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Top 10 B2B Business Proposal Templates with Samples and Examples

Anushka Bansal

Mark Cuban, an American businessman and investor on Shark Tank once said, “Sales cure all.” If a business sells, it makes money and succeeds, hiding all kinds of aches and pains that tend to beset an enterprise. To set yourself apart from all the fish in the sea you must crack how to write a captivating business proposal.

You may wonder why you need to write a B2B proposal when you have a top-notch website with all of your products/services listed there. While  this is valuable and essential in the age of the Internet, you’ll be losing a lot of clients if you just wait for them to see your page.

You have to take an initiative and establish the relationship by sending them a tailored business proposal which will talk directly to them, and not everyone online. Many of your potential clients might not be aware of  your services. With this in mind, you have to be proactive and present yourself to them.

A well-written business proposal ppt can often mean the difference between winning or losing a prospective client.

Components of a B2B proposal

An effective business proposal is a document that a  B2B or business-facing company uses. The  seller aims to persuade a prospective buyer into buying their goods or services. It provides an overview of the offering company's products, services, or expertise, emphasizing the value it can bring to the receiving company. This document includes an executive summary, problem statement, proposed solution, benefits, scope of work, timeline, and pricing. B2B proposals serve to initiate discussions, negotiate terms, and secure agreements for collaborations, sales, or partnerships between businesses. These  play a crucial role in fostering mutually beneficial relationships and driving growth in the B2B sector.

To help you present a fail-proof business proposal,  SlideTeam experts have developed a content-ready presentation template for you. Introducing our Top 10 B2B Business Proposal Template. The content-ready slides give you the much-needed structure to build your pitch. The 100% customizability feature of the templates provides you with the flexibility to edit your presentations according to your company specifications. 

Checkout the complete deck!

Download the complete deck

Here are top 10 B2B Business Proposal Templates from the deck:

Template  1: Cover Letter for B2B Service Proposal

Write a compelling Cover Letter to convey commitment to your clients. Use this ready-made template to set the motion for your proposal. Present your company’s goals and vision for the client. Provide your clients with a list of the skills where your expertise is unparalleled, and help them understand the benefits they can unveil when they hire your company. Use this pre-designed PPT Template as a reference for writing a short and to-the-point letter detailing how you will help the client achieve their goals. Download now!    

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Template  2: Project Context and Objectives of B2B Services 

Highlight the Project Context by clearly stating the problems  that your B2B services address. Use this PPT template to list  objectives you aim to achieve for your  client. It may include cost savings, improving customer services, etc. With this PPT Template, you can manage the client's expectations well. Download now! 

Template 3 : Scope of Work for B2B Services

Once the motion of the presentation is set, inform your clients about the benefits for them as their customers. This PPT Template will enable you to list all business benefits, the benefits for your clients may include decreased service support costs, up/cross-selling, lower transaction costs, decrease in  manual work, and generation of new revenue streams. Explain to your clients  the benefits that will enhance customer experiences with your services. The consumers can avail easy purchases, effective planning, faster proceedings, etc. Download now!

Template 4 : Plan of Action for B2B Services

Showcase your readiness with this Plan of Action slide. This PPT Template enables you to present the issue summary, suggested recommendation, proposed action, personnel responsible, deadlines, and ways to monitor outcomes in a tabular format. You can plan multiple projects using this table and give you clients a brief about the entire pack of services that you . Download Now!

Template 5: Key Deliverables for B2B Services

Implementing a project involves multiple actions, it is vital to priortize them and inform your clients about key deliverables. These activities include engaging target contacts, building contacts, etc. With this information you can highlight the value you will add to the company. The PPT Template also records the metrics that are used to measure the outcomes. For instance, team-based decision making is used as a metrics for building relationships, and so on. Download Now!  

Template 6: B2B Services Price Packages 

For any business relationship to be sustained, it is vital to maintain transparency and this Slide offers you just that. With this PPT Template, you can break down your pricing plans, and explain the services included in every package. Categorize  your plans in three pricing packages including Standard , Pro, and Advanced. Mention the use  of each package for new business, growing business, and established firms. Download Now!

Template 7: About our B2B Services

It is vital for your potential clients to trust you. To ensure this, you must provide them with information about your company. It will help you showcase your experience and areas of expertise. Along with the background, the PPT Template enables you to add information on your company’s core values, vision, and mission. This helps enhance your company’s reputation and credibility. Download now! 

Slide 8: Services that the B2B Company Offers  

Ensure that your clients are aware of  services that  your company provides. This PPT Template will enable you to list your offerings like Digital Experience Design and Activation, Account Based Marketing, Campaign Process, Strategy and Design, and Lead Management. Explain the key features of the services that your B2B company offers  with the bullet points provided in the template. Download now!

Slide 9: Case Study in Services Offered 

This Slide will set you apart from your competitors. It is focused on ensuring that your clients get quicker, better results if they choose to work with your company. You can use this template to highlight a case study in your company's past. This will include the concern addressed to you in the past, the process you followed to help the clients, and the result that was finally achieved. . This case study should be  chosen on factors like the results achieved, the reputation of the past client, and the time taken to achieve the desired results. Download now!

Slide 10: Statement of Work and Contract for B2B Services

It is vital to  understand and explain the scope of work your company will be taking care of. This will ensure a smooth flow of work.   Use this presentation template as a reference to draw up a contract with your potential clients. It should include information like services rendered, cooperation, terms of payment, cancellations plan, confidentiality, terms, and termination. This will avoid any  conflict among  parties. Download now!

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LAND CLIENTS WITH IMPRESSIVE PROPOSAL PRESENTATIONS

Make a lasting impression on your potential clients and investors with these  Professional Services Proposals. The presentation must convey credibility, vision, and competence to create a relationship for successful collaborations. You can save time and effort by streamlining this process with our content-ready proposal PPT Templates. You can focus on the content of your proposal, allowing your ideas to shine through, while our professionally designed templates handle the presentation. 

P.S. Click here to check out our other Top 10 Professional Services Proposal Templates

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• Quarterly Business Review Presentation: All the Essential Slides You Need in Your Deck
• [Updated 2023] How to Design The Perfect Product Launch Presentation [Best Templates Included]
• 99% of the Pitches Fail! Find Out What Makes Any Startup a Success

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Top 5 Business Services Proposal Examples with Templates and Samples

Top 10 Professional Services Proposal Templates with Samples and Examples

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B2B Business Plan Template

Published Mar.22, 2014

Updated Apr.19, 2024

By: Shawn Jensen

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 4

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Table of Content

B2B Business plan for starting your own business

Dealing directly with customers is a hassle, right? Well, due to the integration of monetary chains and dependence of businesses on one another for manufacturing as well as services, the B2B businesses are getting high in demand.

If you also want to start a B2B business, you should do a little research, choose the areas in which you want to serve, make a business plan, and launch your startup. For you to understand how to make an accurate business plan, we are providing a B2B e-commerce business plan of a startup namely Networks.

While the business plan for investors developed for Networks can give you a detailed insight into B2B business, you should still consider hiring a professional for the purpose. It is because dealing with businesses involves complexities and strict adherence to principles with the agreements and contracts. A professional can take care of even the smallest details while making business plan B2B correctly.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Networks will be owned by Max Clint. The business will be based in New York City which is considered the hub of businesses. The businesses will provide various services in the B2B niche including outsourcing, HR services, software services, and more. The business activities are expected to go beyond NYC because Clint aims at providing freelance services as well.

2.2 Management of B2B business

B2B business requires adherence to extremely strict standards and therefore, the management of B2B business can be a headache if you don’t follow a proper plan. Before entering the enterprise, you must make a proper B2B SaaS business plan that covers all the management aspects.

To help you, we will document the personnel plan and operational B2B business plan made for Networks. If you are getting a franchise you won’t be the all-in-all decision-making authority, and in that case, you will have to consult business plan for a franchise for an effective management plan.

2.3 Customers of B2B business

The customers as indicated in B2B e-commerce business plan of Networks are as follows:

• Small Businesses
• Established Enterprises
• Business Franchises

2.4 Business Target

The business targets of the Networks are given as follows in this B2B business plan sample:

• Increase the cost of our services by 3% after 3 years of the launch while retaining the customer base
• Earning a profit margin of more than $50k per month by the end of the first 6 years

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Max Clint, the owner of Networks, has worked as a business consultant for more than 5 years. He is known to be an expert in legal business matters and management.

3.2 Why the B2B business is being started

The B2B is started because of Clint’s experience and interest in the field. His qualification, co-curricular activities, and desire for excellence have driven him to start this business. 

3.3 How the B2B business will be started

Step1: Develop Business Plan for B2B sales

The first step to step into this business is to create a B2B business plan template. For that you should explore what is B2B startup and read some B2B business plan examples. In a B2B startup business plan you should include your strategic plan, financial plan, customer segments, and marketing analysis.

Step2: Create the Brand

Since many B2B businesses are already running in the United States. You have to come up with exclusive ideas and expertise to become renowned in the market. To create a brand image, you should have highly specialized employees and success stories.

Step3: Establish Web Presence

In the information age, services are searched for on the web rather than on paper. Therefore, you must ensure that your business comes in the top lists of searches. For that, you would need to hire SEO experts, a graphic designer, and a web developer.

Step4: Develop & Market

The last step is to establish your company’s physical presence and market your venture to reach a maximum number of customers.

Operational and Strategic Planning

Services of b2b business.

The service sector of B2B businesses is multi-faceted. Therefore, while developing your B2B SaaS business plan template you should specify which services you plan to provide. You can study many B2B business plan examples for the purpose and explore their B2B marketing strategies examples for each service they provide.

