A Sample Business Plan

A SAMPLE BUSINESS PLAN

Your Business, Inc.

A well-written business plan is a crucial ingredient in preparing for business success. Without a sound business plan, a firm merely drifts along without any real direction. Yet, entrepreneurs, who tend to be people of action, too often jump right into a business venture without taking time to prepare a written plan outlining the essence of the business.

You should begin by writing down the answer to the very basic question, "What business am I in?" This may sound elementary, but answering this question with thought and consideration will help you focus on the major purpose of the business, which leads to establishing goals and objectives. In turn, these serve as aids in creating strategies, policies, and procedures. Every small business should have policies concerning credit, customers, product lines, image, prices, advertising, and so on. It is important to plan in writing; otherwise, the planning function either is ignored altogether or is conducted too informally.

This template has all of the ingredients to produce an excellent business plan.

Executive Summary

Key executives: Mr. James K. Quadrant Mr. Isiah M. Gradient

978 Lakeside Drive 113 Broughton Road

Hamilton, New York 13346 Hamilton, New York 13346

(515) 555-5431 (315) 555-6871

Business: Quadrant Surveying & Equipment Company

600 Madison Drive

Hamilton, New York 13346

(315) 555-4000

Business size: $378,000 in billings in latest fiscal year. Qualify under SBA definition of a "small business."

Form of ownership: S Corporation

Loan purpose: To purchase 1 Zeiss total stage with data storage and transfer capabilities to improve the quantity and the quality of the surveying jobs performed for clients.

Amount requested: $25.000

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Mr. James K. Quadrant

978 Lakeside Drive

Hamilton, New York 13346

(315) 555-5431

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Work experience:

1974-present Quadrant Surveying & Engineering Company, Hamilton, New York. Manager-Partner. Created business and continues to actively manage technical aspects of field operations. Supervised project managers of six field crews.

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1970-1974 Boise-Cascade Timber Co., Freeport, Maine. Survey project manager. Supervised field activities of a six-man survey crew. Planned weekly work schedules and monitored work quality.

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1965-1970 Hi-Tech Survey Co., Albany, New York Technician. Performed various surveying tasks as a part-time member of a field crew while attending college. Earned 80% of college expenses.

Education: Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute, Troy, New York Master of Science in Engineering Management. Grades in top 10% of class, GPR of 3.7/4.0.

1969-1970

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1965-1969 Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute, Troy, New York Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Graduated with honors.

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References: Mr. Frank Boland Mr. Jeff Anderson

President, Hi-Tech Survey Co. President, Sound Investment Co.

Troy, New York 12180 Hamilton, New York 13346

(315) 555-1890 (315) 555-3671

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Ms. Sally LeGrand

Account Executive

Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Smith

Portland, Maine 04111

(207) 555-1218

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Personal Financial Statement

Assets Liabilities

Cash-Savings account $12.000 Notes payable $10.000

Checking account 3.000 Mortgage 41.000

Stocks 22.000 Miscellaneous 6.000

Keogh contributions 31.000 Total liabilities $57.000

Home 96.000 Net worth $135.000

Autos 20.000 Total liabilities

Miscellaneous assets 8.000 & net worth $192.000

Total assets $192.000

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Mr. lsiah M. Gradient

113 Broughton Road

Hamilton, New York 13346

(315) 555-6871