outdoor advertising agency business plan

Outdoor Advertising Agency Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

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Are you about starting an outdoor advertising agency? If YES, here’s a complete sample outdoor advertising agency business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE to get started .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting an outdoor advertising agency. We have analyzed and drafted a sample outdoor advertising agency marketing plan backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for outdoor advertising agencies. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

If you are a public relation specialist and are looking for a business to delve into, then one of your options may be to start a marketing research business. The fact that everyone in business has a product or service to sell makes this line of business viable and profitable.

The truth is that this industry is highly profitable because every business would want to increase sales. Your level of profitability is dependent on your ability to come up with workable solutions to advertising cum publicity challenges for various businesses.

If you are sure this type of business is what you truly want to do after you must have conducted your feasibility studies and market research, then the next step to follow is to write a good business plan; a detailed blue print of how you intend raising your seed capital, setting up the business, managing the flow of the business, sorting out tax and marketing your products amongst other areas.

Below is a sample outdoor advertising agency business plan template that can help you to successfully write your own with little or no difficulty.

A Sample Outdoor Advertising Agency Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The billboard & outdoor advertising industry is composed of companies that create and design advertising materials for public display, including printed, painted or electronic displays. Billboard & outdoor advertising agency may place their displays on billboards or panels as well as on or within transit vehicles, shopping malls, retail stores and other display structures or sites.

If you are a close observer of happenings in the billboard & outdoor advertising industry, you will notice that over the five years to 2018, revenue for the industry increased. Industry operators generate revenue through leasing of advertisement space on display faces, including billboards, public transit and street furniture. The industry experiences stiff competition from various advertising media.

Nonetheless, billboards remain an attractive form of advertising because of their ability to reach a mass market, a feat that is becoming more difficult as consumer markets fragment. Advertising clients are increasingly requesting the measurement of impression and exposure.

This has been detrimental to the industry because this reach is easily deliverable through the various quantifiable metrics that online and social media advertisements offer.

The billboard and outdoor advertising industry is in the mature phase of its life cycle and luckily for the industry, the advent of digital media has provided an opportunity for the industry to explore and experience vibrant growth. Of course, the industry is becoming more concentrated, as seen by a few large global firms dominating the market and gaining huge market share of the available market.

Statistics has it that in the united states of America alone, there are about 13,103 licensed and registered billboard and outdoor advertising agencies responsible for employing about 37,300 employees and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $9 billion annually with an annual growth rate projected at 0.6 percent.

It is important to state that the establishments with lion shares of the available market in this industry are CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings and Lamar Advertising.

A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that the Billboard and Outdoor Advertising industry is composed of companies that design advertising materials for public display, including printed, painted or electronic displays. The report shows that operators may place displays on billboards or panels as well as on or within transit vehicles, shopping malls, retail stores and other display structures or sites.

In the report, it was stated that over the five years to 2018, industry revenue has increased marginally at an annualized rate of 0.6 percent to $8.6 billion. In 2018 alone, industry revenue is expected to grow to 1.9 percent. During the period, industry revenue has been supported by strong growth in total advertising expenditure, consumer spending and corporate profit.

Over and above, billboard and outdoor advertising agencies cannot be phased out despite the change in advertising approaches and the emergence of new media as it is easier for advertising agencies to leverage on modern technology to reach out to their target market.

As a matter of fact, it is cost effective and far reaching for them to make use of social media platforms to carry out some of their advertising campaigns.

2. Executive Summary

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. is a U.S based billboard and outdoor advertising agency that will be located in New York City. We have been able to secure a standard office facility in a central business district in Inglewood.

We set to compete in the highly competitive billboard and outdoor advertising industry not only in the United States market, but also in the global market because our clientele base will not be restricted to just businesses and organizations in the United States but in the international market.

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency will offer robust advertising services to both corporate organizations and individuals. Our core services will revolve around creating advertising campaigns on billboards, alternative and other leased displays, street furniture and other urban fixture displays and transit displays.

Our business goal is to become one of the leading advertising agencies in the United States of America with high profile clients scattered all around the globe. Our workers are going to be selected from a pool of talented and highly creative advertising and media experts in and around New York City and also from any part of the world as the business grows.

We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce through the required training that will position them to meet the expectation of the company and to compete with other advertising agencies such as CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings and Lamar Advertising in the United States.

At Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency our client’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s business needs precisely and completely.

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. is founded by Lincoln Denzel. Lincoln Denzel hails from Brooklyn, New York, has B.A. in Communications at Northern Michigan University; M.S. degree in Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

3. Our Products and Services

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency was established with the aim of maximizing profits in the industry. We will work hard to ensure that Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. do not just work for clients in the United States of America, but also for clients in other parts of the world. Our products and services offerings are listed below;

• Aerial advertising
• Billboard-display advertising
• Bus, taxicab and subway-car advertising
• Display advertising
• Indoor-display advertising
• Outdoor-display advertising
• Store-display advertising
• Transit advertising

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

Our vision is to establish a standard billboard and outdoor advertising agency whose services and brand will not only be accepted in the United States of America, but also in other parts of the world.

Our mission is to provide professional and result oriented billboard and outdoor advertising services and other related advisory and consulting services that will assist businesses in promoting their brands and reaching out to a wide range of potential customers all over the globe.

We want to build a billboard and outdoor advertising agency that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the industry.

Our Business Structure

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency would start up small in New York City, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading advertising agencies in the United State. We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hiring the best hands within our area of operation.

We will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, and creative, result driven, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business. As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company.

In view of the above, Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. has decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Executive Officer
• Creative Director

Billboard and Outdoor Advertising Specialist

Human Resources and Admin Manager

• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Web Designer cum Graphic Artist

Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results and developing incentives
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Creative Director:

• Serves as project manager of the organization; works directly with employees
• Responsible for designing advertising concepts and winning business proposals for the organization
• In charge of copy writing and laying out chronological advertisement plans
• Accomplishes subsidiary objectives by establishing plans, budgets, and results measurements; allocating resources; reviewing progress; making mid-course corrections.
• Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
• Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
• Ensures that the organization work in line with international best practices.
• Accountable for handling media planning and representation
• Responsible for creating advertising campaigns
• Responsible for disseminating advertising campaigns through available outdoor mediums
• Responsible for handling core digital services such as aerial advertising, billboard-display advertising, bus, taxicab and subway-car advertising, display advertising, indoor-display advertising, outdoor-display advertising, store-display advertising and transit advertising
• Handles other related media and advertising advisory and consulting services
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversees the smooth running of daily office activities

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
• Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding sales
• Creates new markets cum businesses for the organization
• Empowers and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant/Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency.
• Serves as internal auditor for Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency.

Web cum Graphic Designers

• Liaises with clients to determine their requirement and budget
• Responsible for Optimizing Website Functionality for owners of existing websites
• Responsible for Search Engine Optimization Services and Code Writing
• Responsible for developing concepts, graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and websites
• Responsible for managing client proposals from typesetting through to design, print and production
• Responsible for preparing drafts or material based on an agreement brief.
• Welcomes clients and potential clients by greeting them in person, online or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the creative director in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries.

6. SWOT Analysis

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency engaged the services of a professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured billboard and outdoor advertising agency that can favorably compete in the highly competitive industry in the United States.

We know that if we get things right before starting our billboard and outdoor advertising agency, we will not have to struggle to attract loyal clients. We hired the services of Dr. Collins Lamar, a HR and Business consultant with bias in business structuring to help us conduct SWOT analysis for our company and he did a pretty good job for us.

Here is a of the result we got from the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc.;

Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of creative, result driven and highly proficient advertising cum branding experts, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in various niche areas in the industry. Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected advertising cum branding experts, our services will be measurable, result driven and guided by best practices in the industry.

As a new billboard and outdoor advertising agency in New York City, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients in the already saturated and highly competitive industry; that is perhaps our major weakness. Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to pump into promoting our business especially via main stream media (TV, Radio and Newspapers et al) the way we would want to.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities available in the billboard and outdoor advertising industry is massive considering the number of individuals, businesses, government agencies and corporate organizations that want to reach out to their target market and increase their market shares, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that is available in the industry.

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of billboard and outdoor advertising agency in same location where our target market exists and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

In recent time, individual behavior and demographics are being consolidated to convey more grounded measurements to the advertiser. Real time traffic, social media, and even camera analytics now provide accurate audience metrics for billboard sites. Digital metrics make it easier for media planners to consider and integrate their advertising campaigns.

You will notice that within the last 10 years, digital has completely transformed offline media – print has moved online, TV is now “on-demand”, and radio channels now distribute content via podcasts. Meanwhile, the billboard remains in the real world – only more data-driven and connected to other digital media.

Technology keeps evolving and along with that, the trends in the outdoor advertising will also change. The latest trend is the moving wall display. It can catch a lot of people’s attention which can bring more conversion to your business.

Lastly, the advertising agencies industry will continue to evolve due to the advancement of computer technology and software applications et al.

8. Our Target Market

We are certain that there is a wide range of both corporate, government and individual clients who cannot successfully run their businesses without the services of standard billboard and outdoor advertising agencies; a company that can help them reach out to their target market and effectively promote their image.

In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various organizations who we know can’t afford to do without our services. We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that we meet and surpass the expectations of our clients.

Below is a list of the people and organizations we will market our services to;

• Banks, Insurance Companies and other related Financial Institutions
• Blue Chips Companies
• Corporate Organizations
• Manufacturers and Distributors
• Real Estate Owners, Developers, and Contractors
• Research and Development Companies
• The Government (Public Sector)
• Schools (High Schools, Colleges and Universities)
• Celebrities, Politicians, Public Figures and Public Speakers
• Sport Organizations
• Religious Organizations
• Political Parties
• Printing Press (Publishing Houses) and Authors
• Aspiring celebrities
• Entrepreneurs and Startups

Our competitive advantage

Surviving in the business world as outdoor advertising agency requires more than your expertise but also how to network with key people that matters.

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the advertising industry means that you are not only expected to be able to deliver excellent services, but you must be result driven and able to meet set targets. No one would want to hire your services if you don’t always meet up with your obligations.

Part of our competitive advantages are ability to negotiate successfully with regulators, ability to provide our services in diverse locations and our ability to attract local patronage. So also, we have a team of creative, result driven and highly proficient advertising cum branding experts, a team with excellent qualifications and experience various niche areas in the advertising agencies industry.

Aside from the synergy that exist in our carefully selected digital marketing experts, our services will be measurable, result driven and guided by best practices in the industry.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the industry and we are going to do all it takes to meet and surpass the expectations of our clients. Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency will generate income by offering the following services;

• Advertising services
• Public relations services
• Media planning & representation
• Creating advertising campaigns
• Other related media and advertising advisory and consulting services

10. Sales Forecast

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency is well positioned to take on the available market in the industry and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough profits from the first six months of operation.

We have been able to examine the industry, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. Below is the sales projection for Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency. It is based on the location of our business and of course the wide range of services we offer and our target market;

• First Fiscal Year: $200,000
• Second Fiscal Year: $500,000
• Third Fiscal Year: $750,000

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are mindful of the fact that there are stiffer competitions in the advertising industry, hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing. Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the advertising industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets.

Our corporate goal is to grow Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. to become one of the leading outdoor advertising agency brands in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with.

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our outdoor advertising agency by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to individuals, corporate organizations, government agencies, non – profits, religious organizations and key stakeholders.
• Promptness in bidding for outdoor advertising contracts from the government and other cooperate organizations
• Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations.
• List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still deliver excellent services
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our in house brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the hearts of our target market. Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc.;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our services
• Install our billboards in strategic locations all around New York City
• Engage in roadshows from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• List Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our company logo

12. Our Pricing Strategy

At Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, we will keep the prices of our services below the average market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance from organizations that would hire our services. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our customers at regular intervals.  

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment via credit cards
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our clients make payment for our services without any stress on their part.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

It is a known fact that in setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

The materials and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked. As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a standard billboard and outdoor advertising agency; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. However, this is what it would cost us to setup Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. in the United of America;

• Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
• The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
• Leasing / renting an office space in a good location in New York City – New York that will accommodate the number of employees for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $150,000.
• The cost for furnishing and equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, server / internet facility, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $30,000
• The amount required to purchase the needed software applications – $3,500
• Launching an official Website will cost – $500
• The amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
• Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $5000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about two hundred and fifty thousand ( 250,000 ) U.S. dollars to successfully set up a medium scale but standard billboard and outdoor advertising agency in the United States of America.

Generating Startup Capital for Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc.

Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency owned, financed and managed by Lincoln Denzel. He has decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank.

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 ( Personal savings $85,000 and soft loan from family members $15,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

It is an established fact that the future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency, Inc. is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while. Lincoln Denzel™ Outdoor Advertising Agency will make sure that the right foundation, structures and standard operating processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of.

Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Securing a standard office facility in a good location in New York City – New York: Completed
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the startup capital from the founders: Completed
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of Logo for the business: Completed
• Secure trademark for our products: In Progress
• Printing of Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of furniture, office equipment, software applications, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress

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Advertising Agency Business Plan

Start your own advertising agency business plan

Promerit Advertising

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Promerit Advertising will offer marketing services to companies that are looking to employ email marketing techniques as the cornerstone of their marketing program.  It is estimated that in Year 1, over 250 billion emails will travel across cyberspace.  Email marketing is quickly becoming a cost-effective method to reach a target audience.  According to Jupiter Communication research, email ad-response rates currently averages between five to 15 percent.  At the same time, the report noted that only 15 percent of Web users read all email messages in their entirety.

The potential is there but so is the risk that the target customer will completely reject the advertising.  Email marketing is a science.  There are effective strategies that will assure that the company will reach the greatest number of potential customers.

Promerit Advertising specializes in successful email marketing campaigns.  Its owners, Robert Humphrey and Cheryl Littlejohn have over eight years of experience in email marketing campaigns between them.  Robert was project leader for the successful Buy.com and Verison email marketing campaign.  Cheryl was technical lead of 800.com’s successful email campaign before joining Robert as technical lead of the Verison email campaign.

Promerit Advertising will design, build, test and deploy the email campaign.  It will also report the progress of the campaign in real-time to provide our customers maximum flexibility.  At the end of the campaign, Promerit will analyze its success in order to improve the company’s future campaigns.

1.1 Mission

Promerit Advertising will offer its customers the best methods and tools in planning and implementing a successful email campaign.  Our campaigns will cut through the mumbo jumbo of mass marketing, increase sales, and enhance customer satisfaction with the company.  Promerit Advertising email campaigns will grab readers immediately and drive home the right message to the right audience.  We will exceed our customers’ expectations for campaign returns.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Promerit Advertising will design, build, test and deploy the email campaign.  It will also report the progress of the campaign in real-time to provide our customers maximum flexibility.  At the end of the campaign, Promerit will analyze its success in order to improve the company’s future campaigns. 

2.1 Company Ownership

Robert Humphrey and Cheryl Littlejohn are the owners of Promerit Advertising.

2.2 Start-up Summary

Robert Humphrey and Cheryl Littlejohn will invest equally in the company.  They will also secure a long-term business loan.  The following table and chart show projected initial start-up costs of Promerit Advertising.

The services offered by Promerit Advertising cover an email marketing project in its entirety, from original concept to post-campaign evaluation.  The service includes the following:

• Design the campaign
• Personalization and targeting
• Email list management
• Building deployment system
• Testing the plan
• Implementing the campaign
• Tracking the campaign’s progress in real-time
• Instant measurability for ROI analysis
• Post-campaign analysis

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

It was recently reported in an eMarketeer online advertising report that online promotions are very powerful with offline companies, as well as online companies.  Though offline companies are offering promotions that necessitate the customer going to one of the company’s stores, consumers feel positive about the online promotions.  This opens up a new avenue for these companies to target customer groups that use computers at work and at home. 

Consumers said they cared mostly about return policies, customer service, and product selection.  A very impressive 94 percent of surveyed users reported they have shopped online before.  About 76 percent of those surveyed said promotions were a positive influence on their buying behavior.  Some 50 percent said online coupons were especially persuasive while 70 percent found offline coupons equally attractive. 

An email campaign can be used to reach target customers no matter how small a company’s Internet presence is, as long as the customer wants the product.

4.1 Market Segmentation

There are two distinct customer groups that Promerit Advertising is focused on:

• Online companies with e-commerce
• Offline companies

4.2 Service Business Analysis

By any measure, the Internet is one of the fastest-growing commercial phenomena ever witnessed by society. Host computers, or servers, have exploded from 3.2 million in 1994 to roughly 79.2 million as of July 2001. During the same time period, the number of websites roared to more than 6 million from only 3,000.

A key factor in the recent growth of the Internet is the popularity of the sub-$1,000 PC. Rapidly falling component prices have allowed PC manufacturers to pass cost savings on to their customers, resulting in a more attractively priced product. Computers sold at or below the $1,000 level have appealed to first-time PC users and lower income families. Because of the more affordable prices, PC penetration in the United States is now approximately 50%, according to Dataquest, a market research firm based in San Jose, California.

The United States accounts for more than half of the world’s total Internet users. When consumers today are asked why they purchased a personal computer, the most common answer is to connect to the Internet to get their email.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Promerit Advertising’s strategy is to utilize the extensive network of contacts both Robert and Cheryl have with companies already sold on the value of email marketing.  In addition, Promerit will use its internal expertise to launch an email marketing campaign directed at a select group of its target customers. 

5.1 Marketing Strategy

With over two million potential customers, Promerit Advertising will focus an email campaign on a select group of 50,000 businesses each fiscal quarter.  We estimate a five percent response rate to the campaign which will generate 1,250 leads.  These leads will then be used to generate business contacts.  Over the year, we will generate 5,000 leads.

5.2 Sales Strategy

Promerit Advertising’s sales strategy is simple.  We will use the email marketing campaign directed at our customer base as a model of what we can accomplish for them.  We anticipate that online companies will be most accessible to our services.  We will be successful with offline companies overtime, but initially sales will be weak with this group.

5.2.1 Sales Forecast

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5.3 Competitive Edge

Robert Humphrey has five years of experience in email marketing campaigns and ten years of experience in direct marketing.  He is a graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in marketing.  Robert worked with several advertising companies before arriving at Kemp and Johnson Advertising in 1997.  With Kemp and Johnson, Robert created and grew the Internet marketing group.  Robert was project leader for the successful Buy.com and Verison email marketing campaign. 

Cheryl Littlejohn graduated with a BS in computer science from UCLA in 1996.  She immediately went to work for the Internet start-up Temple Communication as an IT administrator.  She left in 1998 to join the start-up 800.com as the technical lead of its email campaign.  In 2000, she joined Richard’s Internet group at Kemp and Johnson as technical lead of the Verison email marketing campaign.

Email marketing is an emerging marketing tool with few industry experts.  Robert and Cheryl’s accomplishments over the past three years has been singled out by the industry as models for successful email marketing campaigns.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Robert Humphrey will be responsible for tactical elements of the marketing campaign and Cheryl Littlejohn will manage the technical aspects of the campaign. 

6.1 Personnel Plan

In addition to Robert and Cheryl, there will be three other staff members:

• Secretary/Receptionist
• Salesperson

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The financial plan is presented in the following topics.

7.1 Break-even Analysis

The monthly sales break-even point is is shown in the table and chart below.

7.2 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table and charts outline the projected profit and loss for three years.  We estimate that the agency will not be profitable until the second year of operation.  Promerit Advertising will then grow by about 9% for the second and third year. 

7.3 Projected Cash Flow

The following table and chart highlight the projected cash flow for three years. 

7.4 Projected Balance Sheet

The table shows projected balance sheet for three years.

7.5 Business Ratios

Business ratios for the years of this plan are shown below.  Industry profile ratios based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 7311, Advertising Agencies, are shown for comparison.

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Advertising Agency Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their advertising agencies. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a advertising agency business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is an Advertising Agency Business Plan?

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

Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Advertising Agency

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

Sources of Funding for Advertising agencies

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a advertising agency business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards 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 advertising agency will not only want to confirm 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 social media marketing businesses.

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How to write a business plan for an ad agency.

If you want to start an advertising agency business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your advertising agency business plan template:

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 type of advertising agency you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have an advertising agency that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of advertising agencies?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the advertising industry. Discuss the type of advertising agency you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of advertising agency you are operating and your business model.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of advertising agencies:

• Full-Service Advertising Agency : this type of ad agency performs a variety of client services including digital, traditional, social media, radio and print advertising campaigns.
• Digital Advertising Agency: this type of ad agency focuses on digital marketing and advertising; social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, web design, and SEO.
• Traditional Advertising Agency: this type of ad agency specializes in traditional marketing and advertising campaigns in ways such as radio and television commercials, billboards, magazines, and newspapers advertisements.

In addition to explaining the type of advertising agency business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, number of positive reviews, revenue generated from advertising campaigns, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the advertising agency industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

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

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

The third reason for market research 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 creative agency business plan:

• How big is the advertising agency 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 market for your advertising agency 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 advertising agency business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: start-up companies, large corporations, small businesses and non-profit organizations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of ad agency business you operate. Clearly, a well-established business looking to expand operations would respond to different marketing promotions than a small start-up, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most advertising agencies primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand 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 advertising agencies.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes marketing agencies, graphic designers and freelancers.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other advertising agencies with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be house flippers located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses 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 customers do they serve?
• What types of advertising do they specialize in?
• 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 a wider variety of advertising services?
• Will you provide more team support?
• 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 advertising agency business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of advertising agency company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to advertising services, will you include public relations and/or social media management services as well?

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

Place : Place refers to the location of your advertising agency company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your advertising agency business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a stand-alone building, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your advertising agency marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local websites
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

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 advertising agency business, including marketing your services, obtaining new clients and launching new services.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to have X number marketing campaigns completed, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your advertising agency business’ ability 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 advertising agencies. 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 like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in overseeing advertising campaigns or successfully running their own advertising agency.  

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 revenues 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 obtain two new clients per month or five? 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 advertising agency 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 bank 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 make sure 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.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a advertising agency business:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of equipment and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

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 sample advertising campaigns.  

Putting together a business plan for your advertising agency is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will have an expert ad agency business plan; download it to PDF to show banks and investors. You will really understand the advertising agency industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful advertising agency business.  

Advertising Agency Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my advertising agency business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Advertising Agency Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of advertising agency you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have an advertising agency that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of advertising agencies?

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Advertising Agency business plan?

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Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Free Outdoor Advertising Agency Business Plan Template

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Create a Business Plan for your Outdoor Advertising Agency with ease using Template.net's Free Editable Outdoor Advertising Agency Business Plan Template. This Template is designed by Experts enabling you to come up with a Plan on how to handle your Outdoor Advertising Business. Edit the Document's elements like the Team, objective, and Target Market using our Document Editor Tool. Download and share the document with your Business Partners.

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• Sample Business Plans

Advertising Agency Business Plan

Advertising is an art form and if you are a talented ad artist, there is no better time than today to start your own advertising agency.

Be it in digital form or traditional print media form—Ads make an impact. Be it in a storytelling video, copywriting, or carousel form—Ads reign the hold.

The point is that the advertising market is humongous and even if you have expertise in only one of its domains, you can build a successful advertising agency.

While your skills will make your services desirable, this guide will help you write a business plan that will act as a guiding light in turning your ad agency business successful.

So here we go. Read this detailed guide and find relevant examples, tips, and most importantly an advertising agency business plan template to build your unique business plan.

Let’s dive right in.

Key Takeaways

• Draft a compelling executive summary summarizing the concept, services, strategies, and financial projections of your advertising agency.
• Offer a brief descriptive overview of your company’s mission value, business structure, core objectives, and long-term goals.
• Conduct an in-depth market analysis to determine your target customers and the emerging trends within your market.
• Evaluate your competitors using SWOT analysis and identify your competitive advantage over them.
• Clearly state the services you will be offering and offer a brief description of each.
• Strengthen your operations plan by defining the processes and procedures of your ad agency in detail.
• Introduce your management team and explain the organizational hierarchy of your agency.
• Make realistic projections for sales, expenses, revenue, and startup expenses using a forecasting tool.
• Create visual financial reports like Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement and determine the financial feasibility of your business.

Advertising Industry Overview 2024

Before you kickstart your advertising agency, here are a few advertising industry trends you must know:

• Rise of Cross-Media Marketing : Large corporations and businesses are investing in multiple advertisement channels, both online and offline to grow their overall presence.
• Advertising services : According to Statista , Internet advertising takes the largest share of 63% followed by print and television advertising.
• Highly fragmented : The advertising sector has such a low level of market concentration that no agency in the entire advertising space generates more than 5% of total industry sales .
• Online advertising : The spending on online advertising was more than $222 billion in 2023 and this marketplace is expected to reach $272 billion by 2027.
• Advertising agencies : As of 2022, there were a total of 86,814 small and big advertising agencies in the US.

Now, let’s move forward and understand the components of the business plan in detail.

What to include in your advertising agency business plan?

Let us now walk you through this step-by-step outline that will prompt you to write an actionable business plan covering essential key components.

1. Executive Summary

The Executive summary is nothing but a concise description of your overall advertising agency business plan.

It is after this section that the reader will decide whether to continue reading your plan or not. So, ensure that it narrates essential key details in a compelling storytelling approach.

Begin this section by offering a brief understanding of your advertising agency and thereafter touch the following topics briefly.

