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You had an idea. From that idea grew a company. Whether you’re a startup or on the fast track to success. We work with companies - just like yours.
You had an idea. From that idea grew a company. We work with companies - just like yours.
From seed to speed
We know that you need knowledge fast. It’s about pulling resources together like access to financing, global contacts and seasoned advice on the most challenging business issues.(PDF 851 KB)
Business planning
Developing a strong business plan is critical to the success of any startup business. KPMG Private Enterprise works with entrepreneurs to help build robust plans that include detailed strategy around all aspects of their organization: finance, sales and marketing, operations, supply chain, procurement and engineering. As part of our business planning process, we look to assess current processes, analyze data for trends and identify the areas of greatest opportunity.
Startup financing
You have a fantastic business plan – now you need the financial support to bring your plan to life. But what financing options are available to entrepreneurs? Are there government programs for startups in your sector? Can your concept attract strategic or angel investors?
KPMG Private Enterprise advisers can help you identify the financing plan that you need to fuel your growth. From helping you identify early-stage financing options to helping you connect with potential investors – we’ll work with you every step of the way to help turn your vision into reality.
R&D incentives
As an entrepreneur, you recognize the importance location has on business success. When it comes to research and development (R&D) initiatives, location can have a major impact on your costs due to the availability of R&D incentives and the impact of R&D costs on other tax benefits.
KPMG Private Enterprise business advisers in KPMG firms can help you conduct a review of R&D incentives and tax implications so that you can better evaluate the after-tax cost of performing your R&D in one country, state or province over another. Advisers can also highlight other government grants and incentives that you can tap into. KPMG Private Enterprise advisers will work with you to help determine the best location for your activities – so you can focus on the future.
Business strategy services
When it comes to doing business, status quo will not work for long. There’s little doubt you’ll face ongoing threats, whether from new technologies, competition, or industry changes. As an owner-manager, you need to think about the future today so you can build a sustainable model for your business.
KPMG Private Enterprise advisers can work with you to review your business model and help identify strategic initiatives that will support your objectives. We do this through facilitated sessions focused on helping you develop the right strategy for your business – and by helping you execute, monitor and make ongoing adjustments to your strategy.
Strategic alliances
Technology innovation is shaping the way organizations operate, and getting it right can mean a sustainable advantage over your competition. KPMG Private Enterprise, together with our alliance partners, design, build, and deliver digitally-enabled technology solutions to help you build the right solutions for your business needs. To learn more, visit our Alliances section.
Corporate tax
Having an effective corporate tax program means keeping on top of trends and key issues. When tax changes or rulings are announced, timely analysis can help you understand how your business will be affected so you have time to adjust your tax processes accordingly.
KPMG Private Enterprise advisers in KPMG firms work with entrepreneurial businesses like yours to develop comprehensive plans that can manage or reduce your corporate tax burden. From assessing the effectiveness of your business structures to helping you identify tax savings opportunities, KPMG firms can work with you to develop a customized tax program that works for your business.
Expanding internationally
When it comes to growth, you’re thinking beyond your borders. International expansion presents many opportunities, from expanding your market base to lowering your costs. It also presents unique risks – different regulatory rules and requirements, tax implications, and culture or language barriers.
KPMG Private Enterprise advisers span 156 different countries, providing you with access to the resources and information you need to be confident in your expansion strategy. We’ll leverage our global expertise through local experts to help you understand your risks and how you can mitigate them so you can take your business anywhere you might want to grow.
The need for effective risk management and controls is crucial in an environment of increased scrutiny. It is important to minimize these risks in an entrepreneurial business, not only for the business itself, but also for the family, property holdings and capital. Implementing controls, securing new financing, efficient tax management and optimization can all have a positive impact on the bottom line of your business.
Personal tax
As the owner-manager of a business or a new entrepreneur, corporate tax shouldn’t be your only concern. To manage your overall tax burden effectively, you need to understand how tax rules and changes may affect both your personal tax situation and that of your family.
The challenge is that personal tax law is complex and rules can change quickly. KPMG Private Enterprise advisers can work with you to assess the tax rules and tax issues that affect, or may affect, your personal and family taxes, so that you can better manage your overall tax burden while remaining compliant with all tax laws.
