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Business Plan

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Learn more about Business Plan in Philippines

Using a business plan in the Philippines is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, a business plan serves as a roadmap that outlines the goals, strategies, and financial projections for a business venture. It helps to clarify the direction and vision of the business, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned. Additionally, a well-developed business plan is often required when seeking financing from banks, investors, or government institutions. It demonstrates the feasibility and potential profitability of the business, increasing the chances of obtaining funding. Themis Partner helps you draft the best business plan for your company while being fully compliant with Philippines Laws.

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Table of contents, what is a business plan, when do you use business plan for your business, why is a business plan important for success, what does a business plan include in the philippines, how to make a business plan for the philippine market, what are the tips for writing a business plan for startups, how important is market research in developing a business plan, how to incorporate financial projections into my business plan.

A business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the goals, strategies, and financial projections of a business. It serves as a roadmap for entrepreneurs, providing a clear vision of their business idea and how they plan to achieve success. A well-crafted business strategy roadmap includes sections such as an executive summary, company description, market analysis, marketing strategies, organizational structure, financial projections, and more. It helps entrepreneurs articulate their business concept, understand their target market, identify potential challenges, and plan for growth and sustainability.

Business plans are typically used in various scenarios throughout the lifecycle of a business. They are essential when starting a new venture as they provide a blueprint for success, helping entrepreneurs secure funding from investors or financial institutions. A business plan is also beneficial when seeking partners or collaborators, as it outlines the business’s potential and growth prospects. Moreover, established businesses can use these strategic roadmaps to strategize for expansion, diversification, or entering new markets. Additionally, a strategic roadmap can be periodically reviewed and updated to assess progress, make necessary adjustments, and attract new investors or stakeholders.

A comprehensive business plan is vital for success in the Philippines due to several reasons. Firstly, it helps entrepreneurs gain a deep understanding of the local market dynamics, consumer behavior, and competition. The Philippine market is diverse and rapidly evolving, making market knowledge crucial for business sustainability. A well-researched business strategic roadmap allows entrepreneurs to identify and capitalize on market opportunities, mitigate risks, and make informed decisions. The business strategic roadmap is essential for attracting investors in the Philippines. Investors often require a thorough strategic roadmap to assess the viability and potential of a venture. A comprehensive plan demonstrates professionalism, preparedness, and a strategic approach to business development. It provides investors with the necessary information to evaluate the financial projections, growth prospects, and return on investment. A strategic roadmap serves as a roadmap for entrepreneurs, outlining their goals, strategies, and milestones. It helps in aligning the efforts of the entire organization and provides a basis for decision-making. A well-structured plan enhances operational efficiency, resource allocation, and risk management, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the business in the dynamic Philippine market.

By incorporating these key elements into your business plan, you can create a comprehensive and tailored document that addresses the specific needs of ventures in the Philippines. This ensures that your document aligns with the local market dynamics, consumer preferences, and regulatory environment, increasing the chances of success.

1. Executive Summary: This section provides a concise overview of the business, its mission, vision, unique selling proposition, and key highlights.

2. Company Description: Describe the nature of the business, its legal structure, products or services offered, and the target market in the Philippines.

3. Market Analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis of the Philippine market, including market size, growth trends, customer demographics, and competitive landscape.

4. Marketing and Sales Strategies: Outline your marketing and sales approach, including pricing strategies, distribution channels, promotional activities, and customer acquisition plans.

5. Organizational Structure: Define the organizational structure of your business, including key management personnel, their roles, and responsibilities.

6. Product or Service Offering: Provide detailed information about your products or services, including their unique features, benefits, and competitive advantages in the Philippine market.

7. Financial Projections: Include financial statements, such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections, to showcase the financial feasibility and profitability of the venture.

8. Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Identify potential risks and challenges that may impact your business in the Philippine market and outline strategies to mitigate them.

9. Implementation Plan: Outline the steps and timelines for executing your document, including key milestones and resource requirements.

Step 1. Executive Summary

Provide an overview of your business idea, including your goals, target market, and unique value proposition for the Philippine market.

Step 2. Market Analysis

Conduct comprehensive research on the Philippine market, including customer demographics, buying behaviors, cultural nuances, and trends. Identify market gaps, competition, and potential opportunities specific to the Philippines.

Step 3. Business Concept and Value Proposition

Clearly articulate your business concept and how it addresses the needs of the Philippine market. Highlight your unique value proposition and how it differentiates you from competitors.

