BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE CHECKLIST*
(source: U.S. Small Business Administration)

 

A business plan is an essential roadmap for business success. This living document generally projects out three to five years and outlines the route a business or organization will employ to grow its revenue. As you prepare the sections, it is essential to consider how to make your business plan stand out. What makes your business unique? Determining this could help you stand out from the crowd and give you advantages over your competitors.

​

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Your executive summary is a snapshot of your business plan as a whole and touches on your company profile and goals.

​

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Your company description provides information on what you do, what differentiates your business from others, and the markets your business serves.

​

MARKET ANALYSIS

During this process you will need to research your industry, customers, and competition. As you begin, keep the following in mind:

 

• Industry: Ask yourself what the current state of your industry is both locally and nationally. Take the time to understand current demand for your services and pinpoint areas of your business that present opportunity for growth in the future.

• Customers: Explore census data to research local demographics.

• Competition: Understanding how your competition functions will be vital to your business performance. Research your competition's price points, advertising, location and customer service.

​

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

Every business is structured differently. Find out the best organization and management structure for your business.

​

SERVICE OR PRODUCT LINE

What do you sell? How does it benefit your customers? What is the product lifecycle?

​

MARKETING AND SALES

How do you plan to market your business? What is your sales strategy?

​

FUNDING REQUEST

If you are seeking funding for your business, find out about the necessary information you should include in your plan.

​

FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS

If you need funding, providing financial projections to back up your request is critical. Find out what information you need to include in your financial projections for your small business.

​

APPENDIX

An appendix is optional, but a useful place to include information such as resumes, permits and leases.

FINANCIALS CHECKLIST*

 

IF YOU HAVE A NEW BUSINESS: Pro forma

IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING BUSINESS: Three years of balance sheets, three years of profit and loss, debt schedule, cash flow, personal financial statement.

 

Documents to prepare and assemble to improve your loan application.

Bank Statements

Business Tax Returns

Business Licenses and Permits

Employer Identification Number

Financial Statements

• Profit and Loss Statement

• Balance Sheet

• Cash Flow Statement 

Details of Other Loans

Proof of Collateral

​

*These checklists are not intended to take the place of any of the recommended resources.