How to make a business plan step by step instructions samples. Find out how to write a business plan yourself: an example of an optimal structure

Basic rules and tips on how to create a business plan to make life easier for beginning entrepreneurs.

Smart entrepreneurs won't start a new business before they figure it out How create a business plan.

This document, which is essential for any startup, will help to avoid many unpleasant surprises, will allow you to start increasing your customer base and turnover from the first months of opening, and will lead the business to success and prosperity in a shorter time.

Of course, drawing up a business plan is not a panacea for all ills, but it greatly simplifies the life of entrepreneurs, especially beginners.

Do you even need to know how to create a business plan?

Naturally, it is necessary.

Once in a cafe I heard an excerpt of a conversation between two hucksters (sorry, gentlemen businessmen, but I cannot call these creatures differently).

One complained to the other that “this skinny bespectacled guy” came to teach me: “I should have created a business plan, then you would have seen the futility of this project.”

All this was generously flavored with obscenities, whining about the complexity of modern life for respected people and dreary memories of the most wonderful times of the 1990s, when it was not the one who was smarter who was right, but the one who had a bigger roof and a bigger gun.

No matter how much these relics of the past whine, it is no longer possible to act in the old fashioned way.

The level of competition now is too high, the market is too saturated, mistakes are too expensive.

You can’t do without creating a business plan!

If a businessman intends to implement a new business venture, does not even try to think about how to create a business plan, considering it absolutely unnecessary, then there is a high probability that something will go wrong during his work:

• it will take a lot more money than he initially thought;
• too much competition will not allow his business to develop;
• there are no suitable infrastructure facilities;
• it turns out that there are no specialists to work for you;
• your idea is generally unpromising in your locality, etc.

All of these troubles can be avoided even before you start investing money in a dead-end project if you take care to create a business plan.

Main types of business plans that can be created

“Business is a most exciting game that combines maximum excitement with a minimum of rules.”
Bill Gates

That a business plan is certainly a kind of instruction for the formation and development of a specific company, store, industrial enterprise, etc.

Indeed, most often, competent businessmen create just such a business plan for a particular enterprise in order to avoid serious mistakes and unnecessary financial expenses.

If you are pursuing a goal other than opening a company with your own money, then you need to prepare one of the following business plans:

Investment.

It is very similar to the business plan of an enterprise in its structure, but its main difference is that it is drawn up not for the owner of the company, but for the investors he wants to attract.

The main emphasis here is on market research and the benefits that this enterprise can provide to future investors.

Credit.

Some banks and credit unions require their borrowers to create such a business plan.

In it you should write down how much money you need, for what specific purposes it will be spent, when you can return it, etc.

Grant.

Getting a grant from the state or private foundation is also not so easy.

Most likely, you will be required to create a business plan in which you will have to describe what your organization or company does, what goals you want to achieve with the funds received, what your successes have been, etc.

Since most entrepreneurs are interested in how to create a business plan for an enterprise, we will talk about it next.

How to create a business plan for an enterprise: structure

If you are drawing up a business plan not only for personal purposes, but also, for example, so that your investors or partners can familiarize themselves with it, then it is better to create it according to all the rules, so that it is immediately clear: you are a serious business person and with you can do business.

It is very important to adhere to the traditional structure of a business plan:

It is read first, which means you immediately need to take the bull by the horns and describe as briefly as possible what your company will do, where it will work, how much money is needed to open it and how long you are going to implement all the ideas.

In general, a resume is actually a business plan in miniature.

Description of the enterprise.

A company like this (it’s important to come up with a name for your company before writing your resume) will do this and that.

Less water, more specifics.

Description of products/services.

Exactly what goods it collects or what services it will provide to the population.

Market analysis.


A very important part of your resume.

The more carefully you analyze your direct competitors, consumers, the free niche you are going to occupy, the pricing policy of your enterprise, sales channels, etc., the greater the chance of success for your enterprise.

It is this kind of analysis that allows you to avoid major mistakes in further work.

Organization of the enterprise.

This is the main part of your business plan, where you should indicate in stages:

• what is needed to register a company;
• what infrastructure facilities are needed for work, whether they require repair or construction work;
• list of commercial or construction equipment;
• ways to advertise yourself;
• main competitive advantages;
• members of the future team;
• timing of the project;
• commercial plan, etc.

That is, here you describe what you need to do step by step to open a company, how much money and time you will have to spend on it.

Income and expenses of the enterprise.

How much capital investment will be required to open a company (be sure to include the item “unplanned expenses”), what kind of income you plan to receive from the sale of goods or services, and how quickly your investment will pay off.

Description of risks and ways to minimize them.

To properly create your business plan,

in the following video:

How to create a business plan and avoid major mistakes?

Very often, entrepreneurs who are seriously thinking about how to create a business plan fail to avoid basic mistakes, which are:

Numbers taken from the ceiling.

Let's say you found a business plan "" on the Internet.

Everything there is beautifully painted, chewed, all the numbers are indicated.

But you don’t take into account that this plan was created three years ago and, using it as a basis for your business, all amounts had to be adjusted based on the current economic situation.

Unnecessary information.

You should not try to create a 100-page business plan; neither you nor your investors will read this Talmud.

Present all information briefly and clearly.

Conducted as a market analysis.

For some reason, many businessmen believe that it is not at all necessary to devote too much time and effort to analyzing the market in which you are going to occupy a niche.

As a result, they have to cope with many unpleasant surprises at the starting stage.

Lack of specific goals that you are going to achieve.

“I want to earn a lot!” – this is not a goal, this is a dream that may never come true.

Write down point by point what exactly you want to achieve by opening your own company.

These mini-plans with specific goals and financial expectations should be drawn up at least once a quarter until your business is firmly on its feet.

Inflated profit figures.

Of course, it’s not harmful to dream that after just two months of operation your shoe store will bring you a profit of two million, but a businessman must look at things realistically so as not to go broke.

I don't think you'll have any difficulty how to create a business plan, if you listen to my advice.

