No matter what business you plan to start in your next entrepreneurial endeavor you need to be thinking about writing a business plan. Even if you are not seeking funding for your new business or already have secured funds from family members, angel investor types, personal savings or partners. A business plan helps you start out on the right foot and makes you think about your future strategies. One important thing you need in a business plan is a table of contents that you can use as a guide, as you go thru the hectic and tedious steps to start your new business. There are a myriad of rules, regulations and inane paper work and you must stay focused at all times.
It is recommended that you go and buy yourself a book on "how to write a business plan" and try to find one, which has a sample business plan which is most similar to your business model inside. Below is a sample Table of Contents that you can use to help you, so A.) you do not forget any important items and B.) as a template to help you create your own table of contents. I recommend you print this article and then take the table of contents and modify it to fit your business model. Once you complete this exercise you are well on your way to creating the best possible business plan for your future small business. Now then, below is a table of contents, which we had used in a business for a mobile car wash company. Go ahead and look it over and see if this is something you believe can assist you.
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Executive Summary 3
Company Analysis 6
Company Description
Company Mission Statement
Company Analysis
Industry Analysis 10
Trends
Position for Growth
Marketing Analysis 12
Target Markets
Bonzai and Blitz Marketing
Sales
Advertising
Media
Management 22
Operations 25
Inventory
Equipment
Hours
Systems, Procedures, Computer, Credit Card Units
Legal Strategies 30
Licensing
Regulations
Insurance
Financial Strategies 32
Taxes
Capital Requirements
Benefits
Strategic Planning 35
Long Term Goals
Manager Plug-Ins
Financial Projections
Billing
Anticipated Gross Sales from Services
Anticipated Business Expenses
Profit Per Truck
Appendix 38
First Year One Truck - Anticipated Gross Sales from Services
First Year One Truck - Anticipated Business Expenses
Net Profit One Truck
Picture and Sketch of Unit and Signage
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.