COMPANY NAME

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Name Address City, State Zip Phone # Email Web address

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Contents Exec ti!e S mm ar y Ob(e)ti#es Missio! Company 'om"a!% O,!ers&i" 'om"a!% Histor% 'om"a!% Fa)ilities Prod ct #s$%Ser !ice#s$ Pro$u)t Des)ri"tio!-Ser#i)e Im"orta!t Pro$u)t(s)-Ser#i)e(s) Features a!$ 'om"ariso! C stom er Ser!ice # Mar&e t Analysis I!$ustr% A!al%sis Mar.et Fore)ast-Tar*et Mar.et Competi t ion # Ke%s to Su))ess SWOT A!al%sis ' siness Strat e" y and (mple m e n t a t i o n Ad!er tisin"% M a r & e t i n "% P r o m o t i o n Mar.eti!* Strate*% Sales Pla! Strat e"ic Alliances # Or"ani)a ti on Or*a!i/atio!al Stru)ture Ma!a*eme!t Team + Ma!a*eme!t Team 0a"s Ot&er Ma!a*eme!t Team 'o!si$eratio!s *inancial Analysis # Fi!a!)ial Assum"tio!s Start 1" 'ostsa!$ 'a"titali/atio! + Fi!a!)ial Assum"tio!s Si*! 1" 'osts a!$ 'a"itali/atio! Fi!a!)ial Ratios
* t re Plans #

pa"e # "a*e + pa"e # "a*e + "a*e + "a*e + pa"e # "a*e + "a*e + pa"e pa"e # "a*e + "a*e + pa"e "a*e + "a*e + pa"e # pa"e # "a*e + "a*e + pa"e pa"e # "a*e + "a*e "a*e + "a*e + pa"e "a*e + "a*e "a*e + "a*e +
pa"e

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'o!te!ts

Small usi!ess Pla! "ro#i$e$ b% t&e Sout& 'aroli!a Small *inal Chec&list

usi!ess De#elo"me!t 'e!ters pa"e #

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#Compan y Name $

Con+identiality State m e n t T&e i!2ormatio!3 $ata a!$ $ra,i!*s embo$ie$ i! t&is busi!ess "la! are stri)tl% )o!2i$e!tial a!$ su""lie$ ,it& t&e u!$ersta!$i!* t&at t&e% ,ill be &el$ i! )o!2i$e!)e a!$ !ot $is)lose$ to t&ir$ "arties ,it&out t&e "rior ,ritte! )o!se!t o2 4444444444444444444444444444445

44444444444444444444444444444444444 ('ou!selor) 44444444444444444444444444444444444 Date

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Exec ti!e S mmar y

T&e e6e)uti#e summar% is t&e $oor,a% to %our busi!ess "la!5 It e6"lai!s ,&o %ou are3 ,&at %ou ,a!t to $o3 ,&ere a!$ ,&e!5 T&e summar% s&oul$ outli!e a!$ em"&asi/e %our "la!7s mai! "oi!ts5 It be)omes o!e o2 t&e most i!2lue!tial "arts o2 %our busi!ess "la! ,&e! s"ea.i!* to "ote!tial 2u!$i!* sour)es5 rie2l% state ,&at %our busi!ess $oes (retail3 ser#i)e3 ma!u2a)turi!*3 mar.eti!*3 ot&er)3 %our ob(e)ti#es or *oals a!$ %our )om"etiti#e a$#a!ta*e5 Your summar% s&oul$ t&orou*&l% a!s,er t&ese 8uestio!s5 W&o is-are t&e o,!er(s)9 W&at le*al 2orm o2 or*a!i/atio! ,ill %our busi!ess ta.e9 (sole "ro"rietors&i"3 "art!ers&i"3 limite$ liabilit% )om"a!%3 )or"oratio!) W&at is %our e6"erie!)e i! t&is busi!ess3 or i2 %ou &a#e !o e6"erie!)e i! t&is busi!ess3 ,&o ,ill su""l% %ou ,it& t&e !e)essar% e6"ertise to o"erate it9 W&o ,ill %our )ustomers be9 W&at mar.et $o %ou i!te!$ to ser#i)e3 t&e mar.et si/e3 a!$ %our e6"e)te$ s&are o2 t&e mar.et5 W&% )a! %ou ser#i)e t&e mar.et better t&a! %our )om"etitio!9 W&% &a#e %ou )&ose! %our "arti)ular lo)atio!9 W&at ma!a*eme!t a!$ ot&er "erso!!el are re8uire$ a!$ a#ailable 2or t&e o"eratio!9 I2 %ou ,ill be $oi!* )o!tra)t ,or.3 ,&at are t&e terms9 Re2ere!)e a!% 2irm )o!tra)t a!$ i!)lu$e it as a su""orti!* $o)ume!t5 I2 %ou &a#e letters o2 i!te!t 2rom "ros"e)ti#e su""liers or "ur)&asers3 also i!)lu$e )o"ies o2 t&ose letters as su""orti!* $o)ume!ts5 Ho, mu)& 2u!$i!* ,ill %ou !ee$9 , Ho, mu)& o2 %our o,! )as& ,ill %ou be "utti!* i!to t&e busi!ess3 re"rese!ti!* a! e8uit% i!#estme!t o2 ,&at : o2 2u!$s re8uire$ to start9 , Do %ou &a#e real estate to use as )ollateral9 (I2 so3 list it o! %our "erso!al 2i!a!)ial stateme!t5)

