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Business Plan Format
The format is just as important as the content when writing your business plan. Always bear in mind that the person reading your plan may be a busy bank manager or investor. If the plan is poorly presented or badly laid out and they find it difficult to assimilate the information, you will lose your credibility and they will quickly lose interest. Here are the main requirements for the style and presentation: Cover Page
Include the company name, logo, plan period, document date and, if necessary, a confidentiality clause. This gives a professional .feel. to the document to start with. Contents Page
Always include a contents page so the reader can see all the headings at a glance. Executive Summary
This should summarise the key points of the plan and not exceed a page. This summary will often be read first and determine whether the reader continues or not, so it.s most important to get it right. Page Presentation
Head up each page with the company name and put the date and page number at the bottom. Don.t cram the page with lengthy paragraphs. Use headings and bullet points, so the reader can pick up the essentials easily. Any supporting details should be attached in the Appendices. Sections
Start each section on a new page. Length
This will depend on the size of your business or the complexity of the project but keep it as concise as possible. After writing the first draft, go through and edit it . cutting out any superfluous details. The main body of text should ideally be about 15 pages but not exceed 20 pages. Terminology & Writing Style
Do not try to impress with industry jargon or technical terms that the reader may not understand. Write in layman.s terms, in the third person and avoid any personal viewpoints. Make sure the spelling is correct and grammar accurate. Financial Spreadsheets
It is crucial that these are easy to read. Present them so that the essential information for each year fits on to an A4 page. Supporting information should be shown on separate pages. Include all these in the Appendices. Appendices
As well as the financial figures, you can include any items of detail here . CVs, photos, drawings etc. This makes it easier to read the main body of the document without getting sidetracked.
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