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Powerful business plan templates

Plan for the future, no matter what your business plans are or the size of your business with these designs and templates. whether it's just one big project or an entire organization's worth of dreams, these templates will keep you and your company on track from ideation to completion..

Put your ideas to work with simple templates for every business plan

Every successful business took a lot of planning to get there, and these templates will be cornerstones of your future success. Whether you're looking to attract new business, pitch your services or reimagine your company, with these simple, customizable templates at your fingertips you can turn complexity into something tangible. These templates can become marketing assets or simply remain internal touchpoints for your team. And as your dreams change, you'll always have this template to refer to – it's easy to change what exists on paper. If you're a small business, focusing on your niche can help you dominate in your field, and you can forge a plan to figure out exactly what that niche might be and how to target your ideal customer . When it's time to share your vision with stakeholders, craft a presentation that outlines your plan succinctly and with style. Let these templates from Microsoft Designer be your partner in business strategy for years to come.

Create a business plan

You've been dreaming of starting your own business. You've started with some concrete steps, and you're ready to put your proposal together. But how do you start, and how do you know when you have the right information?

How to get it done

Create a business plan with templates in Word:

Start with a template

Download these templates from the Office Templates site to create your plan:

Fill in your Business plan .

Analyze your market with the Business market analysis template .

Detail your financials in a Financial plan .

Divide up the work and track deliverables with this Business plan checklist .

Wrap up with this Business startup checklist .

Need a little help?

Learn how to:

Start a document from a template .

Apply themes to change your plan's look.

Related resources

Related article

Must follow steps for starting a successful business

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Free Business Plan Template

One of the reasons that so many small businesses fail is that they don't do the necessary up front work to create an accurate and realistic business plan. Creating a business plan doesn't guarantee success, but the process of writing a plan is critical for any successful new business. It isn't our goal to try to tell you everything you need to know about creating a business plan. Instead, our goal is to make the process easier by providing a professionally designed business plan template that you can edit easily using Word and Excel .

Business Plan Template

License : Private Use (not for distribution or resale)

Authors : Jon Wittwer and Jim Wittwer

Update (7/22/2016) : We've added a basic break-even analysis worksheet to the companion Excel workbook.

Description

This template provides a business plan outline with sample questions, tables, and a working table of contents. It was created for newer versions of Word and Excel (Office 2007 or later) so that you can easily change the fonts and color scheme and the file will be compatible with the mobile and web-based Word & Excel apps.

It is best to use Excel for financial statements, data tables and charts. So, we have provided a companion Excel workbook with these sample financial statements and other tables and graphs that you can copy and paste into your Word document.

The companion workbook combines many of the different spreadsheets you can find on Vertex42.com, but customized specifically for inclusion in a business plan.

Using the Business Plan Template

Editing headings and table of contents.

Word allows you to assign format Styles to text and paragraphs, and we've designed the template to use these Styles for defining headings, sub-headings, and figure captions.

If you want to add a new section so that the Table of Contents updates correctly, just add a new heading in the body of the document and assign it the Heading 1 or Heading 2 style.

To update the Table of Contents, go to the References tab and within the Table of Contents group of buttons, click on Update Table and then "Update entire table."

Copy/Paste From Excel to Word

For simple tables, you can use Copy/Paste (Ctrl+c / Ctrl+v) to copy a table from Excel to Word. This will typically paste the data as a formatted and editable table in Word, though none of the formulas will be functional within Word (and the table will not be linked to Excel). If you don't want the table to be editable in Word, you can "Paste as a Picture" using Paste Special or by choosing the "Picture" option when you right-click in Word to paste the table.

Important : When you paste a chart object into your business plan, make sure to "Paste as a Picture" because pasting the chart as an embedded object means that the entire spreadsheet becomes embedded in your Word document (even though what you see is only the chart).

If you want to insert a table into Word as a "Linked Object" so that when you edit Excel, the table in Word will update automatically, you may have a more difficult time preserving the formatting of the original. However, at the least the entire spreadsheet won't be embedded within your business plan Word document.

More Related Templates

Resources for Writing a Business Plan

• Write Your Business Plan at SBA.gov - Anybody starting a business should become familiar with the SBA (small business association). SBA.gov also has an online tool for creating a business plan .
• YouTube: How to Write a Business Plan - Business Wales (3 minutes) - This video offers a quick overview and tips for the essential parts of a business plan.
• YouTube: How to Write a Business Plan - Berkeley-Haas (71 minutes) - This presentation offers both the venture capitalist and entrepreneur perspective on how to write a business plan that can successfully attract funding.
• Write Your Business Plan at Entrepreneur.com - A book written by the staff of a company that should know what they are talking about.
• Sample Business Plans at bplans.com - Finding a business plan for similar businesses in your industry is a great way to get ideas for what to include in your plan. This site is a great resource for not only finding sample plans, but also for creating a business plan online using their step-by-step approach.

Other Free Business Plan Templates

• Business Planning Template Gallery at SCORE.org - This nonprofit organization (supported by the SBA) has provided expertise and free mentorship for millions of small business owners. They also have a useful collection of templates.
• Develop Your Business Plan at business.gov.au - This Australian Government site provides a really good business plan template for Word, including a detailed guide, questions to answer, and sample financial statements.

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Simple Business Plan Template (2024)

Updated: May 4, 2024, 4:37pm

Table of Contents

Why business plans are vital, get your free simple business plan template, how to write an effective business plan in 6 steps, frequently asked questions.

While taking many forms and serving many purposes, they all have one thing in common: business plans help you establish your goals and define the means for achieving them. Our simple business plan template covers everything you need to consider when launching a side gig, solo operation or small business. By following this step-by-step process, you might even uncover a few alternate routes to success.

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Whether you’re a first-time solopreneur or a seasoned business owner, the planning process challenges you to examine the costs and tasks involved in bringing a product or service to market. The process can also help you spot new income opportunities and hone in on the most profitable business models.

Though vital, business planning doesn’t have to be a chore. Business plans for lean startups and solopreneurs can simply outline the business concept, sales proposition, target customers and sketch out a plan of action to bring the product or service to market. However, if you’re seeking startup funding or partnership opportunities, you’ll need a write a business plan that details market research, operating costs and revenue forecasting. Whichever startup category you fall into, if you’re at square one, our simple business plan template will point you down the right path.

Copy our free simple business plan template so you can fill in the blanks as we explore each element of your business plan. Need help getting your ideas flowing? You’ll also find several startup scenario examples below.

Download free template as .docx

Whether you need a quick-launch overview or an in-depth plan for investors, any business plan should cover the six key elements outlined in our free template and explained below. The main difference in starting a small business versus an investor-funded business is the market research and operational and financial details needed to support the concept.

1. Your Mission or Vision

Start by declaring a “dream statement” for your business. You can call this your executive summary, vision statement or mission. Whatever the name, the first part of your business plan summarizes your idea by answering five questions. Keep it brief, such as an elevator pitch. You’ll expand these answers in the following sections of the simple business plan template.

• What does your business do? Are you selling products, services, information or a combination?
• Where does this happen? Will you conduct business online, in-store, via mobile means or in a specific location or environment?
• Who does your business benefit? Who is your target market and ideal customer for your concept?
• Why would potential customers care? What would make your ideal customers take notice of your business?
• How do your products and/or services outshine the competition? What would make your ideal customers choose you over a competitor?

These answers come easily if you have a solid concept for your business, but don’t worry if you get stuck. Use the rest of your plan template to brainstorm ideas and tactics. You’ll quickly find these answers and possibly new directions as you explore your ideas and options.

2. Offer and Value Proposition

This is where you detail your offer, such as selling products, providing services or both, and why anyone would care. That’s the value proposition. Specifically, you’ll expand on your answers to the first and fourth bullets from your mission/vision.

As you complete this section, you might find that exploring value propositions uncovers marketable business opportunities that you hadn’t yet considered. So spend some time brainstorming the possibilities in this section.

For example, a cottage baker startup specializing in gluten-free or keto-friendly products might be a value proposition that certain audiences care deeply about. Plus, you could expand on that value proposition by offering wedding and other special-occasion cakes that incorporate gluten-free, keto-friendly and traditional cake elements that all guests can enjoy.

3. Audience and Ideal Customer

Here is where you explore bullet point number three, who your business will benefit. Identifying your ideal customer and exploring a broader audience for your goods or services is essential in defining your sales and marketing strategies, plus it helps fine-tune what you offer.

There are many ways to research potential audiences, but a shortcut is to simply identify a problem that people have that your product or service can solve. If you start from the position of being a problem solver, it’s easy to define your audience and describe the wants and needs of your ideal customer for marketing efforts.

Using the cottage baker startup example, a problem people might have is finding fresh-baked gluten-free or keto-friendly sweets. Examining the wants and needs of these people might reveal a target audience that is health-conscious or possibly dealing with health issues and willing to spend more for hard-to-find items.

However, it’s essential to have a customer base that can support your business. You can be too specialized. For example, our baker startup can attract a broader audience and boost revenue by offering a wider selection of traditional baked goods alongside its gluten-free and keto-focused specialties.

4. Revenue Streams, Sales Channels and Marketing

Thanks to our internet-driven economy, startups have many revenue opportunities and can connect with target audiences through various channels. Revenue streams and sales channels also serve as marketing vehicles, so you can cover all three in this section.

Revenue Streams

Revenue streams are the many ways you can make money in your business. In your plan template, list how you’ll make money upon launch, plus include ideas for future expansion. The income possibilities just might surprise you.

For example, our cottage baker startup might consider these revenue streams:

• Product sales : Online, pop-up shops , wholesale and (future) in-store sales
• Affiliate income : Monetize blog and social media posts with affiliate links
• Advertising income : Reserve website space for advertising
• E-book sales : (future) Publish recipe e-books targeting gluten-free and keto-friendly dessert niches
• Video income : (future) Monetize a YouTube channel featuring how-to videos for the gluten-free and keto-friendly dessert niches
• Webinars and online classes : (future) Monetize coaching-style webinars and online classes covering specialty baking tips and techniques
• Members-only content : (future) Monetize a members-only section of the website for specialty content to complement webinars and online classes
• Franchise : (future) Monetize a specialty cottage bakery concept and sell to franchise entrepreneurs

Sales Channels

Sales channels put your revenue streams into action. This section also answers the “where will this happen” question in the second bullet of your vision.

The product sales channels for our cottage bakery example can include:

• Mobile point-of-sale (POS) : A mobile platform such as Shopify or Square POS for managing in-person sales at local farmers’ markets, fairs and festivals
• E-commerce platform : An online store such as Shopify, Square or WooCommerce for online retail sales and wholesale sales orders
• Social media channels : Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest shoppable posts and pins for online sales via social media channels
• Brick-and-mortar location : For in-store sales , once the business has grown to a point that it can support a physical location

Channels that support other income streams might include:

• Affiliate income : Blog section on the e-commerce website and affiliate partner accounts
• Advertising income : Reserved advertising spaces on the e-commerce website
• E-book sales : Amazon e-book sales via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
• Video income : YouTube channel with ad monetization
• Webinars and online classes : Online class and webinar platforms that support member accounts, recordings and playback
• Members-only content : Password-protected website content using membership apps such as MemberPress

Nowadays, the line between marketing and sales channels is blurred. Social media outlets, e-books, websites, blogs and videos serve as both marketing tools and income opportunities. Since most are free and those with advertising options are extremely economical, these are ideal marketing outlets for lean startups.

However, many businesses still find value in traditional advertising such as local radio, television, direct mail, newspapers and magazines. You can include these advertising costs in your simple business plan template to help build a marketing plan and budget.

5. Structure, Suppliers and Operations

This section of your simple business plan template explores how to structure and operate your business. Details include the type of business organization your startup will take, roles and responsibilities, supplier logistics and day-to-day operations. Also, include any certifications or permits needed to launch your enterprise in this section.

Our cottage baker example might use a structure and startup plan such as this:

• Business structure : Sole proprietorship with a “doing business as” (DBA) .
• Permits and certifications : County-issued food handling permit and state cottage food certification for home-based food production. Option, check into certified commercial kitchen rentals.
• Roles and responsibilities : Solopreneur, all roles and responsibilities with the owner.
• Supply chain : Bulk ingredients and food packaging via Sam’s Club, Costco, Amazon Prime with annual membership costs. Uline for shipping supplies; no membership needed.
• Day-to-day operations : Source ingredients and bake three days per week to fulfill local and online orders. Reserve time for specialty sales, wholesale partner orders and market events as needed. Ship online orders on alternating days. Update website and create marketing and affiliate blog posts on non-shipping days.

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6. Financial Forecasts

Your final task is to list forecasted business startup and ongoing costs and profit projections in your simple business plan template. Thanks to free business tools such as Square and free marketing on social media, lean startups can launch with few upfront costs. In many cases, cost of goods, shipping and packaging, business permits and printing for business cards are your only out-of-pocket expenses.

