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Grade 9 Entrepreneurship Lesson Plan: Understanding Business Plans

Lesson Plan Title: Grade 9 Entrepreneurship Lesson Plan: Understanding Business Plans

Materials Needed:

  • Textbook: “Entrepreneurship for South African Schools”
  • Worksheets for business plan templates
  • Projector for presentation slides
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Internet access for research activities
  • Sample business plans (printed or digital)

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: 1. Define what a business plan is and its purpose. 2. Identify the key components of a successful business plan. 3. Develop an outline for a basic business plan relevant to their own business idea. 4. Collaborate with peers to present their business plan concept.

Vocabulary:

  • Business Plan: A written document that outlines a business’s goals and the strategies to achieve them.
  • Market Analysis: The section of a business plan that examines the target market and competition.
  • Financial Projections: Estimates of future revenue and expenses in a business plan.
  • Executive Summary: A brief overview of the business plan that summarizes the main points.
  • Marketing Strategy: A plan for how to attract customers and promote the business.

Previous Learning:

Students have previously learned about entrepreneurship principles , the importance of innovation, and the role of market research in starting a business. They are familiar with basic business concepts and terminology.

Anticipated Challenges and Solutions:

  • Challenge: Some students may struggle with understanding financial projections. Solution: Provide clear examples and a simplified template for financial planning.
  • Challenge: Working in groups may lead to unequal participation. Solution: Assign specific roles within each group to ensure all students are engaged.

Beginning Activities (4 minutes):

  • Start the lesson by introducing the topic, “Understanding Business Plans.”
  • Pose the question: “What do you think is the most important part of a business plan?”
  • Briefly discuss answers and activate prior knowledge about entrepreneurship.

Middle Activities (32 minutes):

  • Direct Instruction (10 minutes):
  • Present a slideshow covering the definition and purpose of a business plan.
  • Discuss the key components: Executive Summary, Market Analysis, Marketing Strategy, and Financial Projections.
  • Guided Practice (12 minutes):
  • Distribute worksheets with a business plan template.
  • As a class, fill out an example based on a hypothetical business idea, discussing key points and asking for student input.
  • Independent Practice (10 minutes):
  • In groups of 4, students brainstorm a business idea and begin outlining their business plans using the provided template.
  • Circulate to offer support and guidance as needed.

End Activities (4 minutes):

  • Each group presents their business idea and outlines their business plan components briefly (1 minute per group).
  • Conduct a quick reflection asking students what they found most challenging and most interesting.

Assessment and Checks for Understanding:

  • Observation of group discussions and participation.
  • Review of business plan outlines for completeness and understanding of components.
  • Reflection responses at the end of the lesson.

Differentiation Strategies for Diverse Learners:

  • Provide additional resources for students who need extra support.
  • Encourage advanced learners to develop a more complex business plan with additional sections, such as an operations plan.
  • Use visual aids and graphic organisers for visual learners.

Teaching Notes:

  • Reinforce the importance of a well-structured business plan in launching a successful business.
  • Emphasise collaborative learning and encourage students to support each other’s ideas.
  • Consider accessibility by ensuring that all materials are available in digital formats for students with disabilities.

This lesson plan aligns with the CAPS curriculum and encourages engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking.

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12 Key Elements of a Business Plan (Top Components Explained)

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Starting and running a successful business requires proper planning and execution of effective business tactics and strategies .

You need to prepare many essential business documents when starting a business for maximum success; the business plan is one such document.

When creating a business, you want to achieve business objectives and financial goals like productivity, profitability, and business growth. You need an effective business plan to help you get to your desired business destination.

Even if you are already running a business, the proper understanding and review of the key elements of a business plan help you navigate potential crises and obstacles.

This article will teach you why the business document is at the core of any successful business and its key elements you can not avoid.

Let’s get started.

Why Are Business Plans Important?

Business plans are practical steps or guidelines that usually outline what companies need to do to reach their goals. They are essential documents for any business wanting to grow and thrive in a highly-competitive business environment .

1. Proves Your Business Viability

A business plan gives companies an idea of how viable they are and what actions they need to take to grow and reach their financial targets. With a well-written and clearly defined business plan, your business is better positioned to meet its goals.

2. Guides You Throughout the Business Cycle

A business plan is not just important at the start of a business. As a business owner, you must draw up a business plan to remain relevant throughout the business cycle .

During the starting phase of your business, a business plan helps bring your ideas into reality. A solid business plan can secure funding from lenders and investors.

After successfully setting up your business, the next phase is management. Your business plan still has a role to play in this phase, as it assists in communicating your business vision to employees and external partners.

Essentially, your business plan needs to be flexible enough to adapt to changes in the needs of your business.

3. Helps You Make Better Business Decisions

As a business owner, you are involved in an endless decision-making cycle. Your business plan helps you find answers to your most crucial business decisions.

A robust business plan helps you settle your major business components before you launch your product, such as your marketing and sales strategy and competitive advantage.

