Online Businessplan

The Foundation of Your Business Plan

Every business starts with an idea. After introducing your company in our tool, this is the first aspect you develop further. In the section "The Foundation of Your Business Plan," you describe the idea, mission, vision, legal form, and possibly the planned start date. The success of your business hinges on a strong business idea that is unique, distinctive, and valuable to the market. It is also essential to have a clear mission that defines your company’s purpose and long-term goals. Your vision focuses on the future and the path you aim to follow to achieve your goals.

Choosing the right legal form is equally crucial, as it affects liability, tax obligations, and administrative burdens. Be sure to carefully consider and communicate your business idea, mission, vision, and legal structure to your employees, customers, and other stakeholders. These elements form the core of your business plan and provide essential direction for your actions and decisions.

If you find it difficult to express your ideas or need inspiration, use our built-in artificial intelligence to supplement your input.

The Entrepreneurs Behind the Plan

Entrepreneurship is not just about numbers and strategies; it’s primarily about the entrepreneurs themselves. In this section, you describe each entrepreneur and highlight their strengths, weaknesses, and experience in the industry.

Introduce the entrepreneurs and show how they are prepared to face challenges and where there is still room for development. Focus on the skills and knowledge that set these entrepreneurs apart from others. It is essential to be honest about weaknesses, as acknowledging and addressing them demonstrates wisdom and growth potential and significantly increases the chances of success. It’s an opportunity for personal growth as an entrepreneur.

Also describe relevant industry experience, emphasize past successes, and explain how these experiences have shaped your journey into the entrepreneur you are today.

Show how familiar you are with the market and how prepared you are to take your business to the next level. If your industry experience is still limited, consider this an opportunity for improvement and a valuable investment.

Strategy as the Foundation of the Business

Beyond motivation, perseverance, and dedication, a well-thought-out strategy is undoubtedly the key to success for any business. In this section, you build a solid strategic foundation. This approach is based on a SWOT analysis and the strategic choices that emerge from it. It’s important to note that a strategy doesn’t always need to be extensive. Sometimes it can be relatively simple, and you can implement it quickly. What does matter is the value of regular evaluations and challenging yourself to maintain both current and future perspectives.

With the SWOT analysis, you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Be honest and critical in assessing your business. Discover your unique assets that differentiate you from the competition, but don’t be afraid to scrutinize your weaknesses. It is this honest evaluation that will help you grow and improve.

Based on your SWOT analysis, you can make strategic choices to help your business develop further. Choose wisely which opportunities to pursue and which threats to address. Let your strategy guide you in making crucial decisions.

A well-chosen and implemented strategy makes entrepreneurship much easier. Your efforts in product development, marketing, finance, and IT will be more efficient and effective. This will result in a stronger competitive position.

Thoughtful Marketing Policy

The commercial success of your business is shaped by the effectiveness of your marketing. In this section, you are challenged to think about your market, segmentation, and all essential elements of the marketing mix.

Start with a thorough exploration of your market. Understand who your customers are, what their needs and desires are, and where they are located. Be willing to let go of the status quo and explore new possibilities. Segmentation is key to targeted marketing. Discover which segments within your market are most attractive and focus your efforts there. Identify the unique characteristics and needs of each segment and tailor your offerings to reach and serve them optimally.

This section is based on the proven effective marketing mix. It starts with a clear definition of your products. Clearly state what you offer, explain how it stands out from the competition, and emphasize the benefits for your customers. Also consider your pricing and margins, and how these affect your profitability. Think about using product categories and averages.

Competition is inevitable, but you can strengthen your position with a well-thought-out positioning. Differentiate yourself by showcasing your strengths and why customers should choose you. Create a distinctive brand that resonates with your target audience.

Promotion plays a crucial role in increasing your visibility and attracting customers. Set goals for your promotional activities and determine their role in your strategy. Whether it’s about increasing brand awareness, generating leads, or stimulating repeat purchases, an effective promotion strategy is essential. You can describe the types of promotions here and how you plan to use them.

Also think about distribution channels and the location of your business. Make sure your products are available where your customers can easily find them. Consider various distribution channels and make smart purchasing decisions to keep your business running smoothly.

Another extremely important aspect is your personnel. Think about the requirements and skills needed to grow your business. Determine the necessary number of staff and identify the right people for your team. Build a strong and motivated team that shares your vision and contributes to the success of your business. For more information on marketing components, consult the various articles per marketing tool in the right-hand menu.

Optimal Business Operations

In a business plan, it is also important to devote detailed attention to the organization of the company. In this section, you lay the foundations of your enterprise by defining the right business structure, streamlining vital processes, and addressing important aspects such as partnership agreements, permits, delivery terms, employment conditions, quality, automation, risks, and liability. Every element of your business is described, forming the basis for continuous development and optimization.

Financial Health

Here, you can plan the key financial aspects, such as the profit and loss account with revenue and costs, the investment budget, and the cash flow statement.

In the profit and loss account, you enter the development of revenue and costs per category. You can input the financial performance for 4 years. You can then assess whether the plan is sufficiently profitable. Adjustments may be needed in strategy, marketing, or organization.

In addition to the profit and loss account, you also prepare an investment budget and a cash flow statement. The investment budget is crucial for planning your long-term expenditures. Determine which investments are needed, such as equipment, marketing campaigns, or business expansion. The cash flow statement gives you insight into your company’s cash flow. It clarifies your income and expenditures in advance, ensuring sufficient cash flow to meet your financial obligations. For more information on financial topics (profit and loss, revenue, costs, cash flow, and financing), refer to the various articles in the menu on the right.