Free PDF Business Plan Templates and Samples
By Joe Weller | September 9, 2020
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We’ve gathered the most useful collection of business plan PDF templates and samples, including options for organizations of any size and type.
On this page, you’ll find free PDF templates for a simple business plan , small business plan , startup business plan , and more.
Simple Business Plan PDF Templates
These simple business plan PDF templates are ready to use and customizable to fit the needs of any organization.
Simple Business Plan Template PDF
This template contains a traditional business plan layout to help you map out each aspect, from a company overview to sales projections and a marketing strategy. This template includes a table of contents, as well as space for financing details that startups looking for funding may need to provide.
Download Simple Business Plan Template - PDF
Lean Business Plan Template PDF
This scannable business plan template allows you to easily identify the most important elements of your plan. Use this template to outline key details pertaining to your business and industry, product or service offerings, target customer segments (and channels to reach them), and to identify sources of revenue. There is also space to include key performance metrics and a timeline of activities.
Download Lean Business Plan Template - PDF
Simple 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template PDF
This template is designed to help you develop and implement a 90-day business plan by breaking it down into manageable chunks of time. Use the space provided to detail your main goals and deliverables for each timeframe, and then add the steps necessary to achieve your objectives. Assign task ownership and enter deadlines to ensure your plan stays on track every step of the way.
Download Simple 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template
PDF | Smartsheet
One-Page Business Plan PDF Templates
The following single page business plan templates are designed to help you download your key ideas on paper, and can be used to create a pitch document to gain buy-in from partners, investors, and stakeholders.
One-Page Business Plan Template PDF
Use this one-page template to summarize each aspect of your business concept in a clear and concise manner. Define the who, what, why, and how of your idea, and use the space at the bottom to create a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) for your business.
Download One-Page Business Plan Template
If you’re looking for a specific type of analysis, check out our collection of SWOT templates .
One-Page Lean Business Plan PDF
This one-page business plan template employs the Lean management concept, and encourages you to focus on the key assumptions of your business idea. A Lean plan is not stagnant, so update it as goals and objectives change — the visual timeline at the bottom is ideal for detailing milestones.
Download One-Page Lean Business Plan Template - PDF
One-Page 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template
Use this business plan template to identify main goals and outline the necessary activities to achieve those goals in 30, 60, and 90-day increments. Easily customize this template to fit your needs while you track the status of each task and goal to keep your business plan on target.
Download One-Page 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template
For additional single page plans, including an example of a one-page business plan , visit " One-Page Business Plan Templates with a Quick How-To Guide ."
Small Business Plan PDF Templates
These business plan templates are useful for small businesses that want to map out a way to meet organizational objectives, including how to structure, operate, and expand their business.
Simple Small Business Plan Template PDF
A small business can use this template to outline each critical component of a business plan. There is space to provide details about product or service offerings, target audience, customer reach strategy, competitive advantage, and more. Plus, there is space at the bottom of the document to include a SWOT analysis. Once complete, you can use the template as a basis to build out a more elaborate plan.
Download Simple Small Business Plan Template
Fill-In-the-Blank Small Business Plan Template PDF
This fill-in-the-blank template walks you through each section of a business plan. Build upon the fill-in-the-blank content provided in each section to add information about your company, business idea, market analysis, implementation plan, timeline of milestones, and much more.
Download Fill-In-the-Blank Small Business Plan Template - PDF
One-Page Small Business Plan Template PDF
Use this one-page template to create a scannable business plan that highlights the most essential parts of your organization’s strategy. Provide your business overview and management team details at the top, and then outline the target market, market size, competitive offerings, key objectives and success metrics, financial plan, and more.
Download One-Page Business Plan for Small Business - PDF
Startup Business Plan PDF Templates
Startups can use these business plan templates to check the feasibility of their idea, and articulate their vision to potential investors.
Startup Business Plan Template
Use this business plan template to organize and prepare each essential component of your startup plan. Outline key details relevant to your concept and organization, including your mission and vision statement, product or services offered, pricing structure, marketing strategy, financial plan, and more.
