channels; and cost structure and potential revenue streams.

Regardless of which route you choose, the SBA is here to help. Our  Business Planning Guide  is easy to use and contains templates you can follow. Our  “How to Write a Business Plan”  course, offered through the SBA Learning Center, will show you how to plan, outline, and develop your own business plan. Of course, if you prefer a more hands-on option, an  SBA resource partner  is standing by. Learn more at  sba.gov .

Article Courtesy of the SBA

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How to Write a SBA Loan Business Plan

A business plan is a crucial piece of any SBA loan application. It’s what lenders will look at most closely when approving a loan, so it should be organized, well planned and persuasive. Set yourself up for success by learning how business plans impact loan approval and which critical elements to include.

What is a business plan?

Many entrepreneurs talk about their business plan — whether it’s stored only in their minds or scratched on napkin — but truly savvy business owners take the to time author a well-written one. So what exactly is a business plan?

A business plan is a living document (meaning it can and should be updated as your business progresses) with a three- to five-year outlook into your business. It should provide an overall summary of where the business is headed, plans for growth and projected revenue. Business plans take time, research and due diligence, but the reward is organized and actionable steps to grow your business. In fact, companies with a formal written business plan see a  30 percent increase in growth  compared to those that don’t.

How does a business plan help you get an SBA loan?

Outside of your basic eligibility requirements ( see Chapter 2 for the 5 C’s ), your business plan is the top element lenders will review to determine your attractiveness as a borrower. Having a solid business plan with clear ideas makes it easier it is for banks to see that your business will be successful, and therefore that you’ll be able to repay the loan. However, business plans are not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. If you’re running an independent business or launching a start-up, the importance of your business plan carries additional weight and will be more carefully scrutinized. If you’re funding the purchase of a franchise, the competitive analysis and management sections will be more closely reviewed than others because the business model has already proven successful.

Writing a business plan can sound intimidating, but even a thorough plan only needs to be seven to ten pages. Check out our free  eBook  and business plan template to help guide you through the process, and keep reading for an overview of each section of the business plan.

The 10 Elements of a Business Plan

Whether you’re writing a business plan as a part of your SBA loan application package or not, there are 10 essential elements to include. Here’s a look at what those sections are as well what’s included in a complete plan.

Cover Page and Table of Contents

The cover page and table of contents of your business plan is a great way to show your lenders that you’re a professional and organized businessperson. These pages should be simple and straightforward, but you can (and should) make them your own by including your company’s logo.

What’s included in the cover page and table of contents?

• The business’s name and logo.
• Your contact information as the owner.
• A standard table of contents with page numbers.

Executive Summary

As the first thing that lenders will read in your business plan, the executive summary is the most important section. Here, you will introduce yourself to potential lenders or investors, so the overall tone should be professional, but it should also paint a positive picture about the business.

What’s included in the executive summary?

• An overview of the business idea, what problem it solves for consumers and how it fits into the market.
• How much the business will cost and how much funding you’re seeking.
• Plans for growth and why the business will be successful.
• Information about your business background.

Company Description

The company description is a closer look at how the business will function. This information is a good opportunity to show lenders you’ve thought through the day-to-day details and have a solid strategy in place. Consider the company description your extended elevator pitch.

What’s included in the company description?

• Your company’s name, mission and vision.
• An explanation of the business structure, including products sold or services provided.
• Any information regarding strategic partnerships.
• Business location and when it will open.
• Business goals and competitive advantages.

Market Plan and Analysis

The market analysis section should show readers your deep understanding of the market and your plan to be competitive. Those looking to fund a franchise should give this section extra attention, as lenders will be reviewing this information closely. This is also great space to use visuals to help support your story.

What’s included in the market plan and analysis?

• An industry overview and outlook, including trends, size and expected growth.
• Target market demographics and market research data.
• A marketing plan tailored to the audience you’ve identified.
• Competitive analysis.

Organization and Management

Depending on the size of your business, the amount of detail in the management section can vary greatly. Even if there are only a few people in leadership roles, an organizational chart is an effective way to show lenders how the management team will be structured. If you are your only employee (and plan to remain so), you can write a short paragraph explaining this as well as your qualifications.

