business plan template for expansion

Home » Blog » Small Business Growth » Free Business Expansion Plan Template

By Barbara Davidson

Posted on March 23, 2020

Free Business Expansion Plan Template

Business plans are crucial tools that help you budget, adapt and run your small business. They can even be used to secure funding or recruit a new partner. Looking to open a new location? A business expansion plan can help you think about what you need to get there.

Every business is unique, but there are a few essentials to include in a business expansion plan. Whether you accompany your proposal with an elaborate presentation or keep it minimal, a business expansion plan should outline steps that you’ll take to facilitate and support the growth of your business, from securing capital to an updated marketing strategy in a new territory.

What to Include and How to Write Your Business Expansion Plan

Here are the fundamentals you should cover in your own expansion plan and how to go about writing them:

Executive Summary

An executive summary is a concise statement that provides a high-level rundown of your business, your expansion and how you intend to achieve that vision. It should briefly highlight crucial areas like:

• Growth targets
• Projected and current operating costs
• Funding needs
• Marketing approach

Provide as much detail as necessary for someone reading only your summary to get the gist of your overall expansion strategy. It may help to complete this section last.

What You Do and What You Offer

Discuss what makes your business unique:

• What do you provide for your customers that other companies don’t?
• In what areas do you shine?

Use this space to communicate your business’s value propositions. You should also list your full line of products and services here.

Executive and Management Team

Identify any key players and stakeholders responsible for overseeing the expansion. You may also want to include your company controller/accountant, account manager or any consultant advising your activity.

Plan of Expansion

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, this is where you detail your expansion proposal. Describe your goal and what you need to achieve your vision. Think in terms of planning, executing and maturing your expansion. Identify what or where you intend to expand:

• Are you releasing a new product?
• Do you plan to open a new branch?
• Does your expansion involve additional staffing needs ?

Make sure to cover:

• How you intend to support your expansion
• Whether you’ll need additional staff, capital or resources for your plan
• Details about your new product or service, if applicable
• Goals and key performance indicators (KPIs)
• New regulations or legislation, if applicable

Marketing Analysis

Identify and analyze your competitors in your new area of expansion. Consider what makes your competitors successful, their advertising strategies, prices, industry outlook and what opportunities you might have to reach new, niche audiences.

Marketing Strategy

Outline the steps you’ll take to achieve the goals you’ve laid out. Identify your value propositions, any forms of advertising you plan to use, your key customer demographics and where/how you plan to sell your service or product. While you may not have fully developed concepts, you can include any marketing deliverables you intend to use in your strategy.

Financial History, Analysis and Forecasts

In this section, you’ll need a variety of financial documents, like sales reports, balance sheets, profit & loss statements and future forecasts to support your expansion plan. If you’re new to business bookkeeping or accounting, it may be a good idea to hire a professional who can help you prepare this portion of your plan. Use visuals like charts and tables to display complex data when possible. Potential investors, lenders and partners will likely pay particular attention to your finances, so make sure to double-check that everything is accurate and up-to-date.

Your expenses will fluctuate over the course of an expansion, so it’s a good idea to include financial projections for up to five years. With your previous data and forecasts, you should be able to estimate what you’ll need to run your business, including whether or not you need expansion capital to fund any new activity.

Most Popular

Word Maps of 12 Personality Types

Is Plaid Safe?

How Does a Small Business Loan Affect My Personal or Business Credit?

Positive Marketing Strategies That Inspire Customers to Act

Business Expansion Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success

• Post author By awesome
• Post date November 26, 2023

Business expansion planning involves developing strategies and initiatives to grow a company’s operations, market presence, and profitability.

It includes assessing market opportunities, setting growth objectives, and outlining steps to enter new markets or expand existing ones.

Expansion Plan Essentials

Understanding expansion.

Businesses must grow to survive. Expansion is not just beneficial; it’s necessary. This growth can take many forms. Companies might spread geographically, broaden their product or service lines, or target new customer demographics as part of their business expansion strategy , incorporating growth strategies into their business expansion plan and business growth plans.

Technological advancements have changed the game. They make expansion not only easier but also more efficient, offering a significant advantage for growth strategies to increase through a focused growth strategy . With digital tools, businesses can reach new markets and expand their customer base without the hefty costs of physical setup, using online surveys to boost sales.

Importance of Planning

Expansion comes with its risks. Planning plays a critical role in minimizing these dangers. It’s about laying down a roadmap for where the business wants to go, focusing on growth plans, market development, and the mission of the new venture, and how it intends to get there.

Effective planning ensures resources are allocated wisely. It also sets realistic timelines for achieving expansion milestones. Most importantly, planning aligns expansion efforts, including business growth plans, product development, diversification, and budget considerations, with the company’s overarching goals. Without this alignment in small businesses, growth could lead the new venture or company astray rather than toward greater success, despite the funding.

Key Themes and Strategies

When planning for expansion , several core themes such as business growth, resources, existing business structure, and embarking on a new venture emerge as vital. Innovation keeps a business competitive and appealing to customers. Market research provides insights into where and how to expand effectively, forming a crucial part of the business expansion strategy, business expansion plan, business growth plan, and overall business plan. Engaging with customers helps tailor a business growth plan for small businesses and new ventures, ensuring expansion efforts meet real needs outlined in the business plan.

Strategies for successful expansion vary widely but often include forming partnerships, pursuing acquisitions, or fostering organic growth within the company, focusing on new venture strategies and a solid business plan, especially for small businesses mindful of costs. The choice depends on the company’s specific situation, growth plan, and goals, considering the costs of the new venture.

Flexibility and adaptability are crucial in strategy formulation. Markets change, new competitors emerge, and customer preferences evolve. A rigid plan may quickly become obsolete. Businesses need to be ready to adjust their strategies and growth plan in response to these changes, considering costs.

Research Fundamentals

Market analysis.

To identify expansion opportunities for a business growth plan, a thorough market analysis is crucial and a fundamental need for any business plan. This involves studying current market trends, understanding customer demands, and identifying potential barriers to entry for the business expansion plan, business plan, and business growth plan, as they are essential needs. Such an analysis helps businesses plan and pinpoint the need for the most lucrative markets for expansion.

They must use reliable data sources to grasp how market trends can influence their operations as part of their business growth plan, business expansion plan, and overall business plan, highlighting the need for such data. It’s also vital to recognize the dynamics of supply and demand, need, business growth plan, business expansion plan, and business plan within these markets. By doing so, companies can avoid overcrowded markets and instead focus on those with high growth potential as part of their business expansion plan, aligning with their overall business plan.

Competitor Insights

Understanding what competitors are doing can unveil gaps in the market and opportunities for differentiation, business expansion, and refinement of the business plan. Analyzing competitors isn’t just about knowing their products but also their business model, customer service, marketing strategies, and plan. This insight is key to carving out a unique position in new markets for business expansion.

Strategies such as offering superior quality products, innovative features, or better customer service can help differentiate from competitors. Continuous monitoring of competitor activities is essential for business expansion even after entering a new market. It ensures that the business remains competitive and can adapt quickly to any changes.

Customer Feedback

Customer feedback is invaluable for guiding expansion directions and product development. Methods like surveys, focus groups, and social media monitoring can provide a wealth of information on customer preferences and pain points, crucial for business expansion.

This feedback allows businesses to tailor their offerings to meet customer needs more effectively, thereby improving satisfaction and loyalty. It’s a direct line to understanding what works well and what needs improvement from the customer’s perspective.

Setting Objectives

Defining goals.

For a business aiming to expand, setting clear, long-term goals is crucial. These goals serve as the roadmap for all future actions. They must resonate with the company’s mission and core values to ensure that every step taken is in the right direction. This alignment not only fosters a sense of purpose within the organization but also ensures that the expansion efforts are sustainable and meaningful.

Goals do more than just guide decision-making; they inspire and direct the team. By understanding what the business aims to achieve, employees can channel their efforts towards these objectives. This clarity prevents misdirection and keeps everyone motivated towards achieving common targets.

Measurable Objectives

The concept of SMART goals —Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—plays a pivotal role in planning for expansion. For each phase of growth, setting SMART objectives ensures that progress can be accurately tracked and evaluated. These measurable objectives are essential for identifying when adjustments are needed and celebrating milestones along the journey.

Examples of measurable objectives might include increasing revenue by 20% within two years or entering three new markets within eighteen months. Such precise targets allow businesses to monitor their success in real-time and make data-driven decisions.

Choosing Expansion Methods

Market penetration.

To boost market share in existing markets, companies often enhance their marketing efforts and improve their products. They focus on making their offerings more appealing to current customers and attracting those from competitors. This approach ensures a stronger foothold before venturing into new territories.

Deepening market penetration offers significant benefits. It allows businesses to maximize their potential within familiar grounds, reducing risks associated with unknown markets. Strategies such as pricing adjustments , targeted promotions, and exceptional customer service play pivotal roles in enhancing market penetration. These elements not only attract new customers but also foster loyalty among existing ones.

Market Development

Entering new markets or segments requires careful planning and consideration. The success of market development hinges on thorough market research and an understanding of local nuances. Identifying the right segment that aligns with your product is crucial.

Market research sheds light on consumer behavior, preferences, and potential barriers in new territories. Overcoming challenges like cultural differences and regulatory hurdles is essential for successful entry. Strategies include adapting marketing messages to resonate with local audiences and ensuring compliance with local laws.

Product Development

Innovation plays a key role in developing new products or services that meet emerging needs in the market. Listening to customer feedback and conducting market research are fundamental steps in guiding product development effectively.

The process involves testing and refining new offerings before launching them fully into the market. This iterative process ensures that the final product meets customer expectations and has a higher chance of success upon release.

Diversification

Diversification involves expanding into new markets with entirely new products or services. It’s a strategy that carries both risks and rewards but can lead to significant growth if executed well.

The benefits of diversification include spreading risk across different markets and opportunities for increased revenue streams. However, it requires careful consideration of how these new ventures align with the company’s core competencies. Successful diversification stories often highlight the importance of strategic planning, innovation, and adaptability.