You can also see the services given in this B2B business plan sample. This B2B business plan was created for Networks by professional business plan writers after probing several B2B business plan templates.

• Doing Outsourced Tasks

Our major service will be doing outsourced tasks such as hiring and training the workforce, maintaining the equipment, and completing some parts of a larger project.

• Business Consultancy

We will provide legal advice and consultation to businesses that come to deal with other businesses. We will also help writing business plan documents and making due diligence template . Moreover, our consultation will also be educational as we plan to acquaint our partners with the latest trends such as type of due diligence in use.

• Software Services

We will also provide software services but only in the domain in which multiple businesses are connected via shared database and management software.

• Freelance Services

We will serve as the middle ground between clients and customers to provide B2B freelance services.

Marketing Analysis of B2B business

Excellent work.

excellent work, competent advice. Alex is very friendly, great communication. 100% I recommend CGS capital. Thank you so much for your hard work!

Your B2B business can end in loss if you fail to attract the community that was supposed to buy from you. To succeed in the purpose, you have to explore the market for which you are making B2B sales business plan. you have to see which services are in demand and how much competition exists for which service. All these details must be included in your marketing plan for B2B business. 

Today, carrying out a market analysis is easier due to the online presence of B2B businesses. You will have to maintain a web presence and thus your marketing plan for B2B business should be devised accordingly.

To gain an insight into marketing plan template B2B, you should visit B2B marketing portals. Some sites even offer free B2B website in usa. Moreover, you can also find free guidance on B2B marketing planning from blogs like this on marketing plan B2B example. 

5.1 Market Trends

The trends for B2B businesses are going great. It is reported that more than 50% of B2B buyers are millennials. The industry is currently estimated at 6.7 trillion dollars. Moreover, 35% of the already-established B2B businesses are expecting a significant rise in online sales in the next years.

The trends provided in this sample B2B marketing plan are general. And while developing your B2B marketing business plan you should study the trends specific to your area.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

Identifying the groups of target customers help you determine a focused strategy in B2B marketing project to target them. For a B2B company, customers can belong to various niches therefore it will be good to also explore some more business plans such as mobile notary business plan pdf .

In this example B2B marketing plan, the customer segments identified by Networks are given as follows:

5.2.1 Small Businesses & Startups

Our biggest customers will be the small businesses that are especially newly established. New startups find it difficult to undertake all the tasks and recruit a huge workforce. Therefore, they rely on other businesses. In addition, due to a lack of trust in financial stability, they find it difficult to enter into long-term contracts with large enterprises. With our B2B services, they will be able to develop their businesses.

5.2.2 Established Enterprises

The second biggest category of our target customers includes established enterprises. They would require our services to deal with their business partners. Moreover, they will also seek our services to maintain a skilled workforce at all times.

5.2.3 Business Franchises

Business franchises would also need our services to get business plans and to do successful contracts.

5.2.4 Industries

Industries whose inputs and outputs are procured and transferred to enterprises will also need our B2B services to conduct their business affairs.

5.3 Business Target

• Increase our prices by 3% by the end of the first 6 years
• Maintain a CSAT score of 95+ from the very first month of our launch
• Maintain a Customer Retention Rate of more than 80% from the very first year of our launch

5.4 Product Pricing

The rates for our services are a little bit higher than our competitors. However, due to our competitive advantages, we still expect to get more customers than them.

Marketing Strategy of B2B business

While developing marketing strategy in B2B, you must keep in mind that this time you are not dealing with a man in the street, rather you will be dealing with experienced professionals. Therefore, your sales strategy and advertisement techniques should be devised accordingly. In this B2B marketing strategy example, we are providing the sales strategy of the Networks.

Clint spent a whole 3 months devising his strategy in his B2B marketing template. Some parts of his plan are mentioned here in this B2B marketing strategy template.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

• We are using the latest tech for all our tasks. For instance, we present digital cards to our business partners to leave the impression that at Networks, we are acquainted with all the latest products and trends.
• We have hired the most competent and talented business experts in the town.
• We have pursued regular training programs to keep our employees up to date.

6.2 Sales Strategy

For advertisement, the Networks will do the following:

• Advertising the business on social media and through newspapers and magazines
• Arranging meetups among the business CEOs and our sales executives to let our competitive aspects known
• Providing a 40% discount on all our services for the first month of the launch

For more ideas, you can see law firm business plan and judgement recovery business plan.

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan of B2B business

The success of a B2B business depends on the ability of its employees to conduct affairs. To ensure you hire the right people, you should devise a measurable criterion in your business plan for B2B. In your business plan B2B you can assign measurable values to experience, interpersonal skills, and qualifications to make sure the recruitment remains impartial 

In this B2B business plan template the list of staff of Networks along with their salaries is listed below: 

7.1 Company Staff

• 1 Co-Manager
• 1 Web Manager
• 1 Sales Executive
• 1 Software Manager
• 3 Business Consultants
• 1 Legal Advisor
• 2 Project Managers

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial Plan of B2B business

The B2B business has great prospects in the earning domain. The business pays a lot due to immense opportunities arising out of increased dependency on other businesses for completing a task. The modern world works on the principles of efficiency and for greater efficiency outsourcing a part of one’s business is becoming a must.

Therefore, the business is sustainable as far as finances are concerned. However, to ensure long-term smooth monetary flows, you need a business plan for B2B sales. Since you will be spending a hefty amount on salaries and maintaining a skilled workforce at all times, you need to be careful about the b to b sales strategies. 

In this B2B sales plan template, we are providing the financial plan of Networks. In addition to the profit profile, if you also want to know what is B2B marketing and sales, you can refer to the sections written above.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 Break-even Analysis

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 Profit Monthly

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 Business Ratios

• What is the B2B business plan?

A B2B business plan is a detailed document that explains the major aspects of your business, how you plan to start and run it, and where and how much you intend to spend to ensure long-term sustainability.

To get a better idea of what a B2B business plan template is, you should study some B2B business plan examples. For a generic idea, this B2B business plan sample is also good to go.

• What are the 4 types of B2B?

The 4 types of B2B markets are: 

• Institutions 

Download B2B Business Plan Template From Here

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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Highly Effective Business Plan Template For B2B Startups

Julie Williams

• September 14, 2022

Why Should You Download This Template?

• You can think about every single step of your business.
• Identify the right opportunities and deal with challenges.
• Get an overview of your business and understand your target market
• Plan your startup's future and make a roadmap for its success.
• Get a structured way to organize your business ideas and goals.
• Help entrepreneurs find weaknesses in their upcoming product or service ideas.

What is a Business Plan Template? 

A business plan template is the secret behind starting a successful B2B company. It serves several purposes if you plan to create a startup. A well-planned business plan will help you convince investors or lenders to finance your business. Startup business plan templates act as a step-by-step guide to building your startup and get concrete examples when approaching something for the first time.

It is a customized document that outlines how a company can achieve its objectives, such as gaining funding, obtaining a particular market share, or growing revenue. This template includes crucial elements that allow the startup founders to start with a solid foundation rather than from scratch. 

Take a Sneak Peek

What our Business Plan Template Includes

Business Leaders

Here, we will discuss the startup’s essential or primary decision-makers or business owners such as the CEO, COO, Vice President, President, and Managers.

Executive Summary

 This will include information on the company, its products or services, mission statement and pricing details. You also have an option to add your management team’s roles and responsibilities, a business strategy and objectives.

Market Analysis

It will help you analyze the target section of your target market, help you research the estimated market size, and find the target location. You will be able to understand the market in which your company will compete, find data on target market segments and keep up with industry trends.

Opportunities

Customer Problems & Companies Solutions

The customer analysis section will help you identify your target customer, understand the needs of your B2B clients and show how your products can solve their pain points.

Competition Analysis

SWOT Analysis

The strategic planning and management analysis technique identify your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to your business competition or project planning.

Marketing and Sales Plan

Operation Plan

The operational plan will discuss the internal strategies to build your business. It will outline employee’s needs, milestones, and processes.

Financial Plan

This part of the business plan will allow you to make financial projections based on a fixed budget. It includes templates for three key financial statements: An income statement, a balance sheet, and a cash-flow statement. 

Accomplishments

In this section, you can add the accomplishments you expect your business to achieve, evidence of how your business is improving, and other strategies it can incorporate to grow better.

Why is a Business Plan Important? 

• Importance of your business plan is that it helps you test the viability of business ideas.
• A business plan will create an effective strategy for your startup's growth.
• To evaluate competitors in the target market and find your audience.
• Help you get investments from venture capital, a bank, or personal investors.
• Creating a business plan will determine which new employees are needed to assist with the daily tasks.
• Plan for every phase of your business or scale an existing business to the next level.
• Identify the pain points of customers and make personalized marketing plans.
• Hire and build partnerships, which is very necessary for the early stages of your business.
• Set marketing goals, strategies, and tactics you can implement in your multi-channel campaigns.
• You can also scoop out the necessary steps you should take and adjust your investment of time and money accordingly.

How Will This Template be Beneficial For Your Business?

The template will come with instructions written in a manner that is easy to follow, so all you have to do is fill in the blanks. You can adjust the template to suit your needs and don’t have to build an outline from scratch. 

You can navigate through daunting business jargon and create an effective plan. This free business plan template will benefit you in securing investors, designing an effective growth strategy, and understanding your startup’s future financial needs.

You can write a template with these simple steps:

• Write the executive summary of your business idea
• Add a company overview
• Provide the problem and solution 
• Identify the target market
• Research your competition
• Describe your product or service offerings
• Outline your marketing tactics

Yes, this template is free. You only need to sign in and download the template. We promise that you won’t get a better free business plan templates for B2B startups.

