Business Plan Template: Simple Guide & Free Example

Creating a business plan can feel like paperwork—you know you need one, but where do you start? A solid business plan template gives you a structure, saves time, and forces you to think through assumptions. From what I’ve seen, founders who use a clear template get to investor-ready drafts faster. This guide gives you a ready-to-use template, real-world examples, and practical advice for writing each section so your plan is useful, not just pretty.

Why use a business plan template?

Templates remove guesswork. They make sure you cover the essentials—market analysis, financial projections, and a compelling executive summary. If you’re a founder or small-business owner, a template helps communicate your idea consistently to partners, lenders, and investors.

Templates also speed up revisions. Want to pivot strategy or update revenue assumptions? With a template, you only change the relevant section, not the whole document.

Core sections of a business plan template

Below is a common structure that covers everything most stakeholders expect. Use subheadings to keep it scannable.

Executive summary

Write this last. One page max. Include the problem, your solution, target market, traction, business model, and funding ask. Keep it punchy—think elevator pitch, not a novel.

Company description

Explain what you do, your mission, legal structure, location, and a brief history. If you have early customers or pilots, name them (if allowed).

Market analysis

Define your target customers and size the market. Use public data and cite sources. For U.S.-based small businesses the SBA’s guide to writing a business plan is a practical resource for market sizing and format.

Competitive landscape & SWOT

List direct and indirect competitors. Add a short SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). Be candid—investors prefer realistic plans over hype.

Organization and management

Describe the team and roles. Include brief bios for founders, highlighting relevant experience and wins. If you lack experience in a key area, note hires you plan to make.

Products and services

Detail what you sell, key features, pricing, and intellectual property (if any). Explain how your product solves the problem and why customers will pay.

Marketing and sales strategy

Outline how you’ll reach customers: channels, cost per acquisition (CPA), sales funnel, and key metrics. Include real channel assumptions—ads, SEO, partnerships, or direct sales.

Financial projections

This is where many plans succeed or fail. Provide a 3–5 year forecast with revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, EBITDA, and cash flow. Be ready to defend assumptions (conversion rates, pricing, churn).

For formats and worksheets, see the practical overview on Business plan — Wikipedia which summarizes common financial schedules.

Appendix

Include detailed charts, resumes, product screenshots, legal documents, and any additional research that supports claims in the main plan.

Sample one-page template (quick start)

Use this when you need a fast summary: perfect for early meetings or pitch prep.

• Business name & tagline
• Problem: 1-2 sentences
• Solution: 1-2 sentences
• Target market: Who buys/size
• Business model: How you make money
• Traction: Key metrics or customers
• Ask: Funding amount or next steps

Detailed example sections (with real-world tone)

Below I walk through actual phrasing you can adapt. I use simple language—no jargon.

Executive summary example

“HealthBox delivers subscription-based home diagnostic kits to remote workers aged 25–45. Since launch 12 months ago we’ve sold 1,200 kits and have 18% month-over-month revenue growth. We charge $39/month with a 60% gross margin. Seeking $600k to scale marketing and hire a head of ops.”

Market analysis example

“Our initial market is urban professionals in the U.S., roughly 22M people. We target the subsegment of wellness subscribers (4.5M). Expected reachable market (first 24 months): 150k users.”

Comparison: plan types

Pick a format based on audience. The following table helps decide.

Top practical tips I use with founders

• Be concise: readers skim. Use bullets and visuals.
• Show assumptions: add sensitivity scenarios for financials.
• Use real metrics: CAC, LTV, churn—investors want them.
• Don’t hide risks: acknowledge them and your mitigation plan.
• Update the plan quarterly—keep it alive, not archived.

Financial model basics (numbers you should prepare)

At minimum include:

• Revenue model and unit economics
• Monthly cash-flow for 12–18 months
• Three-year P&L / balance sheet summary
• Break-even analysis

Using the template to create a pitch deck

Many sections double as slides. Use the executive summary, market size, problem/solution, traction, team, financials, and ask as core slides. For practical deck tips see this entrepreneur-focused piece on how to write a business plan which also touches on investor expectations.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Overly optimistic projections without sources.
• Vague target market—be specific.
• No clear revenue model.
• Ignoring competitor strengths.

Next steps: put it into action

Start with the one-page summary. Then expand the sections investors care about: market analysis and financials. Share drafts with advisors and update numbers weekly during early traction periods.

Resources and further reading

For templates and official guidance, check the SBA’s step-by-step plan guide and the general overview on Wikipedia.

Handy one-liner: if you can’t summarize your plan in a sentence, your plan probably needs work.

Suggested template checklist

• One-page summary
• Full plan with sections above
• Financial model (.xlsx)
• Appendix with docs and customer validation

Want a ready file? Use the checklist to populate any editable document: Google Docs, Word, or spreadsheet. That approach makes iteration painless.