Business  Plan  Project  Details  and  Deadlines  

*This  document  is  a  work  in  progress  and  may  be  changed  throughout  the  semester.  This  document  will   be  shared  with  you  on  Google  Drive  and  updates  will  be  communicated.     Use  the  website:  www.sba.gov  to  assist  you  in  writing  your  business  plan.  This  is  a  tremendous  resource   and  provides  examples  and  explanations  of  each  section.  Google  search  for  “how  to  write  a  business  plan”   and  this  is  usually  the  first  link  that  pops  up.       Logistics   -­‐ When  the  entire  Business  Plan  is  written,  it  should  be  about  20-­‐25  pages  in  length.   -­‐ Plan  should  be  1-­‐inch  margins,  size  11  font  (excludes  Cover  Page.)   -­‐ Answer  the  “why”;  don’t  just  make  a  statement,  explain  why       Sample  Outline  of  Business  Plan   I. Cover  Page   II. Table  of  Contents   III. Executive  Summary   IV. Company  Description   V. Market  Analysis   VI. Sales  &  Marketing   VII. Organization  &  Management   VIII. Financial  Projections       Executive  Summary     This  section  briefly  tells  your  reader  where  your  company  is,  where  you  want  to  take  it,  and  why  your   business  will  be  successful.  THIS  IS  THE  LAST  SECTION  WRITTEN.       What  to  include:   ● Mission  Statement   ● Company  Information:  short  statement  that  covers  when  your  business  was  formed,  the  names  of   the  founders  and  their  roles,  your  number  of  employees  and  your  business  location(s).   ● Products/Services:  briefly  describe  the  products  or  services  you  provide.   ● Summarize  your  future  plans:  explain  where  you  would  like  to  take  your  business.       Company  Description   This  is  the  DETAIL  SECTION  and  should  be  the  longest  of  your  entire  Business  Plan!  Everything  someone   needs  to  know  about  the  nature  of  your  business.  This  section  provides  a  high-­‐level  review  of  the   different  elements  of  your  business.  This  can  help  readers  and  potentials  investors  quickly  understand   the  goal  of  your  business  and  its  unique  position  in  the  marketplace.     What  to  include:   ● Describe  the  nature  of  your  business  and  list  the  marketplace  needs  that  you  are  trying  to  satisfy   ● Explain  how  your  products  and  services  meet  those  needs   ● List  the  specific  consumers,  organizations  or  businesses  that  your  company  serves  or  will  serve.     ● Explain  the  competitive  advantages  that  you  believe  will  make  your  business  a  success  such  as   your  location,  expert  personnel,  efficient  operations  or  ability  to  bring  value  to  your  customers.     Market  Analysis  

This  section  describes  your  industry  and  market  knowledge.     What  to  include:   ● Industry  Description  and  Outlook:  describe  your  industry  (example:  restaurants),  including  its   current  size  and  historic  growth  rate  as  well  as  other  trends  and  characteristics   ● Target  Market:  Who  is  your  target  market  and  why?  Include  distinguishing  characteristics   (demographics,  what  are  their  critical  needs?)   ● Competitive  Analysis:  identify  and  analyze  a  minimum  of  three  (3)  competitors  including:   competitor’s  strengths  and  weaknesses,  competitor’s  target  market  and  why  they  target  them,  and   how  your  business/service  is  better.         Sales  and  Marketing   This  section  focuses  on  your  marketing  and  sales  management  strategy  for  your  business.  Marketing  is   the  process  of  creating  customers,  and  customers  are  the  lifeblood  of  your  business.  Define  your   marketing  strategy,  which  should  be  part  of  an  ongoing  business-­‐evaluation  process  and  unique  to  your   company.       What  to  include:   ● Market  Strategy  including:  how  are  you  going  to  let  the  public  know  about  your  business,  how   your  business  is  going  to  grow  and  how  you  are  going  to  reach  your  customers.   ● Sales  Strategy  including:  who  will  sell  your  products,  what  type  of  training  your  salespeople  need   and  how  your  salespeople  will  sell  the  product/service.       Marketing  Materials   Along  with  Sales  and  Marketing  section,  you  are  required  to  create  the  following  documents  and  include   them  in  your  Business  Plan     What  to  include:   ● 4”  x  4”  advertisement  to  be  placed  in  a  newspaper   ● One  page  magazine  article/advertisement  for  your  business   ● 250  word  newspaper  article  introducing  your  business  to  the  community   ● “Menu”  of  your  services:  For  example,  if  opening  a  bakery,  what  type  of  items  and  their  prices       Organization  and  Management     This  section  includes  your  company’s  organizational  structure,  details  about  the  ownership  of  your   company,  profiles  of  your  management  team,  and  the  qualifications  of  your  board  of  directors.     What  to  include:   ● Who  does  what  in  your  business?  (Build  an  Organizational  Chart)   ● Ownership  information:  explain  your  structure;  who  owns  what,  who  does  what,  what  type  of   employees  do  you  need  and  why?   ● If  you  have  a  Corporation  and  a  Board  of  Directors,  then  explain  how  someone  becomes  a  board   member;  what  are  their  qualifications?         Financial  Projections   This  section  explains  how  much  money  is  needed  to  run  your  business  and  how  you  plan  to  get  it.  