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Not a single entrepreneurial project is complete without a business plan. This document is a detailed instruction for opening a commercial business, which describes step by step the tasks that need to be solved to achieve the final goal (that is, obtaining maximum profit), as well as the methods and means that the entrepreneur is going to use. Without a business plan, it is impossible to receive investment in a commercial project or apply to a bank for a loan for business development. However, even if an entrepreneur does not plan to attract third-party funds, he still needs a business plan - for himself.

Why is this document needed, and what is its exceptional importance? A well-written business plan, which contains verified information and verified figures, is the foundation of a commercial project. It will allow you to analyze in advance the state of the market and the severity of competition, predict possible risks and develop ways to minimize them, estimate the size of the required start-up capital and the total amount of investment, as well as the expected profit - in short, find out whether it is advisable to take a financial risk and invest money in this idea .

"Business idea"

The basis of any project is a business idea - that is, for the sake of which, in fact, everything was conceived. An idea is a service or product that will bring profit to the entrepreneur. The success of a project is almost always determined by the right choice of idea.

• Which idea is successful?

The success of an idea is its potential profitability. So, at any time there are directions that are initially favorable for making a profit. For example, some time ago it was fashionable to import yoghurts into the Russian Federation - this product instantly gained popularity among the population, and in proportion to this popularity, the number of companies involved in import grew. Only a completely unlucky and incompetent entrepreneur could fail a project in this area and make the business unprofitable. Now, the idea of ​​selling yoghurts with a high degree of probability will not be successful: the market is already oversaturated with domestically produced products, imported goods are unlikely to be favorably accepted by consumers due to the high price and customs difficulties, moreover, the main players in this segment have already established themselves in the market and established supply and sales channels.

Most entrepreneurs, when choosing an idea for making a profit, think in the categories of the majority - they say, if this business brings income to my friend, then I can also improve my business. However, the more “role models” there are, the greater the level of competition and the less opportunity to dictate their prices. In a mass business, approximate prices have already been established, and a newcomer, in order to increase its competitiveness, has to set prices below market prices in order to attract customers - which, of course, does not contribute to making a big profit.

Potentially highly profitable ideas now are those proposals that help an entrepreneur occupy a free market niche - that is, offer something that other businessmen have not yet thought of. To find an original business idea, sometimes all you need to do is look around and think about what consumers are missing in a certain area. Thus, a successful idea was the production of mops that allow you to wring out a rag without getting your hands wet, or special lamps that cannot be dismantled without the use of special tools - this know-how has significantly reduced the number of thefts of light bulbs in hallways.

Often, you don’t even need to generate original ideas yourself - you can use new products that have been successfully implemented in other countries or cities, but have not yet occupied the corresponding market niche in your region. By following this path, you will become the first to offer this know-how to consumers in your region or country, and, therefore, you will be able to set prices for this product (service).

However, originality alone is not enough for a successful business idea. There are two objective prerequisites for a business to be successful:

1. - a potential buyer needs your product or at least understands its usefulness (for example, a person may not yet know about a certain medicine, but he realizes that something similar can cure his illness);
2. - the buyer is ready to pay for your product or service) exactly the price that you plan to ask (for example, almost everyone wants to buy a car - however, as we know, not everyone can afford a car).

And one more note regarding innovative business ideas - excessive originality can only harm profits, since the potential audience may simply not be ready for your proposal (most consumers are conservative by nature and have difficulty changing their habits). The least risky option is to stick to the golden mean - that is, to bring already familiar goods or services to the market, but in an improved form.

• How to determine if a given business idea is right for you?

Even a potentially successful business idea may not turn out to be successful in practice if it is not suitable for a particular entrepreneur. So, opening a beauty salon is relatively easy - but if you do not understand the intricacies of the salon business, then your brainchild is unlikely to bring you good profits. A business idea must be supported by the entrepreneur’s experience, knowledge and, of course, capabilities. What indicators indicate that your project will be within your capabilities?

1. - Professionalism. You can have a specialized education in your chosen field, or you can just as easily be a passionate self-taught person. The main thing is that you have an understanding of the production process and other necessary knowledge in the chosen field.
2. - Passion. You must like what you are going to do and offer. Moreover, you should like not only the final product, but also the process itself, because you won’t be able to give all your strength to a job you don’t like, which means it will be difficult to bring it to a good level. Remember the famous proverb: “find a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
3. - Personal characteristics. If you are a closed and uncommunicative person and feel uncomfortable in the company of other people, then it will be difficult for you to negotiate. And if you, for example, are a convinced vegetarian, then there is no point in considering selling semi-finished meat products - even if this business can bring good profits, you will still feel uncomfortable doing it.
4. - What you have (land, real estate, equipment, etc.). Starting any kind of production will be much less expensive if you already have the appropriate equipment. And if you inherited, say, a private house not far from the road, then this is a good opportunity to make a profit from roadside trading, because your competitors, if they are found, do not have such a good location, and this advantage can overcome even your inexperience.

Competition: how to become special:

As mentioned above, to apply your entrepreneurial efforts, it is most advisable to choose those areas where competition is frivolous or absent altogether. However, in most cases, entrepreneurs one way or another have to face competitors, and businessmen are faced with the question - how to stand out from them? This can be done due to the following advantages:

Competitive advantages

When introducing yourself to potential consumers, try to immediately draw their attention to the advantages that distinguish your offer from similar ones, so that buyers see that you can satisfy their needs in the best way. Don’t be shy to highlight your merits and don’t rely on consumers’ ingenuity - they are unlikely to guess why your product (service) differs from the product (service) of your competitors for the better. For example, if the recipe for the bread you bake involves enriching the product with vitamins and other useful substances, then be sure to convey this fact to your future customers. You should not position your bread simply as a tasty and fresh product, because your competitors have exactly the same product - it is unlikely that anyone will sell tasteless and expired goods. But vitamins are your competitive advantage, and the buyer must definitely find out about it, so advertising needs to be thought out accordingly.

