Business plans
Tools and templates, develop your business plan, develop your marketing plan, develop an emergency management plan, develop your succession plan, develop your swot analysis, financial tools and templates, set goals for your business, guide to starting a business, guide to continuing your business, guide to exporting, starting a business checklist, growing your business checklist , business health checklist.
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BUSINESS PLAN _________________________________ ____________________ 3 March 2023
Executive Summary
The Ownership The company will be structured as a sole proprietorship.
The Management _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
The Goals and Objectives _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
The Product _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
The Target Market _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Pricing Strategy _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
The Competitors _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Business Plan - _________________________________
The Company
Business Sector The owners would like to start a business in the retail sector.
Company Goals and Objectives _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Company Ownership Structure The company will be structured as a sole proprietorship.
Ownership Background ____________________ (owner): _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Company Management Structure _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Organizational Timeline _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Company Assets _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
The Product
- Marketing Plan
Pricing _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Advertising _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Competitor Analysis
Staffing _________________________________ will employ one full-time employee in the initial startup phase.
Business Plan Information
Alternate names:.
A Business Plan can also be called a:
- Business Strategy
- Business Proposal
What is a Business Plan?
A Business Plan is an important planning tool used by first-time or existing business owners to outline company goals, objectives, and challenges, as well as information regarding internal management, marketing, and finances.
LawDepot's Business Plan template can be used in:
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- New South Wales (NSW)
- Northern Territory (NT)
- Queensland (QLD)
- South Australia (SA)
- Tasmania (TAS)
- Victoria (VIC)
- Western Australia (WA)
What information should I include in my Business Plan?
The information you include in your Business Plan will vary depending on the type of business you own and the type of information you want to include in your plan. Generally, most business plans will layout:
- Ownership (i.e. whether you are a sole proprietor, in a partnership, in a corporation, etc.)
- Management structure (e.g. an explanation of how day-to-day operations of your business are handled)
- Goals and objectives
- Which products and/or services are offered by your company
- Information about the products and/or services offered by your company (such as your pricing strategy, patent or trademark licence details, etc.)
- Marketing strategy (e.g. the target market, whether or not you have established customers, etc.)
The information you include in each section typically depends on the reason you are making your Business Plan.
For instance, if you are creating your plan to send to investors to secure funding, you'll want to spend additional time explaining your goals and objectives as well as the products or services you are planning to sell and how it aligns with your target market.
Alternatively, if you are using your Business Plan as a blueprint to help you achieve a specific goal (like reorganising your business structure so that your company's management processes are more efficient), you'll want to spend time identifying your current management structure, how you plan to change it, and how the success of this goal will be measured.
When is a Business Plan used?
Common situations where a Business Plan may be used include:
- An existing company is purchased and the new owner would like to record key details about the business to determine if operational changes need to be made
- A group of individuals would like to create a start-up and use a Business Plan to present their business idea to potential investors
- A board of directors would like to establish new opportunities for growth for their business, so they create a Business Plan covering the company's target market as well as the potential sales tactics the company could use to reach that group
- A fast-growing company would like to adjust their company structure, so they create a Business Plan to identify their current organisational hierarchy and how it should change
How long should my Business Plan be?
The length of your plan will depend on the reason you are creating it, the category of business you operate in, the number of goals and objectives you decide to include, and, in general, how much information you decide to cover.
For example, small companies with only one or two company goals, a few products and employees, and a limited marketing strategy may only need a few pages whereas a midsized company with broader needs, lots of products and employees, and a complex marketing strategy may require several pages for their sales plan.
Do I need a Business Plan to start a business?
Though you do not need a Business Plan to start a business, using a plan is strongly recommended as it will help you organise your business' structure and needs in a clear, easy-to-read format.
Starting a business without a Business Plan in place can get chaotic if important considerations, such as outlining the company's organisational hierarchy, main products or services, or marketing strategy, are neglected, dismissed, or forgotten.
When should I update my Business Plan?
Whenever there is a significant change in your business structure, products, or needs, you should update your Business Plan. A good Business Plan helps guide business owners in achieving a particular goal or keeps them on track by setting out the business' main purpose.
What is a SWOT analysis?
Some business plans will include a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and it is a planning technique used to identify areas where a company does well (strengths), doesn’t do well (weaknesses), could improve on and how (opportunities), and any potential issues with the business or products, such as expected material shortages or a change in consumer practices (threats).