I! t&e 2i!al "ara*ra"&3 state ,&% t&e busi!ess ,ill be su))ess2ul3 usi!* as ma!% reaso!s as "ossible5 E6am"les: lo)atio!3 !i)&e3 )om"etiti#e a$#a!ta*e3 %ears o2 i!$ustr% e6"erie!)e3 e$u)atio!3 e6isti!* )ustomer base3 e6isti!* su))ess2ul )om"a!% ,it& "ositi#e )as& 2lo,3 "ro#e! mar.eti!* "la!3 )om"lime!tar% s.ills o2 o,!ers3 et)5 ,

NOTE: T&e e6e)uti#e summar% s&oul$ !ot e6)ee$ o!e "a*e5

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Pa*e ;

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Ob-ecti!es
Setti!* %our ob(e)ti#es3 su)& as mar.et s&are3 sales a!$ "ro2it ,ill $etermi!e %our busi!ess *oals5 Ma.e sure all ob(e)ti#es are )o!)rete a!$ measurable5 T&e% s&oul$ i!$i)ate "er)e!ta*e o2 sales *ro,t&3 a!ti)i"ate$ "ro2its3 a "er)e!ta*e o2 *ross mar*i!3 !umber a!$ t%"e o2 em"lo%ees to &ire a!$ ,&e! a!$ t&e mar.et s&are %ou "la! to attai!5 A#oi$ usi!* #a*ue ob(e)ti#es li.e <bei!* t&e best= or <*ro,i!* ra"i$l%5 = Set at least t&ree ob(e)ti#es 2or %our busi!ess5 T%"e %our te6t &ere: I$e!ti2% a! ob(e)ti#e I$e!ti2% a! ob(e)ti#e I$e!ti2% a! ob(e)ti#e I$e!ti2% a! ob(e)ti#e

Mission State m e n t
A missio! stateme!t e6"resses t&e &i*&er *oals o2 %our )om"a!% su)& as "ro#i$i!* ser#i)es to u!i8ue i!$ustries3 s"rea$i!* !e, te)&!olo*ies or im"ro#i!* e$u)atio!5 I2 %our )om"a!% &as a missio!3 state it sim"l% i! o!e or t,o se!te!)es5 W&at $oes t&e )om"a!% $o a!$ &o, $oes it a22e)t )ustomers9

Company
T&e 2ollo,i!* se)tio! s&oul$ $es)ribe t&e $etails o2 t&e )om"a!%5 Ho, $i$ t&e busi!ess or i$ea start9

Company O.nership

Des)ribe t&e o,!ers&i" o2 %our )om"a!%5 Is it a "art!ers&i"3 sole "ro"rietors&i"3 >>'3 or )or"oratio!9 Is it "ubli)l% tra$e$ or "ri#atel% o,!e$9 W&at : $oes ea)& o,!er o,!9