So, we have examined some of the nuances of preliminary preparation for writing a business plan, and now we can closely pay attention to this particular document and its main sections.

1. Title page.

The title page is the “face” of your business plan. This is what your potential investors or bank employees see first when deciding whether to issue you a loan for business development. Therefore, it should be clearly structured and contain all the key information about your project:

1. - Project name (for example, “Production of self-squeezing mops” or “Creation and development of a commercial Internet radio station called “XXX”);
2. - The organizational and legal form of the project and the name of the legal entity (if there are several such entities, then a list indicating areas of responsibility is required);
3. - Author and co-authors of the project
4. - Abstract to the project (for example, “this document is a step-by-step plan for the founding and development of a commercial radio station...”);
5. - Project cost (required starting capital)
6. - Place and year of creation (“Perm, 2016”).

2.Resume.

This paragraph is a brief description of the project idea, the timing of its implementation, the main goals and objectives for the implementation of the idea, the expected turnover and production volumes. forecast of key indicators - project profitability, payback period, initial investment, sales volume, net profit, etc.

Despite the fact that the summary is the first section of the business plan, it is compiled after this document has already been completely written and double-checked, since the brief description covers all other sections of the business plan. The summary should be concise and extremely logical and fully disclose all the advantages of the project, so that investors or a potential lender see that this business idea is really worth investing in it.

3.Market analytics

The section reflects the state of the market sector in which the project will be implemented, an assessment of the level of competition, characteristics of the target audience and industry development trends. It is very important that the market analysis is carried out on the basis of high-quality marketing research containing real indicators (falsified or inaccurate analysis reduces the value of the business plan to almost zero). If an entrepreneur is not competent enough in the chosen field, then in order to avoid inaccuracies and errors, he should outsource marketing research by ordering it from a trusted marketing agency.

This section usually takes up at least 10% of the total volume of the business plan. His approximate plan is as follows:

1. - General description of the selected industry (dynamics, trends and development prospects - with specific mathematical indicators);
2. - Characteristics of the main market players (that is, direct and indirect competitors), an indication of the competitive advantages and features of your business project compared to other entities;
3. - Characteristics of the target audience (geographical location, age level, gender, income level, type of consumer and user behavior, etc.). Creating a portrait of a “typical client” indicating the main motives and values ​​that guide him when choosing a product (service), pessimistic forecasting (that is, the minimum flow) of consumers of the product (service);
4. - Review of the most effective channels and ways to promote goods (services);
5. - Review and identification of the most likely risks that an entrepreneur may encounter in this market segment and suggesting ways to eliminate or minimize them (it must be remembered that risks are external circumstances and factors that do not depend on the entrepreneur);
6. - Forecast of possible changes in this market segment, as well as an overview of factors that may affect the profitability of the project.

4. Characteristics of goods (services) and their sales

This paragraph describes in detail the goods that the entrepreneur is going to produce, or the services that he is going to sell. Particular attention should be paid to the competitive advantages of a business idea, that is, what will distinguish this proposal from the general variety. However, you should not remain silent about the shortcomings and weaknesses of the idea, if any - it is better to play fair with investors and creditors, besides, they can analyze this point on their own, and in the case of a one-sided description, you risk losing their trust, and with it - and hope for financial investment in your idea.

The presence of a patent will make the idea described especially attractive - if an entrepreneur offers some kind of know-how and has already managed to patent it, then this fact must be reflected in the document. A patent is both a competitive advantage and a basis for a greater likelihood of obtaining loans or investments.

The chapter must include:

1. - brief description of the idea;
2. - ways of its implementation;
3. - description of the life cycle of the product (service);
4. - percentage of secondary purchases;
5. - the possibility of creating additional product lines or service options, the possibility of segmenting the offered product;
6. - expected modification of supply in accordance with changes in the market situation and factors affecting profit.

5. Ways to promote business (marketing and strategic plans)

In this chapter, the entrepreneur describes exactly how he is going to inform potential consumers about his product and how he will promote this product. Shown here:

6.Description of the production process

A production plan is a detailed description of the complete algorithm for producing a product from its being in its raw material state to the moment when the finished product appears on store shelves. This plan includes:

1. - a description of the necessary raw materials and the basic requirements for them, as well as the suppliers from whom you plan to purchase these raw materials;
2. - reception, processing and pre-production preparation of raw materials;
3. - the technological process itself;
4. - yield of the finished product;
5. - the procedure for testing the finished product, its packaging and transfer to the warehouse and subsequent delivery to the buyer.

In addition to the actual description of the production process, this chapter should also reflect:

1. - characteristics of the equipment used, as well as the premises where the production process will be carried out - indicating all the necessary standards and requirements;
2. - list of main partners;
3. - the need to attract resources and borrowed funds;
4. - calendar plan for business development - from the launch of production until the time when the funds invested in the project begin to pay off.

7. Enterprise structure. Personnel and management.

This chapter describes the internal scheme of the functioning of a business project, that is, the administrative and organizational plan. The chapter can be divided into the following subsections:

1. - organizational and legal form of the enterprise (LLC, individual entrepreneur, etc.);
2. - internal structure of the enterprise, distribution of responsibilities between services, channels of their interaction (it would be best if this sub-item is further illustrated with appropriate diagrams);
3. - staffing table, list of responsibilities of each employee, his salary, channels and criteria by which personnel will be recruited;
4. - list of activities on the personnel policy (training, training, personnel reserve, etc.)
5. - participation in business development events (competitions, conferences, fairs, grants, government programs, etc.).

8.Risk assessment. Ways to minimize risks.

The purpose of this paragraph is a preliminary assessment of possible negative circumstances that will affect the achievement of the desired indicators (business income, customer flow, etc.) - the basis for this assessment is again marketing market research. Risks are divided into external (for example, tougher competition and the emergence of new strong players in this segment, increased rental rates and utility bills, natural disasters and emergencies, changes in tax legislation towards increasing rates, etc.) and internal (that , what can happen directly inside the enterprise - equipment breakdowns, unscrupulous workers, etc.).