• Ad agency concept
• Market Opportunity
• Target market
• Service offerings
• Competition
• Marketing Plan
• Management Team
• Financial outlook

The idea is to have an executive summary so strong that the reader gets answers to all their queries without having to read an entire plan.

Therefore, you should write your executive summary at last after you are done writing for the other business plan components. Having a thorough understanding of the details will help you write this section effectively.

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2. Company Overview

In this section you will offer a brief company description to help the reader get a thorough understanding of your ad agency.

This section is your chance to tell your business story to the reader. So make sure it’s captivating and explanatory.

As for the overview, begin by clearly stating the concept and niche of your ad agency. Disclose your business structure and clarify whether you will be running a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLC, and the details of profit profit-sharing ratio.

If your ad agency has been operating for a considerable time, add details such as when the business was started, its achievements, and the milestones you may have achieved over the years.

Add more insights to this section by describing the business objectives, mission statement, and core values of your ad agency.

You can refer to this example of a mission statement taken from an Upmetrics plan to write a meaningful statement for your plan.

3. Industry and Market Analysis

An in-depth understanding and analysis of the advertising industry is essential to build a successful ad agency.

In this section, you will determine your target market, emerging trends, competition, and competitive advantage in the advertising industry.

Market and Customer Analysis

Begin this section by offering a macro overview of the advertising industry and then narrow down the research to your specific niche.

Determine your serviceable obtainable market and identify the emerging trends within your market.

Further, in this section, you will define your target market by creating a buyer’s persona of your ideal customer. Include the demographic as well as psychographic details of your target customers to get a thorough descriptive picture.

Refer to this buyer’s persona written using Upmetrics AI assistant:

Competitor’s analysis

In the competitive analysis section of your plan, identify the advertising agencies and other businesses that offer direct or indirect competition to your business.

Your direct competitors are other advertising agencies, digital marketing, and social media marketing agencies. While your indirect competitors are freelancers, in-house marketing teams, and PR firms that takes away the share of your serviceable market.

Conduct a SWOT analysis of your key competitors and identify your competitive advantage over them. Analyze your competitors based on their service offerings, target demographics, pricing, and other relevant factors.

Here is an example of competitive advantage using the Upmetrics plan.

4. Service Offerings

Advertising is a huge market and an agency may offer a variety of services to cater to its clientele. In this section, you will help the readers gather a clear understanding of all the services you will be offering.

You may consider adding the following services to the list:

• Ad Marketing
• Content Marketing
• PR services
• Digital marketing services
• Influencer outreach services
• Email marketing services

Refer to this example of ad agency services taken from an Upmetrics plan.

Make this section a little more informative by describing your services in brief. Also, add the pricing of your services to give your readers a thorough picture.

5. Sales and Marketing Plan

In this section of your business plan you will outline the sales and marketing plan for your advertising agency.

Begin by creating a well-defined sales plan highlighting your acquisition strategies, pricing strategies, and your sales goal.

Explain your sales process and outline the different sales approaches you will make to achieve those objectives. This includes sales strategies such as cold calling, lead generation, BD meetings, etc.

Refer to this example highlighting the sales strategy for an advertising agency.

Apex advertising

We’ll ensure a 25% increase in our website traffic every month and a gradual increase in our means to convert that traffic to our customers.

We’ll SEO our website to give our customers an example of how we work.

We’ll advertise by posting appealing billboards and banners in public places and on social media.

We’ll display our work to our customers by sending them introductory letters and by exhibiting them in the waiting area for them.

We will offer a 20% discount on our services for the first five months of our launch.

After laying your sales plan clearly, begin the work on your advertising agency marketing plan.

Some of the prominent marketing strategies for an ad agency include content marketing, email marketing, ad marketing, print media advertising, and SEO practices.

Evaluate the marketing channels that are most suited for your business and draw an individual strategy for each of these marketing channels.

Lastly, highlight your marketing budget and its allocation between different marketing campaigns in this section.

6. Management Team

In this section of your advertising agency business plan, introduce your key management team and offer a brief description of their profile. Highlight their skills, experience, and expertise in the industry and show how they are an invaluable asset for your business.

Introduce every person in the team and offer a rough understanding of their payroll in this section. You can also lay a clear organizational hierarchy map to help understand the flow of authority and responsibility within your organization.

7. Operations Plan

The operations section of your advertising agency business plan outlines the processes and procedures essential for running everyday operations at your advertising agency.

It is the most resourceful document that will guide you to run an efficient ad agency with its utmost detail. However, to make it resourceful consider adding the following elements to your operations section.

Operational processes

Highlight the process for all sorts of business activity and the service offering. This includes processes for service delivery, client acquisition, quality check, client retention, marketing, communication, and much more.

Refer to this Standard Operating Procedure written using Upmetrics AI Assistant.

Tools and technologies

Highlight tools and technologies you will require to deliver ad agency services. This may include software such as a project management system, analytics software, collaboration tools, etc.

Hiring plan

Mention the number of graphic designers, ad specialists, project managers, and accountants required in your business. Briefly describe their qualifications, skills, and payroll for these roles and clearly outline your hiring plan.

Refer to this example describing the hiring plan for an advertising agency.

In addition to ad agency owners, Apex Advertising will have other staff members as follows:

• 1 Accountant to maintain financial and other records
• 1 Receptionist to attend to customers
• 4 Graphic Artists and Painters to design billboards, banners, and brochures
• 2 SEO Specialists to do search engine optimization
• 1 Cleaner to clean the facility

Overall, make this section as detailed as possible. After all, a well-defined operational plan is like a guidebook that can answer all the queries that would arise while running the business.

8. Financial Plan

A Financial plan dictates the success and feasibility of your business idea by offering the investors a clear picture of the agency’s projected profitability, growth, and cash generation capacity.

It needs to be realistic and not something that looks good only in books. So bear that in mind.

Begin by making detailed projections for startup costs, funding, sales, revenue streams, and cash flow. These projections will come in handy when you make the financial statements for your ad agency.

Using the projections made earlier prepare the following key financial reports:

• Balance sheet
• Income statement
• Cash-flow statement
• Break-even analysis

Refer to this Profit and Loss statement taken from an Upmetrics plan and create such financial reports for your plan.

Ideally, the projections for up to 3-5 years are essential to get a realistic view of your business in the long run. However, working on the projections from scratch can be extremely time-consuming and difficult.

In such cases, using a financial forecasting tool from Upmetrics can make the entire task of creating a detailed plan much more easier and effective. Simply enter the details in the tab and let the tool undertake all the manual calculations and create engaging visual reports for you.

Download an Advertising Agency business plan template

Want some help writing the contents of your business plan? Well, here you go. Download our advertising agency business plan sample pdf and use it as a reference point to write your plan.

Kickstart your business planning with our intuitive modern templates that are designed specifically for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Import the data into the editor and get started.

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Let’s streamline the business planning for your advertising agency with Upmetrics. We offer AI assistance, step-by-step guides for writing a business plan, and an extensive library of 400+ business plan samples that can be easily edited to suit your specific preferences.

Whether you plan to start a full-fledged digital advertising agency or a traditional advertising agency, Upmetrics provides valuable resources and insights to build successful and professional business plans that will perfectly align with your business objectives.

Start writing your business plan now.

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Frequently asked questions, what is the easiest way to write an advertising agency business plan.

AI business planning tools are the easiest way to write your advertising agency business plan. An AI Tool will generate excellent responses when you input appropriate prompts and details in it. However, you can also write the plan on your own using business plan samples or take the help of professional business plan writers.

Why not create a business plan using Word or Excel?

Words and Excel lacks the functionality that is essential for making attractive structured business plans. Moreover, it does not allow collaboration making it extremely difficult for businesses who have a team working simultaneously on a plan. On the other hand, business planning tools are extremely versatile and feature-rich making them a more suitable choice.

How profitable is an advertising agency?

The profit margins of an average advertising agency span between 6-10% and in some cases up to 20%. However, once you earn your reputation in the market, you can keep a much higher profit margin for premium services.

What are the 7 components of a business plan?

Here are 7 components that you must include in your advertising business plan:

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Market and industry analysis
• Advertising services
• Marketing and sales plan
• Operations plan
• Financial plan

How to define a target audience in an Advertising Agency business plan?

To determine your target audience, identify who requires your services and who would pay for your charges. Create a buyer’s persona and identify their demographic and psychographic details to get a thorough understanding of your customer.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template

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Marketing your brand or business through outdoor advertising can be a game-changer. But to truly make an impact, you need a well-crafted marketing plan that covers all the bases. That's where ClickUp's Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template comes in!

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Ready to take your outdoor advertising to the next level? Get started with ClickUp's Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template today!

Benefits of Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template

Creating an effective Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan using our template can provide you with numerous benefits, including:

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Main Elements of Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template

ClickUp's Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan template is the perfect tool to streamline your marketing efforts and keep your outdoor advertising campaigns on track. Here are the main elements of this template:

• Custom Statuses: Track the progress of your tasks with 6 different statuses, including Cancelled, Complete, In Progress, Needs Input, Planned, and To Do.
• Custom Fields: Utilize 6 custom fields, such as Quarter, Task Type, Impact, Progress, Percent Completion, and Effort, to organize and categorize your tasks based on relevant criteria.
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• Project Management: Leverage ClickUp's powerful features, including task dependencies, time tracking, collaboration tools, and integrations, to effectively manage your outdoor advertising marketing plan.

How to Use Marketing Plan for Outdoor Advertising

If you're looking to create an effective outdoor advertising marketing plan, follow these steps using the Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template in ClickUp:

1. Define your target audience

Before you start planning your outdoor advertising campaign, it's crucial to identify your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your message? Consider factors such as demographics, interests, and behaviors to ensure your campaign resonates with the right people.

Use custom fields in ClickUp to specify your target audience and keep track of their characteristics.

2. Set clear objectives

What do you want to achieve with your outdoor advertising campaign? Setting clear and measurable objectives will help guide your strategy and ensure that your efforts are focused. Whether it's increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, or generating leads, clearly define your goals.

Create tasks in ClickUp to outline your objectives and assign them to team members responsible for achieving them.

3. Choose the right outdoor advertising channels

There are various outdoor advertising channels to consider, such as billboards, bus shelters, digital screens, and transit advertising. Evaluate each channel based on its reach, visibility, and relevance to your target audience. Select the ones that align best with your objectives and budget.

Use the Board view in ClickUp to compare and prioritize different outdoor advertising channels and make informed decisions.

4. Create compelling and eye-catching content

To make an impact with your outdoor advertising campaign, you need to create visually appealing and attention-grabbing content. Keep your messaging concise, use bold imagery, and ensure that your brand identity shines through. Consider incorporating a strong call to action to drive engagement.

Use Docs in ClickUp to collaborate with your team and create captivating content that aligns with your brand guidelines.

By following these steps and utilizing the Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template in ClickUp, you'll be able to create a well-defined and targeted outdoor advertising campaign that effectively reaches your desired audience and achieves your marketing objectives.

Get Started with ClickUp’s Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template

Marketing teams responsible for outdoor advertising can use the Outdoor Advertising Marketing Plan Template to strategically plan and execute effective advertising campaigns.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a successful outdoor advertising marketing plan:

• Use the Key Results View to track and measure the success of your advertising campaigns
• The Timeline View will help you visualize and plan out the duration of each advertising campaign
• Refer to the Getting Started Guide View for step-by-step instructions and tips on how to create an effective marketing plan
• The Objectives View will help you clearly define the goals and objectives of each advertising campaign
• Use the Progress Board View to monitor the progress of each task and ensure everything stays on track
• Organize tasks into six different statuses: Cancelled, Complete, In Progress, Needs Input, Planned, To Do, to keep track of progress
• Update statuses as you progress through tasks to keep stakeholders informed of progress
• Monitor and analyze tasks to ensure maximum productivity and campaign success.

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9 Steps to Launch Your Outdoor Advertising Agency Business

By alex ryzhkov, resources on outdoor advertising agency.

• Financial Model
• Business Plan
• Value Proposition
• One-Page Business Plan
• SWOT Analysis
• Business Model
• Marketing Plan

Introduction

Outdoor advertising is a rapidly growing industry in the US, with a projected growth rate of 4.8% in 2021 according to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. With billions of dollars spent annually on outdoor advertising , there is ample opportunity for entrepreneurs to start their own outdoor advertising agency business.

However, starting an advertising agency is not for the faint of heart. It requires careful planning, strategic thinking, and a solid understanding of the industry. In this blog post, we will provide a detailed nine-step checklist for launching an outdoor advertising agency business, from developing a business plan to continuously analyzing and adjusting the plan to stay competitive and adapt to changing industry trends.

