mallorca sailing catamarans

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Catamaran Mallorca, daily excursions

Two unforgettable experiences. the mediterranean awaits you.

Discover an extraordinary experience on the high seas with us at Attraction Catamaran Mallorca. Our dedicated crew is happy to provide you with top-notch service while you settle in. / An unforgettable journey aboard our Catamaran in the wonderful setting of the Mediterranean. / Enjoy the breeze and the warm sun while the best music sets the moment. Delight yourself with our exquisite catering and enjoy a good cocktail on board.

Adults: 75.00€

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Share an Exclusive Group Experience

For corporate events, weddings, family reunions or celebrations with friends in Palma de Mallorca, we offer you a tailored experience. Our services are designed specifically for you, allowing you to choose from a wide variety of menus to suit different tastes and budgets, without compromising the quality of our carefully selected products. We organize a personalized and unique event, tailor-made for that special day on our Mallorca Catamaran.

You decide the duration of the journey, the delicious catering you wish to enjoy, and the departure and return schedule.

An unforgettable and exclusive event where we offer you the best of Attraction Catamarans.

Discover our catering options for groups

Different menus organized and chosen to cover all options. Sail on a Catamaran and enjoy the waters of Palma de Mallorca and delight in this buffet on board in a Catamaran.

Diiscover more

Have you enjoyed an experience aboard our catamaran? We would love to know how your journey was and what you would highlight about our service. Leave a review and share your impressions so others can also enjoy unique moments with us! Your feedback helps us continue to improve and always offer the best. Thank you for being part of this wonderful experience!

Outdoor sports to enjoy in Mallorca: Options for all ages and skill levels 

Exploring cala blava, where to snorkel in mallorca, how to get around mallorca without a car, surfing in mallorca: the spots chosen by the experts, visiting mallorca by catamaran: the best times to do it and travel tips, unforgettable events in mallorca aboard a catamaran, what to do in palma: guide to unmissable spots, what is a sailing catamaran and its advantages in navigation, attraction catamarans palma de mallorca, two unforgettable catamaran experiences in mallorca.

At Attraction Catamarans Mallorca , we understand that each experience is unique and special. Therefore, ‘Attraction’ and ‘Inspiration’ are a safe bet for you to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea in Mallorca. 

Fancy a romantic sunset walk, an exciting full-day adventure, or a day rental? Up to you.

Additionally, if you hire the group service, you can personalize each experience with the catering and schedule you want. We take care of creating unique moments that fit your preferences and make you experience the sea in a way that is completely tailored to you.

Discover the coast of Palma by Catamaran!

We offer you a unique experience in Palma de Mallorca . Join our crew on an exciting catamaran excursion! Sail through the crystalline waters in the Cala Blava area, discover the curiosities of the Mallorcan coast. Relax in the sun, swim in turquoise waters, you will love our catamaran. Book your excursion in Palma de Mallorca today and experience magical moments on the high seas!

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LAST DAYS, LIMITED OFFER

10% off on sea day & sunset.

Muelle Office Avda. Gabriel Roca, 13 bajos Palma de Mallorca (07014) Balearic Islands, Spain

Opening At 9:00 to 20:00 hours

Phone +34 971 746 101 +34 675 263 206

Email [email protected]

• Premium Day Trip at Sea
• Palma Bay Excursion
• Sunset Tour
• Special Sunset Days
• Private Tour

Catamaran Oasis, A way of life

Customized vessel. Own design

Highly qualified crew

Catering: quality and service

Professional cocktail bar service

For a limited time get a 5% discount with the promocode: summer2024, 3 equally irresistible proposals, premium day trip at the sea, bay of palma or sunset... the choice is yours.

Premium  Day Trip at Sea Excursion

• 9:30h till 15h
• 15:30h till 21h

Bay of Palma Excursion

• 10h till 14:30h
• 15:30h till 20h

Sunset Excursion

Only adults.

Only Adults - Premium

RESERVE YOUR PRIVATE EXCURSIONS

Reserve your excursion, book one of our catamarans privately for you and your friends, a company event, a wedding, a special celebration... we will make your event unique, the perfect cocktail, we are aware that trust is our best guarantee..

We are sustainable

Don't be fooled, there is nothing more ecological than sailing and we try to use the sails as much as possible. Firstly because we love sailing and secondly to look after our Mediterranean Sea.

We don't use anything single-use on board, all the kitchenware is melamine, we work with returnable glass in our bar and we recycle all the rubbish.

We offer an all-round quality experience on board. Catamarans in a perfect state of maintenance and cleanliness, unbeatable service, delicious food and drinks... You won't experience anything like this!

Own kitchen

We have our own kitchen on land, on the Paseo Marítimo in Palma, we have all the permits and the corresponding Health Register for the catamaran and the kitchen.

Excellence on Tripadvisor since 2017

Oasis Catamaran is among the 10% of the best establishments on Tripadvisor.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

We keep coming back! We have lived on the island for a number of years and only discovered Oasis Catamaran last year. We have been on the tour numerous times with groups of friends or families. It really is a perfect way to spend a relaxing day out on the water, away from the crowds. In these uncertain times of stress and fear, it is also one of the best options for disconnecting from the Covid crisis and re-connecting with the beauty and tranquility the Bay of Palma affords us. Personally, I feel the boat is large enough for the limited number of passengers to find their own corner for their group and the two swim stops allow everyone time to cool off and enjoy the marine life. Be sure to bring your snorkel to really appreciate the underwater world off the boat. The staff (Pedro, Kevin, and Pavel) were all top professionals ensuring a smooth and safe journey.

IntlSmiths (ago. de 2020)

LUXURY, FAR AWAY FROM THE NOISY CROWDED BOATS Dear fellow tourist: I only found this Island 6 years ago. I Have coming here ever since in the summer. Unfortunately I only discovered "OASIS CATAMARAN" 2 years ago. Once again to celebrate mine and my daugther birthday we went the entire family in this dream boat. What is fascinating and unbelievable is the refined atmosphere and the TOP QUALITY crew: From the skipper to the other 2 officials they are really unbeatable. SIMPATHY, CLASS and being PROFESSIONAL. At the same time when we were arriving at the harbour there were also arriving two huge catamarans more crowded than a Disney amusement park; it is exactly in this point that we felt again having made the best decison ever. The boat OASIS takes only a fraction of the official capacity and that is why we felt like being treated like queens and kings. UNBEATABLE and TOP happiness and refined atmosphere and once again better than a day in paradise, that is how me and my family felt at the end of the happiest day of our holidays this year.

Diogo207 (ago. de 2020)

10/10 best decision I made! Wow - the perfect experience So happy I chose this one, the reviews are correct. Small enough to be classy and chilled. So happy I didn’t book magic one(huge crowd and party style) the 3 men are amazing hosts, personalised attention, great food, chilled beats, space on board, luxury and comfort. Thank you guys !

Mary-Beth M (ago. de 2020)

What an awesome day If you're looking for the ultimate catamaran experience then look no further, compared to the others this one is the best by far. The crew were super friendly and could t do enough for you, the food is excellent and the boat itself is very clean and safe. Stopping in the first bay you're offered food and a drink plus the chance to swim,snorkel and paddle board for approx 45 mins. Then it's a short trip to the second bay where the on board BBQ is lit and you'll have a fantastic lunch. On the way back to palma the sails were put up and the engine switched off, just the noise of the wind and the waves. Back at the exact time stated, car parking is available at the boat house bar its €1.50 an hour.

Steve L (sept. de 2019)

Excellent - Recommended! Took the afternoon sunset trip and was not disappointed. Lovely catamaran, not overcrowded with people. Staff were great, food was excellent. Chilled music playing throughout made for a nice vibe. 2 stops for swimming and food and a stop to watch the sun setting over the mountains which was beautiful. A perfect way to while away a few hours on the sea.

Suemk123 (sept. de 2019)

Amazing! A must when visiting Palma This was easily the highlight of our time in Palma. We were at sea for about 6 hours with enough time to swim in the water. We were also fortunate enough to view the sunset on the way home, which was a lovely surprise. The food was fantastic and included burgers, salad, and chicken. The boat also had a full bar with huge and reasonably priced drinks. Dimitri, who was behind the bar, was awesome and made the trip even better! All of the crew on board were very professional and super friendly. I would highly recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Palma. It was a great way to experience the ocean and take in Mallorca's beauty!

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COOKIES POLICY

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• Our 2021 luxury catamaran is 12m long and 7m wide. Top equipped, the Steve Rogers is perfectly suited to provide an unforgettable experience for a maximum of 10 guests.
• The large trampoline in the foredeck and plenty of more space there invites to sunbathe and chill out.The spacious cockpit offers comfortable seats around the set table. You can be right in the middle of it all, or just breathe in the freedom all by yourself for a few minutes!
• A variety of fun equipment on board is: free of charge SUPs, snorkels and swimming goggles, pool noodles, swimming rings and for the kids of course water pistols 😉
• Last but not least: It goes without saying that our FP Isla 40 is equipped with the latest safety equipment!

Our Skipper

Our Hostess

Our happy clients.

• +34 604 83 06 20
• Nautic Mooring S.L.U. Sindicato 69,10 Palma Mallorca. E-07002 Palma Mallorca Provista de CIF. Nº B-16577462
• [email protected]

The easiest way to book is directly through our website. One click on the "Book Now" button and you will be guided through the few and easy booking steps.

You can pay for your booking easily and securely via Paypal. If you would like to buy drinks on board, you can pay both in cash and by credit card.

Cancellation is free of charge up to 48 hours before departure. Between 48 and 24 hours before the start of the tour we charge 50% of the amount. If you should want to cancel your booking within the 24 hours prior to the start of the tour, then the full amount is due.

Of course they are. Both, the skipper and the accompanying crew, are trained for the tours, licensed and insured for tours in Spain. In addition: life jackets, first aid kits, light medication against seasickness and the prescribed safety equipment are available and are checked regularly.

Your safety and of course fun are our top priority. The responsibility and decision lies exclusively in the hands of the skipper. If the weather does not permit the trip, the skipper reserves the right to cancel the tour on our behalf and we will look for an alternative together with you. If we are unable to find one, we will of course refund the full tour price.

To make sure that the tour is a dream tour and that you can fully enjoy the time on board and the swimming, we recommend that you bring a few things with you: Sunscreen, sun protection for your head and maybe shoulders, sunglasses as well as bathing cloths and a towel. And of course the following would be wonderful: lots of anticipation and a good holiday mood. Apart from that: as little as possible.

Yes, there is. ...even two! And our heartfelt request in advance: do not throw any paper into the toilet!

Water in plastic bottles is perfectly ok, other drinks are not. However, you can buy coffee, tea and wonderfully chilled soft drinks and also alcoholic summer drinks on board at the best value for money you will find on a sailing boat.

Included are the tour, skipper and hostess, insurance, water and delicious tapas, fun equipment such as SUPs, diving goggles, snorkelling gear, swim rings and pool noodles. And... we promise to bring our good vibes too.

Drinks – both, alcoholic and non-alcoholic - are not included in the booking price. Exception: still water. However, you can buy coffee, tea and wonderfully chilled non-alcoholic drinks on board, as well as alcoholic summer drinks, at the best value for money to be found on a sailing boat.

We board sailboats without shoes. The nice thing is that teak feels great under your feet! So until you board, we recommend light shoes like flip-flops or comfortable, flat shoes that are easy to carry in your hands or to pack in your bag.

Absolutely. However, only on one of the exclusively private tours. If this is your wish, we will be happy to discuss all the details with you in advance.

Yes, for us music is part of a nice catamaran tour. We have a large selection of playlists, but we can also connect your device to our sound system.

You can expect an extraordinary trip along the beautiful coast in the south of Mallorca on what we consider to be one of the most beautiful catamarans in the world. Crystal clear water, exceptional homemade tapas and a selection of delicious drinks await you, as well as a warm, open and friendly crew who are always there for you!

If you have any further questions that we have not covered here, please feel free to send them via our contact form, by email to [email protected], via WhatsApp or just call us at the phone number provided. It is our honour and pleasure to welcome you aboard the Steve Rogers. Our first priority is to make this dream tour a special experience for you.

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CATAMARAN TOUR IN MALLORCA

Sailing catamaran, enjoy a perfect day at sea aboard our sailing catamaran touring around mallorca’s north coast..

CATAMARAN TOUR WITH LUNCH INCLUDED

A unique catamaran trip in mallorca offering activities such as diving, kayaking or paddle surfing plus a barbecue on board., what will be the planning of our catamaran excursion, we will depart from puerto de alcudia on our catamaran towards coll baix and pollensa bay. there will be stops for swimming, a barbecue on board and activities such as snorkelling and paddle surfing. on the way back to puerto de alcudia, we will make a last stop at aucanada for a refreshing swim..

Embark with us on an unforgettable journey of discovery and relaxation on our catamaran ride along the stunning north coast of Mallorca. We will depart from Puerto de Alcudia, sailing towards Coll Baix. Depending on the weather conditions, the route may vary to ensure you have the best possible experience. Our first stop will be for a refreshing swim in Coll Baix or a nearby cove, where the crystal-clear water invites you to dive in.

We will continue towards Pollensa Bay, where we will drop anchor for an extended period of relaxation and fun in the water. While you soak up the surroundings, our crew will prepare an exquisite onboard barbecue that will include chicken breast, sausages, pork loin, pasta salad, bread, and seasonal fruits, all accompanied by a refreshing beverage.

After the meal, we will sail back to Puerto de Alcudia, with the possibility of one last swim in the Aucanda area, weather permitting. Throughout the day, you can sunbathe on the deck of the ‘Anacaona’ catamaran or participate in activities such as snorkelling and paddle surfing. Snorkel masks are available for purchase onboard, while kayaks and paddle surfboards are included and available for you to use at no additional cost.

Our crew provides you with exceptional service so you can simply relax and enjoy every moment. Get ready for a unique maritime experience, where every detail is designed to maximise your enjoyment and comfort.

What is included in the price of our catamaran trip around mallorca?

The trip on our catamaran Anacaona lasts for approximately five hours so you can enjoy Mallorca’s beauty to the full. The price includes the catamaran trip around Mallorca with various stop offs, insurance, lunch on board and the use of equipment for activities such as diving and kayaking.

Our Catamaran Anacaona

Enjoy sailing around the paradisiacal north coast of Mallorca aboard our exclusive and modern sailing catamaran. Our catamaran offers all amenities and safety standards on board. The characteristics of Anacaona make her the ideal vessel for enjoying a safe and calm sailing experience. Her size means she can accommodate a large number of passengers comfortably and she is fully equipped with a bar, toilets, steps down to the sea, ample netting for sunbathing and a professional crew who will look after you at all times.

Mornings: Departures every day.

Mornings and afternoons: tuesdays and fridays..

Boarding points in the morning

Boarding point in the afternoon.

THE MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER OR CANCEL THE ROUTE IN THE EVENT OF ADVERSE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Other boat trips

Enjoy a perfect day at sea aboard our sailing catamaran touring around Mallorca’s north coast…

Formentor beach and Formentor cape

On the trip you’ll see the extraordinary beauty of the cliffs along the north coast…

• On-board bar

North coast

this trip takes you to stunningly beautiful places in Mallorca such as Alcanada beach and its lighthouse…

Coves and caves

This exciting trip takes you to numerous coves and sea caves where you can observe the marine fauna…

Sunrise & dolphins

Enjoying the spectacle of dolphin spotting in Mallorca with your family, friends or your partner…

Private tours

We will visit the cove of Coll Baix, Formentor Lighthouse and Pollensa Bay with its impressive…

Write us a review

Una experiencia completisima..

Fue una experiencia increíble. La tripulación fue muy atenta y las paradas para nadar fueron espectaculares. El catamarán es muy cómodo y la barbacoa estuvo deliciosa. Definitivamente volvería a hacerlo.

Amazing Experience!

Just had a 5 hour-ish family trip aboard Anacaona III. We took the net in the front. Three stops on beautiful places. The food and drinks were good; the staff were friendly. It was awesome, random people singing and dancing together, loved the party boat feeling; we definitely would come again! I can recommend it. The only con we found: the state of the toilet, but it was not a dealbreaker.

Tolle Tour, aber überfüllt

Die Tour war toll, die Crew war freundlich und die Landschaft war wunderschön. Leider war das Boot etwas überfüllt, was den Komfort beeinträchtigte. Trotzdem war es eine sehr schöne Erfahrung.

Absolutely one of the best experiences in Mallorca! It is such a chill cruise, great to spend a nice day and relax. We took catamaran with my husband and we were soooo glad with it! The crew was simply the best, they would do anything to make sure that you simply have fun! The food served for lunch was really fresh and tasted good – considering the fact that it was quickly prepared on a boat for so many people is just astonishing. The drinks were cheaper than in any bar in Can Picafort, beer was also cheap plus smoothie drinks were one of the best we have ever drink. Definitely worth every cent! Nice views, quite a lot of stops to take a swim or jump from the deck. The music was great and we had so much fun! I highly recommend it, especially if it’s super hot and you are less into sightseeing and more into chilling and swimming! PS cheers to Anacaona III crew!

Great Fun Despite the Weather

We had a great time on the catamaran. The BBQ was delicious and the snorkeling spots were fantastic. However, the weather wasn’t perfect which made it a bit chilly and cloudy. Overall, a very enjoyable trip despite the less than ideal weather.

Frequently asked questions

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Catamaran Charter

• Experience Award Winner 2022
• 500+ Tripadvisor Reviews
• Family trips on a boat
• Hen/Stag Party on the sea
• Includes homemade Tapas

4-hours-trips

from 95€/Person

More info »

Private charter

from 990€/Boat

Best catamaran sailing charter on Mallorca

Enrich your holiday on Mallorca with a unforgetable sailing trip on the Sail4Fun catamaran . The "Dolphin" is a a 42-feet Lagooon that can take up to 12 guests on board.

Whether it be for a family excursion or a relaxing day with friends, Sail4Fun is the perfect partner to discover the southwest of Mallorca from the seaside. Sail along the Malgrats Islands , Paguera , Cala Monjo and anchor in the crystal clear waters of Cala Blanca or Cala Camp es Mar .

You can book the catamaran for a shared 4-hours-trip , as well as a completely private charter cruise .

Every trip includes homemade tapas , snorkeling equipment and a stand-up paddle board . More about our services »

Book your catamaran trip »

Catamaran Lagoon 42

Catamaran "Dolphin" is a Lagoon 42 build in 2009 with a length of 13 meters held by Helmuth. This comfortable catamaran offers a perfect day out on the sea.

There is a lot of space in the trampoline, on deck and in the cockpit which is partly covered. With a maximum of 12 guests it offers a relaxing and private atmosphere.

The boat has a stand-up paddle, floating devices, snorkeling equipment and a music installation on board.

Brand Type Build Length Beam Min. Draft Engine Max. Passengers

Lagoon Catamaran 2009 12,60 m 7,50 m 1,26 m 2 x 30 hp 12 guests

Sail4fun Video 2023

• Catamaran Trips Mallorca
• Carrer del Riu Síl, 1
• 07180 Santa Ponsa
• Mallorca · Islas Baleares

Catamaran Charters Mallorca

Rent a crewed catamaran or skipper yourself - explore the balearic islands.

Majorca / Palma de Mallorca

Ibiza / San Antonio

Ibiza / Eivissa

Why Mallorca is a top destination for catamaran rentals worldwide?

How much does it cost to charter a catamaran in Mallorca?

Why mallorca is a fantastic destination for catamaran rentals.

Charter a Catamaran in Mallorca: Part 2

What to expect when sailing around mallorca.

Must-see destinations while sailing in Mallorca

Choosing the right catamaran for your mallorca charter, how to book your catamaran charter in mallorca, exploring mallorca's stunning coastline on a catamaran.

The Diverse Sailing Regions of Mallorca

When to charter a catamaran in mallorca, finding the perfect catamaran for your mallorca adventure, do i need a license to charter a catamaran in mallorca, preparing for your catamaran charter in mallorca, further catamaran adventures in the balearic islands, safety tips for catamaran charters.

If you have questions about any boat types or yacht charter destinations don´t hesitate to click on the button below. Fill out the search form and our experts will get back to you immediately. We will prepare you the most competitive quote.

Discover the best catamaran trips of Mallorca

Discover the magic of mallorca with sail go catamaran.

We offer you unforgettable catamaran trips along the stunning South West coast of Mallorca. With a maximum of 12 guests we provide you a day you won’t forget. Captain Nico and 1st officer Delia will show you the hidden treasures of the Mallorquin coastline you won’t find by yourself.

Read more about this private boat trip>>>

More about this shared boat trip >>>

Read more about this hen party trip >>>

Private Catamaran Trips : Your Exclusive Voyage

Experience our luxury private catamaran trips the way you like it. Whether the occasion is celebrating a birthday or anniversary, a hen do- bachelorette party, or a family/friends adventure as well, our private catamaran trips are designed to provide you with a truly exclusive experience.

Shared Catamaran Trips: Adventure with New Friends

Our shared trips are the perfect choice for those who likes the company of like-minded people. Join other couples or small groups and embark on a memorable voyage along the Mallorquin coastline.

Unforgettable Hen Do parties

Looking to celebrate a hen do in style? Join the ranks of those who’ve already enjoyed our famous hen do parties on board. During your trip you will create unforgettable memories with your closest friends. In the meanwhile you cruise the turquoise waters of Mallorca, sipping drinks, dance in the sun or have a karaoke session! During the trip there’s plenty time to party and having waterfun,

Delightful Dining: Fresh Homecooked Food

During all our Mallorca catamaran trips we serve fresh, homecooked meals that will tantalize your taste buds. Savor the flavors of Mallorca during your dine on the open waters, enhancing your journey.

Beverage Selection : Quench Your Thirst

Satisfy your thirst with a wide range of alcoholic but also non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase on board. Whether you prefer a refreshing cocktail, a glass of wine, or a non-alcoholic beverage, there’s something for everyone for reasonable prices.

Water Adventures: Dive, Glide, and Splash

Enjoy snorkeling in the crystal-clear, turquoise waters of Mallorca with our provided snorkeling equipment, or take in the coastal beauty while paddling on our SUP-boards. If you seeking excitement before lunch, try our inflatables and other water devices that guarantee endless fun.

Your Mallorca adventure starts here. Book your catamaran trip today and experience the magic of Mallorca in a way that suits your desires, whether it’s a special celebration, shared adventure, or water-based excitement

4 hour private boat trip or shared boat trip

• Included our signature tapas lunch, we also have vegetarian options
• Also available as a sunset trip.

5 hour private boat trip or shared boat trip

• Included our famously meat  BBQ, can you eat it all? On request we have a fish or vegetarian BBQ.

6 hour private boat trip or shared boat trip

• Included an extensive BBQ, AND a snackplate in the late afternoon. On request we have a fish or vegetarian BBQ.

7 hour private boat trip or shared boat trip

Contact us for information or make a reservation

By phone or whatsapp.

We can be reached through Whatsapp and phone should you have any questions about us.

+31 6 176 80 521

Connect with Sail Go Catamaran  on

• Tripadvisor

Av. Gabriel Roca, S/N Marina Palma Cuarentena CP 07014 Palma, Islas Baleares

Half day catamaran excursions in Mallorca

Discover the majesty of Mallorca from a unique perspective with our half day catamaran excursions. At Sailing Trips Mallorca , we offer you the unbeatable opportunity to live the authentic maritime adventure.

Navigate the crystal clear waters of Mallorca aboard our high performance catamarans, designed to provide you with comfort and safety. These boats allow you to enjoy the feeling of freedom that only a boat driven by the wind can offer. Take the opportunity to relax in the sun, soak in the refreshing Mediterrranean waters and marvel at the stunning landscapes that surround this island paradise.

Our half day catamaran excursions are designed to provide you with the best sailing experience in Mallorca. Whether you are a seasoned boater or a beginner, these excursions provide you with a unique and personalized experience. Discover hidden coves, impressive cliffs and the rich marine life that inhabits the waters of Mallorca.

At Sailing Trips Mallorca , we are passionate about sharing our love for the sea and sailing. Therefore, we are committed to offering you half day catamaran excursions that are more than just a trip, but an unforgettable life experience. If you are looking for a unique way to discover Mallorca, our catamaran excursions are the ideal option.

Catamaran excursion in Palma Bay

Half day catamaran excursion in Menorca

Half day exclusive catamaran excursion in Menorca

Half day catamaran trip in Puerto Andratx

Catamaran excursion in Palma

Professional skippers.

Certified Boats

Immediate Confirmation

Catamaran Mallorca

Discover the magic of the largest island of the Balearic Islands with an exciting catamaran cruise around Mallorca. Sail through the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean and enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience as you explore the wonders that this paradise island has to offer. Let the sea wind touch your skin while you discover the secrets of the ancient civilizations that inhabited the island. The contrast between its rich history and dazzling beaches makes Mallorca a destination like no other.

The catamaran is the perfect boat to enjoy a comfortable and stable crossing along the coasts of Mallorca. Its two parallel hulls ensure a smoother navigation and less prone to dizziness, which will allow you to enjoy your maritime experience to the fullest. In addition, these vessels are designed to offer sweeping panoramic views, allowing passengers to capture the essence of Mallorca’s coastal scenery in all its splendor.

Dream coves and beaches: Sailing along the coasts of Mallorca by catamaran allows you to discover and access those hidden corners that often remain hidden to those who only travel the island by land. These boats, with their ability to stealthily approach the shores and their versatility to anchor in less traveled places, give you an exclusive window to the island’s natural jewels.

For example, Cala Varques is an enclave of serenity, where the deep blue waters contrast with the white sand, creating a landscape that invites you to relax and forget the daily stress. Not far away, Cala S’Almunia will surprise you with its rock formations that serve as natural viewpoints, from where you can contemplate the horizon and let yourself be carried away by the gentle sound of the waves.

Cala Formentor, meanwhile, is known not only for its crystal clear waters, but also for the pine forests that surround it, offering a fresh and comforting aroma. It is the perfect place for those looking to combine the marine experience with a touch of terrestrial nature.

And, last but not least, there is Cala Mondragó. This cove is special for its double beach and its surrounding natural park. It is a visual spectacle of greens and blues, where biodiversity is shown in all its splendor. In addition, its shallow waters are ideal for families and snorkelers, as the marine life is rich and varied.

So, by opting for a catamaran excursion, you are not only choosing a comfortable and distinctive way of getting around, but also the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Mallorca, those places that seem to be reserved for the gods and that, for a few hours, make you feel in paradise. Get your camera and your adventurous spirit ready and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Mallorcan coves with Sailing Trips Mallorca!

Water activities: Mallorca, with its rich marine geography and crystal clear waters, is a true paradise for lovers of water activities. During your catamaran trip, you will have the opportunity not only to enjoy panoramic views from the boat, but also to immerse yourself in an underwater universe that will take your breath away.

Snorkeling is the perfect option for those who want to have a first approach to the underwater world. With just a mask and a snorkel, you can float above the surface and observe from above the life bubbling below. It is an activity that can be enjoyed by both adults and children, and it is surprising how many creatures can be seen with just this simple equipment.

For the more adventurous, diving is the gateway to a deeper level of exploration. Accompanied by certified instructors, even beginners can experience the sensation of floating among fish, corals and other underwater wonders. The dives in Mallorca are varied: from submerged caves to ancient shipwrecks, there is a world to discover beneath the waves.

The sea of Mallorca is a refuge of biodiversity. You may encounter schools of vibrantly colored fish such as parrotfish, clownfish or even barracudas. The corals, on the other hand, are a spectacle in themselves. From soft corals that sway with the current to brain corals that look like petrified labyrinths, the underwater landscape is a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors.

Besides snorkeling and diving, Mallorca offers other activities such as paddle surfing, kayaking or even jet skiing. These options allow you to explore the coast at your own pace, either gliding smoothly over the surface of the water or feeling the adrenaline rush of cutting through the waves at high speed.

The sea around Mallorca is a vast playground for those who wish to connect with the aquatic element. Whether you are looking for tranquility, adventure or simply the wonder of discovering a new world, water activities with Sailing Trips Mallorca promise unforgettable experiences and encounters with nature in its purest state. Dive in and discover what the Balearic waters have in store for you!

Cycling routes and more: Mallorca, with its varied topography and breathtaking scenery, has established itself as one of the favorite destinations for cycling enthusiasts in Europe. Not only for the quality of its roads and highways, but also for the combination of physical and visual challenges it offers.

For those looking to tackle challenging cycling routes, the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an unparalleled setting. This mountain range runs along the northwest of the island and offers routes that zigzag between ancient olive groves, oak forests and majestic cliffs that plunge into the blue Mediterranean. The panoramic views obtained from its peaks and hills are invaluable rewards for the efforts invested in the climbs.

But Mallorca does not only seduce cyclists. Golf lovers will find on the island a selection of courses designed to satisfy the most demanding players. With a climate that allows play practically all year round, Mallorca’s golf courses are located in environments of great natural beauty, offering a sporting experience enriched by mountain, sea and plain landscapes.

For those who prefer hiking, Mallorca has a network of paths and trails that allow you to explore the island on foot. From coastal routes that skirt hidden coves to mountain trails that lead to ancient monasteries, there are options for all levels of skill and endurance. In addition, many of these routes are dotted with historical vestiges, such as watchtowers, mills or hermitages, which add a cultural touch to the physical exercise.

It is also worth noting that, in recent years, the island has seen an increase in the popularity of sports such as trail running and climbing. Mallorca’s natural conditions make it ideal for these disciplines, allowing athletes to train and compete in environments of incredible beauty.

In short, whether you are passionate about cycling, golf, hiking or any other outdoor activity, Mallorca has everything you need to make your sporting experience truly memorable. With landscapes that inspire and challenge in equal parts, the island invites you to surpass yourself as you immerse yourself in its majestic nature.

A haven for artists: Many creative people have found in Mallorca a place of inspiration. It is not surprising, then, that the island has a variety of galleries and art spaces. From the Robert Graves house-museum in Deià, which pays tribute to the British writer and poet, to the small art galleries in Pollença, art and culture are present in every corner.

Local craftsmanship: Mallorca is also the cradle of artisans who, with their hands, give life to centuries-old traditions. From the fabrics of tongues, with their characteristic geometric patterns, to the ceramics of Pòrtol, each piece is a reflection of the identity and character of the island.

Travel through time: Mallorca not only invites you to discover its beaches and mountains, but also to travel through time. Stroll through the narrow streets of the old town of Palma and let yourself be carried away by the history told by its ancient buildings. Visit the Arab baths, one of the few testimonies of the Muslim period on the island, or marvel at the majesty of the Lonja, a masterpiece of Mallorcan Gothic.

Authentic flavors: In addition to its typical dishes, Mallorca offers a variety of local wines and liquors that you cannot miss. Visit the wineries in Binissalem or Santa Maria and taste the wines with denomination of origin of the island. Don’t miss the herbal liqueur, a traditional after-dinner drink that reflects the essence of the Mediterranean in every sip.

The sound of silence: In addition to the bustling markets and festivals, Mallorca offers you corners where silence is the protagonist. Take refuge in monasteries such as Santuari de Cura, at the top of Puig de Randa, and find a space of peace and meditation with panoramic views that encompass the entire central plain of the island.

The charm of the night: Once the sun goes down, the island unfolds a new charm. From the terraces in Palma where you can enjoy a cocktail overlooking the harbor, to the discos of Magaluf, where the party goes on until dawn, Mallorca invites you to live the night in a thousand different ways.

A stroll through the markets: One of the great attractions of Mallorca are its traditional markets. Stroll through Palma’s Mercado del Olivar, where the aromas of spices, fresh fruits and seafood mingle in a lively and colorful atmosphere. You can also explore local markets in villages such as Inca or Santanyí, where handicrafts and local products will give you an authentic experience.

Music and festivals: Mallorca’s rich cultural tapestry goes beyond its architectural heritage and centuries-old traditions. Throughout the year, the island becomes a hive of artistic activities and festivals that attract locals and tourists alike, making it an epicenter of cultural expression in the Mediterranean.

The Pollença Festival is one of those events that, year after year, highlights the island’s passion for live music. This festival, which takes place in the historic town of Pollença, brings together both national and international talents, offering a musical variety ranging from jazz to folk music and contemporary rhythms. It is an experience where the sounds merge with the enchanting atmosphere of the village, creating unforgettable nights.

The Mostra de Cinema de Montaña, meanwhile, is a showcase that celebrates the relationship between cinema and nature. With screenings that address themes related to the mountain and adventure, this festival invites viewers to reflect on human beings and their relationship with the environment. In addition to the screenings, there are workshops, talks and parallel activities that enrich the experience.

And for those who are inclined towards the more classical notes, the Deià International Music Festival is an event that cannot go unnoticed. Located in the picturesque village of Deià, this festival pays tribute to classical music in a setting that looks like something out of a fairy tale. With concerts held in old churches or in the open air, against the backdrop of the Serra de Tramuntana, classical music takes on a whole new dimension.

In addition to these highlights, Mallorca hosts a number of other festivals and cultural activities, from gastronomic fairs celebrating local cuisine, to traditional festivals marking the passing of the seasons or historical dates. These events not only offer entertainment, but also provide a deep insight into the soul and traditions of the island.

In short, Mallorca’s cultural life is a vibrant reflection of its history, its people and its passion for art in all its forms. Every festival, every concert and every screening is an invitation to immerse yourself in the essence of this magical island and to celebrate the diversity and creativity that characterize it. Let yourself be seduced by the rhythm and spirit of Mallorca!

Mysteries and legends: Every stone and corner in Mallorca has a story to tell. Immerse yourself in local legends, such as that of Comte Mal, a malevolent nobleman who is said to still roam the mountains on dark nights. Or discover the mysteries of the Drach caves, where an impressive subway lake and rock formations will transport you to a world of fantasy.

Local gastronomy: Enjoy a unique culinary experience on board. Taste delicious local dishes such as ensaimada, tumbet, sobrasada or frit mallorquín, while enjoying the panoramic views of the Mallorcan coast and the aroma of the sea breeze.

Spectacular sunsets: Nothing captures the poetic essence of Mallorca better than its unforgettable sunsets. From the soft rocking chair of a catamaran, the experience of watching the day go bye-bye is simply magical. The waters of the Mediterranean, usually calm at sunset, reflect the hues of the sky, creating a mirror that duplicates the beauty of the moment.

The coasts of Mallorca, with its geographical diversity, offer multiple points of view to enjoy this daily spectacle. From the majesty of the Sierra de Tramuntana, where the sun hides behind imposing mountains, creating a play of light and shadow in the landscape, to the emblematic Cape Formentor, a promontory that juts out into the sea and from where the horizon seems infinite. Here, the last rays of sunlight illuminate the lighthouse, creating a postcard that many visitors keep in their memories.

But not only the coast offers these experiences. In the interior of the island, the fields of olive and almond trees, which change color with the seasons, are also dressed in the orange and red tones of the sunset. In these rural settings, the sunset is accompanied by the sounds of nature, such as the song of birds returning to their nests or the murmur of the wind through the leaves.

As the sun sinks below the horizon, the Mallorcan sky is transformed into a canvas of warm colors that gradually give way to darker tones, heralding the arrival of night and the unfolding of a starry sky. It is a moment of reflection, of connection with nature, and of admiration before the ephemeral but recurrent beauty that nature offers.

Undoubtedly, sunsets in Mallorca are a complete sensory experience. Not only for the sights, but also for the sounds and sensations that accompany this time of day. They are a pause, a respite and an invitation to appreciate the beauty in the little things. Every sunset on the island is a unique work of art, and witnessing it is one of the most precious gifts that Mallorca offers to its visitors and inhabitants. Let Sailing Trips Mallorca envelop you in the magic of the Mallorcan sunsets!

Discover the history and culture: Sail along the coasts of Mallorca and learn about the rich history and culture of the island. Visit emblematic places such as the Cathedral of Palma, the Bellver Castle, the Lluc Monastery or the Caves of Drach, and learn about the legends and traditions that surround this Mediterranean island.

Art and Culture: The island has been a source of inspiration for many artists over the years. Tour the Pilar i Joan Miró Foundation in Palma, a space dedicated to the famous Catalan painter, or visit the Es Baluard museum, where contemporary art meets history in the ancient city walls.

Festivals and Traditions: Take part in local celebrations and immerse yourself in Mallorcan tradition. From the “Correfoc”, where demons dance among fireworks, to the festivities in honor of Sant Joan, Mallorca offers a host of events that will allow you to get to know the essence of its people.

Connecting with nature: The excursions allow you to connect with nature in a unique way. Feel the sea breeze on your face, the sound of the waves and the beauty of the landscapes that surround Mallorca, from its imposing mountains to its fertile plains.

Mountain adventure: Not everything in Mallorca is sea. The Serra de Tramuntana, declared a World Heritage Site, is the perfect place for hiking and nature lovers. Walk along ancient paths such as the “Camí de s’Arxiduc” and marvel at breathtaking panoramic views.

In short , a catamaran trip around the island of Mallorca offers you a unique and unforgettable experience to enjoy the best of the island. Immerse yourself in its natural beauty, learn about its rich history and culture, and share unforgettable moments with your loved ones while sailing through the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Discover charming villages, traditional festivals and the friendliness of its inhabitants. Don’t think twice and go for this exciting maritime adventure off the coast of Mallorca with Sailing Trips.

Mallorca half day trip on a catamaran

At Sailing Trips Mallorca we offer you the best and most fun half day catamaran excursions in Mallorca . Live the adventure of your life aboard one of our catamarans and discover the best sensations in a boat driven by the wind.

We put at your disposal all kinds of possibilities with excursions that adapt to your desires and needs. From an excursion with your partner, with the family, in a group, a bachelor or bachelorette party or a beautiful sunset on a catamaran.

In our catamarans in Mallorca you can organize whatever you want during half a day on a catamaran. You can book it exclusively for you. You can come in a group. Organize company events, parties, birthdays and anything else you can think of . And all this with the guarantee and security of having catamarans with all the safety measures at sea with the best skippers and professional crews.

And to enjoy a half day tour on a catamaran in Mallorca, all you have to do is bring your towel, swimsuit or bikini and sun cream, we’ll take care of everything else. Drinks food, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle surfing, it’s up to you. And all this so that everything is perfect for your experience on a catamaran. You can choose an excursion on a large catamaran shared with many other people or on a smaller one with fewer people.

We are going to take you sailing and you will be able to discover the experience of being at the helm, helping with the sails and with the maneuvers on the boat. You will visit the best beaches and coves in different areas of the islands. From impressive beaches of fine white sand with kilometers of beach. Like the small and almost inaccessible virgin coves where the water is so crystal clear that you can see the bottom and the fish. And what better than diving and snorkeling in wonderful waters like those of Mallorca. Join us for half a day of fun on a catamaran!

Frequently asked questions about catamarans in Mallorca

What is a catamaran.

A catamaran is a maritime boat that is distinguished by its design of two parallel hulls of equal size. Originally used by Polynesian cultures, this design offers a number of advantages over traditional single-hulled boats. Thanks to their double hull, the catamarans are very stable, reducing the possibilty of rocking and capsizing. Additionally, their roomy desgin allows for plenty of space on deck and inside, making them ideal for cruises and multi-day expeditions. Catamarans are popular for both personal use and vacation rentals, offering a combination of speed, stability and space. They are also common in water sports, such as sailing, where their speed and stability are highly prized.

What are the advantages of traveling on a catamaran in Mallorca?

Mallorca, with its warm climate, beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters, it is an ideal destination for catamaran travel. Some advantages of doing so include the ability to access areas that are inaccessible to larger ships due to their shallower draft. Catamarans also offer greater stability compared to traditional boats, which can help reduce motion sickness. In addition, catamarans offer more space on deck and inside, allowing passengers to move more freely and comfortably. Finally, when traveling by catamaran, you can enjoy the beauty of Mallorca from a unique point of view, whether it is sunbathing on the deck, swimming in the turquoise waters or exploring the many coves and beaches of the island.

Where can I rent a catamaran in Mallorca?

There are several companies that offer catamaran rentals in Mallorca. Some of the most popular include Sailing Trips Mallorca and Nautic Adventure Worldwide Yacht Charter. These companies offer a variety of options, from small catamarans perfect for a day trip to larger catamaran equipped for multi-day trips. Many of these companies allow you to book directly online, making it easy to plan your trip. When choosing a company, it’s important to do your research and compare prices, services, and reviews to find the one that best suits your needs.

Do I need previous experience to rent a catamaran?

While sailing experience is not required to charter a catamaran, some charter companies may require you to demonstrate some proficiency before allowing you to charter without a skipper. If you don’t have experience, don’t worry. Many companies offer the option of renting the catamaran with a skipper, who will be in charge of navigating the boat while you enjoy the trip. Also, some companies offer training courses for those who want to learn how to navigate themselves.

How many people can travel on a catamaran in Mallorca?

The number of people who can travel on a catamaran in Mallorca depends on the size of the boat. In general, catamarans can accommodate 6 to 12 people for trips of more than one day, although some larger boats can accommodate up to 20 people for day trips. It is important to remember that in addition to the passengers, you must also have room for the crew, which may include a skipper and in some cases a cook or sailor. Therefore, it is advisable to check with the rental company to determine the exact capacity of the boat you are renting.

What activities can be done on board a catamaran in Mallorca?

Traveling on a catamaran in Mallorca offers a wide range of actvities to enjoy. Thanks to its stability and space, it is possible to relax on the deck sunbathing, enjoy the panoramic views or enjoy a meal in the open air. Many catamarans have equipment for snorkeling and paddle surfing, thus taking advantage of the crystal clear Mediterranean waters. You can explore hidding coves, isolated beaches and wonderful marine fauna. On board, you can also celebrate special events such as birthday, bachelor parties or anniversaries, or even hold team bonding and business meetings. Don’t forget that sailing itself can be exciting activity, especially for those interested in learning more about sailing. At Sailing Trips Mallorca we collaborate with many companies for events and agencies helping carry out team bondings.

How much does it cost to rent a catamaran in Mallorca?

The prices of a catamaran charter in Mallorca can vary widely depending on factors such as the size of the catamaran, the season, the duration of the charter and the additional services included. For example, renting a medium-sized catamaran for a day can cost around 600-1000 euros in low season and up to 1300-2500 euros in high season. If you decide to hire additional services such as a skipper, catering on board or water spots equipment, these will increase the cost. However, remember that chartering a catamaran is a unique experience and often worth the investment.

Is it possible to hire a skipper for the catamaran?

