There is an established way of writing a business plan. It should start with an executive summary, covering all aspects of the business, followed by these points in more detail. It should also include a marketing strategy, financial forecasts for the first two years and details of how much investment you will need.
Keep it brief
As with the best CVs, a good business plan should be clear, concise and free of jargon. Nothing will make potential investors' hearts sink as fast as a 100-page document studded with industry jargon.
Remember what it is
A business plan will help you finance your venture, but it's far more than that. If you chuck it in the bin as soon as you've got the cash, you're denying yourself a valuable tool that can guide your business through the first tricky years, and remind you of your vision.
Don't be coy about money
The financial part of your plan should be the most detailed, and it should be firmly tethered to the ground. If your figures are wildly optimistic, it won't ring true and it won't be any good to you. Plus, you'll get your fingers burned if it all goes wrong.
Start from the bottom up
Establish the size of your market, make a realistic estimate of how much you can be expected to capture and how much it would net you, and start from that figure.
