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Template Highlights

• Ten sections: Company description, Opportunity, Industry Analysis, Target Market, Management Team, Marketing Strategy, Timeline, Financial Plan, Conclusion. Bonus Appendices section, if you want to get fancy
• Detailed instructions for each section
• Add new sections or delete unnecessary ones -- the template is your oyster
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Simple business plan template.

Business Plan Template

Executive Summary

Begin with a brief description of your company to give background and context. Tell the reader why you have embarked on this new venture.

Then, move into a description of the opportunity. Explain your project from the broadest to most narrow context. Tell readers what product or service you plan to offer, how it fits into the industry you’ll operate within, who your target customers are, and what you expect from the market in the future. Explain your value proposition, and give an overview of the market.

Briefly describe your management team to help potential investors understand the skills and experience your company brings to the table. Next, move into a description of how your business will operate on a day-to-day basis.

Then, describe how you will promote your new product/service. You don’t need to go into detail here, but you should provide enough information to illustrate the marketing methods you will use and how you will attract new customers.

Describe the cost structure and financial aspects of the business. You’ll need to explain the kind and amount of investment that you need, what you will use the money for, and how you envision your business becoming profitable.

Next, you should move into a description of how you will implement your business plan. How will you roll out your new business? What is the expected timeline?

Finally, close this section with a clear, pithy explanation of your project, why it is needed, and how it will benefit future customers and investors.

HubSpot Tip: Write this section last, after you have written all of the other sections. It should summarize your entire business plan in a page or two (at most).

Company Description

Provide a description of your organization. Include the company’s name, what type of entity it is, who owns it, and note any significant assets.

This is a good place to talk about why you do what you do. What is your company’s mission statement? What are your goals and objectives?

What product or service do you provide? Who are your customers? Do you have a geographic focus? If so, where?

Briefly describe the industry, the opportunities it offers, and the growth it is experiencing.

Note some of your company’s main strengths and briefly explain where you fit into the industry. You will delve more deeply into this later.

HubSpot Tip: Keep this section brief. You will have plenty of time to talk about the details of your company and the business opportunity later in the document.

The Opportunity

Describe the need in the market that your business idea will fill. How did this need arise and why has it not been filled yet?

Explain how you identified the need and how your product/service will meet it.

Describe your products/services here. You can include diagrams or pictures to help illustrate your offering.

You should also include a description of the features and benefits of your product/service to your customer. Consider capturing this in a simple table like the one below.

Product/Service Feature

Benefit to the Customer

HubSpot Tip: Be sure to include your value proposition in this section – describe how your service/product is attractive to customers.

Industry Analysis

In this section, you’ll want to talk about the key environmental trends in your industry. What are the barriers to entry (e.g., high production or marketing costs, tariff barriers, regulatory challenges, extensive training)? How is the industry progressing? What is changing?

Then think about your business’ competitive advantage. Are there other companies providing the same good/service that you will be offering? If so, are customers likely to switch to your product/service? How do you compare with your competitors?

HubSpot Tip: Note the key factors for success in this industry, and show that your company has them.

Target Market Research and Definition

Based on the market research that you previously conducted, provide an explanation of the market in which your business will reside. How big is the market? How fast is it growing? Will your product/service be a major factor in the market?

Define your target customers. Who do you expect to buy your product/service?

You should identify and describe your major competitors in this section, as well.

Identify what defines your product/service in the marketplace. What distinctive competencies or offerings do you offer that other companies do not?

HubSpot Tip: Though you want to mention some competitors, make sure the focus is on your business and how it will serve your target customers.

Management Team & Organization

Your readers will want to know that your team has the skills and qualifications to implement what you have outlined in the business plan. Include brief biographical sketches of your leadership, including the board of directors (if you have one) and any high-level external advisors that your company uses.

Include their educational credentials and a description of the relevant work they have done and accomplishments they have achieved. You can also personalize this section with headshots of your staff to help put faces to the names.

If you have a complicated management structure, consider including an organizational chart like the one shown below. Tailor it to include the names and roles of your leadership team.

HubSpot Tip: You don’t need to include descriptions of every position in the company, just high-level management.

Operations Plan

In this section, describe how you will manage your business and what daily operations will look like. You should cover at least the following topics, and any other relevant information that might be unique to your industry:

• Staffing – How many employees will you have? Where will they be located? What kinds of skills and certifications do they need?

• Infrastructure – What kind of physical space will your company occupy? Describe your business locations. What kinds of technologies will you require?

