business plan covers

How to Write Your Business Plan Cover Page + Template

6 min. read

Updated August 1, 2024

The cover page of a business plan is likely the last thing you’ll consider when writing a business plan . 

While it’s not the most vital part of your business plan, a well-formatted business plan cover page can be a nice touch when pitching to investors , banks , or business partners. 

In this article, we’ll cover what to include and how to format your business plan cover page so you can assemble an impressive page in just a few minutes.

• What is a business plan cover page?

The business plan cover page – or title page – is the introduction to your business plan document. It should be simple and straightforward—only providing logistical information about your business for stakeholders to reference.

Unlike your executive summary , a summarized version of your business plan, the cover page is strictly meant to provide contact information and set the tone for what they are about to read. The quality, formatting, and readability can all impact a stakeholder’s expectations for your plan and business.

Why do you need a cover page for a business plan?

To be clear, the cover page is not a required section of your business plan. 

It’s a largely decorative addition meant to grab the attention of a stakeholder. It should introduce you, your business, and the planning document and make it easy for the reader to find your contact information.

If you’re writing a business plan purely for internal purposes , you probably don’t need to spend time on a cover page.

But if you pitch to investors , apply for a loan , or approach a potential partner—a cover page for your business plan can be a nice touch that makes you (and your business) look more professional.

What to include in your business plan cover page

It’s best to keep your business plan cover page simple. The page should only include:

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

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How to create your business plan cover page

Creating a cover page for your business plan shouldn’t take too long. Gather all the information listed above, and then fine-tune the formatting. Here’s how we recommend you organize the information:

1. Start with your logo

Including your logo should help your business be more memorable. Just be sure it’s memorable for the right reasons.

That means adding a reasonably sized, high-resolution image at the top of your cover page. Just don’t make it so large that it takes attention away from other information on the page.

2. Add your business name 

You want readers to connect your business name to your logo. So, add some space (2-3 lines) and drop your name front and center. Consider using a large and bold font option to ensure it’s easy to read and immediately noticeable.

3. Include your value proposition (optional)

While optional, including your value proposition can be useful if it effectively describes your business purpose. 

4. Craft a title

Now you need to describe the document’s purpose. Don’t overthink it – start by adding “Business Plan” to the center of the page. Keep the bold font, but apply a slightly smaller font size than with your business name. 

From there, you can apply a title that frames the type of business plan you’re creating: “ One-page ,” “ 5-year ,” “Merger,” “ Growth plan ,” etc. 

Expanding the title is optional and should only be done if you believe it will benefit the reader.

5. Add the completion date

Including the completion date shows how fresh and up-to-date your plan is. Ideally, you’re revisiting your plan regularly (especially the financial projections in your plan). So the date should be relatively recent.

This information alone can show how focused and dedicated you are to running a successful business. 

As far as formatting is concerned, keep it simple. Include the month, day, and year – either numerically (9/15/2023) or spelled out (September 15, 2023).

6. List your contact information

This is the true purpose of your business plan cover page. The last thing you want is for an investor or lender to love your pitch only to have to scrounge around for your email or phone number.

Add a header that states “Contact Information” centered near the bottom of the page. Then, on separate lines, add your name (or other points of contact for your business), email address, phone number, business website, and physical address. 

Tip: If you’re sending your plan digitally, add links to your email address and website so they can reach you quickly.

7. Include a confidentiality statement

The confidentiality statement is meant to help legally protect your information and ensure that no one shares or copies portions of your business plan. 

You can include a simple “Confidential” watermark near the top of the page or write a more thorough statement to sit at the bottom.

Here’s an example:

“This document contains confidential and proprietary information created by [your business]. It is exclusively designed for informational purposes and should not be disclosed, shared, or copied without the consent of [your business].”

Don’t worry too much about emphasizing this information. It can sit as smaller text in the footer of your cover page. 

• Tips to make your business plan cover page memorable

Adding the information should be quick. Now, spend some time on these best practices to get your business plan title page ready to share.

Apply consistent formatting

Inconsistent formatting looks unprofessional and can make a document more difficult to read. So check that your character and line spacing, font choices, and text alignment are consistent to ensure they are identical. 

You should also print out the document (as a Word Document and PDF) to check if the format changes.

Use your brand color scheme

Adding your brand colors to text, borders, and other design elements can strengthen the presence of your brand identity in your business plan. It also better connects non-visual elements to your logo. 

Just don’t force adding color to your plan. If it takes away from the text or takes too much time to get right, it’s best to avoid it.

Check your business plan’s cover page from top to bottom for spelling errors and mistakes (you should do this for your entire business plan). If possible, have someone else proofread it to ensure you didn’t miss anything.

Business plan cover page examples

To help you visualize your cover page design, here is an example from our free business plan template :

We recommend you avoid creating an overly designed business plan. However, if you believe a more visual cover page will grab your reader’s attention—check out these other examples.

Spend more time on the rest of your business plan

We’ve already emphasized that you shouldn’t spend too much time creating a business plan cover page. While it can be a nice addition, it’s often quickly skipped over and only referenced again if the reader needs your contact information. 

And it’s unnecessary altogether if you’re not planning to share your plan with anyone. If that’s the case, focus your time and effort on writing the rest of your business plan. 

Check out our full plan writing guide for step-by-step walkthroughs for every section. 

You can also download a free business plan template (that includes a cover page) to ensure you cover everything about your business.

Kody Wirth is a content writer and SEO specialist for Palo Alto Software—the creator's of Bplans and LivePlan. He has 3+ years experience covering small business topics and runs a part-time content writing service in his spare time.

Table of Contents

• Why do you need a cover page?
• What to include
• How to create a cover page
• Cover page examples
• Focus on the rest of your business plan

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How to Design a Cover Page for a Business Plan?

Business Plan Cover Pages

• April 12, 2024

Many entrepreneurs spend hours preparing and writing their business plans. However, do not pay much attention to the cover page. This is a big mistake.

The business plan cover page can create a strong first impact. It sets the platform for how investors or readers will engage with your document.

In this article, we will understand the importance of a cover page and how you can design one yourself.

What is a Business Plan Cover Page & Why is it Necessary to Design it?

The cover page is an integral part of the business plan. It is the first page of your business plan that highlights the key information of your company like a company logo, company name, address, and other key information.

By looking at the business plan cover page, a banker or investor can get a quick idea about the purpose of the presented document.

Your business plan cover should be neat, clean, attractive, and professional enough to draw your reader’s attention.

Whether you are writing a business plan, marketing plan, or business proposal , the cover page is an essential part of all.

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What to include in the Business Plan Cover Page?

There is no specific rule about what to include and what not on your cover page. But we have prepared some essential information that you should not miss including in it.

1. Company Logo

Your company logo will be the first and most essential section that will draw your reader’s attention immediately, so you must include your company logo on your cover page.

A neat-clean, high-quality logo should be used to make your business plan cover page look like a professional cover page. It should be placed at the top of your business plan cover page.

Placing the logo on the business plan cover page sets a strong brand association that focuses a reader’s attention throughout the document.

2. Company Name

The second most important section of the cover page after the company logo is your company name. You will always want your reader to remember your company name through the document reading process.

Your company name font should be readably bold and should be the largest font on the page so that it stands out from the rest of the information on the business plan cover page.

3. Business Tagline or Motto

A business tagline is a short catchy marketing slogan that is usually written with a company name or brand and is also sometimes used to indicate key features of your business. Some businesses use a tagline to show what they do and how they are different from the competition.

If you want your readers to understand your business, then a tagline plays a crucial role. Usually, a memorable tagline can excite an investor or reader that they will take a special interest while reading your business plan.

4. Branding Color

Brand color is most important in establishing trust and confidence in your customers. Your brand color will speak more than you can think about your business. Also, the right use of colors can increase your brand value by creating a strong visual identity in the industry.

Most successful companies have a strong association with their logos and brand colors. Their colors always tend to reflect their branding, even when they don’t include any text on them.

Brand color can help in establishing trust and familiarity by evoking the right emotions in your reader’s brains and sending the right message to them. Also, your brand color should be integrated into your business plan everywhere, like titles, subtitles, features, images, etc to make your business plan template more attractive.

5. Plan Title and Plan Year

The plan title will give a clear idea about what the presented document is about, whether it is a business plan, marketing plan, business expansion plan, recovery plan, or anything else.

The plan title is the notable feature of the cover page and should be in large font size. Immediately, the reader should know the purpose of the presented document.

There is no rule about which should be of the largest font size, “Company Name” or “Plan Title” as both have their benefits. It is the owner’s choice to decide what they want to highlight on the cover page for their document.

Also, readers will want to learn about what is the business plan creation time or what will be the execution time for the presented document. Thus it is important to specify the plan year on your cover page.

It should be written relatively in a smaller size and frequently below the plan title.

6. Prepared By

The “Prepared By” section is used to specify who is presenting the document and it should be the name of the company CEO, President, Owner, or sometimes another key person.

This information will help the reader to know about the key person in the company and whom they should contact in the case for more information.

7. Contact Information

Contact information contains the information reader can use to contact the person specified in the “Prepared By” section. This information includes the company’s physical address, phone number, email address, and company website .

Contact information should always be on the business plan cover page. It lets the reader learn who is presenting the document and how to contact that person.

8. Confidentiality Statement

While it is not required, you may want to include a confidentiality statement on the cover page. Or just state “Confidential” to let the reader know that this document is confidential and not directed to share with others without the owner’s consent.

The confidentiality statement on your cover page will look like this:

Example of Confidentiality Statement

Tips to make a cover page remarkable.

Now, that you know what to include in a cover page of the business plan, let’s see how to make it memorable:

Check the formatting

Before presenting or submitting your business plan to the readers, make sure the formatting (spacing, fonts, size, color) everything is consistent. This will increase the readability and help your audience to understand the things you want to deliver.

Keep it all simple

Keep your cover page for a business plan free from any clutters. The design should be classy and elegant. It should sync with the goals of your business. Ensure consistency by using the same brand color for both your business’ branding and cover page.

Review—Re-review

Double-check the cover page for any typos or grammatical errors. The better option is to have another person review it. This way, he/she will find the mistakes that you might be missing out on.

How to Design a Business Plan Cover Page?

Upmetrics gives you a beautifully designed business plan cover page template with no work on your side. Industry experts recommend our cover pages. Thus, you can trust us for your cover page without any doubts.

You can use a cover page theme that suits the personality of you and your business. Upmetrics comes with professionally designed cover pages that immediately transform the reader’s plain business plan reading experience into an interesting opening.

Upmetrics provides a feature where you can control which information and section you want to highlight on the cover page. Also, you can remove any section that you feel is not necessary for your cover page.

We also allow you to upload your own custom cover page design, so you can personalize your business plan with the cover page of your choice. So, wait no more, and start designing your cover page!

Upmetrics Business Plan Cover Page Examples

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does a business proposal have a cover page.

Yes, a business proposal includes a cover page. The cover page is the first impression of your proposal and should include key information, such as the title, company name, date, and logo.

The cover page can make your business proposal look more professional as it sets the tone for the proposal. 

What three aspects must be included in the cover page?

The three main things to include in a cover page of a business plan are:

• Clear title: It should be focused on the main topic of the plan & business idea.
• Contact information: Include the name of your company and the ways to contact you.
• Date: Readers would want to know the execution time and the timeline of the business plan.

What is the best format for a cover page?

A business plan cover page is the first thing that your potential investors will see. So, the best format for a cover page is to keep it simple & clean so that it draws your audience’s attention to read the whole business plan.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How to Write a Business Plan Cover Page Complete Guide with Examples

Fill the form to download business plan cover page examples.

A business plan cover page may not come to mind when you think of writing your business plan. Although it’s traditionally one of the last sections of a business plan, it’s one of the most crucial.

Your business plan only has one chance to make a good impression on your reader. The cover page of a book or business plan can easily make a person make a decision.

In this article, we will explain the importance of business plan cover pages and provide a step-by-step guide to help you create your own cover page for your business plan. See our real world business plan examples to see what should be included in the other sections of your business plan.

What is a business plan cover page?

The cover page of a business plan summarizes all the important aspects of the business and serves as an introduction to the full business plan. Bankers and investors can quickly determine the purpose of a business plan by viewing the cover page.

You should include the name of your company, your logo, addresses, and other information that identifies your business. This is the first page of your plan, so it should look professional, visually pleasing, and informative.

What is the purpose of a cover page?

The purpose of the cover page is to communicate what the document enclosed is and to provide information that enables a reader to contact you about your business.

Make sure your business plan’s cover page is visually appealing, free of errors, and concise to set the tone for its content.

A strong business plan cover page should be simple, clean, and powerful. Don’t clutter your cover page with details about how your business will operate. Save those details for the executive summary .

Whether you are writing a business plan , marketing plan, or proposal, the business plan cover page is an essential part of your plan. Read on to find out which elements your business plan cover page should contain and how to design it for maximum impact.

What to Include in the Business Plan Cover Page?

Although there are no specific rules regarding what should be included on your business plan cover page, we have prepared some essential information that you should not overlook.

Company logo

• Business name
• Document title
• Tagline (optional)
• Contact information and address
• Completion date
• Confidentiality statement

Now let’s look at each of these elements in greater detail so you know what you need to include on your business plan cover page.

1. Company Logo

Use a neat, clean, high-quality logo to make your business plan cover page look professional. The logo should be placed at the top of the page.