Step 4. Marketing and Sales Strategy

Outline your marketing and sales strategies tailored to the Philippine market. Define your target customers, pricing strategy, distribution channels, and promotional activities. Consider leveraging digital marketing platforms, local partnerships, and culturally relevant marketing approaches.

Step 5. Operational Plan

Detail the operational aspects of your business, including location, facilities, equipment, and production processes. Consider local regulations, permits, and licensing requirements that Philippines Laws may apply.

Step 6. Organization and Management

This document may indicate stability for your firm by demonstrating that you have planned ahead of time so that any issue can be resolved easily and quickly. This is very crucial for banks and other creditors who may be interested in investing in your firm.

Step 7. Product or Service Offering

Provide a comprehensive description of your products or services and how they meet the needs of the Philippine market. Highlight any customization or localization efforts specific to the local preferences and cultural context.

Step 8. Financial Projections

Develop realistic financial projections, including sales forecasts, expense estimates, and projected profitability. Consider local market conditions, pricing dynamics, and costs specific to the Philippine market.

Step 9. Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Identify potential risks and challenges that your business may face in the Philippine market. Develop strategies to mitigate these risks, such as contingency plans, partnerships, or diversification strategies.

Step 10. Implementation Plan

Create a step-by-step action plan outlining the tasks, timelines, and responsibilities for launching and operating your business in the Philippine market. Include milestones and measurable goals to track your progress.

ℹ️ Themis Partners legal experts also help you in your company registration so it helps you select the right type of company and ensure a full compliance to the Philippine Laws.

Writing an effective business plan for startups in the Philippines requires a focused and strategic approach. Begin by clearly articulating your business concept, value proposition, and target market, emphasizing what sets you apart from local competitors. Conduct thorough market research to understand customer needs and preferences, and tailor your products or services accordingly. Outline your marketing and sales strategies, incorporating digital marketing techniques and innovative promotional campaigns to reach and attract your target customers. Showcase your understanding of the local competitive landscape and explain how your startup will gain a competitive edge. Present a comprehensive financial plan with realistic revenue projections, expense forecasts, and a clear path to profitability. Highlight the qualifications and experience of your team, demonstrating their commitment to the success of the startup. By following these tips, you can create a compelling strategic roadmap that resonates with potential investors and stakeholders in the Philippines.

Market research and analysis play a critical role in developing a business plan for the Philippine market. It provides valuable insights into customer preferences, market trends, competition, and industry dynamics. Here’s why market research is important:

By incorporating comprehensive market research and analysis into your business plan, you demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Philippine market. This increases the credibility of your plan, enhances its strategic relevance, and positions your business for success in the dynamic and competitive Philippine market.

Financial projections and forecasting play a vital role in a business plan for ventures in the Philippines, providing a clear understanding of the financial feasibility and profitability of your business. To incorporate financial projections into your plan, develop realistic revenue projections based on market research and sales estimates. Estimate expenses comprehensively, considering operational costs, marketing expenses, and other relevant expenditures. Create a cash flow projection to track cash inflows and outflows, and conduct a break-even analysis to determine the point of profitability. Determine your financing needs and outline plans for raising capital, while considering sensitivity analysis to assess potential market fluctuations. By including comprehensive financial projections in your strategic roadmap, you demonstrate financial acumen, attract potential investors, and provide a strong foundation for decision-making and resource allocation in the Philippines.

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Paano Gumawa ng Business Plan

February 13, 2018 by Ray L. 3 Comments

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English Version (Click Here)

Sa pagluluto, ang mga pinakamagagaling na chef ay sumusunod sa konseptong “mise en place” (lahat nasa tamang lugar). Ibig sabihin noon, kailangan naintindihan mo na ang mga instructions o tagubilin sa pagluluto at inihanda mo na ang lahat ng sangkap bago ka magsimula. Kung hindi mo siniguradong ihanda ang lahat ng kailangan, ang mga nakalimutan mong gawin ay pwedeng makasira sa lasa ng iyong niluluto. Ang konseptong ito ay pwede mo ring gamitin sa pagsisimula ng negosyo. Kailangang planado mo na ang lahat para makita mo ang mga bagay na pwedeng pagmulan ng problema at iresolba mo sila bago ka magsimula, at ililista mo rin ang mga bagay na kailangan mong gawin para mas mataas ang pagkakataong magtagumpay ang iyong negosyo.

