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Electronics Retailer Business Plan

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Safe Current

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Safe Current is small business unit of The Cleveland Illuminating Company (TCIC), and electric utility. Safe Current was formed and will be lead by Brian Henderson.

Safe Current has identified three key factors that will be instrumental to its sustainability:

• Ensure 100% customer satisfaction: Repeat customers and customer referrals are valuable.
• Design and sell meaningful and valuable power protection products.
• Design and implement strict financial controls. This is very important because although Safe Current is a small business unit of TCIC, they must be a stand alone entity financially and and yet they have financial and accounting responsibilities to the shareholders of TCIC.

Products Safe Current will offer two main products, surge arrestors and surge protectors. These products are made by a contract manufacturer and sold under the Safe Current brand name:

• Surge Arrestors : This is a piece of equipment that is mounted on the outside of a house or business near the meter that offers protection from external electrical surges.
• Surge Protectors : This is a piece of equipment that protects individual or groups of appliances against internal electrical spikes. All of Safe Currents protectors are of industrial grade.

Management Brian has an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and has experience working for the large telecom ATT as an assistant project manager, and Allegheny Power working in the value added services department. Safe Current has been forecasted to achieve impressive sales for years two and three, with correspondingly respectable net profit.

1.1 Objectives

• To develop a profitable product for TCIC that is unregulated from the core power generation business services.
• To become profitable within one year.
• To use this business as a successful model for future ventures.

1.2 Mission

To develop a family of surge protectors and arrestors for consumers that offer safety and value. Safe Current will leverage the strength of The Cleveland Illuminating Company to help build brand recognition. All customer’s expectations will be exceeded with their innovative, useful products and complete customer satisfaction is guaranteed.

1.3 Keys to Success

• Offer every customer 100% satisfaction.
• Design and sell meaningful, valuable, power protection products.
• Design and employ strict financial controls.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Safe Current is an unregulated subsidiary of The Cleveland Illuminating Company that sells direct to businesses and consumers. It will be operated as a stand alone business leveraging the existing resources and goodwill of TCIC.

Safe Current will be located on site at TCIC, using an office within the complex and also sharing TCIC’s computer network connection and phone connections. Safe Current will operate their own customer service call department. Safe Current will use TCIC’s existing call center for sales calls and TCIC’s existing billing system as well as their order fulfillment and shipping departments. Safe Current will pay a flat rate (10%) for these services.

The Cleveland Illuminating Company has chosen to create Safe Current as a means of increasing the rate of return to shareholders outside the government regulated rates available to electric utilities.

2.1 Company Ownership

Safe Current is a wholly owned subsidiary of TCIC.

2.2 Start-up Summary

Safe Current will leverage the existing resources of TCIC and pay a set overhead fee for the resources used. Equipment that will be needed as follows:

• Five computer stations, one laser printer; Microsoft Office, Access, and proprietary software used by TCIC; network connection to TCIC.
• Five office furniture setups.
• A five extension phone system.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Safe Current has identified three distinct market segments that they will target. The first segment is family home owners, typically with children, and the second is single home owners.

These two segments have been chosen because families with children typically have a large number of electronic devices and the upper income single home owners often adopt technology using lots of gadgets in their home.

The third segment is commercial businesses that have equipment they want protected. Competition is very limited for surge arrestors as they require electric utility installation. There is some competition with the surge protectors, however the competitive products are of a consumer level of quality and protection, different from Safe Current’s products which offer industrial levels of protection.

3.1 Market Segmentation

Safe Current has segmented the market into three distinct groups.

Family home owners This segment generally has electronic equipment and lives in middle- to high-end homes.

• 69% have at least one child.
• The median household income is $77,000.
• Eat out 2.3 times a week.
• 58% of the families have two incomes.
• 63% have cable TV.
• 49% have a broadband Internet connection.

Single home owners This segment is a single person who owns their own home. They are generally professionals who often use a lot of electronic technology.

• Ages 25-40.
• 71% are professionals.
• The median household income is $62,000.
• Eat out 2.7 times a week.
• 72% have cable TV.
• 71% have a broadband Internet connection.

Commercial sales This segment is small to mid-size businesses that have expensive electronic equipment that they need protected. Commercial sales are not industry specific. All businesses, regardless of type, have pieces of equipment that can be protected.

3.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

Safe Current is targeting these groups since all tend to have many pieces of electronic equipment all of which are vulnerable to power surges.

While most home owners insurance offers some level of compensation for damage, deductibles are typically high enough that most people do not make claims. Both segments are already customers and aware of TCIC’s reputation for safety, reliability and operational excellence, making it easy to solicit their business.

3.3 Industry Analysis

Safe Current operates selling two similar service devices, surge arrestors and surge protectors. While these products are similar, they have serve different purposes.

The surge arrestors are a product that can only be offered by a utility so it is typically only sold and installed as a package by the utility.

The surge protectors operate within the more general consumer product segment as evidenced by the fact that surge protectors can be found by a wide range of retailers such as hardware stores, do-it-yourself type stores, and computer and electronic retailers.

It should be noted that Safe Current’s parent company, The Cleveland Illuminating Company is an electric utility and is therefore operating within a regulated industry. Current regulation by the public utility commission (PUC) dictates that the rate of return is capped at 10.5% for utility activities.

Safe Current however provides a product that operates within the unregulated area of the utility and therefore does not have rate of return caps. This is quite advantageous to Safe Current because it allows them to leverage the assets of the utility without being held to the same restrictions as the rest of the utility.

3.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

Surge arrestors Safe Current does not face any real competition for the arrestors due to the installation requirement of the electric utility.

While there are four current vendors that sell the actual arrestor equipment, it is far more expensive to buy the equipment and then pay the utility for installation than buying the package (product and installation) directly from the utility.

Surge protectors Safe Current faces general competition from several sources. This is qualified as general competition since the products typically sold (90% of the time) are of consumer quality versus the industrial quality that Safe Current offers.

Due to TCIC’s direct contacts with electrical component manufacturers and their sheer buying scale/power, Safe Current is able to offer high-quality industrial grade products for prices that are similar to the consumer units. Competitors in this segment include:

• Hardware stores
• Mass merchants
• Do-it-yourself stores
• Computer retailers
• Electronic retailers

3.4 Products

Safe Current will offer a family of surge arrestors and surge protectors for consumers. A surge protector protects appliances plugged into it against spikes in voltage.

A surge arrestor or “whole house surge protector” protects all circuits of a house from a surge in current emanating from outside the building. These products will protect consumers and their sensitive electric and electronic appliances from power surges or transient voltage.

A power surge is an increase in voltage significantly above the designated level of flow of electricity. If a surge or spike is high enough it will inflict serious damage, just like applying to much water pressure through a hose. Too much will case the hose to burst. The same thing happens when there is too much electrical pressure through a wire, the wire “bursts.”

Surge protectors work by diverting the extra electricity into the outlet’s grounding wire. A surge arrestor offers the same protection, however, the protection occurs before the current comes into the home. There are several sources of surges.

The most familiar source is lightning. When lightning strikes near a power line, the electrical energy creates a boost of electrical pressure. A surge arrestor is the best form of protection against lightning as a lightning surge will overpower most surge protectors.

A more common source is the operation of high power electrical devices such as refrigerators and air conditioning units. These appliances cause spikes when their compressors or motors are turned on and off, creating sudden, brief demands for power and upsetting the flow of the electrical voltage.

These types of surges can be protected only by surge protectors because the spike occurs within the home and not from the electrical grid.

The last main source of surges come from the utility company’s equipment. The complex system of equipment that brings electrical power from the grid into the home may have points of failure that can cause uneven power transmissions.

A combination of a surge arrestor and surge protectors on major or expensive electric/electronic components can significantly decrease the possibility of surge/spike damage.

Safe Current will offer two main products, surge arrestors and surge protectors. These products are made by a contract manufacturer and sold under the Safe Current brand name:

Safe Current has chosen to outsource production because 1) it has numerous relationships with contract manufacturers that can make the products for far less than they can, 2) production would create significant capital costs which are truly unnecessary. The beauty of this business model is the usage of contract manufacturers and the leveraging of TCIC resources.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Safe Current has developed a targeted strategy that allows them to leverage their competitive edge and quickly gain market penetration. Safe Current’s competitive edge is its ability to use The Cleveland Illuminating Company’s utility status for the sale of house surge arrestors and protectors.

The marketing strategy will concentrate on the ability to offer supreme, inexpensive protection for an entire family’s stable of electric and electronic appliances. This campaign will be communicated through various methods and will focus on the product offerings coming from the safe, established TCIC, an icon of Cleveland for over 50 years. Please review the following sections for a more detailed analysis.

4.1 Competitive Edge

Safe Current’s competitive edge is their ability to leverage the huge advantage of being aligned with The Cleveland Illuminating Company, an electric utility serving the Cleveland market for over 50 years. TCIC has spent a long time developing brand equity and Safe Current will be able to tap into this equity immediately.

Safe Current will also be able to use TCIC’s extensive vendor connections and buying power. The last component of their competitive edge is Safe Current’s exclusive ability to install house arrestors. This last edge is a sustainable edge since no other company will ever be able to make arrestor installations, a function of the regulated power industry.

4.2 Marketing Strategy

Safe Current’s marketing strategy will seek to communicate the idea that the products that they offer are in effect cheap insurance against large electric and electronic appliance damage or losses.

By proactively purchasing Safe Current’s products, customers are able to protect against loss and damage of all of their expensive appliances. While many homeowners probably have some sort of insurance, deductibles are often prohibitively high, making a claim for damage to one or a couple appliances not worth the money. Safe Current will use several forms of communication for this marketing campaign:

• Inserts in Bills : Colorful inserts will be added into the bills of TCIC customers. Currently, the customers are receiving a monthly bill from TCIC and inserts are an inexpensive, yet powerful way of reaching the customers.
• Website : Safe Current will have a website which will be comprehensive in describing the different product offerings as well as allowing the customer to order directly from the site.
• Direct Mail : Another advantage of the relationship Safe Current has with TCIC is the ability to use their customer database. This allows Safe Current to generate a targeted list of customers that they can send product information to.

4.3 Sales Strategy

Safe Current’s sales campaign will emphasize the fact that Safe Current is a subsidiary of TCIC. This will be effective because TCIC is a well known, stable electric utility known for its safe and reliable operation.

This idea is evidenced by the fact that almost every time that a consumer reaches for a light switch the light goes on. Sure there are interruptions, often weather related, that interrupt the electrical service, but those interruptions are reconnected quite fast.

The utility is stable and safe and is always working to serve the customer. These electricity related products will clearly leverage the brand equity developed by TCIC over the last five decades.

4.3.1 Sales Forecast

The sales forecast has been developed as a forecast and tracking tool to provide the company with realistic sales goals as well as a way to verify progress. The forecast has been developed as a conservative estimate, not an aggressive sales promise.

By adopting a conservative forecast, Safe Current increases the likelihood of reaching sustainable sales growth. The following table and charts provide more detailed information about the sales cycle, both from a temporal viewpoint and a product perspective.

4.4 Milestones

Safe Current has identified several quantifiable, reachable milestones that will serve as goals that the entire organization will work toward in order to make Safe Current a sustainable business.

The following table details the specific milestones as well provides a temporal timetable for expected completion dates. Following the table is a chart for a graphical representation of the information.

