Develop a business plan and transform your entrepreneurial idea into a business reality.
Writing a business plan is a useful tool to help you transform your entrepreneurial idea into a business reality. Developing a business plan is an encouraging way to assess what you want to achieve, and how you are going to achieve it. A business plan acts as a map, navigating you towards identifying and understanding what you require to make your business successful. It ensures that you consider each step of the process.
Listed below is a 10 point guideline on how to write a successful business plan.
1. Cover page
A cover page is the front facing page of your business plan document. Your cover should include:
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The name of your business
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Name of the owner
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Contact details
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Logo (a professional logo can be used to add style to the cover page)
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Submitted to (for financing only)
2. Contents page
A content page ensures that the reader of your business plan can quickly find any relevant section on any given page. It’s best to make the content titles broad and brief.
3. Executive summary
An executive summary is an outline of the vision for your business. It sums up your entire business idea in a short section. Include three basic points;
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Objectives
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Mission
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Keys to success
The executive summary is important because it introduces the reader to your business idea, it is the first information they will read about your business and tells them why you think your business will be successful.It is often helpful to write this section last, after you’ve written the rest of your business plan, so that you are more able to summarise it.
4. Company profile: the people
It is necessary to include information on who is involved in the business, outlinging ownership and management. The reader wants to know who owns the business, who will manage it, and how it functions internally. If it is your business, tell them about yourself and your expertise.
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Provide a résumé of yourself and your experiences
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Provide a résumé of the persons involved and their relevant expertise
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List the key management positions and their responsibilities
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Detail each employee position and their responsibilities
5. Company profile: the business
Describe and define your company; what it does and how it functions.
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Describe the product or service your business will provide
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Indicate where your business is or will be located
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Provide a history of the business (for ongoing companies)
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Describe the facilities your company uses to operate
6. Business overview: product and services
Give an overview of what your business involves.
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Describe the product or service your business will provide
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Define the customers your business will target
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Describe your competition, explaining why your business might have a competitive advantage
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List the marketplace needs your business will satisfy
7. Market assessment
To successfully enter into a new business you need to know your market. Illustrate your knowledge of how the industry works to show that you have an understanding of the market environment.
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Describe how the industry currently works
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Provide information on your target market
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Identify any market and industry needs
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List the main competition
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Describe the distribution patterns
8. Market strategy
Having done a market assessment, outline any problems you may expect to encounter in the market and possible ways in which you could solve them. Give an indication of your marketing strategy;
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How you will promote your service or product
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How you will focus on particular target markets
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How you will remain competitive
9. Cash flow assessment
In this section of your business plan include any relevant financial information that is important for any future business plans.
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Projected cash flow
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Projected profit and loss
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Start up Capital
10. Funds required and their use
In the final section of your business plan include information on the amount of funding you need to start your business. Detail this section as much as possible, indicating the exact areas in which you need funding and the projected amount required.
Taat Pringist
April 12, 2010
Having armed with all the good knowledge here, one should consider a business plan software as well. The most modern-ones are online business planning tools. Like this one: iPlanner.NET
There is nothing to download, everything happens online.
SOLOKA
May 13, 2010
JOINING THE SITE
kiiza
May 29, 2010
Dear sir/Madam,
Am adiploma holder in Busines studies from Uganda COLLEGE OF Commerce, i have love for Tourism activites in our country Uganda.
Now, i would like to start my own Busines of Tour company but tailrred to meet all sizes of pockets.
And with cadinal objective of SENSETAIZATION CAMPAIGN GEARED PROMOTING OUR TOURISM SITES AND ITS SPECIES.
Now how can start,it if i want assistance in terms of fuds/Donnars how can be helped to acess them ie DONARS OR Busines patterners
Thank you for your outstanding advice.
KIIZA
Joshua Sarai
June 4, 2010
Please forward this page to my emails.I am 26yrs old and have recently qualified as a medical doctor(general practitioner) at the University of Zimbabwe.