If an entrepreneur has information in advance about what exactly he should be wary of in the implementation and promotion of his project, then he can think in advance about the ways in which he will neutralize and minimize negative factors. For each risk, a number of alternative strategies should be proposed (a kind of table of emergency measures). You should not hide certain risks from investors or creditors.

Special attention should be paid to such a form of protection as insurance against various risks. If an entrepreneur plans to insure his business, then this must be mentioned - indicating the selected insurance company, the amount of insurance premiums and other details related to the matter.

9.Forecasting financial flows

Perhaps the most important chapter of a business plan. Because of its importance, you should entrust its writing to professionals if the entrepreneur himself does not have a financial and economic education. Thus, many startupers who have creative ideas, but do not have sufficient financial literacy, in this case resort to the services of investment companies, which later put their certification visa on the business plan - this is a kind of guarantee of reliability of calculations and will give the business plan additional weight in the eyes of investors and creditors.

The financial plan of any business project includes:

1. - balance sheet of the enterprise;
2. - calculation of expenses (employee payroll, production expenses, etc.);
3. - profit and loss statement, as well as cash flow statement;
4. - the amount of required external investment;
5. - calculation of profit and profitability.

The profitability of a project is a key indicator that has a decisive influence on investors’ decisions regarding investing in a given business. Calculations on this topic cover the period from the entry of start-up capital and third-party investments into the project until the moment when the project can be considered break-even and begins to generate net profit.

When calculating profitability, the basic formula R = D * Zconst / (D - Z) is usually used, where R is the profitability threshold in monetary terms, D is income, Z is variable costs, and Zconst is fixed costs. However, in long-term calculations, the calculation formula should also include such indicators as the inflation rate, renovation costs, contributions to the investment fund, increases in wages for enterprise employees, etc. As a visualization method, it is again advisable to use a Gantt chart, which is convenient for tracking the level of growing income and reaching the break-even point.

10.Regulatory framework

All documents that are necessary for legal support of a business are indicated here - certificates and licenses for goods, permission for certain types of activities, acts, permits, etc. – with a description of the conditions and terms of their receipt, as well as the cost. If the entrepreneur already has any documents in his hands, this must be indicated, and this fact will also become an advantage in the eyes of investors.

11.Applications

At the end of the business plan, the entrepreneur provides all calculations, diagrams, graphs and other supporting materials that were used to draw up financial forecasts, market analysis, etc., as well as all materials that visualize the points of the business plan and facilitate its perception.

“The main mistakes when drawing up a business plan”

At the end of the article, I would like to say a few words about the most common mistakes that inexperienced entrepreneurs make when drawing up business plans. So, what should you avoid if you don't want to scare potential investors away from your project?

Excessive bloating and bulk. A business plan is not like homework, where large writing increases the chances of a good grade. The approximate volume of a business plan is usually 70-100 sheets.

Difficulties of presentation. If an investor reading your plan cannot understand your idea after reading two or three sheets, then there is a high probability that he will put the BP aside.

Lack of necessary explanations. Remember that an investor is not required to understand the area of ​​the market in which you are asking him to invest money (and in most cases, he really does not understand it, otherwise he would have already launched an independent business). Therefore, you need to succinctly introduce the reader to the main details.

Streamlined phrases-characteristics (“huge market”, “great prospects”, etc.). Remember: only accurate and verified information and forecasts.

Providing approximate, unverified or deliberately false financial information. We have already focused on this topic above, so no comments.

Useful instructions on how to write a business plan. Take note!

Even if you first asked the question, how to write a business plan, then you understand that it is impossible to get a finished document in 10-15 minutes. However, all the time spent will be fully paid off.

A well-drafted plan will help outline the stages of opening, a project development plan, assess the risks of the activity and get help from investors.

Being able to articulate what you want and how you plan to achieve it means doing half the job.

It often happens that a novice entrepreneur, faced with risks that he did not draw up on paper in advance, loses motivation and gives up developing his business. Therefore, you need to pay due diligence and write a competent business plan.

How to create a “Summary” section in a business plan

This part of the document is the shortest; 5-7 sentences are enough.

But its value cannot be underestimated. This is especially true for those who need to draw up a business plan to receive financial assistance from investors or a bank!

The summary should concisely indicate the essence of the project. Depending on how interesting and capacious this section of the business plan is, potential investors will either enthusiastically study everything from cover to cover, or immediately close and put the document aside.

Having outlined your goals, you can move on to specifying practical information, figures and activity forecasts.

We draw up a business plan: company activities

To draw up this section of the business plan, you need to dwell in more detail on the activities of your future company. Moreover, we are talking not only about the name, details, location and other characteristics.

• What goals do you set?
• How should you achieve them?
• If there are several founders, indicate the distribution of roles.
• What will be your competitive advantage?
• What prospects for the development of the business do you see?

Be sure to conduct an analysis of your target audience. It needs to be presented as specifically as possible in order to be able to determine the ways of “enticement”.

A separate item in the business plan should include a description of the product or services provided by the company. This includes any information: from technical parameters to color and packaging design.

How to Analyze a Market Niche When Writing a Business Plan

An analysis of the current state of affairs on the market will help you and potential investors correctly identify a possible niche, potential business risks, customer flow and other important parameters.

The phrases “has no competitors” and “one of a kind” should definitely be avoided when drawing up a business plan. Even if at the time of opening you have a monopoly on the market.

In the case where the services or goods offered really have great prospects for development, tomorrow there may be those who also want to make money on it. This must be taken into account and be able to predict.

If there are already competitors, the situation becomes simpler. You just need to specify them and describe the activity using the following parameters:

• Quantity and names.
• The share that each holds in the market.
  If there are too many competitors (as is often the case in retail), describe the main ones.
• Determine their strengths and weaknesses independently and honestly.
  Based on this data, you need to create competitive advantages for the previous section.
• Describe the advertising methods used and their effectiveness in such activities.