Cost Forecast

Our cottage baker’s forecasted lean startup costs might include:

Gross Profit Projections

This helps you determine the retail prices and sales volume required to keep your business running and, hopefully, earn income for yourself. Use product research to spot target retail prices for your goods, then subtract your cost of goods, such as hourly rate, raw goods and supplier costs. The total amount is your gross profit per item or service.

Here are some examples of projected gross profits for our cottage baker:

Bottom Line

Putting careful thought and detail in a business plan is always beneficial, but don’t get so bogged down in planning that you never hit the start button to launch your business . Also, remember that business plans aren’t set in stone. Markets, audiences and technologies change, and so will your goals and means of achieving them. Think of your business plan as a living document and regularly revisit, expand and restructure it as market opportunities and business growth demand.

Is there a template for a business plan?

You can copy our free business plan template and fill in the blanks or customize it in Google Docs, Microsoft Word or another word processing app. This free business plan template includes the six key elements that any entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a new business.

What does a simple business plan include?

A simple business plan is a one- to two-page overview covering six key elements that any budding entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a startup. These include your vision or mission, product or service offering, target audience, revenue streams and sales channels, structure and operations, and financial forecasts.

How can I create a free business plan template?

Start with our free business plan template that covers the six essential elements of a startup. Once downloaded, you can edit this document in Google Docs or another word processing app and add new sections or subsections to your plan template to meet your specific business plan needs.

What basic items should be included in a business plan?

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

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Krista Fabregas is a seasoned eCommerce and online content pro sharing more than 20 years of hands-on know-how with those looking to launch and grow tech-forward businesses. Her expertise includes eCommerce startups and growth, SMB operations and logistics, website platforms, payment systems, side-gig and affiliate income, and multichannel marketing. Krista holds a bachelor's degree in English from The University of Texas at Austin and held senior positions at NASA, a Fortune 100 company, and several online startups.

Free Business Plan Template

Download a free business plan template for Word. Includes frequently asked questions about business plans.

Updated on September 17th, 2023

The SMB Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

A business plan template is a pre-formatted business plan that contains an outline for a synopsis of your business details, goals, and measurable steps you are planning to take to achieve these. A business plan is vital to obtain financing for your business and should be the foundation of your pitch deck.

Below is our free downloadable business plan template. This plan can be tailored to your specific business and the stage it is in, as well as for the intended audience.

Business Plan Template - Free Download

Download this blank business plan template in Word format and create your own business plan.

Benefits of Using a Business Plan Template:

• Ensure that your plan is presented in a standard format.
• Uncover the right information before your business is launched.
• Create a professional document without outsourcing.

See our template .

Why You Should Use a Business Plan Template:

Business plan templates allow entrepreneurs and small business owners to save time by working off of a pre-formatted document. With a professional template, you can add specific information about your business without having to start from scratch.

Writing a business plan is a time-consuming process, even if you use a template. However, using a template ensures that you add all of the content that you need before you make your business pitch. Working through a template one section at a time can help you to gather all of the information that you need.

Generally, it's a good idea to write your Executive Summary last. This way, you will have a much better idea of how to summarize and describe your business.

Download our template to get started.

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Discover more about Business to Business (B2B) - what it means and how it affects your business. Includes an overview and frequently asked questions.

Nov 28, 2023

How do you write a business plan?

You can use a template , or start from scratch. Either way, your business plan should include a summary of your business, financial projections, details about marketing, a description of your products/services, and a SWOT analysis.

What is a business plan template?

A business plan template is a pre-formatted document that already contains an outline and basic details. You can customize a template to create a business plan for your own business.

How do I write a business plan for a startup?

Planning for a startup is the same as planning for any new business venture. You need a detailed business plan that is focused primarily on the financial needs of your new business. This will help to attract investors and give you a realistic picture of how much capital you need to succeed.

How do I write a 5-year business plan?

A 5-year business plan is typically written the same way as a normal business plan, except the financial projections from one year to the next may go into more detail. The plan may also include special projects/developments that you want to invest in during the first five years of operation.

What are the three main purposes of a business plan?

• Create a roadmap for the growth of your business.
• Demonstrate to lenders and investors that you have a path to success.
• Gather and evaluate all of the information needed to make decisions.

What should a business plan include?

• Executive Summary.
• Business Overview.
• Operations.
• Market Analysis.
• Products and Services.
• Competition.
• Management.
• Financial Plan.
• Projected Revenue.
• Appendices.

How do you write a successful business plan?

Successful business plans are well researched, including supporting documentation (financial statements, graphs, etc), demonstrate a keen understanding of the target market, and have a multi-faceted marketing strategy.

What do you title a business plan?

Business plans usually have a cover page with a prominent title that includes the company name and the words "Business Plan" either above or below the name. The cover page may also include contact information or a business address.

What are the types of business plans?

• Startup business plan.
• Growth business plan.
• Strategic business plan.
• Feasibility business plan.
• Internal business plan.
• Operations business plan.

How long is a business plan?

The length of your business plan is less important than the quality of the content that is contained within it. However, business plans generally vary in length from 20 to 50 pages depending on the spacing, size of the font, visual elements, and detail of each section.

How much does it cost to get a business plan written?

On the low end, freelancers may charge several hundred dollars to write a business plan, while professionals and consultants may charge several thousand. If you are going to outsource the creation of your business plan, make sure you hire someone who has lots of experience.

How do you write an executive summary for a business plan?

An executive summary should contain the following:

• Introduction.
• Company strengths.
• Explanation of product/service and how it meets a need or solves a problem.
• Conclusion emphasizing the importance/value of the business.

You should try to be concise when you're writing your executive summary since the rest of your business plan will provide more explanation for readers. The point is to draw people in and give them a 1000-foot view of what you are doing. It is generally agreed that the executive summary should make up no more than 5 - 10% of your entire business plan.

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Why build a one-page business plan?

You don’t need days or even hours. In less than 30 minutes, you can develop an initial business plan.

Skip the 40-page detailed plan. Anyone can document their business strategy using the one-page business plan.

It’s shareable

Need quick feedback from business partners, potential customers, or friends? Provide them with a one-page plan.

It’s impressive

It’s hard to get potential investors to read a detailed business plan. A one-page plan is something that every investor has time to read.

All 100% free. We're here to help you succeed in business, no strings attached.

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Watch this quick video to learn how to create a one-page business plan.

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One-page business plan FAQ

What is a one-page business plan?

The one-page business plan is a simplified version of traditional operational plans that focuses on the core aspects of your business. While it may be a shorter business plan, it still follows the structure of a standard business plan and serves as a beefed-up pitch document.

There’s really not a lot of difference between a single-page business plan and a good executive summary. In fact, as you create a more detailed plan you may even be able to use it as your executive summary .

Who should use a one page business plan?

A one-page plan is useful for business owners that are mulling over ideas, just starting, actively managing, or looking to grow a business. It can help validate a business idea, work as an internal strategy document, or as a flexible management tool that can be adapted over time.

How do I write a business plan on one page?

You can use the one-page business plan template, or a tool like LivePlan that saves you time by guiding you through each step of writing your one-page plan and pitch.

Why choose this one-page business plan template?

There are a few key features that make this one-page business template more functional and effective than your average template.

Written by planning experts: This one-page business plan template wasn't just thrown together. It was crafted by seasoned planning experts with a combined 40 years of experience writing and reviewing business plans. Throughout this template, you find their expert tips and tricks, along with detailed instructions.

Works with other Bplans resources: Need additional guidance to write your business plan? Our free one-page business planning guide is built to support this template—giving you even more detailed walkthroughs for each section.

What is included in this one-page business plan template?

This template includes definitions, guidance, and examples to complete your one-page business plan. After downloading the template, you'll receive instructions for how to fill out each of the following sections:

Identity What does your company do or offer and to whom?

Problem worth solving What challenges does your company solve?

Our solution How does your company solve those challenges?

Target market Who makes up your target audience? Who are your ideal segments, personas, or customers?

Competitive landscape Who are your competitors? What makes them successful in your industry?

Sales channels How will you get your product/service to customers?

Marketing activities How will you get your product/service in front of potential customers?

Revenue What goods/services will drive revenue?

Expenses What items will cost you money?

Funding required Have what funding total you need front and center to clearly display what you are asking from investors.

Milestones What projects or tasks must be completed in order to reach your goals?

Team and roles Who is a critical part of your internal team (name/role)?

Partners and resources Who else is supporting your venture/business?

Can you print out this template?

This is a printable business plan template that can be downloaded and printed no matter which format you choose.

Why should you start with a one-page business plan?

There are plenty of good reasons why your first step should be writing a one-page plan.

1. It’s faster Instead of slogging away for hours, days, or even weeks tackling a formal business plan—the one-page format helps you get your ideas down much faster. It removes the complex formatting,

2. A great format for feedback Need quick feedback from business partners, colleagues, potential customers, or your spouse? Provide them with a one-page plan instead of a lengthy in-depth version for better results.

The one-page plan is more likely to be read and reviewed. And since all of your business information is available at a glance, you’ll receive far more valuable and timely feedback.

3. Easy to update Entrepreneurs never get things right the first time. You’ll constantly be learning and receiving feedback—requiring you to iterate and revise your business concept. Instead of updating a large document every time, you can do it in minutes with a one-page plan.

4. Direct and to-the-point Learning to communicate your ideas clearly and directly is critical. You need to be sure that anyone can really understand the essence of your business. Delivering your entire business concept on a single page is a great way to practice this, as it forces you to be succinct.

5. Works as an idea validation tool Initially, your business is just a set of assumptions that you need to validate. Do your potential customers have the problem you assume they have? Do they like your solution and are they willing to pay for it? What marketing and sales tactics will work?

As you validate these assumptions, you leave them in your plan. But, assumptions that end up being wrong will quickly fall off the page.

6. Becomes an outline for your detailed plan By “detailed” we don’t mean “long.” If you do need to create a detailed business plan document for investors or business partners, you can use your one-page plan as your core outline. You will just expand and provide more details for each section.

7. No one really reads long business plans A common problem with traditional business plans is that they are simply too long and overly complex. Even when investors ask for a detailed document, chances are that they won’t actually read every word. They may read certain sections, but often just want to see if you’ve thought through the details of your business, how it will operate, and how it will grow.

8. Useful for any business stage A one-page plan is useful for business owners that are mulling over ideas, just starting, actively managing, or looking to grow a business. It can help validate a business idea, work as an internal strategy document, or as a flexible management tool that can be adapted over time.

Is there a better way to write my one-page business plan than with this template?

While this template will help you get started, using the #1-rated business planning software, LivePlan has step-by-step guidance, support from our business planning experts, and powerful planning tools like AI-powered writing assistance, automatic forecasting, industry benchmark data, and more.

Can someone write your business plan for you?

If you're still struggling to write your business plan even when using a template, you can look into hiring a professional business plan writer. We even have a free resource to help you ask just the right questions to make sure you find the right plan writer.

Related Resources

How to Write a Business Plan in Under an Hour

10 Qualities of Great Business Plans

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Home Business Plan

Business Plan Templates

Use our template to make an investment-worthy business plan.

Updated December 8, 2023 Written by Sara Hostelley | Reviewed by Brooke Davis

A business plan is a document outlining a company’s operations, strategies, goals, and objectives. It’s crucial to guide you through each stage of starting and growing your business.

Templates (8)

What is a business plan, why is a business plan essential, components of a business plan, how to write a business plan, business plan sample.

Below, you can find free business plan templates for specific business types. You can also find more in-depth information on writing a plan for your business, whether it’s a food truck, restaurant, real estate business, or another entity:

Create a detailed plan that lays out the details of how your business will achieve it's objectives.

Traditional Business Plan

Create a simplified version of a traditional business plan.

One-Page Business Plan

Create a Non-Profit Business Plan and learn how to write one.

Create a Daycare Business Plan and learn how to write one.

Create a Restaurant Business Plan and learn how to write one.

Create a Real Estate Business Plan and learn how to write one.

Real Estate

Create a Food Truck Business Plan and learn how to write one.

A business plan is a document detailing how a business, whether it’s a new or existing company, will achieve its goals and objectives. It guides you through every step of starting and running a company.

A business plan can be the foundation of your business, serving as a written roadmap that covers all aspects of how to structure, run, and grow your business. You can also refer back to it as your business progresses to track its growth and success.

In addition to being a helpful document internally, a business plan is also vital for a company to communicate its success to external parties that may influence its future success.

Consider some of the main reasons why large and small business owners alike use business plans:

1. Use As a Roadmap

A business plan sets specific, measurable, and time-bound goals. Having these goals helps you track progress, evaluate performance, and adjust as necessary.

By laying out goals, you have a clear and attainable plan of action with the ability to see and monitor your progress.

2. Plan Strategies For Potential Challenges

A business plan can help you think objectively about your business’s key elements and inform your decision-making as you move forward.