Typically, strengths and weaknesses will deal with internal factors that are within a company's control, such as the organisation of the company, whereas opportunities and threats will consider external factors that are sometimes not in a company’s control, like a growing number of competitors.
Related Documents:
- Purchase of Business Agreement : Formally detail the terms of a business sale (including which assets are part of the sale, the total amount of consideration, and the payment method) by using a Purchase of Business Agreement.
- Promissory Note : Protect yourself legally when you lend or borrow money from another person or company by using a Promissory Note.
- Confidentiality Agreement : Send your business plan to a third-party without worrying your confidential information will be shared by using a Confidentiality Agreement.
- Letter of Intent : Outline negotiations between you, your business partners, and more before you create a binding agreement by using a Letter of Intent.
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Free business plan template for small businesses
Create a professional business plan with our our easy-to-use business plan template., the importance of a business plan.
Writing a business plan gives your business the best chance of success helping you to flesh out your business proposal, outline key business processes and gives an action plan of what you want to achieve over time. While it can seem overwhelming, the time and effort you put in is worth it for your long-term success. Use our free business plan template below to get you started!
Download your free business plan template
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should a business plan include.
A business plan consists of a single document with different sections that represent different aspects of your business. Most business plans include the following:
- Business overview
- Executive summary
- Team & Management
- Product & Services
- Market Analysis
- Competitor Analysis
- Marketing & Promotions
- Financial Analysis
- Future & Goals
How do you write a business plan?
Writing a multi page business plan when you are just starting out can seem overwhelming. The key to getting started is to keep it simple and add to it as you grow. Start with key headings (or use our template) and some bullet points mapping out your business overview, vision, market analysis and financial forecasts.
Tips for writing a business plan?
Check out our page about the 7 Tips for writing a Business Plan >
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Business plan template
Create a comprehensive business plan with this easy to use business plan template.
Businesses need a strong plan that outlines what you aim to achieve and gives you a roadmap to get there. Creating your own business plan doesn’t have to be difficult, simply set aside some time to work through the various elements.
What does the business plan template do?
The template walks you through each stage of a business plan. It will help ensure that nothing gets missed, including essential elements such as:
- your profile
- your marketing strategy
- your business structure.
When you’re writing your business plan , it’s important to:
- be clear and focused about what you want to achieve – and stay realistic
- avoid using long words or sentences. Keep your writing clear, simple and easy to understand.
When you’re writing a business plan, use the process to think carefully though every step of your business start-up carefully. You’ll pinpoint weaknesses, identify your strengths, and spot opportunities you might not have thought of.
Writing a plan can be enjoyable. It will help you highlight the ideas and activities at the core of your business, and force you to get your priorities in order too. It could also show you what success will look like, so you can begin measuring it. Each section of the template comes with brief instructions, so that you get the structure right.
When you’re finished, one of our small business bankers will be happy to go over the plan and provide advice and guidance. You can request a call back online to discuss this further.
Download our business plan template (DOC, 158KB) , opens in new window and read our detailed article on writing your business plan to get started.
Use our business plan template to guide you through writing your business plan.
Other business moments
Find out if you’re suited to running a business
Use our checklist to help you determine if you have what it takes.
How to write a business plan
Follow our helpful guide to writing a comprehensive plan.
What are business drivers and how do I identify them?
Boost profitability by identifying your key business drivers.
Related products and services
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Visit our business banking contact page for how-to-guides and FAQs, as well as contact numbers.
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Let our business banking specialists help you in person.
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The information contained in this article is correct as of July 2018 and is intended to be of a general nature only. It has been prepared without taking into account any person’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, NAB recommends that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances. NAB recommends that you seek independent legal, financial, and taxation advice before acting on any information in this article.
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Free Business Plan Template and Examples for Startups (2023)
- by Desirae Odjick
- Starting Up
- Nov 9, 2022
- 10 minute read
A business plan is the secret to starting a business successfully.
The easiest way to simplify the work of writing a business plan is to start with a business plan template.
You’re already investing time and energy in refining your business model and planning your launch—there’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to formatting your plan. Instead, to help build a complete and effective plan, lean on time-tested structures created by entrepreneurs and startups who have come before you.
Free: Business Plan Template
Business planning is often used to secure funding, but plenty of business owners find writing a plan valuable, even if they never work with an investor. That’s why we put together a free business plan template to help you get started.