What’s included in the organization and management section?

• A list of each management position including who will fill the role and their qualifications.
• Any additional information about how the management team will contribute to the success of the business.
• Information about the Board of Directors.

Service or Product

When describing your service or product in your business plan, it’s important to emphasize how your particular offering will meet a need for your target market. Try to think beyond providing a general description of what your company is selling and focus on how your company provides value to your customers.

What’s included in the service or product section?

• A detailed description of your product or service.
• Pricing details.
• Product research and development
• Intellectual property rights.
• An overview of the sales process and order fulfillment.

Marketing and Sales

The marketing and sales information in your business plan is all about how you’re going to connect with customers. Whether your strategy is to focus on advertising or inbound marketing, you should detail your plan here and explain why it makes sense for your target audience. You should also discuss how you plan to build and support your sales strategy.

What’s included in the sales and marketing section?

• Detailed marketing plan geared toward your target audience.
• Sales and marketing goals and KPIs.
• Budgets for both sales and marketing.
• A training plan for your sales team (if applicable).
• Revisit your pricing strategy.

Funding Request

Your funding request is an opportunity to tell lenders how SBA funding will help your business, as well as how your business will successfully repay the loan. Here, you should explain why you’re asking for small business financing as well as an overview of how the funds will be used.

What’s included in the funding request?

• An overview of your business.
• Financial information for current operations (if applicable).
• An outline of how much funding you need now and in the near future (up to five years).
• Detailed explanation of how the funds will be used.
• Strategic financial plans for the future.

Financial Projections

The information in the financial projections section of your business plan should cover three years of forecasted financial information. Keep in mind, you’re showing lenders how your business will perform by providing profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow details. Remember, your business plan is a living document, so for your own benefit, you should continue to update this information even after funding.

What’s included in the financial projections section?

• Financial statements.
• An expenses budget, including both fixed and variable costs.
• A break-even analysis.
• A sales forecast for each service or product line.
• Historical financial data (if you own or are purchasing an existing business).

The appendix is the final section of your business plan, and is the best place to add any supporting documents. For example, if you had multiple pages of data to support your market analysis, you can include them here. You should reference which documents are in the appendix in earlier sections so lenders know where to find additional information.

What’s included in the appendix?

• Charts, graphs and data to support the information provided in earlier sections.
• Licenses and contracts with vendors or partners.
• Building permits.
• Resumes and professional certificates.
• Credit history.

Creating a written business plan may seem like an arduous task, but it’s a crucial step to obtain SBA financing. This living document can also help to guide you once you’re in business — keeping you on track, helping you to see what’s working and possibly what’s not. Taking the time to write a business plan now will help you find success down the road.

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What is a business plan?

1. write an executive summary, 2. describe your company, 3. state your business goals, 4. describe your products and services, 5. do your market research, 6. outline your marketing and sales plan, 7. perform a business financial analysis, 8. make financial projections, 9. summarize how your company operates, 10. add any additional information to an appendix, business plan tips and resources.

A business plan outlines your business’s financial goals and explains how you’ll achieve them over the next three to five years. Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan that will offer a strong, detailed road map for your business.

ZenBusiness

A business plan is a document that explains what your business does, how it makes money and who its customers are. Internally, writing a business plan should help you clarify your vision and organize your operations. Externally, you can share it with potential lenders and investors to show them you’re on the right track.

Business plans are living documents; it’s OK for them to change over time. Startups may update their business plans often as they figure out who their customers are and what products and services fit them best. Mature companies might only revisit their business plan every few years. Regardless of your business’s age, brush up this document before you apply for a business loan .

» Need help writing? Learn about the best business plan software .

This is your elevator pitch. It should include a mission statement, a brief description of the products or services your business offers and a broad summary of your financial growth plans.

Though the executive summary is the first thing your investors will read, it can be easier to write it last. That way, you can highlight information you’ve identified while writing other sections that go into more detail.

» MORE: How to write an executive summary in 6 steps

Next up is your company description. This should contain basic information like:

Your business’s registered name.

