business plans related to social work

10+ Best & Profitable Social Work Business Ideas [2023]

By Nick Cotter Updated Feb 07, 2024

Our List of 10+ Best Social Work Business Ideas:

Case management services, organizational consulting, individual, family and parent counseling, professional development and training, advocacy and community outreach, social media consulting, mediation services, senior care services, mental health services, trauma-informed care services.

Hello there, future entrepreneurs! Ever thought about how you can combine your passion for helping others with your entrepreneurial spirit? Well, you're in luck. As 2023 dawns on us, it brings with it a plethora of opportunities in the social work business sector that are not only profitable but also incredibly fulfilling.

Imagine waking up each day, knowing that your work is making a significant difference in someone's life. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? But, guess what? It's entirely possible! And we're here to guide you through it.

Whether you're a seasoned social worker looking for a change, or a budding entrepreneur searching for a venture that aligns with your values, this article is your treasure trove. We've compiled a list of over 10 of the best and most profitable social work business ideas for 2023.

So, are you ready to embark on an entrepreneurial journey that promises both financial rewards and the satisfaction of contributing to society? If your answer is a resounding "Yes," then read on, my friend. Let's dive into the world of social entrepreneurship together!

Case management services is a way of providing support, guidance, and resources to someone who needs special attention with a particular issue or situation. It can help individuals, families, and organizations manage their current or future needs. Case management services can cover a range of topics such as health, mental health, housing, employment, finance and more. It is an effective way to help people who are unable to take on the responsibility of managing their own wellbeing on their own.

• Case management services can provide access to resources such as support groups, counseling and other services.
• Case managers can offer assistance in navigating the complexities of paperwork and legal procedures relating to an individual’s specific situation.
• Case managers are often case advocates and liaisons from government agencies or organizations.
• Case management services can drastically reduce the time needed for case resolution as well as costs associated with it.
• High-quality case management services will provide a customized approach tailored to the individual’s specific situation.

Organizational consulting is a field of professional services that helps organizations become more efficient and effective. Common organizational consulting services include helping with organizational strategy, operational process improvement, personnel management, financial planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, project feasibility studies, and other performance related services. An organizational consultant can offer a variety of services to help businesses become more successful and make their goals achievable.

• Assisting with strategy development
• Improving operational processes
• Assessment of personnel management strategies
• Providing financial planning & analysis
• Assisting with mergers & acquisitions
• Conducting feasibility studies
• Developing performance improvement plans

Examples of successful businesses:

Here are some of the most successful companies in the social work business industry:

• Viridian Associates
• At Your Service LLC
• The Social Workers Company
• Assisting Hands Home Care and Nursing Agency
• Social Justice Solutions International
• Social Work Consultants, Inc.
• Reaching Out Community Services Inc.
• Alpha Social Services, Ltd.
• Expert Community Solutions Group
• CareBridge Community Support Services, Inc.

Individual, family and parent counseling is a type of counseling that focuses on providing support and guidance to individuals, families and parents. It can be used to help people work through difficult situations and develop new skills, strategies and perspectives. It can also be used to help people manage stress, improve their relationships, identify their goals and enhance communication. These counseling services can be offered in person or online, making it an ideal business concept.

• Promotes mental health: Counseling offers a safe environment for individuals to work through issues which can help them cope more effectively with life’s challenges.
• Helps build stronger relationships: Counselling sessions provide an opportunity for families to explore their dynamics and learn how to better communicate with each other.
• Identifies weaknesses within family systems: Counseling sessions can help identify patterns of behavior within a family system that are contributing to issues or negative dynamics.
• Provides problem-solving strategies: Counseling sessions provide an opportunity to develop strategies for problem solving and dealing with difficult emotions or situations.
• Allows people to gain control over their lives: Counseling allows individuals to take control of their lives by helping them develop the skills they need to make healthier choices.

More resources:

Professional development and training is a system or process of equipping and empowering employees with knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to do their jobs effectively. It is an important part of any business and is beneficial in many ways. Some of the benefits of professional development and training include:

• Employee engagement
• Improved customer service
• Increased staff productivity
• Reduced turnover rate
• Enhanced job satisfaction

Professional development and training can be a great business idea as it encourages employee growth, motivation, and retention which in turn can help improve an organization's overall performance.

Advocacy and community outreach involve engaging with individuals and communities about their rights, needs, and interests. It is a way to promote social change and understanding between people. Advocacy and community outreach can be used to create awareness about an issue or to address inequities in access to resources. It can also be used to create networks of support for a cause or group of people.

• It encourages organizational collaboration
• It builds relationships between individuals and communities
• It allows individuals to come together for the common good
• It creates opportunities for systemic change
• It promotes understanding and mutual respect

Related business ideas:

Social media consulting is a business that provides advice, guidance, and specialized management services to small businesses and individuals regarding utilizing social media platforms to meet their marketing, communications, and advertising goals. It is a great business idea for those who are experienced in marketing and who have knowledge of how to best leverage the capabilities of social media. Here are some benefits of starting this type of business:

• You can help businesses engage current and potential customers
• You can create a unique value proposition for potential clients
• You will have the opportunity to stay ahead of emerging trends in the social media industry
• You will gain valuable insights into how certain platforms work
• You can develop personalized strategies based on data gathered from your clients

Mediation services are an invaluable tool in resolving conflicts between two or more parties. It is an impartial, cost-effective and time-efficient means of communication and problem-solving. A business offering mediation services can provide a valuable and beneficial service to clients. Here are some reasons why setting up a mediation services business could be a great idea:

• Flexible working hours which allow you to work full or part-time
• Minimal overhead costs due to the virtual nature of the services offered
• Offer clients a useful and beneficial service that can resolve conflicts quicker than through traditional court proceedings
• No need for expensive office space or staff as most mediation services take place virtually
• Can provide a steady stream of income as the demand for mediators is constantly increasing.

Senior care services provide support and assistance to elderly individuals with tasks such as errands, meals, transportation, and housekeeping. This type of business has the potential to become very profitable due to the increasing demand for these services. Some advantages of starting a senior care business include:

• Ability to help those that need it
• Low startup costs
• Flexible hours
• High earning potential
• Potential for long-term contracts

Mental health services encompass a wide range of different treatments, from counselling and therapy to prescribed medication and group support. Starting a mental health services business is a great way to make an impact on people's lives while also creating a profitable business. There are several reasons why starting a mental health services business is an appealing idea:

• High Demand - Mental health issues are increasingly prominent in today's society, with more and more people seeking help for their mental health related issues.
• Help Others - You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping others manage their mental health problems.
• Employment Opportunity - Providing mental health services offers the opportunity to provide employment to those who need it most.
• Flexibility - The hours of operation can be tailored according to your personal preferences and those of your clients.

Trauma-informed care services provide therapeutic and healing services to individuals who have experienced trauma and can be an important business idea. Trauma-informed care focuses on creating a safe and healing environment that recognizes the signs of trauma in those served and takes into account the impact of trauma on an individual’s overall wellbeing. Trauma-informed care services can offer a range of healing, therapeutic, and educational offerings such as:

• Individual counseling
• Group therapy
• Exposure therapy
• Creative arts therapies
• Trauma-informed yoga classes
• Psychoeducational classes about self-care, coping strategies, self-awareness, and mindfulness practices

More helpful resources about LLCs:

I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

Business First Family Business, Accounting, Finance, Investing, Marketing And Management

10 skilled social work business ideas to capitalize on entrepreneurial growth.

Updated by: Business First Family June 7, 2022 in Business

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There are various social work business ideas to start in 2022. Typically, social enterprise ideas arise from a desire to address social needs such as environmental, economic and community profitability. In fact, many companies are trying to merge business acumen and innovation to create permanent social change advancements. As an aspiring social work business owner, there are several powerful roles that can provide positive change to communities around the world. Read on to learn about the different social work business ideas you can start in 2022.

Types Of Social Work Business Ideas

School counseling.

You can find a career in social work as a school counselor. First, you must obtain a four-year undergraduate degree and a master’s in social work, psychology or counseling to start a counseling business . Once qualified and hired, you can start working with children in an educational environment. For example, you can help students maintain and improve their mental health. Plus, you can collaborate with children who live with social or developmental disabilities and teach them how to be comfortable with themselves. More so, you will be able to help students stuck in abusive living environments and help raise their overall well-being. Certainly, become a school counselor and improve the lives of students living in difficult situations.

Energy Consulting

Of course, open an energy consulting company as your social work business in 2022. Starting an energy consulting business can help clients make positive energy-based decisions. First, administer an energy audit for all clients and their properties, including single-family homes or large data centers. Then, provide an in-depth report that offers specific recommendations to reduce energy-based consumption. As a result, your clients can determine ways to conserve energy and improve efficiency, such as solar panels, energy-efficient space heaters or geothermal systems. Additionally, consider providing clients with information about possible tax incentives for financing alternative energy systems. Definitely think about open a social work energy consulting business.

Next, consider opening a bookmobile as your social work business. This career allows you to provide the gift of reading to areas and communities who have limited access to libraries. Of course, fund your business with a bookmobile grant program. Here, you can receive up to $3,000 to purchase books. Or, solicit donations of used and new books from friends, family or kind benefactors. More so, you can start a crowdfunding account to raise funds to purchase a vehicle. Then, you can travel to poverty-stricken, impoverished and deprived communities to provide educational entertainment for the townspeople. Certainly, contemplate starting a bookmobile as your social work business idea.

Nursing Home Social Worker

Another social work business idea includes working in a nursing home. This position allows you to advocate and care for each patient’s well-being. Of course, you will be protecting the elderly residents against neglect, abuse and mistreatment. In fact, you are in charge of ensuring that all their needs are being met with personalized senior home care services by the nursing home facility. For example, you can help nursing home residents manage their psychosocial, mental and emotional needs. More so, you can help the patient’s family with all medical, financial and emotional decisions relating to their loved one. Certainly, consider opening a nursing home social work business to care for the elderly and their families.

Social Supermarket

Furthermore, you can start a social supermarket business. Open a store that caters to several social needs. Consider selling items that were purchased at meager prices to low-income families. For example, you can sell dented cans or products near their expiration date. Plus, consider partnering with local producers. As a result, your social supermarket reduces transportation and energy consumption to produce sustainable food production. Of course, you can also sell organic foods and products that are created in an ethical manner such as animal treatment, environmental sustainability and workers’ welfare. Definitely open a supermarket business to contribute to the social work industry.

A Closer Look Into The Social Work Industry

Whether you are just considering enrolling in an online masters in social work or you’re already enrolled at a well-known school such as Rutgers Online it’s important to start thinking about what you want to do with your education. Perhaps you want to open your own business and are wondering if your online social work masters will help you bootstrap your venture. Here’s a closer look at social work businesses.

Job Outlook

One of the main concerns for social work students is, of course, job outlook. Social workers’ job outlook is at a record high. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19% growth in social work until 2022. This is a much better statistic than other similar areas. This is important to note when considering whether or not to open a social work business for yourself after graduation.

School Social Work

While many boards may have their own social workers, others might not. You can open your own business that focuses on school aged children. It will be your job as a school social worker to work with that child and to also be their liaison between the student and their parents/family. You will also ensure that their needs are met in school if there are any special classes or help required like getting to career fairs . At any given moment, you could be working with a number of students at once.

Family Support Worker

In this career, you won’t just be helping a child you will be helping the entire family by offering support. It could be that the family is just going through a temporary problem, or the issues could be more long-term. The goal is that you offer emotional support to all the family members and practical help with issues such as homelessness, domestic abuse, and more.

For this position, you need to be able to work not just with kids but also with adults, being able to speak with them, understand them, and communicate in a way that is helpful.

Community Outreach Program

Another option is to run a community outreach program , or to head up one. These can be non-profit businesses that impact thousands of people. While many think these programs exist only in large cities the fact of the matter is that they can be found all over the country. In this position, you will be the main source of contact for the volunteers who work there and the organizer of the program.

