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Matt and his team delivered what was expected. A professional looking plan that ultimately allowed us to obtain the funding we were seeking. Thank you

Matthew and his team have come though for me more than once, delivering business plans of far greater quality than anyone I have used in the past. As an entrepreneur, these plans have been instrumental in gaining the trust and financial investment needed to grow my businesses. I highly recommend The Plan Writers

I have an MBA but come more from the marketing side and needed some help putting together the financial worksheet for my business plan. Matt was great at quickl y cutting to the core needs for my purpose and helped me to get focused and clear on what the scope should be at this juncture. I appreciated his ability to bring the perspective of someone who has seen many plans and not let me over-complicate it too soon. He was very clear with me on what expectations were reasonable for our agreement and made sure that we were on the same page about that. We also had a followup call where we talked through everything, he answered my questions, and made a few adjustments to better refine things once I was able to look it all through and understand better how various parts related to my end goal. Although it was an investment financially I feel it is ultimately less expensive in the early stages to work with someone (Plan Writers) who can fill in the gaps and help you get past your personal hurdles before investing in expanding your team.

I hired Plan Writers to write my business plan. Matthew was efficient and pleasant to work with he assigned me to my writer his name is Alex Durig. Alex is noth ing short of amazing he has consistently been a god send to me an actual life coach (in my head) no matter how many questions I have he always answers and has helped above and beyond. With Plan Writers you do not only hire a client but you build solid relationships with resources beyond your imagination I will refer them to anyone. Thank you guys for your support and helping me get to the next level in my life.

Matthew from Plan Writers gave me a review of my business plan/pitch deck and gave me great feed back. He was very thorough with his assessment and helped a gre at deal. I would highly recommend their services. I am reaching out again to follow up for more help and to potentially have Plan Writers rework my whole plan!

Really bright group of people. They took our input and drafted an excellent strategic internal plan for our gaming company. Matt is a cool guy, easy to work wit h, gives solid advice. 10/10

I wish there were more stars I can give this company. First off let me start by saying I researched a lot of business plan writing companies and from the beginning this one stood out by their kind and warm demeanor and just how much they offered to help new business owners. From the beginning I was told that they can help me with all the numbers because I was not knowledgeable about any of it. I had a vision in my head and I had no idea how to put it to paper. From the first consultation call they assured me that they would be able to do this for me. They went above and beyond my expectations. I was so blessed and I am so grateful to have gotten the writer Nelly! During the intake phone call I was driving on my way to the airport speaking very quickly and she got every detail down and put it into the plan perfectly and beautifully!!!! Anytime I had any questions she was always available and happy to help!!!!!!!! I cannot stress enough how much this company and my writer have been a God sent! When I got the first draft I was blown away how beautiful and professional it was but then I was notified that it still had to be sent to the graphic designer! I was satisfied at that point! But when I got it back from the graphic designer I literally cried!!! My business plan is beyond beautiful, it's so professional I cannot believe what a great job this company does!!! It is worth 100% every single dollar spent!!!!! Not to mention the turnaround time is unbelievable!!! Thank you thank you so much to The Plan Writers, I am so grateful for all your hard work and how awesome the whole company is from the sales person, customer service, to my writer and the graphic designer!!!!!! Top quality service and end product!!!!

I just got off the phone and some of the most helpful yet accessible Writers. Matt was exceptional through all of my questions, I was asking every question needed and he directed me in the right path. I would definitely recommend this service for all needing a business plan, they educate and uphold your standard.

After a few months of working to start my first dental practice, I needed some guidance when it came to the financial side of things. I have zero background in business and I was referred to Matt Khalili for help. He provided me with a high quality business plan and set me up to start the practice correctly. Matt took his time to give me any explanations I needed and was willing to answer any of my concerns. Although it was a little pricey, Plan Writers left me with an amazing business plan that I was proud to show my potential investors. I highly recommend Matt and his team to anyone looking for guidance to start their new business!

I have an MBA but come more from the marketing side and needed some help putting together the financial worksheet for my business plan. Matt was great at quickly cutting to the core needs for my purpose and helped me to get focused and clear on what the scope should be at this juncture.I appreciated his ability to bring the perspective of someone who has seen many plans and not let me over-complicate it too soon. He was very clear with me on what expectations were reasonable for our agreement and made sure that we were on the same page about that. We also had a followup call where we talked through everything, he answered my questions, and made a few adjustments to better refine things once I was able to look it all through and understand better how various parts related to my end goal. Although it was an investment financially I feel it is ultimately less expensive in the early stages to work with someone (Plan Writers) who can fill in the gaps and help you get past your personal hurdles before investing in expanding your team.