• Legal Structure – Legal issues are important in every industry. Describe the unique aspects of yours and how you will address them.

• Regulatory – Regulations also play a key role in most businesses. Include a discussion of the regulatory issues faced in your industry and how you will handle them.

• Certifications or Accreditations - Does your company require any special documentation to do business? If so, describe how you’ll attain the required certification or accreditation.

• Product/Service Delivery Process – Describe your business processes. These might include inventory, supply chain, and accounts payable and receivable.

HubSpot Tip: This list is not exhaustive, so be sure to include enough information to help potential investors understand how your business will operate.

Marketing Strategy

Marketing is a crucial to the success of any business. Building on what you described in the Target Market Research and Definition section, define the components of your strategy to market your product/service.

Describe any challenges, including barriers to entering the market. What potential problems do you foresee? How will you address them?

Explain why you have chosen to operate your business in the selected location. Are there cost savings involved in choosing this location? Does it bring you closer to your customer base?

What is your pricing strategy? Explain and provide clear evidence for why the pricing structure you selected will lead customers to buy your products/services and will, at the same time, result in a profit for your business and investors.

Describe your plan for promoting your new business, product, or service. Will you use print, radio, television, or social media? Will you hire a marketing manager?

Be sure to indicate the budget for your marketing strategy and where you will obtain the funding for this important aspect of your business. You may need to employ consultants or an advertising agency – be sure to include these costs.

HubSpot Tip: Consider including a few mockups of your logos, packaging, and even advertisements to give potential investors a preview of your company’s marketing materials.

Implementation Plan And Timeline

Describe the phases in which your business will be rolled out. Indicate which phase you are in currently, and how long it will take to bring your product/service to market.

Consider including a timeline like the one below to illustrate the steps in the process. Customize it with your dates and the specific steps for your business.

HubSpot Tip: While aiming to please potential investors, be sure to set reasonable deadlines that you are able to meet.

Financial Plan

Tell your potential investors the amount of funds you have received thus far and who provided them. How much more funding do you require?

Describe how you will use each part of the funding you are requesting. Investors often feel more comfortable if they know exactly how their money will be used.

Give readers a peek into your company’s projected financial future. Include the following as appendices, but describe them in this section:

• Cash flow projection – An estimate of how much money you expect to flow in and out of your business.

• Capitalization plan – Lists the sources and uses of capital that your business plans to amass.

• Break-even analysis – A determination of what you need to sell in order to cover the costs of doing business.

In addition to the above, you’ll need to include an income statement and balance sheet. Since these could be long and were likely developed in Excel or an accounting software, you should reference them here and include them in an appendix.

You will also want to explain any assumptions that you have made that affect your financial information. Later you will be able to point to these to explain why something may have turned out differently than expected.

HubSpot Tip: This is one of the most important sections of your business proposal. If you are not an expert in finance, be sure to seek assistance from someone who is.

In a few sentences, summarize the main point that you would like the reader to understand about your business. Aim to convince them that they should invest!

Describe the next steps, and give detailed contact information so that they can get in touch with you easily.

HubSpot Tip: This section should incite the reader to act. Make it easy for your potential investors by including in this section all of the information they need to move forward.

Include any supporting documents for the previous sections here. You can reference them in the text and use them to provide additional detail without breaking up the flow of your business plan text.

HubSpot Tip: Some items you could include are: marketing materials, maps of the business location, background research, articles that have been written about the company, and financial documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i write a simple business plan, is this template free, can i edit this template, related tags:.

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Download Free Business Plan Examples

Download a free business plan in pdf or word doc format to make writing a plan fast and easy, find your sample plan.

Discover the sample plan that best fits your business. Search our gallery of over 550 sample business plans and find the one that's right for you.

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What You'll Get:

A complete business plan Unlike other blank templates, our business plan examples are complete business plans with all of the text and financial forecasts already filled out. Edit the text to make the plan your own and save hundreds of hours.

A professional business plan template All 550 of our business plans are in the SBA-approved format that’s proven to raise money from lenders and investors.

Instructions and help at every step Get help with clear, simple instructions for each section of the business plan. No business experience necessary.

A Word doc you can edit We don’t just have PDF documents that make editing a challenge. Each plan is available in Word format so you can start editing your business plan example right away.

Key Sections Included in our Example Business Plans:

Executive Summary : A quick overview of your plan and entices investors to read more of your plan.

