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How To Write the Company Summary in a Business Plan

Company Overviews Show How the Pieces of a Business Work

example of company overview for business plan

What To Include in Your Company Summary

Getting started on your company summary, examples of a company summary, tips for writing a company summary, frequently asked questions (faqs).

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The company summary in a business plan —also known as the company description or overview—is a high-level look at what you are as a company and how all the elements of the business fit together.

An effective company summary should give readers, such as potential investors, a quick and easy way to understand your business, its products and services, its mission and goals, how it meets the needs of its target market, and how it stands out from competitors.

Before you begin writing your company summary, remember to stick to the big picture. Other sections of your business plan will provide the specific details of your business. The summary synthesizes all of that information into one page.

Key Takeaways

  • The company summary in a business plan provides an overview containing a description of your company at a high level.
  • A company summary might include your mission statement, goals, target market, products, and services, as well as how it stands out from competitors.
  • The company summary can also be customized for a specific objective or audience, such as to secure financing from investors or banks.

The company summary section of a business plan should include:

  • Business name
  • Legal structure (i.e., sole proprietorship ,  LLC ,  S Corporation , or  partnership )
  • Management team
  • Mission statement
  • Company history (when it started and important milestones)
  • Description of products and services and how they meet the needs of the marketplace
  • Target market (who will buy your product or services)
  • Competitive advantage (what sets you apart in the marketplace to allow you to succeed)
  • Objectives and goals (plans for growth)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website has a lot of information available if you've never written a business plan before. The SBA provides examples of business plans for different types of companies.

Before you begin, you should decide whether you want to go with a traditional business plan format or a lean startup format. The traditional format is appropriate if you want to have a comprehensive, detail-oriented plan or if you are requesting financing. The lean startup format is best for those who have a relatively simple business and want to start it quickly or as a starting point for those who plan to refine and change the plan regularly.

No matter which type of business plan you choose, you'll need to include a company summary.

Although there are many blueprints for writing a company summary, below are a couple of examples to get you started.

Consulting Firm

You can opt for a concise opening paragraph such as this one:

XYZ Consulting is a new company that provides expertise in search marketing solutions for businesses worldwide, including website promotion, online advertising, and search engine optimization techniques to improve its clients' positioning in search engines. We cater to the higher education market, including colleges, universities, and professional educational institutions.

Several elements of the company summary are covered here, including the name (XYZ Consulting), history (new company), description of services (web promotion, SEO, advertising) and why it's needed (improve positioning in search engines), and the target market (higher education).

Starbucks Coffee Company Overview

Starbucks breaks down the company overview on their website into the following sections:

"Our Heritage"

Here the company describes how long the company has been in business, citing its roots, the founder, Howard Schultz, and how he was inspired to open the first Starbucks in Seattle after visiting Italy. It briefly mentions the growth of millions of customers and how the company's heritage remains important to its long-term success.

"Coffee & Craft"

The overview describes the high-quality products and services being offered and why they stand out from the competition by describing the detailed process of choosing and growing coffee beans. You'll notice they don't suggest their product is a low-cost product but instead provide a high level of "experiences to savor."

"Our Partners"

Starbucks describes its employees as partners that work together in an inclusive manner to achieve success. It highlights how they are at the center of the experience.

"Pursuit of Doing Good"

The company describes its values and how it gives back to the community.

Tesla Inc. Business Overview

Below are excerpts of the business overview pages from the annual 10-K filing on Dec. 31, 2021, for Tesla Inc.

"We design, develop, manufacture, sell and lease high-performance fully electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems, and offer services related to our products. We generally sell our products directly to customers, including through our website and retail locations.
We also continue to grow our customer-facing infrastructure through a global network of vehicle service centers, mobile service technicians, body shops, supercharger stations and destination chargers to accelerate the widespread adoption of our products.
We emphasize performance, attractive styling and the safety of our users and workforce in the design and manufacture of our products and are continuing to develop full self-driving technology for improved safety.
Our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy, engineering expertise, vertically integrated business model and focus on user experience differentiate us from other companies."

Competition

Tesla highlights the competitive automotive market and how the company differentiates itself from the larger, more established competitors.

"The worldwide automotive market is highly competitive and we expect it will become even more competitive in the future as we introduce additional vehicles in a broader cross-section of the passenger and commercial vehicle market and expand our vehicles’ capabilities. We believe that our vehicles compete in the market both based on their traditional segment classification as well as based on their propulsion technology.
Competing products typically include internal combustion vehicles from more established automobile manufacturers; however, many established and new automobile manufacturers have entered or have announced plans to enter the market for electric and other alternative fuel vehicles."

Intellectual Property

The company highlights its intellectual property, including trademarks and patents.

"We place a strong emphasis on our innovative approach and proprietary designs which bring intrinsic value and uniqueness to our product portfolio. As part of our business, we seek to protect the underlying intellectual property rights of these innovations and designs such as with respect to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other measures, including through employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements and other contractual arrangements."

Mission Statement

The company highlights its mission statement and its sustainability goals using environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and human capital resources.

"The very purpose of Tesla's existence is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy. We believe the world cannot reduce carbon emissions without addressing both energy generation and consumption, and we are designing and manufacturing a complete energy and transportation ecosystem to achieve this goal. As we expand, we are building each new factory to be more efficient and sustainably designed than the previous one, including with respect to waste reduction and water usage, and we are focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our supply chain."

There are other items you can include in your company summary to expand on the areas that you'd like people to focus on, depending on your objective.

You might provide more information about the company's location, legal structure, and management team. You can also include more information about the:

  • Company's history, such as a family business that's been in operation for multiple generations
  • Business objectives, including short-term and long-term goals
  • Business strengths, highlighting anything that might give your company a competitive advantage in the field

You can also customize the summary if you have a specific objective or a targeted audience. For example, if the goal of your business plan is to secure funding, you might focus on areas that appeal to investors and lending institutions, including:

  • Why you're the best person to manage the business
  • Your experience in your field, as well as the total years of experience of your management team
  • Expertise or special talents of your team, including training, licenses, certifications
  • How you plan to make the business a success
  • Financial information, such as a high-level discussion of your track record of revenue growth and the financial opportunities that can be realized as a result of securing financing

You may also want to address any areas of perceived weakness by explaining how you'll overcome them or compensate.

How do you write a company overview?

You might provide a description of the company, its location, legal structure, and management team. You can also highlight the company's business objectives, goals, and strengths. You can also customize the summary to a specific audience, such as a bank or lender, focusing on your competitive advantages and highlights of recent financial success.

What should an organizational overview include?

Some of the discussion points to include in a company overview might be:

  • Company name and location
  • Legal structure such as a sole proprietorship, LLC, or partnership
  • Mission statement and management team
  • Description of your products and services and how they are needed
  • Target market or who are your customers
  • Competitive advantage or what makes your company different

The Clute Institute. " Using Business Plans for Teaching Entrepreneurship ," Page 734.

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Write Your Business Plan ."

Starbucks Coffee Company. " Our Company ."

United States Securities and Exchange Commission. " Form 10-K, Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(D) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021, Tesla, Inc., " Pages 3-12.

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How to Write a Company Overview for a Business Plan

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When you start a company, you ideally want it to grow. If you’re seeking business funding to scale your business or an initial investment to get your business off the ground, you’re going to need a business plan . Putting together a business plan can be an intimidating process that involves a lot of steps and writing — but breaking it down piece by piece can help you accomplish this seemingly insurmountable task.

One small piece of your business plan is the company overview, so let’s take a look at what that is, exactly, check out some company overview examples and go over how to make a company overview of your very own.

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness

What is a company overview?

A company overview provides the reader of your business plan with basic background information about your company so they have an understanding of what you do, who the management team is and what customers your business serves.

The company description is the second piece of a business plan, falling right after the executive summary. Similar to the executive summary, your company overview will be short and succinct. Your reader needs to have a grasp on what your business does and who your customers are, even if they have limited time.

example of company overview for business plan

Why do I need a company overview?

The company overview is the part of your business plan that gives the basics and background of your business. It’s the foundation on which you will build the rest of your business plan.

If you’re looking to appeal to investors or potential clients, you need a reader to make an informed decision about your company. Before they can do that, they must know what your company does and who your customer is. Lenders in particular need a reason to keep reading, since they see tons of business plans regularly. The company overview provides those answers, and it will help you get a better sense of your business so you can firm up things like your marketing plan.

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What should I include in a company overview?

The exact elements that you need in your company overview will depend upon what details of your business are important, but there are some foundational elements that will be included in every company overview.

Once you’ve covered the basics, you can include any other minor details that will benefit a reader who will need to make an informed decision about your business.

Basic company information

Consider the company overview like an introduction for your business. In the opening paragraph of your company overview, you’ll want to include basic company information. That includes:

Your company name: This should be the official name of your business, exactly as it is written when you registered your business with the state.

Business structure: Your reader will want to know what business entity your company comes in: sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership or corporation.

Location(s): Share where your business is headquartered and other locations the business owns.

Ownership and management team

Break down who owns your business and how each owner is involved with the business. What shares of the company belong to whom? If you have a highly involved management team, share their names and key roles with the company as well.

Company history

Part of what makes your company unique is its history. And, even startups have some history. Don’t put too much focus on this section, but do add some personality and interesting details if possible, especially if they relate to your company culture.

Mission statement

Your company’s mission statement should be included in the company overview. If you don’t yet have a company mission statement, that’s okay. Think of a mission statement as the purpose of your company.

If you don’t have one, you can create one with your team. Or you can simply replace the mission statement with a problem statement. Your business idea should exist to solve a problem or pain point faced by your customers. Share what that problem is and what your business does to solve it. That’s essentially your mission statement.

Product/service and customer

This section of the company overview is where you can share the nitty-gritty details of your business. Talk about what product or service you provide and to whom you provide it. You can share some numbers here, but in general, save the numbers for later in your business plan.

The company overview should give the reader a general understanding of your business, your product or service, and your customer. If they’re interested to know more, they’ll reach out to you for a meeting or take the time to read the rest of your business plan. Keep it simple and straightforward here.

Future goals

While concrete details and facts about your business are important to whoever is reading your company overview, it’s also important to share your dreams and your vision. If you’re writing a business plan for a business that’s already in place, it’s very likely you’re looking for business financing to scale or solve a business problem. If you’re just starting out, though, then it’s likely you’re hoping to find startup funding.

The section on your future business goals should include a brief description of your growth goals for your business. Where you are now tells the reader a lot, but they also want to know where you plan to go.

A company overview is comprised of many small parts. Each part shares just a little bit more about your company with your reader.

Tips for writing a company overview

While a company overview is simply the details of your company written out, it might not be easy to write. Break it down into small steps and use these tips to make putting together your company overview just a little bit easier.

Start with the elevator pitch

If your business is already in operation, then you likely have an elevator pitch. Your company overview can start off with your elevator pitch.

The first paragraph of your company overview should include just a few sentences that explain your business and what you do. The shorter and clearer this is, the more likely your reader will understand and keep reading.

Stick to the basics

It’s tempting to pile on all the details when you’re writing a company overview. Remember, many of the details of your company, including the numbers, will be included in later sections of your business plan.

Your company overview should include only the most basic details about your company that the reader needs to know.

Be passionate

When you share the history, mission statement, and vision for the future of your company, it’s okay to show your passion. You wouldn’t be in business if you didn’t love what you do.

Your excitement for your business could spark interest for the reader and keep them engaged with your company overview and business plan.

Keep it succinct

When you’re passionate about something, it’s easy to get carried away. Remember that you’ve got plenty of space for details in your business plan. The company overview should be just the most basic information someone needs to understand your business.

It’s OK if your first draft of your company overview is long. Simply go through and edit it to be shorter, removing unnecessary details and words each time you read through it. Clear, concise descriptions are more likely to be read and to keep the reader reading to other sections of your business plan.

Have structure

Your company overview is just one piece of a multi-tiered business plan. Creating a clear structure for your business plan makes it easier to read. The same is true for your company overview.

Your business plan should have chapters, one of which is the company overview. Then, you can further break down the content for easy skimming and reading by adding sub-chapters. You can denote these breaks in content with bold headers.

While you can break down each section of the company overview with bold headers based on the above suggestions, you can also interweave some information together, such as the company structure and leadership structure. Each section should be only a few sentences long.

Write it later

If you’re struggling to write your company overview, come back to it. Write the rest of your business plan first and then write your company overview.

While this might seem like the opposite way of doing things, knowing what will be contained in the rest of your business plan can help you to focus in on the very most essential details in the company overview and to leave everything else out.

Get a test reader

If you’re struggling to edit down your company overview, get a test reader. Ideally, you’ll want to ask someone who doesn’t know a lot about your business. They’ll help you understand whether or not you’ve clearly communicated your message.

Proofreading is the final step in editing something you’ve written. This type of editing looks for typos, misspellings and grammatical errors that have been missed. Many of these small errors can be difficult to spot in our own writing, so be sure to ask someone who hasn’t seen multiple drafts of your company overview.

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Company overview examples

If you don’t want to shell out for business planning software, but would still like some company overview examples to get you started, there are many places online you can look to for help getting started, like the Small Business Administration and SCORE.

Many successful companies also have some version of their company overview made public as their company profile page online. There are some variations from the company overview steps we’ve listed above, of course, but you can use the language and style of these company overview examples for inspiration:

Starbucks company profile .

Puma company page .

TaskRabbit About page .

Peloton company page .

Nestlé About page .

If you’re still feeling stuck, or want more company overview examples, try searching the websites of your favorite companies for more information. You might be surprised what you find — the Nestlé page, for example, has more information about their strategy and business principles.

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How to Write an Effective Company Overview for Your Business Plan

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How to Write an Effective Business Overview for Your Business Plan

Writing a detailed company overview is a significant part of chalking out an efficient business plan. While investors and other concerned parties might be interested in listening to your business ideas and several raw details, having an overview of your brand or company can have a little more impact.

A well-laid-out overview can present all details of your business, including its history, business structure, etc. A traditional business plan wouldn’t include. It might be a little overwhelming to know where to start to draft an effective Company Overview for your business plan .

