PART I: The Template

— Cover sheet

Business Name

Address

Contact Number/s

— The Business Objective page

(State the company's mission and goals on this page)

— Index

— Part A: About the business

Business description (detailed) and form (sole proprietorship, partnership or limited company);
Market description (describe the market wherein the business operates, its size, what % of market share does the business expect to capture, market's growth potential, demographics);
Customer profile (detailed note);
Competition (note on competitors and whether it is viable entering into such a market, how you can score over the competition);
How does the selling price of the business's product compare to prices of similar products?
Business location (give advantages and disadvantages);
Management (a profile of top management – include duties, educational qualifications and work experience);
Key personnel (brief profile required for all key managers);
Social responsibilities of the business;
Availability of skilled manpower;
A note on the state and central laws that govern the business (pay special attention to labor laws);
A note on the employee training program, if any.

— Part B: Financials

Why is money required?
Statement of sources and application of capital and loans;
Investment in long-term assets (details);
Working capital (detailed computation with special emphasis on credit cycles for both debtors and creditors);
Existing Profit & Loss Account (for the last 3 years (maximum));
Existing Balance Sheet (for the last 3 years (maximum));
Existing Income tax records (for the last 3 years (maximum));
Projected Profit & Loss A/c (3 years projections with all explanations, details to be given monthly for the 1st year and quarterly for the subsequent years);
Projected Balance Sheet (3 years projections with all explanations);
Projected cash flow statement (3 years projections with all explanations, details to be given monthly for the 1st year and quarterly for the subsequent years).

— Part C: Documents

Copies of relevant documents such as work contracts, letters of intent, lease deeds, references, applicable legal opinions, market survey reports, income tax orders, credit reports and other applicable documents that are critical to the business plan must be contained here.

PART II: Questions that must be answered before and while preparing the plan

What is the purpose of the plan? Will it be used to raise finance, or is it a general management guide?
Why will the business be successful? (This is the most important question that has to be convincingly answered)
If the business is new, then the promoters' experience and capabilities have to be detailed. Are they capable of delivering?
If funds are being raised, how will they benefit the business? (for example, how capacity expansion or value addition to products help increase profits?)
If funds are raised to take over another company or its assets, then have the firm/assets been professionally valued?
How will the borrowings be paid back? Will the business repay out of profits or capital?
How efficiently will the borrowings be deployed?
How long will it take for the business to be profitable?

Well, this is a general business plan template. Compile it well and you sure will have a business plan that works well – both as a management guide as well as a report for financial institutions. Good luck!