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A business plan is like a road map. It helps you define your operation’s core objectives and build a detailed plan for how to achieve them.

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Free Business Plan Template for Small Businesses (2024)

Use this free business plan template to write your business plan quickly and efficiently.

A good business plan is essential to successfully starting your business —  and the easiest way to simplify the work of writing a business plan is to start with a business plan template.

You’re already investing time and energy in refining your business model and planning your launch—there’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to writing a business plan. Instead, to help build a complete and effective plan, lean on time-tested structures created by other  entrepreneurs and startups. 

Ahead, learn what it takes to create a solid business plan and download Shopify's free business plan template to get started on your dream today. 

What this free business plan template includes

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Products or services offered
• Market analysis
• Marketing plan
• Logistics and operations plan
• Financial plan

This business plan outline is designed to ensure you’re thinking through all of the important facets of starting a new business. It’s intended to help new business owners and entrepreneurs consider the full scope of running a business and identify functional areas they may not have considered or where they may need to level up their skills as they grow.

That said, it may not include the specific details or structure preferred by a potential investor or lender. If your goal with a business plan is to secure funding , check with your target organizations—typically banks or investors—to see if they have business plan templates you can follow to maximize your chances of success.

Shopify's free business plan template includes seven key elements typically found in the traditional business plan format:

1. Executive summary

This is a one-page summary of your whole plan, typically written after the rest of the plan is completed. The description section of your executive summary will also cover your management team, business objectives and strategy, and other background information about the brand. 

2. Company overview

This section of your business plan will answer two fundamental questions: “Who are you?” and “What do you plan to do?” Answering these questions clarifies why your company exists, what sets it apart from others, and why it’s a good investment opportunity. This section will detail the reasons for your business’s existence, its goals, and its guiding principles.

3. Products or services offered

What you sell and the most important features of your products or services. It also includes any plans for intellectual property, like patent filings or copyright. If you do market research for new product lines, it will show up in this section of your business plan.

4. Market analysis

This section includes everything from estimated market size to your target markets and competitive advantage. It’ll include a competitive analysis of your industry to address competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. Market research is an important part of ensuring you have a viable idea.

5. Marketing plan

How you intend to get the word out about your business, and what strategic decisions you’ve made about things like your pricing strategy. It also covers potential customers’ demographics, your sales plan, and your metrics and milestones for success.

6. Logistics and operations plan

Everything that needs to happen to turn your raw materials into products and get them into the hands of your customers.

7. Financial plan

It’s important to include a look at your financial projections, including both revenue and expense projections. This section includes templates for three key financial statements: an income statement, a balance sheet, and a cash-flow statement . You can also include whether or not you need a business loan and how much you’ll need.

Business plan examples

What do financial projections look like on paper? How do you write an executive summary? What should your company description include?  Business plan examples  can help answer some of these questions and transform your business idea into an actionable plan.

Professional business plan example

Inside the template, you'll find a sample business plan featuring a fictional ecommerce business . 

The sample is set up to help you get a sense of each section and understand how they apply to the planning and evaluation stages of a business plan. If you’re looking for funding, this example won’t be a complete or formal look at business plans, but it will give you a great place to start and notes about where to expand.

Lean business plan example

A lean business plan format is a shortened version of your more detailed business plan. It’s helpful when modifying your plan for a specific audience, like investors or new hires. 

Also known as a one-page business plan, it includes only the most important, need-to-know information, such as:

• Company description
• Key members of your team
• Customer segments

💡 Tip: For a step-by-step guide to creating a lean business plan (including a sample business plan), read Shopify's guide on how to create a lean business plan .