Your duties will be to help get the word out about the program through fundraising events, gather up a donor list, train the other volunteers, and create non profit management strategies for future and current media campaigns. This is ideal for the person who wants to use their social work degree but at the same time has an interest in business and marketing.

Support Center

For those who are really ambitious, you may want to look into opening your own family support center. If you are the one operating the center then your role will take on more of a management position , similar to running an outreach center. You’ll need to create a marketing plan, find donors and sponsors, provide training, hire staff, etc.

A community support center is a not-for-profit center that helps the people in the community by providing a wide variety of services and programs, like social media security lectures or similar. Instead of running one you may wish to work at one taking the role of a support worker instead.

The Doors are Open

Once you obtain your masters in social work you will find a variety of doors will be opened for you giving you a chance to have a very rewarding career or business. Depending on your interests, choose a path that is right for you. Owning a pizza franchise may be a better fit for you. Of course, with the right team, you could have a very financially and socially rewarding business.

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Business Plan Template for Social Workers

• Great for beginners
• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Subcategory
• Get started in seconds

Starting or expanding your private practice as a social worker can be an overwhelming process. But with ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Social Workers, you can streamline your journey to success!

This template is specifically designed for social workers and mental health professionals, helping you outline and organize every aspect of your practice, including:

• Clearly defining your goals, services, and target market
• Creating accurate financial projections to ensure profitability
• Developing effective marketing strategies to attract clients

With ClickUp's Business Plan Template, you'll have everything you need to create a comprehensive and effective plan for your practice, allowing you to focus on what you do best: helping others. Start building your path to success today!

Business Plan Template for Social Workers Benefits

Starting or expanding a private practice as a social worker requires careful planning and organization. With the Business Plan Template for Social Workers, you can:

• Clearly outline your goals, services, and target market, ensuring a focused and effective approach
• Create financial projections to understand the financial viability of your practice and make informed decisions
• Develop marketing strategies to reach your target audience and attract clients
• Gain a comprehensive view of your practice, enabling you to make strategic decisions and achieve long-term success.

Main Elements of Social Workers Business Plan Template

ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Social Workers provides a comprehensive solution for organizing and creating a successful business plan for your private practice. Here are the key elements of this template:

• Custom Statuses: Track the progress of your business plan with statuses such as Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do. Easily visualize which tasks are completed and which ones require attention.
• Custom Fields: Utilize custom fields like Reference, Approved, and Section to save important information and keep your business plan organized. These fields allow you to add specific details and categorize different sections of your plan.
• Custom Views: Access five different views to manage your business plan effectively. Use the Topics view to focus on specific areas, the Status view to track progress, the Timeline view to visualize deadlines and milestones, the Business Plan view to see the plan as a whole, and the Getting Started Guide view to get acquainted with the template's features.

With ClickUp's Business Plan Template, social workers and mental health professionals can streamline the process of creating a comprehensive and effective business plan for their private practice.

How To Use Business Plan Template for Social Workers

If you're a social worker looking to start your own private practice or expand your existing services, creating a solid business plan is essential. With the Business Plan Template for Social Workers in ClickUp, you can outline your objectives and strategies to ensure the success of your practice. Follow these four steps to make the most of this template:

1. Define your mission and goals

Start by clearly defining the mission and goals of your social work practice. What population or issue do you want to focus on? What impact do you want to make in your community? Take the time to brainstorm and articulate your vision for your practice.

Use the Docs feature in ClickUp to write a mission statement and outline your goals in a collaborative space.

2. Conduct a market analysis

To create an effective business plan, you need to understand your target market and competition. Research the demographics and needs of your local community. Identify other social work practices or organizations that offer similar services. Analyze their strengths and weaknesses to identify opportunities for differentiation.

Utilize the Table view in ClickUp to organize your market research and compare different competitors.

3. Develop your service offerings and pricing

Based on your market analysis, determine the services you will offer and how you will price them. Consider the unique needs of your target population and how you can provide value to them. Determine if you will offer individual counseling, group therapy, workshops, or other services. Set competitive and sustainable pricing that reflects the value you provide.

Create custom fields in ClickUp to track your service offerings and pricing details.

4. Create a marketing and growth strategy

Now it's time to plan how you will attract clients and grow your practice. Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes online and offline tactics. Consider building a website, leveraging social media, attending networking events, and partnering with other professionals or organizations. Set measurable goals for client acquisition and retention.

Use the Goals feature in ClickUp to create and track your marketing objectives and key results (OKRs).

By following these steps and utilizing the Business Plan Template for Social Workers in ClickUp, you can lay the foundation for a successful and impactful social work practice. Remember to regularly review and update your business plan as your practice evolves and grows. Good luck!

Get Started with ClickUp’s Business Plan Template for Social Workers

Social workers and mental health professionals can use the ClickUp Business Plan Template to create a comprehensive and effective plan for their private practice.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a successful business plan:

• Use the Topics View to organize your business plan into different sections such as goals, services, target market, financial projections, and marketing strategies
• The Status View will help you track the progress of each section, whether it's complete, in progress, needs revision, or still to do
• The Timeline View will allow you to set deadlines and milestones for each section to ensure timely completion
• Use the Business Plan View to have an overview of your entire plan and easily navigate between sections
• The Getting Started Guide View will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to use the template and create your business plan
• Customize the Reference, Approved, and Section custom fields to add additional information and track the status of each section
• Update statuses and custom fields as you work on your business plan to keep track of progress
• Monitor and analyze your plan to ensure it aligns with your goals and objectives
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12 Business Ideas for Social Workers

Back to Business Ideas Categories

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on April 22, 2023 Updated on October 2, 2023

Social work is a noble pursuit, though not terribly lucrative. If you want to help people but would rather make a better living, many alternative businesses might be right up your alley. Some fall into the category of social entrepreneurship – a business that makes money while serving a social purpose.

This handy guide highlights 12 great business ideas for social workers that can boost your income while making the world a better place. Now that’s a win-win! 

1. Consultancy

You can use your knowledge, skills, and experience to provide guidance and insight to nonprofits and social service agencies. If you have business knowledge, even better, as you can provide financial advice as well. Either way, you can charge a decent hourly rate and turn it into a profitable consulting business . 

If you have writing skills, you could start a blog, perhaps aimed at supporting social workers or a certain cause. You can make money with ads or affiliate marketing, which means making deals with companies to earn a commission if a sale of their product is generated from a link on your site.

3. Speaking 

Many organizations hire speakers to educate their members and employees about social problems and potential solutions. If you’re a great public speaker, you could choose a topic that fits your experience and speak at conferences and meetings. You could do the same at schools as well, and build up a nice public speaking business. 

4. Corporate Social Work

Companies these days are more focused on employee well-being and diversity and building a positive culture. You could work with companies to develop programs to advance those goals. It takes special skills to create a positive workplace, and your social work experience could be a great fit.

5. Online Social Work Courses

Millions of people are ready to learn online, which is why global e-learning is expected to be worth a trillion dollars by 2027. You can start an online social work courses business , spread some quality knowledge, and grab a sliver of this vast market. To get started, hop on a platform like Udemy, SkillShare, or MasterClass and start bringing in revenue right away. 

6. Life Coach

Business executives have long used life coaches to elevate their performance, but now people of all ages and backgrounds are seeking them out to boost personal and professional performance. You could launch a life coaching business from the comfort of your own home and help people lead more fulfilling lives while making a good living. 

7. Microlending

Microlending provides small, low-interest loans to those that lack access to funding to help them start their own businesses and become financially self-sufficient. Often, organizations like Kiva solicit the loan funds from individuals, who then receive payments from the recipients. The business earns revenue from the interest paid on each loan. 

8. Socially Conscious Products

Consumers are increasingly seeking socially conscious products, which come in many forms. You could produce sustainably made clothing or source products from people in developing countries, pay them for their work, and sell the items for a profit. 

9. Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable packaging is also gaining ground, as it’s less harmful to the environment. You could start a business creating sustainable packaging for small businesses, which you could start on a small scale and grow it into a big operation with its own facility. 

10. Thrift Store

Thrift stores are a great idea, providing places for people to donate their unwanted goods, which others then snap up at affordable prices. The revenue thrift stores earn sustains the business and pays the employees and could even  make a profit. You could start an online thrift store , where people send in their unwanted items to be offered for sale online.

11. Buy One Give One

Companies like Tom’s Shoes have popularized the buy-one give-one model, and you could do the same by giving one of item X to an underserved community for every one you sell. Maybe it’s coats, or textbooks, or T-shirts? Choose a product that can really make a difference. 

12. Mental Health Facility

Private mental health facilities, whether for people with disorders or those suffering from addiction, make good money. Many insurance companies and sometimes Medicaid will pay for client stays in these facilities, so you wouldn’t have to turn away people who lack the funds. You could make a huge difference in your community and use your skills by opening your own mental health facility.

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• Consultancy
• Speaking 
• Corporate Social Work
• Online Social Work Courses
• Microlending
• Socially Conscious Products
• Sustainable Packaging
• Thrift Store
• Buy One Give One
• Mental Health Facility

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10 Best Social Work Business Ideas

It’s crucial to understand the area of social work before looking at the best and highest-paying social work business ideas and careers. In general, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree to work in this industry, with most states needing a master’s degree as well. However, a few states allow for the completion of an associate’s degree in social work.

It’s crucial to understand the field of social work before looking at the top & highest paying social work positions. To work in this area, you’ll typically require a bachelor’s degree, with most states needing a master’s degree. However, an associate’s degree in social work is available in a few states.

What Private Social Work entrepreneur Ideas we have and Their Practices?

Some social workers start their independent practice instead of working for a managed care company, a health care organization, or another established institution. Private practitioners’ services extend far beyond their offices, according to the National Association of Social Workers, because they’re frequently hired by schools, courts, primary care centers, and other clinical groups.

Starting private social work business ideas, depending on your professional interests and career ambitions, could allow you to make a significant difference in the lives of numerous people in your community.

What are the Advantages of Building a Private Social Work Business?

For existing professionals and prospective students, pursuing a career as a clinical social worker in solo or group practice has several advantages. Private practitioners, for example, have more flexibility in their work schedules than those in traditional settings. They can schedule their appointments, take vacations as needed, and develop a clientele that matches their lifestyle and practice region.

Independent social workers have more control over their work environment, including the ability to meet with clients in person or via video conference, as well as the chance to earn more money.

Starting a Social Work Practice: A Brief how-to Guide

Building social work business ideas necessitate determination, careful planning, and a wealth of professional expertise in the field. Clinical social workers must achieve three primary criteria before commencing private practice, according to the NASW :

• Obtaining a master’s degree in social work from a recognized institution.
• Working in a supervised, clinical setting for at least two years after graduation.
• Obtaining a clinical license in the state in which the private practice will be located.

Private practitioners can begin setting up their businesses, filling out the relevant tax paperwork, and soliciting clients once all of the basic requirements have been satisfied. The following pointers can assist you in choosing from any of the social work business ideas:

• Create a business plan
• Apply for a National Provider Identification Number
• Get a tax ID number
• Buy professional liability insurance
• Create patient forms and supervision standards
• Market the practice
• Determine service fees

Listed below are the great social work business ideas that have been carefully explained for you to choose from;

1.      School Counselors

This is one of the nicest social work business ideas to explore if you are qualified. Social professionals are frequently employed as school counselors. Their job is to work with children directly in all educational settings. Their mission is to ensure that students’ mental health and overall well-being are maintained or improved.

They frequently collaborate with children who have social or developmental disabilities, as well as children who live in abusive situations. A school counselor’s income is mostly determined by the educational institution, the sorts of students, and the geographic region. The national average, on the other hand, is $56,160. A master’s degree is required to work as a school counselor .

