Home | News | Sponsors | Rules | Application | Judges | Past Winners | About | Resources | Contact Us

Resources Practical-Entrepreneurship.com Click on this link if you need information on how to write a business plan or want to see other prize winning plans. Business Plan Tips Here a few tips to help you organize and write your business plan. This is an outline of the topic headings and what information should be included along with what the reader should know about your plan after reading that section: Title Page Your Company Name Street Address City, State & Zip Code Phone Number E-Mail Address Web Address Business Plan Date Table of Contents 1. Table of Contents 2. Executive Summary 3. Business Description & Vision 4. Definition of the Market 5. Description of Products and Services 6. Organization & Management 7. Marketing and Sales Strategy 8. Financial Management 9. Appendices Executive Summary This section should: • Be written last • Provide an enthusiastic snapshot of your company, explaining who you are, what you do and why • Be less than 2 pages • To whom is this plan directed (banker, investor, internal management, etc.)? • For what are you asking (loan, investment, etc.? • How much ($$$)? After reviewing this section the reader • Want to learn more about your business • Have a basic understanding about your company Business Description & Vision This section should include: • Mission statement (business purpose) • Company vision (statement about company growth) • Business goals and objectives • Brief history of the business • List of key company principals After reviewing this section the reader should know: • Who the business is and what it stands for • Your perception of the company’s growth & potential • Specific goals and objectives of the business • Background information about the company Definition of the Market This section should: • Describe your business industry and outlook • Define the critical needs of your perceived or existing market • Identify your target market • Provide a general profile of your targeted clients • Describe what share of the market you currently have and/or anticipate After reviewing this section the reader should know: • Basic information about the industry you operate in and the customer needs you are fulfilling • The scope and share of your business market, as well as who your target customers are Description of Products and Services This section should: • Specifically describe all of your products and services • Explain how your products and services are competitive • If applicable, reference a picture or brochure of your products, which would be included in the plan’s appendix After reviewing this section the reader should know: • Why you are in business • What your products and services are and how much they sell for • How and why your products & services are competitive Organization & Management This section should: • Provide a description of how your company is organized as well as an organization chart, if available • Describe the legal structure of your business (proprietorship, partnership, corporation, etc.) • Identify necessary or special licenses and/or permits your business operates with • Provide a brief bio description of key managers within the company After reviewing this section the reader should know: • The legal form of ownership for your business • Who the leaders are in your business as well as their roles • The general flow of operations within the firm Marketing and Sales Strategy This section should: • Identify and describe your market – who your customers are and what the demand is for your products & services • Describe your channels of distribution • Explain your sales strategy, specific to pricing, promotion, products and place (4Ps) After reviewing this section the reader should: • Who your market is and how you will reach it • How your company will apply pricing, promotion, product diversification and channel distribution to sell your products and services competitively Financial Management This section should include: New Business • Estimate of start-up costs • Projected balance sheet (1 year forward) • Projected income statement (1 year forward) • Projected cash flow statement (12 months forward) Existing Business • Balance sheets (last 3 years) • Income statements (last 3 years) • Cash flow statement (12 months) If Applying for a Loan • Current personal financial statement on each principal • Federal tax return for prior year After reviewing this section the reader should: • Have a good understanding regarding the financial capacity and/or projections for your company Appendices This section should include as attachments: • Company brochures • Resumes of key employees • List of business equipment • Copies of press articles and advertisements (if available) • Pictures of your business location and products (optional) • Information supporting the growth of your industry and/or products (optional) • Key business agreements, such as lease, contracts, etc. (optional) Final Presentation If you are selected as a finalist, you will prepare a PowerPoint presentation to be delivered to the judges on the night of the competition. Please beware of the following constraints: • You have 15 minutes for your presentation and follow-up questions by the judges. • 5 minutes will be allowed for setup. • Bring your PowerPoint presentation on a thumb drive. • Please rehearse your presentation before hand and dress appropriately.