Developing a Strategy

Strategy formulation.

Creating a growth strategy involves more than just envisioning where your business will stand in the future. It requires a detailed plan that covers market entry, product development, and effective growth tactics. The key is to build a strategy that leverages your company’s strengths while seizing available market opportunities. This approach ensures that the expansion efforts are not only ambitious but also grounded in reality.

A solid business plan always includes room for flexibility. Markets can shift and unforeseen challenges may arise. Incorporating adaptability into your strategy allows your business to navigate these changes without losing sight of its goals. It’s about preparing for the unexpected while staying focused on growth.

Actionable Steps

Once the expansion strategy is laid out, breaking it down into actionable steps is crucial. This process involves setting clear milestones that guide the business towards its objectives. Each step should have assigned responsibilities and strict deadlines to ensure progress is measurable and accountable.

Regular reviews of progress against these milestones are essential. They offer an opportunity to adjust the plan in response to real-world outcomes and insights gained along the way. This iterative process keeps the strategy dynamic, allowing for course corrections that align with both internal developments and external market shifts.

Expansion Plan Template

Template benefits.

Using a business expansion plan template simplifies the planning process immensely. It acts like a roadmap, ensuring that no critical aspect of your expansion is overlooked. Templates bring structure and focus, making it easier to identify and address key areas of growth and potential challenges.

A template’s greatest strength lies in its ability to maintain consistency and clarity throughout the document. This uniformity is crucial when sharing your vision with stakeholders and team members. It ensures everyone is on the same page, which can significantly enhance collaboration and decision-making processes.

Moreover, a well-crafted business expansion plan template serves as an excellent communication tool. It allows you to present your growth strategies clearly and concisely, making it easier for others to understand your objectives. This clarity is vital for securing buy-in from investors, partners, and employees alike.

Customizing the business expansion plan template to fit your specific needs is key. Start by reflecting on the strategy developed in the previous section. Then, integrate those strategic goals into the template. This ensures that your growth plan aligns with your overall business objectives.

The business landscape is always changing, so it’s important to regularly update your plan. Keep an eye on market conditions, competitor actions, and internal performance metrics. Adjustments may be necessary to stay on course or seize new opportunities.

Best practices for utilizing the template effectively include involving stakeholders early in the planning process. Their feedback can provide invaluable insights that might otherwise be missed. Also, encourage open discussions about the plan’s content and direction. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of ownership among team members and stakeholders, which can drive more effective implementation of the growth plan.

Professional Assistance

When to seek help.

Business expansion is a complex journey. It often requires more than just an expansion plan template . There are times when external advice becomes invaluable. This is especially true in scenarios involving new markets or regulatory landscapes that are unfamiliar.

Seeking help from experts in legal, financial, and market research fields can provide clarity. They offer insights that are hard to come by internally. Their expertise becomes crucial when navigating complex markets or regulatory environments. For example, expanding into a new country might require understanding local laws and consumer behavior. Here, legal and market research consultants can make a significant difference.

The benefits of leveraging external expertise are manifold. They bring a fresh perspective to your expansion strategy. Also, they can identify potential pitfalls before they become problematic. This foresight can save time and resources in the long run.

Finding Experts

Finding the right experts or consultants for business expansion requires diligence. Start by looking for professionals with industry experience relevant to your business’s sector. A track record of successful expansions in similar industries is a good indicator of their capability.

References and testimonials play a critical role in evaluating potential experts. They provide real-world evidence of the consultant’s ability to deliver results. Don’t hesitate to ask for case studies or contact former clients directly. This step ensures you get an unbiased view of their services.

Networking events and professional associations related to your industry can also be valuable resources. They often have directories of members who offer consulting services tailored to businesses looking to expand.

Selecting the right consultant involves assessing their understanding of your business goals and how well they align with your vision for expansion. Ensure they have a clear grasp of what success looks like for your project.

SEO for Expansion Planning

Keyword research.

Keyword research is vital for tailoring your online presence to new markets. It helps identify what potential customers are searching for in different regions. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush offer insights into search trends and competition levels.

Effective keyword research involves analyzing search volume, relevance, and the competitiveness of keywords. This analysis informs content creation, ensuring it meets the needs of your target audience. By understanding local search behaviors, businesses can craft their growth plans more effectively.

Keywords also guide marketing strategies. They help in optimizing website content, blog posts, and social media campaigns. This tailored approach ensures higher visibility among desired audiences.

Content Creation

Creating content that resonates with new markets is crucial for business expansion. Strategies include using local language nuances and addressing region-specific interests. This relevance boosts engagement and fosters trust with your audience.

Localizing content goes beyond translation. It involves adapting cultural references, humor, and societal norms to suit local tastes. Such efforts show respect for the target market’s culture, enhancing brand perception.

Content serves as a tool for building brand awareness and credibility in unfamiliar territories. Through informative blog posts, engaging videos, and insightful social media content, businesses can establish a strong presence in new markets. Quality content positions your brand as an authority in its field, encouraging customer loyalty and advocacy.

Monitoring Progress

Key performance indicators.

To gauge the effectiveness of business expansion, setting clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is crucial. These metrics serve as a roadmap, guiding businesses towards their expansion goals. For instance, monitoring market share growth reveals how well a company is competing in new regions. Similarly, tracking customer acquisition rates can show how appealing the business is to its new target audience. Another vital KPI is revenue increases, which directly reflect the financial success of expansion efforts.

By analyzing these indicators, businesses can pinpoint areas of success and those needing improvement. This analysis allows for data-driven decisions, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently. It also helps in fine-tuning marketing strategies, potentially informed by SEO insights from the previous planning phase.

Adjusting Strategies

The path to successful expansion is rarely linear. It demands an openness to strategy adjustments based on performance data and market feedback. Recognizing this need for flexibility ensures that a business remains competitive and relevant. Continuous learning from both successes and setbacks fosters an environment of innovation and resilience.

Systematically reviewing expansion strategies at regular intervals plays a key role here. It involves assessing whether current tactics align with overall business objectives and making necessary changes if they do not. This process might include revisiting SEO strategies to better target emerging markets or adjusting product offerings based on customer feedback.

Crafting a foolproof business expansion plan is no small feat, but armed with the essentials, research fundamentals, and a clear set of objectives, you’re well on your way. Whether it’s choosing the right expansion methods, developing a solid strategy, or leveraging professional assistance and SEO tactics, each step is a building block towards your goal. Remember, monitoring progress is key to adapting and thriving. Your journey doesn’t end with a plan in hand; it’s just the beginning. Dive deep into each aspect we’ve covered, apply them diligently, and watch your business reach new heights.

Ready to take the leap? Start by revisiting your expansion plan template and refine it with the insights you’ve gained. Your ambition paired with a well-crafted strategy is unstoppable. Keep pushing boundaries, stay ahead of the curve, and remember, we’re here to help every step of the way. Let’s make your expansion dreams a reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the essentials of an expansion plan.

An effective expansion plan includes a thorough market analysis, clear objectives, a detailed strategy, and a realistic budget. It’s the foundation for successful growth.

How important is research in business expansion planning?

Research is crucial. It helps you understand the market, identify opportunities, and minimize risks. Without it, your expansion efforts may be misguided.

What should be my first step in choosing an expansion method?

Start by assessing your business’s strengths and market opportunities. This will guide you in selecting the most suitable method for your expansion.

Can you develop a strategy without professional help?

Yes, but consulting professionals can provide valuable insights and experience that might be missed otherwise. They can help refine your strategy to ensure success.

Is there a template for creating an expansion plan?

Yes, many templates exist to guide you through structuring your plan effectively. They ensure you don’t overlook critical elements.

How does SEO contribute to business expansion planning?

SEO increases your online visibility, helping you reach a broader audience more efficiently. It’s essential for attracting new customers during expansion.

Why is monitoring progress important in business expansion?

Monitoring allows you to track the effectiveness of your strategies and make necessary adjustments. It’s key to achieving your expansion goals.

• Tags Business Growth and Development , Consulting and Coaching Services , Innovative Business Practices , Leadership and Management , Marketing and Sales Strategies , Specialized Industry Strategies , Technology and Digital Transformation

Start Your FREE Business Growth Review and Consultation Today

Don't risk the common mistakes most Founders and CEOs make in exponentially growing their business and working to get leads and sales daily.

It's critical to get the qualified guidance to help you exponentially grow with less stress.

We're a Fractional CMO & CEO team that helps you grow 3 to 10x with less stress, get clients daily, and escape the rat race day to day.

We've helped over 5,000 Founders and CEOs from 180 industries and 13 countries over the last 30 years.

With our performance based model, the better you do (with your revenue and profits) the better we do.

We go beyond traditional agency or coaching as your Fractional CMO and CEO Team. We also give you access to the Implementation Team to 'get it done' and 'make your ideas real' .

Here's a small sampling of what you can expect:

• Grow 3-to-10x and Escape the Day to Day
• Flexible option based on your size & goals
• Get more clients daily with less stress
• No long term contracts

This is not a one size fits all model and we customize it for your situation. You get access to some or all of the following to help you IMPLEMENT when we work together:

• Web Developers
• Tech Experts
• Copywriters
• Graphic Designers
• Traffic Experts
• Content Writers
• Marketing & Sales Advisor
• Email Marketing
• & more!

Fill out the form or Call Us : 602-234-9410

Fill out the form or Call Us :

602-234-9410

Get a Business Growth Review & Consultation!

Enter your info below and one of our adviser's will get back with you ASAP. If you need immediate assistance, call: 602-234-9410

Do you want more clients? YES , Grow My Business NO , No Growth Please

Creating A Business Expansion Plan Template

Schedule a Call

Get a personalized walkthrough of thrivenumber™ from a member of our team..

A fervent believer in the promise of human powered growth, Russ leads CMG in partnering with companies to help them become aligned, agile, customer-driven enterprises that unleash the potential of their organizations with sustainable improvements in focus, teams, culture, and process our clients.

