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How to Write a Business Proposal in APA Format

by Elaine Riot

Published on 26 Sep 2017

APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used for the preparation of manuscripts in business, nursing and the social sciences. Although mainly used to write research papers, it can be called upon as a guide for almost any document. APA style establishes standards regarding the organization of content, writing style and reference citations. Writing a business proposal in APA style makes sense because its familiar structure helps the reader to follow the flow of words and easily find the info they seek.

Gather information to organize your thoughts and formulate the main selling points of your business proposal. Think of the main components: the idea itself, its benefits, implementation, timing, projected costs and possible pitfalls.

Find references that support your premise.

Outline your plan using APA Style sections: an abstract or summary of your business proposal, an introduction, the text of the plan with headings to highlight salient points, a reference list, tables and figures.

Format the business proposal in APA style. Insert the main section headings, including Abstract or Business Proposal Summary, Introduction, and headings for the body of the proposal, ending with the References (which should start on a separate page). This way, you've created a kind of template to facilitate the writing phase. The document should be double spaced on letter-size 20-pound paper, with 1-inch margins all around.

The title page should include the name of your business proposal and your contact information, all centered about one-third of the way down the page. Each page, including the title page, should have a running header with an abbreviated title followed by the page number, flush right in the upper right corner of each page (1/2 inch from the top).

Format references and citations according to APA style. An example of an APA style citation is:

Lname, Finitial. (year). Title article. Journal (italics) volume, pages. Retrieved date, source.

"Retrieved" refers to info that was garnered online.

APA style references should be listed in alphabetical order, by author's last name. The first line of each reference is flush left, with subsequent lines indented 1/2 inch. Like the rest of the proposal, they should be double spaced, with no extra space between entries.

Write your business proposal, following the guide you've prepared. The Abstract or Business Proposal Summary should be a concise description of your proposed plan of action. The one-paragraph Introduction should include supporting background information for your main point. They should both mention benefits specific to the company you are soliciting.

Proceed to the text of your business proposal, where you will include its potential benefits, implementation plan, possible obstacles or concerns, and projected costs. Include in text references that include the author and the year, for example, "Brown (1976) concluded that employees covered by health insurance plans were 25% more productive." Another example would be "Employees covered by health insurance are 25% more productive (Brown, 1976)." Include the detailed citations in the reference list.

How to Write a Business Paper in APA Format

Table of Contents

The APA format is one of the standard business paper formatting styles. When writing your business paper, it’s vital to follow this style, as failure to do this can lead to serious plagiarism accusations. Check each step of your business paper writing to ensure it follows the required standards.

The APA formatting style allows you to communicate the business paper’s main topic efficiently. This style simplifies the writing process and provides a recognizable structure that is easy to follow. Below are the rules for writing a business paper in APA format.

For the APA style format, type your piece of writing onto a standard page of about 8.5″ x 11″ with a margin of 1″ on both sides. The space for the lining should be 2.0 with no additional spacing between the paragraphs in your business paper writing. For all the paragraphs, the first line should be indented to about 0.5″, which creates a hanging indent.

Writing a business paper essay in APA format takes time as you have to plan and follow each step. College life can be full of assignments that should be completed within the set deadlines. To make your work easier at the university, you can use the EduBirdie APA format generator to help you create the bibliography page online. It’s easy, and you don’t need an account to use this tool for your online studying. With a great essay, you will quickly improve your education grades at school. You will also save a lot of time learning different concepts for other units taught at the college.

The page header

Each page of your business paper writing needs to include a page header often referred to as “running head.” Ensure that you follow the APA guide for specifics. You can have your title flush left in capital letters or the page number flush right in the page header. If you must include the page title, ensure that you shorten it to about 50 characters because you have limited space in the page header.

The font used in the APA format should ensure that your piece of writing is legible to all readers and consistent throughout the business paper. Even though there are no specific guidelines you should follow, the instructor will always give the font size required.

The standard fonts that most instructors usually use include:

• 12-point Times New Roman
• 11-point Arial
• 11-point Georgia
• 11-point Calibri

The APA title page of your business paper contains the title of the business paper. It should include the course name, registration number, instructor’s name, page number, and due date.

The title of the business paper contains the first words that reach out to the reader. That is why it should be concise, limited to a few characters, and focused. The recommended length of the title should be about 12 words.

Avoid filler words or abbreviations, as they may be useless to the reader. Immediately after your title, the author’s name should follow in the right order. It should start with the first name, initial/middle name, and last name. After that, type your institution affiliations, followed by course number and instructor’s name. The last thing on the title page should be the date when the assignment is due.

The abstract

Just like the title page, your abstract will also have a dedicated page. The first line of this page should be the word “Abstract.” It should be centered and bold with no italics, quotation marks, or underlining.

The following line of the abstract page should begin with a concise summary of your work. Ensure that you flush it to the left with no indentation. The main purpose of the abstract is to introduce the reader to your research and entice them to read the whole paper. It should contain the research topics, methods, main questions, sentences on results, and conclusions.

Depending on the instructor’s guidelines, you might also be required to include a list of keywords that helps the reader to find your work within different online databases.

The main body

Because a business paper details complicated business issues and demonstrates how to solve the issue, you might be required to have the introduction, methods used, results obtained, and discussion section. The headings and paragraph styles are more significant in the body.

There are different types of headings that are covered in the APA formatting style. There is level one up to level five. In level one, the text for this section begins as a new paragraph. The heading must be centered and bold. For level two, the heading must be flushed left and bold with the text beginning as a new paragraph.

Level three is slightly different as the heading is flushed to the left, bold and italicized though the text is not italicized in the new paragraph. For level four, the heading must be indented, italicized, bold, and end with a period. The text should begin on the same line and continue as a standard paragraph.

The last type of heading style you can use is the level, whereby the heading should also be indented, italicized, bold, and end with a period. For this style, the test should continue on the same line as a standard paragraph with no italicization.

In-text citations

When citing a text within a paragraph in your business paper, you should enclose the author’s last name and the publication year in parentheses. This should be at the end of the sentence before a period. If you are referencing a chapter or page of a large article, ensure that you include page numbers at the end of the citation.

The category under which the citation falls determines the rules you will use in your business paper. For the short quotations, you must include the author, publication dates, and the page number for the text reference. On the other hand, when quoting a long section, you must write it as an entire paragraph indented within 0.5 inches from the left margin.

Suppose the source that you are quoting doesn’t have a page number. In that case, you can choose another logical identifier, like the table number, chapter number, or even the available verses.

Referencing your business paper

References are usually incorporated in the last section of your business paper. A whole page should be dedicated to referencing; each citation in the body must be included in this section. The list of the sources used for the referencing should be organized in alphabetical order.

The referencing styles for the APA format used in the body should also be followed precisely in this section. If you have used any online source, ensure that you include a DOI link at the end of the citation. The first line of the reference must be flushed to the left, and you require more than one line for each reference.

Writing a business paper in APA style takes time as you have to follow all the guidelines outlined. You can use a citation generator to help create the bibliography page to save time. Ensure that all references are written correctly. Following the set guidelines will obtain a great score in your business paper writing.

Join the thousands who have sharpened their business writing skills with our award winning courses.

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Business Plan Research: APA Style - 7th Edition

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American Psychological Association's APA Style 7th Edition is widely used by students and researchers in the social and behavioral sciences.

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Academic Writer Tutorial: Basics of 7th Edition APA Style

• Academic Writer Tutorial: Basics of Seventh Edition APA Style "This tutorial is designed for writers new to APA Style. Learn the basics of seventh edition APA Style, including paper elements, format, and organization; academic writing style; grammar and usage; bias-free language; mechanics of style; tables and figures; in-text citations, paraphrasing, and quotations; and reference list format and order."

APA 7th Edition Changes

Credit: Scribbr (2019)

Intro - 0:00 ​

1. citing sources - 0:25 ​, 2. inclusive & bias-free language - 2:01 ​, 3. apa paper format - 2:52 ​, 4. mechanics of style - 3:56 ​, 5. when to start using the apa 7th edition - 4:11, formatting the reference page.

Credit: Scribbr (2020)

Intro to the reference page - 00:00 ​

Font, line spacing, margins - 00:35 ​, creating references - 1:16 ​, hanging indent - 1:59 ​, annotated bibliography - 2:43, reference list.

Arrange references alphabetically by the author's last name.

Double space the entire reference list.

Begin each entry on the left margin and indent a 1/2 inch from  the second line  onwards.

• Hanging indent in Google Docs
• Hanging indent in Microsoft Word
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See  APA  Publication Manual 7th  Edition ,  pages 39-40 .

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Introduction

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The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association provides detailed guidelines for using APA style. The current edition (7th edition) of the APA Publication Manual , published in November of 2019 is  kept at the Reference Desk.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association . (7th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Copies are available for use at the library circulation desk.

• The Basics of APA Style A free tutorial for those who are new to APA style
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In-Text Citations

APA Style uses parenthetical, author-date citations. After a quote, add parentheses containing the author's name, the year of publication, and the page number of the work.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (Seuss, 2007, pp. 7-8).

If you use more than one work by the same author, use the letters a, b, etc., after the year.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (Seuss, 2007a, pp. 7-8).

If more than one author has the same last name, add their first initial.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (D. Seuss, 2007, pp. 7-8).

If two or more authors wrote the work, see the chart below.

If using the author's name in your text, do not include it in the parentheses.

Example: In his scholarly study, Dr. Seuss observed that "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (2007, pp. 7-8). Example: In 2007, Dr. Seuss suggested that "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (pp. 7-8).

If no author name is available, use the first few words of the reference list entry (usually the title). Use quotation marks around titles of articles or web pages and italicize titles of books, periodicals, etc.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" ( Fox in Socks , 2007).

If no pagination information is available, use paragraph numbers instead.

Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (Seuss, 2007, para. 5).

Note: When paraphrasing or mentioning another work, it is helpful to still provide pagination information if the source text is long or difficult, or if it would help the reader find the text being paraphrased.

Source: American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, D.C.: Author.

• How to cite ChatGPT "If you’ve used ChatGPT or other AI tools in your research, describe how you used the tool in your Method section or in a comparable section of your paper. For literature reviews or other types of essays or response or reaction papers, you might describe how you used the tool in your introduction. In your text, provide the prompt you used and then any portion of the relevant text that was generated in response."
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Business Plans: 7th edition APA

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This LibGuide was created by former HCU Librarian, Diane Casebier.

7th edition of APA Style

• Citation Examples for APA 7th Edition with tips.. (MS Word) Updated with Jstor examples
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Templates for paper. Other links: Be aware that some example citations do not have the hanging indent.

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• Linked with permission from Pellissippi State Community College Library 2/25/21 From Stephanie Gillespie: "Just so you know, our guide is accessible; the images have alt text that read out the citation with the punctuation. Also, don't miss the templates on the homepage and the APA Quick Guide."

How to Use this Guide!

Online Guides from APA & Purdue Owl

• AAAA Owl.Purdue.edu NEW WEBPAGE Feb. 2020 Updated to 7th ed. with link to old 6th page.
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• APA Conflict of Interest Principles American Psychological Association. (2017). APA Policy: Conflict of Interests Principles. Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/about/policy/member-conflict-interests.aspx
• APA Ethics Code (APA, 2017a) 1. Resolving Ethical Issues. 2. Competence. 3. Human Relations. 4. Privacy & Confidentiality. 5. Advertising and Other Public Statements. 6. Record Keeping and Fees. 7. Education and Training. 8. Research & Publication. 9. Assessment. 10. Therapy etc. more... less... Also called APA Ethical Principlals of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Section 8 Research and Publication.
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• APA Style Blog Find answers to your questions about the 7th edition of APA style.
• Copyright- Register with the U.S. Copyright Office "The notice need not appear on unpublished works; nonetheless, it is recommended that authors include a copyright notice on all works, whether published or not." ((page 26 of APA Publication Manual -2020, 7th edition)). Register here.
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Generate accurate APA citations for free

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APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples

Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on January 17, 2024.

The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides guidelines for clear communication , citing sources , and formatting documents. This article focuses on paper formatting.

Generate accurate APA citations with Scribbr

Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines:

• Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides.
• Double-space all text, including headings.
• Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches.
• Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).
• Include a page number on every page.

Let an expert format your paper

Our APA formatting experts can help you to format your paper according to APA guidelines. They can help you with:

• Margins, line spacing, and indentation
• Font and headings
• Running head and page numbering

Table of contents

How to set up apa format (with template), apa alphabetization guidelines, apa format template [free download], page header, headings and subheadings, reference page, tables and figures, frequently asked questions about apa format.

Are your APA in-text citations flawless?

The AI-powered APA Citation Checker points out every error, tells you exactly what’s wrong, and explains how to fix it. Say goodbye to losing marks on your assignment!

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References are ordered alphabetically by the first author’s last name. If the author is unknown, order the reference entry by the first meaningful word of the title (ignoring articles: “the”, “a”, or “an”).

Why set up APA format from scratch if you can download Scribbr’s template for free?

Student papers and professional papers have slightly different guidelines regarding the title page, abstract, and running head. Our template is available in Word and Google Docs format for both versions.

• Student paper: Word | Google Docs
• Professional paper: Word | Google Docs

In an APA Style paper, every page has a page header. For student papers, the page header usually consists of just a page number in the page’s top-right corner. For professional papers intended for publication, it also includes a running head .

A running head is simply the paper’s title in all capital letters. It is left-aligned and can be up to 50 characters in length. Longer titles are abbreviated .

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

APA headings have five possible levels. Heading level 1 is used for main sections such as “ Methods ” or “ Results ”. Heading levels 2 to 5 are used for subheadings. Each heading level is formatted differently.

Want to know how many heading levels you should use, when to use which heading level, and how to set up heading styles in Word or Google Docs? Then check out our in-depth article on APA headings .

The title page is the first page of an APA Style paper. There are different guidelines for student and professional papers.

Both versions include the paper title and author’s name and affiliation. The student version includes the course number and name, instructor name, and due date of the assignment. The professional version includes an author note and running head .

For more information on writing a striking title, crediting multiple authors (with different affiliations), and writing the author note, check out our in-depth article on the APA title page .

The abstract is a 150–250 word summary of your paper. An abstract is usually required in professional papers, but it’s rare to include one in student papers (except for longer texts like theses and dissertations).

The abstract is placed on a separate page after the title page . At the top of the page, write the section label “Abstract” (bold and centered). The contents of the abstract appear directly under the label. Unlike regular paragraphs, the first line is not indented. Abstracts are usually written as a single paragraph without headings or blank lines.

Directly below the abstract, you may list three to five relevant keywords . On a new line, write the label “Keywords:” (italicized and indented), followed by the keywords in lowercase letters, separated by commas.

APA Style does not provide guidelines for formatting the table of contents . It’s also not a required paper element in either professional or student papers. If your instructor wants you to include a table of contents, it’s best to follow the general guidelines.