The best and most professional business and resume writers I've met! Matt and Kerry was very responsive, professional and knowledgeable. They helped me to create a business plan for my food business and also working on my resume. Matt and Kerry helped me personally and they made my plan and resume very successful. Their opinions, suggestions and advices made everything way better than expected!The best you can get.

Excellent and detailed business plan. This helped our company get financing. Would definitely use them again.

Jacob and his team exceeded our expectations. I would highly recommend Plan Writers for any business starting out who's trying to define their roadmap to success, or a well established one that's looking to reinvent themselves and anything in between.

I worked with this company to produce my business plan to secure funding. If your looking for a reputable and knowledgeable company to write your plan, look no further. I was hesitant and scared about the whole process at first, I considered cheaper options and even doing it myself. I was unsure of the professionalism and customer service of this company. After reading through the reviews I decided to give them a shot. Well, I made the right decision. From the start to the end it was a completely professional experience. I genuinely feel the dedication, value, and final product delivered; matched or exceeded what I paid for. I want to give a special shoutout to my actual plan writer, Alex Durig. He showed exemplary, enthusiasm, research, knowledge, and dedication to my plan. I am truly happy with this company and Alex. I am now confident I have the backing of a professional plan to move forward with seeking funding. Do not make it yourself or pay a different company. This is the spot. Work with this company and your plan is taken care of. I also want to mention that I still have the feeling, and know, that this company and Alex are still available to me for a range of things that could further assist me in my endeavor; a huge amount of them at no additional charge. From the final product, to the customer service, to their continued contact with me, I am truly happy I chose this company. - Tristan, Owner of Kloud9Kava. Check my website! kloud9kava.store

I cannot speak more highly of The Plan Writers. They have an outstanding, well thought out process, that produces a direct result and level of accuracy I have never experienced with any business planning firm previously.

David at Plan Writers made it possible to meet our deadline for the business plan that we needed for my siblings E2 visa application, he was very accommodating considering the tight deadline that was given to their team. Sanya put our business plan together and she's phenomenal! Very knowledgeable with the E2 requirements for the business plan, she's very patient, detail-oriented and just great to work with! She made the whole process seem so easy and enjoyable despite of the time crunch. The graphics that Irina did is amazing and Henry is very helpful in the overall coordination of this project. It's a well-put together business plan that got my siblings approved for their E2 visa. I highly recommend this team if you want to succeed in your application, such an enjoyable experience working with this team!

Working with Alex was a absolute pleasure and a game-changer for my business plan. His expertise, encouragement, and unwavering patience were instrumental in shaping my vision into a comprehensive plan. Alex's dedication to my project was evident in his responsiveness; he consistently answered all my questions promptly and thoroughly, ensuring I felt supported every step of the way. Not only did Alex provide invaluable assistance with writing and number crunching for my business plan, but he also served as a remarkable mentor throughout the process. His guidance helped me navigate complexities with ease, instilling confidence and excitement in bringing my vision to life. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking exceptional support in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Thank you, Alex for your outstanding service!

My business mentor recommended Plan Writers, so happy he did. The initial meeting with Matthew was very professional and informative. I was sold. Alex D. really knocked it out the park, provided me with invaluable advice and feedback. He worked with me and kept things realistic. I highly recommend the Plan Writers for your business needs.

Outstanding, fast, and thorough work on a robust business plan to launch a new practice in an existing consultancy. Grateful for the great service and collaboration, not to mention smart amd professional writers. Strongly recommend!

Working with Plan writers has been such a great experience! They are so talented in writing successful business plans that are easy to understand and aesthetically pleasing. Perfectly designed to be presented Next time I need business services I will work with Plan writers again!

I worked with The Plan Writers to develop multiple business plans, and I was blown away by their service. The team was incredibly patient, kind, and supportive, and they delivered meticulously crafted plans that exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend The Plan Writers to anyone looking for professional business planning services. Their patience, care, and expertise will help you take your business to the next level.

I definitely recommend planwriters services. Not only did Matt Khalili, the CEO, provide personal guidance throughout my project, but his expertise played a pivotal role in realizing my objectives. Great experience working with them!!