Benefits of writing a solid business plan

It’s tempting to dive right into execution when you’re excited about a new business or side project, but taking the time to write a thorough business plan and get your thoughts on paper allows you to do a number of beneficial things:

• Test the viability of your business idea. Whether you’ve got one business idea or many, business plans can make an idea more tangible, helping you see if it’s truly viable and ensure you’ve found a target market. 
• Plan for your next phase. Whether your goal is to start a new business or scale an existing business to the next level, a business plan can help you understand what needs to happen and identify gaps to address.
• Clarify marketing strategy, goals, and tactics. Writing a business plan can show you the actionable next steps to take on a big, abstract idea. It can also help you narrow your strategy and identify clear-cut tactics that will support it.
• Scope the necessary work. Without a concrete plan, cost overruns and delays are all but certain. A business plan can help you see the full scope of work to be done and adjust your investment of time and money accordingly.
• Hire and build partnerships. When you need buy-in from potential employees and business partners, especially in the early stages of your business, a clearly written business plan is one of the best tools at your disposal. A business plan provides a refined look at your goals for the business, letting partners judge for themselves whether or not they agree with your vision.
• Secure funds. Seeking financing for your business—whether from venture capital, financial institutions, or Shopify Capital —is one of the most common reasons to create a business plan.

Why you should you use a template for a business plan

A business plan can be as informal or formal as your situation calls for, but even if you’re a fan of the back-of-the-napkin approach to planning, there are some key benefits to starting your plan from an existing outline or simple business plan template.

No blank-page paralysis

A blank page can be intimidating to even the most seasoned writers. Using an established business planning process and template can help you get past the inertia of starting your business plan, and it allows you to skip the work of building an outline from scratch. You can always adjust a template to suit your needs.

Guidance on what to include in each section

If you’ve never sat through a business class, you might never have created a SWOT analysis or financial projections. Templates that offer guidance—in plain language—about how to fill in each section can help you navigate sometimes-daunting business jargon and create a complete and effective plan.

Knowing you’ve considered every section

In some cases, you may not need to complete every section of a startup business plan template, but its initial structure shows you you’re choosing to omit a section as opposed to forgetting to include it in the first place.

Tips for creating a successful business plan

There are some high-level strategic guidelines beyond the advice included in this free business plan template that can help you write an effective, complete plan while minimizing busywork.

Understand the audience for your plan

If you’re writing a business plan for yourself in order to get clarity on your ideas and your industry as a whole, you may not need to include the same level of detail or polish you would with a business plan you want to send to potential investors. Knowing who will read your plan will help you decide how much time to spend on it.

Know your goals

Understanding the goals of your plan can help you set the right scope. If your goal is to use the plan as a roadmap for growth, you may invest more time in it than if your goal is to understand the competitive landscape of a new industry.

Take it step by step

Writing a 10- to 15-page document can feel daunting, so try to tackle one section at a time. Select a couple of sections you feel most confident writing and start there—you can start on the next few sections once those are complete. Jot down bullet-point notes in each section before you start writing to organize your thoughts and streamline the writing process.

Maximize your business planning efforts

Planning is key to the financial success of any type of business , whether you’re a startup, non-profit, or corporation.

To make sure your efforts are focused on the highest-value parts of your own business planning, like clarifying your goals, setting a strategy, and understanding the target market and competitive landscape, lean on a business plan outline to handle the structure and format for you. Even if you eventually omit sections, you’ll save yourself time and energy by starting with a framework already in place.

Business plan template FAQ

What is the purpose of a business plan.

The purpose of your business plan is to describe a new business opportunity or an existing one. It clarifies the business strategy, marketing plan, financial forecasts, potential providers, and more information about the company.

How do I write a simple business plan?

• Choose a business plan format, such as a traditional or a one-page business plan. 
• Find a business plan template.
• Read through a business plan sample.
• Fill in the sections of your business plan.

What is the best business plan template?

If you need help writing a business plan, Shopify’s template is one of the most beginner-friendly options you’ll find. It’s comprehensive, well-written, and helps you fill out every section.

What are the 5 essential parts of a business plan?

The five essential parts of a traditional business plan include:

• Executive summary: This is a brief overview of the business plan, summarizing the key points and highlighting the main points of the plan.
• Business description: This section outlines the business concept and how it will be executed.
• Market analysis: This section provides an in-depth look at the target market and how the business will compete in the marketplace.
• Financial plan: This section details the financial projections for the business, including sales forecasts, capital requirements, and a break-even analysis.
• Management and organization: This section describes the management team and the organizational structure of the business.

