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Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Simple Business Plan

By Joe Weller | October 11, 2021

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A business plan is the cornerstone of any successful company, regardless of size or industry. This step-by-step guide provides information on writing a business plan for organizations at any stage, complete with free templates and expert advice. 

Included on this page, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan and a chart to identify which type of business plan you should write . Plus, find information on how a business plan can help grow a business and expert tips on writing one .

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a document that communicates a company’s goals and ambitions, along with the timeline, finances, and methods needed to achieve them. Additionally, it may include a mission statement and details about the specific products or services offered.

A business plan can highlight varying time periods, depending on the stage of your company and its goals. That said, a typical business plan will include the following benchmarks:

• Product goals and deadlines for each month
• Monthly financials for the first two years
• Profit and loss statements for the first three to five years
• Balance sheet projections for the first three to five years

Startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses all create business plans to use as a guide as their new company progresses. Larger organizations may also create (and update) a business plan to keep high-level goals, financials, and timelines in check.

While you certainly need to have a formalized outline of your business’s goals and finances, creating a business plan can also help you determine a company’s viability, its profitability (including when it will first turn a profit), and how much money you will need from investors. In turn, a business plan has functional value as well: Not only does outlining goals help keep you accountable on a timeline, it can also attract investors in and of itself and, therefore, act as an effective strategy for growth.

For more information, visit our comprehensive guide to writing a strategic plan or download free strategic plan templates . This page focuses on for-profit business plans, but you can read our article with nonprofit business plan templates .

Business Plan Steps

The specific information in your business plan will vary, depending on the needs and goals of your venture, but a typical plan includes the following ordered elements:

• Executive summary
• Description of business
• Market analysis
• Competitive analysis
• Description of organizational management
• Description of product or services
• Marketing plan
• Sales strategy
• Funding details (or request for funding)
• Financial projections

If your plan is particularly long or complicated, consider adding a table of contents or an appendix for reference. For an in-depth description of each step listed above, read “ How to Write a Business Plan Step by Step ” below.

Broadly speaking, your audience includes anyone with a vested interest in your organization. They can include potential and existing investors, as well as customers, internal team members, suppliers, and vendors.

Do I Need a Simple or Detailed Plan?

Your business’s stage and intended audience dictates the level of detail your plan needs. Corporations require a thorough business plan — up to 100 pages. Small businesses or startups should have a concise plan focusing on financials and strategy.

How to Choose the Right Plan for Your Business

In order to identify which type of business plan you need to create, ask: “What do we want the plan to do?” Identify function first, and form will follow.

Use the chart below as a guide for what type of business plan to create:

Is the Order of Your Business Plan Important?

There is no set order for a business plan, with the exception of the executive summary, which should always come first. Beyond that, simply ensure that you organize the plan in a way that makes sense and flows naturally.

The Difference Between Traditional and Lean Business Plans

A traditional business plan follows the standard structure — because these plans encourage detail, they tend to require more work upfront and can run dozens of pages. A Lean business plan is less common and focuses on summarizing critical points for each section. These plans take much less work and typically run one page in length.

In general, you should use a traditional model for a legacy company, a large company, or any business that does not adhere to Lean (or another Agile method ). Use Lean if you expect the company to pivot quickly or if you already employ a Lean strategy with other business operations. Additionally, a Lean business plan can suffice if the document is for internal use only. Stick to a traditional version for investors, as they may be more sensitive to sudden changes or a high degree of built-in flexibility in the plan.

How to Write a Business Plan Step by Step

Writing a strong business plan requires research and attention to detail for each section. Below, you’ll find a 10-step guide to researching and defining each element in the plan.

Step 1: Executive Summary

The executive summary will always be the first section of your business plan. The goal is to answer the following questions:

• What is the vision and mission of the company?
• What are the company’s short- and long-term goals?

See our  roundup of executive summary examples and templates for samples. Read our executive summary guide to learn more about writing one.

Step 2: Description of Business

The goal of this section is to define the realm, scope, and intent of your venture. To do so, answer the following questions as clearly and concisely as possible:

• What business are we in?
• What does our business do?

Step 3: Market Analysis

In this section, provide evidence that you have surveyed and understand the current marketplace, and that your product or service satisfies a niche in the market. To do so, answer these questions:

• Who is our customer? 
• What does that customer value?

Step 4: Competitive Analysis

In many cases, a business plan proposes not a brand-new (or even market-disrupting) venture, but a more competitive version — whether via features, pricing, integrations, etc. — than what is currently available. In this section, answer the following questions to show that your product or service stands to outpace competitors:

• Who is the competition? 
• What do they do best? 
• What is our unique value proposition?

Step 5: Description of Organizational Management

In this section, write an overview of the team members and other key personnel who are integral to success. List roles and responsibilities, and if possible, note the hierarchy or team structure.

Step 6: Description of Products or Services

In this section, clearly define your product or service, as well as all the effort and resources that go into producing it. The strength of your product largely defines the success of your business, so it’s imperative that you take time to test and refine the product before launching into marketing, sales, or funding details.

Questions to answer in this section are as follows:

• What is the product or service?
• How do we produce it, and what resources are necessary for production?

Step 7: Marketing Plan

In this section, define the marketing strategy for your product or service. This doesn’t need to be as fleshed out as a full marketing plan , but it should answer basic questions, such as the following:

• Who is the target market (if different from existing customer base)?
• What channels will you use to reach your target market?
• What resources does your marketing strategy require, and do you have access to them?
• If possible, do you have a rough estimate of timeline and budget?
• How will you measure success?

Step 8: Sales Plan

Write an overview of the sales strategy, including the priorities of each cycle, steps to achieve these goals, and metrics for success. For the purposes of a business plan, this section does not need to be a comprehensive, in-depth sales plan , but can simply outline the high-level objectives and strategies of your sales efforts. 

Start by answering the following questions:

• What is the sales strategy?
• What are the tools and tactics you will use to achieve your goals?
• What are the potential obstacles, and how will you overcome them?
• What is the timeline for sales and turning a profit?
• What are the metrics of success?

Step 9: Funding Details (or Request for Funding)

This section is one of the most critical parts of your business plan, particularly if you are sharing it with investors. You do not need to provide a full financial plan, but you should be able to answer the following questions:

• How much capital do you currently have? How much capital do you need?
• How will you grow the team (onboarding, team structure, training and development)?
• What are your physical needs and constraints (space, equipment, etc.)?

Step 10: Financial Projections

Apart from the fundraising analysis, investors like to see thought-out financial projections for the future. As discussed earlier, depending on the scope and stage of your business, this could be anywhere from one to five years. 

While these projections won’t be exact — and will need to be somewhat flexible — you should be able to gauge the following:

• How and when will the company first generate a profit?
• How will the company maintain profit thereafter?

Business Plan Template

Download Business Plan Template

Microsoft Excel | Smartsheet

This basic business plan template has space for all the traditional elements: an executive summary, product or service details, target audience, marketing and sales strategies, etc. In the finances sections, input your baseline numbers, and the template will automatically calculate projections for sales forecasting, financial statements, and more.

For templates tailored to more specific needs, visit this business plan template roundup or download a fill-in-the-blank business plan template to make things easy. 

If you are looking for a particular template by file type, visit our pages dedicated exclusively to Microsoft Excel , Microsoft Word , and Adobe PDF business plan templates.

