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Top 5 Business Plan Timeline Template with Samples and Examples

Vaishali Rai

US statesman Benjamin Franklin has given the world this timeless piece of wisdom, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” 

Yet, many entrepreneurs leap into initiating their business plans without having a solid business timeline. 

Writing a business plan timeline can sound boring, complex, and a waste of time when you're a busy entrepreneur with so much on your plate. However, for many businesses, the timelining phase is a make-or-break step that could save you time, money, resources, and energy in the long run.

Let's talk about what a Business Plan timeline is.

A business plan timeline is a flexible roadmap to the business's accomplished and pending goals. Any startup or new business must use a business plan timeline to track its achievements, milestones, and failures. In simple terms, a business plan timeline is a guide that outlines and tracks the progress of your business to date. It features the effectiveness of business strategies to track productivity, such as digital marketing tasks, market research projects, and organizational operations activities.

You’ve created a strategic business plan — now what? You need some additional planning documents to help map out your long-term strategy by outlining your daily actions. Stay on track with our carefully structured Top 10 Business Operational Plan Templates with Samples and Examples!

Why do you need a business plan timeline template?

The thought of starting a business plan can be an exciting time. No matter how excited you are to start with your great idea, it pays to slow down and create a timeline that will help determine loopholes in your plan and identify structural weaknesses of your business at an early stage. A good timeline template presents a road map to structure, operate, and grow your business. Competitors are waiting to outshine, even ambush, you. Thus, a business plan timeline template helps identify your company's core strengths using a balanced combination of logic and strategy.

From business analysis to financial projections, our thoughtfully-designed business plan timeline templates will set benchmarks, proactively align your team around a shared objective, and help avoid getting off track.

The 100% customizable nature of the our business plan ppt templates provides you with the desired flexibility to edit your presentations. The content ready slides give you the much-needed structure.

Check these out now!

Template 1: 10-Day Timeline Information Technology Marketing Activities Business Planning

Initiating marketing activities with a clear plan leads to consistent achievements. Use this 100% customized 10-Day Timeline Information Technology Marketing Activities template to present your data in a clear, easy-to-understand format. The template includes 11 slides, including a 10-day timeline, information, technology, marketing, and activities.

Download Now!

Template 2: 3-year Planning Timeline Business Plan Achievement Innovation Development

Keep your audience glued to seats with this professionally designed 3-year planning timeline Template. The template revolves around a new product innovation timeline, including innovation, transformation, strengths, weaknesses, efficiency, and effectiveness of a product. This deck comprises ten slides with creative visuals and well-researched content with appropriate layouts, diagrams, graphs, icons, charts, etc.

Template 3: Three-month Business Planning Timeline

A business plan is a set of actions or processes that describe how an organization plans and runs. This three-month Business Planning Timeline helps you demonstrate business plans essential for an organization to grow and accomplish its goals. The template helps in discussing approaches, techniques, tips, strategies, tools, and processes available with your team to achieve a target.

Template 4: Monthly Business Plan Animation Timeline

Guide your team about theories and methods of the sales planning and selling with this impressive Monthly Business Plan Animation Timeline Template. Clearly share your organization's vision, mission, and milestones timeline with your team. Get an overview of the specific market segments which your organization is targeting. It also helps identify the areas for improvement, failures, and weaknesses.

Template 5: Business Plan Executive Summary Company Timeline

A company's executive summary is like the back cover of your book. Capture and hold interest with this well-crafted and engaging business plan executive summary company timeline template that can effectively display the organization's policy, description, financial information, project fund investment, and market analysis. The template helps decision-makers get the gist of the entire project with just a flip through the executive summary.

THE TEST OF TIME

Multiple business plans come and go, but a business timeline has always stood the test of time. A business timeline is more than a bunch of numbers, scribbles, and buzzwords. It is a visual walkthrough of your business's journey and a roadmap to achieve key milestones while remaining useful and valued among competitors. Creating certainty, clarity, and consistency are the three foundations of a winning business plan template.

Don't wait! Grab your favorite business plan timeline template from the above set, prioritize your time better, and hire the right people at the right time for the right role.

FAQs on Business Plan Timeline

What is a timeline in a business plan.

The timeline is primarily a part of the Operations Plan of your business. However, you can also incorporate some key highlights from the timeline in the executive summary. 

A business plan timeline refers to a timeframe assigned against the established key milestones to show the expected duration to reach each of them. Your business plan timeline depends on historical and real-time data for it to be as practical and realistic as possible. An ideal business plan timeline includes the following elements:

• Where do you want to reach?
• When do you want to reach?
• How do you want to reach?

How do you write a timeline for a business plan?

First, to create a timeline, schedule your milestone list and put it into a timeline format for a quick visual reference. Make sure milestones are sorted by priority. There are many ways to create a business plan timeline. Some of these are:

• Gantt charts
• Excel sheets

Choose the format that works best for you, depending upon the functionality and the ease of use to track progress of completed tasks. However, you can always use our well-designed and researched business timeline templates to curate yours.

What are the seven steps of a business plan?

A good business plan provides direction to the company, attracts investors, and converts visitors into buyers. 

Now, how do you write a business plan?

• Research : To write the perfect plan, you must intimately know your company, product, competition, and market.
• Determine the purpose of your plan : Your plan is a road map that provides directions, steers the business towards gradual success, and helps avoid any bumps.
• Create a company profile : It displays the history of an organization, the products and services offered, the target market and audience, financial resources, and how you're going to solve a problem.
• Document business aspects : Investors want to ensure your business is profitable. Thus, they do in-detail research about your company. Document everything to help with this process, so you don't miss anything.
• Build a strategic marketing plan : A great business plan must include a strategic marketing plan that demonstrates your marketing activities and efforts.
• Make your plan adaptable based on your target audience : Each reader does have different interests. If you're successfully capturing these interests and data early, you can incorporate them while preparing a business plan for a particular audience.
• Explain why you care : Whether you're sharing your plan with an investor, team member, or a customer. Your plan must confidently present that you're passionate, dedicated, and care about your audience, business, and the plan.

What is a project timeline in a business proposal?

A business plan is just a wish list without a clear picture of what will happen. The best way to ensure the business plan stays aligned with the project requirements is by maintaining a project timeline.

A project timeline lays out the milestones of your business plan, employees' details, organization policy, locations, project fund investment, sales targets, net revenue expected and other targets, and the estimated time it will take to meet these.

A project timeline is a chronological list of plans, tasks, and activities that gives project managers a comprehensive view of the project plan. It is usually created in a template or bar chart, where each activity or task is allocated a name along with its start and end date.

Mainly, a project timeline provides an in-depth overview of the project, including its start date, due date, and task dependencies, if any.

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How to Create a Business Plan Timeline

Below you will learn what a business plan timeline is and where it belongs in your business plan.  

What is a Business Plan Timeline?

A business plan timeline lays out the key milestones you hope to achieve in your business and when you plan to accomplish them.   

The Importance of a Timeline

In running a business, it is very easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities and putting out fires. When you do this, unfortunately, it’s hard to grow your business. Having a timeline that lists your key goals forces you to spend time each day, week, and month to work on key growth initiatives.

Also, if you are seeking funding, investors and lenders need to understand these milestones and your projected dates for accomplishing them. This helps give them confidence that you will successfully execute your plan. 

Also, having a timeline helps you better prioritize your time and hire the right people at the right time.

    Finish Your Business Plan Today!

Where does the timeline go in the business plan.

The timeline belongs primarily in the Operations Plan of your business plan, however, you may include some highlights within the Executive Summary as well. 

Using the established key milestones you have created, you will now assign a timeframe to those milestones to show when you expect to reach each milestone. Remember, use historical data and be realistic in your timeline so that you can meet these goals.  

What Should Be Included in the Timeline?

Your business is currently at point A. Where you want to go is to point B. Now getting from point A to point B requires you to complete milestones.

And the most important ones are what I call “risk-mitigating milestones.” These are the milestones that help eliminate the risk of your company failing.

Some examples of “risk mitigating milestones” may include:

• Finding a location for your business, store, warehouse, etc.
• Getting the permits and licenses
• Building the facility/store
• Hiring and training staff
• New products and services introductions
• Store opening date
• Key employee hires
• Revenue milestones (date when sales exceed $X, when sales exceed $Y, etc.)
• Key partnerships executed
• Key customer contracts secured
• Key financial events (future funding rounds, IPO, etc.)

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, it is your job to identify your risk-mitigating milestones and prioritize them so that you can take steps each day toward the larger business goals.  

How to Create & Prioritize Your Milestone List

Create your detailed risk-mitigating milestone list first. The goal should be to list approximately six major milestones in the next year, five milestones in the following year, and so on for up to five years (so include two in year 5). 

You can use this as a “To Do” list and ensure you achieve your goals each day, week, and month, further developing your business strategy.

Next to each milestone, include the expected timeframe, due date, and the budget you will need to attain them. For example, you may want to launch a billboard marketing campaign over a 6-month period (Expected Due Date: 6/30/2022), and the expected cost is $18,000.

After you create your milestone list, you need to prioritize them. Decide on which milestones you should achieve with the initial funding if needed. Ideally, these will get you to the point where you are generating revenues or profits. This is because the ability to generate revenues significantly reduces the risk of your venture; as it proves to lenders and investors that customers want the products and/or services you are offering.

By setting up your milestones, you will figure out what you can accomplish for less money. And the fact is, the less money you need to raise, the easier it generally is to raise it (mainly because the easiest to raise money sources offer lower dollar amounts).  

How to Develop a Timeline For Your Business Plan

You’ve already completed the hard part. 

Now, it’s time to schedule your milestone list and convert it into a timeline format to give you a quick visual reference. Be sure that your timeline includes all the milestones that you’ve deemed a priority.

There are many businesses that prefer to develop Gantt charts, while others may prefer a calendar, Excel sheet, or another preferred format. Choose the format that works best for you.

There are several format options and platforms to choose from if you do a quick search for “ create a timeline online .” However, keep in mind that it’s not how pretty the timeline is, it’s about functionality and the ease of use to track the progress of all the tasks completed. 

Here are a couple of options:

Source: SlideTeam

This one-page timeline is a downloadable template that is clean and easy to read and follow. While it doesn’t have all the details on this one page, it has enough information to help business leaders understand if the team is on track.

Source: Office Timeline

This is a PowerPoint Presentation add-in that allows you to create a custom Gantt chart with your Microsoft Office account. While the chart above says a 5-year plan, note that they did not include the parts of the milestones beyond Year 1. This may be to reduce clutter and keep focused on the near-future goals. 

