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Business Plan

• Last Updated: December 21, 2021

A well thought out and researched business plan is the cornerstone to starting and running a business. Sound business plans can help you obtain financing, identify key milestones, and provide benchmarks to monitor progress toward your goals.

Be sure to check out the free or low-cost training opportunities, plus free professional business advising, from your local Small Business Development Center !

Get Your Free Business Plan from our collection of over 800 business plans listed below!

Updated January 10 th , 2022

How to Write a Business Plan

The following are the nine sections of a traditional business plan identified by the SBA :

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Market analysis
• Organization and management
• Service or product line
• Marketing and sales
• Funding request
• Financial projections

The following are resources to help you develop your own business plan:

• How to Write a Business Plan – from the SBA Learning Center , this free course explains the importance of business planning, defines and describes the components of a business plan to help you develop your own.
• Business plan template – review of two formats and their content from SBA.
• Build Your Business Plan – this SBA tool provides you with a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
• Developing a Successful Business Plan – In this webinar business planning expert Tim Berry helps entrepreneurs and small businesses better understand how to create a business plan
• Business Plan Outline – An in-depth look at how to create an individualized business plan with tools to make it easy.
• How to Write a Business Plan – A step by step guide to writing a successful business plan.
• Shopify – This comprehensive guide walks you through the nuts and bolts of writing your very own business plan.
• How to Write a Business Plan in 8 Simple Steps – A step by step guide with in-depth information on writing each section of a business plan.
• How to Write a Business Plan for Funding – A how-to guide on what is needed for a business plan to present to would-be investors and lenders.
• Business Plan Checklist – Keep yourself on track while writing your business plan.

Where to Find a Business Plan

• Score – Business planning, finance, sales, marketing, and management templates & guides.
• Bplans – Bplans.com contains the largest single collection of free sample business plans online as well as helpful tools and know-how for managing your business.
• Business Plan Handbook – Reference for Business/Advameg contains the first 11 volumes of the Business Plan Handbook series, a compilation of business plans for small businesses.
• The Finance Resource – Free online business plan samples
• More Business – Free online sample business plans for various industries.
• Klariti – Online templates, checklists, forms, and tutorials for entrepreneurs.

Business Plan Templates – an Alphabetized List

The following is a collection of sample business plans. Many of the business plan samples are provided by Palo Alto Software, the Makers of Business Plan Pro . Individuals working with their local SBDC , may receive a discount code for business plan software from participating SBDCs. You may use your promo code to set up your own LivePlan account using the SBDC discount .