What to Include in an Effective Company Overview

Things Include In An Effective Company Overview

To get started with writing an impactful business overview, start by exploring certain aspects of your desired/existing business:

Basic Business Information –

Teams and partners –, business history and mission statement –, target customer base and services included –, future goals for the business –, write a comprehensive company overview.

Comprehensive Company Overview

Once you have fundamental data for your brand and peripheral organizations in place, you can start drafting your company overview. If you can write an impactful overview, you need not even draft an elaborate business plan. You can write a quick one-page business plan for an urgent meeting with an investor or partner if you have a power-packed overview ready.

Having the information isn’t sufficient for your overview to be effortlessly communicated. It has to be presented in a way that makes it easy for the reader while also conveying all significant points.

Stick to the Structure

The first thing to remember is to have a robust structure. Do not write sentences haphazardly just to fill in all the data. The reader should be able to grasp the structure in one look. Perhaps you can create sections for relevant aspects and create an overview accordingly. Some typical sections in the structure can be:

  • Registered details
  • Business History
  • Mission Statement
  • Services and products
  • Finance Goals
  • Service Goals
  • Future Scope

You can tweak these sections to fit the specific case of your business. This will help to draft an overview that is detailed and easy to read.

Pitch the past Achievements

business overview past achievements

An overview allows you to talk about your brand on paper, enabling a great opportunity to pitch your past achievements. The tone of describing your victories shouldn’t be pompous. Rather, subtly mentioning aspects you have successfully handled in the past does great for your credibility. Here you can highlight areas that you want to work on and have proved your mettle in.

Highlight the Basics

The rest of your business plan is likely to contain other details more concerned with several business factors. The overview is one place where you can clearly write down the basics. Whether it is a prime location that you operate from or a secure financial strategy that you have adopted over the years, highlight all the basics to speak volumes for your brand.

Show Passion and Interest

The tone of writing can make a world of difference for a perfectly pitched company overview. Keeping it too formal can be monotonous, while a flashy representation can be distracting. It is best to highlight information subtly and matter-of-factly while showing your passion for the field of work. These are the qualities when conveyed, will reflect in the form of conversions and profitable partnerships.

Take Your Team’s Input to Improve the Draft

team collaboration for writing business overview

Typically, different team members are likely to know more about certain aspects better than others. Take their valuable input in drafting a business overview that can accurately reflect your business ideals and strong features.

Your team can further assist you while writing the detailed business plan with marketing, management, finance, operations, market, and customer analysis, as per their areas of expertise. Using Upmetrics software, you can draft a business plan quickly and easily.

Keep it Concise

Last but not least, keep it short and sweet. With presenting your plan and overview to several parties, they might not have the time to go through each overview thoroughly. Keep yours concise to convey the relevant points easily and then draw their attention to your vision at large.

Example Text of the Company Overview

Crafty Cones Ltd. holds the central objective of retailing novelty ice cream cones. With our prior experience in the food industry with Dough’s Pizzeria, our three-year-old venture; our mission is to expand our customer base in the confections industry and bring top-quality delicacies to our consumers. With our Ice Cream outlet, we wish to bring gourmet quality confections to the busy sectors in Houston.

Our team is structured to work on different target aspects separately. It then comes together to deliver quality food to our customers. With communication and transparency at different tiers of our cooking, managerial, sales, and marketing teams, we hope to bring in a working mechanism where experts are working in tandem. Our teams will also include dedicated, customer support, photo, and documentation teams as well as a legal team to assist with conflict management and run the outlet in alignment with State guidelines.

Crafty Cones stands out with gourmet quality ice cream cones that will be delivered at an affordable price for the everyday consumer. Our flavors are intended to be original and created from scratch. We have several flavor combinations in addition to those popularly cherished in ice cream parlors. Ours as a dessert line will stand out not only with the novel flavors incorporated but our cones will be “crafty” to be a unique selling point on their own. Our goal is to bring in fun flavors that are sophisticated and enjoyable for people of all age groups.

Financial Estimation

Financially, it is estimated that our venture is set to cost $$$ dollars for cooking and staffing, equipment, marketing, and other support avenues. Our staffing is estimated to be a total of 8 members including a managerial and head pastry chef post. The equipment for crafting cones and additional condiments as per our menu is estimated to require an investment of $$$.

We deem the support of our investors in the said financial aspects which amounts up to a total of $$$ dollars. Our experience with a prior food outlet resonates with our experience in the industry. Thus, all estimates are readily chalked to the practical requirements, and they are considered in our plan. We believe that Crafty Cones can have the potential to put gourmet pastry cooking on the map. It can aim to hone that sophistication along with the central goal of bringing quality food to our consumers.

Thus, a short and to-the-point business overview can play the twin role of presenting relevant information and establishing your company’s credibility as a brand. You can tweak and update or overview as and when you grow and diversify into new lanes.

Draft a business overview to be ready to walk into any meeting where your brand can be represented accurately. With Upmetrics, you can quickly draft or update a plan. And the bag that project or lock that investor down with impactful and concise documentation for any project!

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Avid writer and content marketer, Sudeshna Ray, has created content for diverse premises including technical niches, business and marketing, finances, creative character sketches, and much more. Engineer-turned-Writer-turned-Marketer, she has explored several aspects of performance, lead generation and establishing a brand presence in the digital domain.

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As you explore business plan examples from real companies and brands, it’s easier for you to learn how to write a good one.

But what does a good business plan look like? And how do you write one that’s both viable and convincing. I’ll walk you through the ideal business plan format along with some examples to help you get started.

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Business Plan Format

Business plan types, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.

Ask any successful sports coach how they win so many games, and they’ll tell you they have a unique plan for every single game. To me, the same logic applies to business.

If you want to build a thriving company that can pull ahead of the competition, you need to prepare for battle before breaking into a market.

Business plans guide you along the rocky journey of growing a company. And if your business plan is compelling enough, it can also convince investors to give you funding.

With so much at stake, I’m sure you’re wondering where to begin.

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  • Outline your idea.
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  • Get to work!

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First, you’ll want to nail down your formatting. Most business plans include the following sections.

1. Executive Summary

I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. 

Why? Essentially, it's the overview or introduction, written in a way to grab readers' attention and guide them through the rest of the business plan. This is important, because a business plan can be dozens or hundreds of pages long.

There are two main elements I’d recommend including in your executive summary:

Company Description

This is the perfect space to highlight your company’s mission statement and goals, a brief overview of your history and leadership, and your top accomplishments as a business.

Tell potential investors who you are and why what you do matters. Naturally, they’re going to want to know who they’re getting into business with up front, and this is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.

Need some extra help firming up those business goals? Check out HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set goals that matter — I’d highly recommend it

Products and Services

To piggyback off of the company description, be sure to incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive — just another chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business.

In addition to the items above, I recommend including some information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here too.:

Keep in mind you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. So, keep the executive summary clear and brief, and only include the most important takeaways.

Executive Summary Business Plan Examples

This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template:

business plan sample: Executive Summary Example

This executive summary is so good to me because it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.

Business plans examples: Executive Summary

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Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary

  • Start with a strong introduction of your company, showcase your mission and impact, and outline the products and services you provide.
  • Clearly define a problem, and explain how your product solves that problem, and show why the market needs your business.
  • Be sure to highlight your value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential.
  • Keep it concise and support ideas with data.
  • Customize your summary to your audience. For example, emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists.

Check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary for more guidance.

2. Market Opportunity

This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market.

The main question I’d ask myself here is this: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?

More specifically, here’s what I’d include in this section:

  • The size of the market
  • Current or potential market share
  • Trends in the industry and consumer behavior
  • Where the gap is
  • What caused the gap
  • How you intend to fill it

To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, and SOM analysis and perform market research on your industry.

You may also benefit from creating a SWOT analysis to get some of the insights for this section.

Market Opportunity Business Plan Example

I like this example because it uses critical data to underline the size of the potential market and what part of that market this service hopes to capture.

Business plans examples: Market Opportunity

Tips for Writing Your Market Opportunity Section

  • Focus on demand and potential for growth.
  • Use market research, surveys, and industry trend data to support your market forecast and projections.
  • Add a review of regulation shifts, tech advances, and consumer behavior changes.
  • Refer to reliable sources.
  • Showcase how your business can make the most of this opportunity.

3. Competitive Landscape

Since we’re already speaking of market share, you'll also need to create a section that shares details on who the top competitors are.

After all, your customers likely have more than one brand to choose from, and you'll want to understand exactly why they might choose one over another.

My favorite part of performing a competitive analysis is that it can help you uncover:

  • Industry trends that other brands may not be utilizing
  • Strengths in your competition that may be obstacles to handle
  • Weaknesses in your competition that may help you develop selling points
  • The unique proposition you bring to the market that may resonate with customers

Competitive Landscape Business Plan Example

I like how the competitive landscape section of this business plan below shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are.

Business plans examples: Competitive Landscape

It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location, which shows useful experience in this specific industry. 

This can help build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.

Tips for Writing Your Competitive Landscape

  • Complete in-depth research, then emphasize your most important findings.
  • Compare your unique selling proposition (USP) to your direct and indirect competitors.
  • Show a clear and realistic plan for product and brand differentiation.
  • Look for specific advantages and barriers in the competitive landscape. Then, highlight how that information could impact your business.
  • Outline growth opportunities from a competitive perspective.
  • Add customer feedback and insights to support your competitive analysis.

4. Target Audience

Use this section to describe who your customer segments are in detail. What is the demographic and psychographic information of your audience?

If your immediate answer is "everyone," you'll need to dig deeper. Here are some questions I’d ask myself here:

  • What demographics will most likely need/buy your product or service?
  • What are the psychographics of this audience? (Desires, triggering events, etc.)
  • Why are your offerings valuable to them?

I’d also recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear on why you're targeting them.

Target Audience Business Plan Example

I like the example below because it uses in-depth research to draw conclusions about audience priorities. It also analyzes how to create the right content for this audience.

Business plans examples: Target Audience

Tips for Writing Your Target Audience Section

  • Include details on the size and growth potential of your target audience.
  • Figure out and refine the pain points for your target audience , then show why your product is a useful solution.
  • Describe your targeted customer acquisition strategy in detail.
  • Share anticipated challenges your business may face in acquiring customers and how you plan to address them.
  • Add case studies, testimonials, and other data to support your target audience ideas.
  • Remember to consider niche audiences and segments of your target audience in your business plan.

5. Marketing Strategy

Here, you'll discuss how you'll acquire new customers with your marketing strategy. I’d suggest including information:

  • Your brand positioning vision and how you'll cultivate it
  • The goal targets you aim to achieve
  • The metrics you'll use to measure success
  • The channels and distribution tactics you'll use

I think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier.

Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example

This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler.

In my opinion, it really works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.

Business plans examples: Marketing Strategy

Tips for Writing Your Marketing Strategy

  • Include a section about how you believe your brand vision will appeal to customers.
  • Add the budget and resources you'll need to put your plan in place.
  • Outline strategies for specific marketing segments.
  • Connect strategies to earlier sections like target audience and competitive analysis.
  • Review how your marketing strategy will scale with the growth of your business.
  • Cover a range of channels and tactics to highlight your ability to adapt your plan in the face of change.

6. Key Features and Benefits

At some point in your business plan, you'll need to review the key features and benefits of your products and/or services.

Laying these out can give readers an idea of how you're positioning yourself in the market and the messaging you're likely to use. It can even help them gain better insight into your business model.

Key Features and Benefits Business Plan Example

In my opinion, the example below does a great job outlining products and services for this business, along with why these qualities will attract the audience.

Business plans examples: Key Features and Benefits

Tips for Writing Your Key Features and Benefits

  • Emphasize why and how your product or service offers value to customers.
  • Use metrics and testimonials to support the ideas in this section.
  • Talk about how your products and services have the potential to scale.
  • Think about including a product roadmap.
  • Focus on customer needs, and how the features and benefits you are sharing meet those needs.
  • Offer proof of concept for your ideas, like case studies or pilot program feedback.
  • Proofread this section carefully, and remove any jargon or complex language.

7. Pricing and Revenue

This is where you'll discuss your cost structure and various revenue streams. Your pricing strategy must be solid enough to turn a profit while staying competitive in the industry. 

For this reason, here’s what I’d might outline in this section:

  • The specific pricing breakdowns per product or service
  • Why your pricing is higher or lower than your competition's
  • (If higher) Why customers would be willing to pay more
  • (If lower) How you're able to offer your products or services at a lower cost
  • When you expect to break even, what margins do you expect, etc?

Pricing and Revenue Business Plan Example

I like how this business plan example begins with an overview of the business revenue model, then shows proposed pricing for key products.

Business plans examples: Pricing and Revenue

Tips for Writing Your Pricing and Revenue Section

  • Get specific about your pricing strategy. Specifically, how you connect that strategy to customer needs and product value.
  • If you are asking a premium price, share unique features or innovations that justify that price point.
  • Show how you plan to communicate pricing to customers.
  • Create an overview of every revenue stream for your business and how each stream adds to your business model as a whole.
  • Share plans to develop new revenue streams in the future.
  • Show how and whether pricing will vary by customer segment and how pricing aligns with marketing strategies.
  • Restate your value proposition and explain how it aligns with your revenue model.

8. Financials

To me, this section is particularly informative for investors and leadership teams to figure out funding strategies, investment opportunities, and more.

 According to Forbes , you'll want to include three main things:

  • Profit/Loss Statement - This answers the question of whether your business is currently profitable.
  • Cash Flow Statement - This details exactly how much cash is incoming and outgoing to give insight into how much cash a business has on hand.
  • Balance Sheet - This outlines assets, liabilities, and equity, which gives insight into how much a business is worth.

While some business plans might include more or less information, these are the key details I’d include in this section.

Financials Business Plan Example

This balance sheet is a great example of level of detail you’ll need to include in the financials section of your business plan.

Business plans examples: Financials

Tips for Writing Your Financials Section

  • Growth potential is important in this section too. Using your data, create a forecast of financial performance in the next three to five years.
  • Include any data that supports your projections to assure investors of the credibility of your proposal.
  • Add a break-even analysis to show that your business plan is financially practical. This information can also help you pivot quickly as your business grows.
  • Consider adding a section that reviews potential risks and how sensitive your plan is to changes in the market.
  • Triple-check all financial information in your plan for accuracy.
  • Show how any proposed funding needs align with your plans for growth.