How to Write a Simple Business Plan

A simple business plan is a streamlined, lightweight version of the large, traditional model. As opposed to a one-page business plan , which communicates high-level information for quick overviews (such as a stakeholder presentation), a simple business plan can exceed one page.

Below are the steps for creating a generic simple business plan, which are reflected in the template below .

• Write the Executive Summary This section is the same as in the traditional business plan — simply offer an overview of what’s in the business plan, the prospect or core offering, and the short- and long-term goals of the company. 
• Add a Company Overview Document the larger company mission and vision. 
• Provide the Problem and Solution In straightforward terms, define the problem you are attempting to solve with your product or service and how your company will attempt to do it. Think of this section as the gap in the market you are attempting to close.
• Identify the Target Market Who is your company (and its products or services) attempting to reach? If possible, briefly define your buyer personas .
• Write About the Competition In this section, demonstrate your knowledge of the market by listing the current competitors and outlining your competitive advantage.
• Describe Your Product or Service Offerings Get down to brass tacks and define your product or service. What exactly are you selling?
• Outline Your Marketing Tactics Without getting into too much detail, describe your planned marketing initiatives.
• Add a Timeline and the Metrics You Will Use to Measure Success Offer a rough timeline, including milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs) that you will use to measure your progress.
• Include Your Financial Forecasts Write an overview of your financial plan that demonstrates you have done your research and adequate modeling. You can also list key assumptions that go into this forecasting. 
• Identify Your Financing Needs This section is where you will make your funding request. Based on everything in the business plan, list your proposed sources of funding, as well as how you will use it.

Simple Business Plan Template

Download Simple Business Plan Template

Microsoft Excel |  Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF  | Smartsheet

Use this simple business plan template to outline each aspect of your organization, including information about financing and opportunities to seek out further funding. This template is completely customizable to fit the needs of any business, whether it’s a startup or large company.

Read our article offering free simple business plan templates or free 30-60-90-day business plan templates to find more tailored options. You can also explore our collection of one page business templates . 

How to Write a Business Plan for a Lean Startup

A Lean startup business plan is a more Agile approach to a traditional version. The plan focuses more on activities, processes, and relationships (and maintains flexibility in all aspects), rather than on concrete deliverables and timelines.

While there is some overlap between a traditional and a Lean business plan, you can write a Lean plan by following the steps below:

• Add Your Value Proposition Take a streamlined approach to describing your product or service. What is the unique value your startup aims to deliver to customers? Make sure the team is aligned on the core offering and that you can state it in clear, simple language.
• List Your Key Partners List any other businesses you will work with to realize your vision, including external vendors, suppliers, and partners. This section demonstrates that you have thoughtfully considered the resources you can provide internally, identified areas for external assistance, and conducted research to find alternatives.
• Note the Key Activities Describe the key activities of your business, including sourcing, production, marketing, distribution channels, and customer relationships.
• Include Your Key Resources List the critical resources — including personnel, equipment, space, and intellectual property — that will enable you to deliver your unique value.
• Identify Your Customer Relationships and Channels In this section, document how you will reach and build relationships with customers. Provide a high-level map of the customer experience from start to finish, including the spaces in which you will interact with the customer (online, retail, etc.). 
• Detail Your Marketing Channels Describe the marketing methods and communication platforms you will use to identify and nurture your relationships with customers. These could be email, advertising, social media, etc.
• Explain the Cost Structure This section is especially necessary in the early stages of a business. Will you prioritize maximizing value or keeping costs low? List the foundational startup costs and how you will move toward profit over time.
• Share Your Revenue Streams Over time, how will the company make money? Include both the direct product or service purchase, as well as secondary sources of revenue, such as subscriptions, selling advertising space, fundraising, etc.

Lean Business Plan Template for Startups

Download Lean Business Plan Template for Startups

Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF

Startup leaders can use this Lean business plan template to relay the most critical information from a traditional plan. You’ll find all the sections listed above, including spaces for industry and product overviews, cost structure and sources of revenue, and key metrics, and a timeline. The template is completely customizable, so you can edit it to suit the objectives of your Lean startups.

See our wide variety of  startup business plan templates for more options.

How to Write a Business Plan for a Loan

A business plan for a loan, often called a loan proposal , includes many of the same aspects of a traditional business plan, as well as additional financial documents, such as a credit history, a loan request, and a loan repayment plan.

In addition, you may be asked to include personal and business financial statements, a form of collateral, and equity investment information.

Download free financial templates to support your business plan.

Tips for Writing a Business Plan

Outside of including all the key details in your business plan, you have several options to elevate the document for the highest chance of winning funding and other resources. Follow these tips from experts:.

• Keep It Simple: Avner Brodsky , the Co-Founder and CEO of Lezgo Limited, an online marketing company, uses the acronym KISS (keep it short and simple) as a variation on this idea. “The business plan is not a college thesis,” he says. “Just focus on providing the essential information.”
• Do Adequate Research: Michael Dean, the Co-Founder of Pool Research , encourages business leaders to “invest time in research, both internal and external (market, finance, legal etc.). Avoid being overly ambitious or presumptive. Instead, keep everything objective, balanced, and accurate.” Your plan needs to stand on its own, and you must have the data to back up any claims or forecasting you make. As Brodsky explains, “Your business needs to be grounded on the realities of the market in your chosen location. Get the most recent data from authoritative sources so that the figures are vetted by experts and are reliable.”
• Set Clear Goals: Make sure your plan includes clear, time-based goals. “Short-term goals are key to momentum growth and are especially important to identify for new businesses,” advises Dean.
• Know (and Address) Your Weaknesses: “This awareness sets you up to overcome your weak points much quicker than waiting for them to arise,” shares Dean. Brodsky recommends performing a full SWOT analysis to identify your weaknesses, too. “Your business will fare better with self-knowledge, which will help you better define the mission of your business, as well as the strategies you will choose to achieve your objectives,” he adds.
• Seek Peer or Mentor Review: “Ask for feedback on your drafts and for areas to improve,” advises Brodsky. “When your mind is filled with dreams for your business, sometimes it is an outsider who can tell you what you’re missing and will save your business from being a product of whimsy.”

Outside of these more practical tips, the language you use is also important and may make or break your business plan.

Shaun Heng, VP of Operations at Coin Market Cap , gives the following advice on the writing, “Your business plan is your sales pitch to an investor. And as with any sales pitch, you need to strike the right tone and hit a few emotional chords. This is a little tricky in a business plan, because you also need to be formal and matter-of-fact. But you can still impress by weaving in descriptive language and saying things in a more elegant way.

“A great way to do this is by expanding your vocabulary, avoiding word repetition, and using business language. Instead of saying that something ‘will bring in as many customers as possible,’ try saying ‘will garner the largest possible market segment.’ Elevate your writing with precise descriptive words and you'll impress even the busiest investor.”

Additionally, Dean recommends that you “stay consistent and concise by keeping your tone and style steady throughout, and your language clear and precise. Include only what is 100 percent necessary.”

Resources for Writing a Business Plan

While a template provides a great outline of what to include in a business plan, a live document or more robust program can provide additional functionality, visibility, and real-time updates. The U.S. Small Business Association also curates resources for writing a business plan.

Additionally, you can use business plan software to house data, attach documentation, and share information with stakeholders. Popular options include LivePlan, Enloop, BizPlanner, PlanGuru, and iPlanner.