Place the table of contents on a separate page between the abstract and introduction. Write the section label “Contents” at the top (bold and centered), press “Enter” once, and list the important headings with corresponding page numbers.

The APA reference page is placed after the main body of your paper but before any appendices . Here you list all sources that you’ve cited in your paper (through APA in-text citations ). APA provides guidelines for formatting the references as well as the page itself.

Creating APA Style references

Play around with the Scribbr Citation Example Generator below to learn about the APA reference format of the most common source types or generate APA citations for free with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator .

Formatting the reference page

Write the section label “References” at the top of a new page (bold and centered). Place the reference entries directly under the label in alphabetical order.

Finally, apply a hanging indent , meaning the first line of each reference is left-aligned, and all subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.

Tables and figures are presented in a similar format. They’re preceded by a number and title and followed by explanatory notes (if necessary).

Use bold styling for the word “Table” or “Figure” and the number, and place the title on a separate line directly below it (in italics and title case). Try to keep tables clean; don’t use any vertical lines, use as few horizontal lines as possible, and keep row and column labels concise.

Keep the design of figures as simple as possible. Include labels and a legend if needed, and only use color when necessary (not to make it look more appealing).

Check out our in-depth article about table and figure notes to learn when to use notes and how to format them.

The easiest way to set up APA format in Word is to download Scribbr’s free APA format template for student papers or professional papers.

Alternatively, you can watch Scribbr’s 5-minute step-by-step tutorial or check out our APA format guide with examples.

APA Style papers should be written in a font that is legible and widely accessible. For example:

• Times New Roman (12pt.)
• Arial (11pt.)
• Calibri (11pt.)
• Georgia (11pt.)

The same font and font size is used throughout the document, including the running head , page numbers, headings , and the reference page . Text in footnotes and figure images may be smaller and use single line spacing.

You need an APA in-text citation and reference entry . Each source type has its own format; for example, a webpage citation is different from a book citation .

Use Scribbr’s free APA Citation Generator to generate flawless citations in seconds or take a look at our APA citation examples .

Yes, page numbers are included on all pages, including the title page , table of contents , and reference page . Page numbers should be right-aligned in the page header.

To insert page numbers in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, click ‘Insert’ and then ‘Page number’.

APA format is widely used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social and behavioral sciences, including fields like education, psychology, and business.

Be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you want to be published in to double-check which style you should be using.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2024, January 17). APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/format/

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APA Publication Manual

Copies are available at each campus library  or visit  APA Style

APA Publication Manual: Notes, Sample Papers, Guides

Sample Papers

Professional Paper - pp. 50 - 60

Student Paper - pp. 61 -67

Check with your instructor to determine which paper format (professional or student) is require. 

APA Style and Grammar Guidelines

Paper Format (Font, Headings, Line Spacing, Margins, Title Page Setup…)

In-Text Citations Basics of Citation, Paraphrasing, Plagiarism, Quotations, Secondary Sources…)

Mechanics of Style   (Capitalization, Italics and Quotation Marks, Punctuation…)

Bias-Free Language (Age, Disability, Gender, Reducing Bias, Identity, Orientation…)

References   (Basic Reference List, Elements of Reference List Entries, Reference Examples…)

Grammar (Active and Passive Voice, First Person Pronouns, Verb Tense…)

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In-Text Citation

• Format Your Paper

Prefer a video tutorial?

Click below to watch: .

Basic structure for most business databases: 

Author, a. a., & author, b. b. (year).  title of page in italics (number if available) [descriptive text if needed]. database name. https://www.databasehomepage.com.

Many business sources contain tables, charts, data sets, and other non-standard types of information. General guidelines:

• If no author , use a corporate author (e.g. company, association, or group responsible for the content).
• If no publication date , use the abbreviation (n.d.) – both in your References and your in-text citation – for "no date."
• Retrieval dates are only needed in two circumstances: if the content is unarchived AND is designed to change (e.g. financial data updated quarterly or yearly).
• If the information is from a free website (such as a .gov website, i.e. not a subscription database) and the URL appears stable, include that.
• If it is from a subscription database , it is probably not a stable URL, so (usually) include the database name and the homepage of the database itself. The exception is if the content is easily accessible from multiple sources – e.g., press releases, stock quotes, and the like – which needs no database retrieval information at all. 

Because the APA style manual does not provide examples for every single type of resource,  these examples have been adapted for common business resources. If you are unsure of how to cite a source,  ask your business librarian . 

Ad Age / Ad Age Datacenter

In-text Citation

Parenthetical Citation : McDonald's and Burger King in Brazil were among the first companies to use AI in an advertising campaign (Rittenhouse, 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to Rittenhouse (2023), McDonald's and Burger King in Brazil were among the first companies to use AI in an advertising campaign.

Datacenter content

Parenthetical Citation : In 2022, Amazon spent 20.6 billion dollars on advertising and promotion (Ad Age Datacenter, 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to Ad Age Datacenter (2023), Amazon spent 20.6 billion dollars on advertising and promotion. 

Return to table of contents

Marketline is the author of most of the SWOTs in our subscription. For SWOTs that may come from other databases, most often you are looking for a corporate/organization author.

Parenthetical Citation : Cisco's declining cash reserves in the last couple of years may be an indication of the company's inability to acquire sufficient capital (MarketLine, 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to a MarketLine (2023) report, Cisco's declining cash reserves may be an indicator of the company's inability to acquire sufficient capital.

Data tables

Parenthetical Citation : In the United States the number of real estate firms increased by over 12,000 between 2020 and 2021 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021).

Narrative Citation : According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2021), the number of real estate firms in the United States increased by over 12,000 between 2020 and 2021.

Census Business Builder

Parenthetical Citation : There are 301 establishments in Milwaukee county which exclusively sell alcohol (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.).

Narrative Citation : According to the U.S. Census Bureau (n.d.), there are 301 establishments in Milwaukee county which exclusively sell alcohol.

Quick Facts tables

Parenthetical Citation : The median gross rent in Whitewater, WI is only 1% more than in Stevens Point, WI (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.).

Narrative Citation : According to the U.S. Census Bureau (n.d.) the median gross rent in Whitewater, WI is only 1% more than the median gross rent in Stevens Point, WI.

Report with author

Some Global Road Warrior report pages have a Writer listed at the bottom of the page. If none listed, use Global Road Warrior as an Author, and no need to repeat it in the Source position.

Parenthetical Citation : The varying tropical climate of the Democratic Republic of Congo dictates the type of attire worn by business travelers to the country (Myers, n.d.).

Narrative Citation : Myers (n.d.) explains that the varying tropical climate of the Democratic Republic of Congo dictates the type of attire worn by business travelers to the country.

However, some subsections may be reprints from other sources -- e.g.,  the Human Rights Reports section is reprinted from the U.S. Department of State report:

Reprinted from elsewhere

Parenthetical Citation : Unlike the United States, the government of Australia prohibits sympathy strikes by unions (Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor & World Trade Press, 2022).

Narrative Citation : According to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and the World Trade Press (2022), the government of Australia prohibits sympathy strikes by unions. 

Parenthetical Citation : FUBU is a privately owned corporation which specializes in producing hip-hop influenced sportswear (D&B Hoovers, 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to D&B Hoovers (2023), FUBU is a privately owned corporation which specializes in producing hip-hop influenced sportswear. 

Report with author

Parenthetical Citation : Millennials are more willing to spend on premium care for their pets since they view them as a part of their family (Brocker, 2023)

Narrative Citation : Brocker (2023) states that Millennials are more willing to spend on premium care for their pets since they view them as a part of their family. 

Parenthetical Citation : Increase in federal funding for medicare and medicaid has lowered industry risk for dentists in the United States (IBISWorld, 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to IBISWorld (2023) an increase in federal funding for medicare and medicaid has lowered industry risk for dentists in the United States.

Parenthetical Citation : Leadership and employee involvement are important to the management of occupational health and safety risks (International Organization for Standardization [ISO], 2023).

Narrative Citation : The International Organization for Standardization (ISO, 2023) stresses the importance of leadership and employee involvement in the management of occupational health and safety risks.

Parenthetical Citation : The minimum required distance between two containers holding flammable liquids such as petroleum is three feet (Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], 1970).

Narrative Citation : According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, 2023) the minimum required distance between two containers holding flammable liquids such as petroleum is three feet.

Note: If the abbreviation of a group author is well-know, or will appear in the paper at least times, include the abbreviation in square brackets in the parenthetical citation, and with the date element in the narrative citation.

Reference Solutions (formerly Reference USA)

Company profile.

Include retrieval dates since profiles are regularly updated. Look in the Business Demographics section of a company profile for the Last Updated On: date.

If the company's name is sufficiently unique to identify that company (i.e., there is only one of that company in that city/state), then that is all you need for the Title. If there are multiple companies with that name and that location, then include the exact address in parentheses as a unique identifier, as below.

Parenthetical Citation : The two main competitors of the Sage and Oats Trading Post are located in neighboring Idaho (Data Axel, 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to Data Axel (2023), the two main competitors of the Sage and Oats Trading Post are located in neighboring Idaho. 

List of companies or people

For creating a list of companies or people with certain criteria, the Excel or PDF format list has no real title. So create a description, in [square brackets], of what criteria you applied to get your list, so that someone else could retrieve the same (or similar) data. Include retrieval date because the list would probably be different at a later date. 

Parenthetical Citation : 22 businesses located in the Janesville metro area are owned by veterans (Data Axel, n.d.).

Narrative Citation : According to Data Axel (n.d.) 22 businesses located in the Janesville metro area are owned by veterans. 

Sage Data (formerly Data Planet)

Parenthetical Citation : Approximately 10,00 flights were cancelled in one day in the United States on March 29th, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 lock-down measures (Bureau of Transportation Statistics [BTS], 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS, 2023) approximately 10,000 flights were cancelled in one day in the United States on March 29th, 2020 as a result of COVID-19 lock-down measures.

SEC filings 

All SEC filings are publicly available on the web. So, no matter where you accessed it from, there's really no need to include database information, though you can include a freely-accessible web link to make it easier for your reader to retrieve it if you wish. 

Parenthetical Citation : The risk of credit losses from corporate debt securities held by East West Bank are likely to be low since their credit profiles are strong with expectations of on-time contractual payments (East West Bancorp, Inc., 2021)

Narrative Citation : East West Bancorp, Inc. (2021) state in their annual report that risk of credit losses on their corporate debt securities are likely to be low since their credit profiles are strong with expectations of on-time contractual payments. 

The Title is the dataset used, which also provides you with a Date. However, that doesn't tell your reader what exact data you were using. So create a description after the title, in [square brackets], of what criteria you applied to get your list, so that someone else could retrieve the same (or similar) data. 

Cross tab data

Parenthetical Citation : There are approximately 7 million customers in the United States who use hand and body creams, lotions or oils (MRI-Simmons, 2021).

Narrative Citation : According to MRI-Simmons (2021) there are approximately 7 million customers in the United States who use hand and body creams, lotions, or oils. 

Quick report profile

Parenthetical Citation : 52% of college students in the United States accessed Instagram through a mobile device in 2021 (MRI-Simmons, 2021).

Narrative Citation : According to MRI-Simmons (2021) 52% of college students in the United States accessed Instagram through a mobile devise in 2021.

SRDS Media Solutions

For the profiles of any type of Publication, Radio, TV/Cable, Out-of-home, or Hispanic media with a profile in SRDS, include retrieval date as these are updated regularly.

Parenthetical Citation : The Beloit Daily News boasts a circulation of over 10,000 subscribers (SRDS Media Solutions, n.d.).

Narrative Citation : According to SRDS Media Solutions (n.d.) the Beloit Daily News boasts a circulation of over 10,000 subscribers. 

DMA & MSA Maps

Parenthetical Citation : Media outlets in Sheboygan WI may charge higher advertising rates since they fall under Milwaukee's designated market area (DMA) (SRDS Media Solutions, n.d.).

Narrative Citation : According to SRDS Media Solutions (n.d.) media outlets in Sheboygan, WI may charge higher advertising rates since they fall under Milwaukee's designated market area (DMA).

Look in the “Source” box to the right of Statista's charts for most of the citation information. Sometimes there are multiple sources for one chart; if so, treat it just like you would a normal multiple-author situation on an article . For date, check the Release Info or Source Link boxes (see right); but if not listed, use (n.d.) for No Date.

Parenthetical Citation : 48% of global cybersecurity professionals think that deep learning for detecting malware in encrypted traffic may be the most promising emerging machine learning trend in 2023 (Nguyen, 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to Nguyen (2023), 48% of global cybersecurity professional thin that deep learning for detecting malware in encrypted traffic may be the most promising emerging machine learning trend in 2023.

No named author

Parenthetical Citation : Crude oil prices hit an all time high at over $109 per barrel in 2012 (Statista, 2024).

Narrative Citation : According to Statista (2024), crude oil prices hit an all time high at over $109 per barrel in 2012.

Value Line 

If there is no PDF, then it is unarchived, so use (n.d.) and include a retrieval date. 

Parenthetical Citation : Johnson Controls’ international growth in 2023 has helped to offset its weak performance in North America (Value Line, 2024).

Narrative Citation : According to Value Line (2024) Johnson Controls’ international grown in 2023 has helped to offset its weak performance in North America.

Website:  Data Set

Named author.

Parenthetical Citation : The Nicoya region in Costa Rica is prone to frequent earthquakes (Dixon & Protti, 2007-2023).

Narrative Citation : The data gathered by Dixon & Protti (2007-2023) shows that the Nicoya region in Costa Rica is prone to frequent earthquakes.

Corporate author

Parenthetical Citation : There were no reported bank failures reported in 2021 and 2022 (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [FDIC], 2023).

Narrative Citation : According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC, 2023) there were reported bank failures in 2021 and 2022. 

Wharton Research Data Services -- Compustat, CRSP, etc. 

With datasets acquired through WRDS such as Compustat or CRSP, the author can mention that the data was collected from these sources in the methodology section or at the end of the paper. 

For example:

“4.1 Data and methods

We retrieve the sample of banks from COMPUSTAT's bank file. Following Akhigbe and Martin (2006), we include in the sample all commercial banks (SIC code 602X) and savings institutions (SIC code 603X). To be included in the sample the bank must have continuous returns on CRSP in the 365 day period prior to the analyst's recommendation. For each sample bank, we obtain all of their analyst recommendations that are reported on the Thomson Financial's Institutional Brokers Estimate (I/B/E/S) U.S. Detail File in the time period 1994–2012" (Premti et al, 2017).

Premti, A., Garcia-Feijoo, L., & Madura, J. (2017). Information content of analyst recommendations in the banking industry. International Review of Financial Analysis 49 , 35-47.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2016.11.005  

Winmo  

Parenthetical Citation : Equalpride’s media spending in 2022 was down by 77% since the previous year (Winmo, n.d.).

