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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.

14+professional business plan examples or samples

View Real Business Plan Examples/Samples

Bank Business Plan

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

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

Practical Business Plan Examples Illustrating Strategies for Startup Success

E-commerce Plan Sample or Example

1. E-commerce Plan Sample or Example

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.

Online Marketplace Business Plan Example or Sample

2. Online Marketplace Business Plan Example or Sample

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.

Snack Bar Business Plan Sample

3. Snack Bar Business Plan Sample / Business Plan Example

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.

Coffee Shop Business Plan Sample

4. Coffee Shop Business Plan Sample/Business Plan Example PDF

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.

Food Hall Business Plan Sample

5. Food Hall Business Plan Sample/Business Plan Example PDF

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.

Printing Shop Business Plan Sample

6. Printing Shop Business Plan Sample/Business Plan Example Plan

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.

Acquisition Business Plan Sample

7. Acquisition Business Plan Sample/ Example PDF

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.

L-1 Visa Business Plan Sample

8. L-1 Visa Business Plan Example with Sample PDF

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.

E-2 Visa Business Plan Sample

9. E-2 Visa Business Plan Sample/ Example PDF

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.

EB-5 Business Plan Sample

10. EB-5 Business Plan Sample/ Example PDF

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.

Investor Business Plan Sample

11. Investor Business Plan Sample/ Example PDF

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.

Nonprofit Business Plan Sample

12. Nonprofit Business Plan Sample/ Example PDF

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.

Bank Business Plan Sample

13. Bank Business Plan Sample/ Example PDF

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.

Cannabis Business Plan Sample

14. Cannabis Business Plan Sample/ Example PDF

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.

Detailed Overview of Key Components of a Business Plan

1. executive summary.

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.

executive summary

Tips for Writing Executive Summary

  • 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.

the executive summary of a real estate business example

2. Company Overview or Description

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 .

Business Overview Example Screenshot

Tips for Writing Company Description

  • 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.

3. Market Analysis

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.

Market Analysis

Tips for Writing Market Analysis

  • 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.

market analysis summary

4. Product and Services

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.

An example of Product and service section of business plan

Tips for Writing Product and Services

  • 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.

Here is example of services section of a bank.

Example of Services Section

5. Marketing and Sales Plan

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.

Marketing plan of business plan screenshot

Tips for Writing Marketing and Sales Plan

  • 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.

Example of marketing and sales plan section of a bank

Example of Marketing and Sales Plan Section

6. Operation Planning

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

Tips for Writing Operational Planning

  • 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.

7. Organization and Management

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.

Management summary of a business plan screenshot

Tips for Writing Organization and Management Summary

  • 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.

Management summary of coffee shoppe business.

Here is Example of Management Summary

8. Financial Plan

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.

Financial highlights of a business plan

Tips for Writing Financial Plan

  • 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.

Financial highlights of foodShack business.

Here is Example of Financial Highlights

9. Key External Drivers

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.

key External Driver

Tips for writing key external drivers

  • 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.

Tips Key External

10. Startup Summary

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.

Overview Example of Ecommerce Company

Tips for writing Startup Summary

  • 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.

11. Projected Industry Growth

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.

Projected Industry Growth

Tips for writing Projected Industry Growth

  • 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.

Here is example of market analysis section of a bank.

Tips for Writing Projected Industry Growth

12. Break-even Analysis

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.

Break Even Analysics

Tips for writing Break-even Analysis

  • 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.

13. Management Summary

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.

Mangement Summary

Tips for Writing Management Summary

  • 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.

Here is example of marketing and sales plan section of a bank.

Tips for Writing Management Summary

14. Financial Indicators

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.

Financial Indicator

Tips For Writing Financial Indicators

  • 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.

Tips For Writing Financial Indicators

Discover Business Plan Formats and Free Templates

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.

Business Plan Examples For Students PDF

Common types of business plan, 1. one page business plan.

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

2. Start-up business plan

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.

3. Strategic business plan

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.

4. Feasibility business plan

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.

5. Internal business plan

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.

Conclusion​

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 .

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Project Management Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

project management business plan

Project Management Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their project management companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a project management business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a project management business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Project Management Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your project management business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Project Management Company

If you’re looking to start a project management business or grow your existing project management company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your project management business to improve your chances of success. Your project management business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Project Management Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a project management business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for project management companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a project management business.

If you want to start a project management business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your project management business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of project management business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a project management business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of project management businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

  • Give a brief overview of the project management industry.
  • Discuss the type of project management business you are operating.
  • Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
  • Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
  • Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of project management business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of project management businesses:

  • Marketing project management : this type of project management involves overseeing projects related to marketing and advertising.
  • Construction project management: this type of project management involves overseeing responsibilities related to planning and the logistics of a construction project.
  • Engineering project management: this type of project management is responsible for overseeing engineering projects to ensure they’re completed appropriately.
  • IT project management: this type of project management involves overseeing job duties such as establishing IT goals, overseeing the IT team’s processes and ensuring all project-related employees have the necessary resources to complete the project.

In addition to explaining the type of project management business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

  • When and why did you start the business?
  • What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of clients with positive outcomes, reaching X number of clients served, etc.
  • Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the project management industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the project management industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your project management business plan:

  • How big is the project management industry (in dollars)?
  • Is the market declining or increasing?
  • Who are the key competitors in the market?
  • Who are the key suppliers in the market?
  • What trends are affecting the industry?
  • What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
  • What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your project management business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your project management business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: small businesses, midsize companies and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of project management business you operate. Clearly, corporations would respond to different marketing promotions than small businesses, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other project management businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes in-house employees, online programs, or software. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

  • What types of clients do they serve?
  • What type of project management business are they?
  • What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
  • What are they good at?
  • What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

  • Will you provide your own staff?
  • Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
  • Will you provide better customer service?
  • Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a project management business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of project management company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide consulting, scheduling, budgeting, or staffing?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your project management company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your project management business located in a business district, a standalone office, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your project management marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

  • Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
  • Attend industry events and tradeshows
  • Reach out to websites
  • Distribute flyers
  • Engage in email marketing
  • Advertise on social media platforms
  • Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your project management business, including answering calls, planning and providing project services, client interaction,  billing clients and/or vendors, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth client, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your project management business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your project management business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing project management businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a project management business or successfully running a small consulting firm.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you manage 5 clients per day, and/or offer consulting services? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your project management business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a project management business:

  • Cost of equipment and office supplies
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Business insurance
  • Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or a list of project management services you plan to offer.

Writing a business plan for your project management business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the project management industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful project management business.

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Project Plan Template

Struggling to organize your project details and milestones? Streamline your process with our free editable Project Plan Templates!

project plan templates

Project Planning Template

The following project management templates are available in four different formats: MS Word, MS Excel, Image, and a Typeable PDF. You can upload the Word document to Google Docs and the Excel spreadsheet to Google Sheets.

project template

Image | MS Word | MS Excel | Typeable PDF

Sample Projects: Here are some sample project plans that can be customized according to specific project details and requirements.

New Product Launch | Office Relocation | Website Redesign | Planning a Corporate Event

project management template

The Stakeholder-Centric Plan template prioritizes the perspectives, needs, and feedback of project stakeholders. It systematically identifies and analyzes stakeholders, sets clear engagement objectives, and establishes communication channels tailored to each group. Additionally, it emphasizes feedback collection, issue resolution, and the monitoring of stakeholder satisfaction. This template is ideal for projects that heavily rely on stakeholder input and where their continued engagement and satisfaction are vital to the project’s success.

See how to write a project plan below.

What is a project plan?

A project plan is a formal, approved document used to guide both project execution and project control. It serves as a roadmap for a project, detailing the processes, steps, resources, and schedules required to meet the project’s objectives. The main purposes of a project plan are to:

  • Define the Scope: Clearly describe what the project will achieve and what it will not. It sets the boundaries of the project.
  • Determine Available Resources: Whether it’s human resources, physical equipment, or financial resources, a project plan will lay out what is available for the project.
  • Set Realistic Deadlines: The plan will set milestones and end dates for various tasks.
  • Predict Potential Bottlenecks: By laying everything out visually, potential problem areas can be foreseen and avoided.
  • Document Communication Procedures: This dictates how team members and stakeholders will stay informed about the project’s progress.
  • Monitor and Control Execution: Once a project starts, the project plan is used to monitor progress and see if tasks are being completed on time.
  • Risk Management: Identify potential risks, their impact, and outline strategies to address and mitigate those risks.

A typical project plan includes:

  • Project Scope Statement: What the project entails, its deliverables, criteria, and boundaries.
  • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): A hierarchical decomposition of the project into phases, deliverables, and work packages.
  • Schedule: A timeline that pairs tasks in the WBS with dates.
  • Budget: An estimation of the costs involved and how funds will be allocated.
  • Resources: What’s needed to complete the project, including human resources, equipment, materials, etc.
  • Stakeholder List: Anyone with a vested interest in the project.
  • Quality and Performance Metrics: Standards that the project’s deliverables must meet.
  • Communication Plan: How information will be disseminated to stakeholders.
  • Risk Management Plan: Foreseeing potential issues and having strategies in place to handle them.

It’s worth noting that a project plan is a living document. As the project progresses, the plan can change. Adjustments may be needed if the project is not going according to the plan, if there are unforeseen challenges, or if the project’s scope changes. Regularly updating the project plan helps ensure that the project stays on track and will meet its objectives.

What is project planning?

Project planning is a procedural step in the project management process where detailed strategies and tasks are developed to ensure a project’s objectives are met within the stipulated time frame and budget. It’s the phase where the groundwork for the entire project is laid, focusing on turning the project vision and objectives into actionable tasks and processes.

Here are some key elements of project planning that differentiate it from other stages in project management:

  • Blueprint Creation: Just as an architect draws a blueprint before starting construction, project planners create a clear roadmap outlining every step needed to achieve project objectives.
  • Resource Forecasting: It involves predicting the types and quantities of resources (like manpower, equipment, and materials) required to complete the project.
  • Stakeholder Alignment: The planning phase ensures that all stakeholders, from team members to clients, understand the project’s goals, scope, risks, and deliverables. It’s the phase where expectations are set and aligned.
  • Critical Path Analysis: Planners often use this technique to identify the longest sequence of tasks in a project. Knowing this helps in shortening project duration where possible and provides clarity about deadline-sensitive tasks.
  • Milestone Setting: Milestones are significant checkpoints or interim goals in a project. They help in measuring progress and ensuring the project remains on track.
  • Performance Baselines Establishment: These are set during the planning phase to measure actual project performance against what was initially planned, allowing for corrective action when necessary.
  • Feedback Loops: The planning stage sets up mechanisms for feedback, ensuring that if issues arise during the execution phase, they can be fed back into the planning process for resolution.
  • Contingency Planning: While the aim is to stick to the original project plan, it’s almost inevitable that changes will occur. Thus, the planning phase also involves thinking ahead to potential challenges and determining in advance how they might be addressed.
  • Legal and Ethical Considerations: In this stage, all the necessary permits, licenses, and other regulatory requirements are identified and planned for. It also ensures that the project adheres to ethical standards.
  • Documentation: A pivotal part of project planning is documentation. Everything from the project’s initial scope to its detailed task list gets documented. This not only serves as a reference throughout the project lifecycle but also ensures accountability.

In essence, project planning provides a structured framework that guides the project from its initiation to its closure, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and a higher likelihood of success. It’s the backbone of any project and plays a critical role in determining how well the subsequent phases of the project will proceed.

How to plan a project

Planning a project is a critical phase in the project management lifecycle. Proper planning helps ensure that a project is completed on time, within scope, and within budget. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to plan a project:

  • Clearly articulate what the project aims to achieve.
  • Identify the deliverables and the expected outcomes.
  • Identify all parties with a vested interest in the project, such as clients, team members, and end-users.
  • Gather their input and feedback to ensure their needs and expectations are understood and considered.
  • Describe in detail what the project will and will not achieve.
  • Define boundaries to avoid scope creep later on.
  • Break the project down into smaller, manageable tasks and sub-tasks.
  • Define the sequence of tasks and their dependencies.
  • Determine what human, financial, and physical resources are available and required.
  • Assign roles and responsibilities to team members.
  • Determine the time required for each task.
  • Estimate the costs associated with each task, including labor, materials, and overheads.
  • Create a timeline using tools like Gantt charts to visualize task durations, dependencies, and critical paths.
  • Set milestones, which are significant points or events in the project.
  • Anticipate potential challenges and threats to the project.
  • Develop strategies to mitigate or respond to these risks.
  • Determine how often you’ll communicate with stakeholders and in what format (e.g., meetings, emails, reports).
  • Decide on the information to share, like progress updates and issues.
  • Establish Quality Standards:
  • Define the criteria that the project’s deliverables must meet.
  • Determine how you’ll measure performance and quality.
  • Get Approval:
  • Present the project plan to stakeholders, especially those who have decision-making power.
  • Gather feedback, make necessary adjustments, and get formal approval to move forward.
  • Plan for Monitoring and Controlling:
  • Decide on the tools and methods you’ll use to monitor the project’s progress.
  • Set up mechanisms for controlling changes to the project.
  • Review and Refine:
  • As planning progresses, review the plan regularly.
  • Adjust and refine as necessary, ensuring all aspects are aligned.
  • Document Everything:
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation of all planning details.
  • Ensure that all team members and stakeholders have access to the necessary information.
  • Kick-Off  The Project:
  • Once planning is complete and approval is obtained, initiate the project with a kick-off meeting.
  • Ensure that all team members understand the project objectives, their roles, and the overall plan.

Throughout the project’s lifecycle, refer back to the project plan to guide execution, monitor progress, and ensure alignment with the defined objectives. Remember that project planning is iterative; as new information emerges or circumstances change, revisit and adjust the plan as needed.

How to create a project plan

Creating a project plan involves mapping out the specific steps, resources, timelines, and risks associated with a project to ensure it’s completed successfully and efficiently. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to create a project plan:

  • Define the project’s purpose and objectives.
  • Identify key stakeholders and gather their requirements and expectations.
  • Document the project charter, which includes the project’s scope, objectives, stakeholders, and authorized resources.
  • Describe in detail the project deliverables and the work required to produce them.
  • Clearly outline the project boundaries, what’s included and what’s excluded.
  • Decompose the project into smaller, manageable tasks and sub-tasks.
  • Ensure that the WBS captures all the work and only the work required to complete the project.
  • Estimate the duration for each task in the WBS.
  • Determine task dependencies and sequences.
  • Use a Gantt chart to visualize the project timeline, showing task durations, sequences, and milestones.
  • Identify the human, financial, material, and technical resources required for each task.
  • Assign responsibilities to team members based on their skills and expertise.
  • Develop a cost estimate for each task, considering labor, materials, equipment, and overheads.
  • Sum up the costs to develop a project budget.
  • Identify potential risks and uncertainties associated with the project.
  • Analyze the likelihood and impact of each risk.
  • Develop risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
  • Determine how, when, and with whom communication will take place.
  • Specify the types of information to be communicated, such as status reports, meetings, and updates.
  • Define the quality criteria and standards for project deliverables.
  • Establish processes for quality assurance and quality control.
  • Develop a Procurement Plan (if necessary):
  • Determine what products, services, or results need to be acquired from outside the project team.
  • Outline the procurement process, including vendor selection and contract management.
  • Document the Plan:
  • Consolidate all planning information into a formal project plan document.
  • This document serves as a reference guide throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Get Approvals:
  • Present the project plan to key stakeholders, especially those with decision-making authority.
  • Gather feedback and make any necessary adjustments.
  • Obtain formal approval to proceed with the project.
  • As the project progresses, continuously monitor and adjust the plan as needed.
  • Regularly review the plan with stakeholders and team members to ensure alignment.
  • Use Project Management Tools:
  • Consider using project management software or tools to help with scheduling, budgeting, resource allocation, and communication. Tools like Microsoft Project, Trello, Asana, or Jira can be beneficial.
  • Initiate the Project:
  • Start the project execution with a kick-off meeting.
  • Reiterate the project’s objectives, deliverables, timelines, and roles to the team.

