There are many reasons why every company should have a business plan, but not every business needs a formal plan to show to outsiders. If your plan is just for yourself and your team, then you may be fine with just the lean business plan.
However, if you do need to develop a plan to show to investors, banks, lawyers, and so forth, you can follow this simple business plan outline and decide on how in-depth or concise your business plan needs to be.
If you’re ready to get started, just download our free business plan template and fill it out as you read through the following guide.
What needs to go into a business plan?
No matter the type of business plan you create, these are the six basic sections you should include. These sections are necessary when working with an outside party or potential investor, to give them a quick look into each aspect of your business.
For those looking for a deeper definition of how to fill out each section, skip to the detailed outline below. Or, check out our comprehensive How to Write a Business Plan guide, for a thorough rundown and additional resources.
