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Written by Jesse Sumrak | May 14, 2023

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Business plans might seem like an old-school stiff-collared practice, but they deserve a place in the startup realm, too. It’s probably not going to be the frame-worthy document you hang in the office—yet, it may one day be deserving of the privilege.

Whether you’re looking to win the heart of an angel investor or convince a bank to lend you money, you’ll need a business plan. And not just any ol’ notes and scribble on the back of a pizza box or napkin—you’ll need a professional, standardized report.

Bah. Sounds like homework, right?

Yes. Yes, it does.

However, just like bookkeeping, loan applications, and 404 redirects, business plans are an essential step in cementing your business foundation.

Don’t worry. We’ll show you how to write a business plan without boring you to tears. We’ve jam-packed this article with all the business plan examples, templates, and tips you need to take your non-existent proposal from concept to completion.

Table of Contents

What Is a Business Plan?

Tips to Make Your Small Business Plan Ironclad

How to Write a Business Plan in 6 Steps

Startup Business Plan Template

Business Plan Examples

Work on Making Your Business Plan

How to Write a Business Plan FAQs

What is a business plan why do you desperately need one.

A business plan is a roadmap that outlines:

• Who your business is, what it does, and who it serves
• Where your business is now
• Where you want it to go
• How you’re going to make it happen
• What might stop you from taking your business from Point A to Point B
• How you’ll overcome the predicted obstacles

While it’s not required when starting a business, having a business plan is helpful for a few reasons:

• Secure a Bank Loan: Before approving you for a business loan, banks will want to see that your business is legitimate and can repay the loan. They want to know how you’re going to use the loan and how you’ll make monthly payments on your debt. Lenders want to see a sound business strategy that doesn’t end in loan default.
• Win Over Investors: Like lenders, investors want to know they’re going to make a return on their investment. They need to see your business plan to have the confidence to hand you money.
• Stay Focused: It’s easy to get lost chasing the next big thing. Your business plan keeps you on track and focused on the big picture. Your business plan can prevent you from wasting time and resources on something that isn’t aligned with your business goals.

Beyond the reasoning, let’s look at what the data says:

• Simply writing a business plan can boost your average annual growth by 30%
• Entrepreneurs who create a formal business plan are 16% more likely to succeed than those who don’t
• A study looking at 65 fast-growth companies found that 71% had small business plans
• The process and output of creating a business plan have shown to improve business performance

Convinced yet? If those numbers and reasons don’t have you scrambling for pen and paper, who knows what will.

Don’t Skip: Business Startup Costs Checklist

Before we get into the nitty-gritty steps of how to write a business plan, let’s look at some high-level tips to get you started in the right direction:

Be Professional and Legit

You might be tempted to get cutesy or revolutionary with your business plan—resist the urge. While you should let your brand and creativity shine with everything you produce, business plans fall more into the realm of professional documents.

Think of your business plan the same way as your terms and conditions, employee contracts, or financial statements. You want your plan to be as uniform as possible so investors, lenders, partners, and prospective employees can find the information they need to make important decisions.

If you want to create a fun summary business plan for internal consumption, then, by all means, go right ahead. However, for the purpose of writing this external-facing document, keep it legit.

Know Your Audience

Your official business plan document is for lenders, investors, partners, and big-time prospective employees. Keep these names and faces in your mind as you draft your plan.

Think about what they might be interested in seeing, what questions they’ll ask, and what might convince (or scare) them. Cut the jargon and tailor your language so these individuals can understand.

Remember, these are busy people. They’re likely looking at hundreds of applicants and startup investments every month. Keep your business plan succinct and to the point. Include the most pertinent information and omit the sections that won’t impact their decision-making.

Invest Time Researching

You might not have answers to all the sections you should include in your business plan. Don’t skip over these!

Your audience will want:

• Detailed information about your customers
• Numbers and solid math to back up your financial claims and estimates
• Deep insights about your competitors and potential threats
• Data to support market opportunities and strategy

Your answers can’t be hypothetical or opinionated. You need research to back up your claims. If you don’t have that data yet, then invest time and money in collecting it. That information isn’t just critical for your business plan—it’s essential for owning, operating, and growing your company.

Stay Realistic

Your business may be ambitious, but reign in the enthusiasm just a teeny-tiny bit. The last thing you want to do is have an angel investor call BS and say “I’m out” before even giving you a chance.

The folks looking at your business and evaluating your plan have been around the block—they know a thing or two about fact and fiction. Your plan should be a blueprint for success. It should be the step-by-step roadmap for how you’re going from Point A to Point B.

How to Write a Business Plan—6 Essential Elements

Not every business plan looks the same, but most share a few common elements. Here’s what they typically include:

• Executive Summary
• Business Overview
• Products and Services
• Market Analysis
• Competitive Analysis
• Financial Strategy

Below, we’ll break down each of these sections in more detail.

1. Executive Summary

While your executive summary is the first page of your business plan, it’s the section you’ll write last. That’s because it summarizes your entire business plan into a succinct one-pager.

Begin with an executive summary that introduces the reader to your business and gives them an overview of what’s inside the business plan.

Your executive summary highlights key points of your plan. Consider this your elevator pitch. You want to put all your juiciest strengths and opportunities strategically in this section.

2. Business Overview

In this section, you can dive deeper into the elements of your business, including answering:

• What’s your business structure? Sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation, etc.
• Where is it located?
• Who owns the business? Does it have employees?
• What problem does it solve, and how?
• What’s your mission statement? Your mission statement briefly describes why you are in business. To write a proper mission statement, brainstorm your business’s core values and who you serve.

Don’t overlook your mission statement. This powerful sentence or paragraph could be the inspiration that drives an investor to take an interest in your business. Here are a few examples of powerful mission statements that just might give you the goosebumps:

• Patagonia: Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.
• Tesla: To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
• InvisionApp : Question Assumptions. Think Deeply. Iterate as a Lifestyle. Details, Details. Design is Everywhere. Integrity.
• TED : Spread ideas.
• Warby Parker : To offer designer eyewear at a revolutionary price while leading the way for socially conscious businesses.

3. Products and Services

As the owner, you know your business and the industry inside and out. However, whoever’s reading your document might not. You’re going to need to break down your products and services in minute detail.

For example, if you own a SaaS business, you’re going to need to explain how this business model works and what you’re selling.

You’ll need to include:

• What services you sell: Describe the services you provide and how these will help your target audience.
• What products you sell: Describe your products (and types if applicable) and how they will solve a need for your target and provide value.
• How much you charge: If you’re selling services, will you charge hourly, per project, retainer, or a mixture of all of these? If you’re selling products, what are the price ranges?

4. Market Analysis

Your market analysis essentially explains how your products and services address customer concerns and pain points. This section will include research and data on the state and direction of your industry and target market.

This research should reveal lucrative opportunities and how your business is uniquely positioned to seize the advantage. You’ll also want to touch on your marketing strategy and how it will (or does) work for your audience.

Include a detailed analysis of your target customers. This describes the people you serve and sell your product to. Be careful not to go too broad here—you don’t want to fall into the common entrepreneurial trap of trying to sell to everyone and thereby not differentiating yourself enough to survive the competition.

The market analysis section will include your unique value proposition. Your unique value proposition (UVP) is the thing that makes you stand out from your competitors. This is your key to success.

If you don’t have a UVP, you don’t have a way to take on competitors who are already in this space. Here’s an example of an ecommerce internet business plan outlining their competitive edge:

FireStarters’ competitive advantage is offering product lines that make a statement but won’t leave you broke. The major brands are expensive and not distinctive enough to satisfy the changing taste of our target customers. FireStarters offers products that are just ahead of the curve and so affordable that our customers will return to the website often to check out what’s new.

5. Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis examines the strengths and weaknesses of competing businesses in your market or industry. This will include direct and indirect competitors. It can also include threats and opportunities, like economic concerns or legal restraints.

The best way to sum up this section is with a classic SWOT analysis. This will explain your company’s position in relation to your competitors.

6. Financial Strategy

Your financial strategy will sum up your revenue, expenses, profit (or loss), and financial plan for the future. It’ll explain how you make money, where your cash flow goes, and how you’ll become profitable or stay profitable.

This is one of the most important sections for lenders and investors. Have you ever watched Shark Tank? They always ask about the company’s financial situation. How has it performed in the past? What’s the ongoing outlook moving forward? How does the business plan to make it happen?

Answer all of these questions in your financial strategy so that your audience doesn’t have to ask. Go ahead and include forecasts and graphs in your plan, too:

• Balance sheet: This includes your assets, liabilities, and equity.
• Profit & Loss (P&L) statement: This details your income and expenses over a given period.
• Cash flow statement: Similar to the P&L, this one will show all cash flowing into and out of the business each month.

It takes cash to change the world—lenders and investors get it. If you’re short on funding, explain how much money you’ll need and how you’ll use the capital. Where are you looking for financing? Are you looking to take out a business loan, or would you rather trade equity for capital instead?

Read More: 16 Financial Concepts Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

Startup Business Plan Template (Copy/Paste Outline)

Ready to write your own business plan? Copy/paste the startup business plan template below and fill in the blanks.

Executive Summary Remember, do this last. Summarize who you are and your business plan in one page.

Business Overview Describe your business. What’s it do? Who owns it? How’s it structured? What’s the mission statement?

Products and Services Detail the products and services you offer. How do they work? What do you charge?

Market Analysis Write about the state of the market and opportunities. Use date. Describe your customers. Include your UVP.

Competitive Analysis Outline the competitors in your market and industry. Include threats and opportunities. Add a SWOT analysis of your business.

Financial Strategy Sum up your revenue, expenses, profit (or loss), and financial plan for the future. If you’re applying for a loan, include how you’ll use the funding to progress the business.

5 Frame-Worthy Business Plan Examples

Want to explore other templates and examples? We got you covered. Check out these 5 business plan examples you can use as inspiration when writing your plan:

• SBA Wooden Grain Toy Company
• SBA We Can Do It Consulting
• OrcaSmart Business Plan Sample
• Plum Business Plan Template
• PandaDoc Free Business Plan Templates

Get to Work on Making Your Business Plan

If you find you’re getting stuck on perfecting your document, opt for a simple one-page business plan —and then get to work. You can always polish up your official plan later as you learn more about your business and the industry.

Remember, business plans are not a requirement for starting a business—they’re only truly essential if a bank or investor is asking for it.

Ask others to review your business plan. Get feedback from other startups and successful business owners. They’ll likely be able to see holes in your planning or undetected opportunities—just make sure these individuals aren’t your competitors (or potential competitors).

Your business plan isn’t a one-and-done report—it’s a living, breathing document. You’ll make changes to it as you grow and evolve. When the market or your customers change, your plan will need to change to adapt.

That means when you’re finished with this exercise, it’s not time to print your plan out and stuff it in a file cabinet somewhere. No, it should sit on your desk as a day-to-day reference. Use it (and update it) as you make decisions about your product, customers, and financial plan.

Review your business plan frequently, update it routinely, and follow the path you’ve developed to the future you’re building.

Keep Learning: New Product Development Process in 8 Easy Steps

What financial information should be included in a business plan?

Be as detailed as you can without assuming too much. For example, include your expected revenue, expenses, profit, and growth for the future.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a business plan?

The most common mistake is turning your business plan into a textbook. A business plan is an internal guide and an external pitching tool. Cut the fat and only include the most relevant information to start and run your business.

Who should review my business plan before I submit it?

Co-founders, investors, or a board of advisors. Otherwise, reach out to a trusted mentor, your local chamber of commerce, or someone you know that runs a business.

Ready to Write Your Business Plan?

Don’t let creating a business plan hold you back from starting your business. Writing documents might not be your thing—that doesn’t mean your business is a bad idea.

Let us help you get started.

Join our free training to learn how to start an online side hustle in 30 days or less. We’ll provide you with a proven roadmap for how to find, validate, and pursue a profitable business idea (even if you have zero entrepreneurial experience).

Stuck on the ideas part? No problem. When you attend the masterclass, we’ll send you a free ebook with 100 of the hottest side hustle trends right now. It’s chock full of brilliant business ideas to get you up and running in the right direction.

About Jesse Sumrak

Jesse Sumrak is a writing zealot focused on creating killer content. He’s spent almost a decade writing about startup, marketing, and entrepreneurship topics, having built and sold his own post-apocalyptic fitness bootstrapped business. A writer by day and a peak bagger by night (and early early morning), you can usually find Jesse preparing for the apocalypse on a precipitous peak somewhere in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

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How to Write a Business Plan, Step by Step

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What is a business plan?

1. write an executive summary, 2. describe your company, 3. state your business goals, 4. describe your products and services, 5. do your market research, 6. outline your marketing and sales plan, 7. perform a business financial analysis, 8. make financial projections, 9. summarize how your company operates, 10. add any additional information to an appendix, business plan tips and resources.

A business plan outlines your business’s financial goals and explains how you’ll achieve them over the next three to five years. Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan that will offer a strong, detailed road map for your business.

ZenBusiness

A business plan is a document that explains what your business does, how it makes money and who its customers are. Internally, writing a business plan should help you clarify your vision and organize your operations. Externally, you can share it with potential lenders and investors to show them you’re on the right track.

Business plans are living documents; it’s OK for them to change over time. Startups may update their business plans often as they figure out who their customers are and what products and services fit them best. Mature companies might only revisit their business plan every few years. Regardless of your business’s age, brush up this document before you apply for a business loan .

» Need help writing? Learn about the best business plan software .

This is your elevator pitch. It should include a mission statement, a brief description of the products or services your business offers and a broad summary of your financial growth plans.

