Chapter 4
The Business Plan
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- Introduction
- Executive Summary
- Business Description
- Type of Ownership
- Your Business Industry
- Chapter Review
Introduction
This chapter introduces the business plan. The business plan is a road map for getting your business started. It is where you write down the details about what you need to do to get your business up and running. The business plan expands on the information you filled out in the worksheets for Chapter 3: Business Feasibility.
Planning is an important part of any successful business. Working on your business plan helps you think through strategies and make decisions before you open your business. Your VR counselor will use your business plan to help you set goals, to learn what help you need, to evaluate your progress, and identify start-up costs and financial needs. If you are trying to get a loan to cover start-up costs, a bank or lender will use your business plan to decide whether or not they will support your business.
Remember, self-employment is not a vocational goal itself, but a way to meet a vocational goal. Writing a business plan will help you figure out how to turn your vocational skills into a business.
Download and follow along with a Sample Business Plan for Rainbow Gutters to see examples of different parts of the business plan.
Parts of the Business Plan
Structure
Most business plans include five sections:
- Executive summary
- Business description
- Marketing plan
- Operations plan
- Financial plan
Business Plan Outline
Every business plan is different, but most follow a similar outline. To follow the outline we use in this guide, download and save the Business Plan Outline (.docx).
In this chapter, we cover the executive summary and business description sections in detail. The other sections of the business plan are covered in more detail in later chapters.
Executive Summary
The executive summary is a short overview of your business plan that explains your business idea, customers, day-to-day operations, and finances. It helps people decide if they want to read your detailed business plan.
Business Description
The business description includes:
- A short description of your business
- How you came up with your business idea, and why your business is needed
- The type of business ownership you will use for your business (your business structure)
- Information about similar businesses or your competition
- Your strengths and experiences that will help you be a successful business owner
Marketing Plan - Chapter 5
The marketing plan includes information about:
- Your future customers
- Why customers will want to use your business
- How your proposed business will stand out from similar businesses
- How you will tell customers about your business (advertising and promotion)
Operations Plan – Chapter 6
The operations plan is where you explain how you will run your business. It includes information about:
- Your business location or building
- Legal requirements, including licensing, taxpayer registration, and insurance
- Necessary materials and supplies
- Costs of running your business
- What you will do to make your product or provide your service
- How you will manage your business (such as bookkeeping, tracking inventory, or filing taxes) and who will help you do those things.
Financial Plan – Chapter 7
The financial plan is where you estimate how much money you will spend and how much money you will make in your new business. It shows that you have enough money to run your business, and that you have thought about how you will manage your business finances. It includes information about:
- What you need to pay for, and where you will get the money to start your business
- How much you should charge, and how much you have to sell to cover all of your costs
- How much money your business makes and how much you spend each month
- How much your business is worth
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Executive Summary
You use the executive summary to quickly describe the main idea and value of your business. This is the first thing people will read about your business. The executive summary should be short and easy to understand, and show how you will be a good business owner.
Often, banks or other lenders use the executive summary to decide if they will read your full business plan and offer you a loan.
Executive Summary Parts
Although the executive summary is listed first, it is the last section you write because it summarizes the other sections of the business plan.
The executive summary should include:
- A short description of what the business will do
- A short description of your skills and experiences that show how you are qualified to run your business
- A short description of your customers and how you will tell them about your business
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An overview of your financial information, including:
- How much money you need to start and run your business (your start-up costs and operating costs)
- How much money you plan to borrow
- How much money you think your business will make
Clear and Brief
When writing the executive summary, don’t use words that some people may not know. You want everyone to be able to understand your business idea without needing additional information.
It is a good idea to have a family member or friend who doesn’t know about your business read through your executive summary. Ask them for feedback.
- Do they understand what your business is about?
- If they are confused, can they (or someone else) help you find different ways to explain your business summary?
The executive summary should be short. A good length is 1 or 2 pages that highlights the main sections of your business plan.
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Business Description
The business description is made up of five different parts:
- Company description
- Business background
- Owner strengths and background
- Type of ownership
- Your business’ industry
We cover company description, business background, and owner strengths and background below.
Type of ownership and business industry are covered in their own section tabs.
Company Description
The company description is a 1 to 3 sentence statement about your business. It includes:
- Your business name
- A short description of the products or services your business will provide
- A short description of who your customers will be
Here are some examples.