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Free B2B marketing plan template (+ tips and best practices)

Before we get started, here is the free B2B marketing plan template you're looking for, which you do not need to fill out a form to get. Really, it's yours:

You need to make a copy of the document to use it .

Now, let's dig into a few details you need to know before you get started building out your rockstar marketing plan for your B2B company.

A marketing plan is more than content

I think when people get started with content marketing , they think their content strategy is the entirety of their strategy. While a content strategy is, indeed, a large piece of the proverbial marketing pie, it is not actually the entire pie.

Mmm, pie. Now I'm hungry. Is it Thanksgiving, yet?  🦃

Your company's marketing plan should encompass so much more beyond your content — although your content is very important:

• Email marketing campaigns and newsletters
• Social media marketing
• Paid media and social advertising
• Events (virtual and in-person)

That's why you need to have a marketing plan, scoped out on an annual basis, with regular updates (as necessary). But your marketing plan isn't just a means to delineate what your campaigns are. It's so much more than that.

What is the purpose of a marketing plan?

The best marketing plans, no matter what industry you're in, all accomplish the same three things (based on a defined period of time):

• They provide a clear overview of what goals your marketing efforts will achieve over a specific period of time, across the entire company.
• Each objective has measurable, specific goals that correspond to your company's overall mission and purpose, with defined milestone points at each stage (activation, acquisition, and expansion).
• For every objective, at every stage, you see how each element of your marketing (social, content, email, etc.) all come together holistically to help you achieve your goals. 

Why is this B2B marketing plan template based on account-based marketing?

The free B2B marketing plan template above is based on the principles of account-based marketing . Account-based marketing takes the traditional B2B sales and marketing funnel and turns it on its head by going after “qualified” leads rather than letting them filter themselves. 

Whereas inbound marketing starts with organic lead generation, account-based marketing starts by identifying and targeting key decision-makers within accounts which have the potential to bring the biggest revenue to your business. 

That being said, we do not view the principles of ABM and inbound or content marketing to be mutually exclusive. In fact, create content that answers the most pressing questions of your ideal buyers (as you would in a content marketing strategy), is still critical to the success of your B2B marketing plan.

With an ABM approach, however, your content will simply be more targeted to what is called your ideal buyer profile . As a note, you need to create your ideal buyer profile first before you get started. And no, it is not the same as a buyer persona.

(It's an efficient exercise though, so don't panic.)

How do you create a B2B marketing plan with an ABM approach?

The best ABM-based B2B marketing plans have their efforts broken out into three specific stages :

• Acquisition This stage is for bringing net-new accounts into your pipeline. Most companies focus a lot of their efforts in this stage.
• Acceleration Once you have engaged accounts in your pipeline. You are either keeping them engaged or potentially reviving what was previously a dead deal. Techniques, such as personalization, is really helpful here. 
• Expansion Expansion is all about retaining, upselling, and expanding relationships and service agreements with your existing customer base. Like the old saying goes, it's easier to win business from existing clients than to attract new ones.

That's why each section of the B2B marketing plan template is broken out into those three phases, based on the specific service/product objectives you outline in the beginning of your plan. That way you see how, at each interaction phase, you are targeting your marketing efforts to meet your goals. 

What are the benefits of an ABM approach to B2B marketing?

In addition to going after qualified leads right at the start, instead of having them self-select and identify their fit for your products and services, there are four key benefits to an ABM approach to B2B marketing:

• It personalizes the experience for your buyers , because your marketing campaigns are less broad. Instead, they're more targeted and focused on the specific needs and pain points of your ideal buyers.
• You build trust and long-term relationships by networking with people within accounts and transforming them into advocates — a big deal since a 5% increase can lead to an increase in profits of up to 95% .
• It shortens and streamlines the sales process because you're already dealing with more qualified leads that require less nurturing. Your sales team will also waste less time with bad-fit prospects, because they won't be targeted in the first place.
• You'll align your sales and marketing teams because ABM is, simply put, a business growth strategy that holistically aligns your sales and marketing teams around the same goals and objectives. 

How to make your B2B marketing plan a winner

As the marketing leader at your company, creating a winning marketing plan is a unique challenge. When done right, your people will love you for helping to grow the business with a clear strategy.

When done incorrectly, however, you can find yourself in a very lonely place, with a big document and nothing much else to show for it.

So, how do you avoid the latter? 

• Do not write your marketing plan on your own. Talk to leadership, sales, and different segments of your business. Leadership will help you align on what your goals and objectives should be. Sales will help you with the finer details of your plan — realistic goal-setting, ideal buyer profiles, etc. Anyone you list as a stakeholder should be someone who gives feedback.
• Take your time to create your marketing plan. A great marketing plan isn't written overnight by candlelight. It takes time, requires lots of collaboration, and is too important to be rushed. Instead, make it a four- to six-week initiative, with a clear delivery date. Then, have specific milestones, such as a first draft for leadership review, a draft for cross-department collaboration, and so on.
• Be as thorough as possible the first time you write it. From experience, I know how writing massive, 20+ page documents can feel tedious and draining — even if you're totally bought in on the outcome. Don't cut corners. For example, you may be tempted to say, "Oh, I'll note exactly what happens in this nurturing sequence when it comes time to do it." Don't do that. Do it now.

Again, yes, it is a ton of work. But trust me when I say you'll thank yourself for all of the effort you put into it. Instead of scrambling at each stage — "What should this workflow include? What social media campaigns do we need to run? Crap, did we even think about paid media?" — you'll simply be ready to execute

On top of that, you'll know already that your logic is sound and vetted by other teams, including your leadership. Which means, more buy-in for the work you're doing.

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How to Create a B2B Sales Plan: Template + Examples

A sales plan is an essential tool for any business, especially in B2B. It provides a roadmap for achieving your sales goals. By clearly outlining your strategies and tactics, a well-crafted sales plan will keep you on track and help you measure your progress along the way.

Creating a sales plan can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. This article lays out a structure for a sales plan. We will extend this article over time.

In this post, we’ll cover

What is a sales plan, what is the sales planning process, what are typical elements of a sales plan, executive summary, key assumptions for this sales plan (examples), target customers and related products / services, business planing, initiatives and measures, required resources, overall outcome of a sales plan, sales plan in one sentence, sales plan examples.

A sales plan is a document that encompasses goals, target customers, and sales strategy aimed at attaining necessary results. It enables a company’s leadership and sales team to plan concrete measures and initiatives to achieve the defined business outcomes as well as predict business-related risks and steps to avoid them.

• Gather historic sales data
• Define your objectives including existing business plans
• Define your assumptions going into sales planning
• Determine metrics for success
• Determine current situation
• Start sales forecasting based on current performance
• Identify gaps to success metrics and business plan
• Ideate new initiatives to close gaps
• Involve stakeholders for feedback
• Outline action items and determine ressource requirements

A typical sales plan includes the following sections:

• Key assumptions
• Revenue Targets, Business Plan
• Strategies and Tactics (incl. Marketing initiatives)
• Pricing and Promotions, marketing and sales channels
• Deadlines and responsibiliites
• Team structure
• Market Conditions

Structure of sales strategy / quarterly sales plan

A structured sales plan provides clarity and guidance in a turbulent environment. Based on over 100 projects, we provide you with a suggested structure to map out specific goals, action items, and target dates for progress.

• What targets will you hit
• Which measures are you taking
• Which (incremental) ressources do you need
• Focus on product A and region B to generate the revenues
• Keep existing product mix
• Product improvements / innovation
• Other departments plans / confirmed actions
• Customer segments, ABC-analysis
• Geographical split
• Market size and penetration today and in future
• Performance based on previous performance (“bottom-up 1”) potentially: variance analysis of actual results vs. plan of previous timeframe
• Performance based on realistic & ambitious estimates from managerial experience (“bottom-up 2”)
• top-down targets from business plan (communicated towards shareholders) (“top-down”)
• Gap analysis between today “bottom-up 1”, “bottom-up 2” and “top-down”
• Decision, which plan (named “ sales plan “) will be basis for next timeframe
• number of resources / seller
• avg. revenue per deal
• ramp-up time per seller
• target achievement per seller
• product / country / margin mix
• Employee churn
• Customer churn
• As needed: “sales plan” breakdown to quarters, months, weeks and days.
• As needed: breakdown “sales plan” to teams and individuals incl. 10-20% buffer for every hierachy level
• Prepare: Development of measures to fill gap to get to “sales plan”

• 3-5 key initiatives to deliver the “sales plan” as outlined above
• Each initiative is linked to 3-7 specific measures linked to metrics and financial outcomes
• employee churn
• customer churn
• Each measure is linked to one person responsible and has a clear timline
• Ideally: every initiative can be measured by specific KPIs (to see if progress is made)
• FTE resources Marketing
• FTE resources Sales
• Budgets (team, budget for marketing, new tools or incentives / SPIFFs)
• IT support for implementation of new sales tools
• Product management for changes to product / services
• Customer Success / Account Management
• Which marketing channels will be used
• Which sales channels will be used
• Overview: which team approaches what type of customers through which channel and which product / service offering
• Planning of all initiatives and tasks for upcoming timeframe incl. responsibilities
• Financial planning sales / P&L in collaboration with controlling department
• Overview of all requirements to other departments / companies and shareholders to achieve the plan
• Outlook for timeframe following the planned timeframe (t+1)

We will achieve an overall goal of 1,3 m€ in net new ARR in Q1/23. For this I need 500 k€ (in budget and headcount, 100 k€ incremental budget required) and the defined support from the organization / shareholders.

Over time, we will link examples of sales plans in this section.

Jens Hutzschenreuter

Jens is a previous B2B Sales leader (Groupon, ryd), ex-Management Consultant with Boston Consulting Group and is now supporting ~50 B2B sales organizations annually in developing systems, structure and processes to scale an organization up to 250 sellers.