Though the executive summary is the first thing your investors will read, it can be easier to write it last. That way, you can highlight information you’ve identified while writing other sections that go into more detail.

» MORE: How to write an executive summary in 6 steps

Next up is your company description. This should contain basic information like:

Your business’s registered name.

Address of your business location .

Names of key people in the business. Make sure to highlight unique skills or technical expertise among members of your team.

Your company description should also define your business structure — such as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation — and include the percent ownership that each owner has and the extent of each owner’s involvement in the company.

Lastly, write a little about the history of your company and the nature of your business now. This prepares the reader to learn about your goals in the next section.

» MORE: How to write a company overview for a business plan

The third part of a business plan is an objective statement. This section spells out what you’d like to accomplish, both in the near term and over the coming years.

If you’re looking for a business loan or outside investment, you can use this section to explain how the financing will help your business grow and how you plan to achieve those growth targets. The key is to provide a clear explanation of the opportunity your business presents to the lender.

For example, if your business is launching a second product line, you might explain how the loan will help your company launch that new product and how much you think sales will increase over the next three years as a result.

» MORE: How to write a successful business plan for a loan

In this section, go into detail about the products or services you offer or plan to offer.

You should include the following:

An explanation of how your product or service works.

The pricing model for your product or service.

The typical customers you serve.

Your supply chain and order fulfillment strategy.

You can also discuss current or pending trademarks and patents associated with your product or service.

Lenders and investors will want to know what sets your product apart from your competition. In your market analysis section , explain who your competitors are. Discuss what they do well, and point out what you can do better. If you’re serving a different or underserved market, explain that.

Here, you can address how you plan to persuade customers to buy your products or services, or how you will develop customer loyalty that will lead to repeat business.

Include details about your sales and distribution strategies, including the costs involved in selling each product .

» MORE: R e a d our complete guide to small business marketing

If you’re a startup, you may not have much information on your business financials yet. However, if you’re an existing business, you’ll want to include income or profit-and-loss statements, a balance sheet that lists your assets and debts, and a cash flow statement that shows how cash comes into and goes out of the company.

Accounting software may be able to generate these reports for you. It may also help you calculate metrics such as:

Net profit margin: the percentage of revenue you keep as net income.

Current ratio: the measurement of your liquidity and ability to repay debts.

Accounts receivable turnover ratio: a measurement of how frequently you collect on receivables per year.

This is a great place to include charts and graphs that make it easy for those reading your plan to understand the financial health of your business.

This is a critical part of your business plan if you’re seeking financing or investors. It outlines how your business will generate enough profit to repay the loan or how you will earn a decent return for investors.

Here, you’ll provide your business’s monthly or quarterly sales, expenses and profit estimates over at least a three-year period — with the future numbers assuming you’ve obtained a new loan.

Accuracy is key, so carefully analyze your past financial statements before giving projections. Your goals may be aggressive, but they should also be realistic.

NerdWallet’s picks for setting up your business finances:

The best business checking accounts .

The best business credit cards .

The best accounting software .

Before the end of your business plan, summarize how your business is structured and outline each team’s responsibilities. This will help your readers understand who performs each of the functions you’ve described above — making and selling your products or services — and how much each of those functions cost.

If any of your employees have exceptional skills, you may want to include their resumes to help explain the competitive advantage they give you.

Finally, attach any supporting information or additional materials that you couldn’t fit in elsewhere. That might include:

Licenses and permits.

Equipment leases.

Bank statements.

Details of your personal and business credit history, if you’re seeking financing.

If the appendix is long, you may want to consider adding a table of contents at the beginning of this section.

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Here are some tips to write a detailed, convincing business plan:

Avoid over-optimism: If you’re applying for a business bank loan or professional investment, someone will be reading your business plan closely. Providing unreasonable sales estimates can hurt your chances of approval.

Proofread: Spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors can jump off the page and turn off lenders and prospective investors. If writing and editing aren't your strong suit, you may want to hire a professional business plan writer, copy editor or proofreader.

Use free resources: SCORE is a nonprofit association that offers a large network of volunteer business mentors and experts who can help you write or edit your business plan. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers , which provide free business consulting and help with business plan development, can also be a resource.

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Business Plan: What It Is, What's Included, and How to Write One

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a document that details a company's goals and how it intends to achieve them. Business plans can be of benefit to both startups and well-established companies. For startups, a business plan can be essential for winning over potential lenders and investors. Established businesses can find one useful for staying on track and not losing sight of their goals. This article explains what an effective business plan needs to include and how to write one.

Key Takeaways

• A business plan is a document describing a company's business activities and how it plans to achieve its goals.
• Startup companies use business plans to get off the ground and attract outside investors.
• For established companies, a business plan can help keep the executive team focused on and working toward the company's short- and long-term objectives.
• There is no single format that a business plan must follow, but there are certain key elements that most companies will want to include.

Investopedia / Ryan Oakley

Understanding Business Plans

Any new business should have a business plan in place prior to beginning operations. In fact, banks and venture capital firms often want to see a business plan before they'll consider making a loan or providing capital to new businesses.

Even if a business isn't looking to raise additional money, a business plan can help it focus on its goals. A 2017 Harvard Business Review article reported that, "Entrepreneurs who write formal plans are 16% more likely to achieve viability than the otherwise identical nonplanning entrepreneurs."

Ideally, a business plan should be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect any goals that have been achieved or that may have changed. An established business that has decided to move in a new direction might create an entirely new business plan for itself.

There are numerous benefits to creating (and sticking to) a well-conceived business plan. These include being able to think through ideas before investing too much money in them and highlighting any potential obstacles to success. A company might also share its business plan with trusted outsiders to get their objective feedback. In addition, a business plan can help keep a company's executive team on the same page about strategic action items and priorities.

Business plans, even among competitors in the same industry, are rarely identical. However, they often have some of the same basic elements, as we describe below.

While it's a good idea to provide as much detail as necessary, it's also important that a business plan be concise enough to hold a reader's attention to the end.

How to Write a Business Plan

While there are any number of templates that you can use to write a business plan, it's best to try to avoid producing a generic-looking one. Let your plan reflect the unique personality of your business.

Many business plans use some combination of the sections below, with varying levels of detail, depending on the company.

Common Elements of a Business Plan

The length of a business plan can vary greatly from business to business. Regardless, it's best to fit the basic information into a 15- to 25-page document. Other crucial elements that take up a lot of space—such as applications for patents—can be referenced in the main document and attached as appendices.

These are some of the most common elements in many business plans:

• Executive summary: This section introduces the company and includes its mission statement along with relevant information about the company's leadership, employees, operations, and locations.
• Products and services: Here, the company should describe the products and services it offers or plans to introduce. That might include details on pricing, product lifespan, and unique benefits to the consumer. Other factors that could go into this section include production and manufacturing processes, any relevant patents the company may have, as well as proprietary technology . Information about research and development (R&D) can also be included here.
• Market analysis: A company needs to have a good handle on the current state of its industry and the existing competition. This section should explain where the company fits in, what types of customers it plans to target, and how easy or difficult it may be to take market share from incumbents.
• Marketing strategy: This section can describe how the company plans to attract and keep customers, including any anticipated advertising and marketing campaigns. It should also describe the distribution channel or channels it will use to get its products or services to consumers.
• Financial plans and projections: Established businesses can include financial statements, balance sheets, and other relevant financial information. New businesses can provide financial targets and estimates for the first few years. Your plan might also include any funding requests you're making.

The best business plans aren't generic ones created from easily accessed templates. A company should aim to entice readers with a plan that demonstrates its uniqueness and potential for success.

2 Types of Business Plans

Business plans can take many forms, but they are sometimes divided into two basic categories: traditional and lean startup. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) , the traditional business plan is the more common of the two.

• Traditional business plans : These plans tend to be much longer than lean startup plans and contain considerably more detail. As a result they require more work on the part of the business, but they can also be more persuasive (and reassuring) to potential investors.
• Lean startup business plans : These use an abbreviated structure that highlights key elements. These business plans are short—as short as one page—and provide only the most basic detail. If a company wants to use this kind of plan, it should be prepared to provide more detail if an investor or a lender requests it.

Why Do Business Plans Fail?

A business plan is not a surefire recipe for success. The plan may have been unrealistic in its assumptions and projections to begin with. Markets and the overall economy might change in ways that couldn't have been foreseen. A competitor might introduce a revolutionary new product or service. All of this calls for building some flexibility into your plan, so you can pivot to a new course if needed.

How Often Should a Business Plan Be Updated?

How frequently a business plan needs to be revised will depend on the nature of the business. A well-established business might want to review its plan once a year and make changes if necessary. A new or fast-growing business in a fiercely competitive market might want to revise it more often, such as quarterly.

What Does a Lean Startup Business Plan Include?

The lean startup business plan is an option when a company prefers to give a quick explanation of its business. For example, a brand-new company may feel that it doesn't have a lot of information to provide yet.

Sections can include: a value proposition ; the company's major activities and advantages; resources such as staff, intellectual property, and capital; a list of partnerships; customer segments; and revenue sources.

The Bottom Line

A business plan can be useful to companies of all kinds. But as a company grows and the world around it changes, so too should its business plan. So don't think of your business plan as carved in granite but as a living document designed to evolve with your business.

Harvard Business Review. " Research: Writing a Business Plan Makes Your Startup More Likely to Succeed ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Write Your Business Plan ."

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How to write a business plan in seven simple steps

When written effectively, a business plan can help raise capital, inform decisions, and draw new talent.

Companies of all sizes have one thing in common: They all began as small businesses.  Starting small  is the corner for those just getting off the ground. Learn about how to make that first hire, deal with all things administrative, and set yourself up for success.

Writing a business plan is often the first step in transforming your business from an idea into something tangible . As you write, your thoughts begin to solidify into strategy, and a path forward starts to emerge. But a business plan is not only the realm of startups; established companies can also benefit from revisiting and rewriting theirs. In any case, the formal documentation can provide the clarity needed to motivate staff , woo investors, or inform future decisions.  

No matter your industry or the size of your team, the task of writing a business plan—a document filled with so much detail and documentation—can feel daunting. Don’t let that stop you, however; there are easy steps to getting started. 

What is a business plan and why does it matter? 

A business plan is a formal document outlining the goals, direction, finances, team, and future planning of your business. It can be geared toward investors, in a bid to raise capital, or used as an internal document to align teams and provide direction. It typically includes extensive market research, competitor analysis, financial documentation, and an overview of your business and marketing strategy. When written effectively, a business plan can help prescribe action and keep business owners on track to meeting business goals. 

Who needs a business plan?

A business plan can be particularly helpful during a company’s initial growth and serve as a guiding force amid the uncertainty, distractions, and at-times rapid developments involved in starting a business . For enterprise companies, a business plan should be a living, breathing document that guides decision-making and facilitates intentional growth.

“You should have a game plan for every major commitment you’ll have, from early-stage founder agreements to onboarding legal professionals,” says Colin Keogh, CEO of the Rapid Foundation—a company that brings technology and training to communities in need—and a WeWork Labs mentor in the UK . “You can’t go out on funding rounds or take part in accelerators without any planning.”

How to make a business plan and seven components every plan needs

While there is no set format for writing a business plan, there are several elements that are typically included. Here’s what’s important to consider when writing your business plan. 

1. Executive summary 

No longer than half a page, the executive summary should briefly introduce your business and describe the purpose of the business plan. Are you writing the plan to attract capital? If so, specify how much money you hope to raise, and how you’re going to repay the loan. If you’re writing the plan to align your team and provide direction, explain at a high level what you hope to achieve with this alignment, as well as the size and state of your existing team.

The executive summary should explain what your business does, and provide an introductory overview of your financial health and major achievements to date.  

2. Company description 

To properly introduce your company, it’s important to also describe the wider industry. What is the financial worth of your market? Are there market trends that will affect the success of your company? What is the state of the industry and its future potential? Use data to support your claims and be sure to include the full gamut of information—both positive and negative—to provide investors and your employees a complete and accurate portrayal of your company’s milieu. 

Go on to describe your company and what it provides your customers. Are you a sole proprietor , LLC, partnership, or corporation? Are you an established company or a budding startup? What does your leadership team look like and how many employees do you have? This section should provide both historical and future context around your business, including its founding story, mission statement , and vision for the future. 

It’s essential to showcase your point of difference in your company description, as well as any advantages you may have in terms of expert talent or leading technology. This is typically one of the first pieces of the plan to be written.

3. Market analysis and opportunity

Research is key in completing a business plan and, ideally, more time should be spent on research and analysis than writing the plan itself. Understanding the size, growth, history, future potential, and current risks inherent to the wider market is essential for the success of your business, and these considerations should be described here. 

In addition to this, it’s important to include research into the target demographic of your product or service. This might be in the form of fictional customer personas, or a broader overview of the income, location, age, gender, and buying habits of your existing and potential customers. 

Though the research should be objective, the analysis in this section is a good place to reiterate your point of difference and the ways you plan to capture the market and surpass your competition.

4. Competitive analysis 

Beyond explaining the elements that differentiate you from your competition, it’s important to provide an in-depth analysis of your competitors themselves.

This research should delve into the operations, financials, history, leadership, and distribution channels of your direct and indirect competitors. It should explore the value propositions of these competitors, and explain the ways you can compete with, or exploit, their strengths and weaknesses. 

5. Execution plan: operations, development, management 

This segment provides details around how you’re going to do the work necessary to fulfill this plan. It should include information about your organizational structure and the everyday operations of your team, contractors, and physical and digital assets.