- First Light Café will feature home-style breakfasts and lunches in a cozy atmosphere. Hearty and affordable meals will appeal to a wide range of customers including families, workers on their lunch break, and local residents.
- Wolverine Towing will provide towing and roadside emergency services to travelers in Billings and surrounding areas.
- Pizza Escape will provide specialty and made-to-order pizzas for pick-up and delivery for residents looking for a quick and delicious meal at home.
Business Background
The business background section describes how you developed your business idea, why the business is needed, and what you have done to get prepared to open your business.
To get started, answer these questions about why your business is needed and things you have already completed for business start-up.
Business Need
Why is your business needed?
- What led to your business idea?
- How is your business different from other business offering the same or similar products or services?
- What gap or need does your business fill?
Example – Pizza Escape Business Need
I plan to start a pizza delivery business in my small town of 5,000 people. When I lived in a bigger city, I loved having pizza delivered to my apartment. When I came back home to be closer to my family, I realized that no businesses in town offered pizza delivery. Pizza Escape will offer quality pizzas for delivery to fill this gap.
Activities to Date
What have you accomplished for your business?
- How has your product or service been tested or reviewed?
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What skills and resources do you have to make this business successful? This includes things like:
- Your previous experience and expertise
- Strong advisors or a business mentor
- A good business location
- What accommodations for your disability have been arranged?
Example – Pizza Escape Activities to Date
I have looked into suppliers for my pizza ingredients. A local bakery has agreed to make pizza crusts and I found a regional supplier for quality cheese and meat. I have made and tested several pizza sauce recipes, and settled on one that got great reviews from family and friends.
I have located an accessible commercial kitchen space to share with a local bakery. The owner is interested in sharing space to reduce costs, and we think it will work out well because our business hours do not overlap during our busiest times. The bakery will keep the storefront, and I can lease space and operate my business from the back of the building for deliveries.
Owner Strengths and Background
The owner capacity section provides information about you, the business owner. This is where you share information about strengths and experiences that will help you be a successful business owner. This includes information about things like:
- Your skills, knowledge, and training
- Your experience working in similar businesses
- Your management experience
- Your marketing or advertising experience
- Other resources you will use to help you run your business, like business advisors, or someone who can help you with bookkeeping
- Accommodations or backup plans you have in place to keep the business running when health or disability issues arise
Use information from the About You Worksheet you completed in Chapter 3 to help complete this section.
Example – Pizza Escape Owner Capacity
I have work experience in the food industry, both in the kitchen and in the front service area. I understand the details of working in a restaurant. I also used to deliver papers when I was younger so I have some experience with door-to-door delivery. I have never made pizzas in a commercial setting, but have made them at home for myself and friends and family for a long time.
My sister is a bookkeeper and she has agreed to give me pointers for managing my business accounts. She said she would review my accounts the first couple months to make sure I am doing things correctly. I also have a friend who works at the local credit union and he can help me figure out how to apply for loans.
During my business start-up phase, my family is willing to fill in for me if I have a pain flare-up related to my disability. Once the business is up and running, I plan to hire and train a supervisor-level employee so they can take over the day-to-day operations when I am not feeling well.
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Type of Ownership
The ownership section is where you explain the type of business ownership you will use. The type of ownership you choose for your business will affect how much you pay in taxes, what paperwork you need to file, and your personal liability (which means your legal responsibility if someone sues your business).
There are different types of business ownership structures you can choose from for your business. In this section, we cover three of the most common options for small independently-owned businesses, including:
- Sole Proprietorship
- Partnership
- Limited Liability Company
Each form of ownership has advantages and disadvantages, depending on your specific business and financial situation. Figuring out the business ownership structure that’s best for you can be confusing. We recommend working with an expert, such as an advisor from a Small Business Development Center to help you make a good decision.
WARNING: If you receive SSI or SSDI payments, you should also work with a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) expert or Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC), who can provide accurate information about how work will impact your benefits. To find a WIPA or CWIC, you can go online to the Ticket to Work Find Help tool. Select ‘Benefits Counseling (WIPA) in the Provider Type dropdown. Or, call the Ticket to Work helpline at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).
Ownership Types
The following information about business ownership types was adapted from the Small Business Administration website. Visit Choose Your Business Structure to learn more.