Company : Describes the ownership and history of your business.

Products and Services : Reviews what you sell and what you’re offering your customers.

Market Analysis : Describes your customers and the size of your target market.

Strategy and Implementation : Provides the details of how you plan on building the business.

Management Team : An overview of the people behind the business and why they’re the right team to make the business a success.

Financial Plan : A complete set of forecasts including a Profit and Loss Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Balance Sheet.

Looking for a sample business plan PDF? You can download a few PDF examples below:

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Free Business Plan Template

Download a free business plan template for Word. Includes frequently asked questions about business plans.

Updated on September 17th, 2023

The SMB Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

A business plan template is a pre-formatted business plan that contains an outline for a synopsis of your business details, goals, and measurable steps you are planning to take to achieve these. A business plan is vital to obtain financing for your business and should be the foundation of your pitch deck.

Below is our free downloadable business plan template. This plan can be tailored to your specific business and the stage it is in, as well as for the intended audience.

Business Plan Template - Free Download

Download this blank business plan template in Word format and create your own business plan.

Benefits of Using a Business Plan Template:

• Ensure that your plan is presented in a standard format.
• Uncover the right information before your business is launched.
• Create a professional document without outsourcing.

See our template .

Why You Should Use a Business Plan Template:

Business plan templates allow entrepreneurs and small business owners to save time by working off of a pre-formatted document. With a professional template, you can add specific information about your business without having to start from scratch.

Writing a business plan is a time-consuming process, even if you use a template. However, using a template ensures that you add all of the content that you need before you make your business pitch. Working through a template one section at a time can help you to gather all of the information that you need.

Generally, it's a good idea to write your Executive Summary last. This way, you will have a much better idea of how to summarize and describe your business.

Download our template to get started.

Business to Business

Discover more about Business to Business (B2B) - what it means and how it affects your business. Includes an overview and frequently asked questions.

Jan 11, 2022

How do you write a business plan?

You can use a template , or start from scratch. Either way, your business plan should include a summary of your business, financial projections, details about marketing, a description of your products/services, and a SWOT analysis.

What is a business plan template?

A business plan template is a pre-formatted document that already contains an outline and basic details. You can customize a template to create a business plan for your own business.

How do I write a business plan for a startup?

Planning for a startup is the same as planning for any new business venture. You need a detailed business plan that is focused primarily on the financial needs of your new business. This will help to attract investors and give you a realistic picture of how much capital you need to succeed.

How do I write a 5-year business plan?

A 5-year business plan is typically written the same way as a normal business plan, except the financial projections from one year to the next may go into more detail. The plan may also include special projects/developments that you want to invest in during the first five years of operation.

What are the three main purposes of a business plan?

• Create a roadmap for the growth of your business.
• Demonstrate to lenders and investors that you have a path to success.
• Gather and evaluate all of the information needed to make decisions.

What should a business plan include?

• Executive Summary.
• Business Overview.
• Operations.
• Market Analysis.
• Products and Services.
• Competition.
• Management.
• Financial Plan.
• Projected Revenue.
• Appendices.

How do you write a successful business plan?

Successful business plans are well researched, including supporting documentation (financial statements, graphs, etc), demonstrate a keen understanding of the target market, and have a multi-faceted marketing strategy.

What do you title a business plan?

Business plans usually have a cover page with a prominent title that includes the company name and the words "Business Plan" either above or below the name. The cover page may also include contact information or a business address.

What are the types of business plans?

• Startup business plan.
• Growth business plan.
• Strategic business plan.
• Feasibility business plan.
• Internal business plan.
• Operations business plan.

How long is a business plan?

The length of your business plan is less important than the quality of the content that is contained within it. However, business plans generally vary in length from 20 to 50 pages depending on the spacing, size of the font, visual elements, and detail of each section.

How much does it cost to get a business plan written?

On the low end, freelancers may charge several hundred dollars to write a business plan, while professionals and consultants may charge several thousand. If you are going to outsource the creation of your business plan, make sure you hire someone who has lots of experience.

How do you write an executive summary for a business plan?

An executive summary should contain the following:

• Introduction.
• Company strengths.
• Explanation of product/service and how it meets a need or solves a problem.
• Conclusion emphasizing the importance/value of the business.

You should try to be concise when you're writing your executive summary since the rest of your business plan will provide more explanation for readers. The point is to draw people in and give them a 1000-foot view of what you are doing. It is generally agreed that the executive summary should make up no more than 5 - 10% of your entire business plan.

