business plan australia example

At the end of your visit today, would you complete a short survey to help improve our services?

Thanks! When you're ready, just click "Start survey".

It looks like you’re about to finish your visit. Are you ready to start the short survey now?

Writing a business plan

A business plan documents your objectives and the strategies and structures you have in place for achieving them.

Your business plan should explain how you will manage all the important aspects of your business, from products and services to operational plans and finances.

Video: Writing a business plan

Watch our video on why you should write a business plan for your new or current business.

Topics include:

• why it's important to create and review a business plan
• the information to include in your business plan
• using a business plan to achieve your business goals
• downloading and completing our business plan template.

Use a business plan to:

• help you start a new business
• help you improve the performance of an existing business
• attract funding for an investment
• communicate business progress to stakeholders
• communicate business goals and objectives to internal staff members
• attract potential buyers for the business.

A business plan is a 'living' document, so it should evolve and change—think of it as an operating guide for your business throughout the start-up, operations and succession phases.

Download and write a full business plan

Download our free full business plan template and use the guidelines below to write a plan for your business.

There are also other templates available that may better meet your needs—visit business.gov.au .

You should customise your chosen template to suit your business and industry.

We explain below how you can start with a 1-page business plan to ease you into the process of completing the full business plan.

Business plan elements

The elements of your business plan will vary depending on:

• what phase your business is in (starting, running, selling)
• the industry your business is in
• how you choose to use the plan (e.g. for internal development purposes).

Every business plan will be different, but they will generally include similar elements. The sections of our business plan template are listed below—use these as a guide when completing it or as a reference when creating your own.

At the start of your business plan, include the following business details:

• business name
• date registered
• Australian Business Number (ABN)
• Australian Company Number (ACN) – if applicable
• tax file number (TFN)
• business address
• contact details
• website details
• social media details.

Read about choosing a business structure and getting the right licences and registrations .

This section provides an overview of the business concept. It should be attention-grabbing and succinct—the content will be covered in more detail in future sections.

While this is the first section of the plan, it can often help to write it last after the other sections have been finalised.

This helps to ensure that the executive summary covers all the key information within the plan.

It should define:

• what your business vision is
• what your legal structure is
• what products and services you offer
• who your customers are
• what sets you apart from your competitors
• how you will create a market for your products and services
• how you will operate
• what your financial projections are
• how your business or industry will evolve
• who owns or manages your business
• what your short-term and long-term goals are.

Refer to the corresponding sections in our free business plan template:

• 2.1 Products and services
• 2.2 Market analysis
• 2.3 Industry description and outlook
• 2.4 SWOT analysis

In this section, you should highlight your business products and services and describe what makes them unique, such as their:

• limitations
• cost and sale price.

You can also include details of any plans your business has to introduce new products and services.

Your market analysis should describe your target market (e.g. local, international) and target customers.

Add in the research you have done about your industry and the market trends.

In this section, you will also complete a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).

Find out more about researching your market:

• planning and conducting market and customer research
• market research kit .
• 3.1 Current situation
• 3.2 Marketing objectives
• 3.3 Target segments
• 3.4 Competitor analysis
• 3.5 Brand positioning
• 3.6 Marketing programs
• 3.7 Marketing tactics
• 3.8 Key actions
• 3.9 Business controls

A business plan should include a high-level summary of your market research and analysis.

Starting with your current situation, complete your marketing objectives and analysis around your target market and your competitiveness.

Complete your customer and competitor profiles and develop a 1-page brand strategy .

These will help you prepare your marketing plan in section 3 of the template.

Your plan will include marketing tactics and an action plan. You will identify how you will set KPIs and report on your marketing effectiveness.

Learn about:

• branding your business
• writing a marketing strategy and plan .
• 4.1 Sales strategies
• 4.2 Sales analysis and forecast
• 4.3 Customer management

Explain your sales forecasts and targets in this section, and how you will manage customer records and payments. You should understand what sales strategies will work for you and the best channels to market your products or services .

You will also need to know what your current sales, volume and market share are and what you expect them to be for the next 2 years.

Learn about cash flow, invoices and payments and how to collect and store customer information for help with managing customers.

Regardless of your business or industry, you will need to prepare for operating some of your business online.

Note your digital and customer and data-protection strategies in your business plan. You could also include:

• the digital tools and resources that will be used in your business
• the people responsible for overseeing the digital strategy within the business
• details of any security considerations.

Complete a digital health check and learn how to create a digital strategy for your business .

• 6.1 Business structure
• 6.2 Contracts, licences and agreements
• 6.3 Intellectual property
• 6.4 Insurance
• 6.6 Employees
• 6.7 Financial
• 6.8 Legal and ethical trading
• 6.9 Risk management
• 6.10 Business continuity

In this section, record the legal and risk management considerations for your business.

Describe your business structure and the contracts you have now or could have in the future.

If you have a lease or are considering leasing premises, add the terms and conditions of the lease and any actions you need to take to your plan.

To complete the other legal section, learn about:

• legal requirements for businesses
• selecting the right business location
• business insurance
• intellectual property: the basics
• legal and ethical selling
• your responsibilities as an employer .

Search the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) if you need information about licences that relate to your business.

To identify the risks to your business, your business plan should also:

• outline and demonstrate that you have considered the risks to your business (a business risk analysis) and the possible consequences
• summarise the plans you have in place for overcoming these risks.

A risk matrix tool or risk management plan can be developed to help you analyse your business risks—read more about identifying and managing business risk .

You will also need to consider business continuity planning to prepare for unexpected situations.

• 7.1 Location
• 7.2 Production
• 7.3 Current performance
• 7.4 Plant and equipment
• 7.6 List of major suppliers
• 7.7 Stock and inventory

This section will cover all you know about how you do things in your business—for example, your standard operating procedures and how to ensure the quality of your products and services.

To better understand your business operations, read about:

• business processes, procedures and standards
• choosing the right business location
• stock control: the basics .
• 8.1 Management and key personnel
• 8.3 Training
• 8.4 Recruitment
• 8.5 Succession planning

This section helps you note your current workforce structure and plan for the workforce you will have in the future as you grow, and for potentially passing the business to a successor.

Your business plan will detail your business's organisational structure (proposed or actual)—this is often shown as a diagram representing the business hierarchy, different roles within the business and how they relate to one another.

You should also consider succession planning, even if you haven't thought about how you would sell or pass on the business.

• workforce planning for small business
• training and developing staff
• passing a business to a successor .
• 9.1 Start-up costs
• 9.2 Profit and loss forecast
• 9.3 Cash flow forecast
• 9.4 Balance sheet
• 9.5 Financial ratios

Your business plan should include your business finance details—there is a separate business finance template you can also complete.

Summarise your key financial details, including:

• costs for establishing or operating the business
• sales needed to break even
• projected cash flow
• funding arrangements
• payment plans.

You can assess the financial performance of your business using financial ratios .

• 10.1 Review and update business goals
• 10.2 Make a schedule to review your actions

The final section of the business plan should include a set of actions to take before you review your business plan next, and check your progress. This should be over a 6–12 month period, based on the business goals outlined in your plan.

Set a regular review date for the actions and the business plan. Assess which actions have been completed, which remain outstanding and which require updating to help your business plan remain relevant.

Read about skills for running a business to consider ways to improve your time management and leadership.

Optional business plan elements

While not essential, the following can supplement your business plan.

Business vision statement and business values

A comprehensive business vision statement defines what your business does and why it is important.

This could be added in more detail in your business plan and referred to in your executive summary. Find out how to create a business vision .

Business values are the principles, beliefs, and standards of behaviour that guide your business. Including this in your plan will better reflect your goals for the business.

Customer journey strategy

This section could include details of your business's key customer service strategies.

Consider mapping out the intended customer journey—the intended path customers will follow when interacting with your business.

Start with a short business plan

A 1-page business plan can be a good place to start your business planning.

It can cover only high-level information about your business value proposition (i.e. why a customer would want to buy your products and services) and business model.