The image should be large enough to see details, but not so large that it becomes a distraction. Brand identity begins with your logo. The company logo is the first and most significant section that will capture your readers’ attention immediately.

People are 90% more likely to remember your logo if you place it in the top left corner.

2. Business Name

After the company logo, your company name is the second most important section of your cover page as you want your reader to remember your company name as they read the document.

To make your company name stand out from the rest of the information on the business plan cover page, you should use a readable, bold font that is the largest font on the page.

Please keep in mind that if your company logo includes your company name, you can remove either your company logo or name from the cover page.

You can download 50+ Free Business Plan Templates here that include not only pre-built cover pages but also provide step-by-step guidance in the creation of your entire business plan.

3. Document Title

Plan titles tell the reader immediately what the document is about, whether it is a business plan , marketing plan, expansion plan, recovery plan, or anything else.

It is commonly referred to as a “Business Plan,” but you can also customize it by saying “Five-Year Business Plan” or “Merger Business Plan” if you want to outline more specific objectives.

The title of the plan should be large and prominent on the cover page. Readers should know the purpose of the document immediately.

Increase readability by using a clear, bold font, such as Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial. It may be difficult to read script lettering and doesn’t appear professional.

Please Note: Make sure your name isn’t more prominent than your business plan title cover page.

4. Tagline (optional)

Business owners sometimes use taglines to describe what they do and how they’re different. It’s optional, but you can also include a catchy slogan or motto describing your business.

A tagline becomes an essential part of your cover page if you want your reader to immediately understand what you do.

Generally, your business plan will be more interesting to investors or readers if the tagline is memorable. A business tagline is a short catchy marketing slogan that signifies your brand or company name, as well as other important aspects of your business.

Create a tagline by describing what you do in a few words. Put your tagline under your company logo on your cover page so readers understand what you do immediately.

5. Contact Information and Address

“Prepared By” contains contact information the reader can use to contact the person. It includes information about the company’s mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, and website.

To make investors aware of where to direct their inquiries, include your name as the business owner as well as the names of any partners or executives.

Try to center this information on the page to maintain consistency in formatting. As long as the information is clearly visible and readable, you may use a smaller font size than you used for the company name and title.

6. Completion Date

When was this plan written? The date is important to readers, so include it (month and year are sufficient).

Under the contact information, write the year (or the year and month) in which the business plan was finalized and published. It’s a good idea to update your business plan throughout the year if you’re including the month, so readers don’t think it’s old.

It is important to note that your company name should appear more prominently than your title and date. Depending on your business plan’s writing style, you may spell out the date, like Jan 20, 2023, or write it numerically, like 20/1/23.

Dates should be formatted consistently throughout the document. To maintain consistency, center the text and use the same font size as your address and contact information.

7. Confidentiality Statement

Adding a confidentiality statement to your cover page protects your idea from being disclosed. It is not required, but you may want to include a confidentiality statement on the cover page, or just text “Confidential” to emphasize that this is a confidential document such as the following:

Example of Confidentiality Statement

It is understood that the information provided in this [Company’s Name] Business Plan is totally confidential, and the reader undertakes not to disclose any aspect of it without the express written consent of the business owner.

How to write a business plan cover page that captures investors' attention?

• Keep it concise and to the point: Investors are busy people, so they don’t want to read a long and rambling cover page. Keep your cover page brief and to the point, highlighting your key business strengths and unique selling points.
• Use clear and concise language: Avoid using jargon or technical language that your target audience may not understand. Use clear and concise language to communicate your business vision and goals.
• Highlight your key business strengths and unique selling points: What makes your business unique and different from the competition? What are your key strengths? Highlight these things on your cover page to grab investors’ attention.
• Make sure your cover page is visually appealing and professional: Your cover page is the first thing that potential investors will see, so it’s important to make a good impression. Use a professional design and layout, and avoid using too many colors or fonts.
• Proofread carefully for any errors: Typos and grammatical errors on your cover page will make you look unprofessional. Proofread your cover page carefully before submitting it to any potential investors.

What are some creative business plan cover page design ideas?

• Use high-quality images or graphics that are relevant to your business: Images and graphics can be a great way to add visual interest to your cover page and make it more engaging for potential investors. Choose high-quality images or graphics that are relevant to your business and that will help to communicate your brand message.
• Use a unique and eye-catching font scheme: Your cover page should stand out from the crowd, so use a unique and eye-catching font scheme. Avoid using overused or generic fonts.
• Use your company colors and branding to create a cohesive look: Your cover page should be consistent with your overall branding. Use your company colors and fonts to create a cohesive look and feel.
• Keep your design simple and elegant: A simple and elegant design is often the most effective. Avoid cluttering your cover page with too much text or too many images and graphics.

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What makes a great cover page for a business plan

Formatting should be consistent.

Messy or unprofessional cover pages can create negative perceptions in your readers’ minds before they even open your business plan.

The cover page of your business plan is the first impression of your company, so your logo, fonts, and brand colors should all work together to capture the reader’s attention.

Follow these best practices to create a cover page that stands out:

Keeping your cover page neat and consistent will allow your reader to perceive your organization and professionalism. Use consistent formatting through

• Maintaining equal spacing between characters and lines
• Choosing fonts that are similar or identical
• Make sure each line of your cover page is centered

When it comes to fonts, it’s best practice to stick to one type of typeface, such as serif or sans serif. It’s also important to choose fonts that are simple, easy to read, and represent your brand.

It is important to ensure your business plan’s cover page is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Make sure you proofread your document several times before publishing the final version, and ask others to review it as well.

The less the better

In your business plan executive summary , you will summarize its contents. The cover page should not do the same. It is also unwise to create a business plan cover that is graphically complicated because the information will be difficult to discern. A strong business plan cover page should be simple, clean, and powerful.

Make use of the color scheme of your company

Color plays a crucial role in establishing your brand’s credibility and trustworthiness. Choosing the right brand color will reveal more about your business than you could ever imagine.

In addition, using the right colors can enhance your brand value by creating a strong visual identity. To make your business plan more appealing, your brand color should be incorporated everywhere, such as titles, subtitles, features, images, etc.

Ensure the colors don’t distract from the important information and consider coordinating them with your company’s brand or logo.

Colors represent 90% of your brand’s personality and elicit the right emotions from your customers, so choose colors that represent your brand’s personality and evoke the right emotions.

When it comes to choosing a logo, simplicity is key. Try to create something that represents your brand and speaks to your audience without being too busy (in other words: white space is your friend).

It’s also important to remember to be practical: your logo should look good in any medium, size, color, and even time period. Beyond your business plan cover page, you’ll need it for your social media, marketing material, or labels.

Download Pack of 6 Business Plan Cover Page Examples

We will show you some real-world business plan cover page examples so you may know how to design your own.

Download Business Plan Cover Page Templates

Here are a few business plan cover examples to illustrate the structure and format. Download and customize it according to your needs.

Business Plan Cover Page Example 1

Business Plan Cover Page Example 2

Business Plan Cover Page Example 3

Business Plan Cover Page Example 4

Business Plan Cover Page Example 5

Business Plan Cover Page Example 6

If you’re not confident in your ability to create a business plan on your own, or if you simply don’t have the time to do so, Wise Business Plans can help.

Our expert business plan writers have years of experience crafting comprehensive plans for businesses of all sizes and industries. We’ll work with you to understand your unique vision and goals, and we’ll create a customized plan that outlines your marketing strategy, target market, financial projections, and more.

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How to write your business plan cover page

When you think of putting together your business plan , the business plan cover page may not be the first thing that comes to mind. While it’s traditionally one of the last sections you create in a business plan, it’s one of the most important.

Definition: What is a business plan cover page?

The cover page of a business plan is used to give an overview of all the key information of your business. This includes your company name, logo, address, and any other information that may define your business. It's the first page of your plan, so it should look professional, visually pleasing, and informative.

When potential investors or banks read a business plan, their first impression is the cover page—but don’t overthink it. A business plan cover page is meant to be simple and straightforward, with some important contact information and, more importantly, your logo.

Use this breakdown to find out what the purpose of your cover page is, which elements you need to include, and how to structure it to maximize your impact:

What is the purpose of a cover page?

Your cover page exists to communicate what the enclosed document is and to provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you about your business.

The appearance and quality of a business plan cover page will set the tone for your business plan’s content, so make sure it’s visually appealing, free of errors, and concise.“ Simple, clean and powerful are the three goals of a strong business plan cover,” suggest the experts at Growthink . Don’t clutter your cover page with details about how your business will operate—save those important details for the executive summary .

What should you include on a business plan cover page?

To keep it simple, your business plan cover page should include:

Company logo

• Document title
• Business name
• Business address and contact information
• Business plan completion date
• Confidentiality statement

How should you format a business plan cover page?

Once you know what information belongs in this section, all that remains now is to organize it. If you need some further guidance, these downloadable templates can streamline the process of drafting a cover page—and the rest of your business plan, too.

1. Company logo

Add a high-resolution thumbnail of your logo at the top of the cover page. This will help establish a brand identity and allow readers to connect visually to the business right from the start.

Hot tip: people are 89% more likely to remember your logo if you put it in the top left corner.

Give the logo some space and then include the words “Business Plan” in a large, bold font. You can also frame the title as “Three–” or “Five–Year Business Plan,” if you intend to make those kinds of financial projections in the document.

3. Business name

Beneath the title, write your company name in a bold font. This should be the most noticeable and prominent feature on the page, so choose a large typeface.

4. Tagline (optional)

This part is optional, but you can also include a catchy slogan or motto that describes your company and what you do.

5. Address and contact information

Under the company name, include your business’s physical address and website if you have one. Provide the details necessary for interested parties to contact you, such as a phone number and email address.

It’s also helpful to include your name as the business owner and the names of any partners or executive officers so that potential investors know where to direct their inquiries.

6. Date of completion

Below the contact information, write the year (or year and month) in which this business plan was finalized and issued. If you’re including the month, it’s a good idea to update it throughout the year as you send out your business plan so readers don’t assume it’s outdated.

7. Confidentiality Statement

At the bottom of the page, include a sentence to the effect of:

“This document contains confidential and proprietary information created by [business name]. This document is issued exclusively for informational purposes and should not be reproduced without the consent of [business name].”

Adding this confidentiality statement offers a protective measure against the disclosure of your business idea , according to this cover page guide .

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Cover page design

Now it’s time for the finishing touches: the actual design of your cover page. Your business plan’s cover page gives the first impression of your business, so your company logo, fonts, and brand colors should all work together to make people want to read more.

Brand colors

90% of a customer’s impression of your business comes from the brand colors you choose, so it’s important to choose colors that represent your business’s personality and elicit the right emotions from your readers.

Don’t know where to start? Grab a pen and paperand write down three emotions you want your customers to feel when they think of your brand. Now you can brainstorm some colors that represent those emotions. For example, you might choose blue if your product is associated with reliability, or yellow if your product is supposed to make your clients feel happy. It’s safer to only choose 2-3 colors , including black, for your color scheme.

You can also analyze the competition and choose colors that help you stand out. Canva has more detailed instructions on how to create your brand color palette .

When it comes to fonts, it’s best practice to stick to one type of typeface, such as serif or sans serif . It’s also important to choose fonts that are simple, easy to read, and represent your brand.

Serif fonts give off the impression that your brand is trustworthy and dependable, and work great for more traditional businesses, like law practices. “Serif fonts have been widely used in books, newspapers, and magazines, which is why they remind us of more classical, formal and sophisticated themes—think of Old English and Roman scripture,” Robyn Young, founder of branding agency robyn young & co, told Canva .

But if you’re going for a more contemporary and youthful feel, then sans serif is the way to go. “Brands that want a modern aesthetic that scales well at different sizes and is easy to read on screens are going to choose sans serif for their main branding elements,” said Young .

When it comes to choosing a logo, simplicity is key. Try to create something that represents your brand and speaks to your audience without being too busy (in other words: white space is your friend).

It’s also important to remember to be practical: your logo should look good in any medium, size, color, and even time period. Beyond your business plan cover page, you’ll need it for your social media, marketing material, or labels.

Business plan cover page examples

To further illustrate the structure and format of a business plan cover page, we’ve compiled a few cover page template examples. The first example from officetemplatesonline is simple but attractive and effectively emphasizes pertinent information. The next cover page example is from a fictional clothing store . They usea pop of color to instantly tell you about their brand personality.

Keep your business plan cover page simple

As you prepare to write your business plan , remember to keep your cover page simple and concise. With your logo, business name, and contact information, you’ll introduce the reader into your business plan quickly and easily—and set yourself up for success as a result.

Just don’t forget to proofread and keep an eye out for typos!

Business plan cover page FAQs

How can businesses make sure their business plan cover pages stand out to investors or lenders.

You can spice up your business plan cover page by including elements that’ll grab the attention of investors or lenders. Beyond basic contact information and a logo, you could include compelling visuals, like graphics or images that represent your business or industry. You could also highlight key achievements or milestones to showcase your potential for success

Are there any specific rules or tips for designing a business plan cover page that make sure it matches a business’s brand?

When designing a business plan cover page, it's key to align it with your business's brand identity. This means choosing colors, fonts, and imagery that reflect your brand's personality and values. Following industry standards for design and layout can help ensure professionalism while still allowing for creativity that helps your business stand out.

How can a business use their cover page to show their business strategy?