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The sample Business Plan Template below is free to download, customize and print and use as a guide to create a plan for your small business.

What is a Business Plan?

A Business Plan is a formal statement of a set of business goals, the reasons they are believed to be attainable, and the plans for reaching those business goals. It may also include background information the organization or team attempting to reach those goals.

How to Start a Business with a Business Plan

Business plans are critical to the success of any business or new venture. Entrepreneurs should certainly dedicate their time to create these plans regardless if they are searching for investors. Business plans serve as the framework for your business and provide benchmarks to see if you are indeed meeting your business goals. They are definitely a key to helping you think through your business and keep you on the right track.

It is important that Entrepreneurs outline their business plan very carefully. Always consider all the different variables so that you are not rushed into anything and always test your assumptions.

Always take some time to work with your colleagues, business partners, and mentors on your plan. Have them look for holes in the plan that you might have overlooked. Seeking input is a great way to get an objective view so always get this extra input and adjust accordingly.

It is good to include these components in your business plan:

• Mission/Vision Statement
• Company/Product/Service Description
• Product/Service Differentiation from Other Products/Services
• Market Analysis
• Management Team Description including Experience of Key Team Members and Previous Successes
• Product/Service Marketing Plan
• Company’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Analysis
• Cash Flow Statement
• Revenue Projections
• Business Plan Summary/Conclusion

Click on the link to download the free Business Plan Sample below:

Sample Business Plan

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FREE Blank Business Plan Templates & Examples

Get a Free Blank Business Plan Template Here at Template.net to Avoid the Trouble of Creating It from Scratch! These Templates Have a Sample Layout and Are Downloadable in a Format of Your Choice Including Pdf Form and Word. Create Your One-Page Small Business Plan Using Our Printable Templates!

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Want to create a business plan to start your small business to grow and succeed? Are you a startup businessman trying to make a name and a statement in the world of business? It’s time for you to rise and get yourself ready for what’s coming. Try our Ready-Made Blank Business Plan Templates so you may get yourself ready as you set your future goals and vision for your company. They are all 100% customizable, easily editable, and printable. A4 and US sizes are available for you to print. Download our blank business plan premium templates now and begin your journey in the world of business to succeed!  

What Is A Blank Business Plan 

A business plan is your mission and vision for your company to reach its peak of succession. It is everything you want and plans your company to be in the next five to ten years. A businessman’s vision is for their company to succeed and prosper sales and productivity-wise. It applies in any layout of professions given in the world of business. It can be a medical pharmacy, a fitness gym, a coffee shop, a bakery, a food truck business, or even a spa and salon. You want to have a good company plan for your company to prosper and profit. Make that your main agenda. 

How To Create A Blank Business Plan

Based on the Panel Study Of Entrepreneurial Dynamics II, they tracked a representative sample of more 1000 would-be US entrepreneurs over six years, covering 2005 up to 2011. Entrepreneurs grow more in number as they establish their business and spread all across for the world to notice. After knowing this, we hope to get your hopes up even more as we give you these essential tips on making your modern business plan a reality. 

1. Have A Purpose

When making your business plan, you want to have a purpose in doing that business. It has to be something that is genuinely in line with what you vision your business to be. If you plan on making a fitness business plan , then the goal and purpose should be related to fitness. Don’t sway away from your main agenda because that will lead to a disadvantage towards your business plan. 

2. Make A Profile

Once you have the purpose of your basic plan for your business, its time to make a profile. Write about your organization and describe the product and services you offer in the industry for marketing. You want to set an establishment for your business and work hard for it if you're going to succeed in the world of business. 

3. Formulate A Strategy

Adding a strategy is one of the critical movements in formulating your product business plan . Introduce new products, extend and regain the market for existing products, enter new territories for the company, boost sales for a particular product, and cross-selling are some strategies you may apply in developing your business. 

4. Make It Adaptable

You want to use adaptability to your strategic plan if you want your business to profit. For your business to reach that stage, you have to enter your audience if you want your products and services to sell in the marketing world. You want to connect to their interests, so you can convince them to buy your product. 

5. Never Stop Caring

As soon as you finish your sample business plan always have a soft spot to remember why you are doing this. You must have a connection to whatever business you plan to build based on your personal passions in life. If you love coffee so much, then run a business by running a coffee shop. If you love music, create a studio business to produce music based on the genres you like. Passion can be expressed in many ways and always take that to heart. Always be passionate personal and business-wise. 

