how does a business plan help entrepreneurs

Green Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs

Business Ideas for Green Entrepreneurs

• Small Business
• Online Business
• Home Business
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• Operations & Success

Susan Ward has run an IT consulting firm and designed and presented courses on how to promote small businesses.

A “green” business strives to have a positive impact on the environment and community. It develops and practices business strategies that go beyond regulation and demonstrate commitment to a healthy and sustainable future ( earthshare.org ).

As someone thinking of starting a small business , a green business has two advantages over other kinds of businesses:

• Environmentalism is growing rapidly so you will be targeting a growing market. German-based Roland Berger Strategy Consultants estimates that the global market volume for "environmental technologies" will reach a projected $2,740 billion by 2020.
• Starting a green business can be particularly satisfying as you get to make your own contribution to making the world a better place.

Here are what I think are the best green business ideas for entrepreneurs.

1) Help them grow it. Gardens for Small Spaces

The growing concern about where our food comes from and what's been done to it is translating into increasing numbers of people who want to grow their own food, wherever they live. There are a number of ways to develop small-space gardening ideas into businesses:

• Produce "garden-paks", small collections of seeded plant trays that would fit on the smallest balcony and allow people to grow their own vegetables.
• On a larger scale, as a garden designer you could specialize in rooftop garden installations.
• Create a green business focusing on products that will help people grow their own food, such as greenhouses suitable for residential homes or ecological pest controls . A 2014 study by the National Gardening Association revealed that one in three households in the U.S. where growing their own vegetables, fruits, berries, or herbs.
• Worm farming and organic compost sales are other green gardening business ideas that might work for you.

2) Help them cut energy costs. Solar Power Generation and Solar Water Heating Systems

The cost of traditional energy continues to rise - making green business ideas related to saving energy and cutting energy costs a safe bet for now and into the future.

Solar water heating systems can provide significant energy cost savings (providing up to 70% of a family's hot water when properly installed, according to some distributors).

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, solar power installations in the U.S. grew at an annual rate of 59% between 2006 and 2016 , helped by subsidies such as the Solar Investment Tax Credit. The installation of rooftop solar panels and the tie in to household/commercial electrical systems requires a lot of expertise and businesses that provide this service are flourishing.

If either of these green business ideas appeals to you Natural Resources Canada's Solar Thermal and Solar Photovoltaic Energy information sites provide excellent information on the topic.

3) Help them clean it. Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

From laundry through vehicles, things have to be cleaned. But people are a lot more sensitive to what's being poured down the drain and want to be able to get the sparkle without the environmental strain. One green business idea to help them accomplish this is to sell environmentally friendly cleaning products. This is another green business idea that could work well as an ecommerce site. (See 8 Easy Ways to Get Your Small Business Into Ecommerce ).

Going green is also a great marketing strategy for a cleaning business. Commercial and residential cleaning businesses are still "hot" business ideas as the demand for cleaning services is still growing. Using only eco-friendly cleaning products in your cleaning business could give you a competitive edge.

Note: Also watch for the commercialization of "virtually waterless" cleaning. Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed a new way of cleaning clothes using less than 2% of the water and energy of a conventional washing machine.

4) Help them find it locally. Local Eco-alternatives

Books like the 100-Mile Diet have inspired many people to think carefully about where their food is grown and the negative environmental effects of consuming products that may be shipped from thousands of miles away.

People want local eco-friendly alternatives to the products they've been using. To service this need farm markets have been proliferating in North America, selling everything from locally raised beef, pork or poultry to locally made soaps and cleaning materials. Talk to your local farm market association or butcher store about selling your product locally.

5) Show them what needs to be done. Green Consulting

As the price of energy goes up and being green becomes increasingly popular, more individuals and businesses want to become greener but don't know what the best course of action is. So green consulting is a business idea whose time has come.

Green consultants put together an action plan for their clients by examining their client's environment and analyzing their environmental strengths and weaknesses. For instance, a home or business may be using a lot more energy than necessary for heating or cooling because of a lack of weather-stripping, insulation, or improperly installed HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems.

Some green consulting businesses also offer event management . The green business idea is that the consulting company will see to it that every aspect of the event, from advertising through waste management, is handled in the most environmentally friendly way.

6) Help them get there. Scooters and Bikes

Transportation is another venue of change for many people, whose need to go green is strengthened by increasingly high prices at the pump. Scooters and bikes are a very appealing "all-in-one" solution; as a scooter or bike rider you get to save money, be environmentally friendly, and, if you get the kind of bike that needs pedaling, improve your health, too!

As electric/gas scooters and electric bikes continue to increase in popularity, becoming a dealer might be the business idea you've been looking for. Statista estimates that by 2023 electric bicycle sales will reach 40 million units . If you don't want to start a dealership from scratch there are a number of franchise opportunities available.

If you live in an urban area, renting out bikes and scooters might also be a profitable green business.

7) Help them build green. Green Building

Green building is a trend rife with possibilities for starting new green businesses. Construction companies, architects, designers and contractors can specialize in green building. For instance, a contractor might become a LEED certified professional; a designer might focus on elements and materials that are the least environmentally destructive.

And green building calls for all kinds of green products that could become the foundation of your new small business, from water-saving toilets through salvaged wood (and solar water heating systems).

Learn more about LEED Canada (the environmental rating system used as a standard for new construction and major renovations) at the Canada Green Building Council website.

Green Businesses Deliver More Than Profits

Hopefully these green business ideas have got you excited about the possibilities. You may not become rich but you will have the pleasure of running a business that helps people lead greener lives and combining what you do with what you believe in.

Where to From Here

• 7 Inexpensive Business Ideas
• 18 Pet Business Ideas
• 10 Best Small Business Ideas for Students
• 12 Wacky Business Ideas  
• Best Eco-Friendly Practices for Organic Restaurants
• Get a List of the Best Business Ideas
• The Best Small Business Opportunities
• How to Go Green at Your Restaurant
• Green Ideas for Making Your Business Environmentally Sustainable
• What is a "Green" Home?
• Save Money With Solar Energy for Your Business
• Ways to Go Green in Your Small Business
• The Pros and Cons of Being a Green Environment Consultant
• Top 10 Green Dream Jobs
• Reasons for Restaurants to Go Organic
• 6 Ways to Reduce CO2 Emissions Pollution in Industry
• Best Senior Care Business Ideas
• The Difference Between Organic and Sustainable Food
• Home Business Ideas That Really Pay
• 29 Cost-Saving Sustainability Ideas for Businesses

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Business Plan

By Entrepreneur Staff

Business Plan Definition:

A written document describing the nature of the business, the sales and marketing strategy, and the financial background, and containing a projected profit and loss statement

A business plan is also a road map that provides directions so a business can plan its future and helps it avoid bumps in the road. The time you spend making your business plan thorough and accurate, and keeping it up-to-date, is an investment that pays big dividends in the long term.

Your business plan should conform to generally accepted guidelines regarding form and content. Each section should include specific elements and address relevant questions that the people who read your plan will most likely ask. Generally, a business plan has the following components:

Title Page and Contents A business plan should be presented in a binder with a cover listing the name of the business, the name(s) of the principal(s), address, phone number, e-mail and website addresses, and the date. You don't have to spend a lot of money on a fancy binder or cover. Your readers want a plan that looks professional, is easy to read and is well-put-together.

Include the same information on the title page. If you have a logo, you can use it, too. A table of contents follows the executive summary or statement of purpose, so that readers can quickly find the information or financial data they need.

Executive Summary The executive summary, or statement of purpose, succinctly encapsulates your reason for writing the business plan. It tells the reader what you want and why, right up front. Are you looking for a $10,000 loan to remodel and refurbish your factory? A loan of $25,000 to expand your product line or buy new equipment? How will you repay your loan, and over what term? Would you like to find a partner to whom you'd sell 25 percent of the business? What's in it for him or her? The questions that pertain to your situation should be addressed here clearly and succinctly.

The summary or statement should be no more than half a page in length and should touch on the following key elements:

• Business concept describes the business, its product, the market it serves and the business' competitive advantage.
• Financial features include financial highlights, such as sales and profits.
• Financial requirements state how much capital is needed for startup or expansion, how it will be used and what collateral is available.
• Current business position furnishes relevant information about the company, its legal form of operation, when it was founded, the principal owners and key personnel.
• Major achievements points out anything noteworthy, such as patents, prototypes, important contracts regarding product development, or results from test marketing that have been conducted.

Description of the Business The business description usually begins with a short explanation of the industry. When describing the industry, discuss what's going on now as well as the outlook for the future. Do the necessary research so you can provide information on all the various markets within the industry, including references to new products or developments that could benefit or hinder your business. Base your observations on reliable data and be sure to footnote and cite your sources of information when necessary. Remember that bankers and investors want to know hard facts--they won't risk money on assumptions or conjecture.

When describing your business, say which sector it falls into (wholesale, retail, food service, manufacturing, hospitality and so on), and whether the business is new or established. Then say whether the business is a sole proprietorship, partnership, C or Sub chapter S corporation. Next, list the business' principals and state what they bring to the business. Continue with information on who the business' customers are, how big the market is, and how the product or service is distributed and marketed.

Description of the Product or Service The business description can be a few paragraphs to a few pages in length, depending on the complexity of your plan. If your plan isn't too complicated, keep your business description short, describing the industry in one paragraph, the product in another, and the business and its success factors in two or three more paragraphs.

When you describe your product or service, make sure your reader has a clear idea of what you're talking about. Explain how people use your product or service and talk about what makes your product or service different from others available in the market. Be specific about what sets your business apart from those of your competitors.

