In short: a business plan template is a ready outline you fill in. This free template follows the eight sections of a full business plan. Copy it, fill in the brackets one section at a time, and write the executive summary last.
How to Use This Template
- Copy the template into any document app with the button below.
- Work one section at a time, in order. Each one builds on the one before.
- Replace every [bracket] with your own words and numbers.
- Delete lines that do not fit your business.
- Write the executive summary last, once everything else is done.
Free Business Plan Template
1. Business Overview
- Business name and one-line description: [What you do, for whom]
- Problem: [The problem your customers have]
- Solution: [How you solve it]
- Main customer: [Who they are and where they are]
- Unique value: [What makes you hard to copy — one sentence]
- Products or services: [Name — cost to you — selling price]
- Founders and ownership: [Name — role — share owned]
- Goals for the next 12–36 months: [Goal 1] · [Goal 2] · [Goal 3]
- SWOT: Strengths [..] · Weaknesses [..] · Opportunities [..] · Threats [..]
2. Market Analysis
- Customer profile: [Age, location, needs, habits]
- What stops people from buying: [Price, trust, distance, habit…]
- Local market estimate: [Customers × how often they buy × how much they spend]
- Where these numbers come from: [Your source]
- Market trends: [Two or three changes that affect you]
- Customer groups: [Group — size — main need]
- Competitors: [Name — strengths — weaknesses — price compared with yours]
3. Marketing Strategy
- Main group you will focus on first: [Group]
- How you will get your first customers: [Plan]
- Launch steps: [Step — date]
- Brand message: [One sentence]
- Channels: [Where customers will hear about you]
- Marketing budget: [Amount per month or year]
- Prices and why: [Price — reason]
4. Operations and Execution
- Premises: [Location — size — monthly cost]
- Key equipment: [Item — purpose]
- Suppliers and partners: [Name — what they supply — backup]
- Team roles: [Role — what they do — monthly salary]
- Daily process: [From opening to closing, step by step]
5. Production and Delivery Model
- How the product or service is made: [Steps]
- Key resources: [What you need most]
- Quality checks: [How you keep quality high]
- How you could grow: [Next step]
6. Legal and Compliance
- Legal structure: [Type of business and where registered]
- Licenses and permits: [Permit — authority — fee]
- How you will stay compliant: [Routine]
7. Risks and Mitigation
- Risk: [What could go wrong] — Likelihood: [Low / Medium / High] — Impact: [Low / Medium / High] — Plan: [What you will do]
- (Add one line for each main risk.)
8. Financial Plan and Projections
- Startup costs: [Item — amount] · Total: [Amount]
- Monthly costs: [Item — amount] · Total: [Amount]
- Sales estimate: [Sales per day × average order value × days open per year]
- Funding: [Your money] + [Outside money] · Type: [Savings, loan, investor, grant]
- Use of funds: [What the money pays for]
- Break-even point: [Items or sales per month]
- 3-year profit and loss: [Sales — costs — profit for each year]
- Cash flow: [Opening cash — cash in — cash out — closing cash]
- Key assumptions: [The main guesses behind your numbers, and their sources]
Executive Summary (write last)
- A one-page summary of all eight sections. See How to Write an Executive Summary.
Tips for Filling It In
- Start rough. A short, honest first draft is better than a perfect blank page.
- Use real numbers where you can, and write down where each number comes from.
- Keep sentences short. Clear beats clever.
- Need help with a section? Each one is explained in The 8 Sections of a Business Plan.
Want Something Shorter?
If you only need a quick version, use the free one-page business plan template instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this business plan template free?
Yes. You can copy it and use it for any business, with no sign-up.
What sections does a business plan template need?
A full plan usually covers the business overview, market, marketing, operations, production and delivery, legal setup, risks, and financial plan, plus a short executive summary.
Can I use this template for any type of business?
Yes. Delete lines that do not fit your business and add any details that matter for your industry or country.
Should I write the executive summary first or last?
Last. It summarizes the whole plan, so it is much easier to write once every other section is done.
Build your plan with Founderplat
Founderplat walks you through all eight sections, one small step at a time, with tips and examples for every part.
Get the app on Google Play