4. Eliminates Big Mistakes

Many small businesses fail within their first five years for several reasons: lack of financing, stiff competition, low market need, inadequate teams, and inefficient pricing strategy.

Creating an effective plan helps you eliminate these big mistakes that lead to businesses' decline. Every business plan element is crucial for helping you avoid potential mistakes before they happen.

5. Secures Financing and Attracts Top Talents

Having an effective plan increases your chances of securing business loans. One of the essential requirements many lenders ask for to grant your loan request is your business plan.

A business plan helps investors feel confident that your business can attract a significant return on investments ( ROI ).

You can attract and retain top-quality talents with a clear business plan. It inspires your employees and keeps them aligned to achieve your strategic business goals.

Key Elements of Business Plan

Starting and running a successful business requires well-laid actions and supporting documents that better position a company to achieve its business goals and maximize success.

A business plan is a written document with relevant information detailing business objectives and how it intends to achieve its goals.

With an effective business plan, investors, lenders, and potential partners understand your organizational structure and goals, usually around profitability, productivity, and growth.

Every successful business plan is made up of key components that help solidify the efficacy of the business plan in delivering on what it was created to do.

Here are some of the components of an effective business plan.

1. Executive Summary

One of the key elements of a business plan is the executive summary. Write the executive summary as part of the concluding topics in the business plan. Creating an executive summary with all the facts and information available is easier.

In the overall business plan document, the executive summary should be at the forefront of the business plan. It helps set the tone for readers on what to expect from the business plan.

A well-written executive summary includes all vital information about the organization's operations, making it easy for a reader to understand.

The key points that need to be acted upon are highlighted in the executive summary. They should be well spelled out to make decisions easy for the management team.

A good and compelling executive summary points out a company's mission statement and a brief description of its products and services.

Executive Summary of the Business Plan

An executive summary summarizes a business's expected value proposition to distinct customer segments. It highlights the other key elements to be discussed during the rest of the business plan.

Including your prior experiences as an entrepreneur is a good idea in drawing up an executive summary for your business. A brief but detailed explanation of why you decided to start the business in the first place is essential.

Adding your company's mission statement in your executive summary cannot be overemphasized. It creates a culture that defines how employees and all individuals associated with your company abide when carrying out its related processes and operations.

Your executive summary should be brief and detailed to catch readers' attention and encourage them to learn more about your company.

Components of an Executive Summary

Here are some of the information that makes up an executive summary:

  • The name and location of your company
  • Products and services offered by your company
  • Mission and vision statements
  • Success factors of your business plan

2. Business Description

Your business description needs to be exciting and captivating as it is the formal introduction a reader gets about your company.

What your company aims to provide, its products and services, goals and objectives, target audience , and potential customers it plans to serve need to be highlighted in your business description.

A company description helps point out notable qualities that make your company stand out from other businesses in the industry. It details its unique strengths and the competitive advantages that give it an edge to succeed over its direct and indirect competitors.

Spell out how your business aims to deliver on the particular needs and wants of identified customers in your company description, as well as the particular industry and target market of the particular focus of the company.

Include trends and significant competitors within your particular industry in your company description. Your business description should contain what sets your company apart from other businesses and provides it with the needed competitive advantage.

In essence, if there is any area in your business plan where you need to brag about your business, your company description provides that unique opportunity as readers look to get a high-level overview.

Components of a Business Description

Your business description needs to contain these categories of information.

  • Business location
  • The legal structure of your business
  • Summary of your business’s short and long-term goals

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section should be solely based on analytical research as it details trends particular to the market you want to penetrate.

Graphs, spreadsheets, and histograms are handy data and statistical tools you need to utilize in your market analysis. They make it easy to understand the relationship between your current ideas and the future goals you have for the business.

All details about the target customers you plan to sell products or services should be in the market analysis section. It helps readers with a helpful overview of the market.

In your market analysis, you provide the needed data and statistics about industry and market share, the identified strengths in your company description, and compare them against other businesses in the same industry.

The market analysis section aims to define your target audience and estimate how your product or service would fare with these identified audiences.

Components of Market Analysis

Market analysis helps visualize a target market by researching and identifying the primary target audience of your company and detailing steps and plans based on your audience location.

Obtaining this information through market research is essential as it helps shape how your business achieves its short-term and long-term goals.

Market Analysis Factors

Here are some of the factors to be included in your market analysis.

  • The geographical location of your target market
  • Needs of your target market and how your products and services can meet those needs
  • Demographics of your target audience

Components of the Market Analysis Section

Here is some of the information to be included in your market analysis.

  • Industry description and statistics
  • Demographics and profile of target customers
  • Marketing data for your products and services
  • Detailed evaluation of your competitors

4. Marketing Plan

A marketing plan defines how your business aims to reach its target customers, generate sales leads, and, ultimately, make sales.