A one-page plan can include details about:

• your business vision and values
• projected income and expenses
• identified business risks
• the customer segments you intend to target
• the value proposition of your business
• channels that could be used to reach your target customers (e.g. direct or online marketing)
• your customer service plan
• how you will receive payment for products and services
• the activities needed to achieve your outcomes
• the resources you will need
• details of any partners you will use to provide goods and services
• the cost structure for your products and services (based on all items as listed in the plan).

You can search online for tools that can help you create this plan—for example, a value proposition canvas or business model canvas .

Once you are satisfied with this short business plan, you can use it as the basis for your full business plan.

Communicating your business plan

Communicating your business plan to your staff and stakeholders is essential for implementing it and achieving your business goals, even when starting out with a small team.

Some practical tips for communicating the plan include:

• being mindful of your audience—different communication styles will suit different audiences (e.g. you may be able to communicate more informally with your staff than with your stakeholders, board members or investors)
• choosing an appropriate format, time and place—you could hold a staff meeting, schedule a business plan review session and invite all staff and stakeholders to attend, or create an online presentation
• using clear, concise and simple language
• making time to get feedback from your staff and stakeholders.

Read about skills for running a business for tips on developing your communication skills.

Learn about managing people through change .

Review and update your business plan

You will need to regularly review your business plan to ensure that it is relevant, achievable and up to date with any changes in your business.

Consider reviewing your business plan:

• at regular intervals (e.g. quarterly or annually)
• after a business SWOT analysis has been completed
• when raising capital (e.g. approaching the bank for a loan or pitching to an investor)
• before implementing growth strategies or new products
• when new staff members are added to the team
• when implementing a new organisational structure
• before changes in the industry or to legislation
• when preparing to sell the business .

To help you review your own plan, ask yourself the following questions:

• What will the review schedule be?
• Is the plan up to date?
• Have the business goals changed?
• Is the plan still matched to the business goals?
• Are market trends changing?
• Have there been major political, environmental, social or technological changes that affect your business?
• Have there been significant changes in your finances or need for capital?
• Is the plan still 'fit for purpose'?

Business planning resources and tools

The following planning resources and tools below can help you compile and update your business plan to ensure your business is on track to meet its goals.

• Small business planning webinar recording
• Writing a marketing strategy and plan
• Identifying and managing business risk
• Business processes, procedures and standards
• Plan your business finances
• Market and customer research
• Choosing and working with business advisers
• Networking in business
• Ask a mentor – business planning

Learn about planning for the future with free and short online courses through the Back to Work program. The University of Sunshine Coast also provides free, online courses on business planning .

Resources for finding licences, permits and codes of conduct

Use the Business Launchpad to discover all your licensing needs, compiled in your own customised guide.

You can also search for licences, permits and codes of practice using the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS).

Learn about codes of conduct and codes of practices from:

• the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
• WorkCover Queensland .
• Last reviewed: 8 Dec 2022
• Last updated: 30 May 2024

Sample Plans

Business plan example australia.

Whether you are growing your existing business or starting afresh, a business plan is a critical business tool. At Business Plans, we have produced thousands of business plans for businesses across Australia from diverse industries.

On this page, you will find business plan templates for hundreds of different businesses in Australia. We have sensitised these business plan samples and made them more generic to suit a wide range of businesses.

Simply pick your category, purchase the business plan template and customise the content to reflect your business. Why spend time writing a business plan when you can download a business plan template and customise it suitably

Business Plan Templates that Deliver Results

A good business plan can help you figure out a direction for your business, create strategies to reach your goals and improve your chances of securing finance.

But we also understand that  writing a business plan  can take a lot of time. If the very thought of writing an exhaustive business plan seems to overwhelm you, consider buying one of our business plan templates.

All of these business plan examples have been produced by our professional business plan writers who have many years of experience in the craft. We have used our extensive experience, in-depth knowledge and expertise to create compelling business plans that have achieved staggering results for our clients.

Now take advantage of our skills by using some of our proven business plans for your business.

You don’t have to spend endless hours writing out your business plan from scratch. Nor do you have to pay for a custom written business plan to a professional writer. Simply download one of our previous works that have been sensitised into a generic template and get going!

Why Use a Business Plan Template?

A good business plan template can help organise your thoughts. It can provide a guideline so you don’t find yourself stuck staring at a blank page figuring out where to begin.

What’s more, a business plan sample provides a general layout of a standard business plan so you understand what goes where whilst ensuring you don’t leave anything out.

A good template also makes the job of writing a business plan easy and effortless.

Need More Information?

Can’t find a template for your business? Perhaps you have a question about our business plan samples. Feel free to contact our friendly team for assistance. Fill in our contact form  or call  1300 630 330 .

White Goods Business Plan

Get your business plan done today!

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete.

The White Goods Retailer business plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian White Goods Retailer applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of retail businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Why waste time trying to write a business plan from scratch, time is money!  Visit Page And Purchase

Wine Bar Business Plan (suitable for Bar Business Plan)

The Wine Bar business plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian Wine Barapplying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Wedding Planner Business Plan

The Wedding Planner business plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

However, if we take them at their simplest form an Investor invests the funds required in return for an equity stake in the business. They then sit back and wait for a return on their investment. Generally speaking with new start businesses or new technologies, the motivation for investment is not an annual return in the form of a dividend as they can go for a safer listed entity for this. They generally want to see their investment increase ten-fold or more over the medium-term through the business taking off.

A Business Angel will get involved in the business and will bring to the table business and/or industry experience and contacts. They will take a mentoring role to ensure the business has every chance of success. They may commit funds but will see their main investment in the business as ‘sweat equity’ working in the business in return for an equity stake in the business.

For more information on Investors and Business Angels please read our article, Investor or a Business Angel?

Vineyard Business Plan

The Vineyard business plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian businessapplying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Security Services Business Plan

The Security Services business plan is a 17 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian Security business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of business. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Please call us if you would like any assistance in this matter.

Tiler (trade )Business Plan

The Tiler’s business plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian Tiling Business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of trades. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Seafood Distributor Business Plan

The Seafood Distributor business plan is a 19 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian Seafood Distributor applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

The goal when preparing a business plan for investors is to provide sufficient information for them to know whether they are interested in the concept and want to know more, or they understand the concept and are not interested.

We try to limit business plans for investors to between 20 -30pages. It is important to cover off what makes your business so special, how you will commercialise and monetise your concept, who is involved in the project, the risks involved, and how the money will be spent.

For more information visit Investor Tips and Advice  Visit Page For how we can assist visit  exec-b-plan-investorsproposals-2400

Rooftiler Business Plan

The Roof Tiler’s business plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian Trade business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of trades. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Thai Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Thai Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Thai Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Vietnamese Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Vietnamese Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Vietnamese Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Steak House Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Steak House Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Steak House Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Spanish Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Spanish Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Spanish Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Russian Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Russian Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Russian Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Seafood Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Seafood Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Seafood Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Pizza and Pasta Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Pizza and Pasta Restaurant business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Pizza and Pasta Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Mongolian Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Mongolian Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Mongolian Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Malaysian Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Malaysian Restaurant business plan is a 18 page business plan written for an actual Indian Malaysian Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Mexican Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Mexican Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Indian Mexican Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Indonesian Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Indonesian Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Indian Indonesian Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Indian Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Indian Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Indian Hamburger Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Hamburger Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Hamburger Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Hamburger Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Greek Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Greek Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Greek Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

French Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The French Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian French Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Chinese Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Chinese Restaurant business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Chinese Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Restaurant business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Recruitment Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Recruitment business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Recruitment business applying for bank finance.

Real Estate Business Plan

Get your business plan done today! Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The car wash business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Real Estate business applying for bank finance.

Property Development Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Property Development business plan is a 12 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Property Development business applying for bank finance.

Psychologist Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Psychologist’s business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Psychologist’s business applying for bank finance.

Post Office Business

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Post Office business plan is a 15 page business plan written for an actual Australian Post Office applying for bank finance.

Plumbers Business Plans

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Plumber’s business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Plumbing business applying for bank finance.