• 3D Printing Service
• Accounting and Bookkeeping
• Accounting (Automated)
• Accounting Firm
• Acupuncture Clinic
• Advertising Agency
• Advertising Consulting
• Affiliate Marketing Website
• Agricultural Consultants
• Agriculture Farm
• Agriculture Fruit Farm
• Aircraft Equipment Maker
• Aircraft Rental Instruction
• Air Ground Supplier
• Airline Business
• Airline Charter Company
• Airport Shuttle
• Airport Taxi
• Alpaca Farm
• Ambulance Service
• Amusement Park
• Animal Day Care
• Antique Store
• Apartment Complex
• Apartment Rental Website
• Apparel Designer
• Aquarium Services
• Architectural Engineering
• Architecture Firm
• Army Navy Store
• Art Film Theater
• Art Gallery
• Artificial Flowers Import
• Art Packaging Installation
• Art Sales Custom Framing
• Art School Gallery
• Art School Museum
• Art Supply Store and Gallery
• ASP B2B Technology
• Assisted Living Facility
• Astrology Tarot Card
• Athletic Shoe Store Franchise
• ATM Company
• Attorney Employment Agency
• Au Pair Agency
• Auction House
• Auditing and Consulting
• Auto Inspection Company
• Auto Inspectors
• Auto Finance Company
• Auto Parts Store
• Auto Repair Service
• Automobile Parts (Export)
• Automobile Restoration
• Automotive Dealer
• Automotive Repair Shop
• Baby Boutique
• Bail Bonding Company
• Banquet Hall
• Bar and Tavern
• Barber Shop
• Bartending School
• Baseball Batting Cages
• Basketball Camp
• Batting Cages
• Beauty Salon
• Bed and Breakfast
• Bed and Breakfast – Caribbean
• Bed and Breakfast Inn
• Benefits Administration
• Beverage Distributor
• Beverage Machine Rental
• Beverage Manufacturer
• Bicycle Art
• Bicycle Shop (Retail)
• Biodiesel Plant
• Boarding School
• Boat and Yacht Dealer
• Boat Storage Facility
• Booking Agency
• Bookkeeping Practice
• Bowling Alley
• Bowling Entertainment Center
• Bridal Gown Shop
• Bridal Shop
• Business Analysis Publishing
• Business Brokerage
• Business Development
• Business Support Insurance
• Business Valuation Expert
• Butcher Shop
• Cabinet Contractor
• Cable TV Installer
• Cafe Bistro Coffeehouse
• Call Center
• Candle Making
• Candy Store
• Car Audio Store
• Car Parts Store
• Car Rental Agency
• Car Wash (Self-service)
• Career Counselor
• Carpentry Contractor
• Carpet Cleaner
• Cash Flow Note Buyer
• Cash for Gold Store
• Catering and Ballroom Rental
• Catering Company
• Cell Phone Store
• Cell Phones Retailer
• Charter School
• Check Cashing Store
• Cheese Shop
• Chemical Laboratory
• Chicken Farm
• Child Day Care Services
• Children’s Center
• Children’s Play Program
• Children’s Website
• Chinese Restaurant
• Chiropractic Business
• Chiropractic Practice
• Christmas Store
• Cigar Manufacturing
• Classified Ads Website
• Cleaning Services
• Clothing E-commerce Site
• Clothing Manufacturer
• Clothing Retail
• Clothing Store
• Cloud Computing Service
• Coffee Distribution
• Coffee Export
• Coffee Kiosk
• Coffee Roaster
• Coffeehouse
• Comic Book Store
• Commercial Bank
• Commercial Catalog Sales
• Commercial Contractor
• Commercial Diving Service
• Commodities Trading Firm
• Computer Consulting
• Computer Hardware Reseller
• Computer Laser Accessories
• Computer Repair
• Computer Repair Service
• Computer Software
• Computer Software Retailer
• Computer Support
• Computers Reseller
• Concert Promoter
• Concierge Service
• Construction
• Construction Carpenter
• Construction Inspection
• Construction Irrigation
• Construction Manufacturer
• Construction Repair
• Consulting Firm
• Consulting Seminars
• Convenience Store
• Convenience Store Cafe
• Convenience Store Gas Station
• Convenience Store Soda Fountain
• Corporate Trainer
• Cosmetic Herbal Sundries
• Cosmetics Retailer
• Cosmetology (Beauty) School
• Countertop Installation Service
• Country Club
• Courier Service
• Court Reporting Service
• Credit Monitoring Service
• Credit Repair Service
• Crowdfunding Website
• Cruise Ship
• Cultural Consulting Firm
• Cupcake Store
• Currency Exchanger
• Custom Pottery
• Custom Printed T-Shirts
• Dance Studio
• Data Recovery
• Data Recovery Service
• Database Software
• Day Care Center
• Debt Collection Agency
• Debt Consolidation Service
• Decorative Pottery
• Defense Contractor
• Deli Restaurant
• Delicatessen and Bakery
• Demolition Company
• Dental Clinic
• Dental Laboratories
• Dental Laboratory
• Dental Office
• Department Store
• Dessert Bakery
• Diabetic Supply Company
• Diamond Retailer
• Diamond Wholesaler
• Diaper Manufacturer
• Dinner Theater
• Dinner Train
• Direct Mail Service
• Display Case Marketing
• Document Shredding
• Dog and Cat Kennel
• Dog Groomer and Kennel
• Dog Obedience School
• Dollar Store
• Drapery Fabricator
• Driving School
• Drug Rehab Center
• Dry Cleaner
• Dry Cleaning Home Delivery
• Drywall Installer
• E-commerce Fabric Store
• E-commerce Fire Rescue Equipment
• E-commerce Start-up
• E-Commerce Website
• Educational Software K-12
• Electrical Contractor
• Electronic Engineering
• Electronic Filing Storage
• Electronics Repair Shop
• Electronics Retailer
• Embroidery Shop
• Emergency Shelters
• Energy Conservation
• Engineering Business
• Engineering Consulting
• Engineering Firm
• Environmental Car Dealership
• Environmental Laboratory
• Equipment Leasing Broker
• Equipment Rental Sales
• Escort Agency
• Escrow Service
• Ethnic Food Import
• Ethnic Food Restaurant
• Event Planner
• Exec Employment Agency
• Export Watch Manufacturer
• Exterminator Service
• Eye Surgery Equipment Maker 
• Family Medicine Clinic
• Farmer’s Market
• Fashion Consultant
• Fast Food Restaurant
• Film Production Company
• Financial Planner
• Financial Planning
• Financial Website
• Fine Dining Restaurant
• Fireworks Store
• Fish and Tackle Shop
• Fish Breeder
• Fishing Equipment
• Fishing Supplies and Fly Shop
• Fitness Center and Gym
• Flea Market
• Flight School
• Flower Shop
• Food Preparation
• Foreclosure Advisory
• Formwork Construction
• Franchise System
• Franchised Restaurant
• Frozen Custard Shop
• Freight Brokerage
• Fundraising Company
• Funeral Home
• Furniture Manufacturer
• Furniture Store
• Garden Products Recycling
• Gas Station
• Genealogy Service
• General Contractor
• General Freight Trucking
• Gift Basket
• Gift Basket Company
• Gift Card Distributor
• Global Event Planning
• Global Marketing
• Go Kart Track
• Gold Trading Company
• Golf Course
• Golf Driving Range
• Golf Pro Shop
• Gourmet Coffee Shop
• Gourmet Food Store
• Grant Search Company
• Graphic Design
• Graphic Design Company
• Gravel Rock Products
• Green Energy Products
• Greeting Card Maker
• Grocery Store
• Gun Shooting Range
• Gymnastics Center
• Hair and Nail Salon
• Hair Replacement and Salon
• Halloween Shop
• Handyman Maintenance
• Hardware Retail Franchise
• Hardware Store
• Hardwood Floor Refinisher
• Haunted House
• Health Club
• Health Plan Administration
• Healthy Restaurant
• Hearing Testing Systems
• Heavy Equipment Maker
• Heavy Equipment Rental
• High-Tech Marketing
• Holding Company
• Home Health Care
• Home Healthcare Agency
• Home Inspection Service
• Home Oxygen Delivery
• Home Real Estate Inspection
• Horse Boarding Real Estate
• Horse Reseller
• Horse Training
• Hotel and Resort
• Houseboat Rental
• Human Resources Consulting
• Hunting Supply Store
• HVAC Contractor
• Hydroponics Farm
• I.D. Verification Technology
• Ice Cream Shop
• Ice Skating Rink
• Import Export Company
• Independent Video Store
• Indoor Soccer Facility
• Infomercial Company 
• Information Technology
• Infusion Therapy Pharmacy
• Inline Skating Products
• Insurance Agency
• Insurance Industry Support Services 
• Insurance Premium Finance
• Integrated Communications
• Interior Decorator
• Interior Design
• Interiors Contractor 
• International IT Consulting
• International Travel Agency
• Internet ASP
• Internet Cafe
• Internet Court Documents
• Internet Marketing Firm
• Internet Media Advertising
• Internet Service Provider
• Inventory Control Software
• Investing Club
• Investment Bank
• Investment Website
• Irish Pub Bar
• IT Consulting Firm
• Italian Renaissance Theme Restaurant
• Italian Restaurant
• Janitorial Service
• Janitorial Services
• Jet Ski Rental 
• Jewelry Store
• Juice and Smoothie Bar 
• Karaoke Bar
• Karaoke Bar & Bowling Alley
• Landscape Contractor
• Laser Tag Facility
• Laser Tag Gaming Center
• Laundry Mat
• Law Practice
• Lawn and Garden Services
• Lead Generation Website
• Lift Bed Manufacturer
• Limousine Service
• Limousine Taxi
• Lingerie Shop
• Lingerie Store
• Liquor Store
• Loan Brokerage
• Machine and Lathe Shop
• Machine Tooling
• Magazine Publisher
• Maid and Cleaning Service
• Mail Order Returns
• Marketing Strategy
• Martial Arts School
• Masonry Contractor
• Massage Products
• Massage Therapist
• Maternity Clothing
• Maternity Clothing Store
• Mattress Store
• Medical Billing
• Medical Billing Company
• Medical Equipment
• Medical Equipment Developer
• Medical Internet Marketing
• Medical Laboratory
• Medical Language Translation
• Medical Practice
• Medical Scanning Lab
• Medical Software
• Medical Transcription
• Medicine Dispenser
• Mediterranean Restaurant
• Membership Social Events
• Men’s Salon
• Mexican Restaurant
• Microbrewery
• Midwife Service
• Miniature Golf Course
• Mining Software
• MLM Cleaning Products
• MLM Water Filter
• Mobile Car Detailing
• Mobile Home Manufacturer
• Mobile Home Park
• Mobile Oil Change
• Mopeds Rental
• Mortgage Broker
• Mortgage Brokerage
• Motel – Hunting Lodge
• Motorcycle Dealer
• Motorcycle Shop
• Movie Theater
• Multi-Sport Complex
• Music Festival
• Music Recording Distribution
• Music Recording Producer
• Musical Instrument Store
• Mutual Fund
• Nightclub Saloon
• Nightclub, Dance Classes
• Nonprofit Business Plans
• Nonprofit Food Bank
• Nonprofit Law Firm
• Nonprofit Recording Co-op
• Nonprofit Trade Association
• Not for Profit Organization
• Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Home
• Nutritionist Practice 
• Occupational Health
• Office Consulting
• Office Equipment Rental
• Office Furniture Manufacturer
• Office Supply Store
• Oil Company
• Online Auction Website
• Online Booking
• Online Casino
• Online Clothing Store
• Online Data Storage
• Online Dating Website
• Online Print Shop
• Online School
• Optometry Practice
• Organic Restaurant
• Outdoor Gear Designer
• Outpatient Surgical Center
• Outsourced Call Center
• Outsourced Computer Support
• Pack and Ship Store
• Packaging and Shipping
• Pain Management Clinic
• Paintball Facility
• Paintball Store and Field
• Painting Contractor
• Painting Contractors
• Pallet Manufacturer
• Paralegal Firm
• Parenting Center
• Parking Garage
• Party Equipment Rental
• Pasta Italian Restaurant
• Pasta Manufacturer
• Patent Agent
• Paternity Testing Clinic
• Patient Advocacy Service
• Payday Lender
• Payroll Service Company
• Performance Auto Shop
• Personal Event Planning
• Personal Shopper
• Personal Shopping Services
• Personnel Management
• Pet Photography
• Pet Products Manufacturer
• Pet Supplies
• Pharma Sales Company
• Photo Booth Company
• Photography Studio
• Physical Fitness Gym
• Physical Therapy Massage
• Physical Therapy Practice
• Pie Restaurant
• Pilates Studio
• Pizza Delivery
• Pizza Restaurant
• Pizzeria Franchise
• Plant Nursery
• Plastics Recycling
• Plumbing Contractor
• Podiatry Practice
• Polygraph Service
• Pool Cleaning Service
• Pool Table Store
• Portrait Photographer
• Pottery Store
• Poultry (Chicken) Farm
• Powder Coating Service
• Power Plant
• Power Washing Service
• Print Brokerage
• Print Services Broker
• Private Equity Firm
• Private Investigator
• Private Placement Broker
• Process Serving Service
• Promotional Products Maker
• Property Appraiser
• Property Management Firm
• Psychology Practice
• Public Relations
• Public Relations Firm
• Quick Lube Oil Change
• Quilt Artist (Custom)
• Radio Station
• Radiology Center
• Real Estate Brokerage
• Real Estate Developer
• Real Estate Property Management
• Real Estate Website
• Record Label
• Recording Studio
• Recreation Center
• Recycling Center
• Recycling Waste Materials
• Regional Airline
• Reiki Practitioner
• Religious Coffeeshop
• Rent to Own Store
• Rental Remodeling
• Repo Company
• Residential Remodeling
• Resort Hotel Ski Lodge
• Restaurant Business Plan List (Several Types)
• Retail Property Sub-leasing
• Retail Tennis Shop
• Rock Climbing Gym
• Roller Skating Rink
• Roofing Contractor
• Salsa Manufacturer
• Salvage Company
• Sandwich Shop
• Sandwich Shop (franchise)
• Satellite Communications
• Scholarship Consulting
• School Bus Operator
• School Fundraising
• Scrapbooking Store
• Scrapbooking Supply Store
• Scuba Supply Store
• Security Guard Service
• Security System Company
• Self-Storage
• Self Storage Facility
• Seminars Company
• SEO Company
• Septic Tank Contractor
• Shared Office Building
• Shaved Ice Beverage
• Sheet Metal Fabricator
• Shipment Monitoring
• Sightseeing Bus Tours
• Singles Bar
• Skate Park Skiing
• Skateboard Shop
• Skydiving Service
• Slaughter House
• Small Engine Repair
• Snow Plow Service
• Soap Manufacturer
• Soccer Club
• Social Networking Website
• Soft Pretzel Shop
• Software Developer
• Software Publisher
• Software Testing
• Solar Energy Farm
• Solar Panel Installation
• Solar Water Heater Distributor
• Soup Kitchen
• Soybean Farm
• Specialty Baker
• Speech Therapist
• Sporting Goods Store
• Sports Agency
• Sports Equipment Cafe
• Sports Medical Equipment
• Sports Memorabilia
• Sports Memorabilia Store
• Sprinkler Installation
• Staffing Agency
• Stained Glass Gallery
• Stationery Store
• Steak Buffet Restaurant
• Structured Settlement
• Summer Camp
• Surf Clothing and Sportswear
• Surgery Practice
• Surgical Medical Equipment
• Surveyor Instrument
• Sushi Restaurant
• Talent Agency
• Tanning Salon
• Tapas Restaurant
• Tattoo Parlor
• Tattoo Removal Service
• Tattoo Shop
• Tax Preparation Company
• Taxi Business
• Taxi Cab Service
• Taxidermy Service
• Teachers’ Employment Agency
• Telemarketing Company
• Telemarketing Consultants
• Test Preparation
• Theatre Production
• Theatrical Music Producer
• Thrift Shop
• Tires and Rims Shop
• Title Insurance Company
• Title Loan Company
• Tobacco Retail Business
• Tourism Website Services
• Tracking Device Maker
• Trade Association
• Travel Agency
• Travel Agency – Upscale
• Tree Removal Service
• Trophy Store
• Trucking Company
• T-Shirt Company
• Tutoring Service
• Tuxedo Rental Service
• Uniform Supply Company
• Used Book Store
• Used Car Dealer
• Used Sports Equipment Store
• Vacuum Cleaner Store
• Vending Machine Company
• Vending Services
• Venture Capital Firm
• Veterinary Clinic
• Video Documentation Service
• Video Game Store
• Video Gaming Center
• Video Production Company
• Video Television Production
• Vinyl Record Store
• Virtual Secretary
• Vitamin Shop
• Voice Recognition Software
• VoIP Company
• Waste Management
• Water Purification
• Web Development Firm
• Web Hosting Company
• Wedding Consultant
• Wedding Planner
• Weight Loss Center
• Weight Loss Seminars
• Welding Service and Supply
• Wholesale Bicycle Distributor
• Wholesale Juice
• Wi-Fi Kiosk
• WiFi Kiosks
• Window Cleaning Service
• Windshield Repair Service
• Wine Distributor
• Wireless DataComm
• Women’s Clothing Boutique
• Women’s Shoe Store
• Wood Pellet Manufacturer
• Word Processing Service
• Workout Gym
• Wrestling Entertainment
• Yacht Charter Service
• Yoga Center
• Yoga Studio

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• View more small business help topics here: Small Business Information Center
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• View industry-specific research here: Market Research Links

Remember, you can also receive free professional business advice and free or low-cost business training from your  local Small Business Development Center !

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• 14 Professional Business Plan Samples [Downloadable pdf]

Looking for business plan examples for inspiration? Download or view 14 business plans examples/samples, vetted by our MBA business plan writers. Download in PDF format or read like a book. These real business plan samples would help in writing your own business plan.

• View Real Business Plan Examples/Samples

As an entrepreneur, effectively pitching your idea to attract investors and secure funding can be a challenge. Moreover, when launching a business, creating a comprehensive business plan is paramount.