Promotion is at the center of any successful marketing plan. It is a series of steps to pitch a product or service to a larger audience to generate engagement. Note that the marketing strategy for a business should not be stagnant and must evolve depending on its outcome.

Include the budgetary requirement for successfully implementing your marketing plan in this section to make it easy for readers to measure your marketing plan's impact in terms of numbers.

The information to include in your marketing plan includes marketing and promotion strategies, pricing plans and strategies , and sales proposals. You need to include how you intend to get customers to return and make repeat purchases in your business plan.

Marketing Strategy vs Marketing Plan

5. Sales Strategy

Sales strategy defines how you intend to get your product or service to your target customers and works hand in hand with your business marketing strategy.

Your sales strategy approach should not be complex. Break it down into simple and understandable steps to promote your product or service to target customers.

Apart from the steps to promote your product or service, define the budget you need to implement your sales strategies and the number of sales reps needed to help the business assist in direct sales.

Your sales strategy should be specific on what you need and how you intend to deliver on your sales targets, where numbers are reflected to make it easier for readers to understand and relate better.

Sales Strategy

6. Competitive Analysis

Providing transparent and honest information, even with direct and indirect competitors, defines a good business plan. Provide the reader with a clear picture of your rank against major competitors.

Identifying your competitors' weaknesses and strengths is useful in drawing up a market analysis. It is one information investors look out for when assessing business plans.

Competitive Analysis Framework

The competitive analysis section clearly defines the notable differences between your company and your competitors as measured against their strengths and weaknesses.

This section should define the following:

  • Your competitors' identified advantages in the market
  • How do you plan to set up your company to challenge your competitors’ advantage and gain grounds from them?
  • The standout qualities that distinguish you from other companies
  • Potential bottlenecks you have identified that have plagued competitors in the same industry and how you intend to overcome these bottlenecks

In your business plan, you need to prove your industry knowledge to anyone who reads your business plan. The competitive analysis section is designed for that purpose.

7. Management and Organization

Management and organization are key components of a business plan. They define its structure and how it is positioned to run.

Whether you intend to run a sole proprietorship, general or limited partnership, or corporation, the legal structure of your business needs to be clearly defined in your business plan.

Use an organizational chart that illustrates the hierarchy of operations of your company and spells out separate departments and their roles and functions in this business plan section.

The management and organization section includes profiles of advisors, board of directors, and executive team members and their roles and responsibilities in guaranteeing the company's success.

Apparent factors that influence your company's corporate culture, such as human resources requirements and legal structure, should be well defined in the management and organization section.

Defining the business's chain of command if you are not a sole proprietor is necessary. It leaves room for little or no confusion about who is in charge or responsible during business operations.

This section provides relevant information on how the management team intends to help employees maximize their strengths and address their identified weaknesses to help all quarters improve for the business's success.

8. Products and Services

This business plan section describes what a company has to offer regarding products and services to the maximum benefit and satisfaction of its target market.

Boldly spell out pending patents or copyright products and intellectual property in this section alongside costs, expected sales revenue, research and development, and competitors' advantage as an overview.

At this stage of your business plan, the reader needs to know what your business plans to produce and sell and the benefits these products offer in meeting customers' needs.

The supply network of your business product, production costs, and how you intend to sell the products are crucial components of the products and services section.

Investors are always keen on this information to help them reach a balanced assessment of if investing in your business is risky or offer benefits to them.

You need to create a link in this section on how your products or services are designed to meet the market's needs and how you intend to keep those customers and carve out a market share for your company.

Repeat purchases are the backing that a successful business relies on and measure how much customers are into what your company is offering.

This section is more like an expansion of the executive summary section. You need to analyze each product or service under the business.

9. Operating Plan

An operations plan describes how you plan to carry out your business operations and processes.

The operating plan for your business should include:

  • Information about how your company plans to carry out its operations.
  • The base location from which your company intends to operate.
  • The number of employees to be utilized and other information about your company's operations.
  • Key business processes.

This section should highlight how your organization is set up to run. You can also introduce your company's management team in this section, alongside their skills, roles, and responsibilities in the company.

The best way to introduce the company team is by drawing up an organizational chart that effectively maps out an organization's rank and chain of command.

What should be spelled out to readers when they come across this business plan section is how the business plans to operate day-in and day-out successfully.

10. Financial Projections and Assumptions

Bringing your great business ideas into reality is why business plans are important. They help create a sustainable and viable business.

The financial section of your business plan offers significant value. A business uses a financial plan to solve all its financial concerns, which usually involves startup costs, labor expenses, financial projections, and funding and investor pitches.

All key assumptions about the business finances need to be listed alongside the business financial projection, and changes to be made on the assumptions side until it balances with the projection for the business.

The financial plan should also include how the business plans to generate income and the capital expenditure budgets that tend to eat into the budget to arrive at an accurate cash flow projection for the business.

Base your financial goals and expectations on extensive market research backed with relevant financial statements for the relevant period.

