Free Small Business Plan Templates and Examples
By Kate Eby | April 27, 2022
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We’ve compiled the most useful collection of free small business plan templates for entrepreneurs, project managers, development teams, investors, and other stakeholders, as well as a list of useful tips for filling out a small business template.
Included on this page, you’ll find a simple small business template and a one-page small business plan template . You can also download a fill-in-the-blank small business plan template , and a sample small business plan template to get started.
Small Business Plan Template
Download Small Business Plan Template Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Docs
Use this small business plan template to identify trends and demographics in the company overview. Highlight how your product or service uniquely benefits consumers in the offerings section, and note your proposed timeline, milestones, and the key performance metrics (KPIs) you will use to measure your success. This template has all the components of a standard business plan, from the executive summary through financing details.
Small Business Plan Sample Template
Download Small Business Plan Sample Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Docs
Use this small business plan sample template to draft the subsections and headings of the contents of your plan. This template provides editable sample text that shows you how to organize and create a ready-to-be-implemented business plan. This sample template helps remove the guesswork of what to include in a small business plan.
Simple Small Business Plan Template
Download Simple Small Business Plan Template Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF
Use this streamlined, customizable, simple small business plan template to chart revenue, expenses, and net profit or loss forecasts with sample graphics. Order your small business plan with numbered subsections and list them in a table of contents. Supplement the plan with additional information in the appendix for a complete business plan that you can present to investors.
Small Business Plan Chart Template
Download Small Business Plan Chart Template Microsoft PowerPoint | Google Slides
Use this small business plan chart template to plan and track month-by-month and annual business planning. The flexible color-coded bar chart simplifies tracking and allows you to customize the plan to meet your needs. Add tasks, track owner status, and adjust the timeline to chart your progress with this dynamic, visually rich small business planning tool.
Small Business Plan Outline Template
Download Small Business Plan Outline Template Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Docs
Use this small business plan outline template to jumpstart a plan for your small business. This template includes the nine essential elements of a traditional business plan, plus a title page, a table of contents, and an appendix to ensure that your document is complete, comprehensive, and in order. Easily simplify or expand the outline to meet your company’s needs.
Printable Small Business Plan Template
Download Printable Small Business Plan Template Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Docs
This print-friendly small business plan template is ideal for presentations to investors and stakeholders. The customizable template includes all the standard, critical business plan elements, and serves as a guide for writing a complete and comprehensive plan. Easily edit and add content to this printable template, so you can focus on executing the small business plan.
Small Business Startup Plan Template
Download Small Business Startup Plan Template Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Docs
Use this small business startup plan template to draft your mission statement and list your keys to business success, in order to persuade investors and inform stakeholders. Customize your startup plan with fillable tables for sales revenue, gross profit margin, and cost of sales projections to secure your business's pricing structure.
Fill-in-the-Blank Small Business Plan Template
Download Fill-in-the-Blank Small Business Plan Template Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF
This small business plan template simplifies the process to help you create a comprehensive, organized business plan. Simply enter original content for the executive summary, company overview, and other sections to customize the plan. This fill-in-the-blank small business plan template helps you to maintain organization and removes the guesswork in order to ensure success.
One Page Small Business Plan Template
Download One Page Small Business Plan Template Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF
This one page small business plan template is ideal for quick, simple presentations. Use this template to summarize your business overview, market analysis, marketing, and sales plan, key objectives and success metrics, and milestones timeline. Complete the fillable sections to educate investors and inform stakeholders.
One Page Small Business Plan Example
Download One Page Business Plan Example Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF
This one page small business plan example prompts you to list your vision, mission, product or service, team member names, roles, and relevant experience to promote your small business. Use the market analysis, marketing, sales plan sections to detail how you aim to sell your product or service. This small business plan features fillable tables for key objectives and success metrics. Plus, you’ll find space for your financial cost structure and revenue sources to show how your business will remain profitable.
What Is a Small Business Plan Template?
A small business plan template is a roadmap for defining your business objectives and detailing the operational, financial, and marketing resources required for success. Use a small business plan template to strategize growth, forecast financial needs, and promote investment.
A small business plan template organizes and outlines the content needed to achieve goals for growth and profit, including marketing and sales tactics. As opposed to starting from scratch, using a template makes it easy to organize the information and customize the plan to meet your needs.
A small business plan template includes standard business plan sections, as well as the following sections:
- Executive Summary: Summarize the key points in your small business plan in two pages or less to hold your reader's attention and promote buy-in. Write this section last to capitalize on your understanding of the small business plan.
- Company Overview: Describe the nature of your small business, the industry landscape and trends, demographics, and economic and governmental influences. List your location, product or service, and goals to show what makes your small business unique.
- Problem and Solution: Identify and explain the problem your product or service will solve and its costs. Propose and describe your solution and its benefits. Conclude this section with a summary of the problem and solution.
