Outline for Your Business Plan

Preparing your business plan is an important step for your business, whether it is new or established.  The more thought you put into your business plan, the better prepared you are to manage your business when unexpected events happen.  It is also a critical step in preparing your loan application. This outline will help you get started.

Cover Sheet

Statement of Purpose

Table of Contents

Contents of Your Plan

I. The Business
    a) Description of the business
    b) Market
    c) Competition
    d) Location of business
    e) Management
    f) Personnel
    g) Application and expected effect of loan
    h) Summary

II. Financial Data
    a) Sources and application(s) of funding
    b) Capital equipment list
    c) Break-even analysis
    d) Income projections
       • Two-year summary
       • Detailed projections, by month, for first year
       • Detailed projections, by quarter, for second year
       • Notes of explanation
    e) Historical financial report (for existing businesses only)
       • Balance sheets for past two years
       • Income statements for past two years
       • Tax returns for past two years

III. Supporting Documents
    a) Personal resumes
    b) Personal financial statements & 2 Years IRS Returns
    c) Letters of reference
    d) Job descriptions
    e) Letter of intent, if applicable
    f) Copies of leases and contracts, if applicable
    g) Legal documents, if applicable
    h) Anything else of relevance to the business plan

Other Resources