Definitive Business Plan, Second Edition, The

Your list of contents

When you have defined why you are writing the business plan, sketch out the list of contents. The main objective is to lead your readers logically to the required conclusion. You want them to run through the plan and put it down nodding sagely and thinking that they will back you and your business activities.

As already discussed in Chapter 1 , there is no hard and fast order for the contents. Figure 3.1 provides a sample. You do not have to follow this. For example, in a start-up situation you might want to describe the product and market first and save discussion of the business organization until later. The only essential requirement is that you avoid repetition and that your readers know where to find the information ...