A detailed plan can provide a semblance of control over a potentially cumbersome process. Formulating a plan can improve your ability to make choices and decisions for yourself and the business. This approach is much better than suddenly making a critical decision without time to evaluate or haphazardly letting others decide for you.

3. Get Funding or Bring on New Business Partners

An accurate business plan is essential whether or not you need to secure a business loan. Investors and lenders often require a business plan before they commit capital. A solid plan demonstrates your commitment, viability, and potential return on investment.

Create a business plan that grabs the attention of potential investors and provides them with enough structure and confidence that they will move forward and grant funding and support to your business.

You can use your business plan to highlight how the proposed business will be successful and profitable.

4. Discover Any Weaknesses

A business plan includes a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis that helps identify potential risks and challenges. It is essential to allocate resources and demonstrate monthly profit or loss. By recognizing these elements early, you can develop strategies to mitigate or address them.

5. Analyze the Market and Competition

Market research within the plan helps you better understand your target audience, competition, and industry trends. This knowledge is crucial for making informed business decisions.

By learning about your competition, you can help make your goods or services stand out and help validate your business idea.

You should update a business plan as you go, altering your goals as necessary and being mindful of any changes of direction in your business.

A typical business plan includes the following sections:

• Executive Summary
• Management Team
• Products and Services
• Customers and Marketing
• SWOT Analysis

Our business plan template includes all of the above, so you won’t have to worry about missing out on essential sections.

Step 1 – Create an Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section of a traditional business plan, serving as the first impression of your business. Please give a brief overview of your company, including its mission, key goals, and a snapshot of your financial projections.

You can skip this step if you’re writing a lean business plan for a startup. Instead, replace it with a few sentences outlining the problem your startup aims to solve and the solution you will provide.

Executive Summary Example:

Market research indicates there are a growing number of dog owners in Tallahassee who want to train their animals. Consumer surveys indicate that most consumers don’t have the time or resources to train their animals themselves.

Consumers have also expressed a desire for combined dog walking and training services to help discipline their animals.

Pawsitive Strides Canine Coaching & Walks provides a convenient service for customers with furry friends and disposable incomes.

Tips for Writing an Executive Summary

• Define a problem in your market and state how your business will solve it.
• Limit your executive summary to one page.
• Use a tone appropriate for your audience.

Step 2 – Describe Your Company’s Team

A professional business plan will include a statement about your company’s team and management.

Describe your startup’s legal structure. After that, you can insert a chart to show the hierarchical structure of your company. Show and name your C-suite executives, management team, and key employees. Include short biographies and links to their resumes and LinkedIn profiles to give the reader a complete picture of your staff’s qualifications.

If you have a smaller staff, you can highlight the founder and CEO and your staff members who perform the services or create your business’s products.

Example for Company’s Team Statement:

Jamie Clayton, Founder and CEO

• Board-certified veterinarian.

Pawsitive Strides Canine Coaching & Walks’s dog walkers and trainers

• 14 full-time staff members.
• 26 part-time staff members.
• All staff members have the Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) credential from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

Tips for Writing about Your Company Management and Team

• Include any roles you’d like to hire to grow your company, if applicable.
• Highlight expertise and awards one to show your staff’s capabilities.

Step 3 – Summarize Market Analysis and Potential

Your business plan must also thoroughly analyze your target market and customer base. The goal here is to show that you understand your market and target audience and that there is a viable market for your business.

Market Analysis Example:

Pawsitive Strides Canine Coaching & Walks’s ideal customer is a dog owner between the ages of 25 and 65 with a high disposable income. They’re ideally a working professional or have recently retired from the workplace. They love their dog (or dogs) and want them to be well-behaved and have an outlet for all their energy.

Market research shows that Pawsitive Strides Canine Coaching & Walks has ample opportunities in the Tallahassee area:

• The total revenue for dog walking services in the U.S. increased from $900 million in 2019 to $1.1 billion in 2023.
• Dog ownership has increased by 20% over the last five years.
• Online search volume for “dog walkers in Tallahassee” is up by 10% since last year.
• 19% of Tallahassee’s residents have a household income of $125,000 or more (compared to the average of 5% across the U.S.).

Tips for Writing a Market Analysis

• Use reliable sources for acquiring data.
• Conduct consumer surveys to hear from people in your target area.
• Focus on the demand in your area and the growth potential.
• Include revenue and expense projections based on market data.

Step 4 – Describe Your Product or Service

Describe the products and services you offer. Pinpoint the value they provide to current and future customers and share your plans for research and development.

The main goal of this section is to convince the reader and yourself that your business is viable and that you have enough resources, time, and energy to achieve your goals.

Product Description Example:

Pawsitive Strides Canine Coaching & Walks isn’t an ordinary dog walking service. When a customer signs up for our monthly subscription plan, we have one of our certified dog walkers go to their house 12 times a month on a schedule that works for them.

Our dog walker takes their dog on a 30-minute walk and corrects their behavior. Their dog learns how to walk on a leash calmly and be around cars and people. Not only does the dog get some exercise and fresh air, but they also learn discipline, meaning the customer doesn’t have to worry about training their dog in this sense.

Tips for Writing a Product/Service Description

• Highlight cross-sell and upsell opportunities, if applicable.
• Emphasize what distinguishes you from other companies providing similar services/products.
• Include details for updating your offerings in the future.

Step 5 – Plan Your Marketing Strategy

Discuss the brand vision you want to cultivate, the metrics you’ll track, and the channels you’ll use to reach your target audience. Outlining how you plan to collect and retain customers will help you experience growth in the long term.

Marketing Strategy Example:

Pawsitive Strides Canine Coaching & Walks will focus on social media and direct mail marketing as its two main forms of advertising. We’ll track customer referrals to determine how many current customers are satisfied with our services.

On our social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, we’ll track our audience growth rate, bounce rate, and click-through rate.

Tips for Writing a Marketing Strategy

• Add the budget/resources you have, if applicable.
• Create strategies for marketing to different segments within your main target audience.

Step 6 – Conduct SWOT Analysis

Organizations use SWOT analyses to determine how closely a business will adhere to its growth trajectories. This analysis involves looking at a company’s SWOTs, which are:

• Strengths: Strengths are things your company does well. Examples include having a unique selling proposition, standout brandings, or human resources, like your employees and C-class executives.
• Weaknesses:  These barriers prevent your project or company from reaching certain milestones. Examples include financial limitations, a shortage of skilled professionals, and unclear selling propositions.
• Opportunities:  These positive external factors could give you a competitive edge. For instance, if you’re a manufacturer and the federal government cuts tariffs, you can export your products into a new market to boost market share and sales.
• Threats:  These are events, competitors, and situations that pose a risk to your company and the goals you’ve set for it. Typical threats include negative media coverage, changing customer demands, emerging competitors, and new rules and regulations.

SWOT Analysis Example:

• Appeals to people who don’t have the time or resources to train their pets.
• Low startup costs.
• Finding enough certified employees to meet the anticipated demand.
• Dealing with aggressive animals may be challenging for newer employees.

Opportunities

• Offering multiple subscription packages for customers who want more frequent training sessions for their pets.
• BehaviorBuddies is a dog walking service in Bradfordville that may take away customers.

Tips for Writing a SWOT Analysis

• Be honest with your business’s weaknesses and threats.
• Capitalize on opportunities you find through market analysis.

Step 7 – Develop a Strategy for Operations

Your business plan needs to include a thorough operations plan. This section reveals your manufacturing, fulfillment, managing, staffing, hiring strategies, and all the other processes you go through when running your business daily.

Operations Strategy Example:

Jamie Clayton will oversee the hiring of all employees, and the team lead will train all employees for at least one month to ensure they have the knowledge necessary to deal with animals of all temperaments.

The team lead will also organize the dog walking schedule to ensure all team members have enough time to arrive at customers’ houses and complete the dog walking/training sessions thoroughly.

Tips for Writing a Business Strategy

• Consider what your business needs to thrive on a daily basis.
• Account for inventory and supplies, even if your business is service-based.

Step 8 – Compile Your Business Financials

Create financial projections, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for the first few years of operation. If you need funding, specify the amount and how you plan to use it.

Financial Statement Example:

Income Statement for the Year Ended December 31, 2023

• Revenue: $150,000
• Cost of Goods Sold: $30,000
• Gross Profit: $120,000
• Operating Expenses: $80,000
• Net Operating Income: $40,000
• Other Income/Expenses: -$2,000
• Net Income: $38,000

Tips for Writing a Financial Section

• Double-check the accuracy of financial information.
• Demonstrate how the proposed funding aligns with your company’s goals.
• Forecast future financial performance.

Step 9 – Explain Your Funding Request

If you’re seeking funding or investment for your business, explain the amount you need and how you intend to use it. Be transparent about the terms you’re offering to investors or lenders.

Funding Request Example:

Pawsitive Strides Canine Coaching & Walks has already hired a team to serve our existing customers. Once we scale to $500,000 in annual revenue over the next two years and at a 10% profit margin, our primary ongoing annual expenses (not including taxes) will total $350,000.

While already profitable, we are requesting $200,000 in the form of a business loan to buy two additional company vehicles. These vehicles will improve our employees’ ability to get to customers’ homes, and the remaining money will go toward maintaining current company vehicles.

Tips for Writing a Funding Request

• Add a timeline so investors know your goals and how you plan to use the money.
• If you seek funding in the form of an exchange for equity, an investor may expect to gain decision-making powers in your company. Plan for this situation accordingly.

Step 10 – Compile an Appendix for Official Documents

Include relevant documents, such as resumes of key team members, legal agreements, market research data, product design mock-ups, and your business’s legal structure documents.

Remember that each business plan is unique, so tailor your content to your venture and audience. Your business plan should effectively communicate your vision, strategy, and financial viability to potential investors, partners, and stakeholders.

Combine the appendix with a table of contents and footnotes section so you can reference it throughout your document.

You can download a free business plan template below in PDF or Word format:

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• One-Page Business Plan : A simplified version of a traditional business plan that outlines the basics of your business.
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10 Free Business Plan Templates in Word, Excel, & ClickUp

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

February 13, 2024

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Turning your vision into a clear and coherent business plan can be confusing and tough. 

Hours of brainstorming and facing an intimidating blank page can raise more questions than answers. Are you covering everything? What should go where? How do you keep each section thorough but brief?

If these questions have kept you up at night and slowed your progress, know you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve put together the top 10 business plan templates in Word, Excel, and ClickUp—to provide answers, clarity, and a structured framework to work with. This way, you’re sure to capture all the relevant information without wasting time. 

And the best part? Business planning becomes a little less “ugh!” and a lot more “aha!” 🤩

What is a Business Plan Template?

What makes a good business plan template, 1. clickup business plan template, 2. clickup sales plan template, 3. clickup business development action plan template, 4. clickup business roadmap template, 5. clickup business continuity plan template, 6. clickup lean business plan template, 7. clickup small business action plan template, 8. clickup strategic business roadmap template , 9. microsoft word business plan template by microsoft, 10. excel business plan template by vertex42.

A business plan template is a structured framework for entrepreneurs and business executives who want to create business plans. It comes with pre-arranged sections and headings that cover key elements like the executive summary , business overview, target customers, unique value proposition, marketing plans, and financial statements.  

A good business plan template helps with thorough planning, clear documentation, and practical implementation. Here’s what to look for:

• Comprehensive structure: A good template comes with all the relevant sections to outline a business strategy, such as executive summary, market research and analysis, and financial projections 
• Clarity and guidance: A good template is easy to follow. It has brief instructions or prompts for each section, guiding you to think deeply about your business and ensuring you don’t skip important details
• Clean design: Aesthetics matter. Choose a template that’s not just functional but also professionally designed. This ensures your plan is presentable to stakeholders, partners, and potential investors
• Flexibility : Your template should easily accommodate changes without hassle, like adding or removing sections, changing content and style, and rearranging parts 🛠️ 

While a template provides the structure, it’s the information you feed it that brings it to life. These pointers will help you pick a template that aligns with your business needs and clearly showcases your vision.

10 Business Plan Templates to Use in 2024

Preparing for business success in 2024 (and beyond) requires a comprehensive and organized business plan. We’ve handpicked the best templates to help you guide your team, attract investors, and secure funding. Let’s check them out.

If you’re looking to replace a traditional business plan document, then ClickUp’s Business Plan Template is for you!

This one-page business plan template, designed in ClickUp Docs , is neatly broken down into the following sections:

• Company description : Overview, mission, vision, and team
• Market analysis : Problem, solution, target market, competition, and competitive advantage
• Sales and marketing strategy : Products/services and marketing channels
• Operational plan : Location and facilities, equipment and tools, manpower, and financial forecasts
• Milestones and metrics: Targets and KPIs

Customize the template with your company logo and contact details, and easily navigate to different sections using the collapsible table of contents. The mini prompts under each section guide you on what to include—with suggestions on how to present the data (e.g., bullet lists, pictures, charts, and tables). 