Download Startup Business Plan Template
Sample 30-60-90 Day Business Plan for Startup
Startups can use this sample 30-60-90 day plan to establish main goals and deliverables spanning a 90-day period. Customize the sample goals, deliverables, and activities provided on this template according to the needs of your business. Then, assign task owners and set due dates to help ensure your 90-day plan stays on track.
Download Sample 30-60-90 Day Business Plan for Startup Template
For additional resources to create your plan, visit “ Free Startup Business Plan Templates and Examples .”
Nonprofit Business Plan PDF Templates
Use these business plan PDF templates to outline your organization’s mission, your plan to make a positive impact in your community, and the steps you will take to achieve your nonprofit’s goals.
Nonprofit Business Plan Template PDF
Use this customizable PDF template to develop a plan that details your organization’s purpose, objectives, and strategy. This template features a table of contents, with room to include your nonprofit’s mission and vision, key team and board members, program offerings, a market and industry analysis, promotional plan, financial plan, and more. This template also contains a visual timeline to display historic and future milestones.
Download Nonprofit Business Plan Template - PDF
One-Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organization PDF
This one-page plan serves as a good starting point for established and startup nonprofit organizations to jot down their fundamental goals and objectives. This template contains all the essential aspects of a business plan in a concise and scannable format, including the organizational overview, purpose, promotional plan, key objectives and success metrics, fundraising goals, and more.
Download One-Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organization Template - PDF
Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan PDF Templates
Use these fill-in-the-blank templates as a foundation for creating a comprehensive roadmap that aligns your business strategy with your marketing, sales, and financial goals.
Simple Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan PDF
The fill-in-the-blank template contains all the vital parts of a business plan, with sample content that you can customize to fit your needs. There is room to include an executive summary, business description, market analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, financial statements, and more.
Download Simple Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan Template - PDF
Lean Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan PDF
This business plan is designed with a Lean approach that encourages you to clarify and communicate your business idea in a clear and concise manner. This single page fill-in-the-blank template includes space to provide details about your management team, the problem you're solving, the solution, target customers, cost structure, and revenue streams. Use the timeline at the bottom to produce a visual illustration of key milestones.
Download Fill-In-the-Blank Lean Business Plan Template - PDF
For additional resources, take a look at " Free Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan Templates ."
Sample Business Plan PDF Templates
These sample business plan PDF templates can help you to develop an organized, thorough, and professional business plan.
Business Plan Sample
This business plan example demonstrates a plan for a fictional food truck company. The sample includes all of the elements in a traditional business plan, which makes it a useful starting point for developing a plan specific to your business needs.
Download Basic Business Plan Sample - PDF
Sample Business Plan Outline Template
Use this sample outline as a starting point for your business plan. Shorten or expand the outline depending on your organization’s needs, and use it to develop a table of contents for your finalized plan.
Download Sample Business Plan Outline Template - PDF
Sample Business Financial Plan Template
Use this sample template to develop the financial portion of your business plan. The template provides space to include a financial overview, key assumptions, financial indicators, and business ratios. Complete the break-even analysis and add your financial statements to help prove the viability of your organization’s business plan.
Download Business Financial Plan Template
PDF | Smartsheet
For more free, downloadable templates for all aspects of your business, check out “ Free Business Templates for Organizations of All Sizes .”
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One-Page Business Plan Templates
One-Page Business Plan Templates for Entrepreneurs
Susan Ward wrote about small businesses for The Balance for 18 years. She has run an IT consulting firm and designed and presented courses on how to promote small businesses.
Having a business plan is a must , whether your goal is to start a one-person freelancing business or a multi-million dollar enterprise. However, if you are looking to start a simple product or service business as a sole proprietor or one-person corporation you don't need a 50-page business plan . A shorter plan will suffice. A quick and easy one-page business plan templates can get you started.