Address of your business location .

Names of key people in the business. Make sure to highlight unique skills or technical expertise among members of your team.

Your company description should also define your business structure — such as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation — and include the percent ownership that each owner has and the extent of each owner’s involvement in the company.

Lastly, write a little about the history of your company and the nature of your business now. This prepares the reader to learn about your goals in the next section.

» MORE: How to write a company overview for a business plan

The third part of a business plan is an objective statement. This section spells out what you’d like to accomplish, both in the near term and over the coming years.

If you’re looking for a business loan or outside investment, you can use this section to explain how the financing will help your business grow and how you plan to achieve those growth targets. The key is to provide a clear explanation of the opportunity your business presents to the lender.

For example, if your business is launching a second product line, you might explain how the loan will help your company launch that new product and how much you think sales will increase over the next three years as a result.

» MORE: How to write a successful business plan for a loan

In this section, go into detail about the products or services you offer or plan to offer.

You should include the following:

An explanation of how your product or service works.

The pricing model for your product or service.

The typical customers you serve.

Your supply chain and order fulfillment strategy.

You can also discuss current or pending trademarks and patents associated with your product or service.

Lenders and investors will want to know what sets your product apart from your competition. In your market analysis section , explain who your competitors are. Discuss what they do well, and point out what you can do better. If you’re serving a different or underserved market, explain that.

Here, you can address how you plan to persuade customers to buy your products or services, or how you will develop customer loyalty that will lead to repeat business.

Include details about your sales and distribution strategies, including the costs involved in selling each product .

» MORE: R e a d our complete guide to small business marketing

If you’re a startup, you may not have much information on your business financials yet. However, if you’re an existing business, you’ll want to include income or profit-and-loss statements, a balance sheet that lists your assets and debts, and a cash flow statement that shows how cash comes into and goes out of the company.

Accounting software may be able to generate these reports for you. It may also help you calculate metrics such as:

Net profit margin: the percentage of revenue you keep as net income.

Current ratio: the measurement of your liquidity and ability to repay debts.

Accounts receivable turnover ratio: a measurement of how frequently you collect on receivables per year.

This is a great place to include charts and graphs that make it easy for those reading your plan to understand the financial health of your business.

This is a critical part of your business plan if you’re seeking financing or investors. It outlines how your business will generate enough profit to repay the loan or how you will earn a decent return for investors.

Here, you’ll provide your business’s monthly or quarterly sales, expenses and profit estimates over at least a three-year period — with the future numbers assuming you’ve obtained a new loan.

Accuracy is key, so carefully analyze your past financial statements before giving projections. Your goals may be aggressive, but they should also be realistic.

NerdWallet’s picks for setting up your business finances:

The best business checking accounts .

The best business credit cards .

The best accounting software .

Before the end of your business plan, summarize how your business is structured and outline each team’s responsibilities. This will help your readers understand who performs each of the functions you’ve described above — making and selling your products or services — and how much each of those functions cost.

If any of your employees have exceptional skills, you may want to include their resumes to help explain the competitive advantage they give you.

Finally, attach any supporting information or additional materials that you couldn’t fit in elsewhere. That might include:

Licenses and permits.

Equipment leases.

Bank statements.

Details of your personal and business credit history, if you’re seeking financing.

If the appendix is long, you may want to consider adding a table of contents at the beginning of this section.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Here are some tips to write a detailed, convincing business plan:

Avoid over-optimism: If you’re applying for a business bank loan or professional investment, someone will be reading your business plan closely. Providing unreasonable sales estimates can hurt your chances of approval.

Proofread: Spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors can jump off the page and turn off lenders and prospective investors. If writing and editing aren't your strong suit, you may want to hire a professional business plan writer, copy editor or proofreader.

Use free resources: SCORE is a nonprofit association that offers a large network of volunteer business mentors and experts who can help you write or edit your business plan. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers , which provide free business consulting and help with business plan development, can also be a resource.

On a similar note...

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0014 - How to Write a Dynamic Business Plan

Course description.

A customized step by step integrated action plan that is essential to the success of your business.