Narrative Citation : According to Winmo (n.d.), Equalpride’s media spending in 2022 was down by 77% since the previous year.

More questions? Check out the authoritative source: APA style blog

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• Last Updated: Aug 19, 2024 4:18 PM
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Sample Papers

This page contains sample papers formatted in seventh edition APA Style. The sample papers show the format that authors should use to submit a manuscript for publication in a professional journal and that students should use to submit a paper to an instructor for a course assignment. You can download the Word files to use as templates and edit them as needed for the purposes of your own papers.

Most guidelines in the Publication Manual apply to both professional manuscripts and student papers. However, there are specific guidelines for professional papers versus student papers, including professional and student title page formats. All authors should check with the person or entity to whom they are submitting their paper (e.g., publisher or instructor) for guidelines that are different from or in addition to those specified by APA Style.

Sample papers from the Publication Manual

The following two sample papers were published in annotated form in the Publication Manual and are reproduced here as PDFs for your ease of use. The annotations draw attention to content and formatting and provide the relevant sections of the Publication Manual (7th ed.) to consult for more information.

• Student sample paper with annotations (PDF, 5MB)
• Professional sample paper with annotations (PDF, 2.7MB)

We also offer these sample papers in Microsoft Word (.docx) format with the annotations as comments to the text.

• Student sample paper with annotations as comments (DOCX, 42KB)
• Professional sample paper with annotations as comments (DOCX, 103KB)

Finally, we offer these sample papers in Microsoft Word (.docx) format without the annotations.

• Student sample paper without annotations (DOCX, 36KB)
• Professional sample paper without annotations (DOCX, 96KB)

Sample professional paper templates by paper type

These sample papers demonstrate APA Style formatting standards for different professional paper types. Professional papers can contain many different elements depending on the nature of the work. Authors seeking publication should refer to the journal’s instructions for authors or manuscript submission guidelines for specific requirements and/or sections to include.

• Literature review professional paper template (DOCX, 47KB)
• Mixed methods professional paper template (DOCX, 68KB)
• Qualitative professional paper template (DOCX, 72KB)
• Quantitative professional paper template (DOCX, 77KB)
• Review professional paper template (DOCX, 112KB)

Sample papers are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Chapter 2 and the Concise Guide Chapter 1

Related handouts

• Heading Levels Template: Student Paper (PDF, 257KB)
• Heading Levels Template: Professional Paper (PDF, 213KB)

Other instructional aids

• Journal Article Reporting Standards (JARS)
• APA Style Tutorials and Webinars
• Handouts and Guides
• Paper Format

View all instructional aids

Sample student paper templates by paper type

These sample papers demonstrate APA Style formatting standards for different student paper types. Students may write the same types of papers as professional authors (e.g., quantitative studies, literature reviews) or other types of papers for course assignments (e.g., reaction or response papers, discussion posts), dissertations, and theses.

APA does not set formal requirements for the nature or contents of an APA Style student paper. Students should follow the guidelines and requirements of their instructor, department, and/or institution when writing papers. For instance, an abstract and keywords are not required for APA Style student papers, although an instructor may request them in student papers that are longer or more complex. Specific questions about a paper being written for a course assignment should be directed to the instructor or institution assigning the paper.

• Discussion post student paper template (DOCX, 31KB)
• Literature review student paper template (DOCX, 37KB)
• Quantitative study student paper template (DOCX, 53KB)

Sample papers in real life

Although published articles differ in format from manuscripts submitted for publication or student papers (e.g., different line spacing, font, margins, and column format), articles published in APA journals provide excellent demonstrations of APA Style in action.

APA journals began publishing papers in seventh edition APA Style in 2020. Professional authors should check the author submission guidelines for the journal to which they want to submit their paper for any journal-specific style requirements.

Credits for sample professional paper templates

Quantitative professional paper template: Adapted from “Fake News, Fast and Slow: Deliberation Reduces Belief in False (but Not True) News Headlines,” by B. Bago, D. G. Rand, and G. Pennycook, 2020, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General , 149 (8), pp. 1608–1613 ( https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000729 ). Copyright 2020 by the American Psychological Association.

Qualitative professional paper template: Adapted from “‘My Smartphone Is an Extension of Myself’: A Holistic Qualitative Exploration of the Impact of Using a Smartphone,” by L. J. Harkin and D. Kuss, 2020, Psychology of Popular Media , 10 (1), pp. 28–38 ( https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000278 ). Copyright 2020 by the American Psychological Association.

Mixed methods professional paper template: Adapted from “‘I Am a Change Agent’: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Students’ Social Justice Value Orientation in an Undergraduate Community Psychology Course,” by D. X. Henderson, A. T. Majors, and M. Wright, 2019,  Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology , 7 (1), 68–80. ( https://doi.org/10.1037/stl0000171 ). Copyright 2019 by the American Psychological Association.

Literature review professional paper template: Adapted from “Rethinking Emotions in the Context of Infants’ Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Interest and Positive Emotions,” by S. I. Hammond and J. K. Drummond, 2019, Developmental Psychology , 55 (9), pp. 1882–1888 ( https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000685 ). Copyright 2019 by the American Psychological Association.

Review professional paper template: Adapted from “Joining the Conversation: Teaching Students to Think and Communicate Like Scholars,” by E. L. Parks, 2022, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology , 8 (1), pp. 70–78 ( https://doi.org/10.1037/stl0000193 ). Copyright 2020 by the American Psychological Association.

Credits for sample student paper templates

These papers came from real students who gave their permission to have them edited and posted by APA.

Where can I find an example of a business plan in APA format?

Students should follow the APA guidelines  to write their business plan:

• Set 1” margins: On all four sides (Top, Bottom, Left, Right)
• Times New Roman 12pt
• Calibri 11pt
• Lucida Sans Unicode 10pt
• Georgia 11pt
• Computer Modern 10pt
• Line-spacing: Double-space

To find information on how to write a business plan:

• Write your business plan
• What to put in your business plan

Thank you for using ASK US.  For further assistance, please contact your Baker librarians .

• Business Topics
• Last Updated May 19, 2022
• Answered By Baker Librarians

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How to Build a Detailed Business Plan That Stands Out [Free Template]

Updated: March 29, 2022

Published: March 11, 2022

While starting a company may seem easier now than ever before, entrepreneurs have an uphill battle from the moment they start a business. And without a clear, actionable business plan for selling, marketing, finances, and operations, you're almost destined to face significant challenges.

This is why crafting a business plan is an essential step in the entrepreneurial process.

In this post, we'll walk you through the process of filling out your business plan template, like this free, editable version :

Download a free, editable one-page business plan template.

We know that when looking at a blank page on a laptop screen, the idea of writing your business plan can seem impossible. However, it's a mandatory step to take if you want to turn your business dreams into a reality.

That's why we've crafted a business plan template for you to download and use to build your new company. You can download it here for free . It contains prompts for all of the essential parts of a business plan, all of which are elaborated on, below.

This way, you'll be able to show them how organized and well-thought-out your business idea is, and provide them with answers to whatever questions they may have.

Free Business Plan Template

The essential document for starting a business -- custom built for your needs.

• Outline your idea.
• Pitch to investors.
• Secure funding.
• Get to work!

Download Free

All fields are required.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Building a Successful Business Plan

In the next section, we'll cover the components of a business plan , such as an executive summary and company description. But before we get to that, let's talk about key elements that should serve as building blocks for your plan.

For some entrepreneurs, the thought of writing a business plan sounds like a chore — a necessary means to an end. But that's a bad take.

A solid business plan is a blueprint for success . It's key to securing financing, presenting your business, outlining your financial projections, and turning that nugget of a business idea into a reality.

At the core, your business plan should answer two questions: why your business and why now?

Investors want to know why your business is entering the market, i.e. what problem it's solving and how it's different from what's currently out there. They also want to know why now is the right time for your type of product or service.

At a minimum, your plan should:

• Be more realistic than idealistic: Too often, business plans focus too much on how things could be instead of how they are. While having a vision is important, your plan needs to be rooted in research and data.
• Legitimize your business idea : If an idea fails on paper, it's a signal to go back to the drawing board. In doing so, you avoid losing precious time or money chasing an unrealistic idea.
• Position your business for funding: To get your business off the ground, chances are you'll need financial backing. Even with a solid business idea, investors, lenders, and banks still need convincing. An effective business plan will outline how much money you need, where it's going, what targets you will hit, and how you plan to repay any debts.
• Lay the foundation: Investors focus on risk – if anything looks shaky, it could be a dealbreaker. Ideally, your business plan will lay down the foundation for how you'll operate your business — from operational needs to financial projections and goals.
• Communicate your needs: It's nearly impossible to communicate your needs if you don't know what they are first. Of course, a business’ needs are always changing — but your plan should give you a well-rounded view of how your business will work in the short and long term.

So back to the question of why and why now – consider three things:

• Your industry – How does your product or service fit within your industry? Are you targeting a specific niche? Where do you see the industry going in the next five to 10 years?
• Your target audience – Who are you targeting? What challenges are they facing? How will your product or service help them in their daily lives?
• Your unique selling proposition (USP) – What sets you apart from your competitors? Is it your product/service features? Your company values? Price?

Once you know the answers to these questions, you'll be equipped to answer the question: why your business and why now.

How to Build a Business Plan

• Executive Summary
• Company and Business Description
• Product and Services Line
• Market Analysis
• Marketing Plan
• Legal Notes
• Financial Considerations

Featured Resource: Free Business Plan Template

1. cover page.

Your business plan should be prefaced with an eye-catching cover page. This means including a high-resolution image of your company logo, followed by your company's name, address, and phone number.

Since this business plan will likely change hands and be seen by multiple investors, you should also provide your own name, role in the business, and email address on the cover page.

At the bottom of this page, you can also add a confidentiality statement to protect against the disclosure of your business details.

The statement can read as follows: " This document contains confidential and proprietary information created by [your company name]. When receiving this document, you agree to keep its content confidential and may only reproduce and/or share it with express written permission of [your company name] ."

Remember to keep your cover page simple and concise — and save the important details for other sections.

Why it matters: First impressions are everything, and a clean cover page is the first step in the right direction.

Example of a Cover Page

2. Executive Summary

The executive summary of your business plan provides a one- to two-page overview of your business and highlights the most crucial pieces of your plan, such as your short-term and long-term goals.

The executive summary is essentially a boiled-down version of your entire business plan, so remember to keep this section to the point and filled only with essential information.

Typically, this brief section includes:

• A mission statement.
• The company's history and leadership model.
• An overview of competitive advantage(s).
• Financial projections.
• Company goals.
• An ask from potential investors.

Why it matters: The executive summary is known as the make-or-break section of a business plan. It influences whether investors turn the page or not — so effectively summarizing your business and the problem it hopes to solve is a must.

Think of the Summary as a written elevator pitch (with more detail). While your business plan provides the nitty-gritty details, your Summary describes — in a compelling but matter-of-fact language — the highlights of your plan. If it's too vague, complicated, or fuzzy, you may need to scrap it and start again.

Example of an Executive Summary Introduction

"The future looks bright for North Side Chicago, particularly the Rock Hill Neighborhood. A number of high-end commercial and residential developments are well on their way, along with two new condo developments in nearby neighborhoods.

While the completion of these developments will increase the population within the neighborhood and stimulate the economy, the area lacks an upscale restaurant where residents and visitors can enjoy fine food and drink. Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant will provide such a place."

3. Company & Business Description

In this section, provide a more thorough description of what your company is and why it exists.

The bulk of the writing in this section should be about your company's purpose – covering what the business will be selling, identifying the target market, and laying out a path to success.

In this portion of your business plan, you can also elaborate on your company's:

• Mission statement
• Core values
• Team and organizational structure

Why it matters: Investors look for great structures and teams in addition to great ideas. This section gives an overview of your businesses' ethos. It's the perfect opportunity to set your business apart from the competition — such as your team's expertise, your unique work culture, and your competitive advantage.

Example of a Values/Mission Statement

"Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant will be the go-to place for people to get a drink or bite in an elegant, upscale atmosphere. The mission is to be North Side's leading restaurant, with the best tasting food and the highest quality service."

3. Product & Services Line

Here's where you'll cover the makeup of your business's product and/or services line. You should provide each product or service's name, its purpose, and a description of how it works (if appropriate). If you own any patents, copyrights, or trademarks, it's essential to include this info too.

Next, add some color to your sales strategy by outlining your pricing model and mark-up amounts.

If you're selling tangible products, you should also explain production and costs, and how you expect these factors to change as you scale.

Why it matters: This section contains the real meat of your business plan. It sets the stage for the problem you hope to solve, your solution, and how your said solution fits in the market.

There's no one-size-fits-all formula for this section. For instance, one plan may delve into its ability to market in a more cost-effective way than the competition, whereas another plan focuses on its key products and their unique features and benefits.

Regardless of your angle, it's critical to convey how your offerings will differ from the competition.

Example of a Product/Service Offering

"The menu at Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant will focus on Moroccan cuisine. The stars of the menu (our specialties) are the Moroccan dishes, such as eggplant zaalouk, seafood bastilla, tagine, and chickpea stew. For those who enjoy American dishes, there will also be a variety of options, from burger sliders and flatbread pizza to grilled steak and salads.

The food at Jay Street will have premium pricing to match its upscale atmosphere. During the summer months, the restaurant will have extra seating on the patio where clients can enjoy a special summer menu. We will be open on all days of the week."

4. Market Analysis

It helps to reference your market research documentation in this section, like a Porter's Five Forces Analysis or a SWOT Analysis ( templates for those are available here ). You can also include them in your appendix.

If your company already has buyer personas, you should include them here as well. If not, you can create them right now using the Make My Persona Tool .

Why it matters: Having an awesome product is, well, awesome — but it isn't enough. Just as important, there must be a market for it.

This section allows you to dig deeper into your market, which segments you want to target, and why. The "why" here is important, since targeting the right segment is critical for the success and growth of your business.

It's easy to get lost (or overwhelmed) in a sea of endless data. For your business plan, narrow your focus by answering the following questions:

• What is my market? In other words, who are my customers?
• What segments of the market do I want to target?
• What's the size of my target market?
• Is my market likely to grow?
• How can I increase my market share over time?

Example of a Market Analysis

"Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant will target locals who live and work within the Rock Hill Neighborhood and the greater North Side Chicago area. We will also target the tourists who flock to the many tourist attractions and colleges on the North Side.

We will specifically focus on young to middle-aged adults with an income of $40,000 to $80,000 who are looking for an upscale experience. The general demographics of our target market are women between 20 to 50 years old.

A unique and varied Moroccan-American menu, along with our unique upscale atmosphere, differentiates us from competitors in the area. Jay Street will also set itself apart through its commitment to high-quality food, service, design, and atmosphere."