If your business is a partnership or requires multiple employees, you may need a more robust business plan. Similarly, a one-page plan will not be sufficient if you are in need of debt or equity financing and wish to impress financial institutions or potential investors. Lenders and investors will require you to provide more in-depth information in the plan such as:
- Your relevant industry background, business, and management experience
- A more thorough description of your target market , proof of sufficient demand for your products or services, and how you will meet that demand and turn a profit
- Thorough analysis of the competition and how you will compete in the marketplace
- Detailed, realistic financial projections , including projected income statements, cash flow projections, and breakeven analysis
- An in-depth operating section with details on facilities, leases, equipment, and staffing.
Step-by-step guidance on how to write a business plan can lead you through each section of a full-sized plan.
Keep in mind that a business plan is a living document and you can always start with a one-page plan and enlarge it with additional detail as required. You may be able to articulate the business overview, vision , objectives, and concise action items in a single page, but you might want more detail in the financial and marketing sections. For example, you might want to add an extra page to your pricing strategy section for income and cash flow statements and another for breakeven analysis in advertising and promotion.
Structure of a Business Plan
A one-page business plan needs to provide concise answers to several basic questions that must be addressed such as:
- What is the need for your product or service?
- What is your competition and how will you differentiate yourself in the marketplace ?
- How will you make money, for example, in terms of sales versus expenses?
- How will you market your business?
- How will you get started? What are your capital requirements?
How to Use the Templates
The sample templates can be copied into a Word, Excel or similar office document by selecting the text and using copy/paste—using Windows, outline the text to be selected with the mouse, and hit CTRL-C to copy and CTRL-V to paste.
One-Page Business Plan Template for a Service Business
This template is suitable for freelance businesses that provide services, such as consultants, graphic designers, landscapers, and delivery services. For a one-page plan, the answers to questions should be one or two sentences.
One-Page Business Plan Template for a Product Business
This template is suitable for businesses that sell products, such as food services, beauty products, and bike shops. For a one-page plan, the answers to questions should be one or two sentences.
Related Articles
Create a Business Plan One-Pager (+ Proven Templates )
Learn what to include in a business plan one-pager & the best doc format. Learn how to write a one-page business plan, either from scratch or using a template.
Dominika Krukowska
14 minute read
Short answer
What to include in a business plan one-pager.
- Title slide
- Unique value proposition (UVP)
- Company overview
- The problem you are solving
- Market analysis
- The solution you offer
- Marketing and sales plan
- Main objectives and success metrics
- Key team members and their roles and accreditation
- Request for funds and use of funds
- Next steps (small concession)
Even the best business plan can be badly received if not presented well
If you make it too complex, dry, or fail to spark the investors’ interest, you’ll bury your chances of securing the funding necessary to get your business off the ground.
Your success lies in how you’re going to structure and deliver your business plan.
This post will provide you with essential tips and templates for creating a winning business plan one-pager .
You'll learn what to include, how to structure, and how to design a visually striking business plan that grabs attention and gets results.
Read on to build your confidence and empower yourself to present any business idea persuasively and stand out from your competition.
Let’s see how it’s done!
What is a business plan one-pager?
A business plan one-pager is a document that summarizes the key elements of a full business plan onto a single page.
It includes an outline of your company's mission, target market, products or services, revenue streams, competitive advantage, marketing and sales strategy, and financial projections.
Business plan one-pagers are often used as a pitch deck for investors, a proposal for business partnerships, or as an executive summary for internal use.
Why use a one-page rather than multi-page business plan?
Compared with traditional multi-page business plans, a one-pager has 3 significant advantages.
- It's concise and to-the-point. This makes it easier for investors and partners to grasp your vision quickly.
- A one-pager business plan has limited space. This forces you to present only the most important aspects of your business plan which makes your case more clear and compelling.
- It's more share-worthy. Because it's just one page, it's more likely to be read and shared.
Can I use a one-page business plan as a substitute for a more comprehensive business plan?
Probably not. Your business plan one-pager is not meant to replace a full business plan, but rather to supplement it.
While your one-pager provides a high-level overview of your business idea, it may not provide the level of detail some investors or partners require.
TIP: You can use a business plan one-pager as a way to test your business idea and get feedback before investing time and resources in creating a full-scale business plan.
How to write a one-page business plan
Let’s see how you can distill your business idea into a compelling format that makes you stand out and leave a lasting impression.