You can share the document with anyone via URL and collaborate in real time. And when the business plan is ready, you have the option to print it or export it to PDF, HTML, or Markdown.

But that’s not all. This template is equipped with basic and enterprise project management features to streamline the business plan creation process . The Topics List view has a list of all the different sections and subsections of the template and allows you to assign it to a team member, set a due date, and attach relevant documents and references.

Switch from List to Board view to track and update task statuses according to the following: To Do, In Progress, Needs Revision, and Complete. 

This template is a comprehensive toolkit for documenting the different sections of your business plan and streamlining the creation process to ensure it’s completed on time. 🗓️

If you’re looking for a tool to kickstart or update your sales plan, ClickUp’s Sales Plan Template has got you covered. This sales plan template features a project summary list with tasks to help you craft a comprehensive and effective sales strategy. Some of these tasks include:

• Determine sales objectives and goals
• Draft positioning statement
• Perform competitive analysis
• Draft ideal customer persona
• Create a lead generation strategy

Assign each task to a specific individual or team, set priority levels , and add due dates. Specify what section of the sales plan each task belongs to (e.g., executive summary, revenue goals, team structure, etc.), deliverable type (such as document, task, or meeting), and approval state (like pending, needs revisions, and approved).

And in ClickUp style, you can switch to multiple views: List for a list of all tasks, Board for visual task management, Timeline for an overview of task durations, and Gantt to get a view of task dependencies. 

This simple business plan template is perfect for any type of business looking to create a winning sales strategy while clarifying team roles and keeping tasks organized. ✨

Thinking about scaling your business’s reach and operations but unsure where or how to start? It can be overwhelming, no doubt—you need a clear vision, measurable goals, and an actionable plan that every member of your team can rally behind. 

Thankfully, ClickUp’s Business Development Action Plan Template is designed to use automations to simplify this process so every step toward your business growth is clear, trackable, and actionable.

Start by assessing your current situation and deciding on your main growth goal. Are you aiming to increase revenue, tap into new markets, or introduce new products or services? With ClickUp Whiteboards or Docs, brainstorm and collaborate with your team on this decision.

Set and track your short- and long-term growth goals with ClickUp’s Goals , break them down into smaller targets, and assign these targets to team members, complete with due dates. Add these targets to a new ClickUp Dashboard to track real-time progress and celebrate small wins. 🎉

Whether you’re a startup or small business owner looking to hit your next major milestone or an established business exploring new avenues, this template keeps your team aligned, engaged, and informed every step of the way.

ClickUp’s Business Roadmap Template is your go-to for mapping out major strategies and initiatives in areas like revenue growth, brand awareness, community engagement, and customer satisfaction. 

Use the List view to populate tasks under each initiative. With Custom Fields, you can capture which business category (e.g., Product, Operations, Sales & Marketing, etc.) tasks fall under and which quarter they’re slated for. You can also link to relevant documents and resources and evaluate tasks by effort and impact to ensure the most critical tasks get the attention they deserve. 👀

Depending on your focus, this template provides different views to show just what you need. For example, the All Initiatives per Quarter view lets you focus on what’s ahead by seeing tasks that need completion within a specific quarter. This ensures timely execution and helps in aligning resources effectively for the short term.

This template is ideal for business executives and management teams who need to coordinate multiple short- and long-term initiatives and business strategies.

In business, unexpected threats to operations can arise at any moment. Whether it’s economic turbulence, a global health crisis, or supply chain interruptions, every company needs to be ready. ClickUp’s Business Continuity Plan Template lets you prepare proactively for these unforeseen challenges.

The template organizes tasks into three main categories:

• Priorities: Tasks that need immediate attention
• Continuity coverage: Tasks that must continue despite challenges
• Guiding principles: Resources and protocols to ensure smooth operations

The Board view makes it easy to visualize all the tasks under each of these categories. And the Priorities List sorts tasks by those that are overdue, the upcoming ones, and then the ones due later.

In times of uncertainty, being prepared is your best strategy. This template helps your business not just survive but thrive in challenging situations, keeping your customers, employees, and investors satisfied. 🤝

Looking to execute your business plan the “lean” way? Use ClickUp’s Lean Business Plan Template . It’s designed to help you optimize resource usage and cut unnecessary steps—giving you better results with less effort.

In the Plan Summary List view, list all the tasks that need to get done. Add specific details like who’s doing each task, when it’s due, and which part of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) it falls under. The By Priority view sorts this list based on priorities like Urgent, High, Normal, and Low. This makes it easy to spot the most important tasks and tackle them first.

Additionally, the Board view gives you an overview of task progression from start to finish. And the BMC view rearranges these tasks based on the various BMC components. 

Each task can further be broken down into subtasks and multiple checklists to ensure all related action items are executed. ✔️

This template is an invaluable resource for startups and large enterprises looking to maximize process efficiencies and results in a streamlined and cost-effective way.

The Small Business Action Plan Template by ClickUp is tailor-made for small businesses looking to transform their business ideas and goals into actionable steps and, eventually, into reality. 

It provides a simple and organized framework for creating, assigning, prioritizing, and tracking tasks. And in effect, it ensures that goals are not just set but achieved. Through the native dashboard and goal-setting features, you can monitor task progress and how they move you closer to achieving your goals.

Thanks to ClickUp’s robust communication features like chat, comments, and @mentions, it’s easy to get every team member on the same page and quickly address questions or concerns.

Use this action plan template to hit your business goals by streamlining your internal processes and aligning team efforts.

For larger businesses and scaling enterprises, getting different departments to work together toward a big goal can be challenging. The ClickUp Strategic Business Roadmap Template makes it easier by giving you a clear plan to follow.

This template is packaged in a folder and split into different lists for each department in your business, like Sales, Product, Marketing, and Enablement. This way, every team can focus on their tasks while collectively contributing to the bigger goal.

There are multiple viewing options available for team members. These include:

• Progress Board: Visualize tasks that are on track, those at risk, and those behind
• Gantt view: Get an overview of project timelines and dependencies
• Team view: See what each team member is working on so you can balance workloads for maximum productivity

While this template may feel overwhelming at first, the getting started guide offers a step-by-step breakdown to help you navigate it with ease. And like all ClickUp templates, you can easily customize it to suit your business needs and preferences.

Microsoft’s 20-page traditional business plan template simplifies the process of drafting comprehensive business plans. It’s made up of different sections, including:

• Executive summary : Highlights, objectives, mission statement, and keys to success
• Description of business: Company ownership and legal structure, hours of operation, products and services, suppliers, financial plans, etc.
• Marketing: Market analysis, market segmentation, competition, and pricing
• Appendix: Start-up expenses, cash flow statements, income statements, sales forecast, milestones, break-even analysis, etc.

The table of contents makes it easy to move to different sections of the document. And the text placeholders under each section provide clarity on the specific details required—making the process easier for users who may not be familiar with certain business terminology.

No business template roundup is complete without an Excel template. This business plan template lets you work on your business financials in Excel. It comes with customizable tables, formulas, and charts to help you look at the following areas:

• Highlight charts
• Market analysis
• Start-up assets and expenses
• Sales forecasts
• Profit and loss
• Balance sheet
• Cash flow projections
• Break-even analysis

This Excel template is especially useful when you want to create a clear and visual financial section for your business plan document—an essential element for attracting investors and lenders. However, there might be a steep learning curve to using this template if you’re not familiar with business financial planning and using Excel.

Try a Free Business Plan Template in ClickUp

Launching and running a successful business requires a well-thought-out and carefully crafted business plan. However, the business planning process doesn’t have to be complicated, boring, or take up too much time. Use any of the above 10 free business plan formats to simplify and speed up the process.

ClickUp templates go beyond offering a solid foundation to build your business plans. They come with extensive project management features to turn your vision into reality. And that’s not all— ClickUp’s template library offers over 1,000 additional templates to help manage various aspects of your business, from decision-making to product development to resource management .

Sign up for ClickUp’s Free Forever Plan today to fast-track your business’s growth! 🏆

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Write your business plan

Business plans help you run your business.

A good business plan guides you through each stage of starting and managing your business. You’ll use your business plan as a roadmap for how to structure, run, and grow your new business. It’s a way to think through the key elements of your business.

Business plans can help you get funding or bring on new business partners. Investors want to feel confident they’ll see a return on their investment. Your business plan is the tool you’ll use to convince people that working with you — or investing in your company — is a smart choice.

Pick a business plan format that works for you

There’s no right or wrong way to write a business plan. What’s important is that your plan meets your needs.

Most business plans fall into one of two common categories: traditional or lean startup.

Traditional business plans are more common, use a standard structure, and encourage you to go into detail in each section. They tend to require more work upfront and can be dozens of pages long.

Lean startup business plans are less common but still use a standard structure. They focus on summarizing only the most important points of the key elements of your plan. They can take as little as one hour to make and are typically only one page.

Traditional business plan

Lean startup plan

Traditional business plan format

You might prefer a traditional business plan format if you’re very detail-oriented, want a comprehensive plan, or plan to request financing from traditional sources.

When you write your business plan, you don’t have to stick to the exact business plan outline. Instead, use the sections that make the most sense for your business and your needs. Traditional business plans use some combination of these nine sections.

Executive summary

Briefly tell your reader what your company is and why it will be successful. Include your mission statement, your product or service, and basic information about your company’s leadership team, employees, and location. You should also include financial information and high-level growth plans if you plan to ask for financing.

Company description

Use your company description to provide detailed information about your company. Go into detail about the problems your business solves. Be specific, and list out the consumers, organization, or businesses your company plans to serve.

Explain the competitive advantages that will make your business a success. Are there experts on your team? Have you found the perfect location for your store? Your company description is the place to boast about your strengths.

Market analysis

You'll need a good understanding of your industry outlook and target market. Competitive research will show you what other businesses are doing and what their strengths are. In your market research, look for trends and themes. What do successful competitors do? Why does it work? Can you do it better? Now's the time to answer these questions.

Organization and management

Tell your reader how your company will be structured and who will run it.

Describe the  legal structure  of your business. State whether you have or intend to incorporate your business as a C or an S corporation, form a general or limited partnership, or if you're a sole proprietor or limited liability company (LLC).

Use an organizational chart to lay out who's in charge of what in your company. Show how each person's unique experience will contribute to the success of your venture. Consider including resumes and CVs of key members of your team.

Service or product line

Describe what you sell or what service you offer. Explain how it benefits your customers and what the product lifecycle looks like. Share your plans for intellectual property, like copyright or patent filings. If you're doing  research and development  for your service or product, explain it in detail.

Marketing and sales

There's no single way to approach a marketing strategy. Your strategy should evolve and change to fit your unique needs.

Your goal in this section is to describe how you'll attract and retain customers. You'll also describe how a sale will actually happen. You'll refer to this section later when you make financial projections, so make sure to thoroughly describe your complete marketing and sales strategies.

Funding request

If you're asking for funding, this is where you'll outline your funding requirements. Your goal is to clearly explain how much funding you’ll need over the next five years and what you'll use it for.

Specify whether you want debt or equity, the terms you'd like applied, and the length of time your request will cover. Give a detailed description of how you'll use your funds. Specify if you need funds to buy equipment or materials, pay salaries, or cover specific bills until revenue increases. Always include a description of your future strategic financial plans, like paying off debt or selling your business.

Financial projections

Supplement your funding request with financial projections. Your goal is to convince the reader that your business is stable and will be a financial success.

If your business is already established, include income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for the last three to five years. If you have other collateral you could put against a loan, make sure to list it now.

Provide a prospective financial outlook for the next five years. Include forecasted income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and capital expenditure budgets. For the first year, be even more specific and use quarterly — or even monthly — projections. Make sure to clearly explain your projections, and match them to your funding requests.

This is a great place to use graphs and charts to tell the financial story of your business.  

Use your appendix to provide supporting documents or other materials were specially requested. Common items to include are credit histories, resumes, product pictures, letters of reference, licenses, permits, patents, legal documents, and other contracts.

Example traditional business plans

Before you write your business plan, read the following example business plans written by fictional business owners. Rebecca owns a consulting firm, and Andrew owns a toy company.

Lean startup format

You might prefer a lean startup format if you want to explain or start your business quickly, your business is relatively simple, or you plan to regularly change and refine your business plan.

Lean startup formats are charts that use only a handful of elements to describe your company’s value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances. They’re useful for visualizing tradeoffs and fundamental facts about your company.

There are different ways to develop a lean startup template. You can search the web to find free templates to build your business plan. We discuss nine components of a model business plan here:

Key partnerships

Note the other businesses or services you’ll work with to run your business. Think about suppliers, manufacturers, subcontractors, and similar strategic partners.

Key activities

List the ways your business will gain a competitive advantage. Highlight things like selling direct to consumers, or using technology to tap into the sharing economy.

Key resources

List any resource you’ll leverage to create value for your customer. Your most important assets could include staff, capital, or intellectual property. Don’t forget to leverage business resources that might be available to  women ,  veterans ,  Native Americans , and  HUBZone businesses .

