Preparing Your Business Plan

A business plan is a key determinent of success during the start-up and on-going operation stages of a business. A business plan is a written summary outlining the overall activities and strategy of the business including the marketing plan, financials, labour, customer and supplier requirements and general information relating to the business. The plan is particularly critical when approaching banks and financial institutions for assistance. A business plan should be prepared in the start-up stage of your business and reviewed on an ongoing basis to identify if your business strategy is being met or to outline any changes. Below is a list of headings found in a typical business plan:

 Executive Summary
 Business Description
 Project Costs and Funding
 Product/Service Description
 Marketing
 Operating Requirements
 Management
 Personnel
 References
 Financial Projections

The following is a list of resources that will help you develop a business plan:

Preparing a Business Plan

The Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre has a multitude of resources on the basics of business planning for starting a business in Ontario. The information includes "how to" guides and web based tools to help you develop an effective and detailed business plan.

Interactive Business Planner

The Interactive Business Planner is a free computer software program offered by the Canada Business Service Centre that uses the capabilities of the Internet to assist you in preparing a 3 year business plan for a new or existing business.