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Simple Business Plan Templates

Strategic Plan Template

Focus on the future and keep your company moving forward with Jotform’s Strategic Plan Template. Simply fill in the attached form with your company overview, delve deeper with a SWOT analysis, and finish off by determining your strategic goals, actions, and financial plans. Our fully-customizable template converts submitted information into polished PDFs, which you can download, print, or share instantly.

Single Page Business Plan

Get down to business with a customizable Single-Page Business Plan template from Jotform. Customize your plan in minutes. No coding. Drag and drop to build.

Operational Plan Template

This Operational Plan Sample is structured with important details for your organization. It comes ready to print, but you can simply edit the fields by putting your own organization information.

Marketing Brief Template

Managing a marketing campaign or promotion is a challenging task. You need to have a marketing plan in order to execute the campaign smoothly with the time and budget provided. Creating a Marketing Brief is very beneficial because it summarizes the marketing strategy for a specific campaign.If you are in the advertising agency or part of the marketing department, then this Marketing Creative Brief Template is for you. This well-designed template contains the client information, project information, and the marketing materials that will be used. The project details explain the project title, description, objectives, target audience, budget overview, advertising guidelines, and competitors.

Glamping Business Plan Template

Grab the attention of the investors by using this Glamping Business Plan Template. This business plan is simple yet effective because it contains all the necessary details when building a successful business.

Lean Business Model Canvas Template

See your business from a new perspective with Jotform’s Lean Business Model Canvas Template. Simply fill in a short form with problems your business could solve, how they are currently being solved in the market, and how your company can uniquely work to solve these problems. Our template instantly converts the information into polished PDFs you can download or print for your next big meeting.Our Lean Business Model Canvas Template already looks professional, but you can personalize it further to match your business. Jotform PDF Editor lets you rearrange form fields or add your company logo at the touch of a button! By instantly converting your business model into an accessible PDF format, our Lean Business Model Canvas Template can help you see the bigger picture and determine how to take your business to the next level.

SOP Template

Create a process to organize your employees in managing specific cases or scenarios by using this SOP Template. This template is commonly used in any organization whether it is a small, medium, or large group.

Creative Brief Template

A Creative Brief is used in advertising, branding, and marketing industries. In order to have a strong and outstanding creative campaign, you need to have a game plan to follow. This serves as a guideline that will help in making decisions related to the campaign.This Creative Brief Template PDF discusses the project details like the project name, due date, and project description. The marketing materials that will be used are listed in the document which includes its specifications like the dimension size, the medium that will be used, and the quantity. This is the best Creative Brief Template you can use for your next creative marketing campaign.

Business Model Canvas Template

Our Business Model Canvas Template includes nine segments which are key partners, key activities, value proposition, customer relations, customer segments, key resources, channels, cost structure, and pricing model.

Blog Post Outline Template

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About Simple Business Plan Templates

Plans, strategies, roadmaps – Businesses rely on these things to gain perspective on what’s about to happen. Milestones laid down in strategic and careful planning for growth and expansion, visions of where the company’s headed 10 years from now, goals that should meet timelines, all these require a smart, prudent and calculated planning.

Whether you’re a startup, an SMB, or close to a Fortune 500, a solid business plan is crucial. And of course, writing business plans is a huge task. But, what if you needed something that requires input from others though? Say, an online form or a PDF template where responses from your colleagues and managers matter? Well, here’s a collection of PDF templates for business planning.

These are beautifully designed templates, specifically tailored for businesses and companies who don’t know where to start. The hard part was already done and that’s designing the template. These will serve as boilerplates for whatever milestone your business needs. You won’t need to worry on building something from scratch, you just need to focus on the content. Some of these templates will contain or collect executive summaries, opportunities, expectations, execution, financial plans, forecasts, the whole nine yards.

Business plan templates help give a clear vision of what lies ahead. They help you get things organized, planned out, and help you check off items from your to-do list more efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) what are the seven parts of a business plan.