Remember that a project plan is a living document. It should be revisited and revised as new information becomes available or as project conditions change. Effective project planning lays the foundation for successful project execution and helps navigate challenges and uncertainties.

Sample Project Plans

This project plan is just a template and should be customized according to specific project details and requirements.

Project Name : New Product Launch

Start Date: May 1, 2024 End Date: October 31, 2024

Project Objective: To successfully launch the new X500 Smartwatch, increasing market penetration and achieving a sales target of 100,000 units within the first three months post-launch.

Team Members:

Role Name
Project Manager John Doe
Marketing Specialist Jane Smith
Product Developer Mike Ross
QA Lead Lisa Ray

Milestones:

Milestone Name Target Date
Product Development Completion July 15, 2024
Marketing Campaign Launch August 1, 2024
Product Launch September 1, 2024
First Sales Review October 15, 2024
Task Assigned to Start Date End Date Status Notes
Finalize product design Mike Ross May 1, 2024 June 15, 2024 Ongoing Focus on user experience
Develop marketing strategy Jane Smith June 16, 2024 July 31, 2024 Planned Target social media and online ads
Setup manufacturing line Mike Ross June 1, 2024 July 30, 2024 Planned Coordinate with suppliers
Conduct QA and testing Lisa Ray July 16, 2024 August 15, 2024 Planned Ensure product meets all specifications
Item Estimated Cost Actual Cost Notes
Product Development $500,000 Includes design and prototype costs
Marketing Campaign $200,000 Initial budget for launch phase
Manufacturing Setup $300,000 Cost of setting up the production line
Quality Assurance $50,000 Testing and compliance costs

Risks & Mitigations:

Risk Probability Impact Mitigation Strategy
Supply chain delays Medium High Establish backup suppliers
Lower than expected customer interest Medium High Intensify marketing efforts, adjust strategy
Technical defects in product Low High Extensive pre-launch testing

Stakeholders & Communication Plan:

Stakeholder Name/Group Role/Interest Frequency of Updates Preferred Communication Method
Senior Management Project oversight Monthly Email and presentations
Investors Financial interest Quarterly Formal reports and meetings
Marketing Team Execution of marketing campaigns Weekly Meetings and email updates

Review & Feedback:

Date Reviewer Feedback/Comments
July 16, 2024 John Doe Review product development progress
August 2, 2024 Jane Smith Assess initial marketing impact
September 2, 2024 Entire Team Evaluate launch day results

Date of Completion: October 31, 2024

Final Remarks/Notes: Successful completion of the project with key learnings documented for future product launches.

Project Name : Office Relocation

Start Date: June 1, 2024 End Date: December 31, 2024

Project Objective: To relocate the company headquarters to a new, larger location in downtown to accommodate growing staff numbers and enhance operational efficiency.

Role Name
Project Manager Alice Johnson
Logistics Coordinator Bob Lee
IT Specialist Carol Green
HR Representative David Smith
Milestone Name Target Date
Lease Agreement Finalized July 15, 2024
Renovation Completion September 30, 2024
IT and Infrastructure Setup November 15, 2024
Official Move Date December 15, 2024
Post-move Review December 30, 2024
Task Assigned to Start Date End Date Status Notes
Finalize new office lease Alice Johnson June 1, 2024 July 1, 2024 Ongoing Review contract details
Plan office space layout Bob Lee July 2, 2024 August 15, 2024 Planned Ensure optimal space utilization
Set up IT infrastructure Carol Green October 1, 2024 November 14, 2024 Planned Seamless technology transition
Communicate move to employees David Smith June 1, 2024 December 14, 2024 Ongoing Regular updates and support for staff
Item Estimated Cost Actual Cost Notes
Lease and renovations $1,200,000 Includes deposits and contractor fees
Furniture and equipment $300,000 New desks, chairs, and meeting room setups
IT infrastructure $250,000 Hardware, software, and network capabilities
Moving Expenses $50,000 Cost of physically moving assets
Risk Probability Impact Mitigation Strategy
Delay in renovation completion High High Contract with penalties for delays
Data loss during IT transition Medium High Implement comprehensive data backups
Staff dissatisfaction with new location Low Medium Involve employees in location planning
Stakeholder Name/Group Role/Interest Frequency of Updates Preferred Communication Method
Senior Management Oversight and decision-making Monthly Email and presentations
All Employees Directly affected by move Bi-weekly Meetings and email updates
External Partners and Vendors Coordination of services As needed Email and direct calls
Date Reviewer Feedback/Comments
September 1, 2024 Alice Johnson Evaluate renovation progress
November 16, 2024 Carol Green Assess IT setup completion
December 16, 2024 David Smith Feedback on moving day from staff

Date of Completion: December 31, 2024

Final Remarks/Notes: Ensure that the relocation does not disrupt business operations and that all staff are settled in comfortably in the new location.

Project Name: Website Redesign

Start Date: May 15, 2024 End Date: November 15, 2024

Project Objective: To redesign the existing corporate website to improve user experience, increase traffic, and enhance content accessibility, aiming for a 40% increase in visitor engagement.

Role Name
Project Manager Emily Turner
Web Designer Sam Ford
Content Manager Rachel Kim
SEO Specialist Mohammed Ali
Milestone Name Target Date
Design Approval June 30, 2024
Content Audit Completion July 31, 2024
Site Development Completion September 30, 2024
Site Go-Live October 31, 2024
Post-launch Review November 14, 2024
Task Assigned to Start Date End Date Status Notes
Draft new design concepts Sam Ford May 15, 2024 June 15, 2024 Ongoing Focus on mobile-first design
Audit and revise content Rachel Kim June 16, 2024 July 30, 2024 Planned Update or remove outdated content
Implement SEO improvements Mohammed Ali July 1, 2024 October 30, 2024 Planned Optimize for new SEO standards
Beta testing of new site Emily Turner September 1, 2024 October 15, 2024 Planned Ensure user feedback is incorporated
Item Estimated Cost Actual Cost Notes
Design and Development $80,000 Includes hiring freelance designers
Content Creation and Management $20,000 Content writers and editors
SEO Optimization $15,000 Outsourced SEO consultancy
Testing and Quality Assurance $5,000 Usability testing tools and services
Risk Probability Impact Mitigation Strategy
Project delays due to technical issues Medium High Regular progress reviews and contingency planning
Inadequate user engagement High High Enhanced user testing and feedback loops
SEO performance not meeting targets Low Medium Adjust strategies based on ongoing analytics
Stakeholder Name/Group Role/Interest Frequency of Updates Preferred Communication Method
Marketing Team Directly impacted by site performance Weekly Email updates and presentations
IT Department Technical support and maintenance As needed Direct meetings and email updates
External Vendors Website hosting and additional services Monthly Scheduled calls and emails
Date Reviewer Feedback/Comments
August 1, 2024 Emily Turner Check design implementations
October 16, 2024 Sam Ford Final review before go-live
November 1, 2024 Rachel Kim Assess content integration and SEO effectiveness

Date of Completion: November 15, 2024

Final Remarks/Notes: Successful deployment of the redesigned website with ongoing monitoring to gauge performance against goals.

Project Name: Annual Corporate Event

Start Date: August 1, 2024 End Date: December 15, 2024

Project Objective: To plan and execute the annual corporate gala, aimed at celebrating the year’s successes and fostering team spirit among employees. The event should accommodate approximately 500 attendees, with special attention to high-quality entertainment and networking opportunities.

Role Name
Project Manager Natalie Cohen
Event Coordinator Alex Johnson
Communications Lead Jessica Lee
Financial Analyst Marcus Wright
Milestone Name Target Date
Venue Booking Confirmation September 1, 2024
Catering and Entertainment Finalized October 15, 2024
Final RSVP List November 15, 2024
Event Day December 10, 2024
Post-event Review December 15, 2024
Task Assigned to Start Date End Date Status Notes
Secure event venue Alex Johnson August 1, 2024 August 31, 2024 Planned Choose a venue that supports indoor and outdoor activities
Organize catering services Alex Johnson September 2, 2024 October 14, 2024 Planned Menu to accommodate various dietary preferences
Arrange entertainment Jessica Lee September 10, 2024 October 14, 2024 Planned Include live music and keynote speaker
Send out invitations Jessica Lee September 15, 2024 October 1, 2024 Planned Digital and printed invitations
Manage event budget Marcus Wright August 1, 2024 December 9, 2024 Ongoing Regular budget reviews and updates
Item Estimated Cost Actual Cost Notes
Venue rental $50,000 Includes AV equipment and seating arrangements
Catering $30,000 Based on estimated headcount of 500 people
Entertainment and Speakers $20,000 Fees for performers and guest speakers
Marketing and Invitations $5,000 Design and distribution of invitations
Risk Probability Impact Mitigation Strategy
Inadequate attendance Medium High Aggressive marketing and reminder system
Over-expenditure on budget High Medium Strict budget tracking and pre-approval of expenses
Last-minute cancellation of speakers Low High Have backup speakers and entertainers ready
Stakeholder Name/Group Role/Interest Frequency of Updates Preferred Communication Method
Senior Management Oversight and approval Monthly Email updates and scheduled meetings
Employees Event attendees Bi-weekly Emails and intranet announcements
External Partners (Caterers, Entertainers) Service provision As needed Email and direct calls
Date Reviewer Feedback/Comments
November 16, 2024 Natalie Cohen Review final preparations
December 11, 2024 Alex Johnson Post-event initial feedback
December 15, 2024 Entire Team Full event review and assessment

Date of Completion: December 15, 2024

Final Remarks/Notes: Successful execution of the annual corporate event with detailed documentation of lessons learned and recommendations for next year’s planning.

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4 thoughts on “Project Plan Template”

I like the website very much and the content is superb. May I recommend a possible change or update to it? Could you please consider a “Master Plan” that with “filled in information? It might, I say might give us an idea as what to say. The “filled in stuff” could be generic and be very useful.

Thanks for the great idea! I have added some sample master plans. Please let me know if there is a specific example you would like me to add. Good luck with your project!

Hi, My name is Nicole as well. Thank you for ideas on how to write a project plan, it is very helpful.

Hi Nicole I’m so glad you found them helpful.

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Project Management Docs

Free Project Management Templates

Project Management Plan Template

A successful project requires a detailed and well-planned Project Management Plan. Start planning with our Project Plan Template. This Project Management Plan template is a good starting point for planning your project; however, be sure to check out our Subsidiary Management Plans for areas which need more focused management. If you want to know what is a project plan, be sure to go to our blog and read the blog entry titled, “What is a Project Plan?”. This template, along with all templates on our site, is based on our experience managing projects in accordance with the standards set by the Project Management Institute .

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Introduction.

The Introduction provides a high level overview of the project and what is included in this Project Management Plan. This should include a high level description of the project and describe the projects deliverables and benefits. Excessive detail is not necessary in this section as the other sections of the project plan will include this information. This section of the project management plan template should provide a summarized framework of the project and its purpose. Look back at the Project Charter for information to include in this section.

Total Software Incorporated (TSI) has recently approved the SmartVoice project to move forward for project initiation within the research and development (R&D) group. This project will result in the development of new voice recognition software and supports TSI’s corporate strategy of providing progressive solutions to clients which improve productivity in both the workplace and home environment. While voice recognition software is currently available, TSI believes that new technological developments will enable our team to develop a solution far superior to what is currently available.

TSI has been successful in gaining market share because of its aggressive pursuit of product quality, ease of use, flexibility, and customer service. Additionally, customers understand that our products may be applied to a wide range of uses for business and personal functions. By leveraging our reputation for superior quality and user-friendly products, and capitalizing on new technology, TSI can position itself as the premier provider of effective and easy to use voice recognitions software in today’s marketplace.

Project Management Approach

This section of the Project Plan template is where you outline the overall management approach for the project. This section should describe, in general terms, the roles and authority of project team members. It should also include which organizations will provide resources for the project and any resource constraints or limitations. If there are any decisions which must be made by specific individuals—for example authorizing additional funding by the project sponsor—this should also be stated here. It should be written as an Executive Summary for the Project Management Plan.

The Project Manager, Joe Green, has the overall authority and responsibility for managing and executing this project according to this Project Plan and its Subsidiary Management Plans. The project team will consist of personnel from the coding group, quality control/assurance group, technical writing group, and testing group. The project manager will work with all resources to perform project planning. All project and subsidiary management plans will be reviewed and approved by the project sponsor. All funding decisions will also be made by the project sponsor. Any delegation of approval authority to the project manager should be done in writing and be signed by both the project sponsor and project manager.

The project team will be a matrix in that team members from each organization continue to report to their organizational management throughout the duration of the project. The project manager is responsible for communicating with organizational managers on the progress and performance of each project resource.

Project Scope

State the scope of the project in this section of the Project Management Plan. The scope statement from the project charter should be used as a starting point; however, the project plan needs to include a much more detailed scope than the charter. This detail should include what the project does and does not include. The more detail included in this section, the better the product. This will help to clarify what is included in the project and help to avoid any confusion from project team members and stakeholders.

The scope of TSI’s SmartVoice project includes the planning, design, development, testing, and transition of the SmartVoice voice recognition software package. This software will meet or exceed organizational software standards and additional requirements established in the project charter. The scope of this project also includes completion of all documentation, manuals, and training aids to be used in conjunction with the software. Project completion will occur when the software and documentation package has been successfully executed and transitioned to TSI’s manufacturing group for production.

All SmartVoice project work will be performed internally and no portion of this project will be outsourced. The scope of this project does not include any changes in requirements to standard operating systems to run the software, software updates or revisions.

Milestone List

Provide a summary list of milestones including dates for each milestone. Include an introductory paragraph in this section which provides some insight to the major milestones. This section of the project plan template should also mention or discuss actions taken if any changes to the milestones or delivery dates are required.

The below chart lists the major milestones for the SmartVoice Project. This chart is comprised only of major project milestones such as completion of a project phase or gate review. There may be smaller milestones which are not included on this chart but are included in the project schedule and WBS. If there are any scheduling delays which may impact a milestone or delivery date, the project manager must be notified immediately so proactive measures may be taken to mitigate slips in dates. Any approved changes to these milestones or dates will be communicated to the project team by the project manager.