Web Plan Summary

Safe Current’s website will be used as both a marketing and sales tool. It will take on marketing responsibilities as one of the communication methods used to raise awareness regarding Safe Current’s product families. Extensive product information will be included on the site in an easy to use format.

The site will also be used as a sales tool, allowing customers to purchase the products as well as set up installation appointments for the surge arrestors. Allowing the website to offer sales support will provide consumers with a convenient way to purchase the products as well as provide Safe Current with a low-cost sales program that does not require a live sales support agent. The site will periodically be updated to encourage customers to make repeat visits.

5.1 Website Marketing Strategy

Safe Current will market their website in two primary ways:

• Search engine submission : As search engines become more and more powerful, a large number of Internet users use them to find relevant information on the Internet. Safe Current will submit their site to many popular engines ensuring that their site comes up high on the list of hits.
• URL reference in all printer material : The Web address, www.safecurrent.com, will be printed on all material that Safe Current uses encouraging consumers to check out the site.

5.2 Development Requirements

The website will be developed by TCIC’s internal Web development team for the price of $5,000.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Brian Henderson received a Bachelors of Science in business and marketing from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. Upon graduation from the MBA program, Brian went to work for ATT for three years. At ATT Brian was an assistant project manager, selling telephone accessories using direct marketing techniques. After his ATT experience, Brian worked for Allegheny Power, a Pennsylvania-based electric utility. At Allegheny Power Brian was again an assistant project manager in charge of selling commercial businesses value added services. Brian spent three years at Allegheny before joining The Cleveland Illuminating Company as a Project Manager.

6.1 Personnel Plan

As a side business unit of TCIC, Safe Current will have only a few employees. Billing, sales, and order fulfillment will be accomplished using TCIC’s existing organization, paying a 10% fee for these services. The employees/positions that Safe Current will use include:

• Project Manager : Brian will take on a wide range of functions including business development, product procurement, management, and sales.
• Customer Service Agents (4): These positions will assist customers calling about Safe Current’s products. Additionally, at times the employees may help Brian with other activities.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following sections outline important financial information.

7.1 Important Assumptions

The following table details important financial assumptions.

7.2 Break-even Analysis

The Break-even Analysis indicates what will be needed in monthly revenue to reach the break even point.

7.3 Projected Cash Flow

The following chart and table displays projected cash flow.

7.4 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table presents projected profit and loss.

7.5 Business Ratios

The following business ratios detail both ratios specific to Safe Current as well as ratios specific to the general industry. Variances in Safe Current’s ratios relative to the industry’s can be explained by the fact that Safe Current is able to leverage the valuable assets of TCIC, an electric utility, to achieve above market margins. As a small business unit of an electrical utility it is normal for business ratios to be different from the competition.

7.6 Projected Balance Sheet

The following table details the projected balance sheet.

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Electronics Shop Business Plan

Free Business Plan Template

Download our Free Business Plan Template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

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How to Write An Electronics Shop Business Plan?

Writing an electronics shop business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the whole business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.

Market Opportunity:

Product offering:.

• For instance, you may include televisions, audio speaker sets, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc as some of your products.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

Describe your business in this section by providing all the basic information:

Describe what kind of electronics shop you run and the name of it. You may specialize in one of the following electronics shop businesses:

• Retail electronics store
• Online electronics store
• Specialized electronics store
• Wholesale electronics supplier
• Electronic repair shop
• Describe the legal structure of your electronics shop, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

• Additionally, If you have received any awards or recognition for excellent work, describe them.

Future Goals

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

• For instance, general consumers, tech enthusiasts, small business owners, or gamers would be an ideal target audience for a commercial electronics shop.

Market size and growth potential:

• For instance, the electronics shop industry was $159.6 billion in 2022, so it is crucial to define the segment of your target market and its growth potential.

Competitive Analysis:

Market trends:.

• For instance, smart home devices have a booming market; explain how you plan on dealing with this potential growth opportunity.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your electronic store business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Electronics shop’s products:

Mention the electronics shop products your business will offer. This list may include,

• Smartphones
• Audio speakers
• Televisions
• Smart home devices
• All other electrical appliances & accessories

Quality measures:

• This may include product authenticity & legitimacy, product inspection & testing, product warranty & guarantee, etc.

Additional Services

In short, this section of your electronics shop plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

• For example, expert staff & technical support, a wide product range, or competitive pricing could be some of the great USPs for a professional electronics shop.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your electronics shop business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your electronics shop, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, equipment & software:.

• Explain how these technologies help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your electronics shop’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

• It should include, senior management, and other department managers (e.g. operations manager, technical service manager.) involved in the electronics shop business operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the industry.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

• So, if you have any advisors or consultants, include them with their names and brief information consisting of roles and years of experience.

This section should describe the key personnel for your electronics shop services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

• This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your electronics shop business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

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This sample electronics shop business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful electronics shop plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our electronics shop business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a food distribution business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful electronics shop. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your electronics shop.

How to get funding for your electronics shop?

There are several ways to get funding for your electronics shop, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your electronics shop?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your electronics shop business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your electronics shop business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any electronics shop business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

Can a good electronics shop business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted electronics shop business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

So, if you have a profitable and investable business, a comprehensive business plan can certainly help you secure your business funding.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Electrical Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Starting and running an electrical business requires a lot of effort, funding, and preparation to be successful. One of the most important components of a successful electrical business is a comprehensive business plan. To make the process easier, the #1 Electrical Business Plan Template & Guidebook can provide prospective business owners with the tools they need to turn their dreams into reality. With this helpful resource, budding entrepreneurs can streamline the planning process, develop an actionable roadmap for their business’ development and growth, and create a plan that stands out from competitors.

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Electrical Business [11 Steps]
• 10+ Best & Profitable Electrical Business Ideas [2023]
• 25 Catchy Electrical Business Names:
• List of the Best Marketing Ideas For Your Electrical Business:

How to Write a Electrical Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your electrical business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your electrical business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a electrical business:

Our mission is to provide reliable and innovative electrical solutions that meet the individual needs of our customers, creating long-term relationships through an unwavering commitment to service excellence.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Electrical Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your electrical business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your electrical business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your electrical business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your electrical business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a electrical business?

In order to run an electrical business, you will need the following equipment, supplies, and permits:

• Electrical tools and supplies (wire cutters, crimpers, test equipment, etc.)
• Electrical wiring and components (switches, receptacles, conduit, etc.)
• Business license
• Insurance coverage.
• State and local permits as required by your municipality.

5. Management & Organization of Your Electrical Business.

The second part of your electrical business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your electrical business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Electrical Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a electrical business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a electrical business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your electrical business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your electrical business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your electrical business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Electrical Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a electrical business.

A business plan for an electrical business is necessary to help identify and clarify the company's goals and objectives, as well as outline a strategy for achieving them. It also serves to provide potential investors or lenders with detailed information about the company's products, services, financials, marketing plans and resources. Additionally, a business plan can provide valuable insight into the market opportunity for an electrical business and help guide the development of an effective business model.

Who should you ask for help with your electrical business plan?

An experienced entrepreneur or small business consultant can help you develop a business plan for your electrical business. You may also want to speak with a lawyer who specializes in business law to get advice on any legal complexities or regulations you need to be aware of. Additionally, a financial planner can help you assess the financial viability of your business and offer advice on the best ways to structure your finances.

Can you write a electrical business plan yourself?

Yes, it is possible to write a electrical business plan yourself. Depending on the business, you might need to research the current market and trends in your industry, as well as consider your target customer base. Additionally, you would need to create a detailed financial plan that outlines expected costs and revenue. You also might want to consider enlisting the help of a professional business plan writer or consultant who can provide advice and guidance in order to help ensure your plan is comprehensive and accurate.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

Electrical Contractor Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Electrical Contractor Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their electrical contracting businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through an electrical contractor business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your electrical contractor business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start an electrical contractor business, or grow your existing electrical contractor business, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your electrical contractor business in order to improve your chances of success. Your electrical contracting business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Electrical Contractor Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for an electrical contractor business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the electrical contractor will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for electrical contractor businesses.

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How to write a business plan for an electrical contracting business.

If you want to start an electrical contracting business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are the details for each section of your electrical contractor business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of electrical contractor business you are operating and its status. For example, are you a start-up, do you have an electrical contractor business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of electrical contractor businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the electrical contractor industry. Discuss the type of electrical contractor business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target market. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of electrical contractor business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of electrical contractor businesses:

• Commercial Electrical Contractor : this type of electrical contractor business will focus on developing outdoor spaces such as college campuses, parks, gardens and more.
• Residential Electrical Contractor: this type of electrical contractor business collaborates with homeowners to design and/or install electrical and electronic systems.
• Industrial Electrical Contractor: this type of electrical contractor business works on large projects for manufacturers or warehouse facilities.

In addition to explaining the type of electrical contractor business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, number of positive reviews etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the electrical contractor industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the electrical contractor industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your electrical contractor business plan:

• How big is the electrical contractor industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your electrical contractor business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your electrical contractor business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: homeowners, businesses, general contractors, developers, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of electrical contractor business you operate. Clearly, a homeowner would respond to different marketing promotions than a local government, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most electrical contractor businesses primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target audience. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other electrical contractor businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes in-house electricians and homeowners who do minor electrical work themselves. You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other electrical contractor businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be electrical contractors located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What types of projects do they specialize in?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide a wider array of services?
• Will you provide special discounts or perks for returning customers?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For an electrical contractor business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of electrical contracting business that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to installing traditional electrical systems, will you also install smart home control systems or fire and security systems?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your electrical contractor company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your electrical contractor business located in a growing community with a booming construction sector, etc.  Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your electrical contractor marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local websites
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your business operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your electrical contractor business, including marketing your business, working on current projects, prepare for upcoming projects, and overseeing the entire project.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to install your 500 th electrical system, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your electrical contractor business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your electrical contractor business’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing electrical contractor businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in overseeing construction projects or successfully running their own electrical contractor businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you work on 1 project at a time or will you oversee multiple projects at any given time? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your electrical contractor business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing an electrical contractor business:

• Cost of equipment and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or contracts for upcoming projects.  

Putting together a business plan for your electrical contractor business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the electrical contractor industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful electrical contractor business.  

Electrical Contracting Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my electrical contractor business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Electrical Contractor Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of electrical contractor business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have an electrical contractor business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of electrical contractor businesses?

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How to Write a Business Plan for a Electrical Contractor

• September 14, 2022
• Small Businesses

Whether you’re looking to raise funding from private investors or to get a loan from a bank (like a SBA loan) for your electrical contractor company, you will need to prepare a solid business plan.

In this article we go through, step-by-step, all the different sections you need in the business plan of your electrical contractor business. Use this template to create a complete, clear and solid business plan that get you funded.

1. Electrical Business Executive Summary

The executive summary of a business plan gives a sneak peek of the information about your business plan to lenders and/or investors.

If the information you provide here is not concise, informative, and scannable, potential lenders and investors will lose interest.

Though the executive summary is the first and the most important section, it should normally be the last section you write because it will have the summary of different sections included in the entire plan.

Why do you need a business plan for an electrical business?

The purpose of a business plan is to secure funding through one of the following channels:

• Obtain bank financing or secure a loan from other lenders (such as a SBA loan )
• Obtain private investments from investment funds, angel investors, etc.
• Obtain a public or a private grant

How to write an executive summary for an electrical business?