Your cover page can serve as an opportunity to convey important aspects of your business strategy or unique value proposition. Beyond listing basic details, you could include a brief mission statement or tagline that summarizes your business’s purpose or competitive advantage. Additionally, incorporating visual elements or a brief narrative about your business's story can help show off its identity and vision.

Related Posts

Let our How to Start a Business Playbook guide the way.

The information and tips shared on this blog are meant to be used as learning and personal development tools as you launch, run and grow your business. While a good place to start, these articles should not take the place of personalized advice from professionals. As our lawyers would say: “All content on Wave’s blog is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered legal or financial advice.” Additionally, Wave is the legal copyright holder of all materials on the blog, and others cannot re-use or publish it without our written consent.

How to Design a Cover Page for Your Business Plan

Paula Kehoe

Reviewed by

December 22, 2021

This article is Tax Professional approved

If you're starting a new business or growing an existing one, it’s critical to have a successful business plan to guide your decisions.

I am the text that will be copied.

Why? A good plan helps you understand your business expenses and cash flow, and it can lay out your goals and track milestones along the way. It’s also important if you’re applying for a loan or approaching potential investors who may be interested in your future business.

That means when you’re writing your business plan, you have one chance to make a good first impression and catch your reader’s attention. It takes a lot of research and planning, but after you’ve finished the hard work of compiling the contents of your plan, you’re still not done. Your business plan’s cover page may seem like an afterthought, but it shouldn’t be. As they say, never judge a book by its cover, but that’s precisely what happens when it comes to business plan cover pages.

A glimpse at the cover page can be enough for someone to decide if they want to pay attention to your business or ignore it. So, before you distribute your business plan, design a cover that stands out and entices interested parties to find out more about your company.

Helpful resource: How to Write Your First Business Plan

What is a business plan cover page?

Think of the cover page (also called a title page) as a welcome mat that leads to your full business plan. It’s meant to be simple and highlight the legal information of your business like a company logo, company name, address, contact details, and other key information.

The quality and appearance of the cover page may influence the perception of the material that follows in your plan—and the credibility of your business. If you want to spark the interest of prospective investors or lenders, you need to make sure that it’s professional, informative, and easy to read.

What is the purpose of a business plan cover page?

The main purpose of any business plan cover page is to inform and enhance your report. Your cover page should communicate a little about the business plan itself and provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you about the business you’re spotlighting.

Keep the cover page concise and focus only on the introductory basics. There’s no need to get into the weeds here. Instead, save those details about how your business will operate for the executive summary, which underlines the most crucial pieces of your plan, such as your short-term and long-term goals.

What should you include on a business plan cover page?

There are no hard-and-fast rules about what to show on your business plan cover page. But there are a few standard elements you should consider adding. Once you know what information you want to use, you just have to arrange it.

1. Document title

Often, the title of these documents is merely “Business Plan.” But you can also customize it with “Five-Year Business Plan” or “Business Acquisition Plan” if you want to outline more explicit goals of your business plan.

Use a clear, bold font to increase readability, like Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial. Avoid script lettering as it doesn’t come across as professional and may be challenging to read.

2. Business name

Add your company name below the title of the document. Use the same font of the title, but increase the font size slightly, so it stands out. Your company name is a significant part of the cover page, so use sharp, bold text that’s big enough to read clearly. Also, center your company name a few spaces below the title to continue a clean and consistent appearance.

3. Contact information

Below your company name, include a physical address, phone number, email, website, and other details about your business. You can also add a section titled “prepared by” to list your name and credentials, as well as the names of partners or collaborators, so readers know where to direct their inquiries.

To keep consistent formatting, center this information on the page. You can use a smaller font size than you used for your company name and title, as long as the information is clearly visible and legible.

4. Date of completion

Under your company’s contact information, include the month and year you completed your business plan. Use the same font size as your address and contact information, and center the text for consistency.

5. Company logo

Your logo is the foundation of your brand identity. It can draw interest and pique the curiosity of your audience. If you have a high-resolution thumbnail of your company’s logo, add and center it at the top of the page. The logo should be large enough that readers can easily see details, but not so big that it’s a distraction from the rest of the content.

6. Business tagline

Some businesses use a tagline to show what they do and how they’re different from the competition. Think Nike’s “Just Do It” or Dollar Shave Club’s “Shave Time. Shave Money.”

If you have a tagline, add it to your cover page under your company logo so readers understand straight away what you do or how you do it. A memorable tagline can excite an investor so that they’ll take a special interest while evaluating your business plan.

7. Confidentiality statement

At the bottom of your cover page, add a brief confidentiality statement to protect your business’s intellectual property or sensitive information. This may prevent others from disclosing your business plan without your permission.

For this section, use a slightly smaller font size, but try to make sure the text is still visible. Here’s an example of a typical confidentiality statement:

“This document contains confidential, proprietary information created by (your company’s name). It is issued exclusively for informational purposes and should not be reproduced without the consent of (your company’s name).”

Business plan cover page templates

Looking to create a standout cover page? There are dozens of professionally-designed business plan templates, including cover pages, available online. You can download and customize these in a matter of minutes.

If you need help getting started, try one of these:

• Microsoft Word
• Business in a Box
• MS Office Templates

You might even be able to adapt one of Canva’s proposal templates to suit your needs.

How to make your business plan cover page stand out

A cover page that’s messy or unprofessional in any way can create negative preconceptions in your reader’s minds before they even look at your business plan.

Set yourself up for success with a cover page that stands out by following these best practices:

Use consistent formatting

Inconsistent formatting can turn a stable document into chaos. Try to stay consistent when using styles and line spacing. Make sure your fonts are complementary, and don’t select too many—that could be overwhelming.

Proofread it

Because your cover is the first page of a business plan, it’s important to ensure there are zero spelling typos or mistakes within your content. Carefully proofread your document before distributing the final draft and ask someone else to read your work. Having a second set of eyes can smooth out any rough spots and save you potential embarrassment.

Show your brand’s personality

The design elements (color scheme, font type, images) you use can create a memorable, bold statement for your cover page that’ll make a positive impression on your audience. Still, do keep it professional. Coordinate the colors with your company’s logo or brand, and be sure the elements don’t distract from the important details on the cover page.

How Bench can help

While we can’t design a beautiful business plan cover page for you, we can help you out with the contents of that plan. Bench is America’s largest professional bookkeeping service for small businesses. We can handle your bookkeeping and tax filing for you while you focus on starting and running your business. Even if you’re pre-revenue , you need a solid bookkeeping setup—plus, reliable bookkeeping can give you the numbers you need to prove to investors that you’re a good bet.

Even if you aren’t using your business plan to seek funding, including your financial projections offers major benefits. By looking into the future of your business, you can make plans for growth and set realistic goals to reach along the way. Get started with our guide to financial forecasting .

Make a great first impression

Although your business plan cover page has a big job to do, it’s meant to be simple and straightforward. With just a few business details, like your company name, logo, and contact information, the cover page is your first opportunity to stand out and persuade readers that you’re worth the investment.

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Everything you need to know about business plan cover pages

You have only one chance to make a good first impression with the readers of your business plan.

People do judge books—and business plans—by their covers. A quick glance at the cover can easily be enough to make up one’s mind.

So set yourself up for success with a powerful cover page that stands out and entices the reader to find out more about your business.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Definition: What is a Business Plan Cover Page?

Cover page (also known as title page or cover sheet) is the first page of a business plan that communicates what the enclosed document is about and highlights the key company information like name, logo and contact details, making a good impression with professional and attractive appearance.

Purpose: Why is Business Plan Cover Page Important?

Many businesses spend hours preparing their business plans but then do not pay enough attention to the title page. This is a huge mistake .

5 ways a strong cover page can help you make a positive first impression:

• Clearly indicate what the presented document is about
• Provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you
• Create a powerful first impact that sets the stage for how readers will engage with your document
• Avoid falling victim to negative preconceived notions as a result or unprofessional or unattractive cover
• Maximize the chance of the plan being read by making the document stand out from the crowd and immediately drawing your reader’s attention

Keep reading to find out which elements you need to include in the cover page, how to structure it to maximize the impact of your business plan, and to take a look at some successful examples .

Contents: What Should You Include in a Business Plan Cover Page?

Surprisingly, there are no strict rules about what to show on your business plan cover sheet, but there certainly are best practices that you should follow.

Here are 9 elements that are typically included on business plan covers, 3 of which are essential and you should not miss to include them. The remaining 6 are optional for your consideration.

1. Must-haves: 3 mandatory cover page elements

1.1. Business name: The name of the company that is the subject of the plan.

1.2. Document title: The words “ Business Plan ” in a prominent spot so that it is clear what kind of document this is.

1.3. Contact information: Name, title and contact details (e.g., phone, email, social media, website, address) of the primary contact persons presenting the plan (e.g., CEO, Founder, Owner, President) so that any interested parties know exactly to whom to direct their inquiries and can reach them quickly and easily.

2. Nice-to-haves: 6 optional cover page elements:

2.1. Company logo: The logo of the company if available and desired.

2.2. Tagline: Short, memorable summary of the business described in the plan.

2.3. Date: In order to make sure your plan does not look outdated, include only the year of the business plan completion date. If you are including both the month also, it is advisable to create a new cover sheet each time you send out the plan.

2.4. Version control: Numbering each copy of the plan enables you to more easily keep track of who you sent what version of the document to.

2.5. Disclaimer: Disclaimer can help protect you and your company from confidentiality and other legal issues resulting from the distribution of the business plan by indicating that the plan is for information only, not an offering of stock in the company, and not to be shared with third parties without your prior consent.

2.6. Visuals: Graphic elements or images to enhance the professional look and visual appeal of the document.

Let’s have a more detailed look at these cover page elements so you know what exactly to include into each of them:

Business Name

The most prominent feature on your business plan cover is the name of your company.

Instantly, the reader should notice the name of your business. In fact, if readers take away nothing else from the cover page, they should remember your company’s name.

As this is the most noticeable feature on the page, use a large font that stands out, but is easy to read, looks professional and corresponds to the typeface that you used for the rest of the document.

Company Logo

Placing a high-quality company logo on the cover page helps to make the business plan look more professional and establish a brand identity by allowing readers to connect visually to the business right from the beginning.

If your logo includes the full name of the company, you do not have to display both the company name and logo on the cover page, it is sufficient to choose one of the two.

Document Title

The readers need to know what the presented document is about – immediately and clearly.

The cover page should clearly state whether it is a Business Plan, Executive Summary, Financial Forecast, Marketing Plan, Recovery Plan, or any other kind of plan.

For example, write the words “ Business Plan ” in a prominent spot on the cover sheet to make it crystal clear what type of document this is. You may include any additional words that are part of the title, such as “Three/Five-Year Business Plan” if needed or relevant.

As a focal point on the cover page, the document title should be in a large font size .

There is no rule though about whether the Document Title or Company Name and Logo should be of the largest font size, as all are of key importance. So it is entirely your decision what feature you prefer to highlight on the cover page of the document.

Contact Information

Contact details should always be on the business plan cover page, letting the reader know who is presenting the document and how to contact them if they need more information.

It is helpful to indicate the names and titles of the company’s primary contact persons for investors and other business plan readers, such as:

• External distribution: company founder, owner, president, partner, CEO
• In-house corporate plans: head of division, departmental manager, executive officer

Next, provide the contact details that will allow the interested parties to reach these primary contact persons quickly and easily, including:

• Name and title of primary contact(s)
• Phone number
• Email address
• Social media handles
• Website address
• Postal address

The contact information is typically displayed in the smallest font on the cover page.

Company tagline, or a motto , is a catchy memorable marketing slogan that captures the essence of a business in a few short and simple words: >> What you do >> How you do it >> Why are you different from the competition

For example, you will undoubtedly recognize the following company mottos:

As such, the tagline is a useful part of the cover page as it helps the business plan readers better understand what you do straight away, and even excite them to read the business plan and study it with more interest.

When was this business plan finalized and issued ? The readers will be interested to know. Hence, it is advisable to state the document completion date on the cover page.

Strictly speaking, you do not need to denote anything more specific that the year in which you completed the business plan. (“Business Plan: 2021”) This will ensure that the plan does not appear outdated for an entire year.

Imagine that you are a potential investor who in December 2021 receives a business plan dated January 2021. It would be natural to assume that the document has been rejected many times by other investors over the last 12 months.

Alternatively, you can include both the current month and year on the cover sheet. (“Business Plan: January 2021”) Each time you update the document and send it out or present it, you will need to check if this date of completion needs updating .

The date is featured on the cover sheet less prominently and in a smaller font size than the document title and company name, and is often displayed below the plan title.

Version Control

As your business develops, you may revise your business plan any number of times and send it to multiple recipients . To keep track of the different versions of the plan that you produce and which version you sent to whom, you may decide to use a version control system.

However, it does not make the best impression when someone receives a “Version 25” of your plan.

Instead, consider devising a simple coding system . For example: “Copy D.5” would indicate it is the fifth copy of a fourth version of the document or “Version 4.5” could mean a fifth copy of a document version completed in April.

Numbering each copy of your business plan before distribution, and keeping a list of which individual has received which copy, would enable you to keep track of how many copies are in circulation, and, if needed, ask to have a copy returned, or trace the responsible party in case a copy is circulated without your permission.

Confidentiality Statement & Disclaimer

Why should your plan include a disclaimer.

Legal issues may arise as a result of circulating your business plan. 