MilestoneDescriptionDate
Complete Requirements GatheringAll requirements for SmartVoice must be determined to base design upon2/28/xx
Complete SmartVoice DesignThis is the theoretical design for the software and its functionality5/31/xx
Complete SmartVoice CodingAll coding completed resulting in software prototype7/31/xx
Complete SmartVoice Testing and DebuggingAll functionality tested and all identified errors corrected8/31/xx
Complete Transition of SmartVoice to TSI ProductionCompleted software and documentation transitioned to operations group to begin production11/30/xx

Schedule Baseline and Work Breakdown Structure

This section of the Project Management Plan should discuss the WBS, WBS Dictionary, and Schedule baseline and how they will be used in managing the project’s scope. The WBS provides the work packages to be performed for the completion of the project. The WBS Dictionary defines the work packages. The schedule baseline provides a reference point for managing project progress as it pertains to schedule and timeline. The schedule baseline and work breakdown structure (WBS) should be created in Microsoft Project. The WBS can be exported from the MS Project file. Be sure to consult our Work Breakdown Structure Template.

The WBS for the SmartVoice Project is comprised of work packages which do not exceed 40 hours of work but are at least 4 hours of work. Work packages were developed through close collaboration among project team members and stakeholders with input from functional managers and research from past projects.

The WBS Dictionary defines all work packages for the SmartVoice Project. These definitions include all tasks, resources, and deliverables. Every work package in the WBS is defined in the WBS Dictionary and will aid in resource planning, task completion, and ensuring deliverables meet project requirements.

The SmartVoice Project schedule was derived from the WBS and Project Charter with input from all project team members. The schedule was completed, reviewed by the Project Sponsor, and approved and base-lined. The schedule will be maintained as a MS Project Gantt Chart by the SmartVoice Project Manager. Any proposed changes to the schedule will follow TSI’s change control process. If established boundary controls may be exceeded, a change request will be submitted to the Project Manager. The Project Manager and team will determine the impact of the change on the schedule, cost, resources, scope, and risks. If it is determined that the impacts will exceed the boundary conditions then the change will be forwarded to the Project Sponsor for review and approval. The SmartVoice boundary conditions are:

CPI less than 0.8 or greater than 1.2 SPI less than 0.8 or greater than 1.2

If the change is approved by the Project Sponsor then it will be implemented by the Project Manager who will update the schedule and all documentation and communicate the change to all stakeholders in accordance with the Change Control Process.

The Project Schedule Baseline and Work Breakdown Structure are provided in Appendix A, Project Schedule and Appendix B, Work Breakdown Structure.

Change Management Plan

This part of the Project Plan should describe your change control process. Ideally, this process will be some type of organizational standard which is repeatable and done on most or all projects when a change is necessary. Changes to any project must be carefully considered and the impact of the change must be clear in order to make any type of approval decisions. Many organizations have change control boards (CCBs) which review proposed changes and either approve or deny them. This is an effective way to provide oversight and ensure adequate feedback and review of the change is obtained. This section of the project management plan template gives you an place where you should also identify who has approval authority for changes to the project, who submits the changes, how they are tracked and monitored.

For complex or large projects the Change Management Plan may be included as an appendix to the Project Management Plan or as a separate, stand-alone document. We have a detailed Change Management Plan Template available on our website.

The following steps comprise TSI’s organization change control process for all projects and will be utilized on the SmartVoice project:

Step #1: Identify the need for a change (Any Stakeholder) Requestor will submit a completed TSI change request form to the project manager Step #2: Log change in the change request register (Project Manager) The project manager will maintain a log of all change requests for the duration of the project Step #3: Conduct an evaluation of the change (Project Manager, Project Team, Requestor) The project manager will conduct an evaluation of the impact of the change to cost, risk, schedule, and scope Step #4: Submit change request to Change Control Board (CCB) (Project Manager) The project manager will submit the change request and analysis to the CCB for review Step #5: Change Control Board decision (CCB) The CCB will discuss the proposed change and decide whether or not it will be approved based on all submitted information Step #6: Implement change (Project Manager) If a change is approved by the CCB, the project manager will update and re-baseline project documentation as necessary as well as ensure any changes are communicated to the team and stakeholders

Any team member or stakeholder may submit a change request for the SmartVoice Project. The SmartVoice Project Sponsor will chair the CCB and any changes to project scope, cost, or schedule must meet his approval. All change requests will be logged in the change control register by the Project Manager and tracked through to completion whether approved or not.

Communications Management Plan

The purpose of the Communications Management Plan is to define the communication requirements for the project and how information will be distributed to ensure project success. You should give considerable thought to how you want to manage communications on every project. By having a solid communications management approach you’ll find that many project management problems can be avoided. In this section you should provide an overview of your communications management approach. Generally, the Communications Management Plan defines the following:

  • Communication requirements based on roles
  • What information will be communicated
  • How the information will be communicated
  • When will information be distributed
  • Who does the communication
  • Who receives the communication
  • Communications conduct

For larger and more complex projects, the Communications Management Plan may be included as an appendix or separate document apart from the Project Management Plan. We have a detailed Communications Management Plan Template available on our website.

This Communications Management Plan sets the communications framework for this project. It will serve as a guide for communications throughout the life of the project and will be updated as communication requirements change. This plan identifies and defines the roles of SmartVoice project team members as they pertain to communications. It also includes a communications matrix which maps the communication requirements of this project, and communication conduct for meetings and other forms of communication. A project team directory is also included to provide contact information for all stakeholders directly involved in the project.

The Project Manager will take the lead role in ensuring effective communications on this project. The communications requirements are documented in the Communications Matrix below. The Communications Matrix will be used as the guide for what information to communicate, who is to do the communicating, when to communicate it, and to whom to communicate.

Communication TypeDescriptionFrequencyFormatParticipants/ DistributionDeliverableOwner
Weekly Status ReportEmail summary of project statusWeeklyEmailProject Sponsor, Team and StakeholdersStatus ReportProject Manager
Weekly Project Team MeetingMeeting to review action register and statusWeeklyIn PersonProject TeamUpdated Action RegisterProject Manager
Project Monthly Review (PMR)Present metrics and status to team and sponsorMonthlyIn PersonProject Sponsor, Team, and StakeholdersStatus and Metric PresentationProject Manager
Project Gate ReviewsPresent closeout of project phases and kickoff next phaseAs NeededIn PersonProject Sponsor, Team and StakeholdersPhase completion report and phase kickoffProject Manager
Technical Design ReviewReview of any technical designs or work associated with the projectAs NeededIn PersonProject TeamTechnical Design PackageProject Manager

Project team directory for all communications is:

NameTitleEmailOffice PhoneCell Phone
John DavisProject Sponsorj.davis@tsi.com(xxx) xxx-xxxx(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Joe GreenProject Managerj.green@tsi.com(xxx) xxx-xxxx(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Herb WalkerSenior Programmerh.walker@tsi.com(xxx) xxx-xxxx(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Jason BlackProgrammerj.black@tsi.com(xxx) xxx-xxxx(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Mary WhiteSr. Quality Specialistm.white@tsi.com(xxx) xxx-xxxx(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Ron SmithQuality Specialistr.smith@tsi.com(xxx) xxx-xxxx(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Tom SundayTechnical Writert.sunday@tsi.com(xxx) xxx-xxxx(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Karen BrownTesting Specialistk.brown@tsi.com(xxx) xxx-xxxx(xxx) xxx-xxxx

Communications Conduct:

Meetings: The Project Manager will distribute a meeting agenda at least 2 days prior to any scheduled meeting and all participants are expected to review the agenda prior to the meeting. During all project meetings the timekeeper will ensure that the group adheres to the times stated in the agenda and the recorder will take all notes for distribution to the team upon completion of the meeting. It is imperative that all participants arrive to each meeting on time and all cell phones and blackberries should be turned off or set to vibrate mode to minimize distractions. Meeting minutes will be distributed no later than 24 hours after each meeting is completed.

Email: All email pertaining to the SmartVoice Project should be professional, free of errors, and provide brief communication. Email should be distributed to the correct project participants in accordance with the communication matrix above based on its content. All attachments should be in one of the organization’s standard software suite programs and adhere to established company formats. If the email is to bring an issue forward then it should discuss what the issue is, provide a brief background on the issue, and provide a recommendation to correct the issue. The Project Manager should be included on any email pertaining to the SmartVoice Project.

Informal Communications: While informal communication is a part of every project and is necessary for successful project completion, any issues, concerns, or updates that arise from informal discussion between team members must be communicated to the Project Manager so the appropriate action may be taken.

Cost Management Plan

The Cost Management Plan clearly defines how the costs on a project will be managed throughout the project’s lifecycle. It sets the format and standards by which the project costs are measured, reported, and controlled. Working within the cost management guidelines is imperative for all project team members to ensure successful completion of the project. These guidelines may include which level of the WBS cost accounts will be created in and the establishment of acceptable variances. The Cost Management Plan:

  • Identifies who is responsible for managing costs
  • Identifies who has the authority to approve changes to the project or its budget
  • How cost performance is quantitatively measured and reported upon
  • Report formats, frequency and to whom they are presented

For complex or large projects the Cost Management Plan may be included as an appendix to the Project Plan or as a separate, stand-alone document. In addition to this project plan template we have a detailed Cost Management Plan Template available on our website.

The Project Manager will be responsible for managing and reporting on the project’s cost throughout the duration of the project. The Project Manager will present and review the project’s cost performance during the monthly project status meeting. Using earned value calculations, the Project Manager is responsible for accounting for cost deviations and presenting the Project Sponsor with options for getting the project back on budget. All budget authority and decisions, to include budget changes, reside with the SmartVoice Project Sponsor.

For the SmartVoice Project, control accounts will be created at the fourth level of the WBS which is where all costs and performance will be managed and tracked. Financial performance of the SmartVoice Project will be measured through earned value calculations pertaining to the project’s cost accounts. Work started on work packages will grant that work package with 50% credit; whereas, the remaining 50% is credited upon completion of all work defined in that work package. Costs may be rounded to the nearest dollar and work hours rounded to the nearest whole hour.

Cost and Schedule Performance Index (CPI and SPI respectively) will be reported on a monthly basis by the Project Manager to the Project Sponsor. Variances of 10% or +/- 0.1 in the cost and schedule performance indexes will change the status of the cost to yellow or cautionary. These will be reported and if it’s determined that there is no or minimal impact on the project’s cost or schedule baseline then there may be no action required. Cost variances of 20%, or +/- 0.2 in the cost and schedule performance indexes will change the status of the cost to red or critical. These will be reported and require corrective action from the Project Manager in order to bring the cost and/or schedule performance indexes back in line with the allowable variance. Any corrective actions will require a project change request and be must approved by the CCB before it can be implemented.

Earned value calculations will be compiled by the Project Manager and reported at the monthly project status meeting. If there are indications that these values will approach or reach the critical stage before a subsequent meeting, the Project Manager will communicate this to the Project Sponsor immediately.

Procurement Management Plan

The Procurement Management Plan should be defined enough to clearly identify the necessary steps and responsibilities for procurement from the beginning to the end of a project. The project manager must ensure that the plan facilitates the successful completion of the project and does not become an overwhelming task in itself to manage. The project manager will work with the project team, contracts/purchasing department, and other key players to manage the procurement activities.

For larger projects or projects with more complicated procurement management requirements, you can include the Procurement Management Plan as a separate document apart from the Project Management Plan. In addition to this Project Plan Template we have a detailed Procurement Management Plan Template available on our website.

The Project Manager will provide oversight and management for all procurement activities under this project. The Project Manager is authorized to approve all procurement actions up to $50,000. Any procurement actions exceeding this amount must be approved by the Project Sponsor.

While this project requires minimal or no procurement, in the event procurement is required, the Project Manager will work with the project team to identify all items or services to be procured for the successful completion of the project. The Project Manager will then ensure these procurements are reviewed by the Program Management Office (PMO) and presented to the contracts and purchasing groups. The contracts and purchasing groups will review the procurement actions, determine whether it is advantageous to make or buy the items or resource required services internally, and begin the vendor selection, purchasing and the contracting process.

In the event a procurement becomes necessary, the Project Manager will be responsible for management any selected vendor or external resource. The Project Manager will also measure performance as it relates to the vendor providing necessary goods and/or services and communicate this to the purchasing and contracts groups.

Project Scope Management Plan

It is important that the approach to managing the projects’ scope be clearly defined and documented in detail. Failure to clearly establish and communicate project scope can result in delays, unnecessary work, failure to achieve deliverables, cost overruns, or other unintended consequences. This section of our project management plan template provides a summary of the Scope Management Plan in which it addresses the following:

  • Who has authority and responsibility for scope management
  • How the scope is defined (i.e. Scope Statement, WBS, WBS Dictionary, Statement of Work, etc.)
  • How the scope is measured and verified (i.e. Quality Checklists, Scope Baseline, Work Performance Measurements, etc.)
  • The scope change process (who initiates, who authorizes, etc.)
  • Who is responsible for accepting the final project deliverable and approves acceptance of project scope

We have a detailed Scope Management Plan Template available on our website which can be included as an appendix to the Project Management Plan for larger or more complex projects. Be sure to review it and determine if it’s necessary for managing your project.

Scope management for the SmartVoice Project will be the sole responsibility of the Project Manager. The scope for this project is defined by the Scope Statement, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and WBS Dictionary. The Project Manager, Sponsor, and Stakeholders will establish and approve documentation for measuring project scope which includes deliverable quality checklists and work performance measurements.

Proposed scope changes may be initiated by the Project Manager, Stakeholders or any member of the project team. All change requests will be submitted to the Project Manager who will then evaluate the requested scope change. Upon acceptance of the scope change request the Project Manager will submit the scope change request to the Change Control Board and Project Sponsor for acceptance. Upon approval of scope changes by the Change Control Board and Project Sponsor the Project Manager will update all project documents and communicate the scope change to all stakeholders. Based on feedback and input from the Project Manager and Stakeholders, the Project Sponsor is responsible for the acceptance of the final project deliverables and project scope.

The Project Sponsor is responsible for formally accepting the project’s final deliverable. This acceptance will be based on a review of all project documentation, testing results, beta trial results, and completion of all tasks/work packages and product functionality.

Schedule Management Plan

This section of the Project Plan provides a general framework for the approach which will be taken to create the project schedule. Effective schedule management is necessary for ensuring tasks are completed on time, resources are allocated appropriately, and to help measure project performance. This section of the Project Plan should include discussion of the scheduling tool/format, schedule milestones, and schedule development roles and responsibilities.

Be sure to check out the detailed Schedule Management Plan Template available on our website. The separate Schedule Management Plan is suitable for larger projects or projects where the schedule management is more formalized. The Schedule Management Plan can be broken out as an appendix to the Project Plan.

Project schedules for the SmartVoice Project will be created using MS Project 2007 starting with the deliverables identified in the project’s Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Activity definition will identify the specific work packages which must be performed to complete each deliverable. Activity sequencing will be used to determine the order of work packages and assign relationships between project activities. Activity duration estimating will be used to calculate the number of work periods required to complete work packages. Resource estimating will be used to assign resources to work packages in order to complete schedule development.