Mark leads CMG in partnering with Telecom companies to help them increase customers and accelerate revenue. His 25+ years of experience in growth, strategy and execution includes B2C and B2B multi-channel acquisition programs, customer experiences that surprise and delight, pricing that optimizes customer value, and innovative product development.

Successful businesses need forward-thinking solutions to ensure measurable growth. A simple business expansion plan template can help any growing company move up and to the right.

Great templates outline realistic goals, identify leadership, and help to organize your company into teams that are efficient and motivated. Think of your plan as a roadmap for the next three to five years. As a marketing director or CMO, it’s crucial that you know exactly how your teams are communicating. Making sure everyone is on the same page is the best way to survive growing pains.

So your business has been successful and is looking to move forward and grow in the marketplace. What do you do? Outlining a business expansion plan with this free business plan template helps you clearly define your goals, organize teams and leadership, and develops a strategy for company efficiency and motivation moving forward.

This sample business plan outlines your strategies for innovation.

Growing businesses want to stay ahead of their competitors as they go forward. The strategies that lead to long-term success can be outlined in your company’s business expansion plan.

Listed below are examples of the key components you need to include in your growth plan template . Outline your path to success clearly with defined goals, organized leadership, and strategies for motivation and efficiency going forward.

Organizing your business expansion plan requires clear communication. There are many strategies to help you create a detailed outline for your company that stress the importance of clarity and consistency.

Key Themes in a Business Expansion Plan

Most expansion templates will feature these 10 key plan components:

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is typically written last, but outlines your whole business plan from start to finish. Keep it simple.

2. Company Description

How does your company stand out from your competitors? Can you clearly communicate your offerings in a way that will resonate with potential consumers? Who are your target clients and industries? Here is where you outline how your expansion will put you at the forefront of the market.

3. Product and Service Description

Continuing from the company description, outline your products and services in detail. Describe how and why they are important and how they benefit your consumer base.

4. Marketing Analysis

Outline your market position and how or why companies in your field are growing. Include details such as facts about your industry, the size of your market, and technology associated with business expansion.

5. Marketing Strategy

What strategies will help you sprint to success? Detail advertising, technology, new product innovations, customer experience and touchpoint strategies, collaborations, and ideas for marketing success.

6. Organization and Management

Is your company structure performing to its potential? A well-organized workplace structure can boost morale, efficiency, and benefits for employees and management alike. What role do you play as a CMO or marketing director in your business plan? Can inter-departmental teams drive up productivity?

7. Daily Operations

Walk through your day-to-day operations. How have they worked? How can they improve as you expand?

8. Financial History

Identify the successful campaigns that have led you to the need for expansion. Detail how these campaigns have transformed your business, as well as how budget cuts or increases have affected your ROI.

9. Financial Plan and Projections

Get funded. Your financial plan should outline:

• 12-month profit and loss projection
• three-to-five year outline on how to retain productivity
• cash flow projection
• estimated balance sheet of expenditures
• cost analysis

10. Appendix

This optional section includes information that helps to build the case for your expansion, including:

• cited industry studies
• letters of support

Remember: A great plan should be detailed but not convoluted. You want your financiers, clients, and business partners to have a clear understanding of your vision as your business grows, as well as the best methods you will use to achieve your goals.

How CMG Can Make Your Plan Successful

Put your business expansion plan template to work by partnering with a marketing solutions firm that is driven and dedicated to getting you results. At CMG, our strategic marketing consultants work with you in the trenches to expand your business through branding strategies and our Agile for Marketing (A4M™) solutions. A4M™ is a mindset and methodology designed to help your business grow with customer-driven, iterative learning cycles to reach one goal: Potential Realized. Agile market solutions are three times more likely to expand company worth , according to Forbes.

At CMG, we work hard to define business plans that guarantee expansion and an increased ROI for leading Fortune 1000 companies across multiple industries. Contact us. Think. Do. Move. Market smart.

Continue Reading

In this webinar we discuss using agile practices to help your organization overcome barriers to change, change is the only constant in today's business world, and organizations must adapt rapidly to stay competitive., tips for a leading your team into a successful q4, ensure that your team enters q4 2023 strongly and finishes the business year with rigor using these tips, cable growth driver series: residential opportunities, unpacking residential growth opportunities including: home automation & security, prepaid internet, and streaming tv.

Copyright © 2023 CMG Partners, LLC

How to make a business expansion plan: Templates and strategies

• February 16, 2024 February 19, 2024
• by Aishwarya

A business expansion plan serves as the compass guiding enterprises toward sustainable growth. This strategic roadmap outlines a company’s trajectory for expanding its reach, diversifying revenue streams, and securing a competitive edge. Delve into the significance of business expansion plans and learn why they are crucial for success.

What is a business expansion plan?

A business expansion plan is a strategic framework outlining a company’s approach to scaling its operations, market presence, or geographic reach. It serves as a guide, delineating specific actions and initiatives to propel the organization toward sustainable growth.

This comprehensive strategy encompasses considerations such as market analysis, financial planning, and risk assessment. By providing a structured guide, a business expansion plan ensures growth is intentional, well-managed, and aligned with the company’s long-term vision, fostering adaptability in the ever-evolving corporate landscape.

Why businesses need a business expansion plan?

A business expansion plan ensures a company grows in a smart and organized way. Without a clear plan, businesses might face financial troubles and operational hiccups. Learning how to make a business expansion plan, with easy templates, is key, especially for retail businesses looking to expand their stores wisely. Knowing how to write a business expansion strategy ensures a smoother journey to success in a competitive market. It’s a blueprint that prevents stumbling in the dark and guides companies toward sustainable growth.

Business expansion plan strategy

• Market research continuity: Ensure continuous market research to stay updated on evolving customer preferences, industry trends, and competitor activities for ongoing adaptation.
• Customer-centric approach: Prioritize understanding and meeting customer needs in the core of your expansion strategy.
• SWOT analysis: Conduct a comprehensive SWOT analysis to determine internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. Use these insights to inform your expansion strategy.
• Digital transformation: Embrace digital technologies to enhance operational efficiency and customer engagement.
• Local adaptation: Tailor your expansion strategy to local market nuances to foster community integration.
• Strategic partnerships: Forge strategic partnerships to leverage synergies and extend your market reach.
• Risk mitigation: Develop a robust risk mitigation plan to address potential challenges and uncertainties that may arise during the expansion process.
• Customer feedback loop: Establish a continuous feedback loop with customers to gauge satisfaction, identify areas for improvement, and enhance overall customer experience.
• Agile decision-making: Adopt an agile decision-making process to respond swiftly to market dynamics and changes.
• Brand consistency: Maintain brand consistency across expanded locations to reinforce a unified brand image.
• Data-driven insights: Leverage data-driven insights for informed decision-making, aiding in strategic adjustments.
• Competitive intelligence: Stay vigilant with competitive intelligence to analyze competitor strategies and adjust your expansion plan accordingly.
• Financial contingency planning: Develop contingency plans for financial fluctuations, ensuring financial stability and flexibility in the face of unforeseen circumstances.

How to make a business expansion plan

Market insights.

To create a strong business expansion plan, start by understanding the market. Look into what’s happening in your industry and what your competitors are doing. Focus on important success indicators, like how much it costs to get new customers and your market share. Identify new trends in your field so you can make smart decisions about expanding. This market knowledge is the key to building a solid and well thought out business expansion plan.

Vision setting

Set clear and reachable business goals that match your company’s vision. Identify specific objectives that will lead to long-term success. This involves defining where you want to go and outlining practical steps to get there, ensuring your efforts align with the bigger picture of your company’s vision.

Choose your expansion method

Choose how you want to grow by exploring methods like market entry, product diversification, or geographic expansion. Assess each method based on your business objectives, considering what’s outlined in your business expansion plan. This tailored approach is crucial, especially for retail business expansion, where having a clear retail store expansion strategy and understanding what a business expansion strategy entails is vital.

Evaluate your competition

Study your competition thoroughly by analyzing rivals in your target market. Identify your competitive advantages and potential challenges. This strategic evaluation is fundamental when crafting your business expansion plan, especially for retail businesses aiming for retail store expansion. Utilize your business expansion plan template and the insights gathered to develop a robust strategy that sets you apart in the competitive landscape.

Blueprint for success

Create a roadmap for success by making a step-by-step plan to execute your expansion strategy. Build in flexibility to adapt to changes in the market during implementation. This detailed blueprint is essential, providing guidance and allowing for adjustments in dynamic markets. Pay attention to features like inventory management and sales reporting to plan effectively, ensuring a seamless execution and sustainable growth.

Financial efficiency

When financing your business expansion, employ tips to avoid accumulating excessive long-term debt, aligning with your meticulously crafted business expansion plan. Explore alternative funding options to diversify financial sources to ensure flexibility in your retail store expansion strategy. Gather knowledge about the elements involved in a strategy for expanding a business and consider these viewpoints when arranging financial aspects. Acquire the skills to develop a business expansion plan that integrates intelligent financial choices, effectively guiding your growth sustainably.

Operational readiness

Ensure operational readiness by handling the infrastructure and logistical needs for a successful expansion. Evaluate if physical presence, technology upgrades, or operational adjustments are necessary. This step guarantees that your business is equipped to handle the demands of growth, paving the way for a smooth and effective expansion process.

Establish strong management practices

Set up robust management practices by ensuring effective leadership and well-structured management systems . Build a capable team to support the expansion process, ensuring your business is equipped with the right talent for success. This step is crucial for seamless coordination and leadership, fostering a strong foundation for the expansion journey.

Revenue optimization

Boost revenue by diversifying income sources and ensuring long-term stability. Make the most of existing strengths and explore new opportunities to create a well-rounded financial strategy. This approach not only safeguards against uncertainties but also lays the groundwork for sustained success.

Business expansion plan template

How can small companies benefit from business expansion?