This is the company to go with for your business plans and ask for Amy Casil. I was on a very strict timeline, and gave her short notice (5 days) but she was still able to get it done and wrote me a plan that had my application approved by the state. Reasonably priced compared to other companies, and worth every penny. Thank you AMY!!!!

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What should i include in my business plan.

You must have an executive summary, product/service description, market and competitive analysis, marketing and sales plan, operations overview, milestones, company overview, financial plan, and appendix.

Why should I write a business plan?

Businesses that write a business plan typically grow 30% faster because it helps them minimize risk, establish important milestones, track progress, and make more confident decisions.

What are the qualities of a good business plan?

A good business plan uses clear language, shows realistic goals, fits the needs of your business, and highlights any assumptions you’re making.

How long should my business plan be?

There is no target length for a business plan. It should be as long as you need it to be. A good rule of thumb is to go as short as possible, without missing any crucial information. You can always expand your business plan later.

How do I write a simple business plan?

Use a one-page business plan format to create a simple business plan. It includes all of the critical sections of a traditional business plan but can be completed in as little as 30 minutes.

What should I do before writing a business plan?

If you do anything before writing—figure out why you’re writing a business plan. You’ll save time and create a far more useful plan.

What is the first step in writing a business plan?

The first thing you’ll do when writing a business plan is describe the problem you’re solving and what your solution is.

What is the biggest mistake I can make when writing a business plan?

The worst thing you can do is not plan at all. You’ll miss potential issues and opportunities and struggle to make strategic decisions.

Business planning guides

Learn what a business plan is, why you need one, when to write it, and the fundamental elements that make it a unique tool for business success.

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A step-by-step guide to quickly create a working business plan.

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Business planning FAQ

What is business planning?

Business planning is the act of sitting down to establish goals, strategies, and actions you intend to take to successfully start, manage, and grow a business.

What are the 7 steps of a business plan?

The seven steps to write a business plan include:

• Craft a brief executive summary
• Describe your products and services
• Conduct market research and compile data into a market analysis
• Describe your marketing and sales strategy
• Outline your organizational structure and management team
• Develop financial projections for sales, revenue, and cash flow
• Add additional documents to your appendix

What should a business plan include?

A traditional business plan should include:

• An executive summary
• Description of your products and services
• Market analysis
• Competitive analysis
• Marketing and sales plan
• Overview of business operations
• Milestones and metrics
• Description of your organization and management team
• Financial plan and forecasts

Do you really need a business plan?

You are more likely to start and grow into a successful business if you write a business plan.

A business plan helps you understand where you want to go with your business and what it will take to get there. It reduces your overall risk, helps you uncover your business’s potential, attracts investors, and identifies areas for growth.

Having a business plan ultimately makes you more confident as a business owner and more likely to succeed for a longer period of time.

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How to Write a Detailed Business Plan Step-by-Step [Free Template]

12 min. read

Updated November 22, 2024

Writing a business plan is one of the most valuable things you can do for your business. 

Study after study proves that business planning significantly improves your chances of success by up to 30 percent 1 . That’s because the planning process helps you think about all aspects of your business and how it will operate and grow.

Ready to write your own detailed business plan? Here’s everything you need (along with a free business plan template ) to create your plan.

Before you write a detailed business plan, start with a one-page business plan

Despite the benefits of business planning , it’s easy to procrastinate writing a business plan. 

Most people would prefer to work hands-on in their business rather than think about business strategy . That’s why, if you’re writing a business plan for the first time, we recommend you start with a simpler and shorter one-page business plan.

With a one-page plan, there’s no need to go into a lot of details or dive deep into financial projections—you just write down the fundamentals of your business and how it works. 

A one-page plan should cover:

• • Value proposition
• • Market need
• • Your solution
• • Competition
• • Target market
• • Sales and marketing
• • Budget and sales goals
• • Milestones
• • Team summary
• • Key partners
• • Funding needs

A one-page business plan is a great jumping-off point in the planning process. It’ll give you an overview of your business and help you quickly refine your ideas.

Check out our guide to writing a simple one-page business plan for detailed instructions, examples, and a free downloadable one-page plan template .

When do you need a more detailed business plan?