Yes, most catamaran rental companies offer the possibilities of hiring a professional skipper. This can be a great option if you are new to sailing or if you just want to relax and enjoy the journey without worrying about the logistics of sailing. Your skipper will not only handle the catamaran, but can also offer valuable local knowledge, showing you the best places to anchor, swim or explore. Hiring a skipper usually costs extra, so be sure to take this into account when planning your budget.

What kind of services are offered on board a catamaran in Mallorca?

The services on board a catamaran in Mallorca can vary depending on the rental company, but many offer a series of amenities to enhance your sailing experience. These may include snorkeling and paddle boarding equipment, on board catering or the ability to hire a private chef, and cleaning and maintenance services. Some catamarans also feature luxury amenities like jacuzzis, suites with private bathrooms, stereos and more. Additionally, many catamarans come with a skipper and the option to add additional crew, such as a chef or deckhand, so you can relax and enjoy your trip without worry.

How long can I rent a catamaran in Mallorca?

The rental time of a catamaran in Mallorca can be as short as half a day or extend up to weeks, depending on availability and your personal preferences. Many rental companies offer half day, full day, weekend or even full week options. Renting a catamaran for a longer duration allows you to further explore the beauty of the island and its surroundings, visit multiple coves and bays, and enjoy life at sea. Remember, it is always advisable to book in advance, espeically during the peak summer season, to ensure you get the boat and charter time you prefer. At Sailing Trips Mallorca we always adapt to you. Do you want just a sunset? Here we are to help you.

Can you spend the night on board the catamaran in Mallorca?

Yes, most catamarans are equipped with cabins and all the necessary facilities to allow overnight stays on board. Staterooms are typically furnished with comfortable beds, and the vessel will also include kitchen and bathroom areas. Staying overnight on board allows you to enjoy sunrises and sunsets at sea, and gives you more opportunity to explore different areas of Mallorca and the nearby islands. Remember that it is important to verify with the rental company the specific rules for spending the night on board.

How can I book an excursion?

Making a reservation is very simple. Making a reservation is very simple. When you have chosen the excursion that you most want, you only have to fill in the form that you have next to the description of the excursion, and in a very short time, you will receive a reply from us confirming availability. You can also call us by phone or send us an email. We will answer you immediately and we will clarify any questions that may arise.

Contact information: info@sailingtripsmallorca +34 615 09 96 30

What are the best places to sail a catamaran in Mallorca?

Mallorca offers a wide variety of impressive destinations to sail. Some of the most popular include the Bay of Palma, with its impressive cathedral and lively promenade; the west coast and its dramatic landscape of cliffs and hidden covers, including the famous Sa Calobra; the Cabrera Archipelago National Park, a protected marine reserve teeming with marina life; and the east coast with its white sand beaches and turquoise waters. The catamaran gives you the flexibility to choose your own itinerary and explore these beautiful places at own pace.

Is it necessary to have a license to rent a catamaran in Mallorca?

If you want to rent a catamaran in Mallorca without a skipper, you will need a proper sailing license. The required license will vary depending on the size and power of the catamaran. However, if you do not have a license or experience in sailing, most charter companies offer the option of chartering a catamaran with a professional skipper. This allows you to enjoy the trip without worrying about navigation and safety on board.

What security measures are taken on board a catamaran?

Safety is a priority on any catamaran trip. All catamarans must be equipped with life jackets for all passengers, lifeboats, VHF radios for communication with the shoreline, and other safety equipment such as flares and a first aid kit. In addition, if you rent a catamaran with a skipper, the skipper will be responsible for safety on board, including the safe navigation of the catamaran and the supervision of all water activities. It is important that all passengers follow the instructions of the skipper and the safety regulations on board to ensure a safe and pleasant trip.

Can I take my young children on a catamaran in Mallorca?

Yes, catamarans are usually family boats and are an excellent option for family trips, including children. The catamarans are stable and safe, which can be reassuring factor for parents. Many rentals companies provide life jackets for children, and activities like snorkeling can be a great adventure for them. However, it is important to note that the sea can be unpredictable and children should be constantly supervised, especially when the boat is in motion and during water activities.

Are there any age restrictions to rent a catamaran in Mallorca?

To rent a catamaran in Mallorca, you must normally be at least 18 years of age. However, some rental companies may have different age requirements and you may need to be at least 21 or even 25 years old. If you plan to sail the catamaran yourself you will also need a valid sailing license. As for passengers, there are usually no age restrictions, so children can enjoy the catamaran trip as long as they are supervised by an adult.

What kind of food and beverages are offered on board the catamaran?

The food and beverage offer on board a catamaran in Mallorca may vary depending on the charter company. Some companies offer catering with a selection of local and international dishes, wines, beers and soft drinks. Other catamarans may come with a fully equipped kitchen, allowing you to prepare your own food on board. In some cases, you can also hire a private chef for your trip. Remember, it is important to confirm food and drink arrangements with the rental company prior to your trip to ensure that they meet your needs and expectations.

Can I bring my own food and drinks on a catamaran in Mallorca?

Yes, you are generally allowed to bring your own food and drinks on board a catamaran in Mallorca. This may be a good option if you prefer to prepare your own meals or if you have specific dietary needs. However, it is important to check with the rental company before your trip, as some may have different policies regarding bringing your own food and drink. It is also advisable to remember the importance of keeping the boat clean and picking up ant garbage to protect the marine environment.

What happens in case of bad weather the catamaran trip?

In case of bad weather, passenger safety is top priority. If the bad weather is predictable, you should evaluate and choose to cancel or reschedule your trip. If bad weather occurs during the voyage, the catamaran skipper will make the appropriate decision based on the conditions and the safety of the passengers, which may include seeking shelter until conditions improve. It is advisable to ask us first.

Is it possible to organize special events or celebrations on board the catamaran in Mallorca?

Yes, a catamaran can be the perfect place to organize special events or celebrations in Mallorca. From birthdays, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette parties, to corporate dinners or intimate wedding, a catamaran offers a unique and unforgettable setting. At Sailing Trips Mallorca we offer customized services for events, which can include decoration, catering music and more. Also the realization of Company meetings and customized team building for companies. Howevever, it is important to plan ahead to ensure availability and to take into account vessel capacity restrictions.

Sail Trip Mallorca

ENJOY BOAT TRIPS IN MALLORCA

Charter a boat for your trip to the most private beaches and bays of mallorca . the island is waiting to be explored by you, mallorcan experiences.

3-8 hr Daytrips | Private | Shared | Free Snorkling

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Sail Yachts & Catamarans in Ma llo rca

3-8 hr Daytrips | Private | Shared | Group options

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Weekcharter boat trips in Mallorca

Bareboat Catamaran or SY | Max 12 Guests | From Palma

Welcome! You are looking for a special experience during your Mallorca holiday ? Find the treasures of Mallorca'n bays and jump into crystal blue waters? Then you are at the right place! Rent your own Skippered boat for you and your loved ones in Mallorca . Or check if there is availability with one of the shared boat trips and make new friends. We promise you an amazing day!

Your captain and host take care of you, Just bring a towel, a sunny mood  and let´s go sailing in Mallorca!

DISCOVER MALLORCA ON A BOAT WITH US

BOAT, TAPAS, DESSERT, DRINKS

Our on boats the menu is made with high quality products only, we don´t save on costs or effort and make sure that all is excellent for our guests during your trip.

From the cake, the fresh fish and desserts , with us you get what you deserve during your Mallorca stay!

SAIL, SWIM, SNORKEL, BOAT, EXPERIENCE

The combination of activity and culinary is the best you can do on your holiday. How else can you be welcomed as a VIP, enjoy the most beautiful views of Mallorca and be relaxed by the end of the day?

FAMILY, FRIENDS, MALLORCA, MEMORIES

Only happiness when shared!

Take your loved ones on a boat trip and make memories together during your Mallorca holiday!

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  +34 624.56.19.98

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Catamaran Rental in Mallorca

• Yacht rental
• Catamaran rental with Scansail

• Palma de Mallorca

Nautitech - 40 | (2005)

• Skipper offered
• Super owner
• Flexible cancellation

From  €2,850 / day

Lagoon - 380 | 6 cabins (2013)

• Skipper mandatory

From  €643 / day

Fountaine Pajot - Saba 50 | 5 cabins (2016)

From  €857 / day.

Fountaine Pajot - Bahia 46 | 4 cabins (2002)

From  €974 / day.

Bali - Catana - Catana 53 | 3 cabins (2019)

From  €1,856 / day.

Lagoon - 400 | 4 cabins (2010)

From  €714 / day.

OCEAN VOYAGER - 440 | 4 cabins (2008)

From  €678 / day.

Lagoon-Bénéteau - Lagoon 42 - 4 + 2 cab. | 6 cabins (2019)

• Skipper optional

From  €609 / day

Beneteau - EXCESS 11 | 4 cabins (2022)

From  €1,600 / day.

excess - 11 | 4 cabins (2022)

Lagoon - Lagoon 500 | 5 cabins (2007)

From  €900 / day.

OCEAN VOYAGER - DC45 | (2007)

• Fuel included

From  €1,186 / day

Dean - Dean 365 | 4 cabins (2003)

From  €930 / day.

Fountaine Pajot - Isla 40 | 4 cabins (2022)

From  €950 / day.

Robertson & Caine - Leopard 50 | 5 cabins (2023)

From  €2,429 / day.

- Excess 11 | 6 cabins (2022)

From  €814 / day.

• Without skipper

From  €957 / day

Rent a catamaran in Mallorca, explore the Balearic’s main island and discover its wealth of culture and nature

A treasure trove of mediterranean history, culture and nature.

An ideal location for short, sunny cruises with family and friends, discover cultural landmarks, pristine beaches and hidden coves on your catamaran rental in Mallorca.

Mallorca - a food lover’s paradise

The wide range of exquisite options available in the restaurants in Mallorca’s exclusive marinas means that there is something here for everyone!

Experience the Balearic Islands on your Mallorcan catamaran rental

Mallorca is truly a sailing paradise. From beautiful coasts and exciting culture to its fun-filled nightlife, the largest Balaeric island is a cornucopia of unforgettable experiences. Marvel at the untouched natural beauty of Mallorca aboard your catamaran rental and cruise along more than 300 nautical miles of coastline.

How to get to Palma

Mallorca is an ideal place for a catamaran rental! This is not only due to the beautiful landscapes and awe-inspiring sights, but also thanks to the island’s accessibility. The airport in Palma is easy to reach from all major airports, as well as regional airports. This makes Mallorca a popular holiday destination all year round.

Where to start your catamaran trip in Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands, is a popular choice amongst sailors from all over the world. Mallorca’s most populous city is home to Son San Juan Airport. If you fly into this airport, you will be able to access the port very easily. Palma is an immensely popular starting point for catamaran rentals in Mallorca, and additionally offers many gorgeous historical sites as well as a host of restaurants, bars and shopping opportunities.

Unmissable highlights in Palma de Mallorca

• Cathedral Le Seu
• Almudaina Palace
• Es Baluard Art Museum

Whilst a large number of charter bases are found in Palma, it is also possible for you to start your journey in Porto Colom (located on the south coast) or in Pollensa (in the north).

10 popular bases for your catamaran charter in Mallorca

• Real Club Nautico
• Can Pastilla
• Porto Colom

Did you know?

Although Mallorca and the rest of the Balearic Islands belong to Spain, they are administered by an autonomous government. This government has designated some stretches of coastline as marine protected areas, where diving or fishing is only allowed with a permit.

When is the best time for a catamaran rental in Mallorca?

The climate on the Mallorcan coast is pleasantly subtropical, with temperatures often between 24 °C and 30 °C onland in the summer months. Mallorca boasts approximately 300 days of sun a year. Precipitation is most frequent in the autumn months as the island sometimes experiences short but heavy downpours.

What are the sailing conditions like on the Balearic coast?

Water depths and tides on the coast of mallorca.

Unlike other less exposed areas of the Mediterranean, the swell can be particularly high around the Balearic Islands. Between March and June, the north wind Tramontana causes the swell to become high and steep. Even when there is no wind, a wind-based, old swell can occur.

Important climatic features: changing winds throughout the sailing season

If you are planning to rent a catamaran in Mallorca, it is important to be aware that the winds often change, depending on the time of year. Between March and June, you will encounter either the north wind Tramontana or the north-east wind Mistral. However, in July and August, you will find easterly to south-easterly winds instead. Following this, in September and October, Mistral and Tramontana become dominant once again. Winter, on the other hand, is mostly windless.

Wind conditions in Mallorca

Due to the ever-changing nature of the wind, you will experience the best wind conditions for a catamaran charter from June to September. The prevailing summer wind is from the east-southeast, which normally starts around noon and measures from three to six BFT. This then dies down as evening approaches.

What exciting sites are there to see on your catamaran rental in Mallorca?

La seu, palma’s gothic cathedral.

The construction of the cathedral began in 1230, but it was not until the 16th/17th century that it was completed. However, it is due to the work of Antoni Gaudi that the cathedral appears in its present form.

Palau de Almudaina

This palace is a former Arab fortress and boasts beautiful gardens which are perfect for long walks or for relaxing.

Visit Mallorca’s most beautiful and best-known beach and enjoy a day of ultimate relaxation as you splash around in the sea and chill out on the sand. To access this beach during your catamaran rental, anchor at Ses Covetes.

Es Baluard, the Museum of Modern Art in Palma

Located near the harbour, the museum was built in a modern style and incorporates the walls of the 16th century San Pere fortress. The café and restaurant can be found on the battlements of the bastion and feature stunning panoramic views over the port of Palma.

Mercat de l'Olivar

Don’t miss out on a trip Palma’s largest and most centrally located indoor market which is situated on Placa Olivar. The Santa Catalina market (in the former fishermen’s quarter) is known for its tapas and also for its bodegas which offer wine straight from the barrel.

Cuevas del Drac (Dragon Caves), Porto Christo

These stalactite caves are located approximately two kilometres from the harbour. A visit to the caves will take about an hour and includes a classical concert and a boat trip across Lake Martel.

Port de Sóller

Board the historic railway and travel through the middle of the Serra de Tramunta to Sollér. After this, take the old tram to the Puerto de Sollér port and spend the day relaxing in one of the many cafés and restaurants or strolling along the wondrous harbour. You can also anchor your catamaran here and take a trip from the port to Palma.

What to be aware of when renting a catamaran in Mallorca

In order to operate a catamaran in the Balearic Islands, you need the International Certificate of Competence for Inland and Coastal Waters or the Sport-coastal Ship-licence (SKS/BR).

From the airport it is a 20 minute drive to the port in Palma. It takes a little longer to get to Pollensa (45 minutes) and Porto Colom (60 minutes).

Tip: Before you leave, check that you have all the necessary documents so that your trip can be as easy as possible!

Scansail Service - plan your next catamaran rental with us

If you would like a personal consultation on your catamaran rental in Mallorca, our service team will be happy to help you. Contact us between 09:00 to 17:00 using the number: +49 40 388422. We look forward to receiving your call!

Charter a catamarans near Mallorca

In Mallorca, privately owned yachts are available for charter. See other yachts in the area.

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7 Business Plan Examples to Inspire Your Own (2024)

Need support creating your business plan? Check out these business plan examples for inspiration.

Any aspiring entrepreneur researching how to start a business will likely be advised to write a business plan. But few resources provide business plan examples to really guide you through writing one of your own.

Here are some real-world and illustrative business plan examples to help you craft your business plan .

7 business plan examples: section by section

The business plan examples in this article follow this 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.  Research-based information about the industry and your target market.
• Products and services.  What you plan to offer in exchange for money.
• Marketing plan.   The promotional strategy to introduce your business to the world and drive sales.
• Logistics and operations plan.  Everything that happens in the background to make your business function properly.
• Financial plan.  A breakdown of your numbers to show what you need to get started as well as to prove viability of profitability.
• Executive summary

Your  executive summary  is a page that gives a high-level overview of the rest of your business plan. It’s easiest to save this section for last.

In this  free business plan template , the executive summary is four paragraphs and takes a little over half a page:

• Company description

You might repurpose your company description elsewhere, like on your About page, social media profile pages, or other properties that require a boilerplate description of your small business.

Soap brand ORRIS  has a blurb on its About page that could easily be repurposed for the company description section of its business plan.

You can also go more in-depth with your company overview and include the following sections, like in the example for Paw Print Post:

• Business structure.  This section outlines how you  registered your business —as an  LLC , sole proprietorship, corporation, or other  business type . “Paw Print Post will operate as a sole proprietorship run by the owner, Jane Matthews.”
• Nature of the business.  “Paw Print Post sells unique, one-of-a-kind digitally printed cards that are customized with a pet’s unique paw prints.”
• Industry.  “Paw Print Post operates primarily in the pet industry and sells goods that could also be categorized as part of the greeting card industry.”
• Background information.  “Jane Matthews, the founder of Paw Print Post, has a long history in the pet industry and working with animals, and was recently trained as a graphic designer. She’s combining those two loves to capture a niche in the market: unique greeting cards customized with a pet’s paw prints, without needing to resort to the traditional (and messy) options of casting your pet’s prints in plaster or using pet-safe ink to have them stamp their ‘signature.’”
• Business objectives.  “Jane will have Paw Print Post ready to launch at the Big Important Pet Expo in Toronto to get the word out among industry players and consumers alike. After two years in business, Jane aims to drive $150,000 in annual revenue from the sale of Paw Print Post’s signature greeting cards and have expanded into two new product categories.”
• Team.  “Jane Matthews is the sole full-time employee of Paw Print Post but hires contractors as needed to support her workflow and fill gaps in her skill set. Notably, Paw Print Post has a standing contract for five hours a week of virtual assistant support with Virtual Assistants Pro.”

Your  mission statement  may also make an appearance here.  Passionfruit  shares its mission statement on its company website, and it would also work well in its example business plan.

• Market analysis

The market analysis consists of research about supply and demand, your target demographics, industry trends, and the competitive landscape. You might run a SWOT analysis and include that in your business plan. 

Here’s an example  SWOT analysis  for an online tailored-shirt business:

You’ll also want to do a  competitive analysis  as part of the market research component of your business plan. This will tell you who you’re up against and give you ideas on how to differentiate your brand. A broad competitive analysis might include:

• Target customers
• Unique value add  or what sets their products apart
• Sales pitch
• Price points  for products
• Shipping  policy
• Products and services

This section of your business plan describes your offerings—which products and services do you sell to your customers? Here’s an example for Paw Print Post:

• Marketing plan

It’s always a good idea to develop a marketing plan  before you launch your business. Your marketing plan shows how you’ll get the word out about your business, and it’s an essential component of your business plan as well.

The Paw Print Post focuses on four Ps: price, product, promotion, and place. However, you can take a different approach with your marketing plan. Maybe you can pull from your existing  marketing strategy , or maybe you break it down by the different marketing channels. Whatever approach you take, your marketing plan should describe how you intend to promote your business and offerings to potential customers.

• Logistics and operations plan

The Paw Print Post example considered suppliers, production, facilities, equipment, shipping and fulfillment, and inventory.

• Financial plan

The financial plan provides a breakdown of sales, revenue, profit, expenses, and other relevant financial metrics related to funding and profiting from your business.

Ecommerce brand  Nature’s Candy’s financial plan  breaks down predicted revenue, expenses, and net profit in graphs.

It then dives deeper into the financials to include:

• Funding needs
• Projected profit-and-loss statement
• Projected balance sheet
• Projected cash-flow statement

You can use this financial plan spreadsheet to build your own financial statements, including income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statement.

Types of business plans, and what to include for each

A one-page business plan is meant to be high level and easy to understand at a glance. You’ll want to include all of the sections, but make sure they’re truncated and summarized:

• Executive summary: truncated
• Market analysis: summarized
• Products and services: summarized
• Marketing plan: summarized
• Logistics and operations plan: summarized
• Financials: summarized

A startup business plan is for a new business. Typically, these plans are developed and shared to secure  outside funding . As such, there’s a bigger focus on the financials, as well as on other sections that determine viability of your business idea—market research, for example.

• Market analysis: in-depth
• Financials: in-depth

Your internal business plan is meant to keep your team on the same page and aligned toward the same goal.

A strategic, or growth, business plan is a bigger picture, more-long-term look at your business. As such, the forecasts tend to look further into the future, and growth and revenue goals may be higher. Essentially, you want to use all the sections you would in a normal business plan and build upon each.

• Market analysis: comprehensive outlook
• Products and services: for launch and expansion
• Marketing plan: comprehensive outlook
• Logistics and operations plan: comprehensive outlook
• Financials: comprehensive outlook

Feasibility

Your feasibility business plan is sort of a pre-business plan—many refer to it as simply a feasibility study. This plan essentially lays the groundwork and validates that it’s worth the effort to make a full business plan for your idea. As such, it’s mostly centered around research.

Set yourself up for success as a business owner

Building a good business plan serves as a roadmap you can use for your ecommerce business at launch and as you reach each of your business goals. Business plans create accountability for entrepreneurs and synergy among teams, regardless of your  business model .

Kickstart your ecommerce business and set yourself up for success with an intentional business planning process—and with the sample business plans above to guide your own path.

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Business plan examples FAQ

How do i write a simple business plan, what is the best format to write a business plan, what are the 4 key elements of a business plan.

• Executive summary: A concise overview of the company's mission, goals, target audience, and financial objectives.
• Business description: A description of the company's purpose, operations, products and services, target markets, and competitive landscape.
• Market analysis: An analysis of the industry, market trends, potential customers, and competitors.
• Financial plan: A detailed description of the company's financial forecasts and strategies.

What are the 3 main points of a business plan?

• Concept: Your concept should explain the purpose of your business and provide an overall summary of what you intend to accomplish.
• Contents: Your content should include details about the products and services you provide, your target market, and your competition.
• Cashflow: Your cash flow section should include information about your expected cash inflows and outflows, such as capital investments, operating costs, and revenue projections.

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Didn't find what you are looking for.

Writing a business plan from scratch seems like an uphill climb? We get that, but hold tight—you’re not alone. Even business plan writers often feel the same way while writing from scratch. That’s where a little content reference or inspiration can help—just like these business plan examples .

Reading such real-life sample business plans can be incredibly helpful while drafting your very first business plan with zero clue about business plan writing. 

As you read and explore these industry-specific examples, you learn more about what you should and should not include in your business plan, ensuring sustainable and long-term growth.

So, let’s explore these 400+ business plan examples to help you quickly write a business plan—hassle-free.

Why you should refer a business plan example?

A Business plan example will provide you with the complete format and structure for your document, giving you a head start on developing your document so you’re not stuck seeing an empty page working to find out where to start.

Also, it gives you the overall layout of a professional business plan so you understand what goes where and you’re not leaving out anything.

Here are some of the key benefits of using sample business plans:

• Guidance on what to include in each section. If you’ve never attended business school, you might never have created a SWOT analysis or a balance sheet before. Business templates that give guidance — in plain language — about what to include and how to fill in each section and create a complete and effective plan.
• A business plan is vital to get an investment. If you’re seeking investment for your business, you’ll need to convince banks and investors why they should invest in your business. Lenders and investors will only risk their time and money if they’re certain that your business will be successful and profitable and they will get a great return on their investment.
• A business plan can help you prioritize. A complete, well-balanced business plan is one of the most valuable tools in assisting you to reach your long-term goals. It gives your business direction, defines your goals, outlines out strategies to reach your goals, and helps you to manage possible bumps in the way.

Creating a business plan will help you define the business goals you want to achieve, and define the strategies to achieve them. This means you can focus your resources and energy on what is important, rather than wasting time on unimportant things.

If you’re working with a team in your company then having a regular brainstorming session is the best way to keep your business on track and your business plan assures you’re all on the same page.

Make your plan in half the time & twice the impact with Upmetrics.

Sample business plan format​

Following is the standard business plan format you must consider while drafting a comprehensive business plan.

• Executive Summary : A high-level overview of your business plan.
• Company Overview : An in-depth and detailed description of your small business, its fundamental elements, and future goals.
• Market Analysis : A detailed description of your industry with the target market, competitors, and growth potential.
• Products and Services : Description of the products or services you intend to exchange for money.
• Sales and Marketing Strategies : Promotional strategies you will use to attract and retain customers.
• Operations Plan : Business processes and procedures that ensure seamless business operations.
• Management Team : Introduction to your founders, key management, and their compensation plan.
• Financial Plan : A breakdown of your financial projections and financing needs.
• Appendix : A supplementary final section that includes additional documents to support your plan.

This was about the outline. Now let’s break down and understand how to write each section, step by step, with real-life examples.

1. Executive Summary

Executive Summary is the first section of your business plan, providing a high-level overview of your entire plan and summarizing it for a quick understanding of your business.

Considering it as an introductory section of your plan, it must be clear, concise, and written to grab readers’ attention and persuade them to take action.

As business plans can be 10-20 to a hundred-page long, an executive summary remains your sole chance to gain a quick extra point.

Here are a few key components your Executive Summary must include:

• Business concept
• Company’s mission
• Company History

Market Opportunity

Management team.

• Financial Projections

Remember, you are bound to cover these topics in detail moving forward in your business plan, so make sure your executive summary is brief, covering only the key takeaways.

2. Company Overview

As the name suggests, the Company Overview section of your plan provides an overview of your small business, including your business concept, objectives, future goals, and what customers your business serves.

Since you will provide a brief company description in the executive summary, this section will expand on it—providing an in-depth understanding of your business.

Remember, this section is a platform for introducing and positioning your business as an ideal solution for your target market to your reader. So, make sure it’s short and succinct but impactful enough to help them understand what it does, who your potential customers are, and how you can make a difference.

Here are a few key components your business overview must include:

Company Description

Mission statement, business objectives.

• Business History
• Future Goals

3. Market Analysis

Market Analysis is a study of your external business environment, providing a complete overview of your industry and its dynamics. This section provides valuable insights into the market, like what’s working.

When smartly researched, utilized, and written, this section can help you discover and identify untapped areas in the market and strategize to stand out from your competitors.

Remember, this section helps your readers and potential investors understand your target market, market size, and growth potential, so make sure you play your cards right.

Here are a few key components your market analysis section must include:

• Target Market
• Market Size and Growth Potential

Competitive Analysis

• Market or Industry Trends
• Regulatory Environment

Unlike other sections of your business plan , Market Analysis requires deep research and analytical work. However, using an industry-specific example business plan can save hours of research work.

4. Products And Services

The products and services section is where you will mention and elaborate on your product or service range, description, pricing strategies, and more.

Since your business success solely depends on your products or services, your entire plan revolves around this particular section.

This section can be a crucial component of your plan while searching for an investor or partner, as a well-articulated products and services section can help you persuade them.

Here are a few key elements your products and services section must include:

• Product Description
• Product Comparison

Pricing Strategy

• Order Management
• Quality Measures

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

A business’s sales and marketing strategies determine how your product is displayed and reaches your target audience.

A well-designed sales and marketing plan can help you streamline your marketing efforts and create impactful and effective marketing campaigns while keeping track of the marketing budget and maximizing return on investment.

In short, this section will discuss how you’ll acquire new customers using your sales and marketing strategy. You might consider including the following information in your sales and marketing plan:

• Your target audience and brand positioning
• Your business’ UVP
• Marketing channels and distribution tactics you plan to use
• Sales goals and performance measurement
• Your customer retention strategies
• Your sales and marketing goals

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section outlines the daily business processes and activities centered on achieving business goals and objectives described in the previous sections of your plan.

A detail-oriented logistics and operations plan helps you and your team define your responsibilities, daily tasks, and short-term goals you need to achieve, keeping track of your long-term objective.

Remember, your logistics and operations plan won’t be static but a living document. You may adjust and update it as time goes on.

Here are a few key elements your operations plan section must include:

• Staffing and training
• Tools and equipment
• Inventory management
• Supply chain management
• Operational process

7. Management Team

Your management team plays a crucial role in the ultimate success of your business. And this section introduces your owners and management team, along with their qualifications, industry experience, roles and responsibilities, and compensation plan.

A strong management team section can be critical to weigh authority and help investors be confident about your business idea and vision.

Make sure to include the educational background, accomplishments, work experience, and area of expertise for each individual, part of your management.

You might consider including the following information in the management team section:

• Business owner/founders
• Key management
• Organization structure
• Compensation plan
• Advisors/consultants

8. Financial Plan

It’s no secret that the financial plan is the most crucial yet nerve-wracking aspect of business planning. In fact, it’s one of the deciding factors when it comes to convincing potential investors and banks to invest or lend money.

This section of your plan details your business’s financial information and how it will reach its financial goals. The information may include balance sheet, income, and cash flow statements.

Here are a few key components and financial statements you must include or provide while creating a financial plan:

• Profit and loss statements
• Operating costs
• Income statement
• Cash flow statement
• Balance sheet
• Break-even point
• Financing needs

9. Appendix

While an Appendix isn’t a required element of your business plan, it can be pretty helpful in adding legal notes, charts, tables, or any other critical information to support your business document.

It generally includes financial statements, information, and documents that didn’t naturally fit into your plan but can be considered critical enough to add.

In addition, it helps readers navigate through the entire business plan and easily find specific information or documents.

Need a way out from manual editing and business plan writing work?

Get Upmetrics’ business plan template, import data directly into the editor, and start editing using Upmetrics AI Assistant.

Start Planning Now

Since we are finished discussing the sections of a business, let’s learn more about how you can put an example business plan to use while writing your own.

How to use an Example of a Business Plan to write your own?

Having real-life and industry-specific business plan examples by your side can be incredibly resourceful to help you write a business plan from scratch. 

A well-planned structure helps you outline your plan, while content inspiration helps you set the tone for your business document. 

Let’s dive deep and understand how to use these examples effectively to write your business plan.

1. Understanding the Structure

Traditional business plans generally follow a similar structure. 

It starts with an executive summary followed by a company description, market analysis, product and services, sales and marketing strategies, operational plan, management team, financial plan, and appendix.

Using an example business plan is the best way to understand the structure and outline your plan. 

2. Gaining Inspiration

Reading industry-specific business plan examples can help you gain inspiration for your plan. You can gain insights on presenting your business idea, vision, mission, and values and persuade investors to invest in your idea.

3. Learning Industry-Specific Language

There’s no universal template for business planning that fits all. An industry-specific template can help you learn and understand the business language for your industry and the best way to communicate your message to your investors.

4. Identifying Key Elements

Reading business plan examples of similar businesses can help you identify the key elements and information to include in your plan. You can keep note of these and ensure everything necessary for investors to consider is present in your final draft. 

5. Crafting Financial Projections

A financial plan is a critical component of your business plan, and a good business plan example can help you better understand how they project their financials which can be incredibly helpful while forecasting yours.

6. Refining Your Executive Summary

As mentioned earlier, your executive summary is a key factor influencing potential investors and lenders to invest or lend you money. Analyzing free business plan templates can help you optimize your executive summary to make it more brief, persuasive, and attention-grabbing.

7. Realizing what works and what doesn’t

Analyzing industry-specific and real-life examples can help you determine what works best and what doesn’t within your industry. Understanding these factors can help you avoid many significant pitfalls.

While business plan examples can be incredibly helpful in writing a plan from scratch, ensure your plan is customized for your business and sends out a unique message. Your business plan must reflect its unique idea, vision, and target market.

Download business plan examples for:

• Business Plan Template for Startups
• Business Plan Template for Small Business
• Business Plan Example for Non Profits
• Business Plan Example for Students

Download a free sample business plan template

Ready to kick-start your business plan writing process? Not sure where to start? Here you go, download our free sample business plan, import data directly into the editor, and start planning.

This intuitive, modern, and investment-ready template is designed specifically for startups and small businesses. In fact, this format has helped 110K+ entrepreneurs create business plans to secure funding, business grants, and loans. It includes a business planning course and step-by-step instructions to write each section.

Business plan types: choose the suitable template 

Well, there are a few types of business plans. Though they cover similar categories, they all have different formats intended for different purposes or industries. 

Here are a few common business plan types to help you choose the most suitable one for your business:

1. One-page business plan

One page business plan can be considered a one-page version of a standard business plan. It’s mainly used to present a quick overview of small businesses to your vendors, employees, investors, or stakeholders.

Considering its shorter length, creating a one page business plan can be a lot easier and less time-consuming compared to a standard business plan using a business plan software like Upmetrics.

2. Lean business plan

A lean business plan is a summarized version of a standard business plan that is longer than a one-page one. It’s mainly used to track finances and emphasize achieving short-term milestones. 

This business plan type is best suitable if you are unsure about the business planning process. Moreover, drafting a lean business plan is also a lot easier and faster than a standard one.

3. Traditional business plan

A traditional business plan is the standard plan entrepreneurs have been using for years to outline marketing strategies, project financials, and draw investors. A traditional business plan can be a few dozen to a hundred-page long, depending on its purpose and your business specifications.

A traditional plan is a must-have business document for business owners aiming to achieve long-term business success.

4. Internal business plan 

As the name suggests, an internal business plan is a document designed for internal management and team members to ensure everyone’s on the same page. The primary focus of these plans is to set primary goals and outline processes aiming to achieve them—ultimately streamlining business operations.

Start writing your business plan

There’s no denying—creating a business plan that draws investors in needs some serious work; it’s no stroll in the park. But you must take the first step to stay ahead in the cut-throat competition; there is no way around it.

So, what are you waiting for? Understand your business and the value it offers to its customers, find a suitable template from our library, and start planning.

Simplifying Business Planning through AI-Powered Insights.

Founder, CEO & Lead Scientist at Nanolyse Technologies

After trying Upmetrics, I wish to highly recommend this app to anyone who needs to write a business plan flexibly and to a high standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i write my own business plan.

Follow this step-by-step process to write your business plan on your own.

• Choose a format that best suits your business requirements
• Create a business plan outline
• Create a company description section
• Conduct market research
• Conduct a competitive analysis
• Describe your product and services
• Outline sales and marketing strategies
• Create a logistics and operations plan
• Introduce management team
• Project financials
• Summarize your plan with an executive summary
• Complete your plan with an appendix

Where can I find business plan examples?

Upmetrics is an incredible business planning solution providing 400+ business plan samples and examples. You can easily create a good business plan using these industry-specific templates.

What is a business plan template?

A business plan template is a pre-formatted business plan, usually written for a fictional company. These industry-specific templates can help entrepreneurs understand a business plan’s structure and other key components. These templates are used mainly by entrepreneurs planning to launch a new startup or expand an existing business.

Should I hire someone to write my business plan for me?

Concept, contents, and cashflow are the 3Cs of a business plan that can be defined as follows:

• Concept: Your concept should explain the purpose of your business, summarizing what you plan to accomplish with this very business.
• Contents: Your content should reflect your concept, product and services, target market, and competition.
• Cashflow: Your cash flow section must detail your cash in-and-out flows, including capital investment, operations costs, and revenue projections.

Why Is It Beneficial to Use a Sample Business Plan as a Guide?

Let’s face it—writing a 40-50 page business plan from scratch can be too intimidating; you may soon give up and won’t even finish it. 

Instead, using a sample business plan as a guide can help you understand its structure, gain inspiration and ideas for content, plan marketing strategies, and project financials. In short, using business template examples is the best way to write a business plan.

When should you not follow a business plan example?

We’ve always been saying this, using an example of a business plan is the best way to write one. However, it’s also critical to understand when not to follow a template. Here’s when:

• The format does not align with your business model or industry.
• Include outdated templates and information.
• Offer poorly written content.
• Include misleading and poorly done financials.
• There’s a lack of expertise.

These are a few red flags in a template you must consider looking at while choosing one.

Are these examples suited for business plan beginners?

Absolutely. In fact, these examples are specially designed, keeping common issues faced by beginners while drafting a plan in mind to serve them best. So, if you are a new or an established business with no planning experience, you have to check out these templates.

Looking for a faster way to finish your business plan?

18 of my favorite sample business plans & examples for your inspiration.

Published: July 01, 2024

I believe that reading sample business plans is essential when writing your own.

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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.

So 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.

Table of Contents

Business plan types.

Business plan format, sample business plan: section by section, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.

Ultimately, the format of your business plan will vary based on your goals for that plan. I’ve added this quick review of different business plan types that achieve differing goals.

For a more detailed exploration of business plan types, you can check out this post .

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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

A strategic business plan is another business plan that's often shared internally. 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.

I’m going to focus on a startup business plan that needs to be detailed and research-backed as well as compelling enough to convince investors to offer funding. In my experience, the most comprehensive and convincing business plans contain the following sections.

Executive Summary

This all-important introduction to your business plan sets the tone and includes the company description as well as what you will be exchanging for money — whether that’s product lines, services, or product-service hybrids.

Information about gaps in your industry’s market and how you plan to fill them, focused on demand and potential for growth.

Competitive Landscape Analysis

An overview of your competitors that includes consideration of their strengths and how you’ll manage them, their weaknesses and how you’ll capitalize on them, and how you can differentiate your offerings in the industry.

Target Audience

Descriptions of your ideal customers, their various problems that you can solve, and your customer acquisition strategy.

Marketing Strategy

This section details how you will market your brand to achieve specific goals, the channels and tactics you’ll utilize to reach those goals, and the metrics you’ll be using to measure your progress.

Key Features and Benefits

This is where you’ll use plain language to emphasize the value of your product/service, how it solves the problems of your target audiences, and how you’ll scale up over time.

Pricing and Revenue

This section describes your pricing strategy and plans for building revenue streams that fit your audiences while achieving your business goals.

This is the final section, communicating with investors that your business idea is worth investing in via profit/loss statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets to prove viability.

Okay, so now that we have a format established, I’ll give you more specific details about each section along with examples. Truthfully, I wish I’d had this resource to help me flesh out those first business plans long ago.

I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. It is essentially an overview of and introduction to your entire project.

Write this in such a way that it grabs your readers' attention and guides 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: your company description and your products and services.

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. This is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.

Need some extra help firming up your business goals? I’d recommend HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set meaningful goals that matter most for your business.

Products and Services

Here, you will incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive, as it is just a chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business. I recommend including snippets of information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here as well.

Keep in mind that you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. The executive summary should be clear and brief, only including the most important takeaways.

Executive Summary Business Plan Examples

This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template . What makes this executive summary good is that it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.

Our Mission

Maria’s Gluten Free Bagels offers gluten-free bagels, along with various toppings, other gluten-free breakfast sandwich items, and coffee. The facility is entirely gluten free. Our team expects to catch the interest of gluten-free, celiac, or health-conscious community members who are seeking an enjoyable cafe to socialize. Due to a lack of gluten-free bagel products in the food industry currently, we expect mild competition and are confident we will be able to build a strong market position.

The Company and Management

Maria’s Gluten Free Bagels was founded in 2010 by Maria Jones, who first began selling her gluten-free bagels online from her home, using social media to spread the word. In 2012 she bought a retail location in Hamilton, MA, which now employs four full-time employees and six part-time employees. Prior to her bagel shop, Maria was a chef in New York and has extensive experience in the food industry.

Along with Maria Jones, Gluten Free Bagel Shop has a board of advisors. The advisors are:

• Jeni King, partner at Winding Communications, Ltd.
• Henry Wilson, president of Blue Robin, LLP.

Our Product

We offer gluten-free products ranging from bagels and cream cheese to blueberry muffins, coffee, and pastries. Our customers are health-conscious, community-oriented people who enjoy gluten-free products. We will create a welcoming, warm environment with opportunities for open mic nights, poetry readings, and other community functions. We will focus on creating an environment in which someone feels comfortable meeting a friend for lunch, or working remotely.

Our Competitive Advantages

While there are other coffee shops and cafes in the North Shore region, there are none that offer purely gluten-free options. This restricts those suffering from gluten-free illnesses or simply those with a gluten-free preference. This will be our primary selling point. Additionally, our market research [see Section 3] has shown a demand for a community-oriented coffee and bagel shop in the town of Hamilton, MA.

Financial Considerations

Our sales projections for the first year are $400,000. We project a 15% growth rate over the next two years. By year three, we project 61% gross margins.

We will have four full-time employees. The salary for each employee will be $50,000.

Start-up Financing Requirements

We are seeking to raise $125,000 in startup to finance year one. The owner has invested $50,000 to meet working capital requirements, and will use a loan of $100,000 to supplement the rest.

Example 2 :

Marianne and Keith Bean have been involved with the food industry for several years. They opened their first restaurant in Antlers, Oklahoma in 1981, and their second in Hugo in 1988. Although praised for the quality of many of the items on their menu, they have attained a special notoriety for their desserts. After years of requests for their flavored whipped cream toppings, they have decided to pursue marketing these products separately from the restaurants.

Marianne and Keith Bean have developed several recipes for flavored whipped cream topping. They include chocolate, raspberry, cinnamon almond, and strawberry. These flavored dessert toppings have been used in the setting of their two restaurants over the past 18 years, and have been produced in large quantities. The estimated shelf life of the product is 21 days at refrigeration temperatures and up to six months when frozen. The Beans intend to market this product in its frozen state in 8 and 12-ounce plastic tubs. They also intend to have the products available in six ounce pressurized cans. Special attention has been given to developing an attractive label that will stress the gourmet/specialty nature of the products.

Distribution of Fancy's Foods Whipped Dream product will begin in the local southeastern Oklahoma area. The Beans have an established name and reputation in this area, and product introduction should encounter little resistance.

Financial analyses show that the company will have both a positive cash flow and profit in the first year. The expected return on equity in the first year is 10.88%

Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary

• Start with a strong introduction of your company that showcases your mission and impact, then outline the products and services you provide.
• Clearly define a problem, 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, you might emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists, whereas you might emphasize community benefits and minimal environmental impact for progressive nonprofits.

For more guidance, check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary .

2. Market Opportunity

This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market. Ask and answer: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?

To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, SOM analysis , a SWOT analysis , and perform market research on your industry to get some insights for this section. More specifically, here’s what I’d include.

• 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

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.

Example: The market for Doggie Pause is all of the dog owners in the metropolitan area and surrounding areas of the city. We believe that this is going to be 2/3 of the population, and we have a goal of gaining a 50% market share. We have a target of a 20% yearly profit increase as the business continues.

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 Analysis

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 the following:

• 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 shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are. It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location. This demonstrates useful experience in the industry, helping to build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.

Competitive Environment

Currently, there are four primary competitors in the Greater Omaha Area: Pinot’s Palette Lakeside (franchise partner), Village Canvas and Cabernet, The Corky Canvas, and Twisted Vine Collective. The first three competitors are in Omaha and the fourth is located in Papillion.

Despite the competition, all locations have both public and private events. Each location has a few sold-out painting events each month. The Omaha locations are in new, popular retail locations, while the existing Papillion location is in a downtown business district.