Examples of financial statements you can include in the financial projections and assumptions section of your business plan include:

  • Projected income statements
  • Cash flow statements
  • Balance sheets
  • Income statements

Revealing the financial goals and potentials of the business is what the financial projection and assumption section of your business plan is all about. It needs to be purely based on facts that can be measurable and attainable.

11. Request For Funding

The request for funding section focuses on the amount of money needed to set up your business and underlying plans for raising the money required. This section includes plans for utilizing the funds for your business's operational and manufacturing processes.

When seeking funding, a reasonable timeline is required alongside it. If the need arises for additional funding to complete other business-related projects, you are not left scampering and desperate for funds.

If you do not have the funds to start up your business, then you should devote a whole section of your business plan to explaining the amount of money you need and how you plan to utilize every penny of the funds. You need to explain it in detail for a future funding request.

When an investor picks up your business plan to analyze it, with all your plans for the funds well spelled out, they are motivated to invest as they have gotten a backing guarantee from your funding request section.

Include timelines and plans for how you intend to repay the loans received in your funding request section. This addition keeps investors assured that they could recoup their investment in the business.

12. Exhibits and Appendices

Exhibits and appendices comprise the final section of your business plan and contain all supporting documents for other sections of the business plan.

Some of the documents that comprise the exhibits and appendices section includes:

  • Legal documents
  • Licenses and permits
  • Credit histories
  • Customer lists

The choice of what additional document to include in your business plan to support your statements depends mainly on the intended audience of your business plan. Hence, it is better to play it safe and not leave anything out when drawing up the appendix and exhibit section.

Supporting documentation is particularly helpful when you need funding or support for your business. This section provides investors with a clearer understanding of the research that backs the claims made in your business plan.

There are key points to include in the appendix and exhibits section of your business plan.

  • The management team and other stakeholders resume
  • Marketing research
  • Permits and relevant legal documents
  • Financial documents

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8 Components of a Business Plan

Back to Business Plans

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on February 19, 2023 Updated on August 18, 2024

8 Components of a Business Plan

A key part of the business startup process is putting together a business plan , particularly if you’d like to raise capital. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s absolutely essential, and an invaluable learning tool. 

Creating a business plan early helps you think through every aspect of your business, from operations and financing to growth and vision. In the end, the knowledge you’ll gain could be the difference between success and failure. 

But what exactly does a business plan consist of? There are eight essential components, all of which are detailed in this handy guide.

1. Executive Summary 

The executive summary opens your business plan , but it’s the section you’ll write last. It summarizes the key points and highlights the most important aspects of your plan. Often investors and lenders will only read the executive summary; if it doesn’t capture their interest they’ll stop reading, so it’s important to make it as compelling as possible.

The components touched upon should include:

  • The business opportunity – what problem are you solving in the market?
  • Your idea, meaning the product or service you’re planning to offer, and why it solves the problem in the market better than other solutions.
  • The history of the business so far – what have you done to this point? When you’re just getting started, this may be nothing more than coming up with the idea, choosing a business name , and forming a business entity.
  • A summary of the industry, market size, your target customers, and the competition.
  • A strong statement about how your company is going to stand out in the market – what will be your competitive advantage?
  • A list of specific goals that you plan to achieve in the short term, such as developing your product, launching a marketing campaign, or hiring a key person. 
  • A summary of your financial plan including cost and sales projections and a break-even analysis.
  • A summary of your management team, their roles, and the relevant experience that they have to serve in those roles.
  • Your “ask”, if applicable, meaning what you’re requesting from the investor or lender. You’ll include the amount you’d like and how it will be spent, such as “We are seeking $50,000 in seed funding to develop our beta product”. 

Remember that if you’re seeking capital, the executive summary could make or break your venture. Take your time and make sure it illustrates how your business is unique in the market and why you’ll succeed.

The executive summary should be no more than two pages long, so it’s important to capture the reader’s interest from the start. 

  • 2. Company Description/Overview

In this section, you’ll detail your full company history, such as how you came up with the idea for your business and any milestones or achievements. 

You’ll also include your mission and vision statements. A mission statement explains what you’d like your business to achieve, its driving force, while a vision statement lays out your long-term plan in terms of growth. 

A mission statement might be “Our company aims to make life easier for business owners with intuitive payroll software”, while a vision statement could be “Our objective is to become the go-to comprehensive HR software provider for companies around the globe.”

In this section, you’ll want to list your objectives – specific short-term goals. Examples might include “complete initial product development by ‘date’” or “hire two qualified sales people” or “launch the first version of the product”. 

It’s best to divide this section into subsections – company history, mission and vision, and objectives.

3. Products/Services Offered 

Here you’ll go into detail about what you’re offering, how it solves a problem in the market, and how it’s unique. Don’t be afraid to share information that is proprietary – investors and lenders are not out to steal your ideas. 

Also specify how your product is developed or sourced. Are you manufacturing it or does it require technical development? Are you purchasing a product from a manufacturer or wholesaler? 

