For more details on this topic, see Content of a business
plan.
Business plans are decision-making tools. There is no fixed content for a
business plan. Rather, the content and format of the business plan is
determined by the goals and audience. A business plan represents all aspects of
business planning process declaring vision and strategy alongside sub-plans to
cover marketing, finance, operations, human resources as well as a legal plan,
when required. A business plan is a summary of those disciplinary plans.For example, a business plan for a non-profit might discuss the fit between the business plan and the organization’s mission. Banks are quite concerned about defaults, so a business plan for a bank loan will build a convincing case for the organization’s ability to repay the loan. Venture capitalists are primarily concerned about initial investment, feasibility, and exit valuation. A business plan for a project requiring equity financing will need to explain why current resources, upcoming growth opportunities, and sustainable competitive advantage will lead to a high exit valuation.
Preparing a business plan draws on a wide range of knowledge from many different business disciplines: finance, human resource management, intellectual property management, supply chain management, operations management, and marketing, among others. It can be helpful to view the business plan as a collection of sub-plans, one for each of the main business disciplines.
"... a good business plan can help to make a good business credible, understandable, and attractive to someone who is unfamiliar with the business. Writing a good business plan can’t guarantee success, but it can go a long way toward reducing the odds of failure.