Once a preliminary schedule has been developed, it will be reviewed by the project team and any resources tentatively assigned to project tasks. The project team and resources must agree to the proposed work package assignments, durations, and schedule. Once this is achieved the project sponsor will review and approve the schedule and it will then be base lined.

In accordance with TSI’s organizational standard, the following will be designated as milestones for all project schedules:

  • Completion of scope statement and WBS/WBS Dictionary
  • Baselined project schedule
  • Approval of final project budget
  • Project kick-off
  • Approval of roles and responsibilities
  • Requirements definition approval
  • Completion of data mapping/inventory
  • Project implementation
  • Acceptance of final deliverables

Roles and responsibilities for schedule development are as follows:

The project manager will be responsible for facilitating work package definition, sequencing, and estimating duration and resources with the project team. The project manager will also create the project schedule using MS Project 2007 and validate the schedule with the project team, stakeholders, and the project sponsor. The project manager will obtain schedule approval from the project sponsor and baseline the schedule.

The project team is responsible for participating in work package definition, sequencing, duration, and resource estimating. The project team will also review and validate the proposed schedule and perform assigned activities once the schedule is approved.

The project sponsor will participate in reviews of the proposed schedule and approve the final schedule before it is base lined.

The project stakeholders will participate in reviews of the proposed schedule and assist in its validation.

Quality Management Plan

This portion of the Project Management Plan Template discusses how quality management will be used to ensure that the deliverables for the project meet a formally established standard of acceptance. All project deliverables should be defined in order to provide a foundation and understanding of the tasks at hand and what work must be planned. Quality management is the process by which the organization not only completes the work, but completes the work to an acceptable standard. Without a thorough Quality Management Plan, work may be completed in a substandard or unacceptable manner. This section should include quality roles and responsibilities, quality control, quality assurance, and quality monitoring.

For larger or more complex projects, the Quality Management Plan may be included as an appendix or separate document from the Project Management Plan. A detailed Quality Management Plan Template is available for use on our website.

All members of the SmartVoice project team will play a role in quality management. It is imperative that the team ensures that work is completed at an adequate level of quality from individual work packages to the final project deliverable. The following are the quality roles and responsibilities for the SmartVoice Project:

The Project Sponsor is responsible for approving all quality standards for the SmartVoice Project. The Project Sponsor will review all project tasks and deliverables to ensure compliance with established and approved quality standards. Additionally, the Project Sponsor will sign off on the final acceptance of the project deliverable.

The Project Manager is responsible for quality management throughout the duration of the project. The Project Manager is responsible for implementing the Quality Management Plan and ensuring all tasks, processes, and documentation are compliant with the plan. The Project Manager will work with the project’s quality specialists to establish acceptable quality standards. The Project Manager is also responsible for communicating and tracking all quality standards to the project team and stakeholders.

The Quality Specialists are responsible for working with the Project Manager to develop and implement the Quality Management Plan. Quality Specialists will recommend tools and methodologies for tracking quality and standards to establish acceptable quality levels. The Quality Specialists will create and maintain Quality Control and Assurance Logs throughout the project.

The remaining member of the project team, as well as the stakeholders will be responsible for assisting the Project Manager and Quality Specialists in the establishment of acceptable quality standards. They will also work to ensure that all quality standards are met and communicate any concerns regarding quality to the Project Manager.

Quality control for the SmartVoice Project will utilize tools and methodologies for ensuring that all project deliverables comply with approved quality standards. To meet deliverable requirements and expectations, we must implement a formal process in which quality standards are measured and accepted. The Project Manager will ensure all quality standards and quality control activities are met throughout the project. The Quality Specialists will assist the Project Manager in verifying that all quality standards are met for each deliverable. If any changes are proposed and approved by the Project Sponsor and CCB, the Project Manager is responsible for communicating the changes to the project team and updating all project plans and documentation.

Quality assurance for the SmartVoice Project will ensure that all processes used in the completion of the project meet acceptable quality standards. These process standards are in place to maximize project efficiency and minimize waste. For each process used throughout the project, the Project Manager will track and measure quality against the approved standards with the assistance of the Quality Specialists and ensure all quality standards are met. If any changes are proposed and approved by the Project Sponsor and CCB, the Project Manager is responsible for communicating the changes to the project team and updating all project plans and documentation.

Risk Management Plan

This part of the Project Plan provides a general description for the approach taken to identify and manage the risks associated with the project. It should be a short paragraph or two summarizing the approach to risk management on this project.

Since risk management is a science in itself, we have many risk management templates available on our website. Look for the detailed Risk Management Plan Template , Risk Register Template along with our article on how to perform a risk assessment meeting.

The approach for managing risks for the SmartVoice Project includes a methodical process by which the project team identifies, scores, and ranks the various risks. Every effort will be made to proactively identify risks ahead of time in order to implement a mitigation strategy from the project’s onset. The most likely and highest impact risks were added to the project schedule to ensure that the assigned risk managers take the necessary steps to implement the mitigation response at the appropriate time during the schedule. Risk managers will provide status updates on their assigned risks in the bi-weekly project team meetings, but only when the meetings include their risk’s planned timeframe.

Upon the completion of the project, during the closing process, the project manager will analyze each risk as well as the risk management process. Based on this analysis, the project manager will identify any improvements that can be made to the risk management process for future projects. These improvements will be captured as part of the lessons learned knowledge base.

Risk Register

The Risk Register for this project is provided in Appendix C, Risk Register.

Staffing Management Plan

Here the Project Plan Template discusses how you plan to staff the project. This section should include discussion on matrixed or projectized organizational structure depending on which is being used for this project. This section of the project plan should also include how resources will be procured and managed as well as the key resources needed for the project.

The SmartVoice Project will consist of a matrix structure with support from various internal organizations. All work will be performed internally. Staffing requirements for the SmartVoice Project include the following:

Project Manager (1 position) – responsible for all management for the SmartVoice Project. The Project Manager is responsible for planning, creating, and/or managing all work activities, variances, tracking, reporting, communication, performance evaluations, staffing, and internal coordination with functional managers.

Senior Programmer (1 position) – responsible for oversight of all coding and programming tasks for the SmartVoice Project as well as ensuring functionality is compliant with quality standards. Responsible for working with the Project Manager to create work packages, manage risk, manage schedule, identify requirements, and create reports. The Senior Programmer will be managed by the Project Manager who will provide performance feedback to the functional manager.

Programmer (1 position) – responsible for coding and programming for the SmartVoice Project. All coding and programming tasks will be reviewed by the Senior Programmer prior to implementation. Responsibilities also include assisting with risk identification, determining impacts of change requests, and status reporting. The Programmer will be managed by the Project Manager and feedback will be provided to the functional manager for performance evaluations by the Project Manager and Senior Programmer.

Senior Quality Specialist (1 position) – responsible for assisting the Project Manager in creating quality control and assurance standards. The Senior Quality Specialist is also responsible for maintaining quality control and assurance logs throughout the project. The Senior Quality Specialist will be managed by the Project Manager who will also provide feedback to the functional manager for performance evaluations.

Quality Specialist (1 position) – responsible for assisting the Project Manager and Senior Quality Specialist in creating and tracking quality control and assurance standards. The Quality Specialist will have primary responsibility for compiling quality reporting and metrics for the Project Manager to communicate. The Quality Specialist will be managed by the Project Manager who will provide feedback, along with the Senior Quality Specialist to the functional manager for performance evaluations.

Technical Writer (1 position) – responsible for compiling all project documentation and reporting into organizational formats. Responsible for assisting the Project Manager in Configuration Management and revision control for all project documentation. Responsible for scribing duties during all project meetings and maintaining all project communication distribution lists. The Technical Writer will be managed by the Project Manager who will also provide feedback to the functional manager for performance evaluations.

Testing Specialist (1 position) – responsible for helping establish testing specifications for the SmartVoice Project with the assistance of the Project Manager and Programmers. Responsible for ensuring all testing is complete and documented in accordance with TSI standards. Responsible for ensuring all testing resources are coordinated. The Testing Specialist will be managed by the Project Manager who will also provide feedback to the functional manager for performance evaluations.

The Project Manager will negotiate with all necessary TSI functional managers in order to identify and assign resources for the SmartVoice Project. All resources must be approved by the appropriate functional manager before the resource may begin any project work. The project team will not be co-located for this project and all resources will remain in their current workspace.

Resource Calendar

Include a Resource Calendar as part of your project plan. The resource calendar identifies key resources needed for the project and the times/durations they’ll be needed. Some resources may be needed for the entire length of the project while others may only be required for a portion of the project. This information must be agreed to by the Project Sponsor and Functional Managers prior to beginning the project.

The SmartVoice Project will require all project team members for the entire duration of the project although levels of effort will vary as the project progresses. The Project is scheduled to last one year with standard 40 hour work weeks. If a project team member is not required for a full 40 hour work week at any point during the project, their efforts outside of the SmartVoice Project will be at the discretion of their Functional Manager.

Cost Baseline

This section of the Project Plan Template contains the cost baseline for the project upon which cost management will be based. The project will use earned value metrics to track and manage costs and the cost baseline provides the basis for the tracking, reporting, and management of costs.

The cost baseline for the SmartVoice project includes all budgeted costs for the successful completion of the project.

Project PhaseBudgeted TotalComments
Planning$350,000Includes work hours for all project team members for gathering requirements and planning project
Design$250,000Includes work hours for all project team members for work on SmartVoice conceptual design
Coding$200,000Includes all work hours for coding of SmartVoice
Testing$175,000Includes all work hours for testing (including beta testing) of SmartVoice software
Transition and Closeout$150,000Includes all work hours for transition to operations and project closeout

Quality Baseline

This section of the Project Management Plan should include the quality baseline for the project. The purpose of this baseline is to provide a basis for ensuring that quality can be measured to determine if acceptable quality levels have been achieved. It is important for all projects to clearly define and communicate quality standards and the quality baseline serves this purpose. This is why the quality baseline is included in the Project Management Plan Template.

The SmartVoice Project must meet the quality standards established in the quality baseline. The quality baseline is the baseline which provides the acceptable quality levels of the SmartVoice Project. The software must meet or exceed the quality baseline values in order to achieve success.

ItemAcceptable LevelComments
Voice RecognitionAt least 98% recognition level with 2% or less errors in textUsing standard TSI English language databases
CompatibilityNo errors associated with running software with compatible applicationsUsing the _______ suite of applications
Supporting DocumentationLess than 1% failure rate in beta testing new users to run setup and execute software functionality

To download this free project management plan template in MS Word format, click on the Download Template at the top of this page.

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Template Highlights

  • This project plan template is available for download as a Microsoft Word document, Google doc, or PDF.
  • Provide an overview of the project. Identify the client's needs and the problem that needs to be solved.
  • In the Scope section, describe every activity that will occur during the project timeline. Clearly defining the scope before you begin work can prevent future confusion and issues.
  • Describe the objectives of the project. You can outline them in a list format to keep things simple.
  • Complete the roles and responsibilities table, explaining the duties of each member of the project team.
  • List all of the products that you will submit to the client during the life of the project.
  • Complete the schedule table, showing the project phase, specific task, and start and end dates. If your project is complex, consider also including a graphic timeline or Gantt chart.
  • Complete the budget table according to the costs associated with your specific project.
  • Include a section for approval and signatures. You can include signature lines directly in the document or request electronic signatures using DocuSign or a similar product.

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Project plan.

Project Plan Template

A project plan is an essential project management tool that can help you stay on schedule and within budget. It describes the details of your project, from the scope and objectives to the timeline and cost estimates.

HubSpot Tip: A project plan can vary based on the size and complexity of the project. This template provides general guidelines, but you may need to add or remove sections to tailor it appropriately to the needs of your specific project.

In this section, you should introduce the key components of the project. Think about what your client needs and why they engaged you to complete the project. What is the problem that you need to solve? Who are the main stakeholders?

HubSpot Tip: Consider your project plan a living document. As circumstances, timelines, team members, and objectives change over the life of your project, make the appropriate adjustments in the project plan and redistribute it to the project team.

This section sets the foundation for your project and is important for gaining consensus from all stakeholders on what the project will entail. Include a broad description of all of the deliverables you will provide to the client and every activity that will occur.

In this section, it is important to not only delineate what is required in the project, but also to explain what will not be included.

HubSpot Tip: If your customer asks for additional work as the project progresses, the project plan, and in particular the Scope section, serves an excellent reference document to explain why the work cannot be completed without changes to the budget or timeline.

You already described the client’s needs in general terms in the Overview section. Now, you should list the objectives in more detail, quantifying the expected results with as much specificity as possible. Consider organizing the objectives in a list, as shown below.

1. Objective 1

2. Objective 2

3. Objective 3

HubSpot Tip: Whenever possible, design your project objectives to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely). Using this type of objective as a benchmark allows you to measure your success.

Roles and Responsibilities

When establishing a new team, it is important to ensure that every member understands their role and responsibilities at the outset of the project. Use a table like the one below to organize the necessary information about all of the team members.

Team Member

Responsibilities

Some common roles that are likely to be a part of a project team are:

Project sponsor - The person or organization who owns and funds the project.

Project manager - The person responsible for creating and executing the project plan and ensuring that the team adheres to the schedule and budget throughout the life of the project.

Project team - The individuals who create the end product or service.

End users - The group who utilizes the final project or service. It is important to include them in the decision-making process whenever possible.

HubSpot Tip: We have established that the project plan should focus on how you will meet the needs of the customer. In this section, be clear about which team member will serve as the primary contact and handle routine communications with the client. Also, be sure to denote who from your team is the ultimate decision-maker.

Deliverables

List the specific products or services that you will provide to the client. Provide a brief description of each and note who from the project team will be in charge of providing it. You can arrange this information in a table like the one below.

Deliverable

Description

Person Responsible

HubSpot Tip: Don’t forget to include routine deliverables like monthly reports and weekly status updates.

The timeline is one of the most important parts of the project plan. Rather than just adding dates to the deliverables list that you already developed, you should aim to provide a more granular look at each step in the process.

Begin by dividing the project into phases. Then, break each deliverable into smaller, more manageable tasks. List these in a table like the one below to provide a snapshot of the key activities and dates.

Task/Deliverable

HubSpot Tip: If your project has a complex timeline or many tasks that are dependent on one another, consider developing a Gantt Chart. This type of chart is simple to create in Microsoft Excel or Project.

Using the set of deliverables and tasks that you outlined in previous sections, calculate the cost of each item. The structure of your budget will vary based on the type of work you do, but the table below can be used as a starting point.

Budget Item

Overall Budget

HubSpot Tip: Include both hourly and fixed price items and recurring and one-time costs in your budget.

Approval and Signatures

Request that the client, project sponsor, and any other key stakeholders review and approve the project plan. Consider including a section for signatures like the one below.

______________________________ ______________________________

[Name], [Title], [Client Company] [Name], [Title], [Your Company]

HubSpot Tip: As mentioned above, if you take the time to create a thorough project plan and get the client’s approval, then you can use it to demonstrate how an additional request from the client is outside of the project scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Free PDF Project Management Templates

By Kate Eby | August 7, 2023

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This article offers a roundup of our top PDF project management templates. Choose from a comprehensive selection of templates, with and without example copy. All of the templates are printable and free to download.

