36+ Startup Plan Templates

What Is a Startup Plan?

A startup business plan, also simply referred to as a startup plan, is a written document that lists everything that should be done in order for a business to get up and running. A startup plan would often include looking for locations, gathering vendors, securing licenses, getting supplies, and identifying advertising strategies. Although startup plans aren't as detailed as regular business plans, they are still very important because they serve as the business' blueprint.

How to Create a Startup Plan

When crafting a startup plan, you will need to gather all the necessary information in order to come up with something that'll allow your business to succeed. Since, as mentioned earlier, a startup plan serves as the business' blueprint, writing one will take time, careful thinking, and effort. Go through our list of instructions below, it'll teach you how to write a startup plan professionally.

1. Describe the nature of your business

Before you can actually start making the business plan, you will need to describe the nature of the business. You can do this by conducting an evaluation of yourself since it helps in providing you with information about what you really intend on achieving. Always make this the first step in creating a startup plan since you can actually use the information in structuring the body of the plan. 

2. Identify your mission and objectives

Once you've really gotten to know yourself, you can start going into details regarding your goals. These are referred to as your mission and objectives and they provide you, your prospects, and the investors with a clearer picture of the company's purpose. Be sure to identify your mission and objectives in your printable plan well because investors look into these to determine if your business can also profit them.

3. Analyze the market

One of the very first inquiries that investors will make regarding your startup business plan will be about the type of people who would avail of your products or services. Conduct research, consult experts, look into financial reports, and tune in to the latest news to have a basis for your target market. By having a functional market analysis, you can position your business correctly to capture more market share.

4. Explain the costs of the startup

Creating a startup plan is considered incomplete if it doesn't include the financial forecast. Part of making the plan is determining how much capital you will need for the startup, you might even want to come up with a startup budget estimate to prevent yourself from overspending. When writing these details, use short and comprehensible sentences to make it easy to understand.

5. Understand your competition

Understanding your competition effectively will allow you to differentiate your business from theirs, and this will also help you in convincing prospects that your business is indeed capable of competing. Assess both direct and indirect competitors in your simple business plan and learn how you can overcome challenges that might try to hinder your business from functioning efficiently. 

6. Start writing your startup plan

After gathering all the information, you can start writing them onto a word processor of your choice. Be sure not to overlook any of the most relevant details, and always follow a professional business plan format. And before printing or sharing your startup plan, don't forget to proofread your work to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Remember, first impressions last, so make the best one with your startup plan.