This document provides an overview and outline for writing an effective business plan. It discusses what a business plan is, when one is considered marketable, and how to structure and write one. The key sections of a business plan are described in detail, including the business concept, market analysis, management team, financial projections, risk assessment, and implementation timeline. Putting together an informative yet concise business plan is important for starting a new business and securing necessary funding.

1. Business Plan Overview
For
Start-ups
By
Angela Ihunweze
CEO of ANGELA ITAMBO COMPANY
(SPEAKER AND CONSULTANT ON
ENTREPNEURIAL/marketing ISSUES)
080 33 28 04 53
angela@angelaitambo.com
www.angelaitambo.com

2. Outline
 What is a business
plan?
 When is a business
plan said to be
marketable
 How and what you
need to put a business
plan together
 How to write a business
plan
 What investors look for
in business plan
 FYI

3. What is a business plan?
 A written document that outlines all the
elements that will transform your idea into a
viable business venture with the aim of
achieving profit to all stakeholders
 Yourself the promoter; alleviate poverty
 Outside investors; create wealth
 The economy; job creation as well as revenue
from taxes
 The environment at large; curb social ills

4. What is a business plan?
Part 2
Uses of a business plan
 An internal document used to structure
your idea into a series of well coordinated
actions towards achieving your goals and
business objectives
 Forces you the entrepreneur to formalize
your vision and research to answer hard
questions about the company, its industry
and the competitive landscape
 A tool for securing funding

5. When is a business plan said to
be marketable
A business plan is said to be marketable
when it can achieve its purpose for
preparation such as:-
 Guide towards successful launch of your
business
 Secure funding

6. How and what you need to put a
business plan together
 A well thought out business concept
 Data on the feasibility and specifics of your business concept along
this lines:-
1. The market:- Is there a well established demand for your business
offering
2. The personnel needed:- Can you secure the right manpower
3. The production/ service process and its machinery or equipment
4. The financials on how much all this will cost and standard turnover
and profit expected over a given period of time
 Also required is an individual proficient in accounting to help put the
figures in a readable form. This could be an accountant or business
plan writer

7. How to write a business plan for
presentation to investors
Business plan is divided into six distinct sections:-
1. Description of the business; what is the business is all
about
2. Marketing; a defined consumer group that will make
use of your product/service ad how to attract and
retain them
3. Management; the class of manpower that can be
recruited to bring the vision to life
4. Financial analysis; Cost and benefits of doing such a
business
5. Risk analysis
6. Implementation time-table

8. How to write a business plan
Part 2
Typical business plan format:-
1. Executive Summary:-It is the most important section of your
business plan, it provides a concise overview of the entire
plan. It tells your reader where your company is and where
you want to take it.
2 The Company/ Business Profile; history of your journey into
business, what your business stands for
3 The Market/ Industry/Strategies; industry your business
belongs to and facts backing your desire to compete in such a
business
4 Management structure; the organization of required
manpower to bring this business into a reality
5 Financial analysis; the cost assembling all there elements to
do and as well as the returns on investment
6 Risk analysis; anticipated obstacles that hinder the business

9. How to write a business plan
Part 3
The Company/ Business Profile; this section should contain the following:-
– Explain the legal structure – Company, Partnership, subsidiary, Holding
company etc
– Description of the business concept;
.
– Description of the new business activities
– Description of ownership
– Review of any licenses, contracts, franchises or patents with description
of key conditions and terms

10. How to write a business plan
Part 4
The Market/ Industry section: this is meant to illustrate your knowledge about the
particular industry your business is in. Sources for this information will essentially be
primary market information (DIY or contracted), secondary information,
Interviews with clients, competitors or customers/suppliers and to a lesser
extent personal experience. Below are what should be contained in this section:-
This should cover the following :
– Market size and growth projections
– Product life cycle
– Market seasonality or variation patterns
– Current market trends
– The competitors’ profile
– Industry value chain
– Market segmentation with buying behaviors of value expectations –
Geographic, demographic, income class, behavior patterns, target
customers and customer needs
– Strategy for entry into the market: is it cost differentiation , or price or
quality differentiation

11. How to write a business plan
Part 5
The Management structure; this section addresses the
organizational structure, it will also seek to convey the character of
the management team and why they will make a success of the
business. The qualification of your board of directors
This will include information such as:
– Names of key managers and their profiles, highlighting relevant
experience
– Key terms of management services agreements if any
– Technical partners if any and their profiles including years of experience
in similar ventures
– Key terms of technical services agreements
– Advisory board for their inputs to the overall success of the business.

12. How to write a business plan
Part 6
Financial analysis; this segment of the business plan reviews the economics or viability of
the project
This will include information such as:
– How much is required
– Use of proceeds
– Projected income statements
– Projected Balance sheets
– Projected Cash flow statements
– Projections should cover a minimum three years
 This information will generally draw upon the following information sources
– Discussions with the Promoter
– Environmental factors e.g. exchange rate, inflation etc.
– Basic understanding of accounting or the help of an accountant
– Reasonable assumptions

13. How to write a business plan
Part 7
Risk analysis ; this is very while planning it
is meant to anticipate any unlikely
unforeseen circumstance and possible
plan of action. This is crucial when there
so many uncertainties

14. How to write a business plan
Part 8
Implementation Plans: a summary of the
time lines for business
implementation

15. FYI
1. Sources of help for information can be
found on campuses, research libraries,
online, trade associations
2. Be conservative with projections
3. Write it in an interesting manner so that
other readers including yourself can wish
to read it