Provide a precise and high-level summary of every section that you have included in the business plan of your electrical business. The information and the data you include in this segment should grab the attention of potential investors and lenders immediately.

Also make sure that the executive summary doesn’t exceed 2 pages in total: it’s supposed to be a summary for investors and lenders who don’t have time to scroll through 40-50 pages, so keep it short and brief.

The executive summary usually consists of 5 major sub-sections:

• Business overview : start by introducing your proposed electrical contracting firm, where it is located, the services you will offer, and the pricing strategy you want to implement. Mention what sets you apart from other businesses. For example, you may be a master electrician with a decade of experience in designing electrical systems.
• Market analysis : summarise the market where you will operate and provide a brief about your target market , target audience, spending capability, etc. Also give certain data points about the electrical contractor business industry in the area where you want to operate (size and growth), as well as an overview of the main competitors, etc.
• People : introduce your electrical business’ management and employee structure. Provide a brief (no more than a couple of sentences each) of the knowledge and experience of the team. Also, mention how the company will be structured (management roles and reporting lines)
• Financial plan: how much profit and revenue do you expect in the next 5 years? When will you reach the break-even point and start making profits? You can include here a chart with your key financials (revenue, gross profit, net profit )
• Funding ask : what loan/investment/grant are you seeking? How much do you need? How long will this last?

2. Electrical Business Overview

In this segment of the business plan, you will provide details about your proposed electrical contracting firm.

You must answer here some important questions that potential investors and lenders often ask about your business and operations. Here are some examples of questions you must answer:

• What is the rationale behind your opening an electrical contractor business today?
• In which location will you operate and why?
• What type of services will you offer?
• Are there specific types of services and/or industries that you specialize in?
• What will be your pricing strategy and why?
• What will be the legal structure of your company?

a) History of the Project

Any business overview must start with explaining the history of the project. There are 2 components here:

• Passion & experience of the business owner
• Rationale behind starting an electrical business today

Passion & experience

You must display your passion while at the same time, you must also showcase your experience. For instance, you may have 10 years of journeyman experience, or you may be a master electrician with the ability to design ground-breaking electrical systems.

Is there a certain problem (or perhaps, a set of problems) that your electrical contracting firm will try to solve when it comes into existence?

For example, there may be a steady increase in demand for commercial electrical contracting firms but there are only a few unorganized service providers incapable of efficiently handling commercial contracts.

The rationale behind your project must be backed up by a thorough analysis of the industry in the area where you plan to open your electrical contractor business. This is what we will cover under Market Overview further below.

b) Business Model

This section of the Business Overview should explain the model you want to adopt for your electrical contractor business. For example:

• Which target audience segment you will focus on and why?
• Is there enough demand for that segment in your focus area?
• What type of services you will offer?

What are the different types of e lectrical contractor companies?

You may choose one of the following:

• Residential Electrical Contractors: They usually collaborate with homeowners to design or install electrical systems
• Commercial Electrical Contractors : They usually focus on commercial and outdoor spaces like malls, shops, college campuses, gardens, parks, etc.
• Industrial Electrical Contractors : They usually focus on larger products like industrial manufacturing areas, warehouses, etc.

No matter what you select, you must ensure that there is enough demand for the type of electrical contracting firm you want to open and the range of services you will offer.

c) Services

The services you offer will depend on the type of customers you will serve and also on the skills you have. Provide a quick list of the major services that you will offer. Some services may include things like:

• Exterior and interior lighting
• Installation of safety systems & electronic appliances
• Electrical wiring and transmission line installation
• Repairs & upgrades, etc.

d) Pricing Strategy

This is where you will provide an overview of your pricing strategy. For instance, you may charge higher than your competitors because you may have a team of highly experienced electricians and also because you use high-quality wires and other materials than your competitors.

Similarly, you may decide to charge lower than your competitors because of the bulk purchase of products like wires, switches, etc., which allows you to bring down the cost of your services.

Whatever the case is, explain your pricing strategy and the logic behind it.

Pricing table

While it may not be possible to provide a proper pricing table for all services that you will offer, it is still a great idea to provide a table that gives an overview of your pricing structure.

Providing individual pricing for all services may not be possible, however, you may provide a range. For example:

• Smart systems installation: $75 to $150 per hour (depending on the system and area)
• Repair and upgrades: $80 to $120 per hour

However, don’t go into extreme details because potential investors are not interested in the nitty-gritty of your pricing. They just need the big picture to assess the profitability, because they will tie your pricing strategy with your financial projections later on.

e) Company Legal Structure

Finally, your business overview section should specify what type of business structure you want. Is this a corporation or a partnership (LLC)? Who are the investors? How much equity percentage do they own? Is there a Board of Directors? If so, whom? Do they have experience in the industry?

3. Electrical Business Market Overview

A complete understanding of the market where you want to operate is important for the success of your business. That’s also something you must showcase in your business plan.

For example, if there is a high demand for residential and commercial electrical contractors but you want to focus on industrial customers despite a very small market size , it may not be a great business decision.

Therefore, you must cover here 3 important areas:

• Market size & growth : how big is the electrical contractor business industry in your area? What is its growth rate (or decline rate) and what are the factors contributing to its growth or decline?
• Competition overview : how many competitors are there? What type of customers do they serve? What type of projects do they specialize in? How do they compare vs. your business? How can you differentiate yourself from them?
• Customer analysis : who is your target audience? How frequently do they require electrical contractor services? What is their yearly spending on electrical contractor services?

a) Electrical Contractor Industry Size & Growth

How big is the electrical contractor industry in the us.

In 2021 there were over 70,000 electrical contracting firms in the US employing about 650,000 electrical workers.

As per the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) the industry is worth $202 billion: that’s an average annual turnover of $2,800,000 per company! 

Also, the vast majority of electrical contractors are small businesses: over 80% of all businesses had less than 10 employees.

How big is the electrical contractor industry in your area?

After getting a clear picture of the electrical contractor business industry in the US as a whole, narrow down to your location. It’s very likely that you won’t find the number anywhere (at least not for free).

In that case, you can use our guide to estimate the TAM, SAM, and SOM for your business. Here is an example of how to do it:

We already know that the average annual turnover for electrical contracting firms in the US is $2.8 million. Therefore, if the area where you will operate (a city for example) has a total of 30 electrical contractors, the electrical service industry in the area is worth approximately $84 million.

What’s the market growth of the electrical contractor industry in your area?

Next on our list is market growth: is the industry growing or declining in your area?

US market growth can be a great addition to your business plan, yet it doesn’t necessarily help to assess the industry in your area of service. For example, the industry might be growing in the US, but declining in your region for a number of reasons (for example, the large commercial market may be contracting because businesses are shutting down due to losses, resulting in the closure of electrical contractor businesses that focused on the commercial market).

As you likely won’t find this information online, you can instead rely on the number of electrical contractor businesses in the location to calculate the average growth rate of the industry in your area.

For example, if the region had only 27 electrical contractor businesses in 2019 and 30 in 2021, you can assume that the average annual growth rate of the electrical contractor businesses industry in the area is around 5-6%.

b) Competition Overview

Studying your competitors’ business models is vital. You need to understand what makes them successful or why they fail. A clear understanding of their business model, the products they sell, their marketing strategies, etc., will allow you to provide a better service.

If your competitors are offering nearly the same services, then what is their market share and how do they market their products & services to attract new customers?

It is always a good idea to do some research (if necessary, you may consider physically visiting your competitors without revealing your business intentions) and create a comparative table summarizing their service offerings, marketing strategies, target audience, etc.

Here is a sample table that you can use:

Electrical Business SWOT Analysis

SWOT stands for Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats. This analysis will help lenders and investors better understand how you compare vs. competitors as well as the overall risk and reward profile of your business.

Here is a sample that you can use as a reference:

• Strengths : 12 years of experience as a master electrician in a popular electrical contractor company
• Weaknesses : Startup cost, no initial brand reputation
• Increased construction of residential apartments due to demand spike in rental housing and builders are looking for skilled electricians for wiring everything (backup with data for population and real estate boom)
• Growth in retail stores and malls (because of population influx), which in turn has increased the demand for electricians for installation and maintenance (provide data)
• Increased commercial warehouse construction because of increased regional distribution centers by e-commerce retailers that require electrical installations (provide data and explain why there is an increase in commercial warehouse construction – for example, increased demand and hence imports of cheaper products)
• Threats : Big brands like Helix Electric, Bergelectric, & Cupertino Electric, Inc. are all eyeing the growing market

c) Customer Analysis

Finally, we need to look at your customers.

However, the first thing you must do is clearly define the target audience. For instance, you may serve individual households, commercial establishments, or even industrial establishments.

Some important points that you must include in your customer analysis include:

• How much do your target customers spend on electrical services per year?
• How frequently do they need electrical contractors?
• What type of electrical services do they usually require (fresh installations, inspections, repairs, etc.)?
• What type of electrical contractors do they usually hire (big brands, small contractors, individual electricians, etc.)?
• What do they dislike about the existing electrical contractors in the area (for example, slow response time)?

4. Sales & Marketing Strategy

This is the section where you outline your customer acquisition strategy. Try to answer here the following questions:

What is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?

• What are the different marketing strategies you will use?
• How do you intend to track the success of your marketing strategy ?
• What is your CAC or customer acquisition cost?
• What is your marketing budget?
• What introductory promos and offers do you intend to provide for attracting new customers?
• What marketing channels do electrical businesses use?

What marketing strategies do electrical contractors use?

A few marketing channels that electrical businesses typically use are:

• Signages, vehicle branding
• PPC ads (Google local services ads)
• Social media platforms
• Flyers & pamphlets
• Word of mouth, recommendations

It is not necessary to use all channels. Instead, you can start by focusing on a few of them, and include other marketing strategies later.

In other words, how do you differentiate yourself vs. competitors? This is very important as you might need to win customers from competitors.

A few examples of USPs are:

• Response Time : you may respond within 30 minutes (whatever you can commit to), which is faster than any competitor 
• Emergencies : you may have years of experience dealing with electrical emergencies that can potentially cause immense damage to life and property
• Free inspection : you may offer one free inspection of wiring and other installations once every quarter

Your USP will depend on your business model, competitor analysis , and target audience. Whatever your USP be, it should be clear and appealing to your target audience.

5. Management & People

You must address two things here:

• The management team and their experience
• The organization structure : different team members and who reports to whom?

Small businesses often fail because of managerial weaknesses. Thus, having a strong management team is vital. Highlight the experience and education of senior managers that you intend to hire to oversee your electrical business.

Describe their duties, responsibilities, and roles. Also, highlight their previous experience and explain how they succeeded in their previous roles.

It is also important that you explain how their experiences and qualifications help you in implementing the electrical business you are proposing. If they have specialized training and experience (master electrician or journeyman electrician for 8 years in a reputed electrical contractor firm), add that information.

Organization Structure

Even if you haven’t already hired electricians, trainees, managers, drivers, accountants, and other relevant staff members, you must provide a flowchart of the organizational structure defining hierarchy and reporting lines.

6. Financial Plan

The financial plan is perhaps, with the executive summary, the most important section of any business plan for an electrical contractor company.