There is an opportunity to take advantage of the environment and open a studio in a well-traveled or growing area. Pinot’s Palette La Vista will differentiate itself from its competitors by offering a premium experience in a high-growth, influential location.

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? I’d recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear about why you're targeting them. Here are some questions I’d ask myself:

• 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?

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.

The Audience

Recognize that audiences are often already aware of important issues. Outreach materials should:

• Emphasize a pollution-prevention practice
• Tell audience a little about how to prevent pollution
• Tell audience where they can obtain information about prevention.

Message Content

• Focus the content for outreach materials on cost savings, such as when and where pollution prevention is as cheap as or cheaper than traditional techniques. Include facts and figures.
• Emphasize how easy it is to do the right thing and the impacts of not engaging in pollution prevention.
• Stress benefits such as efficiency or better relations with government, for businesses not primarily concerned with public image.

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 think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier. I’d suggest including these details:

• 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.

Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example

This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler. In my opinion, it works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.

Image Source

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 potential investors 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.

The ArtSphere is expanding its offerings. Our primary focus is now on offering art instruction classes. We will tailor our classes according to market segment and time of day, providing instructional opportunities during the morning and mid-day, after-school sessions, and evening classes.

We will have a wide range of art supplies available to complement student sessions as well as for sale to the general public.

Additionally, the owners will continue to show and sell their own work in the Gallery, as well as produce commission portraits and other work.

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.

Financial Overview

Revenue Model

Plum generates revenue through the sale of our Plum hardware products, including Plum Lightpad Dimmer, Plum Smart Plug, and Plum Duplex Outlet.

All Plum hardware products are strategically priced at a level that places them significantly below competing products [which retail for an average of $200 or higher] making Plum an accessible home automation option for a broader range of consumer budgets.

Plum Lightpad Dimmer: COGS: $21 Wholesale $39 Retail: $79

Plum Smart Plug: COGS: $24 Wholesale: $43 Retail: $84

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. While some business plans might include more or less information, according to Forbes you'll want to include three main details:

• 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.

Financials Business Plan Example

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

Current Assets

1010 Checking 583,961

1020 Savings 224,600

1030 Petty Cash 89,840

Total Cash - 898,402

1100 Accounts Receivable - 3,593,607

1200 Work in Process - 589,791

1300 Other Current Assets

1310 Prepaid Rent 164,593

1320 Prepaid Liability Insurance 109,728

Total Other Current Assets - 274,321

Total Current Assets - 5,356,121

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.

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

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

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

If you want to reference an actual business plan while writing your own, ThoughtCo has got you covered. It created a fictional company called Acme Management Technology and wrote an entire business plan for it.

Using its sample business plan as a guide while filling out your own will help you catch and include small yet important details in your business plan that you otherwise might not have noticed.

This is a fantastic template for an existing business that’s strategically shifting directions. If your company has been around for a while, and you’re looking to improve your bottom line or revitalize your strategy, this is an excellent template to use and follow.

5. BPlan’s Free Business Plan Template

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 — including writing your business plan — with a high level of exactitude and detail. It also offers other resources you might need, such as market analysis templates. So if you’re in the midst of starting your business, this is an excellent guide for you.

Since writing this article, there’s now an amazing suite of products available for new business builders called HubSpot Starter .

It’s essential for businesses trying to get their plan in motion, giving you all the tools you need to build your brand online. It can be a huge help in finding critical information to build out your business plan with realistic numbers — among many other benefits — and I highly recommend it.

8. Panda Doc’s Free Business Plan Template

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

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

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

Brooklyn Business owner and Pilates instructor, Tara Kashyap , saw a need in her community for a Pilates, tissue, and bodywork studio. In response, she opened Lula Body in Crown Heights.

Pictured above is a hypothetical pricing and revenue statement based on Lula Body’s business plan. As you can see, Kashyap breaks down the cost of classes, start-up expenses, monthly expenses, and her monthly sales projection.

Everything from equipment costs to loan interest is included in the expenses to give the most accurate picture of operating costs and revenue.

If you’re seeking outside funding for your business, you’ll want to make sure this section of your business plan is as thorough as possible.

This is a good business plan example for service-based businesses such as gyms, boxing classes, dancing studios, etc. For starters, the plan shows how to budget for the business loan and what to focus on buying first.

Everything is well presented, including what to charge the customers in different scenarios and the expected revenue. This is a good foundation from which business performance can be evaluated with time.

3. Patagonia

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 prioritize 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

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

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 (CCS)

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

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

When creating your own business plan, make sure the pictures and design you use make sense for your branding. The images in this plan are cutting-edge, which makes sense for an innovative company like Plum.

This is one of my favorite sample business plans because you can see how implementing visuals can help tell your brand‘s story. Additionally, the financial charts included are an excellent guide if you’re not sure what financial information to include.

9. LiveShopBuy Sample Business Plan

With this business plan, the focus is the investment opportunity. This is an excellent template to use if you're going to use your business plan to seek funding.

The investment opportunity section is placed right up front and is several pages long. Then, it goes into more detail about the company and its key services. Nice.

Get Started Writing Your Business Plan

When you're first getting started on your business plan, I know it can be daunting. The business world moves fast, and it’s full of ambitious companies scrambling to gain the majority of their industry’s market share.

That‘s why it’s important to make sure you understand the value your business offers and can communicate that through a properly formatted business plan.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness. This article was written by a human, but our team uses AI in our editorial process. Check out our full disclosure to learn more about how we use AI.

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Small Business Trends

How to create a business plan: examples & free template.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or launching your very first startup, the guide will give you the insights, tools, and confidence you need to create a solid foundation for your business.

How to Write a Business Plan

Executive summary.

It’s crucial to include a clear mission statement, a brief description of your primary products or services, an overview of your target market, and key financial projections or achievements.

Our target market includes environmentally conscious consumers and businesses seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. We project a 200% increase in revenue within the first three years of operation.

Overview and Business Objectives

Example: EcoTech’s primary objective is to become a market leader in sustainable technology products within the next five years. Our key objectives include:

Example: EcoTech is committed to developing cutting-edge sustainable technology products that benefit both the environment and our customers. Our unique combination of innovative solutions and eco-friendly design sets us apart from the competition. We envision a future where technology and sustainability go hand in hand, leading to a greener planet.

Define Your Target Market

Market analysis.

The Market Analysis section requires thorough research and a keen understanding of the industry. It involves examining the current trends within your industry, understanding the needs and preferences of your customers, and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors.

Our research indicates a gap in the market for high-quality, innovative eco-friendly technology products that cater to both individual and business clients.

SWOT Analysis

Including a SWOT analysis demonstrates to stakeholders that you have a balanced and realistic understanding of your business in its operational context.

Organization and management team.

Provide an overview of your company’s organizational structure, including key roles and responsibilities. Introduce your management team, highlighting their expertise and experience to demonstrate that your team is capable of executing the business plan successfully.

Products and Services Offered

This section should emphasize the value you provide to customers, demonstrating that your business has a deep understanding of customer needs and is well-positioned to deliver innovative solutions that address those needs and set your company apart from competitors.

Marketing and Sales Strategy

Discuss how these marketing and sales efforts will work together to attract and retain customers, generate leads, and ultimately contribute to achieving your business’s revenue goals.

Logistics and Operations Plan

Inventory control is another crucial aspect, where you explain strategies for inventory management to ensure efficiency and reduce wastage. The section should also describe your production processes, emphasizing scalability and adaptability to meet changing market demands.

We also prioritize efficient distribution through various channels, including online platforms and retail partners, to deliver products to our customers in a timely manner.

Financial Projections Plan

This forward-looking financial plan is crucial for demonstrating that you have a firm grasp of the financial nuances of your business and are prepared to manage its financial health effectively.

Income Statement

Cash flow statement.

A cash flow statement is a crucial part of a financial business plan that shows the inflows and outflows of cash within your business. It helps you monitor your company’s liquidity, ensuring you have enough cash on hand to cover operating expenses, pay debts, and invest in growth opportunities.

Tips on Writing a Business Plan

4. Focus on your unique selling proposition (USP): Clearly articulate what sets your business apart from the competition. Emphasize your USP throughout your business plan to showcase your company’s value and potential for success.

FREE Business Plan Template

To help you get started on your business plan, we have created a template that includes all the essential components discussed in the “How to Write a Business Plan” section. This easy-to-use template will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you don’t miss any critical details.

What is a Business Plan?

Why you should write a business plan.

Understanding the importance of a business plan in today’s competitive environment is crucial for entrepreneurs and business owners. Here are five compelling reasons to write a business plan:

What are the Different Types of Business Plans?

Using Business Plan Software

Upmetrics provides a simple and intuitive platform for creating a well-structured business plan. It features customizable templates, financial forecasting tools, and collaboration capabilities, allowing you to work with team members and advisors. Upmetrics also offers a library of resources to guide you through the business planning process.

Business Plan FAQs

What is a good business plan.

A good business plan is a well-researched, clear, and concise document that outlines a company’s goals, strategies, target market, competitive advantages, and financial projections. It should be adaptable to change and provide a roadmap for achieving success.

What are the 3 main purposes of a business plan?

Can i write a business plan by myself, is it possible to create a one-page business plan.

Yes, a one-page business plan is a condensed version that highlights the most essential elements, including the company’s mission, target market, unique selling proposition, and financial goals.

How long should a business plan be?

What is a business plan outline, what are the 5 most common business plan mistakes, what questions should be asked in a business plan.

A business plan should address questions such as: What problem does the business solve? Who is the specific target market ? What is the unique selling proposition? What are the company’s objectives? How will it achieve those objectives?

What’s the difference between a business plan and a strategic plan?

How is business planning for a nonprofit different.

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How to Write a Business Plan in 9 Steps (+ Template and Examples)

Every successful business has one thing in common, a good and well-executed business plan. A business plan is more than a document, it is a complete guide that outlines the goals your business wants to achieve, including its financial goals . It helps you analyze results, make strategic decisions, show your business operations and growth.

If you want to start a business or already have one and need to pitch it to investors for funding, writing a good business plan improves your chances of attracting financiers. As a startup, if you want to secure loans from financial institutions, part of the requirements involve submitting your business plan.

Writing a business plan does not have to be a complicated or time-consuming process. In this article, you will learn the step-by-step process for writing a successful business plan.

You will also learn what you need a business plan for, tips and strategies for writing a convincing business plan, business plan examples and templates that will save you tons of time, and the alternatives to the traditional business plan.

Let’s get started.

What Do You Need A Business Plan For?

Businesses create business plans for different purposes such as to secure funds, monitor business growth, measure your marketing strategies, and measure your business success.

1. Secure Funds

One of the primary reasons for writing a business plan is to secure funds, either from financial institutions/agencies or investors.

For you to effectively acquire funds, your business plan must contain the key elements of your business plan . For example, your business plan should include your growth plans, goals you want to achieve, and milestones you have recorded.

A business plan can also attract new business partners that are willing to contribute financially and intellectually. If you are writing a business plan to a bank, your project must show your traction , that is, the proof that you can pay back any loan borrowed.

Also, if you are writing to an investor, your plan must contain evidence that you can effectively utilize the funds you want them to invest in your business. Here, you are using your business plan to persuade a group or an individual that your business is a source of a good investment.

2. Monitor Business Growth

A business plan can help you track cash flows in your business. It steers your business to greater heights. A business plan capable of tracking business growth should contain:

• The business goals
• Methods to achieve the goals
• Time-frame for attaining those goals

A good business plan should guide you through every step in achieving your goals. It can also track the allocation of assets to every aspect of the business. You can tell when you are spending more than you should on a project.

You can compare a business plan to a written GPS. It helps you manage your business and hints at the right time to expand your business.

3. Measure Business Success

A business plan can help you measure your business success rate. Some small-scale businesses are thriving better than more prominent companies because of their track record of success.

Right from the onset of your business operation, set goals and work towards them. Write a plan to guide you through your procedures. Use your plan to measure how much you have achieved and how much is left to attain.

You can also weigh your success by monitoring the position of your brand relative to competitors. On the other hand, a business plan can also show you why you have not achieved a goal. It can tell if you have elapsed the time frame you set to attain a goal.

4. Document Your Marketing Strategies

You can use a business plan to document your marketing plans. Every business should have an effective marketing plan.

Competition mandates every business owner to go the extraordinary mile to remain relevant in the market. Your business plan should contain your marketing strategies that work. You can measure the success rate of your marketing plans.

In your business plan, your marketing strategy must answer the questions:

• How do you want to reach your target audience?
• How do you plan to retain your customers?
• What is/are your pricing plans?
• What is your budget for marketing?

How to Write a Business Plan Step-by-Step

1. create your executive summary.

The executive summary is a snapshot of your business or a high-level overview of your business purposes and plans . Although the executive summary is the first section in your business plan, most people write it last. The length of the executive summary is not more than two pages.

Generally, there are nine sections in a business plan, the executive summary should condense essential ideas from the other eight sections.

A good executive summary should do the following:

• A Snapshot of Growth Potential. Briefly inform the reader about your company and why it will be successful)
• Contain your Mission Statement which explains what the main objective or focus of your business is.
• Product Description and Differentiation. Brief description of your products or services and why it is different from other solutions in the market.
• The Team. Basic information about your company’s leadership team and employees
• Business Concept. A solid description of what your business does.
• Target Market. The customers you plan to sell to.
• Marketing Strategy. Your plans on reaching and selling to your customers
• Current Financial State. Brief information about what revenue your business currently generates.
• Projected Financial State. Brief information about what you foresee your business revenue to be in the future.

The executive summary is the make-or-break section of your business plan. If your summary cannot in less than two pages cannot clearly describe how your business will solve a particular problem of your target audience and make a profit, your business plan is set on a faulty foundation.

Avoid using the executive summary to hype your business, instead, focus on helping the reader understand the what and how of your plan.

View the executive summary as an opportunity to introduce your vision for your company. You know your executive summary is powerful when it can answer these key questions:

• Who is your target audience?
• What sector or industry are you in?
• What are your products and services?
• What is the future of your industry?
• Is your company scaleable?
• Who are the owners and leaders of your company? What are their backgrounds and experience levels?
• What is the motivation for starting your company?
• What are the next steps?

Writing the executive summary last although it is the most important section of your business plan is an excellent idea. The reason why is because it is a high-level overview of your business plan. It is the section that determines whether potential investors and lenders will read further or not.

The executive summary can be a stand-alone document that covers everything in your business plan. It is not uncommon for investors to request only the executive summary when evaluating your business. If the information in the executive summary impresses them, they will ask for the complete business plan.

If you are writing your business plan for your planning purposes, you do not need to write the executive summary.

2. Add Your Company Overview

The company overview or description is the next section in your business plan after the executive summary. It describes what your business does.

Adding your company overview can be tricky especially when your business is still in the planning stages. Existing businesses can easily summarize their current operations but may encounter difficulties trying to explain what they plan to become.

Your company overview should contain the following:

• What products and services you will provide
• Geographical markets and locations your company have a presence
• What you need to run your business
• Who your target audience or customers are
• Who will service your customers
• Your company’s purpose, mission, and vision
• Information about your company’s founders
• Who the founders are
• Notable achievements of your company so far

When creating a company overview, you have to focus on three basics: identifying your industry, identifying your customer, and explaining the problem you solve.

If you are stuck when creating your company overview, try to answer some of these questions that pertain to you.

• Who are you targeting? (The answer is not everyone)
• What pain point does your product or service solve for your customers that they will be willing to spend money on resolving?
• How does your product or service overcome that pain point?
• Where is the location of your business?
• What products, equipment, and services do you need to run your business?
• How is your company’s product or service different from your competition in the eyes of your customers?
• How many employees do you need and what skills do you require them to have?

After answering some or all of these questions, you will get more than enough information you need to write your company overview or description section. When writing this section, describe what your company does for your customers.

The company description or overview section contains three elements: mission statement, history, and objectives.

The mission statement refers to the reason why your business or company is existing. It goes beyond what you do or sell, it is about the ‘why’. A good mission statement should be emotional and inspirational.

Your mission statement should follow the KISS rule (Keep It Simple, Stupid). For example, Shopify’s mission statement is “Make commerce better for everyone.”

When describing your company’s history, make it simple and avoid the temptation of tying it to a defensive narrative. Write it in the manner you would a profile. Your company’s history should include the following information:

• Founding Date
• Major Milestones
• Location(s)
• Flagship Products or Services
• Number of Employees
• Executive Leadership Roles

When you fill in this information, you use it to write one or two paragraphs about your company’s history.

Your business objective must be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.) Failure to clearly identify your business objectives does not inspire confidence and makes it hard for your team members to work towards a common purpose.

3. Perform Market and Competitive Analyses to Proof a Big Enough Business Opportunity

The third step in writing a business plan is the market and competitive analysis section. Every business, no matter the size, needs to perform comprehensive market and competitive analyses before it enters into a market.

Performing market and competitive analyses are critical for the success of your business. It helps you avoid entering the right market with the wrong product, or vice versa. Anyone reading your business plans, especially financiers and financial institutions will want to see proof that there is a big enough business opportunity you are targeting.

This section is where you describe the market and industry you want to operate in and show the big opportunities in the market that your business can leverage to make a profit. If you noticed any unique trends when doing your research, show them in this section.

Market analysis alone is not enough, you have to add competitive analysis to strengthen this section. There are already businesses in the industry or market, how do you plan to take a share of the market from them?

You have to clearly illustrate the competitive landscape in your business plan. Are there areas your competitors are doing well? Are there areas where they are not doing so well? Show it.

Make it clear in this section why you are moving into the industry and what weaknesses are present there that you plan to explain. How are your competitors going to react to your market entry? How do you plan to get customers? Do you plan on taking your competitors' competitors, tap into other sources for customers, or both?

Illustrate the competitive landscape as well. What are your competitors doing well and not so well?

Answering these questions and thoughts will aid your market and competitive analysis of the opportunities in your space. Depending on how sophisticated your industry is, or the expectations of your financiers, you may need to carry out a more comprehensive market and competitive analysis to prove that big business opportunity.

Instead of looking at the market and competitive analyses as one entity, separating them will make the research even more comprehensive.

Market Analysis

Market analysis, boarding speaking, refers to research a business carried out on its industry, market, and competitors. It helps businesses gain a good understanding of their target market and the outlook of their industry. Before starting a company, it is vital to carry out market research to find out if the market is viable.

The market analysis section is a key part of the business plan. It is the section where you identify who your best clients or customers are. You cannot omit this section, without it your business plan is incomplete.

A good market analysis will tell your readers how you fit into the existing market and what makes you stand out. This section requires in-depth research, it will probably be the most time-consuming part of the business plan to write.

• Market Research

To create a compelling market analysis that will win over investors and financial institutions, you have to carry out thorough market research . Your market research should be targeted at your primary target market for your products or services. Here is what you want to find out about your target market.

• Your target market’s needs or pain points
• The existing solutions for their pain points
• Geographic Location
• Demographics

The purpose of carrying out a marketing analysis is to get all the information you need to show that you have a solid and thorough understanding of your target audience.

Only after you have fully understood the people you plan to sell your products or services to, can you evaluate correctly if your target market will be interested in your products or services.

You can easily convince interested parties to invest in your business if you can show them you thoroughly understand the market and show them that there is a market for your products or services.

How to Quantify Your Target Market

One of the goals of your marketing research is to understand who your ideal customers are and their purchasing power. To quantify your target market, you have to determine the following:

• Your Potential Customers: They are the people you plan to target. For example, if you sell accounting software for small businesses , then anyone who runs an enterprise or large business is unlikely to be your customers. Also, individuals who do not have a business will most likely not be interested in your product.
• Total Households: If you are selling household products such as heating and air conditioning systems, determining the number of total households is more important than finding out the total population in the area you want to sell to. The logic is simple, people buy the product but it is the household that uses it.
• Median Income: You need to know the median income of your target market. If you target a market that cannot afford to buy your products and services, your business will not last long.
• Income by Demographics: If your potential customers belong to a certain age group or gender, determining income levels by demographics is necessary. For example, if you sell men's clothes, your target audience is men.

What Does a Good Market Analysis Entail?

Your business does not exist on its own, it can only flourish within an industry and alongside competitors. Market analysis takes into consideration your industry, target market, and competitors. Understanding these three entities will drastically improve your company’s chances of success.

You can view your market analysis as an examination of the market you want to break into and an education on the emerging trends and themes in that market. Good market analyses include the following:

• Industry Description. You find out about the history of your industry, the current and future market size, and who the largest players/companies are in your industry.
• Overview of Target Market. You research your target market and its characteristics. Who are you targeting? Note, it cannot be everyone, it has to be a specific group. You also have to find out all information possible about your customers that can help you understand how and why they make buying decisions.
• Size of Target Market: You need to know the size of your target market, how frequently they buy, and the expected quantity they buy so you do not risk overproducing and having lots of bad inventory. Researching the size of your target market will help you determine if it is big enough for sustained business or not.
• Growth Potential: Before picking a target market, you want to be sure there are lots of potential for future growth. You want to avoid going for an industry that is declining slowly or rapidly with almost zero growth potential.
• Market Share Potential: Does your business stand a good chance of taking a good share of the market?
• Market Pricing and Promotional Strategies: Your market analysis should give you an idea of the price point you can expect to charge for your products and services. Researching your target market will also give you ideas of pricing strategies you can implement to break into the market or to enjoy maximum profits.
• Potential Barriers to Entry: One of the biggest benefits of conducting market analysis is that it shows you every potential barrier to entry your business will likely encounter. It is a good idea to discuss potential barriers to entry such as changing technology. It informs readers of your business plan that you understand the market.
• Research on Competitors: You need to know the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors and how you can exploit them for the benefit of your business. Find patterns and trends among your competitors that make them successful, discover what works and what doesn’t, and see what you can do better.

The market analysis section is not just for talking about your target market, industry, and competitors. You also have to explain how your company can fill the hole you have identified in the market.

Here are some questions you can answer that can help you position your product or service in a positive light to your readers.

• Is your product or service of superior quality?
• What additional features do you offer that your competitors do not offer?
• Are you targeting a ‘new’ market?

Basically, your market analysis should include an analysis of what already exists in the market and an explanation of how your company fits into the market.

In the competitive analysis section, y ou have to understand who your direct and indirect competitions are, and how successful they are in the marketplace. It is the section where you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, the advantage(s) they possess in the market and show the unique features or qualities that make you different from your competitors.

Many businesses do market analysis and competitive analysis together. However, to fully understand what the competitive analysis entails, it is essential to separate it from the market analysis.

Competitive analysis for your business can also include analysis on how to overcome barriers to entry in your target market.

The primary goal of conducting a competitive analysis is to distinguish your business from your competitors. A strong competitive analysis is essential if you want to convince potential funding sources to invest in your business. You have to show potential investors and lenders that your business has what it takes to compete in the marketplace successfully.

Competitive analysis will s how you what the strengths of your competition are and what they are doing to maintain that advantage.

When doing your competitive research, you first have to identify your competitor and then get all the information you can about them. The idea of spending time to identify your competitor and learn everything about them may seem daunting but it is well worth it.

Find answers to the following questions after you have identified who your competitors are.

• What are your successful competitors doing?
• Why is what they are doing working?
• Can your business do it better?
• What are the weaknesses of your successful competitors?
• What are they not doing well?
• Can your business turn its weaknesses into strengths?
• How good is your competitors’ customer service?
• Where do your competitors invest in advertising?
• What sales and pricing strategies are they using?
• What marketing strategies are they using?
• What kind of press coverage do they get?
• What are their customers saying about your competitors (both the positive and negative)?

If your competitors have a website, it is a good idea to visit their websites for more competitors’ research. Check their “About Us” page for more information.

If you are presenting your business plan to investors, you need to clearly distinguish yourself from your competitors. Investors can easily tell when you have not properly researched your competitors.

Take time to think about what unique qualities or features set you apart from your competitors. If you do not have any direct competition offering your product to the market, it does not mean you leave out the competitor analysis section blank. Instead research on other companies that are providing a similar product, or whose product is solving the problem your product solves.

The next step is to create a table listing the top competitors you want to include in your business plan. Ensure you list your business as the last and on the right. What you just created is known as the competitor analysis table.

Direct vs Indirect Competition

You cannot know if your product or service will be a fit for your target market if you have not understood your business and the competitive landscape.

There is no market you want to target where you will not encounter competition, even if your product is innovative. Including competitive analysis in your business plan is essential.

If you are entering an established market, you need to explain how you plan to differentiate your products from the available options in the market. Also, include a list of few companies that you view as your direct competitors The competition you face in an established market is your direct competition.

In situations where you are entering a market with no direct competition, it does not mean there is no competition there. Consider your indirect competition that offers substitutes for the products or services you offer.

For example, if you sell an innovative SaaS product, let us say a project management software , a company offering time management software is your indirect competition.

There is an easy way to find out who your indirect competitors are in the absence of no direct competitors. You simply have to research how your potential customers are solving the problems that your product or service seeks to solve. That is your direct competition.

Factors that Differentiate Your Business from the Competition

There are three main factors that any business can use to differentiate itself from its competition. They are cost leadership, product differentiation, and market segmentation.

1. Cost Leadership

A strategy you can impose to maximize your profits and gain an edge over your competitors. It involves offering lower prices than what the majority of your competitors are offering.

A common practice among businesses looking to enter into a market where there are dominant players is to use free trials or pricing to attract as many customers as possible to their offer.

2. Product Differentiation

Your product or service should have a unique selling proposition (USP) that your competitors do not have or do not stress in their marketing.

Part of the marketing strategy should involve making your products unique and different from your competitors. It does not have to be different from your competitors, it can be the addition to a feature or benefit that your competitors do not currently have.

3. Market Segmentation

As a new business seeking to break into an industry, you will gain more success from focusing on a specific niche or target market, and not the whole industry.

If your competitors are focused on a general need or target market, you can differentiate yourself from them by having a small and hyper-targeted audience. For example, if your competitors are selling men’s clothes in their online stores , you can sell hoodies for men.

4. Define Your Business and Management Structure

The next step in your business plan is your business and management structure. It is the section where you describe the legal structure of your business and the team running it.

Your business is only as good as the management team that runs it, while the management team can only strive when there is a proper business and management structure in place.

If your company is a sole proprietor or a limited liability company (LLC), a general or limited partnership, or a C or an S corporation, state it clearly in this section.

Use an organizational chart to show the management structure in your business. Clearly show who is in charge of what area in your company. It is where you show how each key manager or team leader’s unique experience can contribute immensely to the success of your company. You can also opt to add the resumes and CVs of the key players in your company.

The business and management structure section should show who the owner is, and other owners of the businesses (if the business has other owners). For businesses or companies with multiple owners, include the percent ownership of the various owners and clearly show the extent of each others’ involvement in the company.

Investors want to know who is behind the company and the team running it to determine if it has the right management to achieve its set goals.

The management team section is where you show that you have the right team in place to successfully execute the business operations and ideas. Take time to create the management structure for your business. Think about all the important roles and responsibilities that you need managers for to grow your business.

Include brief bios of each key team member and ensure you highlight only the relevant information that is needed. If your team members have background industry experience or have held top positions for other companies and achieved success while filling that role, highlight it in this section.

A common mistake that many startups make is assigning C-level titles such as (CMO and CEO) to everyone on their team. It is unrealistic for a small business to have those titles. While it may look good on paper for the ego of your team members, it can prevent investors from investing in your business.

Instead of building an unrealistic management structure that does not fit your business reality, it is best to allow business titles to grow as the business grows. Starting everyone at the top leaves no room for future change or growth, which is bad for productivity.

Your management team does not have to be complete before you start writing your business plan. You can have a complete business plan even when there are managerial positions that are empty and need filling.

If you have management gaps in your team, simply show the gaps and indicate you are searching for the right candidates for the role(s). Investors do not expect you to have a full management team when you are just starting your business.

Key Questions to Answer When Structuring Your Management Team

• Who are the key leaders?
• What experiences, skills, and educational backgrounds do you expect your key leaders to have?
• Do your key leaders have industry experience?
• What positions will they fill and what duties will they perform in those positions?
• What level of authority do the key leaders have and what are their responsibilities?
• What is the salary for the various management positions that will attract the ideal candidates?

Additional Tips for Writing the Management Structure Section

1. Avoid Adding ‘Ghost’ Names to Your Management Team

There is always that temptation to include a ‘ghost’ name to your management team to attract and influence investors to invest in your business. Although the presence of these celebrity management team members may attract the attention of investors, it can cause your business to lose any credibility if you get found out.

Seasoned investors will investigate further the members of your management team before committing fully to your business If they find out that the celebrity name used does not play any actual role in your business, they will not invest and may write you off as dishonest.

2. Focus on Credentials But Pay Extra Attention to the Roles

Investors want to know the experience that your key team members have to determine if they can successfully reach the company’s growth and financial goals.

While it is an excellent boost for your key management team to have the right credentials, you also want to pay extra attention to the roles they will play in your company.

Organizational Chart

Adding an organizational chart in this section of your business plan is not necessary, you can do it in your business plan’s appendix.

If you are exploring funding options, it is not uncommon to get asked for your organizational chart. The function of an organizational chart goes beyond raising money, you can also use it as a useful planning tool for your business.

An organizational chart can help you identify how best to structure your management team for maximum productivity and point you towards key roles you need to fill in the future.

You can use the organizational chart to show your company’s internal management structure such as the roles and responsibilities of your management team, and relationships that exist between them.

5. Describe Your Product and Service Offering

In your business plan, you have to describe what you sell or the service you plan to offer. It is the next step after defining your business and management structure. The products and services section is where you sell the benefits of your business.

Here you have to explain how your product or service will benefit your customers and describe your product lifecycle. It is also the section where you write down your plans for intellectual property like patent filings and copyrighting.

The research and development that you are undertaking for your product or service need to be explained in detail in this section. However, do not get too technical, sell the general idea and its benefits.

If you have any diagrams or intricate designs of your product or service, do not include them in the products and services section. Instead, leave them for the addendum page. Also, if you are leaving out diagrams or designs for the addendum, ensure you add this phrase “For more detail, visit the addendum Page #.”

Your product and service section in your business plan should include the following:

• A detailed explanation that clearly shows how your product or service works.
• The pricing model for your product or service.
• Your business’ sales and distribution strategy.
• The ideal customers that want your product or service.
• The benefits of your products and services.
• Reason(s) why your product or service is a better alternative to what your competitors are currently offering in the market.
• Plans for filling the orders you receive
• If you have current or pending patents, copyrights, and trademarks for your product or service, you can also discuss them in this section.

What to Focus On When Describing the Benefits, Lifecycle, and Production Process of Your Products or Services

In the products and services section, you have to distill the benefits, lifecycle, and production process of your products and services.

When describing the benefits of your products or services, here are some key factors to focus on.

• Unique features
• Translating the unique features into benefits
• The emotional, psychological, and practical payoffs to attract customers
• Intellectual property rights or any patents

When describing the product life cycle of your products or services, here are some key factors to focus on.

• Upsells, cross-sells, and down-sells
• Time between purchases
• Plans for research and development.

When describing the production process for your products or services, you need to think about the following:

• The creation of new or existing products and services.
• The sources for the raw materials or components you need for production.
• Assembling the products
• Maintaining quality control
• Supply-chain logistics (receiving the raw materials and delivering the finished products)
• The day-to-day management of the production processes, bookkeeping, and inventory.

Tips for Writing the Products or Services Section of Your Business Plan

1. Avoid Technical Descriptions and Industry Buzzwords

The products and services section of your business plan should clearly describe the products and services that your company provides. However, it is not a section to include technical jargons that anyone outside your industry will not understand.

A good practice is to remove highly detailed or technical descriptions in favor of simple terms. Industry buzzwords are not necessary, if there are simpler terms you can use, then use them. If you plan to use your business plan to source funds, making the product or service section so technical will do you no favors.

2. Describe How Your Products or Services Differ from Your Competitors

When potential investors look at your business plan, they want to know how the products and services you are offering differ from that of your competition. Differentiating your products or services from your competition in a way that makes your solution more attractive is critical.

If you are going the innovative path and there is no market currently for your product or service, you need to describe in this section why the market needs your product or service.

For example, overnight delivery was a niche business that only a few companies were participating in. Federal Express (FedEx) had to show in its business plan that there was a large opportunity for that service and they justified why the market needed that service.

3. Long or Short Products or Services Section

Should your products or services section be short? Does the long products or services section attract more investors?

There are no straightforward answers to these questions. Whether your products or services section should be long or relatively short depends on the nature of your business.

If your business is product-focused, then automatically you need to use more space to describe the details of your products. However, if the product your business sells is a commodity item that relies on competitive pricing or other pricing strategies, you do not have to use up so much space to provide significant details about the product.

Likewise, if you are selling a commodity that is available in numerous outlets, then you do not have to spend time on writing a long products or services section.

The key to the success of your business is most likely the effectiveness of your marketing strategies compared to your competitors. Use more space to address that section.

If you are creating a new product or service that the market does not know about, your products or services section can be lengthy. The reason why is because you need to explain everything about the product or service such as the nature of the product, its use case, and values.

A short products or services section for an innovative product or service will not give the readers enough information to properly evaluate your business.

4. Describe Your Relationships with Vendors or Suppliers

Your business will rely on vendors or suppliers to supply raw materials or the components needed to make your products. In your products and services section, describe your relationships with your vendors and suppliers fully.

Avoid the mistake of relying on only one supplier or vendor. If that supplier or vendor fails to supply or goes out of business, you can easily face supply problems and struggle to meet your demands. Plan to set up multiple vendor or supplier relationships for better business stability.

5. Your Primary Goal Is to Convince Your Readers

The primary goal of your business plan is to convince your readers that your business is viable and to create a guide for your business to follow. It applies to the products and services section.

When drafting this section, think like the reader. See your reader as someone who has no idea about your products and services. You are using the products and services section to provide the needed information to help your reader understand your products and services. As a result, you have to be clear and to the point.

While you want to educate your readers about your products or services, you also do not want to bore them with lots of technical details. Show your products and services and not your fancy choice of words.

Your products and services section should provide the answer to the “what” question for your business. You and your management team may run the business, but it is your products and services that are the lifeblood of the business.

Key Questions to Answer When Writing your Products and Services Section

Answering these questions can help you write your products and services section quickly and in a way that will appeal to your readers.

• Are your products existing on the market or are they still in the development stage?
• What is your timeline for adding new products and services to the market?
• What are the positives that make your products and services different from your competitors?
• Do your products and services have any competitive advantage that your competitors’ products and services do not currently have?
• Do your products or services have any competitive disadvantages that you need to overcome to compete with your competitors? If your answer is yes, state how you plan to overcome them,
• How much does it cost to produce your products or services? How much do you plan to sell it for?
• What is the price for your products and services compared to your competitors? Is pricing an issue?
• What are your operating costs and will it be low enough for you to compete with your competitors and still take home a reasonable profit margin?
• What is your plan for acquiring your products? Are you involved in the production of your products or services?
• Are you the manufacturer and produce all the components you need to create your products? Do you assemble your products by using components supplied by other manufacturers? Do you purchase your products directly from suppliers or wholesalers?
• Do you have a steady supply of products that you need to start your business? (If your business is yet to kick-off)
• How do you plan to distribute your products or services to the market?

You can also hint at the marketing or promotion plans you have for your products or services such as how you plan to build awareness or retain customers. The next section is where you can go fully into details about your business’s marketing and sales plan.

6. Show and Explain Your Marketing and Sales Plan

Providing great products and services is wonderful, but it means nothing if you do not have a marketing and sales plan to inform your customers about them. Your marketing and sales plan is critical to the success of your business.

The sales and marketing section is where you show and offer a detailed explanation of your marketing and sales plan and how you plan to execute it. It covers your pricing plan, proposed advertising and promotion activities, activities and partnerships you need to make your business a success, and the benefits of your products and services.

There are several ways you can approach your marketing and sales strategy. Ideally, your marketing and sales strategy has to fit the unique needs of your business.

In this section, you describe how the plans your business has for attracting and retaining customers, and the exact process for making a sale happen. It is essential to thoroughly describe your complete marketing and sales plans because you are still going to reference this section when you are making financial projections for your business.

Outline Your Business’ Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

The sales and marketing section is where you outline your business’s unique selling proposition (USP). When you are developing your unique selling proposition, think about the strongest reasons why people should buy from you over your competition. That reason(s) is most likely a good fit to serve as your unique selling proposition (USP).

Target Market and Target Audience

Plans on how to get your products or services to your target market and how to get your target audience to buy them go into this section. You also highlight the strengths of your business here, particularly what sets them apart from your competition.

Before you start writing your marketing and sales plan, you need to have properly defined your target audience and fleshed out your buyer persona. If you do not first understand the individual you are marketing to, your marketing and sales plan will lack any substance and easily fall.

Creating a Smart Marketing and Sales Plan

Marketing your products and services is an investment that requires you to spend money. Like any other investment, you have to generate a good return on investment (ROI) to justify using that marketing and sales plan. Good marketing and sales plans bring in high sales and profits to your company.

Avoid spending money on unproductive marketing channels. Do your research and find out the best marketing and sales plan that works best for your company.

Your marketing and sales plan can be broken into different parts: your positioning statement, pricing, promotion, packaging, advertising, public relations, content marketing, social media, and strategic alliances.

Your Positioning Statement

Your positioning statement is the first part of your marketing and sales plan. It refers to the way you present your company to your customers.

Are you the premium solution, the low-price solution, or are you the intermediary between the two extremes in the market? What do you offer that your competitors do not that can give you leverage in the market?

Before you start writing your positioning statement, you need to spend some time evaluating the current market conditions. Here are some questions that can help you to evaluate the market

• What are the unique features or benefits that you offer that your competitors lack?
• What are your customers’ primary needs and wants?
• Why should a customer choose you over your competition? How do you plan to differentiate yourself from the competition?
• How does your company’s solution compare with other solutions in the market?

After answering these questions, then you can start writing your positioning statement. Your positioning statement does not have to be in-depth or too long.

All you need to explain with your positioning statement are two focus areas. The first is the position of your company within the competitive landscape. The other focus area is the core value proposition that sets your company apart from other alternatives that your ideal customer might consider.

Here is a simple template you can use to develop a positioning statement.

For [description of target market] who [need of target market], [product or service] [how it meets the need]. Unlike [top competition], it [most essential distinguishing feature].

For example, let’s create the positioning statement for fictional accounting software and QuickBooks alternative , TBooks.

“For small business owners who need accounting services, TBooks is an accounting software that helps small businesses handle their small business bookkeeping basics quickly and easily. Unlike Wave, TBooks gives small businesses access to live sessions with top accountants.”

You can edit this positioning statement sample and fill it with your business details.

After writing your positioning statement, the next step is the pricing of your offerings. The overall positioning strategy you set in your positioning statement will often determine how you price your products or services.

Pricing is a powerful tool that sends a strong message to your customers. Failure to get your pricing strategy right can make or mar your business. If you are targeting a low-income audience, setting a premium price can result in low sales.

You can use pricing to communicate your positioning to your customers. For example, if you are offering a product at a premium price, you are sending a message to your customers that the product belongs to the premium category.

Basic Rules to Follow When Pricing Your Offering

Setting a price for your offering involves more than just putting a price tag on it. Deciding on the right pricing for your offering requires following some basic rules. They include covering your costs, primary and secondary profit center pricing, and matching the market rate.

• Covering Your Costs: The price you set for your products or service should be more than it costs you to produce and deliver them. Every business has the same goal, to make a profit. Depending on the strategy you want to use, there are exceptions to this rule. However, the vast majority of businesses follow this rule.
• Primary and Secondary Profit Center Pricing: When a company sets its price above the cost of production, it is making that product its primary profit center. A company can also decide not to make its initial price its primary profit center by selling below or at even with its production cost. It rather depends on the support product or even maintenance that is associated with the initial purchase to make its profit. The initial price thus became its secondary profit center.
• Matching the Market Rate: A good rule to follow when pricing your products or services is to match your pricing with consumer demand and expectations. If you price your products or services beyond the price your customer perceives as the ideal price range, you may end up with no customers. Pricing your products too low below what your customer perceives as the ideal price range may lead to them undervaluing your offering.

Your pricing strategy influences the price of your offering. There are several pricing strategies available for you to choose from when examining the right pricing strategy for your business. They include cost-plus pricing, market-based pricing, value pricing, and more.

• Cost-plus Pricing: This strategy is one of the simplest and oldest pricing strategies. Here you consider the cost of producing a unit of your product and then add a profit to it to arrive at your market price. It is an effective pricing strategy for manufacturers because it helps them cover their initial costs. Another name for the cost-plus pricing strategy is the markup pricing strategy.
• Market-based Pricing: This pricing strategy analyses the market including competitors’ pricing and then sets a price based on what the market is expecting. With this pricing strategy, you can either set your price at the low-end or high-end of the market.
• Value Pricing: This pricing strategy involves setting a price based on the value you are providing to your customer. When adopting a value-based pricing strategy, you have to set a price that your customers are willing to pay. Service-based businesses such as small business insurance providers , luxury goods sellers, and the fashion industry use this pricing strategy.

After carefully sorting out your positioning statement and pricing, the next item to look at is your promotional strategy. Your promotional strategy explains how you plan on communicating with your customers and prospects.

As a business, you must measure all your costs, including the cost of your promotions. You also want to measure how much sales your promotions bring for your business to determine its usefulness. Promotional strategies or programs that do not lead to profit need to be removed.

There are different types of promotional strategies you can adopt for your business, they include advertising, public relations, and content marketing.

Advertising

Your business plan should include your advertising plan which can be found in the marketing and sales plan section. You need to include an overview of your advertising plans such as the areas you plan to spend money on to advertise your business and offers.

Ensure that you make it clear in this section if your business will be advertising online or using the more traditional offline media, or the combination of both online and offline media. You can also include the advertising medium you want to use to raise awareness about your business and offers.

Some common online advertising mediums you can use include social media ads, landing pages, sales pages, SEO, Pay-Per-Click, emails, Google Ads, and others. Some common traditional and offline advertising mediums include word of mouth, radios, direct mail, televisions, flyers, billboards, posters, and others.

A key component of your advertising strategy is how you plan to measure the effectiveness and success of your advertising campaign. There is no point in sticking with an advertising plan or medium that does not produce results for your business in the long run.

Public Relations

A great way to reach your customers is to get the media to cover your business or product. Publicity, especially good ones, should be a part of your marketing and sales plan. In this section, show your plans for getting prominent reviews of your product from reputable publications and sources.