B2b Marketing Plan Template

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Plan your marketing project within minutes

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How to create and manage your b2b marketing plan template in the gantt chart, create a new project or use the ready-made marketing template, create new or use ready-made tasks, establish task dependencies, outline key events and milestones, track task status and progress, “ganttpro lets us manage all project management and marketing tasks in a very convenient interface . we like that we can combine a kanban board and gantt diagram in one solution. it saves us a lot of time and resources.“.

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How to Build a Detailed Business Plan That Stands Out [Free Template]

Updated: March 29, 2022

Published: March 11, 2022

While starting a company may seem easier now than ever before, entrepreneurs have an uphill battle from the moment they start a business. And without a clear, actionable business plan for selling, marketing, finances, and operations, you're almost destined to face significant challenges.

This is why crafting a business plan is an essential step in the entrepreneurial process.

In this post, we'll walk you through the process of filling out your business plan template, like this free, editable version :

Download a free, editable one-page business plan template.

We know that when looking at a blank page on a laptop screen, the idea of writing your business plan can seem impossible. However, it's a mandatory step to take if you want to turn your business dreams into a reality.

That's why we've crafted a business plan template for you to download and use to build your new company. You can download it here for free . It contains prompts for all of the essential parts of a business plan, all of which are elaborated on, below.

This way, you'll be able to show them how organized and well-thought-out your business idea is, and provide them with answers to whatever questions they may have.

Free Business Plan Template

The essential document for starting a business -- custom built for your needs.

• Outline your idea.
• Pitch to investors.
• Secure funding.
• Get to work!

Download Free

All fields are required.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Building a Successful Business Plan

In the next section, we'll cover the components of a business plan , such as an executive summary and company description. But before we get to that, let's talk about key elements that should serve as building blocks for your plan.

For some entrepreneurs, the thought of writing a business plan sounds like a chore — a necessary means to an end. But that's a bad take.

A solid business plan is a blueprint for success . It's key to securing financing, presenting your business, outlining your financial projections, and turning that nugget of a business idea into a reality.

At the core, your business plan should answer two questions: why your business and why now?

Investors want to know why your business is entering the market, i.e. what problem it's solving and how it's different from what's currently out there. They also want to know why now is the right time for your type of product or service.

At a minimum, your plan should:

• Be more realistic than idealistic: Too often, business plans focus too much on how things could be instead of how they are. While having a vision is important, your plan needs to be rooted in research and data.
• Legitimize your business idea : If an idea fails on paper, it's a signal to go back to the drawing board. In doing so, you avoid losing precious time or money chasing an unrealistic idea.
• Position your business for funding: To get your business off the ground, chances are you'll need financial backing. Even with a solid business idea, investors, lenders, and banks still need convincing. An effective business plan will outline how much money you need, where it's going, what targets you will hit, and how you plan to repay any debts.
• Lay the foundation: Investors focus on risk – if anything looks shaky, it could be a dealbreaker. Ideally, your business plan will lay down the foundation for how you'll operate your business — from operational needs to financial projections and goals.
• Communicate your needs: It's nearly impossible to communicate your needs if you don't know what they are first. Of course, a business’ needs are always changing — but your plan should give you a well-rounded view of how your business will work in the short and long term.

So back to the question of why and why now – consider three things:

• Your industry – How does your product or service fit within your industry? Are you targeting a specific niche? Where do you see the industry going in the next five to 10 years?
• Your target audience – Who are you targeting? What challenges are they facing? How will your product or service help them in their daily lives?
• Your unique selling proposition (USP) – What sets you apart from your competitors? Is it your product/service features? Your company values? Price?

Once you know the answers to these questions, you'll be equipped to answer the question: why your business and why now.

How to Build a Business Plan

• Executive Summary
• Company and Business Description
• Product and Services Line
• Market Analysis
• Marketing Plan
• Legal Notes
• Financial Considerations

Featured Resource: Free Business Plan Template

1. cover page.

Your business plan should be prefaced with an eye-catching cover page. This means including a high-resolution image of your company logo, followed by your company's name, address, and phone number.

Since this business plan will likely change hands and be seen by multiple investors, you should also provide your own name, role in the business, and email address on the cover page.

At the bottom of this page, you can also add a confidentiality statement to protect against the disclosure of your business details.

The statement can read as follows: " This document contains confidential and proprietary information created by [your company name]. When receiving this document, you agree to keep its content confidential and may only reproduce and/or share it with express written permission of [your company name] ."

Remember to keep your cover page simple and concise — and save the important details for other sections.

Why it matters: First impressions are everything, and a clean cover page is the first step in the right direction.

Example of a Cover Page

2. Executive Summary

The executive summary of your business plan provides a one- to two-page overview of your business and highlights the most crucial pieces of your plan, such as your short-term and long-term goals.

The executive summary is essentially a boiled-down version of your entire business plan, so remember to keep this section to the point and filled only with essential information.

Typically, this brief section includes:

• A mission statement.
• The company's history and leadership model.
• An overview of competitive advantage(s).
• Financial projections.
• Company goals.
• An ask from potential investors.

Why it matters: The executive summary is known as the make-or-break section of a business plan. It influences whether investors turn the page or not — so effectively summarizing your business and the problem it hopes to solve is a must.

Think of the Summary as a written elevator pitch (with more detail). While your business plan provides the nitty-gritty details, your Summary describes — in a compelling but matter-of-fact language — the highlights of your plan. If it's too vague, complicated, or fuzzy, you may need to scrap it and start again.

Example of an Executive Summary Introduction

"The future looks bright for North Side Chicago, particularly the Rock Hill Neighborhood. A number of high-end commercial and residential developments are well on their way, along with two new condo developments in nearby neighborhoods.

While the completion of these developments will increase the population within the neighborhood and stimulate the economy, the area lacks an upscale restaurant where residents and visitors can enjoy fine food and drink. Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant will provide such a place."

3. Company & Business Description

In this section, provide a more thorough description of what your company is and why it exists.

The bulk of the writing in this section should be about your company's purpose – covering what the business will be selling, identifying the target market, and laying out a path to success.

In this portion of your business plan, you can also elaborate on your company's:

• Mission statement
• Core values
• Team and organizational structure

Why it matters: Investors look for great structures and teams in addition to great ideas. This section gives an overview of your businesses' ethos. It's the perfect opportunity to set your business apart from the competition — such as your team's expertise, your unique work culture, and your competitive advantage.

Example of a Values/Mission Statement

"Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant will be the go-to place for people to get a drink or bite in an elegant, upscale atmosphere. The mission is to be North Side's leading restaurant, with the best tasting food and the highest quality service."

3. Product & Services Line

Here's where you'll cover the makeup of your business's product and/or services line. You should provide each product or service's name, its purpose, and a description of how it works (if appropriate). If you own any patents, copyrights, or trademarks, it's essential to include this info too.

Next, add some color to your sales strategy by outlining your pricing model and mark-up amounts.

If you're selling tangible products, you should also explain production and costs, and how you expect these factors to change as you scale.

Why it matters: This section contains the real meat of your business plan. It sets the stage for the problem you hope to solve, your solution, and how your said solution fits in the market.

There's no one-size-fits-all formula for this section. For instance, one plan may delve into its ability to market in a more cost-effective way than the competition, whereas another plan focuses on its key products and their unique features and benefits.

Regardless of your angle, it's critical to convey how your offerings will differ from the competition.

Example of a Product/Service Offering

"The menu at Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant will focus on Moroccan cuisine. The stars of the menu (our specialties) are the Moroccan dishes, such as eggplant zaalouk, seafood bastilla, tagine, and chickpea stew. For those who enjoy American dishes, there will also be a variety of options, from burger sliders and flatbread pizza to grilled steak and salads.

The food at Jay Street will have premium pricing to match its upscale atmosphere. During the summer months, the restaurant will have extra seating on the patio where clients can enjoy a special summer menu. We will be open on all days of the week."

4. Market Analysis

It helps to reference your market research documentation in this section, like a Porter's Five Forces Analysis or a SWOT Analysis ( templates for those are available here ). You can also include them in your appendix.

If your company already has buyer personas, you should include them here as well. If not, you can create them right now using the Make My Persona Tool .

Why it matters: Having an awesome product is, well, awesome — but it isn't enough. Just as important, there must be a market for it.

This section allows you to dig deeper into your market, which segments you want to target, and why. The "why" here is important, since targeting the right segment is critical for the success and growth of your business.

It's easy to get lost (or overwhelmed) in a sea of endless data. For your business plan, narrow your focus by answering the following questions:

• What is my market? In other words, who are my customers?
• What segments of the market do I want to target?
• What's the size of my target market?
• Is my market likely to grow?
• How can I increase my market share over time?

Example of a Market Analysis

"Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant will target locals who live and work within the Rock Hill Neighborhood and the greater North Side Chicago area. We will also target the tourists who flock to the many tourist attractions and colleges on the North Side.

We will specifically focus on young to middle-aged adults with an income of $40,000 to $80,000 who are looking for an upscale experience. The general demographics of our target market are women between 20 to 50 years old.

A unique and varied Moroccan-American menu, along with our unique upscale atmosphere, differentiates us from competitors in the area. Jay Street will also set itself apart through its commitment to high-quality food, service, design, and atmosphere."

5. Marketing Plan

Unlike the market analysis section, your marketing plan section should be an explanation of the tactical approach to reaching your aforementioned target audience. List your advertising channels, organic marketing methods, messaging, budget, and any relevant promotional tactics.

If your company has a fully fleshed-out marketing plan, you can attach it in the appendix of your business plan. If not, download this free marketing plan template to outline your strategy.