Then explain how your business will gain a competitive edge and why your business will be profitable. Describe the factors you think will make it successful. If your business plan will be used as a financing proposal, explain why the additional equity or debt will make your business more profitable. Give hard facts, such as "new equipment will create an income stream of $10,000 per year" and briefly describe how.

Other information to address here is a description of the experience of the other key people in the business. Whoever reads your business plan will want to know what suppliers or experts you've spoken to about your business and their response to your idea. They may even ask you to clarify your choice of location or reasons for selling this particular product.

Market Analysis A thorough market analysis will help you define your prospects as well as help you establish pricing, distribution, and promotional strategies that will allow your company to be successful vis-à-vis your competition, both in the short and long term.

Begin your market analysis by defining the market in terms of size, demographics, structure, growth prospects, trends, and sales potential. Next, determine how often your product or service will be purchased by your target market. Then figure out the potential annual purchase. Then figure out what percentage of this annual sum you either have or can attain. Keep in mind that no one gets 100 percent market share, and that a something as small as 25 percent is considered a dominant share. Your market share will be a benchmark that tells you how well you're doing in light of your market-planning projections.

You'll also have to describe your positioning strategy. How you differentiate your product or service from that of your competitors and then determine which market niche to fill is called "positioning." Positioning helps establish your product or service's identity within the eyes of the purchaser. A positioning statement for a business plan doesn't have to be long or elaborate, but it does need to point out who your target market is, how you'll reach them, what they're really buying from you, who your competitors are, and what your USP (unique selling proposition) is.

How you price your product or service is perhaps your most important marketing decision. It's also one of the most difficult to make for most small business owners, because there are no instant formulas. Many methods of establishing prices are available to you, but these are among the most common.

• Cost-plus pricing is used mainly by manufacturers to assure that all costs, both fixed and variable, are covered and the desired profit percentage is attained.
• Demand pricing is used by companies that sell their products through a variety of sources at differing prices based on demand.
• Competitive pricing is used by companies that are entering a market where there's already an established price and it's difficult to differentiate one product from another.
• Markup pricing is used mainly by retailers and is calculated by adding your desired profit to the cost of the product.

You'll also have to determine distribution, which includes the entire process of moving the product from the factory to the end user. Make sure to analyze your competitors' distribution channels before deciding whether to use the same type of channel or an alternative that may provide you with a strategic advantage.

Finally, your promotion strategy should include all the ways you communicate with your markets to make them aware of your products or services. To be successful, your promotion strategy should address advertising, packaging, public relations, sales promotions and personal sales.

Competitive Analysis The purpose of the competitive analysis is to determine:

• the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors within your market.
• strategies that will provide you with a distinct advantage.
• barriers that can be developed to prevent competition from entering your market.
• any weaknesses that can be exploited in the product development cycle.

The first step in a competitor analysis is to identify both direct and indirect competition for your business, both now and in the future. Once you've grouped your competitors, start analyzing their marketing strategies and identifying their vulnerable areas by examining their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you determine your distinct competitive advantage.

Whoever reads your business plan should be very clear on who your target market is, what your market niche is, exactly how you'll stand apart from your competitors, and why you'll be successful doing so.

Operations and Management The operations and management component of your plan is designed to describe how the business functions on a continuing basis. The operations plan highlights the logistics of the organization, such as the responsibilities of the management team, the tasks assigned to each division within the company, and capital and expense requirements related to the operations of the business.

Financial Components of Your Business Plan After defining the product, market and operations, the next area to turn your attention to are the three financial statements that form the backbone of your business plan: the income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet.

The income statement is a simple and straightforward report on the business' cash-generating ability. It is a scorecard on the financial performance of your business that reflects when sales are made and when expenses are incurred. It draws information from the various financial models developed earlier such as revenue, expenses, capital (in the form of depreciation), and cost of goods. By combining these elements, the income statement illustrates just how much your company makes or loses during the year by subtracting cost of goods and expenses from revenue to arrive at a net result, which is either a profit or loss. In addition to the income statements, include a note analyzing the results. The analysis should be very short, emphasizing the key points of the income statement. Your CPA can help you craft this.

The cash flow statement is one of the most critical information tools for your business, since it shows how much cash you'll need to meet obligations, when you'll require it and where it will come from. The result is the profit or loss at the end of each month and year. The cash flow statement carries both profits and losses over to the next month to also show the cumulative amount. Running a loss on your cash flow statement is a major red flag that indicates not having enough cash to meet expenses-something that demands immediate attention and action.

The cash flow statement should be prepared on a monthly basis during the first year, on a quarterly basis for the second year, and annually for the third year. The following 17 items are listed in the order they need to appear on your cash flow statement. As with the income statement, you'll need to analyze the cash flow statement in a short summary in the business plan. Once again, the analysis doesn't have to be long and should cover highlights only. Ask your CPA for help.

The last financial statement you'll need is a balance sheet. Unlike the previous financial statements, the balance sheet is generated annually for the business plan and is, more or less, a summary of all the preceding financial information broken down into three areas: assets, liabilities and equity.

Balance sheets are used to calculate the net worth of a business or individual by measuring assets against liabilities. If your business plan is for an existing business, the balance sheet from your last reporting period should be included. If the business plan is for a new business, try to project what your assets and liabilities will be over the course of the business plan to determine what equity you may accumulate in the business. To obtain financing for a new business, you'll need to include a personal financial statement or balance sheet.

In the business plan, you'll need to create an analysis for the balance sheet just as you need to do for the income and cash flow statements. The analysis of the balance sheet should be kept short and cover key points.

Supporting Documents In this section, include any other documents that are of interest to your reader, such as your resume; contracts with suppliers, customers, or clients, letters of reference, letters of intent, copy of your lease and any other legal documents, tax returns for the previous three years, and anything else relevant to your business plan.

Some people think you don't need a business plan unless you're trying to borrow money. Of course, it's true that you do need a good plan if you intend to approach a lender--whether a banker, a venture capitalist or any number of other sources--for startup capital. But a business plan is more than a pitch for financing; it's a guide to help you define and meet your business goals.

Just as you wouldn't start off on a cross-country drive without a road map, you should not embark on your new business without a business plan to guide you. A business plan won't automatically make you a success, but it will help you avoid some common causes of business failure, such as under-capitalization or lack of an adequate market.

As you research and prepare your business plan, you'll find weak spots in your business idea that you'll be able to repair. You'll also discover areas with potential you may not have thought about before--and ways to profit from them. Only by putting together a business plan can you decide whether your great idea is really worth your time and investment.

More from Business Plans

Financial projections.

Estimates of the future financial performance of a business

Financial Statement

A written report of the financial condition of a firm. Financial statements include the balance sheet, income statement, statement of changes in net worth and statement of cash flow.

Executive Summary

A nontechnical summary statement at the beginning of a business plan that's designed to encapsulate your reason for writing the plan

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Why do Entrepreneurs need a Business Plan?

• By: Ariel Tavor

Having a plan for anything you want to achieve in your life is good. This same thing holds for those who have their own business. A business is full of risks as you can earn a lot, break, or even lose a huge amount of money. So, entrepreneurs need a business plan to make their business profitable and stand out in the market. 

A business strategy is a way to evaluate your business to have a closer look at the financial situation and smaller details such as budget planning and marketing. Moreover, it helps to clarify the goal and review if your idea will be profitable in the future. In this article, we have discussed the reasons why entrepreneurs need a business plan.

What is in a Business Plan for Entrepreneurs ?

The goal of a business  strategy  for entrepreneurs is to summarize the company’s strategy to implement it in the long term, forecast future business demands and secure financing from investors. A business  strategy    summarizes your plan for the different aspects of the entrepreneur’s proposed business. This may include marketing, human resources, finances, intellectual property data, and more.

Related:  Key Items to include in the business plan

Importance of A Business Plan for Entrepreneurs

Various reasons define the importance of a business  strategy  for entrepreneurs.

 A few of the reasons are listed below:

To figure out the financial needs.

One of the main reasons for having a business plan for entrepreneurs is that it helps to determine the amount of capital you need for your venture. This procedure plays a vital role in enhancing the capital for business and employing the capital effectively. 

To assess competitors and search your audience.

Another essential part of making a plan is searching for the latest companies in the industry you are interested in working in. With a business  strategy , you can identify the competitors and where they are lacking to reach their customers. After reviewing, you can find ways to reach those customers, which will help you enhance your target audience. 

A business plan helps entrepreneurs remain on track.

A company with a plan can move in the right direction. It helps entrepreneurs stay organized and keeps them on the correct path to success. A good plan is one of the basic points that help to operate your business successfully. 

A Business S trategy  helps to organize your resources.

A plan for business acts as a guide for structuring or allocating resources. With a plan, an entrepreneur will see the feasibility of opening an office, tracking operating costs, and hiring employees. A plan can easily depict whether your business is running at a loss or making a profit. 

A Business S trategy helps to make critical decisions.

Entrepreneurship is a continuous practice in crisis management and decision-making. Sitting down and reviewing all the consequences of any decision is a luxury that anyone can’t afford. That’s where the importance of a business  strategy   comes in. A plan lets you determine the solutions to some of the most crucial business decisions ahead of time.  

To set better benchmarks and goals.

Our goals usually become arbitrary without a plan or reason. An effective business plan helps make those benchmarks more consequential and intentional. Plus, it also helps keep you accountable for long-term strategy and vision to gain insights into how the strategy works with time. 

Approach Investors

Before investing in your business, investors need to be aware of your business. In that scenario, a plan can be an essential document you can show to your investors. It will provide your business’s structure and the idea that helps them make informed decisions regarding supporting and funding your company.  

A business plan helps to predict problems.

