A business plan is a document that creates an effective strategy for growth (for start-ups and expansions), to determine future financial needs, and to attract investors and lenders. The section below includes more information on a free business plan template.
Key Components of a Business Plan Template Include:
Executive Summary
Provides a brief description of the business, the reason the funding is required, background on the promoters, and an overview of the socio-economic benefits.
Purpose of Required Funding
Motivates why capital is required and provide details of how these funds will be applied.
Valuation of Business
If funds are used for the purchase of an existing business, this section includes details of how business valuation has been derived (e.g., DCF, NAV, price-earnings).
Products & Services
Describes the product and/or service offering by including benefits to the user, specifications of products/services, unique selling proposition, source of revenue or contractual revenue, potential and proposed new product developments, and export potential.
Industry Analysis
Provides information on the industry by including a summary of the industry, value drivers and industry price structures, historical growth rates, trends and problems in the industry, how is the market segmented, the economic outlook, and growth opportunities.
Target Market Analysis
Provides information on customers by including a market analysis (size and growth in terms of number
of products, money value and number of customers), target market and geographic coverage, a list of existing and potential customers, letters of intent, contracts and orders, growth opportunities (i.e. new products/new customers), and distribution channels.
Competitor Analysis
Provides information on competitors, by including market share, barriers to entry and new entrants, details of marketing budget, and the marketing strategy to realise objectives.
Supplier Analysis
Provides information on suppliers by including the number of suppliers, bargaining power of suppliers, availability of raw materials, the cost of imported verses local materials, and the Rand/Dollar exchange rate (where applicable).
Operational Analysis
Provides information on operations by including production processes, required equipment and/or raw materials, plant capacity and utilisation, production costs, replacement requirements, new technology requirements, and quality control/reject rate.
Management & Human Resources
Provides information on management and HR by including management experience and qualifications, the number of employees, the BEE percentage, skills required, training programmes, and staff turnover.
Internal & External Risks
Includes a summary of information on the principle risks that the entity is subject to and how these risks will be addressed.
Socio-economic Benefits
Provides information on socio-economic benefits by including job creation, poverty alleviation, women participation, skills transfer/training, industrial growth and development, and the number of households to benefit.
Financial/Cash Flow Analysis
The layout of financial statements should provide the income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statements and state assumptions used in the projections. Financials should reflect 3 years historic information for existing entities and 5 year forecasts. The most recent management accounts should be provided if the business is already in existence. The first year of financial forecasts is broken down month by month.
The financials to date and the forecasts should include commentary, as well as the break-even analysis, specify value drivers for base, best verses worse case scenario, cash flow cycle, seasonal, monthly, credit days, debtors days, stock days, profit margins and profitability, key assumptions used in compiling cash flow forecasts, cost drivers, debt structure, working capital review/analysis, fixed assets profile. Start-ups should provide a five-year forecast, analysis as stated above but the emphasis is on motivating why forecasts on sales are achievable and costs are reasonable.
Dream Team Capital can assist with developing a conforming business plan to provide you with the highest chances of success with your application, combined with the largest network of funders and grant providers in the country.
For more information on a free business plan template – Get in touch with DTC