For example, anyone who is in the possession of the document could potentially divulge the confidential information. 

Also, in some countries, offering ownership in your company in return for an investment is considered as selling of stock, which is a regulated activity. The best way to protect yourself is to consult a lawyer.

Nevertheless, including a disclaimer in the business plan helps to protect your company by indicating the plan itself is not an offering of stock for sale but rather a document for information purposes only.

The same disclaimer can also be used to help protect the confidentiality of the information disclosed in your business plan by informing the reader that the plan is confidential and not to be shared with other parties without the owner’s consent, especially when you are not adding a non-disclosure agreement.

What Should the Disclaimer Say?

These are the two most common ways how to show the disclaimer in the business plan:

1. Display a brief disclaimer , just one or two sentences, directly on the front cover , probably at the bottom of the page. Consult a lawyer for the most appropriate wording, but a standard disclaimer might look something to the effect this:

2. Write “ Confidential ” on the cover sheet and include a longer disclaimer and confidentiality statement in the main body of the business plan, perhaps on the first page after the cover sheet.

In addition, you can also include the text “Confidential” into the header or footer of the document.

Design: How Should You Format a Business Plan Cover Page?

The cover page is the first thing the readers will see when they open your business plan. Thus, your business plan cover should be neat , clean , attractive , and professional enough to draw your readers’ attention , make a good first impression and set the tone for your business plan’s content.

Cover page that is messy, dated, unattractive or in any way unprofessional can create negative preconceptions in the recipients’ minds before they even start reading the business plan.

Your design should be clean and professional, which can be accomplished by observing the following best practices:

Visual Identity

Most successful businesses have a strong association with their brand identity , including a company logo, typeface and color scheme. Visual identity helps to establish recognition, familiarity, trust and confidence in customers by evoking the right emotions and sending the right message.

As a result, companies take care to develop a brand identity and keep consistent across all marketing collateral and business materials.

Likewise, your brand identity should be integrated into all parts of your business plan, including the cover page. The best practice is to make the plan consistent with the logo, font type and color scheme as they appear across your other company’s documents.

If you do not have a brand identity created yet, keep the color scheme of the plan cover simple.

The easiest is to have a logo designed, which is inexpensive and easy to do nowadays, and then use your logo colors across the business plan. Alternatively, consider using an online color scheme generator to select colors that go well together.

To stay on the safe side, use maximum of two to three colors, one of which should be black. You can use different shades of the same color (e.g., light blue and dark blue).

First and foremost, the fonts you use in the business plan, including its cover, need to be readable .

The most important information should be displayed in a way that it stands out from the rest of the elements on the business plan cover page, for example, differentiated by font size , weight or color .

Ideally, the typefaces and their color(s) should be consistent with the brand identity used in all of the other company’s marketing materials.

Do not combine more than two typefaces. It is ok to combine a sans-serif (e.g., Times New Roman) with a sans-serif (e.g., Arial) typeface.

Again, less is definitely more here. Refrain from cluttering the business plan cover sheet with photos and graphics.

If you do use a visual element, make sure to leave enough white space around it so the page does not look too busy.

The resolution of any images, including the company logo, should be of high enough quality to not look pixelated.

There is no need for a fancy over-designed cover page, unless you are a large corporation or perhaps a design agency. Equally, beware of any templates with outdated designs that will make your cover look like it was created back in 1999.

Professional designers often combine different alignments (left / right / center) of elements on a page (text, images) to achieve a desired design effect. However, a design novice should play it safe and keep the alignment simple and consistent , especially when it comes to professional documents, such as a business plan.

You should be able to comfortably fit all of the recommended elements on the cover sheet (e.g., company name and logo, document title, contact details, date, disclaimer), and still leave enough white space on the page.

Making a great first impression does not equal to creating a cover that is graphically busy and cluttered with unimportant details. Instead, set yourself up for success by keeping the business plan cover sheet neat , clean , simple and concise .

Proofreading

Carefully proofread the cover page to avoid, at all costs, any mistakes and typos , which would do you a great disservice in the eyes of the reader. Even better, have someone else to look it over.

Finally, make sure that the cover page looks good in every format you will be distributing the business plan in, probably including a PDF electronic file and a printed hard copy.

Some common issues include:

• Photos look pixelated due to low image resolution
• Colors do not print well (e.g., dark font color on a dark background)
• White space left at the edges of a printout because and image does not stretch (i.e., “bleed” in designer terms) enough into the edges of the page

Most importantly, the cover page should look professional and stand out from the crowd so that your business plan has a better chance of being read.

Finally, remember that these aren’t rigid rules. The overall goal for a cover page is to look neat and professional so that it stands out from the crowd and your business plan has a better chance of being read. In the end, that’s the most important outcome.

The cover sheet is the first thing the readers of your business plan will see. Make a good first impression.

Examples: Sample Images

Here are some examples to further illustrate the structure and format of a business plan cover page:

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Resources for Your Growing Business

How to write a business plan cover page: 5 essential tips.

Writing a comprehensive business plan is a great first step in making a successful business.

It’s a good idea to create a business plan, even if you are writing the plan just for yourself. 

If you are writing the plan for potential investors, you’ll want to include a strong business proposal cover page. This helps to entice the recipient to read through your plan.

We’ll break down the 5 steps to creating a successful cover page and some essential tips that will help you along the way.

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

1. Use a Business Cover Page Template 

2. use your business logo, 3. the document title, 4. company information and date, 5. write a confidentiality statement, key takeaways.

Writing a business plan cover page is relatively straightforward.

But when you’re staring at a blank page, the task may suddenly seem very daunting. 

That’s why we recommend using a cover page template. 

Even if you don’t end up using the template, it can inspire ideas and help you get over that initial writing block. 

When somebody looks at your cover letter, it needs to stand out and be unique.

What better way to be unique than by including your business’s logo?

Your logo should be at the top of the page so that it’s the first thing that they see. Make sure that it’s a high-resolution image of the logo, as a blurry or pixelated image will look unprofessional. 

It’s also a good idea to keep the themes of your cover page consistent with your logo. So make sure your cover letter is using the same font type and color scheme as your logo. 

This will help your cover letter catch the eye of the reader and establish brand association.  It also helps them to start associating your logo with your business’s name. 

Next up is writing a short, yet strong document title. 

This is a short step, but it’s an important one. 

When choosing your document title you should be including your company name, and the duration the business plan will cover.

For example:

“Park Avenue Mechanics: A Five-Year Business Plan”

It’s short, simple, and tells the reader exactly what to expect. This should be placed below the logo in large print.  

Another simple, yet important step.

Underneath the title, you’ll need to write the physical business address. This is the address that your company is registered to. Then you should write the business’s contact information and the date. 

The physical address is where the investors or interested parties should send all their inquiries. 

The contact information should include the business phone number, email address and fax number. 

It is also a good idea to include your website address, if you have one, for people wanting to learn more about the public front of your business. 

Then directly below your contact information, write the date that the business plan was completed. This is so the reader can see when the information inside was relevant. Though it’s obviously important to keep your business plan as up-to-date as possible. 

Last but not least is your confidentiality statement. 

This is good legal practice as it can protect your business against anybody leaking the contents of your business plan. 

Your confidentiality statement should be along the lines of this: 

“This document contains confidential information created by [your company name]. This document is issued exclusively for informational purposes, and may not be reproduced or shared without the consent of [your company name].”

This should clear up any confusion that may arise as to the privacy of the document. 

Think of your business plan cover page as your first impression. Don’t put hours upon hours of effort into the business plan itself but then just throw together a quick cover page. 

You could well be shooting yourself in the foot. 

The entire job of the cover page is to make sure the reader not only picks up your business plan but turns the page over and starts reading. 

So once you’ve finished your business plan, make sure you write a good cover letter. 

It could just be the difference. 

Are you looking for more business advice on everything from starting a new business to new business practices? 

Head over to our resource hub .

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Business Plan Cover Page

A business plan is a crucial document for entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses seeking to outline their future strategy and secure funding. The cover page, also known as the business plan title page, serves as the first impression of this important document. An effective cover page not only makes the business plan look professional but also organizes and highlights essential information to grab the attention of potential investors, partners, and stakeholders.

How to Make a Cover Page for a Business Plan

What is a cover page for a business plan.

The cover page acts as the face of your business plan. It presents the business name , plan title, and contact information at a glance, setting the stage for what is detailed in the following pages. It's the entry point that either invites readers to dive deeper into the document or dissuades them based on its aesthetics and professionalism.

The purpose of a business plan cover page is twofold:

• To Introduce the Business : It provides a snapshot of the business identity and what it stands for.
• To Engage the Reader : The cover page should spark interest and encourage the reader to engage with the content that follows.

Creating a compelling and professional cover page is straightforward but requires attention to detail. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Include Essential Information

A standard business plan cover page should include:

• Business Name and Logo : Place these prominently to emphasize your brand.
• Plan Title : Clearly state the nature of the business plan. For instance, “2023 Business Expansion Plan”.
• Date : Include the date of the business plan submission.
• Contact Information : Provide contact details of the business owner or the main point of contact, such as an email address, phone number, and mailing address.

2. Design for Clarity and Professionalism

• Professional Layout : Use clean, uncluttered layouts that align with your business branding.
• Font and Size : Choose professional fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri. Keep the font size readable; typically, main titles are around 16-18 points.
• Use of Color : Incorporate brand colors, but ensure they do not overshadow the text’s readability.

3. Add a Tagline or Mission Statement (Optional)

A brief tagline or the mission statement below the business name can add context to what the business plan will discuss, providing a concise preview of the business’s goals.

4. Consider Including an Image (Optional)

Depending on the type of business and the audience, including a high-quality image that reflects your services or products can make the cover page more attractive and engaging.

5. Maintain Consistency with Overall Business Plan

Ensure that the design and thematic elements on the cover page are consistent with the rest of the business plan. This includes color schemes, fonts, and logos, ensuring a cohesive look throughout the document.

6. Proofread

Before finalizing your business plan cover page, proofread it to correct any typographical errors and ensure all information is accurate and up-to-date. Errors on the cover page can create an unfavorable impression.

7. Use High-Quality Printing Materials

If you're presenting a printed version of the business plan, use high-quality paper to enhance the overall presentation. This reflects the seriousness and professionalism of your endeavor.

The business plan cover page is more than just a protective shield for your document; it’s a marketing tool that introduces and sells your business concept at first sight. By following these guidelines, you can create a professional and appealing title page that sets the tone for the investors' or readers' journey through your business plan . Remember, a well-designed cover page not only reflects your business’s professionalism but also enhances the readability and appeal of your business plan as a whole.

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How to Design a Cover Page for Your Business Plan

• 26th Nov, 2023

If you're starting a new business or growing an existing one, it's critical to have a successful business plan to guide your decisions.

Starting a Business

Why? A good plan helps you understand your business expenses and cash flow, and it can lay out your goals and track milestones along the way. It's also important if you're applying for a loan or approaching potential investors who may be interested in your future business.

That means when you're writing your business plan, you have one chance to make a good first impression and catch your reader's attention. It takes a lot of research and planning, but after you've finished the hard work of compiling the contents of your plan, you're still not done. Your business plan's cover page may seem like an afterthought, but it shouldn't be. As they say, never judge a book by its cover, but that's precisely what happens when it comes to business plan cover pages.

A glimpse at the cover page can be enough for someone to decide if they want to pay attention to your business or ignore it. So, before you distribute your business plan, design a cover that stands out and entices interested parties to find out more about your company.

Helpful resource: How to Write Your First Business Plan

What is a business plan cover page?

Think of the cover page (also called a title page) as a welcome mat that leads to your full business plan. It's meant to be simple and highlight the legal information of your business like a company logo, company name, address, contact details, and other key information.

The quality and appearance of the cover page may influence the perception of the material that follows in your plan—and the credibility of your business. If you want to spark the interest of prospective investors or lenders, you need to make sure that it's professional, informative, and easy to read.

What is the purpose of a business plan cover page?

The main purpose of any business plan cover page is to inform and enhance your report. Your cover page should communicate a little about the business plan itself and provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you about the business you're spotlighting.

Keep the cover page concise and focus only on the introductory basics. There's no need to get into the weeds here. Instead, save those details about how your business will operate for the executive summary, which underlines the most crucial pieces of your plan, such as your short-term and long-term goals.

What should you include on a business plan cover page?

There are no hard-and-fast rules about what to show on your business plan cover page. But there are a few standard elements you should consider adding. Once you know what information you want to use, you just have to arrange it.

1. Document title

Often, the title of these documents is merely "Business Plan." But you can also customize it with "Five-Year Business Plan" or "Business Acquisition Plan" if you want to outline more explicit goals of your business plan.

Use a clear, bold font to increase readability, like Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial. Avoid script lettering as it doesn't come across as professional and may be challenging to read.

2. Business name

Add your company name below the title of the document. Use the same font of the title, but increase the font size slightly, so it stands out. Your company name is a significant part of the cover page, so use sharp, bold text that's big enough to read clearly. Also, center your company name a few spaces below the title to continue a clean and consistent appearance.

3. Contact information

Below your company name, include a physical address, phone number, email, website, and other details about your business. You can also add a section titled "prepared by" to list your name and credentials, as well as the names of partners or collaborators, so readers know where to direct their inquiries.

To keep consistent formatting, center this information on the page. You can use a smaller font size than you used for your company name and title, as long as the information is clearly visible and legible.