Bukod sa paghahanda para sa mga problemang pwedeng harapin, kapag nangangailangan ka ng loans sa bangko o kailangan mo ng investors na magbibigay ng pera o kapital para sa iyong negosyo, malamang gugustuhin muna nilang makita ang iyong business plan . Isipin mo lang, kung may nanghihingi sa iyo ng sampung libong dolyar (halos P500,000), ang negosyanteng alam ang kailangan nilang gawin para magtagumpay ang kanilang negoyso ay mas nararapat bigyan ng pagkakataon kumpara sa isa pang negosyanteng nanghuhula lang.

Maraming ibang mas detalyadong guides tungkol sa pagsulat ng business plan sa internet. Ang article na ito ay maglalaman lang ng basics. Ang pangunahing dahilan kung bakit isinulat ko ito ay dahil hindi ganoon karami ang mga guides na nakasulat sa Tagalog. Kapag kailangan mong magsimulang gumawa ng business plan, basahin mo lang ito para makita ang ilang mga bagay na kailangan mong pagisipan.

Executive summary

Madalas ito ang pinakaunang bahagi ng business plan pagkatapos ng title page. Ang executive summary ay naglalaman ng mga pinakamahalagang impormasyon tungkol sa iyong kumpanya.

• Ano ang ginagawa ng kumpanya mo?
• Ano ang iyong mga produkto o serbisyong ginagawa?
• Ano ang mission statement ng kumpanya mo?

Ano ang iyong pinakamahalagang competitive advantages at disadvantages (mga ginagawa ninyo kung saan mas magaling kayo kumpara sa ibang kumpanya, at mga bagay na hindi mo magawa nang kasing husay nila) pati na rin operational strengths at weaknesses (mga nagagawa niyong mabuti sa negosyo at mga problema niyo sa pagpapatakbo ng negosyo)? Ang lahat ng iyong at iba pa ay dapat nakabuod sa bahaging ito.

Bukod pa roon, sabi ng iba kailangan mo ring sabihin dito ang mga bagay na kailangan mo mula sa mga taong magbabasa ng iyong plan. Kapag kailangan mo ng investment na pera para sa kung ano mang bagay, pwede mo silang ilarawan dito. Siguraduhin mo lang na kaaya-aya ito para sa mga investors.

Ang isa pang payo na ibinibigay ng mga tao ay dapat mo raw isulat ang executive summary pagkatapos mong isulat ang iba pang bahagi ng iyong business plan. Kung mayroon ka nang klarong overview o pagtanaw ng iyong negosyo, saka ka lang makakapagsulat ng summary na magbubuod nito ng maayos.

Business or company description

Kailangan nakalagay dito ang mga pinakamahalagang detalye ng iyong industriya at kumpanya . Gaano kalaki ang iyong organisasyon? Nasaan ang opisina ninyo? Ano ang pangunahing ginagawa ng iyong kumpanya? (i.e. manufacturing products, services and repairs, atbp.)

Kailangan mo ring ilagay dito ang pinakamagagandang impormasyon tungkol sa kumpanya niyo . Sabihin mo ang mga bagay kung saan mahusay ang kumpanya niyo at anong mga factors o mga bagay ang nakakatulong sa iyong negosyo tulad ng iyong mga competitive advantages, operational strengths, technological advantages, at iba pa.

Organization and management

Ano ang legal structure ng iyong kumpanya? (Sole proprietorship? Corporation?) Sino sino ang iyong pinakamatataas na executives at team members? Mayroon ba sa inyong may special skills o experience na mabuting malaman ng mga investors? May mga tauhan ka ba na mga celebrities, influencers, o mga mahusay na entrepreneur na makatutulong nang husto sa iyong kumpanya na magtagumpay sa negosyo?

Market strategy or market analysis

Pagusapan mong mabuti ang mga kasalukuyang nangyayari sa iyong industriya at ang market na gusto mong pasukin. Maraming tao ba ang bibili ng mga produkto o serbisyo mo? Papatok ba ang negosyo mo sa kasalukuyang panahon? May mga bagong trends ka bang maaaring gamitin? Mayroon din bang mga bagong pangyayari na pwedeng magdulot ng mga problema? Alin naman doon ang magagamit mo para maging mas matibay ang posisyon ng iyong negosyo?