Sole Proprietorship
Sole proprietorship is a common business type for businesses owned by one person. However, with sole proprietorship there is no legal separation between you and your business. This means that you are personally liable or responsible if something happens to your business. If your business goes into debt or gets sued, you might have to use personal assets (such as your savings, car or house) to pay back or settle a debt.
Sole Proprietorship Pros
- Easy and inexpensive to set up
- Owner has complete control
- Easy tax preparation
Sole Proprietorship Cons
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Owner is personally liable for business debts or any legal issues that might come up.
- Because of this, it can be harder to get a loan, because the bank or lender might be worried that if something happens to your business you wouldn’t be able to pay back the loan.
- Taxes can be higher than with other types of business structures.
Partnerships
A partnership is a business type owned by two or more people. Partners share responsibilities for the business. They also share personal liability for the business, which means that if the business is sued or goes into debt, any legal action taken against the business affects all the partners.
It is important to have a written record or legal document that describes the partnership agreement. The document should describe each partner’s responsibilities and tasks so it is clear who is doing what. Not all partnerships split debts and profits evenly, so it is also important to describe how they are split between partners.
Partnership Pros
- Partnerships are easy and inexpensive to set up.
- Partners share the costs of starting and running the business.
- If you have employees, you could offer them the option to become a partner as your business gets bigger.
Partnership Cons
- All partners are personally liable for business debts or any legal issues that might come up.
- Partners might argue over things, which could hold up important business decisions. Also, if one person leaves the partnership, it can be hard to replace them.
- Profits are shared between all partners, even when each partner may do different amounts of work. This can be addressed, however, with a written partnership agreement that describes each partner’s responsibilities and share of business debts and profits.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a business type owned by one or more people. Owners are called ‘members’ instead of owners. Unlike a sole proprietorship, with an LLC your business and personal assets are separate. This means that if something happens to your business, you are not personally liable or responsible. For example, if you can’t pay back your business loan, the bank can’t take your house or car to get their money back.
LLC Pros
- Members are not personally liable if the business gets sued.
- It may be easier to get a business loan, because an LLC is more formal than a sole proprietorship.
LLC Cons
- LLCs are more difficult to form than a sole proprietorship or partnership, and you have to pay a fee every year to the state to stay registered
- You might have to pay self-employment taxes (which can be a higher than other employment taxes)
Other Business Types
Other business types include C-Corporations and S-Corporations. These are more complicated business structures that are generally used by much larger businesses. These are covered on the Small Business Administration, Choose Your Business Structure webpage.
Business Structures Considerations
Most VR-supported businesses are owned and operated by one person. For this reason, a sole proprietorship or limited liability company (LLC) are common ownership types.
If you receive SSI or SSDI, you need to know how different business structures will count towards your assets, or the resources you have (like savings, a car, or home). Some of your resources don’t count towards SSI or SSDI resource limits, but it’s important to know which do and don’t. Talk to a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) expert or Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC), who can provide accurate information about how work will impact your benefits. Then, talk with your VR counselor about which ownership type is best for you.
Resources
Business Structures
For more information about business structures, visit The Complete Guide to Choosing Your Business Structure.
For more information about forming a Limited Liability Company visit TRUIC’s How to Start and LLC.
Business Structures and Public Benefits
For an overview of different business structures and how they can affect public benefits like SSI and Medicaid, visit Self-Employment Q&A: Selecting a Business Structure.
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Your Business Industry
The business industry section is where you share information about your business’s industry. This section shows you have done background work to more fully understand the business you are planning to start.
An industry is a group of businesses that produce similar products or services. For instance, the pizza industry is made up of many different types of businesses that make and sell pizza. These businesses include sit-down restaurants, carryout-only pizza shops, companies that make frozen pizzas, and food trucks.
You can find out all kinds of information by learning more about similar businesses, such as how they price their product or service, how many customers they serve, busier and slower times over the year, advertising strategies, and barriers that might make it hard to set up your business, such as high start-up costs or government regulations.
Industry Research
In order to write the business industry section, you need to learn more about businesses similar to yours. Learning about your business’s industry can help you figure out how best to run your own business. It also helps you develop a realistic idea of how much your business might sell, charge, and make over time.
This section includes questions that you can use as a guide for doing your own industry research. It also provides some ideas of strategies and resources you can use to start your industry research. Questions were adapted from the article First Steps: Writing the Industry Section of Your Business Plan.
