Checklist for Writing a Complete Business Plan Report

Introduction (New)

Compare your draft report to this checklist to ensure all areas are adequately addressed and covered in your full business plan report. You will note that all elements from your earlier reports are included in this final report along with several new items.

 

Introduction (New)

 

ü Letter of Transmittal, Title page, Table of Contents

ü Executive Summary & Fact Sheet.

 

 

Company and Industry

 

ü Mission, Vision and Value Statements (New)

ü Corporate objectives/goals clearly stated, measurable and with specific time-lines (New)

 

ü Concise description of your business concept, including main point of difference/competitive advantage.

 

ü Industry Background and describe principal characteristics of the industry.

ü Cover the top trends including research that supports your business concept.

 

Market Analysis & Marketing Plan

 

 

ü Market and Customer Profile: Define your market area and provide a detailed description of Target Market customers and the basis for segmenting the market.

 

ü Competitive Analysis: Include Competitive Profile Matrix, draw relevant connects/conclusions.

ü Identify trends or seasonal patterns.

 

ü Estimate market size, your potential market share and your sales potential (3 methods).

 

Final Marketing Plan (Note: some new details are added to your preliminary marketing plan):

 

ü Product-Market Strategy (include Product-Market grid) and detailed description of product/service attributes/evaluative criteria and the positioning relative to competitive offerings (include perceptual mapping). Discuss competitive position, including your principal benefit/competitive advantage. 

ü Specific action plans to be implemented throughout the planning year.

ü Creative elements may include sample packaging, logo/trademark design.

 

ü Pricing: Competitive comparisons (parity, premium or discount; leader or follower), planned price promotions or future adjustments/changes. 

ü Discuss profitability objective (% of sales required as a profit margin).

 

ü Place: Describe choice of location – and explain rationale for choice using Rating Form for Selection a Location

ü Plan lay-out. Creative elements may include sample P.O.P. support/display.

 

ü Promotion – Develop the promotional mix (advertising, personal selling, public relations, sales promotion, direct marketing, etc.).  Discuss the specific promotions to be conducted throughout the year.  Discuss the promotional objectives, messages, media, etc.

ü Provide a detailed month-by-month schedule for year 1. 

ü Creative elements may include sample print advertisements or promotional materials.

 

Operational, Staffing and Implementation plans

 

ü Operational requirements including equipment and other capital asset requirements, key supplier arrangements, etc. This should be consistent with your start-up funds schedule.

 

ü Management structure (responsibilities and reporting relationships), including organizational chart. (New)

 

ü Human Resources Plan, including position/job requirements in summary format for all key positions. (New)

ü Brief outline of major recruitment, selection, orientation, training and performance management plans. Relevant statement(s) of main staff policies and procedures.

 

Implementation Plan (New)

 

ü Discuss how the company will turn these plans into results.  Charts created with project management software are often used to set deadlines and assign responsibilities for implementing the your plan (focus on 6 months leading up to business launch including major milestones such as when you take possession of location, when staff must be hired, trained, etc. – or when start and duration of various promotions, etc.). (New)

 

Risk management and legal requirements (New)

 

ü Identify major risks and describe mitigating strategies to be put in place. Identify insurance requirements and all major legal requirements (special licensing, permits, etc.).

 

ü This part of your plan may also include statements on planned or future actions relating to Corporate Social Responsibility or Environmental stewardship.

 

Financial Plan (your previous financial plan is extended to 2nd and 3rd year of operations)

 

ü Proper financing structure, including use of loan constraints. Include a Financing Fact Sheet identifying type, amount, and terms of proposed loans and how the funds will be used.

 

ü Complete the following financial schedules in the format provided:

ü -Cash Required For Start-up, Opening and Closing Balance Sheets (Year 1 and 2)

ü -Pro Forma Income Statement (monthly year 1, annually for year 2)

ü -Pro Forma Cash Flow Forecasts (monthly year 1, annually for year 2)

 
On a separate sheet, list all major assumptions used in preparing your spreadsheets and where ever an explanation is needed (you can refer to the spreadsheet and lines and #).  For example, a wage schedule of number of employees/hours and pay-rate will be needed to explain your monthly wages and salaries shown on your Income statement and Cash flow. Likewise, a breakdown of inventory items by category and days-on-hand calculations will be needed to explain the inventory figure on your balance sheet, etc.)

 

DFinancial Ratio Analysis, including detailed discussion of your comparisons to industry benchmarks.

DInclude industry “norms” or comparative benchmarks. Minimum compare net and gross profit margins, working capital (current ratio), debt:equity, inventory level (DOH or turnover), and collection period.

 

 

Professionalism of Report

 

Spelling, grammar, clarity and over-all professionalism/appeal of report (including proper use of headings/sub-headings, sentence structure and proper use of paragraphs).

 

Report is detailed with adequate explanations, but also concise and to the point.

 

Good use of tables, charts and graphics to support arguments/explanations given and improves visual appeal.

 

Supporting research and quotes clearly referenced, and all assumptions and clearly indicated and reasonable/supported.

 

Bibliography and Appendices – include any support material in the appendix.

Make sure this material is referenced in the main body of the report.