While I will always recommend starting with the one-page plan format, there are times when a more detailed plan is necessary:

• • Flesh out sections of your plan: You need to better understand how your marketing, operations, or other business functions will operate.
• • Build a more detailed financial forecast: A one-page plan only includes a summary of your financial projections. A detailed plan includes a full financial forecast, including a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow forecast to better measure performance.
• • Prepare for lenders and investors: While they may not read the full plan, any investor will ask in-depth questions that you can only answer by spending time writing a detailed business plan.
• • Sell your business: Use your business plan as part of your sales pitch, and show potential buyers all the details of how your business works.

How to write a detailed business plan

Let’s walk through writing a detailed business plan step-by-step and explore an example of what a finished business plan (for a local swim club Pools & Laps) built with LivePlan’s business plan builder looks like.

1. Executive summary

Yes, the executive summary comes first in your plan, but you should write it last—once you know all the details of your business plan. 

It is just a summary of your full plan, so be careful not to be too repetitive—keep it between one or two pages and highlight: 

• • Your opportunity: This summarizes what your business does, what problem it solves, and who your customers are. This is where you want readers to get excited about your business
• • Your team: For investors, your business’s team is often even more important than what the business is. Briefly highlight why your team is uniquely qualified to build the business and make it successful.
• • Financials: What are the highlights of your financial forecast ? Summarize your sales goals, when you plan to be profitable, and how much money you need to get your business off the ground.

For existing businesses, write the executive summary for your audience—whether it’s investors, business partners, or employees. Think about what your audience will want to know, and just hit the highlights.

2. Opportunity

The “opportunity” section of your business plan is all about the products and services that you are creating. The goal is to explain why your business is exciting and the problems that it solves for people. You’ll want to cover:

Problem & solution

Every successful business solves a problem for its customers. Their products and services make people’s lives easier or fill an unmet need in the marketplace. 

In this section, you’ll want to explain the problem that you solve, whom you solve it for, and what your solution is. This is where you go in-depth to describe what you do and how you improve the lives of your customers.

Target market

In the previous section, you summarized your target customer. Now you’ll want to describe them in much greater detail. You’ll want to cover things like your target market’s demographics (age, gender, location, etc.) and psychographics (hobbies and other behaviors). 

Ideally, you can also estimate the size of your target market so you know how many potential customers you might have.

Competition

Every business has competition , so don’t leave this section out. You’ll need to explain what other companies are doing to serve your customers or if your customers have other options for solving the problem you are solving. 

Explain how your approach is different and better than your competitors, whether it’s better features, pricing, or location. Explain why a customer would come to you instead of going to another company. 

3. Execution

This section of your business plan dives into how you will accomplish your goals. While the Opportunity section discussed what you’re doing, you now need to explain the specifics of how you will do it.

Marketing & sales

What marketing tactics will you use to get the word out about your business? You’ll want to explain how you get customers to your door and what the sales process looks like. For businesses with a sales force, explain how the sales team gets leads and what the process is like for closing a sale.

Depending on the type of business that you are starting, the operations section needs to be customized to meet your needs. If you are building a mail-order business, you’ll want to cover how you source your products and how fulfillment will work.

If you’re building a manufacturing business, explain the manufacturing process and the necessary facilities. This is where you’ll talk about how your business “works,” meaning you should explain what day-to-day functions and processes are needed to make your business successful.

Milestones & metrics

So far, your business plan has mostly discussed what you’re doing and how you will do it. 

The milestones and metrics section is all about timing. Your plan should highlight key dates and goals that you intend to hit. You don’t need extensive project planning in this section, just key milestones that you want to hit and when you plan to hit them. 

You should also discuss key metrics : the numbers you will track to determine your success.

The Company section of your business plan should explain your business’s overall structure and the team behind it.

Organizational structure

Describe your location, facilities, and anything else about your physical location relevant to your business. You’ll also want to explain the legal structure of your business—are you an S-corp, C-corp, or an LLC? What does company ownership look like?

Arguably one of the most important parts of your plan when seeking investment is the “Team” section. This should explain who you are and who else is helping you run the business. Focus on experience and qualifications for building the type of business that you want to build. 

It’s OK if you don’t have a complete team yet. Just highlight the key roles that you need to fill and the type of person you hope to hire for each role.

5. Financial plan and forecasts

Your business plan now covers the “what,” the “how,” and the “when” for your business. Now it’s time to talk about money. 

Financial forecasts

What revenue do you plan on bringing in, and when? What kind of expenses will you have? How much cash will you need?