Source: GanttPro

This Gantt chart online platform offers another alternative allowing you to assign tasks to others on your team and monitor their progress all in one place. It also tracks the time to complete each task so that you can better schedule in the future for similar projects.

These are only a few of the platforms available online to create an amazing timeline for your business plan. In the beginning, it may be a lot of work to set up, but once you obtain the funding you are seeking, it’ll be well worth the time and effort.

By creating a timeline as early as possible in the business planning process, you can begin to establish realistic goals that can help improve day-to-day decision-making and boost confidence among current and potential stakeholders.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

How Do I Develop a Timeline for a Business Plan?

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A business plan lays the foundation for the organization you’re in the process of starting. It helps you develop and understand your business strategy, and it enables investors to see the potential in your company. When you’re working on the timeline or schedule for your business plan, it’s essential to consider both the big picture and the smaller details to stay on schedule while starting and running your business.

Identify and Schedule Your Key Milestones

There’s a lot to do when you’re trying to get your business off the ground. To determine how to create your timeline or schedule, it’s critical to identify your key milestones. These are the things you need to complete to launch your business.

Your key business milestones may include:

• Legal procedures such as incorporating your business or creating a partnership;
• Acquiring all the required federal, state and county licenses and permits;
• Securing your office, retail or manufacturing space;
• Designing, developing and packaging your product for sale;
• Purchasing business items such as a POS system, shelving or other materials;
• Hiring your employees;
• Launching your marketing campaign; and
• Officially opening your business.

After you schedule the large milestones, you can begin to factor in the smaller targets you need to hit. These may include creating your marketing materials and scheduling employee interviews. The smaller milestones build up to the larger ones.

Consider Past, Present and Future

When you’re creating the timeline for your business plan, don’t forget to factor in what you have already accomplished. The milestones you have achieved should also be part of your timeline. This information helps your investors understand the steps you have already taken and how much further you have to go.

An example of a timeline in a business plan may include market research you have already conducted or relationships with suppliers you have established.

Create a timeframe for each key milestone. Include a start date and an end date for items that require weeks or months of planning and execution. Some items may only require a due date.

Be sure to consider interdependencies for your milestones. Some milestones cannot be started until you have completed others.

For example, you cannot open your business until you have secured your permits. However, certain tasks can be completed in tandem, such as working on your marketing campaigns and obtaining business items.

Your business plan should not only be concerned with the immediate future. Include the milestones you intend to hit one, three and five years from now. You may plan to add new product lines to your business, consider expanding the warehouse facility or anticipate moving into a new downtown office in five years.

Use the Right Format to Create Your Business Timeline

Because business plan timelines have many interrelated components and complex schedules, it’s important to present your timeline in a way that’s easy to read and follow. Consider using a Gantt chart, which is a useful way to visually illustrate a project’s schedule. Gantt charts also show the interdependencies of specific tasks, which is necessary for a business plan timeline. A Gantt chart enables you to input start dates, end dates and hard deadlines.

You can create a Gantt chart in Microsoft Excel with the help of a free template that you download from the Microsoft website. You can also use a specialized Gantt chart solution, such as that offered by SmartSheet. It includes a preformatted template so you can easily add in tasks and dates, establish hierarchies and delineate dependencies.

• Microsoft Office: Present Your Data in a Gantt Chart in Excel
• U.S. Small Business Administration: Write Your Business Plan
• Money Instructor: Business Plans: Initial Start-Up Timeline
• WrittenSuccess: Building a Business Plan Timeline: What to Consider
• SmartSheet: How to Create a Gantt Chart in Excel With a Template

Anam Ahmed is a Toronto-based writer and editor with over a decade of experience helping small businesses and entrepreneurs reach new heights. She has experience ghostwriting and editing business books, especially those in the "For Dummies" series, in addition to writing and editing web content for the brand. Anam works as a marketing strategist and copywriter, collaborating with everyone from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, lifestyle bloggers to professional athletes. As a small business owner herself, she is well-versed in what it takes to run and market a small business. Anam earned an M.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A.H. from Queen's University. Learn more at www.anamahmed.ca.

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550+ Business Plan Samples To Inspire Your Plan

Inspire your own plan with 550+ business plan samples

Use real business plan examples to jump-start your own plan!

Don’t start from scratch — get a headstart with 550 real business plan examples

How do you know what elements to include in your business plan, if you’ve never written one before? Looking at real business plan samples can help you visualize what a successful plan looks like, so you know what you’re aiming for before you get started. With LivePlan you’ll have access to over 550 free example business plans to use as a starting point.

Access our full library and browse real sample content for a broad range of businesses. You’ll see how others have written effective executive summaries, planned marketing activities, created financial forecasts , and more. Plus we’ll be right there to walk you through it .

Whether you run a dentist office or dog walking service, you’ll find examples of a business plan for every type of business.

Whether you’re a small- or mid-sized business, freelancer, nonprofit, or still figuring that out, we’ve got you covered.

LivePlan’s library of business plan samples has real business plans from 150 industries and growing. You can see the complete list here .

It’s OK if you can’t find an exact match to your business. You don’t need an exact match for a sample plan to be helpful. Instead, look for a plan that’s closely related to the type of business you’re starting. For example, if you want to start a vegetarian restaurant, a plan for a steakhouse will still be a great match.

While the specifics of your actual business will differ, the elements you’ll want to include in your restaurant’s business plan are similar—and they’re all included in LivePlan .

Real business plan examples to save you time

Read through as many sample business plans as you like to see how it’s done and get inspired. And if you really want to, you can even copy and paste sections to use in your own plan.

We’ve collected sample plans over more than 20 years, most through generous donations from happy customers who used our software and wanted to share their successful business plan samples with others.

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With LivePlan, it’s not just a classroom project. It’s your students planning for their futures. Click here to learn more about business planning for students.

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In addition to complete sample plans, LivePlan includes specific examples for each part of your business plan. Browse through a few examples to get an idea of how other businesses have worded their executive summary, for instance, or other key sections of the business plan. Find an example that works for you and personalize it to fit your business.

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In addition to sample business plans, LivePlan includes current industry benchmarks so you can see what the numbers look like for businesses just like yours. Knowing your industry standards helps ensure that your plan is both competitive and realistic.

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24 of My Favorite Sample Business Plans & Examples For Your Inspiration

Published: February 06, 2024

I believe that reading sample business plans is essential when writing your own.

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As you explore business plan examples from real companies and brands, it’s easier for you to learn how to write a good one.

But what does a good business plan look like? And how do you write one that’s both viable and convincing. I’ll walk you through the ideal business plan format along with some examples to help you get started.

Table of Contents

Business Plan Format

Business plan types, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.

Ask any successful sports coach how they win so many games, and they’ll tell you they have a unique plan for every single game. To me, the same logic applies to business.

If you want to build a thriving company that can pull ahead of the competition, you need to prepare for battle before breaking into a market.

Business plans guide you along the rocky journey of growing a company. And if your business plan is compelling enough, it can also convince investors to give you funding.

With so much at stake, I’m sure you’re wondering where to begin.

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First, you’ll want to nail down your formatting. Most business plans include the following sections.

1. Executive Summary

I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. 

Why? Essentially, it's the overview or introduction, written in a way to grab readers' attention and guide them through the rest of the business plan. This is important, because a business plan can be dozens or hundreds of pages long.

There are two main elements I’d recommend including in your executive summary:

Company Description

This is the perfect space to highlight your company’s mission statement and goals, a brief overview of your history and leadership, and your top accomplishments as a business.

Tell potential investors who you are and why what you do matters. Naturally, they’re going to want to know who they’re getting into business with up front, and this is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.

Need some extra help firming up those business goals? Check out HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set goals that matter — I’d highly recommend it

Products and Services

To piggyback off of the company description, be sure to incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive — just another chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business.

In addition to the items above, I recommend including some information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here too.:

Keep in mind you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. So, keep the executive summary clear and brief, and only include the most important takeaways.

Executive Summary Business Plan Examples

This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template:

This executive summary is so good to me because it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.

Image Source

Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary

• Start with a strong introduction of your company, showcase your mission and impact, and outline the products and services you provide.
• Clearly define a problem, and explain how your product solves that problem, and show why the market needs your business.
• Be sure to highlight your value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential.
• Keep it concise and support ideas with data.
• Customize your summary to your audience. For example, emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists.

Check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary for more guidance.

2. Market Opportunity

This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market.

The main question I’d ask myself here is this: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?

More specifically, here’s what I’d include in this section:

• The size of the market
• Current or potential market share
• Trends in the industry and consumer behavior
• Where the gap is
• What caused the gap
• How you intend to fill it

To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, and SOM analysis and perform market research on your industry.

You may also benefit from creating a SWOT analysis to get some of the insights for this section.

Market Opportunity Business Plan Example

I like this example because it uses critical data to underline the size of the potential market and what part of that market this service hopes to capture.

Tips for Writing Your Market Opportunity Section

• Focus on demand and potential for growth.
• Use market research, surveys, and industry trend data to support your market forecast and projections.
• Add a review of regulation shifts, tech advances, and consumer behavior changes.
• Refer to reliable sources.
• Showcase how your business can make the most of this opportunity.

3. Competitive Landscape

Since we’re already speaking of market share, you'll also need to create a section that shares details on who the top competitors are.

After all, your customers likely have more than one brand to choose from, and you'll want to understand exactly why they might choose one over another.

My favorite part of performing a competitive analysis is that it can help you uncover:

• Industry trends that other brands may not be utilizing
• Strengths in your competition that may be obstacles to handle
• Weaknesses in your competition that may help you develop selling points
• The unique proposition you bring to the market that may resonate with customers

Competitive Landscape Business Plan Example

I like how the competitive landscape section of this business plan below shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are.

It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location, which shows useful experience in this specific industry. 

This can help build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.

Tips for Writing Your Competitive Landscape

• Complete in-depth research, then emphasize your most important findings.
• Compare your unique selling proposition (USP) to your direct and indirect competitors.
• Show a clear and realistic plan for product and brand differentiation.
• Look for specific advantages and barriers in the competitive landscape. Then, highlight how that information could impact your business.
• Outline growth opportunities from a competitive perspective.
• Add customer feedback and insights to support your competitive analysis.

4. Target Audience

Use this section to describe who your customer segments are in detail. What is the demographic and psychographic information of your audience?