As you create your business plan, keep in mind that each of these sections will be formatted differently. Some may be in paragraph format, while others could be charts or graphs.

The formats above apply to most types of business plans. That said, the format and structure of your plan will vary by your goals for that plan. 

So, I’ve added a quick review of different business plan types. For a more detailed overview, check out this post .

1. Startups

Startup business plans are for proposing new business ideas.

If you’re planning to start a small business, preparing a business plan is crucial. The plan should include all the major factors of your business.

You can check out this guide for more detailed business plan inspiration .

2. Feasibility Studies

Feasibility business plans focus on that business's product or service. Feasibility plans are sometimes added to startup business plans. They can also be a new business plan for an already thriving organization.

3. Internal Use

You can use internal business plans to share goals, strategies, or performance updates with stakeholders. In my opinion, internal business plans are useful for alignment and building support for ambitious goals.

4. Strategic Initiatives

Another business plan that's often for sharing internally is a strategic business plan. This plan covers long-term business objectives that might not have been included in the startup business plan.

5. Business Acquisition or Repositioning

When a business is moving forward with an acquisition or repositioning, it may need extra structure and support. These types of business plans expand on a company's acquisition or repositioning strategy.

Growth sometimes just happens as a business continues operations. But more often, a business needs to create a structure with specific targets to meet set goals for expansion. This business plan type can help a business focus on short-term growth goals and align resources with those goals.

Now that you know what's included and how to format a business plan, let's review some of my favorite templates.

1. HubSpot's One-Page Business Plan

Download a free, editable one-page business plan template..

The business plan linked above was created here at HubSpot and is perfect for businesses of any size — no matter how many strategies we still have to develop.

Fields such as Company Description, Required Funding, and Implementation Timeline give this one-page business plan a framework for how to build your brand and what tasks to keep track of as you grow.

Then, as the business matures, you can expand on your original business plan with a new iteration of the above document.

Why I Like It

This one-page business plan is a fantastic choice for the new business owner who doesn’t have the time or resources to draft a full-blown business plan. It includes all the essential sections in an accessible, bullet-point-friendly format. That way, you can get the broad strokes down before honing in on the details.

2. HubSpot's Downloadable Business Plan Template

Sample business plan: hubspot free editable pdf

We also created a business plan template for entrepreneurs.

The template is designed as a guide and checklist for starting your own business. You’ll learn what to include in each section of your business plan and how to do it.

There’s also a list for you to check off when you finish each section of your business plan.

Strong game plans help coaches win games and help businesses rocket to the top of their industries. So if you dedicate the time and effort required to write a workable and convincing business plan, you’ll boost your chances of success and even dominance in your market.

This business plan kit is essential for the budding entrepreneur who needs a more extensive document to share with investors and other stakeholders.

It not only includes sections for your executive summary, product line, market analysis, marketing plan, and sales plan, but it also offers hands-on guidance for filling out those sections.

3. LiveFlow’s Financial Planning Template with built-in automation

Sample Business Plan: LiveFLow

This free template from LiveFlow aims to make it easy for businesses to create a financial plan and track their progress on a monthly basis.

The P&L Budget versus Actual format allows users to track their revenue, cost of sales, operating expenses, operating profit margin, net profit, and more.

The summary dashboard aggregates all of the data put into the financial plan sheet and will automatically update when changes are made.

Instead of wasting hours manually importing your data to your spreadsheet, LiveFlow can also help you to automatically connect your accounting and banking data directly to your spreadsheet, so your numbers are always up-to-date.

With the dashboard, you can view your runway, cash balance, burn rate, gross margins, and other metrics. Having a simple way to track everything in one place will make it easier to complete the financials section of your business plan.

This is a fantastic template to track performance and alignment internally and to create a dependable process for documenting financial information across the business. It’s highly versatile and beginner-friendly.

It’s especially useful if you don’t have an accountant on the team. (I always recommend you do, but for new businesses, having one might not be possible.)

4. ThoughtCo’s Sample Business Plan

sample business plan: ThoughtCo.

One of the more financially oriented sample business plans in this list, BPlan’s free business plan template dedicates many of its pages to your business’s financial plan and financial statements.

After filling this business plan out, your company will truly understand its financial health and the steps you need to take to maintain or improve it.

I absolutely love this business plan template because of its ease-of-use and hands-on instructions (in addition to its finance-centric components). If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing an entire business plan, consider using this template to help you with the process.

6. Harvard Business Review’s "How to Write a Winning Business Plan"

Most sample business plans teach you what to include in your business plan, but this Harvard Business Review article will take your business plan to the next level — it teaches you the why and how behind writing a business plan.

With the guidance of Stanley Rich and Richard Gumpert, co-authors of " Business Plans That Win: Lessons From the MIT Enterprise Forum ", you'll learn how to write a convincing business plan that emphasizes the market demand for your product or service.

You’ll also learn the financial benefits investors can reap from putting money into your venture rather than trying to sell them on how great your product or service is.

This business plan guide focuses less on the individual parts of a business plan, and more on the overarching goal of writing one. For that reason, it’s one of my favorites to supplement any template you choose to use. Harvard Business Review’s guide is instrumental for both new and seasoned business owners.

7. HubSpot’s Complete Guide to Starting a Business

If you’re an entrepreneur, you know writing a business plan is one of the most challenging first steps to starting a business.

Fortunately, with HubSpot's comprehensive guide to starting a business, you'll learn how to map out all the details by understanding what to include in your business plan and why it’s important to include them. The guide also fleshes out an entire sample business plan for you.

If you need further guidance on starting a business, HubSpot's guide can teach you how to make your business legal, choose and register your business name, and fund your business. It will also give small business tax information and includes marketing, sales, and service tips.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of starting a business, in addition to writing your business plan, with a high level of exactitude and detail. So if you’re in the midst of starting your business, this is an excellent guide for you.

It also offers other resources you might need, such as market analysis templates.

8. Panda Doc’s Free Business Plan Template

sample business plan: Panda Doc

PandaDoc’s free business plan template is one of the more detailed and fleshed-out sample business plans on this list. It describes what you should include in each section, so you don't have to come up with everything from scratch.

Once you fill it out, you’ll fully understand your business’ nitty-gritty details and how all of its moving parts should work together to contribute to its success.

This template has two things I love: comprehensiveness and in-depth instructions. Plus, it’s synced with PandaDoc’s e-signature software so that you and other stakeholders can sign it with ease. For that reason, I especially love it for those starting a business with a partner or with a board of directors.

9. Small Business Administration Free Business Plan Template

sample business plan: Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers several free business plan templates that can be used to inspire your own plan.

Before you get started, you can decide what type of business plan you need — a traditional or lean start-up plan.

Then, you can review the format for both of those plans and view examples of what they might look like.

We love both of the SBA’s templates because of their versatility. You can choose between two options and use the existing content in the templates to flesh out your own plan. Plus, if needed, you can get a free business counselor to help you along the way.

I’ve compiled some completed business plan samples to help you get an idea of how to customize a plan for your business.

I chose different types of business plan ideas to expand your imagination. Some are extensive, while others are fairly simple.

Let’s take a look.

1. LiveFlow

business plan example: liveflow

One of the major business expenses is marketing. How you handle your marketing reflects your company’s revenue.

I included this business plan to show you how you can ensure your marketing team is aligned with your overall business plan to get results. The plan also shows you how to track even the smallest metrics of your campaigns, like ROI and payback periods instead of just focusing on big metrics like gross and revenue.

Fintech startup, LiveFlow, allows users to sync real-time data from its accounting services, payment platforms, and banks into custom reports. This eliminates the task of pulling reports together manually, saving teams time and helping automate workflows.

"Using this framework over a traditional marketing plan will help you set a profitable marketing strategy taking things like CAC, LTV, Payback period, and P&L into consideration," explains LiveFlow co-founder, Lasse Kalkar .

When it came to including marketing strategy in its business plan, LiveFlow created a separate marketing profit and loss statement (P&L) to track how well the company was doing with its marketing initiatives.

This is a great approach, allowing businesses to focus on where their marketing dollars are making the most impact. Having this information handy will enable you to build out your business plan’s marketing section with confidence. LiveFlow has shared the template here . You can test it for yourself.

2. Lula Body

Business plan example: Lula body

Sometimes all you need is a solid mission statement and core values to guide you on how to go about everything. You do this by creating a business plan revolving around how to fulfill your statement best.

For example, Patagonia is an eco-friendly company, so their plan discusses how to make the best environmentally friendly products without causing harm.

A good mission statement  should not only resonate with consumers but should also serve as a core value compass for employees as well.

Patagonia has one of the most compelling mission statements I’ve seen:

"Together, let’s prioritise purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home."

It reels you in from the start, and the environmentally friendly theme continues throughout the rest of the statement.

This mission goes on to explain that they are out to "Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to protect nature."

Their mission statement is compelling and detailed, with each section outlining how they will accomplish their goal.

4. Vesta Home Automation

business plan example: Vesta executive summary

This executive summary for a smart home device startup is part of a business plan created by students at Mount Royal University .

While it lacks some of the sleek visuals of the templates above, its executive summary does a great job of demonstrating how invested they are in the business.

Right away, they mention they’ve invested $200,000 into the company already, which shows investors they have skin in the game and aren’t just looking for someone else to foot the bill.

This is the kind of business plan you need when applying for business funds. It clearly illustrates the expected future of the company and how the business has been coming along over the years.

5. NALB Creative Center

business plan examples: nalb creative center

This fictional business plan for an art supply store includes everything one might need in a business plan: an executive summary, a company summary, a list of services, a market analysis summary, and more.

One of its most notable sections is its market analysis summary, which includes an overview of the population growth in the business’ target geographical area, as well as a breakdown of the types of potential customers they expect to welcome at the store. 

This sort of granular insight is essential for understanding and communicating your business’s growth potential. Plus, it lays a strong foundation for creating relevant and useful buyer personas .

It’s essential to keep this information up-to-date as your market and target buyer changes. For that reason, you should carry out market research as often as possible to ensure that you’re targeting the correct audience and sharing accurate information with your investors.

Due to its comprehensiveness, it’s an excellent example to follow if you’re opening a brick-and-mortar store and need to get external funding to start your business .

6. Curriculum Companion Suites (CSS)

business plan examples: curriculum companion suites

If you’re looking for a SaaS business plan example, look no further than this business plan for a fictional educational software company called Curriculum Companion Suites. 

Like the business plan for the NALB Creative Center, it includes plenty of information for prospective investors and other key stakeholders in the business.

One of the most notable features of this business plan is the executive summary, which includes an overview of the product, market, and mission.

The first two are essential for software companies because the product offering is so often at the forefront of the company’s strategy. Without that information being immediately available to investors and executives, then you risk writing an unfocused business plan.

It’s essential to front-load your company’s mission if it explains your "Why?" and this example does just that. In other words, why do you do what you do, and why should stakeholders care? This is an important section to include if you feel that your mission will drive interest in the business and its offerings.

7. Culina Sample Business Plan

sample business plan: Culina

Culina's sample business plan is an excellent example of how to lay out your business plan so that it flows naturally, engages readers, and provides the critical information investors and stakeholders need. 

You can use this template as a guide while you're gathering important information for your own business plan. You'll have a better understanding of the data and research you need to do since Culina’s plan outlines these details so flawlessly for inspiration.

8. Plum Sample Business Plan

Sample business plan: Plum

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How to Write a Company Overview for a Business Plan

A company overview introduces your company.

People reading your business plan want to know about your business idea , how you plan to make your business idea a success and what are your chances of success. 

Your company overview is one of the important pieces of a business plan. Think of your company as a vehicle and your business plan a journey. You can navigate your way to success with a strong vehicle.  

Many business plans are made with the sole purpose of attracting funding and investment. If you have the same goal, writing a good company overview is essential.

Why should you Write a Company Overview?

1-basic information, 2- owners & managers profiles, 3- company history, 4- mission statement, 5- product/service and customer, use elevator pitch, keep yourself to the basics, show passion for your business, keep it compact, have structure, get a test reader, cleaning service company overview example, tips for writing a strong company overview for a business plan:.

BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE OUTLINE

  • Business Plan Template
  • 1. Cover Page
  • 2. Executive Summary
  • 3. Company Overview
  • 4. Market Analysis
  • 5. Competitive Analysis
  • 6. Marketing Plan
  • 7. Operations Plan
  • 8. Management Team
  • 9. Financial Plan
  • 10. Appendix
  • Business Plan Summary

A company overview is your chance to show your company’s strengths and the unique value proposition that your company offers. 

You can answer investors’ concerns here and convince them of your success. Lenders and investors want to know if their debt or investment will be secure with your business. 

When you can develop their confidence with your company overview section, it is likely that they will consider your business for investment. 

What goes into a Company Overview?

Here is what you should include in your company overview section of a business plan.

What you should include in your company overview

The basic information of your company includes when your company was formed, how many employees you have, how much you are selling currently, your customer demographics, etc.

Include your owners’ and managers’ profiles in the business plan company overview section.

Showing the responsible people in your company and introducing your capable team to the world helps you gain investors’ confidence.

If you can show that your business idea is credible and your team is capable of successfully carrying out the plan, your chances of getting funds from investors and backers increase.

Company history is relevant for old businesses.

The companies working in the industry for some time and have shown steady growth over time have an easy time convincing lenders.

Many times, a company that has already developed the product, tested it in the market, and has representative customers to show gets investment.

If you are in the business for a few years, investors would like to know about your representative customers, product or service performance in the past, and data on how soon the product will pay for itself in terms of reduced costs or increased efficiency.

Try to write a simple mission statement . It should be easy to read and easy to understand.

Keep your mission statement short to one or two sentences only.

Shortly discuss your product or service in your business overview.

Tell your readers about your product or service, how it is different and why it will capture a market share.

You’ll need to shortly discuss your competitors to clear your unique proposition. Discuss what the competitors’ product or service is lacking and how you are filling that gap.

Mention your target customers. Many people will overestimate their target customers. Keep the estimates realistic and take a second opinion on this from a knowledgeable person.

Discuss your future goals at the end of the company overview section.

Consider answering these questions when writing about your business goals.

  • How will you grow your customer base?
  • How will you increase your market share?
  • If and how will you increase your service area

Check Company Description Examples in a Business Plan

Check our page for  Business Plan Examples to understand how you can write company overview in a business plan. 