Consider including your company’s organizational chart, as well as more in-depth information on the leadership team: Who are they? What are their backgrounds? What do they bring to the table? Potentially include the résumés of key people on your team. 

For startups, your execution plan should include how long it will take to begin operations, and then how much longer to reach profitability. For established companies, it’s a good idea to outline how long it will take to execute your plan, and the ways in which you will change existing operations.

If applicable, it’s also beneficial to include your strategy for hiring new team members and scaling into different markets. 

6. Marketing plan 

It’s essential to have a comprehensive marketing plan in place as you scale operations or kick off a new strategy—and this should be shared with your stakeholders and employees. This segment of your business plan should show how you’re going to promote your business, attract customers, and retain existing clients.

Include brand messaging, marketing assets, and the timeline and budget for engaging consumers across different channels. Potentially include a marketing SWOT analysis into your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Evaluate the way your competitors market themselves, and how your target audience responds—or doesn’t respond—to these messages.

7. Financial history and projections  

It’s essential to disclose all finances involved in running your company within your business plan. This is so your shareholders properly understand how you’re projected to perform going forward, and the progress you’ve made so far. 

You should include your income statement, which outlines annual net profits or losses; a cash flow statement, which shows how much money you need to launch or scale operations; and a balance sheet that shows financial liabilities and assets. 

“An income statement is the measure of your financial results for a certain period and the most accurate report of business activities during that time, [whereas a balance sheet] presents your assets, liabilities, and equity,” Amit Perry, a corporate finance expert, explained at a WeWork Labs educational session in Israel.

It’s crucial to understand the terms correctly so you know how to present your finances when you’re speaking to investors. Amit Perry, CEO and founder of Perryllion Ltd.

In addition, if you’re asking for funding, you will need to outline exactly how much money you need as well as where this money will go and how you plan to pay it back. 

12 quick tips for writing a business plan 

Now that you know what components are traditionally included in a business plan, it’s time to consider how you’ll actually construct the document.

Here are 12 key factors to keep in mind when writing a business plan. These overarching principles will help you write a business plan that serves its purpose (whatever that may be) and becomes an easy reference in the years ahead. 

1. Don’t be long-winded

Use clear, concise language and avoid jargon. When business plans are too long-winded, they’re less likely to be used as intended and more likely to be forgotten or glazed over by stakeholders. 

2. Show why you care

Let your passion for your business shine through; show employees and investors why you care (and why they should too). 

3. Provide supporting documents

Don’t be afraid to have an extensive list of appendices, including the CVs of team members, built-out customer personas, product demonstrations, and examples of internal or external messaging. 

4. Reference data

All information regarding the market, your competitors, and your customers should reference authoritative and relevant data points.  

5. Research, research, research

The research that goes into your business plan should take you longer than the writing itself. Consider tracking your research as supporting documentation. 

6. Clearly demonstrate your points of difference

At every opportunity, it’s important to drive home the way your product or service differentiates you from your competition and helps solve a problem for your target audience. Don’t shy away from reiterating these differentiating factors throughout the plan. 

7. Be objective in your research

As important as it is to showcase your company and the benefits you provide your customers, it’s also important to be objective in the data and research you reference. Showcase the good and the bad when it comes to market research and your financials; you want your shareholders to know you’ve thought through every possible contingency. 

8. Know the purpose of your plan

It’s important you understand the purpose of your plan before you begin researching and writing. Be clear about whether you’re writing this plan to attract investment, align teams, or provide direction. 

9. Identify your audience

The same way your business plan must have a clearly defined purpose, you must have a clearly defined audience. To whom are you writing? New investors? Current employees? Potential collaborators? Existing shareholders? 

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10. Avoid jargon

Avoid using industry-specific jargon, unless completely unavoidable, and try making your business plan as easy to understand as possible—for all potential stakeholders. 

11. Don’t be afraid to change it

Your business plan should evolve with your company’s growth, which means your business plan document should evolve as well. Revisit and rework your business plan as needed, and remember the most important factor: having a plan in place, even if it changes.

A business plan shouldn’t just be a line on your to-do list; it should be referenced and used as intended going forward. Keep your business plan close, and use it to inform decisions and guide your team in the years ahead. 

Creating a business plan is an important step in growing your company 

Whether you’re just starting out or running an existing operation, writing an effective business plan can be a key predictor of future success. It can be a foundational document from which you grow and thrive . It can serve as a constant reminder to employees and clients about what you stand for, and the direction in which you’re moving. Or, it can prove to investors that your business, team, and vision are worth their investment. 

No matter the size or stage of your business, WeWork can help you fulfill the objectives outlined in your business plan—and WeWork’s coworking spaces can be a hotbed for finding talent and investors, too. The benefits of coworking spaces include intentionally designed lounges, conference rooms, and private offices that foster connection and bolster creativity, while a global network of professionals allows you to expand your reach and meet new collaborators. 

Using these steps to write a business plan will put you in good stead to not only create a document that fulfills a purpose but one that also helps to more clearly understand your market, competition, point of difference, and plan for the future. 

For more tips on growing teams and building a business, check out all our articles on  Ideas by WeWork.

Caitlin Bishop is a writer for WeWork’s  Ideas by WeWork , based in New York City. Previously, she was a journalist and editor at  Mamamia  in Sydney, Australia, and a contributing reporter at  Gotham Gazette .

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Blog Business How to Write a Business Plan Outline [Examples + Templates] 

How to Write a Business Plan Outline [Examples + Templates] 

Written by: Letícia Fonseca Aug 11, 2023

When venturing into crafting a business plan, the initial hurdle often lies in taking that first step.

So, how can you evade those prolonged hours of staring at a blank page? Initiate your journey with the aid of a business plan outline.

As with any endeavor, an outline serves as the beacon of clarity, illuminating the path to confront even the most formidable tasks. This holds particularly true when composing pivotal documents vital to your triumph, much like a business plan.

Nonetheless, I understand the enormity of a business plan’s scope, which might make the task of outlining it seem daunting. This is precisely why I’ve compiled all the requisite information to facilitate the creation of a business plan outline. No need to break a sweat!

And if you’re seeking further assistance, a business plan maker and readily available business plan templates can offer valuable support in shaping your comprehensive plan.

Read on for answers to all your business plan outline questions or jump ahead for some handy templates. 

Click to jump ahead:

What is a business plan outline (and why do you need one), what format should you choose for your business plan outline, what are the key components of a business plan outline.

• Business plan template examples
• Writing tips to ace your outline 

A business plan outline is the backbone of your business plan. It contains all the most important information you’ll want to expand on in your full-length plan. 

Think of it this way: your outline is a frame for your plan. It provides a high-level idea of what the final plan should look like, what it will include and how all the information will be organized. 

Why would you do this extra step? Beyond saving you from blank page syndrome, an outline ensures you don’t leave any essential information out of your plan — you can see all the most important points at a glance and quickly identify any content gaps. 

It also serves as a writing guide. Once you know all the sections you want in your plan, you just need to expand on them. Suddenly, you’re “filling in the blanks” as opposed to writing a plan from scratch!

Incidentally, using a business plan template like this one gives you a running head start, too: 

Perhaps most importantly, a business plan outline keeps you focused on the essential parts of your document. (Not to mention what matters most to stakeholders and investors.)  With an outline, you’ll spend less time worrying about structure or organization and more time perfecting the actual content of your document. 

If you’re looking for more general advice, you can read about  how to create a business plan here . But if you’re working on outlining your plan, stick with me.

Return to Table of Contents

Most business plans fit into one of two formats. 

The format you choose largely depends on three factors: (1) the stage of your business, (2) if you’re presenting the plan to investors and (3) what you want to achieve with your business plan. 

Let’s have a closer look at these two formats and why you might choose one over the other.

Traditional format

Traditional business plans  are typically long, detailed documents. In many cases, they take up to 50-60 pages, but it’s not uncommon to see plans spanning 100+ pages. 

Traditional plans are long because they cover  every aspect  of your business. They leave nothing out. You’ll find a traditional business plan template with sections like executive summary, company description, target market, market analysis, marketing plan, financial plan, and more. Basically: the more information the merrier.

This business plan template isn’t of a traditional format, but you could expand it into one by duplicating pages:

Due to their high level of detail, traditional formats are the best way to sell your business. They show you’re reliable and have a clear vision for your business’s future. 

If you’re planning on presenting your plan to investors and stakeholders, you’ll want to go with a traditional plan format. The more information you include, the fewer doubts and questions you’ll get when you present your plan, so don’t hold back. 

Traditional business plans require more detailed outlines before drafting since there’s a lot of information to cover. You’ll want to list all the sections and include bullet points describing what each section should cover. 

It’s also a good idea to include all external resources and visuals in your outline, so you don’t have to gather them later. 

Lean format

Lean business plan formats are high level and quick to write. They’re often only one or two pages. Similar to a  business plan infographic , they’re scannable and quick to digest, like this template: 

This format is often referred to as a “startup” format due to (you guessed it!) many startups using it. 

Lean business plans require less detailed outlines. You can include high-level sections and a few lines in each section covering the basics. Since the final plan will only be a page or two, you don’t need to over prepare. Nor will you need a ton of external resources. 

Lean plans don’t answer all the questions investors and stakeholders may ask, so if you go this route, make sure it’s the right choice for your business . Companies not yet ready to present to investors will typically use a lean/startup business plan format to get their rough plan on paper and share it internally with their management team. 

Here’s another example of a lean business plan format in the form of a financial plan: 

Your business plan outline should include all the following sections. The level of detail you choose to go into will depend on your intentions for your plan (sharing with stakeholders vs. internal use), but you’ll want every section to be clear and to the point. 

1. Executive summary

The executive summary gives a high-level description of your company, product or service. This section should include a mission statement, your company description, your business’s primary goal, and the problem it aims to solve. You’ll want to state how your business can solve the problem and briefly explain what makes you stand out (your competitive advantage).

Having an executive summary is essential to selling your business to stakeholders , so it should be as clear and concise as possible. Summarize your business in a few sentences in a way that will hook the reader (or audience) and get them invested in what you have to say next. In other words, this is your elevator pitch.

2. Product and services description

This is where you should go into more detail about your product or service. Your product is the heart of your business, so it’s essential this section is easy to grasp. After all, if people don’t know what you’re selling, you’ll have a hard time keeping them engaged!

Expand on your description in the executive summary, going into detail about the problem your customers face and how your product/service will solve it. If you have various products or services, go through all of them in equal detail. 

3. Target market and/or Market analysis

A market analysis is crucial for placing your business in a larger context and showing investors you know your industry. This section should include market research on your prospective customer demographic including location, age range, goals and motivations. 

You can even  include detailed customer personas  as a visual aid — these are especially useful if you have several target demographics. You want to showcase your knowledge of your customer, who exactly you’re selling to and how you can fulfill their needs.

Be sure to include information on the overall target market for your product, including direct and indirect competitors and how your industry is performing. If your competitors have strengths you want to mimic or weaknesses you want to exploit, this is the place to record that information. 

4. Organization and management

You can think of this as a “meet the team” section — this is where you should go into depth on your business’s structure from management to legal and HR. If there are people bringing unique skills or experience to the table (I’m sure there are!), you should highlight them in this section. 

The goal here is to showcase why your team is the best to run your business. Investors want to know you’re unified, organized and reliable. This is also a potential opportunity to bring more humanity to your business plan and showcase the faces behind the ideas and product. 

5. Marketing and sales

Now that you’ve introduced your product and team, you need to explain how you’re going to sell it. Give a detailed explanation of your sales and marketing strategy, including pricing, timelines for launching your product and advertising.

This is a major section of your plan and can even live as a separate document for your marketing and sales teams. Here are some  marketing plan templates to help you get started .

Make sure you have research or analysis to back up your decisions — if you want to do paid ads on LinkedIn to advertise your product, include a brief explanation as to why that is the best channel for your business. 

6. Financial projections and funding request

The end of your plan is where you’ll look to the future and how you think your business will perform financially. Your financial plan should include results from your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow projections. 

State your funding requirements and what you need to realize the business. Be extremely clear about how you plan to use the funding and when you expect investors will see returns.

If you aren’t presenting to potential investors, you can skip this part, but it’s something to keep in mind should you seek funding in the future. Covering financial projections and the previous five components is essential at the stage of business formation to ensure everything goes smoothly moving forward.

7. Appendix

Any extra visual aids, receipts, paperwork or charts will live here. Anything that may be relevant to your plan should be included as reference e.g. your cash flow statement (or other financial statements). You can format your appendix in whatever way you think is best — as long as it’s easy for readers to find what they’re looking for, you’ve done your job!

Typically, the best way to start your outline is to list all these high-level sections. Then, you can add bullet points outlining what will go in each section and the resources you’ll need to write them. This should give you a solid starting point for your full-length plan.

Business plan outline templates

Looking for a shortcut? Our  business plan templates  are basically outlines in a box! 

While your outline likely won’t go into as much detail, these templates are great examples of how to organize your sections.

Traditional format templates

A strong template can turn your long, dense business plan into an engaging, easy-to-read document. There are lots to choose from, but here are just a few ideas to inspire you… 

You can duplicate pages and use these styles for a traditional outline, or start with a lean outline as you build your business plan out over time:

Lean format templates

For lean format outlines, a simpler ‘ mind map ’ style is a good bet. With this style, you can get ideas down fast and quickly turn them into one or two-page plans. Plus, because they’re shorter, they’re easy to share with your team.