You’ll also want to specify how you’ll sell your product or service. Will it be a subscription service or a one time purchase?  What is your target pricing? On what channels do you plan to sell your product or service, such as online or by direct sales in a store? 

Basically, you’re describing what you’re going to sell and how you’ll make money.

  • 4. Market Analysis 

The market analysis is where you’re going to spend most of your time because it involves a lot of research. You should divide it into four sections.

Industry analysis 

You’ll want to find out exactly what’s happening in your industry, such as its growth rate, market size, and any specific trends that are occurring. Where is the industry predicted to be in 10 years? Cite your sources where you can by providing links. 

Then describe your company’s place in the market. Is your product going to fit a certain niche? Is there a sub-industry your company will fit within? How will you keep up with industry changes? 

Competitor analysis 

Now you’ll dig into your competition. Detail your main competitors and how they differentiate themselves in the market. For example, one competitor may advertise convenience while another may tout superior quality. Also highlight your competitors’ weaknesses.

Next, describe how you’ll stand out. Detail your competitive advantages and how you’ll sustain them. This section is extremely important and will be a focus for investors and lenders. 

Target market analysis 

Here you’ll describe your target market and whether it’s different from your competitors’.  For example, maybe you have a younger demographic in mind? 

You’ll need to know more about your target market than demographics, though. You’ll want to explain the needs and wants of your ideal customers, how your offering solves their problem, and why they will choose your company. 

You should also lay out where you’ll find them, where to place your marketing and where to sell your products. Learning this kind of detail requires going to the source – your potential customers. You can do online surveys or even in-person focus groups. 

Your goal will be to uncover as much about these people as possible. When you start selling, you’ll want to keep learning about your customers. You may end up selling to a different target market than you originally thought, which could lead to a marketing shift. 

SWOT analysis 

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and it’s one of the more common and helpful business planning tools.   

First describe all the specific strengths of your company, such as the quality of your product or some unique feature, such as the experience of your management team. Talk about the elements that will make your company successful.

Next, acknowledge and explore possible weaknesses. You can’t say “none”, because no company is perfect, especially at the start. Maybe you lack funds or face a massive competitor. Whatever it is, detail how you will surmount this hurdle. 

Next, talk about the opportunities your company has in the market. Perhaps you’re going to target an underserved segment, or have a technology plan that will help you surge past the competition. 

Finally, examine potential threats. It could be a competitor that might try to replicate your product or rapidly advancing technology in your industry. Again, discuss your plans to handle such threats if they come to pass. 

5. Marketing and Sales Strategies

Now it’s time to explain how you’re going to find potential customers and convert them into paying customers.  

Marketing and advertising plan

When you did your target market analysis, you should have learned a lot about your potential customers, including where to find them. This should help you determine where to advertise. 

Maybe you found that your target customers favor TikTok over Instagram and decided to spend more marketing dollars on TikTok. Detail all the marketing channels you plan to use and why.

Your target market analysis should also have given you information about what kind of message will resonate with your target customers. You should understand their needs and wants and how your product solves their problem, then convey that in your marketing. 

Start by creating a value proposition, which should be no more than two sentences long and answer the following questions:

  • What are you offering
  • Whose problem does it solve
  • What problem does it solve
  • What benefits does it provide
  • How is it better than competitor products

An example might be “Payroll software that will handle all the payroll needs of small business owners, making life easier for less.”

Whatever your value proposition, it should be at the heart of all of your marketing.

Sales strategy and tactics 

Your sales strategy is a vision to persuade customers to buy, including where you’ll sell and how. For example, you may plan to sell only on your own website, or you may sell from both a physical location and online. On the other hand, you may have a sales team that will make direct sales calls to potential customers, which is more common in business-to-business sales.

Sales tactics are more about how you’re going to get them to buy after they reach your sales channel. Even when selling online, you need something on your site that’s going to get them to go from a site visitor to a paying customer. 

By the same token, if you’re going to have a sales team making direct sales, what message are they going to deliver that will entice a sale? It’s best for sales tactics to focus on the customer’s pain point and what value you’re bringing to the table, rather than being aggressively promotional about the greatness of your product and your business. 

Pricing strategy

Pricing is not an exact science and should depend on several factors. First, consider how you want your product or service to be perceived in the market. If your differentiator is to be the lowest price, position your company as the “discount” option. Think Walmart, and price your products lower than the competition. 

If, on the other hand, you want to be the Mercedes of the market, then you’ll position your product as the luxury option. Of course you’ll have to back this up with superior quality, but being the luxury option allows you to command higher prices.

You can, of course, fall somewhere in the middle, but the point is that pricing is a matter of perception. How you position your product in the market compared to the competition is a big factor in determining your price.

Of course, you’ll have to consider your costs, as well as competitor prices. Obviously, your prices must cover your costs and allow you to make a good profit margin. 