How To Open/Start/Launch a Outdoor Advertising Agency Business in 9 Steps: Checklist

Opening an outdoor advertising agency business requires significant planning and preparation to ensure success. Developing a detailed business plan, conducting market research, and securing necessary permits and licenses are essential steps to take before launching the business. Creating a portfolio of advertising options, establishing relationships with media companies, and developing a marketing strategy can take several months and require a significant investment. Hiring a team of experienced professionals and delivering high-quality results should be a focus when launching the business. Finally, continuously analyzing and adjusting the business plan to stay competitive and adapt to changing industry trends is vital to long-term success in the outdoor advertising industry.

Develop A Detailed Business Plan

If you're looking to start an outdoor advertising agency, developing a detailed business plan is crucial for success. The plan should include information on the company's vision, goals, target audience, and marketing strategy. Consider the following steps when creating your business plan:

• Identify your target audience: Determine the clients you want to attract and the verticals or geographic locations you plan to specialize in.
• Define your services and offerings: Develop a portfolio of advertising options, such as digital and interactive advertising, to meet the growing demand for innovative outdoor advertising solutions.
• Create a financial model: Determine funding sources, revenue projections, and pricing strategy.
• Conduct SWOT analysis: Analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your business.
• Estimate startup costs: Calculate the expenses required to launch your business, such as permits, licenses, and office space.
• Establish a sales strategy: Determine how you will generate new business and retain existing clients.
• Refer to industry reports and competitor analysis to make informed decisions when developing your business plan.
• Be realistic in your financial projections and anticipate potential setbacks.
• Continuously update and adjust your business plan to stay competitive and adapt to changing industry trends.

By developing a detailed business plan, you can identify market opportunities, set achievable goals, and create a roadmap to success for your outdoor advertising agency.

Conduct Market Research And Analyze The Competition.

One of the most important steps in starting an outdoor advertising agency business is to conduct market research and analyze the competition . This process involves gathering and analyzing data on your target market, understanding their needs, and identifying the key players in the industry.

By conducting market research, you can gain valuable insights into the current demand for different types of outdoor advertising and identify any gaps in the market that your business can fill. You can also use this research to determine the size and potential profitability of your target market.

Once you have a good understanding of your target market, it is essential to analyze the competition. Identify the key players in your local area, their service offerings, pricing strategy, strengths, and weaknesses. This analysis will help you determine how you can differentiate yourself from the competition and offer a unique value proposition to potential clients.

Tips for conducting market research and competitor analysis:

• Use online tools such as Google Analytics, Google Trends, and SEMrush to gather data on search volume and competition in your target market.
• Conduct surveys or focus groups to gain valuable insights into the needs and preferences of your target market.
• Attend trade shows and conferences to network with industry professionals and gain insights into the latest trends and innovations in outdoor advertising.
• Visit the websites and social media pages of your competitors to gather information on their service offerings, pricing, and customer reviews.

By conducting thorough market research and competitor analysis, you can develop a solid understanding of your target market and the competitive landscape. This understanding will help you develop a strong business plan and marketing strategy that can differentiate your outdoor advertising agency and help you succeed in a highly competitive industry.

Create A Financial Model And Determine Funding Sources.

Before launching your outdoor advertising agency, it is crucial to create a financial model to determine your startup and ongoing costs. This model will help you determine your required funding sources and potential revenue streams. The following are important factors to consider when creating your financial model:

• Startup Costs: These include expenses such as office space rent, equipment, website development, marketing materials, legal fees, and any necessary permits and licenses.
• Operating Costs: These include ongoing expenses such as employee salaries, advertising expenses, rent and utilities, and other overhead costs.
• Revenue Streams: Determine your potential revenue streams, including commission-based fees, additional charges for innovative advertising solutions, and potential partnerships with media companies.
• Funding Sources: Once you have determined your startup and operational costs and potential revenue streams, you must identify funding sources. Consider options such as bank loans, angel investors, and crowdfunding platforms.
• Be realistic with your financial projections.
• Utilize industry benchmarks when determining your revenue streams.
• Consider seeking guidance from a financial advisor or mentor.

Creating a detailed financial model and identifying funding sources are essential steps to launching a successful outdoor advertising agency. Take the time to develop a comprehensive plan and continuously monitor and analyze your financials to ensure you are on track for success.

Secure Necessary Permits And Licenses.

Before starting your outdoor advertising agency business, it is important to secure the necessary permits and licenses to ensure you are operating legally. This step can vary depending on your location and the types of advertising options you plan to offer, so it's important to do your research and consult with local authorities and industry associations.

Here are some important permits and licenses to consider:

• Zoning and Land Use Permits: Depending on your location, you may need to obtain permits to use certain types of outdoor advertising, such as billboards and signs. Check with your local planning department to ensure you are complying with zoning and land use regulations.
• Business Licenses: To operate any type of business, you will need to obtain a business license. Check with your local government to find out what type of license you need and how to apply for it.
• Advertising Permits: Some cities and states require permits for outdoor advertising, such as billboards and signs. Check with your local government to find out what permits you may need and how to obtain them.
• Vehicle Permits: If you plan to use vehicles to transport supplies or install advertising, you may need to obtain permits for your vehicles. Check with your state department of transportation to find out what types of permits you need and how to obtain them.
• Consult with a local attorney or industry association to ensure you have all the necessary permits and licenses to operate your outdoor advertising agency business.
• Stay up-to-date with any changes in regulations or permit requirements to avoid legal issues and fines.
• Consider hiring a permit expediter or consultant to help you navigate the permitting process and ensure you are complying with all regulations.

By securing the necessary permits and licenses, you can operate your outdoor advertising agency business with confidence and avoid any legal challenges down the road.

Develop A Portfolio Of Advertising Options And Establish Relationships With Media Companies.

One of the key factors to success in the outdoor advertising industry is to have a diverse portfolio of advertising options. This will not only make your agency more attractive to clients but also allow you to provide more targeted advertising options to meet their specific needs. To develop an effective portfolio, there are certain steps you need to follow:

• Analyse the industry trends: To be competitive, you need to stay on top of the latest industry trends and developments. By analyzing industry trends and understanding what your competitors are doing, you will be better positioned to develop advertising solutions that stand out from the crowd.
• Determine your target clientele: It is important to know who your target clientele is and what their advertising needs are. This will allow you to tailor your portfolio to meet their specific needs and provide the best possible service.
• Identify and establish relationships with media companies: To provide a diverse portfolio, you need to establish relationships with a wide range of media companies. This includes traditional billboard companies, digital advertising providers, and any other companies offering outdoor advertising solutions. By developing strong relationships, you can negotiate better rates and secure better advertising placements for your clients.
• Create advertising packages: Offering advertising packages can make it easier for clients to choose the right solution for their needs. Consider packaging different outdoor advertising solutions together, such as billboards, digital advertising, and mobile advertising.
• Ensure quality and consistency: It is important to ensure that all advertising options offered in your portfolio are of high quality and consistent with your clients' branding. This will help build trust with your clients and increase the likelihood of repeat business.
• Consider offering innovative and interactive advertising options to stand out from your competition.
• Regularly update your portfolio to reflect changes in industry trends and client needs.
• Continuously evaluate advertising options to determine which ones are the most effective and which ones should be removed from your portfolio.

Hire A Team Of Experienced Professionals, Including Account Managers And Designers.

As you start your outdoor advertising agency, assembling the right team is crucial to your success. Your team should have the right expertise, experience, and creativity to deliver high-quality results that meet clients' needs.

Here are some tips to help you hire the right team:

Tip #1: Look for experienced professionals

• Account managers: Look for individuals with experience in advertising or marketing, particularly those with outdoor advertising experience.
• Designers: Look for individuals with a creative portfolio that demonstrates their design skills.
• Production artists: Look for individuals with technical expertise in creating digital and print advertisements.
• Installers: Look for individuals with experience in installing and maintaining outdoor advertising media.

Tip #2: Conduct in-depth interviews

• Ask relevant questions to assess candidates' experience, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
• Use role-playing exercises or case studies to simulate real-life scenarios and test their ability to work under pressure.
• Check their references to verify their claims and get insights from former employers or clients.

Tip #3: Foster a positive company culture

• Provide a supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity, collaboration, and innovation.
• Offer training and development opportunities to help your team grow their skills and expertise.
• Recognize and reward outstanding performance and contributions to the company's success.

By following these tips, you can build a team of professionals who share your vision and can help you achieve your business goals. Remember that your team is an essential component of your business, so invest time and resources in hiring and retaining great talent.

Develop A Marketing And Advertising Strategy To Reach Potential Clients.

Tip 1: identify your target audience.

• Determine which industries or geographic locations you will specialize in to make it easier to target potential clients.

Tip 2: Build Relationships with Clients and Media Partners

• Attend conferences and other industry events to network with potential clients and industry experts.
• Establish relationships with media partners to gain access to advertising space and negotiate lower rates for clients.

Tip 3: Leverage Digital and Social Media Platforms

• Use digital marketing channels such as Google AdWords, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to target potential clients with ads.
• Share industry news and trends on social media to demonstrate your expertise and keep clients engaged.

Tip 4: Deliver High-Quality Results and Build Your Reputation

• Provide excellent customer service to clients and deliver high-quality advertising results to build a positive reputation in the industry.
• Ask satisfied clients to leave reviews online or provide testimonials that you can use in your marketing and advertising materials.

Launch The Business With A Focus On Customer Service And Delivering High-Quality Results.

After putting in all the hard work of developing a business plan, conducting market research, building a portfolio of advertising options, hiring experienced professionals, and developing a marketing strategy, it's now time to launch your outdoor advertising agency. However, it's crucial to launch the business with a focus on customer service and delivering high-quality results.

Here are some tips to help you launch your business with a customer-centric mindset:

1. Make a great first impression:

2. set realistic expectations:, 3. communicate effectively:, 4. pay attention to the details:, 5. provide excellent customer service:.

Remember that word-of-mouth referrals are powerful: If your clients are happy with your services, they are likely to recommend you to others. On the other hand, if they are dissatisfied, they may leave negative reviews that could harm your reputation.

Therefore, launch your business with a customer-centric mindset and a determination to deliver high-quality results. Your clients are the lifeblood of your agency, so prioritize their needs and build long-term relationships with them.

Continuously Analyze And Adjust The Business Plan To Stay Competitive And Adapt To Changing Industry Trends.

As technology evolves and consumer behavior changes, the outdoor advertising industry must adapt and innovate to remain competitive. That's why it's essential to continuously analyze and adjust your business plan to stay ahead of the curve and meet the evolving needs of your clients.

Here are some tips on how to stay agile and competitive in the outdoor advertising industry:

Schedule Regular Planning and Strategy Meetings

• Set aside time each quarter to review your business plan and assess your progress towards your goals.
• Gather your team and brainstorm new ideas and strategies to stay competitive and ahead of the competition.
• Identify areas of opportunity and adjust your plan accordingly.

Track Industry Trends and Innovations

• Stay up-to-date with industry news and trends by attending industry events and conferences.
• Monitor your competitors' activities and strategies to identify emerging trends and best practices.
• Explore new technologies and advertising options, such as augmented reality and programmatic outdoor advertising.

Solicit Feedback from Clients and Employees

• Regularly check in with your clients to ensure that their needs and expectations are being met.
• Solicit feedback from your employees and encourage them to share their ideas and suggestions for improving operations and delivering better customer service.
• Use feedback to identify areas for improvement and adjust your business plan accordingly.

By staying agile and adapting to industry trends, you can ensure that your outdoor advertising agency remains competitive and delivers value to your clients for years to come.

Starting a successful outdoor advertising agency business requires careful planning, market research, and a focus on delivering high-quality services to clients. By following the nine steps in this checklist, you can launch a commission-based advertising agency and succeed in a highly competitive industry.

• Develop a detailed business plan.
• Conduct market research and analyze the competition.
• Create a financial model and determine funding sources.
• Secure necessary permits and licenses.
• Develop a portfolio of advertising options and establish relationships with media companies.
• Hire a team of experienced professionals, including account managers and designers.
• Develop a marketing and advertising strategy to reach potential clients.
• Launch the business with a focus on customer service and delivering high-quality results.
• Continuously analyze and adjust the business plan to stay competitive and adapt to changing industry trends.

Remember to continuously monitor the industry for new trends and opportunities, and be ready to adapt to changes quickly to stay ahead of the competition. By staying focused on delivering the best possible service to clients, you can build a successful outdoor advertising agency business that is both profitable and rewarding.

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Advertising Agency Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Advertising Agency Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Advertising Agency business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Advertising Agencies.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Advertising Agency business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

The Premium Advertising Agency is a startup advertising agency located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company is founded by Patricia and Danielle Swanson, sisters who have amassed millions of dollars for their clients over the past ten years while working at a national chain advertising agency. Now that they’ve garnered a positive reputation of securing a high rate of visibility and profitability for their clients, they have decided to form their own company and they’ve invited former clients to join them. They plan on recruiting a highly-effective team of associates to help manage their agency at the highest peak of performance and stellar results for their clients.

