When you apply for an SBA loan, a term loan, or seller financing to buy a business you’ll need to present the lender with a business plan. Plans developed for conventional lenders will describe the business’s purpose and potential and explain how an injection of capital can help the business attain its goals. Plans developed to attain seller financing should describe why lending you a portion of the purchase price is a worthwhile investment.

Why is a business plan important to lenders?

Lenders want to see that you have a viable idea and a sustainable plan worth funding. They also want to evaluate whether you have the means to put your plans into action.

When compiled correctly, your business plan will help lenders learn about your business’s financial capacity, the competitive challenges it’s up against, the members of your team who can help you realize your vision, and other important details that can contribute to its success. These elements will help them assess the business’s strength and the likelihood you’ll be able to repay any capital they provide.

What should my plan include?

Whether you’re writing it to take out an SBA loan or another type of financing, your business plan should include these sections:

A cover sheet	Set a professional tone by creating a cover sheet that includes your company’s name and logo, the title of the document, the date on which you prepared it, and your contact information.
A table of contents	List the section titles of the document and the page on which the lender may find them. MS Word makes creating a table of contents simple.
An executive summary	Create a section titled Executive Summary and write a one-page summary of your business and your plan for its success. You may choose to structure it in the following way: Explain the history of the business. Describe the market the business serves and the challenges it faces. Explain how your skills can lend to the business’s continued success. Share your strategy for future growth. Highlight your estimates for future sales, cash flows, and profitability. Explain your need for financing.
An explanation of the opportunity	Create a section titled Opportunity and explain the key challenges the business is facing. Your explanation should include the following subsections: Problem Statement Proposed Solution Market Size and Characteristics Key Competitors Competitive Advantages
An explanation of your approach to helping the business succeed	Create a section titled Methodology and describe the methods you’ll use to fortify the business. Your description should include the following subsections: Marketing and Sales Plan Current Operational Capabilities Key Performance Milestones Metrics That Define Success
A description of the business	Create a section titled Company and describe the organization’s structure, key members of your team, and any advisors who are helping you establish or run the business.   Create another section titled Progress and describe the steps your business has taken to form, develop its offerings, reach its target market, and achieve early-stage goals.
Your financial plan	Create a section titled Financial Plan and include your forecasts and a description of why you need capital. You should include the following components: The methodology you’ve used to create your financial forecasts A chart depicting your projected revenue by month A chart depicting your projected expenses by month A graphic that shows your forecasted net profit or loss over the next three years A paragraph that describes the sources of funding you’re pursuing and how you’ll use the funding you raise Valuations of the collateral you’re able to put up against the loan Your plan for repayment Accountant-prepared financial statements, which should include your projected profit and loss, projected balance sheet, projected cash flows, and projected capital expenditures for the next year (with monthly detail) and the next three years Relevant business ratios, which may include: Net profit margin: net profit after taxes / net sales Gross profit margin: (revenue – cost of goods sold) / revenue Profit margin: (revenue – expenses) / revenue Quick ratio: (current assets – inventory) / current liabilities Return on investment: (gain from investment – cost of investment) / cost of investment Current ratio: current assets / current liabilities
The business’s historical financials	Create a section titled Historic Financials and include three years of income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets.   Note: You will not need to include this section for plans aimed at attaining seller financing. Sellers will already have this information. But for an SBA loan, this part of a business plan is a must.
Additional materials	Create a section titled Appendix and include any other documents that are relevant to your funding request. These may include: Your resume Proof of any relevant degrees or training Your tax returns Your letter of intent to buy the target business

How can I make my plan look professional?

Here are some tips:

• Use a professional font, like Times New Roman or Calibri, that’s easy to read on- and off-screen.
• Use a bold, slightly larger font for headings and subheadings that’ll help lenders find content quickly and easily as they review your document.
• Create easy-to-read charts that’ll help the lender understand your projections and forecasts.
• Use chart and text colors that are pleasing on- and off-screen.
• Embed color graphics of your facility, team, product, or parts of your processes into the appropriate sections of your plan.
• Ensure that your business’s name and contact information are included on every page of the document. You can insert this information into the document’s header and set it to appear on every page except the cover sheet.
• Run a spelling and grammar check on the document.
• Update the table of contents after finalizing every other change.

Before you submit the plan, you should print a hard copy and review it for typos and formatting issues. Once the document is ready, you can print it to a PDF file and submit it to your lender.

Can you help me write my business plan?

Yes! With our newest service, we can structure, draft, and polish your business plan. You can learn more about this done-for-you service here.

Looking for a DIY option? Try a service like LivePlan, which can help you pitch, plan, and track the success of your business plan. Many owners use this service to browse more than 500 sample plans, organize their ideas, build robust financial projections, and access professional guidance through the planning process.

LivePlan | The Modern, Lean Business Plan

Over 1 million small businesses use LivePlan for business planning, forecasting, and financial management, but here's what we think you'll love: more than 500 sample plans you can view as you build your own. Follow this link to visit their website and explore all of LivePlan's features.

Want a pro to look it over when you’re finished? We’re happy to consult and provide the expert feedback you need. Check out how we can help here.

Projectionhub is another great service that can help you take on the projection piece of your plan. This service offers 50+ industry-specific templates expertly prepared by a CPA for as little as $49. For a limited time, you can save up to 15% on this service with the code OWNERACTIONS (some restrictions apply; contact Projectionhub for details).

What’s next?

You may need to work through other financing options to raise the capital you need to start your business. In this article, we’ll help you explore your options and find solutions to achieve your goals:

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