2.      Speech Pathologists

Speech pathologists’ job is to make sure that speech abnormalities are identified. They then devote time to developing individualized treatment strategies to help their patients improve their speech. Although speech pathologists typically work with children born with speech impairments such as a harelip, cleft palate, or stammer, they also work with stroke patients and others with brain injuries. You can expect to make roughly $73,970 as a speech pathologist, which is a significant increase since the last average was obtained in 2010.

To work as a speech pathologist, you’ll need a master’s degree and a variety of other qualifications. To become licensed, you must pass a national exam, spend a certain number of hours in a clinical setting under direct supervision, and have a certain amount of postgraduate experience. Here, the service business ideas have requirements that differ from one state to the next.

3.      The Social Work Teacher

As a professor, you can expect to make an average of $86,073 per year as a social work teacher. An assistant professor’s salary will be lower. As a result, it is the highest-paying social work job in the country. To be a professor, however, you must have at least a doctorate in the discipline, usually a Ph.D. Training does take a long time and entails a significant financial expenditure.

4.      The Healthcare Social Worker

Here is one of the nicest social work business ideas as it relates to care for people’s health and saving lives. You will assist groups and individuals in coping with the psychological and social elements of diseases and illnesses as a healthcare social worker. The average annual wage is $57,000. Although a BSW would suffice for this job, a master’s degree will undoubtedly increase your career and earning chances.

5.     Clean Energy

It’s no secret that sustainable energy is becoming increasingly popular as well as necessary. A clean energy startup can be a product or service that uses a green method for energy production, such as electric bicycles or solar panels. Developing concepts and putting your company plan into action will necessitate either clean energy understanding or the assistance of someone who does.

Nowadays, it is much easier to determine and reach out to your target audience because of services that  provide interested solar leads . These are people who are already looking into alternative energy and have a bigger chance to convert into customers. 

6.      The Medical Social Worker

Medical social workers are not the same as healthcare social workers. Your job is to act as a liaison between community services (such as treatment centers and homeless shelters) and their clients. This is another one of the great social work business ideas. Frequently, you will work in emergency rooms or on discharge wards. The average wage, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $53,400. When compared to the average social worker, this is a huge increase.

7.     The Clinical Social Worker

Clinical social workers must complete extensive training and pass a range of exams. They work in a variety of industries and organizations. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, their average compensation is $48,010, though this varies greatly depending on where they work. Substance abusers, for example, will earn about $3,000 less per year.

8.     Micro-lending Business

A micro-lending business lends small amounts of money to people who are unable to obtain loans from traditional lenders. Normally, this startup charges a high-interest rate to its customers in order to reduce the risk of a borrower defaulting on their loan. Micro-lending enterprises in underserved areas can assist give chances for communities to introduce much-needed resources to their local communities.

9.      The Community Program Administrator

Some social workers aspire to managerial positions, which can be obtained through community program administration. They will be in charge of social assistance initiatives or charitable organizations that cater to specific demographic groups. Your job here is to create and implement strategic initiatives, raise funding, manage staff, and keep a budget under control. You may expect to earn roughly $57,950 per year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is another of these very nice social work business ideas you won’t regret exploring.

10.  Charity App

Create a charity app to make donations more accessible. This might be a simple way to raise funds for charity, make donations, or meet a community need. Because the majority of individuals own smartphones, a charity app company can make it easier for charities to raise funds and support in order to aid those who need it most.

You might also need to check on some social media marketing strategies that could enhance or have a great influence on your niche of social work business ideas. Also, you can access and read about Return of Investment (ROI) in digital marketing .

Today’s social workers operate in a wide range of settings, including health care institutions, schools, government agencies, and charity organizations. Some clinical social workers prefer to go into private practice as their careers progress, allowing them to focus on the topics that are most important to them. However, before opening a private practice in social work, a person must first establish their credentials, earn the necessary certifications, and demonstrate skill in their practice area.

Check also: Ultimate Guide To Small Business Ideas

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Creating a Winning Business Plan for Social Entrepreneurs

May.23, 2023

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Table of Content

1. What is a Social Entrepreneur Business Plan?

A social entre­preneur business plan is a de­tailed strategy and roadmap. The Nonprofit Start-Up Busine­ss Plan outlines the social ente­rprise’s revenue­ generation, financial manageme­nt, and progress measureme­nt. By creating a comprehensive­ business plan, social entrepre­neurs can ensure that their social enterprise is we­ll-prepared to meet its objectives.

2. Why do we need a social entrepreneur business plan?

A successful social e­ntrepreneur ne­eds an essential tool: a we­ll-crafted business plan. This plan serves multiple purposes. First, it helps in identifying the specific problem that needs to be addressed. Second, it sets clear goals and de­fines the target audience. Third, it devises strategies for achieving these­ objectives. Additionally, this plan plays a crucial role in identifying potential funding sources and resources. It also maps out a timeline for goal attainment.

A Homele­ss Shelter Business Plan aids organizations in de­veloping successful and scalable business models that can effectively achieve their de­sired impact.

3. Sources of funding for social enterprise businesses

Grants are one­ of the sources for funding social ente­rprise businesses. Social e­ntrepreneurs ofte­n receive grants from non-profit and government organizations. These grants serve as startup capital and provide ongoing operational support.

Links to funds for non-profit organizations: Newprofit: https://www.newprofit.org/ Ashoka: https://www.ashoka.org/en-us MassChallenge: https://masschallenge.org/

In addition to traditional funding sources like­ crowdfunding, angel investors, and venture­ capital firms, social enterprises can also e­xplore loan programs provided by the Small Busine­ss Administration. Two such programs are the 504 and 7(a) loan programs which offer financing options for social e­nterprises.

Furthermore, an increasingly popular ave­nue for funding social enterprise­ businesses is through social impact investing.

4. How to write a social enterprise business plan

• Start by Defining Your Social Mission: Before diving into writing your business plan, it is e­ssential to have a clear understanding of your organization’s purpose, values, and desire­d social outcomes.
• Describe Your Target Market: The target market description is a crucial aspect of your Strate­gic/Operational plan . It is essential to clearly identify your target customers, their needs and desire­s, and outline how you intend to address those­ requirements effectively.
• Outline Your Business Model: Then comes outlining your business model. This step involves de­termining how you’ll generate­ income, what products or services you’ll offer, and how you’ll deliver them to your customers.
• Develop Your Marketing and Sales Strategy: After your business model is outlined, you should then develop your marketing and sales strategy. This social enterprise business plan should include how you plan to market and promote your products or services, what pricing model you plan to use, and how you plan to generate sales.
• Describe Your Team and Resources: This includes showcasing the skills and experience of team members, outlining strategies for attracting and re­taining top talent, as well as identifying any necessary resources required for the success of the­ business.
• Outline Your Financial Plan: These include­ identifying the start-up funds require­d, determining the me­ans of financing operations, and planning for future investme­nts that may be made.

5. Executive summary

Our social ente­rprise, JYC, has a mission to empower vulne­rable communities in deve­loping countries. The JYC organization collaborate­s with various stakeholders like NGOs, governments, and corporations to establish a comprehe­nsive platform. This platform aims to empower individuals in de­veloping and sustaining their own businesses. Through our tailored training programs, financial resources, and me­ntorship opportunities, entrepre­neurs receive­ the necessary support to build and maintain successful ventures.

6. Company (Institutional) analysis

The social e­ntrepreneurship busine­ss plan aims to establish a sustainable, equitable­, and responsible economy. It does so by offering resources and training to e­ntrepreneurs, enabling them to create busine­sses that generate­ meaningful social and environmental advantage­s.

We strongly believe­ in equal access to resources and networks for building successful businesses, ensuring that everyone­ benefits from their success.

7. Structure and Background

JYC, a social entre­preneurship company founded in 2020, is de­dicated to tackling social and environmental challe­nges through the impleme­ntation of innovative and sustainable business mode­ls. Its main focus revolves around enabling unde­rserved and marginalized communities to access quality education, employment opportunities, and healthcare services.

Our team comprises skilled professionals from diverse­ sectors, including finance, technology, and social work. Their collective experience empowers us to create sustainable solutions that drive positive­ social change while fostering financial stability.

8. Market (Industry) analysis

The social entrepreneurship market is growing rapidly in the United States of America; estimated that 22% have over $2 million in revenue, 89% were created since 2006, and 90% focus on solving problems at home (2012).

Social Enterprise: Statistics from Around the World

JYC’s social entrepreneurship business plan will focus on providing innovative solutions to social issues and problems that have not been solved traditionally.

9. Competitor analysis

Our social entrepreneur business plan template competitors are:

• Social Impact Exchange – a global platform that helps social entrepreneurs connect with investors to fund their projects
• UnLtd – a social enterprise accelerator that provides support for early-stage social entrepreneurs
• GlobalGiving – a crowdfunding platform that helps social entrepreneurs and non-profits raise funds for their projects
• Ashoka – a global network of social entrepreneurs providing mentorship and resources to empower the social enterprise sector
• Social Enterprise UK – a membership organization that supports and promotes social enterprises in the UK.

10. Services and Products

Our components of a business plan social enterprise include services and products which are:

• Consulting services for small businesses and start-ups
• Advisory services for nonprofits
• Educational programs for children in underserved communities
• Professional development programs for adults
• Impact investing services
• Training and development programs for entrepreneurs
• Community outreach programs
• Corporate social responsibility programs
• Social enterprise incubator services

11. Sales and Marketing Plan

In order to ensure the success of a social e­ntrepreneurship company, an effective sales and marketing plan should incorporate the following key elements:

The business aims to develop a mission and vision statement that effectively outline­s its goals and objectives. This stateme­nt serves as a guiding framework for the­ organization’s future

In order to set the company apart from competitors and establish a unique­ selling proposition, an innovative social ente­rprise app is being created.

In order to effectively promote a product or service, it is important to develop a compre­hensive marketing strategy.

12. Operational plan

Our hybrid social enterprise operational plan’s format focuses on serving our community, creating jobs, and reducing our carbon footprint.

• Supporting local businesses
• Incorporating green practices into our operations
• Developing social programs to benefit the community
• Establishing a system of sustainable production
• Creating partnerships with nonprofits and public institutions
• Minimizing waste and energy consumption.

13. Evaluation/assessment

• Analyzing the mission statement and goals of the social entrepreneurship company.
• Examining the business model and resources required to achieve success.
• Assessing the impact of the company on the community.
• Examining the company’s financial health and sustainability.
• Evaluating the management team and their ability to execute the plan.
• Analyzing the marketing strategy and its effectiveness.
• Evaluating the potential for growth and scalability.
• Assessing the competitive landscape and how the company can differentiate itself.

14. Management team

Executive Team:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Technology Officer
• Head of Human Resources

Advisory Board:

• Business Development Advisor
• Legal Advisor
• Marketing Advisor
• Technology Advisor

15. Projection and Financial Planning

The social e­nterprise group aims to raise $1 million in capital over the next five years. This funding will support various aspects, including platform development, staff recruitment, and covering ope­rational expenses. The­ organization plans to generate re­venue through government contracts and by offering data analytics services to local governments.

Startup Costs

The initial startup costs for this business will be $200,000.

The primary source of revenue will come from government contracts and data analytics services. Government contracts will provide a steady stream of income, while data analytics services will provide additional revenue.

Financial Highlights

The projected financial highlights for the business are as follows:

• Revenue: $1.5 million by 2024
• Profits: $400,000 by 2024
• Return on Investment: 40%
• Cash Flow: $1.2 million by 2024
• Break-even Point: 12 months

16. Discover the Power of Social Entrepreneurship with OGS Capital

Highly efficient service.

Highly Efficient Service! I am incredibly happy with the outcome; Alex and his team are highly efficient professionals with a diverse bank of knowledge.

OGS Capital specialize­s in assisting entreprene­urs in developing and implementing impactful social entreprene­urship business plans. Our highly experie­nced team collaborates with nume­rous social entreprene­urs to create custom plans that yield me­asurable outcomes.