Indeed, a solid financial plan tells lenders that your business is viable and can repay the loan you need from them. If you’re looking to raise equity from private investors, a solid financial plan will prove them your electrical contractor company is an attractive investment.

There should be 2 sections to your financial plan section:

• The startup costs of your company
• The 5-year financial projections

a) Startup Costs

Before we expand on 5-year financial projections in the following section, it’s always best practice to start with listing the startup costs of your project.

For an electrical contractor company, startup costs are all the expenses you incur before you start making sales. These expenses typically are limited especially for small businesses and include:

• The lease deposit (if you rent an office and/or warehouse for your equipment)
• Electrical equipment, tools, etc.
• License & permits, business insurance, etc.

Of course, the startup costs depend on a number of factors, like the size of your business (employees), the services you plan to offer (which will dictate what equipment you may need), etc.

b) Financial Projections

In addition to startup costs, you will also need to build a solid 5-year financial model in the business plan of your electrical company.

Note that your financial projections should be built using a spreadsheet (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and presented in the form of tables and charts in your business plan.

As usual, keep it concise here and save details (for example detailed financial statements, financial metrics, key assumptions used for the projections) for the appendix instead.

Your financial projections should answer at least the following questions:

• How much revenue do you expect to generate over the next 5 years?
• When do you expect to break even?
• How much cash will you burn until you get there?
• What’s the impact of a change in pricing (say 10%) on your margins?
• What is your average customer acquisition cost?

You should include here your 3 financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement). This means you must forecast:

• The number of contracts (customers) over time ;
• Your expected revenue ;
• Operating costs to run the business ;
• Capex (cost to buy the equipment and vehicles, etc.)

When projecting your financials, make sure to sensitize sales volume (customers), pricing as well as the expenses (inventory, salaries, etc.). Indeed, a small change in these assumptions may have a significant impact on your revenues, and most importantly, your profits.

7. Use of Funds

This is the last section of the business plan of your electrical contractor company. Now that we have explained what your business model is, what type of services you offer, how you get customers, etc., this section must now answer the following questions:

• How much funding do you need?
• What financial instrument(s) do you need: is this equity or debt, or even a free-money public grant?
• How long will this funding last?
• Where else does the money come from? If you apply for a SBA loan for example, where does the other part of the investment come from (your own capital, private investors?)

If you raise debt:

• What percentage of the total funding the loan represents?
• What is the corresponding Debt Service Coverage Ratio ?

If you raise equity

• What percentage ownership are you selling as part of this funding round?
• What is the corresponding valuation of your business?

Use of Funds

Any business plan for an electrical contractor company should include a clear use of funds section. This is where you explain how the money will be spent.

Will you spend most of the loan / investment in paying your employees’ salaries and the COGS (inventory)? Or will it cover mostly the cost for acquiring the equipment and machines?

For the use of funds, we also recommend using a pie chart like the one we have in our financial model template where we outline the main expenses categories as shown below.

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Free Electrical Business Plan PDF Download | Electrical Shop Business Plan

How to Start an Electrical Business - Free Electrical Business Plan PDF Download

Are you considering starting an electrical business and are in need of an electrical business plan? if yes, you'll find this free book to be extremely helpful.

This is a practical guide that will walk you step by step through all the essentials of starting your business. The book is packed with guides, worksheets and checklists. These strategies are absolutely crucial to your business' success yet are simple and easy to apply.

Don’t Start a New Electrical Business Unless You Watch This Video First!

Checklist for Starting a Business: Essential Ingredients for Success

If you are thinking about going into business, it is imperative that you watch this video first! it will take you by the hand and walk you through each and every phase of starting a business. It features all the essential aspects you must consider BEFORE you start a business. This will allow you to predict problems before they happen and keep you from losing your shirt on dog business ideas. Ignore it at your own peril!

Here’s a Valuable Free Gift for You This is a high quality, full blown business plan template complete with detailed instructions and all related spreadsheets. You can download it to your PC and easily prepare a professional business plan for your business. Click Here! To get your free business plan template

The Single Most Important Ingredient for Business Success

The first and most important thing you need to acquire in order to succeed in a small business is... knowledge.

Sounds exaggerated? Listen to this...

According to research conducted by Dun & Bradstreet, 90% of all small business failures can be traced to poor management resulting from lack of knowledge.

This is backed up by my own personal observations. In my 31 years as a business coach and consultant to small businesses, I've seen practically dozens of small business owners go under and lose their businesses -- not because they weren't talented or smart enough -- but because they were trying to re-invent the wheel rather than rely on proven, tested methods that work.

Conclusion: if you are really serious about succeeding in a business... If you want to avoid the common traps and mistakes... it is absolutely imperative that you acquire the right knowledge.

"Why Invent Mediocrity, When You Can Copy Genius?"

That's an excellent quote I picked up from a fellow business owner a few years back. What this means is that you should see what is working and try to duplicate it. Why go through all the trouble of inventing something new, that you don't even know will ever work, when you can easily learn from and duplicate something that has been a proven success?

[ Note: One of the BIGGEST mistakes almost all new businesses make is that they WASTE tons of valuable time, energy and money on trying to create something "new", that has never been tested or proven... only to find out later that it was a total loss. Don't make the same mistake! ]

Hi! My name is Meir. I'm the founder and president of BizMove.com, a successful Internet based information business. I'm also the author of numerous books, mostly in the area of small business management.

I've been involved in small business for the past 31 years of my life, as a business coach, manager of a Electrical firm, a seminar leader and as the owner of five successful businesses.

During my career as a business coach and consultant I've helped dozens of business owners start their businesses, market, expand, get out of troubles, sell their businesses and do practically every other small business activity you can think of. You see, I have been there .... done it ... and bought the Small Business t-shirt! -- This free book contains techniques and strategies I've learned during my 31 year small business career.

Here's what you'll discover in the 'How to Start a Electrical Business' book:

Success Tip: Setting Goals

Good management is the key to success and good management starts with setting goals. Set goals for yourself for the accomplishment of the many tasks necessary in starting and managing your business successfully. Be specific. Write down the goals in measurable terms of performance. Break major goals down into sub-goals, showing what you expect to achieve in the next two to three months, the next six months, the next year, and the next five years. Beside each goal and sub-goal place a specific date showing when it is to be achieved.

Plan the action you must take to attain the goals. While the effort required to reach each sub-goal should be great enough to challenge you, it should not be so great or unreasonable as to discourage you. Do not plan to reach too many goals all at one time.

Establish priorities. Plan in advance how to measure results so you can know exactly how well you are doing. This is what is meant by "measurable" goals. If you can’t keep score as you go along you are likely to lose motivation. Re-work your plan of action to allow for obstacles which may stand in your way. Try to foresee obstacles and plan ways to avert or minimize them.

Click here! to download your Electrical Business Plan book for free (PDF version)

Management Skills Video: How to Become a Great Manager and Leader

Learn how to improve your leadership skills and become a better manager and leader. Here's how to be the boss people want to give 200 percent for. In the following video you'll discover 120 powerful tips and strategies to motivate and inspire your people to bring out the best in them.

For more insightful videos visit our Small Business and Management Skills YouTube Chanel .

Here're other free books in the "how to start a business" series that may interest you:

Here's a Sample 'Executive Summary' for a Electrical Business plan :

COMPANY NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE Tel.  Fax: Email:

COMPANY NAME is an Electrical Sub-Contractor, primarily doing commercial, industrial, medical and residential. COMPANY NAME offers value engineering for energy evaluation & efficiency. The purpose of the company's plan is to grow in the fields mentioned above as well as branch out into Nevada, Arizona & New Mexico. COMPANY NAME also wants to further the company's market share in the solar/energy and the service industry.

1.1 Objectives

1. To fund growth of existing business & increase market share of our service business 2. Expand into the field of energy/solar 3. With additional capital the ability to bid larger projects.

1.2 Mission

COMPANY NAME 's sole purpose is to establish a profitable and well managed company while at the same time designing to please the local residents with excellent service in California.  COMPANY NAME’s near future plans are to grow the company's electrical contracting business in California and other states such as Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.  The company will seek to provide these services in the timeliest manner and with an ongoing comprehensive quality control program to provide 100% customer satisfaction.

1.3 Keys to Success

1.  Servicing and maintaining our existing client base 2.  Having employees that understand and implement our high standards 3.  Reliability and communication with clients from beginning of each job to end.

COMPANY NAME is in the city of Orange and has been in the county of Orange since 1994, servicing Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. We provide electrical contracting services to a wide range of clients, including owners and general contractors, mainly in the medical field. COMPANY NAME's current corporate office is at [INSERT ADDRESS].   The company's corporate office is a 4,650 sq ft concrete tilt up building. This corporate office houses all administrative operations, with warehouse space used for inventory and service vehicles. All of the work is done at many off-site locations.

2.1 Company Ownership

COMPANY NAME is a privately held C Corporation where OWNER’S NAME is president & secretary and CO-OWNER’S NAME is Vice President.

2.2 Company History

In 2006 and 2007 COMPANY NAME experienced a decrease in sales due to California budget cuts for the company's voice and data division that had provided services to Employment Development Departments.   The decrease in sales was also due to existing clients who were very slow in paying for services rendered.  COMPANY NAME had also made the decision to focus more on the medical field and their primary client base. The company had cut ties with three general contractors and proceeded to establish new contacts within the medical field. The year of 2008 was a great year and COMPANY NAME was on track to double sales; however the economy was starting to slow. 2009 was a respectable year, however, again, due to the economy COMPANY NAME re-evaluated again to expand into solar/energy industry.

Table: Past Performance

3.0 Services

COMPANY NAME 's products are: 1) Design build which is based on a per square foot price. 2) Contract work which is specific to a certain set of blueprints/drawings. 3) Service work that is based on an hourly rate.

COMPANY NAME will focus on four main markets within the industry such as: MEDICAL This field is a viable source of business now and due to ever changing technology a great source of future business that will sustain us long term. SERVICE There will always be a need for service and this is an area that we have never taped into and believe there is great potential. COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL This has been the company's main focus; COMPANY NAME has built great long term relationships with building owners who now look for our guidance in directing their energy improvements. SOLAR/ENERGY We feel we always need to look at new trends and stay ahead of change in our approach to long term sustainability.

How to Organize Paperwork for Business

We must all be efficient and productive in today's business world. Being organized helps you handle tasks quickly so that you have more time and space to do what you truly want to do.

1. One-time mail system.

Have an In Box on your desk for new mail/information. Look at your mail once a day. Review each piece of mail once to decide whether to do it, delegate it or dump it. If it adds value to your business or is required for doing business, do it or delegate it. If not, then dump it. If you keep it, then categorize it using the A, B, C system. Use your time wisely.

2. Categories for performing your work.

Set up desk trays labeled A, B, and C. Items in category A must be handled today. Category B items must be handled this week. Category C items are generally filing that must be kept because they have some value, such as invoices, tax returns, and statements.

3. Prioritize your work within categories A and B.

Sort the categories into 1, 2, and 3. A1 must be done NOW, it is "hot" or "urgent." A2 can be done this AM. A3 can be done by the end of the day. B1 is done on Monday. B2 done by Wednesday. B3 done by the end of the week. Make the decision once, then do the work.

Set a day and time each week for filing. Don't let it stack up. Give yourself space to work.