Writing tips to ace your business plan outline

Business plans are complex documents, so if you’re still not sure how to write your outline, don’t worry! Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when drafting your business plan outline:

• Ask yourself why you’re writing an outline. Having a clear goal for your outline can help keep you on track as you write. Everything you include in your plan should contribute to your goal. If it doesn’t, it probably doesn’t need to be in there.
• Keep it clear and concise. Whether you’re writing a traditional or lean format business plan, your outline should be easy to understand. Choose your words wisely and avoid unnecessary preambles or padding language. The faster you get to the point, the easier your plan will be to read.
• Add visual aids. No one likes reading huge walls of text! Make room in your outline for visuals, data and charts. This keeps your audience engaged and helps those who are more visual learners. Psst,  infographics  are great for this.
• Make it collaborative. Have someone (or several someones) look it over before finalizing your outline. If you have an established marketing / sales / finance team, have them look it over too. Getting feedback at the outline stage can help you avoid rewrites and wasted time down the line.

If this is your first time writing a business plan outline, don’t be too hard on yourself. You might not get it 100% right on the first try, but with these tips and the key components listed above, you’ll have a strong foundation. Remember, done is better than perfect. 

Create a winning business plan by starting with a detailed, actionable outline

The best way to learn is by doing. So go ahead, get started on your business plan outline. As you develop your plan, you’ll no doubt learn more about your business and what’s important for success along the way. 

A clean, compelling template is a great way to get a head start on your outline. After all, the sections are already separated and defined for you! 

Explore Venngage’s business plan templates  for one that suits your needs. Many are free to use and there are premium templates available for a small monthly fee. Happy outlining!

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How To Write the Management Section of a Business Plan

Susan Ward wrote about small businesses for The Balance for 18 years. She has run an IT consulting firm and designed and presented courses on how to promote small businesses.

Ownership Structure

Internal management team, external management resources, human resources, frequently asked questions (faqs).

When developing a business plan , the 'management section' describes your management team, staff, resources, and how your business ownership is structured. This section should not only describe who's on your management team but how each person's skill set will contribute to your bottom line. In this article, we will detail exactly how to compose and best highlight your management team.

Key Takeaways

• The management section of a business plan helps show how your management team and company are structured.
• The first section shows the ownership structure, which might be a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation.
• The internal management section shows the department heads, including sales, marketing, administration, and production.
• The external management resources help back up your internal management and include an advisory board and consultants.
• The human resources section contains staffing requirements—part-time or full-time—skills needed for employees and the costs.

This section outlines the legal structure of your business. It may only be a single sentence if your business is a sole proprietorship. If your business is a partnership or a corporation, it can be longer. You want to be sure you explain who holds what percentage of ownership in the company.

The internal management section should describe the business management categories relevant to your business, identify who will have responsibility for each category, and then include a short profile highlighting each person's skills.

The primary business categories of sales, marketing , administration, and production usually work for many small businesses. If your business has employees, you will also need a human resources section. You may also find that your company needs additional management categories to fit your unique circumstances.

It's not necessary to have a different person in charge of each category; some key management people often fill more than one role. Identify the key managers in your business and explain what functions and experience each team member will serve. You may wish to present this as an organizational chart in your business plan, although the list format is also appropriate.

Along with this section, you should include the complete resumés of each management team member (including your own). Follow this with an explanation of how each member will be compensated and their benefits package, and describe any profit-sharing plans that may apply.

If there are any contracts that relate directly to your management team members, such as work contracts or non-competition agreements, you should include them in an Appendix to your business plan.

While external management resources are often overlooked when writing a business plan , using these resources effectively can make the difference between the success or failure of your managers. Think of these external resources as your internal management team's backup. They give your business credibility and an additional pool of expertise.

Advisory Board

An Advisory Board can increase consumer and investor confidence, attract talented employees by showing a commitment to company growth and bring a diversity of contributions. If you choose to have an Advisory Board , list all the board members in this section, and include a bio and all relevant specializations. If you choose your board members carefully, the group can compensate for the niche forms of expertise that your internal managers lack.

When selecting your board members, look for people who are genuinely interested in seeing your business do well and have the patience and time to provide sound advice.

Recently retired executives or managers, other successful entrepreneurs, and/or vendors would be good choices for an Advisory Board.

Professional Services

Professional Services should also be highlighted in the external management resources section. Describe all the external professional advisors that your business will use, such as accountants, bankers, lawyers, IT consultants, business consultants, and/or business coaches. These professionals provide a web of advice and support outside your internal management team that can be invaluable in making management decisions and your new business a success .

The last point you should address in the management section of your business plan is your human resources needs. The trick to writing about human resources is to be specific. To simply write, "We'll need more people once we get up and running," isn't sufficient. Follow this list:

• Detail how many employees your business will need at each stage and what they will cost.
• Describe exactly how your business's human resources needs can be met. Will it be best to have employees, or should you operate with contract workers or freelancers ? Do you need full-time or part-time staff or a mix of both?
• Outline your staffing requirements, including a description of the specific skills that the people working for you will need to possess.
• Calculate your labor costs. Decide the number of employees you will need and how many customers each employee can serve. For example, if it takes one employee to serve 150 customers, and you forecast 1,500 customers in your first year, your business will need 10 employees.
• Determine how much each employee will receive and total the salary cost for all your employees.
• Add to this the cost of  Workers' Compensation Insurance  (mandatory for most businesses) and the cost of any other employee benefits, such as company-sponsored medical and dental plans.

After you've listed the points above, describe how you will find the staff your business needs and how you will train them. Your description of staff recruitment should explain whether or not sufficient local labor is available and how you will recruit staff.

When you're writing about staff training, you'll want to include as many specifics as possible. What specific training will your staff undergo? What ongoing training opportunities will you provide your employees?

Even if the plan for your business is to start as a sole proprietorship, you should include a section on potential human resources demands as a way to demonstrate that you've thought about the staffing your business may require as it grows.

Business plans are about the future and the hypothetical challenges and successes that await. It's worth visualizing and documenting the details of your business so that the materials and network around your dream can begin to take shape.

What is the management section of a business plan?

The 'management section' describes your management team, staff, resources, and how your business ownership is structured.

What are the 5 sections of a business plan?

A business plan provides a road map showing your company's goals and how you'll achieve them. The five sections of a business plan are as follows:

• The  market analysis  outlines the demand for your product or service.
• The  competitive analysis  section shows your competition's strengths and weaknesses and your strategy for gaining market share.
• The management plan outlines your ownership structure, the management team, and staffing requirements.
• The  operating plan  details your business location and the facilities, equipment, and supplies needed to operate.
• The  financial plan  shows the map to financial success and the sources of funding, such as bank loans or investors.

SCORE. " Why Small Businesses Should Consider Workers’ Comp Insurance ."

How to Write the Management Team Section of a Business Plan + Examples

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the last 20+ years, we’ve written business plans for over 4,000 companies and hundreds of thousands of others have used the best business plan template and our other business planning materials.

From this vast experience, we’ve gained valuable insights on how to write a business plan effectively , specifically in the management section.

What is a Management Team Business Plan?

A management team business plan is a section in a comprehensive business plan that introduces and highlights the key members of the company’s management team. This part provides essential details about the individuals responsible for leading and running the business, including their backgrounds, skills, and experience.

It’s crucial for potential investors and stakeholders to evaluate the management team’s competence and qualifications, as a strong team can instill confidence in the company’s ability to succeed.

Why is the Management Team Section of a Business Plan Important?

Your management team plan has 3 goals:

• To prove to you that you have the right team to execute on the opportunity you have defined, and if not, to identify who you must hire to round out your current team
• To convince lenders and investors (e.g., angel investors, venture capitalists) to fund your company (if needed)
• To document how your Board (if applicable) can best help your team succeed

What to Include in Your Management Team Section

There are two key elements to include in your management team business plan as follows:

Management Team Members

For each key member of your team, document their name, title, and background.

Their backgrounds are most important in telling you and investors they are qualified to execute. Describe what positions each member has held in the past and what they accomplished in those positions. For example, if your VP of Sales was formerly the VP of Sales for another company in which they grew sales from zero to $10 million, that would be an important and compelling accomplishment to document.

Importantly, try to relate your team members’ past job experience with what you need them to accomplish at your company. For example, if a former high school principal was on your team, you could state that their vast experience working with both teenagers and their parents will help them succeed in their current position (particularly if the current position required them to work with both customer segments).

This is true for a management team for a small business, a medium-sized or large business.

Management Team Gaps

In this section, detail if your management team currently has any gaps or missing individuals. Not having a complete team at the time you develop your business plan. But, you must show your plan to complete your team.

As such, describe what positions are missing and who will fill the positions. For example, if you know you need to hire a VP of Marketing, state this. Further, state the job description of this person. For example, you might say that this hire will have 10 years of experience managing a marketing team, establishing new accounts, working with social media marketing, have startup experience, etc.

To give you a “checklist” of the employees you might want to include in your Management Team Members and/or Gaps sections, below are the most common management titles at a growing startup (note that many are specific to tech startups):

• Founder, CEO, and/or President
• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• VP of Sales
• VP of Marketing
• VP of Web Development and/or Engineering
• UX Designer/Manager
• Product Manager
• Digital Marketing Manager
• Business Development Manager
• Account Management/Customer Service Manager
• Sales Managers/Sales Staff
• Board Members

If you have a Board of Directors or Board of Advisors, you would include the bios of the members of your board in this section.

A Board of Directors is a paid group of individuals who help guide your company. Typically startups do not have such a board until they raise VC funding.

If your company is not at this stage, consider forming a Board of Advisors. Such a board is ideal particularly if your team is missing expertise and/or experience in certain areas. An advisory board includes 2 to 8 individuals who act as mentors to your business. Usually, you meet with them monthly or quarterly and they help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. You typically do not pay advisory board members with cash, but offering them options in your company is a best practice as it allows you to attract better board members and better motivate them.

Management Team Business Plan Example

Below are examples of how to include your management section in your business plan.

Key Team Members

Jim Smith, Founder & CEO

Jim has 15 years of experience in online software development, having co-founded two previous successful online businesses. His first company specialized in developing workflow automation software for government agencies and was sold to a public company in 2003. Jim’s second company developed a mobile app for parents to manage their children’s activities, which was sold to a large public company in 2014. Jim has a B.S. in computer science from MIT and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago

Bill Jones, COO

Bill has 20 years of sales and business development experience from working with several startups that he helped grow into large businesses. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from M.I.T., where he also played Division I lacrosse for four years.

We currently have no gaps in our management team, but we plan to expand our team by hiring a Vice President of Marketing to be responsible for all digital marketing efforts.

Vance Williamson, Founder & CEO

Prior to founding GoDoIt, Vance was the CIO of a major corporation with more than 100 retail locations. He oversaw all IT initiatives including software development, sales technology, mobile apps for customers and employees, security systems, customer databases/CRM platforms, etc. He has a  B.S in computer science and an MBA in operations management from UCLA.

We currently have two gaps in our Management Team: 

A VP of Sales with 10 years of experience managing sales teams, overseeing sales processes, working with manufacturers, establishing new accounts, working with digital marketing/advertising agencies to build brand awareness, etc. 

In addition, we need to hire a VP of Marketing with experience creating online marketing campaigns that attract new customers to our site.

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Other Resources for Writing Your Business Plan

• How to Write an Executive Summary
• How to Expertly Write the Company Description in Your Business Plan
• How to Write the Market Analysis Section of a Business Plan
• The Customer Analysis Section of Your Business Plan
• Completing the Competitive Analysis Section of Your Business Plan
• Financial Assumptions and Your Business Plan
• How to Create Financial Projections for Your Business Plan
• Everything You Need to Know about the Business Plan Appendix
• Business Plan Conclusion: Summary & Recap

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

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Employment Agency Business Plan

Start your own employment agency business plan

All About People

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

All About People (AAP) began out of the desire to contribute to this community, just as communities have fed All About People’s proprietor over the years. Although originally from a larger market, the proprietor realizes the need in the southern Willamette Valley for a personnel agency that fills a void left by other temporary and permanent placement agencies. AAP matches specifically skilled workers with clients, saving businesses time and money, while providing for its employees with honesty and honor. This requires a high level of communication. It means asking open-ended questions and listening, not talking. This means knowing the local market so AAP can really serve each client and employee, not just “sell” them our goods. AAP is quality service.

The long-term vision includes a number of offices throughout the southern Willamette Valley. The proprietor sees the challenge in this vision, not in the growth itself, but in training and encouraging all AAP personnel to treat each client and employee with the same care and with the same level of communication.

Managing our Growth AAP is a sole proprietorship that will convert to an S Corporation. As a new corporate entity, AAP will be treated as a start-up in this business plan. During the past couple of years the proprietor provided all services. In Year 1, the company will add a part-time office staff person and an employment specialist. In response to this growth, AAP will have a procedures manual for in-house staff to assure that the information is clear. In addition, AAP will provide employees with regular training within the divisions to assure they understand the details of the work they are doing daily. Year 2 projections include a receptionist, another employment specialist, and a field representative. In Year 3, AAP will examine the feasibility of opening a branch office in the Salem, Bend, or Medford/Ashland areas.

The Market AAP is structured like other temporary and permanent placement agencies. However, it will serve clients with needs for select, specialized professionals rather than clerical or light industrial workers. Several businesses in Portland, Oregon provide a similar service to specific groups of people, but there are none for the Willamette Valley. AAP has five divisions, targeting the following areas of expertise:

• Editors/Writers

Event Planners

Graphic Artists

• Interpreters/Translators.

Services AAP will handle recruiting, including reference checks, skills evaluation, preliminary interviewing,  and screening of all employees for its clients. AAP acts as an extension of the client’s human resource department, assuring that there is open communication between supervisor and employee, and assisting with any troubleshooting or problem solving that may be needed.