• Executive summary. This is an overview of your business plan. The executive summary should include your company’s offerings, mission, goals, and projections. Think of it as the elevator pitch for your business plan. If you can’t get investors interested here, it’s unlikely they’ll want to keep reading.
• Company description and history. Describe your business’s legal structure and history in addition to what you do. If you just started this business, you may replace company history with your leadership team’s experience. The purpose of this section is to explain the company structure and build confidence in the people running the company.
• Products and services. Talk about what your company offers, whether that’s products, services, or a combination of the two. Describe your products and services in detail. Explain what makes your offering unique, what your profit margins are, what kind of demand you’re seeing for it, etc.
• Market and competitor research. Investors want to know if there’s demand for your offering. Describe the target market and how your product or service benefits potential customers. Include projections of where the industry is headed over the next few years. Additionally, detail your competitors and how saturated the market is.
• Sales and marketing strategy. This part of the business plan explains how you’ll promote your product. Outline elements such as your ideal customer profile (ICP) as well as your marketing channels, budget, and methods.
• Operations and logistics. Explain how you’ll source materials if you sell products as well as the technology you need to deliver such products and services. Also, provide details about your team, like how many people you’ll need and how you’ll manage employees.
• Financial plan and projections. It’s crucial to prove that your business will be financially viable. For this, you’ll need revenue and expense projections. Many investors want to see sample account statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections.

2) How do you write a business plan?

Your business plan should be a realistic roadmap that helps you build a successful company. When writing it, take a balanced approach so that you’re not blind to the potential pitfalls and risks. You’ll draft each of the seven sections previously discussed.

Tackling these sections can be overwhelming, so some people like to start with a one-page business plan that includes short paragraphs for each element. Another way to give yourself a head start is by working from a business plan template. Once you have a good start, you can expand each section to make a compelling case for your business.

3) Can I write a business plan myself?

Yes, you can. However, depending on your writing experience and goals, you may want outside help. If the business plan is for internal use with the purpose of improving business functions, you’ll likely be OK tackling it alone. But if you’re trying to secure funding from a bank or investors, a professional business plan writer can give you a leg up.

Even if you decide to do it yourself, have a trusted friend or business mentor review your plan and provide feedback. An objective point of view will help you refine your work.

4) What are the four types of business plans?

• One-page or mini business plan. The one-page option is a great way to improve the focus of your business plan and highlight the essential elements. It can be an effective way to workshop your company’s plan or quickly give others a rundown of your entire business.
• Traditional business plan. The traditional business plan is more in-depth than its one-page counterpart and will be more thorough in each section (often, plans exceed 40 pages). For example, it may contain detailed financials, branding samples, and competitive research documents.
• Business model canvas (BMC). The business model canvas is a more visual representation of your business architecture. It includes sections for infrastructure, offering, customers, finances, etc. Many businesses find the BMC appealing since it can be summarized in a single page.
• Strategic business plan. The strategic business plan can have different purposes, like proving feasibility, discussing planning operations, or projecting growth. It will outline the company’s goals, its strategy for reaching them, and the company structure. The main difference between this and the traditional plan is its focus on specific strategic initiatives.

5) What are the common mistakes in business plans?

• Poor writing. Sloppy writing may suggest that you’re not serious about your business or you lack the needed professionalism.
• Unrealistic expectations. While you should be optimistic about your business, if your financial projections reflect your hopes more than reality, people may hesitate to back your business.
• Lack of supporting documentation. People reviewing your business plan want to see how you back up your claims. You can include research docs, sample financials, and estimates to make your case.
• Failing to define the target audience. For a successful marketing plan, you need to define your target audience. Investors and financial institutions need to see if you’re confident about who you’re selling to.
• Unbalanced. It’s important to lay out the risks and potential upsides. This analysis shows investors that you’re considering the whole picture regarding your business.

These templates are suggested forms only. If you're using a form as a contract, or to gather personal (or personal health) info, or for some other purpose with legal implications, we recommend that you do your homework to ensure you are complying with applicable laws and that you consult an attorney before relying on any particular form.

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Free Business Templates for Organizations of All Sizes

By Kate Eby | April 8, 2020

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In this article, you’ll find an extensive collection of expert-tested, easy-to-use business templates to help you save time and improve productivity. Download free templates for  business planning , financial planning and budgeting , inventory management , and more.  

Business Plan Templates

At the foundation of any thriving business is intentional and persistent planning. Whether you are starting up a small business, expanding your current business, or simply need strategic direction as an entrepreneur, these business planning templates will empower you to develop your business blueprint and achieve your short and long-term goals.

Simple Small Business Plan Template

Use this essential one-page business plan template as a starting point to record the purpose of your business, the problem you are solving, the strategies of top competitors, as well as your key milestones marketing strategies, and a SWOT analysis. This template was designed with small businesses in mind, but can be used for organizations of any size.