5. Marketing Plan

Unlike the market analysis section, your marketing plan section should be an explanation of the tactical approach to reaching your aforementioned target audience. List your advertising channels, organic marketing methods, messaging, budget, and any relevant promotional tactics.

If your company has a fully fleshed-out marketing plan, you can attach it in the appendix of your business plan. If not, download this free marketing plan template to outline your strategy.

Free Marketing Plan Template

Outline your company's marketing strategy in one simple, coherent plan.

• Pre-Sectioned Template
• Completely Customizable
• Example Prompts
• Professionally Designed

Why it matters: Marketing is what puts your product in front of your customers. It's not just advertising — it's an investment in your business.

Throwing money into random marketing channels is a haphazard approach, which is why it's essential to do the legwork to create a solid marketing plan.

Here's some good news — by this point, you should have a solid understanding of your target market. Now, it's time to determine how you'll reach them.

Example of a Marketing Plan Overview

"Our marketing strategy will focus on three main initiatives:

• Social media marketing. We will grow and expand our Facebook and Instagram following through targeted social media ads.
• Website initiatives. Our website will attract potential visitors by offering updated menus and a calendar of events.
• Promotional events. Jay Street will have one special theme night per week to attract new clients."

6. Sales Plan

It doesn't matter if your sales department is an office full of business development representatives (BDR) or a dozen stores with your products on their shelves.

The point is: All sales plans are different, so you should clearly outline yours here. Common talking points include your:

• Sales team structure, and why this structure was chosen.
• Sales channels.
• Sales tools, software, and resources.
• Prospecting strategy.
• Sales goals and budget.

Like with your marketing plan, it might make sense to attach your completed sales plan to the appendix of your business plan. You can download a template for building your sales plan here .

Why it matters: Among other things, investors are interested in the scalability of your business — which is why growth strategies are a critical part of your business plan.

Your sales plan should describe your plan to attract customers, retain them (if applicable), and, ultimately, grow your business. Be sure to outline what you plan to do given your existing resources and what results you expect from your work.

Example of a Sales Plan Overview

"The most important goal is to ensure financial success for Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant. We believe we can achieve this by offering excellent food, entertainment, and service to our clients.

We are not a low-cost dining option in the area. Instead, the food will have premium pricing to match its upscale feel. The strategy is to give Jay Street a perception of elegance through its food, entertainment, and excellent service."

7. Legal Notes

Your investors may want to know the legal structure of your business, as that could directly impact the risk of their investments. For example, if you're looking for business partners to engage in a non-corporation or LLC partnership, this means they could be on the line for more than their actual investment.

Because this clarification is often needed, explain if you are and/or plan to become a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, LLC, or other.

You should also outline the steps you have taken (or will need to take) to operate legally. This includes licenses, permits, registrations, and insurance.

The last thing your investor wants to hear after they've sent you a big chunk of change is that you're operating without proper approval from the local, state, or federal government.

Why it matters: The last thing your investor wants to hear after they've sent you a big chunk of change is that you're operating without proper approval from the local, state, or federal government.

Example of Legal Notes

"Jay Street Lounge and Restaurant is up-to-date on all restaurant licenses and health permits. Our business name and logo are registered trademarks, presenting the possibility of expanding locally."

8. Financial Considerations

Ultimately, investors want to know two things:

• When they will earn their money back.
• When they will start seeing returns on their initial investment.

That said, be clear, calculated, and convincing in this section. It should cover:

• Startup costs.
• Sales forecasts for the next several months/quarters.
• Break-even analysis for time and dollars.
• Projected profit and loss (P&L) statement.

Facts and figures are key here, so be as specific as possible with each line item and projection. In addition, explain the "why" behind each of these sections.

However, keep in mind that information overload is a risk, especially when it comes to data. So, if you have pages upon pages of charts and spreadsheets for this section, distill them into a page or two and include the rest of the sheets in the appendix. This section should only focus on key data points.

Why it matters: One of the most important aspects of becoming "investor ready" is knowing your numbers. More importantly, you need to understand how those numbers will enhance your business.

While it's easy to write a number down on paper, it's more important to understand (and communicate) why you need capital, where it's going, and that your evaluation makes sense.

Example of Financial Projections

"Based on our knowledge and experience in the restaurant industry, we have come up with projections for the business.

Starting with an expenditure of $400,000 in year 1, we forecast sales of $1,500,000 and $2,800,000 for years two and three. We expect to achieve a net profit of 15% by year three."

9. Appendix

A detailed and well-developed business plan can range anywhere from 20 to 50 pages, with some even reaching upward of 80.

In many cases, the appendix is the longest section. Why? Because it includes the supportive materials mentioned in previous sections. To avoid disrupting the flow of the business plan with visuals, charts, and spreadsheets, business owners usually add them in the last section, i.e. the appendix.

Aside from what we've already mentioned – marketing plan, sales plan, department budgets, financial documents – you may also want to attach the following in the appendix:

• Marketing materials
• Market research data
• Licensing documentation
• Branding assets
• Floor plans for your location
• Mockups of your product
• Renderings of your office space or location design

Adding these pieces to the appendix enriches the reader's understanding of your business and proves you've put the work into your business plan without distracting from the main points throughout the plan.

Why it matters: An appendix helps the reader do their due diligence. It contains everything they need to support your business plan.

Keep in mind, however, that an appendix is typically necessary only if you're seeking financing or looking to attract business partners.

Use a Business Plan Template to Get Started

Writing a business plan shouldn't be an insurmountable roadblock to starting a business. Unfortunately, for all too many, it is.

That's why we recommend using our free business plan template. Pre-filled with detailed section prompts for all of the topics in this blog post, we're confident this template will get your business plan started in the right direction.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in June 2017 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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How to Write a Business Plan for a Small Business

Noah Parsons

24 min. read

Updated September 2, 2024

Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be complicated. 

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to write a business plan that’s detailed enough to impress bankers and potential investors, while giving you the tools to start, run, and grow a successful business.

• The basics of writing a business plan

If you’re reading this guide, then you already know why you need a business plan . 

You understand that writing a business plan helps you: 

• Raise money
• Grow strategically
• Keep your business on the right track 

As you start to write your business plan, it’s useful to zoom out and remember what a business plan is .

At its core, a business plan is an overview of the products and services you sell, and the customers that you sell to. It explains your business strategy: how you’re going to build and grow your business, what your marketing strategy is, and who your competitors are.

Most business plans also include financial forecasts for the future. These set sales goals, budget for expenses, and predict profits and cash flow. 

A good business plan is much more than just a document that you write once and forget about. It’s also a guide that helps you outline and achieve your goals. 

After writing your business plan, you can use it as a management tool to track your progress toward your goals. Updating and adjusting your forecasts and budgets as you go is one of the most important steps you can take to run a healthier, smarter business. 

We’ll dive into how to use your plan later in this article.

There are many different types of plans , but we’ll go over the most common type here, which includes everything you need for an investor-ready plan. However, if you’re just starting out and are looking for something simpler—I recommend starting with a one-page business plan . It’s faster and easier to create. 

It’s also the perfect place to start if you’re just figuring out your idea, or need a simple strategic plan to use inside your business.

Dig deeper : How to write a one-page business plan

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• What to include in your business plan

Executive summary

The executive summary is an overview of your business and your plans. It comes first in your plan and is ideally just one to two pages. Most people write it last because it’s a summary of the complete business plan.

Ideally, the executive summary can act as a stand-alone document that covers the highlights of your detailed plan. 

In fact, it’s common for investors to ask only for the executive summary when evaluating your business. If they like what they see in the executive summary, they’ll often follow up with a request for a complete plan, a pitch presentation , or more in-depth financial forecasts .

Your executive summary should include:

• A summary of the problem you are solving
• A description of your product or service
• An overview of your target market
• A brief description of your team
• A summary of your financials
• Your funding requirements (if you are raising money)

Dig Deeper: How to write an effective executive summary

Products and services description

When writing a business plan, the produces and services section is where you describe exactly what you’re selling, and how it solves a problem for your target market. The best way to organize this part of your plan is to start by describing the problem that exists for your customers. After that, you can describe how you plan to solve that problem with your product or service. 

This is usually called a problem and solution statement .

To truly showcase the value of your products and services, you need to craft a compelling narrative around your offerings. How will your product or service transform your customers’ lives or jobs? A strong narrative will draw in your readers.

This is also the part of the business plan to discuss any competitive advantages you may have, like specific intellectual property or patents that protect your product. If you have any initial sales, contracts, or other evidence that your product or service is likely to sell, include that information as well. It will show that your idea has traction , which can help convince readers that your plan has a high chance of success.

Market analysis

Your target market is a description of the type of people that you plan to sell to. You might even have multiple target markets, depending on your business. 

A market analysis is the part of your plan where you bring together all of the information you know about your target market. Basically, it’s a thorough description of who your customers are and why they need what you’re selling. You’ll also include information about the growth of your market and your industry .

Try to be as specific as possible when you describe your market. 

Include information such as age, income level, and location—these are what’s called “demographics.” If you can, also describe your market’s interests and habits as they relate to your business—these are “psychographics.” 

Related: Target market examples

Essentially, you want to include any knowledge you have about your customers that is relevant to how your product or service is right for them. With a solid target market, it will be easier to create a sales and marketing plan that will reach your customers. That’s because you know who they are, what they like to do, and the best ways to reach them.

Next, provide any additional information you have about your market. 

What is the size of your market ? Is the market growing or shrinking? Ideally, you’ll want to demonstrate that your market is growing over time, and also explain how your business is positioned to take advantage of any expected changes in your industry.

Dig Deeper: Learn how to write a market analysis

Competitive analysis

Part of defining your business opportunity is determining what your competitive advantage is. To do this effectively, you need to know as much about your competitors as your target customers. 

Every business has some form of competition. If you don’t think you have competitors, then explore what alternatives there are in the market for your product or service. 

For example: In the early years of cars, their main competition was horses. For social media, the early competition was reading books, watching TV, and talking on the phone.

A good competitive analysis fully lays out the competitive landscape and then explains how your business is different. Maybe your products are better made, or cheaper, or your customer service is superior. Maybe your competitive advantage is your location – a wide variety of factors can ultimately give you an advantage.

Dig Deeper: How to write a competitive analysis for your business plan

Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan covers how you will position your product or service in the market, the marketing channels and messaging you will use, and your sales tactics. 

The best place to start with a marketing plan is with a positioning statement . 

This explains how your business fits into the overall market, and how you will explain the advantages of your product or service to customers. You’ll use the information from your competitive analysis to help you with your positioning. 

For example: You might position your company as the premium, most expensive but the highest quality option in the market. Or your positioning might focus on being locally owned and that shoppers support the local economy by buying your products.

Once you understand your positioning, you’ll bring this together with the information about your target market to create your marketing strategy . 

This is how you plan to communicate your message to potential customers. Depending on who your customers are and how they purchase products like yours, you might use many different strategies, from social media advertising to creating a podcast. Your marketing plan is all about how your customers discover who you are and why they should consider your products and services. 

While your marketing plan is about reaching your customers—your sales plan will describe the actual sales process once a customer has decided that they’re interested in what you have to offer. 

If your business requires salespeople and a long sales process, describe that in this section. If your customers can “self-serve” and just make purchases quickly on your website, describe that process. 

A good sales plan picks up where your marketing plan leaves off. The marketing plan brings customers in the door and the sales plan is how you close the deal.

Together, these specific plans paint a picture of how you will connect with your target audience, and how you will turn them into paying customers.

Dig deeper: What to include in your sales and marketing plan

Business operations

When writing a business plan, the operations section describes the necessary requirements for your business to run smoothly. It’s where you talk about how your business works and what day-to-day operations look like. 

Depending on how your business is structured, your operations plan may include elements of the business like:

• Supply chain management
• Manufacturing processes
• Equipment and technology
• Distribution

Some businesses distribute their products and reach their customers through large retailers like Amazon.com, Walmart, Target, and grocery store chains. 

These businesses should review how this part of their business works. The plan should discuss the logistics and costs of getting products onto store shelves and any potential hurdles the business may have to overcome.

If your business is much simpler than this, that’s OK. This section of your business plan can be either extremely short or more detailed, depending on the type of business you are building.

For businesses selling services, such as physical therapy or online software, you can use this section to describe the technology you’ll leverage, what goes into your service, and who you will partner with to deliver your services.

Dig Deeper: Learn how to write the operations chapter of your plan

Key milestones and metrics

Although it’s not required to complete your business plan, mapping out key business milestones and the metrics can be incredibly useful for measuring your success.

Good milestones clearly lay out the parameters of the task and set expectations for their execution. You’ll want to include:

• A description of each task
• The proposed due date
• Who is responsible for each task

If you have a budget, you can include projected costs to hit each milestone. You don’t need extensive project planning in this section—just list key milestones you want to hit and when you plan to hit them. This is your overall business roadmap. 

Possible milestones might be:

• Website launch date
• Store or office opening date
• First significant sales
• Break even date
• Business licenses and approvals

You should also discuss the key numbers you will track to determine your success. Some common metrics worth tracking include:

• Conversion rates
• Customer acquisition costs
• Profit per customer
• Repeat purchases

It’s perfectly fine to start with just a few metrics and grow the number you are tracking over time. You also may find that some metrics simply aren’t relevant to your business and can narrow down what you’re tracking.

Dig Deeper: How to use milestones in your business plan

Organization and management team

Investors don’t just look for great ideas—they want to find great teams. Use this chapter to describe your current team and who you need to hire . You should also provide a quick overview of your location and history if you’re already up and running.

Briefly highlight the relevant experiences of each key team member in the company. It’s important to make the case for why yours is the right team to turn an idea into a reality. 

Do they have the right industry experience and background? Have members of the team had entrepreneurial successes before? 

If you still need to hire key team members, that’s OK. Just note those gaps in this section.

Your company overview should also include a summary of your company’s current business structure . The most common business structures include:

• Sole proprietor
• Partnership

Be sure to provide an overview of how the business is owned as well. Does each business partner own an equal portion of the business? How is ownership divided? 

Potential lenders and investors will want to know the structure of the business before they will consider a loan or investment.

Dig Deeper: How to write about your company structure and team

Financial plan

The last section of your business plan is your financial plan and forecasts. 

Entrepreneurs often find this section the most daunting. But, business financials for most startups are less complicated than you think, and a business degree is certainly not required to build a solid financial forecast. 

A typical financial forecast in a business plan includes the following:

• Sales forecast : An estimate of the sales expected over a given period. You’ll break down your forecast into the key revenue streams that you expect to have.
• Expense budget : Your planned spending such as personnel costs , marketing expenses, and taxes.
• Profit & Loss : Brings together your sales and expenses and helps you calculate planned profits.
• Cash Flow : Shows how cash moves into and out of your business. It can predict how much cash you’ll have on hand at any given point in the future.
• Balance Sheet : A list of the assets, liabilities, and equity in your company. In short, it provides an overview of the financial health of your business. 