Free Marketing Plan Template

Outline your company's marketing strategy in one simple, coherent plan.

• Pre-Sectioned Template
• Completely Customizable
• Example Prompts
• Professionally Designed

Why it matters: Marketing is what puts your product in front of your customers. It's not just advertising — it's an investment in your business.

Throwing money into random marketing channels is a haphazard approach, which is why it's essential to do the legwork to create a solid marketing plan.

Here's some good news — by this point, you should have a solid understanding of your target market. Now, it's time to determine how you'll reach them.

Example of a Marketing Plan Overview

"Our marketing strategy will focus on three main initiatives:

• Social media marketing. We will grow and expand our Facebook and Instagram following through targeted social media ads.
• Website initiatives. Our website will attract potential visitors by offering updated menus and a calendar of events.
• Promotional events. Jay Street will have one special theme night per week to attract new clients."

6. Sales Plan

It doesn't matter if your sales department is an office full of business development representatives (BDR) or a dozen stores with your products on their shelves.

The point is: All sales plans are different, so you should clearly outline yours here. Common talking points include your:

• Sales team structure, and why this structure was chosen.
• Sales channels.
• Sales tools, software, and resources.
• Prospecting strategy.
• Sales goals and budget.

Like with your marketing plan, it might make sense to attach your completed sales plan to the appendix of your business plan. You can download a template for building your sales plan here .

Why it matters: Among other things, investors are interested in the scalability of your business — which is why growth strategies are a critical part of your business plan.

Your sales plan should describe your plan to attract customers, retain them (if applicable), and, ultimately, grow your business. Be sure to outline what you plan to do given your existing resources and what results you expect from your work.

Example of a Sales Plan Overview

"The most important goal is to ensure financial success for Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant. We believe we can achieve this by offering excellent food, entertainment, and service to our clients.

We are not a low-cost dining option in the area. Instead, the food will have premium pricing to match its upscale feel. The strategy is to give Jay Street a perception of elegance through its food, entertainment, and excellent service."

7. Legal Notes

Your investors may want to know the legal structure of your business, as that could directly impact the risk of their investments. For example, if you're looking for business partners to engage in a non-corporation or LLC partnership, this means they could be on the line for more than their actual investment.

Because this clarification is often needed, explain if you are and/or plan to become a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, LLC, or other.

You should also outline the steps you have taken (or will need to take) to operate legally. This includes licenses, permits, registrations, and insurance.

The last thing your investor wants to hear after they've sent you a big chunk of change is that you're operating without proper approval from the local, state, or federal government.

Why it matters: The last thing your investor wants to hear after they've sent you a big chunk of change is that you're operating without proper approval from the local, state, or federal government.

Example of Legal Notes

"Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant is up-to-date on all restaurant licenses and health permits. Our business name and logo are registered trademarks, presenting the possibility of expanding locally."

8. Financial Considerations

Ultimately, investors want to know two things:

• When they will earn their money back.
• When they will start seeing returns on their initial investment.

That said, be clear, calculated, and convincing in this section. It should cover:

• Startup costs.
• Sales forecasts for the next several months/quarters.
• Break-even analysis for time and dollars.
• Projected profit and loss (P&L) statement.

Facts and figures are key here, so be as specific as possible with each line item and projection. In addition, explain the "why" behind each of these sections.

However, keep in mind that information overload is a risk, especially when it comes to data. So, if you have pages upon pages of charts and spreadsheets for this section, distill them into a page or two and include the rest of the sheets in the appendix. This section should only focus on key data points.

Why it matters: One of the most important aspects of becoming "investor ready" is knowing your numbers. More importantly, you need to understand how those numbers will enhance your business.

While it's easy to write a number down on paper, it's more important to understand (and communicate) why you need capital, where it's going, and that your evaluation makes sense.

Example of Financial Projections

"Based on our knowledge and experience in the restaurant industry, we have come up with projections for the business.

Starting with an expenditure of $400,000 in year 1, we forecast sales of $1,500,000 and $2,800,000 for years two and three. We expect to achieve a net profit of 15% by year three."

9. Appendix

A detailed and well-developed business plan can range anywhere from 20 to 50 pages, with some even reaching upward of 80.

In many cases, the appendix is the longest section. Why? Because it includes the supportive materials mentioned in previous sections. To avoid disrupting the flow of the business plan with visuals, charts, and spreadsheets, business owners usually add them in the last section, i.e. the appendix.

Aside from what we've already mentioned – marketing plan, sales plan, department budgets, financial documents – you may also want to attach the following in the appendix:

• Marketing materials
• Market research data
• Licensing documentation
• Branding assets
• Floor plans for your location
• Mockups of your product
• Renderings of your office space or location design

Adding these pieces to the appendix enriches the reader's understanding of your business and proves you've put the work into your business plan without distracting from the main points throughout the plan.

Why it matters: An appendix helps the reader do their due diligence. It contains everything they need to support your business plan.

Keep in mind, however, that an appendix is typically necessary only if you're seeking financing or looking to attract business partners.

Use a Business Plan Template to Get Started

Writing a business plan shouldn't be an insurmountable roadblock to starting a business. Unfortunately, for all too many, it is.

That's why we recommend using our free business plan template. Pre-filled with detailed section prompts for all of the topics in this blog post, we're confident this template will get your business plan started in the right direction.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in June 2017 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

Sample B2B Sales Business Plan Template PDF

B2b service business plan sample.

With millions of regular internet users worldwide, the internet has become a major tool in both the research and the buying of goods and services today. The B2B e-commerce has come to pose a very big challenge to the traditional business models, and its growth is seen not to wane anytime at all.

If you are interested in starting up a B2B sales business, and you are set to write a business plan for your business, then you will find this B2B service business plan sample very useful in helping you write a simple business plan.

I suppose by now you must have gotten yourself acquainted with all the necessary steps required in starting your business. Below is a B2B service business plan sample for your use.

Here is a sample business plan for starting a b2b ecommerce company.

BUSINESS NAME:  Brilliant Affairs LLC.

• Executive Summary
• Our Products and Services
• Vision Statement
• Mission Statement
• Business Structure
• Market Analysis
• Sales and Marketing Strategy
• Financial Plan
• Sales Forecast

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY   

Brilliant Affairs LLC is a duly licensed and registered business which is set to be headquartered in Connecticut, United States. The business will be very focused in offering a number of products and services to its customers not just in Connecticut, but all over the United States. Our products and services will include web applications, e-commerce Solutions, web hosting solutions, web-design services, just to mention a few.

Starting our business in Connecticut will require us to provide the needed startup capital from legitimate sources. Up until now, James Robertson and Steven Walter, who are both the owners of Brilliant Affairs LLC, have been able to generate as much as $500,000 as part of the needed $1,000,000 required as the startup capital. The other part will be sourced from the owners’ bank as soft loan.

Our goal in the industry is to build a company which will become ranked among the top leading B2B businesses in the world before our fifth year anniversary.

OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

In the course of establishing our business in the industry and making it get to the heights which we have planned for it, we will be focused on offering the following products and services:

• Web applications
• E-commerce Solutions
• Web hosting solutions
• Web-design services
• Co-location
• Disaster recovery solutions
• Network design solutions
• Equipment service
• Computing design solutions (Unix and NT)
• Software and hardware

VISION STATEMENT

The vision of Brilliant Affairs LLC in the B2B industry is to become renowned among the top leading B2B businesses in the world not later than the fifth year after starting up our business.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission for Brilliant Affairs LLC is very simple. We want to become renowned as the B2B business which will be focused at providing companies with a number of latest technologies to solve their computing problems, as well as provide them with needed trainings and supports towards making them get really set for the future.

BUSINESS STRUCTURE

As mentioned, our vision for our B2B service business is clear, and we will make sure to accomplish it. With this in mind, we have made sure to set up a strong business structure which will help us achieve our goals, since we know the success of any business has a lot to do with its business structure. The following are the various positions which will be available in our business organization:

• Chairman Executive Officer (CEO)
• Technical Support Manager
• Research / Product Manager
• Web Application Manager
• Sales Manager
• Business Development Manager
• Strategic Alliance Manager
• Advertising Manager
• Human Resources Manager
• Accounts Manager

MARKET ANALYSIS Market Trends

The B2B e-commerce industry is one which has enjoyed periods of growth, and it has been projected by experts to see further growth in forthcoming years. This is because the B2B e-commerce has changed the way businesses are handled today, and this growth is not seen to wane any time soon, rather it would be on the increase as the years pass.

Target Market

The following are the various groups which make up our target market:

• Small to Mid-size Businesses
• Military and Government Agencies
• Consolidations and Mergers
• Medical industry
• Accounting Industry
• Insurance Industry
• Real Estate
• Waste Industry

SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

Our goal for our business is to become among the top leading B2B business in the world before our fifth year anniversary. In view of this, we will make sure to hire only capable employees who are competent, ready to work, and are ready to fully share our business vision.

Also, we have aligned our sales and marketing strategies to be able to take a full hold of the market.

• First, we will launch our business in a grand style so as to spark interest in more people.
• We will make sure to use direct marketing in promoting our business.
• We will not hesitate to place advertisements on radio, television, local newspapers, magazines, etc, so as to promote more awareness about our business.
• The social media is another platform where we will also advertise our business so as to catch more awareness.

FINANCIAL PLAN Source of Startup Capital

To successfully launch our business in Connecticut, United States, we will require a total of $1,000,000. We have been able to realise $500,000 from the owners’ savings and investments. The other part, however, will be sourced by obtaining soft loan from the owners’ banks.