During this work, you also need to isolate the strong behavioral drivers of these firms (pricing, customer acquisition, special services) and use them to grow your business.

How to create a “Production” section for a business plan

Planning without action is a dream. Action without planning is a nightmare.
Japanese proverb

No less important is the section of the plan describing production.

The business plan must indicate how, from what and on what equipment products will be produced or services will be performed. What equipment do you need to achieve your goal, and what do you need to purchase? Technology also matters, especially if you plan to introduce any innovations that no one else has yet introduced.

But what if you do not plan to produce products, but will order them from suppliers?

In this case, you need to indicate from whom you will buy the finished product. All details are important: names of organizations, terms and conditions of delivery, confirmation of reliability.

The main task of this section of the business plan is to convince investors that the activity will not “stop” a day after the start due to the banal lack of necessary materials.

Drawing up the financial section of a business plan

No matter how important all the previous chapters of the plan are, it is impossible to draw up a business plan without financial calculations and you need to pay special attention to them.

You can easily analyze your expenses yourself. They are divided into two categories: opening costs and monthly development costs.

What does it include?

Start-up costs

1. Cost of equipment.
   To describe the equipment, it is worth creating a separate section in the business plan. You need to make a list of equipment, indicate technical characteristics and supplier.
2. Purchase of raw materials and consumables.
   As with equipment, you need to not only list the items and their costs, but also where you will order them. The supplier must be reliable and, in addition, offer the best prices.
3. Paperwork.
   This includes the costs of registering your state of emergency, purchasing a seal, and obtaining permits from the relevant authorities.
4. Repair and decor.
   If the room requires renovation (and most often it does), you need to indicate who will do it and why. Also indicate in the business plan who will supply the building materials.
5. Purchase of premises (only if it is not rented).

Monthly expenses

1. Staff salaries.
   In a separate section of the business plan, you should make a list of positions that will participate in the company's activities. For each, you need to write down your responsibilities, based on the labor code. The salary is also indicated. The total data on regular expenses for paying wages is entered into the corresponding column of monthly expenses. If you plan to increase your salary in the future, as well as conduct training courses and advanced training courses, you also need to write about this.
2. Rental of premises.
   Most ideas for organizing a business require just such a solution. If in the future you want to become the full owner of the premises, look for an option with the possibility of subsequent purchase. As long as the building is leased, you do not risk anything. If the business fails, you simply break the contract. But if it is purchased, if it fails, you will have to suffer significant financial losses.
3. Replenishment of materials.
   Indicate in your business plan what, in what volumes and from whom you need to buy. The list of consumables may include food, stationery, household chemicals and other small related products.
4. Public utilities.
   Most often, utilities are paid separately from the rent for the premises. Therefore, data on the amounts also needs to be entered into the expenses table of the business plan.
5. Tax deductions.
   To analyze the potential income from an activity, you need to study the sales figures of close competitors. It is somewhat easier for those who already have an existing business that requires additional investment. Then it is enough to take the current indicators and calculate their potential growth. Those who have not yet entered the market can make calculations based on data on the future cost of the most potentially popular positions or services.

Based on these data, it’s as easy as shelling pears to calculate the amount of future profit and the time the activity will reach the so-called break-even point.

P.S. Potential investors and bank representatives issuing commercial loans pay particular attention to this data in the business plan.

All the above data must be compiled in the form of tables and placed in a separate application. This makes it easier to study the indicators.

But information about profit growth or the development of sales levels should be presented in the form of a graph. Don’t overdo it, because a curve that suddenly goes from negative to sky-high profit is more likely to arouse suspicion than delight and approval.

We draw up a risk analysis in the business plan

No one will invest money in a project that may fail immediately after the start due to a lack of analysis of potential risks. Therefore, this data also needs to be included in the business plan.

What might be included in this category?

• Decrease in consumer demand for your goods or services.
• Sales level is too low.
• Changes in the economic state of the country (“jumps” in exchange rates, price changes).
• Emergencies (fire, work injury, natural disasters).

All these and other potential risks need to be more than just listed. You need to draw up a business plan for solving them for the company if you suddenly find yourself in such a situation. Such an analysis will help in an emergency to save the business and act correctly. In addition, it instills confidence in your activities and in yourself.

where practical and life recommendations are presented

on the correct preparation of a business plan!

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It is a document that highlights all the characteristics of the future organization, analyzes possible problems and risks, predicts them and methods by which they can be avoided.

Simply put, a business plan for an investor is the answer to the question “Should I finance the project or throw it in the trash?”

Important! A business plan is drawn up on paper, taking into account some procedures and rules. This presentation of the project to some extent materializes your idea and shows your desire and willingness to work. Also, putting it on paper makes it easier for investors to perceive the idea.

Drawing up a business plan yourself

Making a business plan yourself is not that difficult, you just need to think about the idea carefully. Before you grab a calculator and calculate your income, there are several steps you need to take.

1. Identify the “pros” and “cons” of the idea that has arisen. If the number of “minuses” is off the charts, don’t rush to give up. Some aspects can be turned in the opposite direction, think about ways to solve such “cons”.
2. Important characteristics are competitiveness and market sustainability.
3. The sales market needs to be thought through to the smallest detail.
4. The payback of the product (service) and the time of receiving the first profit will allow you to determine (approximately) the required amount for investment.

If after such a superficial analysis you don’t want to abandon your brainchild, then it’s time to take a clean slate and start creating a business plan.

It is important to know! There is no single structure and step-by-step instructions on how to calculate a business plan. Therefore, the presence and order of items included in the plan are determined independently. However, experts have established the most optimal plan structure option. If you have no experience in drafting such documents, you need to use these recommendations to correctly compose your work.

Structure and procedure for drawing up a business plan

The structure of a good business plan, according to economists, should include 12 points. Each of them is described below.

Title page

The following parameters are specified here:

• name of the project;
• name of the organization where the project is planned to be implemented, indicating telephone numbers, addresses and other contact information;
• head of the above organization;
• developer (team or manager) of a business plan;
• date of document preparation;
• It is allowed to include the most significant indicators of financial calculations for the project on the first sheet.