Financials The company’s start-up requirements are $55,464, of which $7,600 will be provided for by the owner’s personal investment. The rest will be obtained through loans.

We expect to be able to charge a 50% markup to our business clients. Thus, if an employee is being paid $10 per hour, we are charging the client $15 per hour. The company predicts that it will be able to produce sales of approximately $300,000 by Year 3. The company does not have any direct cost of sales; we track payments to placed individuals as regular payroll.

1.1 Objectives

AAP is structured like other temporary and permanent placement agencies. However, we serve clients with needs for select specialized professionals, rather than clerical or light industrial workers. Several businesses in Portland, Oregon provide a similar service to specific groups of people. AAP followed the model of one placement firm described below.

A contract engineering firm places temporary workers who are hardware and software engineers. Employees earn between $80- $100 per hour and approximately seven employees are placed per month. The firm recruits through its website, advertises in newspapers, magazines, and trade publications. Incentives offered to contingent workers include medical, dental, and disability insurance, 401(K), and a reference finder’s fee for placement referrals. They find their employees are 60 percent male, 40 percent female, and ages spread evenly.

AAP serves the business client by locating a professional worker, interviewing and screening that worker, setting up interviews if necessary, and administering all hiring paperwork. The company runs payroll and bills the client bi-monthly. AAP will also manage the professional, staying in close contact with the client and communicating with the worker regarding any personnel issues that may arise.

The professional worker is served with employment opportunities at no cost; pay rates that are within industry standards; and health insurance may be purchased, if a worker becomes eligible, at a group rate starting at $124/mo. AAP will pay $65/mo for any coverage chosen from the group package.

1.2 Mission

All About People’s mission is to contribute to the community by filling a need for specialized, professional, contingent workers. The company will provide workers with a safe and independent environment. It will also provide businesses with a high-caliber of employee available for project or permanent work. All About People listens to individual needs and customizes personnel solutions for both businesses and workers.

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

AAP is a temporary and permanent placement personnel agency working solely with skilled, professional workers and Willamette Valley businesses. AAP differs from other temporary and permanent placement agencies because of our skilled workers. The company believes that the temporary industry pays only cursory attention to providing businesses highly qualified workers for permanent and non-permanent positions. AAP has five divisions, targeting the following areas of expertise:

AAP does not provide general clerical, light industrial, engineers, accountants, nurses, or other medical technicians.

AAP does the following for each client:

• Recruiting (reference checking)
• Skills evaluation (preliminary interviewing)

AAP conducts regular evaluations: AAP checks in with the supervisor and the worker during the first week on the assignment. AAP then checks in as agreed with the client. AAP acts as an extension of the client business’ human resource department assuring that there is open communication between supervisor and employee, and assisting with any troubleshooting or problem solving that may be needed.

Prior to opening our doors, research showed support for the development of a personnel agency working solely with professional contingent workers and Willamette Valley businesses (see topic 7.3 Supporting Research).

According to the Oregon Department of Employment, Lane County has 31 temporary agency firms with 3200 individuals employed. Total employment figures for Lane County are 250,000; therefore, we support between two and four percent of the population.

Through connections in a variety of areas, AAP is able to locate qualified workers not only through advertising, but through a channel of networking. This past year has shown that qualified, willing workers are certainly available as we currently have hundreds on staff willing and able to work.

2.1 Company Ownership

AAP is a sole proprietorship that will convert to an S Corporation. As a new corporate entity, AAP will be treated as a start-up in this business plan.

The sole proprietor, Sarah Wayland, can be reached at AAP’s office, [contact information omitted in this sample plan].

2.2 Start-up Summary

Projected start-up figures are shown in the chart and table below.

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The company is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this market opportunity because of the management and field expertise of the proprietor. Sarah Wayland worked in the temporary employment industry for three years with ADIA Personnel Services (now ADECCO) as Area Account Manager (in training as a branch manager): building business relationships; hiring employees; handling employee issues; working with clients during the implementation of ADIA; and opening an additional office in Beaverton, Oregon.

For one year the proprietor was a District Sales Manager at Columbia Distributing, showing a 10% increase on $3.5 million in annual sales. Managing a staff of nine in sales and customer service, she had the opportunity to delve further into hiring/firing, reviewing, incentives outside of salary, and personnel issues.

Most recently, she has spent several years as Funds and Contracts Manager at the Oregon University System; managing four grants totaling $1.5 million annually and all personal service and interagency contracts as well.

The proprietor’s most notable success was bringing the second branch of Cellular West located in Portland, Oregon, from running in the red, to breaking even within four months of its opening. She accomplished this by using motivational tools and providing the sales force with extensive training.

3.1 Products and Services Plan

Changing labor market conditions threaten the concept of full-time permanent employment.

AAP provides a complex blend of services to distinct populations. The company serves businesses through connecting them with the professional contingent work force. It also serves the worker by connecting them with businesses, at no charge, and providing benefits not often provided by other employment agencies.

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

All About People (AAP) is a local firm that costs less than a consultant or agency, provides for both project and long-term needs, and has an easy, pay and billing rate system that covers employee payroll and worker’s compensation insurance.

There are a variety of reasons why businesses may need AAP’s services:

• Spikes in work load
• Business expands into an area that in-house expertise does not yet match
• Special events
• Pregnancy leave or sabbatical
• Business increases after layoffs
• Smaller business does not yet have staff on-hand to complete extra projects.

According to economic forecasters, employment agencies and financial services are expected to have the largest industry growth over the next 25 years. The trend toward businesses cutting back on employees and their benefits due to high costs creates the demand for AAP’s services.

Just consider the time, energy, and resources an employer may spend trying to employ a person for a 20-hour task.

In addition to the already lucrative temporary industry, several companies in the Portland Metro Area place professional contingent workers, but the southern Willamette Valley is not currently being served.

The company approaches businesses primarily through networking and cold calls. Our intention is to utilize a PR agency for more coverage as soon as possible. AAP is a member of the area Chamber of Commerce and actively participates in as many activities as possible, the proprietor is a member of the Women’s Business Network, the Professional Women’s Organization, and we are in the process of connecting with the Society for Human Resource Management. Prior to start-up, AAP also surveyed several area businesses about their use of contingent workers. The company will use its website and other marketing materials that describe what services we provide and explain how simple it is to work with us.

AAP advertises in local papers and trade magazines when absolutely necessary, but most often uses the Oregon Employment Department, both community college and university campuses, and the networking groups we are members of to search out the right employee. Prior to the sole proprietor start-up, the company started recruiting by administering twenty personnel surveys and advertising locally to create a staff of qualified contingent workers. This staff will be unaffected by AAP’s corporate restructuring.

4.1 Market Segmentation

The market can be broken down into two segments: the business market segment, and the employee market segment. Both of these segments are lucrative.

Business market targets: The company targets the University of Oregon, Lane Community College, the nonprofit organizations, the publishing industry, the advertising industry, and other large businesses.

Employee market targets: Editors/writers, graphic artists, computer specialists, event planners/fundraisers, and language translators/interpreters working in the business target markets listed above, as well as any applicants with unusual skills and talents.

4.2 Service Business Analysis

These charts demonstrate the types of workers employed, the type of qualified professionals on file to work for the company, and the types of businesses who have used AAP’s services. These statistics cover the 15-month sole proprietorship period from July 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999.

Types of workers employed by or signed up with AAP

Types of employers using AAP

Each and every contact is entered into the database-either in the professionals file if they are a potential candidate, or in the contacts file if they are another type of contact. The client and jobs files utilize the contact and client numbers to automatically fill in the information from the contact or client files. This means no duplicate typing. In addition, the contacts, clients, and professional files all have follow-up sheets attached making daily follow-up easy. Simply pull the file up for that day and all calls that need to be made that day will be marked.

Searching is easy. The check boxes within each professionals file allows us to check for singular or multiple skills and experience with a click and a return.

4.2.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

First form filled out from the moment the candidate calls. Three screens constitute one file: Personal Information; Job Information; Skills. The professional and contact files have a conversation record that will allow easy follow-up with a list daily of those records needing a call.

Interview Form

Directly from the employee forms the Employment Specialist can select the appropriate interview form. This form consists of three sheets: Basic Questions; Other Information/Recommendations; and Reference Checks.

Employee Profile Sheet

From the above information, a profile sheet is generated in hard copy for the inside of each file. This is our second backup system (besides the tape drive) in case of a power outage, etc.

4.2.2 Contact Sheet

This form is used for all other contacts. From here, a contact can be turned into a client by merely typing the contact number in on the client sheet, automatically bringing in all of the information.

4.2.3 Client Sheet

The client sheet is easily created by filling in the contact number. All pertinent information is automatically entered. The client sheet has its own contact sheet attached generating a daily follow-up list. The client files can also be pulled into a handy contact list.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

AAP is completely service minded, customizing personnel packages and offering the most it can to both employers and employees. The company brokers professional workers to Willamette Valley businesses. Because we serve two distinct groups of people, both businesses and employees will be considered equally important to AAP.

The company consists of five divisions, targeting the following types of workers and needs in businesses:

Computer Division

• Computer Application Specialists
• Computer Hardware Specialists
• Computer Programmers
• Network Administrators
• Web Specialists

Editor/Writers

• Multi-lingual
• PR/Marketing
• Fundraisers
• Large and Small

Language Interpreters and Translators

• Multiple Languages
• Person-to-Person

Within these categories, we originally set up a system of single sheets on card stock and filed them in binders. Since then, an electronic database has been created by one of our professionals. With the push of a button, AAP can search for a client or an employee needed.

Businesses and employees will be able to communicate with AAP via both new technological and traditional methods. Our Web page provides information about AAP including what professional fields we serve, what clients we are working with, and what services we offer. A second-generation Web page will provide information about employees for businesses through a password-protected area. AAP forwards candidates’ resumes and other information through a variety of methods: phone, fax, personal visit, mail, and the Web page.

In August 1999 we moved the offices to the center of town. Accounting is handled electronically by the proprietor through QuickBooks, with the complex needs handled by our CPA. All payroll is generated through the payroll service, Paychex. The office is furnished with all of the technology needed to operate on a daily basis, increase market share, and serve clients.

5.1 Competitive Edge

When a business is contacted and expresses interest in contingent employees that the company can provide, the following procedures will be followed:

• Consult with client and create a follow-up plan.
• Complete the contact, client, and job sheet in the database.
• Print one of each and forward a copy of the job sheet on yellow paper to the employment specialist.
• File original sheets in the appropriate binders.
• Search for matches in the database and pull each folder that looks like it will work.
• Review that folder to assure a match.
• Call each potential candidate and discuss the job and pay to its fullest.
• Fax, e-mail, or otherwise contact client with information and/or resumes for review.
• Schedule interviews or make a decision on appropriate candidates.

5.2 Sales Strategy

When an employee seeks to work with the company, the following procedures will be followed:

• Complete the professional’s form in the database.
• While completing this sheet, screen the employee for experience levels, requiring professional experience in each arena they wish to work.
• Set up an interview with the employment specialist if the professional is qualified.
• Create a file for each employee and place all paperwork, along with a copy of the professional’s form.
• Keep in touch with the professional quarterly if nothing comes up, more often if at all possible.
• When the professional agrees to a position, they will be supplied with an employee policy manual, pieces of letterhead for invoicing, and will complete the IRS I-9 and W-4 forms prior to beginning work.

5.2.1 Sales Forecast

Our sales forecast projections are presented in the chart and table below. Three years annual projections are shown in the table.  The chart shows first year monthly forecast.  First year monthly table is included in the appendix.

5.2.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

The pay rate data will be determined by changing market factors including business demand.

Our experience shows that the following is true in regards to pay and bill rates. A “good deal” for most temporary agencies is a 50% of pay rate markup. Thus, if the pay is $10, the bill is $15. However, we have traditionally used a flat markup that seemed appropriate. Pay and bill rates generally are outlined as follows:

Editors Most editors require between $25 and $35 per hour, and our history has shown a $10 per hour markup is acceptable. One exception is in the technical arena, garnering between $45 and $55 per hour pay; again a $10 per hour markup is typical.

Writers The only writing we have done is creative for [client name omitted], and we paid $15 with a $10 markup.

Event Planners Event planners often will work for between $12.50 and $25 per hour, depending on the length of the job, requirements, and experience needed. We find a $5 per hour markup on the $12.50-$17.50 is reasonable, and a $10 per hour markup on anything over $17.50 per hour.

Fundraisers Fundraisers can start at $10 per hour (nonprofit) and go up to $20 per hour. This usually depends on client and length of assignment. Bill rate markup for nonprofits is $5 per hour, others between $7.50 and $10 per hour.

Graphic Artists Entry level beginning at $12.50 per hour, intermediate at $15 per hour, and a top of the line professional at $25 per hour. The exception may run about $50 per hour. Bill rates are between $7.50 per hour markup ($12.50-$15), and $10 markup.

Language Interpreters This is a tricky arena. Pricing depends on the language (typical/atypical) and the length of the assignment. Interpreters have been known to work for as little as $15 per hour and for as much as $35 per hour. A $10 per hour markup is acceptable.

Language Translators This division is difficult as each language and situation varies slightly. Translators tend to work by page or by word. Technical translation can be as much as $.30 per word. Other translation can be $10 per hour (an hour a page). We are unsure of markup at this time, but would suggest 50% of pay rate.