4. Date of completion

Under your company's contact information, include the month and year you completed your business plan. Use the same font size as your address and contact information, and center the text for consistency.

5. Company logo

Your logo is the foundation of your brand identity. It can draw interest and pique the curiosity of your audience. If you have a high-resolution thumbnail of your company's logo, add and center it at the top of the page. The logo should be large enough that readers can easily see details, but not so big that it's a distraction from the rest of the content.

6. Business tagline

Some businesses use a tagline to show what they do and how they're different from the competition. Think Nike's "Just Do It" or Dollar Shave Club's "Shave Time. Shave Money."

If you have a tagline, add it to your cover page under your company logo so readers understand straight away what you do or how you do it. A memorable tagline can excite an investor so that they'll take a special interest while evaluating your business plan.

7. Confidentiality statement

At the bottom of your cover page, add a brief confidentiality statement to protect your business's intellectual property or sensitive information. This may prevent others from disclosing your business plan without your permission.

For this section, use a slightly smaller font size, but try to make sure the text is still visible. Here's an example of a typical confidentiality statement:

"This document contains confidential, proprietary information created by (your company's name). It is issued exclusively for informational purposes and should not be reproduced without the consent of (your company's name)."

Business plan cover page templates

Looking to create a standout cover page? There are dozens of professionally-designed business plan templates, including cover pages, available online. You can download and customize these in a matter of minutes.

If you need help getting started, try one of these:

• Microsoft Word
• Business in a Box
• MS Office Templates

You might even be able to adapt one of Canva's proposal templates to suit your needs.

How to make your business plan cover page stand out

A cover page that's messy or unprofessional in any way can create negative preconceptions in your reader's minds before they even look at your business plan.

Set yourself up for success with a cover page that stands out by following these best practices:

Use consistent formatting

Inconsistent formatting can turn a stable document into chaos. Try to stay consistent when using styles and line spacing. Make sure your fonts are complementary, and don't select too many—that could be overwhelming.

Proofread it

Because your cover is the first page of a business plan, it's important to ensure there are zero spelling typos or mistakes within your content. Carefully proofread your document before distributing the final draft and ask someone else to read your work. Having a second set of eyes can smooth out any rough spots and save you potential embarrassment.

Show your brand's personality

The design elements (color scheme, font type, images) you use can create a memorable, bold statement for your cover page that'll make a positive impression on your audience. Still, do keep it professional. Coordinate the colors with your company's logo or brand, and be sure the elements don't distract from the important details on the cover page.

How Accracy can help

While we can't design a beautiful business plan cover page for you, we can help you out with the contents of that plan. Bench is America's largest professional bookkeeping service for small businesses. We can handle your bookkeeping and tax filing for you while you focus on starting and running your business. Even if you're pre-revenue , you need a solid bookkeeping setup—plus, reliable bookkeeping can give you the numbers you need to prove to investors that you're a good bet.

Even if you aren't using your business plan to seek funding, including your financial projections offers major benefits. By looking into the future of your business, you can make plans for growth and set realistic goals to reach along the way. Get started with our guide to financial forecasting .

Make a great first impression

Although your business plan cover page has a big job to do, it's meant to be simple and straightforward. With just a few business details, like your company name, logo, and contact information, the cover page is your first opportunity to stand out and persuade readers that you're worth the investment.

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Business Plan Cover Page Template

Make a business business plan cover page using business plan cover page template from Venngage.

• Design style modern
• Colors dark
• Size Letter (8.5 x 11 in)
• File type PNG, PDF, PowerPoint
• Plan business

A business plan cover page template is used to provide a summary of a business plan. The template can be used to provide an overview of the business, the products and services offered, the target market, and the management team. When developing a business plan cover page template, there are several things that need to be addressed. First, business plan cover page templates should provide a brief summary of the business plan. This is typically done with one or two paragraphs that explain the business and its purpose. The template can then explain how the business will meet customer needs and solve any problems that may exist. Also, business plan cover pages should address details such as what business approach the business will use, what type of business it is, and how business goals will be achieved. Business plan cover page templates should also include the business name, logo, contact details, business size, and industry information. This can be done by including headings for these topics in the template. Create a business plan cover page using Venngage’s business plan cover

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How to Make a Business Plan Cover Page

by Sampson Quain

Published on 25 Jul 2019

An effective business plan details how your company will achieve its goals by describing your products or services, your organizational structure, marketing ideas and how your company will distinguish itself from competitors.

Business plans are most often used to attract potential investors, but some companies also use these plans to communicate their culture to employees or to provide compelling reasons for a merger. Although it may seem minor, the business plan cover page can create a powerful first impression that sets the stage for how readers will engage with the document.

Use Your Company Logo

Your business plan cover page should include your company’s logo centered at the top of the page. The best practice is to create a high-resolution image of the logo and make it consistent with the font type and color scheme of the logo, as it appears in all your company’s documents. The logo should be the first thing that catches your readers' eyes and helps them associate that logo with your company name. Placing the logo at the top of the page establishes a strong brand association that focuses a reader's attention throughout the document.

Write the Title and Company Name

Skip several lines after the company logo and write the words “Business Plan”. Center this title on the cover page and make sure that it is in bold. Include any additional words that are part of the title. For example, you could write, “Five-Year Business Plan,” or “Three-Year Business Plan.” The title should have the second largest font after your company name.

Skip two lines. Then, under the title of your business plan, write and center the name of your business. Your business name should be in bold and set off in the largest font on the page so that it stands out. If readers take away nothing else from the cover page, they should know and remember the name of your company.

Write the Company Address and Date

Under the company name and logo, write and center your business address. This is the address where investors or other interested parties should send all their inquiries. If you already have a website that is up and running, you can include the web address after the physical address. Include your business phone number and business fax number. Directly below the contact information, write and center the month and year in which you completed the business plan.

Write a Confidentiality Statement

Centered at the bottom of the page, include a confidentiality statement. For example, you could write, “This document contains confidential and proprietary information created by [your company name]. This document is issued exclusively for informational purposes, and may not be reproduced without the consent of [your company name].”

Business Plan Cover Page Tips To Get an Investor’s Attention

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Below are the five keys to creating a formal business plan cover page.

To see what to include in the other sections of your plan, reference the best business plan template .

Be sure to include the following elements to create a great business plan cover page:

1. Company Name

First and foremost, your Company’s name should be included on the business plan cover page. This should be the most prominent feature of the cover page, and as such, is traditionally in the largest font setting. Immediately, the reader should know the name of your company.

2. Company Logo and Color Scheme

The best business plan covers are those that look like they are of professional quality. This can be accomplished by including a high-quality image of the company logo and the font type and color scheme for the company’s marketing materials. Like a book cover, a business plan cover page is intended to draw the reader’s attention immediately. Plans with an unattractive cover page can fall victim to incorrect preconceived notions.

Below is a sample of the professionally designed covers included in Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template .

3. Title and Date

When was this plan written? Readers need to know, so include the date (month and year are enough).

And what is it? The cover page should state if this is a Business Plan, Executive Summary, or Financial Projections. So, at this point, your business plan cover page may read as follows:

John’s Plumbing, Inc. Business Plan March 2021

Note that the title and date should be featured less prominently than your company name.

4. Less is More

Your business plan executive summary will summarize the contents of the plan. There is no need for the cover page to do so, as well. It is also inadvisable to create a business plan cover that is so graphically busy that the information is difficult to discern. Simple, clean, and powerful are the three goals of a strong business plan cover page.

5. CEO/Owner/Key Contact Information

Who should the reader contact if they wish to know more information? The name and contact information for the CEO, President, Owner, or another key contact should not be located at the end of the document. It should be on the first page, letting the reader know who is presenting the document.

6. Confidentiality Statement

While it is not essential, you may want to include a Confidentiality Statement on your cover, such as the following:

This document includes confidential and proprietary information of and regarding [Company Name]. This document is provided for informational purposes only. You may not use this document except for informational purposes, and you may not reproduce this document in whole or in part or divulge any of its contents without the prior written consent of [Company Name]. By accepting this document, you agree to be bound by these restrictions and limitations.

Suggested Resources:

Download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here that not only has ten pre-built and professionally designed cover pages but quickly guides you through creating your entire business plan and financial model.

Your business plan title page is critical since it’s the first thing readers will see, and it will give them an immediate impression as to whether you are professional or not. As such, the page is one of the critical components of a business plan . As part of your initial business plan outline , you should think about how you want others to perceive your business. Not only should this perception be established throughout your plan but be sure to do so on your business plan cover page.

Many people ask about business plan cover letters to accompany their plans.

Most plans are emailed to investors or lenders nowadays. As such, business plan cover letters are often not needed. Instead, in the body of your email, you can include text such as the following: “Attached please find my business plan. I am available to discuss this at your convenience. I look forward to hearing from you.” Such an email will typically suffice if you seek a bank loan, VC funding, or funding from angel investors .

However, if you’d like a more formal cover letter, reference our sample business plan cover letter here .

To answer any additional questions you might have regarding your plan, see our business plan help page or download our small business plan template pdf to get started today.

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Everything You Need to Know About a Business Plan Cover Page

An integral but potentially overlooked part of a business plan is its cover page. Business plans work to secure financial resources and partnerships, while driving a business towards growth and expansion. As such, a business plan aims to create a brand with an established reputation. If done right, a cover page for a business plan acts as a preview and builds a positive impression that will benefit a business in various ways.  

What is a Cover Page?

A business plan cover page serves as a one-page introduction to a comprehensive business plan, capturing the main points of an organization. It includes basic company information, similar to a title page, and allows readers to immediately determine a business plan’s purpose with one look.

Purpose of a Cover Page

An effective business plan cover page exhibits an excellent quality, design, and a professional tone that aligns with a business’s goals and ideas. With this, the cover page communicates the essence of a business plan, while also outlining contact information that enables readers to reach out to the business and owners themselves. 

New businesses or even reputable organizations may benefit from well-designed and detailed business plan cover pages. The cover page is an essential first impression that pushes readers, and investors alike, to read through the entirety of the business plan. Below summarizes the significance of a business cover page:

• Effectively convey the content of a business plan
• Provide concise and straightforward business details
• List contact details for readers’ reference
• Establish an overarching tone for the business plan

Elements of a Good Business Plan Cover

Here are some key components that good cover pages should include:

Business Plan Title

Cover pages do not exist for business plans only. Cover pages can be used in marketing plans, strategic plans , and other documents. Including a business plan title in the cover page communicates what a document is about, at a glance. A business plan title will boost a business plan’s readability by using clean and striking fonts like Arial. It is best to avoid script font styles, such as Lucida Writing, since they reduce the professional appearance of the business plan.  

Company Name

The company name or business name should be the most noticeable element in the cover page. Formatting the company name using bold and large typefaces makes it stand out. This pushes the business name to be stuck in the readers’ minds.

Business Logo

The business logo should be simple but memorable. It is best to match it with the company’s color scheme and include relevant features that refer to the business’s brand identity. The logo is usually placed at the top most part of the business plan cover page.

A tagline or slogan will catch the interest of business plan readers since its focuses on immediately describing a business’s activities and how these differ from their competitors. Take note that this is a discretionary element but a welcome addition to the cover page as signifies a business’s brand, similar to a logo.

Contact Information

The “presented by” or “prepared by” portion of the cover page presents contact information a reader can refer to when reaching out to a business. Contact information may include a business’s phone number, e-mail address, website, or mailing address. Investors know where to direct their queries if the contact information also includes the names of the business owner, partners, and other key contacts. The cover page should place the contact information at the center and make it readable even in a smaller font size.

Completion Date

Placing the month and year of completion in the cover page is vital information that informs the readers when a business plan was accomplished and reported. It is ideal to keep the completion date at the same font size of the contact information to channel consistency in the business plan.

Confidentiality Statement

A business plan confidentiality statement safeguards the business concept from being spread outside of its intended use in the business plan. A short statement or even placing the world “confidential” in the cover page will place emphasis on the business plan’s confidentiality.

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How to Design a Business Plan Cover Page

To design a powerful and creative business plan cover page, it is best to consider the following guidelines:

• Be consistent : The cover page’s formatting should exhibit consistency. The colors, design, and fonts of the cover page should work in harmony to create a good impression and catch readers’ attention. Proofreading further ensures that the cover page will avoid grammatical and spelling errors that may cause a negative impression from a business plan’s readers.
• Less is more: A creative business plan cover page does not entail complicated and intricate graphics. A simple page that neatly and clearly lays out relevant business information creates more impact than complex designs.
• Establish a brand : Since the cover page is a reader’s first look at a business plan, it should communicate a brand’s personality and pique the interest of its readers. There are various applications and techniques to developing a successful business plan cover page.  In recent years, entrepreneurs have adopted a growing design platform, Canva , and other applications such as Adobe , to utilize cover page business plan templates or to create cover pages from scratch. Keeping a uniform color scheme helps with building a business’s brand and crafts a strong visual identity that will resonate to its audience. Colors should blend in the cover page instead of taking away the attention from the business plan. 

