U.S. Sample Business Plan

When it comes to writing a business plan for a business in the United States there is nothing quite as valuable as having a guide to go by, and having quality sample U.S. business plans at hand will make the task of writing your American business plan a lot easier.

While the exact needs of every American business will differ, there are a number of elements that must be part of any type of business plan, and having sample U.S. business plans at hand can help any United States business owner include these essential elements.

The importance of your business plan cannot be overemphasized. Many factors critical to your business success depend upon how you plan:

Outside funding - would you lend money to a business owner that did not have a plan?
Credit from suppliers
Management of your operation and finances – if you do not plan how much money you will have what do you think will happen?
Promotion and marketing of your business, and most importantly
The achievement of your goals and objectives.

Many failed business owners thought that as they were not going to seek financial support from lenders or investors to open their business they did not need to prepare a business plan; the unemployment line is full of those people.

Every business must have a plan!

Setting Up a Small Business in the United States

The right sample U.S. business plans

When seeking out sample United States business plans it is important to plan carefully and to look at several different sample American business plans before deciding on the one you are going to use.

There are many different kinds of sample business plans available, both in books and magazines tailored to the business world and of course on the internet. It is a good idea to look around carefully until you find the sample U.S. business plan that best meets your needs.

Using sample U.S. business plans from the same or a similar industry is a good idea, as is seeking out sample United States business plans that match your own style and needs.

Writing your business plan serves as your roadmap for your venture when you’re starting out. It is all about you!

A great business plan can help you figure out many key business elements, including:

What you will need to do to get started and what resources (time, money, etc.) you will need to expend
What it will take for your business to make a profit and how long that will take
What information potential customers, vendors and investors will need to know in order for you to market your business effectively

Writing your business plan also forces you to think about your business objectively. When you’re done, you will have a more realistic idea of the effort it will require and whether it's a venture you want to pursue at this time.

Don't be intimidated. The process of sitting down and writing out a business plan could spark your creativity and lead you to new business strategies you may not have considered previously. You'll also find that having your business goals written down enables you to refer to them at any time. This will ensure you don't lose sight of your original focus once you do start your business.

Using sample U.S. business plans as a guide

After you have your sample U.S. business plans, it is important to use those sample business plans as guidelines and a starting point. While having sample U.S. business plans available will make the job of writing a quality business plan for a business in the United States a lot easier, it will not replace the hard work necessary in the formation of your business plan.

It is best to think of the sample business plans as templates and as guidelines, and to use them to create your business plan; that is uniquely suited to your own special areas of expertise.

Elements of your U.S. Sample Business Plan

Cover sheet
Executive summary (statement of the business purpose)
Table of contents
Body of the document

The Business

Description of business
Marketing
Competition
Operating procedures
Personnel
Business insurance

Financial data

Loan applications
Capital equipment and supply list
Balance sheet
Breakeven analysis
Profit and loss statements
Three-year summary
Detail by month, first year
Detail by quarters, second and third year
Assumptions upon which projections were based
Pro-forma cash flow

Supporting documents

Tax returns of principals (partners in the business) for last three years, personal financial statements (all banks have these forms)
Copy of franchise contract and all supporting documents provided by the franchisor (for franchise businesses)
Copy of proposed lease or purchase agreement for building space
Copy of licenses and other legal documents
Copy of resumes of all principals
Copies of letters of intent from suppliers, etc.

us business plans written exclusively for the U.S. market

US Business Plans provide a business plan written exclusively for the U.S. market. The plan contains specific information for the U.S. and is the most comprehensive U.S. plan available on the internet. It contains information on U.S. legislation for your business that is vital for you to understand if you are in the United States.

U.S. Sample Business Plan