By the end, you'll be equipped with the skills and knowledge to make others believe in your vision with just one page.
What to include in a business plan one-pager
We've identified 11 key elements that should be included in every highly effective business plan one-pager.
11 critical slides included in a business plan one-pager:
1. Title slide
The title slide of your business plan one-pager is your first chance to make a great impression on potential investors, so make it count!
Adding a video in your cover slide can boost engagement by 32% , get people to read your one-pager 37% longer, and make them 17% more likely to take the desired action at the end.
TIP: You can add the average reading time in the cover slide (right below your company name and logo). This simple little fix can shrink your bounce rate by 24%.
2. Unique value proposition
The Unique Value Proposition (UVP) slide of your business plan one-pager is where you get to showcase what sets your business apart from the competition. You can do it in the form of a tagline that encapsulates your company's essence.
A vision statement that speaks to the heart of your business can capture the interest of investors and entice them to read on.
The mission statement should be snappy, catchy, and memorable.
Example UVPs:
"Transforming the future of sustainable energy"
"Innovating personalized healthcare solutions."
3. Company overview
The company overview slide should tell investors the story behind your business.
A company overview should answer 3 critical questions:
- how it came to be
- what it stands for
- and where it's headed
This slide should give investors a clear understanding of the type of business you're running, the problem you're trying to solve, and how your business aims to succeed in the marketplace.
By providing a succinct and compelling overview of your company, you can demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of your business, its strengths, and its potential for success.
A strong company overview slide can set the tone for the rest of your one-pager and make a great impression on investors.
4. The problem you are solving
This section should outline the pain points of your target market and explain why a solution is needed.
Presenting a compelling case for a real-world problem helps convince investors of the potential market demand for your solution.
TIP: Focus on the customer's perspective. Highlight the challenges they face and the impact those challenges have on their lives or businesses.
5. Market analysis
The market analysis slide is your opportunity to showcase your knowledge of the competitive landscape and your potential market.
It should describe your customer segments, the size of your target market, the current players in the market, and any gaps or opportunities that your business can leverage.
A strong market analysis slide demonstrates to investors that you've done your homework and that you have a deep understanding of the market you're entering.
6. The solution you offer
The solution slide should present the key features and benefits of your solution and demonstrate how it uniquely addresses the pain points of your target market.
A strong solution slide is the heart of your business plan one-pager.
It should showcase the innovation and value of your product or service. It should transport investors into a better world brought on by your business solution.
TIP: Carefully choose your words and visuals to describe your solution as transformational. The most successful business plans build excitement and anticipation and leave investors eager to learn more.
7. Marketing and sales plan
Your marketing and sales plan slide is your opportunity to showcase your strategy for reaching your target audience, generating interest in your product or service, and ultimately driving sales.
From pricing strategy and promotion to distribution channels, the marketing and sales plan slide should provide a comprehensive overview of how you plan to turn your vision into reality.
A well-crafted growth plan demonstrates your creativity and strategic thinking, you can inspire confidence in investors and show that you have what it takes to succeed in the competitive world of business.
8. Main objectives and success metrics
Your business plan one-pager's objectives and success metrics slide is where you define your key performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives. It’s important to add this slide early on, as it serves as a roadmap for your business's growth.
Presenting a well-defined set of objectives and metrics will show investors that you have a solid understanding of what it takes to succeed in your industry, as well as a strategic mindset and commitment to achieving your goals.
9. Key team members and their roles
The team slide is where you showcase the people behind the business, including relevant skills, experience, and accreditation. Investors want to see a team that has what it takes to bring the business to life and drive its success.
This slide should highlight each team member's unique contributions, including their roles and responsibilities, as well as any relevant accomplishments. I recommend that you include a brief bio and corporate headshot to add personal depth.
TIP: Remember, you are selling you and your team just as much as you’re selling your business idea. Business success relies on a great team. What takes business from good to great is first “Who” then “What” .
Show that your team brings a diversity of thought, a wealth of experience, and a passion for the business that can inspire investors and make them fall for your team even more than they fall for your business idea.