How a Business Plan Helps to Grow Your Business

A business plan — both the exercise of creating one and the document — can grow your business by helping you to refine your product, target audience, sales plan, identify opportunities, secure funding, and build new partnerships. 

Outside of these immediate returns, writing a business plan is a useful exercise in that it forces you to research the market, which prompts you to forge your unique value proposition and identify ways to beat the competition. Doing so will also help you build (and keep you accountable to) attainable financial and product milestones. And down the line, it will serve as a welcome guide as hurdles inevitably arise.

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Resource Planning For Your Business Plan

Identifying the resources you need to grow your business

Why Is Resource Planning Important

How to start resource planning, the bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Maskot / Getty Images

A business plan helps you organize your goals and growth plans for your business. Identifying business resources you'll be starting your business with already, and accounting for the resources you'll need to acquire after launching the business, is a crucial step in business planning.

Key Takeaways

• A business plan helps you organize your goals and growth plans for your business.
• Resource planning help you account for resources you have, plan for resources you need and ways to optimize their use
• You can plan for physical, people and technical resources in your business plan

Resource planning help you account for resources you have, plan for resources you need and ways to optimize their use. Among other things, even the most simple business plans are designed to walk you through the activity of describing every source and the exact dollar amount of your initial equity capital, as well as account for the equipment necessary to produce your products or services.

It can be difficult to accurately estimate your future resource needs, which is why this startup mistake is one of the most frequent contributors to young businesses running out of cash early on.

A very important section in your business plan is about the finances of your business, and that includes how much you hope to spend on resources you need to acquire and maintenance expenses on assets you own. Your plans for obtaining the necessary personnel, equipment, and cash to meet your capital expenses will need to be detailed throughout your business plan.

You may need financing from a bank or investors or will invest your personal savings in the business, and resource planning will come in handy for that too.

Resource allocation plans are what your potential investors and business partners are going to need to see before jumping on board with your new company.

There are different types of resources and you need to budget and plan for them accordingly. In describing each of the resources that you have and need for your business to reach profitability, position each of them in terms of the value it will bring to the company, both in the near term and down the road.

To figure out exactly which resources your business is going to need, and account for those in your business planning process, ask yourself these two crucial questions:

• Does starting and growing your business require having staff on hand? If your business relies upon output from people other than yourself and your business partners, you're going to need to allocate resources for hiring staff at fair market rates. 
• What type of equipment or fixed assets will your business need to get going? If your business is dependent upon purchasing or leasing equipment or other fixed assets like retail and office space, these are major considerations as you plan out your resource allocation.

Physical Assets

Depending on the nature of your business, you may have varying need for physical assets. However, in all likelihood you'd need some sort of office furniture and definitely some computers. Physical assets could also include office space, storefronts, manufacturing facilities and equipment necessary for your business. For example, if you own a baked good business, baking equipment like mixers and ovens would be physical assets you'd need to plan for.

Personnel and People

There are different types of people that can be a part of your business. People you hire, for example, can be employees or independent contractors and there are different cost implications for your business depending on whether you hire the former or the latter.

Investing in skills and capacities for people in your business is also an important part of resource planning.

How about mentors, key advisors, supplier connections, and other intangible resources for your business? These types of relationships whose value to your business can be immense, also need to be accounted for within your business plan as they'll have a very large impact on the future growth of your company.

Think of the massively positive effect your company would experience if you had a friend or family member that was a decision-maker at a large company who'd be your perfect first customer. It would undoubtedly be one of your key strategies for driving the early growth of your company. So, as you're planning your resource allocation, you'd naturally be spending in areas that make your young business more appealing to the target customers you want to serve.

Technical Resources

It is a good time to evaluate your technical resources and requirements as well. Some businesses rely more heavily on technology or intellectual property than others. Technology-dependent companies will need a strong IT network to get started. If building your own website won't be any trouble, then that's one major cost you'll be able to avoid as you get started with your company. Otherwise, you may need to allocate for web design, development, and other website-related expenses.

Regardless of your situation, don't be intimidated by the upfront costs of starting a business. Instead, keep in mind that in today's age, your product or service will only be as good as the technology that supports it, and if you buy or build low-grade gear, you’ll probably have to replace it in a few years anyway.

Clearly, there are a lot of different expenses to take into account as you allocate the resources for your new business. However, forcing yourself to go through this activity in extreme detail while building your business plan will save you a lot of headaches and potential failures in the future.

What are assets and resources in a business plan?

Resources can be anything that helps you operate or run your business. Assets are a type of resources that help you achieve you business. Assets can be cash, or physical assets such as equipment or intangible assets such as the brand of your business. In a business plan, you talk about the resources you have and the resources you need to acquire to help your business grow. You also account for your assets on your balance sheet. A strong balance sheet presented in your business plan can be appealing to potential investors.

Which components of a business plan are most useful to attract investors?

Each section of a business plan is important to potential investors. An executive summary gives your investors an elevator pitch to your business. Company description explains to them how your business is solving a market need, while market analysis shows investors you understand your industry and competition. Sections on organization, product details and marketing plans dig deeper into your vision for your business and how its organized. And the financial information component helps them see if you idea is worth putting their money into.

Small Business Administration. " Write your business plan ."

Planview. " Resource Planning: How To Build a Resource Plan ."

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Community Center Business Plan

If you are planning to start a new community center, the first thing you will need is a business plan. Use our Northern Park – Community center business plan example created using Upmetrics business plan software to start writing your business plan in no time.

Before you start writing a business plan for your new community center, spend as much time as you can reading through some samples of the community center or nonprofit business plans.

Reading some sample business plans will give you a good idea of what you’re aiming for, and also it will show you the different sections that different entrepreneurs include and the language they use to write about themselves and their business plans.

We have created this sample community center business plan for you to get a good idea about how perfect a community center business plan should look and what details you will need to include in your stunning business plan.

Community Center Business Plan Outline

This is the standard community center business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Mission Statement
• NPCC Theory & Overview
• History of NPCC
• Moving forward: The Future of NPCC
• Accomplishments
• Etienne Wenger-Trayner
• Proposed Location & Service Area
• Hours of Operation & Staffing
• Key Strategies
• Research & Development
• Asset Development
• Why now and why NPCC?
• Why we need a youth & Community center
• How local youth & the Community will Benefit from the Center
• Youth Target Market
• Target population
• Advertising & Promotions
• Weekend Events
• Outdoor & Recreation Space
• Creative & Expressive Arts
• Experiential Learning Opportunities
• A Hub for Services
• Check-in Policy
• Youth Center Rules & Agreements
• Social & Environmental Responsibility
• Lynn Skrukrud
• Halli Ellis
• Staffing Matrix
• Assumptions & Projections
• Sustainability
• Projected Profit and Loss
• Projected Cash Flow
• Projected Balance Sheet

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After  getting started with upmetrics , you can copy this community center business plan example into your business plan and modify the required information and download your community center business plan pdf and doc file . It’s the fastest and easiest way to start writing your business plan.

Download a sample community center business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go;  download our free community center business plan pdf  to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your community center business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

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Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Primary goal:

A business plan is an essential roadmap for business success. This living document generally projects 3-5 years ahead and outlines the route a company intends to take to grow revenues.