SALES FORECAST

First Fiscal Year                    $1,500,000 Second Fiscal Year                $20,500,000 Third Fiscal Year                   $50,500,000

The above is the sales forecast for our B2B service business for the first three years after launching our business in Connecticut, United States. This sales forecast has taken into consideration several factors and available data in the industry.

This is a B2B service business plan bearing the business name, ‘Brilliant Affairs LLC’. The business will be particularly focused on offering its many services to customers not just in Connecticut, but in all the major cities in the United States. The business which will be owned by James Robertson and Steven Walter is going to be located in one of the major areas of Connecticut, United States.

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10 B2B Marketing Plan Examples To Help You Stay Organized

• Date April 10, 2021

As complicated as B2B marketing can be—it’s easy to get caught up in different B2B marketing strategies, channels, campaigns, and tactics. Having a plan is the best way to keep things secure and structured.

Whether your plan is meticulous, loose, or a combination of both, having that plan will keep you focused. Depending upon what market you are targeting, you will need a different mix of strategies and channels addressed in your marketing plan.

For B2B marketers, creating marketing plans is part of your job description. Your marketing plan dictates how your business runs as it helps develop content, timelines, etc. Developing content requires an understanding of your market’s demand.

Market demand informs what content customers want to read—and this is informed by what questions (or keywords) they are typing into the search engines.

When you provide the content your customers are looking for, your business is more likely to grow.

10 B2B Marketing Plan Examples to Inspire You

Of course, knowing where to start with your marketing plan can be a challenge. To help you find direction, we’ve rounded up ten marketing plan examples to help you stay organized.

#1: Brilliant B2B Digital Marketing E-book by Smart Insights

When looking for B2B marketing plans, a great place to start is with actually building the outline of the plan before deciding what tactics, strategies, and KPIs to fill it with.

Enter Rene Power and his Brilliant B2B digital marketing e-book . You’ll find the critical questions you need to ask yourself and your company to understand your current position in the field.

Are you targeting the right keywords? Is your website built for the future?

Sometimes you need to start there before you can employ that killer email marketing strategy or clever viral campaign.

#2: Building an Email Marketing Strategy by Bronto

Developed by e-mail marketing consultant, Tamara Gielen , this plan is all about using email for marketing advantages. It focuses on creating a comprehensive plan that uses emails as primary market outreach .

Email marketing utilizes customer outreach as a way to create focused content as well as grow your customer base. Perfect for marketers and market executives, this plan is strategic yet straightforward.

It’s important to remember that different types of outreach follow different best practices. For instance, you wouldn’t send the same copy in an email as you would a LinkedIn message. For email outreach, however, we’ve done an extensive amount of testing on how to increase response rates and closed/won opportunities.

For actionable tips on how to increase your response rate in your email outreach, you can read this post we wrote on how we improved our email response rates in our link building outreach campaigns.

#3: The Four Step Marketing Plan for Ideal Campaigns

SJWeaver keeps it simple with their Four Step Marketing Plan for Ideal Campaigns. However, there is actually complexity under the hood, so we’ll break it down into easy-to-swallow steps:

• Step 1 : The Unique Selling Propositions/Points
• Step 2 : The Platforms and Offers
• Step 3 : The Marketing Arsenal
• Step 4 : Marketing Automation

And if you’re more of a visual learner, they’ve compiled some solid videos that break down each step into more detail:

While not purely focused on B2B, this marketing plan is great for anyone struggling to define their unique selling propositions or creating the automation needed to support their marketing.

#4: Brainrider’s B2B Content Marketing Strategy Template

Detailed and easy to understand, this plan runs through B2B marketing basics. This tool provides a framework or “skeleton”  for marketers to use as a template for their plans.

The plan runs through prioritizing objectives and articulating your business goals to customers. It also focuses on targeting your audience and finally creating content for them.

In short, this is another highly-customizable B2B marketing plan. As long as you’ve got the framework, there’s no limit to what strategies you can test out, and start making a difference for your clients!

#5: The Complete Guide to B2B Marketing

When Salesforce decides to throw their hat into the ring, people listen. Their Complete Guide to B2B Marketing is a great piece for beginning marketers and expert executors alike, and it includes beneficial checklists and actionable worksheets to incorporate with your team.

Below, you will find an example of a “Call-to-Action Checklist,” which is helpful for marketers to ensure that landing pages and blog content leave an impact and encourage their viewers to take action… every time.

B2B marketing strategies sometimes focus too narrowly on one aspect of the funnel without taking a holistic approach to your entire philosophy behind your marketing. This marketing plan helps you understand models that marketers need to make a great plan, tests theories in a real way and then enables you to learn and grow from those same exercises.

It’s a must-read for all B2B marketers and should become a roadmap for those losing their way in the digital world!

#6: Business-to-Business Marketing Summary by SAGE

The digital marketing template focuses mainly on the top internet marketing strategies .

The plan teaches readers to build a framework, communicate better, and also teaches many other skills that lead to successful B2B marketing. The most significant advantage of this sample plan is that it is widely comprehensive.

Different marketing strategy situations are explored. The most successful strategies are identified.

In short, this B2B marketing plan example hits all the right spots and won’t leave you confused.

#7: B2B Marketing Segmentation by Circle Research

Compiled and created by Circle Research , this plan is more of a “how to” that focuses on B2B market segmentation. It looks at case studies and different marketing plan approaches to inform and build new plans.

The plan also breaks down segmentation.  You’ll find the following included:

• Outlines the different approaches to segmentation in B2B environments.
• Provides a step-by-step guide to adopting each approach.
• Looks at how to effectively implement and action a segmentation model.
• Offers links to B2B segmentation case studies.

The overall template offers an interesting look at B2B marketing plans through a different lens. Marketers can benefit from this slightly elevated approach after taking the time to dive in.

#8: Single Statement Templates from CMI

Single statement marketing plans are an actual thing. They may sound minimalist, but they are a solid way to stay focused.

Developed by Content Marketing Institute , single statement plans refer to creating an objective by establishing a single, active, mission statement for your campaign. The statement will be one that hits all the points and goals of your company. It should include  what you do, who you help, and why you help them .

Content Marketing Institute offers useful examples and templates for this plan. In a sort of “ad-lib” set up, marketers can fill in the blanks and create a statement that acts as a starting point for a marketing plan.

See an example of this below:

#9: The Why.Who.How Workbook from CMI

This is another big find from Content Marketing Institute. Audience-focused B2B marketing plans  use your audience demographic to fuel content. The idea is to build a target audience with in-depth customer profiles. They should be focused to the point that each ICP (ideal customer profile) has a name, a job title, key concern, personality, interests, and age.

You can also give them a funnel position, the type of B2B needs they have, and what they care about in terms of metrics. The more your customer develops a well-rounded persona, the more you can take action to serve them better. This template is part of a larger whole, but it is a great starting point.

#10: The Essential Data-Driven Content Strategy from CMI

The last entry from Content Marketing Institute to discuss are  data-driven B2B marketing plans . Looking at your data is essential to craft your marketing plan and conquer your goals. Craft the plan backward by looking at the results of previous plans:

• Take the data you have compiled and study it.
• See what worked and what did not.
• See what B2B customers responded to, and what fell flat.
• See who your content reached, and where you could reach a bit more.

Data-driven B2B marketing plans are a way of fixing past mistakes to make stronger decisions moving forward. Reverse engineering your campaigns  from where your previous strategies have converted users is a great way to start your strategy off on the right foot.

These 10 B2B marketing plan examples should help you come up with plans of your own. The success of your business hinges on how well you market it and its services. By studying these plans, you can stay organized, find focus, and begin creating plans that work. If you want to know how we develop marketing plans backed by financial modeling, we’d love to get on a call.  Schedule a call  today to find out how our proven Customer Generation approach will bring your tech company results.

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B2B Financial Model Excel Template

Check Business To Business E-Commerce Budget Template. Excel Template for your pitch deck to convince Investors. Creates 5-year business to business e-commerce startup financial model, pro forma profit and loss, financial statements, and financial ratios in GAAP or IFRS formats on the fly. Business To Business E-Commerce Startup Financial Model helps to estimate required startup costs. Unlocked – edit all – last updated in Sep 2020. No matter where you are in the business development stage, a sophisticated budget spreadsheet for the business to business e-commerce will help you. Excel knowledge or financial planning experience is NOT required!

NOTE:  Single-User pertains to a limited Single User License where the template can only be used by one single user; while Multi-User is a license for users sharing the template with up to 20 members. Please refer to  Terms of Use  and  License and Permitted Use  for clarification.

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS E-COMMERCE FINANCIAL PROJECTION KEY FEATURES

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Manage accounts receivable. By creating a startup cash flow projection that takes invoices and bills into account, you’ll be more easily able to identify who is systematically paying late. You could even go on to model different payment dates on overdue invoices to see the real effect of late payments on your cash flow.

Build your plan and pitch for funding Impress bankers and investors with a proven, solid business to business e-commerce financial model that impresses every time.

Gaining trust from stakeholders Investors and financing providers tend to think in terms of the big picture. They want the c-level of the companies they invest in to do the same to ensure they maintain a clear idea of the future. Providing stakeholders with a monthly startup cash flow statement will demonstrate a level of awareness that leads to confidence and trust and will make it easier to raise more investment.

Get it Right the First Time Funding is a binary event: either you succeed or you fail. If you fail, most investors won’t give you a second chance. Learn about the pros and cons with Business To Business E-Commerce Financial Model Excel Spreadsheet.

Saves you time Startup Financial Model allows you to spend less time on finances and more time on your products, customers and business development

Get a Robust, Powerful and Flexible Financial Model This well-tested, robust and powerful Business To Business E-Commerce Cash Flow Proforma Template is your solid foundation to plan a business model. Advanced users are free to expand and tailor all sheets as desired, to handle specific requirements or to get into greater detail.