Anong klaseng tao (o organisasyon) ang nasa iyong target market (mga pagbebentahan mo)? Sinu sino ang iyong pinakamahahalaga mong customers? Sino ang mga taong bibili ng iyong produkto o gagamit ng iyong mga serbisyo?

Bago pa iyon, kailangan mo ring alamin kapag may malaking market para sa iyong produkto o serbisyo, at kung kayang suportahan ng mga produkto mo ang pangangailangan ng mga customers mo. Kapag mali ang kalkulasyon mo dito, baka matulad ka sa mga kumpanyang nagbebenta dati ng mga segway at “hoverboards” . May maganda nga silang produkto, pero hindi naman pala ganoon kalaki ang market (walang masyadong bumibili).

Competitor analysis

Ang isang mahalagang business tip na natutunan ko ay mabuti kapag mayroon kang kompetisyon . Kapag may mga kakompetensya kang mga kumpanya na gumagawa ng produkto o serbisyong katulad ng iyo, ibig sabihin noon may market nga para sa produkto mo. May mga taong bumibili ng mga bagay na gusto mong ibenta, at marami ang bumibili kaya may mga negosyong nabubuhay at umaasenso dito.

Ang tanong naman ngayon, ano ang pwede mong matutunan sa iyong mga kakompetensya? Ano ang ginagawa nila? May mga trends ba silang sinusundan o sinisimulan? Ano ang pinagkaiba mo sa kanila? Bakit naman ikaw ang pipiliin ng mga customers at hindi ang kakompetensya mo?

Products and services

Ilarawan mo nang mabuti ang mga produkto o serbisyong ibebenta mo. Ano ang mga ito at ano ang espesyal sa gawa mo? Paano ito ginagawa? May mga kaparehong produkto ba sa market? Gaano kabuti ang iyong produkto kumpara sa iba? Bukod sa lahat, pag usapan mo kung bakit gugustuhin ng mga customers ang iyong produkto. Anong pangunahing benepisyo ang ibibigay ng iyong produkto o serbisyo sa ibang tao?

Marketing strategy

Anong niche o specialization ang papasukin mo? Sinu sino ang iyong mga ideal customers (tamang tama sa pangangailangan nila ang produkto mo)? Paano mo ipropromote o iaadvertise ang iyong produkto sa iyong mga customers? Paano mo ibebenta ang produkto mo? Anong mga tindahan ang magiistock nito? Ibebenta mo ba ito online? Paano mo gagawin ang pagtanggap ng orders at delivery? Ang lahat ng iyon at maraming pang ibang detalye ay dapat kasama sa iyong marketing strategy.

Financial plan/analysis/projections

Kung nangangailangan ka ng funding o pera, dito ang pinakamainam na lugar kung saan mo pwedeng ilagay iyon. Ilarawan mo ang halagang kakailanganin mo, saan mo ito gagamitin, mga kondisyong gusto mo, at marami pang iba. Gumawa ka ng napakaayos at detalyadong estimates ng posibleng cash flow, income statements, balance sheets at iba pa tungkol dito.

Isang payo na natutunan ko mula sa What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School  ni Mark McCormack ay para sa mga entrepreneur na nagsisimula pa lang , doblehin mo ang expected overhead projections (ang budget mo para sa iyong gastusin sa darating na taon). Gaano ka man kametikuloso sa iyong pagplano, may mga lilitaw na hindi inaasahang gastusin kang babayaran.

Habang sinasabi ng iba na nawawalang kwenta ang battle plans kapag nakaharap mo na ang kalaban at ang mga business plan ay nagiging walang kwenta kapag nakaharap mo na ang mga customers, kailangan mo pa ring gumawa ng business plan. Sabi nga naman ng iba, ang mga hindi gumagawa ng plano ay nagplaplanong mabigo. Kailangan mo lang maging flexible at magbago ng mga plano kapag kinakailangan. Ang business plan nga naman ay isang mabuting simula para sa mga bagay na kailangan mong gawin AT ito rin ay mabuting dokumento kapag naghahanap ka ng mga investors.

Siya nga pala, bukod pa sa article na ito, narito ang ibang sources na pwede mong basahin tungkol sa paggawa ng business plan:

• A Standard Business Plan Outline [Updated for 2017]
• Write your business plan
• How to Write a Business Plan
• Comprehensive Business Plan Outline for Small Business
• Raising Capital as a Minority Business Owner / Entrepreneur

About Ray L.