Going public
Taking your company public is an exciting process. It brings with it prestige and higher visibility in the market. At the same time, going public brings new risks, including complex accounting and reporting requirements and the need to manage new stakeholders – like the board and your shareholders.
To get the most reward, you need to be well informed and well prepared. KPMG Private Enterprise advisers can work with you to decide whether going public is the right choice for your business. If you go forward, we can help you manage the IPO process and begin to operate in the public company environment.
Connect with us
- Find office locations kpmg.findOfficeLocations
- Email us kpmg.emailUs
- Social media @ KPMG kpmg.socialMedia
- Request for proposal
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More From Forbes
How to create a business plan.
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Business plans have long been a critical document for new businesses. Are they still relevant? If so, what best practices and data can help you create a winning document that will help your business get the funding you need and ensure your venture lasts?
Before digging into the best way to craft a business plan to help you crush it, and spending hours or numerous dollars on commissioning one, do you even need one?
A decade ago anyone you approached with a business idea without a plan would have laughed and shooed you away. Even your friends and family, or the most aggressive angel investors. Things have changed.
As I describe in my book, The Art of Startup Fundraising , a business plan is still a must for some scenarios and some reasons. Yet, some may also think that pitch decks and clever presentations may displace them. Every entrepreneur and startup company needs a plan. Before deciding exactly what that looks like and how to create it, there are some critical questions to answer and factors to understand.
What’s a Business Plan for?
Just because it is the status quo should never be a line in the vocabulary of a startup founder today. Traditional business plans can be big beasts of a project that suck time, money and mojo at a vital moment. Don’t do it unless you know why and what you are trying to achieve with it.
In fact, Silicon Valley angel investor, VC and founder of 500 Startups, David McClure says “don’t write a business plans.” We’ll show you what he does want to see if you hope to get a funding check from him in a moment. Yet, the point is that most aspiring business owners aren’t even trying to match up their goals with what they think they are supposed to be doing.
You should have a plan in order to get yourself organized and to ensure you have some type of viable commercial potential. You have focus and hopefully aren’t going to run out of money or starve before you get going. If that’s all you need, and you don’t plan to raise money, apply for loans and don’t intend on bringing in partners, then you certainly don’t need a 25lb manuscript. Keep it simple. In fact, Brian Chesky (founder of Airbnb) is famous for his one-page business plan for global domination.
If you are planning to go to a local bank for a business loan, or are approaching your sphere of influence for backing who you know is accustomed to seeing legit business plans, then you know you probably need to create something that they understand in a format they are comfortable with.
If your purpose is to raise funding, and your startup isn’t going to go anywhere without, then make sure anything you take time out to create is going to relate in today’s fundraising environment.
Business Plans vs. Pitch Decks
Business plans and pitch decks are two different things. They have a lot of crossover factors. Yet, one is for presenting and specifically for getting funding from angels and VCs. The other is more organizational an internal in nature.
If you want to get funded by David McClure, then he says he wants to see “a functional product that people are using. We look for functional prototypes and customer development and most importantly, scalability. Can you scale customer acquisition cheaply and measurably?”
In contrast with old school business plans McClure recommends:
- 12 month expense projections
- Marketing plans
- Customer acquisition costs
- Customer value
- Results of testing (i.e. a dashboard of KPIs)
- Proof of consistent improvement
- Knowing your burn rate, and never falling below 6 months of cash
Most of this you can cram into a pitch deck, at least with a good appendix.
Not long ago I covered the pitch deck template that was created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel ( see it here ) where the most critical slides are highlighted. Moreover, I also provided a commentary on a pitch deck from an Uber competitor that has raised over $400M ( see it here )
Business Plans vs. Executive Summaries
An executive summary is a different document again. It is a smart tool and essential one to have as a cover for your business plan. This is especially true for those considering funding that involves commercial real estate or a SBA loan.
This is a brief 1-3 page document that sums up your business and plan, and gives viewers enough info to decide whether they want to see any more data or not. Like a pitch deck, it it’s good enough it can be sufficient to get lenders and investors to choose to work with you, and work through the details in the process.
Best Practices for Building a Brilliant Business Plan
What makes a great business plan?