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What our business plan template includes
This template is designed to ensure you’re thinking through all of the important facets of starting a new business. It’s intended to help new business owners and entrepreneurs consider the full scope of running a business and identify functional areas they may not have considered or where they may need to level up their skills as they grow.
That said, it may not include the specific details or structure preferred by a potential investor or lender. If your goal with a business plan is to secure funding , check with your target organizations—typically banks or investors—to see if they have business plan templates you can follow to maximize your chances of success.
Our free business plan template includes seven key elements typically found in the traditional business plan format:
- Executive summary: This is a one-page summary of your whole plan, typically written after the rest of the plan is completed. The description section of your executive summary will also cover your management team, business objectives and strategy, and other background information about the brand. You may consider including a mission statement here.
- Market analysis: A well researched business plan should also analyze the market you hope to reach with your business idea. This section includes everything from estimated market size to your target markets and competitive advantage. It’ll include a competitive analysis of your industry to address competitors strengths and weaknesses.
- Products and services: What you sell and the most important features of your products or services. It’ll also include any plans for intellectual property, like patent filings or copyright. If you do market research for new product lines, it’ll show up in this section of your business plan.
- Marketing plan: How you intend to get the word out about your business, and what strategic decisions you’ve made about things like your pricing strategy. It also covers potential customers’ demographics, sales plan, and your metrics and milestones for success.
- Logistics and operations plan: Everything that needs to happen to turn your raw materials into products and get them into the hands of your customers.
- Financial plan: It’s important to include a look at your financial projections, including both revenue and expense projections. This section includes templates for three key financial statements: an income statement, a balance sheet, and a cash-flow statement . You can also include whether or not you need a business loan and how much it’ll be.
In our business plan template, each section includes an overview of the most important information to cover and guidelines on how to approach writing and researching each one.
Professional business plan example
We’ve filled out a sample business plan as a companion to our template, featuring a fictional ecommerce business . We’ve noted where—and how—an entrepreneur could add more details to expand on their business plans, depending on their goals.
Our fictional business creates custom greeting cards with your pet’s paw prints on them, and the founder of the business is writing a plan to help understand the target market, as well as the logistics and costs involved, to give themselves the best chance of success before they launch.
The sample is set up to help you get a sense of each section and understand how they apply to the planning and evaluation stages of a business plan. If you’re looking for funding, this example won’t be a complete or formal look at a business plan, but it will give you a great place to start and notes about where to expand.
Before you write your own, read through the following business plan example . You can download a copy in Microsoft Word or Google Docs and use it to inspire your own planning.
Download the business plan example (.doc)
Lean business plan example
A lean business plan format is a shortened version of your more detailed business plan. It’s helpful when modifying your plan for a specific audience, like investors or new hires.
Also known as a one-page business plan, it includes only the most important, need-to-know information, such as:
- Company description
- Key members of your team
- Customer segments
- Marketing plan
Want to create a lean business plan? Read Trimming It Down: How to Create a Lean Business Plan .
A good business plan helps you operate successfully
It’s tempting to dive right into execution when you’re excited about a new business or side project, but taking the time to write a solid business plan and get your thoughts on paper allows you to do a number of beneficial things:
- Test the viability of business ideas. Whether you’ve got one business idea or many, business plans can make an idea more tangible, helping you see if it’s truly viable.
- Plan for your next phase. Whether your goal is to start a new business or scale an existing business to the next level, a business plan can help you understand what needs to happen and identify gaps to address.
- Clarify marketing strategy, goals, and tactics. Writing a business plan can show you the actionable next steps to take on a big, abstract idea. It can also help you narrow your strategy and identify clear-cut tactics that will support it.
- Scope the necessary work. Without a concrete plan, cost overruns and delays are all but certain. A business plan can help you see the full scope of work to be done and adjust your investment of time and money accordingly.
- Hire and build partnerships. When you need buy-in from potential employees and business partners, especially in the early stages of your business, a clearly written business plan is one of the best tools at your disposal. A business plan provides a refined look at your goals for the business, letting partners judge for themselves whether or not they agree with your vision.
- Secure funds. Seeking financing for your business—whether from venture capital, financial institutions, or Shopify Capital —is one of the most common reasons to create a business plan.
Should you use a template for a business plan?
A business plan can be as informal or formal as your situation calls for, but even if you’re a fan of the back-of-the-napkin approach to planning, there are some key benefits to starting your plan from an existing outline or template.
