{"id":60024,"date":"2023-08-11T02:18:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T06:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/?p=60024"},"modified":"2025-12-03T05:45:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:45:59","slug":"business-plan-outline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/business-plan-outline\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Business Plan Outline [Examples + Templates]\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3200\" height=\"1800\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/How-to-Write-a-Business-Plan-Outline-Examples-Templates.png\" alt=\"business plan outline\" class=\"wp-image-60037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/How-to-Write-a-Business-Plan-Outline-Examples-Templates.png 3200w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/How-to-Write-a-Business-Plan-Outline-Examples-Templates-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/How-to-Write-a-Business-Plan-Outline-Examples-Templates-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/How-to-Write-a-Business-Plan-Outline-Examples-Templates-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/How-to-Write-a-Business-Plan-Outline-Examples-Templates-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/How-to-Write-a-Business-Plan-Outline-Examples-Templates-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/How-to-Write-a-Business-Plan-Outline-Examples-Templates-730x411.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When starting a business plan, the first hurdle is often getting started. And how do you avoid spending hours staring at a blank page? Start with a business plan outline. An outline helps provide clarity and direction, especially for important documents like a business plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I get that the idea of outlining a business plan can feel overwhelming, which is why I&#8217;ve gathered all the information you need to make it easier. Don&#8217;t worry, you\u2019ve got this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you&#8217;re seeking further assistance, a <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/features\/create-business-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">business plan maker<\/a> and readily available <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">business plan templates<\/a> can offer valuable support in shaping your comprehensive plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on for answers to all your business plan outline questions or jump ahead for some handy templates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/infograph.venngage.com\/register?category=plans&#038;subcategory=business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">\n<button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>START CREATING FOR FREE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Click to jump ahead:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#what\">What is a business plan outline?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#component\">7 steps to writing a business plan outline<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#example\">Business plan outline examples<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#tips\">Writing tips to ace your outline&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#format\">What format should you choose for your business plan outline?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\"><strong>What is a business plan outline?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A business plan outline is the backbone of your business plan. It contains all the most important information you\u2019ll want to expand on in your full-length plan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of it this way: your outline is a frame for your plan. It provides a high-level idea of what the final plan should look like, what it will include and how all the information will be organized.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why would you do this extra step? Beyond saving you from blank page syndrome, an outline ensures you don\u2019t leave any essential information out of your plan \u2014 you can see all the most important points at a glance and quickly identify any content gaps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also serves as a writing guide. Once you know all the sections you want in your plan, you just need to expand on them. Suddenly, you\u2019re \u201cfilling in the blanks\u201d as opposed to writing a plan from scratch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Incidentally, using a business plan template like this one gives you a running head start, too:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/realtor-business-plan-template-80075090-77cc-4bb7-be95-e23a4043bc7e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Realtor-Business-Plan-Template.png\" alt=\"Real Estate Business Plan Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-60028\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Realtor-Business-Plan-Template.png 900w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Realtor-Business-Plan-Template-183x300.png 183w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Realtor-Business-Plan-Template-624x1024.png 624w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Realtor-Business-Plan-Template-768x1260.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Realtor-Business-Plan-Template-730x1198.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/realtor-business-plan-template-80075090-77cc-4bb7-be95-e23a4043bc7e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps most importantly, a business plan outline keeps you focused on the essential parts of your document. (Not to mention what matters most to stakeholders and investors.)&nbsp;<strong>With an outline, you\u2019ll spend less time worrying about structure or organization and more time perfecting the actual content of your document.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for more general advice, you can read about&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/business-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to create a business plan here<\/a>. But if you\u2019re working on outlining your plan, stick with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"component\"><strong>7 steps to writing a business plan outline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your business plan outline should include all the following sections. The level of detail you choose to go into will depend on your intentions for your plan (sharing with stakeholders vs. internal use), but you\u2019ll want every section to be clear and to the point.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Executive summary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The executive summary gives a high-level description of your company, product or service. This section should include a mission statement, your company description, your business\u2019s primary goal, and the problem it aims to solve. You\u2019ll want to state how your business can solve the problem and briefly explain what makes you stand out (your competitive advantage).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having an executive summary is essential to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quicksprout.com\/sell-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">selling your business to stakeholders<\/a>, so it should be as clear and concise as possible. Summarize your business in a few sentences in a way that will hook the reader (or audience) and get them invested in what you have to say next. In other words, this is your elevator pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/executive-summary.png\" alt=\"Executive Summary &amp; Company Description\" class=\"wp-image-60044\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/executive-summary.png 816w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/executive-summary-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/executive-summary-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/executive-summary-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/executive-summary-730x945.