On this page, you’ll find a project management plan template , a project proposal template , a project closeout report , a project charter template , and many other project management forms.

Project Management Outline Template for Adobe PDF

Project Management Outline Example Template

Download the Sample Project Management Outline Template for Adobe PDF Download the Blank Project Management Outline Template for Adobe PDF

Create a project outline that includes high-level details related to objectives, scope of work, deliverables, and the project timeline. The sample version of this template shows an example outline for a brand awareness campaign. The blank version is a fillable PDF form that you can customize to meet your specific needs.

Learn more about how to write a project outline .

Project Management Plan Template for Adobe PDF

Project Management Plan Template

Download the Project Management Plan Template for Adobe PDF

This project management plan template allows you to create a comprehensive plan with a table of contents and preformatted tables. To use the template, download the fillable PDF document and enter your details. The template includes an appendix for additional reference documents and signature lines for approving the project plan.

For more planning tools, see our collection of free project management plan templates .

Adobe PDF Project Checklist Template

Project Checklist Template

Download the Project Checklist Template for Adobe PDF

Use this checklist template to track and manage tasks at each phase of a project . For each item on the list, enter the priority, status, assigned owner, and due date. Check items off the list as they are completed, and use the notes section for updates or reminders.

Adobe PDF Project Budget Template

Project Budget Template

Download the Project Budget Template for Adobe PDF

This template provides an outline for your project cost management plan and budget. Enter your information in the fillable sections, which include a plan overview, a cost variance action plan, a spending limit authorization, the management approach, a cost estimation, reporting and change control, and a project budget. The template also includes a version history for tracking revisions.

Read this guide to project cost management to learn more about the process.

Adobe PDF Project Proposal Template

Project Proposal Template

Download the Project Proposal Template for Adobe PDF

This simple one-page template for a project proposal covers the basics. At the top of the template, enter project details and contact information. Other fillable sections include a project summary, goals, benefits, projected schedule, budget, and resource requirements. At the bottom of the template, you’ll find space for a signature and due date for approving the proposal.

Adobe PDF Project Charter Template

Project Charter Example Template

Download the Sample Project Charter Template for Adobe PDF Download the Blank Project Charter Template for Adobe PDF

Download the sample version of this project charter to view a template with example data. Viewing a filled-in document provides a clear picture of how your completed charter will appear. The blank version is a fillable PDF form, which can be combined with and serve as a concise breakdown of your narrative written charter. The template provides sections with alternating colors and preformatted tables for a readable document that is easy to use.

Learn more about how to write a project charter .

Project Communication Plan Template for Adobe PDF

Project Communication Plan Example Template

Download the Sample Project Communication Plan Template for Adobe PDF Download the Blank Project Communication Plan Template for Adobe PDF

Designed for project teams, these communication plan templates list communication goals, the roles of team members, and communication channels. Use the second page to add detailed info on meetings, reports, and other communication types. Download the sample template to see an example project communication plan for a software development team.

Get expert tips on how to create a project communication plan .

Adobe PDF Project Closeout Template

Project Closeout Template

Download the Project Closeout Template for Adobe PDF

This project closeout template provides a thorough outline for a final report. Add your text to the fillable sections for project summary and outcomes, lessons learned , performance review, and future recommendations. Document revisions and list stakeholder roles and responsibilities in the space provided on the second page.

Learn more about everything involved in closing a project .

Project Execution Plan Template for Adobe PDF

Project Execution Plan Example Template

Download the Sample Project Execution Plan Template for Adobe PDF Download the Blank Project Execution Plan Template for Adobe PDF

View the sample version of this template to see how a completed project execution plan will appear. Use the blank template to create your own plan. Enter your project details, including scope, goals, quality and technical specifications, resource allocation, and schedule to complete the document.

Learn about creating a project execution plan and everything you’ll need to get started.

Project Status Report Template for Adobe PDF

Project Status Report Template

Download the Project Status Report Template for Adobe PDF

This progress report template can be used for any time period. The simple layout and preformatted tables allow for a concise status report. Enter the project title, estimated completion date, and project manager name at the top of the template. Use the sections below to report on key risks and issues, task timelines, and other project status updates.

Adobe PDF Project Schedule Template

Project Schedule Template

Download the Project Schedule Template for Adobe PDF

This schedule template helps you track the progress of individual tasks and your project as a whole. At the top of the template, enter the project name, starting and ending dates, deliverables, and overall progress. In the table below, list project activities and assigned owners, and add a timeline, duration, and status for each task. This is a fillable, reusable template for planning and tracking project tasks.

Learn more about a project schedule and how to make one.

Adobe PDF Project Scope Template

Simple Project Scope Template

Download the Project Scope Template for Adobe PDF

Create a project scope statement that includes objectives, deliverables, assumptions, and constraints. Link to a work breakdown structure to include a complete list of project tasks. The template also provides a section for describing activities and deliverables that are out of the project’s scope. 

Read this project scope management guide to learn more.

Adobe PDF Project Overview Template

Project Overview Sample Template

Download the Sample Project Overview Template for Adobe PDF Download the Blank Project Overview Template for Adobe PDF

Organize the key elements of your project plan into a succinct summary. Download the sample version of this template to see an example project overview for a marketing campaign. Use the template to provide stakeholders with an overview of the project scope, deliverables, proposed schedule, budget, and other important details.

Project Change Control Template for Adobe PDF

Project Change Control Example Template

Download the Sample Project Change Control Template for Adobe PDF Download the Blank Project Change Control Template for Adobe PDF

Manage change requests with this fillable PDF form. To see an example project change control template, download the sample version. The template includes details about the change request and evaluation, a section for approval or rejection, and a change control tracking sheet. The control sheet lists each change request with dates for evaluation and approval.

Adobe PDF Project Brief Template

Project Brief Sample Template

Download the Sample Project Brief Template for Adobe PDF Download the Blank Project Brief Template for Adobe PDF

Keep stakeholders informed with a high-level overview of your project. This simple project brief template covers basic project elements, including goals, team members, budget, and timeframe. To get a sense of how a completed project brief will appear, download and view the sample version of this template.

Adobe PDF Project Initiation Template

Project Initiation Template

Download the Project Initiation Template for Adobe PDF

Define the requirements and purpose of your project with this project initiation template. Use the fillable fields to add your project summary, objectives, selection criteria, project performance, and more.

Project Risk Assessment Template for Adobe PDF

Project Risk Assessment Template

Download the Project Risk Assessment Template for Adobe PDF

Use this template to assess project risks before and after implementing mitigation actions. The template includes a tracking sheet for listing risks, potential severity and likelihood, and remedies. It also provides a risk rating key to help you assess risks and determine whether to proceed, take mitigation efforts, seek support, or put an activity or project on hold.

Read this project risk assessments guide to find tips and more tools.

Adobe PDF Project Sign-Off Template

Simple Project Sign-Off Template

Download the Project Sign-Off Template for Adobe PDF

This project sign-off sheet provides an acceptance statement with approval signatures and a table for listing unresolved issues. Enter your data into the fillable fields, or use the PDF as a model for creating your own customized project sign-off template.

Project Management Rubric Template for Adobe PDF

Project Management Rubric Template

Download the Project Management Rubric Template for Adobe PDF

This printable rubric template offers a method for evaluating how well a project was managed. The template includes a scoring scale and sections for reviewing project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure. Project managers can use this rubric as a tool for self-reflection and learning. 

For more free downloads, see our broad selection of project management templates , which includes templates for Agile and construction project management.

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How to Write a Business Plan for a Small Business

Determined female African-American entrepreneur scaling a mountain while wearing a large backpack. Represents the journey to starting and growing a business and needi

Noah Parsons

24 min. read

Updated September 2, 2024

Download Now: Free Business Plan Template →

Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be complicated. 

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to write a business plan that’s detailed enough to impress bankers and potential investors, while giving you the tools to start, run, and grow a successful business.

  • The basics of writing a business plan

If you’re reading this guide, then you already know why you need a business plan . 

You understand that writing a business plan helps you: 

  • Raise money
  • Grow strategically
  • Keep your business on the right track 

As you start to write your business plan, it’s useful to zoom out and remember what a business plan is .

At its core, a business plan is an overview of the products and services you sell, and the customers that you sell to. It explains your business strategy: how you’re going to build and grow your business, what your marketing strategy is, and who your competitors are.

Most business plans also include financial forecasts for the future. These set sales goals, budget for expenses, and predict profits and cash flow. 

A good business plan is much more than just a document that you write once and forget about. It’s also a guide that helps you outline and achieve your goals. 

After writing your business plan, you can use it as a management tool to track your progress toward your goals. Updating and adjusting your forecasts and budgets as you go is one of the most important steps you can take to run a healthier, smarter business. 

We’ll dive into how to use your plan later in this article.

There are many different types of plans , but we’ll go over the most common type here, which includes everything you need for an investor-ready plan. However, if you’re just starting out and are looking for something simpler—I recommend starting with a one-page business plan . It’s faster and easier to create. 

It’s also the perfect place to start if you’re just figuring out your idea, or need a simple strategic plan to use inside your business.

Dig deeper : How to write a one-page business plan

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  • What to include in your business plan

Executive summary

The executive summary is an overview of your business and your plans. It comes first in your plan and is ideally just one to two pages. Most people write it last because it’s a summary of the complete business plan.

Ideally, the executive summary can act as a stand-alone document that covers the highlights of your detailed plan. 

In fact, it’s common for investors to ask only for the executive summary when evaluating your business. If they like what they see in the executive summary, they’ll often follow up with a request for a complete plan, a pitch presentation , or more in-depth financial forecasts .

Your executive summary should include:

  • A summary of the problem you are solving
  • A description of your product or service
  • An overview of your target market
  • A brief description of your team
  • A summary of your financials
  • Your funding requirements (if you are raising money)

Dig Deeper: How to write an effective executive summary

Products and services description

When writing a business plan, the produces and services section is where you describe exactly what you’re selling, and how it solves a problem for your target market. The best way to organize this part of your plan is to start by describing the problem that exists for your customers. After that, you can describe how you plan to solve that problem with your product or service. 

This is usually called a problem and solution statement .

To truly showcase the value of your products and services, you need to craft a compelling narrative around your offerings. How will your product or service transform your customers’ lives or jobs? A strong narrative will draw in your readers.

This is also the part of the business plan to discuss any competitive advantages you may have, like specific intellectual property or patents that protect your product. If you have any initial sales, contracts, or other evidence that your product or service is likely to sell, include that information as well. It will show that your idea has traction , which can help convince readers that your plan has a high chance of success.

Market analysis

Your target market is a description of the type of people that you plan to sell to. You might even have multiple target markets, depending on your business. 

A market analysis is the part of your plan where you bring together all of the information you know about your target market. Basically, it’s a thorough description of who your customers are and why they need what you’re selling. You’ll also include information about the growth of your market and your industry .

Try to be as specific as possible when you describe your market. 

Include information such as age, income level, and location—these are what’s called “demographics.” If you can, also describe your market’s interests and habits as they relate to your business—these are “psychographics.” 

Related: Target market examples

Essentially, you want to include any knowledge you have about your customers that is relevant to how your product or service is right for them. With a solid target market, it will be easier to create a sales and marketing plan that will reach your customers. That’s because you know who they are, what they like to do, and the best ways to reach them.

Next, provide any additional information you have about your market. 

What is the size of your market ? Is the market growing or shrinking? Ideally, you’ll want to demonstrate that your market is growing over time, and also explain how your business is positioned to take advantage of any expected changes in your industry.

Dig Deeper: Learn how to write a market analysis

Competitive analysis

Part of defining your business opportunity is determining what your competitive advantage is. To do this effectively, you need to know as much about your competitors as your target customers. 

Every business has some form of competition. If you don’t think you have competitors, then explore what alternatives there are in the market for your product or service. 

For example: In the early years of cars, their main competition was horses. For social media, the early competition was reading books, watching TV, and talking on the phone.

A good competitive analysis fully lays out the competitive landscape and then explains how your business is different. Maybe your products are better made, or cheaper, or your customer service is superior. Maybe your competitive advantage is your location – a wide variety of factors can ultimately give you an advantage.

Dig Deeper: How to write a competitive analysis for your business plan

Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan covers how you will position your product or service in the market, the marketing channels and messaging you will use, and your sales tactics. 

The best place to start with a marketing plan is with a positioning statement . 

This explains how your business fits into the overall market, and how you will explain the advantages of your product or service to customers. You’ll use the information from your competitive analysis to help you with your positioning. 

For example: You might position your company as the premium, most expensive but the highest quality option in the market. Or your positioning might focus on being locally owned and that shoppers support the local economy by buying your products.

Once you understand your positioning, you’ll bring this together with the information about your target market to create your marketing strategy . 

This is how you plan to communicate your message to potential customers. Depending on who your customers are and how they purchase products like yours, you might use many different strategies, from social media advertising to creating a podcast. Your marketing plan is all about how your customers discover who you are and why they should consider your products and services. 

While your marketing plan is about reaching your customers—your sales plan will describe the actual sales process once a customer has decided that they’re interested in what you have to offer. 

If your business requires salespeople and a long sales process, describe that in this section. If your customers can “self-serve” and just make purchases quickly on your website, describe that process. 

A good sales plan picks up where your marketing plan leaves off. The marketing plan brings customers in the door and the sales plan is how you close the deal.

Together, these specific plans paint a picture of how you will connect with your target audience, and how you will turn them into paying customers.

Dig deeper: What to include in your sales and marketing plan

Business operations

When writing a business plan, the operations section describes the necessary requirements for your business to run smoothly. It’s where you talk about how your business works and what day-to-day operations look like. 

Depending on how your business is structured, your operations plan may include elements of the business like:

  • Supply chain management
  • Manufacturing processes
  • Equipment and technology
  • Distribution

Some businesses distribute their products and reach their customers through large retailers like Amazon.com, Walmart, Target, and grocery store chains. 

These businesses should review how this part of their business works. The plan should discuss the logistics and costs of getting products onto store shelves and any potential hurdles the business may have to overcome.

If your business is much simpler than this, that’s OK. This section of your business plan can be either extremely short or more detailed, depending on the type of business you are building.

For businesses selling services, such as physical therapy or online software, you can use this section to describe the technology you’ll leverage, what goes into your service, and who you will partner with to deliver your services.

Dig Deeper: Learn how to write the operations chapter of your plan

Key milestones and metrics

Although it’s not required to complete your business plan, mapping out key business milestones and the metrics can be incredibly useful for measuring your success.

Good milestones clearly lay out the parameters of the task and set expectations for their execution. You’ll want to include:

  • A description of each task
  • The proposed due date
  • Who is responsible for each task

If you have a budget, you can include projected costs to hit each milestone. You don’t need extensive project planning in this section—just list key milestones you want to hit and when you plan to hit them. This is your overall business roadmap. 

Possible milestones might be:

  • Website launch date
  • Store or office opening date
  • First significant sales
  • Break even date
  • Business licenses and approvals

You should also discuss the key numbers you will track to determine your success. Some common metrics worth tracking include:

  • Conversion rates
  • Customer acquisition costs
  • Profit per customer
  • Repeat purchases

It’s perfectly fine to start with just a few metrics and grow the number you are tracking over time. You also may find that some metrics simply aren’t relevant to your business and can narrow down what you’re tracking.