5. Purge your files on a regular schedule.

For example, purge files every six months. Send these documents to storage. This gives you more space to work.

6. Storing records.

Store documents in boxes. Mark the contents of each box. For instance, clients A-F2013. Mark the destruction date on the box, D = June 02. Base your destruction date on the legal requirements for your industry.

7. Toss out stored documents on a regular schedule.

For example, two times per year, visit the storage area and remove boxes that are beyond the destruction date. Depending on your industry, they may need to be shredded rather than put in the trash.

8. Color code your records.

For example, clients with first names beginning with A-F are in Orange folders; G-K Yellow; L-P Blue; Q-Z Green. This will save you time when you are searching for a file. You can also apply this to AP, AR, Payroll, and Taxes. This can also be done by year. For example, 2012 AP is blue; 2013 AP is purple.

9. Hot files.

Put a red cover on files that you consider "hot." These could be urgent projects, legally or financially sensitive, or important VIP clients. Keep these visually at your fingertips.

10. Use out guides.

If you work with other people and share files, create a check-out system so that files are not lost. Put the file name, taken-by name, and date on a card and place it in an out guide box. When you can't find what you want, check the box to see if your co-worker is using the file. Be sure to remove the card from the box when you return the file.

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How to Start an Electrical Business in 11 Easy Steps

These 11 easy steps will reveal how to start an electrical business and guide you down the path to success.

At first, starting an electrical business might seem like a daunting task. However, even with all of the natural uncertainty of building a business from scratch, the steps in this article will reveal a simple process for you to follow with as little stress as possible.

Let’s explore the basic fundamentals of how to start an electrical business:

• Use the best marketing strategies
• Choose the right insurance for the business
• Competitively price electrical services for maximum profit
• Consistently meet with a Certified Public Accountant to stay on target
• Create a detailed business plan to evaluate your strategy as a whole
• Invest in the best electrician software to help streamline everyday operations

Essential business strategies like the ones listed above are what develop the secret sauce to establishing a prosperous business with consistent, sustainable growth. Take advantage of the pro tips in this article to minimize worries and mitigate risk.

1. Choose Electrical Service Offerings

Before exploring how to start an electrical business, it’s crucial to have several years of field experience.

Before getting started, at a minimum, you should be a journeyman, or preferably a master electrician. The prior experience you’ve gained as an electrician will help in thinking through your business model.

Before choosing the electrical services to offer, consider the target market, and ask yourself:

• Will you serve commercial, residential, or both types of customers?
• Are you offering services for new or existing constructions?
• What services do your customers need the most?
• Which services are your specialty?

Many businesses start with a few basic services for specific markets (e.g. residential homes) and then grow from there. This saves them from buying exorbitant amounts of tools and equipment all at once.

Even though you may want to serve both residential and commercial customers in the beginning, different equipment and licenses are often required for commercial accounts. For this reason, many businesses start in the residential space first before expanding into the commercial space.

2. Get Certified and Licensed Prior to Starting

As you’re likely already aware, both you AND your team need to be certified in order to complete jobs in the field. Depending on the type of electrical work being performed, you’ll need to look into your state’s requirements to cover all bases.

Also, keep in mind, in the U.S., many states have licensing requirements for starting an electrical business. Licenses and certifications are issued at the state level. For this reason, it’s important to stay up-to-date with local laws and regulations.

As a refresher, here are a few different types of electrician specializations :

• Residential
• Maintenance

3. Decide on the Best Electrical Business Name

Even though the electrical business name is important, it doesn’t have to be overly thought out or complex to be a great business name.

Take a look at a few simple elements to keep in mind when choosing the right name:

• Make it simple
• Choose two to three words related to offered services
• E.g. dallaseletricalservices.com

Keep in mind, it’s unnecessary to include:

• Excessive details
• [Your Name’s] Electrical Services
• Save it for your slogan

4. Consult With a Trusted CPA

Consulting with a CPA (i.e. Certified Public Accountant) is downright necessary to ensure a successful, financially-sound business.

Prior to starting the typical business ventures, establish factors such as:

• Business plan
• Bank accounts

CPAs evaluate all assets to determine how to launch the business, weigh costs, decide if a loan is necessary, determine when to start full-time, among other factors difficult to see at the outset. Additionally, CPAs will flag any financial obligations you haven’t thought about yet.

The best CPAs clear the path to success and mitigate potential risks, which might interfere. Before registering your electrical business, ALWAYS meet with a CPA first.

5. Get the Electrical Business Registered

After speaking with a trusted CPA, you’re ready to register the business. Fortunately, it’s relatively inexpensive to register businesses with your state. Plus, some states only require a little paperwork to complete registration.

Since becoming a registered business is easy, mitigates legal implications, and secures your personal assets, there’s no excuse to skip this crucial step in becoming a legal business!

In addition, registering your electrical business as an S Corp (i.e. S Corporation) or LLC (i.e. Limited Liability Company) protects personal assets in the unfortunate event of getting sued or receiving a dispute. Plus, it helps with filing taxes.

NEVER WAIT to register your electrical business. It needs to be done before getting started.

S Corp vs. LLC

Due to tax purposes, the IRS classifies businesses as sole proprietorships, partnerships, C corporations or S corporations. Since the LLC doesn’t have an IRS classification, it gets taxed as another type of business.

In short, registering as a sole proprietorships LLC requires you to pay self-employment taxes (e.g. social security and Medicaid). Which means, the entire business profit is taxed for that year.

As a result, many businesses choose to register as an S Corp. By registering as an S Corp or LLC, you (the business owner) can get a set salary. In other words, your salary will get a self-employment tax – instead of your total profits paying for it.

As always, consult with an excellent CPA before deciding how to register.

6. Create an Electrical Business Plan

After meeting with a CPA and registering the business, it’s time to create a business plan with the financial information you’ve gathered so far.

Both new AND established electrical businesses alike should have an official business plan. In fact, almost anyone providing financing to the business (e.g. loans, grants, investors, etc.) will ask to review it.

However, even if you don’t seek financial assistance, business plans keep everyone within the company focused and aligned on the right goals and vision. In addition, a great business plan helps with staying organized as well as preparing for unexpected events.

Take a look at how a basic outline of your electrical business plan should appear:

• Executive Summary
• Business Overview
• Electrical Services
• Market Analysis Summary
• Business Strategy
• Implementation Summary
• Management Summary
• Financial Plan

Remember, your electrical business plan is one of the most essential steps to becoming successful. The best ones are detailed, minimize stress, and set the business up to thrive. In turn, a great business plan takes time to create.

Though, it’s important to regularly update the plan with new contact information, financial updates, and more. Which means, it’s not a one-and-done document. Typically, monthly financial revisions and complete annual revisions are performed.

Before finalizing the business plan, have your CPA review it to ensure everything looks great.

Plan your prices in a few minutes using this FREE electrical pricing calculator to increase profits now!

7. Establish a Business Bank Account

Unfortunately, many new start-ups make the mistake of using their personal bank account for the business. This is a huge mistake, which can produce some complications when getting audited or filing taxes.

By keeping personal and business finances separate with a business bank account, it’ll simplify things for your CPA and mitigate confusion and potentially prevent costly mistakes.

The best thing you can do for your business’ finances is to establish a business bank account early on. If you’re wondering how to set up a business bank account, your CPA and bank are the most valuable resources in this process.

8. Get Bonded and Insured Before Working

While adequate business insurance presents upfront costs, getting bonded and insured will protect the business from financial liabilities when inevitable mishaps occur on the job. Most states require this before issuing a contractor license, which is required before accepting any work from clients.

As a result, business insurance protects the business from going bankrupt if a customer tries to sue. Get the best insurance which reasonably fits within the budget. Though, there’s no one-size-fits-all insurance policy. Choose the best insurance policy that meets your business’ needs.

9. Start Marketing to Win Customers

Quickly win customers through marketing . Use your marketing budget to help to establish the business’ brand, build credibility and expand the public’s awareness of your services.

Here’s a look inside the top 10 marketing strategies for electrical businesses:

• Freelancers can be a great resource for this
• Take advantage of email marketing
• Start PPC (i.e. Pay Per Click) marketing
• Discover how to leverage all reviews
• Explore content marketing
• Develop a video marketing strategy
• Actively use social media
• Place physical ads
• Use truck wraps to expand brand visibility
• Provide leave-behinds to receive fantastic referrals

By developing a marketing strategy as early as possible, you can increase brand awareness and win new customers fast.

Always remember, it’s crucial to build a website, and as the business grows, continually shift more focus onto SEO (i.e. search engine optimization). Create content on your website that prioritizes local industry keywords to improve your site’s rank in Google’s search results (E.g. “Dallas Electrician”). Ultimately, ranking higher in Google makes your company’s website more discoverable to leads.

Though, you don’t necessarily need a website to start your electrical business, it will help to quickly expand reach, build credibility and increase conversions. When you have space in the budget, consider hiring a freelance web developer . Meanwhile, Wix and Squarespace are simple, user-friendly website builders with easy-to-follow tutorials accessible to novices.

10. Begin the Electrician Hiring Process

After verifying the business plan with a CPA, you’ll likely already know if you need to hire another electrician to help you get started.

Now, let’s talk about the necessary steps in the electrician hiring process:

Conduct a Complete Background Check

Even if they’re a trusted referral, it’s vital to complete background checks on ALL employees before hiring.

After the ideal candidate has passed their phone screening and in-person interview, it’s time to conduct a complete background check. You’re looking for any potential liabilities or red flags they could present to the business if you should hire them.

For example, if the electrician has been caught stealing, then they’re probably not an adequate candidate for hire. Since they’ll be working in customers’ homes and offices and will operate expensive tools and equipment, both you and your clients need to be able to trust your team’s integrity.

Also, don’t forget to follow up with every candidate’s provided references – at least two recent professional and two personal references. This helps verify the information they’ve given you as well as provide insight about them as a potential employee.

If everything checks out, then it’s time to verify the candidate is legally ready to work – including any certifications or visas. Depending on the position being filled, make sure the candidate is willing to put in the time and effort into any training or additional credentials they may need to perform their job duties.

Obtain an EIN

In order to legally begin hiring employees, you’ll need to get an EIN (i.e. employer identification number) in the U.S. and a SIN (i.e. social insurance number) in Canada.

For those in the US, this is as simple as filling out an online application at IRS.gov . Likewise, if you’re in Canada, then there’s a similar process at Canada.ca .

Explore how to hire the best electricians for your business by downloading our FREE hiring guide !

11. Ignite Sustainable Growth With the Best Electrician Software

FieldEdge is the best electrician software to ignite long-term, sustainable growth. Plus, it’ll benefit your business EVEN MORE when using it from the start.

The best electrician software helps you to:

• Get paid faster
• Create instant estimates on-the-go
• Invoice clients with the touch of a button
• Create efficient routes to quickly dispatch electricians
• Access job history and customer information from anywhere

The #1 electrician software has the ultimate power to streamline your everyday business operations – allowing the business to grow even faster with all of the time and money saved. Plus, FieldEdge has helped THOUSANDS of businesses just like yours to become efficient, successful operations.

Explore how the best electrician software will transform your business growth. Book a demo of FieldEdge for free today!

How to Start an Electrical Business That’s Successful

In this article, we’ve discussed key components that lay the groundwork to starting a successful electrical business, including:

• Meeting with a CPA to discuss finances and liabilities
• Seeking outside specialist help when necessary
• Developing a strategic business plan

These actions will set you up for success as you explore how to start an electrical business.

