• How to Write a Business Plan (Introduction)

• Business Plan for Start-ups

• Business Plan for Micro and Small Enterprises

• Business Plan for Medium Enterprises

• Business Plan Software
  and Sample Business Plans online

 
How to Write a Business Plan  [top]

The business plan is the most essential document involved when starting, building and managing a successful business and it is an effective tool for raising the necessary capital as well as capturing the interest of investors. The business plan is the document that clearly and concisely defines the goals and objectives of a business, outlining the methods for achieving them. The business plan is also an excellent communication instrument for investors and suppliers interested in understanding the operations and goals of the business.

Many businesses fail due to the lack of planning and preparation. To help plan for a successful business venture, guidelines on ths webpage would help you better understand what information is needed in the business plan. The more complete and accurate the information, the more promptly institutions, banks, investors, and suppliers will be able to respond to requests for assistance. Generally, it will be difficult for the business owner to fill the business plan by himself. That is why this webpage is destinated to business consultants and business advisors working with micro, small and medium enterprises as well as with start-ups.

Note! It is important to adapt the business plan to the size and capacity of each enterprise:

Business plans for start-ups, are based on a business idea and initial market estimation and use mainly estimations and financial projections and not existing enterprise data.

Micro enterprises normally do not need a business plan. Even most of the Ghanaian banks apply other tools for loan approval to micro enterprises like personal interviews, site visits and linkage of savings and credit. But sometimes it may be helpfull for financing and business management. Business plans for micro enterprise must be adapted to the very limited accounting and management capacity of micro enterprises.

Small enterprises have also a limited capacity in cost calculation and financial projection but have a better financial and accounting capacity as micro enterprises.

The "high end" business plan is the one for medium and large enterprises with a professional capacity of accounting, management and financial projection. But this business plan cannot be applied to micro and small enterprises.

 
Business Planning for Start-ups  [top]

• Personal Data of Start-up / Partners

• Business Project Profile

• Production Plan

• Market Study

• Cost Calculation

• Financing

• Profit and Loss Statement

See detailed Outline of Start-up Business Plan with instruction

 
Business Planning for Micro and Small Enterprises  [top]

• Personal Data of Business owner / Partners

• Business Profile

• Production Plan

• Market Study

• Cost Calculation

• Financing

• Profit and Loss Statement

The Outline of the Business plan for micro and small enterprises is similar to the start-up business plan but based on real data of the ongoing business exercise.

See detailed Outline of Micro/Small Business Plan + instruction

 
Business Planning for Medium Enterprises  [top]

Executive Summary

1. Nature of Business

2. Business Organisation (Organigram, Management, Staff)

3. Products and Services

4. Marketing Plan (Market, Customer profile and Competitors; Market segments; Market share and estimated sales; Marketing Strategy: Product, Price, Place, Distribution channels, Promotion, Marketing budget)

5. Risks and Opportunities (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)

6. Financial Plan (Preoperating expenses; Operating expenses, Capital requirements, projected Income statement, , Balance sheet, projected Cashflow statement, Break-even analysis, Profit and Loss Statement, Funding request and security.

See detailed Outline of Medium Business Plan with instruction

 
Business Plan Software + Sample Business Plans online [top]

60 free sample Business Plans online!!!
http://www.bplans.com/sp/businessplans.cfm

Auto-repair, Auto parts shop, Hairdressing and Beauty shop, Restaurant, Hotel, Engineering consulting, Bakery, Car wash, Coffee export, Coffe kiosk, Computer hardware seller, Construction enterprise, Internet cafe, Office furniture manufacturer, Photographer, Painter, Printer, Real estate.

Example of Consulting Business Plan for download
acmeconsulting_live.pdf 308 KB

http://www.planware.org/ Business Software: Financial Projections, Cashflow, Business Planning, Business Plan Guide

http://www.businessplans.org/guide.html Business Plan Guidelines

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Business Development Services (BDS) - Ghana