Value proposition

Make a clear and compelling statement about the unique value your company brings to the market.

Customer relationships

Describe how customers will interact with your business. Is it automated or personal? In person or online? Think through the customer experience from start to finish.

Customer segments

Be specific when you name your target market. Your business won’t be for everybody, so it’s important to have a clear sense of whom your business will serve.

List the most important ways you’ll talk to your customers. Most businesses use a mix of channels and optimize them over time.

Cost structure

Will your company focus on reducing cost or maximizing value? Define your strategy, then list the most significant costs you’ll face pursuing it.

Revenue streams

Explain how your company will actually make money. Some examples are direct sales, memberships fees, and selling advertising space. If your company has multiple revenue streams, list them all.

Example lean business plan

Before you write your business plan, read this example business plan written by a fictional business owner, Andrew, who owns a toy company.

Need help? Get free business counseling

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6+ FREE Multipage Business Plan Templates: Your Path to Business Excellence

Why is a business plan called the “foundation” of a business, download business plan templates in ms word format.

#1 – General Business Plan Format

#2 – Business Plan Template with Sample Data

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#3 – nonprofit business plan.

#4 – Small Business Plan

#5 – Startup Business Plan

#6 – Business Continuity Plan

How does a business plan help you start and manage your business?

Serves as your light in the tunnel:, earns you triple the outcomes:, helps you in proving your efficacy:, helps you in securing investments and funding:, brings the right team on board:, how does one jump into the process of business plan designing.

• The Concept and idea behind your business
• Identifying your potential Clients or Customers
• Carving the Cashflow trails that can be expected

How do we organize a business plan for maximum efficiency?

• Executive summary – company’s goals (short-term as well as long-term), missions, and objectives
• Company and enterprise description – the structure, nature, history, mission, goals, and strategies. Explain what your enterprise aims to achieve and the industry it operates in.
• Products/services – What offerings will you provide to your market?
• Market Analysis – Understand your targeted customer base, industry knowledge, marketing data, and insights into your competitors.
• SWOT analysis – Analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to refine your strategy.
• Strategy and Implementation – Craft a sales and marketing strategy, plan for business promotion, navigate market entry, manage production and delivery, and outline your workforce strategies.
• Legal considerations – Address the legal matters essential for legitimizing your enterprise.
• Financial plans and projections – Detail profit and funding generation, strategies for sales maximization, cash flow management, and income statement projections.
• Timeline – Establish a timeline to track milestones and goals for your enterprise’s development.
• Appendix – Include additional supporting documents and resources.

How to choose the most appropriate plan for one’s business?

• A strategic plan can be chosen when you specifically want to focus on the organization’s vision and properties.
• A traditional plan can be selected when you wish to stick to the basic, standard template
• A lean plan can be your out-of-the-box thinking, helping you formulate a document based on new ideas. It takes less time to be formulated and is a summarized document.

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Plan Templates

Business plan template – 111+ free word, excel, pdf format download.

Do you want to start your small business, startup, or offer professional creative services? With our business plan templates , you can create the best multi or one-page proposal featuring a layout for several businesses and organizations. Our simple business plans  feature a restaurant, real estate, retail, and marketing companies. Likewise, you can also grab a PDF Template  for specific entities such as daycare and nonprofit organizations. You can produce the best business plan for your upcoming brand, product, or service with your financial details and business studies. Start by downloading the perfect format and content template today.

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15 Must-Have Business Report Templates

Businesses need to monitor work to make sure that they’re meeting milestones. They also need to have a means of communicating that information to their stakeholders. Business report templates are a tool that can do both.

Use these free 15 business report templates to create a project dashboard, progress report and workload analysis to make a strategy map, cost-benefit and balanced scorecard.

1. Project Dashboard Business Report Template

A project dashboard is a high-level overview of the project. It captures various key performance indicators (KPIs). It gives managers an instant status report to see if the project is progressing as planned, if costs are aligned with the budget and other metrics to help stay on track.

This free project dashboard template for Excel monitors tasks, workload, task lengths and costs. It does this with easy-to-read graphs and charts . The only problem is that the template must be manually updated, taking time away from the project and the data is already old by the time it’s been inputted.

ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has real-time project and portfolio software that don’t require any lengthy or complicated setup as with lightweight software alternatives. Unlike a template, users get live data and can view one project, a program or a portfolio of projects in real time. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

2. Progress Report Template

One of the most common business report templates is the progress report . It captures a snapshot of the project over a specific period, providing an overview of all the activities and tasks that have taken place during that time. It highlights milestones and performance metrics such as risks, issues, changes and more.

The free progress report template for Word captures all that data and more. It helps project managers understand if they’re on schedule and can be shared with stakeholders to keep them updated. Reviewing the progress report can open up discussions between the project manager and the stakeholder earlier when they can be dealt with easier than later when the issue is more embedded and harder to resolve.

3. Operating Budget Business Report Template

This business report template applies to any industry that uses an operating budget to forecast revenue and expenses over a period of time. The free operating budget template for Excel is an essential tool for coming up with an accurate budget for a company’s quarter or even the full coming year.

An operating budget is more than a picture of the financial dimensions of a business going forward. It can help set realistic business goals and determine if the results of the quarter or year match the forecast of the operating budget template. There could be unexpected expenses and the annual balance might need to be adjusted.

4. Project Proposal Business Report Template

Whether working in construction, IT, marketing, engineering or any business, this free project proposal template for Word will help deliver the reason for initiating a new project. That’s what makes it a key business report template. It’s a document that exists to convince a sponsor, boss or stakeholder that the project is viable.

Use this free business report template to coordinate resources, tasks, equipment and materials within a timeframe to reach a business objective. It’s the first step towards structuring a project to deliver it successfully. Everything needed is laid out, from the executive summary to an acceptance letter.

5. Project Status Report Template

A project status report is different from a progress report. Managers and stakeholders use them to stay updated on the project’s progress, but they differ in focus and scope. The status report is a broad overview of an entire project compared to its plan, while a progress report focuses more on specific tasks and milestones.

Use this free business report template to capture the project’s status and improve communication with key stakeholders. A free status report template for Excel has project information, a summary of the project’s status and health and a risk management overview. It offers recommendations moving forward.

6. SWOT Analysis Business Report Template

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This free SWOT Analysis template for Word is a tool to assess a business’s competitive position, both internally and externally. It is a key technique in developing a strategic plan. It’s a business report template that gathers data to help make more insightful decisions.

A SWOT analysis template is divided into four parts. These quadrants are labeled strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The vertical left-hand axis is divided into external and internal, while the top is broken down into positive and negative. Managers then add to each of these quadrants to get a better picture of the business and its competitive position.

7. Inventory Business Report Template

Use this free inventory template for Excel to record the level of stock and track turnover. This business report template lists all of a company’s inventory used in its daily operations and gives managers quick access to volume, price and more. There’s also a place to note when a reorder is needed and how long it will take to replenish that stock.

This business report template serves manufacturers and retailers alike. But it can also track tools or materials used to get work done. This prevents not having what is needed, which will slow down production and impact a business’s bottom line. Being able to track inventory keeps work moving smoothly.

8. Workload Analysis Business Report Template

Businesses use workload analysis to manage their workforce. The goal of workload analysis is balancing tasks across all project teams to ensure that no one is overallocated or underutilized, which slows down productivity and threatens to erode morale or create burnout. None of those should be acceptable to a business.

The free workload analysis template for Excel lists team members’ names and hourly rates. Managers enter their total available work hours per month. Then allocate work hours to each team member and monitor resource utilization rates and costs. This business report template helps keep everyone working at capacity.

9. Strategy Map Business Report Template

Use this Excel business template to visualize the cause and effect of an organization’s strategic objectives. The strategy map template breaks up objectives, which are represented by an oval, into four perspectives: financial, customer, business and learning and growth. It shows how organizations create value.

There are many other benefits to using this business report template. It not only visualizes the organization’s strategic objectives, but it can help to identify key areas of the business for better resource allocation. It can also promote cross-departmental collaboration by showing how different teams are working together to achieve the same objectives.

10. Strategic Roadmap Business Report Template

A strategic roadmap visually communicates the strategic initiatives that will be taken to deliver the business goals and objectives of an organization. Use this business report template to deliver the what and why of an organization’s strategy in a bird’s-eye view of where it currently stands and where it plans to be in the future.

This is an essential business report template for preparing an organization for the changes that are to come. Everyone can use it from the executive leadership team to department managers, product managers, project managers and the project management office (PMO) . A strategic roadmap is key to managing multiple projects, reaching strategic goals or creating a strategic business plan.

11. Action Plan Business Report Template

Business report templates help managers monitor and track work, but if issues need to be addressed, an action plan needs to be created. Use this free action plan template for Excel to execute the plan to get the project back on track. Managers can make an action plan to outline the steps that will help them to accomplish this goal.

The free action plan template has everything a manager needs to get a plan into action. Tasks and their priority are listed for each phase of the project. Assignments are noted, so everyone on the team knows what they’re responsible for. There’s even a status column to track the work and ensure that it’s moving forward as planned.

12. Balanced Scorecard Business Report Template

A balanced scorecard is a document that looks at strategic measures and more traditional financial measures. This provides a more balanced perspective and holistic approach to managing a business’s strategy. This free balanced scorecard template for Excel is a strategic performance metric that businesses use to improve internal operations and external outcomes.

To use this business report template, first set strategic objectives, plan initiatives and establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and expected targets. Next, group strategic objectives using the four balanced scorecard perspectives: financial, customer, business process and learning and growth.

13. Cost Benefit Analysis Template

Using this free cost-benefit analysis template for Excel will determine the return on investment (ROI) for a project. Use it before approving a project to understand if the project is viable from a financial perspective. It’s a business report template that can help companies avoid investing in lost leaders.

The free template works by capturing quantitative costs, indirect, intangible and opportunity. Then there’s a place to list the types of costs and the quantitative benefits. The cost-benefits analysis then compares the costs of doing the project compared to its financial benefits. This is an essential decision-making tool.

14. Gap Analysis Business Report Template

Use this free gap analysis template for Excel to take a business from its current state to the desired future state. It focuses on areas of improvement, a gap percentage, a timeline, resource requirements and much more. This business report template can be used for project management, business process improvement and product management.

To use this free template, begin by losing the focus areas, such as a business process that needs improvement or a human resource gap. Then determine the current and future state of the focus area. Next, estimate the gap percentage and, finally, list the action items that will close that gap. There’s also space to list the responsible parties and the status of the work.

15. Root Cause Analysis Template

A root cause analysis , also called a fishbone diagram, is used to figure out what went wrong so it can be fixed rather than just patched up. This business report template is used to identify the cause of a process not conforming to its planned output. This is part of the larger total quality management process.

The root cause analysis template uses a fishbone diagram, which captures the cause-and-effect relationship in the process to uncover any imperfections, variations, defects or failures. This is used in product development to ensure that the product they’re working on will resonate with customers and work as planned.

ProjectManager Creates Better Reports Than Templates

Business report templates are fine, but they’re not ideal reporting tools. For one, these are static documents that don’t capture live data and, therefore, provide a dated picture of the project. Business report templates also must be manually updated, which takes time away from actually managing and executing the project. For those looking for a more effective alternative to Excel spreadsheets, there’s project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that delivers live data to help make more insightful decisions whether managing one project, a program or a portfolio of projects.

Use Customizable Reports for Easy Analysis

Unlike with business report templates, there’s no manual inputting of data with our reports. They’re automatically collecting real-time data and turning complex information into helpful reports. There are status reports, portfolio reports and reports on variance, workload, timesheets and more. All reports can be created with a keystroke and shared with stakeholders and teams. They can also be filtered to drill down into projects for actionable data on particular team members or tasks. Use reports on progress, costs, time and more to better manage projects.

Collect All Project Data on One Powerful Project Portfolio Roadmap

Use project portfolio roadmaps to view all projects in one Gantt chart-like timeline . This allows managers to better understand resource management and how to allocate limited resources across projects to work more efficiently and effectively. They can also track time and manage tasks. The portfolio roadmap can be filtered by assignee, project manager or customer to make forecasts, view which projects are open and who’s assigned to tasks as well as highlight key metrics for stakeholders.

Related Template Content

There’s more to templates than business report templates. For those not ready to upgrade to project management software, there are over 100 free project management templates that can be downloaded immediately from our site. They cover every phase of managing a project across multiple industries. Here are a few round-up blog posts that offer many free templates.

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ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

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Company Plan

Running a busy is no easy task. There are so many aspects that need to be put into consideration. High points are the outcome of hard work while low points test a company’s strength to overcome obstacles. A company’s management must determine lapses and find appropriate solutions to problems that weaken overall operations. This is why it’s important for a company to develop a plan examples .