Business Plan Cover Page Examples

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• Write Your Business Plan | Part 1 Overview Video
• The Basics of Writing a Business Plan
• How to Use Your Business Plan Most Effectively
• 12 Reasons You Need a Business Plan
• The Main Objectives of a Business Plan
• What to Include and Not Include in a Successful Business Plan
• The Top 4 Types of Business Plans
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Presenting Your Business Plan in 10 Slides
• 6 Tips for Making a Winning Business Presentation
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• Write Your Business Plan | Part 2 Overview Video
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• How to Use Your Business Plan to Track Performance
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• The Best Books, Sites, Trade Associations and Resources to Get Your Business Funded and Running
• How to Hire the Right Business Plan Consultant
• Business Plan Lingo and Resources All Entrepreneurs Should Know
• How to Write a Letter of Introduction
• What To Put on the Cover Page of a Business Plan
• How to Format Your Business Plan
• 6 Steps to Getting Your Business Plan In Front of Investors

What To Put on the Cover Page of a Business Plan Use this checklist to ensure you've included all the essential elements in your cover page.

By Eric Butow Oct 27, 2023

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

This is part 6 / 8 of Write Your Business Plan: Section 6: Getting Your Business Plan to Investors series.

You've sent a letter of introduction and the recipients have indicated that they'd like to see your business plan, the next step is to send a cover letter, which is a brief correspondence stating that you are including the business plan that the recipient has acknowledged and asked you to send it over.

The cover letter goes in the email that includes the plan or on top of a hard copy and thanks the recipient for agreeing to look at the plan. Think of it as a brief note to accompany the plan and express gratitude to the recipients for taking a look.

Why is this important? The first thing anyone looking at your business plan will see is the cover page. After that, they may never look at it again.

Related: How to Write a Letter of Introduction

What to Include on a Cover Page

A few cover page components are essential, whether you are using an email or sending a hard copy. You should have your company name, address, phone number, email address, Twitter handle, and other contact information. Other good items to include are the date as a notice that this is a business plan.

• Format this information in a large, black, easily readable font. Above all else, you want a plan reader to know which business this plan is for and how to contact you.
• If you have a striking, well-designed corporate logo, it's also a good idea to include that on the cover page. A corporate slogan, as long as it's not too long, is also a good identifying mark that does something to communicate your strategy as well.

While it's tempting to put all kinds of stuff on the cover page, you should probably resist the urge. Your business concept, the amount you're trying to raise, and other details can go on the inside. The cover page must identify the company. More than that is likely to be too much.

Related: Why You Shouldn't Send Your Business Plan to Investors

More in Write Your Business Plan

Section 1: the foundation of a business plan, section 2: putting your business plan to work, section 3: selling your product and team, section 4: marketing your business plan, section 5: organizing operations and finances, section 6: getting your business plan to investors.

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Simple Business Plan Template (2024)

Updated: May 4, 2024, 4:37pm

Table of Contents

Why business plans are vital, get your free simple business plan template, how to write an effective business plan in 6 steps, frequently asked questions.

While taking many forms and serving many purposes, they all have one thing in common: business plans help you establish your goals and define the means for achieving them. Our simple business plan template covers everything you need to consider when launching a side gig, solo operation or small business. By following this step-by-step process, you might even uncover a few alternate routes to success.

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Whether you’re a first-time solopreneur or a seasoned business owner, the planning process challenges you to examine the costs and tasks involved in bringing a product or service to market. The process can also help you spot new income opportunities and hone in on the most profitable business models.

Though vital, business planning doesn’t have to be a chore. Business plans for lean startups and solopreneurs can simply outline the business concept, sales proposition, target customers and sketch out a plan of action to bring the product or service to market. However, if you’re seeking startup funding or partnership opportunities, you’ll need a write a business plan that details market research, operating costs and revenue forecasting. Whichever startup category you fall into, if you’re at square one, our simple business plan template will point you down the right path.

Copy our free simple business plan template so you can fill in the blanks as we explore each element of your business plan. Need help getting your ideas flowing? You’ll also find several startup scenario examples below.

Download free template as .docx

Whether you need a quick-launch overview or an in-depth plan for investors, any business plan should cover the six key elements outlined in our free template and explained below. The main difference in starting a small business versus an investor-funded business is the market research and operational and financial details needed to support the concept.

1. Your Mission or Vision

Start by declaring a “dream statement” for your business. You can call this your executive summary, vision statement or mission. Whatever the name, the first part of your business plan summarizes your idea by answering five questions. Keep it brief, such as an elevator pitch. You’ll expand these answers in the following sections of the simple business plan template.

• What does your business do? Are you selling products, services, information or a combination?
• Where does this happen? Will you conduct business online, in-store, via mobile means or in a specific location or environment?
• Who does your business benefit? Who is your target market and ideal customer for your concept?
• Why would potential customers care? What would make your ideal customers take notice of your business?
• How do your products and/or services outshine the competition? What would make your ideal customers choose you over a competitor?

These answers come easily if you have a solid concept for your business, but don’t worry if you get stuck. Use the rest of your plan template to brainstorm ideas and tactics. You’ll quickly find these answers and possibly new directions as you explore your ideas and options.

2. Offer and Value Proposition

This is where you detail your offer, such as selling products, providing services or both, and why anyone would care. That’s the value proposition. Specifically, you’ll expand on your answers to the first and fourth bullets from your mission/vision.

As you complete this section, you might find that exploring value propositions uncovers marketable business opportunities that you hadn’t yet considered. So spend some time brainstorming the possibilities in this section.

For example, a cottage baker startup specializing in gluten-free or keto-friendly products might be a value proposition that certain audiences care deeply about. Plus, you could expand on that value proposition by offering wedding and other special-occasion cakes that incorporate gluten-free, keto-friendly and traditional cake elements that all guests can enjoy.

3. Audience and Ideal Customer

Here is where you explore bullet point number three, who your business will benefit. Identifying your ideal customer and exploring a broader audience for your goods or services is essential in defining your sales and marketing strategies, plus it helps fine-tune what you offer.

There are many ways to research potential audiences, but a shortcut is to simply identify a problem that people have that your product or service can solve. If you start from the position of being a problem solver, it’s easy to define your audience and describe the wants and needs of your ideal customer for marketing efforts.

Using the cottage baker startup example, a problem people might have is finding fresh-baked gluten-free or keto-friendly sweets. Examining the wants and needs of these people might reveal a target audience that is health-conscious or possibly dealing with health issues and willing to spend more for hard-to-find items.

However, it’s essential to have a customer base that can support your business. You can be too specialized. For example, our baker startup can attract a broader audience and boost revenue by offering a wider selection of traditional baked goods alongside its gluten-free and keto-focused specialties.

4. Revenue Streams, Sales Channels and Marketing

Thanks to our internet-driven economy, startups have many revenue opportunities and can connect with target audiences through various channels. Revenue streams and sales channels also serve as marketing vehicles, so you can cover all three in this section.

Revenue Streams

Revenue streams are the many ways you can make money in your business. In your plan template, list how you’ll make money upon launch, plus include ideas for future expansion. The income possibilities just might surprise you.

For example, our cottage baker startup might consider these revenue streams:

• Product sales : Online, pop-up shops , wholesale and (future) in-store sales
• Affiliate income : Monetize blog and social media posts with affiliate links
• Advertising income : Reserve website space for advertising
• E-book sales : (future) Publish recipe e-books targeting gluten-free and keto-friendly dessert niches
• Video income : (future) Monetize a YouTube channel featuring how-to videos for the gluten-free and keto-friendly dessert niches
• Webinars and online classes : (future) Monetize coaching-style webinars and online classes covering specialty baking tips and techniques
• Members-only content : (future) Monetize a members-only section of the website for specialty content to complement webinars and online classes
• Franchise : (future) Monetize a specialty cottage bakery concept and sell to franchise entrepreneurs

Sales Channels

Sales channels put your revenue streams into action. This section also answers the “where will this happen” question in the second bullet of your vision.

The product sales channels for our cottage bakery example can include:

• Mobile point-of-sale (POS) : A mobile platform such as Shopify or Square POS for managing in-person sales at local farmers’ markets, fairs and festivals
• E-commerce platform : An online store such as Shopify, Square or WooCommerce for online retail sales and wholesale sales orders
• Social media channels : Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest shoppable posts and pins for online sales via social media channels
• Brick-and-mortar location : For in-store sales , once the business has grown to a point that it can support a physical location

Channels that support other income streams might include:

• Affiliate income : Blog section on the e-commerce website and affiliate partner accounts
• Advertising income : Reserved advertising spaces on the e-commerce website
• E-book sales : Amazon e-book sales via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
• Video income : YouTube channel with ad monetization
• Webinars and online classes : Online class and webinar platforms that support member accounts, recordings and playback
• Members-only content : Password-protected website content using membership apps such as MemberPress

Nowadays, the line between marketing and sales channels is blurred. Social media outlets, e-books, websites, blogs and videos serve as both marketing tools and income opportunities. Since most are free and those with advertising options are extremely economical, these are ideal marketing outlets for lean startups.

However, many businesses still find value in traditional advertising such as local radio, television, direct mail, newspapers and magazines. You can include these advertising costs in your simple business plan template to help build a marketing plan and budget.

5. Structure, Suppliers and Operations

This section of your simple business plan template explores how to structure and operate your business. Details include the type of business organization your startup will take, roles and responsibilities, supplier logistics and day-to-day operations. Also, include any certifications or permits needed to launch your enterprise in this section.

Our cottage baker example might use a structure and startup plan such as this:

• Business structure : Sole proprietorship with a “doing business as” (DBA) .
• Permits and certifications : County-issued food handling permit and state cottage food certification for home-based food production. Option, check into certified commercial kitchen rentals.
• Roles and responsibilities : Solopreneur, all roles and responsibilities with the owner.
• Supply chain : Bulk ingredients and food packaging via Sam’s Club, Costco, Amazon Prime with annual membership costs. Uline for shipping supplies; no membership needed.
• Day-to-day operations : Source ingredients and bake three days per week to fulfill local and online orders. Reserve time for specialty sales, wholesale partner orders and market events as needed. Ship online orders on alternating days. Update website and create marketing and affiliate blog posts on non-shipping days.

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6. Financial Forecasts

Your final task is to list forecasted business startup and ongoing costs and profit projections in your simple business plan template. Thanks to free business tools such as Square and free marketing on social media, lean startups can launch with few upfront costs. In many cases, cost of goods, shipping and packaging, business permits and printing for business cards are your only out-of-pocket expenses.

Cost Forecast

Our cottage baker’s forecasted lean startup costs might include:

Gross Profit Projections

This helps you determine the retail prices and sales volume required to keep your business running and, hopefully, earn income for yourself. Use product research to spot target retail prices for your goods, then subtract your cost of goods, such as hourly rate, raw goods and supplier costs. The total amount is your gross profit per item or service.

Here are some examples of projected gross profits for our cottage baker:

Bottom Line

Putting careful thought and detail in a business plan is always beneficial, but don’t get so bogged down in planning that you never hit the start button to launch your business . Also, remember that business plans aren’t set in stone. Markets, audiences and technologies change, and so will your goals and means of achieving them. Think of your business plan as a living document and regularly revisit, expand and restructure it as market opportunities and business growth demand.

Is there a template for a business plan?

You can copy our free business plan template and fill in the blanks or customize it in Google Docs, Microsoft Word or another word processing app. This free business plan template includes the six key elements that any entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a new business.

What does a simple business plan include?

A simple business plan is a one- to two-page overview covering six key elements that any budding entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a startup. These include your vision or mission, product or service offering, target audience, revenue streams and sales channels, structure and operations, and financial forecasts.

How can I create a free business plan template?

Start with our free business plan template that covers the six essential elements of a startup. Once downloaded, you can edit this document in Google Docs or another word processing app and add new sections or subsections to your plan template to meet your specific business plan needs.

What basic items should be included in a business plan?

When writing out a business plan, you want to make sure that you cover everything related to your concept for the business,  an analysis of the industry―including potential customers and an overview of the market for your goods or services―how you plan to execute your vision for the business, how you plan to grow the business if it becomes successful and all financial data around the business, including current cash on hand, potential investors and budget plans for the next few years.

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Krista Fabregas is a seasoned eCommerce and online content pro sharing more than 20 years of hands-on know-how with those looking to launch and grow tech-forward businesses. Her expertise includes eCommerce startups and growth, SMB operations and logistics, website platforms, payment systems, side-gig and affiliate income, and multichannel marketing. Krista holds a bachelor's degree in English from The University of Texas at Austin and held senior positions at NASA, a Fortune 100 company, and several online startups.

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Pravasi Protection Plan offers critical cover for the UAE's expat workforce

Annual premiums start from Dh37 going up to Dh72

The recently launched Pravasi Protection Plan (PPP), a collaborative effort between the Indian consulate, Orient Insurance, and Gargash Insurance Services, is specifically tailored for the Indian workforce in the UAE who often lack a safety net.

Essentially, the Pravasi Protection Plan (PPP) offers a group life cover extending its coverage beyond workplace accidents to include natural deaths and accidental disabilities, ensuring worldwide coverage that safeguards beneficiaries. The plan is initiated by the Indian consulate in Dubai.

“The Pravasi Protection Plan (PPP) provides a substantial way to enhance the welfare of the Indian workforce in the UAE. Over 60 per cent of Indians in the UAE, at around 1.5 million, are blue-collar workers. Most of these workers do not have any form of life insurance, which leaves their families vulnerable in case of an untimely death. We have ensured our plan is affordable for large corporates and SMEs alike, and we hope that companies will integrate it into their employee welfare offerings,” said Mustafa O. Vazayil, Managing Director, Gargash Insurance Services.

