Business Plan Outline

Here is a business plan outline recommended in the book Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur (recommended for anyone thinking of making the transition from "corporate prisoner to thriving entrepreneur."

1. Business Identity

• why is your business different
• strengths and weaknesses
• core competencies
• goals

2. Market

• who are your customers
• what will they buy from you
• what do they want and need
• what business are you really in

3. Strategic Focus

• what do you do that is unique to you
• what do you sell

4. Assumptions

• market size
• business conditions
• constraints

5. Review Schedule

• When will plan be adjusted based on results

6. Metrics

• Sales
• Costs/Expenses
• Capital
• Customers, deliveries

7. Who Does What

• team and roles, responsibilities
• outside resources needed

8. Time line

• milestones and deliverables

9. Costs

• budget
• cash flow projections