10. Request for funds and use of funds
When you're asking for funding, it's essential to be crystal clear about how much you need and why.
Whether you're planning to launch a new product, hire more staff, or boost your marketing efforts, make sure to provide specific details and supporting data to back up your request.
In the use of funds section, break down precisely how you plan to allocate the funds you receive.
This involves outlining how much you'll spend on product development, marketing, hiring, or other expenses.
Remember, investors want to see a clear return on investment (ROI). Whether you bringing in a dedicated development team or buying a comprehensive tool stack, by prioritizing your spending based on your business goals and demonstrating how the funds will help you achieve them, you'll show investors that their money is in good hands.
11. Next steps
Don’t end with a thank-you slide! Instead, end your business plan one-pager by providing a clear and actionable call-to-action.
This slide should leave no doubt in investors' minds about what you want them to do next and how they can get involved in your business.
By providing a compelling call-to-action, you can increase the likelihood of securing funding and gaining valuable support for your business.
Our research shows that decks with a clear, singular next step have a 27% higher conversion rate than those which end with a generic “thank you” slide.
Business plan one-pager possible next steps:
- Scheduling a meeting to discuss the plan in more detail
- Scheduling a live demo of the product
- Downloading additional materials (market research, positioning, marketing plan, user research, product technical documentation, etc.)
- Signing a letter of intent
- Making an investment (mostly good for small donations/investments)
Here’s an example of a business plan built with this structure:
Business plan one-pager
This one-page business plan presentation template covers your company, market, product and services, and growth plan as an interactive visual story that's easy to follow and highly engaging.
How to effectively fit a business plan on just one page
Let’s see the concrete steps you need to take to effectively condense your entire business strategy onto a single page without sacrificing critical information or losing sight of your goals.
1. Limit what you have to say
It's essential to prioritize the most vital information that investors need to know about your business. This means being strategic about what you include and what you leave out.
Rather than trying to cram every detail of your business into a single page, focus on the core information that defines your business.
Your core information is most often your unique selling proposition, target market, and financial projections.
2. Say what you have to say with fewer words (but avoid jargon and acronyms)
Since you're limited to just one page, it's important to be concise and to the point.
Avoid using complicated jargon or industry-specific acronyms that may be difficult for investors to understand. Instead, use clear and simple language that gets your message across quickly and effectively.
TIP: Write your message as if you're talking to a friend with no previous knowledge of what you do.
3. Give summaries and link to read full content
While it's important to be concise, you also want to ensure that you're providing enough information to give investors a good understanding of your business.
One way to do this is to provide brief summaries of key information and then provide a link to more detailed content.
4. Limit your use of visuals
Visuals can be a powerful tool for conveying information quickly and effectively, but they can also take up a lot of space on a one-page business plan.
Use visuals sparingly and only when they add value to your message. Consider using graphs, charts, and infographics to illustrate key points and data.
5. Move from PDF one-pager to web-based one-pager
Unlike PDFs, which require readers to constantly pinch in and out of content to make it legible, web-based one-pagers create an interactive experience with scrollable documents.
You can also use multimedia elements, such as videos and animations, to enhance your message and make the information more engaging.
With a web-based business plan one-pager , you can break up dense text into smaller, more comfortable chunks, creating a better reading experience for your audience.
Web-based one-pagers are designed to be mobile-friendly, so your audience can easily view your content on any device, from anywhere.
How to make your business plan one-pager stand out
First impressions are everything. An impressionable business plan one-pager can be the difference between securing investment and being left in the dust.
Here are some tips on how to make your business plan one-pager stand out:
1. Use motion
Including animation or video into your one-pager can be a powerful way to grab investors' attention and keep them engaged. Use motion to highlight key points or demonstrate how your product or service works.
To learn more about how it’s done, check out our article on how to use video animations to create engaging content .
2. Use original designs
Using original designs is a key element for standing out.
Avoid falling into the trap of using generic designs. Instead, take the time to create something that is truly unique and eye-catching.
This can be as simple as using your branding or as complex as creating your own infographics or custom illustrations such as Procreate color palettes .