Your business needs that exposure to grow. If public relations is a crucial part of your promotional strategy, provide details about your public relations plan here.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a popular promotional strategy used by businesses to inform and attract their customers. It is about teaching and educating your prospects on various topics of interest in your niche, it does not just involve informing them about the benefits and features of the products and services you have,

Businesses publish content usually for free where they provide useful information, tips, and advice so that their target market can be made aware of the importance of their products and services. Content marketing strategies seek to nurture prospects into buyers over time by simply providing value.

Your company can create a blog where it will be publishing content for its target market. You will need to use the best website builder such as Wix and Squarespace and the best web hosting services such as Bluehost, Hostinger, and other Bluehost alternatives to create a functional blog or website.

If content marketing is a crucial part of your promotional strategy (as it should be), detail your plans under promotions.

Including high-quality images of the packaging of your product in your business plan is a lovely idea. You can add the images of the packaging of that product in the marketing and sales plan section. If you are not selling a product, then you do not need to include any worry about the physical packaging of your product.

When organizing the packaging section of your business plan, you can answer the following questions to make maximum use of this section.

• Is your choice of packaging consistent with your positioning strategy?
• What key value proposition does your packaging communicate? (It should reflect the key value proposition of your business)
• How does your packaging compare to that of your competitors?

Social Media

Your 21st-century business needs to have a good social media presence. Not having one is leaving out opportunities for growth and reaching out to your prospect.

You do not have to join the thousands of social media platforms out there. What you need to do is join the ones that your customers are active on and be active there.

Businesses use social media to provide information about their products such as promotions, discounts, the benefits of their products, and content on their blogs.

Social media is also a platform for engaging with your customers and getting feedback about your products or services. Make no mistake, more and more of your prospects are using social media channels to find more information about companies.

You need to consider the social media channels you want to prioritize your business (prioritize the ones your customers are active in) and your branding plans in this section.

Strategic Alliances

If your company plans to work closely with other companies as part of your sales and marketing plan, include it in this section. Prove details about those partnerships in your business plan if you have already established them.

Strategic alliances can be beneficial for all parties involved including your company. Working closely with another company in the form of a partnership can provide access to a different target market segment for your company.

The company you are partnering with may also gain access to your target market or simply offer a new product or service (that of your company) to its customers.

Mutually beneficial partnerships can cover the weaknesses of one company with the strength of another. You should consider strategic alliances with companies that sell complimentary products to yours. For example, if you provide printers, you can partner with a company that produces ink since the customers that buy printers from you will also need inks for printing.

Steps Involved in Creating a Marketing and Sales Plan

1. Focus on Your Target Market

Identify who your customers are, the market you want to target. Then determine the best ways to get your products or services to your potential customers.

2. Evaluate Your Competition

One of the goals of having a marketing plan is to distinguish yourself from your competition. You cannot stand out from them without first knowing them in and out.

You can know your competitors by gathering information about their products, pricing, service, and advertising campaigns.

These questions can help you know your competition.

• What makes your competition successful?
• What are their weaknesses?
• What are customers saying about your competition?

3. Consider Your Brand

Customers' perception of your brand has a strong impact on your sales. Your marketing and sales plan should seek to bolster the image of your brand. Before you start marketing your business, think about the message you want to pass across about your business and your products and services.

4. Focus on Benefits

The majority of your customers do not view your product in terms of features, what they want to know is the benefits and solutions your product offers. Think about the problems your product solves and the benefits it delivers, and use it to create the right sales and marketing message.

Your marketing plan should focus on what you want your customer to get instead of what you provide. Identify those benefits in your marketing and sales plan.

5. Focus on Differentiation

Your marketing and sales plan should look for a unique angle they can take that differentiates your business from the competition, even if the products offered are similar. Some good areas of differentiation you can use are your benefits, pricing, and features.

Key Questions to Answer When Writing Your Marketing and Sales Plan

• What is your company’s budget for sales and marketing campaigns?
• What key metrics will you use to determine if your marketing plans are successful?
• What are your alternatives if your initial marketing efforts do not succeed?
• Who are the sales representatives you need to promote your products or services?
• What are the marketing and sales channels you plan to use? How do you plan to get your products in front of your ideal customers?
• Where will you sell your products?

You may want to include samples of marketing materials you plan to use such as print ads, website descriptions, and social media ads. While it is not compulsory to include these samples, it can help you better communicate your marketing and sales plan and objectives.

The purpose of the marketing and sales section is to answer this question “How will you reach your customers?” If you cannot convincingly provide an answer to this question, you need to rework your marketing and sales section.

7. Clearly Show Your Funding Request

If you are writing your business plan to ask for funding from investors or financial institutions, the funding request section is where you will outline your funding requirements. The funding request section should answer the question ‘How much money will your business need in the near future (3 to 5 years)?’

A good funding request section will clearly outline and explain the amount of funding your business needs over the next five years. You need to know the amount of money your business needs to make an accurate funding request.

Also, when writing your funding request, provide details of how the funds will be used over the period. Specify if you want to use the funds to buy raw materials or machinery, pay salaries, pay for advertisements, and cover specific bills such as rent and electricity.

In addition to explaining what you want to use the funds requested for, you need to clearly state the projected return on investment (ROI) . Investors and creditors want to know if your business can generate profit for them if they put funds into it.

Ensure you do not inflate the figures and stay as realistic as possible. Investors and financial institutions you are seeking funds from will do their research before investing money in your business.

If you are not sure of an exact number to request from, you can use some range of numbers as rough estimates. Add a best-case scenario and a work-case scenario to your funding request. Also, include a description of your strategic future financial plans such as selling your business or paying off debts.

Funding Request: Debt or Equity?

When making your funding request, specify the type of funding you want. Do you want debt or equity? Draw out the terms that will be applicable for the funding, and the length of time the funding request will cover.

Case for Equity

If your new business has not yet started generating profits, you are most likely preparing to sell equity in your business to raise capital at the early stage. Equity here refers to ownership. In this case, you are selling a portion of your company to raise capital.

Although this method of raising capital for your business does not put your business in debt, keep in mind that an equity owner may expect to play a key role in company decisions even if he does not hold a major stake in the company.

Most equity sales for startups are usually private transactions . If you are making a funding request by offering equity in exchange for funding, let the investor know that they will be paid a dividend (a share of the company’s profit). Also, let the investor know the process for selling their equity in your business.

Case for Debt

You may decide not to offer equity in exchange for funds, instead, you make a funding request with the promise to pay back the money borrowed at the agreed time frame.

When making a funding request with an agreement to pay back, note that you will have to repay your creditors both the principal amount borrowed and the interest on it. Financial institutions offer this type of funding for businesses.

Large companies combine both equity and debt in their capital structure. When drafting your business plan, decide if you want to offer both or one over the other.

Before you sell equity in exchange for funding in your business, consider if you are willing to accept not being in total control of your business. Also, before you seek loans in your funding request section, ensure that the terms of repayment are favorable.

You should set a clear timeline in your funding request so that potential investors and creditors can know what you are expecting. Some investors and creditors may agree to your funding request and then delay payment for longer than 30 days, meanwhile, your business needs an immediate cash injection to operate efficiently.

Additional Tips for Writing the Funding Request Section of your Business Plan

The funding request section is not necessary for every business, it is only needed by businesses who plan to use their business plan to secure funding.

If you are adding the funding request section to your business plan, provide an itemized summary of how you plan to use the funds requested. Hiring a lawyer, accountant, or other professionals may be necessary for the proper development of this section.

You should also gather and use financial statements that add credibility and support to your funding requests. Ensure that the financial statements you use should include your projected financial data such as projected cash flows, forecast statements, and expenditure budgets.

If you are an existing business, include all historical financial statements such as cash flow statements, balance sheets and income statements .

Provide monthly and quarterly financial statements for a year. If your business has records that date back beyond the one-year mark, add the yearly statements of those years. These documents are for the appendix section of your business plan.

8. Detail Your Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projections

If you used the funding request section in your business plan, supplement it with a financial plan, metrics, and projections. This section paints a picture of the past performance of your business and then goes ahead to make an informed projection about its future.

The goal of this section is to convince readers that your business is going to be a financial success. It outlines your business plan to generate enough profit to repay the loan (with interest if applicable) and to generate a decent return on investment for investors.

If you have an existing business already in operation, use this section to demonstrate stability through finance. This section should include your cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements covering the last three to five years. If your business has some acceptable collateral that you can use to acquire loans, list it in the financial plan, metrics, and projection section.

Apart from current financial statements, this section should also contain a prospective financial outlook that spans the next five years. Include forecasted income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, and capital expenditure budget.

If your business is new and is not yet generating profit, use clear and realistic projections to show the potentials of your business.

When drafting this section, research industry norms and the performance of comparable businesses. Your financial projections should cover at least five years. State the logic behind your financial projections. Remember you can always make adjustments to this section as the variables change.

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section create a baseline which your business can either exceed or fail to reach. If your business fails to reach your projections in this section, you need to understand why it failed.

Investors and loan managers spend a lot of time going through the financial plan, metrics, and projection section compared to other parts of the business plan. Ensure you spend time creating credible financial analyses for your business in this section.

Many entrepreneurs find this section daunting to write. You do not need a business degree to create a solid financial forecast for your business. Business finances, especially for startups, are not as complicated as they seem. There are several online tools and templates that make writing this section so much easier.

Use Graphs and Charts

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section is a great place to use graphs and charts to tell the financial story of your business. Charts and images make it easier to communicate your finances.

Accuracy in this section is key, ensure you carefully analyze your past financial statements properly before making financial projects.

Address the Risk Factors and Show Realistic Financial Projections

Keep your financial plan, metrics, and projection realistic. It is okay to be optimistic in your financial projection, however, you have to justify it.

You should also address the various risk factors associated with your business in this section. Investors want to know the potential risks involved, show them. You should also show your plans for mitigating those risks.

What You Should In The Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projection Section of Your Business Plan

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section of your business plan should have monthly sales and revenue forecasts for the first year. It should also include annual projections that cover 3 to 5 years.

A three-year projection is a basic requirement to have in your business plan. However, some investors may request a five-year forecast.

Your business plan should include the following financial statements: sales forecast, personnel plan, income statement, income statement, cash flow statement, balance sheet, and an exit strategy.

1. Sales Forecast

Sales forecast refers to your projections about the number of sales your business is going to record over the next few years. It is typically broken into several rows, with each row assigned to a core product or service that your business is offering.

One common mistake people make in their business plan is to break down the sales forecast section into long details. A sales forecast should forecast the high-level details.

For example, if you are forecasting sales for a payroll software provider, you could break down your forecast into target market segments or subscription categories.

Your sales forecast section should also have a corresponding row for each sales row to cover the direct cost or Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). The objective of these rows is to show the expenses that your business incurs in making and delivering your product or service.

Note that your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) should only cover those direct costs incurred when making your products. Other indirect expenses such as insurance, salaries, payroll tax, and rent should not be included.

For example, the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for a restaurant is the cost of ingredients while for a consulting company it will be the cost of paper and other presentation materials.

2. Personnel Plan

The personnel plan section is where you provide details about the payment plan for your employees. For a small business, you can easily list every position in your company and how much you plan to pay in the personnel plan.

However, for larger businesses, you have to break the personnel plan into functional groups such as sales and marketing.

The personnel plan will also include the cost of an employee beyond salary, commonly referred to as the employee burden. These costs include insurance, payroll taxes , and other essential costs incurred monthly as a result of having employees on your payroll.

3. Income Statement

The income statement section shows if your business is making a profit or taking a loss. Another name for the income statement is the profit and loss (P&L). It takes data from your sales forecast and personnel plan and adds other ongoing expenses you incur while running your business.

Every business plan should have an income statement. It subtracts your business expenses from its earnings to show if your business is generating profit or incurring losses.

The income statement has the following items: sales, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), gross margin, operating expenses, total operating expenses, operating income , total expenses, and net profit.

• Sales refer to the revenue your business generates from selling its products or services. Other names for sales are income or revenue.
• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) refers to the total cost of selling your products. Other names for COGS are direct costs or cost of sales. Manufacturing businesses use the Costs of Goods Manufactured (COGM) .
• Gross Margin is the figure you get when you subtract your COGS from your sales. In your income statement, you can express it as a percentage of total sales (Gross margin / Sales = Gross Margin Percent).
• Operating Expenses refer to all the expenses you incur from running your business. It exempts the COGS because it stands alone as a core part of your income statement. You also have to exclude taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Your operating expenses include salaries, marketing expenses, research and development (R&D) expenses, and other expenses.
• Total Operating Expenses refers to the sum of all your operating expenses including those exemptions named above under operating expenses.
• Operating Income refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It is simply known as the acronym EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Calculating your operating income is simple, all you need to do is to subtract your COGS and total operating expenses from your sales.
• Total Expenses refer to the sum of your operating expenses and your business’ interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
• Net profit shows whether your business has made a profit or taken a loss during a given timeframe.

4. Cash Flow Statement

The cash flow statement tracks the money you have in the bank at any given point. It is often confused with the income statement or the profit and loss statement. They are both different types of financial statements. The income statement calculates your profits and losses while the cash flow statement shows you how much you have in the bank.

5. Balance Sheet

The balance sheet is a financial statement that provides an overview of the financial health of your business. It contains information about the assets and liabilities of your company, and owner’s or shareholders’ equity.

You can get the net worth of your company by subtracting your company’s liabilities from its assets.

6. Exit Strategy

The exit strategy refers to a probable plan for selling your business either to the public in an IPO or to another company. It is the last thing you include in the financial plan, metrics, and projection section.

You can choose to omit the exit strategy from your business plan if you plan to maintain full ownership of your business and do not plan on seeking angel investment or virtual capitalist (VC) funding.

Investors may want to know what your exit plan is. They invest in your business to get a good return on investment.

Your exit strategy does not have to include long and boring details. Ensure you identify some interested parties who may be interested in buying the company if it becomes a success.

Key Questions to Answer with Your Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projection

Your financial plan, metrics, and projection section helps investors, creditors, or your internal managers to understand what your expenses are, the amount of cash you need, and what it takes to make your company profitable. It also shows what you will be doing with any funding.

You do not need to show actual financial data if you do not have one. Adding forecasts and projections to your financial statements is added proof that your strategy is feasible and shows investors you have planned properly.

Here are some key questions to answer to help you develop this section.

• What is your sales forecast for the next year?
• When will your company achieve a positive cash flow?
• What are the core expenses you need to operate?
• How much money do you need upfront to operate or grow your company?
• How will you use the loans or investments?

9. Add an Appendix to Your Business Plan

Adding an appendix to your business plan is optional. It is a useful place to put any charts, tables, legal notes, definitions, permits, résumés, and other critical information that do not fit into other sections of your business plan.

The appendix section is where you would want to include details of a patent or patent-pending if you have one. You can always add illustrations or images of your products here. It is the last section of your business plan.

When writing your business plan, there are details you cut short or remove to prevent the entire section from becoming too lengthy. There are also details you want to include in the business plan but are not a good fit for any of the previous sections. You can add that additional information to the appendix section.

Businesses also use the appendix section to include supporting documents or other materials specially requested by investors or lenders.

You can include just about any information that supports the assumptions and statements you made in the business plan under the appendix. It is the one place in the business plan where unrelated data and information can coexist amicably.

If your appendix section is lengthy, try organizing it by adding a table of contents at the beginning of the appendix section. It is also advisable to group similar information to make it easier for the reader to access them.

A well-organized appendix section makes it easier to share your information clearly and concisely. Add footnotes throughout the rest of the business plan or make references in the plan to the documents in the appendix.

The appendix section is usually only necessary if you are seeking funding from investors or lenders, or hoping to attract partners.

People reading business plans do not want to spend time going through a heap of backup information, numbers, and charts. Keep these documents or information in the Appendix section in case the reader wants to dig deeper.

Common Items to Include in the Appendix Section of Your Business Plan

The appendix section includes documents that supplement or support the information or claims given in other sections of the business plans. Common items you can include in the appendix section include:

• Additional data about the process of manufacturing or creation
• Additional description of products or services such as product schematics
• Additional financial documents or projections
• Articles of incorporation and status
• Backup for market research or competitive analysis
• Bank statements
• Business registries
• Client testimonials (if your business is already running)
• Copies of insurances
• Credit histories (personal or/and business)
• Deeds and permits
• Equipment leases
• Examples of marketing and advertising collateral
• Industry associations and memberships
• Images of product
• Intellectual property
• Key customer contracts
• Legal documents and other contracts
• Letters of reference
• Links to references
• Market research data
• Organizational charts
• Photographs of potential facilities
• Professional licenses pertaining to your legal structure or type of business
• Purchase orders
• Resumes of the founder(s) and key managers
• State and federal identification numbers or codes
• Trademarks or patents’ registrations

Avoid using the appendix section as a place to dump any document or information you feel like adding. Only add documents or information that you support or increase the credibility of your business plan.

Tips and Strategies for Writing a Convincing Business Plan

To achieve a perfect business plan, you need to consider some key tips and strategies. These tips will raise the efficiency of your business plan above average.

1. Know Your Audience

When writing a business plan, you need to know your audience . Business owners write business plans for different reasons. Your business plan has to be specific. For example, you can write business plans to potential investors, banks, and even fellow board members of the company.

The audience you are writing to determines the structure of the business plan. As a business owner, you have to know your audience. Not everyone will be your audience. Knowing your audience will help you to narrow the scope of your business plan.

Consider what your audience wants to see in your projects, the likely questions they might ask, and what interests them.

• A business plan used to address a company's board members will center on its employment schemes, internal affairs, projects, stakeholders, etc.
• A business plan for financial institutions will talk about the size of your market and the chances for you to pay back any loans you demand.
• A business plan for investors will show proof that you can return the investment capital within a specific time. In addition, it discusses your financial projections, tractions, and market size.

2. Get Inspiration from People

Writing a business plan from scratch as an entrepreneur can be daunting. That is why you need the right inspiration to push you to write one. You can gain inspiration from the successful business plans of other businesses. Look at their business plans, the style they use, the structure of the project, etc.

To make your business plan easier to create, search companies related to your business to get an exact copy of what you need to create an effective business plan. You can also make references while citing examples in your business plans.

When drafting your business plan, get as much help from others as you possibly can. By getting inspiration from people, you can create something better than what they have.

3. Avoid Being Over Optimistic

Many business owners make use of strong adjectives to qualify their content. One of the big mistakes entrepreneurs make when preparing a business plan is promising too much.

The use of superlatives and over-optimistic claims can prepare the audience for more than you can offer. In the end, you disappoint the confidence they have in you.

In most cases, the best option is to be realistic with your claims and statistics. Most of the investors can sense a bit of incompetency from the overuse of superlatives. As a new entrepreneur, do not be tempted to over-promise to get the interests of investors.

The concept of entrepreneurship centers on risks, nothing is certain when you make future analyses. What separates the best is the ability to do careful research and work towards achieving that, not promising more than you can achieve.

To make an excellent first impression as an entrepreneur, replace superlatives with compelling data-driven content. In this way, you are more specific than someone promising a huge ROI from an investment.

4. Keep it Simple and Short

When writing business plans, ensure you keep them simple throughout. Irrespective of the purpose of the business plan, your goal is to convince the audience.

One way to achieve this goal is to make them understand your proposal. Therefore, it would be best if you avoid the use of complex grammar to express yourself. It would be a huge turn-off if the people you want to convince are not familiar with your use of words.

Another thing to note is the length of your business plan. It would be best if you made it as brief as possible.

You hardly see investors or agencies that read through an extremely long document. In that case, if your first few pages can’t convince them, then you have lost it. The more pages you write, the higher the chances of you derailing from the essential contents.

To ensure your business plan has a high conversion rate, you need to dispose of every unnecessary information. For example, if you have a strategy that you are not sure of, it would be best to leave it out of the plan.

5. Make an Outline and Follow Through

A perfect business plan must have touched every part needed to convince the audience. Business owners get easily tempted to concentrate more on their products than on other sections. Doing this can be detrimental to the efficiency of the business plan.

For example, imagine you talking about a product but omitting or providing very little information about the target audience. You will leave your clients confused.

To ensure that your business plan communicates your full business model to readers, you have to input all the necessary information in it. One of the best ways to achieve this is to design a structure and stick to it.

This structure is what guides you throughout the writing. To make your work easier, you can assign an estimated word count or page limit to every section to avoid making it too bulky for easy reading. As a guide, the necessary things your business plan must contain are:

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Product or service description
• Target audience
• Market size
• Competition analysis
• Financial projections

Some specific businesses can include some other essential sections, but these are the key sections that must be in every business plan.

6. Ask a Professional to Proofread

When writing a business plan, you must tie all loose ends to get a perfect result. When you are done with writing, call a professional to go through the document for you. You are bound to make mistakes, and the way to correct them is to get external help.

You should get a professional in your field who can relate to every section of your business plan. It would be easier for the professional to notice the inner flaws in the document than an editor with no knowledge of your business.

In addition to getting a professional to proofread, get an editor to proofread and edit your document. The editor will help you identify grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and inappropriate writing styles.

Writing a business plan can be daunting, but you can surmount that obstacle and get the best out of it with these tips.

Business Plan Examples and Templates That’ll Save You Tons of Time

1. hubspot's one-page business plan.

The one-page business plan template by HubSpot is the perfect guide for businesses of any size, irrespective of their business strategy. Although the template is condensed into a page, your final business plan should not be a page long! The template is designed to ask helpful questions that can help you develop your business plan.

Hubspot’s one-page business plan template is divided into nine fields:

• Business opportunity
• Industry analysis

Target market

• Implementation timeline
• Financial summary
• Funding required

2. Bplan’s Free Business Plan Template

Bplans' free business plan template is investor-approved. It is a rich template used by prestigious educational institutions such as Babson College and Princeton University to teach entrepreneurs how to create a business plan.

The template has six sections: the executive summary, opportunity, execution, company, financial plan, and appendix. There is a step-by-step guide for writing every little detail in the business plan. Follow the instructions each step of the way and you will create a business plan that impresses investors or lenders easily.

3. HubSpot's Downloadable Business Plan Template

HubSpot’s downloadable business plan template is a more comprehensive option compared to the one-page business template by HubSpot. This free and downloadable business plan template is designed for entrepreneurs.

The template is a comprehensive guide and checklist for business owners just starting their businesses. It tells you everything you need to fill in each section of the business plan and how to do it.

There are nine sections in this business plan template: an executive summary, company and business description, product and services line, market analysis, marketing plan, sales plan, legal notes, financial considerations, and appendix.

4. Business Plan by My Own Business Institute

My Own Business Institute (MOBI) which is a part of Santa Clara University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers a free business plan template. You can either copy the free business template from the link provided above or download it as a Word document.

The comprehensive template consists of a whopping 15 sections.

• The Business Profile
• The Vision and the People
• Home-Based Business and Freelance Business Opportunities
• Organization
• Licenses and Permits
• Business Insurance
• Communication Tools
• Acquisitions
• Location and Leasing
• Accounting and Cash Flow
• Opening and Marketing
• Managing Employees
• Expanding and Handling Problems

There are lots of helpful tips on how to fill each section in the free business plan template by MOBI.

5. Score's Business Plan Template for Startups

Score is an American nonprofit organization that helps entrepreneurs build successful companies. This business plan template for startups by Score is available for free download. The business plan template asks a whooping 150 generic questions that help entrepreneurs from different fields to set up the perfect business plan.

The business plan template for startups contains clear instructions and worksheets, all you have to do is answer the questions and fill the worksheets.

There are nine sections in the business plan template: executive summary, company description, products and services, marketing plan, operational plan, management and organization, startup expenses and capitalization, financial plan, and appendices.

The ‘refining the plan’ resource contains instructions that help you modify your business plan to suit your specific needs, industry, and target audience. After you have completed Score’s business plan template, you can work with a SCORE mentor for expert advice in business planning.

6. Minimalist Architecture Business Plan Template by Venngage

The minimalist architecture business plan template is a simple template by Venngage that you can customize to suit your business needs .

There are five sections in the template: an executive summary, statement of problem, approach and methodology, qualifications, and schedule and benchmark. The business plan template has instructions that guide users on what to fill in each section.

7. Small Business Administration Free Business Plan Template

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers two free business plan templates, filled with practical real-life examples that you can model to create your business plan. Both free business plan templates are written by fictional business owners: Rebecca who owns a consulting firm, and Andrew who owns a toy company.

There are five sections in the two SBA’s free business plan templates.

• Service Line
• Marketing and Sales

8. The $100 Startup's One-Page Business Plan

The one-page business plan by the $100 startup is a simple business plan template for entrepreneurs who do not want to create a long and complicated plan . You can include more details in the appendices for funders who want more information beyond what you can put in the one-page business plan.

There are five sections in the one-page business plan such as overview, ka-ching, hustling, success, and obstacles or challenges or open questions. You can answer all the questions using one or two sentences.

9. PandaDoc’s Free Business Plan Template

The free business plan template by PandaDoc is a comprehensive 15-page document that describes the information you should include in every section.

There are 11 sections in PandaDoc’s free business plan template.

• Business description
• Operations plan
• Management organization
• Conclusion / Call to action
• Confidentiality statement

You have to sign up for its 14-day free trial to access the template. You will find different business plan templates on PandaDoc once you sign up (including templates for general businesses and specific businesses such as bakeries, startups, restaurants, salons, hotels, and coffee shops)

PandaDoc allows you to customize its business plan templates to fit the needs of your business. After editing the template, you can send it to interested parties and track opens and views through PandaDoc.

10. Invoiceberry Templates for Word, Open Office, Excel, or PPT

InvoiceBerry is a U.K based online invoicing and tracking platform that offers free business plan templates in .docx, .odt, .xlsx, and .pptx formats for freelancers and small businesses.

Before you can download the free business plan template, it will ask you to give it your email address. After you complete the little task, it will send the download link to your inbox for you to download. It also provides a business plan checklist in .xlsx file format that ensures you add the right information to the business plan.

Alternatives to the Traditional Business Plan

A business plan is very important in mapping out how one expects their business to grow over a set number of years, particularly when they need external investment in their business. However, many investors do not have the time to watch you present your business plan. It is a long and boring read.

Luckily, there are three alternatives to the traditional business plan (the Business Model Canvas, Lean Canvas, and Startup Pitch Deck). These alternatives are less laborious and easier and quicker to present to investors.

Business Model Canvas (BMC)

The business model canvas is a business tool used to present all the important components of setting up a business, such as customers, route to market, value proposition, and finance in a single sheet. It provides a very focused blueprint that defines your business initially which you can later expand on if needed.

The sheet is divided mainly into company, industry, and consumer models that are interconnected in how they find problems and proffer solutions.

Segments of the Business Model Canvas

The business model canvas was developed by founder Alexander Osterwalder to answer important business questions. It contains nine segments.

• Key Partners: Who will be occupying important executive positions in your business? What do they bring to the table? Will there be a third party involved with the company?
• Key Activities: What important activities will production entail? What activities will be carried out to ensure the smooth running of the company?
• The Product’s Value Propositions: What does your product do? How will it be different from other products?
• Customer Segments: What demography of consumers are you targeting? What are the habits of these consumers? Who are the MVPs of your target consumers?
• Customer Relationships: How will the team support and work with its customer base? How do you intend to build and maintain trust with the customer?
• Key Resources: What type of personnel and tools will be needed? What size of the budget will they need access to?
• Channels: How do you plan to create awareness of your products? How do you intend to transport your product to the customer?
• Cost Structure: What is the estimated cost of production? How much will distribution cost?
• Revenue Streams: For what value are customers willing to pay? How do they prefer to pay for the product? Are there any external revenues attached apart from the main source? How do the revenue streams contribute to the overall revenue?

Lean Canvas

The lean canvas is a problem-oriented alternative to the standard business model canvas. It was proposed by Ash Maurya, creator of Lean Stack as a development of the business model generation. It uses a more problem-focused approach and it majorly targets entrepreneurs and startup businesses.

Lean Canvas uses the same 9 blocks concept as the business model canvas, however, they have been modified slightly to suit the needs and purpose of a small startup. The key partners, key activities, customer relationships, and key resources are replaced by new segments which are:

• Problem: Simple and straightforward number of problems you have identified, ideally three.
• Solution: The solutions to each problem.
• Unfair Advantage: Something you possess that can't be easily bought or replicated.
• Key Metrics: Important numbers that will tell how your business is doing.

Startup Pitch Deck

While the business model canvas compresses into a factual sheet, startup pitch decks expand flamboyantly.

Pitch decks, through slides, convey your business plan, often through graphs and images used to emphasize estimations and observations in your presentation. Entrepreneurs often use pitch decks to fully convince their target audience of their plans before discussing funding arrangements.

Considering the likelihood of it being used in a small time frame, a good startup pitch deck should ideally contain 20 slides or less to have enough time to answer questions from the audience.

Unlike the standard and lean business model canvases, a pitch deck doesn't have a set template on how to present your business plan but there are still important components to it. These components often mirror those of the business model canvas except that they are in slide form and contain more details.

Using Airbnb (one of the most successful start-ups in recent history) for reference, the important components of a good slide are listed below.

• Cover/Introduction Slide: Here, you should include your company's name and mission statement. Your mission statement should be a very catchy tagline. Also, include personal information and contact details to provide an easy link for potential investors.
• Problem Slide: This slide requires you to create a connection with the audience or the investor that you are pitching. For example in their pitch, Airbnb summarized the most important problems it would solve in three brief points – pricing of hotels, disconnection from city culture, and connection problems for local bookings.
• Solution Slide: This slide includes your core value proposition. List simple and direct solutions to the problems you have mentioned
• Customer Analysis: Here you will provide information on the customers you will be offering your service to. The identity of your customers plays an important part in fundraising as well as the long-run viability of the business.
• Market Validation: Use competitive analysis to show numbers that prove the presence of a market for your product, industry behavior in the present and the long run, as well as the percentage of the market you aim to attract. It shows that you understand your competitors and customers and convinces investors of the opportunities presented in the market.
• Business Model: Your business model is the hook of your presentation. It may vary in complexity but it should generally include a pricing system informed by your market analysis. The goal of the slide is to confirm your business model is easy to implement.
• Marketing Strategy: This slide should summarize a few customer acquisition methods that you plan to use to grow the business.
• Competitive Advantage: What this slide will do is provide information on what will set you apart and make you a more attractive option to customers. It could be the possession of technology that is not widely known in the market.
• Team Slide: Here you will give a brief description of your team. Include your key management personnel here and their specific roles in the company. Include their educational background, job history, and skillsets. Also, talk about their accomplishments in their careers so far to build investors' confidence in members of your team.
• Traction Slide: This validates the company’s business model by showing growth through early sales and support. The slide aims to reduce any lingering fears in potential investors by showing realistic periodic milestones and profit margins. It can include current sales, growth, valuable customers, pre-orders, or data from surveys outlining current consumer interest.
• Funding Slide: This slide is popularly referred to as ‘the ask'. Here you will include important details like how much is needed to get your business off the ground and how the funding will be spent to help the company reach its goals.
• Appendix Slides: Your pitch deck appendix should always be included alongside a standard pitch presentation. It consists of additional slides you could not show in the pitch deck but you need to complement your presentation.

It is important to support your calculations with pictorial renditions. Infographics, such as pie charts or bar graphs, will be more effective in presenting the information than just listing numbers. For example, a six-month graph that shows rising profit margins will easily look more impressive than merely writing it.

Lastly, since a pitch deck is primarily used to secure meetings and you may be sharing your pitch with several investors, it is advisable to keep a separate public version that doesn't include financials. Only disclose the one with projections once you have secured a link with an investor.

Advantages of the Business Model Canvas, Lean Canvas, and Startup Pitch Deck over the Traditional Business Plan

• Time-Saving: Writing a detailed traditional business plan could take weeks or months. On the other hand, all three alternatives can be done in a few days or even one night of brainstorming if you have a comprehensive understanding of your business.
• Easier to Understand: Since the information presented is almost entirely factual, it puts focus on what is most important in running the business. They cut away the excess pages of fillers in a traditional business plan and allow investors to see what is driving the business and what is getting in the way.
• Easy to Update: Businesses typically present their business plans to many potential investors before they secure funding. What this means is that you may regularly have to amend your presentation to update statistics or adjust to audience-specific needs. For a traditional business plan, this could mean rewriting a whole section of your plan. For the three alternatives, updating is much easier because they are not voluminous.
• Guide for a More In-depth Business Plan: All three alternatives have the added benefit of being able to double as a sketch of your business plan if the need to create one arises in the future.

Business Plan FAQ

Business plans are important for any entrepreneur who is looking for a framework to run their company over some time or seeking external support. Although they are essential for new businesses, every company should ideally have a business plan to track their growth from time to time.  They can be used by startups seeking investments or loans to convey their business ideas or an employee to convince his boss of the feasibility of starting a new project. They can also be used by companies seeking to recruit high-profile employee targets into key positions or trying to secure partnerships with other firms.

Business plans often vary depending on your target audience, the scope, and the goals for the plan. Startup plans are the most common among the different types of business plans.  A start-up plan is used by a new business to present all the necessary information to help get the business up and running. They are usually used by entrepreneurs who are seeking funding from investors or bank loans. The established company alternative to a start-up plan is a feasibility plan. A feasibility plan is often used by an established company looking for new business opportunities. They are used to show the upsides of creating a new product for a consumer base. Because the audience is usually company people, it requires less company analysis. The third type of business plan is the lean business plan. A lean business plan is a brief, straight-to-the-point breakdown of your ideas and analysis for your business. It does not contain details of your proposal and can be written on one page. Finally, you have the what-if plan. As it implies, a what-if plan is a preparation for the worst-case scenario. You must always be prepared for the possibility of your original plan being rejected. A good what-if plan will serve as a good plan B to the original.

A good business plan has 10 key components. They include an executive plan, product analysis, desired customer base, company analysis, industry analysis, marketing strategy, sales strategy, financial projection, funding, and appendix. Executive Plan Your business should begin with your executive plan. An executive plan will provide early insight into what you are planning to achieve with your business. It should include your mission statement and highlight some of the important points which you will explain later. Product Analysis The next component of your business plan is your product analysis. A key part of this section is explaining the type of item or service you are going to offer as well as the market problems your product will solve. Desired Consumer Base Your product analysis should be supplemented with a detailed breakdown of your desired consumer base. Investors are always interested in knowing the economic power of your market as well as potential MVP customers. Company Analysis The next component of your business plan is your company analysis. Here, you explain how you want to run your business. It will include your operational strategy, an insight into the workforce needed to keep the company running, and important executive positions. It will also provide a calculation of expected operational costs.  Industry Analysis A good business plan should also contain well laid out industry analysis. It is important to convince potential investors you know the companies you will be competing with, as well as your plans to gain an edge on the competition. Marketing Strategy Your business plan should also include your marketing strategy. This is how you intend to spread awareness of your product. It should include a detailed explanation of the company brand as well as your advertising methods. Sales Strategy Your sales strategy comes after the market strategy. Here you give an overview of your company's pricing strategy and how you aim to maximize profits. You can also explain how your prices will adapt to market behaviors. Financial Projection The financial projection is the next component of your business plan. It explains your company's expected running cost and revenue earned during the tenure of the business plan. Financial projection gives a clear idea of how your company will develop in the future. Funding The next component of your business plan is funding. You have to detail how much external investment you need to get your business idea off the ground here. Appendix The last component of your plan is the appendix. This is where you put licenses, graphs, or key information that does not fit in any of the other components.

The business model canvas is a business management tool used to quickly define your business idea and model. It is often used when investors need you to pitch your business idea during a brief window.

A pitch deck is similar to a business model canvas except that it makes use of slides in its presentation. A pitch is not primarily used to secure funding, rather its main purpose is to entice potential investors by selling a very optimistic outlook on the business.

Business plan competitions help you evaluate the strength of your business plan. By participating in business plan competitions, you are improving your experience. The experience provides you with a degree of validation while practicing important skills. The main motivation for entering into the competitions is often to secure funding by finishing in podium positions. There is also the chance that you may catch the eye of a casual observer outside of the competition. These competitions also provide good networking opportunities. You could meet mentors who will take a keen interest in guiding you in your business journey. You also have the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs whose ideas can complement yours.

Exlore Further

• 12 Key Elements of a Business Plan (Top Components Explained)
• 13 Sources of Business Finance For Companies & Sole Traders
• 5 Common Types of Business Structures (+ Pros & Cons)
• How to Buy a Business in 8 Steps (+ Due Diligence Checklist)

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Martin luenendonk.

Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.

This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.

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Company : Describes the ownership and history of your business.

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Strategy and Implementation : Provides the details of how you plan on building the business.

Management Team : An overview of the people behind the business and why they’re the right team to make the business a success.

Financial Plan : A complete set of forecasts including a Profit and Loss Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Balance Sheet.

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How to Write a Business Plan (Plus Examples & Templates)

Have you ever wondered how to write a business plan step by step? Mike Andes, told us: 

This guide will help you write a business plan to impress investors.

Throughout this process, we’ll get information from Mike Andes, who started Augusta Lawn Care Services when he was 12 and turned it into a franchise with over 90 locations. He has gone on to help others learn how to write business plans and start businesses.  He knows a thing or two about writing  business plans!

We’ll start by discussing the definition of a business plan. Then we’ll discuss how to come up with the idea, how to do the market research, and then the important elements in the business plan format. Keep reading to start your journey!

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is simply a road map of what you are trying to achieve with your business and how you will go about achieving it. It should cover all elements of your business including: 

• Finding customers
• Plans for developing a team
•  Competition
• Legal structures
• Key milestones you are pursuing

If you aren’t quite ready to create a business plan, consider starting by reading our business startup guide .

Get a Business Idea

Before you can write a business plan, you have to have a business idea. You may see a problem that needs to be solved and have an idea how to solve it, or you might start by evaluating your interests and skills. 

Mike told us, “The three things I suggest asking yourself when thinking about starting a business are:

• What am I good at?
• What would I enjoy doing?
• What can I get paid for?”

If all three of these questions don’t lead to at least one common answer, it will probably be a much harder road to success. Either there is not much market for it, you won’t be good at it, or you won’t enjoy doing it. 

As Mike told us, “There’s enough stress starting and running a business that if you don’t like it or aren’t good at it, it’s hard to succeed.”

If you’d like to hear more about Mike’s approach to starting a business, check out our YouTube video

Conduct Market Analysis

Market analysis is focused on establishing if there is a target market for your products and services, how large the target market is, and identifying the demographics of people or businesses that would be interested in the product or service. The goal here is to establish how much money your business concept can make.

Product and Service Demand

A search engine is your best friend when trying to figure out if there is demand for your products and services. Personally, I love using presearch.org because it lets you directly search on a ton of different platforms including Google, Youtube, Twitter, and more. Check out the screenshot for the full list of search options.

With quick web searches, you can find out how many competitors you have, look through their reviews, and see if there are common complaints about the competitors. Bad reviews are a great place to find opportunities to offer better products or services. 

If there are no similar products or services, you may have stumbled upon something new, or there may just be no demand for it. To find out, go talk to your most honest friend about the idea and see what they think. If they tell you it’s dumb or stare at you vacantly, there’s probably no market for it.

You can also conduct a survey through social media to get public opinion on your idea. Using Facebook Business Manager , you could get a feel for who would be interested in your product or service.

 I ran a quick test of how many people between 18-65  you could reach in the U.S. during a week. It returned an estimated 700-2,000 for the total number of leads, which is enough to do a fairly accurate statistical analysis.

Identify Demographics of Target Market

Depending on what type of business you want to run, your target market will be different. The narrower the demographic, the fewer potential customers you’ll have. If you did a survey, you’ll be able to use that data to help define your target audience. Some considerations you’ll want to consider are:

• Other Interests
• Marital Status
• Do they have kids?

Once you have this information, it can help you narrow down your options for location and help define your marketing further. One resource that Mike recommended using is the Census Bureau’s Quick Facts Map . He told us,  

“It helps you quickly evaluate what the best areas are for your business to be located.”

Now that you’ve developed your idea a little and established there is a market for it, you can begin writing a business plan. Getting started is easier with the business plan template we created for you to download. I strongly recommend using it as it is updated to make it easier to create an action plan. 

Each of the following should be a section of your business plan:

• Business Plan Cover Page
• Description of Products and Services
• Competitor Data
• Marketing Expenses Strategy 
• Distribution Channel Assessment
• Operational Plan
• Management and Organizational Strategy
• Financial Statements and/or Financial Projections

We’ll look into each of these. Don’t forget to download our free business plan template (mentioned just above) so you can follow along as we go. 

How to Write a Business Plan Step 1. Create a Cover Page

The first thing investors will see is the cover page for your business plan. Make sure it looks professional. A great cover page shows that you think about first impressions.

A good business plan should have the following elements on a cover page:

• Professionally designed logo
• Company name
• Mission or Vision Statement
• Contact Info

Basically, think of a cover page for your business plan like a giant business card. It is meant to capture people’s attention but be quickly processed.

How to Write a Business Plan Step 2. Create a Table of Contents

Most people are busy enough that they don’t have a lot of time. Providing a table of contents makes it easy for them to find the pages of your plan that are meaningful to them.

A table of contents will be immediately after the cover page, but you can include it after the executive summary. Including the table of contents immediately after the executive summary will help investors know what section of your business plan they want to review more thoroughly.

Check out Canva’s article about creating a  table of contents . It has a ton of great information about creating easy access to each section of your business plan. Just remember that you’ll want to use different strategies for digital and hard copy business plans.

How to Write a Business Plan Step 3. Write an Executive Summary

An executive summary is where your business plan should catch the readers interest.  It doesn’t need to be long, but should be quick and easy to read.

Mike told us,

How long should an executive summary bein an informal business plan?

For casual use, an executive summary should be similar to an elevator pitch, no more than 150-160 words, just enough to get them interested and wanting more. Indeed has a great article on elevator pitches .  This can also be used for the content of emails to get readers’ attention.

It consists of three basic parts:

• An introduction to you and your business.
• What your business is about.
• A call to action

Example of an informal executive summary 

One of the best elevator pitches I’ve used is:

So far that pitch has achieved a 100% success rate in getting partnerships for the business.

What should I include in an executive summary for investors?

Investors are going to need a more detailed executive summary if you want to secure financing or sell equity. The executive summary should be a brief overview of your entire business plan and include:

• Introduction of yourself and company.
• An origin story (Recognition of a problem and how you came to solution)
• An introduction to your products or services.
• Your unique value proposition. Make sure to include intellectual property.
• Where you are in the business life cycle
• Request and why you need it.

