What to include in a business plan

If you have the main components, the order doesn't matter that much, but here's the business plan template we suggest in Business Plan Pro software:

Executive Summary: Write this last. It's just a page or two of highlights.
Company Description: Legal establishment, history, start-up plans, etc.
Product or Service: Describe what you're selling. Focus on customer benefits.
Market Analysis: You need to know your market, customer needs, where they are, how to reach them, etc.
Strategy and Implementation: Be specific. Include management responsibilities with dates and budget.
Management Team: Include backgrounds of key members of the team, personnel strategy, and details.
Financial Plan: Include profit and loss, cash flow, balance sheet, break-even analysis, assumptions, business ratios, etc.
An expanded plan outline

We don't recommend developing the plan in the same order you present it as a finished document. For example, although the Executive Summary comes as the first section of a business plan, we recommend writing it after everything else is done.

Here are 3 great articles for writing a business plan

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