Copyright 1993, Linda Pinson and Jerry Jinnett. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced,
transmitted or transcribed without the permission of the authors. SBA retains an irrevocable,
worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty-free, unlimited license to use this copyrighted material. While
we consider the contents of this publication to be of general merit, its sponsorship by the U.S.
Small Business Administration does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the views and
opinions of the authors or the products and services of the companies with which they are
affiliated.

2
Description of the Business 2
Products or Services 3

Personnel 3
Methods of Record Keeping 3
Insurance 4

7
Product Design 7
Timing of Market Entry

9
Cash Flow Statement (Budget) 9
Three-year Income Projection 10
Break-even Analysis Graph 15
Actual Performance Statements 16

22
Personal Financial Statement 22
Credit Reports 22
Copies of Leases

22
Letters of Reference 22
Contracts 22
Legal Documents

There are two main purposes for writing a business plan. The first, and most important, is to
serve as a guide during the life of your business. It is the blueprint of your business and will
serve to keep you on the right track. To be of value, your plan must be kept current. If you spend

the time to plan ahead, many pitfalls will be avoided and needless frustrations will be eliminated.
Second, the business plan is a requirement if you are planning to seek loan funds. It will provide
potential lenders with detailed information on all aspects of the company's past and current
operations and provide future projections.

The text of a business plan must be concise and yet must contain as much information as
possible. This sounds like a contradiction, but you can solve this dilemma by using the Key
Word approach. Write the following key words on a card and keep it in front of you while
writing:

Answer all of the questions asked by the key words in one paragraph at the beginning of each section of the business plan. Then expand on that statement by telling more about each item in the text that follows.

There is no set length to a business plan. The average length seems to be 30 to 40 pages,
including the supporting documents section. Break the plan down into sections. Set up blocks of
time for work with target dates for completion. You may find it effective to spend two evenings
per week at the library where the reference materials needed will be close at hand. It takes
discipline, time and privacy to write an effective business plan.

You will save time by compiling your list of supporting documents while writing the text. For
example, while writing about the legal structure of your business, you will realize the need to
include a copy of your partnership agreement. Write partnership agreement on your list of
supporting documents. When compiling that section of your plan, you will already have a list of
necessary documents. As you go along, request any information that you do not have, such as
credit reports.

Name of the company
Company address
Company phone number (include area code)
Logo (if you have one)
Names, titles, addresses, phone numbers (include area code) of owners
Month and year in which the plan is issued
Name of preparer