- No blank-page paralysis. A blank page can be intimidating to even the most seasoned writers. Using an established business planning process and template can help you get past the inertia of starting your business plan, and it allows you to skip the work of building an outline from scratch. You can always adjust a template to suit your needs.
- Guidance on what to include in each section. If you’ve never sat through a business class, you might never have created a SWOT analysis or financial projections before. Templates that offer guidance—in plain language—about how to fill in each section can help you navigate sometimes-daunting business jargon and create a complete and effective plan.
- Knowing you’ve considered every section. In some cases, you may not need to complete every section of a startup business plan template, but its initial structure shows you you’re choosing to omit a section as opposed to forgetting to include it in the first place.
Tips for creating a successful business plan
There are some high-level strategic guidelines beyond the advice included in this free business plan template that can help you write an effective, complete plan while minimizing busywork.
- If you’re writing a business plan for yourself in order to get clarity on your ideas and your industry as a whole, you may not need to include the same level of detail or polish you would with a business plan you want to send to potential investors. Knowing who will read your plan will help you decide how much time to spend on it.
- Know your goals. Understanding the goals of your plan can help you set the right scope. If your goal is to use the plan as a roadmap for growth, you may invest more time in it than if your goal is to understand the competitive landscape of a new industry.
- Take it step by step. Writing a 10- to 15-page document can feel daunting, so try to tackle one section at a time. Select a couple of sections you feel most confident writing and start there—you can start on the next few sections once those are complete. Jot down bullet-point notes in each section before you start writing to organize your thoughts and streamline the writing process.
Once you’ve done the strategic work, it’s time to put it into action and write your plan. Download the business plan template and review our guide on writing a business plan for additional information.
Maximizing your business planning efforts
Planning is key to the financial success of any type of business , whether you’re a startup, non-profit, or corporation.
To make sure your efforts are focused on the highest-value parts of your own business planning, like clarifying your goals, setting a strategy, and understanding the target market and competitive landscape, lean on a business plan outline to handle the structure and format for you. Even if you eventually omit sections, you’ll save yourself time and energy by starting with a framework already in place.
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Business plan template faq, what is the purpose of a business plan, how do you write a business plan.
- Choose a business plan format, such as traditional or a one-page business plan.
- Find a business plan template.
- Read through a business plan sample.
- Fill in the sections of your business plan.
What are the 7 sections of a business plan?
- Executive summary
- Market analysis
- Products and services
- Marketing strategy
- Logistics and operations plan
- Financial statements and projections
What is the best business plan template?
About the author.
Desirae Odjick
Desirae is a senior product marketing manager at Shopify, and has zero chill when it comes to helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
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Get a business plan template and get going
Download a business plan template and start bringing your ideas to life. Choose a one-pager, or multi-pager.
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Fill in the form to get a free business plan template as an editable PDF. We’ll send a one-pager and a multi-pager to choose from.
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Using these business plan templates
We’ll send you two types of business plan template – a one-pager and a multi-pager. Choose the one that’s right for you. They come with instructions to help fill them out.
One-page business plan template
- Great for making a start
- Helps you pin down the main idea
- Easy to update as things evolve
Multi-page business plan template
- Ideal for nailing down the details
- Required by most investors and lenders
- Good if you face big startup costs
Why getting this business plan template is a good idea
Doing a business plan will improve your idea. It helps you think about your business from different points of view. The process will flag up unseen risks, but also new opportunities.
Aside from helping refine your idea, a business plan will move it forward. It’ll give you a concrete set of steps to go from ‘I should’ to ‘I did’.
Tips to help with your business plan
Don’t obsess over every detail to start with. That will make the plan really long and hard to change. Plus you’ll get bored. Keep it short and concise initially.
Also, these resources might be handy if you need:
- cash to get going, check out our finance guide
- information about getting started, check out our guide to starting a business
- advice from accountants or bookkeepers, find one near you
Plan on making business fun
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Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This template has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business.
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Get serious with our free business plan template
Turn your business vision into a reality with our free, customisable business plan template. Available in single and multi-page format.
Bring your business ideas to life
Our easy-to-use, guided templates give you a roadmap for success.
Map your goals
Start moving in the right direction with a plan that covers all of the essential business basics. Outline your executive summary, vision statement and future goals.
Define products and services
Highlight your unique offerings and market strategy, including what you'll sell (and how you'll sell it). It’s time to show the world how you’re better than anyone else at what you do.
Attract investors
Show potential partners why they should invest in your business. A comprehensive financial forecast is key when looking to secure funding.