Needed components:

• Executive Summary: a snapshot of your business plan as a whole and touches on your company profile and goals
• Company Description: provides information on what you do, what differentiates your business from others, and the markets your business serves
• Market Analysis: showcases your research on your industry, market, and competitors
• Organization and Management: details the structure of your business and how it will be managed
• Service or Product Line: tells the story of how your product or service will be exactly what your customers need
• Marketing and Sales: outlines the marketing and sales strategy of your business
• Funding Request: if you are seeking funding for your business, this is the section to outline that request
• Financial Projections: make a plan for where you see your company in five years
• Appendix: if you have additional documents like permits or leases, these can be included here

Important note:  

These categories are flexible and may not cover everything for every business. Many samples will also include things like introductions to the business owners and their histories, visual components like charts and graphs, and further description of who the customers will be.

Source: Small Business Association, "Write your Business Plan":

Includes details on each necessary component of a business plan

• Trend data available for the past four years.

To create a business plan, you need data and research related to your industry, the market, your competitors, and your customers. The databases and resources on our Company, Industry, and Market Guides can answer these questions. Select the guide title to access the the type of information needed.

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Business Plan Help Center

As professional business advisors, we understand that developing a compelling business plan can be a daunting task for many entrepreneurs and small business owners. Creating a solid plan requires a deep understanding of financial projections, a clear understanding of business goals and how to structure a successful organization.

This is why we highly recommend Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template to help entrepreneurs create a winning plan. This business plan template is designed to help you create a professional plan that is tailored to your unique needs and goals. With our template, you can easily customize your plan, making it easier to attract investors, secure funding, and grow your business.

Additionally, if you need more hands-on support, Growthink’s business plan consulting service will result in a great plan. This service is for entrepreneurs and business owners that want us to develop your plan for you. Having written thousands of business plans over our 20+ year history, we can create the perfect plan for your business. Our expertise in every aspect of business planning, from market research to financial projections, will get you precisely what you need.

Furthermore, Growthink offers a wealth of business articles, linked below, that will teach you how to create a winning business plan that raises funding and/or improves your business strategy so your company is more successful.

While some may see a detailed business plan as a mere formality, the truth is that it is a crucial tool for any entrepreneur or small business owner who wants to achieve success. It can help start or grow your own business in multiple ways including:

• Clarifying their vision and business idea
• Identifying their target market
• Developing a marketing strategy
• Financial planning
• Securing funding

For entrepreneurs and small business owners who need help writing a business plan, the articles below should prove invaluable and provide a much better understanding of business planning.

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SWOT Analysis of a Human Resources (HR) department 

A Human Resources (HR) department manages an organization’s workforce and fosters a positive work environment. Here’s an overview of the primary functions and responsibilities of an HR department:

Core Functions of HR:

• Recruitment and Staffing : HR is responsible for attracting, hiring, and onboarding new employees. This includes crafting job descriptions, posting job openings, screening candidates, conducting interviews, and selecting the best candidates for the organization.
• Training and Development : HR departments manage employee development programs to enhance skills, improve performance, and ensure employees are equipped to meet their job requirements. This includes organizing training sessions, workshops, and continuing education opportunities.
• Compensation and Benefits : HR determines appropriate compensation structures and packages that align with industry standards and organizational goals. This includes salary, health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks that help attract and retain talent.
• Performance Management : HR oversees employee performance evaluation, working with managers to assess and manage worker productivity and setting performance standards and goals. This function is crucial for identifying high performers, providing feedback, and addressing areas where employees may need improvement.
• Employee Relations : HR plays a key role in maintaining a healthy, ethical, and productive workplace. They handle employee grievances, mediate disputes, and ensure a fair and respectful working environment. This also involves developing and enforcing company policies that comply with legal standards.
• Compliance with Laws and Regulations : HR ensures that the organization complies with all relevant employment laws and regulations, which can vary widely from one jurisdiction to another. This includes employment standards, health and safety issues, and anti-discrimination laws.
• Workforce Planning and Retention : HR departments are involved in strategic planning to ensure the organization has the right mix of skills and staffing levels to meet current and future business needs. This involves succession planning, turnover management, and workforce analytics.
• Diversity and Inclusion : Many HR departments lead initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace. This includes developing policies that promote equal opportunities and creating programs that enhance cultural competency within the team.

Strategic Role of HR:

Increasingly, HR is seen as a strategic partner in the organization rather than just an administrative or support function. This strategic role involves aligning HR policies and practices with the overall business strategy to improve performance, productivity, and profitability. HR professionals are expected to provide insights and data that support business decisions, help manage change, and foster organizational culture.

In summary, an HR department is integral to nurturing a company’s human capital, aligning employee goals with organizational objectives, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. The effectiveness of HR can significantly impact an organization’s overall success.

Here is the SWOT analysis for  Human Resources (HR) department 

A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of a business, project, or individual. It involves identifying the internal and external factors that can affect a venture’s success or failure and analyzing them to develop a strategic plan. In this article, we do a SWOT Analysis of the Human Resources (HR) department.

SWOT Analysis: Meaning, Importance, and Examples

• Expertise in Recruitment and Talent Management : HR is central to attracting and retaining top talent. A strong HR department excels in designing recruitment strategies that fill positions quickly and ensure a good fit between the candidates and the company culture. This helps in building a skilled and committed workforce.
• Employee Development and Training : HR departments often lead the way in employee development, providing training programs that enhance skill sets and increase productivity. By investing in employee growth, HR can directly impact the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness.
• Enhanced Employee Satisfaction and Engagement : HR plays a crucial role in employee relations by ensuring a positive work environment, addressing grievances effectively, and maintaining high levels of employee engagement. This can lead to lower turnover rates, higher job satisfaction, and a more motivated workforce.
• Strategic Workforce Planning : HR’s ability to forecast and plan for future workforce needs based on the organization’s strategic direction is invaluable. By aligning the workforce strategy with organizational goals, HR can ensure that the company has the right people in the right roles at the right time.
• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management : HR helps the organization comply with labor laws and employment standards, reducing legal risks and protecting the organization from potential lawsuits and regulatory sanctions.
• Cultural Stewardship : HR is often seen as the guardian of company culture, promoting core values and ensuring they are integrated into every aspect of the organization. A strong company culture can enhance employee morale and productivity and differentiate the company in the market.
• Cost Management : Through effective benefits management, salary structure design, and control over labor costs, HR can contribute to the financial health of the organization, making it a key player in overall business success.
• Resource Constraints : HR departments are often required to manage a wide range of responsibilities with limited resources. Budget constraints can lead to understaffing in HR teams, which may result in delays and inefficiencies in handling employee needs, recruitment, and training programs.
• Resistance to Change : HR departments can sometimes be slow to adapt to changes in the business environment or advances in HR technology. This resistance can hinder the implementation of more efficient systems and processes that could benefit the organization.
• Lack of Strategic Integration : HR may not be fully integrated into the strategic planning process in some organizations. This can lead to a disconnect between the company’s business goals and HR strategies, potentially affecting the overall alignment and effectiveness of the organization.
• Overemphasis on Administration : HR departments can sometimes become too focused on administrative functions such as processing payroll and managing employee records. While these tasks are important, overemphasizing them can divert attention from more strategic HR functions like talent management and employee development.
• Compliance and Legal Challenges : Navigating the complex landscape of employment law can be challenging for HR professionals. A lack of expertise or up-to-date knowledge on legal matters can expose the organization to risks of non-compliance and potential legal issues.
• Ineffective Communication : Poor communication within the HR department and with other departments can lead to misunderstandings and misalignment of goals. Ineffective communication can also impact employee satisfaction if employees feel their concerns are not addressed properly.
• Data Management Issues : With data becoming increasingly important in HR decision-making, a lack of proper systems to handle data can be a significant weakness. Inadequate data management can make tracking employee performance, forecasting workforce needs, and analyzing HR metrics difficult.