Personal Trainer Business Plan

This is an Australian Business Plan. It has been deliberately written in plain language so it is easy to follow. The business plan is emailed to customers in Microsoft Word to allow for easy changes that suit the customers personal circumstances.

Visit Page And Purchase

Photographers Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Photography business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Photography business applying for bank finance.

Painters (Trade) Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Painter’s business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian painting business applying for bank finance.

Online Store Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Online Store business plan is a 14 page business plan written for an actual Australian Online Store business applying for bank finance.

Business Consultant Business Plan

Builders business plan.

The Builder’s business plan is a 22 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian builder applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Beauty Salon & Hairdresser Business Plan

The Beauty Salon and Hairdresser business plan is a 14 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of beauty realated businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Bakery Business Plan

The bakerybusiness plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian bakery applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of bakeries. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Asian Grocery Business Plan

The Asian Grocery business plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian based Asian Grocery business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of grocery businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Also suitable for:

Retail space rental applications Equipment lease applications Most other third-party requests Payment processed securely through PAYPAL. You do not need a PAYPAL account to purchase. Alternatively phone our office to organise other payment methods.

Money Back Guarantee – Should you be dissatisfied for any reason, telephone our Help Desk within 24 hours of purchase and quote your email address to orgasnise a full 100% refund.

Accountant’s Business Plan

The accountant business plan is a 16 page business plan which is written for an Australian Accounting practiceapplying for bank finance. It is written in with standard services and generic operating elements to make it suit a wider range of practices. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Catering Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The catering business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian catering business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Carpenter / Cabinet Maker / Joinery Services Business Plan

This is an Australian Business Plan. It has been deliberately written in plain language so it is easy to follow. The business plan is emailed to customers in Microsoft Word to allow for easy changes that suit the customers personal circumstances

Car Wash Business Plan

The car wash business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian car wash businessapplying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Car Hire Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The car hire business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian car hire business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Why waste time trying to write a business plan from scratch, time is money  Visit Page And Purchase

Camping Store Business Plan

Cake shop business plan, cafe business plan.

The cafe business plan is a 16 page business plan which was written for an actual Australian cafe applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of cafes. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Nursery (Plants) Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Nursery business plan is a 14 page business plan written for an actual Australian Nursery business applying for bank finance.

Night Club Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Night Club business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Night Club business applying for bank finance.

Newsagency Business Plan

Do you need help to develop an effective  newsagency business plan?

We understand that a business plan is an essential document and that can enable you to win investors. If you are looking for ideas for a well-structured and convincing  newsagency business plan,  we can help you. At BusinessPlans, we offer specialist business planning services and can help you document your ideas in a clear and professional way. With our  business plan solutions , you can build a strong foundation for your business. Our  newsagency business plan  is crafted to comprehensively outline every aspect of your business and reflect its potential.

Make the right start for your business with our business plan solutions. Get your business plan done today!

You can now avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Newsagency’s business plan is a 15-page business plan written for an actual Australian Newsagency business applying for bank finance.

If you are looking for a  capability statement template , we have the perfect solution for you.

Why waste time trying to write a business plan from scratch, time is money! Avail our business planning services today to get solutions that are second to none.  Visit Page And Purchase

My Franchise BusinessPlan

You are looking to purchase a franchise and the franchisor has asked for a business plan. We have written many business plans for all the major Australian franchises.

How we can help you

services.jpg

Service Options:

The 48 Hour Plan ($495+gst)

The 48 Hour Plan is the perfect solution for those seeking a franchise business plan. Best of all we only need 1 hour of your time and we do all the work. We will include what the franchisor is looking for and also offer the option to have us do the financial projections all banks want to see. $495+gst …more

DIY Options

Template Help (by a real Consultant in Australia) ($275+gst)

You have a business plans template or want to use one. You would like a professional to help you understand the template and personalise it for your own need. A Consultant will help customers by explaining each part of the template in detail, answer questions, help personalise it and remain available for 7 days (BHs)..…more

The Trilogy Workbook and Template ($25+gst)

The Trilogy Workbook and Template lets you write your own franchise business plan. It is a 50 page workbook and we also give you a template to type straight into. It includes helpful tips and hints along the way

Franchise Business Plans ($22)

Actual business plans for major Australian franchises

Men’s Fashion Retail Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Men’s Fashion Retail business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Men’s Retail Fashion business applying for bank finance.

Why waste time trying to write a business plan from scratch, time is money!

Massage Services Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Massage Services business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Massage business applying for bank finance.

Lawyers Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Lawyer business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an Australian Legal services business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Landscaper Designers Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Landscape Designers business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Landscaping business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Ladies Fashion Retail Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Ladies Fashion Retail business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Fashion Retailer business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Jewelry Shop Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The jewelry business plan is a 15 page business plan written for an actual Australian Jewelry business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Ice Cream Shop Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The ice cream shop business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Ice Cream Shop business applying for bank finance.

Hotel Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The jewelry business plan is a 15 page business plan written for an actual Australian Hotel business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Gym Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Gym business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Gymapplying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Giftwear Shop Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Giftwear Shop business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Giftwear business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

General Store Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The General Store business plan is a 15 page business plan written for an actual Australian General Store applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Gardners Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Gardener’s business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Gardening business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Furniture Manufacturing Business Plans

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Furniture Retail business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Furniture Retailing business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The White Goods business plan is a 18 page business plan written for an actual Australian White Goods business applying for bank finance.

Wendy’s Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Wendy’s business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Wendy’s business applying for bank finance.

Top Snap Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Top Snap business plan is a 15 page business plan written for an actual Australian Top Snap business applying for bank finance.

Subway Business Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Subway business plan is a 18 page business plan written for an actual Australian Subway business applying for bank finance.

Salsa Fresh Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Salsa Fresh business plan is a 18 page business plan written for an actual Australian Salsa Fresh business applying for bank finance.

Refund Home Loans Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Refund Home Loans business plan is a 15 page business plan written for an actual Australian Refund Home Loans business applying for bank finance.

Nandos Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Nandos business plan is a 19 page business plan written for an actual Indian Nandos Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

If you are looking for a  florist business plan , we have the perfect solution for you.

Muffin Break Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Muffin Break business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Muffin Break business applying for bank finance.

Matchbox Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Matchbox business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Matchbox business applying for bank finance.

Japanese Restaurant Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Japanese Restaurant business plan is a 18 page business plan written for an actual Indian Japanese Restaurant business applying for bank finance.

Italian Restaurant Business Plan

Gloria jeans business plan, foodworks business plan, donut king business plan.

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Donut King business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian Donut King business applying for bank finance.

Coffee Club Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Coffee Club business plan is a 14 page business plan written for an actual Australian Coffee Club business applying for bank finance.

Franchise Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The franchise business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actual Australian franchise business applying for bank finance.

Florist Business Plan

Are you planning to start a florist business and looking for ideas to develop a business plan?

A business plan is an essential document that defines a business and enables you to structure it efficiently. It is a critical document and may be required in the process of availing a loan and setting short and long-term goals. Developing a business plan is a vital step as a well-constructed plan can help you to drive your business towards success.

BusinessPlans offers specialist business planning service that is second to none. If you are looking for a  florist business plan,  avail the service of our experts to develop a  professional business plan . With our experience, we possess the expertise to create bespoke  florist business plans  that can immensely help your business to grow.

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Florist business plan is a 16-page document written for an actual Australian Florist business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

With our efficient business planning service, we intend to simplify it for you. Our business plan is designed to be powerful and can help your business stand out from its competitors.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirement and craft an effective  florist business plan.  We just don’t present what you tell us, if we think the matter can be improved we let you know and discuss it with you.