- Target Market: Identify your small business's target market by researching your product and service to determine the most likely demographic. Explain your target market's motivations for buying your product or service.
- Competition: Note the other competitor product or service offerings, pricing, and company revenues to understand how to outperform your competitors. Detail your small business's competitive advantages, based on research.
- Product or Service Offerings: Describe your product or service, how it benefits your target market, and what makes it unique. Highlight how your product or service will outsell competitors.
- Marketing: Detail your marketing plan with objectives and strategy, including goals, costs, and an action plan. A successful marketing plan reduces costs and boosts your product or service sales.
- Timeline and Metrics: Break down your small business plan into smaller activities. Describe these activities (and the performance metrics you intend to use to track them) and list a completion date for each.
- Financial Forecasts: Explain how your organization uses past performance and market research to inform your business's economic forecasts. Estimate growth and profits based on your informed assumptions.
- Financing: List your funding sources and how you intend to use the funds to keep your company on track as it grows. Smart financing at the planning stage prepares your organization for unexpected challenges and helps to mitigate risk.
A small business plan template enables you to complete your business plan quickly and comprehensively, so you can achieve your goals and turn your product or service idea into a profitable reality.
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Free Business Plan Template for Small Businesses
Business planning can feel complicated. it doesn't have to be. start putting pen to paper today with your free business plan template download..
Available formats:
Downloads: 960,444
Our free template includes:
- Fill-in-the-blanks simplicity
You don't need to be an expert. This business plan template makes business planning easy.
All 100% free. We're here to help you succeed in business, no strings attached.
Why you need a business plan template
Writing a business plan can seem like a big task, especially if you’re starting a business for the first time and don’t have a financial background. After all, business plans have changed over the years, and what lenders and investors expect now is different than it was even just 10 years ago.
But using a free business plan template will help you:
- Develop a strategy for success
- Reduce the risk of starting a business
- Explore new business ideas
- Attract investors and get funding
Learn more about how you can get value out of your business plan and click the link above to download your free template.
What is included in this free business plan template?
This downloadable business plan template includes definitions, guidance, and examples for every business plan component needed to start, fund, and grow your business. Here are the sections covered in this download .
Executive summary
The brief summary of your business plan introduces everyone to your business, the problem you solve, and what you’re asking from your readers. It’s the first chapter of your business plan and the last thing you write once you have the details from your full plan.
- Company Purpose / Mission Statement : Briefly describe the business purpose or mission.
- Problem We Solve : Summarize the market need or problem addressed.
- Our Solution : Describe the product or service offered.
- Target Market : Identify the primary customer base.
- Team : Outline key team members.
- Financial Summary : Provide a brief overview of financial goals.
- Traction : Highlight initial sales or milestones.
- Funding Needed : Specify capital requirements if seeking funding.
Problem & solution
More than a simple description of your products and services – here you define the problem you’re solving and the value you provide. It’s also your chance to showcase any initial traction that shows you’re on the right track.
- Problem Worth Solving : Detailed description of the customer problem.
- Our Solution : Detailed description of the product or service.
- Traction : Evidence of market interest, such as sales or contracts.
- Intellectual Property/Patents : Outline any relevant IP or patents.
- Regulatory Requirements : Details on necessary government approvals.
- Future Products and Services : Potential future offerings.
Market analysis and target market
A detailed assessment of the market you intend to enter, including the size and value of the market, potential customer segments, and their buying patterns.
- Market Size & Segments : Define the size and characteristics of your target market.
- Market Trends : Consumer behavior and financial trends.
- Market Growth : Potential market size changes.
- Industry Analysis : Describe industry changes or trends.
- Key Customers : Identify any major customers.
- Future Markets : Potential market opportunities and strategy.
Competition
Show that you know who your competitors are, what advantages you have, and how you’re positioning your business to be competitive.
- Current Alternatives : Identify competitors in the market.
- Our Advantages : Describe strategic advantages over competitors.
- * Barriers to Entry (Optional): Discuss any barriers preventing new competition.
Marketing & sales
Describe how you’ll reach and sell to potential customers with a detailed sales plan and chosen marketing channels.
- Market Positioning : Define where your product or service fits in the market.
- Marketing Plan : Outline the strategy for reaching your target market.
- Sales Plan : Explain the sales strategy.
- Unique Value Proposition : What makes your offering unique.
- Pricing Strategy : Pricing compared to market alternatives.
- Distribution : How your product/service will reach customers.
- SWOT Analysis : Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
What makes your business run? Outline the day-to-day workflows and what needs to be set up for your business to deliver a product or service.
- Location & Facilities : Describe physical locations and facilities.
- Technology : Key technology crucial for the business.
- Equipment & Tools : Special equipment or tools required.
- Sourcing and Fulfillment : Description of sourcing and supply chain.
- Partners and Resources : Key partners and their contributions.
Milestones & metrics
Set goals for your business that include the dates and people responsible for accomplishing them. This is what you’ll use to manage responsibilities, track growth, and execute your larger strategy.