REPORTS and INPUTS

Financial Statements The Business To Business E-Commerce P&L Projection has pre-built proformas for the balance sheet, the pro forma income statement, and the cash flow statement. These proformas allow users to create statements both on a monthly and annual basis. Users can create detailed financial statements using the financial assumptions inputted in the Cash Flow Format In Excel.

Sources and Uses The sources and uses statement in this Business To Business E-Commerce Financial Model describes all of the company’s funding sources and the ways it spends these funds.

Profitability KPIs Net profit margin. Net profit margin is a business metric that shows how efficient your company is at generating profit compared to its revenue. In other words, this net profit margin metric tells users how each dollar translates into profits. The Net profit margin metric is an excellent way to forecast and manage the long-term growth of a business, i.e., how the income exceeds the business’s costs.

Liquidity KPIs Accounts receivable turnover (ART). In the Cashflow Projection, the accounts receivables turnover ratio (ART) calculates a metric that assesses a company’s effectiveness in collecting its receivables. This ratio shows how successful the company is in managing its debts.

Top Expenses This Business To Business E-Commerce Startup Financial Model has a Top expenses tab that displays your company’s four most significant expense categories and the rest of the expenses as the ‘other’.

Performance KPIs Lead-to-client conversion rate. Lead-to-Client Conversion Rate is an essential metric for the businesses that attract new clients with the Internet, social media, and other similar channels. Leads do not turn into customers automatically. Company’s sale team need to convert these leads into actual customers.

The Lead-to-Conversion business metric is a good measure of the sales team’s performance. Moreover, it indicates the quality of your product. If you have a low conversion rate, it may sign that your product is not attractive to the customers.

Burn and Runway Our Business To Business E-Commerce Financial Model In Excel Template automatically creates cash runway and cash burn analysis based on the forecasted revenues and expenses that, in their turn, show net loss, net profit, cash on hand, and break even formula excel. You can also forecast funding requirements using a set of parameters around funding (e.g., equity, debt, grants) and expected runway to raise (for example, 18 months of forecasted expenses).

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7+ SAMPLE B2B Sales Plan in PDF

B2b sales plan, 7+ sample b2b sales plan,  a b2b sales, benefits of a b2b sales plan, tips in developing a b2b sales, how to have a successful b2b sales plan, is commission considered a bonus, what is the definition of a commission rate, why is sales the best career option.

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7 Business Plan Examples to Inspire Your Own (2024)

Need support creating your business plan? Check out these business plan examples for inspiration.

Any aspiring entrepreneur researching how to start a business will likely be advised to write a business plan. But few resources provide business plan examples to really guide you through writing one of your own.

Here are some real-world and illustrative business plan examples to help you craft your business plan .

7 business plan examples: section by section

The business plan examples in this article follow this template:

• Executive summary.  An introductory overview of your business.
• Company description.  A more in-depth and detailed description of your business and why it exists.
• Market analysis.  Research-based information about the industry and your target market.
• Products and services.  What you plan to offer in exchange for money.
• Marketing plan.   The promotional strategy to introduce your business to the world and drive sales.
• Logistics and operations plan.  Everything that happens in the background to make your business function properly.
• Financial plan.  A breakdown of your numbers to show what you need to get started as well as to prove viability of profitability.
• Executive summary

Your  executive summary  is a page that gives a high-level overview of the rest of your business plan. It’s easiest to save this section for last.

In this  free business plan template , the executive summary is four paragraphs and takes a little over half a page:

• Company description

You might repurpose your company description elsewhere, like on your About page, social media profile pages, or other properties that require a boilerplate description of your small business.

Soap brand ORRIS  has a blurb on its About page that could easily be repurposed for the company description section of its business plan.

You can also go more in-depth with your company overview and include the following sections, like in the example for Paw Print Post:

• Business structure.  This section outlines how you  registered your business —as an  LLC , sole proprietorship, corporation, or other  business type . “Paw Print Post will operate as a sole proprietorship run by the owner, Jane Matthews.”
• Nature of the business.  “Paw Print Post sells unique, one-of-a-kind digitally printed cards that are customized with a pet’s unique paw prints.”
• Industry.  “Paw Print Post operates primarily in the pet industry and sells goods that could also be categorized as part of the greeting card industry.”
• Background information.  “Jane Matthews, the founder of Paw Print Post, has a long history in the pet industry and working with animals, and was recently trained as a graphic designer. She’s combining those two loves to capture a niche in the market: unique greeting cards customized with a pet’s paw prints, without needing to resort to the traditional (and messy) options of casting your pet’s prints in plaster or using pet-safe ink to have them stamp their ‘signature.’”
• Business objectives.  “Jane will have Paw Print Post ready to launch at the Big Important Pet Expo in Toronto to get the word out among industry players and consumers alike. After two years in business, Jane aims to drive $150,000 in annual revenue from the sale of Paw Print Post’s signature greeting cards and have expanded into two new product categories.”
• Team.  “Jane Matthews is the sole full-time employee of Paw Print Post but hires contractors as needed to support her workflow and fill gaps in her skill set. Notably, Paw Print Post has a standing contract for five hours a week of virtual assistant support with Virtual Assistants Pro.”

Your  mission statement  may also make an appearance here.  Passionfruit  shares its mission statement on its company website, and it would also work well in its example business plan.

• Market analysis

The market analysis consists of research about supply and demand, your target demographics, industry trends, and the competitive landscape. You might run a SWOT analysis and include that in your business plan. 

Here’s an example  SWOT analysis  for an online tailored-shirt business:

You’ll also want to do a  competitive analysis  as part of the market research component of your business plan. This will tell you who you’re up against and give you ideas on how to differentiate your brand. A broad competitive analysis might include:

• Target customers
• Unique value add  or what sets their products apart
• Sales pitch
• Price points  for products
• Shipping  policy
• Products and services

This section of your business plan describes your offerings—which products and services do you sell to your customers? Here’s an example for Paw Print Post:

• Marketing plan

It’s always a good idea to develop a marketing plan  before you launch your business. Your marketing plan shows how you’ll get the word out about your business, and it’s an essential component of your business plan as well.

The Paw Print Post focuses on four Ps: price, product, promotion, and place. However, you can take a different approach with your marketing plan. Maybe you can pull from your existing  marketing strategy , or maybe you break it down by the different marketing channels. Whatever approach you take, your marketing plan should describe how you intend to promote your business and offerings to potential customers.

• Logistics and operations plan

The Paw Print Post example considered suppliers, production, facilities, equipment, shipping and fulfillment, and inventory.

Financial plan

The financial plan provides a breakdown of sales, revenue, profit, expenses, and other relevant financial metrics related to funding and profiting from your business.

Ecommerce brand  Nature’s Candy’s financial plan  breaks down predicted revenue, expenses, and net profit in graphs.

It then dives deeper into the financials to include:

• Funding needs
• Projected profit-and-loss statement
• Projected balance sheet
• Projected cash-flow statement

You can use this financial plan spreadsheet to build your own financial statements, including income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statement.

Types of business plans, and what to include for each

A one-page business plan is meant to be high level and easy to understand at a glance. You’ll want to include all of the sections, but make sure they’re truncated and summarized:

• Executive summary: truncated
• Market analysis: summarized
• Products and services: summarized
• Marketing plan: summarized
• Logistics and operations plan: summarized
• Financials: summarized

A startup business plan is for a new business. Typically, these plans are developed and shared to secure  outside funding . As such, there’s a bigger focus on the financials, as well as on other sections that determine viability of your business idea—market research, for example.

• Market analysis: in-depth
• Financials: in-depth

Your internal business plan is meant to keep your team on the same page and aligned toward the same goal.

A strategic, or growth, business plan is a bigger picture, more-long-term look at your business. As such, the forecasts tend to look further into the future, and growth and revenue goals may be higher. Essentially, you want to use all the sections you would in a normal business plan and build upon each.

• Market analysis: comprehensive outlook
• Products and services: for launch and expansion
• Marketing plan: comprehensive outlook
• Logistics and operations plan: comprehensive outlook
• Financials: comprehensive outlook

Feasibility

Your feasibility business plan is sort of a pre-business plan—many refer to it as simply a feasibility study. This plan essentially lays the groundwork and validates that it’s worth the effort to make a full business plan for your idea. As such, it’s mostly centered around research.

Set yourself up for success as a business owner

Building a good business plan serves as a roadmap you can use for your ecommerce business at launch and as you reach each of your business goals. Business plans create accountability for entrepreneurs and synergy among teams, regardless of your  business model .

Kickstart your ecommerce business and set yourself up for success with an intentional business planning process—and with the sample business plans above to guide your own path.

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Business plan examples FAQ

How do i write a simple business plan, what is the best format to write a business plan, what are the 4 key elements of a business plan.

• Executive summary: A concise overview of the company's mission, goals, target audience, and financial objectives.
• Business description: A description of the company's purpose, operations, products and services, target markets, and competitive landscape.
• Market analysis: An analysis of the industry, market trends, potential customers, and competitors.
• Financial plan: A detailed description of the company's financial forecasts and strategies.

What are the 3 main points of a business plan?

• Concept: Your concept should explain the purpose of your business and provide an overall summary of what you intend to accomplish.
• Contents: Your content should include details about the products and services you provide, your target market, and your competition.
• Cashflow: Your cash flow section should include information about your expected cash inflows and outflows, such as capital investments, operating costs, and revenue projections.

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Simple Business Plan Template (2024)

Updated: May 4, 2024, 4:37pm

Table of Contents

Why business plans are vital, get your free simple business plan template, how to write an effective business plan in 6 steps, frequently asked questions.

