From Mary Bellis,
Your Guide to Inventors.
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If you have decided to establish a business to manufacture or sell your own invention, you will need a business plan to raise money and help your new business flourish.

What Is Included In A Business Plan

New and potential new business owners need to know what should be included. There are four main parts to a business plan: the description of the business, the marketing plan, the financial management plan, and the management plan. You should also create a executive summary, and include supporting documents and financial projections.

Below is an outline of what goes into a business plan, followed by pages of detailed descriptions. This is only intended as a guide when developing your business plan, every situation is unique - make your business plan unique as well.

Elements of a Business Plan

• Cover sheet
• Statement of purpose
• Table of contents
• Descriptions of your business
• Marketing plans
• Describe the competition
• Operating procedures
• Personnel
• Business insurance
• Financial data

Your financial data should include:

• Loan applications
• Capital equipment and supply list
• Balance sheet
• Break even analysis
• Income projections (profit & loss statements) that could include a three-year summary, details by month and first year, details by quarters, second and third years, and the assumptions upon which your projections were based.
• Current cash flow that could include details similar to your income projections.

You should include supporting documents for example:

• Tax returns of all principals (you and your partners) for last three years.
• Personal financial statement (all banks have these forms)
• Copy of proposed lease or purchase agreement for building space
• Copy of licenses, patents, and other legal documents
• Copy of the resumes of all principals
• Copies of letters of intent from suppliers, etc.

We have provided worksheets that will help you with write certain elements of your business plan and examples of finished plans.

Next: How to Describe Your Business