Business Proposal Sample

Talk about a business proposal and the first thing which rings a bell in your mind is wooing the investors and later on, the customers. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is all about business and profit, so you cannot slacken in the very fundamental step of starting a business, that is your proposal. It can in no way be ambiguous, unclear and wishy-washy. You should know what you want and what you have to achieve. Once you are convinced about a thing, only then you would be able to convince the investors and perhaps potential business partners.

Business Proposal Format

Your format should have the following things, otherwise there would be no proposal itself.

• A Vision Statement - This will be a clear outline of your thought behind the business and goals.
• Human Resource Involved - This refers to the people that are with you while you are starting your business. Preparing or rather updating your resume as well as others will help here as the investors will definitely want to see how experienced you are.
• Profile of the Business - Here describe and define the business you have chalked out and your plans to go about it. If possible, emphasize on a special market you would want to dabble in.
• Economic Assessment - A complete analysis of the economic environment of your business is expected here. Back it up with demographic studies and target consumer flow.
• Cash Flow Assessment - An inclusion of cash flow incorporating your capital needs.

Add your marketing and expansion plans to the proposal to give it the influential touch.

Sample of a Business Proposal

Title of your Plan

Executive Summary
This is a summary of the key points of your business plan, as outlined in the following chapters.

Company Summary
Describe your company, who you are, where you propose to operate, etc.

Start-up Summary
Summarizes your Start-up table numbers, both expenses and assets. These occur before you are open for business. This will be included under the company summary. You can have something like the following in this section -

Start-up Expenses
Expense 1 $0
Expense 2 $0
Expense 3 $0
Expense 4 $0
Expense 5 $0
Expense 6 $0
Total Start-up Expenses $0

Start-up Assets
Cash Required $0
Start-up Inventory $0
Other Current Assets $0
Long-term Assets $0
Total Assets $-

Services
This section will elucidate the products and services that either you offer, how they are provided and by whom, and plans for future service offerings. It will be followed by your market research and analysis.

Market Analysis Summary
Describes the different groups of target customers included in your market analysis and explain why you are selecting these as targets.

Strategy and Implementation Summary
A section summarizing the organizational strategy for target marketing, sales and marketing activities and product/service development will be essential.

Sales Forecast
This topic explains the Sales Forecast table. It means your anticipated or expected sales figures presented in a table.

Milestones
Describes the milestones (measurable activities) and lay it out in a milestones table.

Management Summary
This is where the management and personnel structure of the company will be explained. Any gaps that need to be filled will also get a mention here.

Financial Plan
The financial aspects of your business plan will be summarized in this section.

Start-up Funding
Explains where your funding will come from, in what form (as investments and/or loans), and how this funding will cover the start-up requirements outlined in the Start-up table.

Projected Profit and Loss
Explains the important points of your projections of profit and loss, percentage increase in sales and profits, gross margins and key budget items are some of the major aspects here.

P.S. - Your plan will run in multiple pages, thus please ensure that you mention the title of your plan on every page.

Ultimately, a proposal for a business should be focused on your strengths and show the willingness to alter the plan as per the changing times and market scenario. It would be better not to emphasize on long term projections and avoid proceeding sans proper financial and accounting know how.

This was it, whatever your plan, get it reviewed by experts in your intended business and then you are all set! Once you are geared with all this, sky is the limit! All the Best!