The Premium Advertising Agency will provide a comprehensive array of advertising services to a wide variety of companies and entities that need assistance in launching or growing their businesses. The Premium Advertising Agency will be a one-stop shop for everything needed to propel any business to the next level of profitability and exposure to new client bases within their local region. Premium Advertising Agency will be the ultimate choice in Cincinnati for advertising campaigns and services, while also being a moderately-priced agency in the city.

Product Offering

The following are the services that Premium Advertising Agency will provide:

• Full-service digital media marketing
• Targeted traffic campaigns
• Market research
• Strategic traditional advertising campaigns
• Innovative and results-driven solutions
• Social media analytics
• Content creation (website, social media)
• Influencer marketing
• Paid advertising campaigns
• Day to day account management

Customer Focus

Premium Advertising Agency will target small-to-large-sized businesses within the greater Cincinnati region. There is no company that is too small or too large that cannot benefit from a comprehensive and effective advertising promotion or ongoing advertising program. Premium Advertising Agency will target executive board members at networking events. Premium advertising Agency will target diverse, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.

Premium Advertising Agency will target marketing managers via local and national associations.

Management Team

Premium Advertising Agency will be co-owned and operated by Patricia and Danielle Swanson. They have recruited Jay Jameson to be the Accounts Manager and Lawrence Slater to be the Staff Accountant. In addition, they have recruited Janelle Meredith to be the Human Resources Manager.

Patricia Swanson is a graduate of the University of Ohio, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Digital Marketing. Danielle Swanson is also a graduate of the University of Ohio, where her earned degree was in Business Management. Patricia and Danielle amassed millions of dollars for their clients over the past ten years while working at a national chain advertising agency. Now that they’ve garnered a positive reputation of securing a high rate of visibility and profitability for their clients, they have decided to form their own company and they’ve invited former clients to join them.

Success Factors

Premium Advertising Agency will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team at the Premium Advertising Agency
• Comprehensive menu of services, including social media and digital campaigns
• Traditional advertising campaigns with highly-productive and profitable results
• Innovative techniques that solve the difficult advertising issues of today’s consumer groups
• Select marketing and advertising campaigns for startup companies.
• Premium Advertising Agency offers the best pricing packages for full-service, ongoing account maintenance or one-time marketing campaigns. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective when compared to their competition.

Financial Highlights

Premium Advertising Agency is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its Premium Advertising Agency. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office space build-out: $20,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for Premium Advertising Agency.

Company Overview

Who is premium advertising agency.

Premium Advertising Agency is a newly established, full-service advertising agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. Premium Advertising Agency will be the most reliable, effective, and results-driven choice for all businesses in Cincinnati and the surrounding communities. Premium Advertising Agency will provide a comprehensive menu of advertising and marketing services for any business, large or small, to utilize. Their full-service approach includes a comprehensive array of customized campaigns.

  Premium Advertising Agency will be able to actively manage every client account, with dedication to the unique needs of each client. The team of professionals are highly qualified and experienced in marketing and advertising across all traditional methods and digital platforms, as well. Premium Advertising Agency removes all the typical headaches and issues of advertising and marketing and ensures effective solutions are provided, while delivering the best customer service at the same time.

Premium Advertising Agency History

Since incorporation, Premium Advertising Agency has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Premium Advertising Agency, LLC to transact business in the state of California.
• Has a contract in place for a 20,000 square foot office in a midtown building.
• Reached out to numerous contacts and former clients to spread the word and follow Premium Advertising Agency to their new location.
• Began recruiting a staff of fifteen account managers and six office personnel to work at Premium Advertising Agency.

Premium Advertising Agency Services

The following will be the services Premium Advertising Agency will provide:

Industry Analysis

The advertising agency industry is expected to grow over the next five years to over $500 billion. The growth will be driven by an increased dependency on social media marketing and various forms of digital campaigns. These will replace some traditional forms of advertising and marketing. The growth will also be driven by an increased number of customers who view the internet for a variety of purposes, where advertisements can be strategically placed to influence buying decisions. The growth will also be driven by the application of technological solutions and invitations to consumers not yet known. The growth will be driven by fewer brick-and-mortar stores and an increase in online purchases and marketing campaigns thus directed. Costs will likely be reduced as digital platforms and consumer invitations will become more plentiful and thus, less expensive to produce.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Premium Advertising Agency will target the businesses in Cincinnati, Ohio. They will target marketing directors and executive personnel of companies. They will target startup companies that are diverse, woman-owned or veteran-owned. They will target associations and trade show events where personal meetings with executives can take place.

Customer Segmentation

Premium Advertising Agency will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Businesses in the Cincinnati, Ohio region.
• Marketing directors
• C-suite executives and decision-makers
• Startup company executives of diverse, woman-owned, or veteran-owned businesses
• Marketing association executives and thought leaders

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Premium Advertising Agency will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Boone & Stratton Advertising

Boone & Stratton Advertising provides comprehensive marketing and advertising services within Cincinnati, Ohio and the surrounding communities. The company is over 100 years old and is entrenched with family members of both original partners, Madison Boone and Jeremy Stratton. The company has 100 advertising managers, who primarily focus on traditional advertising methods in print, telephone, and added-value inserts in publications. The company leases a multi-story building in the downtown area of Cincinnati and is known for the “team spirit” of the advertising account managers and rigorous standards of professionalism required of each by the executive board members.

Although Boone & Stratton Advertising is well-entrenched in the Cincinnati business landscape, the company does not engage in digital marketing or social media outreach campaigns. This leaves the opening for newer, innovative companies to enter their space and engage with their customers, particularly if companies are targeting younger demographic audiences.

SportsSupport Ad Agency

The SportsSupport Ad Agency is a company that focuses on the sports industry throughout the U.S. The Cincinnati location is one of 25 within this national chain advertising agency and the focus for this location is on regional sports clients. The advertising agency has highly-segmented sports apparel clients directed toward outdoor winter activities, as well as spring, summer and fall activities that include boats, fishing and accessory clients for those targeted audience segments. SportsSupport Ad Agency uses social media marketing via popular channels and uses certain channels to conduct surveys or to test product ideas. Most of the campaigns are directed toward the executives within the industries related to sports and their ad budgets for the yearly track of traditional advertisements.

XYZ Digital Promotions

XYZ Digital Promotions is a social media marketing agency located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company targets the brand managers who oversee products that appeal to younger demographic customers. XYZ Digital Promotions claims to effectively enter and invite that target market better than any other advertising agency. XYZ Digital Promotions targets and partners with executives of beer, music festivals, streetwear, and hip hop music labels to bring the message to consumers via structured and direct digital campaigns.

XYZ Digital Promotions was founded in 2020 during the global pandemic. The brand messages offered to consumers were on-point and spoke to their “human condition,” as well as pointing to a variety of products to solve or provide solace for those hard conditions. Campaigns include new music cuts and contain an array of references to popular stars of the year, with memes and graphic art elements to most campaigns. XYZ Digital Promotions is a highly-segmented, successful advertising and marketing company directed to the consumer aged 17-25.

Competitive Advantage

Premium Advertising Agency will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Innovative techniques that solve the advertising issues of today’s consumer groups

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Premium Advertising Agency will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified team of skilled employees who are able to provide a comprehensive array of social media campaigns and traditional advertising techniques to ensure successful growth for their clients.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Premium Advertising Agency is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Premium Advertising Agency has built up an extensive list of contacts and clients over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to their account clients. Premium Advertising Agency invites former and current clients to follow them to the new company and help spread the word of the Premium Advertising Agency.

Professional Associations and Networking

Premium Advertising Agency will embark on a thorough campaign to network extensively through regional association and business groups. They will also target marketing directors and executive personnel within those same business groups. They will target startup companies that are diverse, woman-owned or veteran-owned.

Website/SEO Marketing

Premium Advertising Agency will fully utilize their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Premium Advertising Agency provides. The website will also list their contact information. Agency brand managers, and list their top-tier brand alliances. The Premium Advertising Agency’s website presence will engage SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “advertising agency” or “marketing company near me”, Premium Advertising Agency will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Premium Advertising Agency will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive excellent value when purchasing their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Premium Advertising Agency. Operation Functions:

• Patricia Swanson will be the President and co-owner of the company. Danielle Swanson will be the Vice President and co-owner of the company. They will oversee all staff and manage client relations. Danielle and Patricia have spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Jay Jameson, a former associate at their prior employer, will take on the role of the Accounts Manager, directing and assisting Account Representatives.
• Janelle Meredith, a former associate, will be the Administrative Manager, and will manage the office administration, client files, and provide human resources training.
• Lawrence Slater will be the Staff Accountant, providing all client accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.

Milestones:

Premium Advertising Agency will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease office space
• 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for Premium Advertising Agency
• 6/1/202X – Finalize contracts for Premium Advertising Agency clients
• 6/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
• 6/22/202X – Begin moving into Premium Advertising Agency office
• 7/1/202X – Premium Advertising Agency opens its office for business

Jay Jameson, a former associate at their prior employer, will take on the role of the Accounts Manager, directing and assisting Account Representatives. Janelle Meredith, a former associate, will be the Administrative Manager, and will manage the office administration, client files, and provide human resources training. Lawrence Slater will be the Staff Accountant, providing all client accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Premium Advertising Agency are the fees they will charge to their clients for their advertising and marketing services.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff Premium Advertising Agency. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, office supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Premium Advertising Agency is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its advertising agency. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of Clients Per Month: 35
• Average Revenue per Month: $175,000
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, advertising agency business plan faqs, what is an advertising agency business plan.

An advertising agency business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your advertising agency business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Advertising Agency business plan using our Advertising Agency Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Advertising Agency Businesses? 

There are a number of different kinds of advertising agency businesses , some examples include: Full-Service Advertising Agency, Digital Advertising Agency, and Traditional Advertising Agency.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Advertising Agency Business Plan?

Advertising Agency businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start an Advertising Agency Business?

Starting an advertising agency business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop An Advertising Agency Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed advertising agency business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your advertising agency business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your advertising agency business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Advertising Agency Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your advertising agency business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your advertising agency business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Advertising Agency Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your advertising agency business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your advertising agency business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful advertising agency business:

• How to Start an Advertising Agency

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• Market Research
• Business Plans
• Pitch Decks
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Outdoor Advertising Agency Business Plan Template

Explore Options to Get a Business Plan.

Are you interested in starting your own outdoor advertising agency  Business?

Introduction

Global market size, target market, business model, competitive landscape, legal and regulatory requirements, financing options, marketing and sales strategies, operations and logistics, human resources & management, why write a business plan.

• Business Plans can help to articulate and flesh out the business’s goals and objectives. This can be beneficial not only for the business owner, but also for potential investors or partners
• Business Plans can serve as a roadmap for the business, helping to keep it on track and on target. This is especially important for businesses that are growing and evolving, as it can be easy to get sidetracked without a clear plan in place.
• Business plans can be a valuable tool for communicating the business’s vision to employees, customers, and other key stakeholders.
• Business plans are one of the most affordable and straightforward ways of ensuring your business is successful.
• Business plans allow you to understand your competition better to critically analyze your unique business proposition and differentiate yourself from the market.
• Business Plans allow you to better understand your customer. Conducting a customer analysis is essential to create better products and services and market more effectively.
• Business Plans allow you to determine the financial needs of the business leading to a better understanding of how much capital is needed to start the business and how much fundraising is needed.
• Business Plans allow you to put your business model in words and analyze it further to improve revenues or fill the holes in your strategy.
• Business plans allow you to attract investors and partners into the business as they can read an explanation about the business.
• Business plans allow you to position your brand by understanding your company’s role in the marketplace.
• Business Plans allow you to uncover new opportunities by undergoing the process of brainstorming while drafting your business plan which allows you to see your business in a new light. This allows you to come up with new ideas for products/services, business and marketing strategies.
• Business Plans allow you to access the growth and success of your business by comparing actual operational results versus the forecasts and assumptions in your business plan. This allows you to update your business plan to a business growth plan and ensure the long-term success and survival of your business.

Business Plan Content

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Industry Analysis
• Consumer Analysis
• Competitor Analysis & Advantages
• Marketing Strategies & Plan
• Plan of Action
• Management Team

The financial forecast template is an extensive Microsoft Excel sheet with Sheets on Required Start-up Capital, Salary & Wage Plans, 5-year Income Statement, 5-year Cash-Flow Statement, 5-Year Balance Sheet, 5-Year Financial Highlights and other accounting statements that would cost in excess of £1000 if obtained by an accountant.

The financial forecast has been excluded from the business plan template. If you’d like to receive the financial forecast template for your start-up, please contact us at [email protected] . Our consultants will be happy to discuss your business plan and provide you with the financial forecast template to accompany your business plan.