Successful business plan examples

The owner of Urbanity told us he spent 2 months writing a 75-page business plan and received a $250,000 loan from the bank when he was 23. Make your business plan as detailed as possible when looking for financing. We’ve provided a template to help you prepare the portions of a business plan that banks expect.

Here’s the interview with the owner of Urbanity:

When to write an executive summary?

Even though the summary is near the beginning of a business plan, you should write it after you complete the rest of a business plan. You can’t talk about revenue, profits, and expected expenditures if you haven’t done the market research and created a financial plan.

What mistakes do people make when writing an executive summary?

Business owners commonly go into too much detail about the following items in an executive summary:

• Marketing and sales processes
• Financial statements
• Organizational structure

These are things that people will want to know later, but they don’t hook the reader. They won’t spark interest in your small business, but they’ll close the deal.

How to Write a Business Plan Step 4. Company Description

Every business plan should include a company description. A great business plan will include the following elements while describing the company:

• Mission statement
• Philosophy and vision
• Company goals
• Legal structure

Let’s take a look at what each section includes in a good business plan.

A mission statement is a brief explanation of why you started the company and what the company’s main focus is. It should be no more than one or two sentences. Check out HubSpot’s article 27 Inspiring Mission Statement for a great read on informative and inspiring mission and vision statements. 

Company Philosophy and Vision

The company philosophy is what drives your company. You’ll normally hear them called core values.  These are the building blocks that make your company different. You want to communicate your values to customers, business owners, and investors as often as possible to build a company culture, but make sure to back them up.

What makes your company different?

Each company is different. Your new business should rise above the standard company lines of honesty, integrity, fun, innovation, and community when communicating your business values. The standard answers are corporate jargon and lack authenticity. 

Examples of core values

One of my clients decided to add a core values page to their website. As a tech company they emphasized the values:

•  Prioritize communication.
•  Never stop learning.
•  Be transparent.
•  Start small and grow incrementally.

These values communicate how the owner and the rest of the company operate. They also show a value proposition and competitive advantage because they specifically focus on delivering business value from the start. These values also genuinely show what the company is about and customers recognize the sincerity. Indeed has a great blog about how to identify your core values .

What is a vision statement?

A vision statement communicate the long lasting change a business pursues. The vision helps investors and customers understand what your company is trying to accomplish. The vision statement goes beyond a mission statement to provide something meaningful to the community, customer’s lives, or even the world.

Example vision statements

The Alzheimer’s Association is a great example of a vision statement:

A world without Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementia.

It clearly tells how they want to change the world. A world without Alzheimers might be unachievable, but that means they always have room for improvement.

Business Goals

You have to measure success against goals for a business plan to be meaningful. A business plan helps guide a company similar to how your GPS provides a road map to your favorite travel destination. A goal to make as much money as possible is not inspirational and sounds greedy.

Sure, business owners want to increase their profits and improve customer service, but they need to present an overview of what they consider success. The goals should help everyone prioritize their work.

How far in advance should a business plan?

Business planning should be done at least one year in advance, but many banks and investors prefer three to five year business plans. Longer plans show investors that the management team  understands the market and knows the business is operating in a constantly shifting market. In addition, a plan helps businesses to adjust to changes because they have already considered how to handle them.

Example of great business goals

My all time-favorite long-term company goals are included in Tesla’s Master Plan, Part Deux . These goals were written in 2016 and drive the company’s decisions through 2026. They are the reason that investors are so forgiving when Elon Musk continually fails to meet his quarterly and annual goals.

If the progress aligns with the business plan investors are likely to continue to believe in the company. Just make sure the goals are reasonable or you’ll be discredited (unless you’re Elon Musk).

You did target market research before creating a business plan. Now it’s time to add it to the plan so others understand what your ideal customer looks like. As a new business owner, you may not be considered an expert in your field yet, so document everything. Make sure the references you use are from respectable sources. 

Use information from the specific lender when you are applying for lending. Most lenders provide industry research reports and using their data can strengthen the position of your business plan.

A small business plan should include a section on the external environment. Understanding the industry is crucial because we don’t plan a business in a vacuum. Make sure to research the industry trends, competitors, and forecasts. I personally prefer IBIS World for my business research. Make sure to answer questions like:

• What is the industry outlook long-term and short-term?
• How will your business take advantage of projected industry changes and trends?
• What might happen to your competitors and how will your business successfully compete?

Industry resources

Some helpful resources to help you establish more about your industry are:

• Trade Associations
• Federal Reserve
• Bureau of Labor Statistics

Legal Structure

There are five basic types of legal structures that most people will utilize:

• Sole proprietorships
• Limited Liability Companies (LLC)

Partnerships

Corporations.

• Franchises.

Each business structure has their pros and cons. An LLC is the most common legal structure due to its protection of personal assets and ease of setting up. Make sure to specify how ownership is divided and what roles each owner plays when you have more than one business owner.

You’ll have to decide which structure is best for you, but we’ve gathered information on each to make it easier.

Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the easiest legal structure to set up but doesn’t protect the owner’s personal assets from legal issues. That means if something goes wrong, you could lose both your company and your home.

To start a sole proprietorship, fill out a special tax form called a  Schedule C . Sole proprietors can also join the American Independent Business Alliance .

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

An LLC is the most common business structure used in the United States because an LLC protects the owner’s personal assets. It’s similar to partnerships and corporations, but can be a single-member LLC in most states. An LLC requires a document called an operating agreement.

Each state has different requirements. Here’s a link to find your state’s requirements . Delaware and Nevada are common states to file an LLC because they are really business-friendly. Here’s a blog on the top 10 states to get an LLC.

Partnerships are typically for legal firms. If you choose to use a partnership choose a Limited Liability Partnership. Alternatively, you can just use an LLC.

Corporations are typically for massive organizations. Corporations have taxes on both corporate and income tax so unless you plan on selling stock, you are better off considering an LLC with S-Corp status . Investopedia has good information corporations here .

There are several opportunities to purchase successful franchises. TopFranchise.com has a list of companies in a variety of industries that offer franchise opportunities. This makes it where an entrepreneur can benefit from the reputation of an established business that has already worked out many of the kinks of starting from scratch.

How to Write a Business Plan Step 5. Products and Services

This section of the business plan should focus on what you sell, how you source it, and how you sell it. You should include:

• Unique features that differentiate your business products from competitors
• Your supply chain
• Cost and pricing structure 

Questions to answer about your products and services

Mike gave us a list  of the most important questions to answer about your product and services:

• How will you be selling the product? (in person, ecommerce, wholesale, direct to consumer)?
• How do you let them know they need a product?
• How do you communicate the message?
• How will you do transactions?
• How much will you be selling it for?
• How many do you think you’ll sell and why?

Make sure to use the worksheet on our business plan template .

How to Write a Business Plan Step 6. Sales and Marketing Plan

The marketing and sales plan is focused on the strategy to bring awareness to your company and guides how you will get the product to the consumer.  It should contain the following sections:

SWOT Analysis stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Not only do you want to identify them, but you also want to document how the business plans to deal with them.

Business owners need to do a thorough job documenting how their service or product stacks up against the competition.

If proper research isn’t done, investors will be able to tell that the owner hasn’t researched the competition and is less likely to believe that the team can protect its service from threats by the more well-established competition. This is one of the most common parts of a presentation that trips up business owners presenting on Shark Tank .

SWOT Examples

Examples of strengths and weaknesses could be things like the lack of cash flow, intellectual property ownership, high costs of suppliers, and customers’ expectations on shipping times.

Opportunities could be ways to capitalize on your strengths or improve your weaknesses, but may also be gaps in the industry. This includes:

• Adding offerings that fit with your current small business
• Increase sales to current customers
• Reducing costs through bulk ordering
• Finding ways to reduce inventory
•  And other areas you can improve

Threats will normally come from outside of the company but could also be things like losing a key member of the team. Threats normally come from competition, regulations, taxes, and unforeseen events.

The management team should use the SWOT analysis to guide other areas of business planning, but it absolutely has to be done before a business owner starts marketing. 

Include Competitor Data in Your Business Plan

When you plan a business, taking into consideration the strengths and weaknesses of the competition is key to navigating the field. Providing an overview of your competition and where they are headed shows that you are invested in understanding the industry.

For smaller businesses, you’ll want to search both the company and the owners names to see what they are working on. For publicly held corporations, you can find their quarterly and annual reports on the SEC website .

What another business plans to do can impact your business. Make sure to include things that might make it attractive for bigger companies to outsource to a small business.

The marketing and sales part of business plans should be focused on how you are going to make potential customers aware of your business and then sell to them.

If you haven’t already included it, Mike recommends:

“They’ll want to know about Demographics, ages, and wealth of your target market.”

Make sure to include the Total addressable market .  The term refers to the value if you captured 100% of the market.

Advertising Strategy

You’ll explain what formats of advertising you’ll be using. Some possibilities are:

• Online: Facebook and Google are the big names to work with here.
• Print : Print can be used to reach broad groups or targeted markets. Check out this for tips .
• Radio : iHeartMedia is one of the best ways to advertise on the radio
• Cable television : High priced, hard to measure ROI, but here’s an explanation of the process
• Billboards: Attracting customers with billboards can be beneficial in high traffic areas.

You’ll want to define how you’ll be using each including frequency, duration, and cost. If you have the materials already created, including pictures or links to the marketing to show creative assets.

Mike told us “Most businesses are marketing digitally now due to Covid, but that’s not always the right answer.”

Make sure the marketing strategy will help team members or external marketing agencies stay within the brand guidelines .

This section of a business plan should be focused on pricing. There are a ton of pricing strategies that may work for different business plans. Which one will work for you depends on what kind of a business you run.

Some common pricing strategies are:

• Value-based pricing – Commonly used with home buying and selling or other products that are status symbols.
• Skimming pricing – Commonly seen in video game consoles, price starts off high to recoup expenses quickly, then reduces over time.
• Competition-based pricing – Pricing based on competitors’ pricing is commonly seen at gas stations.
• Freemium services –  Commonly used for software, where there is a free plan, then purchase options for more functionality.

HubSpot has a great calculator and blog on pricing strategies.

Beyond explaining what strategy your business plans to use, you should include references for how you came to this pricing strategy and how it will impact your cash flow.

Distribution Plan

This part of a business plan is focused on how the product or service is going to go through the supply chain. These may include multiple divisions or multiple companies. Make sure to include any parts of the workflow that are automated so investors can see where cost savings are expected and when.

Supply Chain Examples

For instance, lawn care companies  would need to cover aspects such as:

• Suppliers for lawn care equipment and tools
• Any chemicals or treatments needed
• Repair parts for sprinkler systems
• Vehicles to transport equipment and employees
• Insurance to protect the company vehicles and people.

Examples of Supply Chains

These are fairly flat supply chains compared to something like a clothing designer where the clothes would go through multiple vendors. A clothing company might have the following supply chain:

• Raw materials
• Shipping of raw materials
• Converting of raw materials to thread
• Shipping thread to produce garments
• Garment producer
• Shipping to company
• Company storage
• Shipping to retail stores

There have been advances such as print on demand that eliminate many of these steps. If you are designing completely custom clothing, all of this would need to be planned to keep from having business disruptions.

The main thing to include in the business plan is the list of suppliers, the path the supply chain follows, the time from order to the customer’s home, and the costs associated with each step of the process.

According to BizPlanReview , a business plan without this information is likely to get rejected because they have failed to research the key elements necessary to make sales to the customer.

How to Write a Business Plan Step 7. Company Organization and Operational Plan

This part of the business plan is focused on how the business model will function while serving customers.  The business plan should provide an overview of  how the team will manage the following aspects:

Quality Control

• Legal environment

Let’s look at each for some insight.

Production has already been discussed in previous sections so I won’t go into it much. When writing a business plan for investors, try to avoid repetition as it creates a more simple business plan.

If the organizational plan will be used by the team as an overview of how to perform the best services for the customer, then redundancy makes more sense as it communicates what is important to the business.

Quality control policies help to keep the team focused on how to verify that the company adheres to the business plan and meets or exceeds customer expectations.

Quality control can be anything from a standard that says “all labels on shirts can be no more than 1/16″ off center” to a defined checklist of steps that should be performed and filled out for every customer.

There are a variety of organizations that help define quality control including:

• International Organization for Standardization – Quality standards for energy, technology, food, production environments, and cybersecurity
• AICPA – Standard defined for accounting.
• The Joint Commission – Healthcare
• ASHRAE – HVAC best practices

You can find lists of the organizations that contribute most to the government regulation of industries on Open Secrets . Research what the leaders in your field are doing. Follow their example and implement it in your quality control plan.

For location, you should use information from the market research to establish where the location will be. Make sure to include the following in the location documentation.

• The size of your location
• The type of building (retail, industrial, commercial, etc.)
• Zoning restrictions – Urban Wire has a good map on how zoning works in each state
• Accessibility – Does it meet ADA requirements?
• Costs including rent, maintenance, utilities, insurance and any buildout or remodeling costs
• Utilities – b.e.f. has a good energy calculator .

Legal Environment

The legal requirement section is focused on defining how to meet the legal requirements for your industry. A good business plan should include all of the following:

• Any licenses and/or permits that are needed and whether you’ve obtained them
• Any trademarks, copyrights, or patents that you have or are in the process of applying for
• The insurance coverage your business requires and how much it costs
• Any environmental, health, or workplace regulations affecting your business
• Any special regulations affecting your industry
• Bonding requirements, if applicable

Your local SBA office can help you establish requirements in your area. I strongly recommend using them. They are a great resource.

Your business plan should include a plan for company organization and hiring. While you may be the only person with the company right now, down the road you’ll need more people. Make sure to consider and document the answers to the following questions:

• What is the current leadership structure and what will it look like in the future?
• What types of employees will you have? Are there any licensing or educational requirements?
• How many employees will you need?
• Will you ever hire freelancers or independent contractors?
• What is each position’s job description?
• What is the pay structure (hourly, salaried, base plus commission, etc.)?
• How do you plan to find qualified employees and contractors?

One of the most crucial parts of a business plan is the organizational chart. This simply shows the positions the company will need, who is in charge of them and the relationship of each of them. It will look similar to this:

Our small business plan template has a much more in-depth organizational chart you can edit to include when you include the organizational chart in your business plan.

How to Write a Business Plan Step 8. Financial Statements 

No business plan is complete without financial statements or financial projections. The business plan format will be different based on whether you are writing a business plan to expand a business or a startup business plan. Let’s dig deeper into each.

Provide All Financial Income from an Existing Business

An existing business should use their past financial documents including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement to find trends to estimate the next 3-5 years.

You can create easy trendlines in excel to predict future revenue, profit and loss, cash flow, and other changes in year-over-year performance. This will show your expected performance assuming business continues as normal.

If you are seeking an investment, then the business is probably not going to continue as normal. Depending on the financial plan and the purpose of getting financing, adjustments may be needed to the following:

• Higher Revenue if expanding business
• Lower Cost of Goods Sold if purchasing inventory with bulk discounts
• Adding interest if utilizing financing (not equity deal)
• Changes in expenses
• Addition of financing information to the cash flow statement
• Changes in Earnings per Share on the balance sheet

Financial modeling is a challenging subject, but there are plenty of low-cost courses on the subject. If you need help planning your business financial documentation take some time to watch some of them.

Make it a point to document how you calculated all the changes to the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement in your business plan so that key team members or investors can verify your research.

Financial Projections For A Startup Business Plan

Unlike an existing business, a startup doesn’t have previous success to model its future performance. In this scenario, you need to focus on how to make a business plan realistic through the use of industry research and averages.

Mike gave the following advice in his interview:

Financial Forecasting Mistakes

One of the things a lot of inexperienced people use is the argument, “If I get one percent of the market, it is worth $100 million.” If you use this, investors are likely to file the document under bad business plan examples.

Let’s use custom t-shirts as an example.

Credence Research estimated in 2018 there were 11,334,800,000 custom t-shirts sold for a total of $206.12 Billion, with a 6% compound annual growth rate.

With that data,  you can calculate that the industry will grow to $270 Billion in 2023 and that the average shirt sold creates $18.18 in revenue.

Combine that with an IBIS World estimate of 11,094 custom screen printers and that means even if you become an average seller, you’ll get .009% of the market.

Here’s a table for easier viewing of that information.

The point here is to make sure your business proposal examples make sense.

You’ll need to know industry averages such as cost of customer acquisition, revenue per customer, the average cost of goods sold, and admin costs to be able to create accurate estimates.

Our simple business plan templates walk you through most of these processes. If you follow them you’ll have a good idea of how to write a business proposal.

How to Write a Business Plan Step 9. Business Plan Example of Funding Requests

What is a business plan without a plan on how to obtain funding?

The Small Business Administration has an example for a pizza restaurant that theoretically needed nearly $20k to make it through their first month.

In our video, How to Start a $500K/Year T-Shirt Business (Pt. 1 ), Sanford Booth told us he needed about $200,000 to start his franchise and broke even after 4 months.

Freshbooks estimates it takes on average 2-3 years for a business to be profitable, which means the fictitious pizza company from the SBA could need up to $330k to make it through that time and still pay their bills for their home and pizza shop.

Not every business needs that much to start, but realistically it’s a good idea to assume that you need a fairly large cushion.

Ways to get funding for a small business

There are a variety of ways to cover this. the most common are:

• Bootstrapping – Using your savings without external funding.
• Taking out debt – loans, credit cards
• Equity, Seed Funding – Ownership of a percentage of the company in exchange for current funds
• Crowdsourcing – Promising a good for funding to create the product

Keep reading for more tips on how to write a business plan.

How funding will be used

When asking for business financing make sure to include:

• How much to get started?
• What is the minimum viable product and how soon can you make money?
• How will the money be spent?

Mike emphasized two aspects that should be included in every plan, 

How to Write a Business Plan Resources

Here are some links to a business plan sample and business plan outline. 

• Sample plan

It’s also helpful to follow some of the leading influencers in the business plan writing community. Here’s a list:

• Wise Plans –  Shares a lot of information on starting businesses and is a business plan writing company.
• Optimus Business Plans –  Another business plan writing company.
• Venture Capital – A venture capital thread that can help give you ideas.

How to Write a Business Plan: What’s Next?

We hope this guide about how to write a simple business plan step by step has been helpful. We’ve covered:

• The definition of a business plan
• Coming up with a business idea
• Performing market research
• The critical components of a business plan
• An example business plan

In addition, we provided you with a simple business plan template to assist you in the process of writing your startup business plan. The startup business plan template also includes a business model template that will be the key to your success.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of our business hub .

Have you written a business plan before? How did it impact your ability to achieve your goals?

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Simple Business Plan Template (2024)

Updated: May 4, 2024, 4:37pm

Why business plans are vital, get your free simple business plan template, how to write an effective business plan in 6 steps, frequently asked questions.

While taking many forms and serving many purposes, they all have one thing in common: business plans help you establish your goals and define the means for achieving them. Our simple business plan template covers everything you need to consider when launching a side gig, solo operation or small business. By following this step-by-step process, you might even uncover a few alternate routes to success.

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Whether you’re a first-time solopreneur or a seasoned business owner, the planning process challenges you to examine the costs and tasks involved in bringing a product or service to market. The process can also help you spot new income opportunities and hone in on the most profitable business models.

Though vital, business planning doesn’t have to be a chore. Business plans for lean startups and solopreneurs can simply outline the business concept, sales proposition, target customers and sketch out a plan of action to bring the product or service to market. However, if you’re seeking startup funding or partnership opportunities, you’ll need a write a business plan that details market research, operating costs and revenue forecasting. Whichever startup category you fall into, if you’re at square one, our simple business plan template will point you down the right path.

Copy our free simple business plan template so you can fill in the blanks as we explore each element of your business plan. Need help getting your ideas flowing? You’ll also find several startup scenario examples below.

Download free template as .docx

Whether you need a quick-launch overview or an in-depth plan for investors, any business plan should cover the six key elements outlined in our free template and explained below. The main difference in starting a small business versus an investor-funded business is the market research and operational and financial details needed to support the concept.

1. Your Mission or Vision

Start by declaring a “dream statement” for your business. You can call this your executive summary, vision statement or mission. Whatever the name, the first part of your business plan summarizes your idea by answering five questions. Keep it brief, such as an elevator pitch. You’ll expand these answers in the following sections of the simple business plan template.

• What does your business do? Are you selling products, services, information or a combination?
• Where does this happen? Will you conduct business online, in-store, via mobile means or in a specific location or environment?
• Who does your business benefit? Who is your target market and ideal customer for your concept?
• Why would potential customers care? What would make your ideal customers take notice of your business?
• How do your products and/or services outshine the competition? What would make your ideal customers choose you over a competitor?

These answers come easily if you have a solid concept for your business, but don’t worry if you get stuck. Use the rest of your plan template to brainstorm ideas and tactics. You’ll quickly find these answers and possibly new directions as you explore your ideas and options.

2. Offer and Value Proposition

This is where you detail your offer, such as selling products, providing services or both, and why anyone would care. That’s the value proposition. Specifically, you’ll expand on your answers to the first and fourth bullets from your mission/vision.

As you complete this section, you might find that exploring value propositions uncovers marketable business opportunities that you hadn’t yet considered. So spend some time brainstorming the possibilities in this section.

For example, a cottage baker startup specializing in gluten-free or keto-friendly products might be a value proposition that certain audiences care deeply about. Plus, you could expand on that value proposition by offering wedding and other special-occasion cakes that incorporate gluten-free, keto-friendly and traditional cake elements that all guests can enjoy.

3. Audience and Ideal Customer

Here is where you explore bullet point number three, who your business will benefit. Identifying your ideal customer and exploring a broader audience for your goods or services is essential in defining your sales and marketing strategies, plus it helps fine-tune what you offer.

There are many ways to research potential audiences, but a shortcut is to simply identify a problem that people have that your product or service can solve. If you start from the position of being a problem solver, it’s easy to define your audience and describe the wants and needs of your ideal customer for marketing efforts.

Using the cottage baker startup example, a problem people might have is finding fresh-baked gluten-free or keto-friendly sweets. Examining the wants and needs of these people might reveal a target audience that is health-conscious or possibly dealing with health issues and willing to spend more for hard-to-find items.

However, it’s essential to have a customer base that can support your business. You can be too specialized. For example, our baker startup can attract a broader audience and boost revenue by offering a wider selection of traditional baked goods alongside its gluten-free and keto-focused specialties.

4. Revenue Streams, Sales Channels and Marketing

Thanks to our internet-driven economy, startups have many revenue opportunities and can connect with target audiences through various channels. Revenue streams and sales channels also serve as marketing vehicles, so you can cover all three in this section.

Revenue Streams

Revenue streams are the many ways you can make money in your business. In your plan template, list how you’ll make money upon launch, plus include ideas for future expansion. The income possibilities just might surprise you.

For example, our cottage baker startup might consider these revenue streams:

• Product sales : Online, pop-up shops , wholesale and (future) in-store sales
• Affiliate income : Monetize blog and social media posts with affiliate links
• Advertising income : Reserve website space for advertising
• E-book sales : (future) Publish recipe e-books targeting gluten-free and keto-friendly dessert niches
• Video income : (future) Monetize a YouTube channel featuring how-to videos for the gluten-free and keto-friendly dessert niches
• Webinars and online classes : (future) Monetize coaching-style webinars and online classes covering specialty baking tips and techniques
• Members-only content : (future) Monetize a members-only section of the website for specialty content to complement webinars and online classes
• Franchise : (future) Monetize a specialty cottage bakery concept and sell to franchise entrepreneurs

Sales Channels

Sales channels put your revenue streams into action. This section also answers the “where will this happen” question in the second bullet of your vision.

The product sales channels for our cottage bakery example can include:

• Mobile point-of-sale (POS) : A mobile platform such as Shopify or Square POS for managing in-person sales at local farmers’ markets, fairs and festivals
• E-commerce platform : An online store such as Shopify, Square or WooCommerce for online retail sales and wholesale sales orders
• Social media channels : Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest shoppable posts and pins for online sales via social media channels
• Brick-and-mortar location : For in-store sales , once the business has grown to a point that it can support a physical location

Channels that support other income streams might include:

• Affiliate income : Blog section on the e-commerce website and affiliate partner accounts
• Advertising income : Reserved advertising spaces on the e-commerce website
• E-book sales : Amazon e-book sales via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
• Video income : YouTube channel with ad monetization
• Webinars and online classes : Online class and webinar platforms that support member accounts, recordings and playback
• Members-only content : Password-protected website content using membership apps such as MemberPress

Nowadays, the line between marketing and sales channels is blurred. Social media outlets, e-books, websites, blogs and videos serve as both marketing tools and income opportunities. Since most are free and those with advertising options are extremely economical, these are ideal marketing outlets for lean startups.

However, many businesses still find value in traditional advertising such as local radio, television, direct mail, newspapers and magazines. You can include these advertising costs in your simple business plan template to help build a marketing plan and budget.

5. Structure, Suppliers and Operations

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 responsibilities, supplier logistics and day-to-day operations. Also, include any certifications or permits needed to launch your enterprise in this section.

Our cottage baker example might use a structure and startup plan such as this:

• Business structure : Sole proprietorship with a “doing business as” (DBA) .
• Permits and certifications : County-issued food handling permit and state cottage food certification for home-based food production. Option, check into certified commercial kitchen rentals.
• Roles and responsibilities : Solopreneur, all roles and responsibilities with the owner.
• Supply chain : Bulk ingredients and food packaging via Sam’s Club, Costco, Amazon Prime with annual membership costs. Uline for shipping supplies; no membership needed.
• Day-to-day operations : Source ingredients and bake three days per week to fulfill local and online orders. Reserve time for specialty sales, wholesale partner orders and market events as needed. Ship online orders on alternating days. Update website and create marketing and affiliate blog posts on non-shipping days.

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6. Financial Forecasts

Your final task is to list forecasted business startup and ongoing costs and profit projections in your simple business plan template. Thanks to free business tools such as Square and free marketing on social media, lean startups can launch with few upfront costs. In many cases, cost of goods, shipping and packaging, business permits and printing for business cards are your only out-of-pocket expenses.

Cost Forecast

Our cottage baker’s forecasted lean startup costs might include:

Gross Profit Projections

This helps you determine the retail prices and sales volume required to keep your business running and, hopefully, earn income for yourself. Use product research to spot target retail prices for your goods, then subtract your cost of goods, such as hourly rate, raw goods and supplier costs. The total amount is your gross profit per item or service.

Here are some examples of projected gross profits for our cottage baker:

Bottom Line

Putting careful thought and detail in a business plan is always beneficial, but don’t get so bogged down in planning that you never hit the start button to launch your business . Also, remember that business plans aren’t set in stone. Markets, audiences and technologies change, and so will your goals and means of achieving them. Think of your business plan as a living document and regularly revisit, expand and restructure it as market opportunities and business growth demand.

Is there a template for a business plan?

You can copy our free business plan template and fill in the blanks or customize it in Google Docs, Microsoft Word or another word processing app. This free business plan template includes the six key elements that any entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a new business.

What does a simple business plan include?

A simple business plan is a one- to two-page overview covering six key elements that any budding entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a startup. These include your vision or mission, product or service offering, target audience, revenue streams and sales channels, structure and operations, and financial forecasts.

How can I create a free business plan template?

Start with our free business plan template that covers the six essential elements of a startup. Once downloaded, you can edit this document in Google Docs or another word processing app and add new sections or subsections to your plan template to meet your specific business plan needs.

What basic items should be included in a business plan?

When writing out a business plan, you want to make sure that you cover everything related to your concept for the business,  an analysis of the industry―including potential customers and an overview of the market for your goods or services―how you plan to execute your vision for the business, how you plan to grow the business if it becomes successful and all financial data around the business, including current cash on hand, potential investors and budget plans for the next few years.

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Krista Fabregas is a seasoned eCommerce and online content pro sharing more than 20 years of hands-on know-how with those looking to launch and grow tech-forward businesses. Her expertise includes eCommerce startups and growth, SMB operations and logistics, website platforms, payment systems, side-gig and affiliate income, and multichannel marketing. Krista holds a bachelor's degree in English from The University of Texas at Austin and held senior positions at NASA, a Fortune 100 company, and several online startups.

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Blog Business 15+ Best Business Plan Examples for Entrepreneurs & Startups

15+ Best Business Plan Examples for Entrepreneurs & Startups

Written by: Jennifer Gaskin Jun 09, 2021

Not having a solid plan makes it unlikely for you to achieve the goals you seek, whether it’s getting your to-do list done or launching a successful organization.

In the early stages of a company, that means developing things like pitch decks, business plans, one-sheeters and more. With Venngage’s Business Plan Builder , you can easily organize your business plan into a visually appealing format that can help you win over investors, lenders or partners.

Learn more about how to create a business plan so you can hit the ground running after reading through this list for inspirational business plan templates .

15+ Best business plan examples for entrepreneurs and startups

Simple business plan example, startup business plan example, small business plan example, nonprofit business plan example, strategic business plan example, market analysis business plan example, sales business plan example, organization and management business plan example, marketing and sales strategy business plan example, apple business plan example, airbnb business plan example, sequoia capital business plan example.

While your business plan should be supported by thorough and exhaustive research into your market and competitors, the resulting document does not have to be overwhelming for the reader. In fact, if you can boil your business plan down to a few key pages, all the better.

Simple business plan outline:

• Table of contents : List all sections and sub-sections within the business plan.
• Business review : Include an overview of the business’s purpose, history, and key objectives.
• The market : Analyze the target market, including customer demographics and market needs.
• The competition : Evaluate the main competitors and their strengths and weaknesses in the market.

The simple, bold visual aesthetic of this  business plan template  pairs well with the straightforward approach to the content and various elements of the business plan itself.

Use Venngage’s My Brand Kit  to automatically add your brand colors and fonts to your business plan with just a few clicks.

An essential startup business plan should include a clear and compelling value proposition, market analysis, competitive analysis, target audience identification, financial projections, and a well-defined marketing and operational strategy.

For a typical startup, the need to appear disruptive in the industry is important. After all, if you’re not offering anything truly new, why would an investor turn their attention toward your organization. That means establishing a problem and the ways in which you solve it right away.

Startup business plan outline:

• The problem : Identify the specific issue or pain point your startup aims to solve.
• Target market & opportunity : Define your customers and the potential market size.
• The solution : Describe the product or service that addresses the identified problem.
• Traction and validation/roadmap : Outline the progress made so far and the future milestones and goals.

Whether it’s a full-scale business plan or, in this case, a pitch deck, the ideal way for a startup to make a splash with its plans is to be bold. This successful business plan example is memorable and aspirational.

In the Venngage editor, you can upload images of your business. Add these images to your plans and reports to make them uniquely your own.

All businesses start out small at first, but that doesn’t mean their communications have to be small. One of the best ways to get investors, lenders and talent on board is to show that you’ve done your due diligence.

Small business plan outline:

• Table of contents : List down of all the sections and sub-sections in the business plan.
• Business overview : Include a quick overview of what your business is all about, including your mission and goals.
• The market : Analyzes who your customers are, what they need, and how big the market is.
• The competition : Look into your main competitors and what they’re good at (and not so good at).
• Sales and marketing plan : Lay out your game plan for attracting and keeping customers.
• Operating plan : Explain how you’ll run the day-to-day operations and manage the business.

In this small business plan example, the content is spread over many pages, which is useful in making lengthy, in-depth research feel less like a chore than packing everyone on as few pages as possible.

Organizations that set out to solve problems rather than earning profits also benefit from creating compelling business plans that stir an emotional response in potential donors, benefactors, potential staff members or even media.

Nonprofit business plan outline:

• Table of contents : Lists all sections and sub-sections of your nonprofit business plan.
• Introduction : Provide an overview of your mission and purpose.
• Goal : State the specific objectives your nonprofit organization aims to achieve.
• Impact & strategy : Explain how you plan to create positive change and the methods you will use.

Simplicity is the goal for nonprofits when it comes to business plans, particularly in their early days. Explain the crisis at hand and exactly how your organization will make a difference, which will help donors visualize how their money will be used to help.

Business plans are also helpful for companies that have been around for a while. Whether they’re considering new products to launch or looking for new opportunities, companies can approach business plans from the strategy side of the equation as well.

Strategic business plan outline:

• The problem, issue, or job at hand : Define the specific challenge or task the strategic plan addresses.
• Approach & methodology : Describe the methods and strategies that will be used to tackle the problem or achieve the objective.

Strategic business plans or strategy infographics should be highly focused on a single area or problem to be solved rather than taking a holistic approach to the entire business. Expanding scope too much can make a strategy seem too difficult to implement.

Easily share your business plan with Venngage’s multiple download options, including PNG, PNG HD, and as an interactive PDF.

One-page business plan example

For organizations with a simple business model, often a one-page business plan is all that’s needed. This is possible in any industry, but the most common are traditional ones like retail, where few complex concepts need to be explained.

This one-page strategic business plan example could be easily replicated for an organization that offers goods or services across multiple channels or one with three core business areas. It’s a good business plan example for companies whose plans can be easily boiled down to a few bullet points per area.

Especially when entering a saturated market, understanding the landscape and players is crucial to understanding how your organization can fit it—and stand out. That’s why centering your business plan around a market analysis is often a good idea.

Market analysis business plan outline:

• Table of contents : Lists all sections and sub-sections of the market analysis business plan.
• Executive summary : Provide a brief overview of the key points of the market analysis.
• Business overview : Summarize your business’s mission, vision and core activities.
• The market : Analyze the target market, including customer demographics and market trends.
• The competition : Review the main competitors and their market positioning.
• Sales & marketing plan : Outline strategies for reaching and engaging customers.
• Operating plan : Details the day-to-day operations and management structure.

In this example, the majority of the content and about half the pages are focused on the market analysis, including competitors, trends, pricing, demographics and more. This successful business plan example ensures the artwork and style used perfectly matches the company’s aesthetic, which further reinforces its position in the market.

You can find more memorable business plan templates to customize in the Venngage editor. Browse Venngage’s  business plan templates  to find plans that work for you and start editing.

Company description business plan example

Depending on the market, focusing on your company story and what makes you different can drive your narrative home with potential investors. By focusing your business plan on a company description, you center yourself and your organization in the minds of your audience.

Company description business plan outline:

• Executive summary : Briefly summarize the key components and objectives of the company description section.
• Approach & direction : Outline the company’s strategy, goals and the direction it intends to take in achieving them.

This abbreviated plan is a good business plan example. It uses most of the content to tell the organization’s story. In addition to background about the company, potential investors or clients can see how this design firm’s process is different from their rivals.

With Venngage Business , you can collaborate with team members in real-time to create a business plan that will be effective when presenting to investors.

Five-year business plan example

For most startups or young companies, showing potential investors or partners exactly how and when the company will become profitable is a key aspect of presenting a business plan. Whether it’s woven into a larger presentation or stands alone, you should be sure to include your five-year business plan so investors know you’re looking far beyond the present.

With Venngage’s Business Plan Builder , you can customize a schedule like this to quickly illustrate for investors or partners what your revenue targets are for the first three to five years your company is in operation.

The lifeblood of any company is the sales team. These are the energetic folks who bring in new business, develop leads and turn prospects into customers. Focusing your energy on creating a sales business plan would prove to investors that you understand what will make your company money.

Sales business plan outline:

• Table of contents : List all sections and subsections within the sales business plan.
• Target market : Identify the specific segment or segments of customers the sales efforts will focus on.
• Customer profile : Provide detailed descriptions of the ideal customers, including demographics, preferences and needs.
• Action plan : Outline the specific steps and strategies to be taken to reach and engage the target market and achieve sales objectives.

In this example sales business plan, several facets of ideal buyers are detailed. These include a perfect customer profile that helps to convey to your audience that customer relationships will be at the heart of your operation.

You can include business infographics in your plan to visualize your goals. And with Venngage’s gallery of images and icons, you can customize the template to better reflect your business ethos.

Company mergers and shakeups are also major reasons for organizations to require strong business planning. Creating new departments, deciding which staff to retain and charting a course forward can be even more complex than starting a business from scratch.

Organization and management business plan outline:

• Table of contents : List all sections and subsections within the organization and management business plan.
• About us : Provide an overview of the organization, its mission, vision and values.
• Project summary : Summarize the key details and objectives of the project.
• Project timeline : Outline the milestones and schedule for completing the project.

This organization and management business plan focuses on how the company can optimize operations through a few key organizational projects.

Executive summary for business plan example

Executive summaries give your business plan a strong human touch, and they set the tone for what’s to follow. That could mean having your executive leadership team write a personal note or singling out some huge achievements of which you’re particularly proud in a business plan infographic .

Executive summary business plan outline:

• Table of contents : Lists all sections and subsections within the executive summary business plan.
• Executive summary : Provide a concise overview of the entire business plan, highlighting key points and objectives.
• Statement of problem : Clearly define the specific issue or challenge the business aims to address.
• Approach & methodology : Outline the methods and strategies that will be employed to solve the stated problem or achieve the desired goals.

In this executive summary for a business plan, a brief note is accompanied by a few notable achievements that signal the organization and leadership team’s authority in the industry.

Marketing and sales are two sides of the same coin, and clever companies know how they play off each other. That’s why centering your business plan around your marketing and sales strategy can pay dividends when it comes time to find investors and potential partners.

Marketing and sales strategy business plan outline:

• Table of contents : List all sections and subsections within the marketing and sales strategy business plan.
• Positioning : Describe how the business intends to position its products or services in the market to stand out from competitors.
• Value prop : Highlight the unique value proposition that the business offers to its target customers, including its benefits and advantages.
• Marketing strategy : Outline the overall approach and tactics that will be used to promote the products or services and attract customers.

This marketing and sales business plan example is the picture of a sleek, modern aesthetic, which is appropriate across many industries and will speak volumes to numbers-obsesses sales and marketing leaders.

Do business plans really help? Well, here’s some math for you; in 1981, Apple had just gone public and was in the midst of marketing an absolute flop , the Apple III computer.  The company’s market cap, or total estimated market value,  could hit $3 trillion this year.

Did this Apple business plan make the difference? No, it’s not possible to attribute the success of Apple entirely to this business plan from July 1981, but this ancient artifact goes to show that even the most groundbreaking companies need to take an honest stock of their situation.

Apple’s 1981 business plan example pdf covers everything from the market landscape for computing to the products that founder Steve Jobs expects to roll out over the next few years, and the advanced analysis contained in the document shows how strategic Jobs and other Apple executives were in those early days.

Inviting strangers to stay in your house for the weekend seemed like a crazy concept before Airbnb became one of the world’s biggest companies. Like all disruptive startups, Airbnb had to create a robust, active system from nothing.

Airbnb business plan outline:

• Problem : Identify the specific challenge or need in the accommodation industry that the Airbnb business aims to address.
• Solution : Describe how Airbnb’s platform provides a solution to the identified problem by connecting hosts with guests.
• Market validation : Demonstrate through research or evidence that there is demand for Airbnb’s services.
• Market size : Estimate the total addressable market for Airbnb’s accommodation services.
• Product : Detail the features and functionalities of the Airbnb platform for both hosts and guests.
• Business model : Explain how Airbnb generates revenue and sustains its operations.
• Market adoption : Discuss the rate at which Airbnb’s services are being embraced by hosts and guests.
• Competition : Identify other players in the accommodation industry offering similar services to Airbnb.
• Competitive advantages : Highlight the unique strengths or advantages that set Airbnb apart from its competitors.

As this Airbnb business plan pitch deck example shows, for companies that are introducing entirely new concepts, it’s helpful not to get too into the weeds. Explain the problem simply and boil down the essence of your solution into a few words; in this case, “A web platform where users can rent out their space” perfectly sums up this popular company.

Sequoia Capital is one of the most successful venture capital firms in the world, backing startups that now have a combined stock market value of more than $1 trillion, according to a Forbes analysis .

For young companies and startups that want to play in the big leagues, tailoring your pitch to something that would appeal to a company like Sequoia Capital is a good idea. That’s why the company has a standard business plan format it recommends .

Sequoia capital business plan outline:

• Company purpose : Clarify the core reason for the business and its overarching goals.
• Problems : Identify specific challenges or pain points that the business aims to solve.
• Solution : Describe how the business addresses the identified problems with its products or services.
• Market potential : Assess the size and growth opportunities within the target market for the business.
• Competition : Analyze existing competitors and their strengths and weaknesses in the market.
• Business model : Outline how the business plans to generate revenue and sustain its operations.
• Our team : Introduce the key members of the team and their relevant expertise and experience.
• Financials : Provide projections and forecasts for the financial performance of the business.
• Vision : Articulate the long-term aspirations and goals that the business seeks to achieve.

Using Sequoia Capital’s business plan example means being simple and clear with your content, like the above deck. Note how no slide contains much copy, and even when all slides appear on the screen at once, the text is legible.

Use Venngage to design business plans that will impress investors

Not every business plan, pitch deck or one-sheeter will net you billions in investment dollars, but every entrepreneur should be adept at crafting impressive, authoritative and informative business plans.

Whether you use one of the inspirational templates shared here or you want to go old school and mimic Apple’s 1981 business plan, using Venngage’s Business Plan Builder helps you bring your company’s vision to life.

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Project Management Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Project Management Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their project management companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a project management business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a project management business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Project Management Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your project management business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Project Management Company

If you’re looking to start a project management business or grow your existing project management company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your project management business to improve your chances of success. Your project management business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Project Management Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a project management business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for project management companies.

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How to write a business plan for a project management business.

If you want to start a project management business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your project management business plan.

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of project management business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a project management business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of project management businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the project management industry.
• Discuss the type of project management business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of project management business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of project management businesses:

• Marketing project management : this type of project management involves overseeing projects related to marketing and advertising.
• Construction project management: this type of project management involves overseeing responsibilities related to planning and the logistics of a construction project.
• Engineering project management: this type of project management is responsible for overseeing engineering projects to ensure they’re completed appropriately.
• IT project management: this type of project management involves overseeing job duties such as establishing IT goals, overseeing the IT team’s processes and ensuring all project-related employees have the necessary resources to complete the project.

In addition to explaining the type of project management business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of clients with positive outcomes, reaching X number of clients served, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the project management industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the project management industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your project management business plan:

• How big is the project management industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your project management business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your project management business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: small businesses, midsize companies and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of project management business you operate. Clearly, corporations would respond to different marketing promotions than small businesses, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other project management businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes in-house employees, online programs, or software. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of clients do they serve?
• What type of project management business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide your own staff?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a project management business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of project management company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide consulting, scheduling, budgeting, or staffing?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your project management company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your project management business located in a business district, a standalone office, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your project management marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Attend industry events and tradeshows
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your project management business, including answering calls, planning and providing project services, client interaction,  billing clients and/or vendors, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth client, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your project management business to a new city.  