3. Personalize
Personalization is the most effective way to make you stand out and leave a lasting impression.
Effective personalization:
- Including a personalized note
- Addressing the investor by name
- Referencing their previous investments (to show that you've done your research)
Tailor-made decks are read in full 68% more often , 41% longer, and are shared internally 2.3x more often.
4. Customize according to the investor’s preferred format
Customizing your one-pager to the specific investor's needs and preferences is the best way to get and hold their attention.
Look for guidelines on their website, ask previous candidates, or ask the investors directly.
Fit your plan to their format and highlight aspects of your business that align with their investment portfolio or industry expertise.
5. Tell a story with data visualization
Data can be overwhelming, but presenting it in a visual format can make it more accessible and compelling.
Use infographics, charts, and other data visualization elements to tell a story about your business's growth and potential.
Here’s our selection of the best data visualization tools to get you started.
How to make a persuasive business plan one-pager
If you want your business plan one-pager to persuade investors to get on board with your vision, you need to make sure it hits all the right notes.
We've got you covered with tips for making a highly-persuasive business plan one-pager.
1. Define a unique audience with an acute problem
You should define your ideal customer profile (ICP) and the problems they face, and how your solution can help them solve these problems.
2. Describe your uncopyable solution to said problem
When describing your solution in your one-page business plan, it's important to emphasize what makes it unique and difficult to replicate by others.
3. Show traction or potential traction
To make your business plan one-pager more persuasive, it's critical to show evidence of traction or the potential for it.
Consider sharing metrics such as customer acquisition rates, revenue growth.
4. Incorporate social proof
You will never get funded without earning investors’ trust. Social proof is the best tool for building trust (other than a face-to-face meeting).
You can include customer testimonials, case studies, or awards to showcase your business's credibility and success.
5. Display your authority and expertise
Include any notable achievements,awards, or acknowledgement your team or product have received.
6. Tie your business goals with universal values
Consider connecting your business goals with universal values that resonate with investors.
This could include making a positive impact on society or the environment, supporting underrepresented groups, or promoting innovation and growth.
Some investors will appreciate the positive impact beyond ROI, others will care only about profitability. Do your research.
How to optimize business plan one-pager UX
When it comes to creating a one-pager business plan, choosing the right document format can make all the difference. Here are some crucial factors to consider:
1. Move from static to interactive
Static formats like PDFs and Word documents can kill engagement and interest with your one-pager.
On the other hand, interactive formats like web pages or Storydocs offer a more immersive, engaging, and memorable experience.
With interactive formats, you can include videos, animations, and other multimedia elements to help showcase your business in a more engaging way.
Interactive
2. Move from pinch and zoom to scroll
Pinch-to-zoom gestures on PDFs are annoying for most people. They make navigating the one-pager frustrating and make reading needlessly hard
A scroll-based interactive one-pager gives investors a familiar and easy way to read through your business plan. Just like they're accustomed to do with any other online content (that’s also mobile-friendly).
3. Become mobile-friendly
Static document formats like PDFs and Word documents are difficult to read and navigate on mobile devices, while web-based formats offer seamless mobile experience.
4. Move from local file to online docs
Local files, such as PDFs or Word documents are being replaced with web pages or cloud-based documents.
Online docs offer your readers easy access from anywhere and from any device, a better reading experience, reduced exposure to virus and malware , and easy sharing.
Best business plan one-pager document types
You have various document formats to choose from when creating your business plan. Each format has its own set of benefits and limitations that can affect how it's received by investors and stakeholders.
Let’s run through the important differences.
Best document type for a business plan one-pager:
Business plan one-pager do’s and don’ts.
✅ Keep it conversational and easy to understand.
✅ Use data to support your claims.
✅ Tell a story.
✅ Talk about your solution in the context of your audience's needs.
✅ Use interactive formats with multimedia.
✅ Focus on your unique selling proposition.
✅ Show that you have a plan for execution.
✅ End with your ask and a call-to-action.
✅ Clearly present your market positioning.
✅ Address major obstacles and provide plans to overcome them.
❌ Don't use buzzwords, jargon or go into technical detail.