Dig Deeper: How to use milestones in your business plan

Organization and management team

Investors don’t just look for great ideas—they want to find great teams. Use this chapter to describe your current team and who you need to hire . You should also provide a quick overview of your location and history if you’re already up and running.

Briefly highlight the relevant experiences of each key team member in the company. It’s important to make the case for why yours is the right team to turn an idea into a reality. 

Do they have the right industry experience and background? Have members of the team had entrepreneurial successes before? 

If you still need to hire key team members, that’s OK. Just note those gaps in this section.

Your company overview should also include a summary of your company’s current business structure . The most common business structures include:

  • Sole proprietor
  • Partnership

Be sure to provide an overview of how the business is owned as well. Does each business partner own an equal portion of the business? How is ownership divided? 

Potential lenders and investors will want to know the structure of the business before they will consider a loan or investment.

Dig Deeper: How to write about your company structure and team

Financial plan

The last section of your business plan is your financial plan and forecasts. 

Entrepreneurs often find this section the most daunting. But, business financials for most startups are less complicated than you think, and a business degree is certainly not required to build a solid financial forecast. 

A typical financial forecast in a business plan includes the following:

  • Sales forecast : An estimate of the sales expected over a given period. You’ll break down your forecast into the key revenue streams that you expect to have.
  • Expense budget : Your planned spending such as personnel costs , marketing expenses, and taxes.
  • Profit & Loss : Brings together your sales and expenses and helps you calculate planned profits.
  • Cash Flow : Shows how cash moves into and out of your business. It can predict how much cash you’ll have on hand at any given point in the future.
  • Balance Sheet : A list of the assets, liabilities, and equity in your company. In short, it provides an overview of the financial health of your business. 

A strong business plan will include a description of assumptions about the future, and potential risks that could impact the financial plan. Including those will be especially important if you’re writing a business plan to pursue a loan or other investment.

Dig Deeper: How to create financial forecasts and budgets

This is the place for additional data, charts, or other information that supports your plan.

Including an appendix can significantly enhance the credibility of your plan by showing readers that you’ve thoroughly considered the details of your business idea, and are backing your ideas up with solid data.

Just remember that the information in the appendix is meant to be supplementary. Your business plan should stand on its own, even if the reader skips this section.

Dig Deeper : What to include in your business plan appendix

Optional: Business plan cover page

Adding a business plan cover page can make your plan, and by extension your business, seem more professional in the eyes of potential investors, lenders, and partners. It serves as the introduction to your document and provides necessary contact information for stakeholders to reference.

Your cover page should be simple and include:

  • Company logo
  • Business name
  • Value proposition (optional)
  • Business plan title
  • Completion and/or update date
  • Address and contact information
  • Confidentiality statement

Just remember, the cover page is optional. If you decide to include it, keep it very simple and only spend a short amount of time putting it together.

Dig Deeper: How to create a business plan cover page

How to use AI to help write your business plan

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can speed up the business plan writing process and help you think through concepts like market segmentation and competition. These tools are especially useful for taking ideas that you provide and converting them into polished text for your business plan.

The best way to use AI to write a business plan is to leverage it as a collaborator , not a replacement for human creative thinking and ingenuity. 

AI can come up with lots of ideas and act as a brainstorming partner. It’s up to you to filter through those ideas and figure out which ones are realistic enough to resonate with your customers. 

There are pros and cons of using AI to help with your business plan . So, spend some time understanding how it can be most helpful before just outsourcing the job to AI.

Learn more: 10 AI prompts you need to write a business plan

  • Writing tips and strategies

To help streamline the business plan writing process, here are a few tips and key questions to answer to make sure you get the most out of your plan and avoid common mistakes .  

Determine why you are writing a business plan

Knowing why you are writing a business plan will determine your approach to your planning project. 

For example: If you are writing a business plan for yourself, or just to use inside your own business , you can probably skip the section about your team and organizational structure. 

If you’re raising money, you’ll want to spend more time explaining why you’re looking to raise the funds and exactly how you will use them.

Regardless of how you intend to use your business plan , think about why you are writing and what you’re trying to get out of the process before you begin.

Keep things concise

Probably the most important tip is to keep your business plan short and simple. There are no prizes for long business plans . The longer your plan is, the less likely people are to read it. 

So focus on trimming things down to the essentials your readers need to know. Skip the extended, wordy descriptions and instead focus on creating a plan that is easy to read —using bullets and short sentences whenever possible.

Have someone review your business plan

Writing a business plan in a vacuum is never a good idea. Sometimes it’s helpful to zoom out and check if your plan makes sense to someone else. You also want to make sure that it’s easy to read and understand.

Don’t wait until your plan is “done” to get a second look. Start sharing your plan early, and find out from readers what questions your plan leaves unanswered. This early review cycle will help you spot shortcomings in your plan and address them quickly, rather than finding out about them right before you present your plan to a lender or investor.

If you need a more detailed review, you may want to explore hiring a professional plan writer to thoroughly examine it.

Use a free business plan template and business plan examples to get started

Knowing what information to include in a business plan is sometimes not quite enough. If you’re struggling to get started or need additional guidance, it may be worth using a business plan template. 

There are plenty of great options available (we’ve rounded up our 8 favorites to streamline your search).

But, if you’re looking for a free downloadable business plan template , you can get one right now; download the template used by more than 1 million businesses. 

Or, if you just want to see what a completed business plan looks like, check out our library of over 550 free business plan examples . 

We even have a growing list of industry business planning guides with tips for what to focus on depending on your business type.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re writing your business plan. Some entrepreneurs get sucked into the writing and research process, and don’t focus enough on actually getting their business started. 

Here are a few common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Not talking to your customers : This is one of the most common mistakes. It’s easy to assume that your product or service is something that people want. Before you invest too much in your business and too much in the planning process, make sure you talk to your prospective customers and have a good understanding of their needs.

  • Overly optimistic sales and profit forecasts: By nature, entrepreneurs are optimistic about the future. But it’s good to temper that optimism a little when you’re planning, and make sure your forecasts are grounded in reality. 
  • Spending too much time planning: Yes, planning is crucial. But you also need to get out and talk to customers, build prototypes of your product and figure out if there’s a market for your idea. Make sure to balance planning with building.
  • Not revising the plan: Planning is useful, but nothing ever goes exactly as planned. As you learn more about what’s working and what’s not—revise your plan, your budgets, and your revenue forecast. Doing so will provide a more realistic picture of where your business is going, and what your financial needs will be moving forward.
  • Not using the plan to manage your business: A good business plan is a management tool. Don’t just write it and put it on the shelf to collect dust – use it to track your progress and help you reach your goals.
  • Presenting your business plan

The planning process forces you to think through every aspect of your business and answer questions that you may not have thought of. That’s the real benefit of writing a business plan – the knowledge you gain about your business that you may not have been able to discover otherwise.

With all of this knowledge, you’re well prepared to convert your business plan into a pitch presentation to present your ideas. 

A pitch presentation is a summary of your plan, just hitting the highlights and key points. It’s the best way to present your business plan to investors and team members.

Dig Deeper: Learn what key slides should be included in your pitch deck

Use your business plan to manage your business

One of the biggest benefits of planning is that it gives you a tool to manage your business better. With a revenue forecast, expense budget, and projected cash flow, you know your targets and where you are headed.

And yet, nothing ever goes exactly as planned – it’s the nature of business.

That’s where using your plan as a management tool comes in. The key to leveraging it for your business is to review it periodically and compare your forecasts and projections to your actual results.

Start by setting up a regular time to review the plan – a monthly review is a good starting point. During this review, answer questions like:

  • Did you meet your sales goals?
  • Is spending following your budget?
  • Has anything gone differently than what you expected?

Now that you see whether you’re meeting your goals or are off track, you can make adjustments and set new targets. 

Maybe you’re exceeding your sales goals and should set new, more aggressive goals. In that case, maybe you should also explore more spending or hiring more employees. 

Or maybe expenses are rising faster than you projected. If that’s the case, you would need to look at where you can cut costs.

A plan, and a method for comparing your plan to your actual results , is the tool you need to steer your business toward success.

Learn More: How to run a regular plan review

How to write a business plan FAQ

What is a business plan?

A document that describes your business , the products and services you sell, and the customers that you sell to. It explains your business strategy, how you’re going to build and grow your business, what your marketing strategy is, and who your competitors are.

What are the benefits of writing a business plan?

A business plan helps you understand where you want to go with your business and what it will take to get there. It reduces your overall risk, helps you uncover your business’s potential, attracts investors, and identifies areas for growth.

Writing a business plan ultimately makes you more confident as a business owner and more likely to succeed for a longer period of time.

What are the 7 steps of writing a business plan?

The seven steps to writing a business plan include:

  • Write a brief executive summary
  • Describe your products and services.
  • Conduct market research and compile data into a cohesive market analysis.
  • Describe your marketing and sales strategy.
  • Outline your organizational structure and management team.
  • Develop financial projections for sales, revenue, and cash flow.
  • Add any additional documents to your appendix.

What are the 5 most common business plan mistakes?

There are plenty of mistakes that can be made when writing a business plan. However, these are the 5 most common that you should do your best to avoid:

  • 1. Not taking the planning process seriously.
  • Having unrealistic financial projections or incomplete financial information.
  • Inconsistent information or simple mistakes.
  • Failing to establish a sound business model.
  • Not having a defined purpose for your business plan.

What questions should be answered in a business plan?

Writing a business plan is all about asking yourself questions about your business and being able to answer them through the planning process. You’ll likely be asking dozens and dozens of questions for each section of your plan.

However, these are the key questions you should ask and answer with your business plan:

  • How will your business make money?
  • Is there a need for your product or service?
  • Who are your customers?
  • How are you different from the competition?
  • How will you reach your customers?
  • How will you measure success?

How long should a business plan be?

The length of your business plan fully depends on what you intend to do with it. From the SBA and traditional lender point of view, a business plan needs to be whatever length necessary to fully explain your business. This means that you prove the viability of your business, show that you understand the market, and have a detailed strategy in place.

If you intend to use your business plan for internal management purposes, you don’t necessarily need a full 25-50 page business plan. Instead, you can start with a one-page plan to get all of the necessary information in place.

What are the different types of business plans?

While all business plans cover similar categories, the style and function fully depend on how you intend to use your plan. Here are a few common business plan types worth considering.

Traditional business plan: The tried-and-true traditional business plan is a formal document meant to be used when applying for funding or pitching to investors. This type of business plan follows the outline above and can be anywhere from 10-50 pages depending on the amount of detail included, the complexity of your business, and what you include in your appendix.

Business model canvas: The business model canvas is a one-page template designed to demystify the business planning process. It removes the need for a traditional, copy-heavy business plan, in favor of a single-page outline that can help you and outside parties better explore your business idea.

One-page business plan: This format is a simplified version of the traditional plan that focuses on the core aspects of your business. You’ll typically stick with bullet points and single sentences. It’s most useful for those exploring ideas, needing to validate their business model, or who need an internal plan to help them run and manage their business.

Lean Plan: The Lean Plan is less of a specific document type and more of a methodology. It takes the simplicity and styling of the one-page business plan and turns it into a process for you to continuously plan, test, review, refine, and take action based on performance. It’s faster, keeps your plan concise, and ensures that your plan is always up-to-date.

What’s the difference between a business plan and a strategic plan?

A business plan covers the “who” and “what” of your business. It explains what your business is doing right now and how it functions. The strategic plan explores long-term goals and explains “how” the business will get there. It encourages you to look more intently toward the future and how you will achieve your vision.

However, when approached correctly, your business plan can actually function as a strategic plan as well. If kept lean, you can define your business, outline strategic steps, and track ongoing operations all with a single plan.

Content Author: Noah Parsons

Noah is the COO at Palo Alto Software, makers of the online business plan app LivePlan. He started his career at Yahoo! and then helped start the user review site Epinions.com. From there he started a software distribution business in the UK before coming to Palo Alto Software to run the marketing and product teams.

Check out LivePlan

Table of Contents

  • Use AI to help write your plan
  • Common planning mistakes
  • Manage with your business plan

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30 free project plan templates: Download these PDF, Excel, Word Doc, Google Docs examples

These free project plan templates will set your tasks on the right track

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1. HubSpot Weekly Schedule

2. agile project plan, 3. hubspot project plan outline, 4. conference planning checklist, 5. project budget, 6. weekly project plan.

  • Risk Management
  • Simple Gantt Chart

9. Concept map

10. action plan, 11. product roadmap, 12. decision tree, 13. eisenhower matrix, 14. implementation plan word, 15. change order, 16. heat map, 17. scope management, 18. hr project planning, 19. content calendar, 20. kanban planning, 21. project monitoring and control, 22. simple profit and loss statement, 23. product launch, 24. stakeholders map, 25. employee timecard, 26. issue tracker, 27. quality control, 28. project performance, 29. social media management, 30. it project management.

It’s never a good idea to rush head-first into a new project if you haven’t completed the necessary preparation first. You may miss something, forget your overarching goal, or simply find it difficult to work as efficiently. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail - as the saying goes. 

A project plan is a great way of ensuring that your projects stay on track. It’s essentially a document that provides a detailed to-do list for each project. Timelines and budgetary guidelines may be included too. It may not be a particularly complicated document, but using the right one can make a huge difference to your project management strategy. 

It’s worth noting that many project plan templates are available for download free of charge, which means that free project management support may be just a click away. Some important questions that project plan templates may help you answer include what the purpose of a project is, what the main deliverables are, and what resources will be required. 

The only thing left then before you start working on your projectis finding the right project plan template for your needs. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a handy guide of 30 of the best free ones available for download. Whatever the goal of your next project, these templates will help you achieve it. 

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30 free project plan templates to download

HubSpot

HubSpot is well regarded as one of the best CRM software solutions on the market today - and it boasts a number of project plan templates to prove it. One of the best is its Weekly Schedule Template, which is great for tracking team activities within its user-friendly design. Plus it’s available as either a PDF and Excel file. 

HubSpot’s Weekly Schedule Template is available to download here .

A template built for rapid iteration, this Google Doc’s file breaks down large tasks into a series of sprint that can be assigned to various individuals within your team. You can also give each task a status, such as “on hold” or “in progress” to provide more clarity regarding whether your project is close to completion. If you’re a fan of agile methodologies, this may be the project plan  template for you. 

What really stands out for HubSpot’s Project Plan Outline is its flexibility. Available for Microsoft Word , Google Docs, and PDF, this project plan template is suitable for a range of tasks and formats. It’s also extremely broad in its scope, providing sections titled overview, objectives, roles and responsibilities, schedule, budget, and more. This will suit a wide range of project managers and teams, so it’s a good choice if you regularly take on a variety of different projects.

Amazon's roadmap for Matter support rollout

Project plan templates are not always broad one-size-fits-all documents. Sometimes they are targeted at particular kinds of projects - which is the case with this free conference planning checklist. Available as a PDF, this document is split into 10 sections based on the time when each task should take place. Items listed for completion include opening registration, preparing the conference program, purchasing supplies, preparing registration packets, and organizing a rehearsal.