Whatever pricing strategy you choose, you’ll justify it in this section of your plan.

  • 6. Operations and Management 

This section is the real nuts and bolts of your business – how it operates on a day-to-day basis and who is operating it. Again, this section should be divided into subsections.

Operational plan

Your plan of operations should be specific , detailed and mainly logistical. Who will be doing what on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis? How will the business be managed and how will quality be assured? Be sure to detail your suppliers and how and when you’ll order raw materials. 

This should also include the roles that will be filled and the various processes that will be part of everyday business operations . Just consider all the critical functions that must be handled for your business to be able to operate on an ongoing basis. 

Technology plan

If your product involves technical development, you’ll describe your tech development plan with specific goals and milestones. The plan will also include how many people will be working on this development, and what needs to be done for goals to be met.

If your company is not a technology company, you’ll describe what technologies you plan to use to run your business or make your business more efficient. It could be process automation software, payroll software, or just laptops and tablets for your staff. 

Management and organizational structure 

Now you’ll describe who’s running the show. It may be just you when you’re starting out, so you’ll detail what your role will be and summarize your background. You’ll also go into detail about any managers that you plan to hire and when that will occur.

Essentially, you’re explaining your management structure and detailing why your strategy will enable smooth and efficient operations. 

Ideally, at some point, you’ll have an organizational structure that is a hierarchy of your staff. Describe what you envision your organizational structure to be. 

Personnel plan 

Detail who you’ve hired or plan to hire and for which roles. For example, you might have a developer, two sales people, and one customer service representative.

Describe each role and what qualifications are needed to perform those roles. 

  • 7. Financial Plan 

Now, you’ll enter the dreaded world of finance. Many entrepreneurs struggle with this part, so you might want to engage a financial professional to help you. A financial plan has five key elements.

Startup Costs

Detail in a spreadsheet every cost you’ll incur before you open your doors. This should determine how much capital you’ll need to launch your business. 

Financial projections 

Creating financial projections, like many facets of business, is not an exact science. If your company has no history, financial projections can only be an educated guess. 

First, come up with realistic sales projections. How much do you expect to sell each month? Lay out at least three years of sales projections, detailing monthly sales growth for the first year, then annually thereafter. 

Calculate your monthly costs, keeping in mind that some costs will grow along with sales. 

Once you have your numbers projected and calculated, use them to create these three key financial statements: 

  • Profit and Loss Statement , also known as an income statement. This shows projected revenue and lists all costs, which are then deducted to show net profit or loss. 
  • Cash Flow Statement. This shows how much cash you have on hand at any given time. It will have a starting balance, projections of cash coming in, and cash going out, which will be used to calculate cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.
  • Balance Sheet. This shows the net worth of the business, which is the assets of the business minus debts. Assets include equipment, cash, accounts receivables, inventory, and more. Debts include outstanding loan balances and accounts payable.

You’ll need monthly projected versions of each statement for the first year, then annual projections for the following two years.

Break-even analysis

The break-even point for your business is when costs and revenue are equal. Most startups operate at a loss for a period of time before they break even and start to make a profit. Your break-even analysis will project when your break-even point will occur, and will be informed by your profit and loss statement. 

Funding requirements and sources 

Lay out the funding you’ll need, when, and where you’ll get it. You’ll also explain what those funds will be used for at various points. If you’re in a high growth industry that can attract investors, you’ll likely need various rounds of funding to launch and grow. 

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

KPIs measure your company’s performance and can determine success. Many entrepreneurs only focus on the bottom line, but measuring specific KPIs helps find areas of improvement. Every business has certain crucial metrics. 

If you sell only online, one of your key metrics might be your visitor conversion rate. You might do an analysis to learn why just one out of ten site visitors makes a purchase. 

Perhaps the purchase process is too complicated or your product descriptions are vague. The point is, learning why your conversion rate is low gives you a chance to improve it and boost sales. 

8. Appendices

In the appendices, you can attach documents such as manager resumes or any other documents that support your business plan.

As you can see, a business plan has many components, so it’s not an afternoon project. It will likely take you several weeks and a great deal of work to complete. Unless you’re a finance guru, you may also want some help from a financial professional. 

Keep in mind that for a small business owner, there may be no better learning experience than writing a detailed and compelling business plan. It shouldn’t be viewed as a hassle, but as an opportunity! 

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Business Plan Entrepreneurship Project (Grade 9-12)

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Description

This assignment requires students to develop a business plan for their own company. During this assignment, students will learn about what to consider as well as the process of starting a business. Students will complete this assignment step by step from the beginning stages of development to the final stages of execution. This is designed to be a teacher-led walkthrough with the gradual release of responsibility.

This resource is appropriate for Grade 9-12 students for a business, marketing, entrepreneurship, or English class.