Engineering Services Business Plan

The Engineering Services business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Engineering Services business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Electricians Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Electricians business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Electrician business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Electrical Installation & Cabling Services Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Electrical Installations & Cabling Services business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Electrical & Cabling business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Dog Training School Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Dog Training School business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Dog Training School business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Day Tours Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Day Tours business plan is a 14 page business plan written for an actual Australian Day Tours business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Counselling Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Counselling business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Counselling business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Computer Repairs Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Computer Repairs business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Computer Repair business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Commercial Building Safety Services Business Plan

This is an Australian Business Plan. It has been deliberately written in plain language so it is easy to follow. The business plan is emailed to customers in Microsoft Word to allow for easy changes that suit the customers personal circumstances. Visit Page And Purchase

Clothing (wholesale) Business Plan

The Wholesale Clothing business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian Clothing Wholesale business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Cleaning Services business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Cleaning Services business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

This business plan suits both residential and commercial cleaning services.  Visit Page And Purchase

Childrens Clothing Shop Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The Childrens Clothing Shop business plan is a 17 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Childrens Clothing business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Children’s Play Centre Business Plan

Child care centre business plan.

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The child care centre business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actualAustralian Child Care Centre business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Charity Business Plan

Avoid the dreaded ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ and do the smart thing by starting your plan with one that’s almost complete. The charity business plan is a 16 page business plan written for an actual Australian charity business applying for bank finance. We have sensitised the plan and made it more generic to make it suit a wider range of businesses. All that is left to do is to follow what we have written and customise the content to reflect your business.

Join Our Community

Please enter your email address to register for our newsletter subscription

Call us today! 1300 171 534

[email protected]

If you’re in the early stages of putting together a business plan, having access to reliable, accurate and practical resources is essential. At the Business Plan Company, we want to inspire business owners to get their ideas off the ground. In our resources section, you’ll find a catalogue of helpful Australian business plan templates and examples you can use for your own business planning.

We have a number of free resources available to download, including a small business plan template, startup costs template and projections template. We also have a range of templates tailored to specific business models and industries, so you can achieve a more targeted approach to your business plan.

If you are having a go at putting together your own small business plan or startup business plan, have a look at our business plan examples and use our business plan template to help guide you through the process.

Make your mark in your industry with The Business Plan Company

Give yourself and your business the upper hand by partnering with The Business Plan Company. We have 17 years of experience crafting captivating and professional business plans that successfully convey your ideas, goals and ambitions. To learn more about our business plan services, contact us today. 

Business Plans - Free Samples and Examples

Basic Business Plan - Cafe/Restaurant

Small Business Plan - Cafe/Restaurant

Business Plan

Financials, projections and startup costs templates.

Monthly Projections

Annual Projections

Monthly Projections - Salon

Monthly Projections - Restaurant

Startup Costs Estimate

At The Business Plan Company, we understand how challenging it can be to access accurate and industry-relevant resources when it comes to putting together an effective business plan. In our resources section, you’ll find a range of free Australian business plan templates, examples and a stack of financial, projections and start-up costs templates. 

Whether you own a café, run a salon or an agency, you’ll find an Australian business plan template right for your business and its goals. We’ve also curated a series of YouTube videos that detail how to write a persuasive business plan.

Absolutely. We believe every business stands to walk away learning something new once they’ve gone through our catalogue of Australian business plan examples and templates. We also offer more laser-focused templates and resources for businesses across specific industries, including hospitality and service-based businesses, like salons. 

However, if you would like more tailored business plan templates, get in touch with us, and we’ll work with you to find a more suitable solution. 

No, business owners do not need any unique software to access our Australian business plan templates. Once you have found the template you would like to use, simply input your email address, and the document will appear as a PDF, which you can download to your desktop.

Yes, all our available-to-download Australian business plan examples under the Financials, Projections and Startup Costs Templates section can be used for your business’s financial forecasting and planning. Simply download the right template and start filling in the gaps.

Yes, while our Australian business plan templates are fairly generic and applicable to a range of businesses, we do offer more tailored templates for specific businesses such as cafés, restaurants, salons and start-ups. Our templates also vary in detail, as business owners can access basic and standard Australian business plan templates.

No, all our Australian business plan templates are completely free to download and use.  

Putting together a business plan can be challenging, which is why The Business Plan Company is here to guide you through the process. Our team of business plan consultants can work with you to create a compelling and comprehensive business plan — simply get in touch with us to get started.

Please input your email address

Call us on 1300 171 534 to find out how we can help your business.

What are you looking for?

• Reckon Cloud POS
• Reckon Accounts Hosted
• GovConnect STP
• Desktop Members
• Reckon Insights

Made for every small business

Switch and Save

Accounting Competitor Comparison

Compare accounting software solutions

Payroll Competitor Comparison

Compare payroll software solutions

Data Migration

Easily to move from your existing accounting system to Reckon

We’re here to help

Small Business Resources

Learn the important aspects of running a small business

Free resources to get started with your business

Explore resources and articles

Your guide to understanding common accounting terms

Support Hub

Find answers to all of your questions

Find an advisor

Browse certified Reckon product users

Customer service, technical support, and more

All your business needs sorted

Monitor your accounting needs

Explore business types that Reckon supports

Manage wages, leave, super and more

Case Studies

Discover success stories of using Reckon One

• Payroll App
• Invoices App
• Accounting Basics
• Invoices & Billing
• Bank Reconciliation
• Pay Employees
• Employee Expenses
• Jobs & Projects

Other Solutions

• Business Loans
• Accounts Hosted
• Financial Reporting
• Business Insurance

Grow your practice with Reckon

Become a Partner

Choose a partner program that suits your business

Explore our free guides on running bookkeeping practice

Cloud Advisor Login

Access resources and benefits available on Reckon member site

Professional Partner Login

Free business plan template for small businesses

Create your free professional business plan with our easy-to-use business plan template.

Create a professional business plan in minutes

Free template.

Our Australian business plan template can save you time & money.

Fully editable

Ready to customise with all requirements like your business details, organisational structure, competitor analaysis and goals.

Easy to use

Simply add the requested data and our template will create a business plan for you.

Download your free business plan template

Business plan template.

Our business plan template is an editable document containing your businesses goals and objectives for the future. It also provides all the key sections you need for a professional business plan including overview of business description, market research, competitive analysis, financial forecasts and much more.

• Name * First Last
• What industry are you in? * Trades & Construction Retail Medical & Healthcare Non-profits Farming, Agriculture & Mining Arts & Creatives Professional services Hospitality E-commerce Manufacturing Education & training Other

We’re here to help.

Free downloadable templates

Invoice template

Free & customisable tax invoice for your small business.

Download now

Payslip template

Free & editable payslip template for Aussie small businesses.

Business plan

Free editable business plan template to build out your business strategy.

Cashflow forecast template

Free cashflow forecast template for small businesses.

Balance sheet template

Free & customisable balance sheet for your small business.

Profit & Loss template

Free & editable profit & loss template for Aussie small businesses.

Cashflow statement template

Free cashflow statement template for small businesses.

Quote template

Free quote template for small businesses.

Business continuity plan template

Free continuity plan template for small businesses.

Frequently asked questions

How do you write a business plan.

Writing a multi page business plan when you are just starting out can seem overwhelming. The key to getting started is to keep it simple and add to it as you grow. Start with key headings (or use our template) and some bullet points mapping out your business overview, vision, market analysis and financial forecasts. For a more detailed step-by-step approach, check out our comprehensive guide on How to Write a Business Plan .

What is the importance of a business plan?

Writing a business plan gives your business the best chance of success helping you to flesh out your business proposal, outline key business processes and gives an action plan of what you want to achieve over time. While it can seem overwhelming, the time and effort you put in is worth it for your long-term success. Use our free business plan template below to get you started!

What should a business plan include?

A business plan consists of a single document with different sections that represent different aspects of your business. Most business plans include the following:

• Business overview
• Executive summary
• Team & Management
• Product & Services
• Market Analysis
• Competitor Analysis
• Marketing & Promotions
• Financial Analysis
• Future & Goals

Tips for writing a business plan?

Check out our page about the  7 Tips for writing a Business Plan >

Try Reckon One today!

• Lost or stolen cards
• Online Banking – Personal
• Online Banking – Business
• Corporate Online
• Westpac Share Trading
• View all online services
• Starting a business

How to write a business plan

6-minute read

You've got a great idea and you're keen to get started. But for the best chance of success it's important to put together a detailed business plan that describes and establishes key aspects of your new enterprise.