Company /istory

Existin" companies 0i#e brie2 &istor% o2 o"eratio!s5 Start p companies ? Summari/e t&e i$ea o2 t&e busi!ess5

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Company 0ocation and *acilities

0i#e t&e a$$ress a!$ (usti2% ,&% t&e lo)atio! is "er2e)t 2or t&e busi!ess5 I!)lu$e surrou!$i!* "la)es a!$-or &i*&,a%s t&at ,ill e!)oura*e *ro,t&5 0i#e a $es)ri"tio! o2 t&e i!si$e o2 t&e 2a)ilit% a!$ its rele#a!)e to t&e busi!ess5

Prod ct#s$%Ser!ice#s $
W&at t%"e o2 "ro$u)t or ser#i)e $o %ou "la! to sell9 Des)ribe ea)& "ro$u)t or ser#i)e i! $etail5 Ho, $oes t&e "ro$u)t or ser#i)e )om"are to t&e )om"etitio!9 T&e more )om"le6 t&e i!$ustr%3 t&e more s"e)i2i) t&e $es)ri"tio! s&oul$ be5

1escription o+ Prod ct%Se r !ice

>ist %our "ro$u)t(s)-ser#i)e(s) i!$i#i$uall% a!$ $es)ribe &o, t&e% be!e2it %our )ustomers5

Pro$u)t-ser#i)e ;

Pro$u)t-ser#i)e @

Pro$u)t-ser#i)e A

(mport a n t Prod ct#s$%Se r !ice #s $ *eat r es and Compe titi!e Comparison

Des)ribe t&e im"orta!t )om"etiti#e 2eatures o2 %our "ro$u)t(s) or ser#i)e(s) or bot&5 Ho, $o %our "ro$u)ts-ser#i)es )om"ete a*ai!st ot&er bra!$s a!$-or )om"etitio!9 W&at ma.es t&e busi!ess u!i8ue9

C stome r Ser!ice
Ho, $o %ou "la! to ser#i)e t&e "ro$u)t9 I!)lu$e )ustomer su""ort3 *uara!tees a!$ &ours o2 o"eratio!5

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Pa*e A

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Mar&e t Analysis
(nd str y Analysis

0i#e 2a)tors a!$-or !e,s t&at a22e)ti!* t&e )urre!t i!$ustr%5 Re2ere!)e arti)les 2rom !e,s"a"ers3 ma*a/i!es or Sear)& a!.5 I!2ormatio! %ou "ro#i$e ,ill set t&e s)e!e 2or t&e mar.et 2ore)ast se)tio!5

Mar&e t *orecast%2ar " e t Mar& e t

0i#e 2a)tors t&at $es)ribe t&e mar.et surrou!$i!* %our )om"a!%5 W&at are t&e $emo*ra"&i)s o2 %our mar.et9 Do %ou .!o, tra22i) )ou!ts9 S&o, t&at %ou u!$ersta!$ %our mar.et5 >i!. a!s,ers $ire)tl% to $emo*ra"&i) i!2ormatio!5

Competi tion
0ist yo r +i!e nearest compe ti to rs3 Is t&eir busi!ess stea$%3 i!)reasi!* or $e)reasi!*9 W&%9 Ho, are t&eir o"eratio!s similar or $i22ere!t to %our o"eratio!s9 W&at are t&eir stre!*t&s a!$ ,ea.!esses9 W&at &a#e %ou lear!e$ 2rom ,at)&i!* t&eir o"eratio!s9 Ho, ,ill %our o"eratio!s be better (or $i22ere!t) t&a! t&at o2 %our )om"etitors9

4eys to S ccess
I! or$er 2or ()om"a!% !ame) to remai! )om"etiti#e i! its tar*et mar.et3 t&e busi!ess must 2o)us o! )om"etiti#e 8ualities5 >ist t&ree or more ,a%s t&e )om"a!% ,ill obtai! a strate*i) a$#a!ta*e o#er its )om"etitors5 Will it be e22i)ie!)%3 e6"erie!)e3 lo)atio!9 'om"etiti#e Bualit% ; 'om"etiti#e Bualit% @ 'om"etiti#e Bualit% A