Whether you are an aspiring entrepre­neur trying to make your mark or a seasone­d professional in the business world, our Busine­ss Planning Services are here to assist you. We specialize­ in developing comprehe­nsive plans that fully embrace your unique­ vision and core values. Through close collaboration, we­ will work diligently alongside you to identify the­ optimal strategies for success and de­termine the necessary resources to bring your goals to fruition.

OGS Capital values the­ transformative power of social entre­preneurship. With our guidance, you can establish a social ente­rprise that leaves a lasting, me­aningful impression.

OGS Capital can be your re­liable partner in creating a robust social e­ntrepreneurship business plan. Feel free­ to reach out to us today for assistance.

Q. What are examples of social entrepreneurship businesses?

1. Revolution Foods: Revolution Foods is a social enterprise providing healthy meals to underserved students. https://www.revolutionfoods.com/

2. Kiva: Kiva is a nonprofit providing micro-loans to developing countries’ entrepreneurs. https://www.kiva.org/

3. Ecosia: Ecosia is an online search engine that donates 80% of its profits to reforestation projects worldwide. https://www.ecosia.org/

4. Warby Parker: Warby Parker is an eyewear company that donates a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair purchased. https://www.warbyparker.com/

5. Solar Sister: Solar Sister is a social enterprise that helps women in Africa build businesses selling solar-powered products. https://solarsister.org/

Q. How do you write a social enterprise business plan?

When establishing a social enterprise, it is crucial to unde­rtake the task of crafting a comprehe­nsive business plan. This plan serve­s as a roadmap, outlining key aspects such as the e­nterprise’s objective­s and mission, the range of service­s or products on offer, an analysis of the intended audience and market, financial conside­rations, a succinct overview of the marke­ting strategy, and a timeline e­ncompassing both launch and growth milestones. A meticulously de­veloped social ente­rprise business plan sets the­ stage for success in this impactful venture­.

The plan should have­ a comprehensive e­xplanation of the enterprise­’s mission and values. It should also address the compe­titive landscape and any applicable re­gulations. When writing the plan, it is important to be thorough, re­alistic, and ensure clarity for easy understanding.

Download Social entrepreneur business plan Template in PDF

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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Social Enterprise Business Plan

A social enterprise is an activity of a nonprofit that employs entrepreneurial, market-driven strategies for earned income in support of its mission. This outline for a social enterprise business plan is a guide for research, planning, and writing a business plan for nonprofit social enterprises.

A social enterprise is an activity of a nonprofit that employs entrepreneurial, market-driven strategies for earned income in support of their mission. Business plans are a common tool for entrepreneurs when starting or growing a business enterprise. For nonprofits that are starting or growing a social enterprise as a part of their program activities, developing a business plan is an essential step. While social enterprise business plans address all of the questions needed for any business, nonprofits also need to consider the alignment with mission, organizational background and structure, and evaluation of both financial and social impact.

This outline for a business plan is a guide for research, planning, and writing a business plan for nonprofit social enterprises. The sections below are provided as a roadmap for the plan. Most business plans include each of these sections, though the length and amount of detail will vary depending on the nature of the enterprise, the complexity of the organization, and the purpose and audience for the plan.

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary provides the most important information for readers that need to understand and support the concept but not necessarily know the detailed plans. This is usually written last.

• Organizational description
• Business concept
• Market description
• Value proposition, or competitive advantage
• Key success factors
• Financial highlights and capital requirements

A social enterprise of a nonprofit organization may contribute directly to achieving mission; may be complementary or supportive of mission; or may be unrelated to mission (with primarily financial goals). The alignment to mission is a critical question.

• Organization mission and/or vision statement
• Relationship of social enterprise to organizational mission, or separate mission for the enterprise

Background and Structure

This section summarizes the organization’s history and programs and how the enterprise will fit in to the larger organization.

Most social enterprises operate as an activity or program within the nonprofit, though some are legally structured as a separate nonprofit, a for-profit subsidiary, or an independent organization.

Form should follow function and the legal structure should support the purpose and activities of the enterprise. Advice from an expert attorney may be needed.

• Brief description of the nonprofit, including context and programs
• How the business venture will be structured in the organization
• Legal structure and governance (Boards, advisory committees, reporting)

Market Analysis

The market analysis is the heart of the business plan and is too often inadequately explored when planning a social enterprise. Solid research is necessary to understand the target customers and how the enterprise will meet a gap and demand in the market. No amount of mission or commitment will overcome a deficiency in market knowledge and a bona fide demand for the product or service.

• Summary of current market situation
• Target market and customers
• Customer characteristics, unmet demands and buying factors

Competitive Analysis

This section describes the competitors, both nonprofit and for-profit, and the value proposition, or market advantage, of the proposed business.

• Primary competitors
• Competitive products/services
• Risks and opportunities in competitive market
• Recent or emerging changes in the industry
• Specific description of competitive advantage/value of proposed product or service

Products/Services

This section is a summary of the product or service that will meet the demand in the market. It does not need to include detailed descriptions, price lists or other materials.

• Product/service description
• Positioning of products/services
• Future products/services

Marketing and Sales

This section will describe how the organization will reach the target market and turn those prospects into paying customer.

• Marketing strategy
• Sales tactics
• Advertising, public relation, and promotions
• Summary of sales forecasts

This is the “how to” section, describing the creation and delivery of the business’ product or service.

• Management structure
• Staffing plan and key personnel – if this includes programmatic elements related to the mission, expand this section
• Production plan or service delivery, including summary of costs of materials and production
• Customer service/support strategy and plan
• Facilities required, including specialized equipment or improvements. If the business is retail, discuss location characteristics

Evaluation and Assessment

Most for-profit businesses measure their success by the financial results. Social enterprises have a double bottom line (or a triple bottom line.) This section describes the factors that will be evaluated to assess the success of each aspect of the enterprise.

• Quantifiable financial goals
• Quantifiable mission goals
• Monitoring and evaluation strategy

Financial Plan and Projections

The financial section includes projections for revenue and expenses for at least three years with a summary narrative of the key assumptions. This section also details the start up costs for capital equipment, inventory, initial marketing and staffing, and subsidy needed to cover losses during the start up period. These capital requirements may be funded from a combination of contribution from the nonprofit, grants for the enterprise, and/or debt financing.

• Start up costs and investments in equipment, technology, or one time costs
• Capital requirements and sources
• Income and expense projection
• Pro forma balance sheet for start up
• Cash flow summary or projection
• Assumptions and comments
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About Propel

Propel Nonprofits is an intermediary organization and federally certified community development financial institution (CDFI). We provide capacity-building services and access to capital to support nonprofits in achieving their missions including the ability to link strategy, governance, and finance and to support nonprofits throughout their organizational lifecycle.

What You Need to Start Your Own Social Work Private Practice

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Today’s social workers are employed in a variety of professional settings, from health care facilities and schools to government organizations and nonprofit groups. As their careers advance, some clinical social workers choose to enter private practice, allowing them to focus on issues they’re most passionate about. However, before someone can open a social work private practice, they first need to establish their credentials, obtain the right certifications and demonstrate expertise within their practice section.

One of the main qualifications is to obtain a Master’s in Social Work or another relevant degree, which is often a stepping stone for earning a clinical license. While non-clinical social workers can also become private practitioners, they usually have fewer options for their business than those with a background in mental health, psychotherapy and behavioral disorders. If you’re looking to start your own social work private practice, it’s important to understand which licenses are required, how to build a business plan and how to market your services.

What is social work private practice?

Instead of directly working for a managed care company, health care organization or some other established institution, some social workers start their own independent practice. As noted by the National Association of Social Workers, private practitioners’ services extend far beyond their offices, as they’re often contracted by schools, courts, primary care facilities and other clinical organizations. For-profit companies may also seek out clinical social workers to improve or supplement their employee assistance programs.

In most cases, however, independent social workers offer hands-on counseling and mental health support to the general public, which requires a clinical license. They work with adults, children and adolescents by providing individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, bereavement counseling and more. For those with a particular specialization, working independently offers more freedom to focus on specific mental health issues and at-risk populations. For example, clinical social workers with an interest in early childhood development may prioritize students with behavioral issues or family problems. Depending on your own professional interests and career goals, starting a private practice may allow you to make a real difference in the lives of countless people in your local community.

What are the advantages of building a private practice?

Pursuing a career as a clinical social worker in solo or group practice offers a variety of benefits for established professionals and aspiring students. For one, private practitioners tend to have more flexible work schedules compared to those in traditional settings. They can set their own appointments, take days off when needed and build a clientele base that fits into their lifestyle and practice section. Independent social workers also have more control over their work environment, giving them the freedom to meet with clients in person or through video conferencing. Alongside these benefits, the NASW also highlights three additional advantages of building a private practice:

• Freedom from organizational limitations: Social workers employed in agency settings rarely have control over their work schedules or day-to-day responsibilities. Instead, they’re assigned specific duties and are under constant clinical supervision to ensure best practices are being upheld. Private practitioners are not constrained by these organizational processes, allowing them to budget time independently and prioritize tasks that they feel are important.
• Ability to maintain clinical skills: As noted by the NASW, many clinical social workers take on administrative, research and education roles alongside their counseling work. This allows private practitioners to continuously enhance their clinical skills, explore new diagnosis and treatment techniques and remain relevant within their field. Working in a group practice also opens up opportunities for peer-to-peer workshops and greater collaboration, ensuring all clinical social workers are held accountable for the level of service they deliver.
• Opportunity to increase earning potential: Social work private practice is a great way to increase one’s earning potential, as independent professionals are able to set their own rates. Rather than being paid a pre-negotiated salary, private practitioners can build a clientele base that matches their desired work/life balance or compensation goals. Clinical social workers employed in an agency setting sometimes enter private practice on a part-time basis just to increase their personal income and open up more job opportunities, per the NASW.

While working as an independent social worker may sound like a dream job, it does come with quite a few challenges. Since private practitioners tend to work independently, filling this role can be very isolating. This is one reason the NASW recommends independent clinical social workers join a network of private practices or bring on a consultant for part-time support.

Starting a private practice: A brief how-to guide

Building a social work private practice requires determination, careful planning and a great deal of professional experience within the field. According to the NASW, clinical social workers must meet three main criteria before starting a private practice, including:

• Earning a master’s degree in social work from an accredited university
• Performing at least two years of post-graduate work in a supervised, clinical setting
• Obtaining a clinical license in the state where the private practice will be established

These requirements tend to vary between states, so it’s important to check with relevant state licensure boards to understand what’s expected. Keep in mind that while social work private practices are clinical in nature, they’re also businesses, which must run efficiently to remain open. For this reason, the NASW recommends clinical social workers enroll in a basic course or workshop to familiarize themselves with key business skills, concepts and practices. Alternatively, aspiring social workers can also hire a management company to help with the business side of their practices.

Once all the basic requirements have been met, private practitioners can start setting up their business, filling out the necessary tax documentations and seeking out clients. The NASW offers the following tips for building a private practice from the ground up:

Step 1: Establish a business plan

The first step to starting a private practice is to create a detailed business plan that outlines the goals, strategies and financial needs of the organization. This document will be essential for obtaining a business loan from a bank or government-backed lender, according to the Small Business Association. When developing a business plan, clinical social workers will need to choose between a traditional or lean startup approach.

• Traditional business plans: These more comprehensive business plans are typically packed with information, including a lengthy company description, market research, financial projections and funding requirements. Private practitioners will need to explain their services, target customers, expected financial performance and marketing strategies in extraordinary detail.
• Lean startup business plans: This more streamlined business plan format can be useful for starting a private practice quickly or when services are simple to explain. That said, clinical social workers in private practice will still need to break down their business’s value proposition, customers, finances and revenue streams to make a compelling case to lenders.

During the planning stage, it’s important to consider whether the practice will be a solo or group endeavor. While both models can be profitable, building a private practice with a team of licensed professionals offers a higher level of clinical supervision that can be valuable during the early days of a new practice. Once the business plan is fleshed out, the next step is to locate a physical office to serve as the primary hub of client and partner interactions. Some private practitioners choose to travel to clients’ homes instead of meeting in a dedicated office – though this is generally a matter of personal preference.