Are there any free business plan templates?

There are several free templates for business plans for small business owners available online, including Shopify’s own version.

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Invest in the future of your business by taking the time to create or update your business plan using our free template.

The importance of your business plan

Perhaps the most important document for any new business is a business plan. Yet too many business owners fail to sit down and prepare or update one.

A business without a plan is adrift. Decisions are made reactively based on the owner’s emotions, rather than prudent research. Employees, vendors, investors and other stakeholders (as well as the owner) are unclear about the direction of the company. That lack of focus results in wasted dollars, energies and resources as the company zigzags along instead of following a well-planned straight line to its goals.

Writing a business plan can seem a daunting task. Many entrepreneurs simply don’t have the time, inclination or the proper tools.

Business planning template

We have developed a template that makes creating your Business Plan easy. And it’s free !

This template guides you through all of the steps required to complete a proper business plan. It has explanations of the terms and definitions. It lets you add your own thoughts and comments.

Once you’ve completed the steps, you’ll have a business plan complete with cover page, contact information, financial tables, product descriptions and marketing details. You can save and print the plan, or send it electronically to anyone.

Use your plan to move your business forward with confidence, to motive your team, or to present to investors or lenders.

Depending on how much research and preparation you’ve already completed, creating your plan won’t consume much time at all. While it’s very easy, don’t worry if you get stuck because help is available throughout the process.

Take your plan to the bank

Once you’ve completed your business plan, you may take it to a Scotiabank  Small Business Advisor . The advisor can review your plan, supply feedback, and, if requested, help you to explore your financing options.

Get feedback on your plan

Asking people to review your plan will make it stronger because you’ll receive valuable feedback. Share it with your accountant, lawyer, financial advisor and trusted businesspeople so they can offer their suggestions to improve your plan. If you are really worried about someone reading your secrets, consider attaching a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to the plan. An NDA is a legal document that prevents others from sharing your information with unauthorized parties.

Try our free business plan template

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Free business plan template

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Xero is your partner in all aspects of your business, not just accounting software. Whether you need a multi-page or one-page business plan template, our free business plan template comes ready to fill in, complete with instructions. Download a business plan sample today.

Download the business plan template

Fill out the form for a downloadable business plan template. Your business plan doc is available as an editable pdf to use again and again.

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Why business templates are vital

A business plan is essential for the success of your small business or startup. It helps guide the direction of your business and explains your vision to others. A reusable single- and multi-page template lets you tailor your pitch for investors, staff, and prospects. Plans help:

• Included Startups decide if the idea is viable.
• Included Small businesses gauge the competition, determine their competitive advantages, set goals, and plan marketing strategies.

Download our guide on how to write a business plan

Why you’ll want to plan your business with our template

Our business plan template:

Helps you budget accurately

Our business plan’s customizable structure lets you accurately present your financial data.

Find out more about Xero analytics

Explains business plan components

Each business plan component comes with an annotated explanation to help you write your plan.

Read our guide on creating a business plan

Has multi-page and single-page versions

Simplify your mission, then focus it for investors with two different templates.

Download the single and multi-page templates

Getting started with the business plan template

Develop a concise mission statement about why your company exists and how it differs from similar companies. For example, Google’s statement is ‘To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful’. LinkedIn’s statement is 'Connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful'. Then, develop business goals and objectives that fit with your statement. For example, LinkedIn’s objectives would specify metrics around the number of professionals and connections.

A value proposition presents the specific benefits your product or service brings to your customer, reinforces your brand identity, and give your team a focus. Business plan examples of value propositions might be: 'We help our customers feel good by fueling up with exceptional coffee in a community environment’, or ‘We help our customers choose the right gift in less than 10 minutes’.