A strong business plan will include a description of assumptions about the future, and potential risks that could impact the financial plan. Including those will be especially important if you’re writing a business plan to pursue a loan or other investment.

Dig Deeper: How to create financial forecasts and budgets

This is the place for additional data, charts, or other information that supports your plan.

Including an appendix can significantly enhance the credibility of your plan by showing readers that you’ve thoroughly considered the details of your business idea, and are backing your ideas up with solid data.

Just remember that the information in the appendix is meant to be supplementary. Your business plan should stand on its own, even if the reader skips this section.

Dig Deeper : What to include in your business plan appendix

Optional: Business plan cover page

Adding a business plan cover page can make your plan, and by extension your business, seem more professional in the eyes of potential investors, lenders, and partners. It serves as the introduction to your document and provides necessary contact information for stakeholders to reference.

Your cover page should be simple and include:

• Company logo
• Business name
• Value proposition (optional)
• Business plan title
• Completion and/or update date
• Address and contact information
• Confidentiality statement

Just remember, the cover page is optional. If you decide to include it, keep it very simple and only spend a short amount of time putting it together.

Dig Deeper: How to create a business plan cover page

How to use AI to help write your business plan

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can speed up the business plan writing process and help you think through concepts like market segmentation and competition. These tools are especially useful for taking ideas that you provide and converting them into polished text for your business plan.

The best way to use AI to write a business plan is to leverage it as a collaborator , not a replacement for human creative thinking and ingenuity. 

AI can come up with lots of ideas and act as a brainstorming partner. It’s up to you to filter through those ideas and figure out which ones are realistic enough to resonate with your customers. 

There are pros and cons of using AI to help with your business plan . So, spend some time understanding how it can be most helpful before just outsourcing the job to AI.

Learn more: 10 AI prompts you need to write a business plan

• Writing tips and strategies

To help streamline the business plan writing process, here are a few tips and key questions to answer to make sure you get the most out of your plan and avoid common mistakes .  

Determine why you are writing a business plan

Knowing why you are writing a business plan will determine your approach to your planning project. 

For example: If you are writing a business plan for yourself, or just to use inside your own business , you can probably skip the section about your team and organizational structure. 

If you’re raising money, you’ll want to spend more time explaining why you’re looking to raise the funds and exactly how you will use them.

Regardless of how you intend to use your business plan , think about why you are writing and what you’re trying to get out of the process before you begin.

Keep things concise

Probably the most important tip is to keep your business plan short and simple. There are no prizes for long business plans . The longer your plan is, the less likely people are to read it. 

So focus on trimming things down to the essentials your readers need to know. Skip the extended, wordy descriptions and instead focus on creating a plan that is easy to read —using bullets and short sentences whenever possible.

Have someone review your business plan

Writing a business plan in a vacuum is never a good idea. Sometimes it’s helpful to zoom out and check if your plan makes sense to someone else. You also want to make sure that it’s easy to read and understand.

Don’t wait until your plan is “done” to get a second look. Start sharing your plan early, and find out from readers what questions your plan leaves unanswered. This early review cycle will help you spot shortcomings in your plan and address them quickly, rather than finding out about them right before you present your plan to a lender or investor.

If you need a more detailed review, you may want to explore hiring a professional plan writer to thoroughly examine it.

Use a free business plan template and business plan examples to get started

Knowing what information to include in a business plan is sometimes not quite enough. If you’re struggling to get started or need additional guidance, it may be worth using a business plan template. 

There are plenty of great options available (we’ve rounded up our 8 favorites to streamline your search).

But, if you’re looking for a free downloadable business plan template , you can get one right now; download the template used by more than 1 million businesses. 

Or, if you just want to see what a completed business plan looks like, check out our library of over 550 free business plan examples . 

We even have a growing list of industry business planning guides with tips for what to focus on depending on your business type.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re writing your business plan. Some entrepreneurs get sucked into the writing and research process, and don’t focus enough on actually getting their business started. 

Here are a few common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Not talking to your customers : This is one of the most common mistakes. It’s easy to assume that your product or service is something that people want. Before you invest too much in your business and too much in the planning process, make sure you talk to your prospective customers and have a good understanding of their needs.

• Overly optimistic sales and profit forecasts: By nature, entrepreneurs are optimistic about the future. But it’s good to temper that optimism a little when you’re planning, and make sure your forecasts are grounded in reality. 
• Spending too much time planning: Yes, planning is crucial. But you also need to get out and talk to customers, build prototypes of your product and figure out if there’s a market for your idea. Make sure to balance planning with building.
• Not revising the plan: Planning is useful, but nothing ever goes exactly as planned. As you learn more about what’s working and what’s not—revise your plan, your budgets, and your revenue forecast. Doing so will provide a more realistic picture of where your business is going, and what your financial needs will be moving forward.
• Not using the plan to manage your business: A good business plan is a management tool. Don’t just write it and put it on the shelf to collect dust – use it to track your progress and help you reach your goals.
• Presenting your business plan

The planning process forces you to think through every aspect of your business and answer questions that you may not have thought of. That’s the real benefit of writing a business plan – the knowledge you gain about your business that you may not have been able to discover otherwise.

With all of this knowledge, you’re well prepared to convert your business plan into a pitch presentation to present your ideas. 

A pitch presentation is a summary of your plan, just hitting the highlights and key points. It’s the best way to present your business plan to investors and team members.

Dig Deeper: Learn what key slides should be included in your pitch deck

Use your business plan to manage your business

One of the biggest benefits of planning is that it gives you a tool to manage your business better. With a revenue forecast, expense budget, and projected cash flow, you know your targets and where you are headed.

And yet, nothing ever goes exactly as planned – it’s the nature of business.

That’s where using your plan as a management tool comes in. The key to leveraging it for your business is to review it periodically and compare your forecasts and projections to your actual results.

Start by setting up a regular time to review the plan – a monthly review is a good starting point. During this review, answer questions like:

• Did you meet your sales goals?
• Is spending following your budget?
• Has anything gone differently than what you expected?

Now that you see whether you’re meeting your goals or are off track, you can make adjustments and set new targets. 

Maybe you’re exceeding your sales goals and should set new, more aggressive goals. In that case, maybe you should also explore more spending or hiring more employees. 

Or maybe expenses are rising faster than you projected. If that’s the case, you would need to look at where you can cut costs.

A plan, and a method for comparing your plan to your actual results , is the tool you need to steer your business toward success.

Learn More: How to run a regular plan review

How to write a business plan FAQ

What is a business plan?

A document that describes your business , the products and services you sell, and the customers that you sell to. It explains your business strategy, how you’re going to build and grow your business, what your marketing strategy is, and who your competitors are.

What are the benefits of writing a business plan?

A business plan helps you understand where you want to go with your business and what it will take to get there. It reduces your overall risk, helps you uncover your business’s potential, attracts investors, and identifies areas for growth.

Writing a business plan ultimately makes you more confident as a business owner and more likely to succeed for a longer period of time.

What are the 7 steps of writing a business plan?

The seven steps to writing a business plan include:

• Write a brief executive summary
• Describe your products and services.
• Conduct market research and compile data into a cohesive market analysis.
• Describe your marketing and sales strategy.
• Outline your organizational structure and management team.
• Develop financial projections for sales, revenue, and cash flow.
• Add any additional documents to your appendix.

What are the 5 most common business plan mistakes?

There are plenty of mistakes that can be made when writing a business plan. However, these are the 5 most common that you should do your best to avoid:

• 1. Not taking the planning process seriously.
• Having unrealistic financial projections or incomplete financial information.
• Inconsistent information or simple mistakes.
• Failing to establish a sound business model.
• Not having a defined purpose for your business plan.

What questions should be answered in a business plan?

Writing a business plan is all about asking yourself questions about your business and being able to answer them through the planning process. You’ll likely be asking dozens and dozens of questions for each section of your plan.

However, these are the key questions you should ask and answer with your business plan:

• How will your business make money?
• Is there a need for your product or service?
• Who are your customers?
• How are you different from the competition?
• How will you reach your customers?
• How will you measure success?

How long should a business plan be?

The length of your business plan fully depends on what you intend to do with it. From the SBA and traditional lender point of view, a business plan needs to be whatever length necessary to fully explain your business. This means that you prove the viability of your business, show that you understand the market, and have a detailed strategy in place.

If you intend to use your business plan for internal management purposes, you don’t necessarily need a full 25-50 page business plan. Instead, you can start with a one-page plan to get all of the necessary information in place.

What are the different types of business plans?

While all business plans cover similar categories, the style and function fully depend on how you intend to use your plan. Here are a few common business plan types worth considering.

Traditional business plan: The tried-and-true traditional business plan is a formal document meant to be used when applying for funding or pitching to investors. This type of business plan follows the outline above and can be anywhere from 10-50 pages depending on the amount of detail included, the complexity of your business, and what you include in your appendix.

Business model canvas: The business model canvas is a one-page template designed to demystify the business planning process. It removes the need for a traditional, copy-heavy business plan, in favor of a single-page outline that can help you and outside parties better explore your business idea.

One-page business plan: This format is a simplified version of the traditional plan that focuses on the core aspects of your business. You’ll typically stick with bullet points and single sentences. It’s most useful for those exploring ideas, needing to validate their business model, or who need an internal plan to help them run and manage their business.

Lean Plan: The Lean Plan is less of a specific document type and more of a methodology. It takes the simplicity and styling of the one-page business plan and turns it into a process for you to continuously plan, test, review, refine, and take action based on performance. It’s faster, keeps your plan concise, and ensures that your plan is always up-to-date.

What’s the difference between a business plan and a strategic plan?

A business plan covers the “who” and “what” of your business. It explains what your business is doing right now and how it functions. The strategic plan explores long-term goals and explains “how” the business will get there. It encourages you to look more intently toward the future and how you will achieve your vision.

However, when approached correctly, your business plan can actually function as a strategic plan as well. If kept lean, you can define your business, outline strategic steps, and track ongoing operations all with a single plan.

Noah is the COO at Palo Alto Software, makers of the online business plan app LivePlan. He started his career at Yahoo! and then helped start the user review site Epinions.com. From there he started a software distribution business in the UK before coming to Palo Alto Software to run the marketing and product teams.

Table of Contents

• Use AI to help write your plan
• Common planning mistakes
• Manage with your business plan

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APA & Writing

• Use APA Style

APA Style for Business Resources

• Avoid Plagiarism
• APA Paper Templates
• Get Help with Writing Assignments
• Writing an Annotated Bibliography

Business resources that are commonly used in assignments at CityU can be challenging to cite. APA is not designed for business resources, but there are rules that we can apply to make such citations consistent with APA style. Refer to the following table to see examples from each of our specialized business databases.  

Note:  All academic articles covering business topics can be cited in APA style according to the Use APA Style LibGuide.

• How to Use APA Style

Please note: The in-text citation examples below are parenthetical. You can also use narrative in-text citations when writing, which is encouraged. You can read more about parenthetical vs. narrative in-text citations here:

• APA Style Blog: Narrative versus Parenthetical In-Text Citations

* Note: If you have multiple stats or reports from the same year by the same author, you can differentiate by adding a letter after the year (a, b, c, d, etc.). This is true for any citation which shares an author and a date. You can read more about this here:

• APA Style Blog: Citing Works With the Same Author and Date

Static vs. Non-Static Reports

"retrieved" date rules.

As noted above, citing business resources in APA can be tricky. In general, we want our readers to be able to locate the information we cite. However, many business databases and reports change over time and are not archived.  

Items that are archived are “static,” meaning that they are cataloged and remain accessible in their current form. Items that are regularly updated and not archived are “non-static,” meaning that they change over time (and older versions cannot be accessed).  

For items that are static, no retrieved date is needed. 

Example:  Starbucks. (2020, November 16).  Form 10-K .  https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/#/q=starbucks   

For items that are non-static, a retrieved date is required. The URL you will use in this instance is a generic homepage URL. 

Example:  O’Connor, C. (2019, August). Family clothing stores in the US (Industry Report 44814).  IBISWorld . Retrieved January 27, 2020, from  https://www.ibisworld.com/  

Please note:  In APA 7, you should never use a CityU-specific database URL unless it is specifically requested by your instructor. This is why in the examples above, you see homepage URLs listed for items that can be found in the library collection.

For more information about URL rules in APA style, please visit: 

• APA Style Blog: DOIs and URLs This page addresses when to include digital object identifiers (DOIs) and uniform resource locators (URLs) in APA Style references.
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How to Write an Outline in APA Format

• Before Starting Your Outline
• How to Create an Outline

Writing a psychology paper can feel like an overwhelming task. From picking a topic to finding sources to cite, each step in the process comes with its own challenges. Luckily, there are strategies to make writing your paper easier—one of which is creating an outline using APA format .

Here we share what APA format entails and the basics of this writing style. Then we get into how to create a research paper outline using APA guidelines, giving you a strong foundation to start crafting your content.

At a Glance

APA format is the standard writing style used for psychology research papers. Creating an outline using APA format can help you develop and organize your paper's structure, also keeping you on task as you sit down to write the content.

APA Format Basics

Formatting dictates how papers are styled, which includes their organizational structure, page layout, and how information is presented. APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Learning the basics of APA format is necessary for writing effective psychology papers, whether for your school courses or if you're working in the field and want your research published in a professional journal. Here are some general APA rules to keep in mind when creating both your outline and the paper itself.

Font and Spacing

According to APA style, research papers are to be written in a legible and widely available font. Traditionally, Times New Roman is used with a 12-point font size. However, other serif and sans serif fonts like Arial or Georgia in 11-point font sizes are also acceptable.

APA format also dictates that the research paper be double-spaced. Each page has 1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right), and the page number is to be placed in the upper right corner of each page.

Both your psychology research paper and outline should include three key sections:

• Introduction : Highlights the main points and presents your hypothesis
• Body : Details the ideas and research that support your hypothesis
• Conclusion : Briefly reiterates your main points and clarifies support for your position

Headings and Subheadings

APA format provides specific guidelines for using headings and subheadings. They are:

• Main headings : Use Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV)
• Subheadings: Use capital letters (A, B, C, D)

If you need further subheadings within the initial subheadings, start with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3), then lowercase letters (a, b, c), then Arabic numerals inside parentheses [(1), (2), (3)]

Before Starting Your APA Format Outline

While APA format does not provide specific rules for creating an outline, you can still develop a strong roadmap for your paper using general APA style guidance. Prior to drafting your psychology research paper outline using APA writing style, taking a few important steps can help set you up for greater success.

Review Your Instructor's Requirements

Look over the instructions for your research paper. Your instructor may have provided some type of guidance or stated what they want. They may have even provided specific requirements for what to include in your outline or how it needs to be structured and formatted.

Some instructors require research paper outlines to use decimal format. This structure uses Arabic decimals instead of Roman numerals or letters. In this case, the main headings in an outline would be 1.0, 1.2, and 1.3, while the subheadings would be 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, and so on.