How to Write a Business Overview?

Follow these simple steps to write a business overview for your business plan. Remember your business overview is only a small section and you’d want to keep it short.

How to write a business overview

Your elevator pitch is the shortest version of your business plan. Start your company overview with your elevator pitch.

A company description is meant to shortly introduce your company. Make a small paragraph for each point but restrict yourself to the basics.

Fight the urge to lengthen it as you have a full document ahead to explain your business plan. We recommend that you write the company overview after you have written your business plan. That way, you’ll know what is the most concise way to include all necessary details.

Show your love and passion for your business. Make your company introduction engaging with your passion and excitement for your business.

You know your company better than anyone elsel. Your emotions may carry you away from the topic. Here, think in terms of the readers of your business plan and write a compact, to-the-point firm overview or corporate overview.

Your business plan readers are only partly interested in your company. They want to know if your company can meet business plan goals. Keeping your company overview brief will help readers get to the point easily.

A company overview example structure looks like this:

  • Basic Introduction to your company.
  • Introduction the team.
  • Company history.
  • Mission Statement.
  • Product or Service.
  • Customer profile.
  • Future goals.

Consider writing 1, 2 sentence paragraphs for each point to write a compact and well-structured company overview.

Ask someone with some knowledge of the topic to read your company overview.

You may miss your mistakes or even not recognize them. However, the second pair of eyes will be able to spot errors and mistakes without any bias.

Proofreading checks your work for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Some tools like Grammarly also help you do that but it is still better to ask a human to proofread your work.

Why should you put so much effort into writing a business plan and a company overview?

Company Overview examples

You may need to see a business description example to exactly know what you need to write about.

Anna Active Cleaning Services offers home cleaning services in Detroit. This sole proprietorship is based in East Side, Detroit. 

Anna Active Cleaning offers services to local residents. We are also available on call for jobs in the other areas of the city. 

Our CEO, Ms. Anna Smith,  is a single mother with an ambition for helping people live well. She has a high school diploma. 

Ms. Smith has over 5 years of combined experience in managing home cleaning businesses. Our team includes 4 female workers with over 10 years of experience and 3 of them have a professional house cleaning certificate. 

Anna Active Cleaning started in May 2018 as a small local business. The lack of quality home cleaning services in her area inspired Ms. Smith to start this business. 

We have successfully served over 1000 customers in the past 3 years. Most of our customers repeatedly hire us. 

Our mission statement is: “Everyone deserves a clean and shining home, we will make it happen for you”.

Anna Cleaning Service offers home cleaning, kitchen cleaning, floor cleaning, and laundry services. Our customers include homeowners, working women, parents with kids who can’t spare time, or new movers. 

Our goal is to first expand to all areas of Detroit city and then to all major cities in Michigan and neighboring states. We are working hard to achieve the first goal within one year and expansion goals within 5 years i.e, before the end of 2027.

  • Keep it concise: Your company overview should be no more than a few pages long. The goal is to give your readers a high-level overview of your business without overwhelming them with too much detail.
  • Your company name and legal structure.
  • Your mission statement and vision.
  • Your products or services.
  • Your target market.
  • Your competitive landscape.
  • Your management team.
  • Your financial projections.
  • Proofread carefully: Before you submit your business plan to potential investors or lenders, be sure to proofread your company overview carefully for any errors in grammar or spelling.

 A company overview in a business plan provides a summary of your business, including its mission, vision, goals, and key details such as its legal structure, location, and founding date. It gives readers a snapshot of your business and sets the stage for the rest of the plan.

A company overview should include essential information about your business, such as its name, legal structure, location, industry, target market, unique selling proposition, and competitive advantage. It should also highlight any notable achievements, milestones, or partnerships.

Structure your company overview by starting with a concise mission statement that encapsulates your business’s purpose. Then, provide an overview of your business history, including key milestones and achievements. Finally, outline your business’s unique value proposition and competitive advantage.

A company overview is important in a business plan as it gives readers an understanding of your business’s identity, purpose, and market positioning. It helps investors, lenders, and other stakeholders grasp the essence of your business and its potential for success.

When writing a company overview, focus on presenting a clear and compelling narrative that highlights your business’s strengths, values, and market relevance. Use concise and impactful language, and make sure to tailor the content to your target audience’s needs and interests.

  • Focus on your unique selling proposition (USP).
  • Be specific and data-driven.
  • Write in a clear and engaging style.
  • Tell a story.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Simple Business Plan

By Joe Weller | October 11, 2021

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A business plan is the cornerstone of any successful company, regardless of size or industry. This step-by-step guide provides information on writing a business plan for organizations at any stage, complete with free templates and expert advice. 

Included on this page, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan and a chart to identify which type of business plan you should write . Plus, find information on how a business plan can help grow a business and expert tips on writing one .

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a document that communicates a company’s goals and ambitions, along with the timeline, finances, and methods needed to achieve them. Additionally, it may include a mission statement and details about the specific products or services offered.

A business plan can highlight varying time periods, depending on the stage of your company and its goals. That said, a typical business plan will include the following benchmarks:

  • Product goals and deadlines for each month
  • Monthly financials for the first two years
  • Profit and loss statements for the first three to five years
  • Balance sheet projections for the first three to five years

Startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses all create business plans to use as a guide as their new company progresses. Larger organizations may also create (and update) a business plan to keep high-level goals, financials, and timelines in check.

While you certainly need to have a formalized outline of your business’s goals and finances, creating a business plan can also help you determine a company’s viability, its profitability (including when it will first turn a profit), and how much money you will need from investors. In turn, a business plan has functional value as well: Not only does outlining goals help keep you accountable on a timeline, it can also attract investors in and of itself and, therefore, act as an effective strategy for growth.

For more information, visit our comprehensive guide to writing a strategic plan or download free strategic plan templates . This page focuses on for-profit business plans, but you can read our article with nonprofit business plan templates .

Business Plan Steps

The specific information in your business plan will vary, depending on the needs and goals of your venture, but a typical plan includes the following ordered elements:

  • Executive summary
  • Description of business
  • Market analysis
  • Competitive analysis
  • Description of organizational management
  • Description of product or services
  • Marketing plan
  • Sales strategy
  • Funding details (or request for funding)
  • Financial projections

If your plan is particularly long or complicated, consider adding a table of contents or an appendix for reference. For an in-depth description of each step listed above, read “ How to Write a Business Plan Step by Step ” below.

Broadly speaking, your audience includes anyone with a vested interest in your organization. They can include potential and existing investors, as well as customers, internal team members, suppliers, and vendors.

Do I Need a Simple or Detailed Plan?

Your business’s stage and intended audience dictates the level of detail your plan needs. Corporations require a thorough business plan — up to 100 pages. Small businesses or startups should have a concise plan focusing on financials and strategy.

How to Choose the Right Plan for Your Business

In order to identify which type of business plan you need to create, ask: “What do we want the plan to do?” Identify function first, and form will follow.

Use the chart below as a guide for what type of business plan to create:

Is the Order of Your Business Plan Important?

There is no set order for a business plan, with the exception of the executive summary, which should always come first. Beyond that, simply ensure that you organize the plan in a way that makes sense and flows naturally.

The Difference Between Traditional and Lean Business Plans

A traditional business plan follows the standard structure — because these plans encourage detail, they tend to require more work upfront and can run dozens of pages. A Lean business plan is less common and focuses on summarizing critical points for each section. These plans take much less work and typically run one page in length.

In general, you should use a traditional model for a legacy company, a large company, or any business that does not adhere to Lean (or another Agile method ). Use Lean if you expect the company to pivot quickly or if you already employ a Lean strategy with other business operations. Additionally, a Lean business plan can suffice if the document is for internal use only. Stick to a traditional version for investors, as they may be more sensitive to sudden changes or a high degree of built-in flexibility in the plan.

How to Write a Business Plan Step by Step

Writing a strong business plan requires research and attention to detail for each section. Below, you’ll find a 10-step guide to researching and defining each element in the plan.

Step 1: Executive Summary

The executive summary will always be the first section of your business plan. The goal is to answer the following questions:

  • What is the vision and mission of the company?
  • What are the company’s short- and long-term goals?

See our  roundup of executive summary examples and templates for samples. Read our executive summary guide to learn more about writing one.

Step 2: Description of Business

The goal of this section is to define the realm, scope, and intent of your venture. To do so, answer the following questions as clearly and concisely as possible:

  • What business are we in?
  • What does our business do?

Step 3: Market Analysis

In this section, provide evidence that you have surveyed and understand the current marketplace, and that your product or service satisfies a niche in the market. To do so, answer these questions:

  • Who is our customer? 
  • What does that customer value?

Step 4: Competitive Analysis

In many cases, a business plan proposes not a brand-new (or even market-disrupting) venture, but a more competitive version — whether via features, pricing, integrations, etc. — than what is currently available. In this section, answer the following questions to show that your product or service stands to outpace competitors:

  • Who is the competition? 
  • What do they do best? 
  • What is our unique value proposition?

Step 5: Description of Organizational Management

In this section, write an overview of the team members and other key personnel who are integral to success. List roles and responsibilities, and if possible, note the hierarchy or team structure.

Step 6: Description of Products or Services

In this section, clearly define your product or service, as well as all the effort and resources that go into producing it. The strength of your product largely defines the success of your business, so it’s imperative that you take time to test and refine the product before launching into marketing, sales, or funding details.

Questions to answer in this section are as follows:

  • What is the product or service?
  • How do we produce it, and what resources are necessary for production?

Step 7: Marketing Plan

In this section, define the marketing strategy for your product or service. This doesn’t need to be as fleshed out as a full marketing plan , but it should answer basic questions, such as the following:

  • Who is the target market (if different from existing customer base)?
  • What channels will you use to reach your target market?
  • What resources does your marketing strategy require, and do you have access to them?
  • If possible, do you have a rough estimate of timeline and budget?
  • How will you measure success?

Step 8: Sales Plan

Write an overview of the sales strategy, including the priorities of each cycle, steps to achieve these goals, and metrics for success. For the purposes of a business plan, this section does not need to be a comprehensive, in-depth sales plan , but can simply outline the high-level objectives and strategies of your sales efforts. 

Start by answering the following questions:

  • What is the sales strategy?
  • What are the tools and tactics you will use to achieve your goals?
  • What are the potential obstacles, and how will you overcome them?
  • What is the timeline for sales and turning a profit?
  • What are the metrics of success?

Step 9: Funding Details (or Request for Funding)

This section is one of the most critical parts of your business plan, particularly if you are sharing it with investors. You do not need to provide a full financial plan, but you should be able to answer the following questions:

  • How much capital do you currently have? How much capital do you need?
  • How will you grow the team (onboarding, team structure, training and development)?
  • What are your physical needs and constraints (space, equipment, etc.)?

Step 10: Financial Projections

Apart from the fundraising analysis, investors like to see thought-out financial projections for the future. As discussed earlier, depending on the scope and stage of your business, this could be anywhere from one to five years. 

While these projections won’t be exact — and will need to be somewhat flexible — you should be able to gauge the following:

  • How and when will the company first generate a profit?
  • How will the company maintain profit thereafter?

Business Plan Template

Business Plan Template

Download Business Plan Template

Microsoft Excel | Smartsheet

This basic business plan template has space for all the traditional elements: an executive summary, product or service details, target audience, marketing and sales strategies, etc. In the finances sections, input your baseline numbers, and the template will automatically calculate projections for sales forecasting, financial statements, and more.

For templates tailored to more specific needs, visit this business plan template roundup or download a fill-in-the-blank business plan template to make things easy. 

If you are looking for a particular template by file type, visit our pages dedicated exclusively to Microsoft Excel , Microsoft Word , and Adobe PDF business plan templates.

How to Write a Simple Business Plan

A simple business plan is a streamlined, lightweight version of the large, traditional model. As opposed to a one-page business plan , which communicates high-level information for quick overviews (such as a stakeholder presentation), a simple business plan can exceed one page.

Below are the steps for creating a generic simple business plan, which are reflected in the template below .

  • Write the Executive Summary This section is the same as in the traditional business plan — simply offer an overview of what’s in the business plan, the prospect or core offering, and the short- and long-term goals of the company. 
  • Add a Company Overview Document the larger company mission and vision. 
  • Provide the Problem and Solution In straightforward terms, define the problem you are attempting to solve with your product or service and how your company will attempt to do it. Think of this section as the gap in the market you are attempting to close.
  • Identify the Target Market Who is your company (and its products or services) attempting to reach? If possible, briefly define your buyer personas .
  • Write About the Competition In this section, demonstrate your knowledge of the market by listing the current competitors and outlining your competitive advantage.
  • Describe Your Product or Service Offerings Get down to brass tacks and define your product or service. What exactly are you selling?
  • Outline Your Marketing Tactics Without getting into too much detail, describe your planned marketing initiatives.
  • Add a Timeline and the Metrics You Will Use to Measure Success Offer a rough timeline, including milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs) that you will use to measure your progress.
  • Include Your Financial Forecasts Write an overview of your financial plan that demonstrates you have done your research and adequate modeling. You can also list key assumptions that go into this forecasting. 
  • Identify Your Financing Needs This section is where you will make your funding request. Based on everything in the business plan, list your proposed sources of funding, as well as how you will use it.

Simple Business Plan Template

Simple Business Plan Template

Download Simple Business Plan Template

Microsoft Excel |  Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF  | Smartsheet

Use this simple business plan template to outline each aspect of your organization, including information about financing and opportunities to seek out further funding. This template is completely customizable to fit the needs of any business, whether it’s a startup or large company.

Read our article offering free simple business plan templates or free 30-60-90-day business plan templates to find more tailored options. You can also explore our collection of one page business templates . 

How to Write a Business Plan for a Lean Startup

A Lean startup business plan is a more Agile approach to a traditional version. The plan focuses more on activities, processes, and relationships (and maintains flexibility in all aspects), rather than on concrete deliverables and timelines.