Holding Company Business Plan Template

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Moving Company Marketing Plan Template

Plumbing Company Marketing Plan Template

A free business plan will help a company identify strategies to improve employee performance and increase product sales. To do so, company meetings are conducted for significant members of the company to formally discuss such issues. They work to develop effective company plans to garner positive outcomes.

Printing Company Marketing Plan Template

Printing Company Sales Plan Template

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Painting Company Sales Plan Template

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Flooring Company Sales Plan Template

Catering Company Plan

Size: 229 kB

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Size: 158 kB

Investment Company Plan

Size: 83 KB

What Is a Company Plan?

A company personal plan is an official statement that typically consists of defined goals and plans for attaining them.

It could include an executive summary of business operations, employee performance, and other relevant matters. It promotes proper communication for business partners, stakeholders, and significant members of the company. A company plan  is important to ensure that a business stays on course with its operations. It sets a direction for the company in terms of what it aims to achieve over a period of time. It also creates a vision for a company to constantly evolve in this ever-changing world.

How to Write a Company Plan?

A company plan can be based on different topics. simple Business plans could center on safety, security, strategy, or even investment. To write a company plan, determine the goals that you want to achieve. You can the attain these goals by developing a plan, a mission for the company to carry out.

A company plan should consist of significant information that can provide a clear layout of company strengths and objectives. A plan needs to contain a detailed review of important aspect of a business. This could be anything from the marketing plan to the company’s inventory. It’s also essential to state financial statements and other supporting information.

Company Strategic Plan

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Company Marketing Plan

Size: 98 KB

Company Safety Plan

Size: 150 KB

Printing Company Plan

Size: 979 KB

Why Should a Company Develop a Marketing Plan?

Customer satisfaction is one of the main factors that keeps a company alive. After all, how can a business continue operations without clients and customers. With this in mind, companies work on developing a good marketing plan.

A marketing plan example plays a significant role in developing a business plan. It covers everything from your target market to your marketing strategies. It also allows a company to constantly grow and develop in the industry. A solid marketing plan will help you establish your brand and achieve a good following of loyal customers. The primary goal of a marketing plan is to put yourself out there. You can do so through good advertising. A company website and publicity gimmicks can easily gather an audience.

A marketing plan works on making your company stand out amidst the long list of competitors as well. Without a proper marketing plan, you company will fall flat on the public radar. You need to consistently switch up your annual marketing plan to gain attention and see an increase in sales.

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During a trial, small business owners get access to all FreshBooks features except Advanced Payments (like FreshBooks invoicing, time tracking, and expensing). So you’ll know exactly why it’s the accounting software used by over 30 million business owners. That doesn’t mean your small business doesn’t get access to some online payment features, you can still craft time-saving workflows.

But, once you sign up for a FreshBooks plan, check out our Advanced Payments feature, which includes recurring billing. Advanced Payments lets your small business accept credit cards online and accept payments like bank transfers, payments over the phone, and invoice-free payments with Checkout Links.

Also, check out this article about how service-based businesses can make the most of a free 30-Day FreshBooks trial.

At the end of your free 30-day FreshBooks trial, you get to choose a plan specifically built for small business owners. But which one is right for small businesses? How do you know which accounting software features are right for your small business, to save you time and get you paid faster?

First off, you don’t need to worry about your business being interrupted when you transition from a free trial to a paid plan. FreshBooks plans are as follows:

• Lite Plan (add up to five clients)
• Plus Plan (our most popular plan)
• Premium Plan (lots of advanced features)
• Select Plan (a customizable plan for growing businesses)

All of your information stays in your account.

Want to know how much FreshBooks costs? We know every small business is different, which is why there are different plans to choose from. You can review them here . Our advice? Take a moment and take stock of:

• Where your small business is today
• Where you hope to grow your business in the next 6 months
• Your overall income and expenses
• The features you need to help your business accomplish all its goals
• Do you need business health reports?
• Do you need mobile mileage tracking?

Read this article for even more information to help you choose the right FreshBooks plan for your business: Wondering Which FreshBooks Plan Will Be Right For You?

Accounting software is a tool that allows you to track and manage the day-to-day finances of your businesses. It should allow you to create professional invoices, manage expense tracking, run double-entry accounting reports, accept online payments, and monitor all parts of your business’s money – both in and out.

FreshBooks accounting software allows you to do all of this – and more. It includes invoicing features, expense tracking, time tracking, online payments, industry-standard double-entry accounting, balance sheets, mileage tracking, project profitability, bank reconciliation, client retainers, and the list goes on. It’s the reason we’re one of those most popular small business invoicing software – having been used by over 30 million people worldwide.

All features are built to be easy to use for small business owners and their teams, clients, and accountants. Plus, as a cloud accounting software – your data is stored and ready to be accessed wherever you are in the world.

Learn more about our accounting features here.

FreshBooks accounting software gives you instant access to the tools you need to manage your finances. It’s perfect for everyone from self-employed professionals to growing business owners.

All you have to do is sign up for a FreshBooks account, add your business details, and you’re ready to go. From the FreshBooks dashboard, you can explore the invoicing features, add billable clients, choose to accept credit card payments with FreshBooks payments, run accounting reports, discover the project management tools, and a whole lot more.

Plus, if you prefer to manage your business on the go with a mobile device, you can download the FreshBooks mobile app – and handle your accounting from anywhere.

FreshBooks works in any web browser on all your devices (desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or phone). There’s also a FreshBooks mobile app for both iPhone and Android, which includes mileage tracking.

Do much more than just bill clients. Small businesses can run their business, create invoices, set up recurring invoices, log expenses, track financial data,  get paid online, track revenue streams, connect bank accounts, and easily create new customers in their account…all on the mobile app.

Learn more about FreshBooks on mobile here.

FreshBooks offers small businesses amazing support. Our customer support team has won 11 Stevie Awards, which are international awards given out to the absolute best customer support department in the world. While we all think our support team is the best, they have the hardware to prove it. 

Get in touch with customer support here .

We also have a massive help center that has answers to just about every question we’ve ever been asked by our customers. Check it out here.

Invite up to 10 Accountants per business at no extra cost, on Plus and Premium plans . If your Accountant wants to learn more and familiarize themselves with FreshBooks’ accounting features, they can sign up for the Accounting Partner Program to become a FreshBooks certified partner, which comes with a bunch of cool benefits. If you don’t have an Accountant yet, reach out to us and we can help you get matched with one of our partners based on your geographical location, industry, and your accounting needs.

If you’re not sure about things like accounts receivable, general ledger, balance sheets, or doing your business taxes, not to worry. Getting your accountant on board and working with you in FreshBooks can be done in just a few clicks.

Learn more about working effectively with your accountant on FreshBooks in this great article.

Yes! It’s called Easy Switch, and you can chat with a specialist to learn about your options today.

WHY BUSINESS OWNERS LOVE FRESHBOOKS

SAVE UP TO 553 HOURS EACH YEAR BY USING FRESHBOOKS

SAVE UP TO $7000 IN BILLABLE HOURS EVERY YEAR

BUSINESSES IN OVER 160 COUNTRIES HAVE USED FRESHBOOKS

Free Work Timetable Templates

By Andy Marker | August 26, 2024

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We’ve gathered the most useful free Agile epic templates in Excel, Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF,  Google Docs, and Google Sheets formats.

Included in this article, you’ll find the following:

• Weekly work timetable template
• Hourly work timetable template
• Monthly employee work shift timetable template
• 24-hour work timetable template
• Work meeting timetable template
• Work event timetable template  

Basic Work Schedule Timetable Template

Download a Blank Basic Work Schedule Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

Download a Sample Basic Work Schedule Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : Teams or managers can use this basic work schedule timetable template to allocate daily tasks or projects and to monitor employee hours efficiently. Available with or without data, this template ensures accurate tracking of work assignments and time spent across the week.

Notable Template Features : This template auto-tallies daily hours, providing a clear overview of work distribution and time management and making it easy to track employee productivity and adjust workloads as necessary.

To manage your time and enhance your productivity with a versatile tool, check out these  free weekly schedule templates in Excel .

Hourly Work Timetable Template

Download a Blank Hourly Work Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

Download a Sample Hourly Work Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : Use this hourly work timetable template to organize tasks that require precise scheduling throughout the day. This template, available with or without data, enables detailed planning and tracking of hourly activities, along with important notes.

Notable Template Features : Featuring a dedicated to-do list and a section for notes, this template offers a comprehensive view of daily tasks and essential reminders, so it’s ideal for maintaining productivity and capturing critical details throughout the workday.

Discover a variety of  free work schedule templates for Microsoft Word and Excel to suit your specific needs.

Work Meeting Timetable Template

Download a Blank Work Meeting Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

Download a Sample Work Meeting Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : Available with or without data, this work meeting timetable template is ideal for planning and organizing meetings that require detailed scheduling and clear communication of objectives. It ensures that you account for all aspects of the meeting, from location to agenda, to promote efficiency and thorough preparation.

Notable Template Features : This template includes sections for key details such as meeting location, start time and end time, and topics of discussion; this provides a structured format for comprehensive planning. The template also features areas for refreshments and notes, ensuring you consider every element of the meeting and making it easier to facilitate productive and well-coordinated sessions. 

Meeting Room Timetable Template

Download the Meeting Room Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : This meeting room timetable template is ideal for scheduling and managing room bookings across the week, especially bookings that require precise time allocations in half-hour increments. It helps avoid conflicts and ensures that you utilize meeting spaces efficiently.

Notable Template Features : The template includes a clear layout with sections for room identification and weekly scheduling, so that it’s easy to track and organize room usage. The half-hour time slots allow for detailed scheduling, ensuring that meeting times are planned with precision.

Monthly Employee Work Shift Timetable Template

Download a Blank Monthly Employee Work Shift Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

Download a Sample Monthly Employee Work Shift Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : Use this monthly employee work shift timetable template to manage and visualize employee work shifts over the course of a month, with working days, absences, PTO, and holidays clearly identified. Available with or without sample data, this template is ideal for teams that require organized tracking of employee availability using a simple color-coded system.

Notable Template Features : This template includes an employee ID number for easy reference and a legend that clearly defines W for Work, A for Absence, H for Holiday, etc. The color-coded system ensures quick and accurate interpretation of each employee’s monthly schedule, aiding in efficient workforce management.

Enhance your scheduling efficiency with these  free Google Sheets schedule templates that offer real-time collaboration and easy accessibility across devices.

Employee Shift Timetable Template

Download a Blank Employee Shift Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

Download a Sample Employee Shift Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : Select this employee shift timetable template to manage and track employee shifts on an hour-by-hour basis and ensure comprehensive coverage of work hours throughout the day. This template, available with or without sample data, is ideal for operations that require precise scheduling and monitoring of staff across various shifts.

Notable Template Features : This template provides a detailed view of employee shifts with hour-by-hour breakdowns, making it easy to refer to and adjust if required. Its structure enables you to efficiently plan shifts and prevent overlaps or gaps in coverage to ensure smooth workflow management.

Find the best options for your scheduling needs with these  free Excel schedule templates designed to simplify your workflow. 

24-Hour Work Timetable Template

Download a Blank 24-Hour Work Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

Download a Sample 24-Hour Work Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : Use this 24-hour work timetable template to efficiently manage round-the-clock operations and ensure that all shifts are covered every day of the week. Available with or without sample data, the template is perfect for businesses requiring continuous staffing and allows for precise and consistent scheduling.

Notable Template Features : This template provides a clear, hour-by-hour breakdown for each day of the week, offering a comprehensive view of 24-hour coverage. It’s designed to streamline scheduling across all shifts to make it easier to organize and manage uninterrupted work cycles.

For daily planning, take a look at these  free daily schedule templates that can help you stay organized. 

Weekly Work Timetable Template

Download a Blank Weekly Work Timetable Template for Excel  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Sheets

Download a Sample Weekly Work Timetable Template for Excel  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : Choose this weekly work timetable template to efficiently schedule and track employee work hours throughout the week and ensure accurate calculations. This template is ideal for managers who need a clear overview of employee work patterns and total hours logged.

Notable Template Features : Available with or without sample data, this template includes sections for employee ID numbers and automatically calculates the hours worked by each employee, providing a streamlined approach to weekly time management. It’s designed to facilitate easy tracking and adjustment of work schedules, promoting efficient workforce oversight.

If you’re looking to streamline your weekly planning, explore these  free weekly calendar templates for more options.

Work Event Timetable Template

Download a Blank Work Event Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

Download a Sample Work Event Timetable Template for Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template : Use this work event timetable template with or without sample data to organize and track work-related events in precise half-hour increments and ensure smooth coordination throughout the day. This template is perfect for detailed planning and execution, including scheduling activities and managing event locations.

Notable Template Features : This template provides sections for both location and activity, offering a structured format for planning events with specific time slots. Its half-hour increments allow for granular scheduling, making it easy to manage even the most detailed event timelines.

To manage construction projects effectively, consider using these  free construction schedule templates that help you streamline timelines and improve construction project coordination.

