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Business Plan Template

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Business Planning

One of the most critical steps in starting a brand is developing a business plan. This document lays out your goals and strategies for achieving them, and can help you avoid common pitfalls. It’s important to listen to your gut and develop a plan that feels right for you, but following a few key guidelines can ensure a successful launch.

Business planning should be tailored to the individual brand, taking into account their goals, target audience, and resources available. It’s also important to keep an eye on trends and changing industry conditions so you can make informed decisions about your strategy.By following these tips, you’ll be on track to creating a successful brand!

Executive Summary

An Executive Summary (ES) is a short, to-the-point overview of the main points of a business plan. It should be unique, engaging and helpful to readers. It can be as simple as providing a high-level overview of the business, its goals and how it plans to achieve them, or it can dive deeper into specific areas of the brand and plan. 

Executive Summary Template

 

[Provide a one-two page overview of the business and highlight the most crucial pieces of information for readers. Typically, this brief executive summary includes:


  • A Mission Statement
  • The Company History and Leadership Model
  • An Overview of Competitive Advantage(s)
  • Financial Projections
  • Company Goals
  • An Ask From Potential Investors]

Company & Business Description

A company’s business description section is one of the most important parts of its business plan. This section should include an overview of what your company does, who your target market is, and how you plan to achieve profitability. It’s also important to identify why you believe your brand will be profitable and any potential obstacles you may face and how you plan to overcome them. By doing this, you’ll have a clear picture of what your brand is all about and why people will be attracted to it.

Company & Business Description Template

Company Purpose

[Provide a 1-2 paragraph description of your business, specifically highlighting what types of products/services you will provide, who your target market is, and why you think you’ll succeed with your current business plan.]

Mission/Vision Statement

[Insert your company’s mission and/or vision statement.]

Core Values

[Outline your company’s core values and why they were chosen.]

Team & Org Structure

[Provide an overview of your company. Who are the employees in key leadership roles, and what experience will they bring? How will your organization be structured?]

Products and Services Line

In order to make a successful business, it is important to have an area in your business plan that focuses on the products and services that you offer. This section of your business plan should include information about what type of products or services you provide, the pricing for those offers, and any special features of the products or services that may make your company unique.

Products and Services Line Template

Product Offering(s)

[Describe your product line in more detail, if applicable. List each product and its functionality.]

 

Service Offerings

[Describe your service line in more detail, if applicable. List each service and why you’re offering it.]

Pricing Model

[What will you charge for each of your products and services? What will your markups be and why? (If you need help determining what your pricing model should be, try using our Sales Pricing Calculator in The CEO Plus Membership).]

Products and Services Line

In order to make a successful business, it is important to have an area in your business plan that focuses on the products and services that you offer. This section of your business plan should include information about what type of products or services you provide, the pricing for those offers, and any special features of the products or services that may make your company unique.

Products and Services Line Template

Product Offering(s)

[Describe your product line in more detail, if applicable. List each product and its functionality.]

 

Service Offerings

[Describe your service line in more detail, if applicable. List each service and why you’re offering it.]

Pricing Model

[What will you charge for each of your products and services? What will your markups be and why? (If you need help determining what your pricing model should be, try using our Sales Pricing Calculator in The CEO Plus Membership).]

Market Analysis

The Market Analysis section of a business plan includes an assessment of the current and potential market for the proposed business. This information will help to determine the feasibility of the business and to develop a marketing strategy. The market analysis should also consider factors such as competition, demand, and pricing. In order to assess the market, it is important to have accurate information about the current state of the market. This can be obtained from surveys, interviews, and other research methods. 

 

In addition, it is useful to consider historic trends in the market. This information can be used to predict future changes, which can help to create a business plan that is strategically sound. It is also important to determine the appetite for the proposed product or service in the market. This information can be gathered by conducting focus groups or surveys. It is then possible to develop a marketing strategy that targets this particular audience. By doing this, it is likely that the business will be successful in achieving its goals.

Market Analysis Template

Target Market

[Outline the market you’re targeting and why you’re doing so. Highlight the demographics, psychographics, and size of your total addressable market.]  

Buyer Personas

[Who are you targeting? Buyer personas are semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer based on market research and real data about your existing customers. Outline these ideal customer personas here.]

Location Analysis

[Explain why you’ve chosen your (proposed) location and what benefits you expect to see from it.]

Competitor Analysis

[Explain the state of competition in your industry. You might want to include a SWOT analysis or a Porter’s Five Forces analysis here or in your appendix.

To summarize this info, list your top competitors as well as the following information for each competitor:]

  • Comparative Strength – What are your company’s assets that this competitor does not have?
  • Comparative Weakness – In what areas or attributes do your competitors outperform you?

Counterpoints – If a comparative weakness is mentioned in sales negotiations, which counterpoints can be used to address those weaknesses?

Marketing Plan

A marketing plan should include a detailed description of how you will reach your target market, including a breakdown of your budget and a timeline for achieving your goals. It’s also important to include a strategy for measuring the success of your marketing efforts, so you can determine if you’re getting the results you want. The goal of any marketing campaign is to reach as many people as possible and convert them into customers. 

 

You’ll need to assess your target market and figure out what kind of messaging will resonate with them. You should also consider which media channels are best suited for reaching your target audience, and devise effective strategies for promoting your product or service.
 By following a well-executed marketing plan, you can minimize the risk of failure while maximizing the potential for success.

Marketing Plan Template

Positioning Strategy

 

[Why are potential buyers going to be interested in your product? How will you address your buyer persona’s biggest challenges and goals? How will you use a website to your advantage?]

Acquisition Channels 

[What are your main customer acquisition channels (e.g., search engine marketing, event marketing, blogging, co-marketing, paid, etc.) and what do you plan to prioritize this year?]

Tools and Technology

[What systems will you equip your marketing team with? Will you use a CMS, marketing automation software, or blogging software? If so, list it here.]

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