What we'll cover

• Why you should write a business plan  
• The key elements of a strong business plan
• Where to get a business plan template
• How to take payments in your business.  

Key take-outs

• A good business plan helps you prioritise efforts, control outcomes, and establish business credibility
• Include details about your products or services, market, business structure, ownership, marketing, operations and finance
• Use your business plan to list and monitor ongoing action items as your business develops
• Review and refine your business plan regularly.

Why do I need a business plan?

Every business owner knows that part of the challenge is juggling all the elements and demands that have to be considered, as well as regulatory requirements. You have to become an instant expert on areas that may be outside your expertise, such as commercial property, business insurance, advertising, marketing and employment law, plus much more.  

A good business plan helps you separate out each aspect of your business, so you can focus on one factor at a time, rather than all at once. Other reasons to engage in this type of planning process are:  

• Helps you prioritise your efforts Stepping back from the granular details of starting and running a new business gives you time to reflect on the big picture, considering the things that will really matter to your future customers. That in turn will inform the priorities you need to focus on.  
• Gives you more control of outcomes The discipline of working through a plan – and constantly refining it over time – will encourage you to think about the factors that’ll most influence your likelihood of success. What’s working? And what isn’t?
• Supports you if you’re seeking finance Banks and other lenders – or potential investors – will expect to see a solid business plan to reassure them that your new enterprise is well run.

What needs to go into a business plan?

Every business is different, so there’s no definitive business plan structure – but here are some key elements you should consider for inclusion. It’s important to think of your plan as a living, breathing document that evolves over time as you build your business and gain knowledge, insights and experience along the way.

1. Executive Summary

Leave drafting this brief overview until last. It should summarise and define all other elements of the business plan, and cover:

• Your business vision and mission statement
• Differentiation from similar businesses
• Target market
• Company description and operating model
• Business ownership and management
• Expansion plans
• Short-term and long-term goals.  

2. Business and market analysis

Here’s where you talk about what type of business you’re starting and how it’ll fit into the local and broader market. Include things such as:  

• Style of business and the products and services you plan to offer
• Any competitive advantage you have
• Market research and competitor analysis
• Industry trends
• SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of your business idea.  

3. Marketing strategy

However great your business idea is, you can’t just start trading and hope for the best. In this section of your business plan give some thought to:  

• Marketing budgets – launch and ongoing
• Marketing objectives – what you hope to achieve in the short and long term
• Target markets – there may be different sectors you can target
• Brand position – the name and personality of your business
• Value proposition – such as competitively priced or prestige
• Digital optimisation – website and social media marketing
• Key marketing mediums – from leaflet drops to broadcast.  

4. Business structure and legal

You’ll need to choose a business structure (e.g., sole trader, partnership, company), which will generally reflect ownership and your desired level of liability. Other aspects to refer to in your business plan include:  

• Any licences you’ll need in order to operate
• Your responsibilities as an employer.  

5. Operating plan

Here you can detail how you plan to operate on a day-to-day basis, covering areas such as:  

• Sales channels (how and where you’ll be operating)
• Suppliers (how and where you’ll source any supplies or products you need)
• Vehicles and equipment (buy or lease)
• How you’ll take payments (see a section on this later)
• Management team (day-to-day)
• Roles and staffing levels (full-time versus part-time and casual)
• Contingency plans (for downturn periods, staff issues, weather, etc.).  

6. Financial plan

If you need a business loan to support your business, lenders will want to see your business plan, including details of:

• Start-up costs
• Operating expenses including labour costs
• Profit and loss forecast
• Cash flow statement and forecast
• Financial projections and ratios
• Results and balance sheets (once you’re trading).  

7. Action plan

This will likely be the most dynamic section of your business plan. It’s where you review and update business goals and note lessons learned and actions required in response to trading activity and market fluctuations.  

List the actions you plan to take before you review your business plan next; and note down any ongoing actions that have yet to be completed.

Where can I get a business plan template?

A search online will reveal numerous downloadable business plan templates. Accounting software services such as MYOB and Xero publish templates online too.

To save you looking further, the Australian Government’s Business website has a free business plan template you can download in Microsoft Word format. Or you could simply create your own template using the headings listed in this article.

How should I take payments in my new business?

The methods you’ll use to take payments should be detailed in your operating plan. Will you be getting paid remotely, face to face, or online? Or any combination of those? One of the keys to getting paid fast is to make it as simple as possible for customers to pay you. So, it’s a good idea to choose options that help them pay you the way they want to.

• Getting paid on invoice: I f your customers will be making bank-to-bank payments, you can just give them the BSB and account number of your bank account. However, if you’d rather not share your bank account details, you can ask customers to pay into your account using PayID ®, meaning you’ll only need to provide the unique number you’ve registered for the service – which could be your mobile number or ABN.
• Face-to-face payments: Depending on the nature of your business, you may want to take credit card and digital wallet payments with an  EFTPOS machine ; in which case you’ll need to decide if you want an  EFTPOS terminal that integrates with your point of sale (POS) system . Or for ultimate flexibility and portability, you can download and apply for the  EFTPOS Air  app to your compatible smartphone, which once finalised would allow you to take secure payments using your mobile alone. EFTPOS Air also features point of sale capabilities, so you can build menus of products or services on it.
• Online payments: If you’re building an eCommerce website using an off-the-shelf platform, it may already incorporate a payment gateway. But if you’re looking for your own way of accepting card payments online or by phone, you may wish to consider one of the eCommerce solutions provided by Westpac.  

The prospect of launching a new business is exciting and you’ll be keen to get started as soon as possible. It pays to invest time in detailing the mechanics of your business. A comprehensive business plan will set you off on a solid path to a successful enterprise, well prepared for the challenges ahead.

4 key steps when setting up a business

ABN, GST, TFN - setting up a business can be a minefield of confusing acronyms. Here’s what they all mean, plus four key steps to help set up your business.

Business basics for sole traders

Here are some of the first things you should think about to get your business off on the right foot.

6 ways to get your invoices paid faster

When your customers pay their invoices on time, you create stronger cash flow in your business.

Business accounts

Business bank accounts to suit all types of businesses.

Compare all business bank accounts

Find the right bank account to suit your business needs

Find a business banker

Call or drop into your local branch.

Things you should know

The information in this article is general in nature; does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account; and does not constitute financial or taxation advice. Consider its appropriateness to these factors; and we recommend you seek independent professional advice about your specific circumstances before making any decisions.

PayID is a registered trademark of NPP Australia Limited.

How to write a business plan

Writing a business plan will help nail down your idea and give you a blueprint for executing it.

What is a business plan?

A business plan describes your product or service, identifies who the customer is, explains why they need your product or service, and shows how you’ll make money from that opportunity.

Why write a business plan

How you write a business plan will depend on what you need it to do. There are a couple of key jobs a business plan can have. It can:

• explain a business idea
• convince lenders or investors to put money behind that business idea

It doesn’t take a book to do the first job. You can write a business plan that’s short, to the point, and easy to update. That may be all you ever need. But if you’re going for funding, your business plan will need to be a good deal longer and more comprehensive.

Why every business should start with a one-pager

Even if you will eventually write a long business plan, a one-pager is a great place to start. It could take as little as an hour to do your first draft and will make your idea stronger. Writing about customers, competitors, income and expenses will help develop your thinking.

How to write a one-page business plan

You’ll see in the example below that there are nine sections, or things to write about. So give yourself just a small space to write about each. Keeping it short will help you focus on what’s important.

Download a one-page business plan template.

When you need a longer business plan

The greater the risk you’re taking, the more comprehensive your plan should be. For instance, you’ll need to write a long-form business plan if you’re going to fund it with other people’s money. Banks and investors will expect it.

How to write a longer business plan

Long-form business plans touch on all the same things as a one-pager, but they go into more detail and contain fewer assumptions.

Back-of-the-napkin numbers are replaced by forecasts and budgets. And guesstimates for things like costs, market size, customer preferences, and competitor weaknesses need to be backed up with proof. It’s a good idea to involve an accountant or bookkeeper in developing the budgeting and finance sections.

