How to write a business plan yourself?

Any novice entrepreneur is faced with the need to write a business plan, which for many is the key to the success of their own business. Therefore, it will be useful for everyone to figure out what is what and how it should be written. This will help him not only determine the scope of his activity but also see what prospects await her in the near future and how many financial resources will be required for this.

Why is it needed?

Each textbook on economics, PR course offers a consistent structure, following which you can write a business plan yourself without much difficulty. The need for a business plan arises for a person when he wants, for example, to receive investments, government assistance or a loan to start his own business.

It is clear that in such serious cases one should not rely only on one’s own knowledge, but it is advisable to turn to a professional who knows all the economic and legal nuances. He will be able to help you create a business plan according to all existing rules. As a rule, a specialist in the analysis and calculations will proceed from the requirements of the client and his financial capabilities. But for such a service you will need to pay well.

If we are talking about a micro-enterprise or just a trading stall or stall, going to economists for a business plan is simply ridiculous. This is, firstly, a waste of time and money, and, secondly, simply an unnecessary thing. In such an area, no study of the economic situation in this area, nor far-sighted calculations are needed.

Compilation Methods

A good, well-thought-out business plan is a necessary document that the bank will ask you for when applying for a loan, or for yourself if the minimum initial capital already exists. There are several methods for drawing up the structure of the future plan, but in the territory of the countries of the former USSR, mainly the first one.

Standard structure

The structure of the business plan assumes the following key points:

1. Business plan summary (brief abstract)
2. Goals and objectives of the project
3. Company Description
4. Analysis of the industry and its development trends
5. Target market
6. Competition
7. Strategic position and risk assessment
8. Marketing plan and sales strategy
9. Operating activities
10. Technology plan
11. organizational plan
12. Personnel plan
13. Financial plan
14. Social and environmental responsibility
15. Terms of business exit

The structure of the business plan according to the UNIDO methodology

Short name for United Nations Industrial Development Organization. UNIDO is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to fighting poverty through increased productivity.

The overall structure, in accordance with its standards, should have the following parameters:

1. Summary
2. The idea (essence) of the proposed project
   • General initial data and conditions.
   • Description of the sample of the new product.
   • Evaluation of business experience.
   • Market assessment.
   • Description of consumers of the new product.
   • Assessment of competitors.
   • Evaluation of own strengths and weaknesses relative to competitors.
3. marketing plan
   • Marketing goals.
   • Marketing strategy.
   • Financial support for the marketing plan.
4. Production plan
   • New product manufacturer.
   • Availability and required production capacity.
   • material factors of production.
   • Description of the production process.
5. organizational plan
   • The organizational and legal form of ownership of the company.
   • The organizational structure of the firm.
   • Distribution of duties.
   • Information about the partners.
   • Description of the external business environment.
   • The workforce of the firm.
   • Information about the members of the governing body.
6. Financial plan
   • Plan of income and expenses.
   • Plan of cash receipts and payments.
   • The consolidated balance sheet of assets and liabilities of the company.
   • Breakeven chart.
   • Funding strategy (sources of funds and their use).
   • Risk assessment and insurance.
7. Application

Methodology of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

1. Title page
2. Confidentiality Memorandum
3. Summary
4. Company
   1. The history of the development of the enterprise and its state at the time of the creation of the business plan, a description of current activities
   2. Owners, management personnel, employees of the enterprise
   3. Current activity
   4. Financial condition
   5. Loans
5. Project
   1. General information about the project
   2. Project investment plan
   3. Market analysis, competitiveness
   4. Description of the production process
   5. Financial plan
   6. Environmental assessment
6. Financing
   1. Schedules for obtaining and repaying credit funds
   2. Pledge and guarantee
   3. Equipment and works to be financed by the loan
   4. SWOT analysis
   5. Risks and mitigation measures
7. Applications