While there is some overlap between a traditional and a Lean business plan, you can write a Lean plan by following the steps below:

  • Add Your Value Proposition Take a streamlined approach to describing your product or service. What is the unique value your startup aims to deliver to customers? Make sure the team is aligned on the core offering and that you can state it in clear, simple language.
  • List Your Key Partners List any other businesses you will work with to realize your vision, including external vendors, suppliers, and partners. This section demonstrates that you have thoughtfully considered the resources you can provide internally, identified areas for external assistance, and conducted research to find alternatives.
  • Note the Key Activities Describe the key activities of your business, including sourcing, production, marketing, distribution channels, and customer relationships.
  • Include Your Key Resources List the critical resources — including personnel, equipment, space, and intellectual property — that will enable you to deliver your unique value.
  • Identify Your Customer Relationships and Channels In this section, document how you will reach and build relationships with customers. Provide a high-level map of the customer experience from start to finish, including the spaces in which you will interact with the customer (online, retail, etc.). 
  • Detail Your Marketing Channels Describe the marketing methods and communication platforms you will use to identify and nurture your relationships with customers. These could be email, advertising, social media, etc.
  • Explain the Cost Structure This section is especially necessary in the early stages of a business. Will you prioritize maximizing value or keeping costs low? List the foundational startup costs and how you will move toward profit over time.
  • Share Your Revenue Streams Over time, how will the company make money? Include both the direct product or service purchase, as well as secondary sources of revenue, such as subscriptions, selling advertising space, fundraising, etc.

Lean Business Plan Template for Startups

Lean Business Plan Templates for Startups

Download Lean Business Plan Template for Startups

Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF

Startup leaders can use this Lean business plan template to relay the most critical information from a traditional plan. You’ll find all the sections listed above, including spaces for industry and product overviews, cost structure and sources of revenue, and key metrics, and a timeline. The template is completely customizable, so you can edit it to suit the objectives of your Lean startups.

See our wide variety of  startup business plan templates for more options.

How to Write a Business Plan for a Loan

A business plan for a loan, often called a loan proposal , includes many of the same aspects of a traditional business plan, as well as additional financial documents, such as a credit history, a loan request, and a loan repayment plan.

In addition, you may be asked to include personal and business financial statements, a form of collateral, and equity investment information.

Download free financial templates to support your business plan.

Tips for Writing a Business Plan

Outside of including all the key details in your business plan, you have several options to elevate the document for the highest chance of winning funding and other resources. Follow these tips from experts:.

  • Keep It Simple: Avner Brodsky , the Co-Founder and CEO of Lezgo Limited, an online marketing company, uses the acronym KISS (keep it short and simple) as a variation on this idea. “The business plan is not a college thesis,” he says. “Just focus on providing the essential information.”
  • Do Adequate Research: Michael Dean, the Co-Founder of Pool Research , encourages business leaders to “invest time in research, both internal and external (market, finance, legal etc.). Avoid being overly ambitious or presumptive. Instead, keep everything objective, balanced, and accurate.” Your plan needs to stand on its own, and you must have the data to back up any claims or forecasting you make. As Brodsky explains, “Your business needs to be grounded on the realities of the market in your chosen location. Get the most recent data from authoritative sources so that the figures are vetted by experts and are reliable.”
  • Set Clear Goals: Make sure your plan includes clear, time-based goals. “Short-term goals are key to momentum growth and are especially important to identify for new businesses,” advises Dean.
  • Know (and Address) Your Weaknesses: “This awareness sets you up to overcome your weak points much quicker than waiting for them to arise,” shares Dean. Brodsky recommends performing a full SWOT analysis to identify your weaknesses, too. “Your business will fare better with self-knowledge, which will help you better define the mission of your business, as well as the strategies you will choose to achieve your objectives,” he adds.
  • Seek Peer or Mentor Review: “Ask for feedback on your drafts and for areas to improve,” advises Brodsky. “When your mind is filled with dreams for your business, sometimes it is an outsider who can tell you what you’re missing and will save your business from being a product of whimsy.”

Outside of these more practical tips, the language you use is also important and may make or break your business plan.

Shaun Heng, VP of Operations at Coin Market Cap , gives the following advice on the writing, “Your business plan is your sales pitch to an investor. And as with any sales pitch, you need to strike the right tone and hit a few emotional chords. This is a little tricky in a business plan, because you also need to be formal and matter-of-fact. But you can still impress by weaving in descriptive language and saying things in a more elegant way.

“A great way to do this is by expanding your vocabulary, avoiding word repetition, and using business language. Instead of saying that something ‘will bring in as many customers as possible,’ try saying ‘will garner the largest possible market segment.’ Elevate your writing with precise descriptive words and you'll impress even the busiest investor.”

Additionally, Dean recommends that you “stay consistent and concise by keeping your tone and style steady throughout, and your language clear and precise. Include only what is 100 percent necessary.”

Resources for Writing a Business Plan

While a template provides a great outline of what to include in a business plan, a live document or more robust program can provide additional functionality, visibility, and real-time updates. The U.S. Small Business Association also curates resources for writing a business plan.

Additionally, you can use business plan software to house data, attach documentation, and share information with stakeholders. Popular options include LivePlan, Enloop, BizPlanner, PlanGuru, and iPlanner.

How a Business Plan Helps to Grow Your Business

A business plan — both the exercise of creating one and the document — can grow your business by helping you to refine your product, target audience, sales plan, identify opportunities, secure funding, and build new partnerships. 

Outside of these immediate returns, writing a business plan is a useful exercise in that it forces you to research the market, which prompts you to forge your unique value proposition and identify ways to beat the competition. Doing so will also help you build (and keep you accountable to) attainable financial and product milestones. And down the line, it will serve as a welcome guide as hurdles inevitably arise.

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When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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550+ Business Plan Examples to Launch Your Business

550+ Free Sample Business Plans

Need help writing your business plan? Explore over 550 industry-specific business plan examples for inspiration. Go even further with LivePlan , which harnesses AI-assisted writing features and SBA-approved plan examples to get you funded.

Find your business plan example

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Finish your plan faster with step-by-step guidance, financial wizards, and a proven format.

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View all sample business plans

Example business plan format

Before you start exploring our library of business plan examples, it's worth taking the time to understand the traditional business plan format . You'll find that the plans in this library and most investor-approved business plans will include the following sections:

Executive summary

The executive summary is an overview of your business and your plans. It comes first in your plan and is ideally only one to two pages. You should also plan to write this section last after you've written your full business plan.

Your executive summary should include a summary of the problem you are solving, a description of your product or service, an overview of your target market, a brief description of your team, a summary of your financials, and your funding requirements (if you are raising money).

Products & services

The products & services chapter of your business plan is where the real meat of your plan lives. It includes information about the problem that you're solving, your solution, and any traction that proves that it truly meets the need you identified.

This is your chance to explain why you're in business and that people care about what you offer. It needs to go beyond a simple product or service description and get to the heart of why your business works and benefits your customers.

Market analysis

Conducting a market analysis ensures that you fully understand the market that you're entering and who you'll be selling to. This section is where you will showcase all of the information about your potential customers. You'll cover your target market as well as information about the growth of your market and your industry. Focus on outlining why the market you're entering is viable and creating a realistic persona for your ideal customer base.

Competition

Part of defining your opportunity is determining what your competitive advantage may be. To do this effectively you need to get to know your competitors just as well as your target customers. Every business will have competition, if you don't then you're either in a very young industry or there's a good reason no one is pursuing this specific venture.

To succeed, you want to be sure you know who your competitors are, how they operate, necessary financial benchmarks, and how you're business will be positioned. Start by identifying who your competitors are or will be during your market research. Then leverage competitive analysis tools like the competitive matrix and positioning map to solidify where your business stands in relation to the competition.

Marketing & sales

The marketing and sales plan section of your business plan details how you plan to reach your target market segments. You'll address how you plan on selling to those target markets, what your pricing plan is, and what types of activities and partnerships you need to make your business a success.

The operations section covers the day-to-day workflows for your business to deliver your product or service. What's included here fully depends on the type of business. Typically you can expect to add details on your business location, sourcing and fulfillment, use of technology, and any partnerships or agreements that are in place.

Milestones & metrics

The milestones section is where you lay out strategic milestones to reach your business goals.

A good milestone clearly lays out the parameters of the task at hand and sets expectations for its execution. You'll want to include a description of the task, a proposed due date, who is responsible, and eventually a budget that's attached. You don't need extensive project planning in this section, just key milestones that you want to hit and when you plan to hit them.

You should also discuss key metrics, which are the numbers you will track to determine your success. Some common data points worth tracking include conversion rates, customer acquisition costs, profit, etc.

Company & team

Use this section to describe your current team and who you need to hire. If you intend to pursue funding, you'll need to highlight the relevant experience of your team members. Basically, this is where you prove that this is the right team to successfully start and grow the business. You will also need to provide a quick overview of your legal structure and history if you're already up and running.

Financial projections

Your financial plan should include a sales and revenue forecast, profit and loss statement, cash flow statement, and a balance sheet. You may not have established financials of any kind at this stage. Not to worry, rather than getting all of the details ironed out, focus on making projections and strategic forecasts for your business. You can always update your financial statements as you begin operations and start bringing in actual accounting data.

Now, if you intend to pitch to investors or submit a loan application, you'll also need a "use of funds" report in this section. This outlines how you intend to leverage any funding for your business and how much you're looking to acquire. Like the rest of your financials, this can always be updated later on.

The appendix isn't a required element of your business plan. However, it is a useful place to add any charts, tables, definitions, legal notes, or other critical information that supports your plan. These are often lengthier or out-of-place information that simply didn't work naturally into the structure of your plan. You'll notice that in these business plan examples, the appendix mainly includes extended financial statements.

Types of business plans explained

While all business plans cover similar categories, the style and function fully depend on how you intend to use your plan. To get the most out of your plan, it's best to find a format that suits your needs. Here are a few common business plan types worth considering.

Traditional business plan

The tried-and-true traditional business plan is a formal document meant to be used for external purposes. Typically this is the type of plan you'll need when applying for funding or pitching to investors. It can also be used when training or hiring employees, working with vendors, or in any other situation where the full details of your business must be understood by another individual.

Business model canvas

The business model canvas is a one-page template designed to demystify the business planning process. It removes the need for a traditional, copy-heavy business plan, in favor of a single-page outline that can help you and outside parties better explore your business idea.

The structure ditches a linear format in favor of a cell-based template. It encourages you to build connections between every element of your business. It's faster to write out and update, and much easier for you, your team, and anyone else to visualize your business operations.

One-page business plan

The true middle ground between the business model canvas and a traditional business plan is the one-page business plan . This format is a simplified version of the traditional plan that focuses on the core aspects of your business.

By starting with a one-page plan , you give yourself a minimal document to build from. You'll typically stick with bullet points and single sentences making it much easier to elaborate or expand sections into a longer-form business plan.

Growth planning

Growth planning is more than a specific type of business plan. It's a methodology. It takes the simplicity and styling of the one-page business plan and turns it into a process for you to continuously plan, forecast, review, and refine based on your performance.

It holds all of the benefits of the single-page plan, including the potential to complete it in as little as 27 minutes . However, it's even easier to convert into a more detailed plan thanks to how heavily it's tied to your financials. The overall goal of growth planning isn't to just produce documents that you use once and shelve. Instead, the growth planning process helps you build a healthier company that thrives in times of growth and remain stable through times of crisis.

It's faster, keeps your plan concise, and ensures that your plan is always up-to-date.

Download a free sample business plan template

Ready to start writing your own plan but aren't sure where to start? Download our free business plan template that's been updated for 2024.

This simple, modern, investor-approved business plan template is designed to make planning easy. It's a proven format that has helped over 1 million businesses write business plans for bank loans, funding pitches, business expansion, and even business sales. It includes additional instructions for how to write each section and is formatted to be SBA-lender approved. All you need to do is fill in the blanks.

How to use an example business plan to help you write your own

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How do you know what elements need to be included in your business plan, especially if you've never written one before? Looking at examples can help you visualize what a full, traditional plan looks like, so you know what you're aiming for before you get started. Here's how to get the most out of a sample business plan.

Choose a business plan example from a similar type of company

You don't need to find an example business plan that's an exact fit for your business. Your business location, target market, and even your particular product or service may not match up exactly with the plans in our gallery. But, you don't need an exact match for it to be helpful. Instead, look for a plan that's related to the type of business you're starting.

For example, if you want to start a vegetarian restaurant, a plan for a steakhouse can be a great match. While the specifics of your actual startup will differ, the elements you'd want to include in your restaurant's business plan are likely to be very similar.

Use a business plan example as a guide

Every startup and small business is unique, so you'll want to avoid copying an example business plan word for word. It just won't be as helpful, since each business is unique. You want your plan to be a useful tool for starting a business —and getting funding if you need it.

One of the key benefits of writing a business plan is simply going through the process. When you sit down to write, you'll naturally think through important pieces, like your startup costs, your target market , and any market analysis or research you'll need to do to be successful.

You'll also look at where you stand among your competition (and everyone has competition), and lay out your goals and the milestones you'll need to meet. Looking at an example business plan's financials section can be helpful because you can see what should be included, but take them with a grain of salt. Don't assume that financial projections for a sample company will fit your own small business.

If you're looking for more resources to help you get started, our business planning guide is a good place to start. You can also download our free business plan template , or get started right away with LivePlan .

Think of business planning as a process, instead of a document

Think about business planning as something you do often , rather than a document you create once and never look at again. If you take the time to write a plan that really fits your own company, it will be a better, more useful tool to grow your business. It should also make it easier to share your vision and strategy so everyone on your team is on the same page.

Adjust your plan regularly to use it as a business management tool

Keep in mind that businesses that use their plan as a management tool to help run their business grow 30 percent faster than those businesses that don't. For that to be true for your company, you'll think of a part of your business planning process as tracking your actual results against your financial forecast on a regular basis.

If things are going well, your plan will help you think about how you can re-invest in your business. If you find that you're not meeting goals, you might need to adjust your budgets or your sales forecast. Either way, tracking your progress compared to your plan can help you adjust quickly when you identify challenges and opportunities—it's one of the most powerful things you can do to grow your business.

Prepare to pitch your business

If you're planning to pitch your business to investors or seek out any funding, you'll need a pitch deck to accompany your business plan. A pitch deck is designed to inform people about your business. You want your pitch deck to be short and easy to follow, so it's best to keep your presentation under 20 slides.