Step 2: Apply for a National Provider Identification Number

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, all mental health providers seeking compensation must obtain a National Provider Identification Number, known as an NPI. This unique identifier is assigned to clinical social workers who submit paper and digital claims, or receive cash payments. Private practitioners can request either an individual or group NPI by filling out a brief application through the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System or by calling the agency directly.

Step 3: Obtain a tax identification number

Like with any new company, starting a private practice requires business leaders to obtain a tax identification number from the federal government. The NASW recommends securing a TIN for the practice itself rather than lumping it in with personal finances. To receive one, business owners must complete IRS Form SS-4 and submit it to the Internal Revenue Service.

Step 4: Purchase professional liability insurance

Building a private practice comes with some degree of financial risk, which is why professional liability insurance is required in the U.S. The minimum amount of coverage needed tends to vary based on state regulations, insurance companies and the types of social work services being offered. For example, the NASW offers a minimum $1 million per lawsuit and $1 million for the policy year through its Assurance Program. Since private practitioners work in “high-risk situations,” it’s important to maintain coverage at all times to prevent policy gaps that may lead to severe financial losses.

Step 5: Create patient forms and supervision guidelines

After a new private practice’s financials have been sorted out, clinical social workers will need to create patient documents, internal processes and resource guides to support the administrative side of their business. New clients will need to fill out intake forms, release of information requests and other documents required under HIPAA before they can start treatment. For a complete list of HIPAA data privacy guidelines and other policy requirements, visit the NASW’s website .

Another key concern has to do with clinical supervision. Even in social work private practices that are owned and operated by a single professional, it’s important to have some level of oversight to ensure a consistent quality of service. According to the American Psychological Association, effective supervision is built on strong relationships between peers, modern assessment and feedback mechanisms and a willingness to improve one’s clinical skills. Private practitioners should work closely with social work networks, other clinical professionals or hire an outside consultant to discuss problematic cases and liability concerns.

Step 6: Market the practice

When building a private practice, it’s important to establish a referral process and formal marketing strategy to attract clients that need support in a particular practice section. While some clinical social workers rely on managed care companies and health care facilities to refer patients in need of mental health counseling, it’s recommended that private practitioners look outside these sourcing channels.

As noted by the NASW, successful marketing requires clinical social workers to explain who they are, what services they provide and why they are qualified to treat certain emotional disturbances, mental illnesses and other interpersonal issues. One of the best ways to reach potential clients is to create a web page to advertise and seek referrals. Third-party websites like Psychology Today can also help private practitioners expand their reach and connect with individuals who may not have considered physiotherapy before.

Step 7: Set service fees

The final step to starting a private practice is to set fees for one’s services. The NASW notes that clinical social workers should consider the economy, their geographical location, insurance company rates and prices set by other mental health providers before finalizing their payment structure. Fees should be set at an amount that is fair and reasonable for the average citizen. In some cases, private practitioners may choose to waive the fee for new patients or adjust their pricing structure for low-income clients. While it’s important to make clinical social work services affordable, independent practitioners must also consider the needs of the business and any contractual obligations from third-party agreements.

Start your journey to social work private practice with an MSW from the University of Nevada, Reno

If you’re interested in building a private practice or working as an independent social worker, the online Master’s of Social Work program at the University of Nevada, Reno can help prepare you for the journey. This unique MSW degree covers foundational and specialized topics in the social work field, allowing students to assemble the skills, knowledge and experience needed to become a clinical social worker. The program is structured around advanced generalist practice, allowing you to compete for a variety of clinical and non-clinical roles that align with your personal and professional interests.

Whether you have a background in social work or are looking to make a career change, the online MSW curriculum can provide the insight required to take on high-level roles in a variety of settings, from traditional agency environments to social work private practices. This versatility can help you develop essential leadership skills, empower others through communication and counselling, navigate diverse practice contexts and promote social and economic justice. Students with a bachelor’s in social work can join the advanced standing program, which can be completed in as few as 15 months. Non-BSW graduates transitioning to the social work field can enroll in the traditional program, which features foundational courses and a three-day residency at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

To learn more, explore our MSW degree page or contact an enrollment advisor today.

Recommended Reading:

Alternative Careers for Social Workers Outside the Traditional Work Setting

What Can I Do With a Master’s in Social Work?

National Association of Social Workers, Social Workers in Private Practice

National Association of Social Workers, Opening a New Private Practice

Small Business Association, Write your business plan

Department of Health & Human Services, Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule

National Association of Social Workers, HIPAA Help for Social Workers

American Psychological Association, Fostering successful clinical supervision

Psychology Today, Therapist Search

ONLINE MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Accreditation

The social work education programs provided by the University of Nevada, Reno School of Social Work are accredited at the baccalaureate and master’s levels by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This indicates to the public and to potential employers that graduates meet the high professional standards established by CSWE in its Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Please refer to  www.cswe.org  for a complete list of Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. The university’s MSW program has been accredited by CSWE since 1991.

• Recognized as a National Tier 1 University by  U.S. News & World Report
• Ranks among the top 150 national universities in research and development
• R1 Carnegie Classification research institution

Social Work Agencies: Adopt the Business Model at Your Peril

Nonprofit Business Model

by Mimi Abramovitz, DSW, MSW, and Jennifer R. Zelnick, MSW, ScD

     What is changing in your workplace? Do you have less time for the people you work with, new requirements for reporting, less time with your supervisor? Has your job changed from a full-time staff position to fee-for-service? If so, you may be experiencing the effects of a trend toward using the business model (or, “managerialism”) in U.S. human service agencies. Our new study, recently published online in the journal Social Work , reports on this troubling trend.

     As professors of social work in New York City, we developed an anonymous online survey in collaboration with five major organizations, including the New York City chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. More than 3,200 NYC human service workers responded – making the survey the largest of its kind to date in a major U.S. city. Given the large response, the many unsolicited comments, and the diversity of frontline respondents, we knew we had hit a nerve.  

     Respondents were 80% women and nearly 50% people of color. They worked for both nonprofit and public sector organizations and different types of agencies, including health, mental health, child welfare, substance use, and homelessness. Whereas other studies have focused on social welfare programs and client outcomes, few have drawn, as our study does, on the voices and experiences of frontline workers.

     Regardless of agency focus or worker demographics, respondents reported many problems with managerialism. They identified pressure to be more productive (e.g., “getting more done in the same amount of time”), accountable (e.g., “too much reliance on quantifiable performance measures”), and efficient (e.g., “need to increase numbers of people seen”). Respondents were especially troubled by the focus on performance outcomes versus outcomes most important to clients, and the routinization of practice that eroded the trust in the client-worker relationships. Some felt they were providing “cookie cutter services.”

What difference does it make?

     We found that managerialism in human service agencies profoundly affects service delivery and the well-being of workers. Using a “commitment to managerialism” scale we created, we learned that the greater an agency’s commitment to managerialism, the more problems workers reported about client access to services and workers’ abilities to fully respond to complex client needs.

     Equally troubling was the impact on the workers themselves. The greater the commitment to managerialism, the more burnout, ethical dilemmas, and turnover reported. High quality services depend on the capacities and engagement of workers; that social workers in this study reported less job satisfaction, retention, and staff well-being places high quality services at risk.

     Despite these difficult outcomes, workers believed that their work made important contributions to society. The study also identified a path forward: agencies reporting low commitment to the business model did much better -- workers and managers in these agencies reported a higher commitment to social work’s mission, fewer workforce issues, and better service delivery. 

     Most human service agencies seek to deliver high quality services. Most social workers prefer to work efficiently and to account for their successes. At the same time, we uncovered a serious tension between the logic of the market (the business model) and the logic of social work (our values and mission). This study challenges our profession to pay more attention to the voices of the human service workforce and to mobilize the profession to critique the business model. Social workers can further strengthen trusting relationships with clients and fight for services that promote quality care, social justice, and social change.

Mimi Abramovitz, DSW, MSW, is Bertha Capen Reynolds Professor of Social Policy, Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College. CUNY, and the CUNY Graduate Center. She is the author of Regulating the Lives of Women: Social Welfare Policy from Colonial Times to the Present .

Jennifer Zelnick, MSW, ScD, is Professor and Social Welfare Policy Chair, Touro College Graduate School of Social Work. She holds an MSW in community organizing and planning, and a doctorate in public health. Her work focuses on the health and well-being of health and human service workers in the U.S. and South Africa.

All material published on this website Copyright 1994-2023 White Hat Communications. All rights reserved. Please contact the publisher for permission to reproduce or reprint any materials on this site. Opinions expressed on this site are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Social Enterprise Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Social Enterprise Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their social enterprise businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a social enterprise business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Social Enterprise Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your social enterprise business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Social Enteprise

If you’re looking to start a social enterprise business, or grow your existing social enterprise business, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your social enterprise business in order to improve your chances of success. Your social enterprise business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Social Enterprise Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a social enterprise business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for social enterprise businesses.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a social enterprise.

If you want to start a social enterprise business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your social enterprise business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of social enterprise business you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a social enterprise business that you would like to grow, or are you operating social enterprise businesses in multiple markets?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the social enterprise industry. Discuss the type of social enterprise business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of social enterprise business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of social enterprise businesses:

• Trading social enterprise : this type of social enterprise refers to cooperatives, collectives, and other organizations that are worker or employee-owned. This type of ownership structure allows a higher degree of economic resiliency compared to a traditional organization.
• Financial social enterprise: this type of social enterprise includes credit unions, cooperative banks, and revolving loan funds, which are all membership-owned. In other words, the money deposited from a member is used to help other members who may need financial assistance.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charity social enterprise: this type of social enterprise businesses are usually created to support a specific social, environmental, or political goal. The profits are used to further the social or environmental aims of the organization or to provide salaries for people who provide free services to specific groups of people.

In addition to explaining the type of social enterprise business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, number of positive reviews, reaching X amount of clients served, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the social enterprise industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the social enterprise industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating. 

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your social enterprise business plan:

• How big is the social enterprise industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your social enterprise business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your social enterprise business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments:non-profits, individuals, social causes, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of social enterprise business you operate. Clearly, social causes would respond to different marketing promotions than individuals needing financial assistance, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other social enterprise companies. 

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes social enterprise companies such as brand awareness companies, community organizations, government programs, etc.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other social enterprises with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be social enterprise businesses located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What clients or causes do they serve?
• What type of social enterprise company are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide social enterprise services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will your social enterprise business help more people in need?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a social enterprise business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of social enterprise company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to social enterprise services, will you provide access to funding, marketing, counseling, and/or brand awareness, and any other services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your social enterprise company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your social enterprise business located near an office complex, a university, an urban setting, or a busy neighborhood, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your social enterprise marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Website and SEO marketing
• Community events
• Commercials
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your social enterprise business, including communicating with clients, marketing, accounting, accounts payable, fundraising, and searching for grant opportunities.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to obtain your XXth client, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your social enterprise business to a new location.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your social enterprise business’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company. 

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing social enterprises. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a social enterprise business or are connected to a wide network of professional organizations that frequently tend to donate to various causes.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you take on one new service at a time or multiple services ? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your social enterprise business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. 

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a social enterprise business:

• Cost of social enterprise services
• Cost of overhead, marketing, and outreach
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your social enterprise outline of services, types of customer and/or cause you will be targeting, and the areas your social enterprise business will serve.   Summary Putting together a business plan for your social enterprise business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the social enterprise industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful social enterprise business.  

Social Enterprise Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my social enterprise business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Social Enterprise Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of social enterprise business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a social enterprise business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of social enterprise businesses?

  OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to hire someone to write a business plan for you from Growthink’s team.   Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Social Enterprise Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Social Enterprise Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Social Enterprise business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Social Enterprise businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Social Enterprise business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

EmpowerU is a startup social enterprise located in Ogden, Utah. The business was founded by Matt and Lauren Goodwin, a couple who have personally placed over three hundred job seekers into viable positions of employment over the past ten years by working in a nationally-known employment agency group. Both Matt and Lauren secured thousands of dollars for their employer, who received a payment for every person successfully placed into employment. With outstanding reviews by employers and a large following of those who have been placed by Matt and Lauren, they’ve determined that they can give back to the city of Ogden by opening their social enterprise, EmpowerU.

EmpowerU will provide a full-service employment placement agenda, from the time they first receive a new applicant to the 6-month period after employment when the employer-employee review is completed. Each step of the interview preparation, interviewing process, and employment negotiation is focused on bringing a new employee into a personally upward bound position that will change their life for the better.

Product Offering

The following are the services that EmpowerU will provide for the potential employers:

• Extensive recruitment of job candidates to fulfill employer requests
• Pre-employment training
• Employment assistance in pay package negotiation
• Reasonable on-hire rates with sliding scale of percentages
• Monthly and yearly reviews and assessments of employee to service employer

The following are the services that EmpowerU will provide for the potential employees:

• Personal training leading to interviews and employment
• Testing to determine skills, abilities, temperament-style
• Resume construction
• Personal deportment training
• Interview techniques for a “win”
• Negotiation techniques for employment
• Personal management in an organization
• Time management skills
• After-hire review and further training, if required
• One-year assessment

Customer Focus

EmpowerU will target both potential employers and candidates as potential employees. To do so, they will target medium-to-large businesses within the Ogden area and residents within the Ogden area. EmpowerU will target human resource managers within the Ogden area. EmpowerU will also target community associations and governmental agencies with job training programs.

Management Team

EmpowerU will be co-owned and operated by Matt and Lauren Goodwin. They have recruited their former administrative assistants, Austin Maven, and Jeanie Parker, to help manage the office and operations of EmpowerU.

Matt Goodwin is a graduate of the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Lauren Goodwin is a graduate of Utah State College, where she earned an Associate’s degree in Social Sciences. Matt and Lauren have been working at an Ogden-based employment recruiter agency for the past ten years. During that time, they observed and practiced the functions of candidate placement into employment positions. They successfully placed over three hundred job-seekers into employment. They now want to help job candidates who need a “hand up” in securing employment by using all their acquired skills to make a change for the good of the city and state.

Austin Maven will become the Office Manager and will oversee all day-to-day office functions. He will manage the accounting and payroll for the social enterprise, as well as the detailed requirements needed to satisfy the social enterprise financials.

Jeanie Parker will become the Operations Manager, assisting in the movement of people resources in and out of the business and overseeing the training and assistance programs.

Success Factors

EmpowerU will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team of EmpowerU
• Comprehensive menu of services that benefit both the employers and the job candidates.
• Full support and training for potential employees
• Reviews and assessments of employee during monthly and yearly visits
• As a social enterprise, EmpowerU charges extremely reasonable rates for employee placement, making them the lowest-priced employment service in Ogden.

Financial Highlights

EmpowerU is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its social enterprise business. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office space build-out: $20,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for EmpowerU.

Company Overview

Who is empoweru.

EmpowerU is a newly established, full-service job training and placement agency in Ogden, Utah. EmpowerU will be the most reliable, cost-effective, and effective choice for employers in Ogden and the surrounding communities who seek employees who are eager to establish a better personal life for themselves. EmpowerU will provide a comprehensive menu of job training, placement and review services for any job candidate and business to utilize. Their full-service approach includes a comprehensive array of services that benefit both the job candidate and hiring company.

  EmpowerU will be able to provide job candidates for a wide spectrum of potential employers. The team of professionals are highly qualified and experienced in employee placements and training and reviews of those employees. EmpowerU removes all headaches and issues of seeking qualified personnel and ensures all issues are taken care of expeditiously, while delivering the best customer service.

EmpowerU History

EmpowerU is owned and operated by Matt and Lauren Goodwin. Together, they have personally placed over three hundred job seekers into viable positions of employment over the past ten years by working in a nationally-known employment agency group. Both Matt and Lauren secured thousands of dollars for their employer, who received a payment for every person successfully placed into employment. With outstanding reviews by employers and a large following of those who have been placed by Matt and Lauren, they’ve determined that they can give back to the city of Ogden by opening their social enterprise, EmpowerU.

Since incorporation, EmpowerU has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered EmpowerU, LLC to transact business in the state of Utah.
• Have a contract in place for a 10,000 square foot office in a prime downtown building location.
• Have reached out to numerous former associates and people they placed to include EmpowerU any time they search for new employees.
• Began recruiting a staff of three and two office personnel to work at EmpowerU.

EmpowerU Services

Industry analysis.

The social enterprise industry is expected to grow over the next five years to over $1 billion. The growth will be driven by an increased recognition of the need to assist in improving the lives of others within the world. The growth will be driven by an increased desire to serve the world by using talents and time to build social enterprise businesses. The growth will be driven by the popularity of including a “social awareness” facet within corporate mission statements. Costs will likely be reduced as social enterprises seek to reduce profits and increase services. Costs will likely be reduced as businesses increase voluntary funding for social enterprises.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market, customer segmentation.

EmpowerU will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Medium-to-large businesses
• Residents of Ogden
• Human resource managers
• Community associations
• Governmental agencies

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

EmpowerU will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Home Companion Care Services

Home Companion Care Services is a full-service placement agency of caregivers. The primary target market consists of elderly individuals who require in-home care and people with disabilities who need assistance with daily activities. Home Companion Care Services also engages with families seeking compassionate support for their loved ones. While services are not medically related, services may include medication reminders, running errands, purchasing and preparing food, bathing and personal grooming and other essentials for daily living.

Home Companion Care Services was started by Liam Gallagher, who saw a gap in the employment of caregivers when his mother required a caregiver and the availability for one was extremely limited. He also noted that most caregivers were not paid enough to make their lives sustainable. With this in mind, he started Home Companion Care Services as a social enterprise to invest in making the lives of the elderly and disabled better, as well as the lives of the caregivers enriched. With these positives at the forefront, Home Companion Care Services was started six years ago and continues to build momentum at this time. Fees for placement of caregivers is modest and reasonable in comparison to competitors.

Heads-Up Auto Repair

Heads-Up Auto Repair was started in 2020 by Neil Patterson, the owner of an auto repair chain in Utah. When Neil noted that several viable auto repairmen did not have employment due to former prison records, he started the social enterprise, “Heads-Up Auto Repair,” as a way to enrich the lives of these qualified repairmen, while earning a profit that would enrich their lives. The program for job training contains the phrase, “Heads Up,” as in “holding one’s head up high with pride in one’s work and the completion of that work successfully”.

Heads-Up Auto Repair serves customers throughout the state of Utah, where location managers are specially trained to assist repairmen in various aspects of customer service, team-bonding, personal skills and education, English-as-a-second-language training, and other services that increase the likelihood of the individuals continuing to excel in both the repair services they provide, but with an increased confidence in their lives overall, as well.

Animals Gone Wild

Animals Gone Wild is a wildlife viewing business that is a social enterprise located thirty miles from Ogden, Utah. Animals Gone Wild was started in 2010 by Amber Stenson, who determined that wild animals should live in the wild, even if their lives started in an enclosed zoo exhibit or other enclosed experience. Amber began a fundraising campaign to build and maintain the wild existence arenas for several wild animals, encouraging volunteers to serve the animals with her throughout their lives. Animals Gone Wild charges a fee for visitors to ride a trolley through the “villages” where various species of wild animals live. Payments by visitors covers the costs of caring for and feeding the animals, while fundraiser campaigns pay for the structures, buildings and care of the Animals Gone Wild structural needs.

Competitive Advantage

EmpowerU will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Comprehensive menu of services that benefit both the employers and the job candidates
• As a social enterprise, EmpowerU charges extremely reasonable rates for employee placement, making them the lowest-priced employment service in Ogden

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

EmpowerU will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified team of skilled employees who are able to provide a comprehensive array of services benefiting employers, employees, and the greater Ogden population
• Intensive training and preparation for job candidates, far beyond those of competitors
• Unique reviews and assessments of employees during monthly and yearly visits

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for EmpowerU is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

EmpowerU has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to their clients and personal associates. Several former employer clients will follow the Goodwins in their new social enterprise to secure employees and will refer EmpowerU to their associates.

Professional Associations and Networking

EmpowerU will extensively target the professional associations and governmental agencies within the city of Odgen to inform and invite potential employers to seek qualified employees through EmpowerU.

Social Media Outreach

Through several social media channels, prospective employees with a wide variety of skills will be invited to reach out to EmpowerU for job training and placement. Invitations via social media will also invite employers of private companies and governmental agencies, particularly human resources managers, to engage with EmpowerU to place employees into advantageous roles.

Website/SEO Marketing

EmpowerU will fully utilize their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that EmpowerU provides. The website will also list their contact information and offer an online reservation system for potential employees who would like to talk with or visit the EmpowerU offices. The website will engage SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “job recruitment company” or “employment agency near me”, EmpowerU will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of EmpowerU will be moderate and below competitors so employer clients will feel they receive excellent value when engaging new hires as a result of their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for EmpowerU. Operation Functions:

• Matt Goodwin will be the co-owner and President of the company. He will oversee all employer client relations.
• Lauren Goodwin will be the co-owner and Vice President of the company. She will oversee the recruiting of potential job candidates.

Milestones:

EmpowerU will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease office space
• 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts
• 6/1/202X – Finalize employment contracts for EmpowerU clients
• 6/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
• 6/22/202X – Begin moving into EmpowerU office
• 7/1/202X – EmpowerU opens its office for business

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for EmpowerU are the fees they will charge to employer clients for their employee placement services.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff EmpowerU. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, office supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

EmpowerU is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its social enterprise. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of Employer Clients Per Month: 30
• Average Revenue per Month: $60,000
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, social enterprise business plan faqs, what is a social enterprise business plan.

A social enterprise business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your social enterprise business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Social Enterprise business plan using our Social Enterprise Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Social Enterprise Businesses? 

There are a number of different kinds of social enterprise businesses , some examples include: Trading social enterprise, Financial social enterprise, and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charity social enterprise.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Social Enterprise Business Plan?

Social Enterprise businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Social Enterprise Business?

Starting a social enterprise business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Social Enterprise Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed social enterprise business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your social enterprise business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your social enterprise business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Social Enterprise Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your social enterprise business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your social enterprise business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Social Enterprise Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your social enterprise business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your social enterprise business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

24 of My Favorite Sample Business Plans & Examples For Your Inspiration

Published: February 06, 2024

I believe that reading sample business plans is essential when writing your own.

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As you explore business plan examples from real companies and brands, it’s easier for you to learn how to write a good one.

But what does a good business plan look like? And how do you write one that’s both viable and convincing. I’ll walk you through the ideal business plan format along with some examples to help you get started.

Table of Contents

Business Plan Format

Business plan types, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.

Ask any successful sports coach how they win so many games, and they’ll tell you they have a unique plan for every single game. To me, the same logic applies to business.

If you want to build a thriving company that can pull ahead of the competition, you need to prepare for battle before breaking into a market.

Business plans guide you along the rocky journey of growing a company. And if your business plan is compelling enough, it can also convince investors to give you funding.

With so much at stake, I’m sure you’re wondering where to begin.

Free Business Plan Template

The essential document for starting a business -- custom built for your needs.

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Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Fill out the form to get your free template.

First, you’ll want to nail down your formatting. Most business plans include the following sections.

1. Executive Summary

I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. 

Why? Essentially, it's the overview or introduction, written in a way to grab readers' attention and guide them through the rest of the business plan. This is important, because a business plan can be dozens or hundreds of pages long.

There are two main elements I’d recommend including in your executive summary:

Company Description

This is the perfect space to highlight your company’s mission statement and goals, a brief overview of your history and leadership, and your top accomplishments as a business.