Plus, if you want to maximize profits and optimize time as much as possible, then choose the best electrician software .

Follow these pro tips to help start an electrician business that thrives for many years to come!

Related: 10 Ways to Supercharge Your Electrician Marketing

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Home » Sample Business Plans » Technology

A Sample Electronics Repair Shop Business Plan Template

Are you about starting an electronics repair business? If YES, here is a complete sample electronics repair plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE . Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting an electronics repair business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample electronics repair marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for electronics repair companies. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

Why Start an Electronics Repair Business?

If you studied electrical electronics engineering at the university or even in a technical school, you can comfortably set up your own electronics repair shop in any part of the united states and still make headway in the business. Among the factors that need to be considered before starting a new business is the size/population of the city or town you intend starting the business, the level of competition you are likely going to face, and of course the availability of market for your services or products.

An electronics repair shop is a money spinning business that an aspiring entrepreneur who is looking towards starting a business in the United States of America should consider starting. One good thing about this type of business is that you can learn the technical skills from someone who is already in the business or from a technical school.

All you need to do is to rent a shop in a good location and then setup your shop and advertise your electronics repair business. If you are lucky to be one of the few electronic repair technicians in your community, you will sure make good money from this type of business.

Almost every home and office has one form of electronics or the other, and over time these electronic gadgets will require maintenance, servicing and repairs. This goes to show that there is indeed a huge market for electronic repair shops. All you need to do to start this business is to learn the technical skills required to service, maintain and repair electronic gadgets and also to acquire the required work tools.

In general, starting an electronic repair shop business requires low startup capital, but it is indeed a very profitable venture if it is well positioned and you know how to deliver excellent jobs. The amount you can make per day is largely dependent on your ability to market your service.

Here is a sample electronics repair business plan template that will guide you to write yours.

A Sample Electronics Repair Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The Electronic and Computer Repair Services industry is made of companies in that are engaged in repairing and maintaining one or more of the following: consumer electronic equipment, computers, office machines, communication equipment and other electronic and precision equipment.

Establishments in this industry repair items including microscopes, radar and sonar equipment, televisions, stereos, video recorders, computers, photocopying machines, communications equipment, scientific instruments and medical equipment.

If you are in the United States, you will agree that the Electronic and Computer Repair Services industry is looking for ways to increase revenue generation. As a matter of fact, with increasing affordability of electronics and computers, consumers and businesses will rather purchase new products as against repairing their faulty equipment, hence leading to a drop in demand and revenue for the industry.

Additionally, electronic users have opted to purchase more advanced products and scrap damaged or outdated goods. In recent time, the life cycle of electronic goods and computers has shortened, and the introduction of new technology has provided further incentive for consumers and businesses to replace their old equipment.

The industry is still dominated by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which are companies that will visit a customer to repair or replace the same products that they make. In recent years, large chains like Best Buy with their “Geek Squad” have opened up repair arms; powered by their name recognition and huge marketing budget, they immediately became a formidable competitor for any computer repair business. In addition, with electronics cheaper than ever, some people have tended to replace their electronics entirely rather than bother to have them repaired.

The Electronic and Computer Repair Services industry is indeed a very large industry and pretty much thriving in all the parts of the world. As a matter of fact, there are no companies with a leading market share in the industry. Statistics has it that in the United States of America alone, there are about 57,629 licensed and registered electronic and computer repair services related businesses responsible for employing about 141,369 employees and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $19bn annually with an annual growth rate projected at 0.4 percent within 2012 and 2017.

A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that the geographic distribution of industry establishments closely mirrors the geographic distribution of the US population. Most industry players are small-scale, labor-intensive operations, and therefore, they cater to their local markets.

The report further stated that the Southeast region accounts for the largest share of the US population at 25.6 percent and 27.8 percent of total establishments. Florida accounts for a significant share of both population and industry presence in the region.

The report also shows that the West holds a large share of industry establishments (16.8 percent) and US population (17.2 percent). The largest state, in terms of establishments, is California, which captures 11.9 percent.

Some of the factors that encourage entrepreneurs to start their own electronic and computer repair services are that people and businesses who can’t afford to purchase new electronics would always employ the services of electronic repair companies and it will be safe to state that for now, the business is a profitable business. It requires minimal startup capital and minimal manpower to launch and operate the business.

2. Executive Summary

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC is a U.S based electronics repair business. We have been able to secure a standard shop facility in a central business district close to one of the largest residential estates in Trenton – New Jersey. We are an electronics repair business that is set to compete in the highly competitive industry not only in Trenton – New Jersey, but also throughout the United States market.

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC will offer all aspects of electronics repair services such as consumer electronics (including home theaters, DVD, radio, TV and VCR) repairs, computer and office machine repairs, communications equipment repairs and other electronic equipment repairs such as dental equipment, medical and surgical equipment and optical instruments et al.

Our business goal is to become one of the leading electronics repair shop business in the United States and we will make sure that we do all we can to compete favorably with leaders in the industry.

Our workers are going to be selected from a pool of certified electronics and computer repair engineers in and around Trenton – New Jersey. We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce through the required training that will position them to meet the expectations of the company.

At Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC, our client’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC is founded by Engr. Harry Perry an electrical electronics engineer who graduated with from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.Engr. Electrical/Electronic Engineering). He has a combined experience that can help them build Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC to favorably compete with other leading electronics repair businesses in the United States of America.

3. Our Products and Services

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC was established with the aim of maximizing profits in the electronics repair services industry. We want to compete favorably with the leading electronics repair businesses in the United States which is why we have but in place a competent quality assurance team that will ensure that every repair carried out meet and even surpass our customers’ expectations.

We will work hard to ensure that Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC is not just accepted in Trenton – New Jersey but also in other cities in the United States of America. Our repair services are listed below;

• Consumer electronics (including home theaters, DVD, radio, TV and VCR) repairs
• Computer and office machine repairs
• Communications equipment repairs
• Other electronic equipment repairs such as dental equipment, medical and surgical equipment and optical instruments

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to launch a standard electronics repair business whose services and brand will not only be accepted in Trenton – New Jersey but also in other cities in the United States of America.
• Our mission is to provide professional electronics repair services that owners of electronics will come to when their electronics become faulty. We want to build an electronics repair business that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the electronics repair services industry.

Our Business Structure

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC, is an electronics repair business that intends starting small in Trenton – New Jersey, but hopes to grow big in order to compete with leading electronics repair companies in the industry. We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the kind of business we want to own, which is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operation.

At Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all our stake holders.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Executive Officer
• Head, Technical Services

Human Resources and Admin Manager

• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Electronics Repair and Maintenance Engineers and Technicians (10)

Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions.
• Generates and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction -.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Provides direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Head, Technical Services:

• Serves as project manager of the organization; works directly with employees
• Develops strategic plan by studying technological and financial opportunities; presenting assumptions; recommending objectives.
• Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
• Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
• Makes certain that the technical department perform efficiently, coordinate employee efforts, and facilitate communications between management and electronics repairs and maintenance engineers and technicians
• Ensures that the organization works in line with international best practices
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversees the smooth running of daily office activities

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
• Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Creates new markets cum businesses for the organization
• Empowers and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant /Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Accountable for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Electronics Repair and Maintenance Engineers (2) and Technicians (8)

• Responsible for carrying out consumer electronics repairs
• Carrying out computer and office machine repairs
• Responsible for carrying out communications equipment repairs
• Responsible for handling other electronic equipment repairs such as dental equipment, medical and surgical equipment and optical instruments
• Welcomes clients and potential clients by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services

6. SWOT Analysis

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC engaged the services of a professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured electronics repair business that can favorably compete in the highly competitive electronics repair industry in the United States.

Part of what the business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a comprehensive SWOT analysis for Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC. Here is the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC;

Our core strength lies in the power of our workforce. We have a team of highly trained electronics repair engineers and technicians, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in various niche areas in the industry. Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected workforce, our services will be guided by international best practices.

As a new electronics repair business in Trenton – New Jersey, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients in the highly competitive electronics repair industry; that is perhaps our major weakness. Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to promote our business the way we would want to.

• Opportunities:

The truth is that the opportunities in the electronics repair industry is massive considering the number of individuals and corporate organizations that own one form of electronics or the other and even computers. As an electronics repair business, we are prepared to take advantage of any opportunity that is available in the industry.

From our findings, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power. In addition, with electronics becoming cheaper than ever, some people have the tendencies to replace their electronics entirely rather than bother to have them repaired.

Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new electronics repair shop and even original equipment manufacturers who run repair centers in the same location where our target market exists and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

One good thing about the electronics repair services industry is that it is an open industry hence it has a low level of market share concentration. Even though large electronics and computer manufacturing companies operate in the industry, revenue is also spread among thousands of small electronics repair centers and even mobile electronics repair businesses.

As a matter of fact, no single electronics repair shop or electronics manufacturing company can account for more than 5.0 percent of the total revenue generated in the industry. This is the reason why smaller electronics repair shops account for a large percentage of the players in the industry.

It is a known trend in the developed world to find steady growth in the electronics repair industry. The industry has grown steadily over the last five years in the United States of America and it is projected to continue to enjoy steady growth.

Individuals and businesses have increased demand for electronics repair services, as rising per capita disposable income and corporate profit encourages consumers to opt for electronics repair and maintenance services over do-it-yourself repair. Going forward, disposable income levels are expected to continue to grow, encouraging some consumers to spend more on the maintenance and repair of their electronics and computers.

8. Our Target Market

Prior to starting our electronics repair business in Trenton – New Jersey, we conducted a market survey and feasibility studies and we are certain that there is a wide range of clients who would need our services. In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various corporate and individual clients who we know can’t afford to do without our services.

Below is a list of the people and organizations that can market our repair services to;

• Individuals and households who own electronics
• Banks, Insurance Companies and other related Financial Institutions
• Corporate Organizations
• Manufacturers and Distributors
• The Government (Public Sector)
• Schools (High Schools, Colleges and Universities)
• Religious Organizations (sound system and electrical gadgets)
• Television Stations
• Printing Press (Publishing Houses)
• Entrepreneurs and Start-ups

Our Competitive Advantage

Without a shadow of doubt, there are loads of big time investors that have a stake in the electrical repair services industry; but one thing is certain, there is room big enough to accommodate everyone. What smaller electronics repair companies need to do to survive in the industry is to concentrate on providing electronics repair, maintenance and installation services to households, individuals, estates, communities, schools, hospitals and hotels et al before bidding for big contracts from corporations and government agencies.

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the industry means that you are not only expected to deliver highly reliable electronics installation, repair, and maintenance jobs, but you must be able to meet set targets. No one would want to continue to bring their faulty electronics to your shop if they know that you are not going to carry out a thorough repair job.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the electronics repair industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to meet and surpass the expectations of all our clients.

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC will generate income by offering the following electronics repair related services;

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be corporate organizations and individuals who would need to repair their faulty electronics and gadgets hence the need for the services of electronics repair shops.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in electronics and computer repair services industry in Trenton – New Jersey and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough profits from our first six months of operation and grow our electronics repair company to enviable heights.

We have been able to critically examine the electronics repair market and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Trenton – New Jersey.

