The basic content generally found within a business plan:

Though business plans have many different presentation formats, business plans typically cover five major content areas: 

1. Your Background information (Your Story or “About Us” on your website)
2. Your Marketing Plan (Your Market Position)
3. Your Operational Plan (Collective, Programmatic, Strategic Plans plus Administrative, Review & Update policy/procedure)
4. Your Financial Plan (Your road to sustainability)
5. And, Discussion and documentation of Your Decision Making Criteria (DMC) that should be used to approve the plan. (Review Policy)

• Some of these content areas may be more or less important depending on the kind of business plan.
• There is no fixed content for a business plan.
• A business plan should contain whatever information is needed to decide whether or not to pursue a goal.

End - Part One; Business Planning Basics

Continue to Part Two: Things to Consider When Planning Your Business!

Return to: Business Planning for Sustainability - Short Course