To aid you in these crucial tasks, we offer a collection of real-world and sample business plan examples across diverse industries. A well-structured business plan is indispensable in the fast-paced entrepreneurial landscape, as it delineates your goals, strategies, and financial projections, providing a clear roadmap for your venture.

Our aim is to facilitate the creation of an effective business plan by integrating real-life examples to elucidate the key elements involved. Below, you’ll find a range of 14 detailed business plan examples available for download and use.

Important Sections to Include in Business Plan

Practical business plan examples illustrating strategies for startup success, 1. e-commerce plan sample or example, 2. online marketplace business plan example or sample, 3. snack bar business plan sample / business plan example, 4. coffee shop business plan sample/business plan example pdf, 5. food hall business plan sample/business plan example pdf, 6. printing shop business plan sample/business plan example plan, 7. acquisition business plan sample/ example pdf, 8. l-1 visa business plan example with sample pdf, 9. e-2 visa business plan sample/ example pdf, 10. eb-5 business plan sample/ example pdf, 11. investor business plan sample/ example pdf, 12. nonprofit business plan sample/ example pdf, 13. bank business plan sample/ example pdf, 14. cannabis business plan sample/ example pdf, detailed overview of key components of a business plan, 1. executive summary, tips for writing executive summary, 2. company overview or description, tips for writing company description, 3. market analysis, tips for writing market analysis, 4. product and services, tips for writing product and services, here is example of services section of a bank., 5. marketing and sales plan, tips for writing marketing and sales plan, example of marketing and sales plan section of a bank, 6. operation planning, tips for writing operational planning, 7. organization and management, tips for writing organization and management summary, management summary of coffee shoppe business., 8. financial plan, tips for writing financial plan, financial highlights of foodshack business., 9. key external drivers, tips for writing key external drivers, 10. startup summary, tips for writing startup summary, 11. projected industry growth, tips for writing projected industry growth, here is example of market analysis section of a bank., 12. break-even analysis, tips for writing break-even analysis, 13. management summary, tips for writing management summary, here is example of marketing and sales plan section of a bank., 14. financial indicators, tips for writing financial indicators, discover business plan formats and free templates, business plan examples for students pdf, common types of business plan, 1. one page business plan, 2. start-up business plan, 3. strategic business plan, 4. feasibility business plan, 5. internal business plan, conclusion​, frequently asked questions, download pack of 14 business plan examples, are you looking for top business plan writer.

To create a robust business plan, ensure inclusion of the following key sections:

• Executive Summary: A brief snapshot of your business and the key highlights of your business plan. Read more
• Product and Services: An elaborate description of the offerings you will provide to your customers. Read more
• Marketing and Sales Plan: A strategic roadmap outlining how you intend to promote and market your business before, during, and after its launch. Read more
• Operating Planning: An explanation of the systems, processes, and tools necessary to efficiently run your business behind the scenes. Read more
• Organization and Management: Organization and management in a business plan outline the structure and leadership of the company. Read more
• Financial Plan: A comprehensive plan mapping out your short-term and long-term financial goals and the associated costs of running your business. If you require funding, this section is where you can outline your request and financial needs. Read more
• Key External Drivers: External drivers encompass factors like outsourcing, economic changes, industry competition, and business legislation complexity. Read more
• Startup Summary: The startup summary offers a comprehensive financial overview of , detailing expenses, asset value, and total requirements, crucial for transparency with entrepreneurs and investors. Read more
• Projected Industry Growth : Projected industry growth forecasts the sector’s expansion, offering a 10-year perspective and average annual growth rate, providing clarity to investors. Read more
• Break-even analysis: The break-even analysis visually presents key metrics and a 12-month revenue forecast to help stakeholders grasp the point where the business covers costs and starts generating profit . Read more
• Management Summary: The management summary provides a concise overview of organizational structure, key personnel, their roles, and financial commitments, ensuring stakeholders understand the business’s operational strength and leadership capability. Read more
• Financial Indicators: The financial indicators section evaluates organizational fiscal health, focusing on year-over-year profitability metrics, leverage ratios, liquidity ratios, and additional metrics, providing a comprehensive understanding of the business’s financial performance and efficiency in revenue generation from equity investments. Read more

Something Borrowed Something New is a burgeoning e-commerce enterprise specializing in wedding accessories and personalized gifts. Operating on a drop-shipping model, this business has the capability to make a significant impact in the market.

Moreover, leveraging social networking and blogging can be instrumental in generating awareness and capturing interest, thereby creating a robust online marketing strategy for Something Old and Something New.

To enhance their business operations, they are contemplating the integration of a WhatsApp CRM system. This initiative aims to optimize communication with potential customers, ensuring prompt responses to inquiries and fostering a seamless interaction process. 

EPlace Solutions will be an innovative online marketplace business portal offering a variety of products to consumers throughout the globe. Founded by Mr. John Jones, a seasoned business visionary with an eye toward profit and achievement, the organization is set to enter the market in 2023.

Online shopping is at an all-time high with new consumer mindsets calling for them to shop for the types of deals and bargains that will be so much a part of the online marketplace business model.

There is an increasing demand for snack-type fast food to be consumed while window shopping and walking around inside a shopping mall.

Do you plan to start a snack bar business? Then here’s a complete snack bar startup business plan template and feasibility report you can use FREE of charge. It sounds easy to open a snack bar, but in reality, you need well-planned strategies to ensure that your business stands the test of time. 

Our snack bar business plan sample includes a detailed description of the products and services offered, as well as a market a nalysis  and competitive analysis.

It also includes a financial plan that outlines the startup costs, revenue projections, and break-even analysis. We like this sample plan because it demonstrates how to build a profitable snack bar business by creating a unique menu and offering healthy, high-quality snac ks that meet custome r demand.

Your snack shop business plan can look as polished and professional as the sample plan. It’s fun and easy, with Wise Business Plan. Let’s review the  snack shop business plan sample  and adjust them according to your audience for the best results.

A coffee shop business plan is a document that outlines what your business idea is and how it will be implemented. Its purpose is to answer questions such as what it costs to start a coffee shop, how these costs will be financed, and how much money you can expect to earn from your cafe.

Are you looking for the right business plan for your cafe? Let’s review the  Coffee shop business plan sample  to find out how cloud-based software can make your day-to-day work more efficient.

Our coffee shop business plan sample includes a detailed description of the products and services offered, as well as a market analysis and competitive analysis.

It also includes a financial plan that outlines the startup costs, revenue projections, and break-even analysis. We like this sample plan because it demonstrates how to build a profitable coffee shop business by creating a unique brand and offering high-quality products a nd customer service.

In the food industry, there is fierce competition. To ensure success, you need to hit the ground running with the right pitch. Our food house business plan is the ideal solution with an attractive design highlighting key information and conveying the right message.

This food business plan example features food images intended to tantalize the taste buds. It captures the theme perfectly and will convey the ultimate message to investors, clients and customers.

It is important to remember that the business plan template can be customized to meet your company’s specific needs and requirements. It will help showcase your business as a leader in the modern industry.

This food business plan template provides key slides to showcase everything from finances to marketing and key competitors. If you prefer, you can alter the content displayed to meet your specific needs, but this is a good starting point.

Ultimately, this  food house business plan  will be suitable for any business operating in the food industry and keen to get interested from key individuals. It will ensure that you can build up the rep of your company.

We provide a one-of-a-kind sales pitch deck designed to appeal to your prospective audience, as well as a custom presentation tailored to their information requirements.

When establishing a think tank, you will need to develop a business plan and document it properly. As a mass think tank, you need a special strategy to legalize the think tank as a non-profit organization and to raise funds for your project successfully.

Copy and print businesses offer a variety of services to both businesses and consumers. A copy and print shop can handle everything from single-page printing to large-volume jobs using several types of media.

Our printing shop business plan sample includes a detailed description of the products and services offered, as well as a market analysis and competitive analysis. It also includes a financial plan that outlines the startup costs, revenue projections, and break-even analysis. We like this sample plan because it demonstrates how to build a profitable printing shop business by offering high-quality, customized printing services with a focus on customer s ervice and efficient operations.

Let’s take a look at Printing and Photocopy Business Plan Sample that you can use to inspire your own and easily create one.

The acquisition business plan sample is intended for businesses seeking to acquire another company or merge with a competitor. This plan includes an analysis of the target company, a valuation, and a strategy for integrating the acquired business into the existing operations. We like this sample plan because it provides a clear roadmap for the acquisition process and demonstrates the potential benefits of the deal.

At Wisebusinessplans, we understand that obtaining an L1 visa for an executive or manager requires a thorough and compelling business plan.

Our L1 business plan sample includes all the necessary components to satisfy USCIS requirements and demonstrate your qualifications and your company’s viability in the US market.

The L1 business plan sample is a comprehensive plan for a new business seeking L1 visa approval for an executive or manager. This plan focuses on demonstrating the applicant’s qualifications and the company’s viability in the US market.

We like this sample plan because it is specific to the L1 visa process and includes all the necessary components to satisfy USCIS requirements.

If you’re an entrepreneur seeking E-2 visa approval, Wise Business Plans can help you create a persuasive business plan.

Our E-2 business plan sample outlines your investment, business operations, and financial projections, providing a clear and compelling case for your ability to successfully run a business and make a significant economic impact.

The E-2 business plan sample is designed for entrepreneurs seeking E-2 visa approval, which allows individuals to invest in and manage a business in the United States. This plan outlines the applicant’s investment, business operations, and financial projections. We like this sample plan because it provides a clear and compelling case for the applicant’s ability to successfully run a business and make a significant economic impact.

If you’re looking to obtain an EB-5 visa by investing in a new commercial enterprise in the United States, Wise Business Plans can help you create a compelling business plan.

Our EB-5 business plan sample includes a description of your business, a market analysis, and financial projections, providing a detailed and persuasive case for the potential success of your venture.

The EB-5 business plan sample is designed for individuals seeking to obtain an EB-5 visa by investing in a new commercial enterprise in the United States. This plan includes a description of the business, a market analysis, and financial projections. We like this sample plan because it provides a detailed and persuasive case for the potential success of the business, which is crucial for obtaining EB-5 visa approval.

If you’re seeking investment from angel investors, venture capitalists, or other private equity firms, Wise Business Plans can help you create a compelling pitch.