Ray is the main writer behind YourWealthyMind.com. He is a proponent of self-improvement and self-education, and he believes that anyone can achieve their goals once they learn the knowledge and skills they need to attain them. He considers it his mission to enrich lives and end poverty by teaching people lessons they may need to succeed.

November 23, 2021 at 10:30 am

Very informative and easy to understand especially that it’s written in Tagalog. Would like to have a permission to use (include) this in my lesson for my grade 10 students. Since it’s modular distance learning and they have to study on their own, they were having a difficulty in understanding the lesson especially if it’s written in English. I’ll be giving them this link so that they will be able to understand the concept and the components of a business plan.

November 24, 2021 at 7:27 am

Hello Teacher Jo,

Sure! Please go ahead and use it! I hope your students find it useful.

Regards, Ray L. YourWealthyMind.com

[…] Tagalog Version (Click Here) […]

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

Updated: July 01, 2024

Published: November 08, 2018

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.

So 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 Types

Business plan format, sample business plan: section by section, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.

Ultimately, the format of your business plan will vary based on your goals for that plan. I’ve added this quick review of different business plan types that achieve differing goals.

For a more detailed exploration of business plan types, you can check out this post .

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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

A strategic business plan is another business plan that's often shared internally. 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.

I’m going to focus on a startup business plan that needs to be detailed and research-backed as well as compelling enough to convince investors to offer funding. In my experience, the most comprehensive and convincing business plans contain the following sections.

Executive Summary

This all-important introduction to your business plan sets the tone and includes the company description as well as what you will be exchanging for money — whether that’s product lines, services, or product-service hybrids.

Market Opportunity

Information about gaps in your industry’s market and how you plan to fill them, focused on demand and potential for growth.

Competitive Landscape Analysis

An overview of your competitors that includes consideration of their strengths and how you’ll manage them, their weaknesses and how you’ll capitalize on them, and how you can differentiate your offerings in the industry.

Target Audience

Descriptions of your ideal customers, their various problems that you can solve, and your customer acquisition strategy.

Marketing Strategy

This section details how you will market your brand to achieve specific goals, the channels and tactics you’ll utilize to reach those goals, and the metrics you’ll be using to measure your progress.

Key Features and Benefits

This is where you’ll use plain language to emphasize the value of your product/service, how it solves the problems of your target audiences, and how you’ll scale up over time.

Pricing and Revenue

This section describes your pricing strategy and plans for building revenue streams that fit your audiences while achieving your business goals.

This is the final section, communicating with investors that your business idea is worth investing in via profit/loss statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets to prove viability.

Okay, so now that we have a format established, I’ll give you more specific details about each section along with examples. Truthfully, I wish I’d had this resource to help me flesh out those first business plans long ago.

1. Executive Summary

I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. It is essentially an overview of and introduction to your entire project.

Write this in such a way that it grabs your readers' attention and guides 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: your company description and your products and services.

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. This is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.

Need some extra help firming up your business goals? I’d recommend HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set meaningful goals that matter most for your business.

Products and Services

Here, you will incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive, as it is just a chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business. I recommend including snippets of information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here as well.

Keep in mind that you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. The executive summary should be clear and brief, only including the most important takeaways.

Executive Summary Business Plan Examples

This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template . What makes this executive summary good is that it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.

Our Mission

Maria’s Gluten Free Bagels offers gluten-free bagels, along with various toppings, other gluten-free breakfast sandwich items, and coffee. The facility is entirely gluten free. Our team expects to catch the interest of gluten-free, celiac, or health-conscious community members who are seeking an enjoyable cafe to socialize. Due to a lack of gluten-free bagel products in the food industry currently, we expect mild competition and are confident we will be able to build a strong market position.

The Company and Management

Maria’s Gluten Free Bagels was founded in 2010 by Maria Jones, who first began selling her gluten-free bagels online from her home, using social media to spread the word. In 2012 she bought a retail location in Hamilton, MA, which now employs four full-time employees and six part-time employees. Prior to her bagel shop, Maria was a chef in New York and has extensive experience in the food industry.

Along with Maria Jones, Gluten Free Bagel Shop has a board of advisors. The advisors are:

• Jeni King, partner at Winding Communications, Ltd.
• Henry Wilson, president of Blue Robin, LLP.

Our Product

We offer gluten-free products ranging from bagels and cream cheese to blueberry muffins, coffee, and pastries. Our customers are health-conscious, community-oriented people who enjoy gluten-free products. We will create a welcoming, warm environment with opportunities for open mic nights, poetry readings, and other community functions. We will focus on creating an environment in which someone feels comfortable meeting a friend for lunch, or working remotely.