Why you need a business plan
Whether you’re an established company or just starting out, a business plan is vital for success. A well thought out plan helps you consider the essential elements of your business and define a winning strategy.
And through the process of writing a business plan, you’ll uncover new opportunities and unlock your business’s true potential.
Start planning now
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A guided experience
Our business plan templates are intuitive and easily accessible, for every business. Each section has helpful tips, prompts and instructions to guide you through all the components of your business plan.
Designed for your needs
We know that writing a business plan is not a one-size-fits all activity. That’s why we’ve put together both a streamlined single-pager and a comprehensive multi-pager. Now you can map out your needs at a high level, or outline your strategy in precise detail.
Helpful resources
Looking for more help on how to write a business plan? We’ve got you covered. Check out our resources on how to start a business , or our 12-step guide on how to write a plan for your business .
All your questions answered about the MYOB business plan template
What’s included in the business plan template toggle section.
Both our single and multi-page templates cover all the essential elements of a business plan, including an business details, vision statement and goal setting, market strategy and customer demographics, funding and investment information. Our multi-pager adds further detail and contains helpful guidance for each section.
Is the business plan template customisable? Toggle Section
Yes! Our templates are completely editable, customisable and available in multiple formats, allowing you the flexibility to choose the structure that best suits your needs.
Do I need a business plan to start a business? Toggle Section
Technically no, however as the saying goes, if you fail to plan you are planning to fail. For instance, how can you measure how things are going, if you don’t know where you're at?
Why create a business plan? Toggle Section
A strong business plan can help you plan for the future, enabling you to foresee potential roadblocks and author the roadmap that will drive you toward success. Through the process of planning, you’ll analyse all the important aspects of your business, provide certainty to future investors, reduce risk and plot an actionable pathway to achieving your ultimate vision.
How often should I update my business plan? Toggle Section
It’s a good idea to update your plan to align with the current state of business, market and strategy. Set aside some time on a regular, periodic basis to review your plan and see what’s working and what needs adjusting.
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- Running a business
Business planning
Writing a business plan.
- Create a business vision
- Business values
- SWOT analysis
- Business goals and KPIs
- Business processes, procedures and standards
- Business advisers
A business plan documents your objectives and the strategies and structures you have in place for achieving them.
Your business plan should explain how you will manage all the important aspects of your business, from products and services to operational plans and finances.
On this page
Video: writing a business plan.
Watch our video on why you should write a business plan for your new or current business.
Topics include:
- why it's important to create and review a business plan
- the information to include in your business plan
- using a business plan to achieve your business goals
- downloading and completing our business plan template.
Use a business plan to:
- help you start a new business
- help you improve the performance of an existing business
- attract funding for an investment
- communicate business progress to stakeholders
- communicate business goals and objectives to internal staff members
- attract potential buyers for the business.
A business plan is a 'living' document, so it should evolve and change—think of it as an operating guide for your business throughout the start-up, operations and succession phases.
Download and write a full business plan
Download our free full business plan template and use the guidelines below to write a plan for your business.
There are also other templates available that may better meet your needs—visit business.gov.au .
You should customise your chosen template to suit your business and industry.
We explain below how you can start with a 1-page business plan to ease you into the process of completing the full business plan.
Business plan elements
The elements of your business plan will vary depending on:
- what phase your business is in (starting, running, selling)
- the industry your business is in
- how you choose to use the plan (e.g. for internal development purposes).
Every business plan will be different, but they will generally include similar elements. The sections of our business plan template are listed below—use these as a guide when completing it or as a reference when creating your own.
At the start of your business plan, include the following business details:
- business name
- date registered
- Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Australian Company Number (ACN) – if applicable
- tax file number (TFN)
- business address
- contact details
- website details
- social media details.
Read about choosing a business structure and getting the right licences and registrations .
This section provides an overview of the business concept. It should be attention-grabbing and succinct—the content will be covered in more detail in future sections.
While this is the first section of the plan, it can often help to write it last after the other sections have been finalised.
This helps to ensure that the executive summary covers all the key information within the plan.
It should define:
- what your business vision is
- what your legal structure is
- what products and services you offer
- who your customers are
- what sets you apart from your competitors
- how you will create a market for your products and services
- how you will operate
- what your financial projections are
- how your business or industry will evolve
- who owns or manages your business
- what your short-term and long-term goals are.
