SCORE WESTCHESTER

Sample Business Plan

A) Business description:

1. When was business started?
2. Who are the founders?
3. What is their relevant experience?
4. What are the business goals (mission statement)?
5. What is the form of business establishment?
6. a. sole proprietor
   b. partnership
   c. corporation
   d. S-corporation
7. What is the business progress to date?
8. What products or services have you developed?
9. What was the success of each product and/or service?

1. What is your current planned product or service?
2. What benefits will you offer ( lower cost, greater versatility, better quality, etc. )
3. Do you need legal protection ( patents or copyrights )?
4. Do you need government approvals of licenses?

1. Who are or will be your competition?
2. What are their strengths, weaknesses, and market share for the next three years?
3. how do you expect to get this share?
4. What niche do you expect to fill?
5. What is your strategy (i.e. what will you do to market your product or service)?

1. Who will be your customers ( retailers, manufactures, institutions, government, etc. )?
2. Who will be your future customers ( local, regional, national, international )?

1. What market research have you done or plan to do?
2. What market testing have you done? What were the results?

1. Will you use your own salespeople, representatives or other method such as direct response?
2. How will you pay your sales staff ( i.e. salary, commission or both)?
3. Will you offer bonuses or incentives? Why?

1. How will you price your product or service?
2. How will your prices compare with those of your competitors?
3. Will you offer special inducements (i.e. quantity discounts, extended warranties, long credit terms, etc. )?

1. If you are a retailer, where will you buy your merchandise?
2. If you are providing a service, how will you provide your service?
3. If you are a manufacturer, where will you get your materials?
4. What business insurance will you carry?
5. How many and what type employees will you require?
6. Will you subcontract any of your work?

1. Who will make up your management team?
2. What is the experience of each team member as it applies to this project?
3. What is the job of each team member and employee?

1. Do you have an accountant? If not, get one.
2. What are his/her credentials?
3. How much capital is required to launch this business?
4. What is the source of this capital?
5. What is your break even analysis?

Sales $_______________

Cost of Goods Sold $_______________

Gross Profit $_______________

Fixed Expenses $_______________

Net Profit (loss) $_______________
 

Step 1. Divide the gross profit by sales to get the gross profit as a percentage of sales.
Step 2. Divide fixed expenses by gross profit as a percentage of sales expressed as a decimal.

fixed expenses/gross profit = $ break even