Small businesses can thrive through smart, tailored expansion strategies. By focusing on niche markets and building community connections, they create a unique space for growth. Reaching new customer bases and diversifying revenue streams become achievable goals. Opting for cost-effective methods, like enhancing online presence or growing locally, allows for steady progress without breaking the bank. Embracing technology, such as streamlined POS systems , not only makes daily operations smoother but also boosts overall efficiency. With careful planning, flexibility, and a positive mindset towards challenges, small companies can turn the expansion journey into an exciting opportunity, making a lasting mark in competitive landscapes.

How can you use Gofrugal for your business expansion plan?

In the realm of business expansion, Gofrugal ERP software emerges as a strategic catalyst, offering indispensable tools for success. By aiding in data collection, Gofrugal facilitates informed decision-making, transforming raw data into actionable insights crucial for expansion planning. It excels in tracking performance metrics, managing increased transaction volumes seamlessly, and providing real-time data for competitive strategies. Its streamlined financial transactions , centralized management for multiple locations or channels, and robust features like inventory management and sales reporting contribute to effective planning during expansion.

Moreover, the software enhances communication, coordination, and identifies profitable products or services, making it an all-encompassing solution for businesses navigating the complexities of growth. With Gofrugal, businesses can confidently navigate the dynamic landscape of expansion, ensuring sustainable development and success.

Ready to level up?

To conclude, a well-crafted business expansion plan is the map guiding companies toward sustainable growth. From market insights to operational readiness, each element is crucial. Gofrugal ERP software emerges as a key ally, facilitating informed decision-making. With a solid plan and tools like Gofrugal, businesses can confidently navigate the path to success in the dynamic corporate landscape. Talk with our experts for further insights on how Gofrugal can contribute to your business growth.

Expansion Plan Template

What is an Expansion Plan?

A business expansion plan is a strategy created by the leadership team of an organization to set specific goals and objectives for growth, and provide a framework for achieving them. The plan should include an outline of the focus areas, objectives, and measurable targets (KPIs) that need to be tackled, as well as the projects (actions) necessary to achieve the KPIs. It should also include a timeline for implementation and a process for tracking and measuring progress. By having a well-defined expansion plan, businesses can better prepare for and manage the growth process.

What's included in this Expansion Plan template?

• 3 focus areas
• 6 objectives

Each focus area has its own objectives, projects, and KPIs to ensure that the strategy is comprehensive and effective.

Who is the Expansion Plan template for?

The Expansion Plan template is designed for business owners, leaders and managers who need to plan and execute business expansion strategies. It provides a comprehensive framework to help them create a strategy tailored to their specific needs, track progress, and measure success. This template is great for businesses of all sizes and industries, as it offers a customizable and easy-to-follow structure for planning and managing growth.

1. Define clear examples of your focus areas

Defining focus areas is essential to creating a successful strategy. Focus areas are the broad topics you want to improve, such as increasing market share, increasing efficiency, or expanding customer base. In order to create an effective expansion plan, it is important to define clear focus areas and set objectives related to each.

2. Think about the objectives that could fall under that focus area

Objectives are the specific goals you want to achieve in order to reach your focus area. For example, if your focus area is to increase market share, your objectives could be increasing brand awareness and increasing customer acquisition. It is important to think deeply about your objectives and determine reasonable and measurable targets (KPIs).

3. Set measurable targets (KPIs) to tackle the objective

KPIs (key performance indicators) are measurable targets you set to assess progress towards achieving an objective. For example, if your objective is to increase website traffic, your KPI could be to increase website visits from 1000 to 5000 users. This provides a measurable target to work towards and helps you track progress.

4. Implement related projects to achieve the KPIs

Projects (actions) are the steps needed to achieve the KPIs. For example, if your KPI is to increase website visits from 1000 to 5000 users, one project could be to develop a digital advertising campaign. It is important to have a plan for implementation and to track progress to ensure success.

5. Utilize Cascade Strategy Execution Platform to see faster results from your strategy

Cascade Strategy Execution Platform is a comprehensive platform designed to help businesses create, track, and measure their strategies. With Cascade, businesses can easily create detailed expansion plans, track progress, and measure success in real-time. This allows businesses to quickly and easily see the results of their strategies.

Filter by Keywords

7 Growth Plan Templates to Build a Growth Strategy

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

October 20, 2023

Ever feel like you’re steering your ship without a compass? You want to grow your business, but the “how” aspect might be unclear. If you feeling lost at sea, a growth plan template could be the guiding star you’re looking for. ⭐ 

A growth plan template is a bit like a business-minded GPS, leading you through the winding roads of market trends, financial forecasts, and strategic planning . A good one will be your go-to guide for turning your big ideas and plans into a concrete roadmap to success. With a plan in place, you’ll reach your growth goals with ease. 

In this guide, we’ll show you what makes a rock-solid growth plan template and how easily it works for business owners and entrepreneurs. We’ll also set you up with growth plan templates so your organization functions more fluidly and effectively. Let’s dive in! 

What are the key components of a growth plan template?

1. clickup growth experiments whiteboard template, 2. clickup 30-60-90 day plan template, 3. clickup ansoff matrix whiteboard template, 4. clickup product development roadmap whiteboard template, 5. clickup development schedule template, 6. clickup process audit and improvement template, 7. clickup employee development plan template.

What Is a Growth Plan Template?

A growth plan template is a preformatted document that guides businesses in outlining objectives, strategies, and actions aimed at business growth. Think of it like a strategic plan or framework for focusing on different growth elements, such as market expansion, product development, and financial projections. And it applies just as much to startups as it does to established businesses. 🙌

It serves as a roadmap, giving cohesion and clarity to your growth initiatives. Whether scaling or diversifying, a growth plan template offers a structured way to find opportunities and roadblocks. And since it provides dedicated areas for keeping track of metrics and KPIs, measuring progress and adjusting strategies is user-friendly.

Growth plan templates provide a framework for outlining a business’s growth objectives and strategies for achieving them. Here are some critical components of a growth strategy template:

• Executive summary : An overview of the growth strategy and its goals 
• Business overview : Details of your organization and its current operations
• Market analysis : Research on your target market (and the current market) will inform your growth strategy. Know your customer base, know your strategy
• Growth objectives : Clear, measurable goals tied to a timeline. This could be new customers, revenue growth, a social media strategy, or improving customer retention
• Strategies and tactics : The actions you’ll take to achieve your growth objectives
• Financial projections : Estimates of projected revenue and profit if growth objectives are achieved
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) : Metrics and other measurable data demonstrate the success of your growth strategy
• Resource allocation : A list of resources needed to reach your objectives, like a new marketing strategy, business model, or financial plan
• Risks and mitigation strategies : Assessing risks that could derail your plans and contingencies for avoiding those circumstances
• Implementation timeline : A schedule for when milestones will be reached and objectives completed
• Review and adjustment process : A system for reviewing and adjusting as necessary

7 Growth Plan Templates

If you haven’t turned to various strategic planning templates in your continuous effort to increase revenue, measure success, and identify new growth opportunities, then the time is now.

These pre-built assets are designed to help teams create and execute a unique business plan regardless of your industry or how many employees you’re working with. Bypass the hassle of spreadsheets and emails with a template that makes running experiments a breeze. 🌬

ClickUp makes it easy to find a business growth plan template customized to your needs. Get clarity on metrics and other KPIs vital to mapping out your organization and where you’d like it to be. A thoughtful and strategic business growth plan may be the missing piece you’re looking for. Here are seven growth plan templates to check out!

ClickUp’s Growth Experiments Whiteboard Template is a valuable resource for bringing your team together during brainstorming and growth planning sessions. With the ability to plan and act on your ideas from the same collaborative space, this template has every feature you need to follow through on an effective business growth plan.

You can customize every inch of this business growth plan template template—from the structure itself to the objects that bring it to life. Add sticky notes, Docs, media, or even live websites to your growth plan for additional context regarding your business operations. Then act on your ideas in an instant with the ability to convert any object on your board directly into an actionable task.

Plus, ClickUp Whiteboards are highly visual, meaning you can maintain a high-level view of the entire growth plan from the initial idea through implementation. 

Each department’s growth plan should align with the strategic objective of the overall company. Suppose you’re aiming to revamp a marketing plan or reach a new target market. In this case, you may need to bring on team members with different skill sets or focus on team expansion. 

ClickUp’s 30-60-90 Day Plan Template provides an actionable framework for onboarding new employees. Quickly set goals, create milestones, and identify the steps needed to integrate smoothly into a new organization. 

Custom features show you how progress is tracked at a glance, like a separate view for onboarding, which helps organize and keep track of all onboarding tasks. Or use Chat view to collaborate with stakeholders and discuss progress deftly. And with References view, store all necessary references for your plans. 

When your organization aims for more growth and diversification, a 30-60-90 plan ensures a coordinated and transparent process where everyone is on the same page. At the same time, you’re enhancing how your team operates. Having the right tool in your corner is indispensable. 

Understanding the risks and rewards associated with different business growth strategies is invaluable for sound decision-making. After all, what good is a growth strategy aimed at market penetration if it could potentially compromise your business?

Use ClickUp’s Ansoff Matrix Whiteboard Template to visualize available strategic options in a way that’s simple to understand and enhances collaboration with your team. This template makes it straightforward and intuitive to identify opportunities and risks, understand which strategies are the most appropriate for your business, and compare different plans against each other to find the best fit. 💡

And it easily adapts to your organization’s level. Launching a new product or planning explosive growth in new markets? Use this template for both.

Features like tagging, nested subtasks, multiple assignees, and priority labels make project management precise and extraordinarily efficient. Being able to brainstorm, organize ideas, and create content with team members ensures everyone is working in harmony. Status labels like Open and Complete add to the frictionless workflow.

If your organization is focusing on innovation, developing new products, or entering new markets, you’ll want to align those goals with your overall growth strategy. And all of that requires teamwork, planning, and clear direction. 