To demonstrate your project management business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing project management businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a project management business or successfully running a small consulting firm.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you manage 5 clients per day, and/or offer consulting services? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your project management business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a project management business:

• Cost of equipment and office supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or a list of project management services you plan to offer.

Writing a business plan for your project management business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the project management industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful project management business.

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Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how a Growthink business planning advisor can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

How to Write a Winning Project Plan with Templates & Examples

By Kate Eby | May 25, 2022 (updated June 25, 2024)

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Creating a project plan can be overwhelming, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. We provide the basic steps, tools, and expert tips for how to write a project plan. Included in this article, you’ll find the following:

• Project planning steps
• A project plan starter kit
• Create a project plan step-by-step using a template
• Pros share best practices for crafting a project plan

What to Include in a Project Plan

A  project plan , also called a work plan , outlines the tasks, resources, and timelines for achieving a goal. It defines project scope, outlines deliverables, identifies stakeholders, assigns roles, identifies success metrics, determines the framework, and manages resources, quality, and change. 

Project Planning Steps

Project planning is fundamentally about balancing the goals, schedule, and resources to demonstrate control of the project’s scope. Part of writing a project plan includes creating an overview and a scope statement, determining the deliverables schedule, and defining a budget. You’ll want to gather a risk management strategy, a communication plan, and any other documents the project needs. 1. Set SMART Goals Every successful project plan starts with setting a project goal: the expected outcome. The goal will become part of the project plan’s executive summary. A specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goal aligns everyone involved, establishes focus, and provides direction. Meet with stakeholders to ensure the goal aligns with business objectives and gain a thorough understanding of their expectations. Examples of SMART goals for a project include the following:

• Launch two major product features by the end of the year. Measure progress using milestone completion.
• Reduce employee turnover rate by 20 percent within one year. Measure turnover rate and conduct exit interviews to identify reasons for leaving.
• Build two office locations in the metro area within the next four years. Measure progress using milestone completion.  

Download the SMART Goals Worksheet forMicrosoft Word

  Download the SMART Goals Worksheet for Microsoft Word

Use this SMART goals worksheet to detail the five characteristics of effective goal setting, specific to your project. Once complete, it provides a clear direction of what your project will achieve, how you will measure its progress, and the time it will take to complete. Learn  how to write SMART goals and see examples to get started. 2. Define the Project Scope Your  project scope sets the project’s parameters (the size) and safeguards against unrealistic expectations and conflicting interests throughout the project's lifecycle. It also prevents  scope creep , such as doing unnecessary work, overspending, or missing deliverable due dates.

Download a Project Scope Statement Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF

Use this project scope statement template to list project deliverables and tasks, along with the project stakeholders and their roles. The template serves as a resource for stakeholders and team members, particularly in the event of change requests. A project scope generally includes the reason for the project, the goals, deliverables, tasks, a work breakdown structure (WBS), assumptions, constraints, and costs. Here are a list of actions to consider when defining the project scope:

• Outline the Deliverables and Tasks:  Deliverables are the tangible results of individual tasks. They can include reports, prototypes, proposals, meetings, and designs. Collaborate with managers and department leads to ensure deliverables are achievable within specific timeframes and the proper resources are notated.
• Include a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):  A WBS breaks down deliverables into smaller tasks, making the project more manageable. Use it to visualize the entire project in hierarchical steps. List the tasks and assign responsibility for each one. This creates accountability and ensures every task is completed. Read this  guide on work breakdown structures to learn more.
• Estimate Costs:  Allocate costs to each task based on research, data, and past experiences. This information will support budget decisions. Create a project budget to show how funds will be allocated, and include room for unforeseen circumstances or emergencies. Share the budget with stakeholders so they have a clear understanding of the project’s financial details.
• Identify Key Stakeholders and Assign Roles: Stakeholders include anyone involved in the project, such as sponsors, investors, executives, managers, contractors, vendors, consultants, project managers, and team members. It’s important to identify stakeholders, their roles, and their responsibilities, because they are a resource for questions, approvals, change management, and anything that impacts the project’s scope.
• Project Governance Structure:  A project governance structure establishes a structured path for project supervision, delineating hierarchical responsibilities for project oversight. For example, in the event of a financial change request, consulting the governance structure provides clarity on who is responsible for approving or denying the request.

3. Define the Success Metrics Success metrics gauge progress to help determine if a project is on track to meet its goal. You can measure success by looking at cost performance, resource utilization, or the progress of tasks against the project schedule. Here is a list of common project planning success metrics:

• Cost Performance Index: Indicates if the project is staying within budget.
• Cost Variance: Indicates how much the project is over or under budget.
• Customer Satisfaction: Looks at the customer’s level of satisfaction with a product or service by using surveys and online reviews.
• Earned Value:  Evaluates the amount of work that’s completed compared to what was planned to be completed at any specific time.
• Quality Metrics:  Indicates whether the project is meeting quality standards.
• Risk Metrics:  Lists the number of risks identified, risk response effectiveness, or risk impact assessment.
• Schedule Variance: Indicates whether the project is ahead of or behind schedule at a specific point in time.
• Team Satisfaction:  Evaluates the team’s level of satisfaction working on the project, as measured by engagement, efficiency, and well-being.

4. Determine the Project’s Methodology The methodology is the process framework of your project. It can look different depending on the project’s flexibility, timeframe, type of work, and complexity. Learn more about  project frameworks . 

Popular Project Frameworks

5. Gather and Manage Project Resources Secure resources you need to complete your project in advance to avoid scrambling midway. Resources include people, finances, technology, tools, equipment, and knowledge. Gather input from your team about the resources they require for executing their assigned tasks.  

  Download the Project Resource Planning Template for Excel

Use a project resource planning template to list resources, their cost, and where they are needed in the project’s lifecycle. Enter the hours and cost of each resource. The template will auto-populate the totals.

6. Create a Project Schedule A project schedule organizes tasks, sets expectations, and tracks progress. When you create the schedule, plan for unexpected delays, team members’ time off, holidays, and more. Include a timeline for each deliverable to keep the project moving forward. Adding milestones will help with building momentum, motivating the team, and monitoring progress. Store the schedule in a central location so that everyone involved can view the project’s status at any given time.  

Download a Project Schedule Template for Excel  |  PowerPoint  | Google Sheets

Use this customizable project schedule template to create a visual map of your project’s tasks and phases. The template will use any dates you add to the matrix to create a color-coded Gantt chart.

7. Implement Risk Management Every project will encounter risks. Risk management is a proactive approach for keeping your project on track and mitigating the impact of risks. Learn more about  project risk management and the importance of being prepared rather than ignoring the potential disruptions.

Download the Simple Business Risk Register Template for Excel

Use a risk register template to identify risks, their impact, probability, impact, and mitigation notes.

8. Implement Quality Management Quality management guarantees adherence to standards, consistency, and continual improvement, which is essential for meeting stakeholder and client expectations.

Download a Project Quality Management Plan Template for Excel  |  Google Sheets

Use this template to document quality issues that could arise within the project. Enter quality descriptions, expected and actual results, who tested them, and whether the issues pass quality controls. Collecting and documenting this information helps regulate the project’s quality standards.

9. Develop a Communication Plan Meet with your stakeholders to learn what information they want to receive and how often. Then,  create a communication plan to establish how and when to share updates with stakeholders. The plan includes a list of key stakeholders and team members, their contact details, and when to send project updates. Not all stakeholders require the same level of engagement. For example, an investor won’t require details about every project deliverable, but they will want to be informed about budget or cost changes.

Download a Project Communication Plan Template for Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  |  Google Docs

Use this project communication plan template to document your key stakeholders’ details and preferred contact style and frequency. Enter your communication goals and customize the plan to fit your needs and be sure to communicate with them regularly.

10. Write and Share a Project Summary Anyone should be able to understand the project plan through a well-crafted project summary. The one-page document explains the purpose of the project plan, the goals, schedule, budget, resources, risks, expected outcomes, and any recommendations.  Write your project summary at the end of your project planning to guarantee all relevant information is included. Once complete, share it with the team and key stakeholders.

Download a Project Summary Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF

Download and complete this project summary template to provide a project overview to team members and stakeholders. Enter project milestones, budget information, schedule, and more. Customize the sections to fit your project needs.

Project Plan Starter Kit

Download Project Plan Starter Kit

In this free starter kit, you’ll find customizable templates for every project planning step. Together, these documents form the foundation of a solid project plan and will help get your project off the ground.

In this kit, you’ll find the following:

• A  project plan outline template for Microsoft Word  for one complete document that includes all elements of a project plan.
• A  SMART goals worksheet for Microsoft Word  to help you define the project goals.
• A  project scope statement template for Microsoft Word  to help you control the project’s boundaries.
• A  WBS tree diagram template for Excel  to organize the project deliverables and their tasks in a hierarchical format. 
• A  project budget template for Excel  to organize and track project costs.
• A  RACI matrix template for Excel  to list whether stakeholders are responsible, accountable, consulted, or informed.
• A  project governance structure template for Microsoft Word  to define a clear line of authority over project decision-making.
• A  project resource planning template for Exce  to identify, secure, and manage resources.
• A  project schedule template for Excel  to track and manage the project’s progress.
• A  business risk register template for Excel  to plan for risks that could negatively impact the project’s scope.
• A  quality management plan template for Excel  to ensure the project adheres to standards.
• A  project communication plan template for Microsoft Word  to document your key stakeholders’ contact details and their preferred contact style and frequency.
• A  project summary template for Microsoft Word  to provide a project overview to team members and stakeholders.

How to Create a Project Plan Step-by-Step

Creating a project plan helps you set a schedule that you can monitor to ensure a project is on track. Use a template and fill in key details, tasks, start and end dates, and status.

Looking for a different template format? Check out one of these  free project plan templates .

Examples of Effective Project Plans

Project plans serve as a project’s blueprint. Reviewing examples of project plans from other organizations can provide guidance and inspiration.

Program Project Plan for Learning Programs Example

Beyond the Bell is a nonprofit organization that provides family resources such as childcare assistance, credit counseling services, and afterschool programs. The group uses a program plan template to develop, implement, evaluate, and improve its programs. This  program plan template from Beyond the Bell provides a thorough checklist to ensure all project plan elements are covered. It also includes a goal-setting worksheet and a logic model planning tool for documenting inputs, outputs, and expected outcomes.

Project Plan Redevelopment Example

This real-world example from the city of  Boston’s redevelopment of Dudley Square demonstrates a thorough work plan, including project tasks and deliverables. You’ll also find a meeting schedule and a project governance structure that demonstrates the importance of streamlined communication when planning a large-scale project.

Project Management Plan Example

In 2019, the Oregon Public Utility Commission embarked on a project to replace its outdated and unsupported docketing system. The commission used elements from an  Oregon Public Utility Commission's project management plan , such as project overview, WBS, resource management plan, communication management plan, risk assessment, and more.

Simple Project Plan Example

Download the Sample Simple Project Plan Template for PowerPoint

When to Use This Template:  This easy-to-use template is ideal for project managers to organize and present their project deliverables and timelines. Download this template with sample copy as an example of what to include in your project plan template. Notable Template Features: This template features a one-year timeline with colored duration bars to represent how long each deliverable will take. The  Today  indicator makes it easy to see the status of tasks (complete, in progress, or upcoming) at a glance. 

Project Management Plan Outline Example for a New Product Launch

Download the Sample Project Management Plan Outline Template for Microsoft Word

When to Use This Template:  Use this template if you are a project manager who needs to detail all areas of a project plan. Notable Template Features:  This comprehensive outline template features a narrative-style format providing space to enter details for each element of a project plan. Use the table of contents for easy navigation to specific sections.

Best Practices for Writing a Good Project Plan

Writing a good project plan begins with good organization and involving the people needed to complete the work. Experts recommend getting buy-in from your team, communicating with them clearly and often, and being adaptable so you can handle challenges as they arise.

Follow these best practices for writing a great project plan:

• Reference the Project Charter:  The project charter is a document that introduces the project to stakeholders. It explains the project’s purpose, its goals, and how you plan to achieve them. Use the project charter as a reference to ensure the plan stays true to the project’s purpose. Learn more about  project charters and why you need them .
• Recruit the Right Team Members Early:  Identifying stakeholders and key players for the project upfront will mitigate risk and delays. Do a deep dive of who to involve for every phase, deliverable, and task. You do not want to be halfway through a project and realize you need a team member who is unavailable or a vendor who is not within your budget.

• Expect Change and Be Adaptable: Anticipating changes in a project, such as overspending or missing a deadline, will help you prepare for when a project gets off track. Being adaptable also means you’re prepared to make adjustments. Though not traditionally part of a project plan, completing a  change management template  that outlines how to process, assess, manage, and track changes before a project starts is a good idea. It’s impossible to plan for every project adjustment, so a project’s success often relies on your team’s adaptability to change.

Use Smartsheet Project Management Tools to Create and Implement Your Project Plan

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

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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• 30 project plan templates to kickstart ...

30 project plan templates to kickstart your best work

Embarking on a new project can be daunting, but the right tools make all the difference. Discover a suite of versatile project planning templates, ranging from simple charts to comprehensive agile and waterfall plans, designed to streamline your project management process. Setting objectives, defining deadlines, and improving teamwork are all made simple with Asana's free project plan templates.

We all love it when a project runs smoothly. When there’s a clear plan, everyone knows what needs to get done, and they follow deadlines, projects tend to get completed on time and within budget. But all that doesn’t just happen—it takes a lot of careful planning. 

What is a project plan template?

A project plan template is a duplicatable resource that outlines all the steps in a project plan. Typically, a project plan template includes essential project information, such as the project timeline, task due dates, the goal of the entire project, and project milestones, among other things. Essentially, a project template allows you to “plug and play” and get a head start on your work.

Since project plan templates are reusable, they give you the building blocks you need to get started planning your project—so you don’t have to start every one from scratch. Depending on what type of project you’re planning, your project plan template could include high-level sections, upcoming tasks, color-coded custom tags, and more. 

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How to create a project plan template

A project plan template is a blueprint of the key components your team needs to know in order to successfully achieve your project objectives. A good project plan outlines your project deliverables , project scope , and project schedule . In particular, a good plan should track seven key project elements:

Success metrics

Key stakeholders and team roles

Milestones and deliverables

Timeline and schedule

Communication plan

Not every project plan template will have all of these elements baked in. However, a good template will set you up with example tasks to help you and your team answer project needs, plan project deliverables, and get started in record time.

30 free project plan templates to standardize your project processes

Project plan templates aren’t one-size-fits-all. While a simple project plan template should cover essential project information—like timeline and milestones—the template format will vary depending on the type of project you’re planning. For example, the plan for a product launch will be pretty different from an IT project plan. 

That’s where different project plan templates come in. Whether you’re launching a small, straightforward initiative or planning a complex project, Asana’s project plan templates can help. Here are 30 free project plan templates to help you get your next project up and running in no time.

General project planning templates

1. simple project chart template: get started.

A project chart (also known as a Gantt chart template ) is a visual representation of your project plan on a bar-chart like graph. Project charts map out your project timeline, deliverable due dates, task dependencies, and milestones. 

A simple project chart template is a great jumping off point for breaking down projects into smaller, actionable steps. It helps you organize tasks, so you can see who on your team is responsible for what. Plus, since the template lets you quickly track progress in real-time, you can successfully plan and execute your project without missing any crucial steps.

2. Cross-functional project plan template: Collaborate across teams 

More often than not, projects require cross-team collaboration to be successful. When that’s the case, you need a way to easily communicate with each project team member, no matter what department they’re in. 

Our cross-functional project plan template can help. With this template, you can manage your entire project in one place—from assigning to-dos and tracking project status to communicating with other teams. Plus, Asana integrates with your other business apps, so you can attach important documents and collaborate right in the template. Say goodbye to long email threads and hard-to-find project information for good.

3. Capacity planning template: Manage team bandwidth 

Understanding the needed—and available—resources required for a project is a necessary step for every project team. But resource allocation can be tricky, and under-scoping a project can result in project creep. 

Creating a digital capacity planning template can help. Your template provides a place for you to calculate your project needs and determine the current capacity of your team—so you can compare the two and decide if you have enough resources. Custom, color-coded tags make it easy for you to quickly identify who is over- and under-capacity, so you can allocate resources accordingly.

4. Risk management plan template: Identify project risks

Project risk management , which identifies potential project risks and calculates their likelihood of happening, is a must-have for any project. Without an easy way to evaluate project risks, though, it’s a step that often falls by the wayside as project managers look to reduce steps in the project’s kick-off timeframe. Creating an easy-to-duplicate risk management plan template for your entire department or organization ensures you can elevate risks quickly—t even easier to get a handle on them.

Your template can be built at the start of your project, to determine the risk’s impact and likelihood before the project even kicks off. Then, you can use the template to monitor potential risks as the project begins, and to log new risks that come up once the project is underway. You can also assign each risk an owner, so everyone on your team knows who’s responsible for mitigating risks if they pop up.  

5. Agency collaboration template: Streamline external collaboration

Most projects involve a team of internal collaborators. In some cases, though, you might turn to a marketing or creative agency to execute your project. Whether it’s an advertising campaign, brand refresh, or research initiative, a successful partnership starts with a clear plan and tight coordination. If you’re collaborating primarily through email or weekly conference calls, keeping everyone on the same page can be a challenge.

Fortunately, our agency collaboration template makes it easy for you to manage your next project with an external agency. Use it to draft your creative brief, keep an eye on start dates, monitor work in progress, and track deliverables, so you can focus on producing great work together.

6. Waterfall project management template: Update your project process

When managing projects that require a high level of sequential structure and clarity, the traditional approach of a waterfall project management plan comes into play. Unlike more flexible methodologies, the waterfall method excels in projects where each phase needs to be completed before the next begins. 

This is where a well-crafted waterfall project management template can be invaluable. It provides a clear, step-by-step roadmap of the project process to ensure all stages from conception to completion are meticulously planned and executed. For example, a waterfall project plan could detail every stage of a software development project, from initial requirements gathering to final testing to make certain each critical step is addressed.

Project planning templates for marketing and creative teams

7. product marketing template: plan your next launch.

Product marketing managers juggle many responsibilities. They do market research to inform product strategy, craft messaging and positioning, and bring new products to life. They’re often also the de facto project manager of a product launch, coordinating across product, marketing, and creative teams to ensure that new products are ready to ship.

Instead of reinventing the wheel for every launch you’re running, use our product marketing launch template to create your plan. It includes steps like setting launch targets and defining a channel strategy, so you don’t forget any product launch essentials. And, since it’s duplicatable, you’ll never have to create a product launch checklist from scratch again.

8. Editorial calendar template: Hit publishing deadlines

Managing a content calendar is an ongoing project that requires you to stay on top of many moving parts. Every piece of content you create is like its own mini project with clearly defined steps, like assigning work to writers, producing visual assets, and coordinating reviews and copy edits.

To keep your content production on track, try our editorial calendar template . With this template, you can manage all the content you’re writing, editing, and publishing in one place—from idea to completion. Our custom tags make it easy to track everything from the post’s due date and channel to important assets. It also lets you simplify your cross-team collaboration, bringing together your social media, PR, marketing, and design teams in one place.

9. Marketing campaign management template: Map out your campaign plan

Planning and execution are key to a great marketing campaign. But managing a campaign isn’t easy, and it can feel overwhelming to keep track of every piece of work that needs to get done. What assets need to be created? Who is going to create them? And what if something falls through the cracks?

With our marketing campaign management template , you can map out your entire campaign plan and manage day-to-day execution with your team. Use it to track assets and deliverables, plan and execute your channel strategy, and more.

10. Event marketing plan template: Map out your event marketing efforts

Building buzz is an important part of planning and organizing any event. Event marketing helps spread the word and generate excitement for your speakers and agenda—which in turn drives audience attendance. 

Asana’s event marketing plan template helps you organize your marketing plan for upcoming events. From planning the event all the way through day-of execution and post-event tasks, the template makes it easy for you to map out your promotional event efforts.

11. Marketing project plan template: Turn your strategy into action

Marketing projects are complex. No matter what type of project you’re planning—from launching a specific marketing campaign to mapping out your yearly marketing plan —there are a lot of steps and team members involved in making a marketing plan successful. 

Our marketing project plan template provides a place for you to detail your marketing objectives and the steps you need to take for them to be successful. Asana’s template makes it easy for you to communicate and collaborate across teams, and jumpstarts productivity by removing the need for multiple spreadsheets or email threads. 

12. Event planning template: Coordinate your events

There’s a lot that goes into planning a successful event. You have to manage everything from the event budget down to logistical details and day-of event tasks. The ability to see the event timeline—meaning every step that has to be completed for your event to launch successfully—is a must-have. 

Our event planning template makes planning and organizing events easy. With our template, you can visualize your event plan in a timeline, see task dependencies, and schedule milestones to track event progress. Plus, our mobile app lets you view your event plan from anywhere, so you can tick off day-of event tasks on the go. 

13. Public relations project plan: Create consistency across campaigns 

There are a lot of small—but essential—steps that need to be followed to run a successful public relations campaign. And, since PR efforts tend to be cross-functional, it can be confusing determining who is responsible for what. 

A public relations project plan helps streamline your PR campaign process by making it easy to track important project information and communicate across teams. This template can act as a step-by-step guide for launching and executing a PR campaign, so you can maintain consistency across campaigns, no matter the size of your organization or team. The template also serves as a single system of record to house essential campaign information, such as details about the campaign, journalist contact information, campaign resources, and more. 

14. Podcast planning template: Plan better episodes 

Looking to launch a successful podcast? Keeping your podcast plan organized is key. Building a digital podcast planning template streamlines your podcast planning process by giving you a single space to organize everything from your pre-production tasks to your post-production marketing efforts. 

Plus, you can easily duplicate the template at the start of your episode planning, ensuring that the structure of every episode is consistent. Use the template to house your podcast notes, the episode script, and more—like copy for promotional tweets. You can even collaborate with your episode guests directly in the template by using custom forms or assigning them specific tasks.  

15. Design project plan template: Streamline your creative process 

Web, graphic, and product design teams are a vital part of any business. From designing social and promotional assets to creating animations, videos, and web assets, a lot of what your customer sees—and what draws them in—comes from your design team. 

With so many responsibilities, it can be difficult to keep track of upcoming and in-progress design work. Plus, never-ending feedback chains and emails can stall progress. Our design project plan template makes it easy for you to streamline your creative project planning process. Easily collaborate, track files, and share asset updates and progress in one place.

Product, IT, and operations templates

16. product roadmap template: track your product initiatives.

There’s a lot that goes into tracking the product features, initiatives, and updates your team plans to launch within a given timeframe. With our product roadmap template , you can easily track and monitor each status of each launch, and provide greater visibility to stakeholders around what’s launching and when. 

Plus, since our product roadmap template allows you to organize your launches by different variables—such as priority or overarching theme—everyone in your organization can see how each launch corresponds to the company’s goals.

17. User research template: Organize UXR projects

User research is a critical part of the product development process. It’s during this phase that product managers and user experience researchers learn about the needs and goals of their customers, uncovering insights that unlock entirely new product opportunities.

Leading a research project is no small undertaking. From sourcing research participants and collecting data to analyzing that data and generating recommendations, there’s a lot to plan for and manage. Our user research template makes it easy to define research goals and questions with your team and keep your observations organized. This way, the fruits of your labor don’t become forgotten in a doc or Excel spreadsheet.

18. Product development plan template: Standardize the development process

Product development is the process of launching a new product, from ideation through the product launch. The entire product development process—which includes prototyping and testing—is complex and time-consuming. Add in the different teams you need for product development to be successful, and you have a recipe for a complicated process.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Creating a product development plan template streamlines your product development process, from coordinating cross-functional team communication to tracking development progress. Since it’s reusable, the template also helps standardize the workflow for future projects. 

19. Operations project plan template: Streamline business efficiency

The operations department is responsible for keeping business-critical processes running smoothly. Our operations project plan template helps you track key details by creating a single system of record for all your work. Since the template is reusable, it makes it easy to document recurring operational processes. Plus, you can assign work directly in the template, so everyone knows what they’re responsible for and can communicate where work is being done. 

20. IT project plan: Organize your IT work

Your IT team deals with a lot of important cross-team tasks, like launching software deployments, ordering equipment, and helping onboard new employees. Plus, everything they do requires a certain level of security. They need to be able to connect teams and tools in a way that’s scalable and secure. 

Asana’s IT project plan template helps your IT department manage and organize all their upcoming and completed tasks. Since you’re able to tailor project permissions to your organization, you can make sure the right people have access to information. Plus, Asana’s 200+ integrations make it easy for your team to work seamlessly with cross-functional partners.

21. Work requests template: Simplify the intake process

Work requests can quickly spiral out of control when they’re submitted through different avenues and in different formats. In order to make sure no requests are falling through the cracks, you need a central place to track and manage requests. And, to simplify the workflow for your team, you also need a project intake process to guarantee you’re getting the same information in each request.

Simply put, you need a work request template . Whether you’re receiving incoming creative briefs, work orders, or IT requests, having a single system of record for these requests is critical. Then, combine our work request template with Forms to guarantee you’re getting all of the critical details directly when requests are submitted.

22. Sales plan template: Set strong goals

Your sales and operation plan shouldn’t be a document you create at the beginning of a sales cycle and then put aside. In order for your sales teams to create and maintain a solid foundation, they need access to a finalized, structured sales plan—available where they work.

With an effective sales plan template , you have an easy, centralized way to record your sales teams’ objectives, target audience, revenue goals, strategies, and obstacles that might stand in your way. Try our sales plan template to get the structure you need to to close deals.

Project plan templates for HR teams 

23. hr project plan template: plan out hr work  .

Your HR team is responsible for many processes and projects that empower employees and shape your organization’s culture. An HR project plan templat e makes it easy for you to plan and organize HR initiatives, track their progress, and manage priorities. Whether you’re launching new company goals, updating the hiring plan, or collecting employee feedback, Asana’s HR project plan template makes it easy to map out—and execute—your HR work. 

24. New employee onboarding: Standardize the onboarding process

Onboarding can feel hectic for new hires. There are so many systems to set up, documents to sign, and tasks to complete. Plus, new hires have to learn all the nuances of their new company, like preferred communication methods and company policies. 

To ensure every new hire has the best experience—and is set up for success in their new role—it’s crucial to streamline the onboarding process. An employee onboarding template does just that by providing a single place where new hires can go to view their upcoming tasks, find reference documents, learn about their team, and more. Since onboarding templates outline everything the new hire needs to know from the beginning to the end of the onboarding process, it sets expectations from the start—smoothing out the process for you and your new employee.

25. Employee offboarding: Organize your offboarding process

Like employee onboarding, employee offboarding can be labor-intensive—and, unlike onboarding, it’s a process that’s often overlooked. An employee offboarding template can help you streamline your offboarding process. With a single place to map out your offboarding tasks—from the paperwork that needs to be completed to the work transition plan—you can easily track your offboarding process. Plus, since templates are duplicatable, you can feel confident that you’re following the same steps for every outgoing employee.

26. Conference agenda template: Plan seamless events

Planning a productive conference takes work. In addition to coordinating with speakers and vendors, you also have to keep track of event details, including when and where conference events are happening. 

A conference agenda template can help you plan effective conferences with ease. Whether you’re planning a one- or multi-day conference or a virtual event, creating a conference agenda template in Asana is a great starting point for capturing all the information you need to run the event smoothly.

Cross-functional project planning templates

27. agile project plan template: team collaboration made easy.

In today's fast-paced project environments, teams often struggle with keeping everyone on the same page, especially when it comes to adapting to changes without disrupting the project lifecycle. This is where an agile project plan template can be a game-changer. An agile project plan is not just about flexibility; it's a strategic planning tool that allows for quick adjustments while keeping the project budget and overall objectives in sight. It’s designed to evolve as project needs change, ensuring that all team members are aligned and can collaborate effectively, regardless of project phase or complexity.

Agile methodology fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. It breaks down the traditional barriers of rigid planning and enables teams to respond swiftly to new information or changes in project scope. By regularly revisiting and adjusting the plan, teams can ensure their strategies are always aligned with the project's evolving needs and goals.

28. Sprint planning template: Keep your team on the same page

Part of the larger Agile project process , sprint planning helps Agile project teams prioritize work and decide who has the capacity to take on certain projects. 

Your team is busy, and if you’re not communicating directly where work happens, it’s easy for team members to get confused about who’s working on what, what the status of the work is, and when the work is due. Our sprint planning template simplifies your sprint by creating a single system of record where everyone can see what’s coming up, what’s in progress, and what’s completed—freeing up time for your team to move quickly, build fast, and ship often.

29. Implementation plan template: Achieve business goals

Planning and implementing your business goals can feel overwhelming. To be successful, you need the ability to break down each go into an achievable, actionable plan. That’s where an implementation plan template comes in.

By creating an implementation plan template, you can view every step you need to take to achieve your business goal, from planning all the way to execution. Since a template breaks down each phase of the plan into bite-sized steps, it’s easy to monitor goal progress and view upcoming milestones. You can also include custom tags that add even more context to your tasks—like the task duration and percent completed—so you know the status of every task as work gets underway.  

30. Project timeline template: Visualize milestones and bottlenecks

Have you ever found yourself facing unexpected delays and struggling to keep track of progress? Thankfully there's a solution that can turn the tide: a project timeline template. A project timeline template is more than just a list of start and end dates; it's a strategic project management tool that maps out the entire project lifecycle, offering a clear visualization of phases, key deliverables, and deadlines.

By clearly laying out the project progress, this type of template helps pinpoint exactly where bottlenecks are likely to occur or where they're already happening. And with regular updates to the project’s timeline, stakeholders can receive comprehensive status reports, fostering better communication and alignment throughout the project. In essence, a well-utilized project timeline template not only solves the problem of lost transparency in your workflow, but it also serves as a visual dashboard for smooth and efficient project execution.

Better project templates mean better project planning

Kicking off a new project can be stressful, especially if you’re the one in charge of planning and managing that project. Reusable product templates make planning easier by standardizing your project processes, facilitating cross-team collaboration, and reducing upfront work. 

No matter what kind of project you’re leading—product launches, marketing campaigns, you name it—templates give you a starting point so you don’t have to build a plan from scratch. And when you use a work management platform like Asana, your project will stay on track, too.

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How to write an effective project plan in 6 simple steps

Contributing writer

If you’re a Type A personality, project planning might sound like music to your ears. Setting deadlines, organizing tasks, and creating order out of chaos — what’s not to love?

The reality is that project planning isn’t for everyone. In one survey by Association for Project Management, 76% of project professionals said their main project was a source of stress . Poor planning, unclear responsibilities, and overallocation are often the culprits behind the stress. 

An effective project plan helps teams stay within budget, scope, and schedule, while delivering quality work. In short, it gets you to the finish line without the stress.  

What is a project plan?

A project plan, also known as a work plan, is a blueprint of your project lifecycle. It’s like a roadmap — it clearly outlines how to get from where you are now (the beginning of the project) to where you want to go (the successful completion of the project). 

“A project plan is an action plan outlining how…[to] accomplish project goals,” says Jami Yazdani , certified Project Management Professional (PMP), project coach, project management consultant, and founder of Yazdani Consulting and Facilitation . 

A comprehensive project plan includes the project schedule, project scope, due dates, and deliverables. Writing a good project plan is key for any new, complex project in the pipeline.

Why Are Project Plans Important?

Project plans allow you to visualize your entire project, from beginning to end—and develop a clear strategy to get from point A to point B. Project plans steer stakeholders in the right direction and keep team members accountable with a common baseline.  

Project plans help you stay agile

Projects are bound by what is traditionally called the “iron triangle” of project management . It means that project managers have to work within the three constraints of scope, resources (project budget and teams), and schedule. You cannot make changes to one without impacting the other two.    

Modern-day project management has shifted to a more agile approach, with a focus on quality. This means that resources and schedules remain unchanged but a fixed number of iterations (flexible scope) helps teams deliver better quality and more value. 

A project plan puts this “agile triangle” in place by mapping out resources, schedules, and the number of iterations — sprints if you’re using a Scrum framework and work in progress (WIP) limits if you’re using the Kanban methodology . 

As Yazdani points out, “Project plans help us strategize a path to project success, allowing us to consider the factors that will impact our project, from stakeholders to budget to schedule delays, and plan how to maximize or mitigate these factors.” 

Project plans provide complete visibility

A project plan, when created with a comprehensive project management software , gives you 360-degree visibility throughout the project lifecycle. 

As a project manager, you need a single source of truth on team members and their project tasks, project scope, project objectives, and project timelines. A detailed project plan gives you this visibility and helps teams stay on track.

Project plans also help to get everyone involved on the same page, setting clear expectations around what needs to be accomplished, when, and by who. 

“Project plans create a framework for measuring project progress and success,” says Yazdani. “Project plans set clear expectations for…stakeholders by outlining exactly what…will [be accomplished] and when it will be delivered.”

Project plans boost engagement and productivity

A well-written project plan clarifies how each individual team member’s contributions play into the larger scope of the project and align with company goals. When employees see how their work directly impacts organizational growth, it generates buy-in and drives engagement , which is critical to a project’s success. 

“Project plans provide…teams with purpose and direction,” says Yazdani. “Transparent project plans show team members how their individual tasks and responsibilities contribute to the overall success of the project, encouraging engagement and collaboration.”

How To Write A Project Plan in 6 Steps

Writing a project plan requires, well, planning. Ideally, the seeds for a project plan need to be sowed before internal project sign-off begins. Before that sign-off, conduct capacity planning to estimate the resources you will need and if they’re available for the duration of the project. After all, you want to set your teams up for success with realistic end dates, buffer time to recharge or catch up in case of unexpected delays, and deliver quality work without experiencing burnout .

Based on organizational capacity, you can lay down project timelines and map out scope as well as success metrics, outline tasks, and build a feedback loop into your project plan. Follow these project planning steps to create a winning plan:      

1. Establish Project Scope And Metrics

Defining your project scope is essential to protecting your iron, or agile, triangle from crumbling. Too often, projects are hit with scope creep , causing delays, budget overruns, and anxiety.

“Clearly define your project’s scope or overall purpose,” says Yazdani. “Confirm any project parameters or constraints, like budget, resource availability, and timeline,” says Yazdani.

A project purpose statement is a high-level brief that defines the what, who, and why of the project along with how and when the goal will be accomplished. But just as important as defining your project scope and purpose is defining what metrics you’re going to use to track progress.

“Establish how you will measure success,” says Yazdani. “Are there metrics, performance criteria, or quality standards you need to meet?”

Clearly defining what your project is, the project’s overall purpose, and how you’re going to measure success lays the foundation for the rest of your project plan—so make sure you take the time to define each of these elements from the get-go.

2. Identify Key Project Stakeholders 

Get clarity on the team members you need to bring the project to life. In other words, identify the key stakeholders of the project. 

“List individuals or groups who will be impacted by the project,” says Yazdani. 

In addition to identifying who needs to be involved in the project, think about how they’ll need to be involved—and at what level. Use a tool like Confluence to run a virtual session to clarify roles and responsibilities, and find gaps that need to be filled. 

Let’s say you’re managing a cross-functional project to launch a new marketing campaign that includes team members from your marketing, design, and sales departments. 

When identifying your key stakeholders, you might create different lists based on the responsibility or level of involvement with the project:

• Decision-makers (who will need to provide input at each step of the project)
• Managers (who will be overseeing employees within their department) 
• Creative talent (who will be actually creating the project deliverables for the campaign) from each department. 

Give your project plan an edge by using a Confluence template like the one below to outline roles and responsibilities.

Define roles, discuss responsibilities, and clarify which tasks fall under each teammate’s purview using this Confluence template. 

Getting clarity on who needs to be involved in the project—and how they’re going to be involved—will help guide the rest of the project plan writing process (particularly when it comes to creating and assigning tasks).

3. Outline Deliverables

Now is the time to get granular.

Each project milestone comprises a series of smaller, tangible tasks that your teams need to produce. While a big-picture view keeps teams aligned, you need signposts along the way to guide them on a day-to-day or weekly basis. Create a list of deliverables that will help you achieve the greater vision of the project. 

“What will you create, build, design, produce, accomplish or deliver?” says Yazdani. “Clearly outline your project’s concrete and tangible deliverables or outcomes.” Centralize these deliverables in a Trello board with designated cards for each one, like in the example below, so you keep work moving forward.

Each card on a board represents tasks and ideas and you can move cards across lists to show progress.

Defining the concrete items you need your project to deliver will help you reverse-engineer the things that need to happen to bring those items to life—which is a must before moving on to the next step.

4. Develop Actionable Tasks

Task management is an important component of any project plan because they help employees see what exactly they need to accomplish. Drill down those deliverables into actionable tasks to assign to your team. 

You can use either Confluence or Jira for different task management needs. If you want to track tasks alongside your work, like action items from a meeting or small team projects, it’s best to use Confluence. But if a project has multiple teams and you need insight into workflows, task history, and reporting, Jira makes it easy.      

“Let your deliverables guide the work of the project,” says Yazdani. “Break down each deliverable into smaller and smaller components until you get to an actionable task.” If a major deliverable is a set of content pieces, the smaller actionable tasks would be to create topic ideas, conduct research, and create outlines for each topic.  

Once you’ve broken down all of your deliverables into manageable, assignable subtasks, analyze how each of those tasks interacts with each other. That way, you can plan, prioritize, assign, and add deadlines accordingly.  

“Highlight any dependencies between tasks, such as tasks that can’t be started until another task is complete,” says Yazdani. “List any resources you will need to accomplish these tasks.”

When a task has multiple assignees, you need to streamline the workflow in your project plan. Say the content pieces you outlined need to be edited or peer-reviewed. A couple of articles may need an interview with a subject matter expert. Lay down a stage-by-stage process of each piece of content and pinpoint when each team member comes into play so you prevent bottlenecks and adjust timeframes.     

5. Assign Tasks And Deadlines

Assign tasks to your team and collaborate with employees to set deadlines for each task. When you involve employees in setting workloads and deadlines , you increase ownership and boost the chances of delivering quality work on time.  

After all, you want to move projects forward at a steady pace, but you also want to make sure your teams stay motivated and engaged. So, when writing your project plan, make sure to “set realistic and achievable deadlines for completing tasks and deliverables,” says Yazdani. “Highlight dates that are inflexible and factor in task dependencies. Add in milestones or checkpoints to monitor progress and celebrate successes .”

Use Jira and Confluence to create tasks that live alongside your project plan or meeting agendas.

Once you map out all of your tasks and deadlines, you should have a clear picture of how and when your project is going to come together—and the initial writing process is just about finished.

But that doesn’t mean your project plan is complete! There’s one more key step to the process.

6. Share, Gather Feedback, And Adjust The Project Plan As Necessary

While steps 1 through 5 may make up your initial writing process, if you want your project plan to be as strong and complete as it can be, it’s important to share it with your team—and get their input on how they think it can be improved.

“Share the plan with your project team and key stakeholders, gathering feedback to make adjustments and improvements,” says Yazdani. 

A tool like Confluence helps knowledge flow freely within teams and departments, leading to better teamwork, higher collaboration, and a shared understanding of priorities. Coworkers can use comments, mentions, notifications, and co-editing capabilities to provide and discuss feedback. 

After you gather your team’s feedback —and make any necessary adjustments based on that feedback—you can consider your project plan complete. Hooray! 

But as your project progresses, things may change or evolve—so it’s important to stay flexible and make changes and adjustments as needed.

“Expect to update your plan as you gather more information, encounter changing requirements and delays, and learn from feedback and mistakes,” says Yazdani. “By using your project plan to guide your activities and measure progress, you’ll be able to refine and improve your plan as you move through the project, tweaking tasks and deadlines as deliverables are developed.”

Download a  template to create your project plan and customize it based on your needs.

Example of a simple project plan 

A project plan doesn’t have to be a complicated spreadsheet with multiple tabs and drop-down menus. It’s best to use a project planning tool like Confluence — or at least a project plan template — to make sure you cover every aspect of the project. A simple project plan includes these elements:

• Project name, brief summary, and objective.
• Project players or team members who will drive the project, along with their roles and responsibilities.
• Key outcomes and due dates.
• Project elements, ideally divided into must-have, nice-to-have and not-in-scope categories.
• Milestones, milestone owners, and a project end date.
• Reference material relevant to the project.

Best Practices For Writing Effective Project Plans

A project planning process can quickly turn into a mishmash of goals and tasks that end up in chaos but these best practices can give you a framework to create a project plan that leads to success.

Use Other Project Plans For Inspiration

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel for every new project! Instead, look to other successful project plans for inspiration—and use them as a guide when writing the plan for your project.

“Review templates and plans for similar projects, or for other projects within your organization or industry, to get ideas for structuring and drafting your own plan,” says Yazdani.

To get started, use a Trello project management template and customize it for your project plan by creating unique lists and adding cards under each list.

Build your team’s ideal workflow and mark each stage of the project plan as a list, with cards for each task. 

Get Your Team Involved In The Process

You may be in charge of spearheading the project. But that doesn’t mean that you have to—or even that you should—write the project plan alone. 

“Collaborate with your project team and key stakeholders on crafting a project plan,” says Yazdani. “Input into the project plan supports buy-in to project goals and encourages continued engagement throughout the project.”

With Confluence , you can organize project details in a centralized space and build a project plan collaboratively.

Don’t Let Perfect Be The Enemy Of The Good

You may be tempted to write (and rewrite) your project plan until you’ve got every detail mapped out perfectly. But spending too much time trying to get everything “perfect” can actually hold up the project. So don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good—and instead of getting caught up in getting everything perfect from the get-go, stay willing and flexible to adjust your project plan as you move forward.

“Focus on outcomes, not plan perfection,” says Yazdani. “While it would be awesome for the first draft of our plan to require no changes while also inspiring our team and ensuring project success, our goal shouldn’t be a perfect plan. Our goal is a plan that allows us to successfully deliver on project goals. Responsiveness to changing needs and a shifting environment is more important than plan perfection.”

Use the right tools to succeed with your project plan

Writing a project plan, especially if you’re new to the process, can feel overwhelming. But now that you know the exact steps to write one, make sure you have the tools you need to create a strong, cohesive plan from the ground up—and watch your project thrive as a result. 

Atlassian Together can help with project planning and management with a powerful combination of tools that make work flow across teams.

