Business Plan MFP
...nding on the complexity of the business. There are some specific characteristics which should be common to all plans. Typically, the plan will be constructed around the following headings: Front Cover Introduction or Executive Summary (including the background of any existing business, eg. financial results) Marketing Plan Financial Plan Environmental Plan Implementation Plan Don't underestimate the importance of correct grammar, punctuation and spelling remember that you may be trying to convince the reader to lend you money! How do you get started? Consider the following points: Who will read it, and why? Where will the business be based? Who will the customers be? What will the legal status of the business be? Have you considered all the alternatives? Do you have the skills? Or how will you get them? Do you have the help and support of family, partner or friends? How will you make a success of the business? Will you enjoy what you are doing? Have you researched the idea fully? Do you know what to expect? Can the business make a profit - both in the short and longer term? How much of your own capital are you able to invest and how much will you need to borrow? List the equipment you will need to buy and how much it will cost. Prepare budgets for the next 3 or 4 years ahead Begin with a rough draft covering all the points and then leave it for a few days. When you read it again, edit and fine tune it. Then ask a friend or colleague to read it for you. Ask them if they can easily understand what you are trying to say. If they cant, then the chances are that others won't either. It is perfectly normal to keep making changes. Front cover The front cover should include a title for the document, your name(s) and the date of the final draft. For example: Business plan in support of proposal for ..(your specific scheme) Prepared by .(your name(s)) Date: .. If confidentiality is important, include a statement along the lines of, This document is confidential and the contents sho...