When you need a growth plan template that’s easily customizable, ClickUp’s Product Development Roadmap Whiteboard Template is a no-brainer. This template is designed for you to visualize, document, and track product development progress.

Features like custom fields let you manage tasks and visualize a path to product development that’s way more straightforward than a spreadsheet. Identify potential problems long before they become a fire you need to put out. Cross-team dependencies are easy to see, and engaging with stakeholders is seamless.

So whether you’re experimenting with pricing changes, improving existing products, or something in between, the key is having a comprehensive tool that keeps everyone in sync. And the right template can act as a centralized platform to empower team members in executing growth strategies effectively. 

Unlike a product development roadmap, which offers a high-level view of a growth strategy and its direction, a development schedule digs deep into the nitty-gritty. See it as a more granular and tactical guide for you and your team. 

Recognizing the need for meticulous planning, ClickUp’s Development Schedule Template ensures each step in your organization’s process is completed accurately and precisely. Stay on track, meet deadlines, adjust your schedule as needed, and allocate your resources and budget appropriately.

Update statuses for tasks with labels such as Done, In Progress, Needs Input, Stuck, and To Do to keep your team members informed and your projects on track. And use custom attributes like Stage, Attachment, Estimated Duration Days, Remarks, and Actual Duration Days to visualize progress at a glance.

A well-designed development schedule is much more than a sophisticated to-do list of tasks. It’s a dynamic and adaptable framework that helps you align strategic planning with tangible execution. 

Most organizations probably have a few processes they would like to improve or streamline in their company. And since those processes influence the scalability of a business, initiatives for expansion into new markets, and product development, it pays to keep tabs on their effectiveness. 

Use ClickUp’s Process Audit and Improvement Template to keep those tabs. The template allows you to execute quick process reviews or dive deep into how every aspect of your system functions. 🛠

Custom statuses like Not Started, In Progress, Complete, and To Do make keeping track of progress a breeze. Open two different views in different ClickUp configurations, such as the Overview and Getting Started Guide, so you and your team will have no problem jumping right into optimizing the processes that need it.

Categorize and arrange tasks to suit your needs—like audit planning, data analysis, and implementation—so you’ll clearly see the path from A to B. And combining this template with goal-tracking apps , teams and individuals will see progress on an even more detailed scale.

By conducting routine audits, you’ll optimize your processes for efficiency and productivity . Improve customer service and satisfaction by leaps and bounds. You’ll be able to create your own roadmap for taking corrective action where you need to and increase the quality of your decision-making. 

Employee development is an essential piece of any growth strategy. Your team members are one of your most valuable assets, and as your organization grows, your employees should grow with it. 

An employee development plan shows you which departments or areas need new talent and which ones may need it in the future. These plans play a role in maintaining an engaged and motivated workforce, too. Even better, you’ll improve employee retention rates and create an environment that encourages your current team members to develop into future leaders in your organization. 🌻

With ClickUp’s Employee Development Plan Template , you’ll ensure your team is always aligned on the most critical objectives. 

Start by assessing where your team members stand with their current knowledge and skill levels. Next, establish clear short and long-term goals that are personalized for each team member. Once you’re clear on the resources you need to meet those objectives, use the information you’ve gathered to create an action plan tailored to each member of your team.

The Development Status List view will assist in keeping track of how each employee’s development plan is progressing. Organize your team’s tasks into different statuses, including Done, For Review, and In Progress, so you always know where you are in your growth strategy. Having essential information all in one place also keeps stakeholders well-informed and in the loop.

The same strategy works for departments within your organization, as well. By creating individual and comprehensive development plan templates and tracking progress and performance with measurable goals, you’ll know that you’re building a successful and productive team. 

Choose the Best Growth Plan Template for Your Team

Whether you’re honing in on market share, tweaking your marketing strategy to include SEO, or brainstorming your next big move with vision board templates , a growth plan template can take your organization to new heights. 🦅

It’s not just a tool for executives and leadership in an organization. Team members benefit from a clear roadmap that aligns their day-to-day tasks with the overarching company objectives. The flexibility to customize your template means it’s adaptable, whether you’re a small business dreaming big or an established company looking for incremental improvement. 

If you’re looking for an all-in-one tool that lets you seamlessly move from product development and ideation to process audits to mapping out company growth potential and more, sign up for ClickUp — it’s Free Forever.

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

Receive the latest WriteClick Newsletter updates.

Thanks for subscribing to our blog!

Please enter a valid email

• Free training & 24-hour support
• Serious about security & privacy
• 99.99% uptime the last 12 months

Do you have the world's best boss? Enter them to win two tickets to Sandals!

• Starting a Business

Our Top Picks

• Best Small Business Loans
• Best Business Internet Service
• Best Online Payroll Service
• Best Business Phone Systems

Our In-Depth Reviews

• OnPay Payroll Review
• ADP Payroll Review
• Ooma Office Review
• RingCentral Review

Explore More

• Business Solutions
• Entrepreneurship
• Franchising
• Best Accounting Software
• Best Merchant Services Providers
• Best Credit Card Processors
• Best Mobile Credit Card Processors
• Clover Review
• Merchant One Review
• QuickBooks Online Review
• Xero Accounting Review
• Financial Solutions

Human Resources

• Best Human Resources Outsourcing Services
• Best Time and Attendance Software
• Best PEO Services
• Best Business Employee Retirement Plans
• Bambee Review
• Rippling HR Software Review
• TriNet Review
• Gusto Payroll Review
• HR Solutions

Marketing and Sales

• Best Text Message Marketing Services
• Best CRM Software
• Best Email Marketing Services
• Best Website Builders
• Textedly Review
• Salesforce Review
• EZ Texting Review
• Textline Review
• Business Intelligence
• Marketing Solutions
• Marketing Strategy
• Public Relations
• Social Media
• Best GPS Fleet Management Software
• Best POS Systems
• Best Employee Monitoring Software
• Best Document Management Software
• Verizon Connect Fleet GPS Review
• Zoom Review
• Samsara Review
• Zoho CRM Review
• Technology Solutions

Business Basics

• 4 Simple Steps to Valuing Your Small Business
• How to Write a Business Growth Plan
• 12 Business Skills You Need to Master
• How to Start a One-Person Business
• FreshBooks vs. QuickBooks Comparison
• Salesforce CRM vs. Zoho CRM
• RingCentral vs. Zoom Comparison
• 10 Ways to Generate More Sales Leads

Writing a Business Growth Plan

Table of Contents

When you run a business, it’s easy to get caught in the moment and focus only on the day in front of you. However, to be truly successful, you must look ahead and plan for growth. Many business owners create a business growth plan to map out the next one or two years and pinpoint how and when revenues will increase. 

We’ll explain more about business growth plans and share strategies for writing a business growth plan that can set you on a path to success. 

What is a business growth plan?

A business growth plan outlines where a company sees itself in the next one to two years. Business owners and leaders apply a growth mindset to create plans for expansion and increased revenues.

Business growth plans should be formatted quarterly. At the end of each quarter, the company can review the business goals it achieved and missed during that period. At this point, management can revise the business growth plan to reflect the current market standing.

What to include in a business growth plan

A business growth plan focuses specifically on expansion and how you’ll achieve it. Creating a useful plan takes time, but keeping your growth efforts on track can pay off substantially.

You should include the following elements in your growth plan:

• A description of expansion opportunities
• Financial goals broken down by quarter and year
• A marketing plan that details how you’ll achieve growth
• A financial plan to determine what capital is accessible during growth
• A breakdown of your company’s staffing needs and responsibilities

Your growth plan should also include an assessment of your operating systems and computer networks to determine if they can accommodate profitable growth .

How to write a business growth plan

To successfully write a business growth plan, you must do some forward-thinking and research. Here are some key steps to follow when writing your business growth plan.

1. Think ahead.

The future is always unpredictable. However, if you study your target market, your competition and your company’s past growth, you can plan for future expansion. The Small Business Administration (SBA) features a comprehensive guide to writing a business plan for growth.

2. Study other growth plans.

Before you start writing, review models from successful companies.

3. Discover opportunities for growth.

With some homework, you can determine if your expansion opportunities lie in creating new products , adding more services, targeting a new market, opening new business locations or going global, to name a few examples. Once you’ve identified your best options for growth, include them in your plan.

4. Evaluate your team.

Your plan should include an assessment of your employees and a look at staffing requirements to meet your growth objectives. By assessing your own skills and those of your employees, you can determine how much growth can be accomplished with your present team. You’ll also know when to ramp up the hiring process and what skill sets to look for in those new hires.

5. Find the capital.

Include detailed information on how you will fund expansion. Business.gov offers a guide on how to prepare funding requests and how to connect with SBA lenders.

6. Get the word out.

Growing your business requires a targeted marketing effort. Be sure to outline how you will effectively market your business to encourage growth and how your marketing efforts will evolve as you grow.

7. Ask for help.

Advice from other business owners who have enjoyed successful growth can be the ultimate tool in writing your growth plan.

8. Start writing.

Business plan software has streamlined the process of writing growth plans by providing templates you can fill in with information specific to your company and industry. Most software programs are geared toward general business plans; however, you can easily modify them to create a plan that focuses on growth. 