Computer Specialists:

• Application-Starting at $12.50 an hour based on Xerox experience. Markup $5 per hour.
• Programmer-Starting at $20 an hour based on AlbertIQ experience. Markup $10 per hour at a minimum. Try for $15.
• Web Designer-Entry level positions can start at $10 per hour with a markup of $5. Project work typically starts at $15 an hour, markup at least $10 per hour.
• Administration-Pay rates range between $50 and $75 per hour, with a preferred markup of $25 per hour.

When determining the bill rate, additional expense factors to remember above the pay rate are 15% employer taxes, advertising, and staff time to fill the position.

5.3 Milestones

The company has an outstanding client list and an incredible number of qualified employees available. AAP has a good reputation for providing qualified people in a timely manner.

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

In a variety of settings the proprietor of AAP has strong management experience. The proprietor has the skills to not only listen well, drawing out a person’s needs through open-ended questions, but also has the ability to recognize people’s strengths and weaknesses. She will draw upon this extensive successful experience in addition to the knowledge collected over a period of 18 years working professionally. Much of the “people” skills have been developed during the seven years spent in management roles. This experience, along with a varied background, supports AAP’s goals.

AAP’s objectives are threefold:

• To provide high quality, experienced, professional workers to businesses that are currently relying on the instability of word-of-mouth contacts, and are spending much of their time and resources (and, therefore, money) locating such workers;
• To provide these workers with a path by which to reach the employer without spending their own time, money, and energy finding the work; and
• To use this opportunity to make the contingent work force a better place for both the employer and the employee.

The long-term goal of the company is to franchise and/or to become multi-location, and eventually sell this business.

Management is a style, a belief, and a strategy.

In managing our clients, AAP will communicate regularly with them, setting up a schedule that meets their needs. The company will set goals for retention of clientele and strive to reach those goals by building relationships, listening to the client’s needs, and meeting those needs with a smile on our faces. We will take responsibility for our errors and the outcome.

In managing our workers, AAP will communicate regularly with them, providing them with an employee manual to minimize their confusion, and offer them the best pay and benefits possible. AAP will set goals for retention of employees and strive to reach those goals by treating each employee with respect, provide protection when appropriate, and do everything within our power to assure a healthy working environment.

This is a relationship business. AAP will manage all clients and employees through relationship building.

During 1998-99 the proprietor provided all services. In 2000 the company will add a part-time office staffer and an employment specialist. In response to this growth, we will have a procedures manual for in-house staff assuring that the information is clear. In addition, we will provide employees with regular training within the divisions to assure they understand the details of the work they are doing daily. 2001 projections include a receptionist, another employment specialist, and a field representative. In 2002 AAP will examine the feasibility of opening a branch office in the Salem, Bend, or Medford/Ashland areas.

6.1 Payroll

All About People runs its payroll twice a month. Each professional will be given a check schedule when they work with AAP. Each check covers the previous two weeks.

In order to process payroll; AAP must receive a professional’s signed invoice the Wednesday prior to payday. The invoice, must be on AAP letterhead and include: name, social security number, mailing address, dates of work completed, location worked (at home, at the client’s office), one or two sentences describing what tasks were completed, and how much time was spent each day. At the bottom there must be a place for the client to sign and date in acceptance of the work to date. The original will be submitted to AAP, the client will receive one copy, and the professional will keep a copy.

AAP is unable to provide payroll advances. If a check is lost in the mail, we must wait seven days from the date of mailing, and then if the check has not arrived we will stop the check at the bank and have one reissued.

6.2 Benefits

Because we value our employees, we have employee group health insurance available, and contribute a major portion of the monthly premium. According to the Insurance Pool Governing Board (IPGB) employees must work at least 17.5 hours per week. Employees who work intermittently or who have worked fewer than 90 calendar days are not eligible. IPGB also states that all carriers may decline to offer coverage to the business or to any employee.

Technically, All About People is employer of the professionals we place. This means that we are responsible for covering the worker’s compensation insurance, running payroll, and that we are the ones to whom each employee is responsible. We understand that this can be tricky when employee professionals are working with a client, so we want to describe the expectations of this relationship:

• If the professional doesn’t understand the work or assignment that has been given by the client, then discuss the work with the client.
• If there are issues at work, the employee should inform AAP and then speak with the client.
• If these issues continue, the employee should talk with AAP immediately.
• If the professional feels they are being harassed at work they should let AAP know immediately.
• If the employee should be being asked to perform tasks other than the original assignment, the employee should talk with AAP before beginning any tasks other than the original assignment.
• If the professional is being asked to work overtime (more than 40 hours per week), they should let us know immediately.

AAP does not guarantee either work or wages when you join us to become an AAP employee. We will, of course, strive to keep you as busy as possible. AAP is also not able to guarantee an hourly wage prior to the assignment beginning. If you work on a job, and complete the work successfully, you will be paid at the agreed rate.

This employment relationship differs from others because you, AAP, or the client may end your employment with or without notice and with or without reasons. However, if you accept a job with AAP, we do expect you to finish the assignment.

Marketing Strategy

AAP’s target market is both businesses and professional workers. Phase one of the marketing plan will target the University of Oregon, the technology industry, and the top 500 businesses in Eugene through networking and cold calling. Phase two will target small businesses with less than five employees because smaller businesses may not have the in-house capability to locate, evaluate, and hire potential professional contingent workers through a small PR campaign.

7.1 Businesses

We began marketing the businesses through several personnel surveys. The University of Oregon Alumni Association, University of Oregon Foundation, and University of Oregon Human Resources Department, as well as Symantec’s Human Resources director were approached for information regarding their need for professional temporary and permanent workers. These initial interviewees have all (with the exception of U of O HR Dept) become clients within the first year of business. After these personnel surveys were complete, we adjusted our recruitment of professional workers to meet the demand.

Another tactic was joining multiple business groups. AAP became a member of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce and attends the weekly greeters meetings; the Women’s Business Network and attends the monthly meetings; the Professional Women’s Organization and attend the monthly meetings; as well as the City Club, keeping a pulse on what is happening in the community, attending as the proprietor sees fit.

The next approach is face-to-face cold calls. The tools for these calls are simple-a business card and a brochure. The information collected during the cold call is vital: how many employees does the business have; in what areas have they experienced a need for professional contingent employees; and who is the appropriate contact.

7.2 Professional Workers

Our beginning point in marketing to workers was approximately 30 personnel surveys to professional contingent workers, building the foundation of our database.  AAP intends to recruit workers through advertising in the newspaper and appropriate trade magazines, trade shows, the University of Oregon career center, and by referral. We have found that each division within the company requires a different approach for recruitment. We try not to depend on newspaper advertising as we find the results are moderate. Results are far better with the employment department for some areas, with the U of O for others, and also through a series of developed contacts for the other divisions.

7.2.1 Trust

In order to build trust with both businesses and employees AAP will follow through as promised. We will treat each business, employee, and ourselves, with integrity. AAP will communicate clearly, asking businesses to specify the needs for follow-up service during the time that they employ our contingent worker. We will work with employees to assure that they have a clear understanding of what AAP offers and what we expect of them.

7.3 Supporting Research

“A fading model of employment in the United States envisions a business enterprise with full-time employees who can expect to keep their jobs and perhaps advance so long as they perform satisfactorily and the business continues. Changing labor market conditions threaten the concept of full-time permanent employment. As reported by the Conference Board in September 1995, contingent workers account for at least 10 percent of the workforce at 21 percent of the companies surveyed, or almost double the 12 percent of respondents with that number in 1990. Writing in the Monthly Labor Review in March 1989, Belous estimated that contingent workers constitutes 24 to 29 percent of the labor force in the United States. In August 1995, however, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated the size of the contingent labor force at 2 to 5 percent of the total workforce. However, BLS did not count long-term part-time employees, who constitute 90 percent of part-time workers.”       — Society for Human Resource Management, The Contingent Worker: A Human Resource Perspective, by W. Gilmore McKie & Laurence Lipset taken from Chapter 1, What Is a Contingent Worker?

AAP is a service company providing businesses with customized personnel solutions by connecting them with the professional contingent work force. Research suggests that 2000 is an opportune time to be in the Eugene market with this service. Even with all of the evidence that contingent work is the wave of the present, and of the future, the niche of placing contingent workers who are paid $12.50 to $40 per hour is untapped in the Eugene area. However, a few companies place high-end contingent workers in the Portland area.

There are many reasons why businesses are turning to contingent workers. The Economic Policy Institute’s article “ Contingent Work ” by Polly Callaghan and Heidi Harmann explains that:

“Growth in involuntary part-time employment is causing total part-time employment to grow faster than total employment. Another indication of the shift toward part-time workers: hours for part-time workers are growing faster than hours for full-time workers. Temporary employment has grown three times faster than overall employment and temporary workers are being used for more hours. Contingent employment is growing faster than overall employment. Part-timers are disproportionately women, younger, or older workers. There has been a shift away from manufacturing toward trade and services. These structural changes help explain the growth in part-time employment.”

Because of the changing nature of jobs themselves, AAP’s services are desirable to employers of all sizes. Unlike five or ten years ago, many positions are so diversified, or specialized, that it is not financially feasible for an employer to hire a person to fill one position, requiring several areas of expertise. This is not financially wise for the business because of the pay range required to recruit and hire such a talented person (especially in areas such as graphics, design, etc.). The cost of payroll, taxes, benefits, and other miscellaneous staff required to run employees add to the burden of a downsized staff. Contacting AAP and using a professional contingent worker for each portion of a position as needed will solve this dilemma. Currently most businesses locate needed “qualified” workers by word of mouth. With one phone call, e-mail, or connection with our Web page, AAP makes the task easy.

In addition, Oregon’s economy is expected to continue growing, and employment, total personal and per capita income, and population growth rates are expected to exceed the national average (according to the 1997-98 Oregon Blue Book). Although Oregon’s economy is among the best there is an obvious group of contingent workers available to build an employee labor pool. The company draws from a labor pool of qualified contingent workers which consists of people who work at home, retirees, others who wish to work part-time. According to the Oregon University System, approximately 33% of bachelor’s degree graduates will be unable to find jobs in Oregon each year. So, recent college graduates are also a part of AAP’s labor pool.

Research shows that a large percentage of workers who tend to work more than one job are well-educated individuals who have a higher degree of education. According to Oregon Employment Department’s Occupational Outlook Quarterly , Spring 1997, 9.4% have Ph.D.’s; 6.5% a Professional degree; 9.1% a Master’s degree; 7.9% a Bachelor’s degree; 7.9% an Associate degree; and the remaining 15.8% lesser education. According to a Personnel Journal article “ Contingent Staffing Requires Serious Strategy ,” April 1995, there are also many retirees that enjoy doing contingent work.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following sections contain the financial information for All About People. Tables show annual projections for three years. Charts show first year monthly figures.  First year monthly tables are included in the appendix.

8.1 Important Assumptions

The financials of this plan are predicated on the following table of assumptions.

8.2 Projected Profit and Loss

Profit and Loss figures are projected in this table.

8.3 Projected Cash Flow

Our cash flow estimates are shown in the chart and table below. The owner expects to invest further amounts in the business over the next two years to finance continued growth.

8.4 Projected Balance Sheet

Three year annual balance sheets estimates appear below.

8.5 Business Ratios

The table below presents important business ratios from the help supply services industry, as determined by the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) Index code 7363, Help Supply Services.

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12 Key Elements of a Business Plan (Top Components Explained)

Starting and running a successful business requires proper planning and execution of effective business tactics and strategies .

You need to prepare many essential business documents when starting a business for maximum success; the business plan is one such document.

When creating a business, you want to achieve business objectives and financial goals like productivity, profitability, and business growth. You need an effective business plan to help you get to your desired business destination.

Even if you are already running a business, the proper understanding and review of the key elements of a business plan help you navigate potential crises and obstacles.

This article will teach you why the business document is at the core of any successful business and its key elements you can not avoid.

Let’s get started.

Why Are Business Plans Important?

Business plans are practical steps or guidelines that usually outline what companies need to do to reach their goals. They are essential documents for any business wanting to grow and thrive in a highly-competitive business environment .

1. Proves Your Business Viability

A business plan gives companies an idea of how viable they are and what actions they need to take to grow and reach their financial targets. With a well-written and clearly defined business plan, your business is better positioned to meet its goals.

2. Guides You Throughout the Business Cycle

A business plan is not just important at the start of a business. As a business owner, you must draw up a business plan to remain relevant throughout the business cycle .

During the starting phase of your business, a business plan helps bring your ideas into reality. A solid business plan can secure funding from lenders and investors.

After successfully setting up your business, the next phase is management. Your business plan still has a role to play in this phase, as it assists in communicating your business vision to employees and external partners.

Essentially, your business plan needs to be flexible enough to adapt to changes in the needs of your business.

3. Helps You Make Better Business Decisions

As a business owner, you are involved in an endless decision-making cycle. Your business plan helps you find answers to your most crucial business decisions.

A robust business plan helps you settle your major business components before you launch your product, such as your marketing and sales strategy and competitive advantage.

4. Eliminates Big Mistakes

Many small businesses fail within their first five years for several reasons: lack of financing, stiff competition, low market need, inadequate teams, and inefficient pricing strategy.

Creating an effective plan helps you eliminate these big mistakes that lead to businesses' decline. Every business plan element is crucial for helping you avoid potential mistakes before they happen.

5. Secures Financing and Attracts Top Talents

Having an effective plan increases your chances of securing business loans. One of the essential requirements many lenders ask for to grant your loan request is your business plan.

A business plan helps investors feel confident that your business can attract a significant return on investments ( ROI ).

You can attract and retain top-quality talents with a clear business plan. It inspires your employees and keeps them aligned to achieve your strategic business goals.