  What  to  include:   ● How  much  money  you  will  need  and  an  explanation  of  how  you  came  up  with  that  number   ● Income  Statement  from  a  competitor  and  how  you  think  you  will  compare   ● Ask  for  funding  from  the  reader  of  the  Business  Plan       Presentation   Each  person  will  build  a  PowerPoint/Google  Slides  presentation  (can  include  video  and  music)  that   presents  their  business  to  the  class.    Presentations  (10  minutes  long)  will  take  place  week  of  finals  in   January;  each  student  will  sign  up  for  time.     Guidelines  for  building  your  presentation:   ● A  template  will  be  provided  to  use  as  a  guide   ● Overview  of  each  section  of  the  business  plan   ● Marketing  and  Sales  details   ● Examples  of  advertising   ● Professionally  presented  –  pretend  the  class  are  your  potential  investors;  dress  the  part;  speak   professionally   ● Printout  of  presentation  must  be  provided  to  instructor  the  day  of  presentation       Timeline   Below  due  dates  are  set  up  to  help  you  keep  track  of  the  overall  project.  50  points  will  be  given  to  each   student  on  the  below  dates  if:   ● You  have  a  good  start  and  have  answered  the  majority  of  the  questions  asked  above  in  each   section   ● If  you  do  not  have  the  minimum  amount  completed,  you  will  receive  0  points.     ● As  these  deadlines  are  communicated  in  advance,  there  will  not  be  any  exceptions.   ● Points  are  either  50  or  0,  there  is  no  in-­‐between.   ● These  dates  are  set  up  as  a  grade  check;  it  does  not  mean  you  are  necessarily  completed  with  that   section.                 Grade  Check  Date         Company  Description     September  24           Market  Analysis       October  22   Sales  and  Marketing       November  19  (including  Marketing  Materials)   Organization  &  Management   December  10   Financial  Projections       December  17   Executive  Summary       January  7   Presentation  Slides       January  18  at  8:00am       Entire  Business  Plan  is  DUE  on  Monday,  January  18  at  8:00am.  Students  will  be  required  to  turn  in   Business  Plan  and  final  presentation  slides  to  teacher  prior  to  beginning  of  1st  Period.  There  is  no   exception  to  this  deadline.    

 

Business  Plan  Rubric    

Poor/Lacking   Information   (0  Points)  

Sufficient   (20  Points)  

Proficient   (30  Points)  

Advanced   (40  Points)  

Introductory  elements   were  omitted  and/or   contained  errors.  

Introductory  elements   were  included  but   contained  errors.  

Introductory  elements   were  included  and   completed  correctly  

An  overview  of  the   company  is  not  provided.  

An  overview  of  the   company  is  provided  but   is  lacking  significant   pieces  of  the  requested   information.  

An  overview  of  the   company  is  provided   which  includes  a  large   portion  but  not  all  of  the   requested  information.  

Market  Analysis  

Provides  largely   incomplete  information   regarding  industry  size   and  maturity,   opportunities  &  threats  

Organization  &   Management  

No  form  of  business   ownership  was  included   in  the  plan.   Permits/licenses/certifica tions  omitted.  No   explanation  of  methods  of   doing  things.     Marketing  of  the  business   was  partially  discussed   but  lacked  mention  of  any   specific  information.    

Provides  somewhat   complete  information   regarding  industry  size   and  maturity,   opportunities  &  threats  in   the  industry,  overall   outlook  for  the  industry,   major  competitors.   Explains  how  proposed   product/service  is   distinct  from  others.     Form  of  business   ownership  was  chosen.   No  explanation  of  how   things  will  be  done.    