If you don’t have business plan software, don’t worry. You can create a business growth plan using Microsoft Word, Google Docs or a similar tool. For each growth opportunity, create the following sections: 

• What is the opportunity? Is your growth opportunity a new geographic expansion, a new product or a new customer segment? How do you know there’s an opportunity? Include your market research to demonstrate the idea’s viability.
• What factors make this opportunity valuable at this time? For example, your growth opportunity could utilize new technology, take advantage of a strategic partnership or capitalize on a consumer trend.
• What are the risk factors for this opportunity? Identify factors that may make this growth opportunity challenging to execute. For example, challenges may include the state of the overall economy, intense competition or supply chain distribution issues. What is your plan for dealing with these challenges?
• What is your marketing and sales plan? Identify the marketing efforts and sales processes that can help you seize this growth opportunity. Detail the marketing channel you’ll use ( social media marketing , print marketing), your message and promising sales ideas. For example, you could hire sales reps for a new geographic area or set up distribution deals with relevant brick-and-mortar or online retailers .
• What are the costs involved in this growth area? For example, if you add a new product, you may need to buy new manufacturing equipment and raw materials. While marketing costs are a given, remember to include incremental sales costs like commissions. Outline any economies of scale or places where your existing operations make the new growth area less expensive than a stand-alone initiative.
• How will your income, expenses and cash flow look? Project your income and expenses, and prepare a cash flow statement for the new growth area for the next three to five years. Include a break-even analysis, a sales forecast and all projected expenses to see how much the new initiative will add to the bottom line. Include how the new growth area will positively (or negatively) impact existing sales. For example, if you sell bathing suits and you decide to grow by adding cover-ups and sunglasses, you will likely sell more bathing suits. 

A cash flow statement will indicate if you must secure additional financing, and a break-even analysis will let you know when the growth opportunity will stop being a drain on the company’s financial resources and start turning a profit.

After completing this exercise for each growth opportunity:

• Create a summary that accounts for all growth areas for the period.
• Include summarized financial statements to see the entire picture and its impact on the company. 
• Evaluate the financing you’ll need to implement the plan, and include various options and rates. 

Why are business growth plans important?

These are some of the many reasons why business growth plans are essential:

• Market share and penetration: If your market share remains constant in a world where costs consistently increase, you’ll inevitably start recording losses instead of profits. Business growth plans help you avoid this scenario.
• Recouping early losses: Most companies lose far more than they earn in their early years. To recoup these losses, you’ll need to grow your company to a point where it can make enough revenue to pay off your debts.
• Future risk minimization: Growth plans also matter for established businesses. These companies can always stand to make their sales more efficient and become more liquid. Liquidity can come in handy if you need money to cover unexpected problems.
• Appealing to investors: For most businesses, a business growth plan’s primary purpose is to find investors . Investors want to outline your company’s plans to build sales in the coming months.
• Concrete revenue plans: Growth plans are customizable to each business and don’t have to follow a set template. However, all business growth plans must focus heavily on revenue. The plan should answer a simple question: How does your company plan to make money each quarter?

Motivate your employees by sharing your growth plan. When employees see an opportunity for increased responsibility and compensation, they’re more likely to stay with your business.

What factors impact business growth?

Consider the following crucial factors that can impact business growth:

• Leadership: To achieve your goals, you must know the ins and outs of your business processes and how external forces impact them. Without this knowledge, you can’t direct and train your team to drive your revenue, and you will experience stagnation instead of growth.
• Management: As a small business owner, you’re innately involved in management – obtaining funding, resources, and physical and digital infrastructure. Ineffective management will impact your ability to perform these duties and could hamstring your growth.
• Customer loyalty: Acquiring new customers can be five times as expensive as retaining current ones, and a 5 percent boost in customer retention can increase profits by 25 percent to 95 percent. These statistics demonstrate that customer loyalty is fundamental to business growth.

What are the four major growth strategies?

There are countless growth strategies for businesses, but only four primary types. With these growth strategies, you can determine how to build on your brand.

• Market strategy: A market strategy refers to how you plan to penetrate your target audience . This strategy isn’t intended for entering a new market or creating new products and services to boost your market share; it’s about leveraging your current offerings. For instance, can you adjust your pricing? Should you launch a new marketing campaign?
• Development strategy: This strategy means looking into ways to break your products and services into a new market. If you can’t find the growth you want in the current market, a goal could be to expand to a new market.
• Product strategy: Also known as “product development,” this strategy focuses on what new products and services you can target to your current market. How can you grow your business without entering new markets? What are your customers asking for?
• Diversification strategy: Diversification means expanding both your products and target markets. This strategy is usually best for smaller companies that have the means to be versatile with the products or services they offer and what new markets they attempt to penetrate.

Max Freedman contributed to this article.

Get Weekly 5-Minute Business Advice

B. newsletter is your digest of bite-sized news, thought & brand leadership, and entertainment. All in one email.

Our mission is to help you take your team, your business and your career to the next level. Whether you're here for product recommendations, research or career advice, we're happy you're here!

How to Create a Business Plan for Expansion

• Small Business
• Business Planning & Strategy
• Creating a Business Plan
• ')" data-event="social share" data-info="Pinterest" aria-label="Share on Pinterest">
• ')" data-event="social share" data-info="Reddit" aria-label="Share on Reddit">
• ')" data-event="social share" data-info="Flipboard" aria-label="Share on Flipboard">

How to Write a Change Analysis Proposal

6 types of business plans, what are the basic components of a business plan.

• How to Write a Good Project Proposal for Donor Funding
• How to Write a Business Plan for an Equine Facility

Congratulations! Your small business is doing well and is ready to expand. This can mean new product lines, new territories, additional staff and equipment purchases. Perhaps even a change of location is in order to a larger office or a new manufacturing facility. There's a lot to plan for, and a well-crafted business expansion plan can assist you with the process. The plan also serves as an important tool to convince lenders and financiers of the viability of your expansion.

Review Your Original Business Plan

If you have a business plan from when your first began operations, this is a good time to dust it off and take a fresh look at it. Perhaps your business description is somewhat different from what you first envisioned. Key personnel may have changed over time. Update the language of the plan to match your current circumstances. The revised language can then be incorporated in your expansion plan.

Describe the Expansion You Intend

Provide an overall description of what you have in mind for your business expansion. Keep it "high level" at first so that anyone reading the plan will get a good, quick understanding of your intentions. If you only need a paragraph or two for this, that will be fine.

Follow up with detailed description, the steps you will take to get there, and the timing of how you expect to expand. Building a new factory, for example, will mean locating a site, designing the plant layout, procuring equipment, relocating existing staff and hiring new employees, securing suppliers and so on. Your plan should cover at least the first few years of operations, long enough to describe implementation, growth and maturation.

Don't forget to include a description of your existing business as well. You know what it is, of course, but others reading the plan will appreciate the background on who you are, what you do and the history of your current operations.

Identify Who's Who

Describe the management of the expansion activity. Who are the cast of characters in lead on the project? What are their respective roles? What experience and expertise do they bring to accomplishing the expansion on time and on budget?

If you plan to hire additional people or key contractors for the project, use this same section to identify your expectations here as well.

What About Marketing?

An expansion often means new marketing for your company. Perhaps you'll need to reach out to a different geographic area, a new demographic, other countries – or all of the above. You may also want to update your marketing efforts with the latest social media tools, a snazzy video or even the occasional flash mob. Describe your marketing plans in the expansion document.

Provide a Realistic Statement of Finances

Your expansion will entail considerable new costs that need to be identified. Again, provide details over the space of a few years, as your initial start-up costs will be different from longer-term operating costs. So, too, with income, which also needs to be detailed and will likely start as a trickle before growing over time to a more steady stream. Make sure to describe your financial projections in the context of your historical finances for your existing operations.

Your financial projections will form the basis of your financing needs. If you intend to borrow money from a bank or seek an input of cash from investors, the financial section of your plan will contain the detailed information to justify your requests.

Don't Forget the Summary

After a good working draft of your expansion plan is written, include an Executive Summary of the plan as a front section. Potential funders often want a quick read of what the business is and what's being asked of the funders. The Executive Summary is the place to provide it.

• Small Business Administration: Writing a Business Plan
• "Entrepreneur": How to Create a Business Plan
• SBA: Grow Your Business

David Sarokin is a well-known Internet specialist with publications in a wide variety of business topics, from the best uses of information technology to the steps for incorporating your business. He is the author of The Corporation, Its History and Future (Cambridge Scholars, 2020) on the role of big business in the modern world, and Missed Information (MIT Press, 2016), detailing how our social systems like health care, finance and government can be improved with better quality information.

Related Articles

How do i write a three-year business plan, basic business plan structure, what are the main purposes of a business plan, what are the key elements of a business plan, the breakdown of a marketing plan, how to pitch a business plan, what does "abridged" mean on a business plan, how to write a comprehensive business plan, what are the four functions of management relative to creating and implementing a strategic plan, most popular.

• 1 How do I Write a Three-Year Business Plan?
• 2 Basic Business Plan Structure
• 3 What Are the Main Purposes of a Business Plan?
• 4 What Are the Key Elements of a Business Plan?

Powerful business plan templates

Plan for the future, no matter what your business plans are or the size of your business with these designs and templates. whether it's just one big project or an entire organization's worth of dreams, these templates will keep you and your company on track from ideation to completion..

Put your ideas to work with simple templates for every business plan

Every successful business took a lot of planning to get there, and these templates will be cornerstones of your future success. Whether you're looking to attract new business, pitch your services or reimagine your company, with these simple, customizable templates at your fingertips you can turn complexity into something tangible. These templates can become marketing assets or simply remain internal touchpoints for your team. And as your dreams change, you'll always have this template to refer to – it's easy to change what exists on paper. If you're a small business, focusing on your niche can help you dominate in your field, and you can forge a plan to figure out exactly what that niche might be and how to target your ideal customer . When it's time to share your vision with stakeholders, craft a presentation that outlines your plan succinctly and with style. Let these templates from Microsoft Designer be your partner in business strategy for years to come.

24 of My Favorite Sample Business Plans & Examples For Your Inspiration

Published: February 06, 2024

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

hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(53, 'e9d2eacb-6b01-423a-bf7a-19d42ba77eaa', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"});

As you explore business plan examples from real companies and brands, it’s easier for you to learn how to write a good one.

But 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 Format

Business plan types, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.

Ask any successful sports coach how they win so many games, and they’ll tell you they have a unique plan for every single game. To me, the same logic applies to business.

If you want to build a thriving company that can pull ahead of the competition, you need to prepare for battle before breaking into a market.

Business plans guide you along the rocky journey of growing a company. And if your business plan is compelling enough, it can also convince investors to give you funding.