An effective plan for business helps you predict potential issues such as changing customer habits or trends and slow seasons. You can prepare and swamp these challenges with a business  strategy    before it turns into something worst. 

Increases the chances of your business success

The main purpose of entrepreneurship is to have a successful business. However, no business idea comes with guaranteed success. 

But with a clear plan, the chances of the success of your business increase, as it will consistently remind you of why you chose to be an entrepreneur and help you focus on the mission of your business. 

A business plan helps to reduce risks.

Entrepreneurship comes with various risk factors, but those can be managed if tested against a well-designed business  strategy . Marking up expense projections and revenue, devising operational and logistics strategies, and understanding the competitive landscape and the market can help to minimize all the risk factors. A business  strategy    lets you make better decisions and provides a clear view of your business’s future.  

Discover the potential of your business

A business plan helps you think about the customers you are dealing with and their requirements. Knowing the needs of those customers enables you to find new opportunities for your business to serve them in a better way. With a business  strategy , you can quickly review your strategy’s direction and where it needs adjustments, redirecting to the fresh opportunities that drive profitability. 

A business plan acts as a guide for service providers

Typically, most businesses employ freelancers, contractors, and other professionals to help them with marketing, accounting, legal assistance, and more. An effective business  strategy    lets you easily share relevant sections with those who support your company while confirming that everyone is on the same page. 

The Takeaway

Now that you own a solid awareness of the “why” behind the business plans for entrepreneurs, you can confidently proceed with building a business plan. One important thing to note is that a business plan is essential to your business’s journey, not only the beginning. So, it is better to take advice from business consulting professionals. It will allow you to experience proficiency in creating a good and profitable business plan. 

Business strategy are important; they will help you clarify your specific ideas and push you to define your vision, strategies, and goals. When you have a plan ready, it’s time to investigate opportunities, develop partnerships, and find the right team to support your project. 

In addition, It will enable you to plan with all the essential points in place. Imperatively, you should know how to prepare a business plan template that is appropriate enough to encompass all your ideas and details while presenting it effectively to your prospective stakeholders. 

Finally, ensure that your business strategy is up-to-date; never overlook the need to plan for the future.

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How to Start a Business: A Startup Guide for Entrepreneurs [Template]

Published: November 09, 2022

Learning how to start a business is no small task, but it’s necessary if you want to successfully get your venture off the ground. To help, I've put together a complete guide that walks you through the steps of starting a business.

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The guide covers every requirement to start a business: from the paperwork and finances to creating your business plan and growing your business online. At the bottom, you’ll find a library of the best free tools and resources to start selling and marketing your products and services.

Use the links below to navigate to each section of the guide.

What Do You Need to Start a Business?

How to start a business, how to start a business plan, how to decide on a company name.

• How to Choose a Business Structure

How to Register Your Business

How to comply with legal requirements, how to find funding for your new business, tips for starting a business, resources to start a business, how to start a business online.

Let's get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Fill out the form to access the template..

• Business Plan : Your plan is a document that provides in-depth detail about your business and its short- and long-term strategies.
• Business Name : Your name is what you’ll call your company on all official documentation and licenses.
• Business Structure : Your structure refers to the type of leadership and ownership your business will operate under.
• Business Registration : Your registration is a credential with state authorities that allows your business to operate legally.
• Legal Requirements : Your other legal requirements include business licenses and permits beyond the initial registration.
• Funding : Your sources of funding refer to business grants, loans, and personal savings.

Every budding entrepreneur wants more visitors, more qualified leads, and more revenue. But starting a business isn't one of those "if you build it, they will come" situations. So much of getting a startup off the ground has to do with timing, planning, and the market, so consider if the economic conditions are right to start a company and whether you can successfully penetrate the market with your solution.

In order to build and run a successful company , you'll also need to create and fine-tune a business plan, assess your finances, complete all the legal paperwork, pick your partners, research apps for startups growth, choose the best tools and systems to help you get your marketing and sales off the ground … and a whole lot more.

This process may feel overwhelming, so we’ll walk you through it step-by-step. But first, let’s summarize what we’ve just learned.

Requirements for Starting a Business

To summarize, the requirements for starting a business are:

• A business plan
• A business name
• An ownership or business structure
• A business registration certificate
• A legal license or seller’s permit (as well as other legal documents)
• A source of funding

Without these elements in place, you unnecessarily risk your new business’s future.

Now that you know what you need, let’s go over the basic steps for starting a business.

• Write a business plan.
• Choose a business name.
• Choose an ownership structure.
• Register your business.
• Review and comply with legal requirements.
• Apply for funding.

Having a great business idea is only part of the journey. In order to be successful, you’ll need to take a few steps to get it off the ground. In order to refine your business idea and set yourself up for success, consider doing the following:

1. Write a business plan.

Your business plan maps out the details of your business, including how it’s structured, what product or service you’ll sell, and how you’ll be selling it. Creating a business plan will help you find any obstacles on the horizon before you jump into running a business.

Jump to: How to Start a Business Plan →

Featured Resource: Free Business Plan Template

Grab your free business plan template here .

2. Choose a business name.

Your business name is an essential part of your new business. It determines what you’ll call it on official documentation and on the business plan you’ll share with investors. Because your name will stem off your business plan and offerings, it’s best to create it after you’ve written a plan.

Jump to: How to Decide on a Company Name →

3. Choose an ownership structure.

Your business’ legal structure can impact what you’re liable for and the taxes you pay. The most common types of business structures are sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, and corporation. In the process of starting a business, you’ll need to choose the most appropriate one for you.

Jump to: How to Choose an Ownership Structure →

4. Register your business.

Registering your business is the next step after choosing an ownership structure. That way, you can ensure you’re operating within the most essential legal constraints.

Jump to: How to Register Your Business →

5. Review and comply with legal requirements.

In addition to choosing a legal structure and registering your business, there are other requirements to follow to ensure your business is operating legally, including acquiring any business licenses and permits. Licensure requirements depend on industry — for instance, if you’re planning to found a construction firm, you’ll need the appropriate construction permits.

Jump to: How to Comply with Legal Requirements →

6. Apply for funding.

When you’re starting a small business, getting loans from family and friends may suffice. However, larger ventures will require more capital.

Startup funding is essential regardless of the type of business you’re creating. Whether you leverage loans, grants, or family and friends, having solid funds will allow you to more effectively and economically launch your business.

Jump to: How to Find Funding for Your New Business →

As evidenced by this list, starting a business involves a whole lot of moving pieces, some more exciting than others. Brainstorming business names? Fun! Filing taxes? ... Not so fun. The trick to successfully getting your business off the ground is to meticulously plan and organize your materials, prioritize properly, and stay on top of the status and performance of each one of these moving parts.

From registering with the government to getting the word out about your business to making key financial decisions, you'll need to take a wide range of steps to start a successful business.

Now that we’ve gone over an overview of the steps, let’s go over each one in detail.

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• Use a business plan template.
• Narrow down what makes you different.
• Keep it short.
• Write an executive summary.
• Describe your company and business model.
• Analyze your market's conditions.
• Explain your product and/or service.
• Outline all operations and management roles.
• Design a marketing and sales strategy.
• Detail a financial plan with business costs, funding, and revenue projections.
• Summarize the above with an appendix.
• Review section examples for inspiration.

Having a solid business plan can help your business stay on track, especially when obstacles arise. But before we go over the steps of writing one, let’s answer an essential question first: What exactly is a business plan?

A business plan is a living document that maps out the details of your business. It covers what your business will sell, how it will be structured, what the market looks like, how you plan to sell your product or service, what funding you'll need, what your financial projections are, and which permits, leases, and other documentation will be required.

At its core, a business plan helps you prove to yourself and others whether your business idea is worth pursuing. It's the best way to take a step back, look at your idea holistically, and solve for issues years down the road before you start getting into the weeds.

Below are the key elements in a business plan template , details about what goes into each of them, and example sections at the bottom. You’ll also learn tips for writing a business plan .

1. Use a business plan template .

Before you begin your business plan, download this business plan template . It provides an outline for you to follow and simplifies the process.

The first steps are to create a cover page, and write a description of your business that outlines your product or service and how it solves a need for your customers. The next step is to work on the company description, which provides detail on how your company will be organized and includes the mission statement.

In the next section of the business plan template, you'll identify your target audience or buyer personas. Through research, surveys, and interviews, you'll understand who wants your product, why they're interested, and what problem your offering solves for them.

The next step is to describe your line of products and services in detail, including the pricing model, and the advantage you have over competitors.

From there, you'll write down your plan to market and sell your product or service. You'll also identify your growth plan and set targets and measures for your marketing and sales activities.

Then, you'll determine which legal structure your business will have (LLP, sole proprietorship, etc.), and if there are any other legal factors you need to consider (e.g., permits, licenses, health codes).

Finally, financial projections will be made, and short-term and long-term goals will be set for the business.

2. Narrow down what makes you different.

Before you start whipping up a business plan, think carefully about what makes your business unique first. If you're planning to start a new athletic clothing business, for example, then you'll need to differentiate yourself from the numerous other athletic clothing brands out there.

What makes yours stand out from the others? Are you planning to make clothing for specific sports or athletic activities, like yoga or hiking or tennis? Do you use environmentally friendly material? Does a certain percentage of your proceeds go to charity? Does your brand promote positive body image?

Understanding your brand's positioning in the market will help you generate awareness and sales.

Remember: You're not just selling your product or service — you're selling a combination of product, value, and brand experience. Think through these big questions and outline them before you dive into the nitty-gritty of your business plan research.

3. Keep it short.

Business plans are more short and concise nowadays than they used to be. While it might be tempting to include all the results of your market research , flesh out every single product you plan to sell, and outline exactly what your website will look like, that's actually not helpful in the format of a business plan.

