Detailed business plan outline:

1.0 Executive Summary

1.1 Problem
1.2 Solution
1.3 Market
1.4 Competition
1.5 Financial Highlights

2.0 Products and Services

2.1 Problem Worth Solving

2.2 Our Solution
2.3 Validation of Problem and Solution
2.4 Roadmap/Future Plans

3.0 Market Analysis Summary

3.1 Market Segmentation

3.2 Target Market Segment Strategy
3.2.1 Market Needs
3.2.2 Market Trends
3.2.3 Market Growth
3.3 Key Customers
3.4 Future Markets
3.5 Competition
3.5.1 Competitors and Alternatives
3.5.2 Our Advantages (see an example)

4.0 Strategy and Implementation Summary

4.1 Marketing Plan

4.2 Sales Plan
4.3 Location and Facilities
4.4 Technology
4.5 Equipment and Tools
4.6 Milestones
4.7 Key Metrics

5.0 Company and Management Summary

5.1 Organizational Structure
5.2 Management Team
5.3 Management Team Gaps
5.4 Personnel Plan
5.5 Company History and Ownership

6.0 Financial Plan

6.1 Revenue/Sales Forecast

6.2 Expenses
6.3 Projected Profit and Loss
6.4 Projected Cash Flow
6.5 Projected Balance Sheet
6.7 Business Ratios

7.0 Appendix

Standard tables and charts:

Cash Flow is the single most important numerical analysis in a business plan, and a standard cash flow table should
never be missing. Most standard business plans also include a Sales Forecast and Profit and Loss Statements.

I believe they should also have separate projected Balance Sheet, projectedBusiness Ratios and Market
Analysis tables, as well as personnel listings.

I also believe that every business plan should include bar charts and pie charts to illustrate the numbers.

See Also: Business Planning Guide

More business planning advice:

Size your business plan to fit your business. Remember that your business plan should be only as big as what you
need to run your business. While every business owner should use planning to help them run their business, not every
business owner needs a complete, formal business plan suitable for submitting to a potential investor, or bank, or
venture capital contest. So don’t include outline points just because they are on a big list somewhere, or on this list,
unless you’re developing a standard business plan that you’ll be showing to someone who expects to see a standard
business plan.

Consider lean business planning. Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be a long, painful process. Instead, you
can use the Lean Planning method to get started easier and finish faster. Lean planning will help you start your
business in a way that improves your chances of success. This methodology is baked into LivePlan.
Don’t make common mistakes. I’ve seen thousands of business plans, good and bad, and I can tell you that avoiding
these common business planning errors will put you far ahead of the curve.

Detailed business plan outline:

1.0 Executive Summary

1.1 Problem
1.2 Solution
1.3 Market
1.4 Competition
1.5 Financial Highlights

2.0 Products and Services

2.1 Problem Worth Solving

2.2 Our Solution
2.3 Validation of Problem and Solution
2.4 Roadmap/Future Plans

3.0 Market Analysis Summary

3.1 Market Segmentation

3.2 Target Market Segment Strategy
3.2.1 Market Needs
3.2.2 Market Trends
3.2.3 Market Growth
3.3 Key Customers
3.4 Future Markets
3.5 Competition
3.5.1 Competitors and Alternatives
3.5.2 Our Advantages (see an example)

4.0 Strategy and Implementation Summary

4.1 Marketing Plan

4.2 Sales Plan
4.3 Location and Facilities
4.4 Technology
4.5 Equipment and Tools
4.6 Milestones
4.7 Key Metrics

5.0 Company and Management Summary

5.1 Organizational Structure

5.2 Management Team
5.3 Management Team Gaps
5.4 Personnel Plan
5.5 Company History and Ownership

6.0 Financial Plan

6.1 Revenue/Sales Forecast

6.2 Expenses
6.3 Projected Profit and Loss
6.4 Projected Cash Flow
6.5 Projected Balance Sheet
6.7 Business Ratios

7.0 Appendix

Standard tables and charts:

Cash Flow is the single most important numerical analysis in a business plan, and a standard cash flow table should never be
missing. Most standard business plans also include a Sales Forecast and Profit and Loss Statements.

I believe they should also have separate projected Balance Sheet, projectedBusiness Ratios and Market Analysis tables, as well as
personnel listings.

I also believe that every business plan should include bar charts and pie charts to illustrate the numbers.

See Also: Business Planning Guide

More business planning advice:

Size your business plan to fit your business. Remember that your business plan should be only as big as what you need to run
your business. While every business owner should use planning to help them run their business, not every business owner needs a
complete, formal business plan suitable for submitting to a potential investor, or bank, or venture capital contest. So don’t include
outline points just because they are on a big list somewhere, or on this list, unless you’re developing a standard business plan that
you’ll be showing to someone who expects to see a standard business plan.

Consider lean business planning. Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be a long, painful process. Instead, you can use
the Lean Planning method to get started easier and finish faster. Lean planning will help you start your business in a way that
improves your chances of success. This methodology is baked into LivePlan.

Don’t make common mistakes. I’ve seen thousands of business plans, good and bad, and I can tell you that avoiding
these common business planning errors will put you far ahead of the curve.