The contents of a business plan should include
Product or service
- What is it?
- What are its benefits and how do they translate into a better price performance mix?
- What is the margin structure like?
- What are the operational issues, including costs, involved in delivering the product or service?
Market
- Who are the competitors and how does the product or service beat them?
- What is the size of the market and what growth potential does it have?
- Is the product or service limited in its ability to address the market?
Business Development
- What are your plans for developing the business?
- What gaps are there in the management team - how will they be filled?
- What will our money be used for?
Financial
- Financial forecasts, including balance sheets and cashflow statements for 3-5 years
- Last audited accounts
- Most recent monthly management accounts
- Both of the latter should include details of issued share capital (including share premiums), all borrowing and legal charges over the company's assets
Management team
- Full CVs for the Directors and key managers
- Organisation chart and job descriptions for senior management
Additonal information for technology businesses:
Intellectual property
- Are there any patents or other registered IPR and who has title to them?
- Has a PCT filing been made?
- Is there copyright or 'know-how' in the product - how is that being protected?
Technology transfer
- Can you realise the value of your technology yourself?
- If not, what production, marketing or other alliances will the business need?
Regulation
- If required for commercialisation, at what stage of trial or other regulatory process is the product?
- What trials have already been undertaken and what were the results?
Global markets
- How will the business internationalise?
- What is the competitive position of the product or service in the world market?