Refer to the corresponding sections in our free business plan template:
- 2.1 Products and services
- 2.2 Market analysis
- 2.3 Industry description and outlook
- 2.4 SWOT analysis
In this section, you should highlight your business products and services and describe what makes them unique, such as their:
- limitations
- cost and sale price.
You can also include details of any plans your business has to introduce new products and services.
Your market analysis should describe your target market (e.g. local, international) and target customers.
Add in the research you have done about your industry and the market trends.
In this section, you will also complete a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).
Find out more about researching your market:
- planning and conducting market and customer research
- market research kit .
- 3.1 Current situation
- 3.2 Marketing objectives
- 3.3 Target segments
- 3.4 Competitor analysis
- 3.5 Brand positioning
- 3.6 Marketing programs
- 3.7 Marketing tactics
- 3.8 Key actions
- 3.9 Business controls
A business plan should include a high-level summary of your market research and analysis.
Starting with your current situation, complete your marketing objectives and analysis around your target market and your competitiveness.
Complete your customer and competitor profiles and develop a 1-page brand strategy .
These will help you prepare your marketing plan in section 3 of the template.
Your plan will include marketing tactics and an action plan. You will identify how you will set KPIs and report on your marketing effectiveness.
Learn about:
- branding your business
- writing a marketing strategy and plan .
- 4.1 Sales strategies
- 4.2 Sales analysis and forecast
- 4.3 Customer management
Explain your sales forecasts and targets in this section, and how you will manage customer records and payments. You should understand what sales strategies will work for you and the best channels to market your products or services .
You will also need to know what your current sales, volume and market share are and what you expect them to be for the next 2 years.
Learn about cash flow, invoices and payments and how to collect and store customer information for help with managing customers.
Regardless of your business or industry, you will need to prepare for operating some of your business online.
Note your digital and customer and data-protection strategies in your business plan. You could also include:
- the digital tools and resources that will be used in your business
- the people responsible for overseeing the digital strategy within the business
- details of any security considerations.
Complete a digital health check and learn how to create a digital strategy for your business .
- 6.1 Business structure
- 6.2 Contracts, licences and agreements
- 6.3 Intellectual property
- 6.4 Insurance
- 6.6 Employees
- 6.7 Financial
- 6.8 Legal and ethical trading
- 6.9 Risk management
- 6.10 Business continuity
In this section, record the legal and risk management considerations for your business.
Describe your business structure and the contracts you have now or could have in the future.
If you have a lease or are considering leasing premises, add the terms and conditions of the lease and any actions you need to take to your plan.
To complete the other legal section, learn about:
- legal requirements for businesses
- selecting the right business location
- business insurance
- intellectual property: the basics
- legal and ethical selling
- your responsibilities as an employer .
Search the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) if you need information about licences that relate to your business.
To identify the risks to your business, your business plan should also:
- outline and demonstrate that you have considered the risks to your business (a business risk analysis) and the possible consequences
- summarise the plans you have in place for overcoming these risks.
A risk matrix tool or risk management plan can be developed to help you analyse your business risks—read more about identifying and managing business risk .
You will also need to consider business continuity planning to prepare for unexpected situations.
- 7.1 Location
- 7.2 Production
- 7.3 Current performance
- 7.4 Plant and equipment
- 7.6 List of major suppliers
- 7.7 Stock and inventory
This section will cover all you know about how you do things in your business—for example, your standard operating procedures and how to ensure the quality of your products and services.
To better understand your business operations, read about:
- business processes, procedures and standards
- choosing the right business location
- stock control: the basics .
- 8.1 Management and key personnel
- 8.3 Training
- 8.4 Recruitment
- 8.5 Succession planning
This section helps you note your current workforce structure and plan for the workforce you will have in the future as you grow, and for potentially passing the business to a successor.
Your business plan will detail your business's organisational structure (proposed or actual)—this is often shown as a diagram representing the business hierarchy, different roles within the business and how they relate to one another.
You should also consider succession planning, even if you haven't thought about how you would sell or pass on the business.
- workforce planning for small business
- training and developing staff
- passing a business to a successor .
- 9.1 Start-up costs
- 9.2 Profit and loss forecast
- 9.3 Cash flow forecast
- 9.4 Balance sheet
- 9.5 Financial ratios
Your business plan should include your business finance details—there is a separate business finance template you can also complete.
Summarise your key financial details, including:
- costs for establishing or operating the business
- sales needed to break even
- projected cash flow
- funding arrangements
- payment plans.