With so much at stake, I’m sure you’re wondering where to begin.

Free Business Plan Template

The essential document for starting a business -- custom built for your needs.

• Outline your idea.
• Pitch to investors.
• Secure funding.
• Get to work!

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Fill out the form to get your free template.

First, you’ll want to nail down your formatting. Most business plans include the following sections.

1. Executive Summary

I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. 

Why? Essentially, it's the overview or introduction, written in a way to grab readers' attention and guide 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:

Company Description

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, and this is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.

Need some extra help firming up those business goals? Check out HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set goals that matter — I’d highly recommend it

Products and Services

To piggyback off of the company description, be sure to incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive — just another chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business.

In addition to the items above, I recommend including some information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here too.:

Keep in mind you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. So, keep the executive summary clear and brief, and only include the most important takeaways.

Executive Summary Business Plan Examples

This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template:

This executive summary is so good to me because it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.

Image Source

Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary

• Start with a strong introduction of your company, showcase your mission and impact, and outline the products and services you provide.
• Clearly define a problem, and 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, emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists.

Check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary for more guidance.

2. Market Opportunity

This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market.

The main question I’d ask myself here is this: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?

More specifically, here’s what I’d include in this section:

• 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

To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, and SOM analysis and perform market research on your industry.

You may also benefit from creating a SWOT analysis to get some of the insights for this section.

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.

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

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:

• 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 below shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are.

It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location, which shows useful experience in this specific industry. 

This can help build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.

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?

If your immediate answer is "everyone," you'll need to dig deeper. Here are some questions I’d ask myself here:

• 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?

I’d also recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear on why you're targeting 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.

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’d suggest including information:

• 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

I think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier.

Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example

This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler.

In my opinion, it really works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.

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 them 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.

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.

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.

 According to Forbes , you'll want to include three main things:

• 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.

While some business plans might include more or less information, these are the key details I’d include in this section.

Financials Business Plan Example

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

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.

As you create your business plan, keep in mind that each of these sections will be formatted differently. Some may be in paragraph format, while others could be charts or graphs.

The formats above apply to most types of business plans. That said, the format and structure of your plan will vary by your goals for that plan. 

So, I’ve added a quick review of different business plan types. For a more detailed overview, check out this post .

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

Another business plan that's often for sharing internally is a strategic business plan. 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.

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

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, in addition to writing your business plan, with a high level of exactitude and detail. So if you’re in the midst of starting your business, this is an excellent guide for you.

It also offers other resources you might need, such as market analysis templates.

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

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 prioritise 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 (CSS)

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

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

How to Write a Powerful Executive Summary [+4 Top Examples]

19 Best Sample Business Plans & Examples to Help You Write Your Own

What is a Business Plan? Definition, Tips, and Templates

Maximizing Your Social Media Strategy: The Top Aggregator Tools to Use

The Content Aggregator Guide for 2023

7 Gantt Chart Examples You'll Want to Copy [+ 5 Steps to Make One]

The 8 Best Free Flowchart Templates [+ Examples]

16 Best Screen Recorders to Use for Collaboration

The 25 Best Google Chrome Extensions for SEO

Professional Invoice Design: 28 Samples & Templates to Inspire You

2 Essential Templates For Starting Your Business

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

Original text

Business plans aren't just for startups. Developing a business plan for an established business serves several purposes: It can help convince investors or lenders to finance your business, persuade a business buyer to purchase your business or entice partners or key employees to join your company. Most importantly, it serves as a roadmap guiding your business's growth and continued success throughout its following stages.

Writing a business plan is an opportunity to carefully think through every step to achieving your goals for your company. This is your chance to discover any weaknesses that may threaten your business, identify opportunities you may not have considered, and plan how to deal with challenges that are likely to arise.

This template includes instructions for each section of the business plan for your established business, followed by corresponding fillable worksheet/s.

Sections of this business plan include:

• Executive Summary
• Company Description
• Products and Services
• Marketing Plan
• Operational Plan
• Management & Organization
• Personal Financial Statement
• Financial History and Analysis
• Financial Plan

The last section in the instructions, “Refining Your Plan,” explains ways to modify your plan for specific purposes, such as getting a bank loan, or for specific industries, such as retail.

After you complete the worksheets, print them out, and you will have a working business plan for your established business. Then, contact a  SCORE mentor  to review and refine your plan.

Business Planning & Financial Statements Template Gallery Download SCORE’s templates to help you plan for a new business startup or grow your existing business.

Simple Steps to Write and Follow a Sustainable Business Plan that Ensures You Achieve Your Goals In this webinar, you will learn how to write a business plan to ensure you can go from business idea to business success.

You Created a Business Plan; Now What? So you have created your business plan. Now what?. In this webinar, you will learn the next step, how to execute your business plan.

Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Researched by Consultants from Top-Tier Management Companies

Powerpoint Templates

Icon Bundle

Kpi Dashboard

Professional

Business Plans

Swot Analysis

Gantt Chart

Business Proposal

Marketing Plan

Project Management

Business Case

Business Model

Cyber Security

Business PPT

Digital Marketing

Digital Transformation

Human Resources

Product Management

Artificial Intelligence

Company Profile

Acknowledgement PPT

PPT Presentation

Reports Brochures

One Page Pitch

Interview PPT

All Categories

Top 10 Business Growth Plan Templates with Samples and Examples

Mohammed Sameer

Every organization should have a strategic business growth plan that aligns with the company’s goals. A strategy with attainable and measurable goals can be the difference between success and stagnation.

This is true for most people, from entrepreneurs to athletes. Identifying where you want to go, and the steps you need to take to get there will ensure that your company meets all objectives with ease.

A growth strategy integrates all functional areas of the business to achieve your long-term goals. Every department, from sales and marketing to product development, must contribute to the detailed development of this plan. This collaboration aids in achieving synergy and enables your business to achieve unparalleled efficiencies. 

We've compiled a list of the top 10 Business Growth Plan Templates to ensure that business leaders can reap the benefits.

Business Growth Templates Your Company Needs

Napoleon Hill once said, "Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle." And without a proper plan in place, all your efforts and struggles could be futile. Growth planning is a strategic exercise that allows business owners to schedule and monitor the progress of their revenue. SlideTeam's Business Growth Plan Templates make it easier and faster to create these plans. Let's explore them.

Template 1: Business growth plan PPT Template

Draft an inclusive business growth plan leveraging our content-ready PPT Template. It covers the heart and soul of an effective business growth plan. It emphasizes the importance of revenue streams, SWOT Analysis , PESTEL Analysis, financial plan, and risk control. It’s a resource that is a must-have. Download it now.

Get this template

Template 2: Business Growth And Development Plan

In the deck of all kings , this illustrative template is an Ace of Spades. It is ripe with knowledge and aesthetically-pleasing graphics that make the perfect blend of memorable and impactful presentations. A download of it will ensure you and your team has a concrete business growth plan to work on and take your organization to the heights of success. Get it now.

Download this template

Template 3: Business Growth Planning PPT Framework

Business growth never comes easy. You have to be relentless in your work and diligent in your efforts to give a fair shot to your business to reach success (which is still not guaranteed). SlideTeam has prepared this PowerPoint Presentation to make your life easy. This template helps you frame an effective and workable business growth plan. Get it now.

Grab this template

Template 4: Business Growth Strategy And Revenue Model

Here’s a star PPT Template for preparing a business growth strategy that aligns with your company’s brand and vision. From business growth model and revenue model to go-to-market strategy and marketing strategy, this presentation template has everything that makes a business plan a success. Get it now.

Template 5: Business Growth and Strategy Planning 

Business growth and strategic planning can be daunting tasks to accomplish. With SlideTeam as your PPT Presentation partner, you can rest assured that you never have to worry about anything. We have built this PPT Template on extensive research and analysis to ensure you have the best resource for your business. Grab it now.

Template 6: Two-Stage Business Growth Plan

Here’s a two-stage business growth plan that can help your enterprise break free of the grip of stagnation. Improve your business’ visibility and take steps to move from mere existence to a stage where your key decision-makers have the maturity to offer new products. Use this slide to showcase business growth in two steps and the attractive backdrop to convince clients of your resolve to grow your business. Download it now.

Template 7: Growth-Oriented Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation Slides

This business growth template contains the overview, financial highlights of the company, revenue streams, growth strategies, and much more. Using it, you can easily present the financial highlights covering turnover, net assets, and EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation). You can quickly identify and analyze the company's strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities. Showcase PESTLE analysis that examines external and internal business factors affecting your organization's performance.

Template 8: Next Year Annual Business Growth Plan

As 2022 is almost over, it is time to plan for the year ahead. One of the absolute essentials for any business is to have a solid business growth plan. Not sure about how to make the next year’s annual business growth plan? Fret not; SlideTeam is here to help. By downloading this template, you can have all the right resources critical to framing a relevant business growth plan.

Template 9: Key Essential of Business Growth Plan

As a business development manager, building a business growth plan without knowing the key essentials is suicidal. It is also akin to giving directions to a location you have no clue about. Your business will end up stuck in the middle of nowhere. Here’s an exemplary PPT Template that describes the key essentials necessary to draft an effective business growth plan. Grab it now.

Template 10: Strategies for Business Growth PPT Template

Business growth is not an overnight achievement. You need proven strategies to guide your business to success. With a lot already on your plate, you will need assistance in strategizing. SlideTeam acknowledges that constraint and has developed an illustrative PPT Template that describes the strategies for business growth. Grab it now.

Before We Bid Adieu

There is no quick fix or silver bullet that will result in exponential growth.

Indeed, growth is a lengthy process that necessitates a keen focus and understanding of the data and metrics that influence the moving parts of an organization. That is why, in order to truly succeed, you must have a well-thought-out growth strategy (and our business growth plan templates to build one).

FAQs on Business Growth Plan

How do i write a business growth plan.