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Product and services description<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where you should go into more detail about your product or service. Your product is the heart of your business, so it\u2019s essential this section is easy to grasp. After all, if people don\u2019t know what you\u2019re selling, you\u2019ll have a hard time keeping them engaged!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expand on your description in the executive summary, going into detail about the problem your customers face and how your product\/service will solve it. If you have various products or services, go through all of them in equal detail.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Product-and-services.png\" alt=\"Products &amp; Services Description\" class=\"wp-image-60045\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Product-and-services.png 816w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Product-and-services-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Product-and-services-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Product-and-services-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Product-and-services-730x945.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Target market and\/or Market analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A market analysis is crucial for placing your business in a larger context and showing investors you know your industry. This section should include market research on your prospective customer demographic including location, age range, goals and motivations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can even&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/search\/personas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">include detailed customer personas<\/a>&nbsp;as a visual aid \u2014 these are especially useful if you have several target demographics. You want to showcase your knowledge of your customer, who exactly you\u2019re selling to and how you can fulfill their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to include information on the overall target market for your product, including direct and indirect competitors and how your industry is performing. If your competitors have strengths you want to mimic or weaknesses you want to exploit, this is the place to record that information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Market-analysis.png\" alt=\"Market Analysis\" class=\"wp-image-60046\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Market-analysis.png 816w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Market-analysis-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Market-analysis-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Market-analysis-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Market-analysis-730x945.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Organization and management<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can think of this as a \u201cmeet the team\u201d section \u2014 this is where you should go into depth on your business\u2019s structure from management to legal and HR. If there are people bringing unique skills or experience to the table (I\u2019m sure there are!), you should highlight them in this section.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal here is to showcase why your team is the best to run your business. Investors want to know you\u2019re unified, organized and reliable. This is also a potential opportunity to bring more humanity to your business plan and showcase the faces behind the ideas and product.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Organization-and-management.png\" alt=\"Organization &amp; Management\" class=\"wp-image-60047\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Organization-and-management.png 816w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Organization-and-management-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Organization-and-management-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Organization-and-management-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Organization-and-management-730x945.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Marketing and sales<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve introduced your product and team, you need to explain how you\u2019re going to sell it. Give a detailed explanation of your sales and marketing strategy, including pricing, timelines for launching your product and advertising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a major section of your plan and can even live as a separate document for your marketing and sales teams. Here are some&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/small-business-marketing-plan-template-cec7cd0f-f547-43af-9cf2-6256be97eb39\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marketing plan templates to help you get started<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure you have research or analysis to back up your decisions \u2014 if you want to do paid ads on LinkedIn to advertise your product, include a brief explanation as to why that is the best channel for your business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Marketing-and-sales.png\" alt=\"Marketing &amp; Sales Plan\" class=\"wp-image-60048\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Marketing-and-sales.png 816w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Marketing-and-sales-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Marketing-and-sales-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Marketing-and-sales-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Marketing-and-sales-730x945.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <strong>Financial projections and funding request<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The end of your plan is where you\u2019ll look to the future and how you think your business will perform financially. Your financial plan should include results from your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow projections.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>State your funding requirements and what you need to realize the business. Be extremely clear about how you plan to use the funding and when you expect investors will see returns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you aren\u2019t presenting to potential investors, you can skip this part, but it\u2019s something to keep in mind should you seek funding in the future. Covering financial projections and the previous five components is essential at the stage of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.incandgo.com\/best-llc-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">business formation<\/a> to ensure everything goes smoothly moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-projections-and-funding-request.png\" alt=\"Financial Projections\" class=\"wp-image-60049\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-projections-and-funding-request.png 816w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-projections-and-funding-request-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-projections-and-funding-request-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-projections-and-funding-request-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-projections-and-funding-request-730x945.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Appendix<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Any extra visual aids, receipts, paperwork or charts will live here. Anything that may be relevant to your plan should be included as reference e.g. your cash flow statement (or other financial statements). You can format your appendix in whatever way you think is best \u2014 as long as it\u2019s easy for readers to find what they\u2019re looking for, you\u2019ve done your job!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Typically, the best way to start your outline is to list all these high-level sections. Then, you can add bullet points outlining what will go in each section and the resources you\u2019ll need to write them. This should give you a solid starting point for your full-length plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"example\"><strong>Business plan outline examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking for a shortcut? Our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/business-plan-template\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">business plan templates<\/a>&nbsp;are basically outlines in a box!