Consider Your Preferences

After reviewing your instructor's requirements, consider your own preferences for organizing your outline. Think about what makes the most sense for you, as well as what type of outline would be most helpful when you begin writing your research paper.

For example, you could choose to format your headings and subheadings as full sentences, or you might decide that you prefer shorter headings that summarize the content. You can also use different approaches to organizing the lettering and numbering in your outline's subheadings.

Whether you are creating your outline according to your instructor's guidelines or following your own organizational preferences, the most important thing is that you are consistent.

Formatting Tips

When getting ready to start your research paper outline using APA format, it's also helpful to consider how you will format it. Here are a few tips to help:

• Your outline should begin on a new page.
• Before you start writing the outline, check that your word processor does not automatically insert unwanted text or notations (such as letters, numbers, or bullet points) as you type. If it does, turn off auto-formatting.
• If your instructor requires you to specify your hypothesis in your outline, review your assignment instructions to find out where this should be placed. They may want it presented at the top of your outline, for example, or included as a subheading.

How to Create a Research Paper Outline Using APA

Understanding APA format basics can make writing psychology research papers much easier. While APA format does not provide specific rules for creating an outline, you can still develop a strong roadmap for your paper using general APA style guidance, your instructor's requirements, and your own personal organizational preferences.

Typically you won't need to turn your outline in with your final paper. But that doesn't mean you should skip creating one. A strong paper starts with a solid outline. Developing this outline can help you organize your writing and ensure that you effectively communicate your paper's main points and arguments. Here's how to create a research outline using APA format.

Start Your Research

While it may seem like you should create an outline before starting your research, the opposite is actually true. The information you find when researching your psychology research topic will start to reveal the information you'll want to include in your paper—and in your outline.

As you research, consider the main arguments you intend to make in your paper. Look for facts that support your hypothesis, keeping track of where you find these facts so you can cite them when writing your paper. The more organized you are when creating your outline, the easier it becomes to draft the paper itself.

If you are required to turn in your outline before you begin working on your paper, keep in mind that you may need to include a list of references that you plan to use.

Draft Your Outline Using APA Format

Once you have your initial research complete, you have enough information to create an outline. Start with the main headings (which are noted using Roman numerals I, II, III, etc.). Here's an example of the main headings you may use if you were writing an APA format outline for a research paper in support of using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety :

• Introduction
• What CBT Is
• How CBT Helps Ease Anxiety
• Research Supporting CBT for Anxiety
• Potential Drawbacks of CBT for Anxiety and How to Overcome Them

Under each main heading, list your main points or key ideas using subheadings (as noted with A, B, C, etc.). Sticking with the same example, subheadings under "What CBT Is" may include:

• Basic CBT Principles
• How CBT Works
• Conditions CBT Has Been Found to Help Treat

You may also decide to include additional subheadings under your initial subheadings to add more information or clarify important points relevant to your hypothesis. Examples of additional subheadings (which are noted with 1, 2, 3, etc.) that could be included under "Basic CBT Principles" include:

• Is Goal-Oriented
• Focuses on Problem-Solving
• Includes Self-Monitoring

Begin Writing Your Research Paper

The reason this step is included when drafting your research paper outline using APA format is that you'll often find that your outline changes as you begin to dive deeper into your proposed topic. New ideas may emerge or you may decide to narrow your topic further, even sometimes changing your hypothesis altogether.

All of these factors can impact what you write about, ultimately changing your outline. When writing your paper, there are a few important points to keep in mind:

• Follow the structure that your instructor specifies.
• Present your strongest points first.
• Support your arguments with research and examples.
• Organize your ideas logically and in order of strength.
• Keep track of your sources.
• Present and debate possible counterarguments, and provide evidence that counters opposing arguments.

Update Your Final Outline

The final version of your outline should reflect your completed draft. Not only does updating your outline at this point help ensure that you've covered the topics you want in your paper, but it also gives you another opportunity to verify that your paper follows a logical sequence.

When reading through your APA-formatted outline, consider whether it flows naturally from one topic to the next. You wouldn't talk about how CBT works before discussing what CBT is, for example. Taking this final step can give you a more solid outline, and a more solid research paper.

American Psychological Association. About APA Style .

Purdue University Online Writing Lab. Types of outlines and samples .

Mississippi College. Writing Center: Outlines .

American Psychological Association. APA style: Style and Grammar Guidelines .

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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9 Business Plan Examples to Inspire Your Own (2024)

Need support creating your business plan? Check out these business plan examples for inspiration and guidance.

Any aspiring entrepreneur researching how to start a business will likely be advised to write a business plan. But few resources provide business plan examples to really guide you through writing one of your own.

Here are some real-world and illustrative business plan examples to help you craft your business plan .

Business plan format: 9 examples

The business plan examples in this article follow this template:

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Market analysis
• Products and services
• Marketing plan
• Logistics and operations plan
• Financial plan
• Customer segmentation

1. Executive summary

Your executive summary is a page that gives a high-level overview of the rest of your business plan. While it appears at the beginning, it’s easiest to write this section last, as there are details further in the report you’ll need to include here.

In this free business plan template , the executive summary is four paragraphs and takes a little over half a page. It clearly and efficiently communicates what the business does and what it plans to do, including its business model and target customers.

2. Company description

You might repurpose your company description elsewhere, like on your About page , social media profile pages, or other properties that require a boilerplate description of your small business.

Soap brand ORRIS has a blurb on its About page that could easily be repurposed for the company description section of its business plan.

You can also go more in-depth with your company overview and include the following sections, like in this business plan example for Paw Print Post:

Business structure

This section outlines how you registered your business —as an LLC , sole proprietorship, corporation, or other business type : “Paw Print Post will operate as a sole proprietorship run by the owner, Jane Matthews.”

Nature of the business

“Paw Print Post sells unique, one-of-a-kind digitally printed cards that are customized with a pet’s unique paw prints.”

“Paw Print Post operates primarily in the pet industry and sells goods that could also be categorized as part of the greeting card industry.”

Background information

“Jane Matthews, the founder of Paw Print Post, has a long history in the pet industry and working with animals, and was recently trained as a graphic designer. She’s combining those two loves to capture a niche in the market: unique greeting cards customized with a pet’s paw prints, without needing to resort to the traditional (and messy) options of casting your pet’s prints in plaster or using pet-safe ink to have them stamp their ’signature.’”

Business objectives

“Jane will have Paw Print Post ready to launch at the Big Important Pet Expo in Toronto to get the word out among industry players and consumers alike. After two years in business, Jane aims to drive $150,000 in annual revenue from the sale of Paw Print Post’s signature greeting cards and to have expanded into two new product categories.”

“Jane Matthews is the sole full-time employee of Paw Print Post but hires contractors as needed to support her workflow and fill gaps in her skill set. Notably, Paw Print Post has a standing contract for five hours a week of virtual assistant support with Virtual Assistants Pro.”

Your mission statement may also make an appearance here. Passionfruit shares its mission statement on its company website, and it would also work well in its example business plan.

3. Market analysis

The market analysis consists of research about supply and demand , your target demographics, industry trends, and the competitive landscape. You might run a SWOT analysis and include that in your business plan. 

Here’s an example SWOT analysis for an online tailored-shirt business:

You’ll also want to do a competitive analysis as part of the market research component of your business plan. This will tell you which businesses you’re up against and give you ideas on how to differentiate your brand. A broad competitive analysis might include:

• Target customers
• Unique value proposition , or what sets the products apart
• Sales pitch
• Price points for products
• Shipping policy

4. Products and services

This section of your business plan describes your offerings—which products and services do you sell to your customers? Here’s an example for Paw Print Post that explains its line of custom greeting cards, along with details on what makes its products unique.

5. Marketing plan

It’s always a good idea to develop a marketing plan before you launch your business. Your marketing plan shows how you’ll get the word out about your business, and it’s an essential component of your business plan as well.

The Paw Print Post focuses on four Ps: price, product, promotion, and place. However, you can take a different approach with your marketing plan. Maybe you can pull from your existing marketing strategy , or maybe you break it down by the different marketing channels. Whatever approach you take, your marketing plan should describe how you intend to promote your business and offerings to potential customers.

6. Logistics and operations plan

The Paw Print Post example considered suppliers, production, facilities, equipment, shipping and fulfillment, and inventory. This includes any raw materials needed to produce the products.

7. Financial plan

The financial plan provides a breakdown of sales, revenue, profit, expenses, and other relevant financial metrics related to funding and profiting from your business.

Ecommerce brand Nature’s Candy’s financial plan breaks down predicted revenue, expenses, and net profit in graphs.

It then dives deeper into the financials to include:

• Funding needs
• Projected profit-and-loss statement
• Projected balance sheet
• Projected cash-flow statement

You can use a financial plan spreadsheet to build your own financial statements, including income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statement.

8. Customer segmentation

Customer segmentation means dividing your target market into groups based on specific characteristics. These characteristics can be demographics, psychographics, behavior, or geography. Your business plan will provide detailed information on each segment, like its size and growth potential, so you can show why they are valuable to your business. 

Airsign , an eco-friendly vacuum cleaner company, faced the challenge of building a sustainable business model in the competitive home appliance market. They identified three key customer personas to target:

• Design-oriented urban dwellers
• Millennials moving to suburbs
• Older consumers seeking high-quality appliances

The company utilized Shopify’s customer segmentation tools to gain insights and take action to target them. Airsign created targeted segments for specific marketing initiatives.

Put your customer data to work with Shopify’s customer segmentation

Shopify’s built-in segmentation tools help you discover insights about your customers, build segments as targeted as your marketing plans with filters based on your customers’ demographic and behavioral data, and drive sales with timely and personalized emails.

9. Appendix

The appendix provides in-depth data, research, or documentation that supports the claims and projections made in the main business plan. It includes things like market research, finance, résumés, product specs, and legal documents. 

Readers can access detailed info in the appendix, but the main plan stays focused and easy to read. Here’s an example from a fictional clothing brand called Bloom:

Appendix: Bloom Business Plan

Types of business plans, and what to include for each

This lean business plan is meant to be high level and easy to understand at a glance. You’ll want to include all of the same sections in one-page business plan, but make sure they’re truncated and summarized:

• Executive summary: truncated
• Market analysis: summarized
• Products and services: summarized
• Marketing plan: summarized
• Logistics and operations plan: summarized
• Financials: summarized

A startup business plan is for a new business. Typically, these plans are developed and shared to secure funding . As such, there’s a bigger focus on the financials, as well as on other sections that determine viability of your business idea—market research, for example:

• Market analysis: in-depth
• Financials: in-depth

Your internal business plan is meant to keep your team on the same page and aligned toward the same goal:

A strategic, or growth, business plan is a big-picture, long-term look at your business. As such, the forecasts tend to look further into the future, and growth and revenue goals may be higher. Essentially, you want to use all the sections you would in a normal business plan and build upon each:

• Market analysis: comprehensive outlook
• Products and services: for launch and expansion
• Marketing plan: comprehensive outlook
• Logistics and operations plan: comprehensive outlook
• Financials: comprehensive outlook

Feasibility

Your feasibility business plan is sort of a pre-business plan—many refer to it as simply a feasibility study. This plan essentially lays the groundwork and validates that it’s worth the effort to make a full business plan for your idea. As such, it’s mostly centered around research:

Nonprofit business plans are used to attract donors, grants, and partnerships. They focus on what their mission is, how they measure success, and how they get funded. You’ll want to include the following sections in addition to a traditional business plan:

• Organization description
• Need statement
• Programs and services
• Fundraising plan
• Partnerships and collaborations
• Impact measurement

Set yourself up for success as a business owner

Building a good business plan serves as a roadmap you can use for your ecommerce business at launch and as you reach each of your business goals. Business plans create accountability for entrepreneurs and synergy among teams, regardless of your business model .

Kickstart your ecommerce business and set yourself up for success with an intentional business planning process—and with the sample business plans above to guide your own path.

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Business plan examples FAQ

How do i write a simple business plan.

To write a simple business plan, begin with an executive summary that outlines your business and your plans. Follow this with sections detailing your company description, market analysis, organization and management structure, product or service, marketing and sales strategy, and financial projections. Each section should be concise and clearly illustrate your strategies and goals.

What is the best format to write a business plan?

The best business plan format presents your plan in a clear, organized manner, making it easier for potential investors to understand your business model and goals. Always begin with the executive summary and end with financial information or appendices for any additional data.

What are the 4 key elements of a business plan?

• Executive summary: A concise overview of the company’s mission, goals, target audience, and financial objectives.
• Business description: A description of the company’s purpose, operations, products and services, target markets, and competitive landscape.
• Market analysis: An analysis of the industry, market trends, potential customers, and competitors.
• Financial plan: A detailed description of the company’s financial forecasts and strategies.

What are the 3 main points of a business plan?

• Concept: Your concept should explain the purpose of your business and provide an overall summary of what you intend to accomplish.
• Contents: Your content should include details about the products and services you provide, your target market, and your competition.
• Cash flow: Your cash flow section should include information about your expected cash inflows and outflows, such as capital investments, operating costs, and revenue projections.

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Citation Resources: APA Examples - Business databases

• APA In-text Citations
• APA Examples - Print
• APA Examples - Online and Electronic
• APA Examples - Images, Video, and Audio
• APA Examples - Business databases
• APA Paper Format
• MLA In-text Citations
• MLA Examples - Print
• MLA Examples - Online and Electronic
• MLA Examples - Images, Video, and Audio
• MLA Examples - Business databases
• Chicago In-text Citations
• Chicago In-text: Author-Date
• Chicago Examples - Print
• Chicago Examples - Online and Electronic
• Chicago Examples - Images, Video, and Audio
• AMA In Text Citations
• AMA Examples - Print
• AMA Examples - Online and Electronic
• AMA Examples - Audiovisual
• AMA Reference Format
• Science Citations
• Business Sources
• Citation Managers Guide

Use Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Apple) to quickly find the database you are looking for.

Business Citation Examples in APA 7th Edition (A-L)

Adspender (ad$pender).

You will need to change the description based on the type of report you ran.

Kantar Media. (n.d.). Internet display: Peloton exercise equipment/Peloton Tread: treadmill [Peloton digital advertising spend for April 2020] [Data set]. Ad$pender Online. Retrieved June 15, 2020, from http://products.kantarmediana.com/security/default.aspx

Annual Report, 10-K, Other SEC filings

McDonald’s. (2019). 2018 annual report . https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/m/NYSE_MCD_2018.pdf

Business Source Complete, EconLit, Other Ebsco databases - Use citation tools on Ebsco site (may require editing, check style guides for help).