- Milestones : Specific goals and objectives with a timeline.
- Key Metrics : Performance indicators to gauge business health.
Company overview and team
Provide a brief rundown of the legal and structural components of your company, including your history, current team, and gaps you need to fill.
- Organizational Structure : Overview of the legal structure.
- Company History and Ownership : Brief history and ownership details.
- Management Team : Key team members and their qualifications.
- Management Team Gaps : Key positions needed for success.
Financial plan
Create well-structured and accurate financial statements to help you pitch to investors, land funding, and achieve long-term success. All without the help of a financial advisor or a degree in accounting.
- Projected Profit and Loss : Expected revenue, costs, and profitability.
- Projected Cash Flow : Cash inflows, outflows, and overall position.
- Projected Balance Sheet : Expected assets, liabilities, and equity balances.
- Use of Funds : Allocation of funds if raising capital.
- Exit Strategy : Plan for eventual business exit.
While not required, this last section of your business plan is a great place to drop in additional documents that support and strengthen the rest of your plan.
How do you write a simple business plan?
If you’re exploring a business idea and don’t plan to pursue funding, then you actually don’t need to write a traditional business plan. Instead, opt for a one-page plan , which is far easier to create but just as effective.
To write a simple one-page business plan, follow the same core sections as a traditional plan. But instead of lengthy paragraphs and multiple pages covering each area of your business, stick with single sentences and bulleted lists.
If a one-page plan sounds like a better option, download our free simple one-page business plan template to get started.
Start your business plan today
Whether you're writing a business plan to validate your business idea, secure funding, or grow your existing business – our free business planning template will help you achieve your goals.
Business plan template FAQ
What file formats are available for this business plan template?
Our business plan template can be downloaded in a number of common file formats including Google Docs, Microsoft Word (doc.x), or as a free business plan PDF .
Can you print out this template for a business plan?
This is a printable template—no matter if you download it as a pdf or word document, or access via Google Docs. The business plan template is pre-formatted and structured to fit lender and investor standards, but can be edited and adjusted to suite your needs before printing. Just be aware that any changes may unintentionally break the template, so make sure to review before printing.
Why should I start with a business plan template?
You should start with a good business plan template (like this one) to avoid having to make guesses about what to include in your business plan and how to structure the document. This template helps you organize your thoughts, and provides guidance, instructions, and examples to create an investor-ready and SBA-approved business plan format. It really speeds up the planning process. Oh, and it's 100% free!
Can I write a business plan myself?
You can absolutely write a business plan by yourself. Millions of entrepreneurs have been in your exact situation and have been able to write complete, detailed, and useful business plans. By using a template, you can speed up the writing process, avoid costly mistakes, and write your business plan without having to pay for additional support.
What are the steps to write a business plan?
The steps to write a business plan include:
- Defining the opportunity: Explain the problem your business solves, the solution you offer, your target market, and the competitive landscape.
- Describing how you'll execute: Outline your marketing and sales strategies, operational plan, milestones, and success metrics.
- Adding company details: Provide information about your business structure, ownership, and team.
- Creating a financial plan and forecasts: Include detailed financial statements, forecasts, and funding requirements.
- Adding supplementary info to your appendix: Add any additional information, such as resumes, permits, and other relevant documents.
- Summarizing your plan: While it may be first, do your executive summary last. In it, you'll briefly summarize your business, highlighting key points such as mission, product/service, and basic financial information.
For additional information, check out our full step-by-step guide to write a business plan .
How many hours does it take to write a business plan?
It can take as little as 30-minutes to write a fully functioning business plan. However, if you need to create a more detailed business plan it can take multiple hours to actually write the full document. To save yourself time, be sure to pick an appropriate plan type for your intended use case. Additionally, do any necessary research and collect your notes and other documentation beforehand so that you can focus all your effort on writing your business plan.
How can I write a simple business plan?
To write a simple business plan it's best to use a one-page business plan format. A one-page business plan includes all of the same components as a more detailed business plan but is designed to fit on a single page—making it more useful as an internal planning tool. If you still want to use a traditional business plan template, just focus on using bulleted lists and short sentences while writing to create a simpler business plan.
Is writing a business plan easy?
Writing a business plan can be easy if you use the right tools, understand your business, and come in prepared to write your business plan. Using a template can make writing a business plan easier. Additionally, if you focus on just getting your information down quickly, with the expectation that you'll revisit and revise your plan, you can speed up and simplify the process .
Can someone else write my business plan for me?
Yes, you can hire a professional business plan writer to write your business plan for you. Working with a professional can be especially useful if you're still struggling to write your business plan even when using a template for your business plan. Just be prepared to talk about your business, provide the appropriate details, and review the finished plan to be sure it actually reflects your business. If you need help vetting professional business plan writers, check out our free resource to help you ask just the right questions of potential plan writers.
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