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While your outline likely won\u2019t go into as much detail, these templates are great examples of how to organize your sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Traditional format examples<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A strong template can turn your long, dense business plan into an engaging, easy-to-read document. There are lots to choose from, but here are just a few ideas to inspire you\u2026&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can duplicate pages and use these styles for a traditional outline, or start with a lean outline as you build your business plan out over time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/design-consultant-business-plan-2f15742d-3a8c-49b5-ae99-46a9bf8e804b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Design-Consultant-Business-Plan-Template.png\" alt=\"IT Business Consulting Plan Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-60032\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Design-Consultant-Business-Plan-Template.png 960w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Design-Consultant-Business-Plan-Template-76x300.png 76w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Design-Consultant-Business-Plan-Template-260x1024.png 260w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Design-Consultant-Business-Plan-Template-768x3025.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Design-Consultant-Business-Plan-Template-390x1536.png 390w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Design-Consultant-Business-Plan-Template-520x2048.png 520w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Design-Consultant-Business-Plan-Template-730x2875.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/design-consultant-business-plan-2f15742d-3a8c-49b5-ae99-46a9bf8e804b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/green-simple-business-plan-52509612-fc92-494c-a382-7f7510329c84\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Green-Simple-Business-Plan-Template.png\" alt=\"Green Business Plan Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-60033\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Green-Simple-Business-Plan-Template.png 960w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Green-Simple-Business-Plan-Template-115x300.png 115w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Green-Simple-Business-Plan-Template-391x1024.png 391w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Green-Simple-Business-Plan-Template-768x2012.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Green-Simple-Business-Plan-Template-586x1536.png 586w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Green-Simple-Business-Plan-Template-782x2048.png 782w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Green-Simple-Business-Plan-Template-730x1912.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/green-simple-business-plan-52509612-fc92-494c-a382-7f7510329c84\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lean format examples<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For lean format outlines, a simpler \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/mind-map-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mind map<\/a>\u2019 style is a good bet. With this style, you can get ideas down fast and quickly turn them into one or two-page plans. Plus, because they\u2019re shorter, they\u2019re easy to share with your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/mind-maps\/business-planning-mind-map-175e8cb8-44f7-44d5-82ce-2c7e9e26f8ff\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Planning-Mind-Map-Template.png\" alt=\"Business Planning Mind Map Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-60034\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Planning-Mind-Map-Template.png 1056w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Planning-Mind-Map-Template-300x232.png 300w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Planning-Mind-Map-Template-1024x791.png 1024w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Planning-Mind-Map-Template-768x593.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Planning-Mind-Map-Template-730x564.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1056px) 100vw, 1056px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/mind-maps\/business-planning-mind-map-175e8cb8-44f7-44d5-82ce-2c7e9e26f8ff\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS MIND MAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/mind-maps\/business-plan-mind-map-11f40baf-999e-4b4e-bf0b-b5fcd8a47991\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Plan-Mind-Map.png\" alt=\"Business Plan Mind Map Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-60035\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Plan-Mind-Map.png 1056w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Plan-Mind-Map-300x232.png 300w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Plan-Mind-Map-1024x791.png 1024w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Plan-Mind-Map-768x593.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Business-Plan-Mind-Map-730x564.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1056px) 100vw, 1056px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/mind-maps\/business-plan-mind-map-11f40baf-999e-4b4e-bf0b-b5fcd8a47991\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS MIND MAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tips\"><strong>Writing tips to ace your business plan outline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Business plans are complex documents, so if you\u2019re still not sure how to write your outline, don\u2019t worry! Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when drafting your business plan outline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ask yourself why you\u2019re writing an outline.<\/strong> Having a clear goal for your outline can help keep you on track as you write. Everything you include in your plan should contribute to your goal. If it doesn\u2019t, it probably doesn\u2019t need to be in there.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep it clear and concise. <\/strong>Whether you\u2019re writing a traditional or lean format business plan, your outline should be easy to understand. Choose your words wisely and avoid unnecessary preambles or padding language. The faster you get to the point, the easier your plan will be to read.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add visual aids. <\/strong>No one likes reading huge walls of text! Make room in your outline for visuals, data and charts. This keeps your audience engaged and helps those who are more visual learners. Psst,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/what-is-an-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">infographics<\/a>&nbsp;are great for this.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make it collaborative.<\/strong> Have someone (or several someones) look it over before finalizing your outline. If you have an established marketing \/ sales \/ finance team, have them look it over too. Getting feedback at the outline stage can help you avoid rewrites and wasted time down the line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If this is your first time writing a business plan outline, don\u2019t be too hard on yourself. You might not get it 100% right on the first try, but with these tips and the key components listed above, you\u2019ll have a strong foundation. Remember, done is better than perfect.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"format\"><strong>What format should you choose for your business plan outline?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most business plans fit into one of two formats.