Who should attend: Launch (businesses 0-2 years), Growth (businesses 3-5 years), Expansion Startups (businesses 5+ years)

Course Outline

• Sections of a Business Plan
• Format of a Business Plan
• Balance Sheet
• Financial Projections
• Capital Equipment List
• Sources of Capital

Learner Outcomes

• Use the business plan tool or template that works for you.
• Have a clear understanding of who your customer is. 
• Start with your company description and proceed step-by-step. 
• It’s OK if you don’t have all information for each section. You can go back and fill in missing parts later.
• Start with a strong financial foundation. Projections are key!

The UGA Small Business Development Center is a Public Service and Outreach Unit of the University of Georgia. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.

• UGA SBDC Webinars
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All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Carlotta Braswell at [email protected] or call 229-245-3738.

• Richard Schnitker

Todd Anduze

All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Jasmine Elliott-White at [email protected] or call 678-839-5082.

• Joseph McCord
• Donald Lamar
• Matthew Oleson
• Madeline Rosa Velez
• Kathy Plisko

Lauren Davis

Jacquelyn kennedy.

• Jennifer Lee

Session Time-Out

0014 - 064 - how to write a dynamic business plan, registration fee, 0014 - 071 - how to write a dynamic business plan, 0014 - 073 - how to write a dynamic business plan, 0014 - 076 - how to write a dynamic business plan, 0014 - 070 - how to write a dynamic business plan, 0014 - 074 - how to write a dynamic business plan, 0014 - 077 - how to write a dynamic business plan, 0014 - 068 - how to write a dynamic business plan, 0014 - 075 - how to write a dynamic business plan, 0014 - 069 - how to write a dynamic business plan.

Lauren joined the UGA Small Business Development Center in the Spring of 2022 as an Administrative Outreach Specialist for the Southern Coastal team. She is a Double Eagle graduate of Georgia Southern University, earning her BS in Public Relations in May 2020 followed by her MA in Professional Communication and Leadership in December 2021.

Prior to joining the UGA SBDC, Lauren held marketing internships at McNeilus Companies and Habitat for Humanity of Bulloch County as well as a graduate assistantship with GSU’s Academic Success Center. In these roles, she concentrated on corporate communications and strategy along with public relations and storytelling at the community level.  

Jacquelyn joined the UGA Small Business Development Center in the Spring of 2023 as program coordinator. She is a Mercer University graduate and holds a Certificate in Digital Marketing from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Prior to joining the SBDC, Jacquelyn served as the social media coordinator for the non-profit, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America while working full time as a real estate paralegal at the Weissman Law Firm. Jacquelyn’s previous roles focused primarily on client retention, marketing strategy, and workflow analysis.

0014 - 066 - How to Write a Dynamic Business Plan

0014 - 072 - how to write a dynamic business plan, privacy policy.

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Online Class: How to Write a Business Plan

• 10 Exams & Assignments
• 3,980 Students have taken this course
• 5 Hours average time

Course Description

Crafting the Blueprint: Mastering the Art of Business Planning

In the bustling world of entrepreneurship, where dreams are vast and the market ever-evolving, having a structured, articulate, and forward-thinking plan is not just advisable, it's indispensable. Many seasoned CPAs assert that the absence of a well-crafted business plan is the prime pitfall for nascent businesses. A business without a plan is like a ship without a compass; it might sail smoothly initially but can easily get lost or capsized amidst unforeseen challenges.

The adage "failing to plan is planning to fail" holds especially true in business. Entrepreneurs often grapple with seemingly minor hurdles, which, with foresight and planning, might have been mere stepping stones. Without a documented strategy, there's no roadmap to visualize, no north star to guide during tumultuous times.

Creating an impactful business plan is an intricate dance of meticulous research, keen understanding, and effective presentation. It's not just a document, but a reflection of your vision, mission, and the very ethos of what your venture stands for. This course aims to meticulously guide you through every nuance of crafting this vital instrument. You'll gain insights into what investors prioritize in a plan, how to make compelling presentations, and which aspects of your business strategy can significantly sway financial outcomes.