A business plan for startups defines its target customers. All businesses should include market analysis in their business plans and update their analysis regularly. Start with your customers’ demographics. Then use the internet and primary sources like surveys and interviews) to learn more. Next, identify competitors and determine their strengths and weaknesses. Compare them with each other and decide where you fit within the competitive environment.

Successful small businesses promote their brands through websites, social media, broadcast ads, or sponsorships. They also use various sales channels, including online, brick-and-mortar stores, affiliates and distributors. Your business plan market analysis helps you decide the marketing strategies for your industry, product, and target audience. It also will help you predict annual sales – a key part of your financial planning.

Your business plan outline will also include your business structure, such as whether you are a limited corporation or partnership. It will list any operating agreements and information on supplier logistics. For example, how you will receive your raw materials and how you’ll deliver the product to customers. It will describe your daily operations and number of employees. Once you’ve completed your business plan, you’ll develop job descriptions for each role and begin hiring your team.

Financial forecasting is an important part of financial planning for businesses. Investors and lenders want to see your forecasts to determine whether to provide financing. The forecast also helps you budget to weather seasonal revenue dips and decide how many staff you can afford. It’s also a benchmark for gauging your performance, so you can take corrective action if necessary. Hiring a bookkeeper or accountant will help you make more accurate forecasts.

One-page business plan template

Writing about customers, competitors, income, and expenses will build your ideas in a short time. A single-page business plan template is:

• Included Easy for you and investors to read and understand
• Included Great for making a start
• Included Helps pin down the main idea
• Included Easy to update

Example of a business plan

Need an example of a simple business plan to get started.

Check out our filled-in, one-page business plan and be inspired to write your own.

When you’ll need a multi-page template

A multi-page business plan template has detailed forecasts and budgets, with evidence behind statements of costs, market size & competition

Pitching to investors

A multi-page business plan provides a comprehensive overview and is essential when you’re seeking funding.

Download multi-page business plan template.

Financing your business

Detailed financial planning for business demonstrates to lenders you manage funds responsibly.

Download our finance guide.

Forecasting and budgeting

A multi-page plan sets out expectations behind your business goals and objectives with detailed forecasting.

Learn about budgeting and forecasting.

FAQs about business plan templates

You want your team and investors to grasp your vision at a glance. A simple, concise plan is easier to understand, implement, and track. A complex plan can be overwhelming, leading to procrastination or inaction, and harder for your team to grasp. A simple plan is less daunting and more easily achievable, so you and your team are more likely to follow through with it.

Absolutely. The template is fully editable and customizable. You can change the content to create a plan that is unique, engaging, and personal, and update the plan easily as conditions change. The template guides you through the process, but doesn’t require you to do your plan a certain way.

Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This template has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business.

Start using Xero for free

Access Xero features for 30 days, then decide which plan best suits your business.

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Create Your Business Plan

Your business plan is a document that should grow with your business. It should undergo constant revisions as your business evolves and expands.

Navigation:

• What Your Business Plan Will Do For You
• Sample Business Plans
• General Business Planning Help

What Your Business Plan Will Do For You  

• Be a reality check! It will force you to identify your business strengths and weaknesses.
• Help you figure out your budget.
• Provide a clear direction, which can keep you focused and help eliminate stress.
• Be your timetable for operations
• Help you coordinate all the diverse activities that go into running your business.
• Serve as a resume when you seek lenders, suppliers, investors or partners.
• Ensure you evaluate the market for your product or services and size up the competition.
• Provide a clear starting point for future business planning.

Sample Business Plans  

Bplans.com This site offers a selection of free sample business plans, as well as articles on business planning. Bplans.com also sells business planning software.

Business Plans Handbook, Gale Publishing This is a database of actual business plans written by North American entrepreneurs seeking financing for their businesses. Includes examples of many start-up business ideas. Access is available through many BC public libraries, made possible by a generous donation from the Sutherland Foundation. Affiliates of UBC can start here .

Center for Business Planning The MOOT CORP® Competition simulated the experience of entrepreneurs pitching investors for funding. Although the competition is no longer held, the business plans presented by MBAs from the best business schools in the world can still be found on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.