Contents of a business plan:

• Executive summary: A short summary of the main points of your business plan. Write it last.
• Company overview: Identify your industry, what you’re selling, and how you’ll charge.
• Products or services: Include a description of the problem you’re solving for customers.
• Market analysis: Describe your target market, and examine the competition.
• Risk assessment: Flag potential hurdles (including assumptions that could be proved wrong).
• Marketing and sales plan: How will you find customers and make sales? How many sales will there be?
• Milestones: What needs to happen and when?
• Progress reporting: When and how will you report against the milestones?
• Team: Who will be involved in the business? Note their skills and responsibilities.
• Budget: Estimate your costs and income (and any debt that you plan to take on).
• Finance: Show how you’ll fund the business.

You can also add an appendix with any supporting or background documents.

Make a start by downloading our free business plan template.

How not to write a business plan

Avoid these common business planning mistakes:

• Underestimating how much money it will take to get started
• Failing to budget for the first few months of operation (before revenues start flowing)
• Expecting sales to ramp up too fast
• Relying too heavily on one or two customers (or suppliers)
• Not including contingencies for unexpected delays or costs

For more information, visit the Australian government page on developing a business plan , which comes complete with templates to help get you started.

Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This guide has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business or before taking action in relation to any of the content provided.

How to start a business

Thousands of new businesses open every day. If all those people can do it, why not you? Here’s what to do, and when.

Your business idea is clearly inspired. But it helps to check you’re not the only one who thinks so.

It’s time to run some numbers on your business idea. Budgeting and forecasting help with that.

Your prices can influence the number of sales you make and the profit you earn on each transaction.

Your business structure can affect how much tax you pay, and how you're treated by the law.

If you’re starting a business, then you’ll need to get familiar with some accounting basics.

After all the excitement of deciding to start a business, you’ll have some paperwork to do.

Treat your website like an online version of a storefront. It’s the first impression for many customers and prospects.

Now that you’re in business, you want to stay there. Xero’s got resources and solutions to help.

Download the guide to starting a business

Learn how to start a business, from ideation to launch. Fill out the form to receive this guide as a PDF.

Privacy notice .

Start using Xero for free

Access Xero features for 30 days, then decide which plan best suits your business.

• Try Xero for free
• See all features

Get serious with our free business plan template

Turn your business vision into a reality with our free, customisable business plan template. Available in single and multi-page format.

Download your free business plan template

Complete the form and we’ll send you our free, customisable template, so you can get down to business.

Bring your business ideas to life

Our easy-to-use, guided templates give you a roadmap for success.

Map your goals

Start moving in the right direction with a plan that covers all of the essential business basics. Outline your executive summary, vision statement and future goals.

Define products and services

Highlight your unique offerings and market strategy, including what you'll sell (and how you'll sell it). It’s time to show the world how you’re better than anyone else at what you do.

Attract investors

Show potential partners why they should invest in your business. A comprehensive financial forecast is key when looking to secure funding.

Why you need a business plan

Whether you’re an established company or just starting out, a business plan is vital for success. A well thought out plan helps you consider the essential elements of your business and define a winning strategy.

And through the process of writing a business plan, you’ll uncover new opportunities and unlock your business’s true potential.

We’re here to help you grow your business

Access everything you need to start planning your vision and how you’ll achieve it.

A guided experience

Our business plan templates are intuitive and easily accessible, for every business. Each section has helpful tips, prompts and instructions to guide you through all the components of your business plan.

Designed for your needs

We know that writing a business plan is not a one-size-fits all activity. That’s why we’ve put together both a streamlined single-pager and a comprehensive multi-pager. Now you can map out your needs at a high level, or outline your strategy in precise detail.

Helpful resources

Looking for more help on how to write a business plan? We’ve got you covered. Check out our resources on  how to start a business , or our  12-step guide on how to write a plan for your business .

All your questions answered about the MYOB business plan template

What’s included in the business plan template.

Both our single and multi-page templates cover all the essential elements of a business plan, including an business details, vision statement and goal setting, market strategy and customer demographics, funding and investment information. Our multi-pager adds further detail and contains helpful guidance for each section.

Is the business plan template customisable?

Yes! Our templates are completely editable, customisable and available in multiple formats, allowing you the flexibility to choose the structure that best suits your needs.

Do I need a business plan to start a business?

Technically no, however as the saying goes, if you fail to plan you are planning to fail. For instance, how can you measure how things are going, if you don’t know where you're at?

Why create a business plan?

A strong business plan can help you plan for the future, enabling you to foresee potential roadblocks and author the roadmap that will drive you toward success. Through the process of planning, you’ll analyse all the important aspects of your business, provide certainty to future investors, reduce risk and plot an actionable pathway to achieving your ultimate vision.

How often should I update my business plan?

It’s a good idea to update your plan to align with the current state of business, market and strategy. Set aside some time on a regular, periodic basis to review your plan and see what’s working and what needs adjusting.

• Start free trial

Start selling with Shopify today

Start your free trial with Shopify today—then use these resources to guide you through every step of the process.

7 Business Plan Examples to Inspire Your Own (2024)

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

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

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

7 business plan examples: section by section

The business plan examples in this article follow this template:

• Executive summary.  An introductory overview of your business.
• Company description.  A more in-depth and detailed description of your business and why it exists.
• Market analysis.  Research-based information about the industry and your target market.
• Products and services.  What you plan to offer in exchange for money.
• Marketing plan.   The promotional strategy to introduce your business to the world and drive sales.
• Logistics and operations plan.  Everything that happens in the background to make your business function properly.
• Financial plan.  A breakdown of your numbers to show what you need to get started as well as to prove viability of profitability.
• Executive summary

Your  executive summary  is a page that gives a high-level overview of the rest of your business plan. It’s easiest to save this section for last.

In this  free business plan template , the executive summary is four paragraphs and takes a little over half a page:

• Company description

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

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

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

• Business structure.  This section outlines how you  registered your business —as an  LLC , sole proprietorship, corporation, or other  business type . “Paw Print Post will operate as a sole proprietorship run by the owner, Jane Matthews.”
• Nature of the business.  “Paw Print Post sells unique, one-of-a-kind digitally printed cards that are customized with a pet’s unique paw prints.”
• Industry.  “Paw Print Post operates primarily in the pet industry and sells goods that could also be categorized as part of the greeting card industry.”
• Background information.  “Jane Matthews, the founder of Paw Print Post, has a long history in the pet industry and working with animals, and was recently trained as a graphic designer. She’s combining those two loves to capture a niche in the market: unique greeting cards customized with a pet’s paw prints, without needing to resort to the traditional (and messy) options of casting your pet’s prints in plaster or using pet-safe ink to have them stamp their ‘signature.’”
• Business objectives.  “Jane will have Paw Print Post ready to launch at the Big Important Pet Expo in Toronto to get the word out among industry players and consumers alike. After two years in business, Jane aims to drive $150,000 in annual revenue from the sale of Paw Print Post’s signature greeting cards and have expanded into two new product categories.”
• Team.  “Jane Matthews is the sole full-time employee of Paw Print Post but hires contractors as needed to support her workflow and fill gaps in her skill set. Notably, Paw Print Post has a standing contract for five hours a week of virtual assistant support with Virtual Assistants Pro.”

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

• Market analysis

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

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

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

• Target customers
• Unique value add  or what sets their products apart
• Sales pitch
• Price points  for products
• Shipping  policy
• Products and services

This section of your business plan describes your offerings—which products and services do you sell to your customers? Here’s an example for Paw Print Post:

• Marketing plan

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

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

• Logistics and operations plan

The Paw Print Post example considered suppliers, production, facilities, equipment, shipping and fulfillment, and inventory.

Financial plan

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

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

It then dives deeper into the financials to include:

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

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

Types of business plans, and what to include for each

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feasibility

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

Set yourself up for success as a business owner

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

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

Business plan examples FAQ

How do i write a simple business plan, what is the best format to write a business plan, what are the 4 key elements of a business plan.

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

What are the 3 main points of a business plan?