I believe I can do more than just attending patients.I want to start a business.
kahinda
June 7, 2010
Dear Sir/Madam.
Am very grateful about your services in line with assisting us with in the world Busines Ideas.
Now, on this presented draft of Busines plan on your website,all essential stages are right,but my question which i would like you to help me is that.
My plan is in progress,but the busines has not started, to include some stages which are crucial to its operation to lobby for funds,from donors or sponsors,
But i would like to get some volunteer or company who generously assist my prospecting idea of Business in uganda In Tourism,if is there,am ready to comply with that shall be stated regulations or Terms and conditions, where neccessary.
And Uganda being a Hub of Tourism( Pearl of Africa) am sure we can acheive our objectives,”Together we can reach”
Thank you in advance for continuing support.
Yours
KAHINDA
The applicant.
Chimfwembe Bangili
June 21, 2010
Dear sir/madam,
Am a zambian young lady hoping to start a baking business.I would like some help on how best i can prepare a business plan to present to my potential financiar.please advice on which orgarnisation i can approach for funding.This is when i’m starting my paper work so i need alot of help.I will appreciate your help in this regard.
joe king'ori maru
July 10, 2010
dear sir,
I’m a regular viewer of your programme here in Zambia and through it, i got inspired and i formed my own company called Joemaru Enterprises.
This firm is already registered with the relevant authorites here in our country.
I’m producing products which are of organic nature such as honey and peanut butter.
The product is even on the market but the sales are not doing well.
There are two problems that am facing
1. lack of capital
2. no business plan
I will really appreciate if i can be assisted in these areas because my firm’s agenda is to empower the local people who produce these raw materials which are organic. I want to empower them because majority live in povrty areas and many dont have any other income apart from these raw materials.
I will highly appreciate if your organisation can come to my assistance.
Best regards
joe maru
James Magina
August 23, 2010
Am so much thankful to Africa Report management for everything they do to enable the people of Africa to overcome poverty through initiating businesses . may the Lord bless every effort done. Am a student at the Institute of social work In Dar es Salaam, I have the idea of Initiating my own business thanks for information about a business plan , I would like to ask if I can get an example of a plan that has already being done by someone in order to get more knowledge on how to prepare my own.
Jane Uguru
December 11, 2010
Pla kindly connect me to Mr Joe Maru whose piece on the ‘comments’ i found interesting,being that we share same interest in organic food processssing. I hope to exchange ideas with him that might benefit us.
Buzzingstreet
December 15, 2010
Hey,
Visiting this blog is our real pleasure. Should like to thank admin for sharing such a useful information and starting this thread in addition to that we suggest traders not to panic when Nifty is in profit booking state. Investors and traders should understand that in volatile stock market conditions they should switch to swing trading.
Good Day
BUZZINGSTREET TEAM
WALTER BWIRE
December 16, 2010
hi i have always loved your program the first time i saw it on Saturday on NTV back here in Kenya and i was moved to see people start businesses from nothing and i would like to do the same please send me the business plan so that i may apply for the youth funds and start my own business thanks and God bless you. am still loking for a job back here in Kenya
Japheth Oluoch Ogola
December 20, 2010
Dear Africa Report
I am a Kenyan who is finishing his Bachelor of Degree in Commerce. I am a Certified Qualified Acountant (CPA finalist) and hold a post graduate diploma in project management. I have skills in training in the relevant fields of my academic and professional training. I am interested in starting a consultancy firm which will enable me to provide financial and project management services, while at the same time giving back my skills to Korogocho slums in Nairobi Kenya where I was born and brought up. How can I best actualize this idea and how can I get financial assitance to set it up?
THANKS
JAPHETH
Marisol Perry
December 22, 2010
Please kindly connect me to Mr Joe Maru whose piece on the ‘comments’ I found interesting, being that we share same interest in organic food processing. I hope to exchange ideas with him that might benefit us.