Templates  

Futurpreneur - Business Plan Writer An interactive, online, tool that allows you to customize your business plan. Includes tips & tricks and can be downloaded to a word, excel or PDF file.

Business Development Canada (BDC) - Business Plan Template This is one of the best downloadable business plan templates. The business plan contains 2 sections, with a glossary and user guide.

Canada Business Site An excellent source for financing, permit, and business planning information. Includes a complete list of useful templates.

SCORE SCORE is a non profit association helping small businesses. Their library includes templates for business plans, SWOT analysis, financial projections and more.

General Business Planning Help  

Small Business BC (SBBC) SBBC is a great place to start for information on BC specific regulations and guidelines, for whatever stage you are in your business development. This is a great post  on the topic.

GoForthInstitute An excellent collection of free resources for entrepreneurs on diverse subjects. Of particular interest are the How-To Guides, templates and samples, and business calculators. They also offer low-cost video training.

Small Business Planner, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) This website includes information and resources that will help you at any stage of the business lifecycle. Watch their series of business planning videos here .

Need information on business research as you write your business plan? Check out our Beginner's Guide to Business Research , or go to our collection of 100+ Industry  Guides for industry-specific research help.

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Vaisus Consulting

Welcome to Vaisus Business Plans

Business Plan Template Canada – Free Download

posted on 7:22 am

Our business plan template includes all the essential sections that Canadian banks look for. We’ve created business plans for clients in various industries, including construction, food services, health care, oil and gas, manufacturing, consulting, etc. Our business plans have been accepted by all major Canadian banks and lending institutions, including TD, RBC, CIBC, ATB, Scotiabank, etc.

Why is a business plan important? Here are the top 6 reasons:

Act as a roadmap

Your business plan will help you think through all the details of running your business; therefore, it will act as a guide through every stage from the startup phase to when your business is fully operational.

Help you apply for funding

No bank or other lending institution will award you funding without seeing a full business plan with 3 to 5-year financial projections. They will want to see on paper if you have thought through your business and if the business will be profitable.

Know how to allocate resources

Your business plan will guide you in resource allocation. As you work on your financial projections, you’ll see what resources are fixed, which ones are variable, and how they impact your revenues.

Create a marketing strategy

To attract your potential customers, you’ll need to market your business. Your business plan will help determine your target market demographic and how to reach out to them through various forms, including traditional channels like newspapers, brochures, trade shows, or online platforms, including social media. You will need to conduct market and competitor analysis and determine your value proposition.

Determine if you will need to hire staff

You’ll create your operational plan and determine if you will need to hire staff for your business. You will need to highlight your management team as well.

Set milestones

A well-written business plan will help in setting goals and milestones and will keep you accountable for achieving your business vision and keeping you on track to ensure you meet your deadlines.

It’s advisable to get support from a business plan consultant who will take you through every step in developing a business plan that will impress lenders and get you the funding you need to start and run your business. At Vaisus , we have helped our clients bring their ideas to life and helped them build customized business plans appropriate for their type of industry. Contact us for more information.

Download our free business plan template that includes all sections required by most Canadian banks.”

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Create a Business Plan

Think of it as a playbook for your goals, priorities and growth opportunities., how to write a business plan.

Creating a business plan can feel like a huge undertaking when you are starting a new business . And while developing one does require careful thought, studies show that entrepreneurs who have a formal plan are often more successful than those who don’t. Keep reading to see how a business plan benefits you and the details you should include.

Prefer to just get started? Start creating your business plan with the RBC Business Plan Builder.

Content in this Article

What is a business plan? Benefits of writing a business plan Information to include in your business plan Create your plan with the RBC Business Plan Builder

What is a Business Plan?

Benefits of writing a business plan.