Opportunities

• Technology Integration : Adopting advanced HR technologies like AI-driven analytics, machine learning for data processing, and automated systems for routine tasks can greatly enhance efficiency. These tools can help in better talent management, predictive analytics for turnover rates, and more personalized employee engagement strategies.
• Strategic Leadership Role : HR can expand its influence by taking on a more strategic role in organizational planning. This involves participating in high-level decision-making processes, aligning HR strategies with business goals, and contributing to the company’s overall direction.
• Employee Wellness Programs : With increasing awareness of the importance of mental health, HR departments can implement comprehensive wellness programs that support employees’ physical, mental, and emotional health. This can improve employee satisfaction, reduce absenteeism, and create a more productive workforce.
• Talent Development and Lifelong Learning : HR can create employee growth and development opportunities through continuous learning and development programs. This could include career development plans, upskilling courses, and leadership training, which help retain top talent and prepare employees for future organizational roles.
• Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives : There is a growing need for workplaces to be more inclusive and diverse. HR departments can lead the way in crafting policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. These initiatives can enhance the company’s image, attract a diverse workforce, and improve employee engagement and innovation.
• Global Talent Acquisition : As businesses expand globally, HR departments can look to broaden their recruitment efforts to include international talent. This fills skills gaps and brings new perspectives and ideas to the organization, enhancing creativity and problem-solving.
• Enhancing Employee Engagement : HR can leverage data and employee feedback to develop more effective engagement strategies. This might involve tailored benefits, flexible working conditions, and recognition programs that directly address the desires and needs of the workforce.
• Compliance and Risk Management : As regulations evolve, particularly in areas like data protection (GDPR) and labor laws, HR departments can strengthen their role in compliance management. Being proactive in this area can prevent legal issues and ensure the organization operates within the law.
• Technological Disruption : Advances in AI and automation technologies are reshaping many traditional HR functions. Automation of routine tasks like payroll, benefits administration, and initial recruitment phases can threaten HR roles, pushing the department to evolve and adopt new skills focused more on strategic planning and employee engagement.
• Economic Uncertainty : Economic downturns and budget cuts can significantly impact HR operations, forcing the department to do more with fewer resources. These conditions can lead to layoffs, reduced training and development opportunities, and decreased employee engagement and morale.
• Compliance and Regulatory Changes : HR departments must stay current with labor laws and employment regulations, which can vary widely by region and change frequently. Non-compliance can result in fines, legal issues, and damage to the company’s reputation.
• Data Security Risks : With HR departments managing a significant amount of sensitive employee data, they are a prime target for cyber threats. A breach can lead to severe data loss, compromising employee privacy and leading to legal repercussions.
• Talent Management Challenges : In a highly competitive job market, retaining top talent and recruiting skilled workers are constant challenges for HR. The inability to effectively manage talent can lead to a skills gap in the organization, affecting overall productivity and innovation.
• Changing Workforce Demographics and Expectations : As workforce demographics shift and employee expectations change, HR must adapt its policies and strategies to meet these new demands. This includes managing a multi-generational workforce, accommodating flexible work arrangements, and implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Remote Work Dynamics : The rise of remote work has created new challenges for HR regarding engagement, performance management, and maintaining company culture. Adapting to these changes while ensuring seamless communication and collaboration is crucial.

Check out the SWOT Analysis of Global Businesses

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A Mother's Place

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

A Mother’s Place is a new company targeted to open in downtown Santa Cruz. We will provide a family-friendly environment with high quality customer service to meet the daily emotional, physical and social well-being needs of mothers, young children and other family members.

The principal, Emili Willet, the proud mother of a nine-month-old son, wants to fulfill her passion to help and support other mothers in the community. Emili has a Master’s degree in Child Development from Harvard Graduate School and fifteen years of progressive management experience working with children and families. Most recently, she served as Chief of Operations of a childcare management company in the Silicon Valley, and as a Finance Account Manager for the largest corporate childcare center in California for Cisco Systems. The Cisco center was a start-up project to serve over 500 children, and employed 125 teachers and administrators. Emili wants to run a business that will provide a service to families, and that has a fun atmosphere, innovative and top of the line products, a supportive environment and high quality customer service. She feels that Santa Cruz lacks this service, and thus provides an excellent opportunity for her to utilize her skills, expertise and experience in child development and finance management, and at the same time, continue to exercise her passion for working with young children and families.

A Mother’s Place will provide a full range of services, including parenting and childbirthing classes, children’s play programs, “Mommy & Me” classes, fitness and yoga pre-natal classes and coordinated birthday parties.  In addition, it will have a retail store with high-end products for babies and young children.  All of these services and products will be provided by employees who are skilled and experienced with parenting and have child development knowledge.   This place will be the ONLY company in Santa Cruz county that provides all of these services in ONE location with easy access from a freeway, convenient parking and high quality customer service.

Sales projections for A Mother’s Place are estimated to begin at $513,000 in the first year of operation, increasing to $863,000 by the end of the third year. Our net profit will increase over the next three years.

1.1 Objectives

The objectives for A Mother’s Place are outlined below:

• To demonstrate how quality juvenile products will benefit new mothers and families.
• To create a family-friendly space that provides pregnancy resources, parenting classes, playgroups and fitness programs.
• to obtain revenue of $860,000 by the end of third year of operation.
• To increase sales by 20% per year through superior customer service and word-of-mouth referrals.
• In retail sales: to have a customer return rate of 60% by the end of first year.

In order to achieve these objectives, A Mother’s Place has the following goals:

• With a strong and viable business:
• The first year of operation will bring in total revenue of $510,000.
• Second year of operation will bring in total revenue of $665,000.
• Third year of operation will bring in total revenue of $860,000.
• The company will provide services and products that have been rated as “top of the line”, and highly recommended by experts in the child development field.
• The environment of A Mother’s Place will be inviting, professional, and adhere to the highest quality customer care, promoting a strong customer base in all services the company provides.
• Sales will increase by 20% from first year to second year, through superior customer service and effective marketing strategies.
• The return rate of participants in the classes and play programs will be 15% annually.

1.3 Keys to Success

The keys to success in our business are:

• Superior Customer Service: Each employee will have experience with our products, and in parenting.
• Environment: We will provide a clean, upscale, odor-free, enjoyable environment conducive to giving professional trusting service. 
• Feeding support:   We will provide a nursing room to allow mothers to breastfeed or bottle feed their child in a supportive environment, thus allowing them to continue shopping.
• Convenience: We will offer clients a wide range of services in one environment.
• Location: We will provide an easily accessible location and parking for customer convenience.
• Reputation: The principal’s expertise, credibility, integrity, and knowledge from 15+ years experience of working with young children, her Master’s degree in Child Development, and her experience as a mother will establish our high reputation from the beginning. 

1.4 Mission

For the community : A Mother’s Place will provide a family-friendly atmosphere in which customers will gain expertise, resources and emotional and social support through a wide range of services.

For the employees : The company will allow the staff to enjoy the satisfaction of providing quality services to young children and families.

