Write your business plan
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Write your business plan | U.S. Small Business Administration Skip to main content Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Write your business plan Your business plan is the foundation of your business. Learn how to write a business plan quickly and efficiently with a business plan template. Content Business plans help you run your business A good business plan guides you through each stage of starting and managing your business. You’ll use your business plan as a roadmap for how to structure, run, and grow your new business. It’s a way to think through the key elements of your business. Your research can also help you later in your planning. For example, knowing your NAICS code could help you with market analysis, insurance, and taxes. Business plans can help you get funding or bring on new business partners. Investors want to feel confident they’ll see a return on their investment. Your business plan is the tool you’ll use to convince people that working with you — or investing in your company — is a smart choice. Pick a business plan format that works for you There’s no right or wrong way to write a business plan. What’s important is that your plan meets your needs. Most business plans fall into one of two common categories: traditional or lean startup. Traditional business plans are more common, use a standard structure, and encourage you to go into detail in each section. They tend to require more work upfront and can be dozens of pages long. Lean startup business plans are less common but still use a standard structure. They focus on summarizing only the most important points of the key elements of your plan. They can take as little as one hour to make and are typically only one page. This type of plan is very detailed, takes more time to write, and is comprehensive. Lenders and investors commonly request this plan. This type of plan is high-level focus, fast to write, and contains key elements only. Some lenders and investors may ask for more information. Traditional business plan format Use our tips to build your own traditional business plan, or download examples. General guidance You might prefer a traditional business plan format if you’re very detail-oriented, want a comprehensive plan, or plan to request financing from traditional sources. When you write your business plan, you don’t have to stick to the exact business plan outline. Instead, use the sections that make the most sense for your business and your needs. Explore the nine most common sections, or download fictional examples of a traditional business plan from Rebecca, who owns a consulting firm, or Andrew, who owns a toy company. Common traditional business plan sections Executive summary Briefly tell your reade
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