MAKING A BUSINESS PLAN

Objectives

• To understand how a business plan is divided into sections

• To list the uses of a business plan• To lay out the steps involved in writing a business plan• To list out data required in drawing up a business plan• To discuss about the various types of business plan• To understand the significance of an executive summary• To understand the structure and composition of various

sections of a business plan• To list the various appendices and exhibits needed in a

business plan

Uses of a Business Plan

• Equity funding

• Bank finance

• Alliances

• Recruitment

• Clarify the business

• Others

Kinds of Business Plans

• Summary Plan

• Executive summary

• Full Business Plan

• Operational Business Plan

• The oral presentation

Steps in Writing a Business Plan

• Define purpose

• Collect Information

• Put it down

• The rough draft.

• Financial analysis

• Finishing

• Review

Data Required

• Company details– Documents relating to formation– Shareholding details– Permits and registrations

• Management – Organization chart– Details of key employees– Consultants and advisors– Compensation and other employee agreements

• Industry and Competitors– Market statistics from secondary sources– Reports on trends, etc– Competitor data– Customer surveys

Data Required• Operations

– Product specifications– Contracts and purchase orders for raw materials– Competitive advantages– Details of Intellectual Property (Patent, license, and trademarks)– Regulatory approvals – Industry standards as per regulations– Plant layout and operations plan– Research and development plans

• Marketing and Sales– Marketing plan– Advance orders, if any– Marketing materials

• Financial Information– Data on fixed and variable costs to be incurred– Financial forecasts

Key Sections of a Business Plan

• Executive summary• The company• The management team• The industry and the market• Operations

– Starting up

• The marketing plan• Financial plan• Risks and contingencies• Appendices

Executive Summary

The executive summary is probably the most important section of the business plan.

It is basically the whole business plan condensed into a few pages

The main objective of the executive summary is to entice the reader to go through the entire plan.

The Company

• History

• Current Status

• Future

The Management Team

• Technical and professional qualifications• Quality of work experience• Experience in the relevant sector• Reputation in the business community• Evidence of moral integrity• Financial capacity• Networking with other vital people in the

industry

The Industry and the market

• An industry is a collection of sellers

• A market is a collection of buyers– Concentrate on the relevant segments

• Competition

Operations

• Gantt chart outline setup

• Technology

• Raw material strategy

• Production planning

• Quality

• HR policy

Marketing

• Target Segments

• Branding

• Product

• Packaging

• Pricing

• Distribution

• Promotion

Finance

• Funds sought

• Projected financial statements

• Costing details

• Break even and payback analysis

Risks and Contingencies

Identify major threats and risks

Outline strategies for countering them

Appendices

• Copy of documents pertaining to incorporation or formalisation of partnership.

• CV’s of the entrepreneur/s and of key employees• Copies of various permits or permissions granted.• Copies of papers pertaining to sale or lease of land for

the business• Copies of documentation of proprietary intellectual

property • Graphical representation of schedule including

milestones and dates• Photographs of location • Factory or plant layout• Graphical representation of production process

Appendices

• Findings of market survey conducted• Photograph of product or prototype• Storyboards or mock-ups of advertisements• Projected balance sheets• Projected profit and loss accounts• Projected cash flow statements• Sensitivity analysis of P&L a/c • Break even analysis• Financial ratios