Instructions for the Business Plan Template

To complete your perfect outdoor advertising agency business plan, fill out the form below and download our outdoor advertising agency business plan template. The template is a word document that can be edited to include information about your outdoor advertising agency business. The document contains instructions to complete the business plan and will go over all sections of the plan. Instructions are given in the document in red font and some tips are also included in blue font. The free template includes all sections excluding the financial forecast. If you need any additional help with drafting your business plan from our business plan template, please set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation with one of our consultants.

Ongoing Business Planning

Want a bespoke business plan for your outdoor advertising agency business, our expertise, outdoor advertising agency business plan template faqs, what is a business plan for a/an outdoor advertising agency business, how to customize the business plan template for a outdoor advertising agency business, what financial information should be included in a outdoor advertising agency business plan, are there industry-specific considerations in the outdoor advertising agency business plan template, how to conduct market research for a outdoor advertising agency business plan, what are the common challenges when creating a business plan for a outdoor advertising agency business, how often should i update my outdoor advertising agency business plan, can i use the business plan template for seeking funding for a outdoor advertising agency business, what legal considerations are there in a outdoor advertising agency business plan.

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Outdoor Advertising as a Marketing Strategy: Effective Tactics That Work

Create and plan an effective outdoor advertising marketing strategy by knowing the various types of outdoor media to reach more people.

Implementing an outdoor advertising marketing strategy still works despite the widespread use of digital channels.

Traditionally, companies relied on outdoor advertising as their marketing strategy to reach more people. Using outdoor media is still a viable form of marketing strategy, especially for brand awareness. Outdoor advertising complements well with your other campaigns and is also an added boost for your marketing efforts.

Outdoor advertising is continuously growing owing to the demand of various businesses. By the end of 2023, out-of-home advertising will have an expected $11.7 billion total spend in the United States.

Companies invest in their outdoor advertising marketing strategy as it's an effective way to reach more people with less effort. Additionally, out-of-home ads are even more effective than other forms of advertisements, according to a report from OAAA.org :

• 382% more effective than TV
• 200% more effective than print
• 63% more effective than radio to lead consumers online

Let's explore what outdoor advertising marketing strategy constitutes and how you can use it to promote your brand effectively.

What Is an Outdoor Advertising Strategy?

The interchangeable term for outdoor advertising is OOH, which means out-of-home advertising. Using the term out-of-home is a more formal way of indicating that an advertisement is situated outdoors.

As the name implies, an outdoor advertising marketing strategy is one where you use outdoor locations and public spaces to promote your business.

Out-of-home advertisements come in various formats, which you can choose depending on your preferred outdoor advertising marketing strategy.

Types of Outdoor Advertising To Gain More Exposure

The goal of outdoor advertising is to expose your products and services to as many people as possible. There are many outdoor advertising formats you can choose to use. It depends on the intent, target customers, and branding of your business.

1. Billboard Advertisements 

Easily recognizable billboards are everywhere for a reason - they capture attention instantly without forcing the viewers to take a look. As one of the most common types of outdoor advertising marketing strategy, billboards come in different formats, which are mainly:

• Static print billboards
• Digital billboards
• Interactive billboards

You can choose the type of billboard that suits the location you're eyeing to place the outdoor ad. Large printed billboards can have maximum exposure on a busy highway. Digital or video billboards are best shown during the night to attract more people to look at them. Meanwhile, interactive billboards entice more people to engage when you place them in busy public spaces such as malls or public transport stations.

2. Advertisements on the Streets 

Strategically placed along the streets are advertisements that seemingly blend within the surroundings. You can see them across areas where people stop by or pass through, such as:

• Street furniture
• Pedestrian walkways
• Store signages

This type of outdoor advertisement is easily noticeable as people walk around or even while inside their vehicles. Outdoor ads on street furniture or walkways have this subtle appearance, making people familiar with your brand without blatantly advertising or distracting their sight.

3. Vehicle Advertisements 

To take your outdoor advertising marketing strategy on mobile, you can put banners on buses, taxis, or even trains. Public transportation carries several people on board, which means you already have a guaranteed audience while people take their daily commute.

If the stickers on these vehicles are not enough for you, mobile outdoor ads can be an option. These vehicles serve as moving advertisements for your brand. You will typically use mid-size trucks for this purpose, where the trailer in the back contains only the printed ad or video as their carriage.

4. Retail Spaces 

On the shelves and strategic retail areas, you can see advertisements as people shop for various items. These outdoor ad placements serve to capture the shoppers at the moment when they are making a purchase. They are effective for conversion when people see large banners of your product at a place where they can readily buy them.

5. Information Kiosks 

Public areas such as malls or tourist spots place a kiosk where people can get directions or learn about the location. You can have your outdoor advertising marketing strategy when they view an information kiosk, preventing your ad from looking overly promotional.

6. Point of Sale Displays 

This format is an effective way to capture customers right when they are paying for their items. Grocery and convenience stores usually have advertisements for items available on sale, or a company may highlight their product in the cashier's POS area.

7. Merchandise Items 

When you hand out items with your logo, tagline, or promotional details on them, people will take your outdoor advertising merchandise item wherever they bring it.

Among the items that you can provide as a freebie or as a reward to customers can be:

• Shirts or hoodies

The advantage of this method is that people will use these functional items. Instead of having a single location for your outdoor ads, people will take your brand with them to different places.

8. Construction Advertisements 

Buildings still under construction usually have cladding that separates the on-site work from street view. Real estate companies take advantage of the barren wall by placing outdoor advertising to announce the new property, contact details of accredited realtors, or invite future foot traffic.

How Can You Attract Customers With Outdoor Advertising?

Ideally, you would want more people to recognize your brand with outdoor ads and convert them into paying customers. To ensure that your outdoor advertising works, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Go for simple messages

People looking at an outdoor ad are on mobile. They do not have not enough time to read a lengthy advertisement. Thus, keep your messaging simple and focus on hard-hitting one-liners or taglines that can catch their attention.

• Make it enticing to look at

When your advertisement is outdoors, you compete against the various sceneries that people see. To make people notice your outdoor ad, create images that make them take a second look. Use eye-catching graphics for people to be attracted to see what the ad is all about.

• It's all about the location

Since your ad is outdoors, take advantage of high-traffic areas such as a busy highway, public transportation points, and other spaces where people converge.

• Visible logo and contact details

Another thing you need to ensure is a visible logo indicating that the ad comes from your business or brand. Outdoor ads work well for brand awareness to a large number of people. Having your logo on an easily noticeable outdoor ad is a surefire way for brand visibility.

Additionally, contact information, such as a website or phone number, right on the outdoor advertising is a marketing strategy that works well as the equivalent of call-to-action.

• Display them for 30 days

Various outdoor ad companies have varying minimum contracts to show your advertisements. However, if you opt for a shorter than a year duration, a 30 days period maximizes the amount of exposure for your brand.

• Track the ads

While you cannot immediately count how many eyeballs went to your outdoor ads, there are still various ways to monitor them and check if it works. Among the methods you can implement can be:

• UTM tracking in a short or custom URL
• A separate phone number to answer queries from the outdoor ad
• Roughly estimating the foot traffic in the area
• Through digital means, such as interactive outdoor ads with built-in measuring tools

With these tracking methods, you can attribute the conversions or website traffic visits. Consequently, you will know if your outdoor advertising marketing strategy brings leads and conversion or if you need to scout for a new outdoor ad location.

How Do You Create Outdoor Advertising Materials?

Whether a flat graphics, video animation, or an interactive experience, you have various options to craft outdoor ads that will win over customers.

Having an in-house marketing team working full-time might be too costly when you only need to produce seasonal outdoor advertising materials. On the other hand, freelancers can be time-consuming to find and post projects every time you need an outdoor ad.

You can look into a graphic design subscription service such as Delesign, a cloud-based design firm. Skilled graphic designers, motion graphics creators, and video editors are available when you subscribe to Delesign.

With a subscription to Delesign, you do not need to look for different freelancers or agencies who can create outdoor ads for your business. Delesign will assign your project to a dedicated designer who can produce the out-of-home advertisement, whether it's in a print or digital format. Thus, reducing the burden so you can concentrate on your overall outdoor advertising marketing strategy to grow your business.  

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Raffy Montehermoso Raffy is involved in SEO and digital marketing. He gravitates towards upcoming technologies, startups, and is an avid learner.

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Crafting a Comprehensive Outdoor Advertising Plan

Matt Kempel

The Challenge 

Royal Gorge Epic Adventures had 20-30 outdoor advertising placements throughout the area, including numerous dusty, sun-faded signs with varying brand logos and artwork, and so many different formats and sizes, including highway and train level billboards, expansive zipline tower signs, main office signs, flag signs, and more. There needed to be a coherent strategy and flow to persuade passing visitors to recognize the brand and entice them to take action.

Project Goals  

• Update all the signs with the new visual identities and update the creative.
• Establish continuity of messages with all the different brands and placements. 
• When the brands were communicated together, they had an overarching brand architecture and looked like part of the Royal Gorge Epic Adventures brand family.
• Add directions/navigation to artwork where applicable. 
• Ensure easy recall and a call to action so people can contact or find the business. 
• Build on the main brand proposition of  “One Location,” meaning the brands are found all in one place, so vacationers can experience easy planning and travel less from place to place—an important advantage in this region. 
• Find ways to measure performance . Outdoor advertising is traditionally measured by impressions, making it difficult to compare its success vs. other marketing media like digital advertising, which has precise measurement.

Steps:  

To tackle this project’s complexity, we completed the following steps with the client: 

• Documented the photos of every sign to determine creative updates and sizing for print and production requirements. 
• Plotted every sign on a map to determine the best placement for each brand (based on location and direction it was facing) and when to strategically use the parent brand. 
• Added new locations where some of the brands had gaps in visibility
• Determined how and where to leverage the “One Location” messaging to feel as though this family of brands is the one-stop for a visitor’s vacation. 
• Created new designs that allowed the brands to stand alone or be paired together and look like a family of vacation solutions. 
• For easy recall, we added a new simple URL to all billboards that were easy to write down or remember vs. the various longer URLs. This URL is also exclusive to the outdoor ads so that we can track traffic.
• Added QR codes – some of the sign placements were viable for QR code scanning, so we added tracked QR codes. (Tip: use shortcut URLs that help simplify a QR code layout, making it scannable from a longer distance.)

We’re thrilled with the result of these outdoor ads and look forward to vacationers finding their next favorite tourism business in the Royal Gorge! 

Is your advertising providing a solid return on investment?

We’ve managed advertising for tour, activity, and attraction companies for years, and we’d love to discuss how we can help grow your revenue. Whenever you’re ready, let’s chat .

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About The Author

Matt is the Creative Director at Blend Marketing. His keen design eye leads our design team to help our clients craft their brand image and provide the creative vision that brings their experiences to life across all digital and physical touchpoints.

Email Matt

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How to Start a Billboard Advertising Company in 7 Steps

• April 8, 2023
• by Editorial Team

Do you want to start a billboard advertising company of your own? Find here a complete billboard business plan sample guide for your ready reference.

Basically, billboard advertising comes under the outdoor advertising segment. It is a highly competitive industry. Hence, initiating a billboard advertising company needs market research and strategic planning.

Also, you must calculate the financials very carefully.  The amount of initial investment will depend on the scale of the operation.

Basically, billboards are the most preferred way of advertising for small, medium, and large companies. Compared with newspapers and magazines, billboards are more effective. And these are cheaper than electronic media advertising like television. Broadly, billboards are used to provide directions or information about a product or service.

Generally, billboard advertising companies create and design advertising materials for public display, including printed, painted, or electronic displays. Operators may place displays on billboards or panels as well as on or within transit vehicles, shopping malls, retail stores, and other display structures or sites.

Initiating a billboard company is highly profitable. However, the business is not easy to start and run. Principally, it is a B2B business. So, opening a company successfully demands prior experience and knowledge about the advertising industry.

Is Billboard Business Profitable?

Overall, the billboard industry is highly flourishing. There are several reasons that affect the overall demand in the market. Some of the most potent factors are disposable income, retail sales, corporate profit, and other factors.

Currently, the billboard industry is witnessing growth for several other reasons also. These are increasing outdoor time spent by consumers, growing numbers of malls, increasing the number of airport terminals, and the metro rail network.

Globally, the USA  is the largest market for billboard advertising. Also, Asia Pacific represents the fastest-growing market worldwide. So, initiating a billboard business is a highly lucrative opportunity for new entrepreneurs.

Here are the 7 Steps to Follow in Starting a Billboard Business

1. learn the trade.