Plan Your Work in Real Time with Timeline View for Smartsheet

Timeline view in Smartsheet empowers users to plan, visualize, and collaborate on date-based work in real-time, enabling you to effortlessly organize tasks, track progress, and communicate status.

In just a few clicks, launch your project’s timeline on any sheet to visualize your work, understand the details, and adjust information, making it easy to track project progress, detect blockers, and communicate statuses.

Discover how timeline view in Smartsheet can help your team visualize date-based work and achieve greater efficiency and transparency across projects.

Learn more about timeline view in Smartsheet .

Discover why over 90% of Fortune 100 companies trust Smartsheet to get work done.

How to Drive Word of Mouth Marketing for your Beauty or Wellness Business

September 3, 2024

The centuries-old practices of self-care and personal beautification fall within the $4.4 trillion wellness industry . Consumers are seeking to improve how they look, feel, perform, and more importantly, their sense of wellbeing.  

For your appointment-based business to be successful in this competitive space, you’ll need repeat guests. Even if your location is in a high-traffic environment, there are likely not enough customers to fill your books every day with brand new clients. Gaining repeat customers is the key to long-term success, and one of the most successful channels to accomplish this is word-of-mouth recommendations.  

In this post, we’ll offer you tips on how to maximize word-of-mouth marketing for your beauty or wellness business.

Develop your USP

Let’s start at the beginning—do you have a well-defined Unique Service Proposition (USP)? Thousands of businesses are offering the same services as you, so what makes you special, unique, different, and perfect for certain clients? What standouts in your services, or in your facility, staff, and processes? If you and your staff cannot articulate your USP, then start here. Consider these factors:  

• Expertise: What special expertise does your business have? For example, you may have licensed estheticians with several years of experience.  
• Specialization: What’s your specialty? Natural hair care for children? Prenatal spa services?   
• Location: Is your business conveniently located in a busy neighborhood? A business hub?  
• Products: Do you use eco-friendly or organic products?  
• Business hours: Do you provide extended hours for working professionals? Do you open before regular business hours?  
• Innovation: Do you offer research-backed products or trending services?  
• Incentives: Do you provide incentives like gift cards or loyalty benefits after a specific number of procedures?  

Developing a strong USP will help you attract your target clients and get them excited to talk about your services with friends and family. Remember to showcase your USP in all your marketing materials and platforms.

Offer outstanding customer service

When clients share negative experiences about your business online, they can reach lots of people in a short time. A negative reputation will cause reduced revenue and affect your ability to attract new clients. Remember to keep the customer’s needs top of mind by providing excellent customer experiences. You can accomplish this through:  

• Creating a welcoming atmosphere: Address each client by name and discuss their goals so you can recommend the right service and products. Soothing music and a fresh scent in your salon or spa can also do wonders.  
• Offering extra amenities/services: Consider herbal tea, a chair massage, care for waiting family/children, or a wellness consultation.  
• Giving loyal members extra perks: Offer exclusive rates for referrals, a free service after a specific number of visits, or guest passes for family and friends for loyal clients.  
• Offering on-going communication and support: Send emails providing motivation, answering questions, and supporting clients after they leave your business.  
• Providing educational resources: Empower your clients with exclusive content like online workshops, webinars, and e-book guides.   

A great customer experience will naturally prompt your clients to share their positive experiences with others.

Create engaging and shareable content

Create website content that your clients will enjoy reading and sharing. Use a conversational tone and language that’s easy to read and understand. Provide accurate, valuable, and actionable information. For example, your wellness business website may include nutrition tips, mindfulness content like stress reduction strategies, or posts surrounding the latest wellness trends related to your business and services.  

Make your content appealing by including attractive visuals like images, infographics, and videos. Potential clients love seeing results before spending money, so share written or video testimonials of clients who have benefited from your beauty or wellness services. This builds your brand credibility and encourages other clients to share their experiences. Include social media buttons on your site for easy sharing.

Leverage social media

Take advantage of the billions of social media users across various platforms to amplify your word-of-mouth marketing. Start by figuring out which social media platform will work best for your beauty or wellness business. Do your prospective clients hang out on Facebook? Instagram? Or YouTube? Check out similar brands or competitors and find out where they’re posting. Once you figure what platforms you’ll use, incorporate these tips:  

• Post quality content consistently: Find out what type of content interests your audience. Ensure that it’s easy to understand, visually appealing, and aligns with your brand identity. Posting consistently boosts engagement and a following.  
• Engage with your audience: Responding to messages, comments, and mentions builds trust in your brand and encourages your clients to keep tagging and mentioning your business.  
• Collaborate with influencers: Partnering with big or small influencers who are genuinely passionate about beauty or wellness will drive positive word-of-mouth through their networks and followers.  
• Promote user-generated content: Encourage your audience to share their experiences with your services. Then repost their videos, photos, and reviews to build credibility and get people talking about your business.

Encourage customer reviews and testimonials

BrightLocal's 2024 Local Consumer Review Survey found that 75% of consumers regularly read local reviews to make a spending decision. 77% of consumers surveyed in the same study said they conduct business research using at least two review platforms. Encourage happy clients to leave reviews on platforms like Yelp, Google, or other review sites. Positive reviews serve as social proof and influence the choices of potential clients. Always respond to positive reviews; thanking clients shows your dedication to their satisfaction.

As all businesses do, you will get some negative reviews. Your response to them will determine whether clients can trust your business again. Avoid ignoring negative reviews, and try not to take them personally. As much as possible, validate the clients’ concerns, address the issues, and inform them of your courses of action to resolve them. Genuine responses give clients the impression that you care about them and can turn negative experiences into opportunities to build trust and loyalty.

Partner with other businesses

Find and partner with other beauty or wellness businesses in the area that provide complementary services to yours. For example, a nail salon could partner with a beauty business that sells cosmetics and skincare products. Partnerships help you earn more reach and gain trust and notoriety with an additional base of people. This way, if one of their clients' needs your services, you’ll be top of mind.

You can build partnerships by offering exclusive promotions to another business’ client base, organizing joint events and activities, or doing cross marketing promotions.

Set up a referral marketing program

A Nielsen study showed that consumers trust recommendations from people they know more than paid advertising and traditional marketing, so there’s no question that referral marketing works. Make it easy for clients to share your business with friends and family by offering rewards for referrals, giving out useful marketing swag, or promoting bring-a-friend days at your business.

Incorporate these word-of-mouth marketing tips for your beauty or wellness business and watch the new clients pour in.  

Ready to take your marketing to the next level? Learn how Mindbody can help you promote your business to 2.4M prospects looking for wellness offerings like yours.

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Microsoft 365 On Us.

During congestion, heavy data users (>50B) and customers choosing lower-prioritized plans may notice lower speeds than other customers. Video typically streams on smartphone/tablet in SD quality (480p), unless you add HD-capable (1080p) plan/feature. 5G: Fastest: Based on median, overall combined 5G speeds according to analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 5G download speeds for Q2 2022. See 5G device, coverage, & access details at T-Mobile.com . Microsoft 365: Contact us to activate; one subscription per line, up to 2 lines per account. See full terms

Running a business can be challenging. But also rewarding.

Plans built with the tools for businesses to thrive..

Stay connected and work more efficiently from virtually anywhere with Microsoft 365 cloud services. Best-in-class Office applications such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and more to help you collaborate and communicate in real-time.

Improve productivity and transform collaboration.

Microsoft 365 On Us gives you access to best-in-class work and communication tools to manage your business. Simplify the way work gets done with powerful cloud services, world-class security and key apps such as Microsoft Teams, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

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Visit t-mobile., give us a call., request a call., grow your business with plans that provide incredible value–now with more travel benefits than before..

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Run a small business for decades in the same location and some might expect you to have a “business-as-usual” mindset. But Steve Miller, owner of Miller Tool, isn’t that kind of leader.

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Got questions about Microsoft 365 On Us?

What is microsoft 365 on us.

T-Mobile for Business already brings you America’s largest and fastest 5G network, first class benefits, and exceptional customer support. But that’s just the start. Introducing Microsoft 365 On Us – giving you access to best-in-class work & communication tools to manage your business and simplify the way work gets done with powerful cloud services and key apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

How do I get this deal?

Visit a Retail  store  or call  1-855-980-5194  to speak to one of our experts today.

To qualify for Microsoft 365 On Us, you must:

• Have or activate a T-Mobile for Business account with at least one voice line on a qualifying rate plan
• Complete the registration and setup process for your Microsoft 365 account
• Remain active and in good standing on qualified plan

What rate plans are eligible for Microsoft 365 On Us?

Eligible rate plans include: Go5G Business, Go5G Business Plus, Go5G Business Next, Go5G Military Business, Go5G Military Business Plus, Go5G First Responder Business, Go5G First Responder Business Plus, Business Unlimited Advanced, Business Unlimited Ultimate or Business Unlimited Ultimate+ for iPhone.

Can I combine this offer with another device promotion?

Talk to one of our experts about combining Microsoft 365 On Us with a device promotion at time of activation.

I’m an existing T-Mobile for Business customer, can I take advantage of Microsoft 365 On Us?

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Does this include Microsoft 365 or Netflix offers?

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I’m a new T-Mobile customer but I have more than 2 employees and will need additional user licenses, can I get all of my Microsoft 365 user licenses I need from T-Mobile?

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I already have a Microsoft 365 account through Microsoft or another reseller; how do I apply the credit to my existing Microsoft 365 account?

Microsoft 365 On Us provides new Microsoft user licenses that you can assign to any member of your business – even employees without T-Mobile voice service. Unfortunately, the new user licenses cannot be part of the existing account you may have already set up through Microsoft or another reseller. This means the value cannot be credited toward your existing account and the Microsoft On Us user licenses cannot be combined into your existing account.

Alternatively, you can ‘switch’ a paid user license by discontinuing the paid version and reassigning that user to your Microsoft 365 On Us license. For assistance with assigning user licenses, please call 1-888-834-8572 .

If you would like to consolidate your Microsoft 365 account in one place and on one bill, you can purchase all of your Microsoft 365 user licenses from T-Mobile. To do so, you would cancel your current Microsoft 365 account then take advantage of the Microsoft 365 On Us user licenses plus purchase additional user licenses you need from T-Mobile.

Can I upgrade a free Microsoft 365 Business Basic user license to Business Standard?

Yes, to upgrade your user license from Business Basic to Business Standard please call 1-888-834-8572 . Upgrades from an ‘On Us’ license will only be charged the difference between the Business Basic and Business Standard ($9/month). Qualifying plan required; contact us to activate. One subscription per line, up to 2 lines per account.

Full terms:  Activation requires access to Marketplace, a T-Mobile service providing access to Ingram Micro Inc.'s online business-to-business platform for purchasing third-party products and services. Platform and subscription use subject to applicable third-party licenses, terms, and conditions, including the Microsoft Customer Agreement at www.microsoft.com/licensing/docs/customeragreement and Marketplace terms and conditions at  https://us.cloud.im/legal/ . May not be combined with Netflix On Us, Family Allowances, or content-blocking features; adding these features will result in immediate cancelation of Marketplace subscriptions without further notice. Between $9.04 and $25.98 /mo. value, depending on plan and line count. Value not redeemable or refundable for cash or credit and may not be creditable towards other products. Must remain active and in good standing or licenses terminate and data becomes inaccessible. May take 1-2 bill cycles. Like all plans, features may change or be discontinued at any time; see  T-Mobile  Terms and Conditions at  T-Mobile.com  for details.

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Money blog: Popular European country cracking down on holiday rentals such as Airbnb

Today's Money blog includes the Czech Republic clamping down on sites like Airbnb to help locals with the cost of living. We'll have personal finance and consumer news and tips through the day - leave a comment on anything we're covering below.

Wednesday 4 September 2024 07:01, UK

• European country cracks down on holiday rentals
• High-street bank trumps rivals with cheapest mortgage

Essential reads

• 'They have 22-inch pizzas - hello!': Israeli-born chef picks budget eats
• How your pension could be taxed
• Basically... Free school meals
• Big Issue seller reveals how it works financially and his technique
• Best of the Money blog

Tips and advice

• Cheapest holidays dates before Christmas
• Money Problem : 'My dog died but insurance still wants a year's payment'
• How else to eat Greggs on cheap as O2 Priority scraps freebies

Ask a question or make a comment

Every Wednesday we ask top chefs to pick their favourite Cheap Eats where they live and when they cook at home. This week we speak to Israeli-born Eran Tibi, executive chef at Michelin-recommended Bala Baya, and Kapara, in London.

Hi Eran, can you tell us your favourite places in London where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?

One of my favourite place has to be Voodoo Rays  (Dalston, London Fields and Peckham) - it serves New York-style pizza which you can't get anywhere. They have 22-inch pizzas - hello! 

You're able to go in, pick slices of whatever pizza you want; they also do a great negroni. It's great value and the quality is fantastic and consistent, so it's a no brainer.

