Legal Aspects
In this section you should include details of any legal matters or requirements which may impinge on your business. For example, if your particular business requires a permit or a licence, you should state here how this will be obtained, what it will cost, what delays are likely between applying and receiving it, and what are the criteria you and the business will have to meet to qualify.
Also in this section you might mention patents (where you are making an original product and wish to prevent others copying it), planning permission (where such permission is required to operate your proposed business) and so on. It is most important that your business fulfils all the legal requirements before you start trading, and backers will want to see that you have taken this into account.
Financial Information
This is probably the most important part of the whole business plan, because it must demonstrate to potential lenders that you have a clear plan and targets for your business's finances, both now and over the coming months. Specifically, it will show that you know how much money you need, what you need it for, how much you expect to receive and to pay out during the business's first twelve months, and how much margin for error you have given yourself.
This section should also explain your policy on pricing. With products you should state the mark-up you intend to use, while for service businesses you should state your hourly rate. It is customary to mention the normal mark-ups or hourly rates of your particular industry, and give the reasons if yours differ from this. This is very important, as new businesses often under-price, often with dire results.
The section should also include a forecast profit and loss account and a cash flow forecast. The former shows the profits you expect to make, while the latter shows the predicted flow of cash into and out of your business (especially crucial in the first few months). With all financial projections you should avoid being over-optimistic and allow reasonable amounts for contingencies (especially overheads, which always seem to be larger than anticipated). You should also state any assumptions you are making, e.g. concerning credit you are given by suppliers and have to extend to customers.
Risk Assessment
In this section you will discuss the risks which are attached to your project, and how you propose to control them. Every business carries some element of risk, and any potential backer will want to see evidence that you have taken this into consideration. Potential risk could come from a number of sources:
A competitor setting up near you;
A major customer going into liquidation or taking his business elsewhere;
Your main supplier or sub-contractor ceasing to trade;
Customers taking longer than anticipated to pay their bills;
A long-term decline in demand for your product or service;
Lower than expected levels of sales;
Changes in the law making your product/service harder to sell;
Increases in taxation;
Variations in interest rates;
Variations in foreign exchange rates (where the business is involved in trading with other countries);
Accident or illness;
Flood or fire.
In this section you should explain the main risks your business is likely to face, and how you intend to monitor and control them. You should also comment on any contingency plans you have to meet setbacks, such as who will take over if you are ill.
In this section you should include details of any legal matters or requirements which may impinge on your business. For example, if your particular business requires a permit or a licence, you should state here how this will be obtained, what it will cost, what delays are likely between applying and receiving it, and what are the criteria you and the business will have to meet to qualify.
Also in this section you might mention patents (where you are making an original product and wish to prevent others copying it), planning permission (where such permission is required to operate your proposed business) and so on. It is most important that your business fulfils all the legal requirements before you start trading, and backers will want to see that you have taken this into account.
Financial Information
This is probably the most important part of the whole business plan, because it must demonstrate to potential lenders that you have a clear plan and targets for your business's finances, both now and over the coming months. Specifically, it will show that you know how much money you need, what you need it for, how much you expect to receive and to pay out during the business's first twelve months, and how much margin for error you have given yourself.
This section should also explain your policy on pricing. With products you should state the mark-up you intend to use, while for service businesses you should state your hourly rate. It is customary to mention the normal mark-ups or hourly rates of your particular industry, and give the reasons if yours differ from this. This is very important, as new businesses often under-price, often with dire results.
The section should also include a forecast profit and loss account and a cash flow forecast. The former shows the profits you expect to make, while the latter shows the predicted flow of cash into and out of your business (especially crucial in the first few months). With all financial projections you should avoid being over-optimistic and allow reasonable amounts for contingencies (especially overheads, which always seem to be larger than anticipated). You should also state any assumptions you are making, e.g. concerning credit you are given by suppliers and have to extend to customers.
Risk Assessment
In this section you will discuss the risks which are attached to your project, and how you propose to control them. Every business carries some element of risk, and any potential backer will want to see evidence that you have taken this into consideration. Potential risk could come from a number of sources:
A competitor setting up near you;
A major customer going into liquidation or taking his business elsewhere;
Your main supplier or sub-contractor ceasing to trade;
Customers taking longer than anticipated to pay their bills;
A long-term decline in demand for your product or service;
Lower than expected levels of sales;
Changes in the law making your product/service harder to sell;
Increases in taxation;
Variations in interest rates;
Variations in foreign exchange rates (where the business is involved in trading with other countries);
Accident or illness;
Flood or fire.
In this section you should explain the main risks your business is likely to face, and how you intend to monitor and control them. You should also comment on any contingency plans you have to meet setbacks, such as who will take over if you are ill.
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