Format, substance, and key data that viewers expect are all important. So is the time you spend on it, and when you do it.
When to Create a Business Plan
The big problem with business plans is that entrepreneurs often get bogged down in them. Getting lost in rehashing and dragging out a business plan for a year or more can cost your startup the optimal moment to get to market and the best funding opportunities. Too many founders have also tried to cram the equivalent of a business plan into a pitch deck, only to find it is a hindrance to getting the results they want.
Harvard Business Review (HBR) says “the real key to succeeding in business is being flexible and responsive to opportunities. Entrepreneurs often have to pivot their business once it becomes clear that their original customer is not the right customer, or when it turns out that their product or service fits better in an alternate market. Because of these realities, business plans written at the start end up nothing more than a fable.”
Additional stats from HBR show that:
- The “most successful entrepreneurs were those that wrote their business plan between 6-12 months after deciding to start a business. Stating that this “increased the probability of venture viability success by 8%.”
- Chances of success rose by 12% for those that spent no longer than 3 months on their plan. With any longer proving futile.
- Startups chances of venture viability rose by 27% if the plan was created in the sweet spot when founders were talking to customers and preparing marketing.
According to Entrepreneur.com and Rule’s Book of Business Plans for Startups, founders should be considering these factors when creating their plan.
- How the business will be vested
- Main objectives
- Mission statement
- Keys to success
- Industry analysis
- Market analysis
- Competitor analysis
- Core strategies
- Organizational structure
- Key operations
- Projections and pro formas
- Break-even analysis
- Financial needs
Fortunately, crafting a business plan has become much simpler today. There are plenty of data sources to back up assumptions and to complete research. There are plenty of great freelancers available online who can help handle time intensive parts of the process like research and formatting and interactive pro-formas.
There are even templates you can plug in and print so you don’t waste time figuring out what to include.
SCORE offers fillable worksheets covering these key pages in your business plan for your startup business:
- Executive Summary
- Company Description
- Products and Services
- Marketing Plan
- Operational Plan
- Management & Organization
- Startup Expenses & Capitalization
- Financial Plan
The SBA (US Small Business Administration) offers templates for both traditional business plans and more modern lean startup business plans, with samples to view.
A business plan still plays a critical role in launching a profitable and sustainable venture today. New trends and the data show us that the best time to complete a robust plan may now come later in the journey than it used to. It is much more important to get started, test and secure funding first.
When it comes to business plan creation there are now more templates and streamlined formats that are being adjusted to meet today’s needs to accommodate faster moving, leaner startups. Just don‘t let this part of the process slow you down.
No matter how you do it, and who you’ll show your plan to, make sure to have someone with experience review it for you.
- Editorial Standards
- Reprints & Permissions
Don't bother with copy and paste.
Get this complete sample business plan as a free text document.
Consulting Planning Business Plan
Start your own consulting planning business plan
Business Solutions Consulting
Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.
Introduction Business Solutions Consulting (BSC) is a start-up consulting firm focused on serving the comprehensive needs of businesses in the full range of the business cycle. With a core staff of experienced professionals and a team approach to most consulting projects, BSC will be able to offer a more balanced quality service than many of its competitors.
The Company Business Solutions Consulting is a team of six business consultants. Each consultant specializes in a particular discipline, including finance, sales and marketing, technology, management, operations, and human resources.
BSC offers a list of services for business owners to choose from, depending on their particular business needs. This includes; business and marketing plan preparation, financial search and procurement, IT consulting services, management development, human resources advising, and etc.
BSC will have a focus on start-up businesses, preferably in the earlier stages of operation. Small and mid-sized businesses make up a sizable majority of U.S. and international markets. BSC prefers to establish a relationship with a younger operation and continue to nurture that relationship over the long term.
BSC will be established as an Oregon based LLC with two principal partners, each of whom owns a 50% share in the company. Mr. Andrew B. Christiansen has extensive experience in business planning and finance, including CFO positions with ABC Conglomerate and DEF International. Mr. David E. Fields brings in experience in the area of marketing, advertising, and communications.