Tell potential investors who you are and why what you do matters. Naturally, they’re going to want to know who they’re getting into business with up front, and this is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.

Need some extra help firming up those business goals? Check out HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set goals that matter — I’d highly recommend it

Products and Services

To piggyback off of the company description, be sure to incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive — just another chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business.

In addition to the items above, I recommend including some information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here too.:

Keep in mind you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. So, keep the executive summary clear and brief, and only include the most important takeaways.

Executive Summary Business Plan Examples

This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template:

This executive summary is so good to me because it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.

Image Source

Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary

• Start with a strong introduction of your company, showcase your mission and impact, and outline the products and services you provide.
• Clearly define a problem, and explain how your product solves that problem, and show why the market needs your business.
• Be sure to highlight your value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential.
• Keep it concise and support ideas with data.
• Customize your summary to your audience. For example, emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists.

Check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary for more guidance.

2. Market Opportunity

This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market.

The main question I’d ask myself here is this: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?

More specifically, here’s what I’d include in this section:

• The size of the market
• Current or potential market share
• Trends in the industry and consumer behavior
• Where the gap is
• What caused the gap
• How you intend to fill it

To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, and SOM analysis and perform market research on your industry.

You may also benefit from creating a SWOT analysis to get some of the insights for this section.

Market Opportunity Business Plan Example

I like this example because it uses critical data to underline the size of the potential market and what part of that market this service hopes to capture.

Tips for Writing Your Market Opportunity Section

• Focus on demand and potential for growth.
• Use market research, surveys, and industry trend data to support your market forecast and projections.
• Add a review of regulation shifts, tech advances, and consumer behavior changes.
• Refer to reliable sources.
• Showcase how your business can make the most of this opportunity.

3. Competitive Landscape

Since we’re already speaking of market share, you'll also need to create a section that shares details on who the top competitors are.

After all, your customers likely have more than one brand to choose from, and you'll want to understand exactly why they might choose one over another.

My favorite part of performing a competitive analysis is that it can help you uncover:

• Industry trends that other brands may not be utilizing
• Strengths in your competition that may be obstacles to handle
• Weaknesses in your competition that may help you develop selling points
• The unique proposition you bring to the market that may resonate with customers

Competitive Landscape Business Plan Example

I like how the competitive landscape section of this business plan below shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are.

It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location, which shows useful experience in this specific industry. 

This can help build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.

Tips for Writing Your Competitive Landscape

• Complete in-depth research, then emphasize your most important findings.
• Compare your unique selling proposition (USP) to your direct and indirect competitors.
• Show a clear and realistic plan for product and brand differentiation.
• Look for specific advantages and barriers in the competitive landscape. Then, highlight how that information could impact your business.
• Outline growth opportunities from a competitive perspective.
• Add customer feedback and insights to support your competitive analysis.

4. Target Audience

Use this section to describe who your customer segments are in detail. What is the demographic and psychographic information of your audience?

If your immediate answer is "everyone," you'll need to dig deeper. Here are some questions I’d ask myself here:

• What demographics will most likely need/buy your product or service?
• What are the psychographics of this audience? (Desires, triggering events, etc.)
• Why are your offerings valuable to them?

I’d also recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear on why you're targeting them.

Target Audience Business Plan Example

I like the example below because it uses in-depth research to draw conclusions about audience priorities. It also analyzes how to create the right content for this audience.

Tips for Writing Your Target Audience Section

• Include details on the size and growth potential of your target audience.
• Figure out and refine the pain points for your target audience , then show why your product is a useful solution.
• Describe your targeted customer acquisition strategy in detail.
• Share anticipated challenges your business may face in acquiring customers and how you plan to address them.
• Add case studies, testimonials, and other data to support your target audience ideas.
• Remember to consider niche audiences and segments of your target audience in your business plan.

5. Marketing Strategy

Here, you'll discuss how you'll acquire new customers with your marketing strategy. I’d suggest including information:

• Your brand positioning vision and how you'll cultivate it
• The goal targets you aim to achieve
• The metrics you'll use to measure success
• The channels and distribution tactics you'll use

I think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier.

Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example

This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler.

In my opinion, it really works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.

Tips for Writing Your Marketing Strategy

• Include a section about how you believe your brand vision will appeal to customers.
• Add the budget and resources you'll need to put your plan in place.
• Outline strategies for specific marketing segments.
• Connect strategies to earlier sections like target audience and competitive analysis.
• Review how your marketing strategy will scale with the growth of your business.
• Cover a range of channels and tactics to highlight your ability to adapt your plan in the face of change.

6. Key Features and Benefits

At some point in your business plan, you'll need to review the key features and benefits of your products and/or services.

Laying these out can give readers an idea of how you're positioning yourself in the market and the messaging you're likely to use. It can even help them gain better insight into your business model.

Key Features and Benefits Business Plan Example

In my opinion, the example below does a great job outlining products and services for this business, along with why these qualities will attract the audience.

Tips for Writing Your Key Features and Benefits

• Emphasize why and how your product or service offers value to customers.
• Use metrics and testimonials to support the ideas in this section.
• Talk about how your products and services have the potential to scale.
• Think about including a product roadmap.
• Focus on customer needs, and how the features and benefits you are sharing meet those needs.
• Offer proof of concept for your ideas, like case studies or pilot program feedback.
• Proofread this section carefully, and remove any jargon or complex language.

7. Pricing and Revenue

This is where you'll discuss your cost structure and various revenue streams. Your pricing strategy must be solid enough to turn a profit while staying competitive in the industry. 

For this reason, here’s what I’d might outline in this section:

• The specific pricing breakdowns per product or service
• Why your pricing is higher or lower than your competition's
• (If higher) Why customers would be willing to pay more
• (If lower) How you're able to offer your products or services at a lower cost
• When you expect to break even, what margins do you expect, etc?

Pricing and Revenue Business Plan Example

I like how this business plan example begins with an overview of the business revenue model, then shows proposed pricing for key products.

Tips for Writing Your Pricing and Revenue Section

• Get specific about your pricing strategy. Specifically, how you connect that strategy to customer needs and product value.
• If you are asking a premium price, share unique features or innovations that justify that price point.
• Show how you plan to communicate pricing to customers.
• Create an overview of every revenue stream for your business and how each stream adds to your business model as a whole.
• Share plans to develop new revenue streams in the future.
• Show how and whether pricing will vary by customer segment and how pricing aligns with marketing strategies.
• Restate your value proposition and explain how it aligns with your revenue model.

8. Financials

To me, this section is particularly informative for investors and leadership teams to figure out funding strategies, investment opportunities, and more.

 According to Forbes , you'll want to include three main things:

• Profit/Loss Statement - This answers the question of whether your business is currently profitable.
• Cash Flow Statement - This details exactly how much cash is incoming and outgoing to give insight into how much cash a business has on hand.
• Balance Sheet - This outlines assets, liabilities, and equity, which gives insight into how much a business is worth.

While some business plans might include more or less information, these are the key details I’d include in this section.

Financials Business Plan Example

This balance sheet is a great example of level of detail you’ll need to include in the financials section of your business plan.

Tips for Writing Your Financials Section

• Growth potential is important in this section too. Using your data, create a forecast of financial performance in the next three to five years.
• Include any data that supports your projections to assure investors of the credibility of your proposal.
• Add a break-even analysis to show that your business plan is financially practical. This information can also help you pivot quickly as your business grows.
• Consider adding a section that reviews potential risks and how sensitive your plan is to changes in the market.
• Triple-check all financial information in your plan for accuracy.
• Show how any proposed funding needs align with your plans for growth.

As you create your business plan, keep in mind that each of these sections will be formatted differently. Some may be in paragraph format, while others could be charts or graphs.

The formats above apply to most types of business plans. That said, the format and structure of your plan will vary by your goals for that plan. 

So, I’ve added a quick review of different business plan types. For a more detailed overview, check out this post .

1. Startups

Startup business plans are for proposing new business ideas.

If you’re planning to start a small business, preparing a business plan is crucial. The plan should include all the major factors of your business.

You can check out this guide for more detailed business plan inspiration .

2. Feasibility Studies

Feasibility business plans focus on that business's product or service. Feasibility plans are sometimes added to startup business plans. They can also be a new business plan for an already thriving organization.

3. Internal Use

You can use internal business plans to share goals, strategies, or performance updates with stakeholders. In my opinion, internal business plans are useful for alignment and building support for ambitious goals.

4. Strategic Initiatives

Another business plan that's often for sharing internally is a strategic business plan. This plan covers long-term business objectives that might not have been included in the startup business plan.

5. Business Acquisition or Repositioning

When a business is moving forward with an acquisition or repositioning, it may need extra structure and support. These types of business plans expand on a company's acquisition or repositioning strategy.

Growth sometimes just happens as a business continues operations. But more often, a business needs to create a structure with specific targets to meet set goals for expansion. This business plan type can help a business focus on short-term growth goals and align resources with those goals.

Now that you know what's included and how to format a business plan, let's review some of my favorite templates.

1. HubSpot's One-Page Business Plan

Download a free, editable one-page business plan template..

The business plan linked above was created here at HubSpot and is perfect for businesses of any size — no matter how many strategies we still have to develop.

Fields such as Company Description, Required Funding, and Implementation Timeline give this one-page business plan a framework for how to build your brand and what tasks to keep track of as you grow.

Then, as the business matures, you can expand on your original business plan with a new iteration of the above document.

Why I Like It

This one-page business plan is a fantastic choice for the new business owner who doesn’t have the time or resources to draft a full-blown business plan. It includes all the essential sections in an accessible, bullet-point-friendly format. That way, you can get the broad strokes down before honing in on the details.

2. HubSpot's Downloadable Business Plan Template

We also created a business plan template for entrepreneurs.

The template is designed as a guide and checklist for starting your own business. You’ll learn what to include in each section of your business plan and how to do it.

There’s also a list for you to check off when you finish each section of your business plan.

Strong game plans help coaches win games and help businesses rocket to the top of their industries. So if you dedicate the time and effort required to write a workable and convincing business plan, you’ll boost your chances of success and even dominance in your market.

This business plan kit is essential for the budding entrepreneur who needs a more extensive document to share with investors and other stakeholders.

It not only includes sections for your executive summary, product line, market analysis, marketing plan, and sales plan, but it also offers hands-on guidance for filling out those sections.

3. LiveFlow’s Financial Planning Template with built-in automation

This free template from LiveFlow aims to make it easy for businesses to create a financial plan and track their progress on a monthly basis.

The P&L Budget versus Actual format allows users to track their revenue, cost of sales, operating expenses, operating profit margin, net profit, and more.

The summary dashboard aggregates all of the data put into the financial plan sheet and will automatically update when changes are made.

Instead of wasting hours manually importing your data to your spreadsheet, LiveFlow can also help you to automatically connect your accounting and banking data directly to your spreadsheet, so your numbers are always up-to-date.

With the dashboard, you can view your runway, cash balance, burn rate, gross margins, and other metrics. Having a simple way to track everything in one place will make it easier to complete the financials section of your business plan.

This is a fantastic template to track performance and alignment internally and to create a dependable process for documenting financial information across the business. It’s highly versatile and beginner-friendly.

It’s especially useful if you don’t have an accountant on the team. (I always recommend you do, but for new businesses, having one might not be possible.)

4. ThoughtCo’s Sample Business Plan

One of the more financially oriented sample business plans in this list, BPlan’s free business plan template dedicates many of its pages to your business’s financial plan and financial statements.

After filling this business plan out, your company will truly understand its financial health and the steps you need to take to maintain or improve it.

I absolutely love this business plan template because of its ease-of-use and hands-on instructions (in addition to its finance-centric components). If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing an entire business plan, consider using this template to help you with the process.

6. Harvard Business Review’s "How to Write a Winning Business Plan"

Most sample business plans teach you what to include in your business plan, but this Harvard Business Review article will take your business plan to the next level — it teaches you the why and how behind writing a business plan.

