You’ll expand these answers in the following sections of the simple business plan template. Keep it brief, such as an elevator pitch. Whatever the name, the first part of your business plan summarizes your idea by answering five questions. You can call this your executive summary, vision statement or mission. Start by declaring a “dream statement” for your business.
The main difference in starting a small business versus an investor-funded business is the market research and operational and financial details needed to support the concept. Whether you need a quick-launch overview or an in-depth plan for investors, any business plan should cover the six key elements outlined in our free template and explained below.