Steps to Make a Growth-Oriented Business Plan:

• Define your Aim
• Determine your Market(s) and Customers (s)
• Choose your Value Proposition
• Set your Goals and Objectives
• Plan Out your Operations
• Create a well-defined marketing strategy
• Outline your Budget and Forecasting
• Step-wise Execution with Real-time Monitoring

What are the 4 types of business growth strategies?

The following are the four primary growth strategies:

Market Penetration

This strategy aims to increase sales of existing products or services in markets where you are already present, giving you an increased share. You can accomplish this by luring customers away from competitors and ensuring that your existing customers purchase your products or services more frequently. It can be achieved through price reductions, increased promotion and distribution support, acquiring a competitor in the same market, or minor product refinements.

Market Development

It entails expanding existing product or service sales into previously untapped markets. Market expansion entails determining how a company's existing products can be sold in new markets or how to grow the existing market. It can be accomplished through a study of customer segments, such as industrial buyers, for a product that was previously only sold to households. Example: Internet service providers targeted employers for using their product, when it was not so ubiquitous.

Product Development

The goal is to introduce new products or services into existing markets. Product development can be used to expand the offer to current customers to increase ARPU (Average Revenue Per User). These products can be obtained by investing in additional product research and development, acquiring the rights to manufacture someone else's product, purchasing the product, and "branding" it.

Diversification

It entails introducing new products or services into previously untapped markets. Diversification involves higher business risk. It involves the company marketing completely new products and services in a completely unknown market.

What is a growth plan in a business plan?

Business and growth planning are similar. A growth plan primarily focuses on revenue generation or expansion and the actions required to achieve it.

It is a detailed, systematic record of your company's future goals. It outlines your company's goals and objectives and clear strategies and tactics for achieving these.

A growth plan considers the following:

• Your company's current state, including its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
• What do you want your company to be in the future?
• A strategy and timetable for achieving your goals.

What is the 5 Ps strategy?

Mintzberg developed his 5 Ps of Strategy as five distinct definitions of (or approaches to) strategy development. He first discussed the 5 Ps of Strategy in 1987. Each of the 5 Ps represents a distinct approach to strategy. 

• Perspective

Related posts:

• Business Strategic Planning: 11 PowerPoint Templates You Must Have
• It’s Really Really Hard to Make a Half-Decent Business Presentation on a Mobile Device (and Why It’s Unlikely to Change Anytime Soon)
• Top 35 Business Strategy Templates for Entrepreneurs
• The Quick 10-Point Guide That Will Help You Ace a Remotely-Presented Investor Pitch

Liked this blog? Please recommend us

Top 50 Marketing PPT Templates to Accelerate Your Business Growth!!

15 Business Plan Examples to Help You Build Your Enterprise

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA - the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Digital revolution powerpoint presentation slides

Sales funnel results presentation layouts

3d men joinning circular jigsaw puzzles ppt graphics icons

Business Strategic Planning Template For Organizations Powerpoint Presentation Slides

Future plan powerpoint template slide

Project Management Team Powerpoint Presentation Slides

Brand marketing powerpoint presentation slides

Launching a new service powerpoint presentation with slides go to market

Agenda powerpoint slide show

Four key metrics donut chart with percentage

Engineering and technology ppt inspiration example introduction continuous process improvement

Meet our team representing in circular format

How to Write a Nail Salon Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF

Elon Glucklich

7 min. read

Updated April 1, 2024

Download: Free one-page nail salon sample business plan

Nail trends are changing faster than ever. With social media fueling endless inspiration, people of all ages are embracing self-expression through their appearance, and their nails are no exception.

With the number of manicurists and pedicurists projected to grow 9% in the next decade, this burst of creativity is opening opportunities for nail technicians who dream of owning their own nail salon.

But just because the market is booming doesn’t mean anyone can start a nail salon and be successful. To build a financially stable business, you’ll need to have a sharp understanding of your ideal client, define the unique services that sets you apart, and develop smart marketing strategies to bring customers in your door.

A well-crafted business plan will help you focus your planning efforts on the tactics and strategies that attract loyal clients. And it’s key for convincing banks or investors if you need funding to get started.

• Nail salon business plan checklist

Here are a few sections we recommend including in a nail salon business plan:

Executive summary

• Products & services

Market analysis

• Marketing & sales plan
• Company overview
• Financial plan & forecasts

Writing a business plan thorough enough to impress lenders typically requires following a standard format. But if you aren’t seeking outside funding, you shouldn’t feel like you have to stick to that structure.

For instance, don’t spend too much time on the products and services section of your business plan if you’re writing it to determine how to market your business. Just include the sections that are relevant to your situation.

Here’s an example of a nail salon business plan outline. Just remember that your business plan might have different sections. It’s all about what you need for your business.

The executive summary is essentially your nail salon’s opening pitch. 

It shouldn’t be more than 1-2 pages, and should be written last, despite going first in the plan. Just outline the objective of your business, and your mission. 

Are you focused on intricate nail art, speedy manicures, or a luxurious spa-like experience? 

Then, describe the issue you solve for clients and your unique value proposition — the factor or factors that make you different from the competition. Some examples include:

• A unique combination of services
• An emphasis on naturally made products
• Partnerships with other beauty service providers (hair, makeup, etc.)

The executive summary is all about being concise, but capturing the reader’s interest so that they’ll want to read more.

Products and services

The products and services section is all about detailing your revenue streams. Start with your core nail services. Maybe you offer:

• Gel/acrylics

Once you’ve written down the basics, expand to emphasize any unique offerings, such as:

• Intricate designs
• Complementary services like aromatherapy
• Plant-based ingredients

You should mention any retail products you plan to sell, such as:

• Nail polishes
• Nail care kits
• Hand creams.

These are potentially additional revenue streams for your business. Use the products and services section to focus on your unique value proposition . Maybe you’re known for your eye-catching nail designs, or have partnerships with complementary businesses like hair salons. Anything that contributes to your sales and profitability is worth including.

This is where you get to know your target market and your competition. What’s the size of the nail salon market in your area? Can your customers be grouped factors like:

• Spending habits

The market analysis section should outline the specific groups in your community that you aim to serve, such as working professionals, students, or individuals seeking luxury treatments.

If you’re already running a nail salon, you likely have a sense of your customer demographics. But studying industry trends (like the growing demand for natural nail care) and whether they can help you understand how your customers’ motivations and desires might change over time.

Use your business plan to compile that research, and zero in on the demographics and desires of your perfect client . Maybe they’re:

• Busy professionals seeking quick lunchtime manicures
• Trend-conscious teens and young adults
• Parents looking for some relaxation

You should also scout out your competition . List other nearby salons in your plan, noting their strengths and weaknesses. How will you stand out and win customers over?

Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan describes your strategies to turn your target market into paying clients.

Start by detailing your strategies to reach customers. 

We recommend you prioritize social media channels , as they’re a major driver for the beauty industry. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are ideal for showcasing your nail work. 

Other marketing tactics to consider include:

• Partnerships with local businesses
• Loyalty programs for returning customers
• Incentives for customers who bring friends to your business 

Whichever marketing channels you choose to invest in, remember that your market research and unique value proposition should inform the content you put out to entice consumers. 

For instance, if most of your customers are working professionals, determining other businesses they frequent and seeking our partnership opportunities with them could be a valuable approach. But if your clients are mostly high school and college students, you’re most likely to be successful with an engaging social media campaign.

Make sure to track the results of your marketing efforts as well, so you know which strategies are paying off.

Company Overview

The company overview is where you highlight your team and business history. (If you aren’t seeking a loan or investment, you can likely skip this section).

Outline your business structure . Are you a:

• Sole proprietor
• Partnership
• Corporation

Then, highlight your team. Even if it’s just you, summarize your experience and any special certifications you hold. If you have key employees like nail salon technicians, a manager, or an administrative assistant, list their experience and skills. And if you plan on hiring, briefly mention the skills you’ll be looking for in future team members.

If you already have customers or brand partnerships, mention them in this section as well.

Financial Plan

The financial plan is all about deciding how successful your business can be. You’ll need a few things:

Sales Forecast : How much do you realistically expect to bring in each month? Consider the average price of services and how many clients you can serve.

Profit and Loss (P&L) : This lists your income minus expenses. Don’t forget things like rent, nail polish, and staff salaries.

Cash Flow Statement : This shows when money comes in and goes out, which is crucial for managing bills.

Startup Costs : If you’re seeking a loan, itemize costs like salon equipment, initial inventory, and any renovations.

Detail the assumptions behind your profitability and starting capital projections to provide clarity on your market analysis and expectations. Also, outline any potential risks, such as economic downturns affecting discretionary spending. And if you’re seeking funding, outline here how you will use those funds to support your business operations.

This optional section is where you include extra materials that strengthen your main points, but don’t fit in the actual plan. 

Maybe you surveyed customers about their preferences for a new product line, or researched the demographics of your neighborhood online. 

Include those reports in the appendix, if you think anyone reading the plan will benefit from the additional information. 

Remember, only include items that truly add value to your plan.

• Download your free nail salon one page sample business plan

Download our nail salon sample business plan template right now for free. You can also view other salon and spa business plan templates , or browse Bplans’ gallery of more than 550 sample business plans to find more inspiration. 

In a space as full of entrepreneurs as the nail industry, standing out is crucial, and writing a business plan is one of the best ways to make sure you set yourself apart with a strategy that’s financially viable and built for long-term success.

And remember, you’ll need a plan if you’re looking for a loan or investment to fund your business.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

Table of Contents

Related Articles

12 Min. Read

How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan (2024 + Template)

5 Min. Read

How to Write a Personal Shopper Business Plan + Example Templates

How to Write an Agritourism Business Plan + Example Templates

9 Min. Read

How to Write a Business Plan for a Service Business

The Bplans Newsletter

The Bplans Weekly

Subscribe now for weekly advice and free downloadable resources to help start and grow your business.

We care about your privacy. See our privacy policy .

Tax Season Savings

Get 40% off LivePlan

The #1 rated business plan software

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software