Know these details and keep them elsewhere, but exclude everything but the meat and potatoes from the business plan itself. Your business plan shouldn't just be a quick(ish) read — it should be easy to skim, too, like the example below.

Now that we’ve gone over the first essential steps of building your business plan, it’s time to jump into the creation process.

4. Write an executive summary.

The purpose of the executive summary is to give readers a high-level view of the company and the market before delving in to the details.

Pro Tip : Sometimes it's helpful to write the executive summary after you've put together the rest of the plan so you can draw out the key takeaways more easily.

The executive summary should be about a page long. It should cover:

• Overview : Briefly explain what the company is, where you'll be located, what you'll sell, and who you'll sell to.
• Company Profile : Briefly explain the business structure, who owns it and what prior experience/skills they'll bring to the table, and who the first hires might be.
• Products or Services : Briefly explain what you'll sell.
• The Market : Briefly explain your main findings from your market analysis and product market fit .
• Financial Considerations : Briefly explain how you plan to fund the business and what your financial projections are.

Featured Resource: Executive Summary Template

5. Describe your company and business model.

Next, you'll have your company description. Here's where you have the chance to provide the following information:

• A summary of what your company does
• A mission statement
• A description of your business structure and business owner
• A description of your location
• A list of the marketplace needs that your business is trying to meet
• A detailed account of how your products or services actually meet those needs

6. Analyze your market's conditions.

One of the first questions to ask yourself when you're testing your business idea is whether it has a place in the market. The market will ultimately dictate how successful your business will be. What's your target market , and why would they be interested in buying from you?

Get specific here. For example, if you're selling bedding, you can't just include everyone who sleeps in a bed in your target market. You need to target a smaller group of customers first, like teenagers from middle-income families.

From there, you might answer questions like:

• How many teenagers from middle-income families are currently in your country?
• What bedding do they typically need?
• Is the market growing or stagnant?

Include both an analysis of research that others have done, as well as primary research that you've collected yourself — whether by customer surveys, interviews, or other methods.

This is also where you'll include a competitive analysis. In our example, we'd be answering the question: how many other bedding companies already have a share of the market, and who are they?

Outline the strengths and weaknesses of your potential competitors, as well as strategies that will give you a competitive advantage.

Featured Resource: Market Analysis Templates

Download 10 Free Competitive Analysis Templates

7. Explain your product and/or service.

Here's where you can go into detail about what you're selling and how it benefits your customers. If you aren't able to articulate how you'll help your customers, then your business idea may not be a good one.

Start by describing the problem you're solving. Then, go into how you plan to solve it and where your product or service fits into the mix. Finally, talk about the competitive landscape: What other companies are providing solutions to this particular problem, and what sets your solution apart from theirs?

8. Outline all operations and management roles.

Use this section to outline your business' unique organization and management structure, while keeping in mind that you may change it later. Who will be responsible for what? How will tasks and responsibilities be assigned to each person or each team?

Includes brief bios of each team member and highlight any relevant experience and education to help make the case for why they're the right person for the job. If you haven't hired people for the planned roles yet, that's OK — just make sure you identify those gaps and explain what the people in those roles will be responsible for.

9. Design a marketing and sales strategy.

This is where you can plan out your comprehensive marketing and sales strategies that'll cover how you actually plan to sell your product. Before you work on your marketing and sales plan, you'll need to have your market analysis completely fleshed out, and choose your target buyer personas, i.e., your ideal customers. (Learn how to create buyer personas here .)

On the marketing side, you'll want to cover answers to questions like:

• How do you plan to penetrate the market?
• How will you grow your business?
• Which channels will you focus on for distribution?
• How will you communicate with your customers?

On the sales side, you'll need to cover answers to questions like:

• What's your sales strategy ?
• What will your sales team look like, and how do you plan to grow it over time?
• How do you plan to scale for growth ?
• How many sales calls will you need to make to make a sale?
• What's the average price per sale?

Speaking of average price per sale, you'll want to go into your pricing strategy as well.

Featured Resource: Marketing & Sales Alignment Template

Download the Free Marketing & Sales SLA Template

10. Detail a financial plan with business costs, funding, and revenue projections.

Outline your financial model in detail, including your start-up cost, financial projections, and a funding request if you're pitching to investors.

Your start-up cost refers to the resources you'll need to get your business started — and an estimate of how much each of those resources will cost. Are you leasing an office space? Do you need a computer? A phone? List out these needs and how much they'll cost, and be honest and conservative in your estimates. The last thing you want to do is run out of money.

Once you've outlined your costs, you'll need to justify them by detailing your financial projections. This is especially important if you're looking for funding for your business. Make sure your financial model is 100% accurate for the best chance of convincing investors and loan sources to support your business.

11. Summarize the above with an appendix.

Finally, consider closing out your business plan with an appendix. The appendix is optional, but it's a helpful place to include your resume and the resume(s) of your co-founder(s), as well as any permits, leases, and other legal information you want to include.

12. Review section examples for inspiration.

Let’s go over examples of the sections in a business plan, so that you have an idea of how to approach your own. We’ll use a business plan for a fictional art supply store named NALB Creative Center .

Executive Summary Example

“NALB Creative Center (NCC) is the place where artists meet. NALB is an acronym for “No Artist Left Behind,” with our company by-line stating: “Live Your Art.” NCC is a specialty retail store offering a large array of artists’ materials and supplies, crafters’ needs, a gallery, and an education center. NCC will provide a pleasant facility that will inspire and support amateurs, professionals and crafters in the Big Island art community. NALB will sponsor art shows and competitions, art and craft fairs, scholarships for artists to continue their formal education, and other community events. NALB will facilitate, organize and offer creative workshops and classes in a variety of techniques and media.”

Company Summary Example

“NALB Creative Center is a startup, to go into business in the summer of this year. We will offer a large variety of art and craft supplies, focusing on those items that are currently unavailable on this island. The Internet will continue to be a competitor, as artists use websites to buy familiar products. We will stock products that artists don't necessarily have experience with. We will maintain our price comparisons to include those available online.”

Market Analysis Example

“In West Hawaii, the mauka community of Holualoa in Kona, Kealakekua and South Kona, as well as Waimea and Hawi in Kohala are three communities with large artist populations and galleries. In West Hawaii, the Holualoa Foundation for Arts and Culture, the Society for Kona’s Education and Art, the Kailua Village Artists, the Kona Arts Center, the Waimea Arts Center and other well-established non-profit groups offer arts classes and instruction in various media year-round to children and adults.

“NALB Creative Center will market to four primary customers:

• Professional artists.
• Amateur artists and crafters, including hobbyists.
• Businesses, such as architects, graphic designers, interior designers, or direct mail advertisers.
• Teachers and students.”

Products and Services Example

“NALB Creative Center will provide a wide variety of products of interest to artists and crafters. Our wholesale suppliers will include: Grumbacher, Liquitex, Windsor and Newton, Mabef Easels, Duncan, PrismaColor, Speedball, Masterpiece, Fredrix, Holbein, Rembrandt, and Strathmore. Vendors will include MacPherson and Herr’s. There are thousands of products available, we will offer many that are unusual, or new, as well as the basics that every artist needs on a regular basis. We will offer lines to include bargain, mid-range and professional quality products.”

Personnel Plan Example

“NCC will be operated in the first few years by the owners. Additional part-time help will be provided by family members. As NALB grows over the next years, we will need two additional full-time sales clerks, and two part-time clerks. This will free the owners to concentrate on building the business, and expanding into the other areas of NALB’s vision (tours, competitions, music, gallery, special events, etc.).”

Marketing Plan Example

“Our marketing strategy will focus heavily on customer service with loyalty and retention in sales; on sales promotion, and on niche positioning in the market.

“In addition to price and item promotional announcements, NALB Creative Center will focus its marketing efforts via several key direct-to-consumer advertising vehicles:

“Local and Regional Magazine Publications: (West Hawaii Today, Hilo Tribune-Herald, Hawai’i Island Journal). Each of these papers provide a demographic base that lines up nicely with that of NALB’s.

“Direct Mail Postcards: NALB will look to increase consumer awareness, retain the existing customer base and promote increased sales via postcard mailings. These mailings will be targeted around special events, and are intended to liquidate slow moving products or showcase vendor negotiated specials.”

Financial Plan Example

“The growth of NALB will be moderate and the cash balance will always be positive.

• Being a retail environment, we will not be selling on credit. We will accept cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard.
• Marketing and advertising will remain at or below 5% of sales.
• We will finance growth mainly through cash flow. We recognize that this means we will have to grow slowly.
• It should be noted that the owners of NALB Creative Center do not intend to take any profits out of the business until the long-term debt has been satisfied. Whatever profits remain after the debt payments will be used to finance growth, mainly through the acquisition of additional inventory.”

Check out more business plan examples here .

After you create your business plan, you will likely have a good idea of your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats . You can therefore strategically create a name for your business that differentiates you from your competition, while still making it clear what you offer to customers and prospects.

That’s why creating a business name often comes after you create your plan.

Naming your business is a little more complicated than making a list and picking your favorite. If you're using a name other than your personal name, then you need to register it with your state government so they know you're doing business with a name other than your given name.

To that end, here’s how to decide on a business name and register it with the appropriate authorities.

1. Brainstorm business name ideas .

Strategically choosing the right business name starts with a traditional brainstorming session. For some businesses, this may be a simple, straightforward process, such as simply choosing “[city name] + [service]”, i.e. Atlanta Dentist. This is a good idea for local businesses because it will ensure you’re more visible in local search results.