Key Elements of Business Plan

Starting and running a successful business requires well-laid actions and supporting documents that better position a company to achieve its business goals and maximize success.

A business plan is a written document with relevant information detailing business objectives and how it intends to achieve its goals.

With an effective business plan, investors, lenders, and potential partners understand your organizational structure and goals, usually around profitability, productivity, and growth.

Every successful business plan is made up of key components that help solidify the efficacy of the business plan in delivering on what it was created to do.

Here are some of the components of an effective business plan.

1. Executive Summary

One of the key elements of a business plan is the executive summary. Write the executive summary as part of the concluding topics in the business plan. Creating an executive summary with all the facts and information available is easier.

In the overall business plan document, the executive summary should be at the forefront of the business plan. It helps set the tone for readers on what to expect from the business plan.

A well-written executive summary includes all vital information about the organization's operations, making it easy for a reader to understand.

The key points that need to be acted upon are highlighted in the executive summary. They should be well spelled out to make decisions easy for the management team.

A good and compelling executive summary points out a company's mission statement and a brief description of its products and services.

An executive summary summarizes a business's expected value proposition to distinct customer segments. It highlights the other key elements to be discussed during the rest of the business plan.

Including your prior experiences as an entrepreneur is a good idea in drawing up an executive summary for your business. A brief but detailed explanation of why you decided to start the business in the first place is essential.

Adding your company's mission statement in your executive summary cannot be overemphasized. It creates a culture that defines how employees and all individuals associated with your company abide when carrying out its related processes and operations.

Your executive summary should be brief and detailed to catch readers' attention and encourage them to learn more about your company.

Components of an Executive Summary

Here are some of the information that makes up an executive summary:

• The name and location of your company
• Products and services offered by your company
• Mission and vision statements
• Success factors of your business plan

2. Business Description

Your business description needs to be exciting and captivating as it is the formal introduction a reader gets about your company.

What your company aims to provide, its products and services, goals and objectives, target audience , and potential customers it plans to serve need to be highlighted in your business description.

A company description helps point out notable qualities that make your company stand out from other businesses in the industry. It details its unique strengths and the competitive advantages that give it an edge to succeed over its direct and indirect competitors.

Spell out how your business aims to deliver on the particular needs and wants of identified customers in your company description, as well as the particular industry and target market of the particular focus of the company.

Include trends and significant competitors within your particular industry in your company description. Your business description should contain what sets your company apart from other businesses and provides it with the needed competitive advantage.

In essence, if there is any area in your business plan where you need to brag about your business, your company description provides that unique opportunity as readers look to get a high-level overview.

Components of a Business Description

Your business description needs to contain these categories of information.

• Business location
• The legal structure of your business
• Summary of your business’s short and long-term goals

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section should be solely based on analytical research as it details trends particular to the market you want to penetrate.

Graphs, spreadsheets, and histograms are handy data and statistical tools you need to utilize in your market analysis. They make it easy to understand the relationship between your current ideas and the future goals you have for the business.

All details about the target customers you plan to sell products or services should be in the market analysis section. It helps readers with a helpful overview of the market.

In your market analysis, you provide the needed data and statistics about industry and market share, the identified strengths in your company description, and compare them against other businesses in the same industry.

The market analysis section aims to define your target audience and estimate how your product or service would fare with these identified audiences.

Market analysis helps visualize a target market by researching and identifying the primary target audience of your company and detailing steps and plans based on your audience location.

Obtaining this information through market research is essential as it helps shape how your business achieves its short-term and long-term goals.

Market Analysis Factors

Here are some of the factors to be included in your market analysis.

• The geographical location of your target market
• Needs of your target market and how your products and services can meet those needs
• Demographics of your target audience

Components of the Market Analysis Section

Here is some of the information to be included in your market analysis.

• Industry description and statistics
• Demographics and profile of target customers
• Marketing data for your products and services
• Detailed evaluation of your competitors

4. Marketing Plan

A marketing plan defines how your business aims to reach its target customers, generate sales leads, and, ultimately, make sales.

Promotion is at the center of any successful marketing plan. It is a series of steps to pitch a product or service to a larger audience to generate engagement. Note that the marketing strategy for a business should not be stagnant and must evolve depending on its outcome.

Include the budgetary requirement for successfully implementing your marketing plan in this section to make it easy for readers to measure your marketing plan's impact in terms of numbers.

The information to include in your marketing plan includes marketing and promotion strategies, pricing plans and strategies , and sales proposals. You need to include how you intend to get customers to return and make repeat purchases in your business plan.

5. Sales Strategy

Sales strategy defines how you intend to get your product or service to your target customers and works hand in hand with your business marketing strategy.

Your sales strategy approach should not be complex. Break it down into simple and understandable steps to promote your product or service to target customers.

Apart from the steps to promote your product or service, define the budget you need to implement your sales strategies and the number of sales reps needed to help the business assist in direct sales.

Your sales strategy should be specific on what you need and how you intend to deliver on your sales targets, where numbers are reflected to make it easier for readers to understand and relate better.

6. Competitive Analysis

Providing transparent and honest information, even with direct and indirect competitors, defines a good business plan. Provide the reader with a clear picture of your rank against major competitors.

Identifying your competitors' weaknesses and strengths is useful in drawing up a market analysis. It is one information investors look out for when assessing business plans.

The competitive analysis section clearly defines the notable differences between your company and your competitors as measured against their strengths and weaknesses.

This section should define the following:

• Your competitors' identified advantages in the market
• How do you plan to set up your company to challenge your competitors’ advantage and gain grounds from them?
• The standout qualities that distinguish you from other companies
• Potential bottlenecks you have identified that have plagued competitors in the same industry and how you intend to overcome these bottlenecks

In your business plan, you need to prove your industry knowledge to anyone who reads your business plan. The competitive analysis section is designed for that purpose.

7. Management and Organization

Management and organization are key components of a business plan. They define its structure and how it is positioned to run.

Whether you intend to run a sole proprietorship, general or limited partnership, or corporation, the legal structure of your business needs to be clearly defined in your business plan.

Use an organizational chart that illustrates the hierarchy of operations of your company and spells out separate departments and their roles and functions in this business plan section.

The management and organization section includes profiles of advisors, board of directors, and executive team members and their roles and responsibilities in guaranteeing the company's success.

Apparent factors that influence your company's corporate culture, such as human resources requirements and legal structure, should be well defined in the management and organization section.

Defining the business's chain of command if you are not a sole proprietor is necessary. It leaves room for little or no confusion about who is in charge or responsible during business operations.

This section provides relevant information on how the management team intends to help employees maximize their strengths and address their identified weaknesses to help all quarters improve for the business's success.

8. Products and Services

This business plan section describes what a company has to offer regarding products and services to the maximum benefit and satisfaction of its target market.

Boldly spell out pending patents or copyright products and intellectual property in this section alongside costs, expected sales revenue, research and development, and competitors' advantage as an overview.

At this stage of your business plan, the reader needs to know what your business plans to produce and sell and the benefits these products offer in meeting customers' needs.

The supply network of your business product, production costs, and how you intend to sell the products are crucial components of the products and services section.

Investors are always keen on this information to help them reach a balanced assessment of if investing in your business is risky or offer benefits to them.

You need to create a link in this section on how your products or services are designed to meet the market's needs and how you intend to keep those customers and carve out a market share for your company.

Repeat purchases are the backing that a successful business relies on and measure how much customers are into what your company is offering.

This section is more like an expansion of the executive summary section. You need to analyze each product or service under the business.

9. Operating Plan

An operations plan describes how you plan to carry out your business operations and processes.

The operating plan for your business should include:

• Information about how your company plans to carry out its operations.
• The base location from which your company intends to operate.
• The number of employees to be utilized and other information about your company's operations.
• Key business processes.

This section should highlight how your organization is set up to run. You can also introduce your company's management team in this section, alongside their skills, roles, and responsibilities in the company.

The best way to introduce the company team is by drawing up an organizational chart that effectively maps out an organization's rank and chain of command.

What should be spelled out to readers when they come across this business plan section is how the business plans to operate day-in and day-out successfully.

10. Financial Projections and Assumptions

Bringing your great business ideas into reality is why business plans are important. They help create a sustainable and viable business.

The financial section of your business plan offers significant value. A business uses a financial plan to solve all its financial concerns, which usually involves startup costs, labor expenses, financial projections, and funding and investor pitches.

All key assumptions about the business finances need to be listed alongside the business financial projection, and changes to be made on the assumptions side until it balances with the projection for the business.

The financial plan should also include how the business plans to generate income and the capital expenditure budgets that tend to eat into the budget to arrive at an accurate cash flow projection for the business.

Base your financial goals and expectations on extensive market research backed with relevant financial statements for the relevant period.

Examples of financial statements you can include in the financial projections and assumptions section of your business plan include:

• Projected income statements
• Cash flow statements
• Balance sheets
• Income statements

Revealing the financial goals and potentials of the business is what the financial projection and assumption section of your business plan is all about. It needs to be purely based on facts that can be measurable and attainable.

11. Request For Funding

The request for funding section focuses on the amount of money needed to set up your business and underlying plans for raising the money required. This section includes plans for utilizing the funds for your business's operational and manufacturing processes.

When seeking funding, a reasonable timeline is required alongside it. If the need arises for additional funding to complete other business-related projects, you are not left scampering and desperate for funds.

If you do not have the funds to start up your business, then you should devote a whole section of your business plan to explaining the amount of money you need and how you plan to utilize every penny of the funds. You need to explain it in detail for a future funding request.

When an investor picks up your business plan to analyze it, with all your plans for the funds well spelled out, they are motivated to invest as they have gotten a backing guarantee from your funding request section.

Include timelines and plans for how you intend to repay the loans received in your funding request section. This addition keeps investors assured that they could recoup their investment in the business.

12. Exhibits and Appendices

Exhibits and appendices comprise the final section of your business plan and contain all supporting documents for other sections of the business plan.

Some of the documents that comprise the exhibits and appendices section includes:

• Legal documents
• Licenses and permits
• Credit histories
• Customer lists

The choice of what additional document to include in your business plan to support your statements depends mainly on the intended audience of your business plan. Hence, it is better to play it safe and not leave anything out when drawing up the appendix and exhibit section.

Supporting documentation is particularly helpful when you need funding or support for your business. This section provides investors with a clearer understanding of the research that backs the claims made in your business plan.

There are key points to include in the appendix and exhibits section of your business plan.

• The management team and other stakeholders resume
• Marketing research
• Permits and relevant legal documents
• Financial documents

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Martin luenendonk.

Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.

This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.

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Why you need a business plan

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A business plan helps you to:

• clarify your business idea
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You’ll need a business plan if you want to secure investment or a loan from a bank. Read about the finance options available for businesses on the Business Finance Guide website.

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Under Armour to lay off employees as part of restructuring plan

Under Armour Inc . is initiating a restructuring plan to turn around its mounting losses. 

Founder Kevin Plank, who was brought back as CEO last month after stepping down at the end of 2019, told analysts that he is working on cost management and implementing necessary strategies to grow the brand. 

This includes an undisclosed number of layoffs. The company said it plans to take a charge of between $7 million and $15 million in employee severance and benefits costs.

FOX Business reached out to Under Armour for comment.

UNDER ARMOUR, STEPHEN CURRY TO TEAM UP LONG-TERM WITH PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION

The company will also re-prioritize its core men's apparel business , which the company took its "eye off of," Plank told analysts on a Thursday earnings call. 

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP

According to Plank, who stepped down after a series of scandals , the loss of focus on its core men's apparel business permitted the company, particularly in North America, "to become more promotional and commoditized," which "has significantly impacted our brand's perception." 

"We will rectify this," Plank said, adding that "this focus does not mean that we are deprioritizing our footwear or women's business per se. But from a sequencing perspective, men's apparel will be our highest priority." 

The decisions the company makes will put "pressure our top and bottom line in the near term," Plank said. 

In the three-month period ending March 31, the company's global revenue slipped 5% to $1.3 billion. In North America, it dropped 10% to $772 million. 

Plank admitted to analysts that "this is not where I envisioned Under Armour playing at this point in our journey." 

In the fiscal year 2025, Under Armour projected that revenue would be down at a low-double-digit percentage rate, which includes a 15% to 17% decline in North America "as the company works to meaningfully reset this business following years of heightened promotional activities."

Original article source: Under Armour to lay off employees as part of restructuring plan

Lateral Partner Integration Requires Business Development Plan

When a lateral is hired into a new firm, following the tone set during the recruiting process is essential. The firm needs to ensure the lateral is set up for success on day one. Openness, honesty, and transparency are key.

A 12-month marketing and business development plan should be created as a roadmap for integrating new lateral hires and partnering them with a business development liaison. The assigned liaison should host regular check-in calls and serve as the lateral’s initial point of contact for all client development activities.

Setting the Stage

An introductory call between the lateral and their assigned BD liaison should take place prior to their start date or within the first two weeks. This should be the first in a series of integration meetings that take place during the lateral’s first year.

The goal of the meeting is to help the lateral understand the resources of the firm, services the marketing and BD department provides (i.e., requests for proposals, pitches, collateral, conference/speaking engagement prep, awards & rankings, bio updates, etc.) and to answer firm questions that may not have been addressed during the recruiting process.

The lateral and liaison should discuss any immediate client needs/opportunities, expectations, what support the lateral needs, and alert clients about the move.

The lateral should walk away from the meeting feeling confident, comfortable, and with a clear path forward.

Read more: Lateral Partner Recruiting Must Focus on Honesty and Clear Data

Introduction and Implementation

The BD liaison must also obtain a fulsome knowledge of the lateral’s practice, portable book of business, client targets, and preferred marketing styles. They should ascertain the partner’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as business goals and objectives.