Writing a business plan can help you in several ways—here are just a few of the biggest benefits:

• Provides a roadmap. A business plan requires you to be thoughtful about the direction of your business, consider the goals most important to you and how you will achieve them. Think of it as your step-by-step guide for success!
• Reveals gaps or risks you need to address. By looking at your business critically, you’ll be able to identify your strengths as well as areas where you may be vulnerable.
• Shows potential investors, stakeholders or lenders that you’re serious. Attract and engage those who may be interested in your business with all the important information they need to know.

Information to Include in Your Business Plan

Create an executive summary Describe the current business environment Outline your marketing and pricing strategies Describe how your business will operate Detail your financing and cash flow needs Describe your team (even if it’s just you) Identify risks and how you’ll protect your business Write a conclusion Include your contact information

Create an Executive Summary

After your cover page and table of contents, include an executive summary. Since this is the first thing readers will see, it should be clear, grab their attention and identify what your business does.

What to include:

• Your industry, target market and how your business is different from the competition
• Your business structure (sole proprietorship, corporation, etc.)
• What stage your business is in
• Your experience and credentials, as well as your team’s, if applicable
• Financial projections for the business (or performance to date, if you’re already operating)
• Calculate your estimated revenue - how to calculate revenue

Tip: Write your executive summary last and keep it to one page. While it’s structurally the first section, it will summarize everything else in your plan.

Describe the Current Business Environment

This should be a detailed history and summary of your business, identifying the product(s) or service(s) you’re offering and how you will solve a problem or need in the market. Be sure to include any pre-market research or testing you’ve conducted that speaks to the viability of your idea.

When you’re starting a business , your bank and potential investors don’t have historical data to review. Your plan must clearly convey your strategy, competencies and the reasons your venture will succeed. (If your business is already established, you’ll want to cover where you started and how you got here.)

• Where you want your business to go—and how you’ll get there. What are your goals? How will you generate sales?
• What your business does. What needs does your business fulfill? Where will you sell your products or services?
• Your business set up. How is your business structured ? Are there other owners or shareholders?
• How you know your business will work. What market research or testing have you done? Are there trends?

Tip: Revisit your business idea by asking yourself these 7 key questions or use our business idea checklist to see the steps you may need to take to get to opening day.

Outline Your Marketing and Pricing Strategies

This is your opportunity to explain how you’re going to get customers to buy your products or services. This section involves identifying your ideal customers, your pricing strategy and more.

• Your products, service and unique selling proposition. What are the features of your product or service and what makes it unique compared to what your competitors offer? How will you draw customers away from competitors?

Tip: Completing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis may help you write this section. Download a FREE SWOT Analysis Template

• Your pricing strategy. How will your pricing be competitive, but still allow you to make a profit? Check out how to decide on a pricing strategy.
• Your sales and delivery strategy. How will you will generate sales? Will you sell directly to customers or through other businesses? How much will it cost to produce and ship your product?
• Advertising and promotion strategy. Which advertising and promotion tactics (website, digital marketing, social media, email) will reach your audience most effectively?

Tip: Choose a few channels to do well instead of pursuing all of them at once. That way, you’ll be better able to direct your focus and monitor your progress.

Describe How Your Business Will Operate

The operations section of your business plan should describe what’s physically necessary for your business, as well as any partners who help keep things running smoothly.

This section contains four main categories:

• Your stage of development. This should highlight what you’ve done to date to get the business operational, then follow up with an explanation of what still needs to be done.
• The production process. This lays out the details of your day-to-day operations, manufacturing details, inventory, costs, outsourcing and more.
• Getting products and services to customers. What is your supply chain and distribution strategy?
• Partners and allies. Who are the people and organizations that support you? Who are key suppliers and vendors?

Third-party groups may be able to help you in your journey. For example, Futurpreneur serves entrepreneurs age 18-39 who want access to business resources, financing and mentoring.

Detail Your Financing and Cash Flow Needs

Use this section to determine how strong your business is financially. Be realistic about expenses and projected income so you can properly assess your financial health early on and make sure you have enough cash for the first year.