Our investor business plan sample includes a pitch deck, financial projections, and a detailed analysis of the market the potential return on investment and the scalability of your business.

The investor business plan sample is intended for businesses seeking to attract investment from angel investors, venture capitalists, or other private equity firms. This plan includes a pitch deck, financial projections, and a detailed analysis of the market opportunity. We like this sample plan because it emphasizes the potential return on investment and the scalability of the business.

At Wisebusinessplans, we’re committed to helping non-profit organizations achieve their social impact goals.

Our non-profit business plan sample includes a mission statement, programs and services, marketing and outreach strategies, and a financial analysis, providing a clear roadmap for establishing or expanding your organization.

The non-profit business plan sample is designed for organizations seeking to establish or expand a non-profit entity. This plan includes a mission statement, programs and services, marketing and outreach strategies, and a financial analysis. We like this sample plan because it demonstrates a strong commitment to social impact and outlines a clear strategy for achieving the organization’s goals.

Whether you’re seeking financing from a bank or other financial institution, Wise Business Plans can help you create a detailed and persuasive business plan.

Our bank business plan sample includes a thorough financial analysis, market research, and a strategy for achieving profitability, highlighting the key factors that banks consider when evaluating loan applications.

The bank business plan sample is tailored for businesses seeking financing from a bank or other financial institution. This plan includes a detailed financial analysis, market research, and a strategy for achieving profitability. We like this sample plan because it highlights the key factors that banks consider when evaluating loan applications, and provides a strong case for the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

The cannabis industry is rapidly growing, and Wise Business Plans can help you enter it with confidence.

Our cannabis business plan sample includes a market analysis, operational strategy, and regulatory compliance a comprehensive overview of the unique challenges and opportunities in the industry and offering a clear roadmap for success.

The cannabis business plan sample is tailored for entrepreneurs seeking to enter the rapidly growing cannabis industry. This plan includes a market analysis, operational strategy, and regulatory compliance plan. We like this sample plan because it provides a comprehensive overview of the unique challenges and opportunities in the cannabis industry, and offers a clear roadmap for success.

The executive summary is a concise overview of your business plan, highlighting the key points of each section. It should capture the essence of your business, its mission, and the purpose of the business plan. This section should be written last, but it’s placed at the beginning of the business plan. Here is an example executive summary from our professional business plan written for Eplace Solution , an innovative e-commerce portal.

• Keep it brief and focused on key points.
• Clearly define the problem and your solution.
• Highlight market opportunities and growth potential.
• Showcase your team’s qualifications.
• Include financial projections.
• End with a clear call to action.
• Tailor it to your audience.
• Review and update regularly.

In this section, provide a detailed description of your company, including its history, legal structure, location, and vision. Explain your mission statement and core values that guide your business decisions. Use real-life examples of successful companies and how their strong company descriptions have contributed to their growth. In addition, you can reuse your company description on your About page, Instagram page, or other properties that ask for a boilerplate description of your business.

This section also allows you to describe how you register your business . Here you must choose whether your business is a corporation, sole proprietorship, LLC , or another type of business .

• Describe your company’s mission and vision.
• Explain what your business does and the problems it solves.
• Mention your target market and customer base.
• Highlight your unique selling points.
• Provide a brief history and background.

A market analysis analyzes how you are positioned in the market, who your target customers are, what your product or service will offer them, and industry trends. It might be useful to do a SWOT analysis to discover your strengths and weaknesses to identify market gaps that you may be able to exploit to build your business.

As part of your market research, you’ll also need to perform a competitive analysis. It will give you an idea of who your competition is and how to differentiate your brand. Here’s an example of a competitive analysis we did for a food business.

• Research and understand your industry thoroughly.
• Identify market trends and growth opportunities.
• Analyze your competitors and their strengths and weaknesses.
• Define your target audience and their needs.
• Include data and statistics to support your analysis.

Adding products and services to a business plan involves more than listing your company’s offerings. If you intend to gain funding or partner with another business, your products, and services section needs to demonstrate your company’s quality, value, and benefits.

Here’s an example of a product and service section in the business plan we wrote for an e-commerce business that offers wedding accessories.

• Clearly describe your offerings and their features.
• Explain how your products/services address customer needs.
• Highlight any unique qualities or advantages.
• Discuss your pricing strategy.
• Mention any future product/service development plans.

It is always a good idea to have a marketing plan before launching your business. A potential investor will want to know how you will advertise your business. Therefore, you should create a marketing plan that explains your planned promotion and customer acquisition strategies.

Discuss how you will make a sale. How will you attract customers and maximize their lifetime value? Ensure your marketing and sales forecasts align with your financial forecasts Marketing plans are usually based on the four Ps : product, price, place, and promotion. Breaking it down by marketing channels makes it easier. Discuss how you intend to market your business via blogs, email, social media, and word-of-mouth.

Here is an example of marketing strategies we develop for a restaurant business.

• Define your marketing goals and objectives.
• Outline your marketing strategies, including channels and tactics.
• Explain your sales strategy and target sales goals.
• Include a budget for marketing and sales activities.
• Discuss your sales team and their roles.
• Detail your customer acquisition and retention strategies.
• Mention any partnerships or collaborations for marketing and sales.

The operation plan should include all the steps needed to run the business in the long run. The plan should include details about logistics, duties for each department of the company, and responsibilities for the team.

The main aspect of running a business is its costs. Whether it’s machinery or services, each requires capital.

how to write an operation plan in a business plan

• Describe your day-to-day business operations.
• Explain your supply chain and production processes.
• Outline your facility and equipment requirements.
• Discuss your quality control and efficiency measures.
• Mention any legal and regulatory compliance considerations.
• Detail your staffing and management structure.
• Include contingency plans for potential disruptions.

In this section, you can describe your current team and the people you need to hire. You will need to highlight your team’s relevant experience if you intend to seek funding. Basically, this is where you demonstrate that this team can be successful in starting and growing the business.

• Introduce your leadership team and their roles.
• Highlight their relevant experience and qualifications.
• Explain your organizational structure and hierarchy.
• Discuss key personnel responsibilities and functions.
• Mention any plans for team growth or development.
• Address any advisory boards or external support.

A financial plan should include sales and revenue forecasts, profit and loss statements , cash flow statements , and balance sheets .

Now, if you plan to pitch investors or submit a loan application, you’ll also need a “use of funds” report. Here you outline how you plan to leverage any funding you might acquire for your business.

With our business templates , you can create your own income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet.

• Include detailed financial projections (income statement, cash flow, balance sheet).
• Explain your funding requirements and sources.
• Discuss your pricing and revenue model.
• Describe your expense management and cost controls.
• Mention any financial risks and mitigation strategies.
• Highlight key financial milestones and goals.

External drivers refer to the external factors or influences that significantly impact the activity and growth of an industry. These drivers include outsourcing of non-core activities, changes in economic activity, competition from other industries, and the complexity of business legislation.

Additionally, external drivers encompass the effects of changes in new business formation, especially among small businesses, which directly affect the demand for services within the industry.

• Identify and analyze current and emerging market trends in your industry.
• Assess potential positive or negative impacts these trends may have on your business.
• Evaluate broader economic conditions, including inflation rates, interest rates, and GDP growth.
• Elucidate how changes in economic conditions could influence consumer behavior, product demand, and overall cost structure.
• Outline key industry regulations and compliance requirements, discussing potential impacts on operations, costs, and market access.
• Highlight relevant technological advancements and explain their potential effects on your product or service offerings, operations, and competitiveness.
• Analyze current and potential future competitors, emphasizing the evolving competitive landscape’s impact on market share, pricing strategy, and overall business strategy.
• Consider social and cultural factors influencing consumer preferences and behaviors, exploring how societal changes can affect product demand.
• Evaluate environmental trends and regulations, discussing potential impacts on operations, supply chain, and customer perceptions.
• Assess political stability, government policies, and geopolitical factors, exploring potential risks and opportunities from political changes.
• Discuss global market conditions, analyzing how global economic trends, trade policies, and currency fluctuations may affect operations and expansion plans.
• Identify and discuss potential risks in the supply chain, such as disruptions, shortages, or geopolitical issues.
• Consider demographic shifts affecting your target market and discuss how changes may impact your customer base and marketing strategies.
• Highlight key legal and regulatory factors affecting the business, discussing potential legal challenges, compliance costs, and regulatory changes.
• Outline comprehensive risk management strategies, including contingency plans and risk mitigation strategies.
• Explain how you will monitor external drivers and emphasize the importance of staying agile and responsive to changes in the external environment.

The startup summary serves as a comprehensive overview of essential financial aspects, encompassing total startup expenses, the overall value of startup assets, and the total requirements, which is the cumulative sum of all expenses and startup investments.

It provides a clear financial snapshot, outlining the costs involved in launching the business, the value of assets acquired, and the overall financial needs for the startup.

This section is crucial for entrepreneurs and potential investors, offering a transparent understanding of the financial foundation required to initiate and sustain the business successfully.

This roadmap ensures a realistic evaluation of the business idea, identifying potential challenges and offering solutions.To write an effective plan, focus on what sets your venture apart from competitors, maintain conciseness, and embrace flexibility as a living document.

Answer fundamental questions about your business, create actionable checklists, execute the plan, and continually revise and update based on experiences and feedback.This iterative process fosters continuous improvement, helping entrepreneurs stay adaptable and enhance their business strategies over time.

• Clearly state the startup’s name and provide a concise description of its activities.
• Include a succinct mission statement capturing the startup’s purpose and goals, reflecting its core values.
• Specify the founding date and offer brief bios of key founders, highlighting relevant experience.
• Summarize the startup’s concept, explaining offered products or services and key distinguishing features.
• Clearly articulate the problem or need in the market that the startup addresses, defining the target audience.
• State what makes the startup unique, whether it’s a special feature, market gap, or competitive advantage.
• Provide a brief description of the market opportunity, covering target market size, trends, and growth prospects.
• Outline how the startup plans to generate revenue, detailing streams, pricing strategy, and potential partnerships.
• Offer a snapshot of the startup’s current status, highlighting key achievements such as product development or partnerships.
• If seeking funding, clearly state the amount sought and its allocation, covering areas like product development and marketing.
• Include a high-level financial summary with key projections for revenue, expenses, and profitability.
• Briefly outline future aspirations and plans, encompassing areas like expansion, product development, or strategic partnerships.