While taking many forms and serving many purposes, they all have one thing in common: business plans help you establish your goals and define the means for achieving them. Our simple business plan template covers everything you need to consider when launching a side gig, solo operation or small business. By following this step-by-step process, you might even uncover a few alternate routes to success.

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Whether you’re a first-time solopreneur or a seasoned business owner, the planning process challenges you to examine the costs and tasks involved in bringing a product or service to market. The process can also help you spot new income opportunities and hone in on the most profitable business models.

Though vital, business planning doesn’t have to be a chore. Business plans for lean startups and solopreneurs can simply outline the business concept, sales proposition, target customers and sketch out a plan of action to bring the product or service to market. However, if you’re seeking startup funding or partnership opportunities, you’ll need a write a business plan that details market research, operating costs and revenue forecasting. Whichever startup category you fall into, if you’re at square one, our simple business plan template will point you down the right path.

Copy our free simple business plan template so you can fill in the blanks as we explore each element of your business plan. Need help getting your ideas flowing? You’ll also find several startup scenario examples below.

Download free template as .docx

Whether you need a quick-launch overview or an in-depth plan for investors, any business plan should cover the six key elements outlined in our free template and explained below. The main difference in starting a small business versus an investor-funded business is the market research and operational and financial details needed to support the concept.

1. Your Mission or Vision

Start by declaring a “dream statement” for your business. You can call this your executive summary, vision statement or mission. Whatever the name, the first part of your business plan summarizes your idea by answering five questions. Keep it brief, such as an elevator pitch. You’ll expand these answers in the following sections of the simple business plan template.

• What does your business do? Are you selling products, services, information or a combination?
• Where does this happen? Will you conduct business online, in-store, via mobile means or in a specific location or environment?
• Who does your business benefit? Who is your target market and ideal customer for your concept?
• Why would potential customers care? What would make your ideal customers take notice of your business?
• How do your products and/or services outshine the competition? What would make your ideal customers choose you over a competitor?

These answers come easily if you have a solid concept for your business, but don’t worry if you get stuck. Use the rest of your plan template to brainstorm ideas and tactics. You’ll quickly find these answers and possibly new directions as you explore your ideas and options.

2. Offer and Value Proposition

This is where you detail your offer, such as selling products, providing services or both, and why anyone would care. That’s the value proposition. Specifically, you’ll expand on your answers to the first and fourth bullets from your mission/vision.

As you complete this section, you might find that exploring value propositions uncovers marketable business opportunities that you hadn’t yet considered. So spend some time brainstorming the possibilities in this section.

For example, a cottage baker startup specializing in gluten-free or keto-friendly products might be a value proposition that certain audiences care deeply about. Plus, you could expand on that value proposition by offering wedding and other special-occasion cakes that incorporate gluten-free, keto-friendly and traditional cake elements that all guests can enjoy.

3. Audience and Ideal Customer

Here is where you explore bullet point number three, who your business will benefit. Identifying your ideal customer and exploring a broader audience for your goods or services is essential in defining your sales and marketing strategies, plus it helps fine-tune what you offer.

There are many ways to research potential audiences, but a shortcut is to simply identify a problem that people have that your product or service can solve. If you start from the position of being a problem solver, it’s easy to define your audience and describe the wants and needs of your ideal customer for marketing efforts.

Using the cottage baker startup example, a problem people might have is finding fresh-baked gluten-free or keto-friendly sweets. Examining the wants and needs of these people might reveal a target audience that is health-conscious or possibly dealing with health issues and willing to spend more for hard-to-find items.

However, it’s essential to have a customer base that can support your business. You can be too specialized. For example, our baker startup can attract a broader audience and boost revenue by offering a wider selection of traditional baked goods alongside its gluten-free and keto-focused specialties.

4. Revenue Streams, Sales Channels and Marketing

Thanks to our internet-driven economy, startups have many revenue opportunities and can connect with target audiences through various channels. Revenue streams and sales channels also serve as marketing vehicles, so you can cover all three in this section.

Revenue Streams

Revenue streams are the many ways you can make money in your business. In your plan template, list how you’ll make money upon launch, plus include ideas for future expansion. The income possibilities just might surprise you.

For example, our cottage baker startup might consider these revenue streams:

• Product sales : Online, pop-up shops , wholesale and (future) in-store sales
• Affiliate income : Monetize blog and social media posts with affiliate links
• Advertising income : Reserve website space for advertising
• E-book sales : (future) Publish recipe e-books targeting gluten-free and keto-friendly dessert niches
• Video income : (future) Monetize a YouTube channel featuring how-to videos for the gluten-free and keto-friendly dessert niches
• Webinars and online classes : (future) Monetize coaching-style webinars and online classes covering specialty baking tips and techniques
• Members-only content : (future) Monetize a members-only section of the website for specialty content to complement webinars and online classes
• Franchise : (future) Monetize a specialty cottage bakery concept and sell to franchise entrepreneurs

Sales Channels

Sales channels put your revenue streams into action. This section also answers the “where will this happen” question in the second bullet of your vision.

The product sales channels for our cottage bakery example can include:

• Mobile point-of-sale (POS) : A mobile platform such as Shopify or Square POS for managing in-person sales at local farmers’ markets, fairs and festivals
• E-commerce platform : An online store such as Shopify, Square or WooCommerce for online retail sales and wholesale sales orders
• Social media channels : Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest shoppable posts and pins for online sales via social media channels
• Brick-and-mortar location : For in-store sales , once the business has grown to a point that it can support a physical location

Channels that support other income streams might include:

• Affiliate income : Blog section on the e-commerce website and affiliate partner accounts
• Advertising income : Reserved advertising spaces on the e-commerce website
• E-book sales : Amazon e-book sales via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
• Video income : YouTube channel with ad monetization
• Webinars and online classes : Online class and webinar platforms that support member accounts, recordings and playback
• Members-only content : Password-protected website content using membership apps such as MemberPress

Nowadays, the line between marketing and sales channels is blurred. Social media outlets, e-books, websites, blogs and videos serve as both marketing tools and income opportunities. Since most are free and those with advertising options are extremely economical, these are ideal marketing outlets for lean startups.

However, many businesses still find value in traditional advertising such as local radio, television, direct mail, newspapers and magazines. You can include these advertising costs in your simple business plan template to help build a marketing plan and budget.

5. Structure, Suppliers and Operations

This section of your simple business plan template explores how to structure and operate your business. Details include the type of business organization your startup will take, roles and responsibilities, supplier logistics and day-to-day operations. Also, include any certifications or permits needed to launch your enterprise in this section.

Our cottage baker example might use a structure and startup plan such as this:

• Business structure : Sole proprietorship with a “doing business as” (DBA) .
• Permits and certifications : County-issued food handling permit and state cottage food certification for home-based food production. Option, check into certified commercial kitchen rentals.
• Roles and responsibilities : Solopreneur, all roles and responsibilities with the owner.
• Supply chain : Bulk ingredients and food packaging via Sam’s Club, Costco, Amazon Prime with annual membership costs. Uline for shipping supplies; no membership needed.
• Day-to-day operations : Source ingredients and bake three days per week to fulfill local and online orders. Reserve time for specialty sales, wholesale partner orders and market events as needed. Ship online orders on alternating days. Update website and create marketing and affiliate blog posts on non-shipping days.

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6. Financial Forecasts

Your final task is to list forecasted business startup and ongoing costs and profit projections in your simple business plan template. Thanks to free business tools such as Square and free marketing on social media, lean startups can launch with few upfront costs. In many cases, cost of goods, shipping and packaging, business permits and printing for business cards are your only out-of-pocket expenses.

Cost Forecast

Our cottage baker’s forecasted lean startup costs might include:

Gross Profit Projections

This helps you determine the retail prices and sales volume required to keep your business running and, hopefully, earn income for yourself. Use product research to spot target retail prices for your goods, then subtract your cost of goods, such as hourly rate, raw goods and supplier costs. The total amount is your gross profit per item or service.

Here are some examples of projected gross profits for our cottage baker:

Bottom Line

Putting careful thought and detail in a business plan is always beneficial, but don’t get so bogged down in planning that you never hit the start button to launch your business . Also, remember that business plans aren’t set in stone. Markets, audiences and technologies change, and so will your goals and means of achieving them. Think of your business plan as a living document and regularly revisit, expand and restructure it as market opportunities and business growth demand.

Is there a template for a business plan?

You can copy our free business plan template and fill in the blanks or customize it in Google Docs, Microsoft Word or another word processing app. This free business plan template includes the six key elements that any entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a new business.

What does a simple business plan include?

A simple business plan is a one- to two-page overview covering six key elements that any budding entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a startup. These include your vision or mission, product or service offering, target audience, revenue streams and sales channels, structure and operations, and financial forecasts.

How can I create a free business plan template?

Start with our free business plan template that covers the six essential elements of a startup. Once downloaded, you can edit this document in Google Docs or another word processing app and add new sections or subsections to your plan template to meet your specific business plan needs.

What basic items should be included in a business plan?

When writing out a business plan, you want to make sure that you cover everything related to your concept for the business,  an analysis of the industry―including potential customers and an overview of the market for your goods or services―how you plan to execute your vision for the business, how you plan to grow the business if it becomes successful and all financial data around the business, including current cash on hand, potential investors and budget plans for the next few years.

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Krista Fabregas is a seasoned eCommerce and online content pro sharing more than 20 years of hands-on know-how with those looking to launch and grow tech-forward businesses. Her expertise includes eCommerce startups and growth, SMB operations and logistics, website platforms, payment systems, side-gig and affiliate income, and multichannel marketing. Krista holds a bachelor's degree in English from The University of Texas at Austin and held senior positions at NASA, a Fortune 100 company, and several online startups.

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