Moreover, this course isn’t just about creating a document; it’s about understanding and internalizing the strategic essence of business. We’ll share invaluable writing techniques that provide your plan the sheen of professionalism without the hefty cost of hiring a specialist.

By the culmination of this course, you'll be armed with a reservoir of knowledge, and more importantly, the confidence to create a business plan that not only informs but also impresses and persuades. Let’s set the stage for your business's success!

Course Modules :

Lesson 1: Plan Your Plan Foundations are paramount. Understand the importance of planning before plunging into the writing process. This lesson sets the tone for the entire course, ensuring clarity of vision and purpose.

Lesson 2: Structure and Sequence Learn the anatomy of a robust business plan. Dive into the optimal sequence that resonates with stakeholders, ensuring each section flows seamlessly into the next.

Lesson 3: Important Details Delve deep into the nitty-gritty. Highlighting vital components, this lesson emphasizes elements that can make or break your business strategy.

Lesson 4: The Executive Summary The front window to your business plan, this section often gets the most eyeballs. Understand the art of creating a concise yet comprehensive executive summary that captivates from the get-go.

Lesson 5: Financials Numbers tell a tale. Unravel the intricacies of showcasing your financial projections, understanding investor metrics, and painting a realistic yet promising financial future.

Lesson 6: Market Research The bedrock of any business strategy. Understand your market landscape, identify trends, and learn to present data that validates your business proposition.

Lesson 7: Competition No business exists in a vacuum. This lesson helps you adeptly analyze your competition, identifying gaps in the market and positioning your business as a front runner.

Lesson 8: Support Documents and Working Your Plan It's not just about creating the plan but living it. Learn the importance of auxiliary documents and the iterative process of refining your strategy as your business evolves.

Your business idea deserves a blueprint that mirrors its potential. Dive into this course and sculpt a business plan that stands as a testament to your vision, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit. Here's to planning for prosperity!

Course Motivation

Before you take this course, you'll want to gather the following information: 

1. Executive Summary

• Think sales pitch.  This is where investors look to get a pulse for your business, its viability, profitability, and potential for a return on their investment.
• Think job interview. The executives you will allow to read this summary will be those in banking or merchant relationships from whom you seek favor. Be sure you write this summary so that the reader feels informed, respected, and confident in your abilities and experience.
• All inclusive by main points. Let the reader feel the shortness of your points.
• Remember "summary"; details are in the plan's additional sections.

2. Company Profile

• Company Mission Statement.  A one sentence statement that precisely describes your company's purpose; a stated directive.
• Company Vision Statement. The paint in the picture of your company and its direction.
• Legal structure and month and year of company beginnings, also known as the business form; how you registered your company with the local or state authorities when you filed your paperwork.
• Historical context. If you are a new upstart, explain how your company developed and from what historical concept. If you are an established company, you will want to include 1-3 sentences about your founding days, 1-3 sentences about your most recent company accomplishments, all the way back to major accomplishments made 5 years ago.

3.   Products and Services Description

• Include products descriptions in a separate section rather than in services descriptions.
• New products or services should be listed as "new" or "upcoming" to conveniently show steady growth.

4. Marketing Plan and Marketing Strategy

Marketing Research should be included here as well. Your research should include primary research information that you or your staff has conducted to determine your own local market information and demographics for your local market.

There should be a stated and outlined Marketing Strategy for getting your products or services direct exposure to the marketplace in which you hope to operate. How are you going to reach your market?

A well written Marketing Plan must include your company's "Plan of Action" for the next 2-3 years at minimum. This portion of your plan should be spelled out in detail and should perhaps include financial or market research statistics.

5.   Target Market or Customers

Your Target Market and your customers will be close in demographics, needs, and perceptions. Be prepared to find out all you can about them. Statistics on their needs and personalities will be important in this section.

• What is it about your product or service that makes your customers exclusively attracted to your company?
• How does your company stand out in serving your community of clients?
• How does your product or service appeal to their needs?

What portion of your Target Market will be tempted from your competition? Which segments of your Target Market will become loyal to your company and why?