The projected industry growth is a pivotal aspect that forecasts the expansion of a specific sector over a defined timeframe.

For instance, it could provide an estimate of where that particular business will be standing in the next 10 years, and what will be the average annual growth rate of that industry.

This information provides prospective investors and stakeholders with a clear understanding of the industry’s potential and positions the startup within a dynamic and flourishing market.

• Emphasize the importance of industry trends and growth to your business.
• Provide a concise overview, including market size, major players, and recent trends.
• Briefly explain how you gathered data on industry growth projections (e.g., market research reports, expert interviews).
• Identify and discuss prevailing trends, such as technological advancements, changes in consumer behavior, and regulatory shifts.
• Summarize the industry’s historical growth, highlighting growth rates, market expansion, and notable milestones.
• Highlight key factors expected to drive industry growth, such as emerging markets, technological innovations, and demographic shifts.
• Discuss specific opportunities within the industry, including gaps in the market, underserved segments, or areas of competitive advantage.
• Acknowledge potential challenges or risks that could impact industry growth, demonstrating a realistic understanding.
• Present projections for future growth rates based on historical data, expert opinions, and your analysis. Include short-term and long-term projections.
• Discuss how key competitors are positioned to leverage industry growth, emphasizing your business’s differentiation strategies.
• Consider the regulatory landscape impacting growth, discussing anticipated changes and their potential effects on the industry.
• Explore international trends and their implications for industry growth, including factors like global economic conditions and geopolitical influences.

The break-even analysis serves as a vital financial tool, offering a detailed estimation of key metrics such as Sales Revenue, Cost of Sales, Gross Profit, Fixed Expenses, and Income Before Tax.

These critical components are visually presented through a bar graph, providing a clear and concise overview of the financial dynamics.

Additionally, the break-even analysis delves into a 12-month forecast, outlining the projected amount of revenue generated and the corresponding fixed costs.

This section is instrumental in helping stakeholders understand the financial threshold at which the business covers its costs and begins to generate profit.

• Define break-even analysis as a financial calculation where total revenue equals total costs.
• Identify constant costs regardless of production or sales levels.
• Enumerate and explain costs changing with production or sales.
• Present the break-even analysis formula, indicating the units needed to cover costs.
• Perform a practical break-even calculation using business-specific fixed costs, selling price, and variable cost per unit.
• Include a break-even chart or graph for a visual understanding of cost-revenue dynamics.
• Conduct a proactive sensitivity analysis to explore how changes in variables impact the break-even point.
• Specify the anticipated timeframe to reach the break-even point in terms of months or units sold.
• Clearly outline assumptions made in the analysis and provide justifications for transparency and credibility.
• Acknowledge potential risks or challenges that may affect the accuracy of the break-even analysis.
• Briefly mention contingency plans for difficulties in reaching the break-even point within the projected timeframe.

The management summary within the business plan provides a concise overview of the organizational structure and key personnel.

This includes a count of individuals, specifying the number of founders and operational team members integral to the organization.

The summary delves into the roles and responsibilities of each key figure, offering insights into the leadership dynamics driving the business.

Furthermore, the management summary sheds light on the financial aspect by presenting details about personal wages and payroll allocations for both founders and operational staff.

This comprehensive section ensures a clear understanding of the human resource framework and the financial commitments associated with the management team, crucial for stakeholders evaluating the business’s operational strength and leadership capability.

• Highlighting the critical role the management team plays in the business’s success, the introduction emphasizes their significance.
• Listing each key member with names, positions, and brief role summaries introduces the core of the management team.
• Providing brief biographies for each team member underscores their relevant experience, skills, achievements, and industry-specific expertise.
• Clearly outlining roles and responsibilities emphasizes how each team member’s skills contribute to the overall success of the business.
• Sharing the team’s vision and strategy involves discussing key strategic goals and outlining the plans to achieve them.
• Highlighting notable achievements or milestones showcases the team members’ successful ventures, industry recognition, or career accomplishments.
• Discussing team dynamics emphasizes collaboration and the complementary nature of their skills in driving the business forward.
• Introducing advisory board members, if applicable, underscores the additional guidance and expertise they bring to the business.
• Discussing how the team plans to contribute to future growth and development includes strategies for talent acquisition, leadership development, and succession planning.
• Touching on the team’s culture and values emphasizes their role in shaping the overall ethos of the business.
• If seeking investment, briefly mentioning how the management team plans to use funding for business growth and development provides insight into their financial strategy.

The financial indicators section within the business plan helps in evaluating the fiscal health and performance of the organization.

Year-after-year profitability estimates take center stage, encompassing key metrics such as gross margin, net profit margin, and EBITDA to revenue.

These indicators provide a comprehensive understanding of the business’s ability to generate profit relative to its revenue.

Furthermore, the financial indicators extend to leverage ratios, including the critical Debt to Equity ratio, Debt to Assets ratio, and Interest Coverage ratio.

These metrics illuminate the organization’s capital structure, debt management, and its capacity to meet interest obligations.

Liquidity ratios includes the Current Ratio and Current Debt to Total Asset Ratio.

These ratios provide insights into the company’s short-term financial health and its ability to meet immediate obligations.

The financial indicator toolbox is enriched with additional metrics, notably the Revenue to Equity ratio, which sheds light on the efficiency of generating revenue from equity investments.

• Detailed revenue forecasts for the next 3-5 years. Breakdown by product/service and geographical regions.
• Detailed breakdown of anticipated expenses. Include fixed and variable costs, operational expenses, and other relevant expenditures.
• Historical P&L statements if available. Projected future profits and losses based on revenue and expense projections.
• Outline of expected cash inflows and outflows. Emphasis on the ability to meet short-term obligations.
• Snapshot of the company’s financial position. Includes assets, liabilities, and equity.
• Calculation and presentation of key financial ratios (liquidity, solvency, profitability). Discussion on the significance of these ratios.
• Identification and explanation of relevant KPIs. Highlighting alignment with the overall business strategy.
• Discussion of potential financial risks. Mitigation strategies and addressing uncertainties.
• Clear statement of the amount and purpose of funds required.
• Outline of key assumptions underlying financial projections. Rationale for these assumptions.
• Summary of industry financial trends and business positioning. Outlook on future financial prospects considering market dynamics.

Looking For The Right Business Plan Format?

These sample business plans will provide you with a complete structure and format for your business plan, which will give you a head start on developing your document, so you won’t be stuck seeing an empty page and wondering what to write.

Simply going through the process of writing a business plan is one of its key benefits. If you sit down to write, you’ll naturally think about your startup costs, your target market , and any market analysis or research you’ll need to conduct. In addition to defining your position among your competitors, you will establish your goals and milestones.

You can see what should be included in a sample financial plan, but It is wrong to assume that a sample company’s financial projections will fit your own. If you need more resources to get you started, we recommend this guide on how to write a business plan .

In addition, you can download our 40+ free business plan templates covering a range of industries.

One-page business plans are short, compact, and to the point and are designed to make the plan easy to read at a glance. Make sure to include all of the sections, but truncate and summarize them

Start-up business plans are for businesses that are just getting started. They are usually developed to secure outside funding. In this regard, financials are of increased importance, as well as other sections that determine whether your business idea is viable, such as market research.

A strategic business plan lays out a company’s goals and how it will achieve them at a high level. It is a foundational document for the company as a whole. A strategic business plan allows all levels of the business to see the big picture, inspiring employees to work together to reach the company’s goals.

Developing a feasibility plan answers two primary questions about a business venture: who would purchase the service or product the company wants to sell, and if the venture is profitable.

Internal Business plans are geared to a specific audience within a company to keep your team on the same page and focused on the same goals.

In conclusion, whether you’re venturing into a traditional business or creating an innovative startup, the significance of a well-crafted business plan cannot be overstated. Different types of business plans cater to specific needs, from internal alignment to strategic expansion. Employing a template in MS Word ensures a polished presentation. The process of writing an executive summary, creating a plan, and defining the components of your business plan is essential.

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive and standard business plan can help guide your endeavors. Whether you choose to write a full business plan or opt for a one-page business overview, leveraging templates in MS Word can simplify the process. In essence, understanding the types of business plans and utilizing an executive summary template provides a structured approach to showcase your business overview.

Take inspiration from example business plans to tailor your strategy, ensuring a roadmap for success in the dynamic world of entrepreneurship. Always remember, a meticulously crafted business plan not only communicates your vision effectively but also serves as a valuable resource that can help secure investments and guide your business’s growth trajectory.

Begin with an executive summary, delve into market analysis, outline your strategies, create financial projections, and use available business plan examples as templates to guide your writing.

A comprehensive business plan template should encompass key sections such as an executive summary, business description, market analysis, marketing strategy, organizational structure, and financial projections. Seek templates online that cover these elements.

Tailor your business plan to the scale of your small business. Define your objectives clearly, outline cost-effective strategies, and emphasize agility in adapting to market changes.

Explore well-crafted business plan examples you can visit our website  wisebusinessplan.

The fundamental components include an executive summary, business description, market analysis, marketing and sales strategy, organizational structure, product/service description, and financial projections.

Investors focus on growth potential, detailed financial projections, market analysis, competition analysis, and the qualifications and experience of your management team when reviewing a business plan.

To find a business plan example for a tech startup,you can visit our visit wisebusinessplan .

A business plan provides a comprehensive overview of your entire business, including strategies, operations, and financials. In contrast, a business proposal typically focuses on a specific project or offer, outlining the details and benefits to a potential client.

Craft an engaging executive summary by summarizing your business’s mission, highlighting the market opportunity, showcasing your product or service, and providing a concise overview of your financial projections.

Seek tailored business plan examples for nonprofit organizations you can visit wisebusinessplan .

These business plans are written by MBA writers. Real-world use cases were used in these plans.

Get our business plan writing and consultation service.

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5 Types Business Plan PDF Templates with Free Samples

Creating a business plan can be a daunting task for many entrepreneurs. To make the process easier, having a template to work from can be helpful.

We will outline five popular types of business plan PDF templates and provide free samples for each type. This way, you can get a better understanding of which template is best suited to your business needs and objectives. With a suitable template, you can ensure your business plan is comprehensive and professional.

Read on to discover the five types of business plan PDF templates with free samples.