Download the Conference Planning Checklist for PDF here.

Of course, it not usually easy to gain a concrete handle on project budgets. They are frequently overrun, even when considering some of the biggest and best-funded projedfts in the world. Even so, having a clear project budget template can make it easier to stay on track, which is why this template is so helpful. Containing costs like labor, consultant fees, raw materials, software licences, and more, this will help ensure costs don’t spiral out of control. 

Download this free Project Budget Template for Google Sheets here .

Depending on your industry (or individual project), it might make sense for you to break down your tasks by day, week, quarter or year. For some businesses, this Weekly Project Plan will be just right, with its easy day-by-day management, automated time tracking financial tracking functionality. A great tool is you generally work week to week.

7. Risk Management

Identifying risks before they cause disruption may not be easy but having the right risk management template in place will certainly help. Risks can come in various forms, including malware, natural disaster, human error and more. Through identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring, this template makes it much less likely that your project will be de-railed by something unexpected.

Download a free Risk Management template here .

8. Simple Gantt Chart

An illustration of a laptop displaying a gantt chart

Anyone with experience of project management is likely to be familiar with Gannt charts. These provide a graphic depiction of a project’s schedule and hence simplify the start and end, as well as demonstrating how each task relates to the other. This template from Microsoft is ideal for everything from business plans to student assignments due to its easy customization. It also supports a variety of fonts, images, graphics, videos and animations. 

Download Microsoft’s Simple Gantt Chart for Excel here .

Brainstorming

Available for PDF, PowerPoint, and Google Slides , this concept map works a little differently from many of the other project plan templates listed here. This is great for top-level strategic design and provides a framework for brainstorming, information sharing, and problem-solving.

An action plan differentiates itself from other project plans by focusing on the concrete next steps needed to achieve a specific goal. It usually lists things like the actions individuals need to complete, due dates, priority, and status. These documents shouldn’t contain nebulous overarching goals, like “increase revenue” but should instead focus on tangible task completion.

Download monday.com’s Action Plan Template here . 

Products rarely just appear on the shelves. They are the result of lengthy processes where companies conduct consumer research and competitor analysis before creating a minimum viable product and then tentatively carrying out a launch. Even at that stage, businesses should take a data-driven approach to see how the launch is performing and what can be improved at the next stage. This template will help at every stage. 

A decision tree aims to ensure you make the right choice when more than one possible route can be taken. It’s a graphical representation that starts with a central idea (root node) and branches out to show what will happen if you make a certain choice. It can provide real clarity whenever you have a dilemma on your hands. HubSpot’s template is available for PowerPoint, Google Slides, and PDF. You can download it here . 

An Eisenhower matrix is a two-axis graph that aims to support the prioritization of your tasks. Tasks can be categorized as urgent, not urgent, important, or not important. It helps teams to visualize which tasks they should focus on first and which can be left to a later date. This template can also be easily shared with other team members to assist with collaboration . 

An implementation plan outlines exactly how your task will get done. Stakeholders are asked to describe the purpose of their plan and identify the system that will need to be implemented. They’ll then need to list any assumptions and constraints before listing major tasks and creating an implementation schedule. There’s also an opportunity to list security and privacy requirements, as well as support options. 

Download an Implementation Plan Word Template here .

You may have every intention of sticking to your original plan, but as new developments come to light, changes will invariably have to be made. If that’s the case, a change order template could prove very useful. This will detail any revisions to the scope of work in a project, highlighting the exact change being proposed, how much it will cost and what effect it is likely to have on your original schedule.

Download a free Change Order Template here .

HubSpot Heat map

Many project plan templates don’t provide new information, as such, they simply present it in a new way. That’s certainly the case with a heat map, which provides a color-coded visual representation so you can more clearly see which tasks to prioritize. Heat maps can be used to show a variety of metrics, including website traffic, customer demographics and more.  

Projects can quickly spiral out of control if managers don’t keep close tabs on things. A scope management plan outlines a project’s goals, deliverables, costs, and deadlines. In fact, it outlines parameters for all aspects of the project. These are the kinds of restraints that managers need to enforce, if they want projects to run smoothly.

Two people shaking hands across a corporate desk

As mentioned previosuily, not all project plan templates are applicable to all industries or tasks. This one is specifically designed to help human resources teams, who often have multiple projects on the go at once. For example, they may need to update the employee onboarding process, create surveys, or schedule training. Dispites can also arise at any time. 

Google Calendar

For individuals or teams that publish content, a calendar-style project planning may make the most sense as they msy have print deadlines that cannot be moved. A calendar view may look simple, but it can still be color-coded and shared to provide more detailed guidance for a particular project.

Kanban

Alongside Gannt charts, a Kanban board may be the best known feature among project management fans. A Kanban board is a tool for workflow visualization that works by organizing tasks into cards and columns. Tasks are separated into different categories so managers can clearly see what needs to be done and when.

Once a projects has been started, no matter how meticulously it is planned, that doesn't mean its guaranteed to be a success. To ensure that’s the case, managers need to carefully monitor how projects are progressing against their initial expectations or goals. This template provides a handy bird’s eye view of all a project’s tasks, deadlines, and progress.

Download a free Project Monitoring and Control Template here .

Coins on a £20 note

Don’t let “simple” fool you, there’s nothing more important than keeping track of how much a project is costing you and how much it is bringing in. A straightforward breakdown of the profit and loss stemming from a particular project can also lead to further analysis. 

A product launch is a big deal, so it’s essential that you have a clear plan before rushing in. This template lets you list the names of your products, write out your positioning statement, and provide an overview of your market analysis. It provides clear guidelines that will help your new product have the best chance of success.

Most projects are not individual undertakings but even if a greater number of stakeholders can help unlock new ideas, it can also make things more complicated. This stakeholder map let’s you quickly identify all the stakeholders involved in your upcoming project, differentiating between internal and external stakeholders and streamlining communication. 

Download this free stakeholders map here . 

Photographer on laptop at home

Gaining an overview of how your employees are allocating their time can be extremely useful for managers - especially if their team is made up of external freelancers. In the age of hybrid working , its importance has only grown too.

Issues are unavoidable during projects - whether they are related to software being used, personnel or anything else. This template for tracking issues lets you assign individual to resolve them so problems aren’t ignored and left to fester. 

Download this free Issue Tracker Template here . 

What’s the definition of “quality”? Well, I guess that depend on who’s being asked and their particular criteria. This template makes all that clear by allowing managers to list who decides on quality (customers, developers, etc) and how defects are detected (testing, review, etc). It means quality is always front of mind. 

This template uses tables and conditional formatting to provide high-level feedback on project performance for stakeholders - both internal and external. It delivers a succinct update in a customizable, clear table.

Download this free project performance report template here .

A group of cubes all displaying social media logos

Social networks are hugely important for many industries and this importance is reflected in how businesses manage their social media output. A social media management business proposal template can bring clarity to your content promotion strategy by outlining the engagement you’re looking to achieve and, crucially, how much it is going to cost.

IT is core to most businesses today - and the pace of digital transformation being experienced means this is increasingly true. However, modem technology stacks can be complicated. There are usually multiple vendors involved and integrations aren’t always straightforward. However, IT project management templates can help make it clearer what an IT solution is able to deliver, what audience it is targeting, and what features it provides. IT is fundamental to the modern business environment. This template can make sure you get the most from it. 

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Barclay has been writing about technology for a decade, starting out as a freelancer with ITProPortal covering everything from London’s start-up scene to comparisons of the best cloud storage services.  After that, he spent some time as the managing editor of an online outlet focusing on cloud computing, furthering his interest in virtualization, Big Data, and the Internet of Things. 

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Simple Business Plan Templates

Strategic Plan Template - PDF Templates

Strategic Plan Template

Focus on the future and keep your company moving forward with Jotform’s Strategic Plan Template. Simply fill in the attached form with your company overview, delve deeper with a SWOT analysis, and finish off by determining your strategic goals, actions, and financial plans. Our fully-customizable template converts submitted information into polished PDFs, which you can download, print, or share instantly.

Single Page Business Plan - PDF Templates

Single Page Business Plan

Get down to business with a customizable Single-Page Business Plan template from Jotform. Customize your plan in minutes. No coding. Drag and drop to build.

Operational Plan Template - PDF Templates

Operational Plan Template

This Operational Plan Sample is structured with important details for your organization. It comes ready to print, but you can simply edit the fields by putting your own organization information.

Marketing Brief Template - PDF Templates

Marketing Brief Template

Managing a marketing campaign or promotion is a challenging task. You need to have a marketing plan in order to execute the campaign smoothly with the time and budget provided. Creating a Marketing Brief is very beneficial because it summarizes the marketing strategy for a specific campaign.If you are in the advertising agency or part of the marketing department, then this Marketing Creative Brief Template is for you. This well-designed template contains the client information, project information, and the marketing materials that will be used. The project details explain the project title, description, objectives, target audience, budget overview, advertising guidelines, and competitors.

Glamping Business Plan Template - PDF Templates

Glamping Business Plan Template

Grab the attention of the investors by using this Glamping Business Plan Template. This business plan is simple yet effective because it contains all the necessary details when building a successful business.

SOP Template - PDF Templates

SOP Template

Create a process to organize your employees in managing specific cases or scenarios by using this SOP Template. This template is commonly used in any organization whether it is a small, medium, or large group.

Lean Business Model Canvas Template - PDF Templates

Lean Business Model Canvas Template

See your business from a new perspective with Jotform’s Lean Business Model Canvas Template. Simply fill in a short form with problems your business could solve, how they are currently being solved in the market, and how your company can uniquely work to solve these problems. Our template instantly converts the information into polished PDFs you can download or print for your next big meeting.Our Lean Business Model Canvas Template already looks professional, but you can personalize it further to match your business. Jotform PDF Editor lets you rearrange form fields or add your company logo at the touch of a button! By instantly converting your business model into an accessible PDF format, our Lean Business Model Canvas Template can help you see the bigger picture and determine how to take your business to the next level.

Creative Brief Template - PDF Templates

Creative Brief Template

A Creative Brief is used in advertising, branding, and marketing industries. In order to have a strong and outstanding creative campaign, you need to have a game plan to follow. This serves as a guideline that will help in making decisions related to the campaign.This Creative Brief Template PDF discusses the project details like the project name, due date, and project description. The marketing materials that will be used are listed in the document which includes its specifications like the dimension size, the medium that will be used, and the quantity. This is the best Creative Brief Template you can use for your next creative marketing campaign.

Business Model Canvas Template - PDF Templates

Business Model Canvas Template

Our Business Model Canvas Template includes nine segments which are key partners, key activities, value proposition, customer relations, customer segments, key resources, channels, cost structure, and pricing model.

Blog Post Outline Template - PDF Templates

Blog Post Outline Template

Use this Blog Post Outline Template for your blog content in order to get more visitors, followers, shares, and impressions. This template will definitely help your ranking in search engines.

Gym Business Plan Template - PDF Templates

Gym Business Plan Template

Be successful in the gym business that you're building by securing funding or a loan with the help of this Gym Business Plan Template. This PDF can be printed and given to investors or loan applications.

Meeting Minutes Template - PDF Templates

Meeting Minutes Template

Set goals, plan your actions, and update your team members by tracking the team meetings by using this Meeting Minutes Template. This PDF template will surely help the team in terms of planning and productivity.

Pressure Washing Estimate Template - PDF Templates

Pressure Washing Estimate Template

Create estimates for pressure washing services with the use of web tools. Use this Pressure Washing Estimate PDF template and create instant estimates in PDF format without the trouble of hiring programmers.

Business Hours Template - PDF Templates

Business Hours Template

Announce and let the customers know if your business is open and not by using this Business Hours Template. This PDF template can be customized and personalized by using the PDF Editor.

Memorandum of Understanding Template - PDF Templates

Memorandum of Understanding Template

Build a harmonious relationship between two or more parties by using this Memorandum of Understanding Template. This template is easy to use and can be customized via the PDF Editor.

Scope of Work Template - PDF Templates

Scope of Work Template

Establish the responsibilities of the service provider by using this Scope of Work Template. This document will show the list of work and tasks that should be performed by the service provider.

Custom Sales Funnel Plan - PDF Templates

Custom Sales Funnel Plan

Curriculum Vitae - PDF Templates

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae Template will provide you with all the necessary information that you need for your recruitment procedure and automate the job application process of your business.

Preliminary Notice Template - PDF Templates

Preliminary Notice Template

Notify the parties involved like the property owner, hiring party, notifying party, and contractor about the construction project by using this Preliminary Notice Template. This PDF template can be customized if needed via the PDF Editor.

Credit Analysis - PDF Templates

Credit Analysis

Retainer Agreement - PDF Templates

Retainer Agreement

Create retainer agreements online. Free, easy-to-customize template. Fill out on any device. Collect e-signatures. Save time with automation tools.

Business Plan Financial Template - PDF Templates

Business Plan Financial Template

Create a business plan financial template with Jotform Sign. Drag and drop to customize. Fill out and e-sign from any smartphone, tablet, or desktop.

Transaction Summary - PDF Templates

Transaction Summary

Employee Code of Conduct Template - PDF Templates

Employee Code of Conduct Template

Create a professional code of conduct to send to your employees. Can be signed from any smartphone, tablet, or computer. Easy to customize and share. No coding.

About Simple Business Plan Templates Agents

Plans, strategies, roadmaps – Businesses rely on these things to gain perspective on what’s about to happen. Milestones laid down in strategic and careful planning for growth and expansion, visions of where the company’s headed 10 years from now, goals that should meet timelines, all these require a smart, prudent and calculated planning.

Whether you’re a startup, an SMB, or close to a Fortune 500, a solid business plan is crucial. And of course, writing business plans is a huge task. But, what if you needed something that requires input from others though? Say, an online form or a PDF template where responses from your colleagues and managers matter? Well, here’s a collection of PDF templates for business planning.

These are beautifully designed templates, specifically tailored for businesses and companies who don’t know where to start. The hard part was already done and that’s designing the template. These will serve as boilerplates for whatever milestone your business needs. You won’t need to worry on building something from scratch, you just need to focus on the content. Some of these templates will contain or collect executive summaries, opportunities, expectations, execution, financial plans, forecasts, the whole nine yards.

Business plan templates help give a clear vision of what lies ahead. They help you get things organized, planned out, and help you check off items from your to-do list more efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) what are the seven parts of a business plan.

  • Executive summary. This is an overview of your business plan. The executive summary should include your company’s offerings, mission, goals, and projections. Think of it as the elevator pitch for your business plan. If you can’t get investors interested here, it’s unlikely they’ll want to keep reading.
  • Company description and history. Describe your business’s legal structure and history in addition to what you do. If you just started this business, you may replace company history with your leadership team’s experience. The purpose of this section is to explain the company structure and build confidence in the people running the company.
  • Products and services. Talk about what your company offers, whether that’s products, services, or a combination of the two. Describe your products and services in detail. Explain what makes your offering unique, what your profit margins are, what kind of demand you’re seeing for it, etc.
  • Market and competitor research. Investors want to know if there’s demand for your offering. Describe the target market and how your product or service benefits potential customers. Include projections of where the industry is headed over the next few years. Additionally, detail your competitors and how saturated the market is.
  • Sales and marketing strategy. This part of the business plan explains how you’ll promote your product. Outline elements such as your ideal customer profile (ICP) as well as your marketing channels, budget, and methods.
  • Operations and logistics. Explain how you’ll source materials if you sell products as well as the technology you need to deliver such products and services. Also, provide details about your team, like how many people you’ll need and how you’ll manage employees.
  • Financial plan and projections. It’s crucial to prove that your business will be financially viable. For this, you’ll need revenue and expense projections. Many investors want to see sample account statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections.