However, you might want to come up with a unique brand name if you’re running an innovative startup or otherwise launching a business that would benefit from a unique name. No matter what, we recommend coming up with a short, memorable name that’s easy to say and simple to write.

2. Conduct a trademark search.

Next, do a trademark search of your desired name to avoid expensive issues down the road. The search will tell you if another business has registered or applied for the name you'd like to use. Remember: A trademark owner can sue you on reasonable grounds if you use their trademark unlawfully.

3. Make sure the name you want is available in your state.

Before you register, you need to make sure the name you want is available in your state. Business names are registered on a state-by-state basis, so it's possible that a company in another state could have the same name as yours. This is only concerning if there's a trademark on the name.

4. Make sure the domain name is available online.

During the name choosing process, you’ll want to envision how the name will look like as a website domain . That’s an easy way to test whether the name is short and memorable enough for someone to recite the website address off the top of their head. For instance, “Carlo’s Homemade Chocolate & Sweets” might sound like a good idea, but that translates to carloshomemadechocolate.com, and that’s not even the full name.

After you’ve envisioned the name as a domain, it’s time to check domain name registrars for availability. There’s nothing worse than coming up with a great business name, and then having to get an adjusted domain, such as “businessname-1.com”, “business-name.com”, or “therealbusinessname.com”. While these aren’t poor choices, it’s best to stick to “businessname.com” for readability and memorability.

Once you’ve found a name that suits you and is available in an unaltered state, register your domain name to ensure no one gets it before you do.

6. File for a trademark if you've chosen an original name.

If you’d like, you can trademark your business name for extra protection. A trademark protects words, names, symbols, and logos that distinguish goods and services. Filing for a trademark costs less than $300, and you can learn how to do it here .

7. Register your business name (optional).

You likely won’t need to take an additional step to register your business name . Most times, it will happen automatically.

If you are a new corporation or LLC, your business name will automatically be registered with your state when you register your business, so you don't have to go through a separate process. There are rules for naming a corporation and LLC, which you can read about here .

If you are a sole proprietorship, partnership, or existing corporation or LLC, register a "Doing Business As" (DBA) name if you want to do business with a name other than your registered name . You can do so either by going to your county clerk office or with your state government, depending on which state you're in. Learn how to do that here .

If you’re confused about the LLC, corporation, and partnership stuff, not to worry. These are called business structures, and they determine how your business operates from the top-down. Below, we cover how to choose between them.

How to Choose an Ownership Structure

Choosing an ownership structure, also known as your business legal structure or business entity, is one of the key legal requirements you’ll need to fulfill when starting your business.

The four most common business structures are:

1. Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business that's owned and run by one person, where the government makes no legal distinction between the person who owns the business and the business itself. It's the simplest way to operate the business. You don't have to name your business anything other than your own, personal name, but if you want to, you can give it its own distinctive name by registering what's called a Doing Business As (DBA) name.

A freelance graphic designer running their own business without additional help or with legally outsourced work.

• It's easy and inexpensive to create a sole proprietorship because there's only one owner.
• The owner has complete control over all business decisions.
• Tax preparation is also simple, since a sole proprietorship is not taxed separately from its owner.
• It can be dramatically more difficult to raise money and get investors or loans because there's no legal structure that promises repayment if the business fails.
• Since the owner and the business are legally the same, the owner is personally liable for all the debts and obligations of the business.

How Taxes Work

The individual proprietor owns and manages the business and is responsible for all transactions, including debts and liabilities. Income and losses are taxed on the individual's personal income tax return at ordinary rates. In addition, you are also subject to payroll taxes, or self-employment taxes, on the money you earn. Find IRS tax forms here .

Questions to Determine If It’s Right For You

Will you be the only employee, at least for the foreseeable future?

✅ If yes, this is an excellent option for you.

Are you all right with assuming full liability for the business?

✅ If so, this is a good choice. If not, consider an LLC or corporation instead, which will afford you more protection if the business fails.

2. Partnership

A partnership is a single business where two or more people share ownership, and each owner contributes to all aspects of the business, including shares in the profits and losses of the business.

Multiple doctors maintaining separate practices in the same building.

• It's generally pretty easy to form a business partnership, and it doesn't tend to be super expensive, either.
• Having two or more people equally invested in the business' success allows you to pool resources.
• You’ll have access to more than one person's skillset and expertise.
• Just like a sole proprietor, partners have full, shared liability if the business goes south. Note : There is a variant on partnerships called a limited liability partnership, or LLP, that protects against that.
• Partners aren't just liable for their own actions, but also the actions of their partner(s).
• When more than one person is involved in decisions, there's room for disagreement — which means it's important to have an explicit agreement over how the obligations and earnings will be split.

To form a partnership, you have to register your business with your state, a process generally done through your Secretary of State's office. You will also need to file self-employment taxes for each partner. Find IRS tax forms here .

Will you be founding the business with any other person, including a family member?

✅ If yes, this is an excellent option for you. A partnership structure is especially beneficial if the other stakeholder is a family member, so that no one goes back on their word.

Are you all right with assuming half liability for the business?

✅ If so, this is a good choice. If not, consider an LLP (limited liability partnership), LLC, or corporation instead, which will afford you more protection if the business fails.

Do you consider yourself to have strong conflict resolution and collaborative skills?

✅ Working in a team and resolving conflicts is an essential aspect of starting a business with a partner. If you’re more of a lone wolf, consider a sole proprietorship instead.

3. Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Limited liability companies (LLCs) are a type of business structure that's more complex than sole proprietorships and partnerships, but less complex than corporations. They are called "pass-through entities" because they're not subject to a separate level of tax.

Most states don't restrict ownership on LLCs, and so members can include individuals, corporations, and even other LLCs and foreign entities. Most states also permit "single-member" LLCs — those having only one owner.

A small design firm owned by one president and staffed by multiple designers and other employees.

• Owners of an LLC have limited liability, meaning that they personally are not responsible for any financial or legal faults of the business. This reduction in risk is what makes an LLC a very popular business structure.
• They're simpler to operate than a corporation because they aren't subject to as many formalities and regulations.
• LLCs are often more complex than sole proprietorships or partnerships, which means higher initial costs.
• Certain venture capital funds are hesitant to invest in LLCs because of tax considerations and the aforementioned complexity.

LLCs have the benefit of a "flow-through" tax treatment, meaning that the owners — not the LLC — are the ones who are taxed. Having only one level of tax imposed makes taxes easier. Find IRS tax forms here .

Would you prefer to be held minimally liable for the business and its financial outcomes?

✅ If so, an LLC is an excellent choice to protect your personal assets and finances. This is a good choice even if you’re starting a freelance business on your own.

Do you have the budget to pay LLC fees?

✅ LLC registration fees aren’t high, but they’re still an additional expense your business will need to budget for.

4. Corporation

A corporation is a legal entity that is separate and distinct from its owners, and has most of the rights and responsibilities that an individual possesses (to enter into contracts, loan and borrow money, sue and be sued, hire employees, own assets, and pay taxes). It's more complex than the other business structures, and it's generally suggested for larger, established companies with multiple employees.

Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Toyota Motor, and almost all well-known businesses.

• They make seeking venture financing easy.
• They provide the best protection for personal assets.
• Founders, directors, and stockholders are (usually) not liable for the company's debts and obligations — only the money and resources they've personally invested.
• Because they're much more complex than other business structures, they can have costly administrative fees.
• They have more complicated tax and legal requirements.

Corporations are required to pay federal, state, and in some cases, local taxes. There are two different types of corporations: "C corporations" and "S corporations." C corporations are subject to double taxation. Any profit a C corporation makes is taxed to the corporation when earned, and then is taxed to the shareholders when distributed as dividends.

The corporation does not get a tax deduction when it distributes dividends to shareholders. Shareholders cannot deduct any loss of the corporation, but they are also not responsible directly for taxes on their earnings — just on the dividends they give to shareholders.

S corporations, on the other hand, have only one level of taxation. Learn more about the difference between "C corporations" and "S corporations" here , and find IRS tax forms here .

Have you secured enough venture capital to scale your small business into a full corporation?

✅ Corporations can start small, but they need to have enough funds to grow. If you have a list of investors who’ve invested $1M+ in your small business, then it may be time to think about becoming a corporation.

Do you have an internal accounting team that can handle tax matters?

✅ The tax requirements for corporations can be complicated, which requires the expertise of dedicated accountants. If you have a team or are planning to start one, a corporation may be right for you.

Once the business plan, business name, and business structure is in place, you get to move on to the even less romantic part — the paperwork and legal activities. This includes things like registering with the government, and — depending on your business structure and industry — getting a tax code, a business license , and/or a seller's permit.

We go into more detail about how to register your business here . In summary, you’ll want to take the following steps to register your business:

Step 1: Pick your state of domicile.

Where are you operating? Georgia? New York? Choose the state where your business location will operate from.

Step 2: Register your business name.

Business name registration is automatic when you register as an LLC or sole proprietorship. Remember that you can always choose a DBA (Doing Business As) name.

The registration authority will vary by state. For instance, in Georgia, you register your business at the Department of Revenue, while in New York state, you register at the Department of State. Be sure to find the appropriate registration authority of your state.

Step 3: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), if needed.

You’ll need to apply for an Employer Identification Number if you’re not running a sole proprietorship or a single-member LLC. Otherwise, the IRS will use your personal SSN for tax purposes.

Step 4: Fulfill other legal requirements.

These may include obtaining a business license or a seller’s permit.

Below, you'll find an explanation of what goes into that last step, along with links to helpful resources where you can dig into the details. (Note: These steps are for fulfilling legal requirements for a business in the U.S. only.)