❌ Don't make unrealistic claims.
❌ Don't spout out facts.
❌ Don't talk about your product (we, we, we).
❌ Don't use static formats.
❌ Don't focus on what makes your competitors bad.
❌ Don't make wild moonshot promises.
❌ Don't end with a “thank you” slide.
❌ Don't ignore your competition.
❌ Don't overlook potential risks and challenges.
Create your business plan from interactive template
If you want to create a business plan one-pager that will cut above the noise and get results, it will require a lot of hard work to get right.
What's worse, you run the risk of losing potential investors or stakeholders if you get it wrong.
A poorly designed or incomplete business plan could make it difficult for others to understand your vision or see the potential in your business.
To save time and frustration and remove the risk, consider using our interactive templates.
With Storydoc's business plan one-pager templates , you can focus on the content and messaging of your business plan, rather than spending hours formatting and structuring it.
Pick a business plan one-pager template:
Create story from scratch
Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.
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Need quick feedback from business partners, potential customers, or friends? Provide them with a one-page plan.
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One-page business plan FAQ
What is a one-page business plan?
The one-page business plan is a simplified version of traditional operational plans that focuses on the core aspects of your business. While it may be a shorter business plan, it still follows the structure of a standard business plan and serves as a beefed-up pitch document.
There’s really not a lot of difference between a single-page business plan and a good executive summary. In fact, as you create a more detailed plan you may even be able to use it as your executive summary .
Who should use a one page business plan?
A one-page plan is useful for business owners that are mulling over ideas, just starting, actively managing, or looking to grow a business. It can help validate a business idea, work as an internal strategy document, or as a flexible management tool that can be adapted over time.
How do I write a business plan on one page?
You can use the one-page business plan template, or a tool like LivePlan that saves you time by guiding you through each step of writing your one-page plan and pitch.
Why choose this one-page business plan template?
There are a few key features that make this one-page business template more functional and effective than your average template.
Written by planning experts: This one-page business plan template wasn't just thrown together. It was crafted by seasoned planning experts with a combined 40 years of experience writing and reviewing business plans. Throughout this template, you find their expert tips and tricks, along with detailed instructions.
Works with other Bplans resources: Need additional guidance to write your business plan? Our free one-page business planning guide is built to support this template—giving you even more detailed walkthroughs for each section.
What is included in this one-page business plan template?
This template includes definitions, guidance, and examples to complete your one-page business plan. After downloading the template, you'll receive instructions for how to fill out each of the following sections:
Identity What does your company do or offer and to whom?
Problem worth solving What challenges does your company solve?
Our solution How does your company solve those challenges?
Target market Who makes up your target audience? Who are your ideal segments, personas, or customers?
Competitive landscape Who are your competitors? What makes them successful in your industry?
Sales channels How will you get your product/service to customers?
Marketing activities How will you get your product/service in front of potential customers?
Revenue What goods/services will drive revenue?
Expenses What items will cost you money?
Funding required Have what funding total you need front and center to clearly display what you are asking from investors.
Milestones What projects or tasks must be completed in order to reach your goals?
Team and roles Who is a critical part of your internal team (name/role)?
Partners and resources Who else is supporting your venture/business?
Can you print out this template?
This is a printable business plan template that can be downloaded and printed no matter which format you choose.
Why should you start with a one-page business plan?
There are plenty of good reasons why your first step should be writing a one-page plan.
1. It’s faster Instead of slogging away for hours, days, or even weeks tackling a formal business plan—the one-page format helps you get your ideas down much faster. It removes the complex formatting,
2. A great format for feedback Need quick feedback from business partners, colleagues, potential customers, or your spouse? Provide them with a one-page plan instead of a lengthy in-depth version for better results.
The one-page plan is more likely to be read and reviewed. And since all of your business information is available at a glance, you’ll receive far more valuable and timely feedback.
3. Easy to update Entrepreneurs never get things right the first time. You’ll constantly be learning and receiving feedback—requiring you to iterate and revise your business concept. Instead of updating a large document every time, you can do it in minutes with a one-page plan.