Industry Description
- What are the different types of products or services offered by other businesses in your industry?
Example: Pizza Industry Description
In the pizza industry, businesses offer pizza for sit-down dining, take-out and frozen pizzas to bake at home, and pizza for pick-up and delivery. Also, many pizza businesses offer sides and other options such as salads, breadsticks, wings, and drinks.
Industry Sales
- How much money did similar businesses make in similarly-sized locations?
- Is the industry growing or changing?
- Do sales change throughout the year?
- How does the economy impact your industry?
Example: Pizza Industry Sales
Last year, the pizza industry had $41 billion in sales and made up 18% of all restaurants in the U.S. Based on trend data, pizza sales are growing by about 1% per year. According to one industry report, 50% of pizza businesses are small and independently owned. One research firm reported that 93% of people eat pizza on a monthly basis. Overall, pizza sales are steady across the year, but are growing over time. Sales are also pretty even across different regions or locations.
Similar Businesses
- What are similar businesses like?
- What are their strengths? What are their challenges?
- Who are their customers?
Example: Pizza Industry Businesses
Overall, small independently owned pizza businesses had a 2% drop in sales, while franchises such as Little Caesars and Pizza Hut had a small increase. Industry reports say that sales are higher if the business offers online ordering. Important customers for independently owned pizza businesses are people in their 20’s and 30’s who value high quality food, are loyal to brands, and support local businesses.
Marketing
- How do similar businesses market or advertise their services or products?
Example: Pizza Industry Marketing
Pizza franchises generally use a national marketing strategy that focuses on television ads. They also mail out postcards that advertise “deals” or specials. Smaller independently owned pizza shops market their businesses on the internet and social media. They have websites where customers can order online, special coupons and deals on social media, and send “hot deal” texts to customers. They also use flyers and advertise in local newspapers and the radio.
Challenges to Entry
Are there challenges that make it hard to start businesses in this industry, such as government regulations or high start-up costs?
Example: Pizza Industry Challenges to Entry
Any business that sells prepared food has to meet food service regulations. This includes requirements for commercial kitchens and health inspections. Start-up costs can be large depending on the size of the business. For instance, small commercial pizza ovens can run in the $5,000 to $10,000 range, while large capacity pizza ovens can cost $10,000 to $30,000.
It is easier for larger established business to attract customers based on price because they can order supplies in bulk and charge less. This can make it harder for smaller independently owned businesses to gain customers.
Trends
- Do any technological trends affect the industry?
- How are changing customer tastes affecting the industry?
- How are demographic changes affecting the industry, such as a growing aging population?
Example: Pizza Industry Trends
According to the 2018 Pizza Power Report, pizza businesses that had websites, social media accounts such as Facebook, and offered online ordering and delivery had higher rates of growth. The report also said that the number of independently owned businesses was shrinking. In general, customers are requesting more gluten-free and locally sourced options. A Gallup Poll reported that people 65 and older had the highest preference for take-out pizza.
Financials
What are key financial measures in the industry? These are things like:
- Average profit margins
- Average sales
Example: Pizza Industry Financials
Profit margins vary across the pizza industry. Industry averages range from a 7% to 20% profit margin based on the type of business. With a 7% profit margin, a business only makes 70 cents on each $10 pizza sold, whereas a 20% margin would generate $2 for each $10 pizza sold. Generally, smaller pizza establishments reported higher profit margins but lower overall sales, and sell approximately 75 to 100 pizzas per day.
Information Sources
There are lots of ways for you to gather information about similar businesses.
Small Business Development Center
You can find free market research reports through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network. These reports include industry trends, market statistics, customer demographics, recent business articles, and links to industry trade associations.
- Follow this link to the Small Business Market Research Reports to begin your research.
- If you are working with an SBDC advisor, they can help you pull industry reports for free.
People
Talk to other people, such as:
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Potential customers
- Ask where they shop for products or services like yours, and why they use the businesses they do.
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Business owners from a similar industry in another community
- Ask how they operate their business, and how they attract customers.
Internet
Search the Internet using keywords like “business trends” and an industry name.
- For example, you could Google “business trends beauty salons” or “business trends food trucks”
Here are some specific websites with information about industry data:
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Chapter Review
This chapter began with an overview of the business plan sections. Business plans usually include an executive summary, business description, marketing plan, operations plan, and financial plan.