The Market The business consulting industry is very fragmented. Several large multinational companies dominate the industry while many smaller (and often more specialized) firms occupy their market niches. Major management consulting companies, such as McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting Group, have established their dominant position by providing services to the leading companies in various industries. Consulting practices of the major accounting firms (a.k.a. the Big Five) have established worldwide presence and sell their packaged services to companies of different sizes and industries. At the same time, numerous firms and individual business consultants prosper in the market niches that bigger players consider unprofitable to enter.
Start-up companies are the target market of this firm. BSC intends to stay on the pulse of new business activity within the local area. Additionally, business contacts, referrals from among the group, and Internet marketing efforts will be made in pursuit of new clients. Start-up companies are attractive because owners often lack the broad range of knowledge and expertise required to launch a new business. There is a serious need in the marketplace, and certainly a significant demand for, these types of start-up consulting services.
Competitors in the forefront of the marketplace typically offer many of the services that BSC has. These services include information-based consulting, integration and management services. Services are designed to increase clients’ operations effectiveness through reduced cost, improved customer service, enhanced quality of current product lines and services, and a more rapid introduction of new products and services. Competitors also offer industry-specific expertise to objectively evaluate, select, develop, implement, and manage information systems, networks, and applications.
Consulting firms BSC is competing with include regional and specialty consulting firms, as well as the consulting groups of international accounting forms such as KPMG LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, Deloitte & Touche LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and Andersen Consulting. In its management and IT consulting services, BSC competes with information system vendors such as HBO & Company, Inc., Integrated Systems Solution Corporation, Electronic Data Systems Corporation, Perot Systems Corporation, SAIC, CAP Gemini America, Inc., and Computer Sciences Corporation. In e-commerce-related services, BSC competes with the traditional competitors, as well as newer, Internet product and service companies such as Razorfish, Scient, TriZetto, and Viant.
Financial BSC’s co-owners, Andrew B. Christiansen and David E. Fields, will each provide $50,000 that will cover the bulk of the start-up expenses. The rest of the required financing will come from the Small Business Administration (SBA) 10-year loan in the amount of $100,000. Combined, these funds will be sufficient to cover the company’s expenses throughout the first year of operations, which is the most critical from the cash flow standpoint.
BSC’s Break-even Analysis is based on the average of the first-year figures for total sales by salaries, bonuses costs, and all other operating expenses. Such analysis shows that BSC will break-even by the tenth month of operations.
1.1 Mission
Business Solutions Consulting aims to offer comprehensive consulting services. BSC will focus on providing personal and specialized services to meet each client’s specific needs.
1.2 Keys to Success
BSC’s keys to success include:
- A group of professionals with a broad range of specialty areas that complement each other.
- A high level of experience in these specialty areas.
- A team approach on most consulting projects.
- Many business contacts among the consultant group.
Start your own business plan
Your business plan can look as polished and professional as this sample plan. It's fast and easy, with LivePlan.
Plan, fund, and grow.
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KPMG Personalisation
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Starting Out Services
Drive your business to efficiently outperform in today’s fast-paced economy.
Learn more about the services KPMG can offer businesses that are starting out.
Business planning Developing a strong business plan is critical to the success of any start-up business. KPMG Enterprise works with entrepreneurs to help build robust plans that include detailed strategy around all aspects of their organisation: finance, sales and marketing, operations, supply chain, procurement and engineering. As part of our business planning process, we look to assess current processes, analyse data for trends and identify the areas of greatest opportunity.
Start-up financing You have a fantastic business plan – now you need the financial support to bring your plan to life. But what financing options are available to entrepreneurs? Are there government programmes for startups in your sector? Can your concept attract strategic or angel investors? KPMG Enterprise advisors can help you identify the financing plan that you need to fuel your growth. From helping you identify early-stage financing options to helping you connect with potential investors – we’ll work with you every step of the way to help turn your vision into reality.
R&D incentives As an entrepreneur, you recognise the importance location has on business success. When it comes to research and development (R&D) initiatives, location can have a major impact on your costs due to the availability of R&D incentives and the impact of R&D costs on other tax benefits.