Guide your team to project success with Atlassian Together’s suite of products.

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How to Develop a Project Plan: Template & Example [2024]

Liz is an agilist and digital project manager with a passion for people, process, and technology and more than 15 years of experience leading people and teams across education, consulting, and technology firms. In her day-to-day, Liz works as the Chief of Staff at Performica, an HR software company revolutionizing how people give and receive feedback at work. Liz holds a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from The University of Southern California and teaches Leadership and Operations courses in the MBA program at the University of Portland. Liz holds numerous project management-related certifications including: PMP, PMI-ACP, CSP-SM, and a SPHR from HRCI to round out the people-focused side of her work.

Creating a project plan can be challenging, but it's essential for keeping your projects on track. These useful documents can help you navigate obstacles like scope creep, poor communication, inappropriate resource allocation, and more.

Imagine trying to build a house without a blueprint or setting off on a road trip without a map. That’s exactly what it would feel like to manage a project without first creating a project plan.

A detailed project plan is essential to helping teams stay aligned and on track throughout a project. These important documents typically outline things like project budget, resources, timeline, deliverables, and more. Without one, misalignments in project scope and objectives are inevitable—along with project failure. 

That’s why it’s so important to get your project plan right from the start. Often, that means using project management software to get everyone aligned and ready to move forward.

Need expert help selecting the right tool?

With one-on-one help, we guide you to your top software options. Narrow down your software search & make a confident choice.

What Is A Project Plan?

A project plan is a document that outlines the project scope, project objectives , and project schedule . It serves as a road map for all project stakeholders by providing clear direction and expectations. 

A good project plan will provide clarity on:

• What needs to be done
• When it needs to be done by
• Who is responsible for each project task

It will help ensure that everyone involved in the project understands their role and how their work fits into the bigger picture of the overall goal.

Watch our TL;DR here:

Project plans are probably the single most important piece of project documentation you’ll create. 

The benefits of project planning include:

• Stronger communication : The project planning process allows you to set expectations with stakeholders and team members from the outset about things like status update frequency, meeting schedules, and response times for emails and messages. It will also ensure there is agreement on the all-important live date.
• Less rework : Project plans should also define a project’s outputs and project scope , leading to less rework throughout. If you and your team understand your objectives in advance, it will help to guide your decision-making and task completion throughout the project. 
• Better resource management: Project plans enable you to visualize the entire project and see the interdependencies between tasks. This will help with resource management by showing you who will be doing what task when, and forecasting your resource requirements.
• Improved risk management : Part of the planning process involves brainstorming risks or issues that could arise on your project. You'll be aware of these in advance, so you can protect your project by coming up with mitigation plans. Project plans also outline milestones and timeframes, allowing you to make sure your project is progressing properly. 
• Higher-quality projects : During project planning, you'll define the metrics that will determine whether the project is successful. You'll have a goal to work towards throughout the project, and you'll know immediately upon completion whether your efforts were successful.

It's crucial to evaluate the different types of project management platforms before making a decision on which one best supports your project plan.

Step-by-Step Guide on How To Make a Project Plan

Here are 8 steps to writing a project plan:

Step 1: Gather Important Project Info

Step 2: define the project scope, step 3: understand your available resources, step 4: outline project structure and phases, step 5: create a project schedule, step 6: develop a communication plan, step 7: make a plan for when things go wrong, step 8: share your plan and collect feedback.

Before you start your project plan, you need to be clear on the:

• Why? The project’s strategic goals.
• What? The activities (or process), outputs, and project deliverables.
• When? The deadlines and dependencies.
• How? The process or methodology.
• Who? The client and their team of stakeholders.

Usually, a good project kickoff meeting will help you collect this information. You should also consult the project charter and/or statement of work (SOW).

One of the most important parts of developing a project plan is making sure the project scope has been clearly defined. Your project scope is basically the work you’re agreeing to deliver. It can also encompass the project boundaries, limitations, and assumptions.

To define your project scope, start by identifying the objectives of your project—what do you aim to achieve, and what are the expected deliverables? Then, focus on the boundaries, including what won’t be included in the project. This will help to prevent scope creep .

By clearly defining your project’s objectives and purpose, you’re establishing the groundwork for your project plan. 

Basic functionality of any project managment software should allow you to create a detailed project description, set objectives, and outline deliverables within a project plan or a dedicated project scope section.

Monday.com —an example of one of many freemium project management apps —allows you to create a project with distinct sections for scope and objectives, where you can also attach files and links for detailed requirements.

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Before you can dive into creating a project schedule or laying out specific tasks, you need to understand the resources available to you. Your resources are the people, tools, and budget you’ll have to complete the deliverables outlined in your project scope.

If you don’t already have one, you should create a detailed budget that outlines the financial resources required for the project. Determine the estimated costs for each deliverable, and allocate additional funds for unexpected expenses. Using resource management software can be really helpful in creating budget forecasts and monitoring spending in real-time throughout the project. 

As part of your project plan, you can also create a RACI chart to help you clarify roles and responsibilities on your team. This will allow you to visualize how each of your team members will fit into the overall project.

When creating a project plan, the temptation can sometimes be to dive straight into your project planning tool or project management tool and add in all the tasks that need to get done. 

But before you add in specific tasks and project milestones, make sure you get the overall project structure right. This means first defining the workflow and what the different phases of the project will be.

Make a rough plan. Sketch out the overall flow of your project from initiation to completion. Map out each project phase and the likely activities and tasks required in each part of the project to complete the project.

Based on your scope, available resources, and project structure, you can start to solidify the timeline for your project. 

One thing that can be helpful for creating your project schedule is to create a work breakdown structure (WBS). This will help you narrow down the project into smaller, more manageable components, and organize the various tasks and responsibilities of your team. To develop a WBS, start by dividing each major deliverable into smaller tasks and sub-tasks. Then, allocate tasks to different team members or departments. With each deliverable, you should also set key milestones to ensure timely completion.

With a better understanding of your deliverables, you can create a detailed project schedule that outlines the timeline for each task and milestone. Gantt charts can be incredibly useful for visualizing the project timeline.

Collaborate with your team to share assumptions, dependencies, and work out who can do what, when. This will help you get as close to a realistic timeline as possible for your project. Enterprise project management tools allow teams to collaborate more effectively across different departments.

Keep in mind that it also may not be feasible to plan out the whole project in detail. In that case, create a project schedule in detail only for what you know, or for the phase that you’re in, and make allowances for the rest of the project.

Your project plan should also outline the approach you’ll take to communicating with stakeholders throughout the project. How will you track progress, share updates, and take feedback? 

One easy way to make sure communication is seamless throughout your project is to rely on a collaborative project management tool. Most PM software makes it easy to collaborate on documents, comment on tasks, provide feedback, and share updates. 

In your communication plan, you should also specify the methods (meetings, emails, reports, etc.) you’ll use to share information, and how often stakeholders can expect check-ins.

New users may find project management software hard to use , so be prepared to help stakeholders get used to the tools you use to deliver and visualize information.

Projects rarely go as planned. Simply planning for the best case scenario or Plan A, isn’t good enough—you need to bake in Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C into your project plan.

First, identify potential risks that could negatively impact the project. Then, evaluate the likelihood and impact of each of these risks, and develop strategies to minimize them. What alternative approaches can you prepare ahead of time to ensure the project will follow the timeline you’ve outlined? 

You should also plan ahead for potential changes to the project. No matter how closely you think you’re aligned with your client on a project, you need to prepare for changes. Make sure you bake in extra time for review and change cycles, both internally and with clients.

The purpose of project management apps is to help teams plan, execute, and monitor their projects efficiently—even when things go wrong.

At this point, you should have a pretty robust project plan. It’s time to share it with your stakeholders. Ask for their feedback and make necessary revisions based on their input. Once you get final approval, you can start implementing. As you begin executing the project according to the plan, don’t forget to continuously monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed. 

What Does a Project Plan Look Like?

Project plans can be as simple as a scribble on the back of a napkin or a few lines in Excel, but it’s usually presented as a roadmap or Gantt chart, made in Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or a similar alternative to MS Project .

Your Gantt chart or project timeline might also be part of a larger written document that includes sections like an executive summary or scope statement ( Gantt chart makers are handy for creating these charts).  

Specific file formats might include Excel spreadsheets or a Google Sheet, as well as a Word Document, Google Doc, or PDF. But while Excel can do the trick, using project management software is usually the right choice.

What Should A Project Plan Include?

A project plan typically includes:

• Project Phases
• Activities, Tasks, and Project Deliverables
• Task Start Dates and End Dates
• Task Dependencies
• Milestones and Baselines
• Project Scope Statement
• List of Requirements
• Risk Assessment
• Project Budget
• Metrics & KPIs

1. Project Phases

What phases are required to complete the entire project? Note : this is different from the phases in the project life cycle , which aren’t specific to any one project type. 

The phases you’ll need to include in your project plan are the ones specific to the workflow of the project you’re working on (what you’ll complete in the project execution phase of the life cycle). 

This also may depend on which methodology your project will follow, such as  agile ,  Kanban , or  waterfall .

2. Activities, Tasks, & Project Deliverables

Once you have your phases set, break them down into smaller tasks. It’s important to work with the project team that will be completing the work here, as they are more familiar with exactly what’s involved in designing a website page. 

You might break down the website design phase (for a simple website) into the following sub-tasks:

• Design the navigation
• Design the homepage
• Design the about page
• Design the contact page
• Design the product pages

3. Task Start Dates & End Dates

For each task that you defined in the last step, set a start date and end date. This might depend on a variety of factors—when your team members are available, how long it takes to get feedback from the client, or if there are any tasks that need to be completed before a specific task can start (see next step).

4. Task Dependencies

Make a note of which tasks depend on others to be completed before they can start. These are known as task dependencies. One example of a dependency is that in order to start coding the homepage, you need to prioritize designing the homepage first.

It’s also worth defining the project’s  critical path . This is the order of activities that represents the longest path in a project, and determines how quickly the project can be completed. 

Once you know which tasks depend on others, you can order them according to their dependencies. The amount of time it takes to complete those tasks in that order is your project timeline. Tasks that don’t depend on others can be completed amongst the tasks on the critical path, without affecting the timeframe.

5. Milestones & Baselines

Project milestones are smaller project goals or checkpoints throughout the project, and can be used to keep track of project progress and report on project status. Each one should have a due date.

Your milestones might line up with the phases determined earlier, with certain approvals from project stakeholders or project sponsors, or some other element of your project.

6. Project Scope Statement

A scope statement denotes what exactly you’ll deliver, as well as what you won’t (what’s out of scope). You should also note any assumptions you’re making, as well constraints or limitations (see plenty of project scope statement examples here). 

Having this in an easy-to-reference place for both team members and clients will also help avoid scope creep and prepare you for any scope change requests.

7. List of Requirements

Include a list of all the project’s requirements, which you should have gathered in the  requirements gathering  stage, starting before the formal project planning process begins. Depending on the type of project, you might have technical requirements, functional requirements, non-functional requirements, or other kinds of requirements. 

8. Risk Assessment

Assessing risk is an important part of the planning phase. Usually, project managers use  RAID logs  or  risk registers  to keep track of potential risks and their risk management plans for each one. Keep a copy of this near or within your project plan. 

9. Project Budget

Include notes on the agreed-upon cost of the project or  project estimate . Throughout the project, track progress against the budget—are you running over or under?

10. Metrics & KPIs

How will you know that you’ve reached the successful completion of the project? What does project success look like? Be sure to define these metrics using  KPIs .

A well-structured project plan is enhanced by a project dashboard , which ensures that schedules and deliverables are consistently monitored.

Best Practices for Implementing and Adjusting Your Project Plan

Before you dive in, remember these important points about project plans:

• A project plan should be much more than a roadmap . To give a client a complete view of a project, it should be combined with an estimate and a  statement of work  too.
• Proper project planning isn’t difficult, but it does take time . And it’s not a one-time thing. You create a plan and then continually refine it.
• Get more out of your project plan by presenting it . Turn your plan into a presentation for clients so that they can better understand the limitations and scope of the project. It’ll also help them understand if the proposed work will deliver what they want and if the process you’re proposing will get the results they’re paying for.
• Pair it with a communication plan . A communication plan covers how often status reports will be updated, meetings cadence, or which channels a particular stakeholder prefers to communicate through.
• Consult your project charter , statement of work, and/or project initiation document (PID). You likely don't need all of these for your project. The charter outlines the key elements needed to move the project forward, the SOW specifies requirements and timelines, and the PID is often a higher-level version of the project plan.
• Adapt to changes. This is especially true if you're following one of the agile methodologies . Reassess your plan at key phases of the project, when you receive feedback that requires a change in direction, or as needed.
• Consider resource allocation. While you might not know your exact project team when you create your plan, it's a good idea to start thinking about who might work on what (potentially using a RACI chart ) and check their availability and current workload. This will help avoid situations where you try to assign a task and the team member you need is on vacation.
• Analyze past project plans. Review old project plans that you or your peers created to see what worked and what didn't. This is a way to get insights on whether a timeline or budget is realistic, or whether you might be missing requirements or phases in your next project plan.
• Don’t forget to include post-project reviews. Going live isn’t the end of the project. Build a phase into the project plan for post-live testing and analysis to measure performance, make any optimizations required, and take note of all lessons learned.

Find  project planning techniques  to help you out here.

Expert-Recommended Tools for Project Plan Creation

Project management software speeds up the project planning process. Instead of existing in a document somewhere on the server that no one will refer back to, it can exist in a software tool that can be updated by anyone on the team in real time, and everyone will get notifications about changes.

Here's a list of the best project management software to consider:

• 1. Celoxis — Best for Project Management with BI analytics and dashboards
• 2. ClickUp — Best for task customization
• 3. Wrike — Best for large projects and scaling organizations
• 4. Productive — Best for agency project management
• 5. Bonsai Agency Software — Best for project, client, and finance management
• 6. Zoho Projects — Best for integration with Zoho Suite
• 7. Visor — Best for spreadsheet-based management
• 8. Quickbase — Best for process automation
• 9. Workzone — Best for comprehensive project visibility
• 10. Miro — Best for collaborative whiteboards

Consider using collaboration tools in conjunction with project management software (which usually include built-in collaboration features) so the project team can chat about tasks and collaborate as needed.

Sample Project Plan Template With Timeline [Download]

One of the easiest ways to learn how to make a project plan is to look at an example. 

Our project management expert team has created a simple project plan template for a website project that’s way better than just a blank Gantt chart template (which you can find anywhere!).

Looking for more templates for project documentation? Join membership and get access to 100+ templates, examples, and samples. Plus, get access to our Slack community and join the conversation with 1000's of other digital project managers!

Need expert help selecting the right Project Management Software?

If you’re struggling to choose the right software, let us help you. Just share your needs in the form below and you’ll get free access to our dedicated software advisors who match and connect you with the best vendors for your needs.

How To Plan Resources For Multiple Projects: 6 Expert Tips

What Is Resource Scheduling & How To Do It In 5 Key Steps

Resource Forecasting: Best Practices, Steps & Examples

How to Create a Realistic Project Plan with Templates & Examples

As a project manager, a huge part of your role is to write project plans that help you keep projects on track. But that’s not all a project plan should do. 

A project plan is arguably the most important document you’ll create for a project. At its core, a plan should communicate your project approach and the process your team will use to manage the project according to scope.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can develop a rock-solid planning process that guides your team and projects to success.

Project plan example: what to include, why you should always write a project plan, 5 steps to an effective project planning process, how to create a project plan in teamgantt, free project plan templates.

A project plan is a document that maps out the tasks, effort, timing, and resources needed to meet project goals within a predefined scope. It’s often presented in the form of a gantt chart because it’s easy to visualize the project timeline and ensure work stays on track.

Any solid project management plan should answer the following questions:

• What are the major deliverables?
• How will we get to those deliverables and the deadline?
• Who’s on the project team, and what role will they play in those deliverables?
• Which stakeholders need to provide feedback on deliverables, and when?
• When will the team meet milestones?

A project plan communicates this information in a simple, straightforward way so everyone clearly understands the objectives and how they contribute to project success. It may also be accompanied by other planning documents, such as a project charter , risk assessment , or communication plan .

While no two project plans are alike, they all share the same common building blocks. Be sure to include the following components in any project plan you create:

• Project tasks : A detailed list of work to be done organized by project phase, process step, or work group
• Project schedule : A visual timeline of task start dates, durations, and deadlines, with clear progress indicators
• Key milestones : Major events, dates, decisions, and deliverables used for tracking forward progress
• Dependencies : A line connecting tasks that need to happen in a certain order
• Resources : Assignments that indicate the person or team responsible for completing a task

Here’s a simple example of what a project plan looks like with these basic elements highlighted:

Some people don’t understand the power of a good project plan. If you feel pressured to skip the plan and jump right into the work, remind your team and stakeholders that having a plan benefits everyone by making it easier to:

• Build consensus before work begins : A detailed project plan ensures everyone has a clear understanding of—and agrees on—the overall process, scope, staffing, and even communications from the outset. That goes a long way in keeping project confusion and pop-up requests from gumming up the works.
• Avoid scheduling conflicts : Project plans enable you to organize tasks so it’s clear who's responsible for what and when. If your team is juggling multiple projects, you can cross-reference other plans to see who’s available to take on new work before committing to a timeline.
• Monitor project goals and scope : When new tasks creep in, it’s easy to lose sight of the original objectives. Spelling out the work you need to complete in a time-based plan keeps project goals front and center so you can ensure project scope stays intact.  ‍
• Hold your team and stakeholders accountable : A good project plan sets expectations around the process and pacing you'll follow each step of the way. When plans are shared with teams and stakeholders, it keeps folks honest about what is—or isn’t—happening and forces you to resolve issues in a timely way.

Easy drag and drop features with templates for faster scheduling. Plan a project in minutes, collaborate easily as a team, and switch to calendar and list views in a single click.

Poor planning can lead to some pretty ugly consequences—from missed deadlines and budget overages to team burnout and client frustration. That’s why it’s important to establish a solid process you can use to plan any project. 

Planning a project doesn’t have to be difficult. These basic project planning steps can help you write a plan that’s both realistic and on target.

• Start with project discovery & definition
• Draft a rough outline of your plan
• Formalize your project management plan
• Present & confirm your plan
• Execute your plan & adjust as needed

Step 1: Start with project discovery and definition

A project plan is more than a dry document with dates. It’s the story of your project, and you don’t want it to be a tall tale! So make sure you know all the facts before you start creating a project plan.

Understand the project scope and value

Understanding the ins and outs of the project will help you determine the best process and identify any snags that might get in the way of success. Conduct your own research to dig deeper on:

• Project goals and outcomes
• Partnerships and outlying dependencies
• Potential issues and risks

Review the scope of work , and dive into any documents or communications relevant to the project (maybe an RFP or notes from sales calls or client meetings). Be thorough in your research to uncover critical project details, and ask thoughtful questions before you commit to anything. 

Interview key stakeholders

If you want to dazzle stakeholders with a stellar project delivery, you’ve got to know how they work and what they expect. Schedule time with your main project contact, and ask them some tough questions about process, organizational politics, and general risks before creating a project plan. 

This will give project stakeholders confidence that your team has the experience to handle any difficult personality or situation. It also shows you care about the success of the project from the start.

Be sure to discuss these things with your stakeholders:

• Product ownership and the decision-making process
• Stakeholder interest/involvement levels
• Key outages, meetings, deadlines, and driving factors
• Related or similar projects, goals, and outcomes
• The best way to communicate with partners and stakeholders

See a list of sample interview questions to ask stakeholders so you can develop better project plans.

Get to know your team

The last step in the research phase is to take time to learn more about the people who’ll be responsible for the work. Sit down with your team and get to know their:

• Collaboration and communication styles
• Availability and workload

Understanding these basics about your team will help you craft a thoughtful plan that takes their work styles and bandwidth into consideration. After all, a happy team delivers better projects.

Step 2: Draft a rough outline of your plan

Now that you’ve gathered the basic project details, the next step is to knock out a rough draft of your plan. Take some time to think about the discussions you had in the pre-planning phase and the approach your team might take to meet the project goals.

Sketch out the main components of your project plan

Sit down with a pen and paper (or a whiteboard), and outline how the project should work at a high level. Be sure you have a calendar close by to check dates.

If you’re at a loss for where to begin, start with the who, what, when, and how of the project. A first outline can be very rough and might look something like a work breakdown structure . Make sure your project outline includes the following components:

• Deliverables and the tasks required to create them
• Your client’s approval process
• Timeframes associated with tasks/deliverables
• Ideas on resources needed for tasks/deliverables
• A list of the assumptions you’re making in the plan
• A list of absolutes as they relate to the project budget and/or deadlines

Considering these elements will help you avoid surprises—or at least minimize them. And remember, you’re doing this as a draft so you can use it as a conversation-starter for your team. It’s not final yet!

Get input from your team on process, effort, and timing

You don’t want to put yourself or your team in an awkward position by not coming to a consensus on the approach before presenting it to your client. That's why a project manager can’t be the only one writing a project plan.

Once you’ve created a basic project outline, take those rough ideas and considerations to your team. This enables you to invite discussion about what might work rather than simply dictating a process. After all, every project must begin with clear communication of the project goals and the effort required to meet them. 

Be sure to get input from your team on how they can complete the tasks at hand without killing the budget and the team’s morale. As a project manager, you can decide on Agile vs. Waterfall approaches , but when it comes down to it, you need to know that the team can realistically execute the plan.

You can also use this review time to question your own thinking and push the team to take a new approach to the work. For example, if you’re working on a digital product, could designers start creating visual concepts while the wireframes are being developed? Or can you have two resources working on the same task at once?

Running ideas by the team and having an open dialogue about the approach not only helps you build a more accurate project plan. It gets everyone thinking about the project in the same terms. This type of buy-in and communication builds trust and gets people excited about working together to solve a goal. It can work wonders for the greater good of your team and project.

Step 3: Formalize your project management plan

You should feel comfortable enough at this point to put together a rock-solid project schedule using whatever tool works for you. 

Build out a detailed project schedule that’s easy to read

Any good online project planning tool will help you formalize your thoughts and lay them out in a consistent, visual format that’s easy to follow and track. (Ahem, TeamGantt works nicely for a lot of happy customers. ) 

Make sure tasks have clear start and end dates so there’s no question when work needs to happen to hit project deadlines. Organize work into phases, and use labels and/or color-coding to improve scannability. The easier your project plan is to understand at a glance, the better!

See how to create a project plan in TeamGantt

Consider how your team likes to work

Be as flexible as possible when it comes to how your project plan is presented. There's no absolute when it comes to how to format your plan as long as you and your team understand what goes into one.

Remember, people absorb information differently. While you might be partial to a gantt chart, others might prefer to view tasks in a list, calendar, or even a kanban board. You can make all of those variations work if you’ve taken the steps to create a solid plan.

For example, here’s an Agile project plan we built that lists each sprint as its own task group with milestones for sprint planning and deployment.

And here’s what that same project plan looks like if you turn it into a kanban board in TeamGantt. Simply click the Board tab and set up your columns so your team can manage their daily workflows more easily.

If your team currently prefers spreadsheets and isn’t quite ready to use TeamGantt yet, try our free Excel gantt chart template .

Step 4: Present and confirm your plan

You’re almost finished! Now it’s time to do your due diligence. It’s easy to throw stuff in a plan, but you have to make sure you get it right.

Run your final plan by your internal team

Your team needs to know the reality of your plan as it stands after you’ve built it out in TeamGantt. And you want to be sure they’re comfortable committing to the details. If they don’t, things will quickly fall apart!

Always review your final plan with your team before delivering it to stakeholders. Why? Because things like dates and tasks—and even assignments—will shift as you formalize the rough sketch of your plan. 

Here are a few things you’ll want to discuss with your team as you review the final plan together:

• Review times
• Team work times
• Dependencies
• Time off, meetings, and milestones
• The final deadline
• Any assumptions you’ve made
• Major changes since your last talk

There’s nothing more embarrassing than delivering a plan with an error or a promise you can’t keep. Taking a few minutes to get buy-in from your team will give everyone peace of mind about your plan.

Review your project plan with stakeholders

Once you’ve confirmed the plan with your team and have their full sign-off, you’re ready to share your project plan with stakeholders . 

When delivering your project plan, make sure you provide an executive summary. This might come in the form of a project brief . A short recap of the overall methodology, resources, assumptions, deadlines, and related review times will help you convey what the plan means to the project and everyone involved.

Project plans can be daunting, so schedule time to present your project plan to stakeholders at a high level. Here are some things you’ll want to point out about your plan during this review:

• Overall process and pacing
• Major deliverables and timing
• The time they’ll have to review deliverables
• Overall timing for task groups or phases
• How far off you are from the deadline
• Wiggle room on the final deadline

If a stakeholder is interested in the day-to-day details, feel free to walk them through the plan line by line. Otherwise, start by explaining overall sections or phases, and be sure to come back to your plan at intervals throughout the project to remind them of tasks, next steps, and overall progress.

Step 5: Execute your plan and adjust as needed

Some projects are smooth and easy to manage, and others are a complete nightmare that wake you up at 3 a.m. every other night. Thankfully, having a solid project plan is your best defense against project chaos once work gets underway.

Keep in mind that project plans are living documents. Projects change constantly, and someone has to stay on top of—and document—that change. Remember to:

• Update your plan regularly as work progresses and things change
• Communicate changes to your team, partners, and stakeholders
• Monitor and communicate risks as your project evolves

Ready to plan your project in TeamGantt? Follow these easy steps to build a plan that’s structured well and includes the elements you need for project success.

1. Enter your basic project details.

To create a new project plan in TeamGantt, click the New Project button in the upper right corner of the My Projects screen. Then enter your project name and start date, and select the days of the week you want to include in your plan. Click Create New Project to move on to the next step.

2. List out your project tasks and milestones.

Now the real planning fun begins! Enter all the different tasks it will take to get the job done. If there are any key meetings, deliverable deadlines, or approvals, add those as milestones in your project plan.

3. Organize tasks into subgroups. 

Scrolling through one long list of tasks can be mind-numbing, even to the best of us. Break tasks down into phases or sections to ensure your project plan is easy to read and understand. 

4. Add task durations and milestone dates to the project timeline.

A visual project plan makes it easy to see exactly what needs to get done by when. Make sure every task has a start and end date so nothing falls through the cracks. TeamGantt’s drag and drop feature makes this planning step quick and easy.

5. Connect related tasks with dependencies.

Adding dependencies between tasks ensures work gets done in the right order and also helps you plan for delay risks. If your plan shifts and you need to move tasks around, dependencies speed up the process.

6. Assign responsible team members to tasks.

That way there’s no confusion about who’s doing what, and your team can update and manage their daily tasks . Don’t forget to check team availability along the way to avoid overloading anyone with too much work.

7. Use the RACI chart to define task roles more clearly.

This feature takes accountability one step further by letting you assign more specific roles to each task: Responsible , Accountable , Consulted , and Informed . Learn how RACI charts work and what each role means.

8. Add hourly estimates and/or points to each task. 

This makes it easy to see the lift each task involves at a glance. Including hourly estimates in your project plan also enables you to manage workloads and track overages more accurately.

9. Color-code tasks for better scannability.

You can use colors to categorize tasks by project phase, priority, department, or team member—whatever makes visual sense to you and your team.

10. Add notes to clarify tasks or spell out important details.

There’s no such thing as too much information if it means your team has what they need to deliver quality work on time. Use the Notes section of your Discussion tab to enter any pertinent details your team will find helpful.

11. Upload important documents to the project.

This ensures project files are accessible to everyone in a centralized hub.  For example, you might attach your creative brief to the project so your content and design teams have clear direction for completing their deliverables.

If you’re planning a project for the first time or taking on a totally new type of project, you might be struggling to get your plan off the ground. We created a simple project management plan template to help you get started.

TeamGantt gives you the ability to quickly and easily build and adjust your plan using drag and drop scheduling. Plus, it comes with customizable views to fit every team member’s work style. 

Try our basic project plan template for free!

Looking for more specific project plan examples to jumpstart your process? Use these project planning templates to generate ideas and save time building out your plan:

• Construction project plan template
• Event planning template
• Strategic marketing plan template
• Tactical marketing plan template
• Software development plan template
• Video production schedule template
• Website project plan template

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Project Plan Examples: How to Write an Effective Plan (2024)

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Key takeaways

• A project plan is a vital document in project management that outlines the project’s scope, objectives, and schedule.
• Effective project planning enhances resource management, mitigates risks, and improves project implementation and success.
• Project plans can vary in format, such as Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Gantt charts, and mind maps for brainstorming.

Jan. 8, 2024: Irene Casucian reviewed the information on this page for accuracy, refined the page layout, and added elements to improve the visual flow of information. She also created a downloadable project plan template.

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What is a project plan.

A project plan outlines the project’s scope, objectives, and schedule; it details what needs to be done, when, and by whom. The plan includes significant deliverables, methods to achieve them, team roles, stakeholder feedback, and milestones. This transparency makes sure everyone involved understands their role and how it contributes to the overall goal.

A project plan is the tangible output of the second phase of project management , project planning . This phase involves identifying and arranging each task necessary to cover the project’s scope, achieve deliverables, and meet the project’s goals. A comprehensive project plan developed in this phase is instrumental in tracking dependencies, staying updated on the status, and maintaining productivity throughout the project.

What are the key elements of an effective project plan?

A well-prepared project plan requires several key elements that will outline the project’s goals and define the stakeholders ‘ individual roles. Incorporating these key elements into a project plan is essential for effective project management and a higher success rate.

How do you create a project plan?

Step 1: define the project’s overall goals and objectives.

Identifying your project’s overall objectives and goals will help you measure the project’s success and keep your team aligned with the overarching mission. In this step, you should determine the desired outcome of your project that would represent its success.

By clearly understanding what the project aims to accomplish, project managers and teams can better identify the necessary tasks and establish the project scope . 

When defining your project goals, apply the SMART standards for a solid foundation. Make your objectives specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This approach guarantees a clear, focused, and actionable framework for your project.

Step 2: Establish the project’s success criteria

To measure success effectively, align your success criteria with the project’s key deliverables and outcomes, and make sure they are based on its intended result. Confirm that these criteria are quantifiable and accurately reflect the impact and value your project aims to deliver. Such alignment is essential for accurately assessing the project’s performance and its effectiveness in achieving the intended results.

Step 3: Identify project milestones, dependencies, risks, and deliverables

To identify project milestones, break the project down into key tasks and outcomes and specify significant progress points or phase completions as milestones. Consider dependencies when establishing a realistic workflow. Additionally, identify potential risks that can impact task completion and define deliverables clearly as measurable results expected from each project phase.

Step 4: Assign roles and responsibilities to the team and stakeholders

Your project’s stakeholders include any individuals or groups related to the project. To assess if someone is a stakeholder in a project, determine how much they influence, impact, or have an interest in the project’s outcome. Consider if their involvement is direct, if the project’s results affect them, or if they can influence the project’s direction or success.

Examples of stakeholder groups include:

• Team members.
• Departments.
• Project sponsors.
• Contractors.

Once you have determined your stakeholders, you can define their roles and responsibilities. This can help you structure your project team, identify members who are directly responsible for its success, and make sure they are assigned the correct tasks to carry out the project appropriately.

When assigning roles and responsibilities, utilize a RACI chart (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) to clarify the involvement of each stakeholder in the project. This provides clear communication and accountability and prevents overlaps or gaps in responsibilities.

Step 5: Create a schedule and set a timeline

Creating a schedule and timeline for each task can provide visibility into the execution process and keep each team member productive.

Consider how much time is required to complete each task necessary for your project milestones. You can even break down tasks into smaller subtasks to make them more manageable. However, be mindful of factors that can cause delays such as:

• Resource limitations.
• Task dependencies.
• Unforeseen risks.

When creating a project schedule, visual tools like Gantt charts and Kanban boards help you map out task dependencies and timelines. A useful project management tool you can use for this step is Trello. Trello offers an intuitive platform for creating Kanban boards. It allows easy visualization and management of tasks through customizable columns and cards for streamlined project workflow.

Step 6: Establish an estimated project budget

To generate an estimated project budget, you must consider all of the necessary project resources, including personnel, labor, materials, and equipment. Establishing a project budget will help you make wise spending decisions throughout the project execution phase to avoid overspending. 

Step 7: Plan for communication and collaboration

A communication plan should show how information is shared among stakeholders. For instance, in a software development project, the communication plan might specify that the development team shares a beta version of the software with the client for feedback every two weeks. It’s a systematic approach to making sure that the client receives consistent updates about the project’s progress. Having a communication plan in place will also outline the channels of communication and frequency to all necessary parties. 

Leverage collaboration tools , such as Slack , that integrate with your project management software to receive real-time updates and interactions among team members and stakeholders. 

Step 8: Document the project plan

Compile all related planning information and documentation as you plan your project. Some of these vital documents include: 

• Stakeholder analysis.
• Feasibility study .
• Business case.
• Work breakdown structure .

Having these reports in one place will serve as a reference during the project’s execution.

Utilize a centralized digital platform, like Sharepoint , where stakeholders can store, update, and access all project documentation. This approach serves as a reliable reference and streamlines the management and tracking of the project’s progress.

Learn more about Sharepoint and other document management tools in our video overview:

Free project plan template download

Project plan examples.

Using an appropriate project plan format is essential to keeping stakeholders well-informed. Here are some of the widely-used project plan formats: 

1.  Spreadsheets

Using spreadsheets for project planning is beneficial due to its simplicity and widespread use, especially suitable for small-scale projects with straightforward tasks. Its customizable nature is excellent for simple initiatives like office events or basic marketing plans.

However, a significant drawback of using spreadsheets in project planning is the limited visualization options. While spreadsheets can manage data, they fail to offer comprehensive visual representations essential for a holistic view of project progress. Lastly, the risk of human error in data entry and formula setup in spreadsheets is high and can lead to critical miscalculations affecting the entire project plan.

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For more complex projects, Smartsheet is an ideal upgrade. It merges the simplicity of a spreadsheet with advanced project management features such as real-time collaboration, automated workflows , and app integration. More than just a basic spreadsheet tool, Smartsheet is particularly effective for large-scale projects like detailed marketing campaigns or cross-departmental efforts, offering comprehensive task tracking and resource management in a user-friendly format.

2. Slideshow presentations

Slideshow presentations for project plans provide a visually engaging method to simplify complex information. They effectively break down project components into understandable segments, using visuals, charts, and bullet points to highlight key information and timelines for team members and stakeholders.

However, the downside is that slide shows can oversimplify complex projects and potentially leave out critical nuances. They also require significant preparation time and may not be the best medium for detailed, data-heavy projects.

Microsoft PowerPoint is an excellent choice for creating slide show presentations as part of project plans. It’s user-friendly and offers many templates and design tools. That’s why it’s suitable for beginners and seasoned professionals. PowerPoint’s ability to integrate with other Microsoft Office tools, like Excel for data representation, enhances its utility in project planning.

3. Gantt charts

Gantt charts create a clear visual timeline of a project’s schedule and progress by displaying various project elements’ start and finish dates. This approach helps identify potential bottlenecks and overlaps and facilitates better resource allocation and time management. However, Gantt charts can become cumbersome for complex projects with numerous tasks and dependencies.

Gantt charts are particularly effective in construction projects, event planning, and software development, where timelines and task dependencies are critical.

TeamGantt is an effective PM tool that creates clear visual timelines for project schedules and progress tracking. By allowing users to input various project elements, including tasks, milestones, and dependencies, and then assigning start and finish dates to each, TeamGantt generates an intuitive Gantt chart.

This chart visually represents the project timeline, displaying how different tasks and phases overlap and interconnect over the project duration. The color-coded bars and easy-to-read format make it simple to understand the sequencing of tasks and the project’s overall progress at a glance.

4.     Mind maps

Mind maps differ from other project visualization methods by showing a radial, non-linear format ideal for brainstorming and capturing the holistic view of a project. They emphasize the creative mapping of ideas and relationships. They promote the free flow of ideas and easy visualization of relationships between different aspects of a project. Mind maps can also help identify key components, dependencies, and potential challenges at the early stages of a project.

Moreover, using a mind map before presenting a Gantt chart can help ease the transition from creative brainstorming to detailed scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking.

Lucidchart is an excellent software solution for creating mind maps that can be converted into detailed reports. Its intuitive, drag-and-drop interface is ideal for conceptualizing project plans.

Lucidchart also stands out because it integrates with various tools like Google Workspace and Microsoft Office. This integration can facilitate the transition from a visual mind map to a comprehensive written report.

Components of project planning

Work breakdown schedule development.

Using a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in project planning offers distinct advantages and some drawbacks. The primary benefit of a WBS is its ability to break down a complex project into manageable components. It is then easier to allocate resources, assign responsibilities, and track progress. This hierarchical project decomposition guarantees that every part of the project is apparent.

However, the main disadvantage lies in its potential rigidity; a WBS can become overly prescriptive, limiting flexibility and adaptability to changes or unforeseen challenges. Additionally, creating a comprehensive WBS can be time-consuming, and if not done meticulously, it may lead to gaps or overlaps in project planning.

monday.com includes a work breakdown feature to help teams organize complex projects into manageable tasks. Each task is separated into more minor subtasks assigned to the appropriate individuals. The chart also displays additional information, such as the deliverables, end dates, and schedules based on interdependencies.

Project and documentation management 

Project and documentation management in project planning has its own advantages and disadvantages. With this process, you can make sure that all project-related documents are organized, up-to-date, and easily accessible. This approach is essential for maintaining consistency and clarity throughout the project lifecycle. Yet, the downside includes the possibility of information overload, where team members might get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of documents.

Agile teams use Jira for planning and managing their projects. Here, you can see some of the information regarding risks and dependencies compiled within Jira. This method of organizing this information can be helpful, as the platform can act as a single source of truth to keep team members updated on the status of specific tasks. It also makes it easy for teams to communicate with external stakeholders about factors impacting the project.

Benefits of creating a project plan

Effective project planning is the cornerstone of successful project execution. It involves several key aspects contributing to a project’s smooth functioning and success. Some of these benefits include:

Remember, an effective project plan is not just a document; it’s a strategic tool that integrates various critical elements to secure the project’s success.

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Sample Project Plan For Your Next Project

Creating a project plan is one of the most important responsibilities of a project manager. This document should include everything the team needs to execute a project, such as its budget, schedule, scope, resource requirements, roles & responsibilities, among other things. However, creating project plans can be challenging for both beginner and experienced project managers alike. That’s why we’ve created this sample project plan to help project managers include what matters most.

Once you’re ready, you can try ProjectManager . We’re online project management software with tools such as Gantt charts to filter for the critical path and baselines so you can track your planned effort against your actual effort in real time. Once you’ve made your project plan, use the Gantt to stick to it. Get started for free.

Sample Project Plan

It’s important to note that the complexity of a project plan might vary depending on your project or organization. This sample project plan covers the basic areas of your project, such as project scheduling, scope management and task management. On top of that, you can add other sections and even other project documents to include as much detail as you need.

1. Project Scope

Defining your project scope is one of the critical steps when making a project plan. The term project scope refers to the tasks and deliverables that must be done to complete your project successfully.

Based on your project scope, you’ll prioritize tasks and calculate your budget and schedule. List your tasks in order of importance and make an estimate as to how much money and time will be needed to complete the project.

2. Project Tasks

The tasks are the small jobs that make up the project. You want to create a detailed, prioritized list determining every step of your project. There will be tasks that are crucial to the project, which must be done, but there will also be some that you can sacrifice without impacting the overall success of the project.

Once you’ve collected the necessary tasks to complete the project, you have to figure out to the best of your ability how long each of them will take to complete. You can only make an estimate, of course, but you should use past experience and any other factors at your disposal to make those guesses as accurate as possible.

To manage your project tasks, we recommend using the following tools:

• WBS : A work breakdown structure (WBS) lets you break down your project scope into individual tasks that can be easily managed.
• Task lists : Task lists are ideal for both project managers and team members. They’re an easy way to plan, schedule and track work.
• Kanban boards : Kanban boards allow project managers to manage workflows with a simple visual task management approach.
• Gantt charts : Gantt charts are a powerful project management tool that let you manage project tasks and timelines.

3. Project Milestones

These are major phases or events in your project that are collected to break up the monolith of the project into more digestible parts. Project milestones can be added to a Gantt chart, with a description and a delivery date—more on this next.

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Project Plan Template

Use this free Project Plan Template for Word to manage your projects better.

4. Project Tasks

Not all tasks are created equal, as some cannot start until the one before it is finished. You need to know which tasks are dependent on one another. A dependent task has the potential to block another team member and throw the whole project off-track. Be sure to note those on your project plan and link them so you and the team are aware of the importance of completing one before starting the other.

5. Task Duration

To create a project schedule, you’ll need to know the duration of each task. Make sure to include this somewhere in your project plan so team members know the amount of time that’s assigned to each task.

6. Resource Requirements

Your project plan should describe the resource requirements for each task. That includes the work hours, equipment hours and materials. By clearly outlining the required resources for each task, you set up the base for effective resource planning, resource scheduling and resource tracking.

7. Project Schedule

Now that you’ve gathered information about your project tasks such as their duration, dependencies, due dates and resource requirements, you can create an accurate project schedule that also considers the resource allocation for each task. Your project schedule should sequence tasks in a manner that allows the team to complete the project smoothly and gives them enough time.

8. Project Budget

The financial success or failure of your project depends on the accuracy of your project budget . To create a project budget, you’ll need to estimate the costs of each project task based on the resource requirements that were previously outlined.

Once you have a cost estimate for each task, you can sum those costs for an estimate of your total project cost. This will be the foundation for your project budget. Our free project budget template is a great tool to help you with this process.

9. Project Management Phases

The plan needs to outline each part of the project life cycle and specific deliverables and activities that need to be done during each of them.

• Conception and initiation: This is a reiteration of the business case , where you described the idea behind the project and how it benefits the organization. You have already explored this and identified how it can be completed in your business case. You now want to expand upon those ideas and flesh out the concept of the project and how you plan to meet those demands.
• Definition and planning:  Now you put the plan down in writing, concentrating on the project’s scope and outlining the work that will need to be performed. Here’s where you prioritize tasks and calculate your budget and schedule. List all your tasks in order of importance and from that list make an estimate as to how much money and time will be needed to complete the project.
• Launch: The execution of the plan you devised begins with allocating the resources and tasks to your team. This is the start of the actual work, though it doesn’t mean the plan is put aside. There will always be changes that require adjustments.
• Performance and control: Speaking of changes, it’s crucial to monitor the estimated progress of your project plan to the actual progress. This is when you return to the plan to reallocate resources to stay on track. The better you can track progress, the more accurate picture you have of where your project is and what it needs to stay on track. ProjectManager offers a real-time dashboard that uses live data to get an accurate snapshot of your project status.
• Close: Now you have to get client approval and make sure all paperwork has been signed off on, payments have been delivered, etc. There are a lot of cleanup duties that you’re still in charge of managing, from onboarding team members to payment of team, vendors, contractors, etc.