#1 One Page Business Plan Template PDF

Are you starting a business and want a simple plan? The One Page Business Plan Template PDF is perfect! Here are two templates overview you need to know:

Template 1: Blue Business Plan

The Blue Business Plan is a simple yet professional one-page template perfect for small businesses and startups. It's easy to customize and is available in a PDF format for convenient use.

Template Highlights:

Here are some of its highlights:

Clean and minimalist design that looks professional and modern

It provides space for company summary, product/service description, target market, marketing and sales strategies, and financial projections.

Easy to fill out with a straightforward format that eliminates the need for extensive business planning

Try it out with the free sample and see how it can help your business succeed.

Template 2: One Page Business Plan Workbook

This template is a comprehensive workbook that includes everything you need to create a business plan from start to finish. This business plan workbook is perfect for anyone who wants a complete template that guides them through the process step-by-step.

This template breaks down the business plan into clear and concise sections, making it easy to follow.

Each section includes a corresponding worksheet to help you gather and organize the necessary information for your business plan.

The workbook provides detailed instructions and guidance on how to fill out each section, including tips and examples.

#2  Startup Business Plan Template PDF

A startup business plan template PDF is helpful for those wanting to start their own business. Here are two templates overview you need to know:

Template 1: Fox Gradient Business Presentation

Are you looking for a modern and eye-catching business plan template? The Fox Gradient Business Presentation template might be perfect for you! Whether starting a new business or seeking funding, this Fox Gradient Business Presentation template is a great choice to make a lasting impression.

This template has a professional and sleek design that will make your business plan stand out.

Using gradients and geometric shapes creates a visually stunning effect that will impress your audience.

It features customizable icons, maps, charts, and tables to help you present your information clearly and effectively.

Template 2: Startup Business Aesthetic Report

This business plan template is perfect for those who want to showcase their business visually appealingly. The Business Aesthetic Report template is modern and professional and will impress your potential investors.

The template includes 24 unique slides with different color schemes and layouts, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your needs.

It has placeholders for images, so you can easily add your business photos or graphics.

The template also has infographics to help you clearly and concisely present your data.

#3  Small Business Plan Template PDF

If you have a small business, you need a plan! This template can help you get started and achieve your goals. Here are two templates overview you need to know:

Template 1: Weekly Work Plan Summary

This business plan template is perfect for small businesses or entrepreneurs who must organize their weekly tasks and goals. It is simple and easy to understand, even for someone just starting a business.

The Weekly Work Plan Summary template is a one-page document divided into seven days of the week, with sections for morning, afternoon, and evening tasks.

Each day has a space for writing down the top priorities and any additional tasks that must be completed.

There is also a section for noting important weekly meetings or deadlines so everything is organized in one place.

Template 2: Fresh General Plant Work Summary

This Small Business Plan Template PDF is perfect for those who want to focus on their business's operations and daily tasks. Additionally, the financial section provides a clear picture of the company's budget and future revenue projections, making it easier to make informed decisions and plan for growth.

This template includes a one-page summary of the company's operations, sales, marketing, and financial goals.

In addition, it describes the company's products and markets.

The financial section includes a budget for each department and a projection of revenue and expenses for the upcoming year.

#4 Non-profit Business Plan Template PDF

Non-profit businesses also need a plan to reach their goals! Here's a template to help them out. Here are two templates overview you need to know:

Template 1: Store Profit and Loss Analysis Table

This template is perfect for businesses with a physical storefront or online shop. It helps owners track their revenue, expenses, and profits.

The easy-to-read format includes all essential financial information

It helps business owners identify where they can cut costs or increase revenue

Provides a clear snapshot of a business's financial health at a given moment

It can be used to compare performance over multiple periods

It Helps with tax reporting and budget planning

Free sample available for download

Template 2: Profit Financial Management System

The Profit Financial Management System template is essential for businesses looking to manage their finances and track their profits. By providing a clear picture of a business's financial performance, this template can help identify areas for improvement and support financial planning for the future.

This template provides a clear picture of a business's financial performance and can help identify areas for improvement.

Business owners can use the template to set realistic financial goals and track their progress toward meeting them.

The spreadsheet makes it easy to manage finances and track profits, reducing the risk of errors or oversights.

#5 Fill-in-the-blank Business Plan Template PDF

This business plan template is easy to use because it has blanks to fill in with your information. Here are two templates overview you need to know:

Template 1: Modern Black Business Report

The Modern Black Business Report template is a professional and visually appealing option for any business looking to create a comprehensive and attractive business plan. Plus, it's free to download and easily customized to your needs.

Here are the highlights of this template:

This template includes a cover page, executive summary, company description, market analysis, and financial projections.

The cover page has space for your company logo, contact information, and business description.

The market analysis provides an overview of your target market, competitors, and industry trends.

Template 2: Black Business Cover

This business plan template pdf features a stylish, professional-looking cover design, perfect for any business. If you want a professional-looking cover for your business plan that stands out, this black business cover template is ideal for you.

Here are some of the highlights:

The template has a clean and modern black design, making it easy on the eyes and perfect for any business.

The cover is fully editable, so you can add your business name and logo to make it personalized and unique to your company.

The template's sleek and stylish cover gives potential investors and partners a professional impression.

Advantages and Disadvantages of A Business Plan Template

A business plan template's benefits and drawbacks will be discussed here.

Saves Time:

Business plan template PDF files provide a pre-designed structure, making it easier and quicker to create a well-organized plan. This time-saving factor allows entrepreneurs to focus on other critical aspects of their business.

Ensures Comprehensive Planning:

A business plan template PDF prompts entrepreneurs to consider all the essential details and components required for a successful venture. It helps identify potential challenges and solutions, ensuring a more comprehensive planning process.

Professional Formatting:

Using a business plan template PDF ensures that your plan follows a professional format. This consistency helps in presenting your ideas and concepts in a clear and organized manner, making it easier for investors or lenders to understand your vision.

Disadvantages

Lack of Originality:

While templates offer structure and guidance, they may limit creativity and originality. Entrepreneurs may need help to express their unique ideas and differentiate themselves from competitors when using a template.

Not Tailored for Every Business:

Business plan templates are general guidelines that may not address specific industry or business needs. Entrepreneurs must adapt the template to fit their unique circumstances, which can be time-consuming and require additional research.

Potential Inaccuracy:

Templates often provide sample financial projections or market analysis, which may not accurately reflect an entrepreneur's situation. Without in-depth research, relying solely on template data can lead to incorrect assumptions and unrealistic expectations.

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FAQs About Business Plan Template PDF

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A business plan template pdf should include details about your business goals, target customers, and marketing plans. It should also have financial projections and an executive summary. Use WPS Office to create or edit your free business plan template pdf.

Q2:How to write a business plan PDF?

To write a business plan PDF, you must start by researching and making a plan.

Look for a free business plan template PDF that fits your needs.

Next, create a clear outline of your business goals and strategies.

Use a startup business plan template PDF or a one-page business plan template PDF to keep it simple.

Remember to include financial projections.

Edit and format your plan using WPS Office, a helpful tool for working with PDF files.

Q3:What are the common mistakes in writing business plan templates?

Some common mistakes are:

Not setting clear goals. Make sure you know what you want to achieve.

Ignoring competition. Research the market and understand who your competitors are.

Underestimating expenses. Be realistic about the costs involved in running a business.

Not including a marketing strategy. Think about how you will promote your business.

You need to update the plan. Your business plan should be a living document that is regularly reviewed and updated.

Q4: How to find a business plan template pdf in WPS Office?

If you need a one-page business plan template pdf, non-profit business plan template pdf, or small business plan template pdf, search online. Once you find a template, use WPS Office to open or edit the PDF file.

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• Understanding Business Continuity vs BDR: A Guide
• About Invenio IT
• Business Continuity

The Ultimate Disaster Recovery Plan for Small Business

• September 20, 2024

A Disaster Recovery Plan for Small Business is a crucial component of business continuity planning designed to help companies recover quickly from disruptive events.

This plan is typically focused on information technology, but it is applicable to all aspects of business operations. It can encompass a wide range of tools and processes to ensure minimal downtime and efficient recovery after a disaster, including:

• Data backup and recovery technologies
• Failover systems
• Redundant hardware and equipment
• Secondary business locations
• Recovery protocols and procedures

Together, these components guide a small business through all stages of the disaster management  cycle: prevention, preparation, mitigation and recovery.

Why it’s important

Operational disruptions—and the financial losses they cause—are arguably the single greatest threat to any size business.

However, many small businesses are unprepared when these incidents occur. Experts at Insurance Business magazine state that a “major mistake is that many organizations lack an operational business continuity and disaster recovery plan, which leads them to underestimate the potential impacts and the length of potential disruptions.”

Consider some of these alarming disaster recovery statistics:

• 46% of businesses have no documented disaster recovery plan , according to data from Computing Research. Among organizations that do have a plan, 7% never test any of the protocols or systems documented in the plan.
• Nearly 40% of small businesses fail to reopen following a disaster, according to  FEMA .
• 90% of smaller companies fail within a year if they can’t resume operations within 5 days after experiencing a disaster.
• Each hour of downtime can cost businesses anywhere from $10,000 to millions of dollars, depending on the size of the company.

Disaster recovery planning  is critical to ensuring that companies are prepared for any threat and that personnel know how to respond when those incidents happen.

The truth about  disasters

Disaster recovery is not focused solely on destructive natural disasters, such as tornadoes and hurricanes. While those are indeed serious threats that require proper planning, other types of disasters are far more common.

• Ransomware & malware that disables or destroys data
• Data loss caused by accidental or malicious deletion
• Network outages that block internet, communication and server access
• Hardware failure that destroys or prevents access to data
• Utility outages that prohibit the business from functioning
• Fire or flooding that destroys infrastructure and forces relocation

Each of these events—even the loss of a single critical file—can pose enormous challenges for a business. Operational disruptions of any kind can translate into tremendous costs that are difficult for smaller companies to overcome.

Costs of prolonged recoveries

Consider, for example, the impact of a single ransomware infection. With files encrypted, entire computers become unusable and operations are effectively frozen across the organization. This results in lost wages, lost productivity, interrupted revenue streams, costly recovery efforts and a host of other expenses.

In 2017, the NotPetya ransomware attack cost FedEx a staggering $300 million. The same attack caused more than $1.4 billion in losses for pharmaceutical giant Merck, underscoring the importance of comprehensive disaster recovery planning.