4. Direct and to-the-point Learning to communicate your ideas clearly and directly is critical. You need to be sure that anyone can really understand the essence of your business. Delivering your entire business concept on a single page is a great way to practice this, as it forces you to be succinct.
5. Works as an idea validation tool Initially, your business is just a set of assumptions that you need to validate. Do your potential customers have the problem you assume they have? Do they like your solution and are they willing to pay for it? What marketing and sales tactics will work?
As you validate these assumptions, you leave them in your plan. But, assumptions that end up being wrong will quickly fall off the page.
6. Becomes an outline for your detailed plan By “detailed” we don’t mean “long.” If you do need to create a detailed business plan document for investors or business partners, you can use your one-page plan as your core outline. You will just expand and provide more details for each section.
7. No one really reads long business plans A common problem with traditional business plans is that they are simply too long and overly complex. Even when investors ask for a detailed document, chances are that they won’t actually read every word. They may read certain sections, but often just want to see if you’ve thought through the details of your business, how it will operate, and how it will grow.
8. Useful for any business stage A one-page plan is useful for business owners that are mulling over ideas, just starting, actively managing, or looking to grow a business. It can help validate a business idea, work as an internal strategy document, or as a flexible management tool that can be adapted over time.
Is there a better way to write my one-page business plan than with this template?
While this template will help you get started, using the #1-rated business planning software, LivePlan has step-by-step guidance, support from our business planning experts, and powerful planning tools like AI-powered writing assistance, automatic forecasting, industry benchmark data, and more.
Can someone write your business plan for you?
If you're still struggling to write your business plan even when using a template, you can look into hiring a professional business plan writer. We even have a free resource to help you ask just the right questions to make sure you find the right plan writer.
Related Resources
How to Write a Business Plan in Under an Hour
10 Qualities of Great Business Plans
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This one-page business plan template is intended for an entrepreneur or a small startup business to document a plan as they determine if an idea is feasible. This template provides space to describe the problem and solution, the product or service, the target customer, existing alternatives, the unique value proposition, a marketing and sales ...
Download One-Page Business Plan Template. Excel | Word | PDF | Smartsheet. Use this one-page business plan to document your key ideas in an organized manner. The template can help you create a high-level view of your business plan, and it provides easy scannability for stakeholders. You can use this one-page plan as a reference to build a more ...
One-Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organization PDF ... Download Simple 30-60-90 Day Business Plan Template. PDF | Smartsheet. One-Page Business Plan PDF Templates. The following single page business plan templates are designed to help you download your key ideas on paper, and can be used to create a pitch document to gain buy-in from ...
Using PM software like Smartsheet is a good idea for starting a business plan because it includes all the tools you need to collaborate and plan across multiple teams or stakeholders.
Whichever startup category you fall into, if you're at square one, our simple business plan template will point you down the right path. Get Your Free Simple Business Plan Template
The one-page business plan is simple to create, easy to update, and built for adaptation. It includes all of the essential components of a traditional plan but is far briefer and more focused. Think of it like you're tweeting about your business. You have a limited number of characters to work with and are intentionally making it easy to digest.
I'm including Smartsheet's library of templates on this list because of the sheer number of options they provide. They have a simple business plan template, a one-page plan, a fill-in-the-blank template, a plan outline, a plan grading rubric, and even an Excel-built project plan. All are perfectly usable and vary in visual style, depth of ...
Having a business plan is a must, whether your goal is to start a one-person freelancing business or a multi-million dollar enterprise. However, if you are looking to start a simple product or service business as a sole proprietor or one-person corporation you don't need a 50-page business plan.A shorter plan will suffice.
A business plan one-pager is a document that summarizes the key elements of a full business plan onto a single page. It includes an outline of your company's mission, target market, products or services, revenue streams, competitive advantage, marketing and sales strategy, and financial projections.
The one-page business plan is a simplified version of traditional operational plans that focuses on the core aspects of your business. While it may be a shorter business plan, it still follows the structure of a standard business plan and serves as a beefed-up pitch document.. There's really not a lot of difference between a single-page business plan and a good executive summary.