Included in this resource:

  • 48-page Google Slides™, outlining each section of the business plan, explaining its importance, including examples to serve as a guide.
  • 14-page Google Docs™ (editable) business plan template to serve as a guide for planning their business (includes RUBRIC)

Business Plan Breakdown

Part 1: Business Concept

Part 2: Competitive Analysis

Part 3: Mission Statement & Vision

Part 4: Products & Services

Part 5: Marketing Plan

Part 6: Legal Components

Part 7: Cost Analysis

Part 8: Company Goals

Part 9: Executive Summary

Ontario Curriculum Expectations

Business Fundamentals

  • demonstrate an understanding of how businesses respond to needs, wants, supply, and demand;
  • compare types of businesses;

Entrepreneurship

  • describe characteristics and skills associated with successful entrepreneurs and demonstrate an understanding of the contributions to Canadian business of selected entrepreneurs;
  • analyse the importance of invention and innovation in entrepreneurship.

Functions of a Business

  • demonstrate an understanding of the importance and role of marketing in business; • explain the role of production in business;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the importance and role of marketing in business;
  • demonstrate an understanding of income and spending issues facing individuals and businesses;

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Business Plan Grade 9 Term 3 Project Answers Guide

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Business Plan Grade 9 Term 3 Project Answers Guide:

About the Project:

Entrepreneurship: Developing a Business Plan

In this exciting project, Grade 9 learners will dive into the world of entrepreneurship by creating and presenting their very own business plan. The project focuses on understanding the concepts, components, and format of a comprehensive business plan, which is a critical tool for any aspiring entrepreneur.

Key Components:

  • Business Plan Development : Students will explore the structure of a business plan, learning how to effectively communicate their business idea. This includes a deep dive into the SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and the creation of a robust Financial Plan . These components are essential for assessing the viability and potential success of their business idea.
  • Adapting to the COVID-19 Business Environment : Given the current global context, students will also learn how to adapt their business strategies within the framework of COVID-19. This aspect of the project encourages learners to think critically about the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic, fostering innovative thinking in times of uncertainty.

The Project: Facing the Dragons

Working in pairs, students will develop a business idea and translate it into a detailed business plan. This plan must include all necessary components, presented in the correct format, and feature a well-thought-out financial plan that demonstrates the feasibility of their idea.

Presentation to the ‘Dragons’

The highlight of the project is the Dragon’s Den presentation, where learners will pitch their business plan to a panel of ‘Dragons’—a group of investors role-played by their peers or teachers. During this session, the ‘Dragons’ will challenge the students by asking tough questions and pushing them to think creatively and strategically. This exercise not only tests the students’ knowledge and preparation but also sharpens their ability to defend their ideas and refine their business concepts in real-time.

This project provides a practical, hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, preparing students for future challenges in business by encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills.

Project Answers

Download Business Plan Grade 9 Term 3 Project Answers Guide in a pdf format below:

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IMAGES

  1. Grade 9 Business Plan

    components of a business plan grade 9

  2. Business Plan Grade 9 Ems Example

    components of a business plan grade 9

  3. 😊 Parts of a business. Main Components of a Business Plan. 2019-02-17

    components of a business plan grade 9

  4. Business-PLAN

    components of a business plan grade 9

  5. What Are The Main Parts Of A Business Plan

    components of a business plan grade 9

  6. Explain the Different Components of Business Plans

    components of a business plan grade 9

COMMENTS

  1. Task 4

    Submit a business plan indicating all relevant aspects of your business idea. As a Grade 9 EMS learner, you have learnt all about the Business Plan and ... Lesson plan grade SS Geography grade 7,8. And 9 Social Sciences English; Final 1 FLT3701 JAN FEB 2022 EXAM; Tps 2601 assignment 03 important; 101 2023 0 b - This is a tutorial letter for ...

  2. 10 Important Components of an Effective Business Plan

    Effective business plans contain several key components that cover various aspects of a company's goals. The most important parts of a business plan include: 1. Executive summary. The executive summary is the first and one of the most critical parts of a business plan. This summary provides an overview of the business plan as a whole and ...

  3. Grade 9 Entrepreneurship Lesson Plan: Understanding Business Plans

    By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: 1. Define what a business plan is and its purpose. 2. Identify the key components of a successful business plan. 3. Develop an outline for a basic business plan relevant to their own business idea. 4. Collaborate with peers to present their business plan concept.

  4. 12 Key Elements of a Business Plan (Top Components Explained)

    Here are some of the components of an effective business plan. 1. Executive Summary. One of the key elements of a business plan is the executive summary. Write the executive summary as part of the concluding topics in the business plan. Creating an executive summary with all the facts and information available is easier.

  5. COMPONENTS of a BUSINESS PLAN

    We continue with our series on the basics of a business plan, if you haven't watched the first video please do so:https://youtu.be/J54dElAERnkIn this lesson ...

  6. The 10 Components of a Business Plan

    That's where your business plan comes in. It provides investors, lenders and potential partners with an understanding of your company's structure and goals. If you want to gain the financial autonomy to run a business or become an entrepreneur, a financial advisor can help align your finances. 1. Executive Summary.