SWO2 Analysis

Stren"t hs o+ the company

W&at s.ills $oes t&e )om"a!% "ossess t&at ,ill e!sure t&e 2uture su))ess o2 it9

Wea&nesses o+ the company

W&at s.ills $oes t&e )om"a!% !ot "ossess t&at )oul$ "ote!tiall% be t&e $o,!2all o2 t&e )om"a!% a!$ &o, $o %ou "ro"ose to 2i6 t&e ,ea.!esses ?

Oppor t ni ti es o+ the company

Pa*e C

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usi!ess Pla! "ro#i$e$ b% t&e Sout& 'aroli!a Small usi!ess De#elo"me!t 'e!ters Are t&ere a!% o""ortu!ities (i5e5 *ro,i!* )ommu!it%) t&at %ou )a! 2orsee t&at ,ill allo, %our busi!ess to *ro, a!$ be "ros"erous9

2hrea ts to the company

W&at are t&e t&reats (i5e5 &ea#% )om"etitio!) t&at )a! "ote!tiall% &urt t&e )om"a!% i! t&e lo!* ru!9

' siness Strate " y and (mplemen t a t i on

0i#e ste"D b%D ste" strate*ies to meet t&e ob(e)ti#es set b% t&e )om"a!%5 Pro#i$e "la!s 2or a!% 2uture ser#i)e or "ro$u)t li!es be%o!$ t&e t&reeD %ear "ro(e)tio!s5

Ad!er tisin"% m a r & e t i n "% pr o m o tion

Des)ribe a$#ertisi!* a!$ mar.eti!* "la!!e$ 2or %our !e, busi!ess5 I!)lu$e e6am"les o2 bro)&ures3 $ire)t mail3 "ri!t a$#ertisi!*3 broa$)ast a$#ertisi!*3 Yello, Pa*es3 so)ial me$ia3 "ubli)it% e#e!ts3 !et,or.i!* o""ortu!ities or ot&er "romotio!al strate*ies %ou "la! to "ursue5

Mar&e tin" Strate " y

Ho, ,ill t&e )om"a!% use t&ese a$#ertisi!*-mar.eti!*-"ro motio!al strate*ies to buil$ a soli$ )ustomer base9 W&at t%"e o2 i!itial "romotio!s9

Sales Plan

W&at "la!s $oes t&e )om"a!% &a#e to i!)rease t&e )ustomer base to meet t&e ob(e)ti#es9 W&at o22ers or *uara!tees $o %ou &a#e9

Strate "ic Alliances

W&at strate*i) allia!)es $oes t&e )om"a!% &a#e9 Will %ou o22er more "ro$u)t li!es9 Do %ou &a#e soli$ relatio!s&i"s ,it& $istributors9 Will %ou ta.e a$#a!ta*e o2 trai!i!* a!$ te)&!i)al su""ort to sta% o! to" o2 %our i!$ustr%7s mo#eme!t9

Or"ani)a tion
Des)ribe ea)& ma!a*er7s or*a!i/atio!al res"o!sibilit%5

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Or"ani)a tional Str ct r e

Illustrate %our )om"a!%7s or*a!i/atio!5

Mana"e m e n t 2eam
>ist %our ma!a*eme!t team5 I!)lu$e summaries o2 rele#a!t e6"erie!)e or brie2 resumes o2 ea)& member5 Des)ribe ea)& "erso!7s 2u!)tio! ,it&i! t&e )om"a!%5

Name and Position

'ac&"ro nd

S&ills

Mana"e m e n t 2eam 5aps

I$e!ti2% s.ills t&e team $oes !ot "ossess a!$ $is)uss "la!s to 2ill t&ese !ee$s5 State a!% *a"s t&at ma!a*eme!t &as i! t&e o"eratio! o2 t&e )om"a!%5 T%"i)al e6am"les are le*al a!$ a))ou!ti!* $e2i)its5