10. Risk Log

A risk log is a document where project managers can easily list the existing and potential project risks. A risk log is a critical element of any project plan because it allows project managers to prioritize risks, develop risk mitigation strategies and assign risk owners to each project risk. You can also create a risk management plan to explain your risk management tactics in more detail.

11. Change Management Process

There will be circumstances outside of your control that make it necessary to adjust your project plan. For example, a key stakeholder might add a new project requirement right after the project execution starts. This affects what you had initially planned.

To manage situations like this, you’ll need a change management plan . Most change management processes work with a change request that’s submitted by the person who wants to make a change to the project plan. Once that change request is approved, a change order is issued and the change is made.

Who approves the change requests might vary depending on the organization. Some have a change control board (CCB) in place while others use the project manager.

12. Project Assumptions

No matter how much you plan and estimate, there will be some assumptions and hypotheses left. Project assumptions refer to all the things that the project management team considers to be true without necessarily having any data or evidence to support them. These assumptions are proven true or false as your project is executed. It’s important to document any assumptions your team has, as they might be important in the future.

13. Project Constraints

There are constraints that apply to every project. Initially, most project management experts agreed on three constraints including time, cost and scope, which are known as the triple constraint of project management. However, most project managers today agree there are three more constraints including quality, risk and resources.

This free project plan template is a great tool to create a project plan. Use it to describe your project scope, schedule, budget and other important project management details.

You may even add additional documentation to it. Check out our library of project management templates for more free project management templates .

Project Plan Example

The best way to understand project planning is by creating one. Let’s walk through the steps of a simple project, such as hanging artwork your daughter made in grade school.

The project initiation tasks are simple: your daughter has been asking why you haven’t hung her drawing. “Do you not like it?” she asks. Of course you do. In fact, you’re going to hang it in the living room so everyone can see how proud you are of her work. The main project goal is to frame and hang the piece, which benefits the organization by returning peace and harmony to the family.

The next step is defining and planning. Write down the plan and scope of work , noting any risks and how to resolve them. This project requires a trip to Target and the purchase of a frame, one that stylistically complements the work, but doesn’t overshadow your daughter’s piece.

You have to factor in the time to get to the store, pick out the proper frame and then get home and assemble your team and tools. You’ll get her brother to help and proceed to assign roles and responsibilities within your project team. Then you launch the project and assign the tasks to your children that you wrote out earlier in the planning stage. As you work, there might be conflicts to resolve, as your team isn’t the cohesive whole you hoped.

Change is part of a project. Maybe there won’t be enough nails, or you can’t find the hammer. These risks were identified earlier, so if they occur, use the contingency plan you created.

While you’re executing the project, as a project manager it’s your responsibility to monitor the performance and control it so it stays on track. You don’t want to waste time going back to Target to buy the nails you thought you had at home.

One way to keep track your project is to get status reports from your team as they work on their tasks. You gave them a certain amount of time to complete the task, so ask them to report back to you. If they’re behind schedule, you’ll have to work at adjusting the scope, either adding more time to the schedule or allocating resources, which might mean getting off the couch and helping.

The picture is framed, hung and even looks straight. Your children are proud and want to celebrate with lemonade and cookies. But you’re not done yet.  There’s cleanup, but more importantly, you must make sure the stakeholder of the project is happy with the quality of the deliverables. Get mom in there to give the final okay. Then the party can begin. You and the team deserve it.

Using Project Management Software to Track a Project Plan

As you can see, even a simple project requires a lot of information to collect and organize. You can do it the old-fashioned way on paper. But there are planning tools that make that work so much easier for you and more efficient and productive for the project.

As stated above, there are project management templates you can use that help you step-by-step in building a project plan. While those are a step in the right direction, they’re standalone documents that are problematic to share. They can be overwritten or duplicates can float around in people’s emails, all of which can lead to muddied communications and seriously dire project consequences.

It’s not that you should throw away project planning templates. They’re a great way to start the process of planning for your project. But online project management tools give you greater flexibility, more features and a platform on which you can build true collaboration for project success.

ProjectManager Is Ideal for Project Planning

No project management tool does more for project planning than ProjectManager . Our award-winning software has a number of powerful features to help with every aspect of project planning.

One such feature is our online Gantt chart . Gantt charts are great tools to visualize your schedule, with a bar chart that creates a linear timeline showing you tasks, duration and even task dependencies. The latter are linked, so you can see where team members potentially may be blocked.

When you take your Gantt chart online, you open up a new world of managing possibilities. First, you can easily import your project plan into ProjectManager from whatever template you composed it on, be it MS Word or an Excel spreadsheet, and it keeps your formatting and automatically populates the spreadsheet and bar chart of your Gantt chart.

Because the Gantt chart is online, it’s easy to use. All tasks are saved and stored remotely and they’re easy to share over any device. Collaboration is conducted on the task level and you can attach files and keep the conversation tied to the task at hand.

As noted, things will change, and an online Gantt chart allows you to adjust task durations with a simple drag-and-drop of your cursor. This saves you time, as does the automated notifications that alert you when a task is completed or about to go off-track, so you can see it in real-time and fix it before it becomes a problem.

Online Project Planning Tools Make for More Productive Planning

That’s just one of the advantages of planning with ProjectManager. You still have to collect the data, but now it’s collected online where it can be easily accessed and shared with team members and stakeholders. Each time you import your task list into project management software, it creates the project plan for you, leaving you free to deal with managing a successful project.

When you’re planning a project and managing all its phases through successful completion, you want the right tools to streamline the process and foster collaboration and communications. ProjectManager has all the features you need to plan your project and it’s an online PM tool, which reports in real-time, so you are always clear on the plan versus the actual execution of the project. See for yourself by taking our free 30-day trial.

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Business Plan

Where do you see yourself ten or five years from now? This question perhaps is inherently frequently asked during job interviews. Why do you ask? This is a test to evaluate your forecasting and planning ability, as is why a  home business plan  is made. It does not matter whether it is a home business plan or whatsoever, but the idea is in gauging a person who has a vision and plans to accompany that vision. Starting a small business can be daunting. But it eases the process as soon as you established a business  plan . Now, take your time to look at the following business plan examples and determine how you can start.

What is a Business Plan? A business plan is a document that thoroughly outlines the nature of your business, the direction or  smart goal to which it is leading, and the how’s of getting to that goal. Further, it contains an  evaluation plan  on the page show how any evaluation is made or conducted.

Business Plan Format

Business Concept: Briefly describe the essence of your business, including the product or service you offer. Business Objectives: Outline your short-term and long-term goals. The Market: Summarize your target market and how you plan to reach it. Financial Features: Highlight key financial elements such as revenue projections, profitability, and cash flow estimates. Financial Requirements: State the amount of financing you are seeking and its purpose.

Business Information: Provide detailed information about your business, including legal structure, history, and the current situation. Mission Statement: Define your business’s mission and the values that guide it. Products/Services: Detail the products or services you offer, emphasizing their benefits to customers.

Industry Analysis: Discuss the industry within which you operate, including trends, size, and growth prospects. Market Segmentation: Identify and describe your target market segments. Competitive Analysis: Analyze your competition, their strengths and weaknesses, and your competitive advantage.

Organization and Management

Organizational Structure: Outline your company’s structure, detailing the roles and responsibilities of each department and key employee. Management Team: Introduce your management team, including backgrounds that demonstrate their role in contributing to success. Ownership Structure: Describe the ownership structure of your company, including major shareholders.

Marketing Strategy: Detail how you plan to attract and retain customers, including pricing, promotion, and distribution strategies. Sales Strategy: Describe your sales approach, sales activities, and how you’ll measure success. Customer Service: Outline your customer service strategy to ensure customer satisfaction and retention.

Product or Service Line

Product/Service Details: Provide comprehensive details about your products or services, including development status, production process, and lifecycle. Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Highlight what makes your product/service unique and how it meets customer needs better than competitors. Future Products/Services: Discuss any future products or services you plan to introduce.

Revenue Model: Explain how your business will make money, detailing pricing strategies, revenue streams, and gross margin targets. Financial Projections: Include detailed financial projections—profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheet—for the next 3-5 years. Funding Requirements: Specify the amount of funding needed over the next few years and how it will be used.

Supporting Documents: Attach any additional documents that support your business plan, such as resumes of key personnel, market research data, technical specifications, and letters of support from potential partners.

Example of Business Plan

Executive Summary Business Concept: Green Innovations Ltd. is dedicated to developing eco-friendly technologies that reduce environmental impact. Our flagship product is a biodegradable packaging solution designed for the food and beverage industry.   Financial Features: Projected Sales: $2 million in Year 1, growing to $5 million by Year 3. Profitability: Expected to reach profitability by Q4 of Year 1. Cash Flow: Positive cash flow anticipated by the end of Year 1.   Financial Requirements: Seeking an initial investment of $1 million for product development, market entry, and operational expenses.   Current Business Position: In the final stages of product development, with a strong management team and strategic industry partnerships.   Major Achievements: Secured provisional patents for our biodegradable material technology and established pilot programs with three regional food distributors. Company Description Business Overview: Green Innovations Ltd. aims to lead in sustainable business practices by offering innovative products that serve both the planet and profits. Our biodegradable packaging solutions represent a step change in how businesses approach environmental responsibility.   Mission Statement: To innovate and deliver sustainable solutions that protect the environment and support our customers’ green initiatives.   Company History: Founded in 2023 by environmental engineers Jane Doe and John Smith, Green Innovations Ltd. was born from a shared vision to combat plastic pollution.   Legal Structure: Incorporated as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Anytown, Anystate, USA. Products or Services Description: Our biodegradable packaging decomposes within 90 days after use, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic packaging. It is made from renewable resources, such as cornstarch and bamboo.   Development Status: Finalizing R&D and moving towards mass production.   Differentiation: Unlike other biodegradable options, our product maintains the durability and versatility of traditional plastics without harmful environmental effects.   Production Process: Manufactured using a proprietary process that ensures high quality and minimal waste.   Future Products/Services: Plans to expand our product line to include reusable and compostable containers and utensils. Market Analysis Industry Analysis: The global eco-friendly packaging market is expected to reach $250 billion by 2025, driven by consumer demand for sustainable products and regulatory pressures.   Target Market: Our initial focus is on the food and beverage industry, specifically companies seeking sustainable packaging options. This includes restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and food manufacturers.   Market Needs: As environmental regulations tighten and consumer preferences shift towards sustainability, the demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions is growing rapidly.   Competition Analysis: While there are other biodegradable packaging options, our product’s unique composition and performance give us a competitive edge.   Market Trends: Increasing awareness of plastic pollution and a shift towards green consumerism are major trends influencing market growth. Strategy and Implementation Marketing Strategy: We will target businesses through direct sales, trade shows, and online marketing, emphasizing the cost savings and environmental benefits of switching to biodegradable packaging.   Sales Strategy: Our sales approach includes free samples, pilot programs, and volume discounts to encourage adoption.   Location and Facilities: Headquartered in Anytown, Anystate, with a manufacturing facility capable of supporting large-scale production.   Technology: Leveraging advanced biopolymer technology to create our biodegradable material.   Operations Plan: Our operations are designed for scalability and efficiency, with a focus on quality control and sustainable practices. Organization and Management Team Organizational Structure: Led by co-founders Jane Doe (CEO) and John Smith (CTO), supported by a team of experts in R&D, sales, and operations.   Management Team: Our leadership brings together expertise in engineering, environmental science, and business development.   Roles and Responsibilities: Detailed roles include product development (CTO), marketing and sales (CMO), operations (COO), and financial management (CFO). Financial Plan Revenue/Sales Forecast: Detailed projections anticipate steady sales growth, with major revenue spikes following distribution agreements.   Expense Budget: Initial expenses include R&D, production setup, and marketing campaigns.   Cash Flow Forecast: Careful financial management will ensure positive cash flow, with reinvestment in product development and market expansion.   Profit and Loss Statement: Projected to achieve profitability by the end of Year 1, with significant profit growth in subsequent years.   Break-even Analysis: Expected to break even within the first 18 months of operation.

Business Plan Samples to Edit & Download

• Business Plan in Entrepreneurship
• Business Plan for Startup
• Business Plan for Coffee Shop
• Business Plan for Small Business
• Blank Business Plan
• Business Plan for Restaurants
• Business Plan for Food Truck
• Business Plan for Nonprofit
• Business Plan for Dummies
• Business Plan for Laundromat
• Business Plan for Students
• Business Plan for Sales

Business Plan Examples & Templates

1. business plan example.

2. Sample Business Plan

3. Sample Business Plan Outline

More often than not, business plan mistakes are made simply for the reason of lack of foresight and discussion. Business plan examples are found in the page to help you in your next strategic plan, marketing plan , and even your personal plan .

4. Sample Business Plan Template

5. Immigration Business Plan

6. Business Plan Guidelines Template

7. Joint Venture Business Plan

8. Kayak Business Plan

9. Sample Insurance Agency Business Plan

10. Nonprofit Business Plan Template

11. Trucking Business Plan Template

12. Business Plan Table of Contents Template

13. Startup Business Plan Template

14. Rental Property Business Plan Template

15. Construction Business Plan Template

16. Sample Construction Business Plan Template

17. Restaurant Business Plan Template

18. Freight Trucking Business Plan Template

19. Mortgage Broker Business Plan Template

20. Simple Business Plan Template

21. Boutique Business Plan Template

22. Staffing Agency Business Plan Template

23. Business Plan Proposal Template

24. Spa Business Plan Template

25. Business Plan Template

26. Easy to Print Business Plan Template

27. Simple Business Plan Outline Template

28. Plan for Startup Business

tbi.nitc.ac.in

29. Event Business Plan Example

eventscotland.org

30. Mini Business Plan

startvaekst-aarhus.dk

31. Strategic Business Sample Plan

sportandrecreation.nsw.gov.au

32. Family Business Plan

goodstuffinternational.com

33. Business Plan Outline

34. Restaurant Business Plan Example

35. Bakery Business Plan

orphenagetest.files.wordpress.com

36. Product Business Sample Plan

pmtraining.com.tw

37. Insurance Agency Business Plan

38. Business Investment Plan

liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au

39. Business Continuity Plan

publications.qld.gov.au

40. Web Design Business Example

braviaresearch.com

41. Business Planning Template

42. Company Business Plan

keepitlocal-llc.com

43. Internet Cafe Business Plan Example

44. Business Plan Checklist

womensenterprise.ca

45. Farm Business Plan

46. Housing Business Plan Example

47. Free Business Plan

rbcroyalbank.com

48. Social Enterprise Business Plan

library.uniteddiversity.coop

49. One Page Business Plan

retailassociation.org

Key Components of a Business Plan

While there may be more  components for a business plan , based on the article published by Growbusiness.org, the following are the key components that each business plan absolutely must have:

The executive summary is among the most important or the heart of a business plan or any  financial plan . The summary includes the founders, principal employees, or the management team and the skills they will bring to the business.

2. Competitor Analysis

This part of the plan showcases other businesses directly in the competition of the business proposed. The business plan includes action plans in which to take for the business to be better in comparison to the said competitors and other  strategic plans  to advance the business further than them.

Types of Business Plan

Business plans come in various formats, each tailored to meet specific needs, objectives, and audiences. Understanding the different types of business plans can help you select the most appropriate one for your situation. Here are the main types:

1. Startup Business Plan

Ideal for new businesses, this comprehensive plan outlines everything from business objectives and market analysis to financial projections and marketing strategies. It’s used to attract investors, secure loans, and serve as a roadmap for business operations.

2. Internal Business Plan

Focused on a specific aspect of a business, such as a new product or market expansion, without the need for background information on the company. It’s used for internal planning and strategy, often to evaluate a particular project or direction.

3. Strategic Business Plan

This plan outlines the company’s strategy, mission, vision, and objectives, along with key metrics for success. It includes detailed action plans for achieving goals and is used to guide the overall direction of the business.

4. Feasibility Business Plan

Before a full-scale business plan is developed, a feasibility plan can help assess whether an idea is viable. It focuses on who will buy the product or service, how big the market is, and the potential for profit.

5. Growth or Expansion Business Plan

Designed for established businesses looking to expand, this plan focuses on growth opportunities, such as entering new markets or launching new products. It’s used to secure investment or loans for expansion projects.

6. Operations Business Plan

Details the logistics, technology, and processes that a business will use to operate efficiently. It’s often more technical and is used to manage the day-to-day operations of the business.

7. Financial Business Plan

Centers on the financial aspects of the business, including detailed financial projections, funding requirements, and strategies for achieving financial goals. It’s crucial for securing funding and managing finances effectively.

8. Lean Startup Plan

A modern approach to business planning, this format focuses on summarizing the key elements of a business on a single page. It’s quick to create and easy to adjust, making it suitable for startups and businesses looking to pivot quickly.

9. Social Enterprise Business Plan

For organizations that aim to address social issues, this plan details the mission, social impact strategies, and financial models that balance profit with social goals. It’s used to attract funding and partnerships that align with the social mission.

10. One-Page Business Plan

Condenses the essential elements of the business into a single page, highlighting the business idea, target market, unique selling proposition, and key objectives. It’s useful for quickly communicating a business idea or for small businesses not requiring extensive planning.

How To Make a Business Plan

Writing a business plan for a startup may not easy. Perhaps, you need to think of a strategy and financial stability at the same time. But,  small business  plans should not be so complicated. Sure, it will be a smooth process when you follow the steps below. 

1. Do Your Research

It’s alright to be ambitious. But it is only acceptable once you establish a strong foundation. To start with, make sure to create a strong plan. Here, you will test your decision making—secure thorough research. Whether you are opening a coffee shop, bakery, or a restaurant, you need to perform a  SWOT analysis  and  market analysis . Prioritize these two, or if one else fails, the other follows. 

2. Have a Long-term Goal

Don’t settle on your plans. Instead, get motivated by plotting your goals. Draft your  list . Then, decide whether one of each item is a priority or not. Then, determine if one is attainable, measurable, and cost-effective. This helps you decide whether or not that particular goal is worth your time. 

3. Enumerate Your Actions

Once you have established your goal, jump right away with the  action plan . In this section, you will outline the process and steps that will help you achieve your goals. Remember, it is time-bounded, so make sure that the tasks listed are attainable with a certain time frame. 

4. Decide on a Budget

Of course, do not forget the budget . Budgeting can be tough. But it is substantial in making a business plan because it decided whether you can consider something or not. With that, you can insert an estimate that will enable you to understand your economy. 

5. Test and Adjust It 

For the last part, you need to test the plan. But it doesn’t need to take you a month or year before you can use it for actual business. You can record and keep a  progress report . Each day, look at the organization’s growth. 

What are the primary purposes of a business plan?

A business plan has plenty of purposes. Among are the mapping growth and business focus.

How do you define a good business plan?

A good business plan is defined as informative in all aspects, including finance and marketing. It should be attainable in helping business success.

What are the two main reasons why business plans don’t work?

There are various reasons to take note of. But the most common include the lack of planning and poor leadership.

Truly, starting a business can be daunting. But it wouldn’t be as such as long as you begin with thorough planning. But when can you start? Since we provided the list of steps above, now is the right time to prepare a document you can keep. Plan now, and later on, you will reach success and continuous growth.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Create a study plan for final exams in high school

Develop a project timeline for a middle school science fair.

How To Create a Project Management Plan: Guide, Templates, Example

• 1.  Project Management Basics
• 2.  Project Management Methodologies
• 3.  Project Management Life Cycle
• 4.  Best Project Management Software
• 5.  Team Collaboration Tips
• 6.  Agile Methodology Basics
• 7.  Agile Project Management Tools & Techniques
• 8.  Project Management Frameworks
• 9.  Resources
• 10.  Glossary
• Advanced Terminology
• Methodologies
• PM Software Features
• Basic Terminology
• Professional Development
• Agile Project Management
• Project Management %09guide

Your guide to creating a project management plan

Starting a new project can feel a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, right? With so many pieces, it’s hard to know where to start. Well, a project management plan , also commonly called a project plan , is your guide to seamlessly putting all those pieces together. 

A well-structured project management plan is a comprehensive blueprint outlining how every project will be handled, monitored, and executed. It includes specifics about what will be done, the timeline for each task, and all the details necessary to guide the project from kickoff to completion.

In this guide, we’ll explain the essential elements of an effective project management plan . We’ll also go step-by-step through the process of creating a project management plan . Then, we’ll give you a real example of a project plan as well as customizable project management plan templates to aid you in creating your own. 

What is a project management plan? 

A project management plan is a comprehensive outline of every aspect of a project from beginning to end. It’s a detailed guide for project managers and their teams, ensuring all necessary tasks and goals are clearly defined and achieved. 

This plan encompasses the project scope , responsibilities, timeline, budget , resources, methods for managing risks and changes, and a communication plan to ensure effective information flow. 

It also includes quality management processes to guarantee the project meets predefined standards, stakeholder management strategies to address their interests and expectations, and performance metrics and KPIs to measure the project’s success.

How is a project management plan used? 

A project management plan is a tool that keeps everyone involved in a project on the same page. This is true for both simple projects and complex projects. Teams and stakeholders use it to guide a project every step of the way. 

The plan breaks down the project into smaller tasks, assigns them to team members, and sets deadlines. This helps everyone know what to do, when, and how. Stakeholders, like clients or company executives, use the plan to understand the project’s progress. It keeps them informed about what’s happening, when they can expect results, and any changes along the way. 

Projects often don’t go exactly as planned. This is why the project management plan also includes strategies for adapting to changes or dealing with unexpected problems. The plan provides tools to monitor how the project is going to help keep it on track. Project management software can make it easier to monitor projects and keep all necessary parties informed on updates and scheduled meetings. These constant check-ups ensure that the project stays aligned with its goals. 

What are the 5 phases of a project management plan? 

Before we get into the specifics of all that goes into a project plan, we’re going to simplify it and show you the bigger picture. 

There are five main phases to consider in a project management plan. Each phase plays an important role in guiding the project to success.

Phase 1: Project initiation

This is where your project begins: setting its foundation. During project initiation , you define the purpose and scope of the project, making sure everything aligns with key stakeholders’ objectives. 

Phase 2: Project planning

Here, you create a roadmap for how to achieve the project goals. This includes detailing the tasks, timeline, resources, and budget. The planning phase organizes all aspects of the project.

Phase 3: Project execution

The project execution phase is where the actual day-to-day work happens. You start implementing the plan, completing tasks, and working toward the project objectives. It’s an important phase where the team uses the plan to bring the project to life.

Phase 4: Project performance monitoring

As the project progresses, keeping track of its performance is essential. This phase involves monitoring the progress against the plan, ensuring everything is on schedule, and adjusting as needed.

Phase 5: Project closure

This final phase marks the completion of the project . You’ll review the outcomes, document lessons learned, and ensure all aspects of the project are properly concluded. 

How to create a project management plan

There are plenty of articles out there explaining how to create a project management plan, but many of them leave out key components. This guide is different. We make sure to cover all the essential elements, so project managers have everything they need to get started. 

In a nutshell, a complete project management plan must include guidelines on how a project is executed, monitored, and controlled . According to the Project Management Institute , it should answer all the questions listed below:

• What is to be done?
• When will it occur?
• How much will it cost?
• Who will do it?
• What product(s) or service(s) will be delivered as a result of the effort?
• What is the responsibility of both the developer and the user?
• Who is responsible for accepting the product as completed?
• What determines task completion?
• What mechanics will be employed to deal with mechanics formally?
• How will actual progress be measured?

Now, let’s dive into how to incorporate all these questions into an organized project plan. 

What you should include in a project management plan

The length and level of detail in the project plan will vary based on your company and the specific project requirements. Regardless, the plan should always be formatted with a title page and table of contents , and it should include a version history too. 

A strong project management plan will include all of the following information:

• Project scope baseline and scope management plan
• Project schedule baseline and schedule management plan
• Project cost baseline and cost management plan
• Human resource management plan
• Communications management plan
• Risk management plan

Depending on the project, supplemental plans may be useful, such as:

• Issues management plan
• Quality management plan
• Procurement management plan
• Requirement management plan
• Configuration management plan
• Process management plan
• Change management plan
• Stakeholder management plan
• Training plan

Appendices to the plan may also include:

• Approved business case for the plan
• Approved project charter
• Key terms and acronyms
• Statement of work
• Customer requirements documentation
• RACI ( responsibility matrix )

How to write and develop a project management plan

Clearly, a lot of information goes into the creation of a project management plan . It’s reasonable to wonder how a project manager pulls it all together. 

To make the project planning process easier, we recommend using a project management plan template . A template provides you with a structured framework and standardized format, making sure essential project details are systematically addressed properly from the start. This saves time and reduces the risk of overlooking critical components. It also allows you to prioritize the actual project execution instead of getting bogged down with admin and organizational issues at the outset. 

If you don’t have a project management planning template, or if you’re creating a template for use in the future, you can follow these steps.

Note : Be aware that project plans are usually considered ‘living’ documents. This means they’re expected to be updated and changed as the project matures and/or you discover new information requiring a change to the plan. 

Step 1: Outline and define business needs

The starting point of any project management plan is to understand the reason behind the project. Ask questions like: 

• Why is this project necessary for the business? 
• What problem does it solve, or what opportunity does it address? 

By clearly outlining business needs, you will set a clear direction for the project. Once the purpose is defined, you can identify who will be affected by the project and who needs to be involved — these are your stakeholders. 

Step 2: Meet with project stakeholders

Even if project stakeholders have already been identified in another project document, such as the business case or project charter , it’s important to review the list and make sure it’s accurate. Then, meet with all project stakeholders to discuss the project objectives and scope. This ensures everyone is on the same page, particularly concerning assumptions, constraints, and expected outcomes.

Step 3: Define key project roles

All key stakeholders should be asked to provide input for the parts of the project relevant to them. To handle this, define which stakeholders are involved with each area of the project. This is often part of the stakeholder management plan or even part of the communication management plan . Relevant stakeholders include the project sponsor, team members, end users, and any other people directly involved, such as business experts, auditors, or quality testers.

To successfully define key project roles and manage tasks, specific tools and templates are indispensable. Here are some essential Wrike templates:

• The work breakdown structure (WBS) template organizes team efforts into clearly defined segments.  
• The change control management template efficiently manages alterations in project scope or objectives.  
• The RACI template delineates roles and responsibilities within the project, helping to establish who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task. This way, everyone knows their specific duties and contributions.

Using these templates can significantly streamline the process of defining roles and managing stakeholder input, making the process more efficient and effective.

Step 4: Determine the project’s budget

This step defines the financial framework for the entire project. A well-planned budget ensures that resources are allocated efficiently to avoid hiccups or delays due to unexpected costs along the way. 

When setting the project budget , consider all possible expenses, including labor costs, materials, equipment, and any other resources that will be needed. The budget should be agreed upon with stakeholders and can be adjusted throughout the project lifecycle as needed.  

Step 5: Hold a kickoff meeting

The kickoff meeting brings the project team and stakeholders together to discuss the project and initiate planning. Some topics typically discussed during the kickoff meeting are:

• The business case for the project
• The expected outcomes and benefits of the project
• Stakeholder roles and responsibilities
• Communication and reporting information (frequency of project meetings, etc.)
• Timeline and process for completing the project plan

Step 6: Determine project deliverables and milestones

To define the deliverables , start by breaking down the overarching project goals into smaller, manageable parts. Each part should have a clear outcome that contributes directly to achieving the overall project objective. Be specific and detailed in describing each deliverable, outlining what it includes, how it will be completed, and the standards it must meet.

Additionally, identify milestones along the project timeline, as they serve as pivotal checkpoints to evaluate progress, ensuring the project stays on course. Setting project milestones helps monitor progress and provides opportunities to evaluate and adjust the plan if necessary.

Also read : What is a milestone in project management?  

Step 7: Create the overall project schedule

A project schedule outlines the timeline for completing deliverables and achieving milestones. To get this right, you need to think about everything that could impact your project’s journey, from the people and planning tools you have on hand to how much you can spend and the key goals (or milestones) to task dependencies . 

Start simple. Jot down every task that’s part of the project. Then, take a guess at how long each one might take and decide who’s going to tackle it. The next step is like solving a puzzle — you need to figure out the best order for these tasks. Some are dependent on others being completed first, so it’s like a domino effect where one task’s completion triggers the start of another.

Once you’ve determined the order, assign dates to each deliverable and milestone. This is your project’s timeline. This timeline should be realistic and flexible enough to accommodate changes or unforeseen delays. 

Wrike’s dedicated project schedule template simplifies this process, showing you how to break down your project into smaller tasks, create Gantt chart timelines, and monitor progress on dashboards.

Step 8: Assign tasks to specific team members

During this stage, you’ll allocate tasks based on the skills and availability of your team members. It’s important to match tasks with the right people to ensure efficiency and quality in the execution of the project. Consider each team member’s strengths, expertise, and workload to ensure everything is manageable and promote a balanced distribution of responsibilities.

This step should be approached with care, as it can significantly impact your project’s timeline and the achievement of your deliverables.

Here are some tips to effectively assign tasks:

• Ensure every task is well defined and has clear objectives.
• Assign tasks based on individual team members’ strengths and areas of expertise.  
• Be transparent about why tasks are assigned to specific individuals.  
• Ensure team members have the resources and support to complete their tasks effectively.
• Monitor each team member’s workload to ensure it’s manageable and balanced.  

Step 9: Create a streamlined communication strategy 

Your communication plan should outline how and when project information is shared, such as regular status meetings, weekly progress reports, and targeted emails to stakeholders based on project milestones. Effective communication is the backbone of any successful project. It ensures everyone involved is on the same page, understands their roles, and knows about project progress and updates. 

Wrike’s communication plan template can reduce the risk of miscommunication and increase project efficiency and stakeholder engagement. This template provides a structured approach for organizing stakeholder information, setting the frequency of updates, and determining the content of each communication.

Step 10: Create baseline management plans

Project baselines are the original plans against which actual progress is measured. Once established, you’ll need plans to report on them regularly, monitor for any deviations, and outline conditions that might require adjustments. Keeping detailed documentation of baseline changes provides a valuable repository of project history and insights.

Consider using a project management office (PMO) template to simplify this process.  

Step 11: Create supplemental management plans

As you know, planning is a huge part of a project manager’s role . The stronger your plan, the more likely your project will succeed. So, it’s not enough to simply plan how you will manage baselines. Plans should also be created to manage all other significant aspects of, or inputs to, the project. This can include a broad range of management plans, but the minimum should include resource management , risk management , and communications management . 

Project management plan example

To guide you in making your own, here’s an example of a real project management plan:

Overview: This project involves developing and launching a new software product aimed at small business owners. The goal is to create an intuitive and budget-friendly project management tool.

Business need/reason for the project: Small business owners need an affordable and easy-to-use project management tool to streamline their operations and improve efficiency. The introduction of this product is projected to boost revenue by approximately 20% in the first year, capitalizing on a lucrative and underserved market segment.

Stakeholder identification: Key stakeholders include the product development team, marketing team, selected small business owners (for feedback), and the finance department.

Key project roles:

• Project Sponsor: CFO
• Project Manager: Mary Kurt
• Development Team Lead: John Smith
• Marketing Lead: Emily White

Budget: Estimated at $150,000, covering software development, marketing, and testing phases.

Deliverables: 

• A fully functional software tool
• Marketing materials
• A user manual
• Technical documentation
• Training materials for end users

Project schedule:

• Development phase (4 months)
• Milestone: Completion of software coding
• Milestone: Integration of user interface design
• Testing phase (1 month)
• Milestone: Completion of beta testing
• Marketing and launch phase (2 months)
• Milestone: Launch of marketing campaign
• Milestone: Official product launch

Task assignments:

• Development tasks will be assigned to John Smith and his team.
• Emily White and her team will handle marketing tasks.

Communication strategy: 

• Weekly team meetings
• Monthly stakeholder updates

Baseline management plans: Regularly review project progress against the baseline schedule and budget, with adjustments made as necessary.

Risk management: Contingency plans are in place for potential software bugs and delays in the development phase.

Performance monitoring: Progress will be tracked against milestones, focusing on staying within budget and meeting the development timeline.

Project closure: Final product testing, adjustments, and a formal launch event.

This sample project management plan should give you a clear picture of how to make your own. 

Project management plan templates

Templates offer an efficient way to create a project plan. Wrike also offers a range of templates for each specific step of your project management plan, helping you easily manage every aspect of your plan. 

Here’s a brief overview of the types of templates available:

• Complex project with phases template : Comprehensive framework for managing larger, more complicated projects with multiple phases, including initiation, planning, development, testing, and launch.
• Work breakdown structure template : Breaks down the project into smaller, more manageable parts, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
• Change control management template : Helps manage any changes to the project scope, ensuring all alterations are documented and approved.
• Project schedule template : Provides a time frame for your project, outlining when tasks should start and finish.
• Communication management template : Ensures clear and effective communication among project stakeholders.
• PMO template: Assists in overseeing project management standards and procedures.
• RACI template : A tool for defining roles and responsibilities — who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task.

Wrike has templates for specific types of project plans too, including a professional services management template , an event planning template , and a product launch template . 

All of these templates can be customized to suit the specific needs of your project. 

Beyond templates, Wrike’s other features (including dashboards, various views , and real-time communication) can streamline the process of creating and monitoring your project management plan. This seamless integration of planning and execution tools ensures that your project stays on track from start to finish.

How to create a project management plan using Wrike

Whether starting a new project from scratch or revamping an existing one, Wrike’s customizable templates and intuitive design help you lay out your plan clearly and effectively. You can define tasks, assign roles, set deadlines, and monitor progress — all within the same platform, regardless of your project management methodology .

The ease of organizing and updating your project management plan in Wrike saves time and improves collaboration among team members. Wrike’s diverse functionalities cater to various project management needs, making it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes and types. 

Gantt charts

With Wrike’s Gantt charts , you can easily map out milestones and track task progress visually. This approach helps project managers and stakeholders quickly identify task dependencies, ensuring that every part of your project progresses in the right order. It also makes it easier to spot potential delays or scheduling conflicts and address them before they impact the project timeline. 

Gantt charts are easy to adjust and update, making them ideal for project environments with frequent changes. Integrating Gantt charts into your project management plan will help you better understand the project flow and can keep everyone aligned on the timeline for a smoother path to project completion.

Also read : What’s the best Gantt chart maker? 3 types of tools

Customizable dashboards

Wrike’s customizable dashboards allow you to view, manage, and track various aspects of your project in one convenient location. Whether you need to keep an eye on task progress, monitor deadlines, or track resource allocation, Wrike’s dashboards can be customized to display the most relevant information. This means less time spent sifting through data and more time focusing on project plan components.

Also read : How to build a custom project management dashboard

Automated reports

Automated reports in Wrike offer a real-time view of various project aspects, from task completion rates to resource utilization. They can be set up to generate regularly, providing consistent updates without manual effort. As a project manager, you’re always equipped with the latest data to make informed decisions. For stakeholders, these project status reports offer transparency and assurance. They can see at a glance how the project is progressing, which tasks are completed, and whether the project is adhering to its budget and timeline. This level of insight fosters trust and keeps everyone on the same page.

Why project management plans are important for success

A well-structured project management plan is beneficial because:

It sets clear expectations for the project

A project management plan defines a project’s objectives, timeline, and procedures, ensuring all team members understand their roles and responsibilities. This clarity minimizes confusion, aligns efforts, and keeps the project focused on its goals. This translates to improved workflow, efficiency, and effectiveness.

It aligns stakeholders and the team 

A project plan ensures stakeholders are on the same page as team members. By outlining the project’s scope, timeline, and resources needed, it becomes a shared document that everyone can refer to. 

This transparency helps manage expectations and reduces the likelihood of miscommunication or misunderstandings. It’s a tool for accountability that assigns specific tasks to team members, sets due dates, and provides performance metrics. It also provides a structured approach to tackling the project, which can alleviate anxiety and uncertainty. 

It eliminates possible conflicts in scheduling 

One of the key benefits of a comprehensive project plan is its ability to reveal clashes in timelines, resource allocation, and team availability well in advance. When you map out the project schedule in detail, you’re more likely to spot overlaps in task assignments or periods where team members may be overburdened. 

It monitors the project’s scope and budget

When creating a project plan, one of the primary tasks is to define the scope clearly. This definition helps your team understand what needs to be accomplished and prevents scope creep, which can lead to overwork and delays.

Equally important is managing the project budget. A thorough project management plan outlines the financial resources allocated for each phase and activity. By closely monitoring the budget, you can track spending and keep the project on track financially.

It holds everyone involved accountable 

In a project plan, every task is assigned to specific individuals. This establishes who is responsible for each piece of the puzzle. When team members see their names next to tasks, they understand that they are accountable for the timely and successful completion of those tasks. 

This level of clarity extends to stakeholders as well. The plan outlines their roles, whether that involves providing resources, making decisions, or offering expertise. By explicitly stating what stakeholders are accountable for, the plan helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that everyone contributes as needed.

A project management plan isn’t just a bunch of lists and deadlines; it’s the comprehensive strategy that guides every aspect of a project. It brings team members and stakeholders to the same table, ensuring everyone knows what they’re supposed to do and when. This way, everyone on the team knows their roles and responsibilities, which keeps the project on track.

Wrike’s suite of user-friendly features is designed to support you through every step of creating and executing a project management plan. From plotting out timelines on Gantt charts to tracking all aspects of a project with customizable dashboards to using templates to simplify complex processes, Wrike’s got everything you need to turn the sometimes daunting task of project planning into a smooth ride.

Project management plan FAQs

What are the six important parts of a project management plan .

There are six key components that form the backbone of a solid project management plan. These include: 

• Scope statement: This part outlines the project’s boundaries, defining what will be included and what won’t. 
• Detailed project timeline and milestones: This section charts the course of the project from start to finish.  
• Stakeholders and team members identified: This ensures that everyone who has a stake in the project’s success, from team members to external stakeholders, knows their roles and responsibilities.
• Risk assessment: This identifies potential project risks and challenges that could impact the project and outlines mitigation strategies.
• Communication plan: This part of the plan details how information will be shared among team members and stakeholders, ensuring everyone stays informed and aligned.
• Resource allocation completed: This final element involves allocating the necessary project resources — including time, money, and manpower — to ensure the project can be completed efficiently. 

Why is a project management plan important? 

A project management plan provides a roadmap for the project, outlining tasks, responsibilities, and deadlines. A good plan helps manage the project’s budget effectively, ensuring resources are used efficiently and costs are kept under control. It anticipates potential risks and prepares strategies to mitigate them, reducing the chances of unexpected problems derailing the project.  

What is the right technique for crafting a project plan? 

Crafting an effective project plan requires a methodical approach, starting with gathering comprehensive information about the project. This involves understanding project goals, resources, constraints, and stakeholder expectations. Organizing this information in a structured manner ensures clarity and precision. Identifying and engaging stakeholders and team members early is also essential for aligning their expectations and roles. 

It’s important to take time to plan with a clear technique, as disorganization can lead to ineffective execution. A systematic approach to planning lays a strong foundation for project success.

How can a template help with creating a project management plan?

Using a template to create a project management plan simplifies the planning process. When it is well designed, it ensures no components of a project plan are overlooked. It provides a structured framework for organizing information, setting clear objectives, and assigning project tasks. 

What tools and software can help with implementing a project management plan?

Collaborative work management software like Wrike is a powerful tool for implementing a strong and easily repeatable project management template. Wrike’s features, such as Gantt charts, customizable dashboards, and automated reports, provide a comprehensive toolkit for managing every aspect of a project. 

With Wrike, you can easily map out project timelines, assign tasks, and set milestones. Our dashboards allow for real-time progress monitoring, ensuring the project stays on track. Automated reports also offer valuable insights into project performance, helping to make informed decisions. Wrike’s ability to integrate with other tools ensures seamless collaboration among team members.

Is there a different structure for a simple project management plan versus a complex one?

​​The structure of a project management plan generally remains the same whether the project is simple or complex. It will always encompass elements like objectives, scope, timeline, and resources. The only difference is that a plan for a complex project will typically include more detail than for a simpler project.

Further reading

• Convergent Thinking vs. Divergent Thinking: Why Planning Isn’t Always the Right Thing to Do
• Project Management Basics: 6 Steps to a Foolproof Project Plan
• 5 Best Project Management Books for Beginners and Accidental Project Managers
• How 5 PM Experts Create a Fail-Safe Project Management Plan
• 4 Tips for an Effective Project Management Plan

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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.

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Sample business plan format Following is the standard business plan format you must consider while drafting a comprehensive business plan. Executive Summary: A high-level overview of your business plan.; Company Overview: An in-depth and detailed description of your small business, its fundamental elements, and future goals.; Market Analysis: A detailed description of your industry with the ...

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Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. Give a brief overview of the project management industry. Discuss the type of project management business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy.

Download and Open a Project Plan Template. Download the project plan template for Excel and save it using your preferred file naming convention. Enter Project Details. Enter the Project Title, Project Manager, Start Date, and End Date in the dedicated sections.

General project planning templates. 1. Simple project chart template: Get started. A project chart (also known as a Gantt chart template) is a visual representation of your project plan on a bar-chart like graph. Project charts map out your project timeline, deliverable due dates, task dependencies, and milestones.

A simple project plan includes these elements: Project name, brief summary, and objective. Project players or team members who will drive the project, along with their roles and responsibilities. Key outcomes and due dates. Project elements, ideally divided into must-have, nice-to-have and not-in-scope categories.

Step 6: Develop a Communication Plan. Everyone will have an opinion about your project. In your project plan, make sure you outline ways to communicate with your stakeholders and receive feedback. Your project plan should also outline the approach you'll take to communicating with stakeholders throughout the project.

To create a new project plan in TeamGantt, click the New Project button in the upper right corner of the My Projects screen. Then enter your project name and start date, and select the days of the week you want to include in your plan. Click Create New Project to move on to the next step. 2.

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This free project plan template is a great tool to create a project plan. Use it to describe your project scope, schedule, budget and other important project management details. You may even add additional documentation to it. Check out our library of project management templates for more free project management templates.

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