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The format you choose largely depends on three factors: (1) the stage of your business, (2) if you\u2019re presenting the plan to investors and (3) what you want to achieve with your business plan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s have a closer look at these two formats and why you might choose one over the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Traditional format<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/business-plan-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Traditional business plans<\/a>&nbsp;are typically long, detailed documents. In many cases, they take up to 50-60 pages, but it\u2019s not uncommon to see plans spanning 100+ pages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Traditional plans are long because they cover&nbsp;<em>every aspect<\/em>&nbsp;of your business. They leave nothing out. You&#8217;ll find a traditional business plan template with sections like executive summary, company description, target market, market analysis, marketing plan, financial plan, and more. Basically: the more information the merrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This business plan template isn&#8217;t of a traditional format, but you could expand it&nbsp;into one by duplicating pages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/app-business-plan-template-7e178c22-7805-4a27-8492-227f2a59050b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/App-Business-Plan-Template.png\" alt=\"App Development Business Plan Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-60029\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/App-Business-Plan-Template.png 960w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/App-Business-Plan-Template-115x300.png 115w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/App-Business-Plan-Template-391x1024.png 391w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/App-Business-Plan-Template-768x2012.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/App-Business-Plan-Template-586x1536.png 586w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/App-Business-Plan-Template-782x2048.png 782w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/App-Business-Plan-Template-730x1912.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/app-business-plan-template-7e178c22-7805-4a27-8492-227f2a59050b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p>Due to their high level of detail, traditional formats are the best way to sell your business. They show you\u2019re reliable and have a clear vision for your business\u2019s future.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re planning on presenting your plan to investors and stakeholders, you\u2019ll want to go with a traditional plan format. The more information you include, the fewer doubts and questions you\u2019ll get when you present your plan, so don\u2019t hold back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Traditional business plans require more detailed outlines before drafting since there\u2019s a lot of information to cover. You\u2019ll want to list all the sections and include bullet points describing what each section should cover.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also a good idea to include all external resources and visuals in your outline, so you don\u2019t have to gather them later.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lean format<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lean business plan formats are high level and quick to write. They\u2019re often only one or two pages. Similar to a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/business-plan-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">business plan infographic<\/a>, they\u2019re scannable and quick to digest, like this template:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/monochromatic-architecture-business-plan-5e0be304-f385-470a-9ea9-2a06ed3af4de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Monochromatic-Architecture-Business-Plan-Template.png\" alt=\"Architecture Business Plan Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-60030\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Monochromatic-Architecture-Business-Plan-Template.png 960w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Monochromatic-Architecture-Business-Plan-Template-242x300.png 242w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Monochromatic-Architecture-Business-Plan-Template-825x1024.png 825w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Monochromatic-Architecture-Business-Plan-Template-768x953.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Monochromatic-Architecture-Business-Plan-Template-730x906.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/monochromatic-architecture-business-plan-5e0be304-f385-470a-9ea9-2a06ed3af4de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p>This format is often referred to as a \u201cstartup\u201d format due to (you guessed it!) many startups using it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lean business plans require less detailed outlines. You can include high-level sections and a few lines in each section covering the basics. Since the final plan will only be a page or two, you don\u2019t need to over prepare. Nor will you need a ton of external resources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lean plans don\u2019t answer all the questions investors and stakeholders may ask, so if you go this route, make sure it\u2019s the right <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ntaskmanager.com\/blog\/best-business-process-management-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">choice for your business<\/a>. Companies not yet ready to present to investors will typically use a <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/startup-business-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lean\/startup business plan<\/a> format to get their rough plan on paper and share it internally with their management team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s another example of a lean business plan format in the form of a financial plan:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/financial-business-plan-template-e3fabad0-4055-4cf9-b024-582f3a7f16a8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-Business-Plan-Template.png\" alt=\"Financial Business Plan Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-60031\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-Business-Plan-Template.png 960w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-Business-Plan-Template-115x300.png 115w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-Business-Plan-Template-391x1024.png 391w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-Business-Plan-Template-768x2012.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-Business-Plan-Template-586x1536.png 586w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-Business-Plan-Template-782x2048.png 782w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Financial-Business-Plan-Template-730x1912.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/financial-business-plan-template-e3fabad0-4055-4cf9-b024-582f3a7f16a8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Create a winning business plan by starting with a detailed, actionable outline <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to learn is by doing. So go ahead, get started on your business plan outline. As you develop your plan, you\u2019ll no doubt learn more about your business and what\u2019s important for success along the way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A clean, compelling template is a great way to get a head start on your outline. After all, the sections are already separated and defined for you!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Explore Venngage\u2019s business plan templates<\/a>&nbsp;for one that suits your needs. Many are free to use and there are premium templates available for a small monthly fee. Happy outlining!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When starting a business plan, the first hurdle is often getting started. And how do you avoid spending hours staring at a blank page? Start with a business plan outline. An outline helps provide clarity and direction, especially for important documents like a business plan. I get that the idea of outlining a business plan [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":60037,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[198,606],"tags":[309],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to write a business plan outline, including the 7 key components of a successful plan and which format to choose for your company.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/business-plan-outline\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Write a Business Plan Outline [Examples + Templates]\u00a0 - 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