Before you launch your own billboard business, learn the trade as much as possible. You must have sound communication skills. This is the primary criterion for initiating this business. Moreover, you must have the ability to negotiate with both advertisers and landowners. If you have some graphic designing skills, then it is always a plus in this business

There are different types of billboards you will find popular among advertisers. We list down here some popular ones below:

a) Classic Billboards

Classic billboards are also popular as a bulletin. You can find a lot of bulletin boards on the highways, expressways, or on heavy traffic streets. They come in very large sizes. The most popular are 14′ high x 48′ wide, 10.5′ high x 36′ wide, or comparable sizes. Actually, the classic billboards attract both pedestrian and motorized traffic.

b) Vinyl Billboards

Vinyl billboards are bright. Also, these boards stay long with perfect colors and look.

 c) Posters

Usually, posters are half of the width of bulletin boards. Generally, local advertisers use this type of advertisement for hitting the local market.

d) Painted Billboards

Painted billboards are very rare these days. However, some advertisers still use this type of billboard if there is a single requirement.

e) Mobile Billboards

Mobile billboards are a new concept. Actually, with a single mobile billboard, you can move the bulletin to different locations where the target audience happens to be.

2. Market Research

Initiating a billboard company demands intensive market research . First of all, you must identify the companies that are already billboard advertisers. Check the pricing and design aspects carefully. Also, identify the small and medium companies that can be your prospects.

You can contact the local business associations to get the data of small business owners in your location. Moreover, you must analyze whether there is a market for this type of service or not.

3. Name Your Billboard Advertising Business

It is extremely critical to choose a relatable and catchy name for your billboard business. The name must appropriately manifest the services that your business is going to offer. You can check this guide to know more about how to name a business.

4. Create a Billboard Business Plan

Crafting a billboard business plan is essential for starting and running the business properly. Also, your business plan must contain a financial analysis, marketing strategy, and expansion planning. Include your business objective, mission, and vision. Mention how much you can charge for your services. Who are your potential competitors and how you will compete with them?

Generally, a financial analysis includes the startup budget and the working cost of running the business. Also, it includes a break-even calculation, ROI, and payback analysis. These all will help you in arranging the finance also.

5. Legal Considerations

This is another crucial issue that you must consider carefully. According to the management pattern, you must select the right form of business. And then register it. Business permission is a must in any state. However, the micro issues depend on the Federal law of the particular state where you are opening the business.

For example, if you are from the United States, many startups prefer forming an LLC as this type of business structure not only protects your personal assets but also helps in the easy filing of annual taxes.

Check the tax issues carefully. Also, check how much you can charge from your clients and how you will need to submit the compliances yearly. It is better to buy proper business insurance for protecting your business and clients.

If you are from the United States, visit the official site of SBA , and know more about the license requirements to start a billboard business.

6. Set Pricing

Before opening your door, you must fix how much you can charge your clients. Generally, the billboard charges vary on several issues. These are the location, size, and quality of the billboards.

Undoubtedly, you can charge higher for a high-traffic location. And also electronic billboards are costlier than regular billboards. And finally, the large size of the billboards comes with more cost than small billboards.

In fixing the price, you will need to consider the expenses also. Some of the most common costs are rental costs, liability insurance, electricity cost, maintenance, transportation cost, and labor charges. So, you must have a properly customized tariff for your clients.

7. Promote & Expand your Billboard Business

Literally, there are several ways you can explore in promoting your billboard business. As it is a B2B business, you can take a consulting mode when talking to your customers. It is better to show them the benefits rather than telling them the features. Always be creative in offering the deal. Think about the advantages of your clients when they buy billboards. It will definitely give you some loyal customers who will call you automatically at the time of advertising requirements.

An online presence is a must in the billboard business. On your website, mention the locations and sizes currently available for advertisement. Also mention your contact info properly.

Editorial Team at 99BusinessIdeas is a team of experts led by Rupak Chakrabarty with over 25 years of experience in starting and running small businesses. Started in 2010, 99BusinessIdeas is now one of the largest free small business resources in the industry.

Opening an Outdoor Activity Center?

How to write an outdoor activity center business plan (fast), step by step (actionable) case study.

If you’re looking to set up a new venture in the outdoor recreational/sports industry, this detailed Outdoor Activity Center business plan is a great place to start.

Our Team at EntrepreneursGateway.com have left no stone unturned in putting together this detailed business plan example.

Bottom Line…

If you’re looking for help and guidance on writing an Outdoor Activity Center business plan…

Then you’ll love this!

• 10 FUN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY

#1 Activity Centre Business Plan Executive Summary Section

The Executive Summary section of your business plan outlines what your business does. It summarizes the company’s key points and introduces the rest of the business plan content.

The Executive Summary is incredibly important because it might be the only section a busy person reads; so it should always include:

• Who the company is – In the Company section of the executive summary, we’ve talked about the key staff member and the expertise and experience he brings to the table, as well as the proposed project and the opportunities it will bring to the local area.
• What we sell – What the problem is and how your business will solve it.
• Target Market – Who your customers are going to be.

Check it out and feel free to lift any of it that you want.

My name is Mr Activity, Director of Activities R Us Activity Centre. My home and the surrounding area is where I will operate the business. My premises are situated next to Lake Erie in North America. The Lake is approx. 7 miles long and nestles in beautiful surrounding scenic beauty and is steeped in history and myths. The area at the top of the lake is one of the few barren areas left in Canada with approx. 25 miles’ square area which has no human habitation what so ever. The lake is a free lake, which can be fished for Brown Trout, Perch and Char for free.

What We Sell

We aim to provide most outdoor and adventure pursuits such as hill walking, fishing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, canoeing, wind surfing, boat fishing (fly fishing), mountain and quad biking, orienteering, bird watching, star gazing, water balling, basic camping and glamping for 2, 3 or 4 days.

Who We Sell To

Our audience will be corporate groups, families from the Armed Forces, youth groups, schools, individuals as well as tourists either from USA or overseas and stag and hen parties.

Investment Opportunity

Activities R Us is seeking investment of $650,000 for a new site at Lake Erie. The investment required is to purchase 2 houses and an outbuilding to create accommodation blocks and cabins to house up to 60 people at any one time.  Customers can then experience all the outdoor pursuits on offer while staying in comfort.

This beautiful area with breath-taking views and surroundings is situated in one of the last remote places of North America which is easily accessible by road. 

The scenic beauty combined with life-long experiences in outdoor pursuits and activities has the potential of being a leading resort throughout

The investment will be secured on property and allows working capital to purchase all requirements of equipment and goods to ensure a quick turn into profit from a start-up company. This fantastic offer will go from strength to strength with the right marketing and management; and Activities R Us would be open to any input that could be provided to ensuring success through your investment.

The #Executive #Summary outlines what your business does, summarizes your key points, and prepares investors for the rest of your #businessplan. It’s vital you provide a solid case for your business idea, which is why your #executive #summary is so important! Tweet

#2 Activity Centre Business Plan Company Profile Section

The Company Profile in your Outdoor Activity Center Business Plan is also known as the Company Description.

If it’s well written, your potential investors will find easy to understand your business model, your mission and goals, and how it’s going to meet the needs of your target market.

So whether it’s an activity center business plan, an indoor playground business plan or a soft play business plan that you’re after, we hope you find the following information useful.

For the purpose of this business plan, we’ve included the following:

• The Company and Management Team
• Location and Facilities

Mission Statement

Company overview.

This is a startup company, although formed a few years ago. Due to other business interests, it has been put on the back burner. The premises is owned by myself and Mrs Activity, my partner for 23 years. We have a daughter of 19 years who can also assist in operations.

Management Team

I am Mr Activity, and am presently serving as a Director of our family-owned company, which serves the whole of Canada for training purposes. I have been employed within the family businesses in many roles from Directing, Administrating, Supervision and Sales for approx. 26 years.

Mr Fitness is my father, and is acting as advisor. He has a wealth of knowledge having been in charge of many companies over the past 40 years. His portfolio of companies ranges from Security, Training, Property, Public Houses, Bookmakers, Welding Factories, and Clubs.

Having served Canada for training purposes, we have trained our staff to oversee the project. This therefore puts us in a prime position as we have a bank of qualified trainers who are available to assist us with this venture.

Locations and Facilities

Activities R Us is located at Lake Erie, Canada

Lake Erie is situated approximately 5 miles from the village of Little Erie. It is approximately 7 miles long and 1 mile broad at its widest. The Lake  is steeped in history and Myths.

Lake Erie Castle is believed to have been erected in the 13th century. The Castle, which was located in the middle of the Lake survived assaults by the Army and is believed to have been one of the last resting places of a queen on her journey from America to be exiled in Canada.

The castle was moved to the shores of the Lake as the Lake was raised to provide Hydro-Power. This was achieved by building a dam at the foot of the Lake. Many other stories and myths exist about the Lake and will be freely available in our brochures promoting the Centre.

To deliver quality and professional performances at all times and always ensure that our customers requirements are met. We believe that communication is key in business and that one should never underestimate an understanding. Health and Safety measures are also always paramount. With civility, honesty and performance we can nurture the acorn to the oak tree.

A #mission #statement is a short statement of an organization's purpose and shows the goal of its operations: what kind of product or service it provides, its primary customers or market, and its geographical region of operation. Tweet

#3 Activity Center Business Plan Products & Services Section

The Products and Services section needs to be much more than simply a list of what your new business is going to provide.

This is especially important if you’re looking to get funding; so make sure that you showcase the value, the quality, and the benefits of your business.

Ask yoursel f:

• What sets you apart from your competitors?
• Why would people come to you as opposed to your competitors?

Here’s the example.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Activities R Us Activity Centre will offer all kinds of outdoor adventure pursuits such as quad biking, mountain biking, archery, clay shooting, sailing, kayaking, fishing boat fly fishing, fishing shore, orienteering, basic camping and fishing skills, bird watching, star gazing, hill walking, zorbing and mountain balling.

Quad Biking

The participants will feel the adrenaline flow as they ride the quads down the trails through the forest, hillsides, open fields and rough terrain.

Mountain Biking

Riding a bike through mountains and hillsides while admiring the beauty of the surroundings. There are trails of varying levels of difficulty for people all ages (recommended for children aged 7 and upwards) and skills. It’s an effective and enjoyable way of working on your stamina, coordination, and fitness.

The participants will have a chance to try their hand at this ancient skill. As a one-time experience, it can be great fun and a way to check your focus, balance, and mental fitness.

Clay Shooting

It is suitable for both men and women, adults and youngsters (14 and upwards) of all skill levels. Depending on th package, the participants will shoot at a varying number of targets.

There are several courses and packages to choose from, aimed at both advanced sailors and newbies. The proximity of the Lake Erie makes our center a perfect place to start with the adventure of sailing. We provide a number of all kinds of boats including lasers and toppers.

It’s a perfect activity to improve your fitness and stamina, as well as admiring the beautiful views and sinking in the wonderful atmosphere of Lake Erie. We are providing the paddlers with an opportunity to learn all they need to enjoy the experience and improve upon their skills.

Hill Walking

This is by far one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of the area, with networks of paths providing access to a range of environments.

Fishing Shore

Anyone who wants to fish can learn how. Shore fishing is an enjoyable sport for the whole family. It provides quality time with the added excitement of feeling a bite on your line.

Orienteering

Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport which involves walking or running whilst navigating around a course using a detailed map and sometimes a compass.  The aim is to navigate in sequence between a set of control points and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace.

Bird Watching

Canada is a fantastic destination for birders, with a wealth of specialty species and an ever changing avifauna to match the seasons.

 The night skies here are some of the best in the world, equal to dark sky in Arizona. With countless stars and the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon, shooting stars, planets, comets, and the Northern Lights are all visible.

Zorbing and Mountain Balling

Sphering (AKA Zorbing) is right at the heart of adventure. Bounce down a hill in a massive inflatable ball with you secured inside! Seriously good fun!

Basic Camping and Fishing Skills

We cater to beginners as well, and welcome all ages and abilities.

COMPETITORS

While the popularity of outdoor activity centers is on the rise all over the US, there is no direct competition that is situated within a close proximity of Lake Erie.

There are two competitors in Canada, which are Active Mania and Outdoor Pursuits. However, they are situated in different areas in Canada and do not pose an immediate threat.

Product & Service Development

At the moment, we are planning to purchase or lease 6 luxury cabins near Lake Erie. These will be 10-metre square wooden camping cabins of hexagonal shape, able to accommodate between 2-6 people.

With time, we are hoping to be able to develop and increase the number of accommodation services and increase the turnover.

This is a family business endeavor and initially we are planning to use the help of Mr Activity’s father, Mr Fitness. All the administration and marketing activities will be dealt with from his company office

#4 Activity Center Business Plan Situation & Market Analysis Section

This section of a business plan is very often glossed over because, more often than not, the business owner is so involved within their business that it doesn’t occur to them that they can learn something by writing this down!