• First Year: $250,000
• Second Year: $550,000
• Third Year: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same electronics repair services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are fully aware of the competition that exists in the electronics repair industry, hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing. Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis to meet their targets and the overall business goal of Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC.

Our corporate goal is to grow Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC to become one of the top 10 electronics repair brands in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in Trenton – New Jersey but also in other cities in the United States of America.

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our electronics repair company by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to households, electronics shops, corporate organizations, religious organizations and key stake holders in and around Trenton – New Jersey
• Promptness in bidding for electronics installation, repair and maintenance contracts from the government and other cooperate organizations
• Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and radio station.
• List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still deliver excellent services
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our in house brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to become the number one choice for both corporate and individual clients in the whole of the United States and beyond which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our electronics repair and maintenance company.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our services
• Install our billboards in strategic locations all around Trenton – New Jersey
• Engage in roadshows from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• List our electronics repair and maintenance company in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our electronics repair and maintenance company in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our company logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

At Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC, we will keep the prices of our repair services below the average market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance from corporate organizations who would hire our services. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our customers at regular intervals.

We are aware that there are some one – off jobs or government contracts like electronics installation, repair and maintenance jobs which are always lucrative, we will ensure that we abide by the pricing model that is expected from contractors or organizations that bid for such contracts.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment with cash
• Payment via Point of Sale Machine (POS)
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our clients make payment for our repair services without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business.

The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked. However, this is what it would cost us to setup Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC in the United of America;

• Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
• The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
• Acquiring an office space or warehouse that will accommodate the number of employees for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $100,000.
• The amount required to purchase the needed tool box and repair equipment – $25,000
• Equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, servers / internet facility, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $30,000
• Amount required to purchase the needed software applications – $3,500
• Launching an official Website will cost – $500
• Amount needed to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
• Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about two hundred and fifty thousand ( 250,000 ) U.S. dollars to successfully set up a medium scale but standard electronics repair and maintenance company in the United States of America.

Generating Startup Capital for Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC is a business that will be owned and managed by Engr. Harry Perry and his immediate family members. They are the sole financiers of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank.

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 ( Personal savings $30,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $200,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

One of our major goals of starting Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running. We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our electronics repair and maintenance services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Harry Perry® Electronics Repair Shop, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts in various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Securing a standard office facility for our workshop: Completed
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the startup capital from the founders: Completed
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of Logo for the business: Completed
• Secure trademark for our products: In Progress
• Printing of Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed electronics repair tool box and equipment, furniture, office equipment, software applications, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress

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How to write a business plan for an electronic components distributor?

Putting together a business plan for an electronic components distributor can be daunting - especially if you're creating a business for the first time - but with this comprehensive guide, you'll have the necessary tools to do it confidently.

We will explore why writing one is so important in both starting up and growing an existing electronic components distributor, as well as what should go into making an effective plan - from its structure to content - and what tools can be used to streamline the process and avoid errors.

Without further ado, let us begin!

In this guide:

Why write a business plan for an electronic components distributor?

What information is needed to create a business plan for an electronic components distributor.

• How do I build a financial forecast for an electronic components distributor?

The written part of an electronic components distributor business plan

• What tool should I use to write my electronic components distributor business plan?

Understanding the document's scope and goals will help you easily grasp its structure and content. Before diving into the specifics of the plan, let's take a moment to explore the key reasons why having an electronic components distributor business plan is so crucial.

To have a clear roadmap to grow the business

It's rarely business as usual for small businesses. The economy follows cycles where years of growth are followed by recessions, and the business environment is always changing with new technologies, new regulations, new competitors, and new consumer behaviours appearing all the time...

In this context, running a business without a clear roadmap is like driving blindfolded: it's dangerous at best. That's why writing a business plan for an electronic components distributor is essential to create successful and sustainable businesses.

To write an effective business plan, you will need to take stock of where you are (if you are already in business) and where you want the business to go in the next three to five years.

Once you know where you want your electronic components distributor to be, you'll have to identify:

• what resources (human, equipment, and capital) are needed to get there,
• at what pace the business needs to progress to get there in time,
• and what risks you'll face along the way.

Going through this process regularly is beneficial, both for startups and existing companies, as it helps make informed decisions about how best to allocate resources to ensure the long-term success of the business.

To anticipate future cash flows

Regularly comparing your actual financial performance to the projections in the financial forecast of your electronic components distributor's business plan gives you the ability to monitor your business's financial health and make necessary adjustments as needed.

This practice allows you to detect potential financial issues, such as unexpected cash shortfalls before they escalate into major problems. Giving you time to find additional financing or put in place corrective measures.

Additionally, it helps you identify growth opportunities, like excess cash flow that could be allocated to launch new products and services or expand into new markets.

Staying on track with these regular comparisons enables you to make well-informed decisions about the amount of financing your business might require, or the excess cash flow you can expect to generate from your main business activities.

To secure financing

A detailed business plan becomes a crucial tool when seeking financing from banks or investors for your electronic components distributor.

Investing and lending to small businesses are very risky activities given how fragile they are. Therefore, financiers have to take extra precautions before putting their capital at risk.

At a minimum, financiers will want to ensure that you have a clear roadmap and a solid understanding of your future cash flows (like we just explained above). But they will also want to ensure that your business plan fits the risk/reward profile they seek.

This will off-course vary from bank to bank and investor to investor, but as a rule of thumb. Banks will want to see a conservative financial management style (low risk), and they will use the information in your business plan to assess your borrowing capacity — the level of debt they think your business can comfortably handle — and your ability to repay the loan. This evaluation will determine whether they'll provide credit to your electronic components distributor and the terms of the agreement.

Whereas investors will carefully analyze your business plan to gauge the potential return on their investment. Their focus lies on evidence indicating your electronic components distributor's potential for high growth, profitability, and consistent cash flow generation over time.

Now that you recognize the importance of creating a business plan for your electronic components distributor, let's explore what information is required to create a compelling plan.

Writing an electronic components distributor business plan requires research so that you can project sales, investments and cost accurately in your financial forecast.

In this section, we cover three key pieces of information you should gather before drafting your business plan!

Carrying out market research for an electronic components distributor

Before you begin writing your business plan for an electronic components distributor, conducting market research is a critical step in ensuring precise and realistic financial projections.

Market research grants you valuable insights into your target customer base, competitors, pricing strategies, and other crucial factors that can impact the success of your business.

In the course of this research, you may stumble upon trends that could impact your electronic components distributor.

You could see a trend in the demand for smaller components as more manufacturers look to create smaller, more compact products. Additionally, you might also see a trend toward more environmentally friendly components, as companies look for ways to reduce their carbon footprints.

Such market trends play a pivotal role in revenue forecasting, as they provide essential data regarding potential customers' spending habits and preferences.

By integrating these findings into your financial projections, you can provide investors with more accurate information, enabling them to make well-informed decisions about investing in your electronic components distributor.

Developing the marketing plan for an electronic components distributor

Before delving into your electronic components distributor business plan, it's imperative to budget for sales and marketing expenses.

To achieve this, a comprehensive sales and marketing plan is essential. This plan should provide an accurate projection of the necessary actions to acquire and retain customers.

Additionally, it will outline the required workforce to carry out these initiatives and the corresponding budget for promotions, advertising, and other marketing endeavours.

By budgeting accordingly, you can ensure that the right resources are allocated to these vital activities, aligning them with the sales and growth objectives outlined in your business plan.

The staffing and capital expenditure requirements of an electronic components distributor

Whether you are starting or expanding an electronic components distributor, it is important to have a clear plan for recruitment and capital expenditures (investment in equipment and real estate) in order to ensure the success of the business.

Both the recruitment and investment plans need to be coherent with the timing and level of growth planned in your forecast, and require appropriate funding.

A electronic components distributor might incur staffing costs such as salaries for sales personnel, customer service representatives, and a warehouse manager. They might also incur costs for equipment such as computers, printers, fax machines, and other office equipment. Additionally, they may need to purchase handling equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks, and shelving units for the warehouse, as well as trucks and other vehicles for deliveries.

In order to create a realistic financial forecast, you will also need to consider the other operating expenses associated with running the business on a day-to-day basis (insurance, bookkeeping, etc.). 

Once you have all the necessary information to create a business plan for your electronic components distributor, it is time to start creating your financial forecast.

What goes into your electronic components distributor's financial forecast?

The financial forecast of your electronic components distributor will enable you to assess the profitability potential of your business in the coming years and how much capital is required to fund the actions planned in the business plan.

The four key outputs of a financial forecast for a electronic components distributor are:

• The profit and loss (P&L) statement ,
• The projected balance sheet ,
• The cash flow forecast ,
• And the sources and uses table .

Let's take a closer look at each of these.

The projected P&L statement

The projected P&L statement for an electronic components distributor shows how much revenue and profits your business is expected to generate in the future.

Ideally, your electronic components distributor's P&L statement should show:

• Healthy growth - above inflation level
• Improving or stable profit margins
• Positive net profit

Expectations will vary based on the stage of your business. A startup will be expected to grow faster than an established electronic components distributor. And similarly, an established company should showcase a higher level of profitability than a new venture.

The projected balance sheet of your electronic components distributor

The balance sheet for an electronic components distributor is a financial document that provides a snapshot of your business’s financial health at a given point in time.

It shows three main components: assets, liabilities and equity:

• Assets: are resources owned by the business, such as cash, equipment, and accounts receivable (money owed by clients).
• Liabilities: are debts owed to creditors and other entities, such as accounts payable (money owed to suppliers) and loans.
• Equity: includes the sums invested by the shareholders or business owners and the cumulative profits and losses of the business to date (called retained earnings). It is a proxy for the value of the owner's stake in the business.

Examining the balance sheet is important for lenders, investors, or other stakeholders who are interested in assessing your electronic components distributor's liquidity and solvency:

• Liquidity: assesses whether or not your business has sufficient cash and short-term assets to honour its liabilities due over the next 12 months. It is a short-term focus.
• Solvency: assesses whether or not your business has the capacity to repay its debt over the medium-term.

Looking at the balance sheet can also provide insights into your electronic components distributor's investment and financing policies.

In particular, stakeholders can compare the value of equity to the value of the outstanding financial debt to assess how the business is funded and what level of financial risk has been taken by the owners (financial debt is riskier because it has to be repaid, while equity doesn't need to be repaid).

The cash flow forecast

A projected cash flow statement for an electronic components distributor is used to show how much cash the business is generating or consuming.

The cash flow forecast is usually organized by nature to show three key metrics:

• The operating cash flow: do the core business activities generate or consume cash?
• The investing cash flow: how much is the business investing in long-term assets (this is usually compared to the level of fixed assets on the balance sheet to assess whether the business is regularly maintaining and renewing its equipment)?
• The financing cash flow: is the business raising new financing or repaying financiers (debt repayment, dividends)?

As we discussed earlier, cash is king and keeping an eye on future cash flows an imperative for running a successful business. Therefore, you can expect the reader of your electronic components distributor business plan to pay close attention to your cash flow forecast.

Also, note that it is customary to provide both yearly and monthly cash flow forecasts in a business plan - so that the reader can analyze seasonal variation and ensure the electronic components distributor is appropriately funded.

The initial financing plan

The sources and uses table or initial financing plan is a key component of your business plan when starting an electronic components distributor.

It shows where the capital needed to set up the business will come from (sources) and how it will be spent (uses).