If your immediate answer is "everyone," you'll need to dig deeper. Here are some questions I’d ask myself here:

• What demographics will most likely need/buy your product or service?
• What are the psychographics of this audience? (Desires, triggering events, etc.)
• Why are your offerings valuable to them?

I’d also recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear on why you're targeting them.

Target Audience Business Plan Example

I like the example below because it uses in-depth research to draw conclusions about audience priorities. It also analyzes how to create the right content for this audience.

Tips for Writing Your Target Audience Section

• Include details on the size and growth potential of your target audience.
• Figure out and refine the pain points for your target audience , then show why your product is a useful solution.
• Describe your targeted customer acquisition strategy in detail.
• Share anticipated challenges your business may face in acquiring customers and how you plan to address them.
• Add case studies, testimonials, and other data to support your target audience ideas.
• Remember to consider niche audiences and segments of your target audience in your business plan.

5. Marketing Strategy

Here, you'll discuss how you'll acquire new customers with your marketing strategy. I’d suggest including information:

• Your brand positioning vision and how you'll cultivate it
• The goal targets you aim to achieve
• The metrics you'll use to measure success
• The channels and distribution tactics you'll use

I think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier.

Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example

This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler.

In my opinion, it really works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.

Tips for Writing Your Marketing Strategy

• Include a section about how you believe your brand vision will appeal to customers.
• Add the budget and resources you'll need to put your plan in place.
• Outline strategies for specific marketing segments.
• Connect strategies to earlier sections like target audience and competitive analysis.
• Review how your marketing strategy will scale with the growth of your business.
• Cover a range of channels and tactics to highlight your ability to adapt your plan in the face of change.

6. Key Features and Benefits

At some point in your business plan, you'll need to review the key features and benefits of your products and/or services.

Laying these out can give readers an idea of how you're positioning yourself in the market and the messaging you're likely to use. It can even help them gain better insight into your business model.

Key Features and Benefits Business Plan Example

In my opinion, the example below does a great job outlining products and services for this business, along with why these qualities will attract the audience.

Tips for Writing Your Key Features and Benefits

• Emphasize why and how your product or service offers value to customers.
• Use metrics and testimonials to support the ideas in this section.
• Talk about how your products and services have the potential to scale.
• Think about including a product roadmap.
• Focus on customer needs, and how the features and benefits you are sharing meet those needs.
• Offer proof of concept for your ideas, like case studies or pilot program feedback.
• Proofread this section carefully, and remove any jargon or complex language.

7. Pricing and Revenue

This is where you'll discuss your cost structure and various revenue streams. Your pricing strategy must be solid enough to turn a profit while staying competitive in the industry. 

For this reason, here’s what I’d might outline in this section:

• The specific pricing breakdowns per product or service
• Why your pricing is higher or lower than your competition's
• (If higher) Why customers would be willing to pay more
• (If lower) How you're able to offer your products or services at a lower cost
• When you expect to break even, what margins do you expect, etc?

Pricing and Revenue Business Plan Example

I like how this business plan example begins with an overview of the business revenue model, then shows proposed pricing for key products.

Tips for Writing Your Pricing and Revenue Section

• Get specific about your pricing strategy. Specifically, how you connect that strategy to customer needs and product value.
• If you are asking a premium price, share unique features or innovations that justify that price point.
• Show how you plan to communicate pricing to customers.
• Create an overview of every revenue stream for your business and how each stream adds to your business model as a whole.
• Share plans to develop new revenue streams in the future.
• Show how and whether pricing will vary by customer segment and how pricing aligns with marketing strategies.
• Restate your value proposition and explain how it aligns with your revenue model.

8. Financials

To me, this section is particularly informative for investors and leadership teams to figure out funding strategies, investment opportunities, and more.

 According to Forbes , you'll want to include three main things:

• Profit/Loss Statement - This answers the question of whether your business is currently profitable.
• Cash Flow Statement - This details exactly how much cash is incoming and outgoing to give insight into how much cash a business has on hand.
• Balance Sheet - This outlines assets, liabilities, and equity, which gives insight into how much a business is worth.

While some business plans might include more or less information, these are the key details I’d include in this section.

Financials Business Plan Example

This balance sheet is a great example of level of detail you’ll need to include in the financials section of your business plan.

Tips for Writing Your Financials Section

• Growth potential is important in this section too. Using your data, create a forecast of financial performance in the next three to five years.
• Include any data that supports your projections to assure investors of the credibility of your proposal.
• Add a break-even analysis to show that your business plan is financially practical. This information can also help you pivot quickly as your business grows.
• Consider adding a section that reviews potential risks and how sensitive your plan is to changes in the market.
• Triple-check all financial information in your plan for accuracy.
• Show how any proposed funding needs align with your plans for growth.

As you create your business plan, keep in mind that each of these sections will be formatted differently. Some may be in paragraph format, while others could be charts or graphs.

The formats above apply to most types of business plans. That said, the format and structure of your plan will vary by your goals for that plan. 

So, I’ve added a quick review of different business plan types. For a more detailed overview, check out this post .

1. Startups

Startup business plans are for proposing new business ideas.

If you’re planning to start a small business, preparing a business plan is crucial. The plan should include all the major factors of your business.

You can check out this guide for more detailed business plan inspiration .

2. Feasibility Studies

Feasibility business plans focus on that business's product or service. Feasibility plans are sometimes added to startup business plans. They can also be a new business plan for an already thriving organization.

3. Internal Use

You can use internal business plans to share goals, strategies, or performance updates with stakeholders. In my opinion, internal business plans are useful for alignment and building support for ambitious goals.

4. Strategic Initiatives

Another business plan that's often for sharing internally is a strategic business plan. This plan covers long-term business objectives that might not have been included in the startup business plan.

5. Business Acquisition or Repositioning

When a business is moving forward with an acquisition or repositioning, it may need extra structure and support. These types of business plans expand on a company's acquisition or repositioning strategy.

Growth sometimes just happens as a business continues operations. But more often, a business needs to create a structure with specific targets to meet set goals for expansion. This business plan type can help a business focus on short-term growth goals and align resources with those goals.

Now that you know what's included and how to format a business plan, let's review some of my favorite templates.

1. HubSpot's One-Page Business Plan

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

The business plan linked above was created here at HubSpot and is perfect for businesses of any size — no matter how many strategies we still have to develop.

Fields such as Company Description, Required Funding, and Implementation Timeline give this one-page business plan a framework for how to build your brand and what tasks to keep track of as you grow.

Then, as the business matures, you can expand on your original business plan with a new iteration of the above document.

Why I Like It

This one-page business plan is a fantastic choice for the new business owner who doesn’t have the time or resources to draft a full-blown business plan. It includes all the essential sections in an accessible, bullet-point-friendly format. That way, you can get the broad strokes down before honing in on the details.

2. HubSpot's Downloadable Business Plan Template

We also created a business plan template for entrepreneurs.

The template is designed as a guide and checklist for starting your own business. You’ll learn what to include in each section of your business plan and how to do it.

There’s also a list for you to check off when you finish each section of your business plan.

Strong game plans help coaches win games and help businesses rocket to the top of their industries. So if you dedicate the time and effort required to write a workable and convincing business plan, you’ll boost your chances of success and even dominance in your market.

This business plan kit is essential for the budding entrepreneur who needs a more extensive document to share with investors and other stakeholders.

It not only includes sections for your executive summary, product line, market analysis, marketing plan, and sales plan, but it also offers hands-on guidance for filling out those sections.

3. LiveFlow’s Financial Planning Template with built-in automation

This free template from LiveFlow aims to make it easy for businesses to create a financial plan and track their progress on a monthly basis.

The P&L Budget versus Actual format allows users to track their revenue, cost of sales, operating expenses, operating profit margin, net profit, and more.

The summary dashboard aggregates all of the data put into the financial plan sheet and will automatically update when changes are made.

Instead of wasting hours manually importing your data to your spreadsheet, LiveFlow can also help you to automatically connect your accounting and banking data directly to your spreadsheet, so your numbers are always up-to-date.

With the dashboard, you can view your runway, cash balance, burn rate, gross margins, and other metrics. Having a simple way to track everything in one place will make it easier to complete the financials section of your business plan.

This is a fantastic template to track performance and alignment internally and to create a dependable process for documenting financial information across the business. It’s highly versatile and beginner-friendly.

It’s especially useful if you don’t have an accountant on the team. (I always recommend you do, but for new businesses, having one might not be possible.)

4. ThoughtCo’s Sample Business Plan

One of the more financially oriented sample business plans in this list, BPlan’s free business plan template dedicates many of its pages to your business’s financial plan and financial statements.

After filling this business plan out, your company will truly understand its financial health and the steps you need to take to maintain or improve it.

I absolutely love this business plan template because of its ease-of-use and hands-on instructions (in addition to its finance-centric components). If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing an entire business plan, consider using this template to help you with the process.

6. Harvard Business Review’s "How to Write a Winning Business Plan"

Most sample business plans teach you what to include in your business plan, but this Harvard Business Review article will take your business plan to the next level — it teaches you the why and how behind writing a business plan.

With the guidance of Stanley Rich and Richard Gumpert, co-authors of " Business Plans That Win: Lessons From the MIT Enterprise Forum ", you'll learn how to write a convincing business plan that emphasizes the market demand for your product or service.

You’ll also learn the financial benefits investors can reap from putting money into your venture rather than trying to sell them on how great your product or service is.

This business plan guide focuses less on the individual parts of a business plan, and more on the overarching goal of writing one. For that reason, it’s one of my favorites to supplement any template you choose to use. Harvard Business Review’s guide is instrumental for both new and seasoned business owners.

7. HubSpot’s Complete Guide to Starting a Business

If you’re an entrepreneur, you know writing a business plan is one of the most challenging first steps to starting a business.

Fortunately, with HubSpot's comprehensive guide to starting a business, you'll learn how to map out all the details by understanding what to include in your business plan and why it’s important to include them. The guide also fleshes out an entire sample business plan for you.

If you need further guidance on starting a business, HubSpot's guide can teach you how to make your business legal, choose and register your business name, and fund your business. It will also give small business tax information and includes marketing, sales, and service tips.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of starting a business, in addition to writing your business plan, with a high level of exactitude and detail. So if you’re in the midst of starting your business, this is an excellent guide for you.

It also offers other resources you might need, such as market analysis templates.

8. Panda Doc’s Free Business Plan Template

PandaDoc’s free business plan template is one of the more detailed and fleshed-out sample business plans on this list. It describes what you should include in each section, so you don't have to come up with everything from scratch.