I also love Afghan Kitchen in Angel  -   it's cheap, cheerful, delicious and authentic. It's unique as not many people are familiar with Afghan cuisine; all the dishes are great value and it's a fantastic place to explore new dishes. 

What is your go-to cheap eat to cook at home when you have a night in?

If I'm making something at home, I go to Ridley Road Market in Dalston to pick up my ingredients. Here you'll find the best produce for the most reasonable price.

The go-to for a cheap home cooked eat is roast beef with roasted seasonal vegetables and a slow braised bulgur wheat, covered with some dips (either fresh or from what's left in the fridge).

With dishes like this, the key is to always have a good pantry and look to the freezer; throughout the year, freeze seasonal vegetables and ingredients so when you need an easy and cheap dinner (even out of season), simply take them out and get cooking! 

We've spoken to lots of top chefs - check out their cheap eats from around the country here...

We've seen Spain do it, along with France and the Netherlands, and now the Czech Republic has announced plans to crack down on holiday lets.

The Czech government has proposed new regulations that could limit the amount of Airbnb-style rentals available in popular cities such as Prague. 

The proposals could cap the number of days a property can be rented out each year and require a minimum amount of space per guest. 

Authorities could also be allowed to place more local taxes on the rentals. 

Owners would be required to register their accommodation and guest details via an online platform. 

They will then be given a registration number, which would have to be displayed on their listings. 

The new system, if given the green light, will aim to bring down the cost of living for locals by freeing up accommodation and increasing tax revenues. 

EuroNews said officials estimate that between 40% to 70% of online bookings are not reported, which could equate to €32m in unpaid taxes each year. 

Labour is facing a drop-off in confidence among business leaders amid plans for tax rises and improvements to workers' rights, according to a survey.

The Institute of Directors noted a leap in optimism in July among its membership as the new government came to power.

But its latest economic confidence index showed a slump from a three-year-high, falling into negative territory in August.

Read more below...

The number of hospitality establishments across the UK has grown for the first time in two years - a sign of recovery for the industry.

Between March and June there were 462 new openings of pubs, restaurants, bars and hotels in the UK - an average of five per day - according to the Nationwide Caterers Association.

The organisation said casual dining establishments in particular have experienced growth in numbers for the first time since COVID.

"While there is still a way to go for the sector to return to pre-COVID heights, tangible growth in hospitality premises is clearly a positive development and hopefully a sign of more growth to come," the association said.

Aldi is in talks with the government over planning reform in a bid to speed up the opening of new stores.

The discount supermarket is offering investment to tackle "under-resourcing" across local authorities, which is currently leading the planning application process to take more than a year, Aldi UK's national real estate director George Brown wrote in LinkedIn.

Mr Brown said to "unlock" significant investment in the UK economy, the retail sector should be given more weight in the decision-making process to reflect the number of jobs it delivers.

Aldi said in February that it plans to open 500 more stores in 2024, which would also lead to the creation of 5,500 new jobs.

An "urgent review" into dynamic pricing has been launched as the backlash from the price of Oasis concert tickets continues. 

The Competition and Markets Authority said it was looking into the ticketing market to make sure consumers were being treated fairly. 

Oasis fans were disappointed at the weekend when tickets for their reunion tour more than doubled while on sale due to dynamic pricing systems. 

Tickets shot up from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster within hours of their release - and while fans were stuck in long online queues.

Dynamic pricing is common within industries beyond music - it's used frequently in the travel industry, with hotel rooms and airline tickets.

"The CMA is urgently reviewing recent developments in the ticketing market, including the way dynamic pricing is being used in the primary market," a CMA spokesperson said. 

They noted that consumer protection law requires businesses to be fair and transparent in their dealings with consumers. 

They are also required to give clear and accurate information about the price people have to pay. 

"The CMA wants fans to get a fair deal when they buy tickets," they added. 

"We have already acted against major resale websites on the secondary market to ensure consumer law is being followed. 

"But we think more protections are needed for consumers here, and made recommendations to the previous government in 2021 about the changes that are needed." 

The government has promised to look into dynamic ticket pricing, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy saying it would be reviewed in an upcoming consultation. 

Female founders have been dealt a "blow" after Innovate UK delivered just half the number of grants pledged in a funding competition for women business owners.

The Women in Innovation programme was aimed at encouraging women leading small to medium-sized businesses to apply for grants of up to £75,000 each.

The government-backed agency said it would be offering the grants to 50 female founders when it launched the competition earlier this year - but subsequently changed the wording to say "up to 50". 

Only 25 ended up being chosen to receive funding, out of 1,452 applicants.

Dearbump and Femtech founder Emma Jarvis said in a LinkedIn post that the situation will have left many female entrepreneurs "pretty disheartened"

The post  has been shared more than 100 times and has garnered nearly 830 reactions.

"Innovate UK's decision is a blow not just to existing female founders but future ones," Ms Jarvis said. "It's really disappointing to hear that the number of awards was cut in half and that the wording was changed after the results were announced."

She said the "only way forward" was for Innovate UK to honour its original commitment of 50 awards.

Meanwhile, Patricia McGirr, Repossession Rescue founder , said female founders "deserve more than lip service". 

She said Innovate UK's decision "isn't just trimming fat, it's cutting opportunity and ambition".

"This broken promise to the women fuelling our future is a step backward for innovation and a slap in the face to countless women who dare to lead."

And Debbie Porter, managing director at Destination Digital Marketing , said the move was "hard to believe".

"Innovate UK ought to go back over those 1,427 other applications as a matter of priority to fix this situation," she said. 

In a statement to the Money blog, Innovate UK apologised and said its decision was a "mistake". It also said it would honour its original commitment to award 50 applicants with funding.

The added: "We recognise the impact this has had on the many applicants and on the community as a whole, and we apologise wholeheartedly.

"We confirm we will be funding a total of 50 awards."

Our Money blog reporter Jess Sharp spoke to women who are  leading figures in their respective fields for our eight-part Women in Business series earlier this year. You can read some of their stories here...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out heavier taxation on pensions in the October budget. 

"I'm not going to speculate on what will be in the budget, but I'm absolutely determined to ensure that working people are better off," she told MPs in the House of Commons. 

"This budget will be a budget to fix the foundations of the economy after the mess left by the previous government."

How could your pension be taxed further? Let's have a look at some of the possibilities...

Leading left-wing thinktank The Fabian Society said the government could raise at least £10bn a year by reducing pension tax relief for high earners. 

At the moment, pension tax relief depends on an individual's tax band. 

But Ms Reeves could create a single flat rate of tax relief for all tax bands, the society said.

"First, the rate of income tax relief should be equalised for people on all tax bands - for example at 30% of gross earnings, midway between the 20p and 40p rates of tax," the thinktank said in a report. 

Ms Reeves could also reduce the maximum tax-free lump sum  you can get on retirement from £268,275 to £100,000 or 25% of pension wealth. 

"The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that this might eventually save over £2bn per year, which would be targeted entirely at people with high lifetime earnings or assets," the report added. 

Another suggestion was to charge national insurance on private pension incomes . 

The organisation said it would lead to today's affluent pensioners making a higher tax contribution.

Other possibilities could be to levy income tax on all inherited pensions. 

It said pension pots could also be liable to inheritance tax in the same way as other assets. 

What else did the chancellor say today?

Away from refusing to rule out pension tax changes, Ms Reeves also confirmed a cap on corporation tax.

Speaking during Treasury questions, she said the tax would be capped at its current level of 25% to "give business the confidence to grow". 

Corporation tax applies to the annual profits of UK resident companies and branches of overseas companies.

The 25% main rate is payable by companies with taxable profits above £250,000.

A small profits rate applies for companies with profits of £50,000 or below, meaning they will pay 19%.

Up until April 2023, the previous corporation tax main rate was 19%.

After the revival of popular Cadbury's chocolate bar Top Deck earlier this year, we asked you which discontinued treat you would like to see brought back - and we got so many responses that we've decided to make a weekly feature of it called  Bring It Back . 

Every Tuesday, we'll pick one from our comments box and look at why it was so beloved and, crucially, find out whether the companies in question might consider reintroducing them.

This week we're looking at a chocolate bar that became a staple of lunch boxes in the 1980s and '90s - and spawned a TV advert that is among the most fondly remembered of the era: McVitie's Trio.

Sold in multipacks of six, each bar included three segments made up of a caramel layer over biscuit, all covered with milk chocolate.

The product became synonymous with a memorable commercial that featured an animation by artist Bob Godfrey and a play on the traditional Jamaican folk song "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)".

Its lyrics, which will be familiar to almost anyone who grew up in the 1980s, included the bar's tagline: "I want a Trio and I want one now."

Having discontinued the product in 2003, it briefly returned to shop shelves in 2016 following a Facebook campaign, before vanishing from sale again shortly after.

Hordes of Sky News readers have called for the chocolate bar's revival.

Kellie said: "I'd love to have Trios back! They were yummy. McVitie's really need to start selling them again."

Derek told us: "What a chocolate bar the Trio was! I could eat an entire multipack in one sitting now if given the chance. And that old advert... instantly transported back to childhood just thinking about it."

Samantha said: "I can hear the jingle in my head now! Trios were just delicious chocolate bars... and we want one now!"

When asked by Sky News, a McVitie's spokesperson conspicuously declined to rule out a return for the iconic chocolate treat, saying the company was "constantly listening to what audiences want".

"This helps us to keep innovating and adapting to changing tastes, meaning more biscuits and snacks you love for generations to come," they said.

"For those who miss the caramel taste of Trio, one of our newest and most exciting innovations, McVitie's Gold Billions Wafer, will be your new favourite for on-the-go chocolate moments."

And, tantalisingly for fans of the bar, they added: "Watch this space for more to come..."

Along with the legions of Trio diehards, the Money blog will certainly be doing that - and hope to bring you news of further developments in the crusade in the near future.

Got a craving for any of the products below? Click the links to find out if they've got any chance at making a comeback... 

NatWest has launched the cheapest five-year fixed mortgage deal on the market. 

The 3.71% rate comes with a £1,495 product fee and is available to customers who have a 40% deposit. 

Other lenders have also announced cuts this week, including Barclays and Halifax. 

Yesterday, Barclays reduced its five-year fixed 60% LTV remortgage deal from 4.06% to 3.93%. 

It also announced cuts across its purchase product range, with a five-year fixed 75% LTV deal coming with a 3.95% rate and a £899 product fee. 

Halifax also launched a 3.81% five-year deal to new borrowers yesterday. 

Brokers have welcomed the cuts as "hugely positive" news, and suggested more lenders could follow suit. 

"NatWest's latest rate cut is another clear signal that mortgage lenders are pulling out all the stops to reignite the housing market," Ranald Mitchell, director of Charwin Mortgages, told Newspage.

"This flurry of rate reductions is a positive step towards finding that sweet spot where consumer confidence rebounds, and the property market gets back on track. 

"It's an exciting time for potential buyers, affordability is improving, and the window of opportunity is wide open." 

Justin Moy, the managing director at EHF Mortgages, said: "Lenders are looking to grab some market share by the end of the year.

"Other lenders will likely want to make a similar move over the coming days to remain competitive." 

By James Sillars , business reporter

It's a fairly muted start to the day's trading, again, on financial markets.

The FTSE 100 has opened 10 points higher at 8,373.

Rolls-Royce, the civil aerospace-to-defence firm (not to be confused with the luxury motor car manufacturer), is leading the gainers.

Its shares rallied by 4% early this morning after a 6.5% decline the previous day.

That tumbled was in reaction to the apparent mid-air failure of one of its engines on a Cathay Pacific flight .

Analysts said that the share price recovery was down to an update from  the airline that the fleet affected should be back to full operation by the weekend.

A tweet Liam Gallagher wrote seven years ago criticising the eye-watering price of gig tickets has come back to haunt him.

His message, written in September 2017 about his older brother Noel, who was touring America with his band High Flying Birds at the time, read: "350 dollars to go and see rkid in USA what a c*** when will it all stop as you were LG x"

The tweet has resurfaced after dynamic pricing for Oasis's much-hyped reunion next year left fans - many of whom had spent hours queueing online - stunned after some standard tickets more than doubled in price from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster due to demand.

X users pointed out the irony upon seeing the 2017 tweet, posting comments including, "Well this is evergreen", "What's your excuse for charging over 368 quid then?" and "Not ageing well, Liam".

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Using a phrase Liam adopts in his own social media comments, another fan wrote simply "BIBLICAL".

Hundreds of people have complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over "misleading claims about availability and pricing".

In response, Sir Keir Starmer has said the government will get a "grip" on the issue of surge pricing, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy promising a consultation over the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, and the technology around queuing systems, to ensure fans don't get ripped off.

Yesterday we revealed that official reseller Twickets had lowered its fees after criticism from Oasis fans.

Scroll through today's Money blog for: Cheapest dates to go on holiday this year (6.42 post); how do you get free school meals (7.58 post); pay-per-mile tax proposed (7.38 post)

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