6. Competition

• You must be able to succinctly state your competition's strengths and weaknesses in this section. Know what they offer that gives them an edge over your company, and if your company has the advantage, then acknowledge it and state why.
• Your competition's range of rates must be stated either in extremes, averages, or both. How does your competition stack up to industry averages; how do you?
• Clearly outline what it is that you offer to the client that gives your company an advantageous edge over your competition. Whenever and wherever possible be ready to exploit the rates, statistics, advertising, client requests, or any other thing to underscore to the business plan reader the clear and distinct advantage your company has over your local competition.

7.   Advertising and Promotions

• Outline for the reader what type of Advertising and Promotions your company will need to run to stay in the competitive arena in your local market.
• Offer examples of expense rates necessary to properly Advertise and Promote your products or services.
• State any current discounts or special deals that you expect to keep in place within the next 12 to 24 months.

8.   Sales and Distribution

How many sales staff do you currently employ? How many do you expect to have on staff in the next 24 months?

What are your sales projections for the next 24 months? Where are you getting your calculations and how are you making your estimates? What is your company's projected sales growth [usually stated in percentages] over last year?

How are your products and services distributed? Do you have a retail outlet? Are you distributing your products or services over the internet? Using regular mail? Through some industry standard? [Example: books with a network of book stores and distributors].

9.   Operations and Operational Plan

How does your company operate on a daily basis? Are you online, on the phone, or in a retail location? Do you depend primarily on advertising, on door to door direct sales, or on phone sales?

What is your Operational Plan and how do you implement it on a daily basis?

Define the variables in your Operational Plan and how you expect them to affect your company's success.

10. Client Account Management and Credit Policies

Explain, in brief, how your company manages Client Accounts, particularly as it relates to money, billing, and collection policies.

What are your company's payment and refund policies? Be sure to have these policies posted in the public arena somewhere close to your client's purchase opportunity. If the client checks out online, make sure you have a Policy Page on your website that clearly informs the customer of these policies. If you are retail only, then make sure your policy is posted near the checkout counter. Either way, you will want to reiterate that policy and tell where it is posted in your operations within the context of this section of your business plan.

11. Accounting and Management  - Cash Flow statements & Management structure

How does your company handle its accounting? Do you have a staff accountant? Do you use a monthly service? Do you handle it yourself and then have it quarterly or annually reconciled by a professional CPA? Bankers, investors and foundations are all typical sources that will be interested in this segment of your business plan. Make sure you answer their business accounting questions here so you don't get quietly eliminated without further inquiry or discussion.

Include current Cash Flow statements, at least from the last year. If you have been in business longer, include 2-3 years of quarterly or annual Cash Flow statements. Two or three pages are the maximum size for this section.

How does your management team handle finances? Do they receive monthly P&Ls (Profit and Loss) that they can reconcile and examine for financial leaks or improvements?

12. Financial Planning and Projected Balance Sheet

Take the time and invest the money in a professionally prepared Financial Plan for your company. If you are a sole proprietor, then you will include an abbreviated version of your personal Financial Plan. All other business structures cannot use any portion of their personal financial plan; rather draft a separate Financial Plan for your business and include it here.

From your best calculations, create a set of Projected Balance Sheets for the next 2 years. This helps bankers and other investors determine what your expected return-on-investment will be and how they can estimate the value of your company.

13. Appendices

This section can include any number of supporting documents, and should include as many of the following as is reasonably useful for the financial aspect of your business plan. Keep in mind here, if it doesn't help to sell the value and ROI (Return on Investment) of your company, then it doesn't belong here.

Some examples of excellent supporting documents include: preprinted advertising brochures your company distributes [sales pitch], industry or market studies, especially those published by governmental offices, and others.

There may be an occasion to leave out one or more of these segments, but if you do, then be prepared to insert a blank page with a title and a two sentence explanation as to why it is unnecessary to fully develop the missing portion.

• Completely Online
• Printable Lessons

• 6 Months to Complete
• 24/7 Availability
• Start Anytime
• PC & Mac Compatible
• Android & iOS Friendly
• Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons

Lesson 1. Plan Your Plan

Lesson 2. Structure and Sequence

Lesson 3. important details, lesson 4. the executive summary, lesson 5. financials, lesson 6. market research, lesson 7. competition, lesson 8. support documents and working your plan, learning outcomes.