Once you fill it out, you’ll fully understand your business’ nitty-gritty details and how all of its moving parts should work together to contribute to its success.

This template has two things I love: comprehensiveness and in-depth instructions. Plus, it’s synced with PandaDoc’s e-signature software so that you and other stakeholders can sign it with ease. For that reason, I especially love it for those starting a business with a partner or with a board of directors.

9. Small Business Administration Free Business Plan Template

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers several free business plan templates that can be used to inspire your own plan.

Before you get started, you can decide what type of business plan you need — a traditional or lean start-up plan.

Then, you can review the format for both of those plans and view examples of what they might look like.

We love both of the SBA’s templates because of their versatility. You can choose between two options and use the existing content in the templates to flesh out your own plan. Plus, if needed, you can get a free business counselor to help you along the way.

I’ve compiled some completed business plan samples to help you get an idea of how to customize a plan for your business.

I chose different types of business plan ideas to expand your imagination. Some are extensive, while others are fairly simple.

Let’s take a look.

1. LiveFlow

One of the major business expenses is marketing. How you handle your marketing reflects your company’s revenue.

I included this business plan to show you how you can ensure your marketing team is aligned with your overall business plan to get results. The plan also shows you how to track even the smallest metrics of your campaigns, like ROI and payback periods instead of just focusing on big metrics like gross and revenue.

Fintech startup, LiveFlow, allows users to sync real-time data from its accounting services, payment platforms, and banks into custom reports. This eliminates the task of pulling reports together manually, saving teams time and helping automate workflows.

"Using this framework over a traditional marketing plan will help you set a profitable marketing strategy taking things like CAC, LTV, Payback period, and P&L into consideration," explains LiveFlow co-founder, Lasse Kalkar .

When it came to including marketing strategy in its business plan, LiveFlow created a separate marketing profit and loss statement (P&L) to track how well the company was doing with its marketing initiatives.

This is a great approach, allowing businesses to focus on where their marketing dollars are making the most impact. Having this information handy will enable you to build out your business plan’s marketing section with confidence. LiveFlow has shared the template here . You can test it for yourself.

2. Lula Body

Sometimes all you need is a solid mission statement and core values to guide you on how to go about everything. You do this by creating a business plan revolving around how to fulfill your statement best.

For example, Patagonia is an eco-friendly company, so their plan discusses how to make the best environmentally friendly products without causing harm.

A good mission statement  should not only resonate with consumers but should also serve as a core value compass for employees as well.

Patagonia has one of the most compelling mission statements I’ve seen:

"Together, let’s prioritise purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home."

It reels you in from the start, and the environmentally friendly theme continues throughout the rest of the statement.

This mission goes on to explain that they are out to "Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to protect nature."

Their mission statement is compelling and detailed, with each section outlining how they will accomplish their goal.

4. Vesta Home Automation

This executive summary for a smart home device startup is part of a business plan created by students at Mount Royal University .

While it lacks some of the sleek visuals of the templates above, its executive summary does a great job of demonstrating how invested they are in the business.

Right away, they mention they’ve invested $200,000 into the company already, which shows investors they have skin in the game and aren’t just looking for someone else to foot the bill.

This is the kind of business plan you need when applying for business funds. It clearly illustrates the expected future of the company and how the business has been coming along over the years.

5. NALB Creative Center

This fictional business plan for an art supply store includes everything one might need in a business plan: an executive summary, a company summary, a list of services, a market analysis summary, and more.

One of its most notable sections is its market analysis summary, which includes an overview of the population growth in the business’ target geographical area, as well as a breakdown of the types of potential customers they expect to welcome at the store. 

This sort of granular insight is essential for understanding and communicating your business’s growth potential. Plus, it lays a strong foundation for creating relevant and useful buyer personas .

It’s essential to keep this information up-to-date as your market and target buyer changes. For that reason, you should carry out market research as often as possible to ensure that you’re targeting the correct audience and sharing accurate information with your investors.

Due to its comprehensiveness, it’s an excellent example to follow if you’re opening a brick-and-mortar store and need to get external funding to start your business .

6. Curriculum Companion Suites (CSS)

If you’re looking for a SaaS business plan example, look no further than this business plan for a fictional educational software company called Curriculum Companion Suites. 

Like the business plan for the NALB Creative Center, it includes plenty of information for prospective investors and other key stakeholders in the business.

One of the most notable features of this business plan is the executive summary, which includes an overview of the product, market, and mission.

The first two are essential for software companies because the product offering is so often at the forefront of the company’s strategy. Without that information being immediately available to investors and executives, then you risk writing an unfocused business plan.

It’s essential to front-load your company’s mission if it explains your "Why?" and this example does just that. In other words, why do you do what you do, and why should stakeholders care? This is an important section to include if you feel that your mission will drive interest in the business and its offerings.

7. Culina Sample Business Plan

Culina's sample business plan is an excellent example of how to lay out your business plan so that it flows naturally, engages readers, and provides the critical information investors and stakeholders need. 

You can use this template as a guide while you're gathering important information for your own business plan. You'll have a better understanding of the data and research you need to do since Culina’s plan outlines these details so flawlessly for inspiration.

8. Plum Sample Business Plan

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How to Create a Timetable for Your Business

by Shelagh Dillon

Published on 26 Sep 2017

One of the key elements of a good business plan is a set of goals to be achieved over the short, medium and long term. A business plan and timetable need not be over-complicated and should be flexible to take account of changes in the corporate environment.

Use a specialist piece of software if your business is complex and large scale growth is planned. Alternatively, a paper and pencil exercise or using a simple program such as Microsoft Office Excel should be sufficient to achieve a workable timetable. Bear in mind the timetable needs to be flexible and have new items added to it. A hard copy only may need to be completely rewritten every time there is a change.

Create a template which runs from day one to your designated end date five years into the future. The actual length of time is at your discretion, although five to 10 years is recommended, with most of the activity taking place in the first one to three years. The template may be in the form of a calendar or spreadsheet with each day in a field and goals or activities places into the relevant dates. For example: “Attend Industry Conference” or “Production level at 100 per day achieved.”

Work backwards from the end date with your final goal which should incorporate your overall mission statement and values. Knowing where you are going is the first step on any successful journey and this is your destination. List all goals along the way to your final position in order of when they need to be achieved.

Write all goals in a SMART format: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed. For example: “Turnover at or exceeding $5,000 per month one year from launch.” This goal is clearly specific, measurable and timed, although whether it is achievable and realistic will depend on the business, your market research and any professional business development advice you have received.

Incorporate dates when you will reassess your business plan timetable at least once every quarter so you can monitor progress and amend the timetable. Work closely on this with your business development colleagues. Stretch the timetable to take into account the following year annually. Having regular strategic meetings with your key staff, partners and colleagues will enable you to see all perspectives when compiling corporate goals and strategies. Consider all variables which are currently and may potentially affect your business when revising the timetable. Key areas to consider are the political, economic, social and technical influences on your market and industry, known as a PEST Analysis.

Incorporate strategic methodology into your timetable, in other words, clearly stating how your SMART goals will be achieved. For example, “Introduce cold calling to increase sales by 50 percent. Hire five additional telesales staff to undertake this work to be in post two months from now.”

Business Timeline

To keep abreast with the fast-paced world and the remarkable changes coming in as a result of  innovation and technology, it has become mandatory to be at least 10 steps ahead of your competitors and for that a business must keep a keen eye to all aspects which would enable its shareholders and stakeholders know every necessary detail about the future prospects. Business Timeline Examples & Templates have been designed specifically for your business to run in accordance with the market threshold. They are formatted in a way that would allow your Business Operations Plan   to   be in complete sink with your goals and targets. Free printable templates can be easily downloaded to be used.

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Business Timeline Examples & Templates

1. free business timeline template.

• Google Docs
• Editable PDF

Size: A4 & US

Download the Free Business Timeline to give a new look to your business planning . No need to design business plans in boring old ways. Our free templates are artistically designed to make strategic, tactical and operational plans look colourful and happening.

2. Business Timeline Template

• Apple Pages

Size: 82 KB

3. Business Timeline Presentation Template

• Apple Keynote

Size: 178 KB

4. Business Process Timeline Roadmap Template

• Google Slides

Size: 60 KB

5. Business Process Review Timeline Roadmap Template

• Google Sheets

Size: 69 KB

6. Sample Business Timeline

Are you looking to refurbish your business planning and strategies then download this designer formatted template. Bring more life and energize your presentations. This time line will systematically keep a record of your business timeline. 

7. Basic Business Timeline

Size: 71 KB

No need to fret over innumerable documented records. The Basic business line template is a handy one page template which would allow you to keep track of all the important key points along with date and time. You can easily download this template and plug in the  date wise. So what are you waiting for, get on to smart work with our free business templates.

8. Business Timeline in PDF

Size: 67 KB

Business timeline in PDF is professionally customized template. This would enable you to design your ideas and present them in systematic manner. This template is perfect for those who run seasonal businesses and want to divide the plan according to different quarters. This template falls under the category of Timeline chart examples .  Have your plans get a  new outlook, a new overhaul and remodel your designs.

9. Business Program Timeline

Size: 121 KB

Business Program timeline is designed especially for businesses who aim for long run success. If you are a book publisher or are in any other publishing business this plan is for you. No need to look for designers and managers to design templates. Our free business templates are designed specifically for you with keeping the nature of various business types in mind. All you need is to download the template which suits your type and plus in the data. This is the easiest way to be on the road to success.

10. Business Program Timeline Example

Size: 84 KB

Business Program timeline template are for designed in a classified way to display the strategic growth of businesses. the timeline is year wise designed. If you want your management to be in pace and par with company’s goals and targets, download these remarkable, free of cost business templates and give a new look to your business.

11. Business Implementation Timeline

Size: 111 KB

Design your business with excellent planning tools. If you aim for strategic success. Colour code your data, use distinct colors for different activities, dates, and events. Allow stakeholders to have a perfect way to look at the events and thus track the progress and record of each activity.

12. Business Policy Period Change Timeline

Size: 29 KB

This Graphically designed template would allow one to have a better and clear look at the business plan . This gets a descending structure where events have a clear visualization. Incase of depicting a sequence of events or historical data, this template works well. It allows showing a chronological strict order from beginning till the end. It also enables you to track the progress of the project.

13. Simple Business Timeline

Size: 62 KB

Sample Business timeline is a useful indicator that tracks the company’s progress. An Entrepreneur can show his or her idea to their client by using this smart template. It allows you to design templates for your clients in a professional manner. These free templates are easy on the pocket and can play a pivotal tool in attaining large success.