He further added that though the scheme is primarily targeted at Indian expatriates, an employer can add his workforce of other nationalities as well.

According to a study by the Indian Consulate, about 1,500 to 2,000 Indian workers in the UAE succumb to natural causes or illnesses annually, leaving a large number of families financially vulnerable.

The insurance coverage signifies not only financial security but also a broader vision of inclusivity and care for the worker community in the UAE.

Annual premiums start from Dh37 going up to Dh72, offering benefits like worldwide coverage for employees with UAE employment visas. The policy also covers permanent total/ partial disability due to accidents, repatriation expenses (death only) up to Dh12,000 per person, and compensation ranging from Dh35,000 to Dh75,000, depending on the coverage.

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• Best for Waiting Periods
• Best for Chronic Conditions
• Best for 100% Reimbursement
• Best for Exotic Pets
• Best for Broad Coverage
• Best for Pre-Existing Conditions
• Best for Comprehensive Coverage
• Best for Unlimited Annual Coverage
• Best for Affordable Premiums
• Why You Should Trust Us

The Best Pet Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

What do you want from a top pet insurance company ?

Accident coverage? Illness coverage? Wellness coverage? Or all of the above?

Business Insider compared 30 different providers to find the most affordable, comprehensive pet insurance for dog, cat, and exotic pet owners to get the coverage they need. Remember that your insurance rates will depend on where you live in the state, as well as your pet's age, breed, and health.

Below, find our team's picks for the best pet insurance companies in Pennsylvania. 

Best Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania in 2024

• Best for Waiting Periods: ASPCA Pet Insurance
• Best for Chronic Conditions: Trupanion Pet Insurance
• Best for 100% Reimbursement: Figo Pet Insurance
• Best for Exotic Pets: Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Best for Broad Coverage: Spot Pet Insurance
• Best for Pre-existing Conditions: AKC Pet Insurance
• Best for Comprehensive Coverage: Pumpkin Pet Insurance
• Best for Unlimited Annual Coverage: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
• Best for Affordable Premiums: Lemonade Pet Insurance

Compare the Best Pet Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania

The best pet insurance companies understand that your pet is unique and offers comprehensive, cost-effective coverage that reflects that understanding. We've chosen the best pet insurance companies accordingly, taking note of waiting periods, coverage for pre-existing conditions, emergency care coverage, and cost.

Here are our picks for the best pet insurance companies of 2024.

Best Pet Insurance for Waiting Periods

Aspca pet insurance.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a famous nonprofit focused on animal rights. In addition to this critical work, the ASPCA lends its name to affordable pet health insurance plans with great benefits. At this time, the ASPCA does not sell or underwrite insurance, but it does receive royalties to add its name to this pet insurance plan.

Coverage is available for dogs, cats, and horses. Standard plans with the ASPCA include coverage for things like congenital conditions, alternative therapies, and behavioral issues. But most importantly, its policies offer a shorter waiting period than most providers for cruciate injuries (14 days). Pets must be at least eight weeks old to qualify for ASPCA pet insurance, but there's no upper age limit. So senior pets can enjoy coverage through ASPCA pet insurance.

Owners with multiple eligible pets also get a 10% discount monthly. That said, ASPCA also reserves the right to raise your premiums according to your pet's age instead of just inflation, so you may find you're spending way more as your pet gets older. 

Read our ASPCA pet insurance review .

Best Pet Insurance for Chronic Conditions

Trupanion pet insurance.

If you're looking for flexible coverage and have a forgiving budget, consider Trupanion. It provides illness and accident coverage for cats and dogs, including plans without limits and a lifetime, per-condition deductible, saving you money if your pet has recurring health issues. However, if your pet contracts a variety of illnesses, your better off with one of the other companies on this list. 

The most crucial distinction for Trupanion is its low out-of-pocket costs. Eligible customers can choose a $0 deductible with 90% reimbursement. So in a pet emergency, you only pay 10% of eligible vet bills, though a $0 deductible policy will have high monthly premiums. Trupanion also has the unique ability to pay eligible vets directly, so you don't have to go through claims every time you take your pet to the vet.

Pets over 14 years old are ineligible for coverage, and illness coverage has a 30-day waiting period. But Trupanion also offers valuable add-ons that'll cover boarding fees if a pet owner is hospitalized, behavioral and rehabilitative therapy, and coverage for unintentional property damage caused by a pet. 

Read our Trupanion pet insurance review .

Best Pet Insurance for 100% Reimbursement

Figo pet insurance.

Figo is unique in that it offers a 100% reimbursement option. In short, under one of its plans, you'll be covered for 100% of your eligible pet expenses after you meet your annual deductible. In addition, it offers plans with lower yearly reimbursement maximums. The more you pay in premiums, the less you pay at the time of service, and vice versa.

Its comprehensive pet insurance plans include coverage for non-routine dental care, alternative treatments, and hereditary conditions. You can even add preventative coverage with wellness care and vet exam fees.

Added benefits of Figo pet insurance plans include a shorter than average one-day waiting period for accident coverage, a 24-hour pet telehealth line, and its Pet Cloud app to make your pet's vet records much more manageable.

Furthermore, Costco members can access a 15% discount on Figo plans. 

Read our Figo pet insurance review .

Best Pet Insurance for Exotic Pets

Nationwide pet insurance.

Nationwide is a familiar name for home, auto, and life insurance. But did you know it also offers pet insurance plans? You can buy coverage for dogs, cats, birds, and some exotic pets, which is uncommon in the industry. In addition, there are no age limits for pet coverage with Nationwide. Nationwide pet insurance plans are available in every state. So whether you have a dog, lizard, horse, or iguana, you won't have an issue finding pet insurance coverage.

Nationwide's Whole Pet plan covers illnesses, accidents, and some hereditary and congenital conditions, but does not cover wellness treatments. You'll be able to cover preventive care costs with its Major Medical with Wellness plan, but this lacks hereditary and congenital condition coverage. 

It's worth noting that Nationwide has recently announced non-renewals for approximately 100,000 policies from now until the summer of 2025 as a result of rising vet costs and inflation. This may signal some future financial uncertainty, so dog and cat owners may want to look elsewhere for long-term coverage. However, if you have an exotic pet, Nationwide is one of your only options. 

Read our Nationwide pet insurance review .

Best Pet Insurance for Broad Coverage

Spot pet insurance.

What's excellent about Spot is that it offers a wide variety of policies, including coverage for both accident and illness, accident-only, and an optional wellness plan for an additional fee. Additionally, it has a 14-day waiting period for accidents, illnesses, ligament and knee issues, like ASPCA.

Spot Pet Insurance will reimburse exam fees (for select conditions), end-of-life expenses, and prescription food as part of its accident and illness coverage. Most pet insurance providers exclude these benefits from their coverage. Qualified pet parents may also choose unlimited annual coverage. Spot has pet insurance for accidents, illness, and wellness add-ons for dental cleanings, wellness exams, certain vaccines, and more.

Spot pet insurance premiums are high compared to some other pet insurance competitors. Spot also increases your premiums annually based on your pet's age.

Read our Spot pet insurance review .

Best Pet Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions

Akc pet insurance.

The American Kennel Club's pet insurance plans are available for all pets, not just registered purebred dogs. So you can sign your mixed breed dog or cat up for AKC's pet insurance and choose from various optional add-ons. This includes coverage for exam fees, wellness care, and final expenses, and breeding coverage, which is an uncommon add-on.

You'll get 30 days of free coverage if you register your new pup for an American Kennel Club membership. But pet parents with senior pets may want to consider other pet insurance companies. Pets nine years old or older will only be eligible for accident coverage when you buy your policy. You'll also need to sign up your pet before their second birthday to qualify for the AKC's optional coverage for hereditary or congenital conditions.

American Kennel Club is unique because it covers both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after a 12-month waiting period. By contrast, other pet insurance companies may cover curable pre-existing conditions after a symptom-free waiting period, but almost all pet insurance companies don't cover incurable conditions at all.

Read our AKC pet insurance review .

Best Pet Insurance for Comprehensive Coverage

Pumpkin pet insurance.

If you're looking for comprehensive pet insurance coverage, Pumpkin Pet Insurance could be a great choice. Unlike many other pet insurance providers, Pumpkin offers coverage for preventable diseases (excluding pre-existing conditions) like Lyme or parvovirus.

In addition, Pumpkin only requires a 14-day waiting period for breeds with common hereditary conditions like hip and joint problems. In contrast, other providers may require waiting periods of up to 60 days. The waiting period is for current and future treatment. So if your pet presents with any of the listed health conditions within the waiting period, that condition and any related vet bills will not be covered in the future.

With Pumpkin, you can get a quote for your pet quickly and easily. You will have fewer options to choose from when it comes to coverage, but the available options are above average compared to other pet insurance providers.

Finally, the company won't decline coverage based on a pet's age. Specific policies also cover advanced treatments for things like behavioral therapy and acupuncture.

Read our Pumpkin pet insurance review .

Best Pet Insurance for Unlimited Annual Coverage

Healthy paws pet insurance.

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is one of the highest-rated pet insurance companies according to customers. It's not surprising considering it has no limits on how much it will pay per incident, annually, or over the lifetime of your pet. Many pet parents also love the fact that Healthy Paws routinely gives back to homeless pets.

It offers coverage options for all stages of your pet's life, from eight weeks to 14 years old. Pet parents also choose their deductibles and reimbursement levels. If you're concerned about large vet costs after an accident or illness, we recommend paying more in monthly premiums for better coverage. If you're comfortable paying your vet a little more to save money each month, lower coverage options are available.

Read our Healthy Paws pet insurance review .

Best Pet Insurance for Affordable Premiums

Lemonade pet insurance.

Are you looking for pet insurance that won't break the bank? Consider Lemonade Pet Insurance, which offers coverage that starts at just $12 monthly. In addition, some of Lemonade's cheaper wellness plans provide coverage for wellness checks, preventative care, and extended accident and illness coverage. Whether shopping for a new pet insurance policy or adjusting your current plan, Lemonade's website and app provide easy-to-use quoting tools.

If you have other items to insure, you can save even more. Customers who bundle their pet insurance with coverage for, say, your car or rental will get a 10% discount. You can also get 5% off for paying a full year's premium upfront and a 5% discount per policy for two or more pets. Unfortunately, Lemonade pet insurance is only available in some states. You can check its website or run a quote to find out if Lemonade pet insurance is available for your pets.

Read our Lemonade pet insurance review .

How to Pick the Right Pet Insurance Plan For You

When looking for pet insurance plans, comparing different providers is essential to find the best coverage and price. Some factors to consider include the cost of premiums, the amount of coverage offered, the waiting period for coverage of pre-existing conditions, and the reimbursement percentage for veterinary care.

It's also important to read the fine print to understand what is and isn't covered. For example, many pet insurance policies don't cover routine vet care such as vaccinations and annual checkups. It should also be noted that pet insurance companies don't necessarily define "pre-existing conditions" the same way every time. For example, some companies provide coverage for "curable" conditions.If your pet needs expensive surgery or treatment, you may only receive a fraction of the cost back from the insurance company.

Pet insurance can be a great way to protect yourself from costly vet bills in an emergency. So, do your homework and shop around to find the best policy for your pet.

Key Features of Top Pet Insurance Plans

Pet insurance plans may differ when it comes to specifics, but in general you'll want to look for a policy that provides as much coverage as possible, with few exceptions or exclusions.

Comprehensive Coverage Options

Comprehensive pet insurance will cover both accidents and illness, and some even include preventive care like wellness checkups. In general, you should purchase the policy that offers the most comprehensive coverage — especially if you foresee any issues arising with your pet. 

A comprehensive pet insurance policy will cost more than an accident-only plan, but it should still be relatively affordable, and it could make a big difference if your pet needs care down the line.

Customizable Policies and Deductibles 

Most pet insurance plans let you customize coverage (to include or exclude things like wellness visits) and customize your deductible. You can choose to pay a higher deductible, which will lower your monthly pet insurance payment, or you can pick a lower deductible, which will mean a higher monthly premium. The best option for you really depends on your financial situation and whether you expect large vet bills anytime soon.

Cost Consideration for Pet Insurance

Premiums and value for money.

Cost is one of the primary considerations when choosing a policy for your pet. The best pet insurance policy will save you more money than you spent on premiums.

You'll want to find policies that cover the most costs while charging the least. This could mean finding the most comprehensive policy or reducing your coverage for a smaller monthly premium. For example, accident-only coverage is often far cheaper than comprehensive coverage. You can find our guide on the best cheap pet insurance here.

On the other hand, you may also opt for a policy that has preventative care coverage. This can cost more than a standard policy, but can prevent your pet from getting sick, saving you money in the long run.

Discounts and Savings Opportunities

Unfortunately, the cost of pet insurance is largely out of your control, dependent on your pet's breed and age. That said, there are ways that you can still save without influencing the underwriting process. For one, you can opt for multi-pet insurance as many of the best multi-pet insurance companies offer discounts of up to 10%.

Additionally, some of the larger companies that offer multiple types of insurance may allow you to bundle your pet insurance with other types of insurance, like auto or home. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania

You may want comprehensive pet insurance if your pet is older or more likely to get sick or injured. Ultimately, the best decision for you and your pet depends on your circumstances. You should also compare the cost of pet insurance premiums compared to potential pet care costs.

Several pet insurance companies have discounts for insuring multiple pets, usually between 5-10%. This could be a great option to save money while insuring all your furry friends.

