Business Plans

Business plans allow you to structure, run, and grow your business. It also helps with funding or finding new business partners.

1. Executive Summary: what your company is and why it will be successful. Include mission statement, product/service, company’s leadership, financials, and marketing strategy
2. Company Description: explains what problem your company solves. List clients or customers. Boast about your strengths.
3. Market Analysis: Need a good understanding of your industry and target market. Look for trends and themes.
4. Organization and Management: explain your company’s structure and how it will be run. Include the legal structure – S corporation, LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), etc. May want to include org. chart and resumes if necessary.
5. Service or product line: Describes how your product benefits its customers and the lifecycle of the product. Include patent or copyright information about your product or service.
6. Marketing and Sales: Explain how you will attract and retain customers.
7. Funding request: Explain whether you need funds for debt or equity and what the terms of the funding you’d like. You should also explain what the funds will be used for - salaries, equipment, etc.
8. Financial Projections: Include an financial data you have  - income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets – of the last 3-5 years. Provide a financial outlook for the next 5 years.
9. Appendix: legal documents, product pictures, contracts

Older business plans created by CPP graduate students are located in the Thesis section on the 4th floor of the Library (see map). You can borrow them and read them at home.