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Get the Business Plan Help Your Business Needs

If you are struggling to write your own business plan for a new or existing business, you’re in luck! Conducting the proper market research and writing a business plan can be easy with the right tools and resources. In this article, we will discuss the number of different options available to help you write a successful business plan.

 

Get Business Plan Help For Your Needs

Professional Business Plan Writers

If you don’t have the time or skills to write a business plan yourself, business plan writers can help. Business plan writers are professionals who have extensive experience in writing professional, investor-ready business plans. They can help you create a plan that is right for your business. They typically charge a fee for their services, but it is worth it to have a professional plan that will help your business succeed.

Experienced Business Plan Consultants

Another option for getting help with your business plan is to hire a business plan consultant. Business plan consultants are experts in business planning and can help you create a plan that is tailored to your business. They typically charge by the hour, so it can be expensive to hire a consultant, but it is well worth the cost if you are seeking funding from investors.

Other Helpful Resources for Business Planning

If you don’t want to hire a business plan writer or consultant, there are a number of other resources available to help you write a business plan.

  • Business Plan Template: There are a number of free and paid business plan templates available online. You can find a business plan template for a variety of business types, making it easy to find one that fits your business.
  • Business Plan Software: There are also a number of business plan software programs available. These programs can help you create a business plan and track your progress as you implement your plan.
  • Small Business Administration: The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a government agency that offers free or low-cost business planning resources. They offer online courses, templates, and workshops to help you write a business plan for your business. Visit your local SBA for more information.

Getting help with your business plan is a great way to ensure that your plan is well-written and tailored to your business. There are a number of different options for getting help, so be sure to choose one that fits your needs.

 

Business Plan Help FAQs

A business plan should be prepared by the business owner(s) and key employees working alongside a qualified business plan writer or consultant. As the business owner, you will share the most important information about your business with the business plan writer or consultant you hire.

The purpose of a business plan is to outline the business goals and strategies and to document how the business will achieve these goals. A business plan is also necessary when seeking funding from investors or banks.

The components of a business plan vary depending on the business type and the goals of the business. However, a comprehensive business plan will include the following key elements:

  • Executive Summary
  • Company Description / Overview
  • Industry Analysis
  • Customer Analysis
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Marketing Plan
  • Operations Plan
  • Management Team
  • Financial Plan
  • Appendix

To write a solid business plan for a small business, use the following business plan format:

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary provides a brief overview of the business plan and should include the following:

  • The name and location of the business
  • The business goals
  • The business strategies
  • The key personnel involved in the business
  • The financial health of the business

Because this section provides an overview of the overall business plan, it should be one of the last sections you write. The executive summary is typically 2 to 5 pages long. If you are seeking funding, this section must be well-written and convincing so that potential investors will want to read the rest of the business plan.

Company Overview

In the company description or overview section of your business plan, you should provide an overview of the business including:

  • The business history
  • The mission statement or purpose for the business
  • The business type and legal structure (sole proprietorship, limited liability company, corporation, etc.)
  • The products or services offered
  • The target market

This section should be approximately 1 to 3 pages long depending on the business.

Industry / Market Analysis

In the industry analysis section of your business plan, you should provide a comprehensive overview of the industry in which your business operates. This should include:

  • The size of the industry
  • The trends in the industry
  • The key players in the industry
  • The regulatory environment

This section should be approximately 2 to 4 pages long.

Customer Analysis

In the customer analysis section of your business plan, you should provide detailed information about your target market and potential customers including:

  • Demographics (age, sex, income, education)
  • Psychographics (lifestyle, values)
  • Behavioral patterns (purchasing habits, media usage)

This section should be approximately 3 to 5 pages long. It may also include buyer personas which are fictional, generalized representations of your target market.

Competitive Analysis

In the competitive analysis section of your business plan, you should compare and contrast your business with the key players in your industry. This should include:

  • An overview of your business
  • The products or services offered by each business
  • The target markets for each business
  • The business strategy and marketing strategy employed by each business
  • The competitive advantage of each business, including your own

This section should be approximately 3 to 5 pages long.

Marketing Plan

In the marketing plan section of your business plan, you should detail how you will reach and appeal to your target market. This should include:

  • The marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion)
  • Tactics for each element of the marketing mix
  • The budget for paid advertising and marketing materials

This section should be approximately 3 to 5 pages long.

Operations Plan

In the operations plan section of your business plan, you should describe how your business will operate on a day-to-day basis. This should include:

  • The business processes
  • The staffing requirements
  • The facilities and equipment requirements

This section of the business plan also includes long-term goals for the business, such as expanding into new markets or adding new products and services. This section should be approximately 3 to 5 pages long.

Management Team

In the management team section of your business plan, you should introduce the key personnel who will be responsible for running the business. This should include:

  • The name and role of each person
  • Their experience in business and the industry
  • Their education and training

This section should be approximately 1 to 2 pages long. Copies of each key personnel's resume should be included as an appendix to the business plan.

Financial Plan

In the financial plan section of your business plan, you should provide detailed information about the finances of your business. This should include:

  • A pro forma income statement for the first 5 years of business
  • A pro forma balance sheet for the first 5 years of business
  • A pro forma cash flow statement for the first 5 years of the business
  • Financial projections for the next 5 years
  • An explanation of how you arrived at these financial projections

This section should be approximately 10 to 15 pages long.

Appendix

In the appendix section of your business plan, you should include any supporting documentation that is referenced in the business plan. This should include:

  • Resumes of key personnel
  • Financial statements (balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements)
  • Market research data
  • Paid advertising and marketing materials
  • Intellectual property documentation
  • Any other documentation that is pertinent to your business

In general, a business plan is usually between 10 to 30 pages in length. However, this greatly depends on the complexity of the business and the amount of information included in the business plan.

A business plan should be as long as it takes to fully explain the business goals and strategies and how they will be achieved. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, so new and small business owners should tailor their business plans to fit their own needs.

Depending on your business, a simple business plan can include as little as a business overview, marketing strategy, and financial plan. There are one-page business plans, lean business plans, and other shortened versions of the traditional business plan. However, a business plan should still be comprehensive enough to include all the essential information about the business.

A traditional business plan includes the following 10 key elements:

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Business Description
  3. Industry & Market Analysis
  4. Customer Analysis
  5. Competitive Analysis
  6. Marketing Plan
  7. Operations Plan
  8. Management Team
  9. Financial Plan
  10. Appendix

If you are creating a simple business plan, pick the sections that are most relevant to your business and leave out the sections that are not necessary.

If you are trying to secure funding or seeking financing such as a business loan, using a simple or lean business plan will not be detailed enough for potential investors. In this case, you will need to create a more detailed business plan with complete financial statements and projections.

The cost of hiring a business plan writer or consultant varies depending on the service provider. Some business plan writers charge by the hour, while others charge a flat fee for their services.