Businesses are regulated on the federal, the state, and sometimes even local level. It's important to check what's required on all three of those levels. Your business won't be a legal entity without checking these boxes, so it’s essential to fulfill them all.

1. Get a seller’s permit, if needed.

Image Source

If your business sells tangible property to the public either as a wholesaler or retailer, then in most states, you need to apply for a seller's permit. 'Tangible property' simply means physical items, like clothing, vehicles, toys, construction materials, and so on. In some states, a seller's permit is required for service-oriented business, too, such as accountants, lawyers, and therapists.

The seller's permit allows you to collect sales tax from buyers. You'll then pay that sales tax to the state each quarter by putting the sales tax permit number on the state's tax payment form.

You can register for a seller's permit through your state's Board of Equalization, Sales Tax Commission, or Franchise Tax Board. To help you find the appropriate offices, find your state on this IRS website .

Alternatively, search for “seller’s permit [state name]” to find out how to apply at your local office.

2. Apply for a federal business license, if needed.

Almost every business needs some form of license or permit to operate legally — but the requirements vary, which can get confusing. Which specific licenses or permits does your business need? This is determined mainly by what industry you’re in. For example, construction firms need a contractor’s license.

To figure out if your business needs a specific license, go to this SBA.gov website and select the state from which you're operating your business. It'll tell you the specific license and permit requirements in that state.

3. Apply for state licenses.

Most states have specific licensure requirements for occupying a retail space, operating out of a warehouse, and even operating out of your home. According to Chase Bank , these can include:

• Operating licenses
• Building permits
• Zoning and land use permits
• Signage licenses

Keep in mind that these requirements will vary by state. For instance, in Georgia, you’ll need an Occupational Tax Certificate if you have a brick-and-mortar store, while in New York state, you’ll need a General Vendor license, even if you don’t have a physical store.

4. Apply for professional licenses and renew them.

Some fields require a professional license, which are separate from the federal business licenses you use to operate legally. Rather, this type of license ensures that you’re qualified to provide the services you’re advertising.

Professionals that may need a license include:

• Hair stylists
• Insurance agents
• Real estate agents

Be sure to double-check the requirements with your state, and remember to renew your license every year.

5. Understand small business tax requirements.

Business owners are obligated to pay specific federal taxes, and the amount of those taxes is determined by the business entity that you establish. All businesses except for partnerships need to file an annual income tax return. Partnerships file what's called an information return .

As mentioned, a business that's owned and operated as an LLC or corporation needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which you can apply for on the IRS' website here . Even if you operate as a sole proprietor under your SSN, you’ll still need to play self-employment tax.

Once you're registered, it's time to figure out which taxes you'll be responsible for. Here are the three types:

Self-Employment Tax (SE Tax)

Self-employment tax refers to a Social Security and Medicare tax for people who work for themselves, i.e. business owners. SE taxes require filing Schedule SE (Form 1040) if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. (Note: There are special rules and exceptions for fishing crew members, notary publics, and more.)

You can learn more here .

Employment Tax

When you have employees, you (as the employer) have certain employment tax responsibilities that you need to pay, as well as forms you need to file. Employment taxes include Social Security and Medicare taxes, federal income tax withholding, and federal unemployment (FUTA) tax.

Excise taxes are also something you need to consider, depending on what you sell, where you operate, and so on. For example, in the U.S., there's a federal excise tax on certain trucks, truck tractors, and buses used on public highways.

Let’s summarize what we’ve learned about the legal requirements to start a business.

Legal Requirements to Start a Business

• Pick your state of domicile.
• Register your business name.
• Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• Get a seller’s permit.
• Apply for a federal business license.
• Apply for state licenses.
• Apply for professional licenses and renew them.
• Understand small business tax requirements.

From the day you start building your business until the point where you can make a consistent profit, you need to finance your operation and growth with start-up capital. Some founders can finance their business entirely on their own dime or through friends and family, which is called "bootstrapping."

This obviously gives the business owners a ton of flexibility for running the business, although it means taking on a larger financial risk — and when family's involved, it can lead to awkward holiday dinner conversations if things go wrong.

Many founders need external start-up capital to get their business off the ground . If that sounds like you, keep on reading to learn about the most common kinds of external capital you can raise.

1. Seed Financing

If you're looking for a relatively small amount of money, say, the investigation of a market opportunity or the development of the initial version of a product or service, then Seed financing might be for you.

There are many different kinds of seed financing, but the one you've probably heard of most is called Seed-round financing. In this case, someone will invest in your company in exchange for preferred stock. If your company gets sold or liquidated, then investors who hold preferred stock often have the right to get their investment back — and, in most cases, an additional return, called "preferred dividends" or "liquidation preferences" — before holders of common stock are paid.

2. Accelerator

Accelerators are highly competitive programs that typically involve applying and then competing against other startups in a public pitch event or demo day. In addition to winning funding and seed capital, winners of these programs are also rewarded with mentorship and educational programs.

Although accelerators were originally mostly tech companies and centered around Silicon Valley, you can now find them all over the country and in all different industries. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, here's a list of the top accelerators in the United States to get you started.

3. Small Business Loan

If you have a really rock-solid plan for how you'll spend the money in place, then you might be able to convince a bank, a lender, a community development organization, or a micro-lending institution to grant you a loan.

There are many different types of loans , including loans with the bank, real estate loans, equipment loans, and more. To successfully get one, you're going to need to articulate exactly how you'll spend every single penny — so make sure you have a solid business plan in place before you apply. You can learn more about SBA.gov's loan programs here .

4. Crowdfunding

You might ask yourself, what about companies that get funding through platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo? That's called crowdfunding, which is a newer way of funding a business.

More importantly, it typically doesn't entail giving partial ownership of the business away. Instead, it's a way of getting funding not from potential co-owners, but from potential fans and customers who want to support the business idea, but not necessarily own it.

What you give donors in exchange is entirely up to you — and typically, people will come away with early access to a product, or a special version of a product, or a meet-and-greet with the founders. Learn more about crowdfunding here .

5. Venture Capital Financing

Only a very small percentage of businesses are either fit for venture capital or have access to it. All the other methods described earlier are available to the vast majority of new businesses.

If you're looking for a significant amount of money to start your company and can prove you can quickly grow its value, then venture capital financing is probably the right move for you.

Venture capital financing usually means one or more venture capital firms make large investments in your company in exchange for preferred stock of the company — but, in addition to getting that preferred return as they would in series seed financing, venture capital investors also usually get governance rights, like a seat on the Board of Directors or approval rights on certain transactions.

VC financing typically occurs when a company can demonstrate a significant business opportunity to quickly grow the value of the company but requires significant capital to do so.

Ready to dive into a life of entrepreneurship? Here are the best tips for becoming successful in your small business niche.

1. Create a customer acquisition strategy.

Once you've registered your new business with the government and gotten the legal paperwork squared away, how do you go about, you know ... acquiring customers ?

Here’s the truth: A new company needs to start drumming up interest for its product or service even before it's ready to ship. But there are a million different platforms and avenues you can use to drive awareness … so where on earth do you start?

It all comes down to your target customer. You won't be able to acquire customers without knowing who they are. One of the very first questions you need to ask yourself is: Who wants what I'm selling? Who would find it useful? Who would love it?

To create a strong customer acquisition strategy, you’ll need to narrow down your target audience as much as possible.

2. Narrow down your target customer.

To find your target customer , you need to dig in to whom that person is and what kind of messaging would resonate with them. Using research, surveys, and interviews, try to find out:

• Their backgrounds, interests, goals, and challenges
• How old they are
• What they do every day
• Which social platforms they use

And much more.

Creating very specific buyer personas can dramatically improve your customer acquisition efforts. Read this step-by-step guide on how to create buyer personas , which includes buyer persona templates you can customize yourself. Once you've picked a buyer persona or two, print them out, tack them onto your wall, and think about their interests and needs before making every business decision.

3. Develop a brand identity.

In addition to researching your target customer, when you're first starting a business, you'll need to build the foundation for a strong brand identity. Your brand identity is about your values, how you communicate concepts, and which emotions you want your customers to feel when they interact with your business. Having a consistent brand identity to promote your business will make you look more professional and help you attract new customers.

4. Build your online presence.

With your target customer and your brand identity under your belt, you can begin building the core marketing elements of your small business, which includes your website, your blog, your email tool, your conversion tool, and your social media accounts. To dive deeper into these topics, read our beginner's guide to small business marketing here .

5. Generate and nurture leads.

Once you've started building an online presence and creating awareness for your business, you need to generate the leads that will close into customers. Lead generation is the process of attracting and converting strangers and prospects into leads, and if you build a successful lead generation engine, you'll be able to keep your funnel full of sales prospects while you sleep.

What does a successful lead generation process look like? Learn more about lead generation here , and don’t forget to try HubSpot's free marketing tools , our free lead generation tool that lets you track your website visitors and leads in a single contact database.

6. Set up your sales infrastructure.

By taking the time to set up your sales process from the get-go, you'll avoid painful headaches that come with lost data down the line. Start with a CRM, which is a central database where you can keep track of all your clients and prospective clients in one place. There are loads of options out there, and you'll want to evaluate the CRMs that cater to small businesses . (Excel doesn't count!)

7. Identify your sales goals.

Don't get intimidated by sales lingo such as KPIs and ROI. All this means is that you need to figure out what you need to make ends meet and grow: how much revenue do you need, and how many products do you need to sell to hit that target?

8. Hire a sales rep.

When you're starting your business, it's tempting to do everything yourself, including taking on sales. However, making that first sales hire is crucial to scaling — you need someone dedicated to understanding your buyer and selling to them full-time. When looking for that first sales hire, seniority should be less of a priority than how much sales experience they have on the front lines and whether they understand your business' target buyer. From there, you'll want a plan for building your sales development team .