This document is necessary to protect the copyright of the idea and business plan. This reflects the reader's awareness that he does not have the right to distribute the information contained in the document without the permission of the author. There may also be an instruction prohibiting copying, duplicating the document, or transferring it to another person, or a requirement to return the read business plan to the author if the investor does not accept the agreement.

An example of a confidentiality memorandum can be seen below.

The next 2 sections of the plan – “Brief Summary” and “Main Idea of ​​the Project” – are introductory. They can be used as a preliminary proposal (for review) to partners and investors until negotiations are scheduled.

Brief summary

Although a brief summary of such a document is at the beginning, it is written at the final stage, as a summary. A summary is a short description of the project idea and a list of the most significant characteristics of the financial component.

The following questions will help, answering which can lead to an excellent resume:

1. What product does the company plan to sell?
2. Who would want to buy this product?
3. What is the planned sales (production) volume for the first year of the company’s operation? What will be the revenue?
4. What is the total cost of the project?
5. How will the enterprise be formed according to its organizational and legal form?
6. How many workers are planned to be recruited?
7. What is the required amount of capital investment to implement the project?
8. What are the sources of funding for this project?
9. How much is the total profit (profitability) for a specific period, the payback period, the amount of cash at the end of the first year of operation of the enterprise, profitability. Net present value.

It is important to know! The summary is read by the investor first. Therefore, the future fate of the project depends on this section: the investor will either become interested or bored. This part should not exceed 1 page.

Main idea of ​​the project

1. What is the main project goal?
2. What are the objectives of the enterprise to achieve the main goal?
3. Are there any obstacles to your goal and how to get around them?
4. What exact actions does the author propose to perform in order to achieve results and achieve the goal as soon as possible? What are these deadlines?

Important! It is necessary to provide clear, real and explicit arguments that will confirm confidence in the profitability and success of the project. The volume of this part is optimal within 1-2 pages.

In this section, it is customary to use the conducted SWOT analysis – assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the enterprise, opportunities (prospects), as well as possible threats. It is unlikely that you will be able to make a business plan correctly and as completely as possible without such an analysis.

A SWOT analysis reflects 2 aspects that influence the course of an organization’s life: internal, relating to the enterprise itself, and external (everything outside the company that it cannot change).

Do not forget: You are describing a company, not a product! A common mistake authors make is that they start writing product characteristics in the “strength” column.

Here are some parameters you can use to describe strengths or weaknesses:

• high-tech production;
• service and after sales service;
• versatility of the product (without affecting its specific properties);
• level of qualifications and professionalism of employees;
• level of technical equipment of the enterprise.

External factors (“opportunities” and “threats”) include:

• market growth rate;
• level of competition;
• political situation in the region, country;
• features of legislation;
• features of consumer solvency.

Example

Characteristics of the industry on the market

• dynamics of sales of similar products in the industry in recent years;
• market industry growth rate;
• trends and features of pricing;
• comprehensive assessment of competitors;
• search and identification of new and young enterprises in the industry, as well as characteristics of their activities;
• description of the consumer market, their desires, intentions, requirements, opportunities;
• assessment of the possible impact of scientific, social, economic aspects;
• prospects for development in the market.

Essence of the project

This section reveals the idea, the subject of the business plan. It also reflects the level of preparedness of the enterprise to go “into the world”, the availability of all the funds required for this.

The most important provisions in this section:

• primary goals;
• description of the target consumer segment;
• key performance factors for market success;
• a detailed presentation of the product, the characteristics of which must be within the market segment defined above;
• stage of product development (if production has started), patent and copyright purity;
• characteristics of the organization;
• the total cost of the project, indicating the financing schedule by periods and investment amounts;
• required initial expenses for a marketing campaign and the formation of a coherent organizational structure.

Marketing plan

The objectives, goals of marketing policy and methods for solving and achieving them are indicated here. It is important to indicate which task is intended for which personnel, in what time frame it is required to be completed and with the help of which tools. The funds required for the latter also need to be indicated.

Marketing plan is a strategy, a set of sequential and/or simultaneous steps created to attract consumers and provide effective returns on their part.

The investor will be attentive to such points as:

• a well-developed system of comprehensive market research and analysis;
• the planned volume of sales of goods (services) and its assortment, scheduled by time periods until the enterprise reaches full capacity;
• ways to improve products;
• description of product packaging and pricing policy;
• procurement and sales system;
• advertising strategy – clearly formulated and understandable;
• service planning;
• control over the implementation of the marketing strategy.

Production plan

Everything that directly concerns the creation of products is reflected in this part. Therefore, it is advisable to compile this section only for those companies that plan not only distribution, but also production of products.

Points that must be specified:

• required production capacity;
• detailed interpretation of the technological process;
• a detailed description of the operations entrusted to subcontractors;
• necessary equipment, its characteristics, cost and method of purchase or rental;
• subcontractors;
• required area for production;
• raw materials, resources.

It is important to indicate the cost of everything that requires expenses.

Organizational plan

At this stage, the principles of organizational strategic management of the company are developed. If the enterprise already exists, then this point is still mandatory: the compliance of the existing structure with the intended goals is determined here. The organizational part must certainly contain the following data:

• name of the organizational and legal form (individual entrepreneur, JSC, partnership and others);
• an organizational management system that reflects the structure in the form of a diagram, regulations and instructions, communication and dependence of departments;
• founders, their description and data;
• management team;
• interaction with staff;
• supplying the management system with the necessary material and technical resources;
• location of the company.

Financial plan

This chapter of the business plan provides a comprehensive economic assessment of the written project, accompanied by calculations of the level of profitability, payback period, and financial stability of the enterprise.

A financial plan is very important for an investor; here it determines whether a given project is attractive to him.

