Before start your own business it is essential to follow a certain number of steps and formalitiesto ensure the profitability and viability of the project. Among these formalities, it is often essential to draw up a business plan. It will guide your actions, describe your project and identify the main steps you need to take to develop your business. In addition, this document will help you to convince potential employees or potential investors the viability of the project in question. In other words, it's essential to take great care with the wording and content. However, writing a business plan can be laborious and complex. Discover our practical tips for writing your business plan.
The business plan: a few definitions
The business plan is a document whose primary role is to describe a company's project. It is a detailed and synthetic presentation providing a certain amount of information about a business creation project.
It contains two main types of information: a presentation of the company (the legal form it will take, the type of products or services it will offer, the target clientele, etc.) and a description of the business. commercial and financial study of the project.
Although it is not compulsory to draw up a business plan, it can be of real interest to an entrepreneur. contractor. In fact, it allows a large amount of information to be recorded, thus reducing the potential number of errors. strategy to bring a project to fruition and identifies the resources needed to make it profitable.
A typical business plan summary
The business plan must follow a certain structure to describe the project and convince future partners and investors.
Visit summary The business plan must address a number of themes, including :
Project presentation: includes a brief description of the company and its position in the market.
Visit legal status the project: the company's legal form, structure, shareholders, etc.
Visit products and services marketed.
A market analysis target market, competitors, regulations, etc.
A action plan The company's strategy and development stages, sales plan, pricing, etc.
Operational framework: the premisesthe human resourcesthe suppliersetc.
A financial plan This involves forecasting sales, expenses, costs and resources, and taking stock of investment needs.
Business plan issues
The business plan addresses two main issues. The first is organizational. In effect, this document provides the person behind the project with a plan detailing the actions and steps to be taken in developing the business. This enables us to establish a concrete strategy to bring the project to fruition.
The second challenge is financial. The business plan enables you to present your project to partners and investors, and show how profitable it can be. It thus enables you to encourage potential investors to invest in your projectand obtain the financing you need to launch your business.
Tips for writing your business plan
It's essential to draw up an attractive business plan. To do this, you'll need to the document is neat The presentation must be impeccable to arouse the reader's interest. It is advisable to make the plan easy to read spacing paragraphs, avoiding spelling and conjugation errors. This will reassure your interlocutor of your seriousness and professionalism.
The business plan must be both concise and complete. On average, depending on the size of your project, it should be between 10 and 30 pages long. It should be concise and to the point.
In addition, the business plan must be clearly structured. This will allow easy access to the most interesting parts, such as the economic or financial aspects of the project. The summary should be clearly indicated at the beginning of the document, to make it as easy to read as possible.
Finally, and undoubtedly the most important parameter to take into account, the business plan must be both sales-oriented and credible. It must reflect your professionalism and your ability to anticipate certain situations. events. The business plan must present your project's strong points and its advantages, without omitting any potential weaknesses. risks. This parameter will help convince your interviewer
So it's particularly important to draw up a business plan before embarking on a new venture. It will enable you to establish a real strategy for developing your business, and convince investors to support you in your project.