More recently, ransomware has forced prominent organizations to permanently close their doors, including:

• Lincoln College, a 157-year-old liberal arts school in Illinois
• Wood Ranch Medical, a healthcare provider in Simi Valley, CA
• The Heritage Company, a 300-employee telemarketing firm in Arkansas

Creating a disaster recovery plan for small business

A disaster recovery plan (DRP) outlines a business’s strategies for dealing with operational disruptions. Much like a business continuity plan, a DRP is a comprehensive document that spells out how the business should respond to various disaster scenarios (and how to avoid them).

A typical disaster recovery plan for small business includes the following sections:

• Key Contacts: Contact information for recovery personnel or key stakeholders
• Objectives: Purpose and scope of the plan
• Review & update schedule: How often the plan should be updated and by whom
• Activation protocol: Under what circumstances the plan is activated and how
• Recovery procedures: Detailed processes for recovering from specific incidents
• Systems: Data backup and other IT systems that support the recovery process
• Secondary locations & assets: Backup space, equipment and resources for temporary relocation
• Recommended action steps: Identification of areas that require additional planning
• Testing: Parameters for testing the various systems and protocols in the plan

Creating a disaster recovery plan for the SMB is the first critical step of the planning process. It requires a business to consider the specific incidents that threaten operations and create detailed recovery protocols for each scenario .

Business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) for Small Business

The term “business continuity and disaster recovery” is often used to describe a business’s data backup system. Shortened as BC/DR, it is an essential IT deployment that ensures a business can restore data from a backup after a disaster.

• While many forms of data backup software exist, BC/DR systems typically offer greater protection against a range of data-loss events.
• Many of today’s disaster recovery solutions deploy a dedicated backup device, combined with intelligent software and cloud storage.
• High backup frequencies and fast recovery methods are what define the best BC/DR solutions, ensuring that businesses can maintain continuity through any disaster. (Below, we identify some specific features to look for in a disaster recovery system.)

System failover

Beyond data, businesses also need to have a backup plan for replacing a wide array of systems that are critical for company operations to function. Failover systems create redundancy, enabling businesses to quickly fall back on secondary resources when primary systems become unavailable.

Examples of failover systems include:

• Backup generators that continue to supply power to the business during electrical outages
• Network failover systems that enable communication to continue during outages (i.e. via redundant telecommunications lines, wireless failover, network failover systems, etc.)
• Failover servers that are activated during planned/unplanned maintenance on primary systems

Failover ensures that critical systems are constantly available, even when primary resources go down.

Understanding risks

Creating effective disaster recovery protocols is impossible without having a deep understanding of the potential risks. A risk assessment is needed to identify the most likely threats and their impact on the business.

A risk assessment is typically included within the disaster recovery plan or business continuity plan. An IT-specific risk assessment is often created separately from the larger, business-wide assessment. This helps to measure the unique impact of disaster on essential technology deployments.

• Identified risks should be prioritized by their likelihood, as well as their impact.
• Risk assessments are typically accompanied by an impact analysis, which provides greater insight into the specific consequences of each disruption.
• Impact is typically measured by the end cost of the disruption as it affects IT and all other business functions (i.e. downtime, revenue disruptions, etc.)

Disaster prevention

Steps to prevent a disaster are just as critical as those to recover from one, if not more so. As such, prevention is an important piece of disaster recovery planning: it enables continuity without the need to activate a recovery plan.

Examples of preventative steps:

• Security solutions to prevent disruptions from malware, cyberattack, data theft, etc.
• Network/firewall configurations to block dangerous incoming/outgoing traffic
• Access control/permissions to restrict users from accessing sensitive file directories
• Load balancing to prevent network slowdown and server crashes
• Scheduled server maintenance and hardware replacement to prevent unexpected failure

Another critical form of prevention that’s often overlooked is user education. Today’s most destructive events, like ransomware attacks, are often caused by user error. For example, users may inadvertently open a malicious email attachment or fall victim to a phishing scam that steals their login credentials.

Ongoing employee training programs can greatly reduce the risk of these events by educating users on safe web/email practices.

Recovery processes

Every disaster requires its own unique process for recovery. As part of the disaster recovery plan, businesses must carefully outline the steps that personnel should follow to carry out the recovery. This could include steps for restoring a backup, reinstalling a critical application or even moving mission-critical operations to a secondary location.

Tips for effective recovery protocols:

• Create specific procedures for each scenario identified in the risk assessment and/or impact analysis.
• Leave nothing to guesswork. Clearly spell out each step with the assumption that it could be carried out by personnel who aren’t deeply familiar with the process.
• When applicable, incorporate diagrams, flow charts or other visuals to make the process easier to follow.

Recovery procedures should also state who is responsible for carrying them out, including any secondary/substitute personnel for scenarios in which the primary recovery team is unavailable.

The speed and timing of the recovery process should be guided by the objectives set in the  disaster recovery plan . Within IT, two of the core objectives pertain to how quickly systems should be recovered to prevent the negative consequences of a prolonged outage. Those two objectives are referred to as:

• Recovery time objective  (RTO): The desired maximum amount of time that the recovery process should take. This can be applied toward specific systems or events, such as data loss, network outages, website outages, and so on.
• Recovery point objective (RPO): The desired maximum age of the most recent backup. This objective sets a limit for the age of backups (as well as goals for backup frequency), helping to minimize the amount of data loss when a backup needs to be restored.

Secondary locations and assets

In the event of catastrophic disasters in which physical business locations become inaccessible, organizations must have a plan for restoring critical operations at a secondary location. This means having access not only to the backup location itself but also equipment and resources for that location.

• If a business does not already have access to a secondary location, it should have a plan for quickly securing one.
• Backup equipment must be made available to the mission-critical personnel that will use the secondary location. Beyond server and network infrastructure, this can include individual computers, desks, chairs and so on.
• The disaster recovery plan should prioritize the personnel that should relocate, and the business should further communicate this with all applicable personnel via the emergency communication methods identified in the plan.

Recommended data backup & recovery

As mentioned above, data backup is an important piece of the disaster-recovery puzzle. When data is lost—for whatever reason and no matter how small or large the loss—businesses must be able to restore it quickly in order to prevent an operational disruption.

While there are numerous BC/DR solutions on the market, there are some key capabilities that today’s businesses should look for when comparing options:

• Dedicated backup devices to process and store the backups
• Hybrid cloud backups (stored locally and in the cloud)
• Ability to perform backups frequently (every few minutes or more frequently)
• Ability to boot backups as virtual machines for instant access to protected files, apps and operating systems
• Numerous recovery options: file-level, rapid rollback, bare metal restore, direct restore, etc.
• Automatic backup integrity checks

In the age of ransomware, cybersecurity experts advise businesses to deploy robust disaster recovery solutions that can quickly recover the entire infrastructure, in addition to individual files and folders.

Solutions like the  Datto SIRIS  provide a complete infrastructure backup (physical, virtual, cloud) as often as every five minutes, while also enabling near-instant backup virtualization, locally or in the cloud.  

Disaster recovery testing

Ideally, every system and procedure listed in a disaster recovery plan should be tested on a routine basis. Otherwise, how does a business know if its planning will actually work in a real incident? Disaster recovery testing is essential for ensuring the protocols are effective. It also helps to identify any weaknesses that still need to be resolved.

Examples of disaster recovery testing:

• Testing and validating data backups to ensure that data can be restored without error.
• Running network penetration tests to identify weak spots and confirm that network disruptions can be quickly restored.
• Cybersecurity tests and threat assessments that identify vulnerabilities.
• Mock drills that test the recovery procedures for various disaster scenarios.
• Pre-planned evacuations and other safety drills that test employee procedures for emergencies.

Third-party vendor management  

Today’s businesses are increasingly interconnected with other businesses, including vendors, suppliers, distributors and an array of technology services. These partnerships often require providing authorized access to company systems or other integrations that allow a seamless connection between the two company’s systems.

However, these partnerships must be managed carefully to minimize cybersecurity risks. Consider, for example, that the infamous 2013 Target data breach was caused by a third-party vendor’s network credentials being stolen. This incident underscored the importance of vendor management as part of a company’s disaster recovery planning.

Considerations for third-party vendors:

• Which vendors require access to company systems, and how does that access expose the company to risk?
• How can vulnerabilities be eliminated when integrating third-party systems?
• In a disaster caused by a breach to third-party systems, who is responsible for recovery? What is the communication plan?
• What is the role of a third-party vendor, such as an IT company or managed-service provider, for disaster recovery?

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about disaster recovery for small business

1. what is disaster recovery.

Disaster recovery is a form of planning that ensures an organization can recover from operational disruption. Often focused on IT infrastructure, disaster recovery establishes procedures and systems that help to maintain business continuity after a disaster, such as data loss, server failure or electrical outage.

2. What is the purpose of disaster recovery?

The goal of disaster recovery is to mitigate the impact of a disaster on a business’s operations. Disaster recovery equips an organization with the tools, protocols and technologies it needs to anticipate disruptions, rapidly restore affected operations and minimize downtime.

3. What are the 4 phases of disaster recovery?

Disaster recovery is often defined by four phases of planning and response: 1) prevention, 2) preparedness, 3) mitigation and 4) recovery. Together, these phases consist of all the strategies leveraged by a business to minimize disruptions to a business. The fundamental goal of each phase is:

• Prevention : Prevent disasters from occurring in the first place
• Preparedness : Ensure the business is adequately prepared if various disasters do occur.
• Mitigation : Reduce the impact of a disaster with swift response immediately following the incident.
• Recovery : Fully recover affected systems and operations; resume business as usual.

4. What are examples of disaster recovery

The most common example of disaster recovery is having data backups that can be restored when files have been lost, deleted or destroyed. Backups are a critical component of disaster recovery, ensuring that a business can quickly restore lost data, applications or operating systems, especially after a server failure or ransomware attack.

5. How does disaster recovery work?

For disaster recovery to work, businesses must develop clear documentation outlining their strategies for preventing and recovering from a disaster. This is known as a disaster recovery plan (DRP). A DRP establishes protocols and systems that work to minimize the risk and impact of various operational disruptions.

6. What is a disaster recovery plan for a small business?

7. does every business need a disaster recovery plan.

No business is immune to disaster. And when it occurs, it can cause a catastrophic disruption that puts the entire company at risk.