14. Business Review Timeline

Size: 90 KB

Step by step moves towards long-run success with planning your daily targets in accordance with goals. The business review timeline template will allow you to plan your tasks in a hierarchy of preferences. The most important task to be done can be noted and highlight on the top with the rest following its lead. A handy, easy to use and easy to interpret template is just one click away from you. Download it to elevate your business plannings.

15. Business Milestones Timeline Example

Size: 58 KB

Business Milestone timeline example is an essential tool for your company’s growth and success. It is a perfect way of designing your sales goals and stay focused on your targets for continuous growth and stable market share. One of the most important benefits of our free business templates is that they can be easily customized. These templates are easy for professionals to prepare the plan and to show executives the desired results.

The Marketing timeline examples and templates come in various formats and structure for you to choose. The wide range of variety allows you to customize any plan you wish to according to the project, nature of the product and for the purpose you wish for. These free templates save time. You do not need any technical team to prepare formats when you have these free printable templates available. To make success in sales and marketing, your plans need to be of top quality. These free printable plans allow you to venture into the domain of success quietly and easily in the most affordable manner.

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How to write the milestones section of your business plan

Company milestones are integral to effectively communicating the executability of your business plan by committing to when key objectives will be met.

Establishing business strategies and goals, especially for large and complex projects, can be challenging for entrepreneurs. However, milestones offer invaluable support by breaking down the endeavor into smaller, manageable targets.

In this article, we'll explore the significance of milestones in your business plan, how to structure them, and the essential information they should contain. We'll guide you in crafting this section effectively to impress stakeholders and investors.

Ready to make your business plan stand out? Let's dive in!

In this guide:

What is the objective of the milestones subsection of your business plan?

What information should i include in the milestones section of my business plan.

• How long should the milestones section of your business plan be?
• Example of milestones in a business plan
• What tools can you use to write your business plan?

The core objective of the milestones subsection in your business plan is to showcase the business’s progress so far to build trust with potential investors and to communicate your team's objectives for the years to come.

The milestones sections of your businesses plan can help you:

• Convey past achievements - stakeholders are more likely to invest in a company that appears credible because they believe it has a good chance of succeeding. Illustrating that your business was able to meet past goals helps achieve this.
• Explain future business goals and objectives - when providing details about each goal, it’s important to emphasize when and how they will be achieved as well as the projected increase in revenue and profitability that will come about as a result. 
• Monitor progress - if your business plan is also used for internal purposes, the milestones section can also act as a guide for monitoring progress over time. You'll be able to tick off targets that you meet as you grow. This helps signify that the business is headed in the right direction.

Strategic planning for any company relies heavily on striking a balance between setting very modest and heavily ambitious goals. So, when setting business milestones, you need to ensure that they are reasonable and attainable. 

When writing the milestones section for investors and business partners, you should keep the “underpromise and overdeliver” approach in mind. This will help increase the perceived competence of your management team and can aid in securing further funding if needed. 

This is a well known trick used by the management teams of listed companies which all try to “beat and raise” in order to drive the price of their stock's up.

Need a convincing business plan?

The Business Plan Shop makes it easy to create a financial forecast to assess the potential profitability of your projects, and write a business plan that’ll wow investors.

Before we get into the information you need to include in the subsection, you should remember that it is towards the end of the strategy section of your business plan, after the marketing plan and before the risks and mitigants subsection. This means that by that point the reader of your plan is already familiar with what you offer, your market, and your go to market strategy.

You should aim to include key milestones that mark a significant development in your business development. This could include any of the following:

Securing financing

If you are seeking external funding to help start or grow your business, you need to discuss when you anticipate receiving adequate finances. This could include bank loans, equity funding or other forms of financing.

Reaching your break-even point

The milestones section must include the time span you have determined for your business to reach your break-even point (profitability in lay man term).

You should specify a timeframe or set of financial goals by which you hope to have achieved this. For example, this could include selling “X” units of a product or providing “Y” units of a service.

Opening new stores or selling units

If you plan to expand your business in the future, be sure to include milestones about this too. You could talk about dates targeted for opening new stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution units. 

Acquiring new customers

Emphasize targets for acquiring new customers or growing your current customer base in a predetermined time frame. Here, you can briefly mention strategies that will be used to acquire new customers.

Launching new products or services

When introducing a new product or service, it’s important to provide details regarding the schedule for doing so. If you plan to improve or redesign current products or services, be sure to mention this too.

Expanding into new markets

Specify target dates by which a particular number of stores, branches, or offices are to be opened in a different market. You can also provide brief details about the monetary requirements for entering into new markets.

Hiring new employees

You should also mention when and how you plan to hire essential personnel. Especially if you are writing a business plan to raise funding to scale your business rapidly.

Things to consider

You could also talk about the monetary, human, and technological resources required to achieve each milestone. In addition, you can also include the performance tracking measures and expected challenges.

We recommend using one of these two frameworks when setting milestones:

• The objective key result (OKR) framework - a method of developing, communicating, and monitoring organizational goals and objectives. 
• The SMART framework - a method of setting goals and objectives that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

How long should the milestones section of your business plan be? 

The length of the milestones section of the business plan depends on several different factors. Ideally, this section of the business plan should contain one to two paragraphs for each milestone. However, the following factors determine the level of detail needed for each milestone:

The complexity of the business model 

A technological startup offering complex business products or services would likely need to include more information regarding key milestones than a bookstore operating on the high street.

For example, the “establishing an initial online presence” milestone would look different for both businesses (i.e. a bookstore might just aim to be listed on Google Maps and a handful social networks whilst a tech startup might need to deploy demand generation tactics and capital in order to hit 1M unique monthly visitors).

The significance of each milestone 

If a milestone represents a major achievement, a critical turning point, or a significant investment in the business, it should be elaborated upon in greater detail. You may need to provide additional context, background information, and potential risks or challenges associated with the milestone.

The level of familiarity of the reader

Tailor the level of detail in the milestones section to match the reader's industry knowledge. Take into account the reader's familiarity with your specific industry and adjust the information provided accordingly.

Additional resources

When writing the milestones section, you might need to add additional resources like data charts and graphs for some milestones. 

It’s important to include these details in the appendices section to help keep the milestones section concise.

Remember, the information in your business plan should be comprehensive yet presented in a concise manner. It’s important not to include jargon which might feel complex or technical for the reader.

Need inspiration for your business plan?

The Business Plan Shop has dozens of business plan templates that you can use to get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like.

Example of milestones in a business plan 

Below is an example of what the milestones section of your business plan might look like. As you can see, it follows with the marketing plan subsection and is part of the overall strategy section.

The milestones section of a business plan outlines key achievements and events that mark the company's progress over time. It helps investors and stakeholders understand the timeline and critical steps toward the business's growth, development, and success.

This example was taken from one of  our business plan templates .

What tools should I use to write my business plan?

In this section, we will review three solutions for creating a business plan for your business: using Word and Excel, hiring a consultant to write the business plan, and utilizing an online business plan software.

Create your business plan using Word or Excel

This is the old-fashioned way of creating a business plan (1990s style) and using Word or Excel has both pros and cons.

On the one hand, using either of these two programs is cheap and they are widely available. 

However, creating an error-free financial forecast with Excel is only possible if you have expertise in accounting and financial modeling.

Because of that investors and lenders might not trust the accuracy of your forecast unless you have a degree in finance or accounting.

Also, writing a business plan using Word means starting from scratch and formatting the document yourself once written - a process that is quite tedious - especially when the numbers change and you need to manually update all the tables and text.

Ultimately, it's up to the business owner to decide which program is right for them and whether they have the expertise or resources needed to make Excel work. 

Hire a consultant to write your business plan

Outsourcing your business plan to a consultant can be a viable option, but it also presents certain drawbacks. 

On the plus side, consultants are experienced in writing business plans and adept at creating financial forecasts without errors. Furthermore, hiring a consultant can save you time and allow you to focus on the day-to-day operations of your business.

However, hiring consultants is expensive: budget at least £1.5k ($2.0k) for a complete business plan, more if you need to make changes after the initial version (which happens frequently after the first meetings with lenders).

For these reasons, outsourcing the plan to a consultant or accountant should be considered carefully, weighing both the advantages and disadvantages of hiring outside help.

Ultimately, it may be the right decision for some businesses, while others may find it beneficial to write their own business plan using an online software.

Use an online business plan software for your business plan

Another alternative is to use online business plan software .

There are several advantages to using specialized software:

• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can be inspired by already written business plan templates
• You can easily make your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You get a professional document, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank
• The software will enable you to easily track your actual financial performance against your forecast and update your forecast as time goes by

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try our software for free by signing up here .

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• How to do a market analysis for a business plan
• What is a business plan and how to create one?
• How to write the products and services section of your business plan?
• How to write the risks and mitigants section of your business plan?
• How to write the suppliers section of your business plan?

Know someone who needs to write the milestones section of their business plan? Share this article with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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• Productivity |
• 29 time management templates and exampl ...

29 time management templates and examples to enhance efficiency

From daily to-dos to monthly editorial calendars, we’ve rounded up 29 time management templates and examples to get you started managing your time efficiently. Find out how each template can help you complete your to-do list.

Take a look at 29 time management template options and examples to find the one that fits your busy schedule. From daily agendas to monthly goals, these templates cover just about any situation. 

Ready to get started? Here are the 29 most helpful time management worksheets. 

Personal schedules and lists

Stay on top of your daily and weekly tasks with these time-management strategies.

1. Daily to-do list example

Best for: Daily goal-setting and prioritizing micro-tasks.

Daily to-dos are action items that you write down in a notebook or check via your to-do list software tool at the beginning of each day. Tracking your to-dos can help you ensure you’re getting all of your important work done for the day and that nothing is falling through the cracks. 

The act of writing down your daily deliverables helps you visualize the work you need to complete. Because everything is written down, you can easily understand each task’s priority and see which tasks you need to complete when.  At the end of the day, check your to-dos for tomorrow so you can start the day with your best foot forward. 

2. Checklist example

Best for: Ordering daily deliverables in sequential order. 

The way you organize your to-do list can impact how and when you complete tasks. By creating a checklist, you can ensure your deliverables are clearly defined and in sequential order by priority.

A checklist time management template can be categorized from most important to least important, so you can ensure your highest-priority tasks are completed first. Plus, the act of checking off each to-do can bring relief knowing that one less task is on your to do list.