9. Get more out of your sales activities.

Efficiency is key. Put together a sales process, such as this helpful 7-step sales process framework , which works regardless of your business size. You'll also want to automate sales tasks (such as data entry), or set up notifications when a prospective customer takes an action. That way, you spend less time poring through records and calling the wrong prospects and more on strategy and actual selling.

10. Keep your customers happy.

Getting new customers in the door is important, but retaining them is just as important. You can't ignore customers once you've closed them — you have to take care of them, give them stellar customer service, and nurture them to become fans of (and even evangelists for) your business.

While inbound marketing and sales are both critical to your funnel, the funnel doesn't end there: The reality is that the amount of time and effort that you spend perfecting your strategy in those areas will amount to very little if you're unable to retain happy customers.

This means that building a model for customer success should be central to your organization.

Think for a second about all the different ways reviews, social media, and online aggregators spread information about your products.

They're all quick and effective, for better or for worse. While your marketing and sales playbooks are within your control and yours to perfect, a large chunk of your prospects are evaluating your company based on the content and materials that other people are circulating about your brand.

11. React quickly to customer issues.

People expect fast resolution times (some faster than others depending on the channel), so it's essential to be nimble and efficiently keep up with requests so that you're consistently providing excellent service to avoid losing trust with your customers.

Pay attention to the volume of your company mentions on different channels. Identify where your customers spend the most time and are asking the most questions, and then meet them there, whether it's on a social network, on Yelp, or somewhere else.

12. Keep track of touchpoints with individual customers.

Interactions with your customers are best informed by context. Keep track of all the touchpoints you've had with individual customers, because having a view into their experience with your company will pay dividends in the long run.

How long have they been a customer? What was their experience in the sales process? How many purchases have they made? Have they given positive/critical feedback about your support experience or products? Knowing the answers to these questions will give you a more complete picture when you respond to inquiries and will help you have more productive conversations with customers.

13. Create feedback loops.

From the moment you have your first customer, you should be actively seeking out insights from them. As your business grows, this will become harder — but remember that your customer-facing employees are a valuable source of information because they are most in tune with your buyers and potential buyers.

14. Create a FAQ page on your website.

Give customers the tools to help themselves, and scale this program as you grow. When you're starting out, this might take the form of a simple FAQ page. Over time, as your customer base grows, turn your website into a resource for your customers and enable them to self-service — such as evolving that FAQ page into a knowledge base or library that answers common questions and/or gives customers instructions.

Here are some helpful resources to help you spread awareness, build your online presence, and get the leads you need for free. In addition, we’ve listed additional templates and sales tools to help you build an efficient sales engine, reach prospects, and close customers for free.

• The Ultimate Inbound Guide for Start-Ups : A guide that covers how to build an inbound sales and marketing machine, which demand generation activities offer the biggest return on investment, and more.
• HubSpot's Free Marketing Tools : Free marketing tool that gives you insight into what every lead does before and after they fill out a form. It includes built-in analytics that make it easy to learn which pages, offers, and traffic sources are driving the most conversions for you.
• Website Grader : Enter your website URL and email address, and you'll get a detailed grade on your website's performance, mobile, SEO, and security, along with detailed tips and resources for making impactful improvements on your website.
• Press Release Templates : Downloadable press release templates you can customize, along with a corresponding guide to building a press release and promotion plan.
• Case Study Templates : Downloadable case study templates you can customize, tips on how to find and reach out to candidates, and sample interview questions.
• Content Creation Templates : 100 social media image templates, 8 PowerPoint presentation templates, 50 call-to-action templates, 15 infographic templates, 5 ebook templates, 5 blog post templates, and more.
• Email Signature Generator : A free tool that creates a professional email signature you can easily add to your Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo Mail, or any other email provider.
• Sales Email Templates : A list of email templates that have been used with tremendous success by real companies (including HubSpot).
• Sales Call Scripts : Easy-to-follow sales call scripts that can help you build rapport and develop trust, understand the prospect's pain points, identify key decision-makers, and secure a follow-up meeting.
• Daniel Pink's "Sell Like a Human" Video Series : Monthly video series where Sales Expert Daniel Pink and special guests solve your biggest sales challenges in under 30 minutes.
• Sales Close Rate Industry Benchmarks Tool : Compare your sales close rate against your industry competitors using data from over 8,900 companies segmented by 28 industries.

Additional Resource: Enroll in HubSpot Academy to learn everything you need to know about digital marketing and sales for small business. Train your whole team for free!

Starting a business online is a little different from starting a traditional business. Here are some important steps for starting and scaling your business online.

1. Determine your niche and business idea.

Your business niche is your target focus area for your product or service. It’s important to choose a niche because customers like brands and businesses that specifically cater to their needs. Most customers are more likely to purchase products or services from a brand that provides personalized experiences.

When determining your niche and business idea, first identify your target audience and specify everything from their age to their interests. Then, use that information to figure out their principal need. If your product doesn’t resolve a specific need, your business will fail to get off the ground.

2. Conduct market research.

Conduct market research to understand what product or service you should offer, whom you should serve, and where you face the stiffest competition. From physical goods to digital downloads, understanding your target market and competitors will help you determine how to best position your product.

Your research should help you create a strong selling proposition . In other words, what makes your business unique? Why should someone buy from you?

3. Learn online business laws.

While online businesses may require fewer licenses and permits than traditional businesses, there are still legal requirements that you will need to adhere to. Be sure to check:

• What kind of business license (if any) do you need to start operations?
• What legal structure makes the most sense for your company?
• Are there any permits that you need to obtain?
• Are there any inspections that you need to pass?
• Do you need a sales tax license?
• Are there any specific regulations applicable to online businesses only?
• What are the laws regarding hiring contractors and hiring employees?

4. Create a website.

After handling the research, taking care of legalities, and honing in your products or services, it is time to create your website . When creating your website, you will need to choose a strong ecommerce platform that will allow you to sell products online.

5. Set up shop.

Once your website is complete, it’s time to add products or services to your store. When adding your products, pay attention to product images and descriptions. Having a crisp image and a detailed but concise description will help your audience maneuver your website smoothly.

After you have finished setting up your store, it’s critical to ensure you offer a seamless shipping or delivery experience to your buyers. For example, you can use HubSpot to manage quality control before you ship products out.

Finally, you want to make sure everything is working before you hit the live button on your website. Make sure that everything is clickable and that all pages look good across all devices and browsers. Once you’ve checked that, you are ready to go live.

6. Grow your business.

You’ve created an awesome product and now it’s time to get the word out. In other words, it’s time to grow your audience. There are numerous ways to reach your target customer, including:

• Social media : Use hashtags and paid ads to expand your reach.
• Influencer marketing : Send free samples to “celebrities” in your niche.
• Facebook groups : Connect with your target market on this platform.
• Google advertising : Put your products in front of people all over the web.
• Content marketing : Publish blog posts to bring organic traffic to your site.
• Word-of-mouth : Encourage customers to spread the word.
• YouTube videos : Start a channel to showcase your products.

Next Steps: Getting Ready to Launch Your Business

Being a small business owner isn’t easy, but with the right plan, you can set up your business for success. Be sure to check and know your requirements, have a solid business plan, and submit your legal paperwork before you take your business live. Once you have a solid business plan and the financing to execute your goals, you'll be well on the path to launching a successful enterprise.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in August 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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How to Write a Business Plan in 2023: The Ultimate Guide for Every Entrepreneur

Are you starting a new business or trying to get a loan for your existing venture? If so, you’re going to need to know how to write a business plan. Business plans give entrepreneurs the opportunity to formally analyze and define every aspect of their business idea .

In this post, you’ll learn how to put together a business plan and find the best resources to help you along the way.

Start selling online now with Shopify

What is a Business Plan? 

A business plan is a formal document that outlines your business’s goals and how you will achieve those goals. Entrepreneurs who start out with business plans are 16 percent more likely to build successful companies , according to the Harvard Business Review.  Developing a business plan ensures sustainable success, guiding you as you grow your business, legitimizing your venture, and helping you secure funding (among countless other benefits). 

What Are the Main Purposes of a Business Plan?

Most financial institutions and service providers require you to submit a detailed business plan to obtain funding for your business. Online businesses will likely have a low overhead to start, so they may not need funding and therefore may not feel the need to write a business plan. That said, writing a business plan is still a good idea as it can help you secure a drastic increase limit on your credit card as your business grows or open a business account. This varies per bank.

If you’re growing your business, use it to help you raise expansion capital, create a growth strategy, find opportunities, and mitigate risks.Palo Alto software found that companies who make business plans are twice as likely to secure funding . .

If you’re just starting your business, making a business plan can help you  identify your strengths and weaknesses, communicate your vision to others, and develop accurate forecasts.

How to Make a Business Plan: The Prerequisites 

Here are the prerequisites to creating a solid business plan:

• Establish goals
• Understand your audience
• Determine your business plan format
• Get to writing! 

Establish Goals

There are two key questions to ask here: 

• What are you hoping to accomplish with your business?
• What are you hoping to accomplish with your business plan?

Approaching your business plan through that lens will help you focus on the end goal throughout the writing process. These also provide metrics to measure success against. 

Before writing your business plan, gather the content and data needed to inform what goes in it. This includes researching your market and industry – spanning everything from customer research to legalities you’ll need to consider. It’s a lot easier to start with the information already in front of you instead of researching each section individually as you go. 

Turn to guides, samples, and small business plan templates to help. Many countries have an official administration or service dedicated to providing information, resources, and tools to help entrepreneurs and store owners plan, launch, manage, and grow their businesses. 