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

Keep up with the latest from Shopify

Get free ecommerce tips, inspiration, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify.

popular posts

The point of sale for every sale.

Subscribe to our blog and get free ecommerce tips, inspiration, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

Unsubscribe anytime. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify.

Latest from Shopify

31 July 2024

Learn on the go. Try Shopify for free, and explore all the tools you need to start, run, and grow your business.

Try Shopify for free, no credit card required.

About the writing a business plan guide

Whether your business is just starting out, you're looking to sustain or you're looking to grow, our guide to writing a business plan can help you clarify your goals, figure out your barriers and come up with a plan of action.

Get more information on the benefits writing and maintaining a plan on our Write a business plan page .

Planned Outage

Relationship Authorisation Manager and myGovID are making important updates to their systems from 11:30 pm Tuesday 6 August 2024 to 4:00 am Wednesday 7 August 2024 (AEST). You may not be able to sign into our services during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Problem loading mint-content-page app.

Things aren't going well... have you tried refreshing the page and are you using an up to date browser? If so, and you still see this message, please contact us and we'll help you out.

JavaScript is disabled in your browser. To view the website properly, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings and refresh the page.

Apply for and manage a grant or program for your business.

Manage your interactions with the R&D Tax Incentive program.

• Business plans

Business plan tool

How to use this tool, answer the questions.

To create your plan, we’ll ask you some questions about your business. If you’re not sure how to answer a question, select Next to skip it.

Review your answers

You can check your answers before you download your plan. Select Edit to change your answers.

Remember, you can always edit your downloaded plan.

Save your work

Select Download plan to download your plan as a DOCX file. Or select Email plan to email the file to yourself.

When you have your plan, select Close tool to end your session. Or select Create new plan if you want to start over.

If you can't complete it in one session

Select Get your plan to download your plan as a DOCX file so you don’t lose your work. You can complete your downloaded plan later.

For your privacy, the tool only stores your information during your session. We delete all your information if you’re inactive for 3 hours. If you end your session without downloading your plan, you need to start over.

Learn more about privacy.

Business name

What's your business called.

If you haven't settled on a name yet, you can make one up for now.

Learn how to choose a business name.

Business name review

Who helps you run your business, family name, their experience and value to our business, market opportunity, what problems do you solve for customers.

Think from a customer’s perspective. For example, a problem could be that busy cafés sometimes take too long to prepare orders, making customers late for work. Your business could solve this with a mobile app to place orders and track waiting times.

Focus on 3 main problems rather than trying to solve all of them.

Our market problem

Who is your target market.

Make sure you have a clear picture of who you need to target. This helps you focus your marketing efforts and improve your chances of success.

Learn how to identify your target market.

Example: Busy adults with a medium to high disposable income who are regular coffee drinkers.

Our target market review

Competitors, who do you compete against.

Identify businesses that offer the same or similar goods and services to your customers. Focus on 3 main competitors rather than trying to list them all.

Learn how to  research your competitors.

Our competition

What they do well, what we do differently, sales pitch, what does your business do that makes it unique, business summary review.

Make sure the channels you use are appropriate for your customers. For example, social media use can vary across age groups.

Don’t worry if a channel you use isn’t listed. You can add it to your downloaded plan later.

How do you reach your customers?

Learn how to  advertise your business .

Select the channels you use:

Our channel review

We reach our customers through:, how do your customers contact you.

Learn how to  communicate with customers.

Select the channels your customers use:

Customer contact review

Customers can contact us through:, finances for the year ahead.

If you don’t have your financial information yet, skip ahead for now and add it to your downloaded plan later.

We don’t look at your financial information or keep it after your session ends.

Where does your revenue come from?

Source of revenue review, expected sources of revenue, what are your expenses, expected expenses review, expected expenses, how much profit will you make.

Add your likely revenue and expenses. To help you work out the numbers, use our profit and loss statement template.

Use numbers only. No letters or special characters.

Profit margin calculator

Quarter 1 (july, august and september), quarter 2 (october, november and december), quarter 3 (january, february and march), quarter 4 (april, may and june), yearly total, revenue review, forecasted revenue, expenses and profit, what do you want to achieve over the next year.

A goal is a SMART goal if you can break it down into steps that are:

• specific (source 2 coffee bean suppliers)
• measurable (evaluate 12 potential suppliers in the first 3 months)
• achievable (prepare 6 proposals for potential suppliers over one month)
• relevant (prioritise local suppliers to align with our sustainability values)
• time-bound (finalise agreements with 2 preferred suppliers in 6 months).

Learn how to set goals for your business .

Please enter a valid date. Date format must be dd/mm/yyyy.

The date selected must be today's date or later

Goal 1 review

Review your plan.

You’re nearly done! It’s time to check what you entered and edit your answers if you want to.

Get your business plan

Download or email your plan as a DOCX file.

Protect your plan

If you have innovative practices, products or services, ask people to sign a confidentiality agreement before they read your plan.

Consider including some words in your plan that tell the reader not to share your information.

Review your plan regularly

As your business changes, your plan also needs to change to keep you heading in the right direction.

It’s a good idea to:

• review your plan at least once a year
• keep each version of your plan.

Want more tips to start your business?

Follow these steps to get you started., enable cookies to continue.

To use this tool, please enable cookies in your browser settings.

Save your progress

If you can’t complete your plan in one session, download or email it before you go.

Download unsuccessful

Download successful.

Check the folder you usually download files to.

Email your business plan

First we need to send you a code to verify your email address.

Please enter a valid email address.

Verify your email address

We sent a 4-digit code to {email}

Enter the code below to verify your email address.

Incorrect code. Please enter the code sent to your email address.

Didn’t get the code? Resend code Resend code again Code sent

Something went wrong

Sorry, we are unable to send you an email at this time. You may like to download your plan instead.

Check your inbox for your business plan.

Generating your business plan

You have already started creating your plan.

Do you want to continue from where you left off or start over?

Delete your information and close the tool?

If you close the tool, we delete any information you have entered.

You need to download or email your plan first if you want to save your work.

Delete your information and start over?

If you start a new plan, any information you have already entered will be deleted.

Continue working on your plan?

For your privacy, we end your session if you're inactive for  3 hours . If your session ends, you need to start over.

Your session ends in

Select Continue to reset the timer.

Your session has ended

We use cookies to give you a better experience on our website. Learn more about how we use cookies and how you can select your preferences.

smallbusiness.wa.gov.au

Business plan template.

Having a well prepared business plan before starting your business can help you refine your idea, gain a deeper understanding of your market and have a clear direction for your business. Our guide to using the business plan template will help you when using this resource.

• Business information
• Business advisory
• Accessibility
• Starting and growing
• Business premises
• Legal and risk
• Dispute resolution
• Exiting a business
• Steps to starting a business
• Essential business skills
• Business planning
• Licences and permits
• Business structures
• Business names
• Buying a business
• Franchising
• 8 steps to marketing your business
• Marketing and promotion strategies
• Market research
• Digital marketing
• Types of business premises
• Understanding commercial leases
• Negotiating a lease
• Commercial Tenancy Act
• Resolving leasing problems
• Ending a lease
• Processes and procedures
• Business finance and loans
• Financial planning documents
• Providing credit to customers
• Tax requirements
• Tax reporting requirements
• Tax deductions and concessions
• Business grants
• Debt recovery
• Legal responsibilities
• Competition and consumer law
• Contracts and agreements
• Hiring a lawyer
• Intellectual property
• Risk management
• Cyber security
• Industrial relations systems
• Types of employment
• Employer obligations
• Recruiting and managing staff
• Ending employment
• Managing stress and anxiety
• Avoiding disputes
• Handling customer complaints
• Writing a letter of demand
• Resolving a dispute
• Types of disputes we can help with
• Essential exiting tasks
• Closing a business
• Selling a business
• Selling a franchise
• Succession planning
• Business advisory service
• Regional support
• Dispute resolution service
• Subcontractor support
• Report unfair business practice
• Great Southern
• Mid West and Gascoyne
• East Kimberley
• West Kimberley

Search SBDC

• Starting a business
• Business advice
• Business skills

Pardon Our Interruption

As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. There are a few reasons this might happen:

• You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser.
• You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed.
• You've disabled cookies in your web browser.
• A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. Additional information is available in this support article .