3. Daily planner example

Best for: Planning daily activities to prevent unfulfilled goals. 

A daily planner is great if you frequently get overwhelmed by your daily to-dos and like to have a plan of action for your day. A daily or weekly planner is different from a to-do list because it accounts for more than just deliverables. It includes all moving parts of your day, including meetings, breaks, deliverables, and anything else that consumes your workday.

A study done in 2011 found that creating a plan can help offload the mental burden of unfulfilled goals. By planning your day around meetings, tasks, and project deliverables, you can have a daily roadmap that helps you time block and accomplish your action items.

4. Weekly schedule example

Best for: Planning your workload a week in advance to hit deadlines.

Beyond daily to-dos, it can be helpful to plan your work for the week ahead. This involves making a schedule of tight deadlines like daily tasks, open-ended deadlines like larger projects, and everything in between. 

You’ll then want to prioritize these tasks based on deadlines and importance as it pertains to team objectives. This way you can align goals to the work needed to complete them.

5. Simple example

Best for: Staying on track with micro-tasks.

When it comes to time management, simple is often better. If you already have a strategy in place but need a little more structure to the chaos a simple time management worksheet might be the solution for you.

A simple template might include a brief overview of weekly task lists and deadlines to hit. A checklist format would suffice for this option, but for those who prefer to visualize their work you can use a whiteboard calendar to make it fun. The difference is that a simple template only includes the next few tasks on your agenda, which keeps the layout straightforward.

Time tracking tools

Before you can manage your time, you need to understand how you're spending it. With these strategies, you can reclaim each minute of your day.

6. Time log example

Best for: Tracking task duration and workload allocation.

Logging your time is one of the most difficult parts about managing a structured plan. Between working on important tasks and responding to teammates in real time, where does the time go? 

Keeping a time log template can help you track how long it takes to complete work and allows you to analyze your daily, weekly, and monthly time allocations. Time log templates are useful for tracking how much time you’ve spent on past work, but they also help with future planning as well. Once you have a sense of how long each task takes, you can plan for future projects based on the estimated time it takes for each task to be completed.

7. Activity log example

Best for: Teams who work on multiple projects at the same time.

In a perfect world, your time would be spent only on completing your assigned tasks. Unfortunately, that’s not always the world we live in and many teams suffer from busywork which impedes on their overall efficiency. In fact, the average knowledge worker spends 60% of their time on work about work—things like searching for documents, chasing approvals, or attending status meetings. 

An activity template helps you track all activities you do in a day so you can identify and reduce work about work. For example, while you may only have two tasks to complete that day, you may also have two meetings to attend, a fire to put out with a past project, or miscommunication that needs to be cleared up with a teammate. Logging these activities can give you a clearer picture of where your time is being spent and present opportunities to improve your current processes.

8. Time budget example

Best for: Analyzing time allocations and budget details.  

You may be familiar with the saying “Time is money,” but how exactly can you ensure your time is being utilized efficiently? While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, tracking your time in correlation with your budget can help put your time allocation in perspective. 

You can do this by first tracking the time it takes you to complete each task within a project. Then assign a budget number to each entry by taking the project budget and dividing it by the time it took you to complete each task. While it may not be 100% accurate every time, you can get a rough idea of where your time is going and share it with stakeholders to increase visibility. 

9. Pomodoro technique example

Best for: Individuals that struggle with procrastination and are easily distracted.

If creating a daily or weekly to-do list makes you feel overwhelmed, you may want to try using the Pomodoro technique . This technique involves pairing focused work sessions with frequent short breaks, with the objective of boosting your productivity and reducing mental fatigue.

A common working time ratio is 25 minutes of working to 5 minutes of break. You can begin using this technique by scheduling your daily tasks around these 25-minute working blocks to have peace of mind that your to-do list will be complete at the end of the day.

Task prioritization techniques

When it comes to productivity, prioritization is key. Here are some tools to help you decide which tasks are urgent, and which ones can wait.

10. Priority example

Best for: Categorizing tasks based on importance for efficiency needs.

When you have a long to-do list ahead of you and back-to-back meetings, it can sometimes seem impossible to manage your time effectively while completing your tasks. That’s where priority planning comes in. 

A priority template can help you rank each task on your list by importance, ensuring your most important tasks are completed first. This can help organize your to-do list on even the busiest days. Try ranking each project on a scale of one to three, or color coding based on highest priority. 

11. Procrastination example

Best for: Teams that struggle with procrastination and efficiency issues.

We’ve all been there before—you have a long list of to-dos but find yourself putting them off until the last minute. Procrastination is something many of us struggle with, but there is a way to combat the negative effects. 

Creating a procrastination template can help you prioritize the top tasks needed to get done one day at a time. This will keep you from becoming overwhelmed by the longer weekly to-dos. You may also want to try a time management strategy like the Pomodoro technique where you work for short intervals of time and take frequent breaks to alleviate stress. The key is to try different methods and find the right one for you. Start by prioritizing the most important tasks, and move on to taking short breaks if you’re still struggling.

12. Someday example

Best for: Planning future projects that are lower in priority but still important.

We’re all guilty of keeping our focus on short-term tasks at least some of the time—after all, there are deadlines to be met. But it can be helpful to spend time considering long-term tasks you’d like to tackle some day. 

You can use a someday time management template to make a list of future projects you’d like to take on—either as a team or as an individual. That way, the next time you have a little extra free time you can work on your someday tasks. You can start by listing out project descriptions and then assigning teams that would be involved to get the ball rolling.

13. Free time example

Best for: Proactively prioritizing long-term projects. 

If you’re ever in a situation where your workload is light and you want to work on proactive action items, try using a free time template by listing out tasks on your someday list. You can start by breaking your someday tasks into their own work breakdown structure , where you’ll begin planning out smaller deliverables. 

These tasks can be larger business wants like an improved process or team wants like organizing a team bonding activity . Save these free time tasks for the end of the week when your priority tasks are finished and use it to catch up on projects you’ve been wanting to tackle. 

Team planning templates

Managing a team requires organization. With these templates, you can keep your team members aligned and make the most of everyone's time.

14. Team goals template

Best for: Aligning smaller tasks to larger project goals.

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to time management is connecting tasks to larger project goals. This is especially true for teams that typically work in silos and don’t have a connected platform for time management tracking. 

A way to combat this is by using team goal templates so all stakeholders understand the necessary project objectives and how their work connects to the larger picture. 

15. SMART goals example

Best for: Proactive goal-setting and task roadmapping.

If setting goals and tracking progress helps your productivity, then using a SMART goals template might be for you. SMART is an acronym that stands for S pecific, M easurable, A chievable, R ealistic, and T ime-bound. SMART goals help you hit ambitious goals with clear communication and alignment.

Communicating your goals ensures that you have transparency when it comes to aligning tasks and objectives. Plus, you can start each day with a clear roadmap and trackable metrics.

16. Action items example

Best for: Organizing daily or weekly action items by priority.

Another way to organize your workload is to highlight the most important action items of your day and accomplish those tasks first. This is called an action items template.

Scheduling your day around action items will ensure your priority tasks are accomplished by the end of the day. This will also allow you to work on important tasks for the rest of the week. 

17. Team brainstorm template

Best for: Creative teams that need help ideating effectively. 

Team brainstorming is a creative way to ideate new business opportunities. That said, without the right time management skills, your brainstorming meeting could end up being unproductive . That’s where a team brainstorm template comes in.

With a plan in place, everyone can add their ideas collaboratively in one shared document. Then, you can get together to talk through the top ideas and key action items. You can also try out different brainstorming techniques to find the meeting activity that best fits your team dynamic. 

18. Workflow example

Best for: Refining internal processes and procedures.

A workflow is an end-to-end process that connects the right people to the right data at the right time. Workflows are incredibly valuable, but they take time and effort to build.

Even with the right workflow management software , it may take some time to gain effective time management skills since it can be a challenging endeavor. But with the right template, you can plan, customize, and track the success of your workflows with ease. 

19. Employee onboarding template

Best for: Organizing new hire documents and training materials.

The hiring process is a crucial element in establishing group norms , setting company culture , and optimizing internal efficiency. But it can be a time-consuming task with new team members being onboarded continuously. Without the proper procedure, your new team members could be left without the resources needed to do their jobs effectively. 

An employee onboarding template standardizes your processes, aligns stakeholders, and creates an inclusive community from day one. By supporting your HR team and hiring managers, you can ensure your team has everything they need for the new hire’s first day of work . Then, pair the employee onboarding template with a 30-60-90 day plan and an actionable new hire checklist to streamline the process.

20. Meeting agenda template

Best for: Teams who struggle running efficient meetings.

Most of us have experienced a meeting in our professional careers that didn’t have an agenda. Without a proper meeting agenda, team members could be stuck wondering about the objective, and ultimately, it could end up as wasted time. 

With a meeting agenda template , you can keep your meetings focused and on track with clear objectives, action items, and post-meeting tasks. 

21. Sprint planning template

Best for: Development and product teams that work on tight deadlines.

Sprint planning is a project management methodology for product and engineering teams that breaks work down into smaller chunks. This helps prioritize work and plan for team capacity needs.

In order to effectively plan your sprints, you should use a sprint planning template which can help you better manage Agile projects by creating structure, assigning task owners, and planning sprint meetings.

Project planning templates

Projects contain lots of moving pieces. These templates and examples can help you stay on top of who's doing what, when.

22. Gantt chart example

Best for: Tracking project progress and task milestones. 

Gantt charts are horizontal bar charts used to illustrate a timeline of a project, program, or task. They provide a better way to track task progress, dependencies, and milestones . 

A Gantt chart template can significantly decrease the amount of time spent on daily task planning. By visualizing all of your work on a timeline, you get a clear sense of what’s coming up and how long each task will take. Think of a Gantt chart as an interactive approach to time management. 

23. Event planning template

Best for: Visualizing event deadlines and managing communication.

Event planning can be a stressful endeavor. You likely have dozens of deadlines and details to track at any given moment leading up to the event. This can wreak havoc on your usual time management strategy.

Using an event planning template can help you budget, visualize, communicate, and manage vendor requests all in one place. This can help you reach goals and turn emails into actionable tasks.

24. Design plan template

Best for: Connecting design deliverables to larger project milestones.

Designers may have a variety of tools to help them design, but what about a tool that helps plan the actual work? From initial concept to cross-team communication and ultimate approval, there are many moving parts.