For the business : A Mother’s Place will provide an economically viable business for the principal.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

A Mother’s Place is a new company that will provide high-level customer service and a family-friendly environment in the following categories:

• Juvenile Products (diapers, strollers, car seats, developmentally appropriate toys & books)
• Baby registering service
• Yoga Pregnancy and childbirthing classes
• StrollerFit Franchise (Exercise with baby program)
• “Mommy & Me” and parenting support programs
• Birthday parties for children coordinated by a child development specialist
• Infant/Child Car Seat Installation provided by AAA CPS Certified Employees
• All employees can provide expertise & knowledge on each baby product
• Full-service nursing room provided

What will set A Mother’s Place apart from the competition is our commitment to provide these services in one convenient location, with expertise in child development, experience with each product and high-quality customer service.

2.1 Company Location

A Mother’s Place will be conveniently located in downtown Santa Cruz at 504 Front Street. Unlike many of the stores downtown with limited metered parking, this location has free on-site parking with a new outside lighting system. There is additional free public parking directly across the street with a stop light to provide safety for families who may need to cross the street. A Mother’s Place is one block from the Pacific Garden Mall that includes BabyGap, Cottontales (children clothing store) and Borders Books, all stores that are frequented by families. Down the street, two blocks away on Front Street, is a Long’s Drug Store, and a new Trader Joe’s is scheduled to open by November 2004. All of these stores draw families to this location.

This location is 4,000 square feet, providing ample room for retail space, a tumbling and gym room, a nursing room, inventory storage, and two restroom facilities. It’s currently being renovated by the building owner, and upon completion, the front of the building will have an inviting and upscale appearance.  It’s scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2004 after which A Mother’s Place will begin to prepare the space for opening in September.

2.2 Start-up Summary

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The Start-up table, below, shows our start-up expenses and assets, including the following necessary current assets:

• (Gym Room): Mats, Tumbling Equipment and Mirror
• (Nursing Room): Chairs, Tables, Changing Table

2.3 Company Ownership

A Mother’s Place will be a privately held S corporation owned by Emili Willet, M.Ed.

Products and Services

A Mother’s Place will provide upscale baby products, parenting resources, children’s play programs, and fitness classes.

• Baby/Gift Registering: Families can register items for baby showers, birthday parties and other events.
• Girlfriends Buddy Program:   Pregnant women can obtain an appointment with an experienced Child Specialist (employee of the company) to provide support and recommendations on the baby registration process. Many new moms are overwhelmed with the process, and this can be an inviting opportunity to help new moms make decisions on the needs of her new baby.
• Nursing Room:   Moms can shop with peace of mind knowing that they can nurse their baby when needed without leaving the store. This room will be a full-service program with comfortable seating, soft instrumental music, changing facilities and drinking water available.
• Car Seat Installation:   A Mother’s Place employees will be AAA CPS (Child Passenger Safety) Certified, and available to install car seats properly.
• Childbirthing Classes:   We will offer classes for pregnant women (and a support person) in preparation for the birth of her child.  Each session will include six weekly classes.
• Yoga Pregnancy Classes: Yoga classes for pregnant women will be taught by a certified Yoga instructor (specialized in pregnancy fitness). 
• Mommy & Me Classes: New moms can bring their infants to classes that will offer support, guidance and parenting resources. Topics in the classes can include “Songs to sing to your little one”, “How to interact with your 2 week old infant,” “What can my baby see & hear?” and “What to expect from your 6 month old.” Each class will be guided by a trained Child Specialist Instructor.
• StrollerFit: A Mother’s Place will franchise this established program that is growing across the nation. This program provides a fitness class that allows both mom and the baby (4 weeks – 2 1/2 years of age) to exercise together, and have fun with other moms in the community. Currently there is no program that allows babies to exercise with their moms in Santa Cruz county. Franchising this program will allow A Mother’s Place to offer this program at other locations. As part of this plan, StrollerFit will be offered at A Mother’s Place, West Cliff Drive, Westlake Elementary School gymnasium (approval already obtained), and Seacliff Beach during the first year of operation.
• Winter Playgroups:
• Infant Playgroup (4 weeks old – 12 months old)
• Young Walkers Playgroup (12 months – 23 months old)
• Older Walkers Playgroup (24 months – 36 months old):  During the winter months (November to March), moms can sign up for a weekly playgroup at a low monthly cost.This will allow moms to bring their infants or young children to an environment that will be set up appropriately with mats, tumbling equipment, soft toys, mirrors, and other soft indoor equipment. Frequently during the winter months, cold and wet weather prevents mothers from going to outdoor parks, and this provides an alternative option. In addition, it provides an opportunity for mothers to meet other moms in the community.
• Children’s Classes:
• Jr. Jumpers: This will provide toddlers (12 months – 20 months of age) an opportunity to build physical coordination through an educational program.  This will be an instructed class that will provide fun with tunnels, slides, balance beams, obstacle courses, parachutes and bubbles to excite children of this age group.
• Jumper Time:  This provides older toddlers (21 months – 36 months of age) a developmentally-appropriate educational program for older, more stable toddlers.  In addition to building physical coordination through movement play, it will provide opportunities for children to explore through language with songs, finger plays and body movement games.
• Art Time:  This will provide preschool aged children (3 – 5 years of age) opportunities for creative exploration through art play, projects and group art activities.
• Birthday Parties:   Families can arrange birthday parties for their children at A Mother’s Place.  A variety of packages and themes will be available, including choices of event type, (Magician, Balloon Maker, Face Painter, Animal Show etc), party bag type, dessert (cake, cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, popsicles etc), setup (gymnasium set up, art project set up, bubbles machine set up etc) and extent of service (set up & clean up service).
• Room available to contract out: A Mother’s Place will provide the room on a contractual basis for programs and/or events that are supported by this company.

Each product must receive high ratings from reviewers (parenting magazines, internet reviews, Baby Products books) in order to be sold at A Mother’s Place.

• Juvenile Equipment:   Car seats, strollers, swings, joggers, exersaucers and high chairs will be among the selection of juvenile equipment available.
• Juvenile Feeding & Bathing Products: Bottles, diapers, sippy cups, bathing toys, stain removers and other feeding related products will be sold.
• Breastfeeding Products: Breast pumps, nursing pads, nursing creams, nursing bras and nursing pillows will be available.
• Young Infant Toys & Mobiles: A selection of developmentally appropriate infant toys and hanging mobiles will be available. In addition to meeting the highly rated criteria, toys will be selected by the owner, who has a Masters degree specialized in Infant/Child Development, for their ability to serve the growing intellectual needs of infants and young children.
• Books: A selection of board books will be provided. This will also help promote the importance of early reading for young infants and children.
• Layette clothing and blankets: A small selection of layette sets will be available for customers who would like to purchase layettes for baby shower gifts, or other gifts.
• Baby Gift Baskets: A variety of baskets will be available, filled with an assortment of baby products.
• Gift Items: A selection of photo albums, picture frames, handprint kits, and art prints will be available.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Overall, there has been a steady increase in the population of families with young children, and a steadily rising median income in Santa Cruz county. In addition, with more residents employed in Santa Cruz County and not commuting to Silicon Valley, more families are opting to shop for their household needs in Santa Cruz County.

It was reported at the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) trade show in Dallas (May 2004) that there is growing interest in juvenile products, with an increase in sales of 5% to 6% percent annually. The president of a large juvenile product organization stated, “the industry is very healthy and birth rates are strong,” and “parents also are spending more than ever.”  2

1 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy , Prepared for the County of Santa Cruz County December 2002.  Applied Survey Research, Watsonville, December 2003.