This section is one of the most important aspects of your Activity Center marketing plan.

In fact, it defines where you are currently in terms of your market, product, customer, and competition. It also allows you to look at both internal and external factors and to review and document the strengths and weaknesses of your business, as well as identifying any opportunities and threats within your marketplace.

It can include:

Market Overview

Market needs, market trends, market growth, industry analysis, key customers.

• SWOT analysis

TARGET MARKET

Our product appeals to all ages and genders, individual and group clients, families and corporate teams.

Adventure excitement experience, meet new friends and learn new pursuits. Enjoyable way for weight loss and skills.

The demand for outdoor activity centers continues to rise with more and more people looking for engaging and thrilling ways to spend their leisure time. People are increasingly interested in various survival academies, wilderness courses and extreme adventure camps, as evidenced by the popularity of adventurers like Bear Grylls.

Our activity center can also cater for the needs of solders coming home from military operations and missions. Taking part in outdoor activities is a perfect way to wind down, deal with stress and release pent-up energy.

Outdoor activities are also a perfect solution to people who are trying to lose weight and get in shape, but are bored with standard gym routine and mundane exercises. Our offer will give them a wide range of activities to choose from that will both give them a good workout and provide some challenge and excitement.

Your #Market #Analysis section of a business plan is one of the most important aspects of your marketing plan. It defines where you are currently in terms of your market, product, customer and competition. Check out this example in our #BusinessPlan! Tweet

Nowadays people are more afraid to travel to the Continent or any further because of the unstable situation and rise of terrorism, bombing attacks, suicide bombers. In the past the attacks were less frequent, and they were primarily limited to certain regions of conflict, but now it’s more unpredictable.

The attacks mean that people tend to avoid certain regions, change destinations; e.g. France used to be one of the most frequently visited holiday destination in Europe, but as a result of the recent attacks in Paris, the occupancy rate at hotels dropped significantly to 67% (The Nice incident probably had a similar effect). The same could be said about other once popular destinations, such as Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia.

Unsurprisingly, the trend is also visible in the US. American holidaymakers tended to choose “safer” options. A survey conducted by Travelzoo found that approximately 1 in 3 travelers from the US perceives the safety of their holiday destination as the most important factor when choosing where to go.

It is a high-growth business area in which investors will be interested. There are numerous tourist companies that are buying businesses like this to offer holidays.

We would like to work in conjunction with Forestry Commission to build our brand and help preserve the unique nature of the area, as we believe that location in a barren area with unspoiled surroundings is one of our biggest assets.

We are also interested in cooperation with Visit Canada, as we are planning to apply for their funding program aimed at tourism businesses supporting the development of local tourism.

In our industry, reputation is extremely crucial. There are many companies offering similar attractions, as the popularity of various survival and extreme adventure camps is on the rise. Therefore we cannot afford bad pressing. It is extremely important to carefully watch the market trends as well as the activity of other players on the market, in order to stay competitive and cater to the needs of the customers.

Our offer will be presented to the public via our website. We are also planning to build our online presence by means of social media channels, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Our offer is aimed at both individual holidaymakers, families, corporate directors interested in all sorts of team building activities. We believe, that the wide range of activities will also appeal to individuals struggling to lose weight, soldiers wanting to wind down after challenging military operations or just anyone interested in sports, wishing to become stronger or more confident.

Engaging in outdoor activities is also a nice idea for an original stag or hen party for people who are fond of active leisure and would like to spend that special day in an unforgettable and thoroughly enjoyable way.

SWOT Analysis

Our undeniable strength is the fact that we have no direct competitors in the area. Other major players on the market are operating in other parts of Canada. What is more, we are based in a secluded area, where there aren’t many people living, which is also a plus because more and more people are looking for peace and quiet as they are trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city life.

Our possible weakness is the fact that we do not have a well-established brand name and people do not know about us, nor do they associate Lake Erie area with outdoor activities. We intend to deal with this problem by means of well-prepared promotional activity.

Opportunities

We believe we have the potential to become one of Canada’s premier outdoor activity centers. In order to achieve this, we will start a marketing campaign and advertise on our website and social media channels, as we believe it is the most powerful form of selling your services, and the quickest way to reach masses.

Competitive Edge

We are competing against other activity centers with already established brands, but our main asset is that we are located in a secluded area of outstanding beauty, where no one lives. Through our offer we will be presenting people with an opportunity not only to engage in physical activity, but also to experience nature and admire its unspoilt beauty. And with more and more people being relocated north of Canada, our location gives us a great advantage, as there isn’t any outdoor activity center like this in the area.

#5 Activity Center Business Plan Marketing Strategy & Implementation Section

The marketing strategy section of your business plan describes who your customers are going to be and how you plan to communicate to them the services or goods you are offering.

If your potential customers are not made aware of your business, you are not going to stay in business for very long!

Defining a marketing strategy in your business plan highlights your understanding and knowledge and emphasizes what makes your business concept compelling. It also outlines how you plan to attract and maintain a customer/client base.

Ask yourself:

• How are you planning to advertise to your market?
• What is your competitive edge?
• What is your sales strategy?

So, without further ado…

Let’s look at the following example.

STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION

Initially, we are planning to focus on promoting the center among the local citizens to gain recognition and popularity. We would like the local schools and business to get interested in our offer. We believe it to be a perfect spot for all kinds of corporate team building events, stag and hen parties or just spending time with your family in an active way. We will also address our offer to the armed forces, as we believe engaging soldiers in such outdoor activities helps them cope with stress and helps them wind down after difficult military operations.

Our website will be the main channel through which we would like to promote the center. We are also planning to use social media channels to provide information about the kinds of activities we offer and possibly build a community of outdoor activity enthusiasts.

Apart from building an online presence, we would like to reach to various councils and tourist information centers.

Our first milestone would be the purchase of the 6 accommodation cabins to open the business to the public and start selling our services. The center already has outdoor showers and toilets setup, but we still need to build outdoor cooking facilities.

Afterwards, we will engage in promotional activities to popularize the center and get people interested in coming here and purchasing our services. With time, we are hoping to be able to develop and increase the number of accommodation services as well as increasing the turnover.

Promotional Activity

We will focus primarily on building our online presence through our website and social media channels. Apart from that, we would like to contact all the tourist information centers, government schemes and local authorities to interest them in our offer.

Sales Administration

Giving a good service.

Our potential clients will be able to browse through our offer on our website and have access to all the relevant information. They will be able to check the availability of the cabins and make bookings.

Strategic Alliances

We are hoping to be able to create a strategic alliance with Visit Canada. The portal provides interesting funding opportunities that could help us develop and market our business.

We would also like to contact Forestry Commission and interest them in cooperating with us to work for the local area.

Exit Strategy

It is anticipated that there will be a refinancing after year 5 and that a multiplier of 7 will be achieved. It is anticipated that bank borrowings of 60% can be injected along with new equity.

The anticipated value is as below.

Ensuring that you have a COMPLETE #financial #plan within your business plan will DOUBLE your chances of #investment and future growth of your business! Tweet

#6 Activity Center Business Plan Financial Section

Ensuring that you have a COMPLETE financial plan within your business plan will DOUBLE your chances of investment as well as the future growth of your business.

A lot of small businesses don’t have a financial plan and it’s essential to your long-term success and business growth.

We’ve listed here the key elements you need to have in a successful financial section:

• Initial Start Up Expenses – Especially if this is a start-up idea, it’s essential that you have a description of what you need for investment purposes.
• Sales Forecast – It’s essential to have an estimate of your monthly sales revenue as well as annual. This helps you understand your business and plan out any marketing and growth strategies.
• Direct cost of sales – Measures the amount of cash the company will have to spend to produce the goods or services sold by the company. The direct cost of sales only includes the expenses directly associated to production.
• Profit and Loss Forecast – This is a statement summarizing the revenues, costs and expenses incurred during a specific period.
• Balance Sheet – This is the financial position of the company and states its assets, liabilities and owners’ equity at a particular point in time. It illustrates the business’s net worth.
• Loan Repayment – This shows the lender or potential investor the act of paying back any monies.

So… Are you ready to look at some figures?

Sales Forecast 2018

Sales Forecast 3 Years

Personnel Plan

Projected Personnel Plan 3 years

Budget 2018

Budget for 3 Years

Profit & Loss 2018

Profit & Loss for 3 Years

Balance Sheet 2018

Projected Balance Sheet

Projected Cash Flow

• Ecommerce Business Plan sample
• Bar & Restaurant Business Plan sample
• Medical Center Business Plan sample
• Bakery Business Plan sample
• Advertising Agency Business Plan sample
• Boutique Business Plan sample
• Real Estate Business Plan Sample

Additional Resources:

• 40 Common Business Plan Mistakes to Avoid when Writing your Plan
• What is a Business plan and why do you need one?
• How to Write a Business Proposal in 5 Easy Steps
• 10 FREE Business Name Generator Tools to find your perfect business name

Now, over to you...

Now I’d love to hear from you:

Are you going to start up your own outdoor activity business, or have you recently written a business plan?

We’d love to know what you thought about our outdoor activity business plan example.

Feel free to leave any comments below and I will be sure to answer them as soon as they come in.

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It’s easy for a media plan to become a set of algorithms, branching logic, and dashboards filled with vanity metrics, but we believe that it starts with something else – a conversation. Understanding our client’s goals by giving them a seat at the table is a key element in everything we do.

Tradeshows, conventions, and professional meetings offer valuable opportunities to reach a normally widespread audience. Out of Home media and Experiential are highly effective tactics to reach this key audience and help drive booth traffic.

Experiential activations serve to create unique, memorable, one-to-one brand engagement that builds loyalty and fuels social media. From creative concepts to operational logistics, we’ll manage every step of the journey to bring your brand to life.

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Where to watch movies for free in Moscow this summer

People watching a movie in a Pioner 24-hour open-air cinema in Gorky Park.

Temporary cinemas will be popping up across Moscow very soon, starting from July 16. All of the spots are brilliant examples of either constructivist or avant-garde architecture, so expect striking settings. A selection of classic Soviet films will be aired using cinematic equipment from the last century. All the screenings are free although online registration is required beforehand, while there will also be guided tours of the spaces, organized by the “Moscow through the Engineer's Eyes” company.

Registration will be open soon at mos-kino.ru

Bread factory

Following the success of former factories transformed into art spaces (VinZavod, Arma, Trekhgornaya manufacture), Khlebzavod (“bread factory”) No 9 is one newly opened joint that is attracting creative types from all over the city. The movie Time! Forward! will be screened in the building’s boiler room on July 16. It follows workers from the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, one of the largest steel companies in Russia, and is based on a novel by Soviet writer Valentin Kataev.

What’s more, Khlebzavod is a monument to constructivist architecture. Where better to watch such a film?

Novodmitrovskaya St. 1

Roof of the Narkomfin Building

The Narkomfin Building was originally designed to house high ranking employees at the Commissariat of Finance. It was built by architects Moisei Ginsburg and Ignaty Milinis. Also a fine example of constructivism, it’s currently in a state of disrepair, locked down, and fairly difficult to get into - which is like a red flag to a bull for more adventurous types.

However, on July 30 the place will be opened up and people will be welcomed onto the roof to watch the film Faith and Truth.

Novinsky Blvrd . 25b1

Khrushchyovka courtyard

A courtyard located in the 9th experimental block of the Novye Cheremushki district will turn into an outdoor cinema this summer. Cheremushki is the first district where Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchyov decided to build the iconic Khrushchyovka apartment blocks in the 1950s. As a result, thousands of Russians were given their own pads after decades living huddled together in communal apartments known as kommunalka .

Cheremushki is the adapted film-version of Dmitry Shostakovich’s operetta and will be shown here on Aug. 6. The organizers of the multiple screenings - the Moskino cinema chain - say they will revive the Soviet tradition of neighbors meeting in courtyards for a good old tongue wag. There will also be a guided tour of the block.

Address to be confirmed at mos-kino.ru

Pioneers Palace

If you want a slice of the postwar Soviet avant-garde style, head to the Pioneers Palace at Vorobyevy Gory. Pioneers Palaces were youth centers for sport, creativity, and hobbies for Young Pioneers (a communist organization for children) during the Soviet Union. There were dance classes, martial arts, drawing, and many other activities.

To Love a Man , a movie about two young architects building a new town in Siberia, will be shown here on Aug. 22. There will also be a lecture about building experiments in the 20th century.

Kosygina St. 17b2

A secret place

The last cinema venue remains a secret. On Aug. 27 there will be a screening, but at the moment no one knows where. Information will appear on mos-kino.ru but those who attend all four screenings above will be able to guess the last location.

A talk about architecture and Soviet history also will be hosted here.

Read more: Relics of Constructivist Architecture in post-Soviet countries

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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