Your pitch deck and pitch presentation are likely some of the first things that an investor will see to learn more about your company. So, you need to be informative and pique their interest. Luckily, just like you can leverage an example business plan template to write your plan, we also have a gallery of over 50 pitch decks for you to reference.

With this gallery, you have the option to view specific industry pitches or get inspired by real-world pitch deck examples. Or for a modern pitch solution that helps you create a business plan and pitch deck side-by-side, you may want to check out LivePlan . It will help you build everything needed for outside investment and to better manage your business.

Get LivePlan in your classroom

Are you an educator looking for real-world business plan examples for your students? With LivePlan, you give your students access to industry-best business plans and help them set goals and track metrics with spreadsheet-free financial forecasts. All of this within a single tool that includes additional instructional resources that work seamlessly alongside your current classroom setup.

With LivePlan, it's not just a classroom project. It's your students planning for their futures. Click here to learn more about business planning for students .

Ready to get started?

Now that you know how to use an example business plan to help you write a plan for your business, it's time to find the right one.

Use the search bar below to get started and find the right match for your business idea.

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Sample Cleaning Service Business Plan

Growthink.com Cleaning Service Business Plan Template

Writing a business plan is a crucial step in starting a cleaning service business. Not only does it provide structure and guidance for the future, but it also helps to create funding opportunities and attract potential investors. For aspiring cleaning service business owners, having access to a sample cleaning service business plan can be especially helpful in providing direction and gaining insight into how to draft their own cleaning service business plan.

Download our Ultimate Cleaning Service Business Plan Template

Having a thorough business plan in place is critical for any successful cleaning service venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help you secure financing from lenders or investors. A cleaning service business plan example can be a great resource to draw upon when creating your own plan, making sure that all the key components are included in your document.

The cleaning service business plan sample below will give you an idea of what one should look like. It is not as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your cleaning service business as Growthink’s Ultimate Cleaning Service Business Plan Template , but it can help you write a cleaning service business plan of your own.

Example – PristineClean Experts

Table of contents, executive summary, company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan.

PristineClean Experts is a professional cleaning service located in Jacksonville, FL, dedicated to providing top-notch cleaning solutions for residential and commercial clients. We are committed to maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene, with services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients, ranging from regular home cleanings to comprehensive commercial maintenance. Our team, equipped with the latest cleaning technology and eco-friendly products, aims to offer an unparalleled cleaning experience, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty. Our focus on quality, reliability, and customer service positions us as a leading choice for cleaning services in the Jacksonville area.

Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. We’ve built a strong reputation in the Jacksonville area through our reliable service, attention to detail, and the ability to tailor our offerings to meet the unique needs of each customer. Our team’s expertise and use of advanced cleaning technologies have set us apart in the industry. To date, we’ve achieved significant milestones, including a growing base of loyal residential and commercial clients, and we are continuously expanding our services to cater to the evolving needs of our community.

The cleaning services industry is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing demand from both residential and commercial sectors. In Jacksonville, FL, this upward trend is reflected in the growing number of households and businesses seeking professional cleaning services to maintain hygiene and appeal. The industry’s expansion is further fueled by heightened health awareness and the need for sanitized environments, particularly in the wake of health crises. PristineClean Experts is well-positioned to capitalize on this demand, offering comprehensive cleaning solutions that cater to the specific needs of our diverse client base.

PristineClean Experts targets a wide range of customers in Jacksonville, FL, focusing primarily on homeowners and apartment dwellers seeking regular and one-off cleaning services. Our tailored approach aims to accommodate the unique cleaning needs of each homeowner, ensuring their spaces are impeccably maintained. Additionally, we serve landlords and small to medium-sized businesses, including office spaces and retail stores, who value professional cleaning to enhance their environment for tenants and clients alike. By addressing the distinct requirements of these customer segments, we ensure high satisfaction and loyalty.

Top Competitors:

CleanMaster Solutions: Offers a range of residential and commercial cleaning services. Sparkle Homes: Specializes in residential cleaning with customizable packages. OfficeClean Express: Focuses on commercial spaces, providing tailored cleaning services.

Competitive Advantages: PristineClean Experts stands out through our commitment to using eco-friendly cleaning products and state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring a thorough and environmentally safe clean. Our highly trained staff and personalized service plans offer a superior cleaning experience, setting us apart from competitors and making us the preferred choice in Jacksonville.

Our marketing plan emphasizes the diversity and quality of our cleaning services, with competitive pricing to match. We offer a range of services from basic home cleaning to specialized commercial maintenance, ensuring a tailored approach to meet the specific needs of our clients. Pricing is structured to provide value while reflecting the high standard of our services. Promotions will be conducted through various channels including social media, local advertising, and word-of-mouth referrals. Special offers and discounts for first-time clients and loyalty programs for regular customers are key strategies to attract and retain our customer base.

Our operations are centered around efficiency and customer satisfaction. Key processes include streamlined booking and scheduling, responsive customer service, rigorous staff training, and stringent quality control measures. We employ reliable scheduling software and maintain excellent communication with clients. Our equipment and inventory are regularly checked to ensure operational readiness. Financial management, marketing efforts, and compliance with safety regulations are also integral parts of our daily operations. Achieving these operational milestones is essential for delivering consistent, high-quality service.

Our management team consists of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds in business management, customer service, and the cleaning industry. Their collective expertise provides the strategic direction and operational oversight necessary to achieve our business objectives. This strong leadership is instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and customer-centricity within PristineClean Experts.

Welcome to PristineClean Experts, a new Cleaning Service making waves in Jacksonville, FL. We pride ourselves on being a local cleaning service business, filling a much-needed gap in the community. Our mission is to provide unparalleled cleaning services, as we’ve identified a lack of high-quality local cleaning service businesses in the area. Our team is dedicated to ensuring every corner of your space shines, offering a comprehensive suite of cleaning solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

At PristineClean Experts, our services cater to a wide range of needs including Residential Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Janitorial Services, Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning, and Specialized Cleaning Services. We understand the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment, whether it’s the comfort of your home or the professionalism of your business space. Our team is equipped with the latest cleaning technology and practices, ensuring efficient and thorough service delivery. We are here to simplify your life, providing hassle-free and reliable cleaning solutions right at your doorstep.

Based in Jacksonville, FL, PristineClean Experts is strategically located to serve customers throughout the city. This prime location allows us to respond quickly to our clients’ needs, ensuring timely and reliable service. We are committed to making a noticeable difference in our community, one clean space at a time.

PristineClean Experts is uniquely qualified to succeed for several reasons. Firstly, our founder brings a wealth of experience from running a successful cleaning service business previously. This experience is invaluable in understanding the intricacies of the industry and ensuring that we stay ahead of the competition. Moreover, we are confident in our ability to offer better cleaning services than our competitors, thanks to our dedicated team, state-of-the-art equipment, and innovative cleaning techniques.

Since our inception on January 3, 2024, as a S Corporation, we have achieved several milestones that we’re incredibly proud of. Our journey began with the creation of a unique logo that represents our brand’s ethos and dedication to cleanliness. We also invested time in developing a memorable company name that resonates with our mission and values. Additionally, we secured a great location that serves as the hub for our operations, enabling us to efficiently manage our services and cater to the needs of our clients in Jacksonville, FL. These accomplishments are just the beginning, and we are excited about the future of PristineClean Experts.

The Cleaning Service industry in the United States is currently experiencing significant growth and is poised for continued expansion in the coming years. According to a market research report, the industry generated approximately $46.3 billion in revenue in 2020. This indicates a substantial market size and highlights the demand for professional cleaning services across the country. Furthermore, the market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% from 2021 to 2028, reaching a projected value of $74.3 billion. These figures demonstrate the immense potential for growth and profitability within the Cleaning Service industry.

Several trends in the Cleaning Service industry are contributing to its positive outlook, which bodes well for PristineClean Experts. Firstly, there is a growing emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers are now more conscious of the importance of maintaining cleanliness and sanitization in their homes and workplaces. This increased awareness has led to a surge in demand for professional cleaning services. Secondly, an aging population and busy lifestyles have resulted in a greater need for outsourcing household chores, including cleaning. As more individuals seek convenience and time-saving solutions, the demand for Cleaning Service providers like PristineClean Experts is expected to rise.

Furthermore, technological advancements and the adoption of innovative cleaning methods are shaping the future of the industry. Cleaning companies are increasingly utilizing advanced equipment, environmentally friendly cleaning products, and digital platforms to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. PristineClean Experts can capitalize on these industry trends by offering state-of-the-art cleaning solutions and leveraging digital marketing strategies to reach a wider customer base. By staying ahead of the curve and providing exceptional service, PristineClean Experts is well-positioned to thrive in the growing Cleaning Service industry in Jacksonville, FL.

Below is a description of our target customers and their core needs.

Target Customers

PristineClean Experts will target a broad spectrum of local residents in Jacksonville, FL, focusing on homeowners looking for regular and one-time cleaning services. This group is expected to form the core of their customer base, seeking to maintain their homes in pristine condition without dedicating personal time to the task. The company will tailor its offerings to meet the specific needs of these homeowners, ranging from basic cleaning to deep cleaning services.

Aside from individual homeowners, PristineClean Experts will also cater to apartment dwellers and landlords who require cleaning services for move-ins and move-outs. This segment recognizes the value of maintaining clean living spaces to attract and retain tenants. By offering flexible and customizable cleaning plans, PristineClean Experts will address the unique demands of apartment cleaning, ensuring spaces are spotless for current and future residents.

Moreover, PristineClean Experts will extend its services to small and medium-sized businesses in Jacksonville, FL. This customer segment comprises office spaces, retail stores, and small clinics that must uphold a high standard of cleanliness to ensure a healthy and appealing environment for employees and clients alike. The company will develop commercial cleaning packages that guarantee thorough cleaning, disinfection, and maintenance of business premises, aligning with the professional image these establishments aim to project.

Customer Needs

PristineClean Experts can fulfill the profound need for high-quality cleaning services among Jacksonville residents who desire a spotless living environment without the time or energy to achieve it themselves. Clients expect thoroughness and attention to detail, ensuring that every corner of their home meets their high standards of cleanliness. This demand highlights the necessity for a service that can consistently deliver exceptional results, tailored to the individual needs of each household.

In addition to the basic expectation of cleanliness, customers also seek reliability and trustworthiness in their cleaning service provider. PristineClean Experts understands the importance of sending only well-vetted, professional cleaners into clients’ homes. Customers can rest assured knowing that their personal spaces are being treated with the utmost respect and care, fostering a relationship based on trust and mutual respect.

Moreover, the modern customer values convenience and flexibility in service arrangements. PristineClean Experts addresses this need by offering easy scheduling options and customizable cleaning plans. By accommodating the busy lifestyles of Jacksonville residents, PristineClean Experts ensures that maintaining a clean and healthy home environment does not add to the stresses of daily life but rather alleviates them.

PristineClean Experts’s competitors include the following companies:

Bonnie’s Maids offers a comprehensive suite of cleaning services tailored for residential properties, including standard house cleaning, deep cleaning, and move-in/move-out services. Their price points are competitive, aiming to offer value through quality services at accessible rates. Revenues for Bonnie’s Maids suggest a strong local market presence, indicative of their ability to retain and satisfy a diverse client base. They operate primarily within the Jacksonville area, focusing on residential customers seeking regular or one-time cleaning services. Key strengths include their established reputation and customer loyalty, while a potential weakness is their limited service offerings beyond residential cleaning.

Evolution DR Cleaning Service specializes in both residential and commercial cleaning solutions, providing a broad spectrum of services ranging from regular housekeeping to specialized cleaning for offices and retail spaces. Their pricing strategy is flexible, offering customized quotes based on the size and specific needs of the job, allowing them to cater to a wide range of budget considerations. Evolution DR Cleaning Service generates significant revenue, reflecting their broad service offerings and ability to serve both households and businesses effectively. They serve the greater Jacksonville area, including some neighboring regions, targeting both homeowners and commercial entities. Their key strengths lie in their versatility and ability to handle diverse cleaning needs. A potential weakness could be the complexity of managing a wide range of services, which might impact service consistency.

Nicki’s House Cleaning focuses on delivering personalized cleaning services to residential clients, emphasizing customer satisfaction and attention to detail. They offer a variety of packages from basic cleaning to premium services, including eco-friendly options, with pricing that varies based on service depth and frequency. This approach allows them to attract different segments of the market, from budget-conscious to premium clients. Nicki’s House Cleaning has a solid revenue stream, supported by a loyal customer base and strong word-of-mouth referrals in Jacksonville and its suburbs. They exclusively serve the residential segment, providing them with a focused market approach but potentially limiting their growth in the commercial sector. Their strengths include high customer satisfaction and personalization of services. However, their focus on only residential services and the absence of commercial offerings could be seen as a weakness in diversifying their customer base.

Competitive Advantages

At PristineClean Experts, we pride ourselves on offering superior cleaning services compared to our competition. Our team is dedicated to providing meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every nook and cranny of our clients’ spaces are impeccably cleaned. We understand the unique needs of each customer and adapt our services accordingly, which allows us to deliver personalized cleaning solutions that exceed expectations. Additionally, our use of eco-friendly cleaning products not only ensures a thorough clean but also promotes a healthier environment for our clients and their families.

Moreover, our competitive advantage extends beyond just the quality of our cleaning services. We are committed to exceptional customer service, making sure that we are always accessible and responsive to our clients’ needs and feedback. Our flexible scheduling options can accommodate even the busiest of lifestyles, making it convenient for our customers to enjoy a pristine clean without disrupting their daily routines. Furthermore, our team consists of highly trained and trustworthy professionals who are passionate about what they do, which reflects in the quality of their work. With PristineClean Experts, clients can expect a seamless and satisfactory cleaning experience every time.

Our marketing plan, included below, details our products/services, pricing and promotions plan.

Products and Services

PristineClean Experts caters to a wide array of cleaning needs for both residential and commercial clients. Their comprehensive service offerings ensure that every nook and cranny, whether at home or in the office, is meticulously cleaned to perfection. The services they provide are not only varied but are also customized to meet the unique requirements of each client, ensuring satisfaction across the board.