With a design plan template , you can keep tasks organized and on time all while receiving approvals in one organized place. This helps you hit deadlines and keep creative milestones on track.

25. Editorial calendar template

Best for: Teams that have a robust content schedule and struggle with miscommunication.

Whether you’re creating blogs or press releases , if you work on a creative team, you have an editorial calendar to plan for upcoming content. This could be a literal calendar view or an organized list separated by weeks or months.

Visualizing your upcoming work in an editorial calendar is a great way to get a bird’s-eye view of what’s going live when. Not only does it give you a chance to plan ahead, but it also allows you to schedule your editorial needs around important company events or seasonal changes. 

26. Social media template

Best for: Organizing your social content around events and trends.

Social media can be complex to plan. From managing multiple profiles to staying up-to-date with new trends, having a strategic plan is key. A social media content calendar is a combination of your editorial plan and your upcoming social posts—all in an easy to visualize way that your cross-functional stakeholders can quickly access.

Using a social media template can make it easy to manage your publication schedule, schedule posts, and communicate with team members in a shared space. This prevents miscommunication and allows your team to stay on the same page.

27. Product launch template

Best for: Product teams that need help juggling multiple launches.

Successful product launches take careful planning and diligence. From creating goals to messaging and implementation, a lot can go wrong. Luckily, a product launch template can keep you organized and help expand your product portfolio. 

Whether you’re juggling a new product development process or need clearer directions, a product launch template can help you visualize your timeline, share goals, and keep communication all in one place. 

Business planning templates

When it comes to business planning, organization is key. Check out these templates to plan ahead and maximize efficiency.

28. Business strategy template

Best for: Connecting individuals to business goals and preventing silos.

A business plan is a roadmap that tells the story of who and what your business is. It’s often shared with executives, team members, and even investors. That’s why it’s so important to have a professional-looking document that helps communicate your strategy in as little time as possible.

There are many different elements you can choose to include in your business strategy template , such as processes, expenses, and overarching programs—all of which can be time-consuming to refine without the proper template. To jump-start the process, look for a strong business strategy template to help your team ideate and present your business strategy with your best foot forward. 

29. Sales pipeline template

Best for: Organizing sales opportunities and sharing them across teams.

Managing your sales pipeline is a tricky task that involves maintaining and tracking potential sales team opportunities. While this sounds simple enough, there are many moving parts that go into tracking your sales pipeline including opportunities, lead status, priority, stage, and estimated value, and more. 

With a sales pipeline template , your sales team can easily track account data and action items while prioritizing opportunities and sharing your pipeline with other team members. Plus, you can zero in on new leads, top accounts, and at-risk opportunities to build your pipeline.

Manage your time with templates

Managing your time can be a complex task, but with the right time management template you can better organize your daily, weekly, and monthly goals. 

If you’re looking to implement better time management for your entire team, consider trying task management software to track tasks in one shared place.

Related resources

How to prioritize tasks in 4 steps (and get work done)

How Asana uses work management to streamline project intake processes

Work schedule types: How to find the right approach for your team

Understanding the Pareto principle (The 80/20 rule)

• Business Templates

FREE 6+ Sample Project Timetable Templates in PDF

Project time table template is an extremely important thing which you need to maintain and must be in process while the whole project is going on. Complete schedule must be always jotted down and followed out as per the Project Planning . Professionals or project managers are asked to prepare such kind of project timetables which will help them to keep a track on the work and its progress. We have various types of project time table templates from where you can choose the best suitable one!

Project Timetable

Project timeline template - 14+ free download for word , ppt ..., 7+ free timetable samples - (daily, weekly), 5+ project timeline templates – free sample, example, format, sample project timetable.

Size: 10 KB

The Sample Project Timetable Template helps to break down a large task into small one. It helps to distribute the task among all in a very easy manner. Sample Project Timetable Template help to sort out the large team easily. This template helps to consider the productivity of each employee.

Project Management Timetable

Size: 31 KB

The Project Management Timetable Template are designed just to visualize the project plan in a tabular format. It makes the project plan more well organized and visible too. For larger projects this kind of template helps the project manager to design it more properly. This template defines the complete project plan and differentiates it from work plan.

Project Planning Timetable

Size: 132 KB

The Project Planning Timetable Template is important for all the organizations. Here the project plan is written in document and UI diagrams. The project plan is based on priority of the work schedule. The project plan template has a due date mentioned for each task as that goes as per the timeline.

Research Project Timetable

Size: 35 KB

Architect Project Timetable

Size: 154 KB

Financial Reporting Project Timetable

Size: 84 KB

Project Lifecycle Schedule Timetable

Size: 144 KB

Use and Purpose of Project Timetable

Project timetable template is mainly used to do and execute the daily schedule of the project so that the project may run in a proper way with progress. Every project has a limited timeline. Such kind of project Timetable Templates will help to get the project done in limited or designated timeline. The planning phase of each project is extremely necessary, so timeline templates will help in having a good plan too.

When do I need Project Timetable?

If you are in a project business or planning for any project, or working as a project manager with any company, you will definitely require this kind of project timetable template. This kind of timetable can be weekly, monthly and on yearly basis. This timetable will include the strategic planning of the complete project. It can be simple or complex as you want to make. Some planning tables include only yearly plans as per the work to be done, Some include everything like cost planning, workforce planning risk analysis, etc. You may also see  Monthly Timetable

How to create or write Project Timeline?

Writing project timetable is quite easy. You need to be focused while you start. Download any template as per choice. Chalk out the plan, design it and roll it out to follow. With every strategic plan you need to fix a time limit which will set the complete project timetable template in action. Each project timeline plan must include the four things, who, when how and why. These four things will definitely solve all the issues of the project and will definitely help organize it properly. You may also see  Weekly Timetable

To conclude, the project timeline template is mandatory to make any project successful. We have ample project timeline templates, you can download any one as per your requirement. Each of the templates is best designed keeping all projects in mind, each template can be organized based on your project duration.

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• Direct Pay – Make a payment directly from a checking or savings account without any fees or registration.
• Pay with debit card, credit card or digital wallet – Make a payment directly from a debit card, credit card or digital wallet. Processing fees are paid to the payment processors. The IRS doesn’t receive any fees for these payments. Authorized card processors and phone numbers are available at IRS.gov/payments . 
• Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) – This free service gives taxpayers a safe, convenient way to pay individual and business taxes by phone or online. To enroll and for more information, taxpayers can call 800-555-4477 or visit eftps.gov .
• Electronic funds withdrawal – Taxpayers can file and pay electronically from their bank account when using tax preparation software or a tax professional. This option is free and only available when electronically filing a tax return.
• Check or money order  – Payments made by check or money order should be made payable to the “United States Treasury.”
• Cash  – Make a cash payment through a retail partner and other methods. The IRS urges taxpayers choosing this option to start early because it involves a four-step process. Details, including answers to frequently asked questions, are at IRS.gov/paywithcash .

Payment options for individuals unable to pay their taxes in full

Taxpayers that are unable to pay in full by the tax deadline, should pay what they can now and apply for an online payment plan . They can receive an immediate response of payment plan acceptance or denial without calling or writing to the IRS. Online payment plan options include:

• Short-term payment plan – The total balance owed is less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest. Additional time of up to 180 days to pay the balance in full.
• Long-term payment plan – The total balance owed is less than $50,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest. Pay in monthly payments for up to 72 months. Payments may be set up using direct debit (automatic bank withdraw) which eliminates the need to send in a payment each month, saving postage costs and reducing the chance of default. For balances between $25,000 and $50,000, direct debit is required.

Though interest and late-payment penalties continue to accrue on any unpaid taxes after April 15, the failure to pay penalty is cut in half while an installment agreement is in effect. Find more information about the costs of payment plans on the IRS’ Additional information on payment plans webpage.

Unable to file by the April 15 deadline?

Individuals unable to file their tax return by the tax deadline can apply for a tax-filing extension in the following ways:

• Individual tax filers, regardless of income, can electronically request an automatic tax-filing extension through IRS Free File by filing a Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return PDF .
• Make an electronic payment using Direct Pay, debit card, credit card or digital wallet and indicate the payment is for an extension.
• Mail Form 4868 by the tax deadline.

Things people should know when requesting a tax-filing extension:

• Tax-filing extension requests are due by the tax deadline date, and it does not give an extension of time to pay the taxes.
• Avoid some penalties by estimating and paying the tax due by the tax deadline.
• Special rules for tax deadlines and automatic tax-filing extensions may apply for taxpayers serving in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty areas , living outside the United States , and people living in certain disaster areas . They may not need to submit a tax-filing extension; however, people should check to see if they qualify before the tax deadline.

Use IRS.gov for the quickest and easiest information

Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov 24 hours a day for answers to tax questions , more tips and resources by visiting the Let us help you page.

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How to Write a Nail Salon Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF

Elon Glucklich

7 min. read

Updated April 1, 2024

Download: Free one-page nail salon sample business plan

Nail trends are changing faster than ever. With social media fueling endless inspiration, people of all ages are embracing self-expression through their appearance, and their nails are no exception.

With the number of manicurists and pedicurists projected to grow 9% in the next decade, this burst of creativity is opening opportunities for nail technicians who dream of owning their own nail salon.

But just because the market is booming doesn’t mean anyone can start a nail salon and be successful. To build a financially stable business, you’ll need to have a sharp understanding of your ideal client, define the unique services that sets you apart, and develop smart marketing strategies to bring customers in your door.

A well-crafted business plan will help you focus your planning efforts on the tactics and strategies that attract loyal clients. And it’s key for convincing banks or investors if you need funding to get started.

• Nail salon business plan checklist

Here are a few sections we recommend including in a nail salon business plan:

Executive summary

• Products & services

Market analysis

• Marketing & sales plan
• Company overview
• Financial plan & forecasts

Writing a business plan thorough enough to impress lenders typically requires following a standard format. But if you aren’t seeking outside funding, you shouldn’t feel like you have to stick to that structure.

For instance, don’t spend too much time on the products and services section of your business plan if you’re writing it to determine how to market your business. Just include the sections that are relevant to your situation.

Here’s an example of a nail salon business plan outline. Just remember that your business plan might have different sections. It’s all about what you need for your business.

The executive summary is essentially your nail salon’s opening pitch. 

It shouldn’t be more than 1-2 pages, and should be written last, despite going first in the plan. Just outline the objective of your business, and your mission. 

Are you focused on intricate nail art, speedy manicures, or a luxurious spa-like experience? 

