Free business plan template

Frequently asked questions

• What is a business plan?

  A business plan is a written document that explains what your business is, where it’s going, and how it’s going to get there.

  It can be a classic plain-text Word doc or a PDF. 

• Why is a business plan important?

  A business plan acts as a map, mirror, and megaphone for your business:
  
  Map: It charts the course, helping you set goals and milestones rather than wandering aimlessly.
  
  Mirror: It forces you to sanity-check your business model, stress-test assumptions, and spot gaps and potential problems.
  
  Megaphone: It communicates your vision clearly to investors, banks, partners, or even your own team.

• When should I start writing one?

  The sooner better! Whether you're applying for a bank loan, reaching out to investors, or seeking SEIS/EIS approval, you'll need a solid plan, so you may as well make a start now.

• What must a business plan include?

  What should a business plan contain? Generally speaking:

  • A company overview/summary
  • Market analysis (including competitor analysis)
  • Description of product/service offering
  • Team structure and operational details
  • Go-to-market strategy
  • Risk factors (internal and external)
  • An appendix with supporting documents (e.g. financial forecast).

• How long should a business plan be?

  Long enough to convince someone to fund you, but short enough that they actually read it.

  A traditional business plan is usually 15–25 pages long, but it really depends on the nature of your business and who's going to read it.

  Don't obsess over word count, obsess over clarity. The best business plans aren’t the longest, they’re the clearest!

• How do you write a business plan?

  Be concise. Be confident. Address all key areas:

  • Mission and core values

  • Market analysis

  • Product/service offering

  • Team structure

  • Growth strategy

  • Risks

  Our free template covers all of the above. Once your business plan is in good shape, have it peer reviewed.

• How do you start a business plan?

  Our free template is a great starting point! In the business plan itself, it begins with an "executive summary" or "company overview". Including a high-level, no-waffle summary of the key points in your plan at the start is best practice.

• What's the difference between a business plan and a pitch deck?

  A business plan is a detailed written document that maps out your strategy, market, financials, and long-term goals, while a pitch deck is a short slide presentation that distils the essentials: problem, solution, market, traction, and funding ask.

  We have a free pitch deck template too if you're interested!