Download Simple Small Business Plan Template

Excel | Word | PDF | Smartsheet

Startup Business Plan Template

This customizable startup business plan template enables you to outline strategies for your new business, so you can adapt to internal and external factors, as well as stay ahead of the competition. Modify this template to fill in the company’s background information, financial overview (including growth projections), business offerings, pricing structure, marketing strategy, competitive analysis, and more. Having all this data in one place will provide you with the clear direction you need to meet your business objectives. 

Download Startup Business Plan Template

Word | Smartsheet

Business Plan Executive Summary Template

This business plan executive summary template organizes, clarifies, and simplifies the process of communicating with potential investors concerning the essential details of your business, product, or idea. This template includes sections to showcase your vision, mission, history, value proposition, competitive advantage, target market, market opportunity, competitors, financials, and more. With this executive summary, your business plan will command attention from the start.

Download Business Plan Executive Summary Template

Excel | Word | PDF  | Smartsheet

For additional resources and free downloads, take a look at " Simple Business Plan Templates ."

Small Business Templates

These professionally designed templates cater to the small business owner, and you can customize them to fit your needs. Download and use these templates to help save time as you plan out your budget, track sales, and keep a finger on the financial pulse of your business.

Small Business Budget Template

This basic budgeting plan is ideal for small businesses that need a simple, easy-to-use template to track monthly business revenue and expenditures. This template comes with separate tabs to track monthly income and monthly fixed and variable expenses. It also includes a log to record cash transactions and remaining balances. 

Download Small Business Budget Template

Excel | Smartsheet

Small Business Sales Tracking Template

Use this sales tracker template to track costs, sales, income, and more for multiple items. You can also track the shipping costs, returns, and profit per item sold. This template comes with built-in graphs that correspond to the values you enter, and you can customize it to fit your needs. 

Download Small Business Sales Tracking Template — Excel

Small Business Pro Forma Balance Sheet Template

Use this pro forma balance sheet template to help manage your business assets and make monetary projections. Use financial statements to project the future status of receivables, inventory, equipment, debt, retained earnings, and more. With built-in formulas, this template also provides space to calculate key financial ratios. 

Download Small Business Pro Forma Balance Sheet Template — Excel

Startup Business Templates

Patience, diligent planning, and proper timing are all key aspects of a successful startup. Use these customizable templates to organize your ideas and finances so you can get your startup off the ground.

Startup Business Planning Schedule

Planning the launch of a startup business can be overwhelming. This template will support you in the planning process by allowing you to organize each phase of the process into actionable steps. Use this startup business planning schedule to define key tasks and deadlines, and use the built-in calendar to visualize progress and milestones.

Download Startup Business Planning Schedule

Startup Budget Template

One of the fundamental elements of a successful startup business is a detailed plan for resource allocation. This comprehensive startup budget template enables you to plan out estimates for funding, including investor funding and loans. It also allows you to plan out estimated expenses, including administrative, office, and marketing costs. In addition, the template compares budgeted to actual amounts at both a granular and high-level view.

Download Startup Budget Template — Excel

Startup Financial Projections Template (Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement)

Use this template to make financial projections for a startup business. This customizable template bundle with built-in formulas includes a detailed profit and loss projection over a 12-month period, a balance sheet, and a cash flow statement. 

Download Startup Financial Projections Template — Excel 

For additional startup template options, see “Free Startup Plan, Budget, and Cost Templates.”

Business Budget Templates

In order to make strategic decisions, a business must engage in effective budgeting practices. When an organization follows this maxim, it can accurately chart its current and projected financial standing. Use these professionally built budgeting templates to track cash flow, expenses, and costs and, in doing so, increase your company’s profitability and ROI.

Business Budget Template

This customizable business budget template enables you to plan your business expenses and break them down into goods and services. To create a spending plan for your finances, compare budgeted and actual amounts for all elements of the business, including operating expenses, payroll expenses, office expenses, health expenses, costs for labor and materials, and more.

Download Business Budget Template

Excel |  Smartsheet

Monthly and Yearly Business Budget Template

Use this 12-month business budget template for both a high-level and granular view of your organization’s financial performance over time. This template contains both a profit and loss section and balance sheet section to track revenue, costs, and expenses — fill out these sections to see the financial status of your business at a monthly, quarterly, and annual view.

Download Annual Business Budget Template

Excel | Smartsheet 

For additional budget template options, see “Free Business Budget Templates for Any Company.”