The following will take you to online business plan guides and templates for specific countries.

• United States Small Business Administration (SBA) – The “write your business plan page” includes traditional and lean startup business plan formats, three downloadable sample business plans, a template, and a step-by-step build a business plan tool.
• Australian Government – The “business plan template” page includes a downloadable template, guide, and business plan creation app.
• UK Government Business and Self-Employed – The “write a business plan” page includes links to a downloadable business plan template and resources from trusted UK businesses. .
• Canada Business Network – The “writing your business plan” page includes a detailed guide to writing your business plan and links to business plan templates from Canadian business development organizations and banks.

These business resource sites also offer a wealth of valuable information for entrepreneurs including local and regional regulations, structuring, tax obligations, funding programs, market research data, and much more. Visit the sites above or do the following Google searches to find official local business resources in your area:

• your country government business services
• your state/province government business services
• your city government business services

Some Chamber of Commerce websites offer resources for business owners, including business plan guides and templates. Check your local chapter to see if they have any.

Banks that offer business funding also often have a resource section for entrepreneurs. Do a Google search to find banks that offer business funding as well as business plan advice to see the business plans that get funding. If your bank doesn’t offer any advice, search for the largest banks in your area:

• business plan guide bank name
• business plan samples bank name
• business plan template bank name

If you’re looking for more sample business plans, Bplans has over 500 free business plan samples organized by business type as well as a business plan template. Their collection includes 116 business plans for retail and online stores. Shopify also offers business plan templates intended to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs identify functional areas of a business they may not have considered.

Understand Your Audience

Because business plans serve different purposes, you’re not always presenting it to the same audience. It’s important to understand who’s going to be reading your business plan, what you’re trying to convince them to do, and what hesitations they might have. 

That way, you can adapt your business plan accordingly. As such, your audience also determines which type of business plan format you use. Which brings us to our next point…

Which Business Plan Format Should You Use? 

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) presents two business plan formats: 

• The traditional business plan format is for entrepreneurs who want to create a detailed plan for themselves or for business funding. 
• The lean startup business plan format, on the other hand, is for business owners that want to create a condensed, single-page business plan.

If the business plan is just for you and internal folks, draft a lean startup business plan or a customized version of the traditional business plan with only the sections you need. If you need it for business funding or other official purposes, choose the formal business plan and thoroughly complete the required sections while paying extra attention to financial projections.

If your business operates outside the U.S., clarify the preferred format with your bank.

How to Create a Business Plan: Questions to Ask Yourself

As you write a business plan, take time to not only analyze your business idea, but yourself as well. Ask the following questions to help you analyze your business idea along the way:

• Why do I want to start or expand my business?
• Do my goals (personal and professional) and values align with my business idea?
• What income do I need to generate for myself?
• What education, experience, and skills do I bring to my business?

How to Write a Business Plan Step by Step

According to the business plan template created by SCORE, Deluxe, and the SBA , a traditional business plan encompasses the following sections. 

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Products & services
• Market analysis
• Marketing & sales
• Management & organization
• Funding request
• Financial projections
• SWOT analysis

Since not everyone is aware of the key details to include in each section, we’ve listed information you can copy to fill in your business plan outline. Here’s how to build a business plan step by step.  

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary is the first part of your business plan, so this is where you need to hook readers in. Every business plan starts this way — even a simple business plan template should kick off with the Executive Summary. Summarize your entire business plan in a single page, highlighting details about your business that will excite potential investors and lenders. 

Explain what your business has to offer, your target market , what separates you from the competition, a little bit about yourself and the core people behind your business, and realistic projections about your business’ success.

While this is the first section of your business plan, write it after you’ve completed the rest of your business plan. It’s a lot easier because you can pull from the sections you’ve already written, and it’s easier to identify the best parts of your business plan to include on the first page.

Company Description

In the Company Description, share 411 about your business. Include basic details like: 

• Legal structure (sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, etc.)
• Business and tax ID numbers
• When the business started
• Ownership information
• Number of employees

Your mission statement , philosophy and values, vision, short- and long-term goals, and milestones along with a brief overview of your industry, market, outlook, and competitors should also be in the Company Description.

Pro tip: These are the details you’ll use each time you create a business profile, whether that's on social media, business directories, or other networks. Keep your information consistent to reduce confusion and instill more confidence in potential customers. 

Products & Services

The Products & Services section details what you plan to sell to customers. For a dropshipping business , this section should explain which trending products you’re going to sell, the pain points your products solve for customers, how you’ll price your products compared to your competitors, expected profit margin, and production and delivery details.

Remember to include any unique selling points for specific products or product groupings, such as low overhead, exclusive agreements with vendors, the ability to obtain products that are in short supply / high demand based on your connections, personalized customer service, or other advantages.

For dropshipping businesses selling hundreds or even thousands of products, detail the main categories of products and the number of products you plan to offer within each category. By doing this, it’s easier to visualize your business offerings as a whole to determine if you need more products in one category to fully flesh out your online store.

Market Analysis

The Market Analysis section of your business plan allows you to share the research you have done to learn about your target audience — the potential buyers of your products. People requesting a business plan will want to know that you have a solid understanding of your industry, the competitive landscape, who’s most likely to become your customers. It’s important to demonstrate that  there’s a large enough market for your product to make it profitable and/or to make a strong return on investment .

To complete the Market Analysis component of your business plan, check out the following resources for industry, market, and local economic research:

• U.S. Embassy websites in most countries have a business section with information for people who want to sell abroad. Business sections include a basic “getting started” guide, links to economic and data reports, trade events, and additional useful business links for a particular region.
• IBISWorld is a provider of free and paid industry research and procurement research reports for the United States , United Kingdom , Australia , and New Zealand .  
• Statista offers free and paid statistics and studies from over 18,000 sources including industry reports, country reports, market studies, outlook reports, and consumer market reports.   

Use these websites and others to learn about the projected growth of your industry and your potential profitability. You can also use social media tools like Facebook Audience Insights to estimate the size of your target market on the largest social network

Another way to research your market and products is through Google Trends . This free tool will allow you to see how often people search for the products your business offers over time. Be sure to explain how your business plans to capitalize on increasing and decreasing search trends accordingly.

Marketing & Sales

Knowing your target market is half the battle. In the Marketing & Sales section, share how you plan to reach and sell products to your target market. Outline the marketing and advertising strategies you intend to use to market your product to potential customers – search marketing , social media marketing , email marketing , and influencer marketing methods .

If you’re unsure how to market your business’ products, analyze your competitors for some inspiration. Discovering your competition’s marketing tactics will help you customize your own strategy for building a customer base and ultimately taking your business to the next level. 

Do a Google search for your competitor’s business name to find the websites, social accounts, and content they’ve created to market their products. Look at the ways your competitor uses each online entity to drive new customers to their website and product pages.

Then come up with a plan to convert a similar audience with your marketing and advertising messages. For dropshipping businesses, conversions will typically take place on your website as people purchase your products and/or by phone if you take orders over the phone. 

Management & Organization

In the Management & Organization piece of your business plan, describe the structure of your business. In terms of legal structure and incorporation, most businesses are classified as sole proprietorships (one owner), partnerships (two or more owners), corporations, or S corporations.

Draft a condensed resume for each of the key members of your business. If you’re a solopreneur , include how your past education and work experience will help you run each aspect of your business. If you have one or more partner(s) and employee(s), include their relevant education and experience as well.

Think of this as a great way to evaluate the strengths of each individual running your business. When self-evaluating, you’ll be able to identify the aspects of your business that’ll be easier to manage and which ones to delegate to freelancers, contractors, employees, and third-party services. This also makes it easier to find the best way to utilize their strengths for business growth.

Funding Request

Chances are, you don’t have a funding request for a startup dropshipping business since the appeal to dropshipping is the low upfront investment . If you’re looking for a loan, however, this would be the section where you outline the dollar amount you need, what you plan to invest in, and how you see the return on your investment.

Another way to use this section is to analyze the investment you have or plan to make when starting or growing your business. This should include everything from the computer you use to run your website to the monthly fee for business services.

Financial Projections

In Financial Projections, share your projected revenue and expenses for the first or next five years of your business. The idea here is to demonstrate that the revenue you’re anticipating will easily lead to a return on any investment, whether from your personal finances or a capital lending service.

If you’re looking for funding, you’ll need to go into detail with projected income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and capital expenditure budgets. If you aren’t looking for funding, it won’t hurt to create these types of financial projections so you can realistically plan for the future of your business.

The Appendix of your business plan includes any supplemental documents needed throughout the sections of your business plan. These may include, but are not limited to: 

• Credit histories
• Product brochures
• Legal forms
• Supplier contracts

If you’re submitting your business plan for funding, contact the lender to see what documentation they want included with your funding request.

SWOT Analysis

In addition to the above sections, some business plans also include a SWOT Analysis. This is a one-page summary of your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The strengths and weaknesses you include will be internal, whereas opportunities and threats you include will be external. 

Depending on the revelations of this section, you may or may not want to make a SWOT analysis when submitting your business plan formally unless it is requested.

Summary: How to Create a Business Plan

As you can see, creating a business plan for your dropshipping business is a great way to validate your business idea , discover your business’s strengths and weaknesses, and make a blueprint for your business's future.

In summary, here are the sections you will need to write for your business plan, step by step:

• SWOT analysis (Optional)

If you haven’t already, take the time to create a business plan to launch or grow your business in 2023!

Want to Learn More?

• How to Start a Dropshipping Business
• How to Register a Business in the USA
• How to Launch Your Ecommerce Store in Less Than 30 Minutes Flat
• 30+ Amazing Startup Business Ideas That’ll Make You Money

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