Get clear on the business
Put the idea into words precise enough for someone else to understand exactly what the business does.
Free business template
Business Plan
Template
A business idea can sound brilliant until you force it to answer the hard questions.
Use this free Business Plan Template to turn an idea into a business you can actually examine. Define what you sell, who will buy it, how you will reach them, what it will cost to run, how the business will make money and what needs to happen next.
Free to use. No sign up required.
Business Plan
A working document for building a clearer business
Free template
Business Plan
Build a clearer plan for how your business will operate, compete, make money and grow.
01. Executive Summary
02. Business Overview
03. Target Market
04. Business Model & Pricing
05. Financial Plan
Know who you are building for
Define the customer, the problem, demand and competition instead of assuming everybody is your market.
Work out how it makes money
Connect the offer, pricing, costs, sales expectations and financial requirements.
Plan how it will actually run
Think through suppliers, operations, people, distribution, marketing and the resources needed to deliver what you promise.
Turn ambition into milestones
Break the vision into priorities, targets and actions you can actually execute.
Inside the template
This is not a blank document asking you to “write your business plan.”
It walks you through the decisions that make the plan useful.
Executive Summary
Summarise the business, opportunity, customer, offer, business model and major goals.
Business Overview
Define what the business does, why it exists, where it operates and what you are building towards.
Problem & Opportunity
Explain the customer problem or opportunity the business is built around.
Products & Services
Describe what you sell, how it creates value and why customers should choose it.
Target Market
Define your ideal customers, their needs, buying behaviour and the market you are entering.
Competitive Landscape
Identify competitors and alternatives and clarify where your business can realistically win.
Business Model & Pricing
Show how the business earns revenue, how you price and what drives profitability.
Marketing & Sales Plan
Map how customers will discover you, buy from you and come back.
Operations Plan
Plan the suppliers, stock, tools, locations, fulfilment, processes and people needed to run the business.
Team & Responsibilities
Clarify who is responsible for what now and what additional roles the business may eventually need.
Financial Plan
Document startup requirements, expected sales, expenses, cash needs, funding and financial assumptions.
Goals & Milestones
Set the major outcomes the business needs to reach and what happens next.
Risks & Assumptions
Identify what could go wrong and the assumptions your plan depends on.
Template features
Everything you need to build a plan you can challenge.
The template gives you a practical structure for turning an idea into clear decisions.
Executive summary prompts
Business and ownership overview
Problem, opportunity and customer sections
Products and services outline
Target market and competitor prompts
Business model and pricing section
Marketing, sales and operations plans
Team and responsibilities planning
Startup costs, funding and financial assumptions
Goals, milestones, risks and assumptions
Get started
Use it where you already work.
Google DocsWork online
Work online, update the plan as the business develops and collaborate when needed.
We’ll add the live Google Docs link when it is shared.Microsoft WordWork offline
Download an editable copy you can customise, save and work on offline.
We’ll add the Word file when it is shared.How to use it
Do not write the impressive version. Write the useful version.
Start with what you actually know
Write down the business, customer, offer and operating model as they exist today. Do not make the business sound bigger, stronger or more certain than it really is.
| What is true today? | Your plan |
|---|---|
| Business | Your business |
| Customer | Who you serve |
| Offer | What you sell |
Separate facts from assumptions
You may believe customers will pay a certain price, sales will grow quickly or marketing will be cheap. Mark what still needs evidence.
| Assumption to test | Your plan |
|---|---|
| Price | KES 2,500 |
| Monthly sales | 80 units |
| Repeat rate | 35% |
Put numbers behind the plan
Connect the strategy to startup costs, pricing, expected sales, expenses, cash requirements and funding. A plan that cannot survive the numbers is not ready.
| Financial plan | Your plan |
|---|---|
| Startup costs | KES 180,000 |
| Monthly revenue | KES 200,000 |
| Monthly costs | KES 145,000 |
Turn the document into decisions
Use what you uncover to decide what to test, change, fund, delay or execute next. The document matters less than the thinking it forces you to do.
| Next milestone | Your plan |
|---|---|
| Next 3 months | Validate demand |
| Next 6 months | Reach break-even |
| Next 12 months | Expand carefully |
Useful for
A business plan is useful when it changes what you do next.
New businesses
Pressure-test the idea before committing more money, time or resources.
Growing businesses
Revisit the strategy, clarify priorities and prepare for the next stage of growth.
Funding conversations
Organise the business model, risks, financial assumptions and milestones before sharing the plan.
Expansion decisions
Think through new products, locations, people and operating costs before committing.
Make it useful
Do the thinking before the money is committed.
The biggest mistake is treating a business plan like a document you finish and forget. Its real job is to make the business harder to lie to yourself about.
Which assumptions could break the plan?
- Who exactly are we selling to?
- Why should they buy from us?
- How will we reach them?
- How does each sale make money?
- What does the business need to operate?
- How much cash will we need?
- What needs to happen over the next 3, 6 and 12 months?
FAQs
Questions about the Business Plan Template.
A useful business plan should make the business clearer, not bury the owner in paperwork.
What is a business plan?
A business plan explains what a business does, who it serves, how it will compete, how it will operate, how it expects to make money and what it plans to achieve. The best business plans are working decision documents, not just descriptions of the business.
Do small businesses really need a business plan?
You may not need a 50-page document. You do need to understand your customer, offer, costs, pricing, operations, cash requirements, risks and growth priorities. A simple plan that forces clear decisions can be far more useful than a long document nobody looks at again.
Can I use this template for a new business?
Yes. Use it to pressure-test the idea before committing more money, time or resources. Where information is still unknown, record the assumption and what you need to validate.
Can an existing business use this template?
Yes. Existing businesses can use it to rethink strategy, prepare for expansion, seek financing, launch a new product or get clearer about where the business is going.
Do I need financial projections in my business plan?
If the plan involves growth, investment, borrowing or any major business decision, numbers matter. Your assumptions should eventually connect to revenue, costs, profit and cash flow.
How often should I update my business plan?
Update it when important assumptions change. That could include major changes in pricing, customers, costs, products, funding, location, team, market conditions or growth strategy.
Can I use this business plan when applying for funding?
Yes, as a starting point. Lenders and investors may request additional information, supporting evidence, financial projections or their own application documents.
What is the biggest mistake when writing a business plan?
Writing what you hope will happen as though it is already proven. A useful business plan separates facts, assumptions, targets and forecasts.