Use a business plan template to create your business plan by adding the detailed information behind the pitch deck and executive summary outline.
To attract investors a business plan should include the following:
1. Cover page: Include the company’s name, contact information and company logo.
2. Table of contents
3. Company background and opportunity summary: Provide a quick history of the company and describe the basic market need and your company’s solution. Answer the question,“What is your company’s value proposition?”
4. The market opportunity: Address the following areas and answer the questions,“Who are your customers? How are you going to make money?”
5. Products and services: Describe your product or service; include photos or screen shots if it is a software product. Detail how your product is scalable and when you plan to launch if you have not already done so. Outline the next R&D steps to further build on or improve your offering. Include a discussion of intellectual property (for example, patents, copyrights, trademarks) and any technology partnerships. You may also highlight your competitive advantages.
6. People: Investors are putting their money behind you, so be sure to highlight how you’ve recruited the best team available to build the company. Include the list of advisors or board members as well as service providers. Get the approval of any directors and advisors before including their information in the document. If you are planning any key hires in the near future, and you will be using the funding to build out the team, include the roles in this part of the discussion.
7. Financials: Include your key assumptions and provide two scenarios.
8. Sources of funding and use of proceeds:
9. Milestones: Based on the appropriate timelines for the individual milestones, detail the actions your team will focus on to further build the organization’s value. Actions include key hires, new financing, sales milestones, new product launches and strategic partnerships.
10. Appendices: Include anything relevant, such as biographies of founders and key management, patent information and customer testimonials.
For further details and support on developing a business plan, download the MaRS workbook, The Business Plan and Executive Summary. The information and exercises in this workbook guide will provide a framework to help you organize and articulate your thoughts.