How to write a business plan: step-by-step instruction. Business plan for small business

A business plan is the initial stage of a business. This is the business card of your future project. How to write a business plan? A step-by-step instruction in this article will help in this matter.

Objectives of the business plan

Writing a business plan can be different depending on what it is for. One of the most common goals is to present it for investment. Such a business plan for the project is the most difficult. Often for its writing, outsiders are involved - specialists in their field, who will create a suitable business plan for approval by the investor.

It happens that the head instructs to write a business plan for the company, for example, to open a branch. In this case, too, they often turn to outside specialists in drawing up such plans. From the artist in the end, you may only need some adjustment for the needs of the company.

Well, when a business plan is necessary for opening your own business, it is best to write it from cover to cover yourself. It's a difficult process, but exciting and very interesting. After all, your own business is the real child of the entrepreneur. And therefore to its creation are very tender and thorough. The article provides instructions on how to draw up a business plan for your business.

The initial idea

Basically, those who decide to open their company have already chosen and are well aware of the scope of their activities. But there are entrepreneurs who want to have their business, but still do not know exactly what they will do. They are in search of a business idea. It is difficult to overestimate its significance. The idea should be in the interests and desires of the entrepreneur himself.

It can be a favorite thing that a person is willing to engage in even for free, or a business that brings already guaranteed income. In any case, choosing a niche for yourself, it is important not to be distracted by anything else and not to dream of unattainable peaks, but to step-by-step to translate your real idea into reality. Really help in this matter business plan.

How to write a business plan? Step-by-step instruction

So, imagining what the future will be, you can proceed to writing a business plan. There are special planning standards. Therefore, if it will be submitted for investment, you should choose the appropriate standard and stick to it when writing.

To understand how to write a business plan, a step-by-step instruction and generally accepted standards will serve well, as they are approved by people who are professionally versed in these issues. The entrepreneur will be able to lay down his own, maybe not yet fully formed thoughts and implement his business in life.

A standard business plan consists of the following chapters:

• Summary.

• General provisions.

• Market analysis.

• Marketing and strategic plan.

• Costs.

• Production plan.

• Investments.

• Financial plan.

Summary

Here, in brief, the essence of the case, the description of the business idea, information about the objective need for it on the market, the timing of implementation, the payback of the project and competitiveness should be displayed.

Of course, this part is more intended for potential investors. It is they who, after reading the resume, come to a conclusion about whether it is worth to get acquainted with this plan further or not. Therefore, if it is supposed to be presented to the investor, it is necessary to carefully describe this part, possibly returning to it again and again, introducing corrections after the preparation of the following chapters.

However, for own needs this part is also important, as it helps the entrepreneur to better see the whole process of organization of the case as a whole.

General Provisions

If a resume is written about one - two pages at a maximum, then this chapter can be written in more detail. That is, in fact the chapter "General Provisions" contains the same information as the summary, but in a more detailed form, the reader is invited to familiarize himself with the project as a whole.

It describes the characteristics and implementation of the project, its life cycle, the possibility of additional development and forecast changes in the product with a possible change in the market trend.

The service business plan in this chapter should contain information about what the specific service is and how it will attract customers. For example, the beauty salon's business plan describes all the alleged services, their characteristics and distinctive features. An interesting feature here is the legend of how celebrities are held in the procedure salon or how individual professionals provide them with these services, as specialists were trained directly with the brand of the product with which they work.

Market analysis

In parallel with writing a business plan or before preparing it, you need to conduct market analysis. This is an extremely important part, because the success of the future project directly depends on it.

Choosing a niche market and the target audience, conduct a thorough analysis to determine how relevant the business plan of the project, the original proposal and its idea. If the analysis reveals an excess of supply, then it is worth returning to the idea and trying to correct it in such a way that it corresponds to the state of affairs in the market. If there is an increased demand, then everything is in order, and you can safely proceed to further action.

The analysis of the market is conducted in different ways. But if there are problems with its implementation, there are companies where you can outsource the analysis of the market.

Nevertheless, the entrepreneur is advised to understand this issue himself, as any outside organizations will give only an objective average result, not taking into account business plans of small business and all nuances of the business idea of the author of the project.

Marketing and strategic planning

This plan includes the introduction of the product on the market, its development, pricing, sales and marketing system, as well as advertising. To deduce a product, it is advisable to construct a Gantt chart, where the dates for the implementation of various activities will be displayed. On the basis of market analysis and competitiveness, a strategy is calculated, how the market will be conquered and what tactical actions will be required for implementation.

Pricing is built on the basis of economic calculations and the company's expected revenues. Sales and marketing can be presented in the form of a scheme, where the entire process will be seen in stages. For example, from the receipt of goods to the warehouse and to receiving money for the goods and its sale.

Costs and production schedule

This chapter includes the purchase of necessary equipment, repairs, rent of premises and other costs. In the production schedule, it is necessary to reflect how many people are required for the project, the schedule of their work, the deductions of wages and related payments.

Small business business plans will become much more attractive for the investor if there is a ready-made team that will work on the project, as this proves the entrepreneur's ability to realize what he has conceived. Therefore, it would be appropriate to emphasize such a fact in the business plan.

Production plan

If the company is an industrial one, then it is necessary to describe the production process, as well as the partners and suppliers that will participate in the business. For example, a business plan for a farm in this chapter should include equipment for milking, bottling, packaging milk and the mechanism for its sale through specific suppliers.

Financial plan and investments

The most important part of the entire business plan is, of course, the financial plan. Moreover, if the project is intended for acquaintance of the investor, then after reading the resume a serious investor is likely to look at the financial plan. After all, it is here that the real ability of the entrepreneur to realize the business idea will be seen. This is the essence of entrepreneurial activity.

The financial plan provides all information about the possible costs and revenues of the project. Based on the marketing, strategic plan and costs, a table is compiled for several years, showing the required investments and a schedule for their repayment, all costs and possible incomes.

The final part of the financial plan must necessarily be the calculation of the profitability of the future case.

Now the reader knows how to write a business plan. The step-by-step instruction given in the article is a short guide demonstrating the importance of understanding goals and the need for business planning.