• Startup costs. What are your one-time and ongoing expenses? How will you cover the costs? Check out how to determine your start-up costs and working capital or use our Startup Costs Calculator .
• Profit margin and break-even point. How will you make a profit and calculate margins? What is your break-even point? Suggested reading: The Difference Between Cash Flow and Profit
• Balance sheet. What assets, liabilities and capital do you have at this point in time?
• Financing. What are your sources of financing —savings, loans, grants? What are your repayment terms, if any?
• Cash flow forecast. What is your 12-month cash flow forecast? Estimate it now: Cash Flow Forecast Template

Describe Your Team (Even if It’s Just You)

This section should describe your current team as well as anyone you might need to hire to round out your company.

• Skills and strengths. What skills do you and/or your team have that are critical to the business?
• Management style and structure. How will you manage your team? Who will employees report to?

Identify Risks and How You’ll Protect Your Business

Every business comes with some risk, so it’s better to be prepared for them now rather than be surprised later. Use this section to explore potential risks and how you’ll protect your business .

• Obstacles your business may face. How could the economy, your competition, supply chain or another circumstance affect your business? How do you plan to minimize and handle these and other risks?
• How you’ll protect against losing market share (new competition). Do you have any agreements or vendors you’ll rely on?
• How you’ll prevent critical data loss. Outline what you will do to reduce the impact of data loss, such as backing up all computer data regularly, using cloud providers, employee rules on installing software and other policies.
• How you’ll protect intellectual assets. Will employees sign confidentiality agreements to protect processes, trade secrets and other intellectual property? See How Intellectual Property (IP) in Canada Works .
• Compliance requirements. What rules, regulations and licences will you need to comply with to operate?
• Insurance needs. Does your industry require specific coverage, such as professional liability or other insurance?

Write a Conclusion

This is the last thing readers will see, so you want it to be strong. Use your conclusion to reinforce your goals and objectives. If you need financing, clearly state the amount you need and how it will be used. As with your executive summary, your conclusion should be succinct, clear and leave a positive impression.

Include Your Contact Information

Potential investors and lenders need to know how to reach you. Don’t forget to include your business name, contact information, website and social media presence in your plan.

Create Your Plan with the RBC Business Plan Builder

This comprehensive template will guide you through a series of questions, resources and tips to help you write your plan. Best of all, you can go at your own pace and come back to work on it anytime.

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RBC business advisors can help your company at every stage—from starting up to simplifying operations and funding growth. An RBC business advisor will work with you to:

• Understand your vision and business goals
• Set up the right financial products and solutions
• Explore options to effectively manage cash flow, pay employees and get paid
• Connect you to a suite of business advice and solutions that go beyond traditional banking

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Business Plan Template

BDC’s free business plan template is part of a kit put together to help you define who you are, describe your business, and document how you will be profitable.

Your business plan is not only a necessity when seeking financing for your project, it is a recognized management tool that outlines exactly what your company will do and how it plans to succeed.

Related Resources

Special report: women’s entrepreneurship.

Report by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2015 Globally, the rates of women’s participation in early-stage entreprene...

Managing Your Financials, On-Demand Training Videos

Wecafé | funding masterclass: finding the right model for your business.

Do you have a project or innovative idea and need funding support to turn it from a dream into a reality? Are you a busi...

Your Step by Step Guide to Navigating Canada’s Free Trade Agreements

Did you know that Canada has 15 free trade agreements that cover 49 countries? These agreements give Canadian businesses...

• Business planning and strategy

Business plan writer

The interactive Futurpreneur business plan writer is designed to simplify the business planning process by allowing you to customize your plan. We also provide tips & tricks, and plenty of examples to guide you as you write.

Business plan example

Gain valuable insights from Futurpreneur’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Dominik Loncar, to learn how to articulate your vision with clarity and impact. We understand that writing a business plan can feel daunting, there’s so many pieces it’s hard to know where to start. So, to help you get started we’ve created a business plan example that includes insights and rationale from Dominik Loncar. He’s our Entrepreneur-in-Residence and he’s reviewed 100s of business plans from entrepreneurs.