Our Competitive Advantages

While there are other coffee shops and cafes in the North Shore region, there are none that offer purely gluten-free options. This restricts those suffering from gluten-free illnesses or simply those with a gluten-free preference. This will be our primary selling point. Additionally, our market research [see Section 3] has shown a demand for a community-oriented coffee and bagel shop in the town of Hamilton, MA.

Financial Considerations

Our sales projections for the first year are $400,000. We project a 15% growth rate over the next two years. By year three, we project 61% gross margins.

We will have four full-time employees. The salary for each employee will be $50,000.

Start-up Financing Requirements

We are seeking to raise $125,000 in startup to finance year one. The owner has invested $50,000 to meet working capital requirements, and will use a loan of $100,000 to supplement the rest.

Example 2 :

Marianne and Keith Bean have been involved with the food industry for several years. They opened their first restaurant in Antlers, Oklahoma in 1981, and their second in Hugo in 1988. Although praised for the quality of many of the items on their menu, they have attained a special notoriety for their desserts. After years of requests for their flavored whipped cream toppings, they have decided to pursue marketing these products separately from the restaurants.

Marianne and Keith Bean have developed several recipes for flavored whipped cream topping. They include chocolate, raspberry, cinnamon almond, and strawberry. These flavored dessert toppings have been used in the setting of their two restaurants over the past 18 years, and have been produced in large quantities. The estimated shelf life of the product is 21 days at refrigeration temperatures and up to six months when frozen. The Beans intend to market this product in its frozen state in 8 and 12-ounce plastic tubs. They also intend to have the products available in six ounce pressurized cans. Special attention has been given to developing an attractive label that will stress the gourmet/specialty nature of the products.

Distribution of Fancy's Foods Whipped Dream product will begin in the local southeastern Oklahoma area. The Beans have an established name and reputation in this area, and product introduction should encounter little resistance.

Financial analyses show that the company will have both a positive cash flow and profit in the first year. The expected return on equity in the first year is 10.88%

Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary

• Start with a strong introduction of your company that showcases your mission and impact, then outline the products and services you provide.
• Clearly define a problem, 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, you might emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists, whereas you might emphasize community benefits and minimal environmental impact for progressive nonprofits.

For more guidance, check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary .

2. Market Opportunity

This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market. Ask and answer: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?

To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, SOM analysis , a SWOT analysis , and perform market research on your industry to get some insights for this section. More specifically, here’s what I’d include.

• 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

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.

Example: The market for Doggie Pause is all of the dog owners in the metropolitan area and surrounding areas of the city. We believe that this is going to be 2/3 of the population, and we have a goal of gaining a 50% market share. We have a target of a 20% yearly profit increase as the business continues.

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 Analysis

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 the following:

• 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 shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are. It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location. This demonstrates useful experience in the industry, helping to build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.

Competitive Environment

Currently, there are four primary competitors in the Greater Omaha Area: Pinot’s Palette Lakeside (franchise partner), Village Canvas and Cabernet, The Corky Canvas, and Twisted Vine Collective. The first three competitors are in Omaha and the fourth is located in Papillion.

Despite the competition, all locations have both public and private events. Each location has a few sold-out painting events each month. The Omaha locations are in new, popular retail locations, while the existing Papillion location is in a downtown business district.

There is an opportunity to take advantage of the environment and open a studio in a well-traveled or growing area. Pinot’s Palette La Vista will differentiate itself from its competitors by offering a premium experience in a high-growth, influential location.

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? I’d recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear about why you're targeting them. Here are some questions I’d ask myself:

• 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?

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.

The Audience

Recognize that audiences are often already aware of important issues. Outreach materials should:

• Emphasize a pollution-prevention practice
• Tell audience a little about how to prevent pollution
• Tell audience where they can obtain information about prevention.

Message Content

• Focus the content for outreach materials on cost savings, such as when and where pollution prevention is as cheap as or cheaper than traditional techniques. Include facts and figures.
• Emphasize how easy it is to do the right thing and the impacts of not engaging in pollution prevention.
• Stress benefits such as efficiency or better relations with government, for businesses not primarily concerned with public image.

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 think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier. I’d suggest including these details:

• 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.

Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example

This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler. In my opinion, it works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.

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.

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