You can assess the financial performance of your business using financial ratios .
- 10.1 Review and update business goals
- 10.2 Make a schedule to review your actions
The final section of the business plan should include a set of actions to take before you review your business plan next, and check your progress. This should be over a 6–12 month period, based on the business goals outlined in your plan.
Set a regular review date for the actions and the business plan. Assess which actions have been completed, which remain outstanding and which require updating to help your business plan remain relevant.
Read about skills for running a business to consider ways to improve your time management and leadership.
Optional business plan elements
While not essential, the following can supplement your business plan.
Business vision statement and business values
A comprehensive business vision statement defines what your business does and why it is important.
This could be added in more detail in your business plan and referred to in your executive summary. Find out how to create a business vision .
Business values are the principles, beliefs, and standards of behaviour that guide your business. Including this in your plan will better reflect your goals for the business.
Customer journey strategy
This section could include details of your business's key customer service strategies.
Consider mapping out the intended customer journey—the intended path customers will follow when interacting with your business.
Start with a short business plan
A 1-page business plan can be a good place to start your business planning.
It can cover only high-level information about your business value proposition (i.e. why a customer would want to buy your products and services) and business model.
A one-page plan can include details about:
- your business vision and values
- projected income and expenses
- identified business risks
- the customer segments you intend to target
- the value proposition of your business
- channels that could be used to reach your target customers (e.g. direct or online marketing)
- your customer service plan
- how you will receive payment for products and services
- the activities needed to achieve your outcomes
- the resources you will need
- details of any partners you will use to provide goods and services
- the cost structure for your products and services (based on all items as listed in the plan).
You can search online for tools that can help you create this plan—for example, a value proposition canvas or business model canvas .
Once you are satisfied with this short business plan, you can use it as the basis for your full business plan.
Communicating your business plan
Communicating your business plan to your staff and stakeholders is essential for implementing it and achieving your business goals, even when starting out with a small team.
Some practical tips for communicating the plan include:
- being mindful of your audience—different communication styles will suit different audiences (e.g. you may be able to communicate more informally with your staff than with your stakeholders, board members or investors)
- choosing an appropriate format, time and place—you could hold a staff meeting, schedule a business plan review session and invite all staff and stakeholders to attend, or create an online presentation
- using clear, concise and simple language
- making time to get feedback from your staff and stakeholders.
Read about skills for running a business for tips on developing your communication skills.
Learn about managing people through change .
Review and update your business plan
You will need to regularly review your business plan to ensure that it is relevant, achievable and up to date with any changes in your business.
Consider reviewing your business plan:
- at regular intervals (e.g. quarterly or annually)
- after a business SWOT analysis has been completed
- when raising capital (e.g. approaching the bank for a loan or pitching to an investor)
- before implementing growth strategies or new products
- when new staff members are added to the team
- when implementing a new organisational structure
- before changes in the industry or to legislation
- when preparing to sell the business .
To help you review your own plan, ask yourself the following questions:
- What will the review schedule be?
- Is the plan up to date?
- Have the business goals changed?
- Is the plan still matched to the business goals?
- Are market trends changing?
- Have there been major political, environmental, social or technological changes that affect your business?
- Have there been significant changes in your finances or need for capital?
- Is the plan still 'fit for purpose'?
Business planning resources and tools
The following planning resources and tools below can help you compile and update your business plan to ensure your business is on track to meet its goals.
- Writing a marketing strategy and plan
- Identifying and managing business risk
- Plan your business finances
- Market and customer research
- Choosing and working with business advisers
- Networking in business
Resources for finding licences, permits and codes of conduct
Use the Business Launchpad to discover all your licensing needs, compiled in your own customised guide.
You can also search for licences, permits and codes of practice using the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS).
Learn about codes of conduct and codes of practices from:
- the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- WorkCover Queensland .
- Last reviewed: 8 Dec 2022
- Last updated: 8 Dec 2022
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COMMENTS
Preparing a financial plan for your business is important if you plan to pursue business finance options such as loans, according to Inc. Business finance companies look at the short-term viability as well as the long-term potential of a bu...
Australia is a massive country, with an area of approximately 2.97 million square miles and a population of approximately 23 million people as of 2014.
Australia is the one and only country on the Australian continent. However, the area was originally called Australasia. Australasia included the country of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
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NAB recommends that you seek independent legal, financial, and taxation advice before acting on any information in this article. Top. © National Australia Bank
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