KPMG Enterprise business advisors in KPMG firms can help you conduct a review of R&D incentives and tax implications so that you can better evaluate the after-tax cost of performing your R&D in one country, state or province over another. Advisors can also highlight other government grants and incentives that you can tap into. KPMG Enterprise advisors will work with you to help determine the best location for your activities – so you can focus on the future.
Business strategy services When it comes to doing business, status quo will not work for long. There’s little doubt you’ll face ongoing threats, whether from new technologies, competition, or industry changes. As an owner-manager, you need to think about the future today so you can build a sustainable model for your business. KPMG Enterprise advisors can work with you to review your business model and help identify strategic initiatives that will support your objectives. We do this through facilitated sessions focused on helping you develop the right strategy for your business – and by helping you execute, monitor and make ongoing adjustments to your strategy.
Corporate tax Having an effective corporate tax programme means keeping on top of trends and key issues. When tax changes or rulings are announced, timely analysis can help you understand how your business will be affected so you have time to adjust your tax processes accordingly. KPMG Enterprise advisors in KPMG firms work with entrepreneurial businesses like yours to develop comprehensive plans that can manage or reduce your corporate tax burden. From assessing the effectiveness of your business structures to helping you identify tax savings opportunities, KPMG firms can work with you to develop a customised tax programme that works for your business.
Expanding internationally When it comes to growth, you’re thinking beyond your borders. International expansion presents many opportunities, from expanding your market base to lowering your costs. It also presents unique risks – different regulatory rules and requirements, tax implications, and culture or language barriers. KPMG Enterprise advisors span 156 different countries, providing you with access to the resources and information you need to be confident in your expansion strategy. We’ll leverage our global expertise through local experts to help you understand your risks and how you can mitigate them so you can take your business anywhere you might want to grow.
Assurance The need for effective risk management and controls is crucial in an environment of increased scrutiny. It is important to minimise these risks in an entrepreneurial business, not only for the business itself, but also for the family, property holdings and capital. Implementing controls, securing new financing, efficient tax management and optimisation can all have a positive impact on the bottom line of your business.
Personal tax As the owner-manager of a business or a new entrepreneur, corporate tax shouldn’t be your only concern. To manage your overall tax burden effectively, you need to understand how tax rules and changes may affect both your personal tax situation and that of your family.
The challenge is that personal tax law is complex and rules can change quickly. KPMG Enterprise advisors can work with you to assess the tax rules and tax issues that affect, or may affect, your personal and family taxes, so that you can better manage your overall tax burden while remaining compliant with all tax laws.
Going public Taking your company public is an exciting process. It brings with it prestige and higher visibility in the market. At the same time, going public brings new risks, including complex accounting and reporting requirements and the need to manage new stakeholders – like the board and your shareholders. To get the most reward, you need to be well informed and well prepared. KPMG Enterprise advisors can work with you to decide whether going public is the right choice for your business. If you go forward, we can help you manage the IPO process and begin to operate in the public company environment.
Connect with us
- Find office locations kpmg.findOfficeLocations
- Email us kpmg.emailUs
- Social media @ KPMG kpmg.socialMedia
- Request for proposal
Private Enterprise
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Four consistent topline or overarching outcomes, fair value, confidence, access, and suitability & treatment. The first three apply to both wholesale and retail
Developing a strong business plan is critical to the success of any startup business. KPMG Private Enterprise works with entrepreneurs to help build robust
Business plans have long been a critical document for new businesses. ... Not long ago I covered the pitch deck template that was created by
Any subsequent changes can materially impact on the projected financial performance, cash flow and resulting balance sheet. KPMG has not.
Prepare a business plan for yourself and potential investors ... for example, if they have provided a Director's Guarantees against secured loans.
Your business plan is the foundation of your business. Learn how to write a business plan quickly and efficiently with a business plan template.
Business Solutions Consulting consulting planning business plan executive ... as the consulting groups of international accounting forms such as KPMG LLP
Business planning. Developing a strong business plan is critical to the success of any start-up business. KPMG Enterprise works with entrepreneurs to help
evidence to KPMG to close issues before final reporting. CBAs. • Review a sample of 6 of the 21 CBAs to be submitted to Ofgem, chosen based on
This Report is made subject to the written terms of KPMG's engagement. ... management would benefit from updating its strategic plan for the Seaway to help