Here you need to make some calculations and summarize them:

Risk analysis

In a risk analysis, the author must examine the project and identify potential threats that could lead to decreased revenue. It is necessary to take into account financial, industry, natural, social and other risks. At the same time, it is necessary to develop a detailed and effective plan to prevent them or minimize the impact on the company. Therefore, the business plan must indicate:

• a list of all potential problems;
• a set of techniques and tools that prevent, eliminate or minimize risks;
• models of the company’s behavior when events occur that are not conducive to its development;
• justification for the low probability of such problems occurring.

Applications

This is the last link in the structure of a business plan. It includes documents, quotes, sources, copies of contracts, agreements, certificates, letters from consumers, partners, statistical data, calculation tables used in the preparation of this document. It is required to insert links and footnotes to the appendices in the text of the business plan.

General requirements for the document

• it is necessary to write a business plan in clear, precise language, without long and complex formulations;
• desired volume – 20-25 pages;
• the business plan must cover all the information required by the investor in full;
• the document must necessarily be based on real facts, substantiated rational proposals;
• the plan must have a strategic foundation: strict, delineated and complete, with clear targets;
• interconnectedness, complexity and consistency are important features of drawing up a plan;
• the investor must see the future, prospects for the development of the project idea;
• The flexibility of the business plan is a significant plus. If adjustments can be made, amendments to the written project are a pleasant bonus for the investor;
• conditions and modes of control over the functioning of the enterprise should become part of the business plan.

Making a business plan from scratch without the help of a specialist is not easy, but it is possible. It is important to adhere to the above rules, construction structure and avoid mistakes.

The most common mistakes

• Illiterate syllable

The rules of language cannot be ignored. It often happens that the most incredible and promising idea goes into the trash bin along with a bunch of plans of mediocre IP specialists. And all because errors in spelling, vocabulary, punctuation and poor presentation of the text completely discourage any investor.

• Careless design

The design should be the same throughout the document: bullets, headings, lists, font, size, numbering, spacing, etc. Contents, headings, numbering, names of figures and tables, designation of data in graphs are required!

• Incomplete plan

To properly draw up a business plan, you need a comprehensive amount of information. The sections of the document listed above are the minimum that should be unconditionally included in the project.

• Vague plan

The work should be “like in a pharmacy on a scale.” Clear, defined, specific statements of goals and (important!) ideas.

• Too many details

An abundance of technical, financial, and marketing terms will only help in exams. For a business plan, you need to select only the most significant details. If there is a great need for a thorough description of a process, then you can add it to the appendix.

• Unrealistic data

Business proposals like these are based on assumptions. Therefore, the author needs to approach the idea rationally and have a reasonable background, a real reason, supported by calculations.

• Few facts

For each assumption there is its own justification - real, valid. Facts give work meaning and confidence. You shouldn’t create a fountain of facts either, but if you get carried away, then look at the rule about details.

• “We have no risks!”

The main rule: there is no business without risk. There is no such business in which it is “quiet and calm.” The investor knows this, and the author should know this. Therefore, it’s time to come down from the clouds to the ground and study, explore, analyze.

• “And we have no competitors either!”

There is always a competitor, as well as a risk. It can be direct or indirect. Study this topic carefully and meticulously, and a rival will definitely appear on the horizon, waving his hand at you.

• Neglecting outside help

Creating a business plan yourself does not mean doing absolutely everything yourself. Moreover, obtaining a high-quality result is possible through the joint efforts of several specialists. Don't be afraid of helpers!

The failures of beginning entrepreneurs are most often based on typical mistakes. A study of business failures at the start and an analysis of the reasons for this phenomenon showed that in most cases serious mistakes are made. They can be avoided. We bring to your attention the TOP most common mistakes of novice entrepreneurs.

Break-even point not determined

You'd be surprised how many people start a business without doing the basic math and figuring out how many products or services they need to sell to break even. But this is one of the most important markers and indicators of business viability.

The break-even point is determined by elementary calculations. Add up all your current expenses for the month. The break-even point is reached when your profits cover all expenses. This is the minimum you should earn. If, according to forecasts for several months, it is unrealistic to achieve this level of income, it is better to abandon this business.

Conclusion: You cannot invest money (loans or savings) in a business idea unless you have a complete and clear financial analysis.

Illusions about a perfect start

Many startups rely on a standard business - they purchase high-tech equipment, rent a luxurious office in the central area, organize an elite restaurant, etc. In itself, the desire for an ideal is very commendable, but in practice we record massive examples of bankruptcies of ambitious projects. After analyzing the reasons, two main errors appear:

• The service or product was not in demand. If there is no demand in a particular region or city, a luxurious office will not help.
• Incorrect capital allocation. Example. The young enterprise invested the lion's share of the start-up capital in the purchase of high-tech equipment, without leaving the necessary reserves for the purchase of raw materials and other current expenses. The first months of operation did not produce the expected profits. The result was that the equipment had to be sold to pay off debts.

Conclusion: Make sure your products or services will be in demand. Don’t rush to invest large sums, create a small business with minimal investments and test the viability of your idea in practice.

Lack of professionalism and love for your work

Are you smiling skeptically? In vain. Explore success stories in Russia and around the world. You will not find a single example of a profitable business whose owner does not understand the essence of his field or is not in love with his business. Regular economic development reports show the most profitable areas. If you don’t believe in the importance of love for your chosen field and passion for your business, choose the most promising field and get started. You will see from your own experience that this is a road to nowhere. But we see a lot of examples where businessmen, in love with their product or service, achieved outstanding results, despite the pessimistic forecasts of experts and the misunderstanding of others.

Conclusion: You must love your job and be the best specialist in it. This is the main component of success.

“Step-by-step plan for organizing a business”

Quite often we observe chaotic movements of novice businessmen and a complete lack of planning of actions. But the creation plan is extremely important. If you do not have knowledge in this area and do not know what stages are involved in creating a business, we offer you a plan that is suitable for any area.

