Business plan

Structure of the business plan:

1. Summary

Many readers will not bother reading your business plan! They will first look for the summary...
You must therefore, in less than two pages, convince the reader of the quality of your project: summarize the highlights of your enterprise with maximal persuasion.

2. The enterprise and its promoters

The promoters: who are you? (qualifications, motivations, complementarity, etc.)
History: what is the background of your enterprise? How and/or where was it created?
Legal structure: what are the legal parameters of your enterprise?

3. Products / services and outlets

Products or services: what do you offer?
Outlets: whom do you want to sell your products and/or services to?
Competition: who is your competitor on your market?

4. Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths: what are your strong points (products / services)?
Weaknesses: what are they?
Opportunities: what are the opportunities on the market?
Threats: what are the threats, the risks?

5. Strategies

Specialty: what do you specialize in?
Targets: who are your designated customers?
Positioning: what makes you different?
Goals: how do you see your enterprise developing in the long term?

6. Supply and production

Supply patterns: how and where do you get supplies?
Production: how and with whom do you carry out production?

7. Marketing

Prices: how are they established?
Promotion and sales force: how do you advertise?
Distribution lines: how do you reach the final consumer?

8. Research and development (R&D)

R&D program: what do you wish to develop?
Organisation and administration
Management: who is in charge of administrative management?
Staff and structure: how is the enterprise structured (organisation chart, exchange of information, etc.)?

9. Structure of charges and receipts

Turnover: sales volume of the enterprise?
Running costs: what are they?
Investments: how much is needed?
Production costs: how much does the enterprise pay for its products?
Financing procedure: how are you funded?

10. The financial statements

Liquid assets: what will be your cash flow in the first 12 months of activity? (Cash flow plan)
Projected loss and profit account. What will be the global charges (left-hand side) and the proceeds (right-hand side) of the activities of the entreprise in the first 3 years?

IMPORTANT !

At times research, analyses and other discussions might seem lengthy and fastidious: do not be discouraged.
The preparation of a business plan requires demanding efforts and time.
Let it be clear, it is not an easy task to prepare a meaningful business plan: do not hesitate to seek help. Various organisations provide assistance at reasonable costs, often supported by the authorities or international organisations.

Definition of a business plan

Who to contact for help?

Your banking institution;
International organisations;
NGO's;
Management consultants;
Selected accountants;
Chambers of Commerce;
Trade associations;
enterprise and innovation centres;
Also look for help in your own environment (family, friends, accountant, legal counsel, etc.): their -sometimes critical - approach is often very pertinent!

N.B.: The "SME Toolkit" is available to entrepreneurs from the International Finance Corporation. And various Internet websites provide SME's, at no cost, with useful information and short online training to facilitate the preparation of a business plan.