Business plan essentials

Never written a business plan before? Fear not! With this crash course, you’ll be provided with an overview of the different components that make up a solid business plan ensuring you’re launch-ready and poised for success.

Related resources

• Entrepreneurship

Small Business BC

Resources for entrepreneurs to start and grow successful businesses.

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Business Planning for Small Business

Many entrepreneurs write a business plan only when they need to secure start-up financing. However, your plan is far more than a document for banks and investors to read; it’s an invaluable roadmap for launching and growing your business.

In order to put your business concept on paper, you need to think through and research the many factors that are needed to make sure your business is a success. With a plan, not only can you spot potential weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, your plan can help you make informed decisions about your venture before you commit yourself legally or financially. Here’s how Small Business BC can help you prepare your business plan.

Download Our Business Plan Checklist

So you have decided you want to run your own business, but have you started your business planning process? Start with Small Business BC’s Business Plan Checklist.

Business Plan Consulting And Review Service

No matter what stage you’re at in the business planning process, our review service can keep you on course for success. Currently 50% courtesy of a subsidy from Fortis BC.

Download Our Free Business Plan Template

Our business plan template allows you to map sales forecasts, project costs, coordinate marketing and determine an optimal financing request all in one simple easy to use tool.

Watch our Writing a Business Plan Webinar Recording

Hear from SBBC Business Plan Advisor, John Baxter, as he shares his expertise on how to approach writing a business plan.

Province of BC - Business Structures Wizard Tool

One of your most important early decisions when starting a new business is your choice of business structure. Use the Province of BC’s handy tool to compare your options and determine the best fit for your needs.

Creating an Accessible Workplace

Discover tips, resources and best practices for creating a workplace that’s accessible to those with disabilities.

Hear from Business Plan Clients

Our advisor asked probing questions about things like inventory, marketing expenses and sales forecasts – it made us recalculate our assumptions and made sure we realized our potential..

Discover how SBBC's Business Plan Advisory service helped Takasa hone in on their unique selling point to achieve their vision of starting a socially and environmentally responsible retail business.

Working with a Business Plan Advisor really helped me understand what was coming down the line six months, and a year from now

Hear how several SBBC Business Plan clients, including The Garden Strathcona, have navigated the unique challenges of their industries and achieved success.

The Garden Strathcona + More

Other Ways Small Business BC Can Help Your Business

Read our 10 step guide to starting a business.

Read our simplified guide to each area of the start-up experience, highlighting the services and help you can lean on to achieve your goals.

10 Step Guide to Starting a Business

Discover our selection of webinars to upskill your business

Small Business BC provides practical business education tailored for small businesses right here in BC. Whether you need help starting your business, hiring employees, managing operations, or anything else, Small Business BC is here to help. View our full calendar of business education .

Sign up for our newsletter and receive our latest updates in your inbox every two weeks

Sign up for Small Business BC’s newsletter and be the first to discover our latest news, special offers, and practical resources for your small business. Sign up now , it’s free and easy!

Discover our range of free downloadable resources

Starting a business? Start with Small Business BC’s comprehensive list of free downloadable resources. We’ve got everything covered, from business plan templates, cash flow forecasting and our starting a business checklist. View Resources .

Reach more customers online by joining our BC Marketplace

Join our free online hub of BC-based small businesses and reach a province-wide audience of engaged customers that are passionate about small business. Sign up now .

View our range of on-demand E-Learning education

Our self-directed E-Learning courses are available anytime, anywhere. Each on-demand course consists of bite-sized topics filled with features like readings, handouts, videos and quizzes. Discover our range of E-Learning education today.

Find Government of Canada Resources to Help Your Business

Start Grow, and Expand Your Business

The Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN) is a group of independent organizations that receive WD funds to help Western Canadians start, grow and expand their businesses.

Accelerated Growth Service

The Accelerated Growth Service (AGS) helps growth-oriented Canadian businesses to expand by helping them access the key government services they need to grow, such as financing, exporting, innovation and business advice.

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