To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page.

• Personal Finance
• Today's Paper
• Olympics 2024
• Partner Content
• Entertainment
• Social Viral

India, Vietnam adopt new action plan to expand strategic partnership

Vietnam is india's important partner in our act east policy and indo-pacific vision, pm modi said.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh during a joint press statement after their meeting, at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (Photo: PTI)

Listen to This Article

More from this section, crops expected to get higher rainfall over remainder of monsoon season, parliament updates: railway minister has not taken any responsibility for accidents, says gogoi, news updates: karnataka govt withdraws pre-show cause notice to infosys, requests further response, wayanad landslides: massive rescue ops underway; 256 dead, 191 missing, considering terrain, only 19-seater planes can fly to kargil: govt, vietnam pm pham minh chinh pays homage to mahatma gandhi at rajghat, australian, vietnamese pms elevate their nations' economic relations, meta reports better-than-expected sales in q2, shares jump by 10%, hero motocorp starts ops in philippines, partners with terrafirma motors, gaining momentum: upi transactions top rs 20 trn for third straight month.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Aug 01 2024 | 2:58 PM IST

Explore News

• Suzlon Energy Share Price Adani Enterprises Share Price Adani Power Share Price IRFC Share Price Tata Motors Share Price Tata Steel Share Price Yes Bank Share Price Infosys Share Price SBI Share Price Tata Power Share Price
• Latest News Company News Market News India News Politics News Cricket News Personal Finance Technology News World News Industry News Education News Opinion Shows Economy News Lifestyle News Health News
• Today's Paper About Us T&C Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Disclaimer Investor Communication GST registration number List Compliance Contact Us Advertise with Us Sitemap Subscribe Careers BS Apps
• ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Budget 2024 Olympics 2024 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Business | Wells Fargo sued over drug costs in employee…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Investigative Reporting
• Environment

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Business | wells fargo sued over drug costs in employee health plan, the former bank employees are seeking class action status.

Wells Fargo & Co. was accused of overpaying for prescription drugs by former employees, who claim mismanagement of the bank’s health plan drove up costs for workers.

A lawsuit filed in federal court in Minnesota Tuesday alleges that the country’s fourth-largest bank squandered money in its health plan, sometimes causing workers to pay far more for medications than they would have if they’d paid cash. For example, the Wells Fargo plan paid almost $10,000 for a generic pill for multiple sclerosis that Wegmans pharmacies sold for $648, according to the complaint, driving up premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

The former Wells Fargo employees are seeking class action status. A Wells Fargo representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Also see:   Angry patients spur new state watchdogs to bring down drug prices

US employers spend about $1 trillion annually on company-sponsored health plans, the main source of insurance for working-age Americans. While employees typically are responsible for part of the premiums and out-of-pocket costs of their care, the prices they pay are determined by deals that their employers strike.

Companies are facing increasing questions over how they manage those contracts and potential legal risks about their oversight as employees find themselves paying more and more for medical care.

This is at least the second lawsuit from workers alleging they paid more than they should have for medications because their employers struck bad deals with the companies that oversee drug benefits for health plans, known as pharmacy benefit managers.

More on healthcare costs:   FTC slams pharmacy benefit managers CVS, Cigna, UnitedHealth for high drug prices

In February, a Johnson & Johnson worker made similar claims against the drugmaker in a New Jersey federal court. J&J has sought to dismiss the suit, arguing the plaintiff wasn’t prescribed any of the drugs and thus isn’t in a position to file such a complaint. The case is pending.

Employers typically rely on brokers, outside administrators and pharmacy benefits managers to design and run their health plans. Critics say those relationships can be rife with conflicts of interest and hidden fees that increase costs.

Some large companies and union plans have sued their health plan administrators, seeking more access to data on where their money is going.

Fiduciary breach

The plaintiffs allege that Wells Fargo breached its fiduciary duty under the law that governs large corporate benefit plans, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Similar litigation targeting companies over fees in their retirement plans has led to millions of dollars in settlements. Trial lawyers are now testing whether that strategy can be replicated for health benefits and are recruiting people to bring cases against their own employers.

The lawsuit against Wells Fargo doesn’t name the bank’s pharmacy benefit manager as a defendant, but it does allege that a deal with Cigna Group’s Express Scripts unit raised costs for employees. Drugs on the plan considered “preferred” cost more than twice as much as what Express Scripts paid pharmacies, according to the complaint.

Representatives for Cigna didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Pharmacy benefit managers are facing intensifying backlash in Washington, as members of Congress and the Federal Trade Commission fault them for driving up costs in the convoluted US drug supply chain. Pharmacy benefit managers counter that drug manufacturers set prices and should take the blame for rising costs.

The Wells Fargo complaint alleges that the plan steered members to Express Scripts’ mail-order pharmacy, which charged higher prices. It cites one drug, a generic gel used to treat lymphoma, that costs almost $70,000 from Cigna’s specialty pharmacy but less than $4,000 at Rite Aid. That echoes allegations made in a recent FTC report that said PBMs paid higher rates to their affiliated mail-order pharmacies.

The plaintiffs say the bank also overpaid in fees for administering the drug plan, paying $25 million to Express Scripts in 2022, or $136 per plan participant, which they said was higher than other plans.

The four named plaintiffs in the case worked for Wells Fargo for various periods between 1980 and 2023. The complaint names the company and top benefits executives as defendants.

The case is Navarro v. Wells Fargo & Co., 24-cv-03043, US District Court, District of Minnesota.

• Newsroom Guidelines
• Report an Error

More in Business

Economy | Orange County’s 1.71 million jobs in June is a new record high

Retail | What to know about recalled Boar’s Head deli meats linked to deadly listeria outbreak

Business | Disney plans new round of job cuts in its TV operation

Housing | How to choose a short-term vacation rental with a group

• Share full article

Swindled Savings

How One Man Lost $740,000 to Scammers Targeting His Retirement Savings

Criminals on the internet are increasingly going after Americans over the age of 60 because they are viewed as having the largest piles of savings.

Barry Heitin, a 76-year-old retired lawyer, in Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Heitin was the victim of a sophisticated online scam. Credit... Hailey Sadler for The New York Times

Supported by

By Tara Siegel Bernard

Tara Siegel Bernard spoke to people who’ve fallen victim to scams that target savings of Americans, particularly older adults. This article is the first in a series.

• July 29, 2024

For nearly three months, Barry Heitin, a 76-year-old retired lawyer, thought he was part of a government investigation that felt like something out of the movies. He was actually assisting criminals in stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars — of his own money.

Last fall, he spent just about every weekday doing the legwork and making withdrawals from his bank accounts as part of an intricate scam: He believed he was helping the feds safeguard his money and catch thieves who were after it.

“They kept telling me, ‘This is a big case and we are going to stop a whole ring of people,’” Mr. Heitin said. “It was like a rabbit hole. I was going down the hole with them.”

It cost him almost all of his retirement savings: roughly $740,000.

Americans spend a lot of energy saving for retirement and worrying about losing money to the gyrations of the stock market. But these days, sophisticated criminals — on dating sites, on social media, in messaging apps or using malicious software — present an ever-growing risk to people and their savings.

The nature of these schemes makes it nearly impossible to recover the money, leaving victims with little recourse. The stolen funds are often whisked to overseas accounts or laundered through cryptocurrency wallets, which are quickly emptied.

Mr. Heitin was one of many people interviewed by The New York Times who were ensnared in scams that could be so elaborate it’s as if they were created in a writer’s room testing different plot devices. Scammers can impersonate government officials, tech support staff or love interests. They coach victims on how to sidestep fraud prevention measures at financial institutions, and they use manipulative psychological tactics — isolation, a sense of urgency or preying on people’s willingness to trust or connect — to keep the scam going.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Advertisement