How many articles and videos have you already check out about how to write a business plan? I’m guessing you’ve spent some time, and you’re here now because you want something comprehensive and straight forward.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to push any story about how amazing I am and why you should buy my step by step business plan. The following video will take you step by step through creating a business plan and planning the marketing. After that, we will give you our version with all the details and plenty of resources to get you well on your way.

Business plans can be anything from a few pages to a small book; it’s important to understand your own situation so you don’t get overwhelmed and try to do more than you need or not take it seriously and miss out on crucial funding.



We’ll show you step by step and an overview of what a business looks like so you can get the general layout as well as fully understand each component.



We will start with a definition, then a brief overview, followed by a template explaining all of the components, and end with the executive summary marketing plan.



Feel free to skip to whichever part you really need.

Definition: A business plan is a document, which describes all the key aspects of the future enterprise or project, analyzes all the problems the enterprise can face and defines methods of solution for the identified issue.

In simpler words, it is a plan for your goals and how you are going to achieve them. For investors’ sake, it might include possible obstacles and how you would overcome them.

Overview: A properly composed business plan is a clear response to the questions: “Is it worth it to invest money in this business,” and “will it bring revenue that will more than reimburse the invested capital and time?”



A business plan should always be short and concise. However, it can be content rich when focused on a solution to a particular problem. Business plans are recommended to have about 30 to 70 pages tops. Any additional materials and resources should be put in the appendix.

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Sections of a Business Plan

A formal business plan should contain the following three sections:

Annotation: No more than 1 page. It is a written request for top management. Resume: 1 to 3 pages. It is basic information for guidance through a business plan. Business plan: 30 to 60 pages. It is a detailed project study by investors and experts.



Formal business plans are very important for startups who are looking for investors with big time money. If you are planning to bootstrap and you are already working on your startup, you might not need anything this elaborate.



It is still important to put together a business plan even if you aren’t planning on pitching it to investors. Your business plan will be the vision of your company. It will be the rudder of your ship to keep you straight on course.



When it comes to gaining support for your business plan, the experience of the founders matter. If you don’t have any experience, your business plan is the first thing and possibly the only thing investors are going to see.



IMPORTANT! Take the writing of your business plan and the proposal very seriously. You might be the smartest person with the greatest idea; however, when investors see your business plan they won’t see you. They only see your writing. Get it right, or you won’t get the meeting.



Keep in mind the reason for putting together your business plan. Yes, it is to help understand the vision of the company, but it is also to help investors and banks feel secure about investing in you.



A well put together plan by an experienced entrepreneur should have tons of data. It should have data from any relevant or related labs, technicians, as well as from existing markets.



Unfortunately, and often enough, young entrepreneurs come into the market without extensive plans and studies. They often do not have experience in management or a clear image of problems lurking in the market.



The young entrepreneurial mindset works like a double-edged sword. On one side, they lack the actual experience of running a business, and on the other, they have the hope and expectation of success that failure has not stunted.



As a young entrepreneur, you should always be learning, reading related and unrelated non-fiction, and seeking guidance from mentors and advisors. Check out one of our related articles for more on Startup Advisors.