Disaster recovery planning ensures that organizations are thoroughly prepared for every possible scenario. The right planning can significantly reduce the risk of certain incidents, in addition to providing clear steps for recovering systems after a disruption has occurred. Without effective disaster recovery, a business increases its risk of operational downtime, financial losses and, at worst, permanent closure.

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For more information on protecting your business with the data backup and disaster recovery solutions from Datto,  request a free demo  or contact our experts at Invenio IT. Call us at (646) 395-1170 or email  [email protected] .

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Further grants helping Tasmania’s small businesses grow

24 September 2024

Michael Ferguson, Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs

A new round of grants for small businesses to make capital purchases that support their growth will be made available from next month under the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.  The Small Business Growth Strategy Grant Program supports our small businesses to grow, adapt and innovate through the purchasing of items.  A second round of $1 million of funding has been made available following the success of the initial round.  Round 2 of the Small Business Growth Strategy Grant Program will open in October 2024 and will provide grants of up to $10,000 to eligible small businesses for capital purchases such as new technology, small-scale manufacturing equipment, computers or electronic payment terminals. Successful applicants will be required to contribute at least 30 per cent towards the total capital purchase cost. Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs, Michael Ferguson, said the Tasmanian Liberal Government is backing our state’s small businesses, who are the backbone of our economy.  “The resilience and perseverance of the small business community in Tasmania is truly a testament to their drive to succeed,” Minister Ferguson said.  “Many Tasmanian businesses continue to experience cash-flow difficulties, as the result of working capital stress, or need assistance to diversify or change business operations.  “We witnessed how successful Round One of this grant program was providing much-needed funding to 27 individual businesses and organisations such as chambers of commerce, peak industry bodies and regional tourism organisations.   “All funded projects have commenced and as at 18 July 2024, $945,793 had been paid to the successful recipients. All of the funded 27 projects are due for completion by 30 September 2024. “These grants demonstrate the benefits of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, and are producing real and tangible outcomes for small businesses across Tasmania.”

More Media Releases from Michael Ferguson

• Small Business

Hiring immigrants can be complex, but not impossible for small businesses

“Foreign workers can oftentimes provide a skill set to really help companies in the U.S. thrive," local immigration attorney Lindsay Eury says.

Want to hire someone for your company who is not a U.S. citizen? It’s not easy. But there are still plenty of options for businesses of all sizes to hire overseas workers.

“We have so many employers who are recruiting for a wide variety of positions, but they’re not seeing responses from U.S. workers to these job advertisements,” said Lindsay Eury, an attorney at Solow, Hartnett & Galvan , a Philadelphia law firm focused on immigration. “In these situations, employers are benefiting from hiring foreign workers who are taking on these roles.”

The most important step in hiring an immigrant worker is getting the right visa. Temporary workers who are specialists with equivalent college degrees in fields such as engineering or software development usually get work in the U.S. with an H-1B visa. Temporary agricultural workers or other employees without specialized skills get H-2A or H-2B visas. Someone with “extraordinary ability” may be eligible for an O-1 visa.

Then there are the companies that wish to sponsor an employee to work in the U.S. permanently. These workers would look to get a Permanent Resident Card (a green card) or apply for U.S. citizenship.

Employment-based — or EB — visas cover five categories of applicants, including “priority workers” and various types of skilled professionals.

Students already studying in the U.S. also may be eligible for visas, particularly if their work is in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) field.

All of these forms can be found on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website , with instructions. Here’s some advice on how to navigate the system.

Get help filling out the forms

Eury said H-1B visas are the most common she sees, but getting an H1-B requires participating in a lottery that closes each March, so it’s really luck of the draw.

“Only 85,000 are available, and last year there were 470,000 applications,” she said.

Emily Cohen, a Philadelphia partner at immigration law firm Green & Spiegel LLC , said it’s critical to complete registration forms correctly, so a lucky lottery entry isn’t thwarted by a registration mistake.

“We have heard horror stories where employers make one little mistake on the registration, and they disqualify themselves,” Cohen said. “I’m not going to say an employer can’t successfully register on their own, but it’s important to consider having an attorney involved.”

Finally, if you’re lucky enough to win the H-1B lottery in March, know that your worker can’t start with your company until the following October, so plan ahead.

Make sure you’re paying a fair wage

One of the steps taken during many visa application processes is filing a prevailing wage form with the U.S. Department of Labor, in which the employer acknowledges a market wage based on the duties performed and confirms they will pay that wage.

“The employer’s going to have to pay that wage based on location as well as the job duties and requirements,” said Eury, noting that Philadelphia wages will need to be higher than Lancaster pay, for example. The USCIS also considers the size of the employer and whether the position is entry level or more senior, she added.

Clearly show a specific need for that worker

In some cases — like an H-1B application — employers must demonstrate that the position requires at least a bachelor’s degree and meets the definition of a “specialty occupation,” Cohen said.

The job must require “a specific or related degree,” she said.

For certain visas, Cohen added, “The employer has to prove that the applicant is qualified and possesses qualifications that they’re unable to fulfill with U.S. workers.”

A different path for workers from Mexico and Canada

A special visa called the TN visa allows for temporary work without an H-1B visa, but it’s available only to Canadian and Mexican citizens under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (formerly the North American Free Trade Agreement).

“In that situation, employers don’t need to enter a lottery,” Cohen said. But, she warned, this visa is usable only for a few dozen specific occupations .

Have a backup plan

Both attorneys stressed the importance of having alternatives in case the ideal employee doesn’t get through the highly competitive lottery. Eury recommends planning ahead and considering alternative visas if possible.

Cohen said some of her clients have opened remote offices in other countries in order to hire certain workers. “Of course, there are additional costs and considerations, but it may be worth it if the employee is that valuable,” Cohen said.

Both Cohen and Eury said immigration law has become much more complicated over the past decade, and the outlook remains uncertain in the current political environment. But that shouldn’t intimidate employers.

“I always tell small employers not to shy away from hiring immigrant workers,” Eury said. “Foreign workers can oftentimes provide a skill set to really help companies in the U.S. thrive.”

“But the process is very nuanced and constantly changing,” Eury added, “which is why it’s always important to work with an immigration attorney who knows what they’re doing.”

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Cook County Awards $3.6 Million in Grants to 40 Social Equity Cannabis Entrepreneurs

(Cook County, IL) - Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today that $3.6 million in Cook County Cannabis Development Grants have been awarded to 40 entrepreneurs from communities that have historically faced criminalization, incarceration and exclusion as a result of the War on Drugs. Cook County is awarding the grants to support Cannabis Social Equity License holders, helping to offset the expenses associated with opening and operating a cannabis business in Illinois.

“With the legalization of cannabis in Illinois in 2020, this new program will be essential in setting up cannabis-based businesses for long-term success,” said President Preckwinkle. “By reinvesting in communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, we are ensuring they benefit from the economic opportunities in this emerging sector.”

The $3.6 million in grant funding with be distributed as follows:

• 6 craft growers, each receiving $150,000;
• 7 infusers, each receiving $100,000;
• 14 dispensaries, each receiving $75,000;
• 13 transporters, each receiving $75,000.

Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry (3 rd District), who championed the initiative, said the grants will be beneficial in multiple ways.

“Supporting social equity applicants is not just a matter of fairness; it’s an essential step toward righting the wrongs of the past,” Lowry said. “For far too long, communities of color have borne the brunt of the War on Drugs, facing mass incarceration, exclusion, and disinvestment. The Cannabis Development Grant program is a vehicle for reversing some of that harm by providing critical financial resources to those disproportionately impacted. It’s also a pathway for small business creation, allowing individuals from these communities to participate meaningfully in the emerging cannabis industry. Ultimately, this initiative represents a commitment from Cook County to invest in our residents, foster economic opportunity, and address the disparities that have persisted for generations.”

Frederick Spencer, CEO of Blounts&Moore LLC , said the grant will help him grow his Chicago dispensary.

"Our goal is to be the leading model in Illinois for a cannabis retail experience where every person feels welcomed, comfortable, and valued,” Spencer said. “With this funding, we are excited to invest in operational improvements and our marketing efforts. We've learned that it's not enough to build a stellar dispensary—we have to tell people that we're here."

Reese Xavier, CEO and managing partner of HT23 Customer Crafters LLC , a craft grower in Chicago Heights, said the grant will play a pivotal role in supporting this business’ ability to launch its flagship edibles brand, SAVOUR.

“This crucial capital infusion will cover related expenses, including raw materials, packaging, and the hiring of essential personnel,” Xavier said. “While the grant does not fully close our capital gap, a successful launch of SAVOUR will bring us closer to our goal of creating opportunities within Cook County and building a thriving, 100% African American-owned cannabis company.”

The application portal was open from May 23, 2024, to June 21, 2024. The County received 108 applications, exceeding the available funding.

Grant Administrators prioritized applicants who:

• Received their licenses in 2021 or 2022;
• Operate in a State of Illinois-designated Disproportionately Impacted Area (DIA) in Cook County;
• Or are majority-owned by individuals who reside in a DIA.

All 40 recipients met at least one of these priority criteria. Cannabis social-equity licenses are awarded by the State of Illinois. Qualifications include:

• 51% or more ownership by individuals who have lived in a DIA for five of last 10 years;
• Personal or family involvement with the criminal justice system for cannabis-related offenses;
• Businesses with 10 or more employees in which 51% or more of employees meet one of the above criteria.

For the Cannabis Development Grant, businesses must operate in Cook County or commit to doing so. Of the 40 recipients:

• 90% already have operational locations in Cook County—48% in suburban Cook and 42% in the City of Chicago;
• 80% have 10 or fewer employees;
• Among those who provided demographic information, 80% identified as people of color;
• Nine recipients are majority-owned by U.S. military veterans, and nine recipients are majority-owned by women, with two recipients falling into both categories.

The Women’s Business Development Center served as the grant administrator for the program, with support from Allies for Community Business . A full list of recipients is available on the grant program’s website .

Grant recipients have received notification of their award and will receive checks upon returning signed grant agreement. At the most recent Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting, held September 19, 2024, President Preckwinkle introduced an item outlining the FY2025 Equity Fund spending plan. The plan includes $1.5 million to support the Cannabis Development Grant program, which—pending approval from the Board of Commissioners in October—will provide additional funding for approximately 15 applicants who were eligible but did not receive funding this year.

For more information, visit cookcountyil.gov/service/cannabis-development-grant .

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