Prescaliah Teo
February 8, 2011
Hi, I would like to start a fashion house business where people of low income can hire my clothing collections and to also sell to those who can afford them. I wish to invite people to help me with some more ideas who are on the same field.
tshekiso
February 14, 2011
Hello, I want to start a publication/newspaper that covers all the sporting codes. I used to work for a publication that was covering soccer only and it didnt do well because of some issues, but I would like to start my own newspaper. I’m having difficulties with the business plan, anyone who could help you are welcome.
Gabriel Odhiambo Achayo
February 26, 2011
Hello
I am a University of Nairobi Graduate with a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering. I’ve a keen interest in outdoor advertisement and would like to venture into it. My idea is based on use of scroll for advertsising. This could be placed in buildings, hotels, restaurants, roadside signs etc. The scroll will be cotrolled by a Micro-control chip, motors etc. It could be designed in a way that at peak hours you have an in built camera to show the advert clips. My request is advice, mentorship and possible support to make this my idea get started. I’ll appreciate any consideration.
Thank you
Gabriel
Africa Report Team
March 8, 2011
Hi Antony,
You can look for resources in our Directory and by placing a Marketplace advert on our website. You need to contact any resources directly, with a business plan and find out what their requirements are.
Here are instructions on How to make a Marketplace listing.
Africa Report Team
Joe king'ori Maru
March 30, 2011
It is good to communicate to your, please allow me to make a request. Kindly connect me to Marisol Perry and Jane Uguru they are both from Kenya and expressed interest in my business.
I used your proposed outline of the business plan and submitted it to a lending institution. I am awaiting for their response. Once again thank very much. I will always get in touch for the valuable business ideas.
Best regards to you all,
Maru
MOJETEX
April 14, 2011
I thank God I stumbled onto your programme on AIT television tonight on Thursday 14th April 2011 when Modupe Folarin and her mother brewries business was feactured.
I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur instead of an employer of labour and what informed this is because I like to contribute my quota to the development of my country Nigeria.
I have got experience, lots of business ideas, website and have registered my company name but no capital.
MOJETEX
April 14, 2011
How can Africare be of help to me? I also will appreciate a business plan’s tips sent to my mail box.
Thank you
Africa Report Team
April 18, 2011
Hi Mojetex,
You can look for resources in our Directory and by placing a Marketplace advert on our website. You need to contact any resources directly, with a business plan and find out what their requirements are.
Here are instructions on How to make a Marketplace listing.
Africa Report Team
jane Uguru
May 15, 2011
Pls Mr JOE KING’ORI MARU,
Kindly contact me on my email address; janeuguru@hotmail.com.
I am interested in your line of business, although I am a Nigerian, not Kenyan. I look forward to your mail.
REGARDS.
Jane Uguru.
Purity Maganda
June 6, 2011
I am a student at Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe, studying Entrepreneurship & Business Management. I have a passion for horticultural production. Can the team help me draft a business plan so that I can venture the business activity.
The programmes you do ZTV are beneficial, keep on helping African communities.
Maneno ibrahim
October 5, 2011
I am so impressed by africa report programs
Africa Report
October 5, 2011
Africa Report is pleased that it has offered you a much needed service. Please continue to watch our programs, log onto our website for daily updates.
Regards
Africa Report Team
Africa Report
October 5, 2011
We appreciate your loyalty. Please continue to watch our programs, log onto our website for daily updates.
Regards
Africa Report Team
Ozie Sellai
October 15, 2011
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Castillio
November 8, 2011
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Bouse Moyo
November 9, 2011
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Shon s thomas
January 9, 2012
Hi, this is Shon from Kerala state of the country India. I’m just a 17 year old senior secondary student looking for some help for a competition. Guess the above article helped me. Thank you Africa Report Team, thanks a lot.
Sarah Glaspole
January 16, 2012
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February 6, 2012
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February 7, 2012
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Regards,
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March 11, 2012
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Africa Report
March 12, 2012
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