Then, describe the issue you solve for clients and your unique value proposition — the factor or factors that make you different from the competition. Some examples include:

• A unique combination of services
• An emphasis on naturally made products
• Partnerships with other beauty service providers (hair, makeup, etc.)

The executive summary is all about being concise, but capturing the reader’s interest so that they’ll want to read more.

Products and services

The products and services section is all about detailing your revenue streams. Start with your core nail services. Maybe you offer:

• Gel/acrylics

Once you’ve written down the basics, expand to emphasize any unique offerings, such as:

• Intricate designs
• Complementary services like aromatherapy
• Plant-based ingredients

You should mention any retail products you plan to sell, such as:

• Nail polishes
• Nail care kits
• Hand creams.

These are potentially additional revenue streams for your business. Use the products and services section to focus on your unique value proposition . Maybe you’re known for your eye-catching nail designs, or have partnerships with complementary businesses like hair salons. Anything that contributes to your sales and profitability is worth including.

This is where you get to know your target market and your competition. What’s the size of the nail salon market in your area? Can your customers be grouped factors like:

• Spending habits

The market analysis section should outline the specific groups in your community that you aim to serve, such as working professionals, students, or individuals seeking luxury treatments.

If you’re already running a nail salon, you likely have a sense of your customer demographics. But studying industry trends (like the growing demand for natural nail care) and whether they can help you understand how your customers’ motivations and desires might change over time.

Use your business plan to compile that research, and zero in on the demographics and desires of your perfect client . Maybe they’re:

• Busy professionals seeking quick lunchtime manicures
• Trend-conscious teens and young adults
• Parents looking for some relaxation

You should also scout out your competition . List other nearby salons in your plan, noting their strengths and weaknesses. How will you stand out and win customers over?

Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan describes your strategies to turn your target market into paying clients.

Start by detailing your strategies to reach customers. 

We recommend you prioritize social media channels , as they’re a major driver for the beauty industry. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are ideal for showcasing your nail work. 

Other marketing tactics to consider include:

• Partnerships with local businesses
• Loyalty programs for returning customers
• Incentives for customers who bring friends to your business 

Whichever marketing channels you choose to invest in, remember that your market research and unique value proposition should inform the content you put out to entice consumers. 

For instance, if most of your customers are working professionals, determining other businesses they frequent and seeking our partnership opportunities with them could be a valuable approach. But if your clients are mostly high school and college students, you’re most likely to be successful with an engaging social media campaign.

Make sure to track the results of your marketing efforts as well, so you know which strategies are paying off.

Company Overview

The company overview is where you highlight your team and business history. (If you aren’t seeking a loan or investment, you can likely skip this section).

Outline your business structure . Are you a:

• Sole proprietor
• Partnership
• Corporation

Then, highlight your team. Even if it’s just you, summarize your experience and any special certifications you hold. If you have key employees like nail salon technicians, a manager, or an administrative assistant, list their experience and skills. And if you plan on hiring, briefly mention the skills you’ll be looking for in future team members.

If you already have customers or brand partnerships, mention them in this section as well.

Financial Plan

The financial plan is all about deciding how successful your business can be. You’ll need a few things:

Sales Forecast : How much do you realistically expect to bring in each month? Consider the average price of services and how many clients you can serve.

Profit and Loss (P&L) : This lists your income minus expenses. Don’t forget things like rent, nail polish, and staff salaries.

Cash Flow Statement : This shows when money comes in and goes out, which is crucial for managing bills.

Startup Costs : If you’re seeking a loan, itemize costs like salon equipment, initial inventory, and any renovations.

Detail the assumptions behind your profitability and starting capital projections to provide clarity on your market analysis and expectations. Also, outline any potential risks, such as economic downturns affecting discretionary spending. And if you’re seeking funding, outline here how you will use those funds to support your business operations.

This optional section is where you include extra materials that strengthen your main points, but don’t fit in the actual plan. 

Maybe you surveyed customers about their preferences for a new product line, or researched the demographics of your neighborhood online. 

Include those reports in the appendix, if you think anyone reading the plan will benefit from the additional information. 

Remember, only include items that truly add value to your plan.

• Download your free nail salon one page sample business plan

Download our nail salon sample business plan template right now for free. You can also view other salon and spa business plan templates , or browse Bplans’ gallery of more than 550 sample business plans to find more inspiration. 

In a space as full of entrepreneurs as the nail industry, standing out is crucial, and writing a business plan is one of the best ways to make sure you set yourself apart with a strategy that’s financially viable and built for long-term success.

And remember, you’ll need a plan if you’re looking for a loan or investment to fund your business.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

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I was nervous and lonely after I got put on a PIP at work. But I survived and think it helped me grow.

• A woman who works in digital marketing was put on a performance-improvement plan in a new job.
• As a result of an ADHD diagnosis and treatment, she was able to improve her performance, she said.
• She survived her PIP and has tried to help new hires so they don't feel as isolated as she did.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a woman based in the US who works in digital marketing. She was put on a performance-improvement plan several months into a new job. She'd been fired from a prior role and didn't expect to survive the PIP. However, diagnosis and treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder helped improve her focus. She asked that Business Insider withhold her identity because she didn't want her story to reflect poorly on her employer's training process. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

I work in digital marketing. When I was placed on a PIP, I had a lot of people tell me to start looking for another job. Some said not to even fight the PIP because my bosses already had it in their minds to fire me. Even recruiters and my friends who work in HR said that.

But my circumstances were a little different. Most of the bosses are pretty young. They're my age — early 30s — and I think they really did have the intention of sharpening me up a bit. They did exactly what the performance improvement plan is supposed to be for, which is to get team members up to the standards they expect.

The problem I had was that my boss hired me and then went on maternity leave. Once I started, there was a period of several months when she was gone, and I felt like I was just left out in the woods. I was relying on my teammates to train me — people who didn't have experience doing that. When my boss got back, she seemed frustrated that the two new hires — myself and someone else — weren't up to par.

I did feel it was unfair to be placed on a PIP because of that, but I'd had a history of losing jobs. I had always had a lot of focus issues. However, during the PIP, I was diagnosed with ADHD, which I think explains why I sometimes struggled at work.

I survived my PIP, but a coworker didn't

Two of us were placed on a PIP at the same time — the two new people. Everyone else on the team had been there for four or five years. They ended up firing the other new team member. When they fired him, I thought I was also on the chopping block, though eventually, my coworkers told me he just wasn't meeting the expectations of the PIP.

The PIP meeting was the first time my employer formally stated expectations and standards. How can you meet expectations if you don't know what they are? I heard things like, "You need to reply to clients within 24 hours. Send meeting notes 30 minutes prior to a call." No one had ever said any of that.

I've heard that the more realistic the objectives, the more you can pass a PIP. Ours are pretty well-defined and pretty realistic. It was things like being online by 8 a.m. and having your camera on for meetings. These things hadn't been stated but were easy to achieve.

A lot of my job is meeting with clients. When my boss returned from maternity leave, she was on all of my calls supervising. Afterward, she would send me notes with, "Here's what I would have said." That was the first time that I ever had any real feedback. Before she came back, my other workers were supervising. Everyone would just say, "Oh, good job on the call."

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Both my managers are very busy. Before my PIP, I felt like I had to ask my coworkers questions on calls. I didn't want to send a message through Teams because I didn't want any trace of it. I didn't want it to seem like I didn't know anything. I didn't know what they expected me to know.

After my PIP, we eventually got two new hires. I told my boss, "Here's what went wrong. Here's what the new hires need to know so they are not placed on a PIP." There was a lot of company knowledge that I didn't glean when she was gone. I felt like I didn't have anyone to turn to because I didn't want to keep bugging my coworkers. We work remotely, and I think that in an office setting, I would have had more opportunities to ask questions. I feel like I was thrown to the wolves in some regard.

I just made sure the new hires knew that they could ask me anything at any time. I felt very alone during my PIP, and I don't want others to experience that feeling. I am a first-generation college graduate. I was the first generation to work in a corporate role. So I have nobody to go to when something like this happens.

ADHD medication is helping me focus

The ADHD medication is helping a lot. It's helping with my focus. Once I was diagnosed and started learning more about ADHD, I felt like I understood my whole life. I remember being a teenager, and I was a straight-A student. I had wanted to be a doctor, but I told myself, "I can't handle that." I didn't know that I had this attention-deficit disorder. The diagnosis and medication have really changed the game for me.

When I was put on the PIP, I was in crisis mode. I was considering switching to a different career. I was thinking of becoming an EMT. Random stuff. But I thought, let me knuckle down in this job first and give it 110%. At the time, I didn't have an ADHD diagnosis.

I never felt confident during the PIP that I was going to survive it. I would get messages from my bosses like, "Good work. You're coming up to speed on things." Everything that they said during it was positive, but because of what I'd heard about PIPs, I expected to get fired.

Then, after my diagnosis, I was taking my medication every day and working around the clock. I was very vocal and transparent with both of my bosses about what I was doing because we had weekly check-ins for the PIP.

But it was hard to know what to disclose. On one call, I was very hesitant to mention it, but I said, "I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and I know that it's affecting my performance. I apologize if there were any gaps." I told them I was on medication that's really helping. They said, "Thank you so much for telling us. We're really glad that you opened up to us about that. We wish you would have said something sooner because we could make accommodations." It ended up being a positive for me to say that, but I was taking a gamble because it can also be used against you.

It's not the warmest office. It's not the most transparent management. I didn't feel like I had a rapport with one of my bosses until I met her in person. Then she ended up apologizing for the PIP and saying that after she had her baby, she had postpartum depression and was kind of going through a lot and needed the team to be at 100% because it would help her out, too.

I didn't have the final PIP meeting. They just sent an email saying that I passed and that we wouldn't have the check-ins and everything was fine. And they copied HR. I felt very relieved. But I still felt weary and like I needed to tread lightly. You still have to continue the standard that they set.

The PIP process, on the whole, was positive — having so much transparency for the first time. Now I know I can go to my bosses and say, "Hey, I'm not able to get a refill of my medication because of a shortage. I'm sorry if you need to remind me about anything. Just feel free to be harder on me during this."

Overall, I feel more job security now. They're even putting me on new accounts. Do you have something to share about a PIP or what you're seeing in your workplace? Business Insider would like to hear from you. Email our workplace team from a nonwork device at [email protected]  with your story or to ask for one of our reporter's Signal numbers. Or check out   Business Insider's source guide  for tips on sharing information securely.

Watch: Jill Kramer, CMO of Accenture, says disability inclusion should be baked into creative briefs

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