An average Level 3 plan will include the following 35 sections:
Cover Page
The cover page generally has your company logo, your contact information including name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address.
Table of Contents
We build our business plans with a linked table of contents that is done in a manner so that if any changes are made to the text, the page numbers can quickly be updated.
Executive Summary
A summation of the business plan and the first thing an investor will read, the executive summary entails the market need, the solution the company will bring to it, and how it will accomplish this. It includes a short description of the company’s products and services, the size of the relevant market, how the company is uniquely suited to succeed, and the amount of investment being sought. Usually one or two pages in length, it is a brief yet important opportunity to persuade the reader to delve deeper into the document. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Objectives
This section generally includes bullet points of your company’s goals. These goals may include market capture rate, financial profitability timelines, and new product launch dates. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Mission Statement
A clear and concise statement defining your company’s mission.
Keys to Success
A listing of the steps required to achieve the company’s stated mission.
Investor Return & Financial Overview
The Investor Return section details the investor(s) initial investment, investment multiple, investment fifth year value, investor(s) share of the company, the value of the company in the fifth year, and internal rate of return for 3 different cases.
Company Summary
This section includes information regarding where the company will be located and how the company will be structured.
Company Ownership
A summation of the principle owners and their company share.
Pre-Operating Source and Use of Funds
The pre-operating source & use of funds section details the expenses, assets, inventory, investment and debt needed to facilitate the company’s business objectives. The pre-operating expenses and funding occur before the company receives revenue. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Products and Services
This section describes the company’s offering in the marketplace. It presents standard product and/or service descriptions, and how these differentiate the company from what is currently on the market. This is also the area to detail any proprietary products or processes, intellectual property, exclusive designs, patents, or other innovative offerings. If relevant, it will outline why the management is specially suited to bring the product to market, grow the company, help turn it around, etc. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Market Needs/Solutions
Simply put, what is the need and how will the company solve it? Why will this specific product or service succeed in the market now and in the future? It could include a brief narrative of the market and how it is not being effectively served or maybe a new need is about to be created in the market. For example, the U.S. is currently experiencing what could be the next baby boom. If the company has something that every new mother will need to buy, then that should definitively be outlined so as to make the potential of the company crystal clear. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Market Analysis
Here, potential investors are provided with a general overview of the market, specifically the size of the market relevant to the company’s operations. This could be on a national or international level for, say, a software company, or in a specific geographic region for a brick-and-mortar or other locally focused establishment. For a software company, this may describe the recent spike in the market for Software as a Service or business intelligence tools, for example. Other stats could detail e-commerce growth pertinent to the company or growth in particular market sectors. Included will be annual sales figures, market trends, major competitors, and projected future market size. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Market Segmentation
This section profiles potential customers on a business-to-consumer (B2C) and/or business-to-business (B2B) basis. It takes the size of the market and breaks it down specifically for the company with details such as demographics and psychographics for B2C, and the number and size of companies targeted for B2B. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Competitive Landscape
Research is done to find information on competitors. Competitor information may include their strengths and weaknesses, yearly sales, and number of employees. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Industry Summary
Industry information for the entire U.S. is compiled to list sales volume, number of businesses, and employees. Additionally, the number of businesses operating in each state is listed in a table. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Industry Analysis
This section includes information on U.S. sales per state and sales per employee per state. Specific information for your state and city will be detailed in a custom table. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Demographics Summary: Education/Marital/Language
This information includes school enrollment, education attainment, marital status, region of birth, and language spoken.
Demographics Summary: Employment/Industry/Income
This information includes employment status, how they commute to work, occupation, industries occupying the workforce, and class of worker. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Marketing Strategy/Implementation
Marketing initiatives and a web operations summary are detailed here. This describes how customers will be reached, including specifics such as marketing channels, methods of advertising, campaign strategies, and strategic partnerships utilized. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Web Summary
This section includes information on your company’s website and how it is used to increase profits.
SWOT Analysis
The SWOT analysis is included to provide an honest assessment of a company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It explains internal and external factors, and positive and negative forces affecting your company. This helps investors see the current state of a company and it also is an excellent tool for self-assessment.
Milestones
This section includes milestones that your company has set. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Management Summary
The history of the company and its owners is explored, including how they will use their experience to implement successful business strategies. For larger operations, this will include a summary of management gaps as well. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Management Gaps
A break-down of important information about staff and executives your company will need to hire. This section is done by our business plan writers.
Financial Summary
Provides an overview of your financial situation and financial projections. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Sales Assumptions
Assumptions to justify your sales projections. This should include market research and pricing strategy. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Revenue Forecast
The revenue forecast section details the revenue that the company will receive, and the direct costs. Comprehensive graphs illustrate the amount of revenue and gross margin each line item contributes. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Personnel Forecast
The personnel forecast breaks down the payroll expense line on the income statement, and provides total headcount, average salary per category and total pay per category. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Income Statement
The income statement is also known as a profit & loss statement. This table breaks down revenue, cost of revenue, operating expenses, depreciation, interest, taxes, and bottom-line earnings for the first five years. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Statement of Cash Flow
The statement of cash flow illustrates the company’s cash received and cash spent for a five year period. The table is broken down into three main categories: operating, investing, and financing. The operating activities report the company’s business operations. Investing activities detail the company’s property, plant, and equipment transactions. Financing activities account for the company’s paid-in capital and debt. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Balance Sheet
The balance sheet includes the company’s assets, liabilities, and shareholders’ equity for a given time-period. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Break-Even Analysis
The break-even analysis details two different break-even points. The operating break-even accounts for the company’s revenue and expenses on the income statement. The investment cash flow break-even takes the operating break-even one step further by including the inflow and outflows of the cash flow. The investment cash flow break-even looks at all transfers of money, except investments. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Best & Worse Case
The best and worse case analysis illustrates what the company’s financial statements might look like with an increase or decrease in revenue. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
Appendix – Year 1 Financials
Year 1 monthly forecast illustrates the company’s first 12 months, after the pre-operating stage. This section is completed by our financial consultants.