Other Mana"e m e n t 2eam Considerations

A$$ a!% a$$itio!al i!2ormatio! t&at ma% be "erti!e!t to t&e busi!ess "la!5 For e6am"le3 t&e )lie!t ma% &a#e a))ess to busi!ess i!2ormatio! 2rom a! o,!er i! a !o!D )om"etiti#e area5

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*inancial Analysis
T&e "ro(e)te$ 2i!a!)ial stateme!ts 2or t&e 2irst t&ree %ears o2 o"eratio! are lo)ate$ i! t&e a""e!$i65

*inancial Ass mptions

T&e table belo, lists t&e assum"tio!s use$ to )reate t&e 2i!a!)ial "ro(e)tio!s lo)ate$ i! t&e a""e!$i65 (I!sert assum"tio!s table5)

Star t6 7p Costs and Capitali)a tion

I! or$er to "ur)&ase ()om"a!% !ame)3 ()lie!t !ame) re8uires GHH3HHH i! )ommer)ial 2u!$i!*5 T&e table belo, "ro#i$es a summar% o2 t&e "ro)ee$s o2 t&e loa! 2u!$s5 >ist $etaile$ startu"-2u!$s usa*e5 T&is )a! be $o!e i! table 2ormat or b% )&art5

*inancial 8atios
T&e 2ollo,i!* table "rese!ts ()om"a!%7s) 2i!a!)ial ratio )al)ulatio!s base$ o! t&e "ro(e)te$ 2i!a!)ial stateme!ts i! t&e a""e!$i65 (I!sert ratio table5)

* t re Plans
I!)lu$e a "ara*ra"& o! "ro(e)te$ busi!ess *ro,t& 2or ADE %ears5 I!)lu$e $etails o! &o, %ou ,ill a))om"lis& t&is busi!ess *ro,t&5

*inal Chec&list
A2ter %ou &a#e )om"lete$ %our busi!ess "la!3 loo. it o#er )are2ull% 2or a!% mista.es a!$ ,ea.!esses5 O!e #er% im"orta!t "art o2 t&e busi!ess "la! o2te! o#erloo.e$ is t&e o#erall )o!siste!)% o2 t&e "la!5 Some 8uestio!s t&at %ou s&oul$ as. %oursel2 about t&e "la! are: Do t&e 2i!a!)ial "ro(e)tio!s mat)& t&rou*&out t&e e!tire busi!ess "la!9 Are t&e timeli!es a!$ $ates )orre)t9 (T&is is "arti)ularl% im"orta!t 2or re#ise$ busi!ess "la!s5) Are t&e assum"tio!s substa!tiate$ a!$ )a! %ou (usti2% %our )o!)lusio! i2 as.e$9

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Pa*e I

Small usi!ess Pla! "ro#i$e$ b% t&e Sout& 'aroli!a Small usi!ess De#elo"me!t 'e!ters Ha#e %ou )o!si$ere$ a! e6it "la!3 $isaster "la! or ba).u" "la!9 W&at about "ote!tio!al stumbli!* blo).s9 Do %ou 2ull% u!$ersta!$ all o2 t&e 2i!a!)ial a!$ "ro"rietar% i!2ormatio! i2 a! outsi$e sour)e ,as use$ to "re"are t&e busi!ess "la!9 Are %ou rea$% to "erso!all% *uara!tee a!% loa!s i! t&e !ame o2 t&e busi!ess9 1!,illi!*!ess to *uara!tee raises a re$ 2la* to a le!$er5 I2 a busi!ess o,!er ,ill !ot sta!$ be&i!$ t&eir busi!ess ,&% s&oul$ t&e 2i!a!)ial i!stitutio! $o it9 'a! %ou "ut a mi!imu m o2 @J: to AJ: e8uit% i! t&e busi!ess9 T&e ba!. ,ill e6"e)t %ou to &a#e a sta.e i! t&e busi!ess5 Are %our "ro(e)tio!s 2or i!)ome a!$ "ro2it 2easible9

Do %ou &a#e a )o#er s&eet t&at tells ,&o %ou are a!$ all %our )o!ta)t i!2ormatio!9

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Pa*e K