Business Invoice Templates

Download the following free business invoice templates — designed for organizations of any size — to provide your clients with invoices for the products or services they purchase. You’ll find simple templates, as well as advanced templates with built-in calculators.

Business Invoice Template

Organizations in any industry or of any size can use this professional business invoice template to bill clients for work. Simply enter product prices, quantities, shipping costs, and tax rates, and built-in formulas will automatically calculate total values. There is also room to add a logo, special remarks or instructions for payment, contact information, and other payment details that you can customize to fit your needs.

Download Business Invoice Template — Excel

Simple Invoice Template

This sales or service invoice template is designed to be easy to fill out and submit to clients. Simply add your logo and company information at the top, fill in the customer contact details, and add each line item description and amount. There is also space at the bottom of the template to add your contact information, should the client have any questions or concerns.

Download Simple Invoice Template

Blank Invoice Template

To use this invoice template, simply add billing and shipping information, product or service purchase details, special remarks or instructions, and contact information. There is also room at the top to insert a company logo. You can fully customize and print this blank invoice template or send it to clients electronically. 

Download Blank Invoice Template 

PDF | Smartsheet

If you need additional resources for accounting and bookkeeping, check out “55 Free Invoice Templates. ”

Business Financial Templates

With effective financial planning, you can set short and long-term goals and establish parameters for your work as you develop your strategy and prioritize your action plan. These free financial planning templates can assist you in the process of allocating resources in order to meet your overall business objectives.

Yearly Financial Projections Template

This detailed, all-in-one financial projection template contains separate tabs, and includes a profit and loss statement, a balance sheet, and a cash flow statement. Enter monthly financial data, and the built-in formulas will automatically calculate profit and loss ratios at a monthly, quarterly, and yearly view. Next, enter assets, liabilities, and stakeholder funds to track quarterly changes on the balance sheet and the formulas will also calculate balance sheet ratios. Finally, enter cash flow from operations, as well as investing and financing activities, to identify the cash position of your business.

Download Yearly Financial Projections Template

Financial Summary Report Template

Use this customizable financial summary report template to compare financial data from the previous year to the reporting year. This document also allows you to reference built-in visuals in order to see performance at a glance. This template enables you to report on total revenue, operating profit, net profit, assets, liabilities, and other financials at a high-level view.

Download Financial Summary Report Template — Excel

Financial Management Plan Template

Use this customizable financial management plan template to create a comprehensive financial plan of action. This template provides a basic outline to help you detail the purpose, scope, milestones, stakeholders, assumptions, risks, and methods you use to manage your business finances. Set up meetings on a regular basis to review your financial plan. Scheduling a standing meeting ensures that you will reach your goals and allows you to make modifications according to updated objectives.

Download Financial Management Plan Template

If you need additional financial resources and templates, check out our financial planning templates and Excel financial templates .  

Inventory Templates

Keeping track of inventory levels and product orders can help lower costs and improve efficiency. Use these free inventory templates to accurately track your company’s assets and support your inventory management process.

Small Business Inventory Control Template

This basic inventory control template enables you to track the total quantity and value of your organization’s current inventory, as well as see items that you need to reorder. When you enter the item number, name, manufacturer, cost, stock quantity, reorder level, and days per reorder, each item’s inventory value will calculate automatically via built-in formulas.

Download Small Business Inventory Control Template

Asset Tracking Template

Keep track of your company’s computer hardware, office furniture, intellectual property, and other business assets using this asset tracking template. This template keeps a record of each asset’s name, description, department, order date, vendor, warranty expiration date, model, quantity, value, and more. There is also space to add a link to (or image of) each asset. 

Download Asset Tracking Template

Stock Inventory Management Template

Use this stock inventory control management template to keep inventory levels in check, maintain a record of inventory value and location, and track when it’s time to reorder. This template contains separate tabs, including a stock inventory control tab, stock tracking tab, stock inventory item tab, and stock vendor list tab, to store all inventory and vendor contact details in one convenient location. 

Download Stock Inventory Management Template

For additional resources for inventory management, check out “Free Excel Inventory Templates.”

Additional Business Templates to Help Your Organization

For additional resources to support you in all aspects of your business, check out our wide selection of free, downloadable templates — from planning and scheduling to project management and reporting:

Agenda Templates

Calendar Templates

Dashboard Templates

Estimate & Quote Templates

Marketing Templates

Project Management Templates

Proposal Templates

Receipt Templates

Sales Templates

Work Scheduling Templates

Business Case Templates

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