These are the types of questions you’ll answer by creating detailed forecasts. Don’t worry about getting it perfect, these are just educated guesses. Your goal is to get numbers down that seem reasonable so you can review and revise financial expectations as you run your business. 

You’ll want to cover sales , expenses , personnel costs , asset purchases, cash , etc, for at least the first 12 months of your business. If you can, also create educated guesses for the following two years in annual totals. 

If you intend to pursue funding, it’s worth noting that some investors and lenders might want to see a five-year forecast. For most other cases, three years is usually enough.

If you’re raising money for your business, the Financing section is where you describe how much you need. Whether you’re getting loans or investments, you should highlight what and when you need it. 

Ideally, you’ll also want to summarize the specific ways you’ll use the funding once you have it. 

For more specifics, check out our write-up explaining what to include in your business plan for a bank loan .

Historical Financial statements

If your business is up and running, you should also include your profit and loss statement , balance sheet , and cash flow statement . These are the historical record of your business performance and will be required by lenders, investors, and anyone considering buying your business. 

If you don’t want lengthy financial statements overwhelming this section of your business plan, you can just include the most recent statements and include the rest within your appendix.

6. Appendix 

The final section of your business plan is the appendix . Include detailed financial forecasts here and any other key documentation for your business. 

If you have product schematics, patent information, or any other details that aren’t appropriate for the main body of the plan but need to be included for reference.

Tips to write a detailed business plan

Keep it brief.

You may not be limited to one page, but that doesn’t mean you need to write a novel. Keep your business plan focused using clear, plain language and avoiding jargon. Make your plan easier to skim by using short sentences, bulleted lists, and visuals. Remember, you can always come back and add more details.

Related Reading: 7 tips to make a high-quality business plan  

Start with what you know

Don’t worry about following a strict top-to-bottom approach. Instead, build momentum by starting with sections you know well. This will help you get information down and ultimately make you more likely to complete your business plan. 

Set time limits

You don’t have to write your business plan in one sitting. It may be more valuable to set a time limit, see how much you get done, and return to it again in another session. This will keep you focused and productive and help you fit plan writing into your other responsibilities.

Reference business plan examples

Real-world business plan examples from your industry can provide valuable insights into how others have successfully presented their ideas, strategies, and financials. Exploring these examples can inspire your own approach and offer practical guidance on what to include and how to tailor it to your specific needs.

Just be sure not to copy and paste anything.

Prioritize sections that really matter

When writing a detailed business plan, focus on the parts most important to you and your business. 

If you plan on distributing your plan to outsiders, you should complete every section. But, if your plan is just for internal use, focus on the areas that will help you right now.

Download a free business plan template

Are you ready to write your detailed business plan? Get started by downloading our free business plan template . With that, you will be well on your way to a better business strategy, with all of the necessary information expected in a more detailed plan.

If you want to improve your ability to build a healthy, growing business, consider LivePlan.

It’s a product that makes planning easy and features a guided business plan creator , drag-and-drop financial forecasting tools , and an AI-powered LivePlan Assistant to help you write, generate ideas, and analyze your business performance. 

Use your detailed business plan to grow your business

Your business plan isn’t just a document to attract investors or close a bank loan. It’s a tool that helps you better manage and grow your business. And you’ll get the most value from your business plan if you use it as part of a growth planning process . 

With growth planning, you’ll easily create and execute your plan, track performance, identify opportunities and issues, and consistently revise your strategy. It’s a flexible process that encourages you to build a plan that fits your needs.  

So, whether you stick with a one-page plan or expand into a more detailed business plan—you’ll be ready to start growth planning.

Sources in this article

• 1. Parsons, Noah. “Do You Need a Business Plan? This Study Says Yes” Bplans: Free Business Planning Resources and Templates , 10 May 2024, www.bplans.com/business-planning/basics/research .

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Noah Parsons

Before joining Palo Alto Software , Noah Parsons was an early Internet marketing and product expert in the Silicon Valley. He joined Yahoo! in 1996 as one of its first 101 employees and become Producer of the Yahoo! Employment property as part of the Yahoo! Classifieds team before leaving to serve as Director of Production at Epinions.com. He is a graduate of Princeton University. Noah devotes most of his free time to his three young sons. In the winter you'll find him giving them lessons on the ski slopes, and in summer they're usually involved in a variety of outdoor pursuits. Noah is currently the COO at Palo Alto Software, makers of the online business plan app LivePlan.

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