The liaison needs to know why the lateral was hired—their niche expertise, specific client needs, and regional presence—to help identify cross-sell opportunities, make appropriate introductions to targeted attorneys within the firm, and plug the lateral into pre-existing client and industry teams. Prioritization should be placed on client-facing activities and the lawyer’s strengths.

The new partner’s BD liaison should have the same information as the legal recruiting team, which includes the lateral’s resume, partner questionnaire, offer letter, and revenue goals. Armed with these resources, the business development liaison is positioned as a part of the firm’s long time revenue strategy for the lateral partner, versus as a document producer.

Positioning the BD liaison as a key to the lateral’s success at the onset will encourage the partner to engage them in a meaningful way with strategy, innovation, and revenue generating activities for a sustaining practice. This allows the partner to focus on delivering quality legal services, while the BD liaison can focus on collaboratively growing their book of business.

Having a thoughtful, written integration plan is imperative. A written process ensures not only accountability, but gives each lateral the same onboarding experience regardless of which practice group or industry team they sit in.

During each meeting, the liaison should probe the lateral on topics such as satisfaction with the firm, sense of being valued, client growth opportunities, bandwidth and utilization, and cross-selling successes or frustrations. Regular status updates should be provided to firm leadership and other stakeholders. If the lateral flags an issue or perceived roadblock, the liaison should dig deeper to understand the root cause, and work with leadership to course correct.

It’s critical that firms not overpromise and underdeliver. For example, a lateral may have been hired to inherit a portfolio that fell through, or perhaps market fluctuations prohibited the opening of a new office that the lateral was intended to join. It’s important to keep the lateral’s business development liaison informed of these developments so they can monitor follow-though, manage expectations, and help pivot if necessary.

The firm should be clear about their commitments. Conversely, expectations for new partners’ client development and relationship building activities, for example, should also be addressed directly.

The most successful laterals are engaged and actively participate in regular integration calls. Holding 90-day reviews that include members of the recruiting team and practice group or department leaders can provide an opportunity for the partner to be heard as well as to receive direct feedback.

Integration Process

Avoid letting new lateral partners fall between the cracks, especially if they’re rainmakers or inexperienced business developers, by having a continuity plan that includes the written integration process. The BD liaisons shouldn’t work in silos.

Find a collaboration tool that works for the team’s communication style and commit to using it. Keep detailed records and have a plan of continued support should the assigned BD liaison leave the firm, or if there is significant recent or impending change happening within the firm, such as a merger or acquisition.

Recruiting and integration don’t cease when a merger is on the horizon, and the potential for new laterals to get lost in transition during a major change increases. Firms must adapt their recruiting and integration strategies not only to speak to the newly merged firm’s emerging cultural differentiators but also to how laterals will be supported in a fluid environment.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners.

Author Information

Brian J. Carrozza is director of client development at Goulston & Storrs.

Courtney C. Hudson is business development manager at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.

Megan K. Senese is co-founder and principal at stage, a women-owned business development and legal marketing firm.

Write for Us: Author Guidelines

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jada Chin at [email protected] ; Jessie Kokrda Kamens at [email protected]

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Principal ® to acquire ESOP business from Ascensus

“Growth is an integral part of our retirement strategy at Principal, and we’re excited to add scale and deepen our expertise with the addition of experienced talent and solutions from Ascensus,” said Teresa Hassara, senior vice president of workplace savings and retirement solutions at Principal. “This acquisition strengthens the systems and capabilities that have made Principal a leader in retirement.”

Through this acquisition, Principal will gain full ownership of the ESOP recordkeeping business from Ascensus, along with its ESOP Economics consulting group and Telescope™ software. All products, clients, and employees will transition to Principal at the time of close, which is anticipated around the end of the second quarter of 2024. As Ascensus ESOP clients and participants are transitioned, they will be exposed to enhancements on the Principal recordkeeping platform such as digital access, support, and account management tools as well as audit process improvements to reduce time.

“After getting the opportunity to review Ascensus’ ESOP business more intimately, we found it to be very complementary to the expertise Principal has as a total retirement solutions provider,” said Andrew Matos, head of stock plan services for Retirement and Income Solutions at Principal. “The acquisition positions us to offer greater value, enhanced services, and stronger products to our ESOP clients, and the integration of strong talent from Ascensus will be essential to support the growth of our ESOP business.”

Commenting on the agreement, Ascensus president Nick Good said, “We have great respect for Principal, their expertise, and their commitment to serving their clients with excellence. We’re confident that the valued client relationships and associates transitioning through this transaction will benefit greatly from the leadership, capabilities, and continued investment Principal has in the ESOP marketplace.”

As of December 31, 2023, Principal and Ascensus were collectively serving more than 2,000 employee stock ownership plans and approximately 765,000 participants.

Perella Weinberg Partners served as financial advisor to Principal, with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acting as legal counsel. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

.” Learn more about Principal and our commitment to building a better future at principal.com .

About Ascensus Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savings—providing technology, services, and expertise that help millions of people save for a better future.

The company is a premier savings program service provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator. Its platforms, industry knowledge, and data-based insights enhance the growth and success of its partners, their clients, and savers through co-branded, private-labeled, and governmental partnerships.

Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and nonqualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, and fiduciary and total rewards services.

The company's brands include Ascensus; Newport, an Ascensus company; and FuturePlan by Ascensus. Ascensus has more than $808 billion in assets under administration and employs more than 5,500 associates as of March 31, 2024.

For more information, visit ascensus.com and newportgroup.com .

News Release Contact

US retirement

Phillip Nicolino , 515-362-0239

Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company ® . Plan administrative services offered by Principal Life. Principal Funds, Inc. is distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC and/or independent broker/-dealers. Principal Global Investors leads global asset management. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group ® , Des Moines, Iowa 50392.

© 2024 Principal Financial Services, Inc. Principal ® , Principal Financial Group ® , and Principal and the logomark design are registered trademarks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a Principal Financial Group company, in the United States and are trademarks and services marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., in various countries around the world.

More From Forbes

Nine mistakes organizations make with security awareness training.

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Perry Carpenter is Chief Evangelist for KnowBe4 Inc. , provider of the popular Security Awareness Training & Simulated Phishing platform.

Multiple recent studies conclude that nine out of ten cyberattacks and data breaches originate from human error. To mitigate this, organizations are increasingly turning to security awareness training (SAT) to improve incident response around phishing and social engineering scams, credential hygiene, safe browsing and online behavior. Sadly, most security training initiatives are not working as expected. Despite years of training, nearly half of employees ( 46% ) still struggle with phishing emails. Why are training programs failing? Here are nine possible reasons.

1. Focusing On Just Awareness Rather Than Behavior

Security awareness and behavior are not one and the same. We all know speeding kills, and yet we choose to break those rules. It’s the same with cybersecurity. If your program is only aimed at awareness and does not target employee behavior (and bad habits), then in all probability, your program will fail.

2. Not Using A Metrics-Based Approach

If you don’t know where you are, then it’s likely you won’t know where you’re going. Similarly, if organizations do not measure the overall state of security awareness among employees, their current behaviors, attitudes, norms and perceptions, the number of phishing emails being clicked and reported to security teams, the volume of security threats the organization faces, the frequency of current training programs and related communications, then it will be difficult to understand the strategies and approaches required to target desired behaviors.

3. Not Having A Clear Communication Plan

Any culture or behavior change program needs proper planning and communication for execution. Try to assume the mindset of a marketer. This involves thinking creatively about how to capture their attention and encourage them to pay heed to your message and follow instructions. Careful planning and timing of communications also matter, along with finding innovative ways to remind and reinforce messages to ensure they resonate with your audience.

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Biden trump debates what to know as trump pushes for 2 more faceoffs, when does bridgerton season 3 part 2 come out on netflix see the release schedule, 4. not understanding the root cause of employee resistance.

If employees continue to fail phishing tests despite regular training or if the participation rate is low, then you need to uncover the root causes behind those issues.

Is the current format or approach not working? Is the training not being delivered at the right pace or at the right time? Is the content not relevant? Is the training too extensive or too lengthy? Is the training schedule not flexible? Is it too technical? Is the employee experience lacking? If you’re not asking such questions, then it’s likely your program is not delivering the desired outcomes.

5. Not Incorporating Feedback From Your Audience

When rolling out training programs, security teams should consistently integrate a feedback cycle and remain receptive to implementing changes based on the feedback. After incorporating suggested changes, assess its impact and gather feedback once more from the audience.

Addressing employees' needs and feedback generally leads to increased engagement levels and fosters a stronger sense of ownership among participants in the program. With this continuous cycle of training, feedback and adjustment, your training program is poised to meet or exceed employee expectations.

6. Not Involving Leadership Enough

Participation and commitment from leadership are essential for SAT success. Without it, employees may not take cybersecurity policies and training initiatives seriously. Leadership involvement signals its importance, promoting a culture of security and learning across the organization. Keep leadership engaged and updated to help ensure sufficient resources are being allocated for ongoing efforts.

7. Not Personalizing The Program

Employees have different personalities, skills and levels of security maturity. The security needs of someone working with sensitive or confidential information will be critically different from those of another employee with limited access to systems and information.

Certain job roles might require more training or customized training. When organizations roll out standardized SATs without adapting training content to employee job roles and security proficiency, then it’s possible that the content will not resonate well with the target audience.

8. Not Using Simulated Phishing Tools

Old-school classroom training and slides do not cut it anymore. Only about 10% of the workforce retain their cybersecurity training. Remember, the focus should be on changing the security behavior and mindset of employees, not just making them aware of the threats.

To achieve this, organizations can deploy phishing simulation tools to test employees regularly on their ability to detect and block real-world threats. Such tools help identify who needs more personalized training and which types of phishing threats employees are most vulnerable to.

9. Punishing, Not Educating

A punitive approach to security training is known to create a toxic environment. If security teams fail to practice empathy and patience when training people, then it can lead to negative outcomes ; employees may feel demotivated, they might ignore advice or worse, act against it. Instead, practice empathy and patience, adopt an optimistic approach and create an environment where users feel motivated and empowered, not punished.

Final Thoughts

To summarize, to succeed with security awareness training, organizations must move beyond ordinary training methods and focus on the real work of understanding the skills, behaviors and expectations of their audience. Doing so can not only help organizations deliver a more captivating and impactful training program but also mitigate human risk while boosting their ability to defend against cyberattacks and breaches.

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Walmart will lay off hundreds of corporate workers, require others to relocate

The country’s largest retailer and employer mandated that the majority of workers in Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto move to its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.

Walmart will lay off hundreds of corporate staff and require the majority of employees working remotely or at a handful of off-site offices to relocate, the company announced Tuesday.

Walmart is the largest employer in the country, with 1.6 million workers. The majority of employees work in stores or warehouses. Chief people officer Donna Morris said in an email to staff that the number of associates being laid off is “small in percentage” relative to the size of the company.

The retail giant mandated that the majority of employees in Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto move to its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. Other staffers will go to locations in the San Francisco Bay Area or the New York metropolitan area. Employees affected by the news have already been notified, the company said.

“We believe that being together, in person, makes us better and helps us to collaborate, innovate and move even faster,” Morris said in the email. “We also believe it helps strengthen our culture as well as grow and develop our associates.”

Walmart has been investing in enhancing its in-person office experience, particularly at its headquarters known as Home Office. The company began new construction on a 350-acre campus in 2019 and aims to open in phases through 2025. The new campus has a child care center, hotel, 360,000-square-foot health and fitness center, food hall, 37-mile walking and biking trail, and auditorium.

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The company, which reports its first-quarter earnings on Thursday, has been cutting costs recently. Last month, it announced it was shuttering Walmart Health, an initiative started in 2019 that offered in-person health clinics at 51 stores as well as virtual visits. The company, which last year said it planned to open two dozen more, said it “determined there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue.”

Walmart follows several other large companies in asking white-collar workers to relocate as part of a push for more in-person work. The move comes amid a national stalemate over the return to offices: The effort to get workers back together in person has been ongoing since 2021, and scores of knowledge workers have long since made the transition. Yet office occupancy has hovered stubbornly around 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels across the country’s top metro areas since early 2023, according to data tracked by Kastle Systems.

As the labor market has cooled and layoffs have risen, more leaders have used their leverage to push for a greater return to offices. But workers have been reluctant to give up the flexibility they gained during the pandemic, and they’ve shown their resistance through petitions against RTO, leaving the company and even filing lawsuits .

Since the pandemic waned, hybrid work has become the dominant model for knowledge workers, with 54 percent of remote-capable workers operating under hybrid schedules, according to data from Gallup.

Executives have extolled the value of in-person work since the onset of return to offices, citing benefits to company culture, productivity and collaboration. CEOs such as Tesla’s Elon Musk, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Nike’s John Donahoe have criticized remote work for leading to drop-offs in innovation and productivity. But they’ve provided little hard evidence for these claims, and are probably relying on decades-old research about the importance of co-location of teams, according to Christopher Myers, an associate professor of management and organization health at Johns Hopkins University.

Older research about the benefits of co-location for innovation tends to focus on examples of “things that came about because two people who happened to be near each other started talking about a problem they were having,” such as Post-it notes and Gorilla Glue, said Myers, who is also a scholar with the Academy of Management. But that’s far less applicable in today’s landscape, where technology allows workers to connect far more easily when they’re not in the same place.

“We have more options other than face-to-face interaction now,” Myers said. “Relying on that old research and that old perspective may not be as relevant or helpful.”