The different parts of the business description section include:
- Company description
- Business background
- Owner strengths and background
- Type of ownership
- Your business’ industry
Prepare
Use the information in this chapter to put together a draft of the business description section in the Business Plan Outline (.docx) (which you may have downloaded and saved at the beginning of this chapter). Save the document so you can continue to fill it out as you develop your business plan.
- Start by writing your company description and business background.
- Talk to your VR counselor, a benefits counselor, and other business experts about ownership types, and what might be the best fit for you.
- Conduct research on your business’s industry and write up what you find.
- Make a note of questions you have or help you may need. Share your questions and Business Plan Outline with your VR counselor.
Writing your business plan will take time, often several months or even a year. But, if you put in the time and research now, you will improve your chances of success in the future.
Click on the "VR Counselor Review" button for a short review of information for VR counselors from this chapter.
Check Your Understanding
Assessing the Business Plan
This section helps you check your understanding of the material covered in this chapter. You can also apply what you have learned by reviewing business scenarios for Shane and Brent in the next tabs.
Business Plan Questions
Take out a piece of paper and write down answers to the following questions about the Executive Summary and Business Description portions of the business plan. When you are finished, click on the REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS button to compare.
- What are three reasons writing a business plan is a good idea?
- What is the purpose of the executive summary and when should you write it?
- What information is included in a company description? Provide a 1-3 sentence example.
- What are three things to include in the business industry section of the business description?
Scenario 1: Shane
Beartooth Mountain Knives
Shane lives in Montana. He wants to start a business making different kinds of outdoor knives.
- He has made knives since he was in high school. He learned from his grandfather, who had been making knives for decades.
- He will make his knife handles out of local and exotic wood, as well as deer and elk antlers.
- He also plans to also offer knife sharpening and repair.
- Shane already has the specialized tools, forge, and workspace that he needs. He uses a wheelchair, and the space is already set up to accommodate his needs.
- He has sold a few knives on eBay in the past, but wants to make his own website.
- Shane has talked to a local hunting shop and a local gift shop, and both owners said they would sell his knives in their stores.
- Shane knows of another knife maker who lives a few hours away, but he only makes two different types of knives, and only uses deer antlers for handles. Shane and the other knife maker are friends, and they share techniques with one another. His friend said that he has had to turn potential customers away because they want custom knife types that he doesn’t make.
- Shane follows a few other knife-makers on social media, and he knows several members of the Montana Knifemakers Association, who he plans to talk with about the industry.
- Shane has talked with other local business owners and thinks that a sole proprietorship would work best for him.
Based on the information provided, write a draft company description for Shane’s business. Then, think about what other information he will need in order to begin writing his business description for the business background, owner strengths and background, type of ownership, and business industry sections.
Then, click on the "Shane’s Business Description" button to compare.
Scenario 2: Brent
Brent’s Boardgame Room
Brent loves playing boardgames, and gets together with his friends every week to play different games. He wants to start a business where people can come play games, eat snacks, and hang out.
- Brent has an extensive collection of games that he would have for customers to use.
- He plans to have a space with large tables so people can come and play different types of games. He wants it to be a place where everyone in the community can come, hang out, and make friends.
- Brent wants to be open in the afternoons so school kids have a safe place to come hang out, and in the evenings so adults can come after work.
- He plans to also have drinks and snacks for sale, so that people will be encouraged to stay longer.
- Brent thinks that maybe he could offer classes on how to play different games, if customers are interested, or could form an after-school kid’s gamming club. He plans to have events featuring multi-player games, where people who are interested can show up and join other people to play, instead of needing to come with their friends.
- He doesn’t know of any spaces dedicated to playing games in his area. The community center has big tables, but isn’t always available.
- He found a good space to rent that is accessible, clean, and is next door to his brother’s accounting business.
- Brent has some difficulties paying attention to small details and keeping track of things like paperwork. His brother offered to help him get his business organized, and will check in every week and as needed to make sure Brent isn’t overlooking anything important.
Based on the information provided, write a draft company description for Brent’s business. Then, think about what other information he will need in order to begin writing his business description for the business background, owner strengths and background, type of ownership, and business industry sections.
Then, click on the "Brent’s Business Description" button to compare.