2) How do you write a business plan?

Your business plan should be a realistic roadmap that helps you build a successful company. When writing it, take a balanced approach so that you’re not blind to the potential pitfalls and risks. You’ll draft each of the seven sections previously discussed.

Tackling these sections can be overwhelming, so some people like to start with a one-page business plan that includes short paragraphs for each element. Another way to give yourself a head start is by working from a business plan template. Once you have a good start, you can expand each section to make a compelling case for your business.

3) Can I write a business plan myself?

Yes, you can. However, depending on your writing experience and goals, you may want outside help. If the business plan is for internal use with the purpose of improving business functions, you’ll likely be OK tackling it alone. But if you’re trying to secure funding from a bank or investors, a professional business plan writer can give you a leg up.

Even if you decide to do it yourself, have a trusted friend or business mentor review your plan and provide feedback. An objective point of view will help you refine your work.

4) What are the four types of business plans?

  • One-page or mini business plan. The one-page option is a great way to improve the focus of your business plan and highlight the essential elements. It can be an effective way to workshop your company’s plan or quickly give others a rundown of your entire business.
  • Traditional business plan. The traditional business plan is more in-depth than its one-page counterpart and will be more thorough in each section (often, plans exceed 40 pages). For example, it may contain detailed financials, branding samples, and competitive research documents.
  • Business model canvas (BMC). The business model canvas is a more visual representation of your business architecture. It includes sections for infrastructure, offering, customers, finances, etc. Many businesses find the BMC appealing since it can be summarized in a single page.
  • Strategic business plan. The strategic business plan can have different purposes, like proving feasibility, discussing planning operations, or projecting growth. It will outline the company’s goals, its strategy for reaching them, and the company structure. The main difference between this and the traditional plan is its focus on specific strategic initiatives.

5) What are the common mistakes in business plans?

  • Poor writing. Sloppy writing may suggest that you’re not serious about your business or you lack the needed professionalism.
  • Unrealistic expectations. While you should be optimistic about your business, if your financial projections reflect your hopes more than reality, people may hesitate to back your business.
  • Lack of supporting documentation. People reviewing your business plan want to see how you back up your claims. You can include research docs, sample financials, and estimates to make your case.
  • Failing to define the target audience. For a successful marketing plan, you need to define your target audience. Investors and financial institutions need to see if you’re confident about who you’re selling to.
  • Unbalanced. It’s important to lay out the risks and potential upsides. This analysis shows investors that you’re considering the whole picture regarding your business.

These templates are suggested forms only. If you're using a form as a contract, or to gather personal (or personal health) info, or for some other purpose with legal implications, we recommend that you do your homework to ensure you are complying with applicable laws and that you consult an attorney before relying on any particular form.

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How To Write A Business Plan (2024 Guide)

Julia Rittenberg

Updated: Apr 17, 2024, 11:59am

How To Write A Business Plan (2024 Guide)

Table of Contents

Brainstorm an executive summary, create a company description, brainstorm your business goals, describe your services or products, conduct market research, create financial plans, bottom line, frequently asked questions.

Every business starts with a vision, which is distilled and communicated through a business plan. In addition to your high-level hopes and dreams, a strong business plan outlines short-term and long-term goals, budget and whatever else you might need to get started. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to write a business plan that you can stick to and help guide your operations as you get started.

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Drafting the Summary

An executive summary is an extremely important first step in your business. You have to be able to put the basic facts of your business in an elevator pitch-style sentence to grab investors’ attention and keep their interest. This should communicate your business’s name, what the products or services you’re selling are and what marketplace you’re entering.

Ask for Help

When drafting the executive summary, you should have a few different options. Enlist a few thought partners to review your executive summary possibilities to determine which one is best.

After you have the executive summary in place, you can work on the company description, which contains more specific information. In the description, you’ll need to include your business’s registered name , your business address and any key employees involved in the business. 

The business description should also include the structure of your business, such as sole proprietorship , limited liability company (LLC) , partnership or corporation. This is the time to specify how much of an ownership stake everyone has in the company. Finally, include a section that outlines the history of the company and how it has evolved over time.

Wherever you are on the business journey, you return to your goals and assess where you are in meeting your in-progress targets and setting new goals to work toward.

Numbers-based Goals

Goals can cover a variety of sections of your business. Financial and profit goals are a given for when you’re establishing your business, but there are other goals to take into account as well with regard to brand awareness and growth. For example, you might want to hit a certain number of followers across social channels or raise your engagement rates.

Another goal could be to attract new investors or find grants if you’re a nonprofit business. If you’re looking to grow, you’ll want to set revenue targets to make that happen as well.

Intangible Goals

Goals unrelated to traceable numbers are important as well. These can include seeing your business’s advertisement reach the general public or receiving a terrific client review. These goals are important for the direction you take your business and the direction you want it to go in the future.

The business plan should have a section that explains the services or products that you’re offering. This is the part where you can also describe how they fit in the current market or are providing something necessary or entirely new. If you have any patents or trademarks, this is where you can include those too.

If you have any visual aids, they should be included here as well. This would also be a good place to include pricing strategy and explain your materials.

This is the part of the business plan where you can explain your expertise and different approach in greater depth. Show how what you’re offering is vital to the market and fills an important gap.

You can also situate your business in your industry and compare it to other ones and how you have a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Other than financial goals, you want to have a budget and set your planned weekly, monthly and annual spending. There are several different costs to consider, such as operational costs.

Business Operations Costs

Rent for your business is the first big cost to factor into your budget. If your business is remote, the cost that replaces rent will be the software that maintains your virtual operations.

Marketing and sales costs should be next on your list. Devoting money to making sure people know about your business is as important as making sure it functions.

Other Costs

Although you can’t anticipate disasters, there are likely to be unanticipated costs that come up at some point in your business’s existence. It’s important to factor these possible costs into your financial plans so you’re not caught totally unaware.

Business plans are important for businesses of all sizes so that you can define where your business is and where you want it to go. Growing your business requires a vision, and giving yourself a roadmap in the form of a business plan will set you up for success.

How do I write a simple business plan?

When you’re working on a business plan, make sure you have as much information as possible so that you can simplify it to the most relevant information. A simple business plan still needs all of the parts included in this article, but you can be very clear and direct.

What are some common mistakes in a business plan?

The most common mistakes in a business plan are common writing issues like grammar errors or misspellings. It’s important to be clear in your sentence structure and proofread your business plan before sending it to any investors or partners.

What basic items should be included in a business plan?

When writing out a business plan, you want to make sure that you cover everything related to your concept for the business,  an analysis of the industry―including potential customers and an overview of the market for your goods or services―how you plan to execute your vision for the business, how you plan to grow the business if it becomes successful and all financial data around the business, including current cash on hand, potential investors and budget plans for the next few years.

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Examples

Business Project Plan

project business plan pdf

When individuals decide to take on a new endeavor they start by mapping out what exactly it is that they want to do. People involved in business take value on all of their resources simply because starting a new project is basically a gamble they have to take. That is why before they even start to think about the future of a project, they start by carefully planning how to make a project into reality. You may also see plan samples .

Business Start-Up Project Plan Template

Business Start Up Project Plan

  • Google Docs

Size: A4, US

With that in mind, businessmen simply do not start to take on a certain project without considering some important factors like the costs, duration, market, and so on. And even before they even start a plan, they go into extensive brainstorming activities in order to make sure that they have carefully covered and considered all factors that may affect their project. After which, they start on making their project plan. The basics about project plans and project planning will be thoroughly discussed to help you better understand its significance.

business-project-plan1

Purpose of a Project Plan

A project plan is an important aspect of any project since it can lead the project into success or into the complete opposite direction. It is an approved detailed document that is intended to guide, control, and execute a project. Its main purpose is to guide and control the direction and execution of the project in order to make sure that the main goal why the project was made is achieved.

Since it is basically a guide, it is accurate, complete, and as specific. It includes information regarding the project’s staffing, budgets, time lines, deadlines, goals, and measurements. It also provides individual and group objectives and instruction related to how each aspect of the project should be carried out. Just like a business plan, a project plan makes sure all those involved know how to run the project.

As you may know, it is important that there is a unified guide that will let all the individuals involved in the project know where the direction of the project should. Not only that, it makes sure that everyone is functioning under the same goal and to also make sure that what has been approved is followed diligently. In a way, the project plan controls the project by

  • breaking down complex processes into a number of simpler components,
  • providing clarity for obscure or ambiguous tasks in the project,
  • providing a single point of reference for everyone involved in the project,
  • enforcing analyses of the sequence and nature of events,
  • providing a baseline which execution of the project can be compared to, and
  • anticipating possible events and providing pre-planned means of avoiding them.

A project plan is a useful document that can help the project ensure its success. It helps those involved stay grounded on the same goal and makes sure that everyone is taking the mapped out path. This will help individuals better execute their tasks as well as control the direction where it should go.

Basic Business Project Plan Example

Basic Business Project Plan Example

Size: 181 KB

Business Project Plan Example

Business Project Plan Example

Size: 369 KB

Project Work Plan Template Example

Project Work Plan Template Example

Size: 125 KB

Project Planning Template Example

Project Planning Template Example

Size: 163 KB

Education Project Plan Structure Example

Education Project Plan Structure Example

Size: 169 KB

Health Bluetooth Event Tracker Project Plan Example

Health Bluetooth Event Tracker Project Plan Example

Size: 46 KB

Elements of a Project Plan

in order to be able to make an effective project plan, you need to know and understand what are the significant elements you should include in it. Hence, here are the elements that you need to include in a project plan:

1. Project Scope Planning

In any project, the stakeholders are informed about the expected outcome/s which is often called the project deliverables . These project deliverables depend on the project scope. Essentially, defining a project scope is like drawing a map. Just like a map, the project scope outlines the extent and boundaries of the project deliverables. It basically consists of the details regarding what the project should achieve as well as the specifics about the budget of time and cost that provisioned in order to produce the project deliverables before the project comes to a close.

2. Delivery Schedule Planning

After the project scope is determined and the work has been broken down into distinct work items or Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is created, planning and creating the delivery timeline comes next. In every work item that has been identified in WBS, the project planner needs to determine the list of activities that should be performed.

There are commonly five steps needed to create an effective delivery schedule:

  • Defining the tasks/activities.
  • Sequencing the tasks/activities.
  • Estimating the required resources.
  • Estimating the each task duration.
  • Developing the schedule.

3. Project Resources Planning

The project resources are essential in achieving the goal/s of the project. However, the resources are not only limited to the manpower that will make everything in the project work, it is also includes the materials and equipment required to the successful completion of the project. With that in mind, the project resources planning is generally concerned with people/staffing management.  There should be a solid human resource plan that will overlook on the people working on the project. The human resource plan generally answers to the following questions:

  • What kinds of people are required to complete the project—necessary quantity, competencies?
  • What should they do—roles and responsibilities?
  • Whom will they report to? This means that the human resource plan will determine and document what are the specific requirements for each position that they need to fill. This will help ensure that the people working on the project are equipped with the right knowledge, skill set, experience, etc., that they will be handling once assigned to the project.

4. Project Cost Planning

In terms of the monetary needs of the project, the project cost planning is an exercise that helps to baseline the overall project budget in order to reach an agreement between the project stakeholders and project steering committee with regards to the project delivery schedule as well as the payment schedule. It will help determine the elements that will be used for he entirety of the project, this involves the monetary resources requirement (people, machinery, material, equipment, space, etc.) as well as the provisions for risk management (people, machinery, material, equipment, space, etc.)

It is expected that the project cost planning will include the cost estimates per activity that captures the cost implications of

  • people, equipment, facilities, etc., required to complete given activity;
  • inflation, exchange rates applicable for context of the activity.

It is also expected to include the factors considered for estimates that will help record how the cost is determined or what elements formed the basis of cost estimation, and this includes:

  • What all assumptions are made?
  • What all constraints are applied?
  • What all parameters formed as a basis of estimate
  • What is the confidence level of estimate? And Why?

5. Project Quality Planning

Project quality planning is concerned with identifying the quality requirement of the project. Basically, it has everything to do with what standards are supposed to be complied with and in what manner.

The quality plan is expected to highlight the following aspects:

  • Quality Process and Policies
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Cost of Quality
  • Quality Metrics
  • Quality Checklist
  • Control Charts

6. Supporting Plans

  • Risk Management Plan – This plan deals with how risks will be handled should they are arise on the duration of the project. It explains the following along with necessary details that will make it understandable for everyone involved: the risk identification, risk assessment, risk responses, and risk management.
  • Communication Plan – The communication plan helps ensure that appropriate channels are established in order to let correct information flow top-down as well as bottom-up manner.
  • Procurement Plan  – This plan documents purchase policy with regards to purchase process, buy/lease/rent decisions, vendor selection, negotiation, financial concurrence, duration, legal concurrence, etc. It should also determine the roles authorized to make tendering process, financial and legal concurrence, and approval/rejection decision.

Project Execution Plan Example

Project Execution Plan Example

Size: 79 KB

Project Planning Worksheet Example

Project Planning Worksheet Example

Size: 239 KB

Project Plan Format Example

Project Plan Format Example

Size: 433 KB

How to Create an Effective Project Plan

Now that you have an idea on what are the essential elements that makes up a project plan, you should be able to make it for your business projects. However, in order to guide you even more, here are some steps to help you make an effective project plan:

  • Explain the project plan to stakeholders and clearly discuss its key components.
  • Clearly define the roles of responsibilities of everyone or every position involved in the project.
  • Hold a kickoff meeting to gather the stakeholders in order to discuss all that the project entails.
  • Develop a coherent and straightforward scope statement.
  • Develop a scope baseline that comes from the deliverable of the WBS.
  • Create the schedule and cost baselines.
  • Create baseline management plans.
  • Develop the staffing plan or human resource plan.
  • Analyze project quality as well as the risks.
  • There should be clear and efficient communication.

We hope that you have learned useful information with regards to planning project whether for your business or for your personal use. The examples given above can be your reference and guide when you start to develop you own project plan.

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    How To Write A Business Plan (2024 Guide)

  22. Business Project Plan

    In every work item that has been identified in WBS, the project planner needs to determine the list of activities that should be performed. There are commonly five steps needed to create an effective delivery schedule: Defining the tasks/activities. Sequencing the tasks/activities. Estimating the required resources.

  23. PDF Guide to developing the Project Business Case

    This stage aligns with the Cabinet Office Gateway Review point 3 (investment decision) and comprises of the following business case development activities: Step 8: procuring the VfM solution. Step 9: contracting for the Deal. Step 10: planning for successful delivery. Guide to developing the Project Business Case15.