Provides  fairly  complete   information  regarding   industry  size  and   maturity,  opportunities  &   threats  in  the  industry,   overall  outlook  for  the   industry,  major   competitors.  Explains   how  proposed   product/service  is   distinct  from  others.     Form  of  business   ownership  was  chosen   and  defined.  Some   explanation  of  how  things   will  be  accomplished.     Marketing  of  the  business   was  discussed  including   the  identification  of  the   target  market  and  how   they  will  be  reached,   customer  needs  and   product  characteristics,   pricing,  distribution,   promotions.    

No  start-­‐up  cost  reports   were  included.    

Marketing  of  the  business   was  partially  discussed   including  some  but  not  all   of  the  following:   identification  of  the  target   market  and  how  they  will   be  reached,  customer   needs  and  product   characteristics,  pricing,   distribution,  promotions.     Some  start-­‐up  cost   reports  were  included.    

Introductory  elements   were  included  and   completed  correctly  with   executive  summary   thoroughly  summarizing   the  business.   An  overview  of  the   company  is  provided   which  includes   information  regarding  the   reason  for  starting,  basic   activity,  company  focus,   goods  and/or  services   provided,  primary   customers  and  location.   Provides  complete   information  regarding   industry  size  and   maturity,  opportunities  &   threats  in  the  industry,   overall  outlook  for  the   industry,  major   competitors.  Explains   how  proposed   product/service  is   distinct  from  others.     Form  of  business   ownership  was  chosen,   defined,  and  reasoning   was  given  for  the  choice   of  ownership.  Thorough   explanation  of  how  things   will  be  accomplished.     Marketing  of  the  business   was  thoroughly  discussed   including  the   identification  of  the  target   market  and  how  they  will   be  reached,  customer   needs  and  product   characteristics,  pricing,   distribution,  promotion.    

Appendix  

Appendix  was  not   included  in  business  plan.  

Some  appendix   information  was  included.  

Overall   Organization  

No  organization  or  layout   to  business  plan.  

Plan  was  partially   organized  and   professional  laid  out.  

Appendix  information   was  provided  and  met   minimum  requirements.   Organization  was  easy  to   follow  and  navigate.    

  Executive   Summary  

Company   Description  

Marketing  &  Sales  

Financial   Projections  

    Section  Total:        

         __________    out  of  320  

Start-­‐up  cost  reports   included.    

Financing  strategies  and   concepts  were  discussed.   Detailed  start-­‐up  cost   reports  included.     Appendix  items  were   included  and  exceeded   minimum  requirements.   Business  plan  was   professionally  organized,   including  logos  and   headers.  

Oral  Presentation  Rubric    

Speaking  Skills    

 

 

 

No  elements   present   0  points  

Some  elements   present   10  points  

Most  element   present   15  points  

All  elements   present   20  points  

0  points  

10  points  

15  points  

20  points  

0  points  

10  points  

15  points  

20  points  

0  points  

10  points  

15  points  

20  points  

No  elements   present   0  points  

Some  elements   present   10  points  

Most  elements   present   15  points  

All  elements   present   20  points  

0  points  

20  points  

30  points  

40  points  

c)  Presentation  shows  full  grasp  and   understanding  of  the  material.   Conclusion:     a)  Presentation  highlights  key  ideas  and   concludes  with  a  strong  final  statement.  

0  points  

10  points  

15  points  

20  points  

b)  Presenter  fields  questions  easily.   Volume:  Presenter  can  be  easily  heard  by   all.  No  gum,  etc.  

0  points  

10  points  

15  points  

20  points  

Delivery:  Presenter  doesn’t  rush,  shows   enthusiasm,  avoids  likes,  ums,  kind  ofs,  you   knows,  etc.  Uses  complete  sentences.   Eye  Contact:  Presenter  keeps  head  up,  does   not  read,  and  speaks  to  the  whole  audience.   Posture:  Presenter  stands  up  straight,  faces   audience  and  doesn’t  fidget.   Volume:  Presenter  can  be  easily  heard  by   all.  No  gum,  etc.  

  Section  Total:         Content        

         __________    out  of  80  

  Introduction:  Presentation  begins  with  a   clear  focus/thesis.   Topic  Development:     a)  Presentation  includes  all  elements   previously  determined  by  teacher.  

 

b)  Presentation  is  clearly  organized   (material  is  logically  sequenced,  related  to   thesis,  and  not  repetitive)    

 

 

  Section  Total:                __________    out  of  100         Total  Point  Calculation:         Business  Plan     ________         Oral  Presentation     ________    

GRAND  TOTAL:  

 

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