CIA World Factbook

Central Intelligence Agency. (2020, June 10). India. In The world factbook . Retrieved June 17, 2020 from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html

Country Commercial Guides

International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. (2019, October 13). Finland . Country Commercial Guide. Retrieved June 17, 2020 from https://www.trade.gov/knowledge-product/finland-market-overview?section-nav=4166

Factiva - articles found in Factiva should be cited as a normal newspaper or magazine article , there is no need to credit where it was retrieved. 

Fashion Snoops

Fashion Snoops. (2020, May 18). Women’s Retail Overview April/May 2020 . https://www.fashionsnoops.com/

Euromonitor/Passport/Global Market Information Database (GMID)

Homma, A. (2020, February 24). Apparel and footwear in the US [Country report]. Passport.  https://go.euromonitor.com/passport.html 

Euromonitor. (n.d.). Apparel and footwear USA [Market sizes]. Passport. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://go.euromonitor.com/passport.html  

Euromonitor. (2018, February 8). Population change as a megatrend driver [Briefing]. Passport.   https://go.euromonitor.com/passport.html  

Euromonitor.  (n.d.) Apparel and footwear dashboard: Store-based retailing [Chart]. Passport.  Retrieved June 4, 2020, from https://go.euromonitor.com/passport.html

D&B Hoovers

Analyst report.

Deutsche Bank. (2020, April 28). 3M: Under the mask [Analyst report]. Dun & Bradstreet. http://logon.onesource.com/  

Company profile

Dun & Bradstreet. (n.d.). Kohl's Corporation [Company profile]. Retrieved May 27, 2020, from http://logon.onesource.com/  

Industry profile

Some reports are HTML and without a date; some are PDFs with a date.

Dun & Bradstreet. (n.d.). Space research & technology [Industry profile]. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from http://logon.onesource.com/

MarketLine. (2020, January). Home & garden products in the United States [Industry profile]. Dun & Bradstreet. http://logon.onesource.com/  

SWOT analysis

Dun & Bradstreet. (2019, December 6). Target Corporation SWOT analysis. http://logon.onesource.com/  

Global Road Warrior

Reports with a named author at the bottom of the page:  

Main, K. (n.d.). China: The business experience . Global Road Warrior. https://www.globalroadwarrior.com/

Reports with no named author: 

Global Road Warrior. (n.d.) Rwanda: Historical timeline . https://www.globalroadwarrior.com/

Some reports are reprinted from elsewhere, sometimes with slight updates, so indicate that in the Author position:  

U.S. Department of State, & World Trade Press. (2019). Mexico: Human rights report for 2018 . Global Road Warrior. https://www.globalroadwarrior.com/

If the report has a unique identifier number, use it in parentheses after the title. In this case, include a more specific description in the brackets than just [Industry report] as is often used elsewhere, because IBIS has risk and other reports as well as global, state, and other levels of industry reports, and sometimes the titles and numbers are the same. 

Diment, D. (2019, December). Corporate wellness services (OD4621) [U.S. specialized industry report] . IBISWorld . https://www.ibisworld.com/

International Financial Statistics Online

International Financial Statistics. (2020). Government finance: Japan 2013-2020 [Data set] . International Monetary Fund. https://www.imf.org  

Business Citation Examples in APA 7th Edition (M-Z)

MarketLine. (2019). Renewable energy in Mexico [Industry profile] . https://www.marketline.com  

MarketLine. (2019). Immunology influencer network: Influencer analytics 2/27/2020 - 5/27/2020. https://www.marketline.com

MRI Simmons Insights

Previously Mediamark/MRI University Reporter. Since the title of the dataset is not very descriptive of your particular data retrieved, include a description of the variables you used so that somebody else could figure out what you did. 

CrossTab Reports

MRI-Simmons. (2017). Spring 2017 NHCS adult study 12 month [Cell phones / smartphones brands owned by consumer demographics - age, gender, household income] [Data set]. https://simmonsinsights.com/ 

MRI-Simmons. (2017). Spring 2017 NHCS adult study 6 month [Computer software types owned by age] [Data set]. https://simmonsinsights.com/

Quick Reports

Quick Report- Demographic Profile

MRI-Simmons. (2017). Spring 2018 NHCS adult study 12 month [Target: TUMS-brands used most] [Demographic profile]. https://simmonsinsights.com/ 

Quick Report- Segmentation MRI-Simmons. (2017). Spring 2018 NHCS adult study 12 month [Base/ Millennials] [Segmentation profile]. https://simmonsinsights.com/ 

Change the report name as needed.

 Mergent. (n.d.). Hain Celestial Group [Company profile]. Retrieved June 3, 2020, from https://www.mergentonline.com/login.php  

Mergent. (n.d.). Hain Celestial Group: R. Dean Hollis [Executive bio]. Retrieved June 3, 2020, from https://www.mergentonline.com/login.php  

Instead of using the URL from the database, which can only be used at Miami, copy and paste the title of the report into a search engine to find the stable URL that can be used by anyone.

Failla, J. (2020, April). Quick service restaurants - US . Mintel. https://reports.mintel.com/display/986928/#  

Company dossier

LexisNexis. (n.d.). Ford Motor Company [Company profile]. Retrieved May 28, 2020, from https://www.lexisnexis.com/

Executive biographies

The Who's Who of Company Directors. (2017, April 6). H. Jay Sarles. NexisUni. https://www.lexisnexis.com

Company information

Zoom Company Information. (2020, May). Ernst & Young Global Limited. NexisUni. https://www.lexisnexis.com

Company lists or directories

Since there is no official title, create a description in square brackets, non-italicized, to describe how you compiled this data. See section 9.22 in the Manual. The square brackets in this case indicate that somebody else searching the resource cannot use these exact words to search for it; but they could figure out what you did.

LexisNexis. (n.d.) [List of automobile companies in Germany, over $200M in sales]. Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://www.lexisnexis.com

SWOT analysis 

MarketLine. (2020, January 13). Ford Motor Company [SWOT analysis]. NexisUni. https://www.lexisnexis.com

SimplyAnalytics

Look at the Variable Metadata or View Metadata section in order to get the Source information -- which agency collected the data. The Date is whatever year the data were collected. 

SimplyAnalytics. (2019). [% households consuming imported beer/ale: Drank in last 6 months, for ZIP codes 55416, 55401, and Minneapolis metro area] [Data set]. MRI Consumer Survey US. http://app.simplyanalytics.com  

SimplyAnalytics. (2019). [Map of Minneapolis, MN metro with family income $200,000 and over]. Census US. http://app.simplyanalytics.com  

SimplyAnalytics. (2019.) [% food - Snack/dessert ice cream & sherbet - Brand Haagen-Daaz, entire US] [Data set]. SimmonsLocal US. http://app.simplyanalytics.com  

SimplyAnalytics. (2018). [Map showing # multimarket data - Leisure activities - Current level of interest in major league soccer (MLS) - Somewhat, for Minneapolis-St. Paul DMA]. Scarborough Local Insights. http://app.simplyanalytics.com  

Sports Business Research Network/Sports Market Analytics

SBRnet. (n.d.). Basketball: College fan market summary . Sports Market Analytics. Retrieved June 3, 2020, from https://sportsmarketanalytics.com/home.aspx

SRDS Media Solutions

Media outlet profiles.

SRDS Media Solutions. (n.d.). Beloit Daily News [Publication profile]. Retrieved May 22, 2020, from https://next.srds.com/

DMA profiles & maps

SRDS Media Solutions. (2018). Atlanta, GA [DMA profile]. https://next.srds.com/

SQAD ratings for TV and radio

Don’t include anything like Inc., LLC, etc. in the author name -- SQAD and not SQAD, Inc. even though it’s listed with Inc. on the PDF report. See p. 296 in the Manual.

SQAD. (2020). Augusta, G A [SQAD TV report]. SRDS Media Solutions. Retrieved May 22, 2020, from https://next.srds.com/

In Statista, you can use the automatically generated citation to start, but it needs to be modified based on the guidelines below. 

Statistics, dossiers, and reports

Look under the Source section for “Survey by” -- that is the author

Daniel Research Group. (2019, September). Unit shipments of mobile personal computers (PCs) and laptops in the United States, from 2013 to 2023 (in millions) [Chart]. Statista.  https://www.statista.com/ statistics/722361/united-states-mobile-pc-unit-shipments/

Anything without a named author: 

Statista. (2020, May). Laptops & tablets [Consumer market outlook]. https://www.statista.com/  

Infographics

Armstrong, M. (2020, June 4). UK government approval on the slide [Infographic] . Statista. https://www.statista.com/  

US Census Data

Find the permalink to cite the Census table directly whenever possible, rather than the various visualization tools such as Census Business Builder which do not usually have permalinks.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2017). Construction: Summary statistics for the US, states, and selected geographies (Table EC1723BASIC) [Data set]. U.S. Department of Commerce. https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?tid=ECNBASIC2017.EC1723BASIC&t=Employment%3ANew%20Housing%20%28Construction%20and%20Sales%29&vintage=2017&hidePreview=false

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). QuickFacts: Madison city, Wisconsin . U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/madisoncitywisconsin/LND110210

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). Census business builder: Small business edition - 3.0.1 [Map showing restaurants in the Dane County, WI area and surrounding counties].  U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://cbb.census.gov/sbe/#

Look at the bottom of the company’s stock page for the dates of the PDF reports -- usually approximately quarterly. Those are the archived reports and should be the preferred date.

Value Line. (2020, May 22). Delta Air Lines . Value Line Investment Survey. https://jump.valueline.com/

Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) data

Since the title of the dataset is not very descriptive of your particular data retrieved, include a description of the variables you used so that somebody else could figure out what you did. 

Standard & Poor’s. (n.d.). Compustat daily updates - fundamentals annual [ Microsoft Corporation: Income statement items - January 2015 to January 2020 ] [Data set] . Capital IQ. Retrieved June 3, 2020, from https://wrds-www.wharton.upenn.edu/  

The Center for Research in Security Prices. (n.d.). CRSP daily stock [Tesla Motors stock prices from 2007 to 2020] [Data set]. Retrieved June 3, 2020, from https://wrds-www.wharton.upenn.ed u/

In-Text Citations

• In-text citation examples using business sources

The examples on this guide are adapted from:

Schemm, N., Dellenbach, M., Grisham, Z., Hageman, M., Tingle, N., Trowbridge, M., & Wheatley, A. (2020). APA 7th ed. citation for business sources . https://bit.ly/APA7business

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• Last Updated: Jun 12, 2024 1:59 PM
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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Sample Memo

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

TO: Kelly Anderson, Marketing Executive

FROM: Jonathon Fitzgerald, Market Research Assistant

DATE: June 14, 2007

SUBJECT: Fall Clothes Line Promotion

Market research and analysis show that the proposed advertising media for the new fall lines need to be reprioritized and changed. Findings from focus groups and surveys have made it apparent that we need to update our advertising efforts to align them with the styles and trends of young adults today. No longer are young adults interested in sitcoms as they watch reality televisions shows. Also, it has become increasingly important to use the internet as a tool to communicate with our target audience to show our dominance in the clothing industry.

Internet Advertising

XYZ Company needs to focus advertising on internet sites that appeal to young people. According to surveys, 72% of our target market uses the internet for five hours or more per week. The following list shows in order of popularity the most frequented sites:

Shifting our efforts from our other media sources such as radio and magazine to these popular internet sites will more effectively promote our product sales. Young adults are spending more and more time on the internet downloading music, communicating and researching for homework and less and less time reading paper magazines and listening to the radio. As the trend for cultural icons to go digital, so must our marketing plans.

Television Advertising

It used to be common to advertise for our products on shows like Friends and Seinfeld for our target audience, but even the face of television is changing. Young adults are tuning into reality television shows for their entertainment. Results from the focus group show that our target audience is most interested in shows like American Idol ,  The Apprentice , and America's Next Top Model . The only non-reality television show to be ranked in the top ten most commonly watched shows by males and females 18-25 is Desperate Housewives . At Blue Incorporated, we need to focus our advertising budget on reality television shows and reduce the amount of advertising spent on other programs.

By refocusing our advertising efforts of our new line of clothing we will be able to maximize the exposure of our product to our target market and therefore increase our sales. Tapping into the trends of young adults will help us gain market share and sales through effective advertising.

Attachments: Focus Group Results, January- May 2007; Survey Findings, January - April 2007

This is a sample memo; facts and statistics used are fictional.

Omnichannel

Supply Chain

Employee database

Transformasi Digital

Operations Manufacturing

Penjualan, Pemasaran & Growth

Analisis data

Sumber Daya Manusia

Strategi Organisasi

Distribusi Grosir

Garmen & Tekstil

Produksi Makanan

TENTANG IMPACT

Tentang Impact

Mengapa Impact

Studi Kasus

Hubungi Kami

BELAJAR & TAMBAH WAWASAN

Overview, manfaat, faktor kunci, dan peran ERP

Overview, panduan pembelian, dan implementasi

Overview, rekrutmen, pengembangan, dan manajemen kinerja

Overview, tipe, serta strategi untuk memelihara dan mengembangkannya

Penjelasan mendalam masing-masing komponen

Overview, manajemen gudang, dan proses gudang

Panduan gudang lanjutan: mulai dari manajemen inventaris hingga manajemen transportasi

Temukan berbagai strategi bisnis retail, mulai dari perencanaan hingga ekspansi bisns retail

Overview, customer development, startup web, business model canvas

Strategi pertumbuhan, analisis persaingan, pengukuran kinerja, dan manajemen produk

Brand gap, buyer persona via StoryBrand, viralitas, harmonisasi branding & budaya perusahaan

SEM, SEO, social media, content marketing

Odoo user guide, installation & general setting, module configuration

Dapatkan wawasan seputar bisnis

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Akuntan Publik

Konsultan Pajak

Konsultan Hukum

9 Langkah Praktis Membuat Business Plan dan Tips Terbaiknya

• Posted: Agustus 31, 2024
• Updated: September 2, 2024

IN THIS ARTICLE

Apa itu business plan

Business plan adalah dokumen yang menjelaskan tujuan perusahaan, strategi pencapaiannya, dan jangka waktu pelaksanaannya. Dokumen ini berfungsi sebagai peta jalan pertumbuhan bisnis dan alat untuk mendapatkan pendanaan.

Dokumen ini penting bagi perusahaan startup dan yang sudah mapan. Untuk startup , rencana bisnis yang baik membantu menarik investor. Perusahaan yang sudah mapan menggunakannya untuk menjaga agar bisnis tetap pada jalur dan selaras dengan tujuan pertumbuhan.

Tujuan business plan

Merencanakan Pertumbuhan Bisnis Business plan membantu perusahaan merencanakan ekspansi, pengembangan produk, atau penetrasi pasar baru. Dengan langkah-langkah konkret, perusahaan bisa mengurangi risiko dan memastikan pertumbuhan yang berkelanjutan.

Mendapatkan Pendanaan Investor dan lembaga keuangan sering meminta business plan sebelum memberikan pendanaan. Dokumen ini menunjukkan bahwa perusahaan memiliki strategi yang jelas dan dapat dipercaya, sehingga peluang mendapatkan investasi atau pinjaman meningkat.