  7. Business

    Business - grade 9 . Flashcards; Learn; Test; Match; Q-Chat; Get a hint. What is a business plan? ... The 10 components of a business plan? 1. Cover page 2. Table of contents 3. Executive summary 4. Description of the business (goals, vision, objectives) 5. Operation plan 6. Management plan 7.

  8. How to Write a Good Business Plan (teacher made)

    This is why learning to write a good business plan is an important part of the grade 9 Economic and Management Sciences work. We have included all the important aspects learners need to know to write a successful business plan. We have included black and white versions for easy and low-cost printing and an A3 version which can be printed in ...

  9. PDF Topic: the Business Plan What Is a Business Plan? the Importance of

    Grade 9 - Term 4 2 ELEMENTS OF A BUSINESS PLAN COVER PAGE AND CONTENT PAGE Design a smart-looking professional cover page with the second page giving the contents of your business plan. It is important for your cover page and your whole business plan to show how serious you are about starting your own business. Your cover page must give:

  10. 8 Key Components of a Business Plan

    There are eight essential components, all of which are detailed in this handy guide. 1. Executive Summary. The executive summary opens your business plan, but it's the section you'll write last. It summarizes the key points and highlights the most important aspects of your plan.

  11. How To Write An Effective Business Plan

    Choose the pieces that are important for your business, and use them as an outline to form your plan. 1. Executive summary. This first page is your first impression. It explains what your business is and how it will be successful. You should include: Mission statement. Value proposition.

  12. Grade 9: Entrepreneurship

    What is a business plan? It is a blueprint that provides a written, logical and systematic explanation of WHAT is planned, HOW it will be done and WHY it will be successful. What does the business plan used for? To convince potential investors. How does the business plan need to be set out? Logically and easy to follow. Include relevant details.

  13. PDF The 10 Key Components of a Business Plan

    Providing a comprehensive assessment of each of these components is critical in attracting lenders, angel investors, venture capitalists or other equity investors. The 10 components of a business plan that you must include are as follows: 1. Executive Summary. 2. Company Analysis. 3. Industry or Market Analysis. 4.

  14. Business Plan Entrepreneurship Project (Grade 9-12)

    Students will complete this assignment step by step from the beginning stages of development to the final stages of execution. This is designed to be a teacher-led walkthrough with the gradual release of responsibility. This resource is appropriate for Grade 9-12 students for a business, marketing, entrepreneurship, or English class.

  15. Task 4

    GRADE 9 DATE TERM 3 TASK 4 FORM OF ASSESSMENT PROJECT: BUSINESS PLAN (This is an INDIVIDUAL project) TOTAL 50 MARKS EXAMINER MODERATOR This assessment template consists of 11 pages Name and Surname of Learner: Class: Marks achieved: / 50 Feedback to learner: Business Plan 1. COVERPAGE 2. CONTENTS PAGE Contents Page Num ber Executive summary The ...

  16. 9.3: The Business Plan

    Business Plan Overview. Most business plans have several distinct sections (Figure 9.3.1). The business plan can range from a few pages to twenty-five pages or more, depending on the purpose and the intended audience. For our discussion, we'll describe a brief business plan and a standard business plan.

  17. What is a Business Plan? Elements of Business Plan (full ep)

    What Is a Business Plan?A business plan is a document that defines in detail a company's objectives and how it plans to achieve its goals. A business plan l...

  18. Economic and Management Sciences

    This rubric assesses a business plan project across several criteria on a scale from excellent to very poor. Key areas evaluated include the business description, introduction/cover page, SWOT analysis, operations plan, market research plan, marketing plan, financial plan, management plan, identification of business challenges, and application of problem-solving techniques. Higher scores are ...

  19. GR 9 Project Business Plan T3 2023

    The document provides instructions and guidelines for a Grade 9 term 3 business project. Students are asked to [1] write a short introductory paragraph about their business idea, [2] create a cover page and index for their business plan, [3] describe their business and goals, [4] provide a marketing plan including an advertisement design, [5] do a SWOT analysis and financial plan, and [6 ...

  20. Business Plan Grade 9 Term 3 Project Answers Guide

    Entrepreneurship: Developing a Business Plan. In this exciting project, Grade 9 learners will dive into the world of entrepreneurship by creating and presenting their very own business plan. The project focuses on understanding the concepts, components, and format of a comprehensive business plan, which is a critical tool for any aspiring ...

  21. The BUSINESS PLAN CONCEPT

    Do you have a great idea to start a business, well you are in the right place. This is the first video of a 7 video series covering the basics of making a bu...

  22. PDF Business Plan EMS grade 9

    Gr 9 Term Project 2021. Decide on a business that you would like to start and draw up a Business Plan for this business on the following template. Make sure you fill in all the necessary information. Remember you will need this business plan to obtain loans and investors for your business. Although there is much more to a business plan than ...