Stage 1. Looking for an idea

This is the first place to start. If you can't come up with an idea, you shouldn't be an entrepreneur. But first, it’s worth understanding the terminology and making sure that you and I have the same understanding of the meaning of the expression “business idea.” We are not talking about a brilliant and innovative idea that can revolutionize an entire industry. We're talking about ideas that already work, but you see how it can be done better and provide a better service to consumers. We are not talking about large-scale projects; you can start a business with minimal or no investment.

A true entrepreneur sees opportunity in the challenges he faces every day.

A simple example. How are things going with garbage collection in your city? Yes, this is a very serious problem, but this is an opportunity for you to organize a profitable waste removal and recycling business. Now this is one of the most promising areas.

Are you into handicrafts? Sell ​​your products online, handmade items are in great demand now. Do you have a cottage or a small plot of land at your disposal? Grow and sell herbs or vegetables - this is in great demand. Interesting ideas are right in front of your eyes, choose any one you are inclined towards.

Stage 2. Analyzing the market

You should have a few preferred ideas in mind. Now we need to evaluate each of them for relevance. Conduct a survey, observe the situation in your city or region, read the analytics. If your idea is in demand, evaluate your closest competitors. Objectively evaluate the pros and cons of their work, think about what you can do better. Compare everything: quality and service, range, prices. Soberly assess your capabilities and work out your advantages as carefully as possible.

If you have come to the conclusion that your product or service is truly needed and that you can compete with existing companies, proceed to the next step.

Stage 3. Planning

Drawing up a business plan must be approached with the utmost seriousness. Most people ignore this stage and order the writing of a business plan by specialists only when it is necessary to attract investment. But this is a big mistake. First of all, you need a clear and realistic plan. Do not buy ready-made business plans - they are useless.

List everything you need for a successful start and plan your current expenses for the next six months. In the future, try to stick to your planned expenses, but create an emergency fund just in case. Based on the costs, you can determine the break-even point and begin setting prices. In the process of organizing and developing a business, try to check the plan as often as possible and analyze the reasons for deviations, if any.

Stage 4. We are looking for start-up capital

There are options in which a business is created without money or with minimal investment. But, as a rule, a certain amount is still needed to start. When writing a business plan, you have already determined how much money you need. Immediately add at least 20% to this amount. This way you will get a more or less real amount of the required starting capital. Start searching.

Great if you have the required amount. It is strictly not recommended to start with a loan. Look for options with franchises and small business assistance programs, attract partners with money or investors, try to find additional income, but do not take out a loan.

Stage 5. Registering a business

Don’t even hope that you will be able to work without registration. If you do not understand the intricacies of registration and find it difficult to choose a registration form, hire an experienced lawyer. Paying for his services will pay off with interest.

Stage 6. Reporting and tax payment

During the registration process, you will determine the most advantageous tax payment system for you. The choice largely depends on the scope of activity and the size of your business. Hiring an experienced and qualified accountant is extremely important. But you yourself should have at least minimal knowledge in the field of finance. Read articles, study, without this success in business is impossible.

Stage 7. Quick idea testing

This stage can be completed before registration, although much depends on the chosen field. As a last resort, try to do a quick test before making a serious investment of big money. How is testing carried out? Use your own funds to conduct a minimal advertising campaign, create a small batch of a product or offer services and try to sell it. Studying demand in practice is extremely important.

Remember one of the common mistakes? Don’t rush to invest heavily and don’t immediately build the perfect business. Create something minimal and test how it works. If the expected result is not achieved, do not rush to abandon your idea. Perhaps the reason was hidden in incorrect planning, price, or incorrect assessment of the target audience. During the test, conduct a survey of consumers, find out why they do not buy your product or refuse services.

Based on the results of quick testing, you will be able to see your mistakes and make adjustments to the plan. The option of abandoning an attractive idea and looking for a new one cannot be ruled out. This is a very important stage, it allows you to save money, effort and time on the implementation of an erroneous plan or an unclaimed idea.

Stage 8. Development

You conducted testing, adjusted the plan based on its results and began to receive your first profits. You need to start developing right away. Distribute your income as follows:

Cover current expenses.
Set aside a certain percentage for possible force majeure circumstances.
The rest is invested in development.
In this list, you did not notice the costs of meeting your personal needs. There is no mistake here. When planning to start a business, you had to find a source to meet your family's needs in case of failure. Stick to this plan and do not waste the profits of your new business, they should be invested in development. Only a few adhere to this rule; this is one of the most common reasons for failures after a more or less successful start.

Stage 9. Active promotion

This is an integral part of development, but it is too important and requires a separate discussion. By development, everyone understands an increase in production capacity, expansion of staff and assortment or range of services. This is correct, but many entrepreneurs in Russia underestimate the importance of advertising and finding new markets.

It is not enough to expand the staff and capacity; the entire economy must be provided with work. Don't rely on word of mouth and half-hearted, cookie-cutter marketing methods. Use aggressive advertising, actively look for new clients using any available and currently possible methods. Use everything, but be sure to analyze the results and weed out what is not effective. Maintain and develop advertising methods that bring tangible results with minimal budget expenditure.

Stage 10. Expand your geography

You have reached the level at which the business operates decently within one city. Don’t stop and enter the market of neighboring towns or regions. There is no desire or opportunity to expand geography? Explore options for mastering a related field, master innovative areas. Don’t stop, otherwise you will gradually begin to roll back and wait for a more enterprising and nimble competitor to appear who will offer your customers more favorable conditions.

“Important criteria for assessing business performance”

There are very clear markers by which you can determine the success of an enterprise’s development and find dangerous mistakes at the very start. These should be taken with the utmost seriousness:

• After several months of work, conduct an audit. If, based on its results, you see that the business does not generate even minimal income and is even operating in the red, it is not viable. Investments and loans will not save the situation, but will only worsen your situation.
• If actual sales are much lower than planned, immediately change your work style or plan.
• Starting a business is a challenge. You will experience stress - this is normal only to a certain extent. If entrepreneurial activity causes you obvious and constant discomfort, either leave the business or change your approach.