📋 Business Plan & Strategy

Executive Summary

Written last, placed first. A 1–2 page overview of the entire plan that a reader could use to understand your business without reading anything else.

• Business name, location, and what it does in plain language
• The problem you solve and who has it
• Your solution and why it's better than alternatives
• Business model — how you make money
• Stage you're at and what you're seeking (if applicable)
• Key financial highlights (projected revenue, break-even timeline)

Company Overview

The factual foundation — who you are, how you're structured, and what you stand for.

• Legal structure (LLC, S-Corp, sole prop) and state of registration
• Date founded and business address
• Mission statement (why you exist beyond profit)
• Core values (what guides your decisions)
• Founder background and why you're the right person to build this
• Current stage: idea, MVP, early revenue, scaling

Market Analysis

Evidence that a real, large enough market exists and that you understand it deeply.

• TAM (Total Addressable Market): The total revenue opportunity if you captured 100% of the market
• SAM (Serviceable Addressable Market): The portion of TAM you can realistically reach with your model
• SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market): The realistic portion you'll capture in years 1–3
• Market trends — is it growing, stable, or shrinking?
• Customer segments — who specifically is buying and why
• Competitive landscape — who else is serving this market and how

Products & Services

Exactly what you're selling, how it works, and why customers will choose it.

• Detailed description of each product or service offering
• The specific problem each one solves
• Pricing structure (tiered, one-time, subscription, hourly)
• Your competitive advantage — what makes this better than alternatives
• Development status — built and selling, MVP in testing, or in development
• IP, patents, or proprietary technology (if applicable)

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How you'll find customers, convert them, and keep them. This should be specific — not "social media and word of mouth."

• Primary marketing channels with reasoning (why these, not all channels)
• Customer acquisition strategy — how a stranger becomes a lead
• Sales process — from first contact to signed contract or completed purchase
• Customer retention strategy — how you keep people coming back
• Pricing strategy and rationale
• Customer acquisition cost (CAC) estimates and lifetime value (LTV)

Operations Plan

How the business actually runs day-to-day — what happens between "customer pays" and "customer receives value."

• Delivery model — how your product or service is produced and delivered
• Key processes and systems (tools, software, workflows)
• Facilities and equipment needed
• Suppliers, vendors, or partners critical to delivery
• Quality control — how you ensure consistency
• Capacity — how many customers/units can you handle at current scale?

Team & Management

Who is building this and why they're qualified. For solo founders, this section explains your background and who you'll add as you grow.

• Founder(s) bio — relevant experience, skills, and why this business
• Current team — roles, responsibilities, and backgrounds
• Organizational structure (even if it's just you right now)
• Advisors or mentors (adds significant credibility)
• Key hires planned — who do you need next and when?
• Gap analysis — what skills does the team currently lack?

Financial Projections

The numbers that prove (or disprove) the business. This is where most founders avoid digging in — and where most bad decisions get made. Even rough numbers built on real assumptions are better than none.

• Startup costs — every cost to get to launch (one-time)
• Monthly operating expenses — fixed and variable costs
• Revenue model and projections (Year 1, 2, 3)
• Break-even analysis — how many units/clients/months to profitability
• Cash flow projection — month by month for at least year 1
• Funding needed — how much, for what, and how it gets repaid or returned

Break-Even Point

This tells you exactly how many sales you need to cover your costs. Know this number before you launch — it's your first real milestone.

Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)

How much is one customer worth to you over time? This determines how much you can afford to spend to acquire them.

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

If your LTV is $500 and your CAC is $600 — you have a problem. LTV should be at least 3× your CAC for a healthy business model.

🎯 Quick-Scan Summary

• A business plan is thinking you need to do — not a document you write once for investors and never look at again
• The 8 sections: Executive Summary, Company Overview, Market Analysis, Products/Services, Marketing & Sales, Operations, Team, Financials
• Know your three critical numbers: break-even point, LTV, and CAC — before you launch
• SWOT analysis is only useful when you're honest about weaknesses and threats — that's where the strategy lives
• Start with a lean 1–3 page plan, validate assumptions with real customers, then build the full plan for funding
• Your competitive analysis isn't just about knowing who competitors are — it's about finding what they do poorly

Need Help Building Your Plan? 🤖

Business Buddy can walk you through each section, help you run numbers, and give real-time feedback on your strategy.