With the guidance of Stanley Rich and Richard Gumpert, co-authors of " Business Plans That Win: Lessons From the MIT Enterprise Forum ", you'll learn how to write a convincing business plan that emphasizes the market demand for your product or service.

You’ll also learn the financial benefits investors can reap from putting money into your venture rather than trying to sell them on how great your product or service is.

This business plan guide focuses less on the individual parts of a business plan, and more on the overarching goal of writing one. For that reason, it’s one of my favorites to supplement any template you choose to use. Harvard Business Review’s guide is instrumental for both new and seasoned business owners.

7. HubSpot’s Complete Guide to Starting a Business

If you’re an entrepreneur, you know writing a business plan is one of the most challenging first steps to starting a business.

Fortunately, with HubSpot's comprehensive guide to starting a business, you'll learn how to map out all the details by understanding what to include in your business plan and why it’s important to include them. The guide also fleshes out an entire sample business plan for you.

If you need further guidance on starting a business, HubSpot's guide can teach you how to make your business legal, choose and register your business name, and fund your business. It will also give small business tax information and includes marketing, sales, and service tips.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of starting a business, in addition to writing your business plan, with a high level of exactitude and detail. So if you’re in the midst of starting your business, this is an excellent guide for you.

It also offers other resources you might need, such as market analysis templates.

8. Panda Doc’s Free Business Plan Template

PandaDoc’s free business plan template is one of the more detailed and fleshed-out sample business plans on this list. It describes what you should include in each section, so you don't have to come up with everything from scratch.

Once you fill it out, you’ll fully understand your business’ nitty-gritty details and how all of its moving parts should work together to contribute to its success.

This template has two things I love: comprehensiveness and in-depth instructions. Plus, it’s synced with PandaDoc’s e-signature software so that you and other stakeholders can sign it with ease. For that reason, I especially love it for those starting a business with a partner or with a board of directors.

9. Small Business Administration Free Business Plan Template

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers several free business plan templates that can be used to inspire your own plan.

Before you get started, you can decide what type of business plan you need — a traditional or lean start-up plan.

Then, you can review the format for both of those plans and view examples of what they might look like.

We love both of the SBA’s templates because of their versatility. You can choose between two options and use the existing content in the templates to flesh out your own plan. Plus, if needed, you can get a free business counselor to help you along the way.

I’ve compiled some completed business plan samples to help you get an idea of how to customize a plan for your business.

I chose different types of business plan ideas to expand your imagination. Some are extensive, while others are fairly simple.

Let’s take a look.

1. LiveFlow

One of the major business expenses is marketing. How you handle your marketing reflects your company’s revenue.

I included this business plan to show you how you can ensure your marketing team is aligned with your overall business plan to get results. The plan also shows you how to track even the smallest metrics of your campaigns, like ROI and payback periods instead of just focusing on big metrics like gross and revenue.

Fintech startup, LiveFlow, allows users to sync real-time data from its accounting services, payment platforms, and banks into custom reports. This eliminates the task of pulling reports together manually, saving teams time and helping automate workflows.

"Using this framework over a traditional marketing plan will help you set a profitable marketing strategy taking things like CAC, LTV, Payback period, and P&L into consideration," explains LiveFlow co-founder, Lasse Kalkar .

When it came to including marketing strategy in its business plan, LiveFlow created a separate marketing profit and loss statement (P&L) to track how well the company was doing with its marketing initiatives.

This is a great approach, allowing businesses to focus on where their marketing dollars are making the most impact. Having this information handy will enable you to build out your business plan’s marketing section with confidence. LiveFlow has shared the template here . You can test it for yourself.

2. Lula Body

Sometimes all you need is a solid mission statement and core values to guide you on how to go about everything. You do this by creating a business plan revolving around how to fulfill your statement best.

For example, Patagonia is an eco-friendly company, so their plan discusses how to make the best environmentally friendly products without causing harm.

A good mission statement  should not only resonate with consumers but should also serve as a core value compass for employees as well.

Patagonia has one of the most compelling mission statements I’ve seen:

"Together, let’s prioritise purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home."

It reels you in from the start, and the environmentally friendly theme continues throughout the rest of the statement.

This mission goes on to explain that they are out to "Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to protect nature."

Their mission statement is compelling and detailed, with each section outlining how they will accomplish their goal.

4. Vesta Home Automation

This executive summary for a smart home device startup is part of a business plan created by students at Mount Royal University .

While it lacks some of the sleek visuals of the templates above, its executive summary does a great job of demonstrating how invested they are in the business.

Right away, they mention they’ve invested $200,000 into the company already, which shows investors they have skin in the game and aren’t just looking for someone else to foot the bill.

This is the kind of business plan you need when applying for business funds. It clearly illustrates the expected future of the company and how the business has been coming along over the years.

5. NALB Creative Center

This fictional business plan for an art supply store includes everything one might need in a business plan: an executive summary, a company summary, a list of services, a market analysis summary, and more.

One of its most notable sections is its market analysis summary, which includes an overview of the population growth in the business’ target geographical area, as well as a breakdown of the types of potential customers they expect to welcome at the store. 

This sort of granular insight is essential for understanding and communicating your business’s growth potential. Plus, it lays a strong foundation for creating relevant and useful buyer personas .

It’s essential to keep this information up-to-date as your market and target buyer changes. For that reason, you should carry out market research as often as possible to ensure that you’re targeting the correct audience and sharing accurate information with your investors.

Due to its comprehensiveness, it’s an excellent example to follow if you’re opening a brick-and-mortar store and need to get external funding to start your business .

6. Curriculum Companion Suites (CSS)

If you’re looking for a SaaS business plan example, look no further than this business plan for a fictional educational software company called Curriculum Companion Suites. 

Like the business plan for the NALB Creative Center, it includes plenty of information for prospective investors and other key stakeholders in the business.

One of the most notable features of this business plan is the executive summary, which includes an overview of the product, market, and mission.

The first two are essential for software companies because the product offering is so often at the forefront of the company’s strategy. Without that information being immediately available to investors and executives, then you risk writing an unfocused business plan.

It’s essential to front-load your company’s mission if it explains your "Why?" and this example does just that. In other words, why do you do what you do, and why should stakeholders care? This is an important section to include if you feel that your mission will drive interest in the business and its offerings.

7. Culina Sample Business Plan

Culina's sample business plan is an excellent example of how to lay out your business plan so that it flows naturally, engages readers, and provides the critical information investors and stakeholders need. 

You can use this template as a guide while you're gathering important information for your own business plan. You'll have a better understanding of the data and research you need to do since Culina’s plan outlines these details so flawlessly for inspiration.

8. Plum Sample Business Plan

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Social workers improve lives in every corner of society — from community-based agencies, nonprofits and mental health clinics, to hospitals, schools and beyond. With a graduate degree in social work, you can make a positive difference on the populations and issues you're most passionate about, even in unexpected places. 

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• What is a Professional Collaboration Network — and why should every social worker have one?

What is a Professional Collaboration Network?

And why should every social worker have one.

By Jana Eisenberg

Published May 7, 2024

Related Links

• 4/5/24 UB's Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program

In the social work field, just like in the larger world, there is a near-constant conversation about the ethical uses of social media and other digital technologies. However, one tactic that seems unarguably worthwhile is the Professional Collaboration Network (PCN).

In fact, PCNs are so effective that the UB School of Social Work’s Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program integrates them throughout the curriculum.

A 2020 paper in Research on Social Work Practice defines PCNs as “technology-mediated, user-centered [participatory] relationship constellations designed to enhance connections and professional opportunities.” Citing the lack of information exchange among stakeholders about problems and solutions, the authors — including former and current faculty Melanie Sage, Louanne Bakk, Annette Semanchin Jones and Nancy J. Smyth — say PCNs are “goal-specific, extending across disciplinary and international borders.”

Think: Active, rather than passive, use of powerful, free online tools like LinkedIn, Instagram, X/Twitter and Facebook.

In the DSW program’s first-year curriculum, every student must take “Digital Technology and Professional Collaboration Networks for Social Work Practice,” a course where they immediately establish and access their own PCN.

One of the main issues that PCNs can solve in social work is closing the gap between research and practice, which is one of the larger aims of the DSW program.

“When social workers start out, they can use their PCN to learn more about their topic,” says Louanne Bakk, clinical associate professor and DSW program director. “As they progress, perhaps earning more advanced degrees or entering the workforce, they might be thinking about evidence-based practices — they can use the PCN to learn how others are dealing with their topic. There really is no end to the applicability — with continued advancement, we can use the global network, finding places to connect and position ourselves.”

In the part-time, online DSW program, student live in various parts of the country and may never meet in person. This makes a PCN even more vital, offering both opportunities to connect with other members of their cohort and spaces to expand their networks.

“Creating the PCN is really valuable; it helps us learn, grow, collaborate and meet stakeholders in our area of interest,” says DSW student David Kurtz. “My preferred outlet is LinkedIn, and my field is international anti human trafficking. I was already connected with a few friends and colleagues on LinkedIn. Through those connections, I found more people in the field who are doing a lot of great work and expanded my network. I look up different topics and areas of interest; when I read relevant articles, I search and add the author on LinkedIn, for example.”

The platforms across which PCNs can be built may be familiar (and can also include things like listservs), but what sets PCNs apart is the intentionality and mindfulness of establishing and accessing them.

Michelle Fortunado-Kewin, DSW ’22, is one of the school’s PCN instructors; she finds this topic so compelling, particularly for connecting students and professionals from marginalized communities, that she invited several of her students — including Kurtz, Tammie Williams-Pitman and Melissa Elliott-Brogan — to present alongside her on the topic at the Social Work Distance Education 2024 Virtual Conference in April.

Clockwise from top left: DSW students David Kurtz, Melissa Elliott-Brogan and Tammie Williams-Pitman and instructor Michelle Fortunado-Kewin, DSW ’22, presented "Using Professional Collaboration Networks to Build and Expand Students' Professional Community" at the  Social Work Distance Education 2024 Virtual Conference.

Fortunado-Kewin emphasizes the benefits of digital PCNs for everyone, and specifically for women and Black, Indigenous and People of Color, as a valuable and accessible tool to establish and engage in interdisciplinary connections, build community and collaborate on projects or policies, both locally and globally.

Williams-Pittman already had a  de facto  PCN, built from her decade-plus of experience, education and practice, as well as from being an educator herself. She manifested her PCN as a vision board, mapping her various connections.

“My vision board — my PCN — is the reason for the work. It starts from the ground up, with the people that we fight for — the community, the voters, the students, those who are voiceless,” she says. “It moves up to those who can advocate and champion the change, maybe those in the legal community. Then there is academia; I’ve been friends with my professors for a decade. This is my journey of coalition-building, people who care about making the world a better place.”

Williams-Pittman has had success on X/Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, connecting with authors and community and political leaders. “I go and find them, and then I'll start following,” she says. “What they're doing is starting conversations, and frequently, they respond.”

Shortly after Kurtz presented virtually, he traveled to Thailand to attend a conference he learned about through a LinkedIn connection.

“I found out that some of my PCN connections are speaking at the conference in Thailand,” he said. “It is an amazing opportunity to meet people that I’ve been connecting with on the internet, to hear from them in person and continue to do work together.”

Other examples of what researchers, practitioners and students can accomplish through a PCN

• Establish themselves credibly in the field, whatever stage they are at
• Contribute knowledge of social systems across interdisciplinary contexts
• Contribute to public conversations about policy and practices
• Enter into professional relationships extending beyond in-person networks to include global perspectives from practitioners, social service agency leaders, service recipients, academics, journalists and other potential collaborators and stakeholders
• Connect with and elevate the voices of those most impacted by research and practice
• Create opportunities for collaborations and dissemination via informal and formal networks
• Achieve greater impact and influence decision-making across fields

Do you have questions or comments for the Office of the Provost? Let us know your thoughts and we’ll be happy to get back to you.

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