Executive Summary
Purpose:	The Executive Summary provides a general overview of each subsequent section of the plan.
Checklist:	Brief Overview of the Business Brief Overview of the Product/Service Brief Overview of the Management Team Brief Overview of the Industry Brief Overview of the Marketing Plan Brief Overview of the Operating Plan Brief Overview of the Financial Plan
Notes:	An Executive Summary is generally one page. While appearing first in the Business Plan, some write the Executive Summary last after every section is fully developed.

Business Description
Purpose:	Provide the reader with a clear understanding of what business your company is involved in as well as all of the pertinent organizational information.
Checklist:	Name of the Business Location of the Business Contact Information Type of Ownership Description of Business Activity
Notes:	When describing the business, it is helpful to the reader if the language is specific. Making the company sound as if it is all things to all people can quickly take the reader out of the scope of the plan.

Product/Service Description
Purpose:	This section details the product or service and its benefits to the consumer.
Checklist:	Description of Product or Service Product Features Product Image [Optional] Cost to Produce Target Selling Price
Notes:	An important focus of this section is what differentiates the company's offering from what already exists in the market place.

Management Team
Purpose:	Investors and lenders are well aware that the people involved in the business will ultimately determine whether the company will succeed or fail. The Management Team section is an opportunity to show that those involved in the company are qualified and capable of executing the plan.
Checklist:	Description of Management Team Members Description of Roles Description of Advisors [Optional]
Notes:	Sample Format: [First Name] [Last Name] - [Business Title] [Education] [Relevant Employment Experience] [Brief Description of how this individual helps the company]

Industry Overview
Purpose:	The Industry Overview defines the overall market and gives an indication of whether the industry is healthy or not.
Checklist:	NAICS Classification Size of the Industry Overall Industry Trend Description of Individual Market Segment within the Industry
Notes:	Often times, finding industry data is the most challenging endeavor. Some sources of information include: US Census Economic Data Professional Financial Statement Studies Industry Trade Publications

Strategic Advantages
Purpose:	Given the Industry description above, this section addresses the company's competitive strengths compared to their primary competitors.
Checklist:	List of Primary Competitors Quality Advantage [If Applicable] Cost Advantage [If Applicable] Technological Superiority [If Applicable] Market Positioning Advantage [If Applicable]
Notes:	A good exercise is to talk about the business's core competencies and how it will use them to compete with the existing companies.

Marketing Plan
Purpose:	The Marketing Plan describes how the company will enter the market and attract customers.
Checklist:	Identification of the Industry Major Target Customers Advertising and Marketing Use of Internet [If Applicable]
Notes:	The most effective Marketing Plans are actionable. In other words, they clearly identify potential customers and accounts and the best way to solicit business from them. The marketing plan must be consistent with the projected sales volume in the financial plan.

Operating Plan
Purpose:	The Operating Plan details how the company will be run on a day-to-day basis.
Checklist:	Description of Physical Facilities Capacity Distribution Channels Calculation of Overhead Licenses and Permits
Notes:

Financial Plan
Purpose:	It is vitally important to know how much the company must sell in order for it to pay its bills. The three major accounting statements are helpful to show the financial viability of a business. They can also point out problem areas in the company that can be acted upon before the business starts losing money.
Checklist:	Cashflow Statement Income Statement Balance Sheet
Notes:	Some lenders prefer a CPA to generate the financial statements rather than the business owner. Each Statement should be projected for three years. The first year projection should be done month-by-month. The second and third year can be summarized quarterly.