Starting with Residential Cleaning, PristineClean Experts offers a thorough cleaning solution for homes of all sizes. This service includes dusting, vacuuming, mopping, bathroom cleaning, and kitchen cleaning, aiming to create a pristine living environment for homeowners. Prices for their residential cleaning services start at an average of $120 for a small home, scaling up based on the size of the property and specific cleaning requirements.

For businesses looking to maintain a clean and professional atmosphere, Commercial Cleaning services are available. PristineClean Experts understands the importance of a spotless workspace for both employee productivity and customer perception. Their commercial cleaning package includes office cleaning, restroom sanitation, trash removal, and floor care, with prices beginning at $200 for small office spaces. Larger commercial spaces can expect custom quotes based on the area to be cleaned and the services required.

Their Janitorial Services are designed to cater to institutions such as schools, hospitals, and large office buildings that require daily or weekly maintenance. This service focuses on ensuring that these high-traffic areas are consistently clean and sanitized. The starting price for janitorial services is around $250, adjusting for the frequency of cleaning and the scope of work.

Understanding the chaos associated with moving, PristineClean Experts offers Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning services to ease the transition. This comprehensive cleaning ensures that new residents step into a spotless space, and those moving out leave behind a clean slate. Prices for these services begin at $150 for small apartments, with variations depending on the size of the property and the extent of cleaning needed.

Lastly, Specialized Cleaning Services are available for those requiring more than just the standard cleaning procedures. This includes deep cleaning, carpet cleaning, window washing, and pressure washing, among others. These services are tailored to the specific needs of the client, with prices starting at $100 and increasing based on the complexity and requirements of the job.

In summary, PristineClean Experts offers a broad spectrum of cleaning services designed to meet the needs of both residential and commercial clients in Jacksonville, FL. Their commitment to providing impeccable cleaning solutions is reflected in their diverse service offerings and competitive pricing, ensuring that every space they touch is left in pristine condition.

Promotions Plan

PristineClean Experts leverage a dynamic mix of promotional methods to attract customers in Jacksonville, FL, with a primary focus on online marketing. They understand that in today’s digital age, a strong online presence will not just be beneficial but essential for reaching their target audience effectively. Hence, they will engage in a comprehensive online marketing strategy that includes the use of social media platforms, search engine optimization (SEO), and targeted advertising campaigns. Through these channels, PristineClean Experts will showcase their cleaning services, share customer testimonials, and provide valuable cleaning tips to engage with potential customers.

In addition to online marketing, PristineClean Experts will also deploy traditional marketing techniques such as distributing flyers and placing ads in local newspapers. These methods will complement their digital efforts by reaching potential customers who may not be as active online but are equally valuable to their business. Moreover, PristineClean Experts will establish partnerships with local businesses and real estate agents, creating a referral network that will help spread the word about their exceptional cleaning services.

Email marketing will play a crucial role in their promotional strategy. By collecting email addresses through their website and at local events, PristineClean Experts will send out regular newsletters that include special promotions, cleaning tips, and updates about their services. This direct line of communication will keep them at the forefront of their customers’ minds and encourage repeat business.

Understanding the power of word-of-mouth, PristineClean Experts will implement a customer referral program. Satisfied customers who refer new clients will receive discounts on future services, incentivizing them to spread the word about PristineClean Experts. This approach will not only help in acquiring new customers but also in building a loyal customer base.

Lastly, PristineClean Experts will actively seek out opportunities to sponsor local events or participate in community service projects. This will not only increase their visibility within the community but also build their reputation as a business that cares about the well-being of Jacksonville, FL.

By combining these promotional methods, PristineClean Experts will effectively reach and attract customers, establishing themselves as a leading cleaning service in Jacksonville, FL.

Our Operations Plan details:

  • The key day-to-day processes that our business performs to serve our customers
  • The key business milestones that our company expects to accomplish as we grow

Key Operational Processes

To ensure the success of PristineClean Experts, there are several key day-to-day operational processes that we will perform.

  • Utilize a reliable scheduling software to manage appointments efficiently.
  • Confirm appointments with customers a day ahead to ensure readiness and prevent no-shows.
  • Maintain a responsive customer service system, including phone, email, and chat support.
  • Collect feedback from customers after service completion to improve quality and customer satisfaction.
  • Conduct daily briefings with cleaning teams to discuss the day’s assignments and any special instructions from clients.
  • Ensure staff are well-trained in cleaning techniques and customer service skills.
  • Regularly check and maintain cleaning equipment to ensure they are in good working condition.
  • Keep track of inventory levels for cleaning supplies and reorder as necessary to prevent shortages.
  • Implement a quality control checklist for all cleaning jobs to ensure high standards are met consistently.
  • Conduct random spot checks on cleaning jobs to ensure compliance with company standards.
  • Monitor daily expenses and revenues to manage cash flow effectively.
  • Process payments promptly and follow up on any outstanding invoices.
  • Regularly update the company website and social media platforms with engaging content and special promotions.
  • Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews online to enhance the company’s reputation.
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations regarding cleaning services and employment.
  • Conduct regular safety training sessions for staff to prevent accidents and injuries.

PristineClean Experts expects to complete the following milestones in the coming months in order to ensure its success:

  • Secure Necessary Licenses and Insurance: Obtain all required business licenses and insurance policies to operate legally and safely in Jacksonville, FL. This step will mitigate legal risks and protect the company and its customers.
  • Establish an Effective Branding and Online Presence: Develop a strong brand identity, including a company logo, website, and social media profiles. This milestone is crucial for attracting customers and establishing trust in the market.
  • Hire and Train Cleaning Staff: Recruit, hire, and extensively train cleaning staff to ensure high-quality service. This includes training on cleaning techniques, customer service, and safety protocols, which is fundamental to building a reliable and professional team.
  • Launch Our Cleaning Service Business: Officially start offering cleaning services to residential and commercial clients in Jacksonville, FL. This involves marketing the launch to generate initial customers and feedback.
  • Secure Key Contracts with Commercial Clients: Obtain contracts with commercial entities such as offices, retail stores, and apartment complexes. This will provide a steady income stream and help in achieving financial stability.
  • Implement a Customer Feedback and Quality Control System: Establish mechanisms for collecting customer feedback and conducting regular quality checks. This system will ensure continuous improvement and high customer satisfaction, which is critical for repeat business and referrals.
  • Reach $15,000/Month in Revenue: Achieve the financial goal of generating $15,000 in monthly revenue. This milestone will indicate market acceptance and the potential for sustainable growth and profitability.
  • Expand Services or Service Area: Depending on market demand and operational capacity, consider expanding the range of services offered or extending the service area beyond Jacksonville, FL. This growth strategy should be based on solid customer demand and the ability to maintain quality standards.

These milestones are designed to build a strong foundation for PristineClean Experts, mitigate risks associated with starting a new business, and guide the company towards achieving success in the competitive cleaning service industry.

SavorFest Caterers management team, which includes the following members, has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan:

Ava Thompson, President

Ava Thompson, President, brings a wealth of experience to PristineClean Experts, having previously led a successful cleaning service business. Her entrepreneurial journey is marked by her ability to identify market needs and respond with innovative solutions that drive customer satisfaction and loyalty. Ava’s leadership style is characterized by a hands-on approach, fostering a culture of excellence and accountability within her teams. Her proven track record in business management and strategic planning makes her uniquely qualified to guide PristineClean Experts towards achieving its vision of becoming the leading provider in the cleaning services industry.

To reach our growth goals, PristineClean Experts requires significant funding. This investment will be directed towards expanding our service offerings, marketing efforts to increase brand visibility, and enhancing operational efficiencies. By securing the necessary funding, we are poised to capitalize on market opportunities, drive revenue growth, and establish PristineClean Experts as a market leader in the cleaning services industry in Jacksonville, FL.

Financial Statements

Balance sheet.

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Income Statement

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Cash Flow Statement

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Cleaning Service Business Plan Example PDF

Download our Cleaning Service Business Plan PDF here. This is a free cleaning service business plan example to help you get started on your own cleaning service plan.  

How to Finish Your Cleaning Service Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your cleaning service business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

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Car Rental Business Plan PDF Example

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  • February 22, 2024
  • Business Plan

Business plan template for a Car rental business

Creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for launching and running a successful car rental. This plan serves as your roadmap, detailing your vision, operational strategies, and financial plan. It helps establish your car rental’s identity, navigate the competitive market, and secure funding for growth.

This article not only breaks down the critical components of a car rental business plan, but also provides an example of a business plan to help you craft your own.

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or new to the service industry, this guide, complete with a business plan example, lays the groundwork for turning your car rental concept into reality. Let’s dive in!

Our car rental business plan is designed to provide a detailed roadmap for establishing and scaling our car rental service. This plan covers key areas essential for a robust business strategy, including operational procedures, marketing strategies, analysis of the market environment and competitors, organizational structure, and financial projections.

  • Executive Summary: Offers an overview of your car rental business concept, market analysis, management, and financial strategy.
  • Car Rental Facility & Location: Describes the operational aspects of your car rental service, including fleet management, vehicle maintenance, and the strategic importance of your location(s) for accessibility and customer convenience.
  • Fleet & Rates: Lists the types of vehicles and rental services offered, including any special packages (e.g., insurance, GPS, luxury vehicle options), along with a clear pricing structure.
  • Key Stats: Shares industry size, growth trends, and relevant statistics for the car rental market.
  • Key Trends: Highlights recent trends in the car rental industry, such as the impact of technology on bookings and vehicle management, and the shift towards eco-friendly vehicles.
  • Key Competitors: Analyzes main competitors in your area and differentiates your service in terms of vehicle range, customer service, and pricing.
  • SWOT: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis specific to your car rental business.
  • Marketing Plan: Details strategies for promoting your car rental service, including digital marketing, partnerships, and loyalty programs.
  • Timeline: Key milestones and objectives from launch through the first year of operation, such as fleet expansion, service diversification, and market penetration goals.
  • Management: Information on who manages the car rental service and their roles, emphasizing experience in the automotive or service industry.
  • Financial Plan: Projects the car rental service’s 5-year financial performance, including revenue streams (daily rentals, long-term leases, additional services), profit margins, and significant expenses (vehicle acquisition, maintenance, staffing).

Business plan template for a Car rental business

Car Rental Business Plan

Download an expert-built 30+ slides Powerpoint business plan template

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary presents a brief overview of your car rental business plan, highlighting the core aspects of your operation. It should elaborate on your market positioning, detailing the variety of vehicles and rental services you offer, its prime location, fleet size, and an overview of daily operations.

This section must also delve into how your car rental service will integrate into the local market, including an analysis of direct competitors in the vicinity, identifying who they are, along with your business’s unique selling propositions that set it apart from these competitors.

Additionally, information regarding the management and founding team should be included, specifying their roles and how they contribute to the success of the car rental business. A summary of financial projections, including expected revenue and profits over the next five years, should also be presented here to provide a clear picture of your business’s financial outlook.

Make sure to cover here _ Business Overview _ Market Overview _ Management Team _ Financial Plan

Car Rental Business Plan executive summary1

Dive deeper into Executive Summary

Business Overview

For a Car Rental, the Business Overview section can be efficiently organized into 2 main parts:

Car Rental Facility & Location

Describe the car rental fleet, focusing on the variety and quality of vehicles available for rent, including economy cars, SUVs, luxury vehicles, and any specialty vehicles such as electric or hybrid models. Also, Highlight the rental location’s features, emphasizing its strategic positioning for ease of access, such as proximity to airports, major transit hubs, or tourist attractions. Discuss why this location benefits your business in attracting your target customers, including tourists, business travelers, or locals needing temporary transportation.

Fleet & Rates

Detail the range of rental services offered, from short-term daily rentals to long-term leasing options. Include any specialized services like one-way rentals, vehicle delivery and pickup, or international booking capabilities. Outline your pricing structure, ensuring it is competitive yet reflects the value and quality of your fleet and services. Additionally, Emphasize any unique offerings, such as flexible rental periods, comprehensive insurance options, or loyalty programs, to encourage repeat business and enhance customer loyalty.

Make sure to cover here _ Car Rental Facility & Location _ Fleet & Rates

example of company overview for business plan

Market Overview

Industry size & growth.

In the Market Overview of your car rental business plan, begin by evaluating the size of the car rental industry and its growth prospects. This analysis is essential to comprehend the market’s extent and pinpoint opportunities for expansion.

Key Market Trends

Next, explore recent trends within the market, such as the increasing demand for flexible transportation solutions, the growth of car-sharing and ride-hailing services, and the shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles. Highlight the need for services that offer convenience, such as online booking and diverse rental options, as well as the growing consumer interest in environmentally friendly transportation alternatives.

Key Competitors

Finally, assess the competitive landscape, which ranges from large multinational chains to local independent rental agencies, as well as alternative transportation services like ride-sharing apps. Focus on what sets your car rental service apart, whether it’s through superior customer experience, a wide range of vehicle options, or niche services like luxury or eco-friendly vehicles. This section will help outline the demand for car rental services, the competitive environment, and how your business is poised to succeed in this evolving market.

Make sure to cover here _ Industry size & growth _ Key competitors _ Key market trends

Car Rental Business Plan market overview

Dive deeper into Key competitors

First, perform a SWOT analysis for the car rental , identifying Strengths (such as a diverse fleet of vehicles and convenient location), Weaknesses (including potential high maintenance costs or the impact of seasonal demand fluctuations), Opportunities (for instance, the growing trend in eco-tourism driving demand for electric vehicle rentals), and Threats (like changes in regulatory environments or economic downturns affecting travel budgets).

Marketing Plan

Then, devise a marketing strategy that outlines methods to attract and retain customers through strategic advertising campaigns, competitive pricing models, a strong online presence, and partnerships with travel agencies and local businesses.

Lastly, establish a comprehensive timeline detailing key milestones for the car rental’s launch, marketing initiatives, customer base development, and growth plans, ensuring the business progresses with clear goals and objectives.

Make sure to cover here _ SWOT _ Marketing Plan _ Timeline

Car Rental Business Plan strategy

Dive deeper into SWOT

Dive deeper into Marketing Plan

The management section focuses on the car rental’s management and their direct roles in daily operations and strategic direction. This part is crucial for understanding who is responsible for making key decisions and driving the car rental towards its financial and operational goals.

For your car rental business plan, list the core team members, their specific responsibilities, and how their expertise supports the business.

