HANDOUT: THE BUSINESS PLAN INSTRUCTIONS APPLIED COMMUNICATIONS

Adapted from: "Business Plan Template." Palo Alto Business Plans. 10 Oct. 2009 <www.bplans.com/business_plan_template/business_plan_template.pdf>.

The Business Plan

Overview of What Should Be Included in Your Binder

I. Cover Page

II. Table of Contents

a. Company Summary

b. Services

c. Market Analysis

d. Advertising Strategy

e. Financial Plan

Details About Each Section

I. Cover Page

a. Company Name, address, website address, company owners

Company Name - Include logo (should take up a large portion of the page) and your slogan

Website address – research to make sure it’s not taken

You are the company owners – include your position in the company (CEO, CFO, COO, etc.)

II. Table of Contents – See II above (it’s just a list with page numbers)

a. Company Summary

Describe your company, who you are, and where you operate

One well-written paragraph

b. Services

Describe the product or service you offer, how they are provided and by whom

Plan for future offering

One to two well-written paragraphs

c. Market Analysis

SWOT analysis - chart

Target group description and explanation about why you are targeting this group – one well-

written paragraph

Interest survey – chart/graph

Competition Interview – typed interview in q-and-a format

d. Advertising Strategy

Medium used

Written overview of your strategy

One or two well-written paragraphs

e. Financial Plan

List sources of startup funding – where are you getting it from and how will you obtain it

A list of sources with one well-written paragraph following each source in the list