This table helps size the investment required to set up the electronic components distributor, and understand how risks will be distributed between the business owners, and the financiers.

The sources and uses table also highlights what the starting cash position will be. This is key for startups as the business needs to have sufficient funding to sustain operations until the break-even point is reached.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what will go into the financial forecast of your electronic components distributor business plan, let's have a look at the written part of the plan.

The written part of an electronic components distributor business plan plays a key role: it lays out the plan of action you intend to execute to seize the commercial opportunity you've identified on the market and provides the context needed for the reader to decide if they believe your plan to be achievable and your financial forecast to be realistic.

The written part of an electronic components distributor business plan is composed of 7 main sections:

• The executive summary
• The presentation of the company
• The products and services
• The market analysis
• The strategy
• The operations
• The financial plan

Let's go through the content of each section in more detail!

1. The executive summary

The first section of your electronic components distributor's business plan is the executive summary which provides, as its name suggests, an enticing summary of your plan which should hook the reader and make them want to know more about your business.

When writing the executive summary, it is important to provide an overview of the business, the market, the key financials, and what you are asking from the reader.

Start with a brief introduction of the business, its name, concept, location, how long it has been in operation, and what makes it unique. Mention any services or products you plan to offer and who you sell to.

Then you should follow with an overview of the addressable market for your electronic components distributor, current trends, and potential growth opportunities.

You should then include a summary of your key financial figures such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

Finally, you should detail any funding requirements in the ask section.

2. The presentation of the company

As you build your electronic components distributor business plan, the second section deserves attention as it delves into the structure and ownership, location, and management team of your company.

In the structure and ownership part, you'll provide valuable insights into the legal structure of the business, the identities of the owners, and their respective investments and ownership stakes. This level of transparency is vital, particularly if you're seeking financing, as it clarifies which legal entity will receive the funds and who holds the reins of the business.

Moving to the location part, you'll offer a comprehensive view of the company's premises and articulate why this specific location is strategic for the business, emphasizing factors like catchment area, accessibility, and nearby amenities.

When describing the location of your electronic components distributor, you could emphasize its proximity to major transportation hubs and access to major markets. You may also be able to point out the quality of the workforce in the region, which could be a major draw for potential financiers. Additionally, you may want to discuss the availability of resources such as utilities, infrastructure, and other services that could be beneficial for the distributor. Finally, you could discuss the potential for tax incentives or other financial considerations that could make the location attractive to a third-party financier.

Lastly, you should introduce your esteemed management team. Provide a thorough explanation of each member's role, background, and extensive experience.

It's equally important to highlight any past successes the management team has achieved and underscore the duration they've been working together. This information will instil trust in potential lenders or investors, showcasing the strength and expertise of your leadership team and their ability to deliver the business plan.

3. The products and services section

The products and services section of your electronic components distributor business plan should include a detailed description of what your company sells to its customers. 

For example, your electronic components distributor might offer a wide range of components such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, connectors, and switches. They could also offer custom assembly services such as PCBs, enclosures, and wiring harnesses. Finally, they could provide technical assistance to customers for component selection, design, and troubleshooting of their projects. This would enable customers to get the components that meet their exact needs and get the most of their projects.

The reader will want to understand what makes your electronic components distributor unique from other businesses in this competitive market.

When drafting this section, you should be precise about the categories of products or services you sell, the clients you are targeting and the channels that you are targeting them through. 

4. The market analysis

When outlining your market analysis in the electronic components distributor business plan, it's essential to include comprehensive details about customers' demographics and segmentation, target market, competition, barriers to entry, and relevant regulations.

The primary aim of this section is to give the reader an understanding of the market size and appeal while demonstrating your expertise in the industry.

To begin, delve into the demographics and segmentation subsection, providing an overview of the addressable market for your electronic components distributor, key marketplace trends, and introducing various customer segments and their preferences in terms of purchasing habits and budgets.

Next, shift your focus to the target market subsection, where you can zoom in on the specific customer segments your electronic components distributor targets. Explain how your products and services are tailored to meet the unique needs of these customers.

For example, your target market might include hobbyists and small-scale manufacturers. These customers may be looking for a variety of components for DIY projects or a limited production run. They are likely to be looking for components that are both cost-effective and of good quality.

In the competition subsection, introduce your main competitors and explain what sets your electronic components distributor apart from them.

Finally, round off your market analysis by providing an overview of the main regulations that apply to your electronic components distributor.

5. The strategy section

When you write the strategy section of your electronic components distributor business plan, remember to cover key elements such as your competitive edge, pricing strategy, sales & marketing plan, milestones, and risks and mitigants.

In the competitive edge subsection, elaborate on what makes your company stand out from competitors. This becomes especially important if you're a startup, aiming to carve a place for yourself amidst established players in the marketplace.

The pricing strategy subsection should demonstrate how you plan to maintain profitability while offering competitive prices to attract customers.

Outline your sales & marketing plan, detailing how you'll reach out to new customers and retain existing ones through loyalty programs or special offers.

For the milestones subsection, outline your company's achievements to date and your main objectives for the future, complete with specific dates to set clear expectations for progress.

Lastly, the risks and mitigants subsection should address the main risks that could affect your plan's execution. Explain the measures you've put in place to minimize these risks, assuring potential investors or lenders.

Your electronic components distributor could face the risk of an unreliable supply chain. This could include components arriving late, components being damaged during shipping, or components being incorrectly shipped. Additionally, your distributor might face the risk of technology becoming obsolete. This could mean that certain components become less in demand, or that new technology could render certain components obsolete.

6. The operations section

The operations of your electronic components distributor must be presented in detail in your business plan.

The first thing you should cover in this section is your staffing team, the main roles, and the overall recruitment plan to support the growth expected in your business plan. You should also outline the qualifications and experience necessary to fulfil each role, and how you intend to recruit (using job boards, referrals, or headhunters).

You should then state the operating hours of your electronic components distributor - so that the reader can check the adequacy of your staffing levels - and any plans for varying opening times during peak season. Additionally, the plan should include details on how you will handle customer queries outside of normal operating hours.

The next part of this section should focus on the key assets and IP required to operate your business. If you depend on any licenses or trademarks, physical structures (equipment or property) or lease agreements, these should all go in there.

You may have key assets such as customer information and supplier relationships. This customer information could include data such as customer contact information, purchase histories, and preferences. Similarly, your supplier relationships might include long-term agreements and contacts that have been established over time. Additionally, you may have Intellectual Property such as patents, trademarks, and trade secrets that protect your proprietary technology.

Finally, you should include a list of suppliers that you plan to work with and a breakdown of their services and main commercial terms (price, payment terms, contract duration, etc.). Investors are always keen to know if there is a particular reason why you have chosen to work with a specific supplier (higher-quality products or past relationships for example).

7. The presentation of the financial plan

The financial plan section is where we will present the financial forecast we talked about earlier in this guide.

Now that you have a clear idea of what goes in your electronic components distributor business plan, let's look at the solutions you can use to draft yours.

What tool should I use to write my electronic components distributor's business plan?

There are two main ways of creating your electronic components distributor business plan:

• Using specialized business planning software,
• Hiring a business plan writer.

Using an online business plan software for your electronic components distributor's business plan

Using online business planning software is the most efficient and modern way to write an electronic components distributor business plan.

There are several advantages to using specialized software:

• You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can access a library of dozens of complete business plan samples and templates for inspiration
• You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast
• You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
• You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows
• You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

Hiring a business plan writer to write your electronic components distributor's business plan

Outsourcing your electronic components distributor business plan to a business plan writer can also be a viable option.

Business plan writers are experienced in writing business plans and adept at creating financial forecasts without errors. Furthermore, hiring a consultant can save you time and allow you to focus on the day-to-day operations of your business.

However, hiring business plan writers is expensive as you are paying for the software used by the consultant, plus their time, and their profit margin of course.

From experience, you need to budget at least £1.5k ($2.0k) excluding tax for a complete business plan, more if you need to make changes after the initial version (which happens frequently after the initial meetings with lenders or investors).

You also need to be careful when seeking investment. Investors want their money to be used to grow the business, not spent on consulting fees. Therefore, the amount you spend on business plan writing services (and other consulting services such as legal services) needs to be negligible relative to the amount raised.

The other drawback is that you usually don't own the business plan itself: you just get the output, while the actual document is saved in the consultant's business plan software - which makes it difficult to maintain the document up to date without hiring the consultant on a retainer.

For these reasons, outsourcing the electronic components distributor business plan to a business plan writer should be considered carefully, weighing both the advantages and disadvantages of hiring outside help.

Ultimately, it may be the right decision for some businesses, while others may find it beneficial to write their business plan using online software.

Why not create your electronic components distributor's business plan using Word or Excel?

I must advise against using Microsoft Excel and Word (or their Google, Apple, or open-source equivalents) to write your electronic components distributor business plan. Let me explain why.

Firstly, creating an accurate and error-free financial forecast on Excel (or any spreadsheet) is highly technical and requires a strong grasp of accounting principles and financial modelling skills. It is, therefore, unlikely that anyone will fully trust your numbers unless you have both a degree in finance and accounting and significant financial modelling experience, like us at The Business Plan Shop.

Secondly, relying on spreadsheets is inefficient. While it may have been the only option in the past, technology has advanced significantly, and software can now perform these tasks much faster and with greater accuracy. With the rise of AI, software can even help us detect mistakes in forecasts and analyze the numbers for better decision-making.

And with the rise of AI, software is also becoming smarter at helping us detect mistakes in our forecasts and helping us analyse the numbers to make better decisions.

Moreover, software makes it easier to compare actuals versus forecasts and maintain up-to-date forecasts to keep visibility on future cash flows, as we discussed earlier in this guide. This task is cumbersome when using spreadsheets.

Now, let's talk about the written part of your electronic components distributor business plan. While it may be less error-prone, using software can bring tremendous gains in productivity. Word processors, for example, lack instructions and examples for each part of your business plan. They also won't automatically update your numbers when changes occur in your forecast, and they don't handle formatting for you.

Overall, while Word or Excel may seem viable for some entrepreneurs to create a business plan, it's by far becoming an antiquated way of doing things.

• Having an up-to-date business plan is key to maintaining visibility on your future cash flows.
• A business plan has 2 parts: a financial forecast highlighting the expected growth, profitability and cash generation of the business; and a written part which provides the context needed to interpret and assess the quality of the forecast.
• Using business plan software is the modern way of writing and maintaining business plans.

We hope that this guide helped you to better understand how to write the business plan for an electronic components distributor. If you still have questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• How to write a 5 years business plan
• Business plan myths

Know someone who owns or wants to start an electronic components distributor? Share this article with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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IR-2024-88, April 2, 2024

WASHINGTON — With the April 15 tax deadline approaching, the IRS reminds taxpayers there is still time file their federal income tax return electronically and request direct deposit.

Filing electronically reduces tax return errors as tax software does the calculations, flags common errors and prompts taxpayers for missing information. Most people qualify for electronic filing at no cost and, when they choose direct deposit, receive their refund within 21 days.

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Taxpayers with income of $79,000 or less in 2023 can use IRS Free File guided tax software now through Oct 15. IRS Free Fillable forms , a part of this program, is available at no cost to taxpayers of any income level and provides electronic forms for people to fill out and e-file themselves.

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