Yes, in general, pet insurance is worth the investment for most pets. It provides financial protection against unexpected conditions that could otherwise cost you a lot out of pocket.

Pet insurance generally excludes treatments for incurable pre-existing conditions (those that have already been identified and diagnosed), routine wellness checks, and elective procedures. Pet insurance will also exclude treatments for intentional injury and some may exclude a treatment for an accident that has been covered recently. Some pet insurance policies also exclude pets above a certain age. 

No, pet insurance isn't effective immediately. All pet insurance providers have a waiting period before the policy's coverage takes effect. Illness insurance usually takes longer, usually two weeks, to kick in than accident coverage, which can take as little as 24 hours to take effect.

Why You Should Trust Us: Criteria for Choosing the Best Pet Insurance

When it comes to pet insurance, there are a lot of providers from which to choose. So how do you know which one is the best for your pet?

We reviewed 30 pet insurance providers for our guide on the best pet insurance. The factors we considered included, but were not limited to:

• Plan coverage limits
• Exclusions (such as pre-existing conditions or hereditary conditions) and exceptions
• Flexibility of policy (customizations to deductibles, percent reimbursed, and coverage limits)
• Policy pricing
• Available add-ons
• Customer reviews and satisfaction

We started by looking at what type of coverage each provider offers. We focused on companies that provided good coverage options and rates, as well as customer service that is friendly and helpful. Finally, we compared plan rates to ensure these providers offered affordable coverage.

You can learn more about how Business Insider rates pet insurance products .

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California home insurance program accused of selling policies with subpar fire coverage

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A class-action lawsuit against the California FAIR Plan Assn. accuses the state’s insurance program of last resort of unlawfully selling policies with subpar coverage for fire and smoke damage.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Alameda County Superior Court on behalf of four California residents who seek to represent more than 365,000 FAIR Plan policyholders.

Funded by a pool of private insurers who write policies in the state, the FAIR Plan serves as backup insurance for people unable to obtain coverage from private sources, especially those in high-risk areas where companies are reluctant to provide coverage.

Over the last few years, the state insurer has seen a wave of new policyholders amid extreme and destructive wildfires that have caused insurance companies to leave the state or to stop renewing policies.

As of March, the FAIR Plan was exposed to $340 billion in liabilities because of the high number of policies it had issued.

Column: Unaffordable homeowner’s insurance is leaving Californians exposed to the elements

Hundreds of thousands of Californians have been abandoned by their property insurers because they live in risky fire-prone areas.

May 27, 2024

The Department of Insurance requires fire insurance policies to cover “direct physical loss” caused by fire and smoke.

But since 2017, the lawsuit claims, the FAIR Plan began limiting coverage after state officials approved a standard policy that, among other provisions, paid for smoke damage only if it was detectable to the unaided eye or nose of an average person rather than requiring laboratory testing.

Dylan L. Schaffer, the attorney for the plaintiffs, said the changes created a policy that is unlawful and fails to provide mandatory minimum coverage for losses caused by a fire. It also places residents at risk to contaminants that may not be visible to the human eye.

“The illegal policy gives FAIR Plan and its member companies like State Farm and Nationwide license to refuse to properly investigate and pay wildfire smoke damage claims,” Schaffer said.

A spokesman for the California FAIR Plan Assn. said it does not comment on pending litigation.

Allstate seeking 34% rate increase for California homeowners insurance

Allstate, the sixth largest homeowners’ insurer in California, has filed for an average 34% rate increase that if approved could take effect later this year.

July 11, 2024

Because of those changes, Schaffer said, thousands of wildfire claims have been improperly denied.

But the lawsuit also serves as an attempt to hold the Department of Insurance accountable for failing to enforce its own policies.

The lawsuit claims that the department wrote a letter to the FAIR Plan in January 2021, saying the amended fire insurance policy was unlawful because it failed to provide “the mandatory minimum coverage required by California law.” The letter also told the FAIR Plan that it had obtained approval for its policy based on “misrepresentations” and “concealment of material facts,” according to the lawsuit.

The letter directed the FAIR Plan to reform its policies, the lawsuit says, and review claims it had rejected.

The lawsuit claims that the results of the department’s findings were once again confirmed in a May 2022 report on the FAIR Plan’s handling of wildfire claims.

A spokesperson for the Insurance Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

With fires burning again, is California becoming uninsurable?

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara have floated proposals to lure home insurance companies back as climate change increases wildfire risks.

June 20, 2024

Schaffer, who is also litigating a separate suit on behalf of more than 1,000 homeowners in Los Angeles who say the FAIR Plan wrongly denied their claims, said the FAIR Plan continues to sell the same policies despite the department’s findings.

The lawsuit asks the court to order the association to comply with the law and increase the scope of wildfire coverage in all of its California policies.

“We’re not asking for any money, we’re just asking the California FAIR Plan to come into the light, to come in where all its member carriers are,” Schaffer said. “They all investigate smoke damage, they determine smoke damage and they pay for reasonable amounts for remediation.”

More to Read

L.A. consumer group calls FAIR Plan insurance reforms an industry ‘bailout’

Aug. 1, 2024

Is this the solution to California’s soaring insurance prices due to wildfire risk?

July 26, 2024

State regulators identify wildfire neighborhoods targeted for insurance relief

June 12, 2024

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Ruben Vives is a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Times. A native of Guatemala, he got his start in journalism by writing for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2007. He helped uncover the financial corruption in the city of Bell that led to criminal charges against eight city officials. The 2010 investigative series won the Pulitzer Prize for public service and other prestigious awards.

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Nearly 1 in 10 Businesses to Spend Over $25 Million on AI Initiatives in 2024, Searce Report Finds

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A new report has found that 8% of U.K. and and 7% of U.S. decision-makers plan to spend over $25 million (£19.5 million) on AI initiatives this year. This comes after many investors voiced their concerns about the technology’s capabilities and their potential return on investment.

According to the 2024 State of AI report from technology consultancy Searce, a quarter of decision-makers said their organisations were set to spend between $11 million (£8.5 million) and $25 million (£19.5 million) on AI in 2024.

The top reason for making these investments was to drive new business growth, as cited by 31% of U.K. and 35% of U.S. respondents, and this seems to be coming to fruition from their perspective.

Over 90% of U.K. decision-makers surveyed view their AI initiatives as “successful” and nearly a third plan to boost their AI spending by up to 50%. Another 8% said they would see investments increase by up to 100% or more.

The findings are based on a survey of 300 C-suite and senior technology executives at organisations with at least $500 million (£390 million) in revenue conducted in June and July of this year.

The report states that 70% of business decision-makers already have at least three generative AI use cases up and running as a result of their investments. These include tools for customer service, internal research, content generation, marketing and sales, coding, data analysis, and capture.

SEE: Generative AI: UK Business Leaders Face Investment Challenges as Everyone Claims to Be an Expert

However, while 51% of respondents deem their investments “very successful,” just 42% said they were “somewhat successful.”

“The disparity between highly and somewhat successful initiatives suggests a maturity gap in AI implementation,” the report’s authors wrote.

“This presents an opportunity for organizations to focus on talent development, data quality, and robust evaluation metrics to enhance their AI capabilities and achieve greater returns on investment.

Paul Pallath, VP of applied AI at Searce, said in the report, “With AI, organizations frequently focus on short-term, low-hanging fruit, which results in substantial technology and process debt that becomes costly to manage as the organization grows.”

The authors added, “To truly generate ROI , organizations need to move away from blindly investing in these initiatives and hoping for the best, and instead embrace an outcome-centric approach underpinned by proper governance, measurable frameworks and change management processes.”

UK business leaders are concerned about lack of AI talent to support their investments

Respondents were asked about the challenges to AI adoption that most concern them. For U.K. decision-makers, this was the lack of qualified talent, cited by 19%.

The level of “ skills-shortage vacancies ,” where a job cannot be filled due to a lack of skills, qualifications, or experience among applicants, is very high in the information and communications sector in the U.K. The figure climbed from an already high 25% in 2017 to 43% in 2022, the last year for which data is available.

A recent report also found that the U.K. is the 25th most technically proficient country in Europe , sitting well behind other digital leaders in the region like Germany, France, and Spain.

SEE: Crucial Skills Gaps in the UK Include AI and Strategic Thinking, According to Red Hat

The U.K. government has noted the country’s digital skills shortage and has made a series of key investments in the past year or so to try and address it. In November 2023, more than £200 million was announced to support colleges and universities to offer more training opportunities in industries, including digital .

This March, Science Secretary Michelle Donelan unveiled another package of more than £1.1 billion to fund 4,000 doctorates in engineering and physical sciences.

Microsoft has also made significant investments in bridging the U.K.’s digital skills gap. In December 2023, the tech giant announced a “multimillion pound investment” to provide AI skills training to more than one million people.

US business leaders are apprehensive about the privacy and security of their AI data

The biggest barrier for AI adoption was different for U.S. decision-makers, according to the Searce study, as 20% of respondents said it was data privacy and security. This is linked to apprehension about safeguarding sensitive information , ever-changing regulations , and maintaining client trust .

“This skepticism may stem from high-profile failures or overhyped expectations not being met, leading to caution in AI investments,” the authors wrote. Such high-profile failures may include DPD’s chatbot swearing at customers , Microsoft’s trolling Twitter bot , and Google’s Bard (now Gemini) model answering a question wrong as it was unveiled , wiping $100 billion off Alphabet’s shares.

There is also tangible evidence that AI capabilities are overhyped . A recent Stanford study found that AI is still not as good as humans at the complex tasks of advanced-level mathematical problem solving, visual commonsense reasoning, and planning.

A 2022 report from Deloitte saw the percentage of organisations in the AI “underachiever” category — high deployment/low outcomes — rise from 17% to 22% in a year, suggesting outcomes are lagging.

SEE: Data Scientist Survey: Do Tech Leaders Believe the AI Hype?

Investors are concerned about AI ROI — and businesses should be too

Julian Mulhare, EMEA managing director at Searce, said in the report’s press release, “As global investments in AI continue to rise, as our research has found, it is crucial for businesses to focus not just on spending, but on the tangible returns these investments can deliver.”

This point has been emphasised by investors revealing their concerns about when, or if, the huge cash injections into tech companies developing AI models are going to pay off.

Jim Covello, a Goldman Sachs stock analyst, wrote in a June report , “Despite its expensive price tag, the technology is nowhere near where it needs to be in order to be useful … Over-building things the world doesn’t have use for, or is not ready for, typically ends badly.”

Sequoia Capital partner David Cahn argued in a blog post that the AI industry would have to generate a whopping $600 billion a year to pay for its hardware spend.

SEE: New UK Tech Startups See First Decline Since 2022, Down 11% This Quarter

According to S&P Global , combined capital spending for Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta has increased 60% year-over-year as a result of AI investments. Alphabet alone spent $13 billion in the second quarter , 91% more than Q2 2023, putting pressure on profit margins.

But Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg remarked during the Second Quarter 2024 Results Conference Call that he expects it will be “years” before the company monetises its AI products. Less-than-reassuring comments like this from Zuckerberg played a part in shares in the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. tech companies — NVIDIA, Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, and Apple — losing a combined $1.3 trillion over five days in early August.

Furthermore, while business leaders may be excited about the prospect of boosted internal efficiency thanks to AI, consumers do not necessarily share this optimism. A new study from Washington State University found that the presence of the term “artificial intelligence” in a product description actually “decreases purchase intention.”

This is largely due to a lack of trust in AI’s capabilities and the perceived risk associated with elements like loss of control and privacy. Businesses, therefore, should be aware of the ROI of applying AI to their products as well as internal deployment.

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• IBM: While Enterprise Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Increases, Barriers are Limiting Its Usage
• The AI Skills Gap: Intel Works to Bridge It With Community Colleges
• Deloitte’s Tech Predictions for 2024: Generative AI Will Continue to Shape Chips Market
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• 9 out of 10 UK Business Leaders Suffer From Tech Anxiety That Disrupts Their Sleep
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Who Is Brian Niccol, the Incoming Starbucks C.E.O. From Chipotle?

Mr. Niccol, whom the coffee chain poached from Chipotle, has emerged in recent years as a top leader in the restaurant industry.

By Danielle Kaye

Starbucks unveiled an abrupt leadership change on Tuesday: Brian Niccol, a high-profile name in the restaurant industry, is taking the reins, after months of weak sales at the coffee giant and a falling stock price.

Mr. Niccol will step in as chief executive next month, replacing Laxman Narasimhan , whose relatively brief stint in the top job at Starbucks began in March last year. The company’s chief financial officer, Rachel Ruggeri, will serve as interim chief executive until Mr. Niccol officially joins the company on Sept. 9.

Starbucks’ shares soared on Tuesday after the announcement, rising about 20 percent as investors — including activist investment groups that have pushed the company to make changes — largely cheered the leadership pivot.

Here’s what to know about the incoming Starbucks leader.

Chipotle saw rapid growth during his tenure.

Mr. Niccol is coming off of six years at the helm of Chipotle Mexican Grill — a period that saw the fast-casual burrito chain nearly double its sales. The company’s stock price has increased about 800 percent since he took over in early 2018.

Much of that growth has stemmed from Mr. Niccol’s focus on opening more drive-through options and expanding the company’s loyalty program.

Chain Reactions

Percentage change in share price since March 2018, when Brian Niccol became Chipotle’s C.E.O.

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