Mengukur Kemajuan Business plan berfungsi sebagai benchmark untuk menilai perkembangan bisnis. Dengan membandingkan kinerja aktual dengan proyeksi, perusahaan bisa mengevaluasi apakah mereka berada di jalur yang tepat atau perlu melakukan penyesuaian.

Mengidentifikasi Peluang dan Tantangan Analisis pasar dan riset dalam business plan membantu perusahaan mengidentifikasi peluang dan tantangan. Ini memungkinkan perusahaan lebih siap dalam mengambil keputusan strategis.

Mengelola Risiko Business plan membantu perusahaan mengantisipasi risiko dan menyiapkan rencana mitigasi. Dengan memahami risiko potensial dan cara menghadapinya, perusahaan bisa mengurangi dampak negatif pada operasional dan keuangan.

Baca juga: 7 Cara Melakukan Riset Kompetitor & Manfaatnya untuk Bisnis

Manfaat sebuah business plan

Memberikan Panduan Strategi yang Jelas Business plan menyajikan panduan rinci tentang visi, misi, dan tujuan perusahaan. Ini membantu semua anggota tim memahami arah strategis dan langkah-langkah yang diperlukan untuk mencapainya. Dengan rencana yang jelas, perusahaan tetap fokus dan terorganisir.

Meningkatkan Peluang untuk Pendanaan Business plan yang terperinci sangat penting untuk mendapatkan pendanaan dari investor atau lembaga keuangan. Rencana yang jelas, data pasar yang solid, proyeksi keuangan realistis, dan strategi bisnis yang matang dapat meyakinkan investor bahwa perusahaan Anda memiliki potensi sukses dan risiko yang dapat dikelola.

Meningkatkan Komunikasi Internal Perusahaan Rencana bisnis membantu meningkatkan komunikasi internal dengan mendokumentasikan visi, misi, dan tujuan bisnis secara rinci. Ini memudahkan tim memahami arah perusahaan dan peran masing-masing, mengurangi kebingungan, serta meningkatkan koordinasi dan kolaborasi antar departemen.

Meningkatkan Peluang Pertumbuhan Sekitar 71% perusahaan yang berkembang cepat memiliki rencana. Rencana yang baik membentuk strategi jangka panjang dan menunjukkan jalur menuju kesuksesan. Pemilik bisnis yang menetapkan tujuan jangka panjang memiliki peluang lebih besar untuk berkembang.

Memperkuat Pengambilan Keputusan Business plan menyediakan data dan analisis mendalam yang memperkuat proses pengambilan keputusan. Dengan informasi terstruktur tentang pasar, kompetitor, dan keuangan, manajemen dapat membuat keputusan yang lebih terinformasi dan strategis, mengurangi ketidakpastian, dan meningkatkan kemungkinan keberhasilan operasional dan strategis.

Jenis-jenis business plan yang perlu diketahui

Business plan bisa berbeda tergantung kebutuhan dan tujuan perusahaan. Berikut jenis-jenis business plan yang umum digunakan:

Startup Business Plan

Jenis business plan ini dirancang untuk bisnis yang baru memulai. Ini mencakup aspek dasar seperti deskripsi bisnis, analisis pasar, strategi pemasaran, dan proyeksi keuangan. Fokus utama adalah mendapatkan produk minimum yang layak (MVP) terlebih dahulu, kemudian mengembangkan dari sana.

Strategic Business Plan

Strategic plan berfungsi sebagai dasar internal organisasi, dengan manajemen mengevaluasi kekuatan dan area perbaikan melalui analisis SWOT. Bagian implementasinya menjelaskan bagaimana strategi mendorong perusahaan menuju tonggak pencapaian, termasuk pedoman alokasi sumber daya dan tenggat waktu untuk mencapai tujuan.

Feasibility Business Plan

Feasibility plan dibuat saat perusahaan ingin mengeksplorasi usaha baru, seperti memasarkan produk baru atau menjual produk lama ke pasar baru. Biasanya, rencana kelayakan fokus pada penjualan produk dan seberapa besar peluang pasar yang ada. Tujuannya adalah memastikan bahwa usaha baru akan memberikan keuntungan yang memadai.

Growth Business Plan

Growth atau Expansion business plan digunakan saat perusahaan ingin tumbuh dan membutuhkan sumber daya tambahan, seperti investasi, bahan produk baru, dan karyawan. Rencana ini dapat ditujukan untuk alasan eksternal atau internal. Jika eksternal, dokumen ini harus memuat detail lengkap tentang perusahaan agar investor luar bisa memutuskan pendanaan.

What-if Business Plan

Jenis rencana ini dibuat saat bisnis mencari pendanaan, mempertimbangkan akuisisi, atau menghadapi langkah berisiko lainnya. Rencana what-if adalah alternatif dari rencana bisnis utama dan membantu mempersiapkan skenario terburuk. Ini juga berguna untuk menilai dampak dari keputusan besar, seperti menambah tenaga kerja, menaikkan harga produk, atau bergabung dengan perusahaan lain.

One-page Business Plan

Rencana ini meringkas bagian terpenting dari rencana lean, menjelaskan produk atau layanan perusahaan, target pasar, serta prakiraan penjualan. Jenis business plan ini juga memberikan deskripsi perusahaan yang menyoroti nilai dan misi perusahaan untuk pengarahan calon investor dan mitra.

Cara membuat business plan

Komponen dari sebuah business plan.

Setiap business plan harus mencakup komponen penting untuk memberikan gambaran lengkap tentang bisnis Anda. Berikut adalah komponen utama yang biasanya ada dalam business plan:

• Executive Summary : Ringkasan keseluruhan business plan, termasuk visi, misi, dan poin penting lainnya. Memudahkan pembaca memahami bisnis tanpa membaca dokumen lengkap.
• Deskripsi Perusahaan : Menjelaskan sejarah, struktur hukum, visi, misi, dan nilai-nilai perusahaan. Memberikan pemahaman latar belakang dan tujuan bisnis.
• Analisis Pasar : Informasi tentang pasar target, ukuran, tren, serta analisis kompetitor. Membantu memahami peluang, tantangan, dan cara bersaing.
• Marketing Plan : Strategi pemasaran untuk mempromosikan produk atau layanan. Termasuk cara menjangkau pelanggan, strategi harga, dan promosi.
• Deskripsi Produk dan Layanan : Detail produk atau layanan, termasuk fitur, manfaat, dan keunggulan. Termasuk rencana pengembangan di masa depan.
• Manajemen dan Struktur : Organisasi internal perusahaan, termasuk tim manajemen dan struktur organisasi. Menjelaskan profil anggota tim dan tanggung jawab mereka.
• Operations Plan : Cara bisnis akan beroperasi sehari-hari, termasuk rencana produksi, rantai pasokan, dan kebutuhan fasilitas. Menjamin operasional berjalan sesuai rencana.
• Proyeksi Keuangan : Estimasi pendapatan, pengeluaran, dan laba mendatang. Mencakup laporan laba rugi, neraca, dan arus kas untuk mengukur kesehatan finansial.

Langkah-langkah yang harus dilakukan

1. menyusun executive summary.

Executive summary adalah kesempatan singkat untuk memperkenalkan bisnis Anda. Ini harus mencakup pernyataan misi, deskripsi singkat tentang produk atau layanan, dan rencana pertumbuhan keuangan.

Meskipun ringkasan eksekutif akan menjadi bagian pertama yang dibaca investor, sebaiknya tulis di akhir. Ini memungkinkan Anda menyoroti poin-poin penting yang muncul saat menulis bagian lain yang lebih rinci.

2. Menulis deskripsi perusahaan

Mulailah dengan menggambarkan perusahaan Anda secara singkat. Sertakan sejarah, lokasi, dan struktur hukumnya, seperti kepemilikan perseorangan atau LLC. Jelaskan juga masalah atau kebutuhan spesifik yang ingin dipecahkan oleh bisnis Anda. Bagian ini menyoroti apa yang membuat perusahaan Anda unik. Jelaskan kekuatan dan keunggulan yang menempatkan bisnis Anda di jalur kesuksesan.

3. Melakukan analisis pasar

Analisis pasar adalah studi tentang industri dan pasar tempat bisnis Anda beroperasi. Salah satu metode yang sangat efektif untuk melakukan analisis ini adalah dengan menggunakan Analisis SWOT. 

Analisis ini adalah alat yang membantu Anda mengidentifikasi kekuatan (Strengths), kelemahan (Weaknesses), peluang (Opportunities), dan ancaman (Threats) bisnis Anda. Memilih pasar yang salah atau waktu yang tidak tepat bisa membuat Anda kesulitan dalam mencapai penjualan.

4. Menguraikan manajemen dan organisasi

Bagian manajemen dan organisasi dalam rencana bisnis harus menjelaskan siapa yang mengelola perusahaan Anda. Sebutkan struktur hukum bisnis, seperti korporasi S, kemitraan terbatas, atau kepemilikan tunggal.

Jika ada tim manajemen, sertakan bagan organisasi untuk menunjukkan struktur internal. Jelaskan peran, tanggung jawab, dan hubungan antar anggota tim. Pastikan setiap orang dipahami kontribusinya terhadap kesuksesan perusahaan Anda.

5. Mencantumkan produk dan layanan Anda

Produk atau layanan Anda akan menjadi bagian penting dalam business plan. Pastikan untuk menjelaskan secara jelas bagaimana produk tersebut memenuhi kebutuhan pelanggan. Jelaskan juga perbedaannya dengan produk pesaing. Jika relevan, tambahkan informasi tentang pengembangan produk, siklus hidupnya, dan hak kekayaan intelektual yang terkait.

6. Melakukan segmentasi pelanggan

Pelanggan ideal Anda, atau target pasar, adalah dasar dari rencana pemasaran dan bisnis Anda. Penting untuk memahami buyer persona agar setiap keputusan strategis lebih tepat.

Segmentasi pelanggan berarti mengelompokkan pelanggan berdasarkan demografi, geografi, psikografi, atau perilaku. Analisis segmentasi ini membantu Anda memahami kebutuhan dan preferensi pelanggan, serta mengarahkan strategi pemasaran secara efektif.

7. Menentukan rencana pemasaran

Upaya pemasaran Anda harus disesuaikan dengan pelanggan ideal Anda. Saat menyusun keputusan dan strategi, pastikan rencana pemasaran Anda fokus pada kesesuaian ide bisnis dengan pelanggan tersebut.

Sebagian besar rencana pemasaran mencakup empat topik utama. Detail yang Anda berikan pada masing-masing topik akan bergantung pada bisnis dan audiens Anda.

• Harga: Berapa biaya produk Anda dan alasan di balik keputusan itu?
• Produk: Apa yang Anda jual dan bagaimana membedakannya dari pesaing?
• Promosi: Bagaimana Anda akan memperkenalkan produk kepada pelanggan ideal?
• Tempat: Di mana Anda akan menjual produk? Melalui saluran apa dan di pasar mana?

8. Menyediakan rencana logistik dan operasi

Bagian ini harus menunjukkan bahwa Anda memahami rantai pasokan dengan baik dan memiliki rencana cadangan untuk mengatasi ketidakpastian. Ini mencakup detail tentang proses produksi, manajemen rantai pasokan, fasilitas yang digunakan, dan teknologi yang diperlukan. Rencana ini juga harus mencakup pengelolaan inventaris, pengadaan bahan baku, dan efisiensi operasional.

9. Membuat rencana keuangan

Meski ide Anda brilian dan Anda telah menginvestasikan banyak usaha, waktu, dan uang, keberhasilan bisnis bergantung pada kesehatan keuangannya. Pada akhirnya, orang lebih memilih bekerja dengan bisnis yang mereka yakini akan bertahan lama.

Rencana keuangan Anda harus disesuaikan dengan audiens dan tujuan Anda. Umumnya, sertakan tiga tampilan utama: laporan laba rugi, neraca, dan laporan arus kas. Data dan proyeksi keuangan juga bisa sangat membantu.

Best practice dalam membuat business plan

Selalu proofread dokumen anda.

Proofreading sangat penting untuk memastikan business plan Anda bebas dari kesalahan. Kesalahan kecil dapat merusak profesionalisme dan menurunkan kredibilitas di mata investor. Luangkan waktu untuk memeriksa kembali dokumen Anda. Anda juga bisa meminta bantuan orang berpengalaman untuk meninjau dan memberikan umpan balik.

Gunakan business plan template

Gunakan template business plan yang terstruktur agar semua komponen penting tercakup dengan baik. Template ini memudahkan penyusunan rencana dengan format yang sudah teruji. Pilih template yang sesuai dengan jenis bisnis Anda dan sesuaikan dengan kebutuhan spesifik.

Sesuaikan business plan untuk target audience

Sesuaikan business plan Anda dengan audiens, apakah itu investor, mitra bisnis, atau tim manajemen. Pahami apa yang mereka butuhkan dan harapkan, lalu buat konten yang relevan. Misalnya, jika audiensnya investor, fokuskan pada proyeksi keuangan dan potensi keuntungan.

Pastikan konten tetap konsisten

Konsistensi adalah kunci dalam penulisan business plan. Pastikan visi, misi, dan strategi saling mendukung di setiap bagian. Gunakan gaya bahasa, nada, dan terminologi yang sama di seluruh dokumen. Ini akan memberikan kesan profesional dan terstruktur.

Review dan update secara berkala

Business plan tidak bersifat statis. Anda harus memperbarui dokumen ini secara berkala untuk mencerminkan perubahan pasar, tujuan perusahaan, atau kondisi keuangan. Review yang rutin memastikan business plan Anda tetap relevan dan efektif untuk mendukung pertumbuhan bisnis.

Gunakan tools dan software

Banyak tools dan software yang bisa membantu Anda menyusun business plan. Mulai dari alat perencanaan keuangan hingga software presentasi, teknologi ini meningkatkan efisiensi dan akurasi, serta membuat data lebih menarik dan mudah dipahami.

Membuat business plan yang komprehensif adalah langkah krusial dalam merencanakan dan mengarahkan pertumbuhan bisnis. Ikuti langkah-langkah yang tepat dan terapkan best practices untuk menyusun rencana yang efektif.

Business plan yang baik memandu operasi harian dan membantu dalam pengambilan keputusan strategis. Selain itu, rencana yang solid juga menarik investor. Perbarui dan sesuaikan business plan Anda sesuai dengan perkembangan pasar dan tujuan bisnis.

Tim Insights Impact

Tim Insights Impact terdiri dari beragam individu profesional yang memiliki keahlian dan pengalaman dalam berbagai aspek bisnis. Bersama-sama, kami berkomitmen untuk memberikan wawasan mendalam dan pemahaman yang berharga tentang berbagai topik terkait strategi bisnis dan tren industri yang relevan.

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