• Plan your business writing plan.
• Define structure and sequence in the scope of a business plan.
• Describe the important details of a business writing plan.
• Describe the executive summary.
• Summarize the financials.
• Identify and describe market research
• Analyze the competition.
• Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

Additional Course Information

• Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
• Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
• Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
• View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
• Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Student testimonials.

• "It was great, very detailed, straight to the point , and easy to understand." -- Trinesha L.
• "This course was truly helpful and needful in giving the information in the respected areas." -- Mr fred K.
• "What was most helpful was the structure and Content sections. They were very complete." -- Steven C.

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More From Forbes

Simple guide to creating a compelling mission and vision statement.

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Handwriting text What's Your Mission Question with chalk marker on blackboard. Business Concept.

Any business with goals needs a destination—the ultimate place where the business owner can see that their efforts and dreams come true And they are fulfilling the promise they made when they started the business.

The mission and vision statements are clear statements of purpose, value, and facts that explain what a company provides to its market and why. They also outline what the company will look like when it has reached its goals.

In this guide, I will roadmap how to create a compelling mission and vision statement that you can build systems and processes around and get buy-in from employees, customers, and investors.

Phase One: Blueprinting The Mission And Vision

First, Let's define a basic framework of a mission and vision.

Mission Statement: Describe your business' current purpose

Vision Statement: This represents your business' desired future and what you look like when you are ultimately successful.

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There are four questions you must answer to build out your mission and vision:

1) What core values drive your business? It would be best to reflect on your business's foundation and why you started it. What drives you to do what you do every day, and what makes you the best at what you do?

2) Who are your key stakeholders? Consider who the business intends to serve and who is interested in your services or product. What makes their lives better by having you in it?

3) What change do you want to bring about through your business? You may not think of your business as a game changer in society, but the root definition of a business is an enterprise that generates profit for members of society. How will your business impact the larger society?

4) Where do you see your business in 5, 10, or 15 years? Map out the long-term trajectory of your business and ultimate aspirations. How much revenue will you generate? How many customers do you need to serve to reach that revenue?

Once you have compiled your thoughts on the above road mapping questions, you need to create a simple and straightforward statement that includes elements of each question. Your statement should be a sentence at maximum.

Avoid generic terms like best, quality, service, or leading unless they qualify for a specific context. Words like cutting-edge, industry-leading, or world-class can only be accurate if you are in one of these categories.

Phase Two: Optimizing And Fine-Tuning Your Mission Statement

In phase two, you have to test what you came up with in phase one. You can do this by eliciting feedback loops from employees and customers to ensure that your mission and vision statements are clearly understood.

Develop a feedback form from Survey Monkey or Google Forms to send to your target market so they can give unfiltered advice without you being present. Creating the feedback loop will allow them to offer advice without the pressure of having you present.

Once you have gathered feedback from your target market, create a brainstorming session. Based on the collected information, you will further iterate.

Ensure you review your mission and vision statement annually with your employees so you can help them understand the why behind their jobs.

Phase Three: Implementing and Living Your Mission And Vision

It's time to implement your mission and vision statements in the company culture. Your mission and vision are the backbone of every decision you make for the company moving forward, as well as how you will assess the performance of your team members.

There are five ways you can implement the mission and vision into your business successfully:

1) Regular discussions: Host monthly or quarterly meetings focusing on aligning your teams' activities with your mission and vision

2) Onboarding process: New employees should receive a handbook or guide showing the company's culture and what it means to contribute and be part of it.

3) Reward system: Implement a rewards-based system where employees who exemplify the mission and vision the best are rewarded

4) Storytelling: Create stories and have a wall of fame where employees who go above and beyond are recognized for their efforts for all to see

5) Feedback mechanism: Create an open source to receive feedback regularly from employees and customers to monitor how the delivery of your mission and vision is throughout the company and the marketplace

Having a solid mission and vision in place means more than crafting a well-written sentence about who you are. The mission and vision are all-encompassing; they are your raison d'être.

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