• Cover Sheet: Name of Business, names of principals, address and phone number.
• Statement of Purpose
• Table of Contents
• Questions to be Answered in a Business Plan

Questions

Discription of the Business

1. What type of business are you planning (retail, wholesale, service)?
2. What products or services will you sell?
3. What type of opportunity is it (new, part-time, expansion, seasonal, year-round)?
4. Why does it promise to be successful?
5. What are the growth opportunities?

Marketing Plan

1. Who are your potential customers?
2. How will you attract and hold your share of the market?
3. Who are your competitors? How are their businesses prospering?
4. How will you promote sales?
5. Who will be your best suppliers? Why?
6. Where will the business be located?
7. What factors will influence your choice of location?
8. What features will your location have?
9. How will your building contribute to your marketing strategy?
10. What will your building layout feature?

Organization Plan

1. Who will manage the business?
2. What qualifications will you look for in a manager?
3. How many employees will you need? What will they do?
4. What are your plans for employee hiring, salaries and wages, benefits, training, and supervision?
5. How will you manage finances?
6. How will you manage recordkeeping?
7. What consultants or specialists will you need? Why will you need them?
8. What legal form of ownership will you choose? Why?
9. What licenses and permits will you need?
10. What regulations will affect your business?

Financial Plan

1. What is your total estimated business income for the first year?
   Monthly for the first year?
   Quarterly for the second and third years?
2. What will it cost you to open the business and sustain it for eighteen months of operation?
3. What will be your monthly cash flow during the first year?
4. What will your personal monthly financial needs be?
5. What sales volume will you need in order to make a profit during the first three years?
6. What will be the break-even point?
7. What will be your projected assets, liabilities, and net worth on the day before you expect to open?
8. What will the capital value of your equipment be?
9. What will your total financial needs be?
10. What will your potential funding sources be?
11. How will you use the money from lenders or investors?
12. How will the loan be secured?