2 “License! Where Concepts Come to Market,” April 2004  One Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016, made available at JPMA Trade Show, Dallas May 2004.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

In all areas of marketing, A Mother’s Place will implement consistent marketing and sales strategies from the beginning (prior to opening). The following sections outline our strategies for sales and marketing.

5.1 Competitive Edge

The advantages A Mother’s Place has over the competition are numerous:

• Toys ‘R Us and K-Mart are the only two places within a 10 mile radius from Santa Cruz city that carry juvenile products, and both are limited in their selection.  Neither of these stores offers the small and family-friendly atmosphere or high quality customer service of A Mother’s Place.
• A Mother’s Place has a multitude of parenting resources:  there are parenting classes, pregnancy support programs, children’s play programs and winter playgroups, as well as the wealth of child development knowledge that will be delivered by the principal and the employees of the company.
• A Mother’s Place offers a baby registering program with consulting at free of cost that is not available in Santa Cruz or Santa Clara County.
• A Mother’s Place will offer parents the convenience of purchasing multiple baby products (diapers, bottles, car seats, toys, books) in the same location where they can take parenting and/or fitness classes.
• A Mother’s Place will provide Installation of Car Seats by AAA CPS Certified(Child Passenger Safety) employees.  The only place that provides this program currently is the local California Highway Patrol office, which has limited hours.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

A Mother’s Place will market the company in the following ways:

Giving brochures with a promotional discount offer to:

• Birthing Classes at Sutter Medical Center
• Childbirthing Classes at Dominican Hospital
• Breastfeeding Support Group at Dominican Hospital
• Mom’s Support Group at Dominican Hospital

Posting flyers at:

• OB/Gyn Examination rooms
• Area childcare centers
• Local children’s clothing stores (i.e. Lollipops, Cottontales, Hopscotch)
• Local stores that carry children’s items (i.e. Aptos Shoes & Apparel, Toy Chest, Farmer Exchange)
• Local children’s programs (Harvey West swimming classes, Simpson Swim Center, Loudon Nelson’s Center, Santa Cruz Gymnastics)
• Libraries ~ children’s books section
• Local bookstores ~ children’s book section (i.e. Santa Cruz Bookshop, Book Cafe Capitola)
• Fitness Centers ~ childcare area

Getting articles promoting A Mother’s Place grand opening printed in:

• Santa Cruz Sentinel Newspaper
• Growing Up in Santa Cruz:  A newsletter serving families of Santa Cruz County
• San Jose Mercury News

All brochures, flyers and other marketing tools will promote our website, which will list the products and services this company can provide to the community.  It will also have all schedules of classes, and a registration form for class enrollment can be printed from the website, as well.

5.3 Employee Incentive Program

Our employees will play a vital part in the success of the company. A Mother’s Place will allow the employees to be part of the company in the following ways:

• Each employee will have a job description and orientation that will provide clear expectations for their performances, and the company’s mission and goals. This will benefit both the employees and the principal as everyone will be working towards the same goal.
• Included in the job description and training, each employee will be given responsibility for moving us toward one of our company objectives, to develop a feeling of ownership in the company’s success.  This will promote better work performances, as each employee will feel responsible for his/her actions, and will thus help to increase sales.
• Each month, if the company meets the sales forecast goal, each employee will be eligible for a bonus card that will provide cash towards any purchases at A Mother’s Place. The amount will be determined based on the performance of the employee.
• The company will introduce an “Star Employee” system based on reviews from customers, sales performance and employee performance. The employee of the month will earn a choice of an afternoon paid time off, or a bonus card (the bonuses/rewards can be modified to make it more suitable for the employee group).
• Each of the employees will have the satisfaction of providing quality products and services to families and children.  They will be recognized for their high quality services, customer relations and “going beyond their job descriptions.”

5.4 Sales Strategy

The sales strategy of A Mother’s Place will be threefold:

• “Shop for convenience” Products such as diapers, baby wipes, and bottlefeeding accessories will draw mothers to A Mother’s Place as they can shop “at one place” for all their needs, and may purchase other items at the retail store, and/or enroll in classes.
• Competitive Prices: Diapers and baby wipes will be offered at the lowest price among all competitors (including local supermarkets, drug stores, Costco, Target, and KMart). These items are not intended to make large profit, only as a marketing strategy to draw customers to the store.
• “Review & Save Program”:  This program will allow customers to “rate” the products they have purchased, and receive a promotional coupon towards their next shopping trip at A Mother’s Place. All of the reviews will be posted, to help provide customers with additional information on the products, and to promote sales.
• Classes:   The classes (Yoga Pregnancy, Parenting classes, StrollerFit, Playgroups) will also be an incentive to draw mothers into the store and enroll in additional classes.
• Environment:
• Nursing Room:  The nurturing and comforting environment of this room will contribute to our family-friendly atmosphere, and the resultant high return rate of our customers.
• Upscale and inviting presentation:  All products will be displayed in an organized and inviting fashion (i.e. there will be a “nursery room set up” with cribs fitted with coordinated beddings, pillows, art prints, mobiles and rugs), that will provide ideas for the customers, thus increasing sales.

5.5 Sales Forecast

Note: The financial assumptions can be found in section 8.0 of this plan, below.

5.6 Stepping Stones

The JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association) Trade Show is one of the largest trade shows in the industry of baby products, offered annually in May. The principal will attend to gain information on the products (current and new lines for 2005), meet the company representatives, and establish the strong relationships that will be vital to the success of A Mother’s Place.

The next step will be completion of the business plan, through the grand opening of the company, and the beginning of profitability in January 2005.

Web Plan Summary

A Mother’s Place will provide an informational website that will serve primarily as a resource for mothers, families and the community. The website will be developed by Erik Gundersen at EDesigns. The website will provide the following resources:

Class Schedules & Registration Form:  The website will provide a current schedule, detailed class descriptions and a registration form for each of the classes provided:

• Yoga Prenatal Classes
• StrollerFitâ Classes
• Children’s Play Classes (Jr. Jumpers, Jumper Time, Art Time)
• Winter Play Groups (Infant, Young Walkers, Older Walkers)
• Childbirthing Classes
• “Mommy & Me” Classes

Birthday Party Packages: The website will provide detailed information on the packages available for the birthday parties.  It will include the different themes, party bags, events and other birthday party options that families can choose.

Car Seat Installation Program: We will provide information on our car seat installation program intended to promote safety for the children, and convenience for their families.

Baby Shower/Gift Registering: Families and friends will be able to access baby shower/gift registering directly from our website.

General Information: In addition to providing information about all of our services, the website will provide directions on how to get to A Mother’s Place, post the hours of the company, and also provide an email link to allow customers to ask any questions regarding our services, our products or our company.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Emili graduated from Harvard with a Master’s Degree in Education & Child Development. She has 15 years experience as an administrator in the child development field. Most recently, she was Chief of Operations for a local, family owned childcare management company in the Silicon Valley. In this role, she was responsible for the day to day operations, including finance management, employee relations and customer service, for each of the 15 childcare centers.