Car Rental Business Plan management

Financial Plan

The Financial Plan section is a comprehensive analysis of your financial projections for revenue, expenses, and profitability. It lays out your car rental’s approach to securing funding, managing cash flow, and achieving breakeven.

This section typically includes detailed forecasts for the first 5 years of operation, highlighting expected revenue, operating costs and capital expenditures.

For your car rental business plan, provide a snapshot of your financial statement (profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement), as well as your key assumptions (e.g. number of customers and prices, expenses, etc.).

Make sure to cover here _ Profit and Loss _ Cash Flow Statement _ Balance Sheet _ Use of Funds

Car Rental Business Plan financial plan

Privacy Overview

example of company overview for business plan

Create a form in Word that users can complete or print

In Word, you can create a form that others can fill out and save or print.  To do this, you will start with baseline content in a document, potentially via a form template.  Then you can add content controls for elements such as check boxes, text boxes, date pickers, and drop-down lists. Optionally, these content controls can be linked to database information.  Following are the recommended action steps in sequence.  

Show the Developer tab

In Word, be sure you have the Developer tab displayed in the ribbon.  (See how here:  Show the developer tab .)

Open a template or a blank document on which to base the form

You can start with a template or just start from scratch with a blank document.

Start with a form template

Go to File > New .

In the  Search for online templates  field, type  Forms or the kind of form you want. Then press Enter .

In the displayed results, right-click any item, then select  Create. 

Start with a blank document 

Select Blank document .

Add content to the form

Go to the  Developer  tab Controls section where you can choose controls to add to your document or form. Hover over any icon therein to see what control type it represents. The various control types are described below. You can set properties on a control once it has been inserted.

To delete a content control, right-click it, then select Remove content control  in the pop-up menu. 

Note:  You can print a form that was created via content controls. However, the boxes around the content controls will not print.

Insert a text control

The rich text content control enables users to format text (e.g., bold, italic) and type multiple paragraphs. To limit these capabilities, use the plain text content control . 

Click or tap where you want to insert the control.

Rich text control button

To learn about setting specific properties on these controls, see Set or change properties for content controls .

Insert a picture control

A picture control is most often used for templates, but you can also add a picture control to a form.

Picture control button

Insert a building block control

Use a building block control  when you want users to choose a specific block of text. These are helpful when you need to add different boilerplate text depending on the document's specific purpose. You can create rich text content controls for each version of the boilerplate text, and then use a building block control as the container for the rich text content controls.

building block gallery control

Select Developer and content controls for the building block.

Developer tab showing content controls

Insert a combo box or a drop-down list

In a combo box, users can select from a list of choices that you provide or they can type in their own information. In a drop-down list, users can only select from the list of choices.

combo box button

Select the content control, and then select Properties .

To create a list of choices, select Add under Drop-Down List Properties .

Type a choice in Display Name , such as Yes , No , or Maybe .

Repeat this step until all of the choices are in the drop-down list.

Fill in any other properties that you want.

Note:  If you select the Contents cannot be edited check box, users won’t be able to click a choice.

Insert a date picker

Click or tap where you want to insert the date picker control.

Date picker button

Insert a check box

Click or tap where you want to insert the check box control.

Check box button

Use the legacy form controls

Legacy form controls are for compatibility with older versions of Word and consist of legacy form and Active X controls.

Click or tap where you want to insert a legacy control.

Legacy control button

Select the Legacy Form control or Active X Control that you want to include.

Set or change properties for content controls

Each content control has properties that you can set or change. For example, the Date Picker control offers options for the format you want to use to display the date.

Select the content control that you want to change.

Go to Developer > Properties .

Controls Properties  button

Change the properties that you want.

Add protection to a form

If you want to limit how much others can edit or format a form, use the Restrict Editing command:

Open the form that you want to lock or protect.

Select Developer > Restrict Editing .

Restrict editing button

After selecting restrictions, select Yes, Start Enforcing Protection .

Restrict editing panel

Advanced Tip:

If you want to protect only parts of the document, separate the document into sections and only protect the sections you want.

To do this, choose Select Sections in the Restrict Editing panel. For more info on sections, see Insert a section break .

Sections selector on Resrict sections panel

If the developer tab isn't displayed in the ribbon, see Show the Developer tab .

Open a template or use a blank document

To create a form in Word that others can fill out, start with a template or document and add content controls. Content controls include things like check boxes, text boxes, and drop-down lists. If you’re familiar with databases, these content controls can even be linked to data.

Go to File > New from Template .

New from template option

In Search, type form .

Double-click the template you want to use.

Select File > Save As , and pick a location to save the form.

In Save As , type a file name and then select Save .

Start with a blank document

Go to File > New Document .

New document option

Go to File > Save As .

Go to Developer , and then choose the controls that you want to add to the document or form. To remove a content control, select the control and press Delete. You can set Options on controls once inserted. From Options, you can add entry and exit macros to run when users interact with the controls, as well as list items for combo boxes, .

Adding content controls to your form

In the document, click or tap where you want to add a content control.

On Developer , select Text Box , Check Box , or Combo Box .

Developer tab with content controls

To set specific properties for the control, select Options , and set .

Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each control that you want to add.

Set options

Options let you set common settings, as well as control specific settings. Select a control and then select Options to set up or make changes.

Set common properties.

Select Macro to Run on lets you choose a recorded or custom macro to run on Entry or Exit from the field.

Bookmark Set a unique name or bookmark for each control.

Calculate on exit This forces Word to run or refresh any calculations, such as total price when the user exits the field.

Add Help Text Give hints or instructions for each field.

OK Saves settings and exits the panel.

Cancel Forgets changes and exits the panel.

Set specific properties for a Text box

Type Select form Regular text, Number, Date, Current Date, Current Time, or Calculation.

Default text sets optional instructional text that's displayed in the text box before the user types in the field. Set Text box enabled to allow the user to enter text into the field.

Maximum length sets the length of text that a user can enter. The default is Unlimited .

Text format can set whether text automatically formats to Uppercase , Lowercase , First capital, or Title case .

Text box enabled Lets the user enter text into a field. If there is default text, user text replaces it.

Set specific properties for a Check box .

Default Value Choose between Not checked or checked as default.

Checkbox size Set a size Exactly or Auto to change size as needed.

Check box enabled Lets the user check or clear the text box.

Set specific properties for a Combo box

Drop-down item Type in strings for the list box items. Press + or Enter to add an item to the list.

Items in drop-down list Shows your current list. Select an item and use the up or down arrows to change the order, Press - to remove a selected item.

Drop-down enabled Lets the user open the combo box and make selections.

Protect the form

Go to Developer > Protect Form .

Protect form button on the Developer tab

Note:  To unprotect the form and continue editing, select Protect Form again.

Save and close the form.

Test the form (optional)

If you want, you can test the form before you distribute it.

Protect the form.

Reopen the form, fill it out as the user would, and then save a copy.

Creating fillable forms isn’t available in Word for the web.

You can create the form with the desktop version of Word with the instructions in Create a fillable form .

When you save the document and reopen it in Word for the web, you’ll see the changes you made.

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IMAGES

  1. Free PDF Business Plan Templates

    example of company overview for business plan

  2. How To Write the Perfect Business Plan in 9 Steps (2023)

    example of company overview for business plan

  3. 14 Business Plan Examples & Samples to Write Your Own (2023)

    example of company overview for business plan

  4. Business Plan Overview Template: MindGenius mind map template

    example of company overview for business plan

  5. FREE 8+ Sample Business Summary Templates in PDF

    example of company overview for business plan

  6. Free One-Page Business Plan Templates

    example of company overview for business plan

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  1. Type of business plan discussion🔥| How to Start New business in 2024@RupaOdiaKahani

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  4. BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATION //Business plan presentation discussion //How to make business plan

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  6. BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATION || Business plan presentation discussion || How to make business plan

COMMENTS

  1. Examples of Company Overviews in a Business Plan

    Examples of a Company Summary Tips for Writing a Company Summary Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Image by Theresa Chiechi à © The Balance 2019 The company summary in a business plan —also known as the company description or overview—is a high-level look at what you are as a company and how all the elements of the business fit together.

  2. How to Write a Company Overview for a Business Plan

    ZenBusiness Annual Fee $0 Read Review Start now What is a company overview? A company overview provides the reader of your business plan with basic background information about your...

  3. How To Write a Business Overview (With Examples)

    1. Start with your pitch The first sentence of your business overview should serve as a sort of elevator pitch for your company—a quick summary that defines who you are and what you do. In your pitch, you may include your offerings as a company and the target audience that you serve.

  4. How to Write a Company Overview + Examples

    How to Write a Company Overview + Examples - Bplans Business planning How to write How to Write the Company Overview for a Business Plan Tim Berry 10 min. read Updated January 17, 2024 Download Now: Free Business Plan Template What does your business structure look like? Who is involved? What's your history?

  5. Business Plan Executive Summary Example & Template

    A business plan is a document that you create that outlines your company's objectives and how you plan to meet those objectives. ... Business Plan Executive Summary Example & Template ...

  6. A Quick Guide to How to Write a Company Overview for Your Business Plan

    Quick Read The company overview is part of a business plan that gives a general description of your company. It typically includes a company description and its history, legal structure, mission statement, target market, team members, etc.

  7. How to Write a Company Overview [With Examples]

    By Anup Joshi What is a Company Overview? When it comes to developing a successful business plan, it's essential to have a well-written and effective company overview. What is a company overview? and how to write a promising company overview.

  8. Write your business plan

    Executive summary. Briefly tell your reader what your company is and why it will be successful. Include your mission statement, your product or service, and basic information about your company's leadership team, employees, and location. You should also include financial information and high-level growth plans if you plan to ask for financing.

  9. Business Plan

    Business Plan Example and Template Learn how to create a business plan Over 1.8 million professionals use CFI to learn accounting, financial analysis, modeling and more. Start with a free account to explore 20+ always-free courses and hundreds of finance templates and cheat sheets. Start Free Written by CFI Team What is a Business Plan?

  10. How to Write an Effective Company Overview for Business Plan

    Sudeshna Ray December 12, 2023 8 Min Read Writing a detailed company overview is a significant part of chalking out an efficient business plan. While investors and other concerned parties might be interested in listening to your business ideas and several raw details, having an overview of your brand or company can have a little more impact.

  11. How To Write A Business Plan (2024 Guide)

    Describe Your Services or Products. The business plan should have a section that explains the services or products that you're offering. This is the part where you can also describe how they fit ...

  12. How To Write a Company Overview in a Business Plan?

    1-Basic Information The basic information of your company includes when your company was formed, how many employees you have, how much you are selling currently, your customer demographics, etc. 2- Owners & Managers Profiles Include your owners' and managers' profiles in the business plan company overview section.

  13. 7 Business Plan Examples to Inspire Your Own (2024)

    7 business plan examples: section by section The business plan examples in this article follow this example template: Executive summary. An introductory overview of your business. Company description. A more in-depth and detailed description of your business and why it exists. Market analysis.

  14. How to Write a Powerful Executive Summary [+4 Top Examples]

    A business plan includes a company overview, your company's short-term and long-term goals, information on your product or service, sales targets, expense budgets, your marketing plan, and a list including each member of your management team.

  15. 24 of My Favorite Sample Business Plans & Examples For Your Inspiration

    Executive Summary Business Plan Examples. This example was created with HubSpot's business plan template: ... This fictional business plan for an art supply store includes everything one might need in a business plan: an executive summary, a company summary, a list of services, a market analysis summary, and more. ...

  16. How To Write a Company Overview (With Example and Tips)

    For example, a company overview for a business that operates remotely may include details about a virtual workspace, rather than its physical location. Here are the typical sections included in a company overview, with examples to help you write each one: Company summary

  17. Company Overview for Business Plan

    1-Basic Information 2- Owners & Managers Profiles 3- Company History 4- Mission Statement 5- Product/Service and Customer 6- Goals How to Write a Business Overview? Use Elevator Pitch Keep yourself to the Basics Show Passion for your Business Keep it Compact Have Structure Get a test reader Proofread Company Overview examples

  18. How to Write a Simple Business Plan

    Write the Executive Summary. This section is the same as in the traditional business plan — simply offer an overview of what's in the business plan, the prospect or core offering, and the short- and long-term goals of the company. Add a Company Overview. Document the larger company mission and vision.

  19. How to Write a Great Business Plan: Overview and Objectives

    Focus on the basics first: Identify your industry: Retail, wholesale, service, manufacturing, etc. Clearly define your type of business. Identify your customer. You cannot market and sell to ...

  20. Company Overview

    The company overview, also called the company description, offers a snapshot of your business as it stands today. This section is designed to give the reader a general idea of your company, the company's products and services, its legal structure, the company's mission statement and goals, how it operates, where it is based, as well as how ...

  21. 550+ Sample Business Plan Examples to Inspire Your Own

    The business model canvas is a one-page template designed to demystify the business planning process. It removes the need for a traditional, copy-heavy business plan, in favor of a single-page outline that can help you and outside parties better explore your business idea. The structure ditches a linear format in favor of a cell-based template.

  22. Simple Business Plan Template (2024)

    This section of your simple business plan template explores how to structure and operate your business. Details include the type of business organization your startup will take, roles and ...

  23. Company Overview Examples (With Steps to Create One)

    1. Write a pitch You can start an overview by creating an elevator pitch that summarizes your company and what it does. This can include the company's products or services and its target audience. You can also use this first paragraph to highlight how the company is different from its competition.

  24. Sample Cleaning Service Business Plan

    It is not as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your cleaning service business as Growthink's Ultimate Cleaning Service Business Plan Template, but it can help you write a cleaning service business plan of your own. Example - PristineClean Experts Table of Contents. Executive Summary; Company Overview; Industry Analysis

  25. Car Rental Business Plan PDF Example

    The Executive Summary presents a brief overview of your car rental business plan, highlighting the core aspects of your operation. It should elaborate on your market positioning, detailing the variety of vehicles and rental services you offer, its prime location, fleet size, and an overview of daily operations.

  26. Create a form in Word that users can complete or print

    In Word, you can create a form that others can fill out and save or print. To do this, you will start with baseline content in a document, potentially via a form template. Then you can add content controls for elements such as check boxes, text boxes, date pickers, and drop-down lists. Optionally, these content controls can be linked to ...