Business Plan

A good business plan is essential for all start up and growing companies.  In a very real sense it your guide, your route map to success.  In it you:

• Describe your project or business and state why it will succeed
• Demonstrate that a Market exists for the goods or services you will offer
• Define your Strategy for accessing the proven Market
• Show how your business will be Organised and Managed
• Explain your Production and Operations functions
• Discuss your Costings, Finance and Financial Assumptions
• Lay-out your Financial Statements:  Cash-flow Analysis; Profit & Loss Account and Balance Sheet. 

Though you will be guided by your Mentor, it is important that you do the work yourself, so that you fully understand every facet of the Business Plan and have ownership of every idea, backing research and figures. 

For information on writing a business plan click on the following;

Sample Business Plan

Preparing a Business Plan 

Business Plan Template

There are a wide variety of business plan templates available from financial institutions and the banks.  An even greater selection is available on the Internet.  Sometimes, a client has good reason for choosing a particular template.  An example of this is when the bank you are dealing with requests that you use their template.  However, most of the time it is a matter of personal choice.

At Dublin City Enterprise, our mentors are happy to work with you using the template you have chosen.  That said, we have developed the template set out below that we find easy to use for start up and micro businesses. 

SECTION 1 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Detail the objectives of the business and the requirements of the business plan.  

SECTION 2 - INTRODUCTION

Summarise the various aspects of the business, which will be later detailed under the headings below. 

SECTION 3 - MARKET

• Overview
• Trend
• Size and potential
• Competition
• Customers
• Structure
• S.W.O.T. Analysis 

SECTION 4 - MARKET STRATEGY

• Objectives
• Product
• Price
• Place
• Promotion 

SECTION 5 - ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT 

• Management Overview
• Staff Requirement 

SECTION 6 - PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS 

• Premises
• Plant and Equipment
• Operations Overview 

SECTION 7 - COSTINGS AND FINANCE 

• Financial Assumptions
• Sensitivity Analysis 

APPENDICES 

• Appendix A - Financial Projections  - Yr.1 and Yr.2
        - Profit and Loss
        - Cash flow
        - Balance Sheet
• Appendix B - Certificate of Incorporation.
• Appendix C - Tax Clearance Certificate
• Appendix D - Promoters’ C.V’s.
• Appendix E - Equipment Schedule.
• Appendix F - (Other)

We would strongly recommend you attend the DCEB Start Your Own Business Course, that covers all aspects of the Business Plan and how to set up a business. Click here to book your DCEB Start Your Own Business Course.