Prior to this position, Emili had the opportunity to gain valuable fiscal management experience as the Director of Finance/Account Manager for the Cisco Systems corporate sponsored childcare center. This center was a start-up project to serve over 500 children, and employed 125 teachers and administrators. At this largest childcare center of California, Emili was responsible for the fiscal management, fiscal reporting, human resources and payroll and overseeing the day to day operations of the services the center provided. In addition, she has been a child development instructor at San Jose State University. She is also the proud mother of a young infant, which has taught her a great deal about purchasing juvenile products and parenting services.

7.1 Personnel Plan

A Mother’s Place will be looking for candidates who currently have young children, and want part-time hours. This team of parents will make our customers, who are also parents, feel more comfortable, and serve as a resource for many of our products and services. 

The following personnel plan will be implemented completely when total sales exceeds $53,000 monthly at A Mother’s Place:

Start-Up Personnel:

• The principal, Emili Willet will be onsite full-time, responsible for day-to-day operations, all accounting/administrative tasks, and providing customer service.
• One full-time manager to oversee and fill in for all areas.  In addition, due to the principal’s deafness, it’s vital to have an employee onsite at all hours to provide high quality customer service communications on the phone.
• One part-time manager to oversee and fill in all areas during the weekend hours (each manager will have additional responsibilities that will be specific to each manager to establish ownership of their jobs). (16 hrs/wk)
• One part-time StrollerFitâ instructor to teach the StrollerFitâ fitness classes (6 hrs/wk).
• One part-time class instructor and party coordinator to teach classes, and plan and organize birthday parties.  Classes and birthday parties will start in October, and the hours for this position will be determined by the number of classes and parties that are served. (3 – 15 hrs/wk)

Long Term:

• One part-time retail specialist will be hired when total monthly sales have exceeded $45,000 in March, primarily to help on weekends to greet customers, provide expertise in products, inventory, keeping floor space organized and presentable, run cash register, answer phones and perform any other customer service related tasks.  (16 hrs/wk)
• One full-time retail specialist will be hired when total monthly sales have exceeded $53,000 in May, to greet customers, provide expertise in products, inventory, keeping floor space organized and presentable, run cash register, answer phones and perform any other customer service related tasks.

The growth of the company will be determined by how accurately and efficiently the company is able to implement the facets of this business plan.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following sections will outline the important information on the financial aspects of A Mother’s Place.

8.1 Break-even Analysis

The following table and chart show our Break-even Analysis.

8.2 Important Assumptions

Retail sales based on the following assumptions:

• Start-up growth
• Slow steady growth from September – December.
• The marketing strategies in this plan will be implemented prior to grand opening to build customer base for this period.
• Growth will slow down slightly post holiday season during the month of January.
• Steady growth will begins to pick up from February – August with the implementation of new class. sessions, and more marketing tools.
• Each time a new class begins each month, it’s assumed that the class participants will bring in additional sales revenue (see additional details below).
• StrollerFit® will begin in September.
• Children’s classes and birthday parties will begin in October.
• Holiday children’s parties will begin during the holiday season (Nov – Dec).
• These starting projections are based on the actual sales of opening month of a woman-owned shoe store in Capitola, and recent sales of a church/religious store in Santa Cruz. The starting projections are estimated lower than these two stores.

Classes sales  based on the following assumptions:

• StrollerFit®
• StrollerFit® will begin in September at two locations (Westlake Elementary, and at Lighthouse, WestCliff Drive) and continue through December.
• During the holidays, there is no projection of increased enrollment.
• It’s a common trend that enrollment for exercise programs increases in January, and one more class will be added at A Mother’s Place.
• As the weather warms up again in March, we project increased enrollment will begin and stay steady throughout the summer months.
• One class revenue is based on $7.50 fee per person, 8 participants per class, and 3 sessions per week which equals $780/month.  StrollerFitâ requires a 15% royalty fee of all sales which brings A Mother’s Place a total sales of $662/month.
• There is no direct cost of sales involved for StrollerFitâ
• Each children’s class is a 10-week session (Sept – mid Nov).
• One session will begin in September, restart every 10 weeks continuously.
• Another session will begin in October, restart every 10 weeks continuously.
• A total of 3 sessions will be offered starting in January.
• A total of 4 sessions will be offered starting in March.
• Each children’s class revenue is based on $9.00 per class, 11 participants, one class per week which is a total of $467/month. 
• In addition, a Winter Playgroup will be offered each month from November – March (during the cold weather months). We project that each month will bring in an additional $200/month. This is based on $10 per month per child, 10 children each Playgroup session which equals $100/month. Each month will have 2 groups.
• Cost of all children’s classes combined is projected at $50/per class per month to maintain play and activity equipment.
• Pregnancy Classes:
• One childbirthing/pregnancy class will begin a 6-week session in October and restart continuously every 6 weeks. A second session will begin in November, and restart continuously every 6 weeks.

Birthday Parties sales based on the following assumptions:

• Several packages will be offered for Birthday parties, ranging from $500 – $800 per party.
• No birthday parties will be offered during the month of September.
• Two birthday parties will be offered during the month of October, and three parties in November.
• Holiday parties will be offered during the month of December, and a total of 5 parties is projected.
• We project that a total of 6 parties per month will be held from January – May. During summer months, a maximum of 7 per month will be offered.

Payroll  is based on the following assumptions:

• In addition to the principal owner, a full-time manager (40hr/wk) and part-time manager (16hr/wk) will begin employment in September to cover a 7 day work week schedule.   Due to the owner’s deafness, it’s vital for a manager to be on-staff at all times to provide customer service on the telephone.
• A part-time retail employee will be hired in March, when total gross sales reach $45,000, to work during busiest hours.
• A full-time employee will not be hired until total gross sales exceed $50,000, projected to occur in May.
• All instructors for StrollerFitâ are part-time, and work one hour per class at $20/hr.
• All instructors and party coordinators are part-time, and work per class/party at $12.75/hr. The party coordinator will be employed additional hour per party for set-up/clean-up, and planning. The additional hours in October are for training. 

Expenses are based on the following assumptions:

• Loan repayment is estimated at $163,000 total borrowing, at 8.5% with 6 year term, equaling payments of $2897 per month (principal repayment listed in the Cash Flow, and interest expenses in the Profit and Loss, below).
• POS System, insurance, payroll processing fees, website, StrollerFit manual, shelving, tumbling equipment and all other equipment are based on actual bids from vendors.
• We do not expect to hire janitorial services during the first year of operation.  The retail employee will assume the janitorial responsibilities to minimize cost.
• Rent is estimated at $5,000 per month for a 3,550 square foot space at $1.40 NNN.
• Space is estimated to provide 1600 sq ft for retail, 1150 sq ft for class/gym room, 400 sq ft for inventory storage and 400 sq ft for office, nursing room and bathroom. 

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table and chart show the profit and loss projections for the first three years of operation.

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

The following table and chart show the projected cash flow for the first three years of operation. Please note that A Mother’s Place will receive cash for all purchases and services. All classes and birthday parties will be paid in advance upon registration.

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

The following table indicates the Projected Balance for the first three years of operation.

8.6 Business Ratios

A Mother’s Place does not fit neatly into any one existing industry. We are a fitness and educational center; we offer children’s entertainment (birthday parties, playgroups), and social space for mothers; and we have a retail component, in our gift store. It is, therefore, difficult to compare our projected overall business ratios to any one industry standard, because our revenue stream and costs are mixed.

The following table lists our business ratios, and includes a comparison with standard ratios from the “Children’s Goods,” Industry (SIC Code 5137.05). These industry ratios obviously reflect only the retail side of our operations.

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