creative business plan template

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We’ve created three customizable templates with instructions that you can edit and save in Google Docs, Microsoft Word or Adobe. Select the one that best fits your business and goals. These templates are best edited on a desktop or laptop computer.

CREATIVE BUSINESS PLAN

A template for product-based businesses and those with strong visual branding

CLASSIC BUSINESS PLAN

A template for service-based businesses, sole proprietorships or those just starting to develop their visual branding

ONE-PAGE BUSINESS PLAN

A template for entrepreneurs that want to share a high-level overview of their business with potential partners or investors

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View sample customized Creative Business Plan

ADOBE ACROBAT

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MICROSOFT WORD

Edit the template in Microsoft Word

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View sample customized One-Page Business Plan

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Powerful business plan templates

Plan for the future, no matter what your business plans are or the size of your business with these designs and templates. whether it's just one big project or an entire organization's worth of dreams, these templates will keep you and your company on track from ideation to completion..

Put your ideas to work with simple templates for every business plan

Every successful business took a lot of planning to get there, and these templates will be cornerstones of your future success. Whether you're looking to attract new business, pitch your services or reimagine your company, with these simple, customizable templates at your fingertips you can turn complexity into something tangible. These templates can become marketing assets or simply remain internal touchpoints for your team. And as your dreams change, you'll always have this template to refer to – it's easy to change what exists on paper. If you're a small business, focusing on your niche can help you dominate in your field, and you can forge a plan to figure out exactly what that niche might be and how to target your ideal customer . When it's time to share your vision with stakeholders, craft a presentation that outlines your plan succinctly and with style. Let these templates from Microsoft Designer be your partner in business strategy for years to come.

8 Business Plan Templates You Can Get for Free

8 min. read

Updated July 3, 2024

A business plan template can be an excellent tool to simplify the creation of your business plan. 

The pre-set structure helps you organize ideas, covers all critical business information, and saves you time and effort on formatting.

The only issue? There are SO many free business plan templates out there. 

So, which ones are actually worth using? 

To help remove the guesswork, I’ve rounded up some of the best business plan templates you can access right now. 

These are listed in no particular order, and each has its benefits and drawbacks.

What to look for in a business plan template

Not all business plan templates are created equal. As you weigh your options and decide which template(s) you’ll use, be sure to review them with the following criteria in mind:

• Easy to edit: A template should save you time. That won’t be the case if you have to fuss around figuring out how to edit the document, or even worse, it doesn’t allow you to edit at all.
• Contains the right sections: A good template should cover all essential sections of a business plan , including the executive summary, product/service description, market/competitive analysis, marketing and sales plan, operations, milestones, and financial projections. 
• Provides guidance: You should be able to trust that the information in a template is accurate. That means the organization or person who created the template is highly credible, known for producing useful resources, and ideally has some entrepreneurial experience.
• Software compatibility: Lastly, you want any template to be compatible with the software platforms you use. More than likely, this means it’s available in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or PDF format at a minimum. 

1. Bplans — A plan with expert guidance

Since you’re already on Bplans, I have to first mention the templates that we have available. 

Our traditional and one-page templates were created by entrepreneurs and business owners with over 80 years of collective planning experience. We revisit and update them annually to ensure they are approachable, thorough, and aligned with our team’s evolving best practices.  

The templates, available in Word, PDF, or Google Doc formats, include in-depth guidance on what to include in each section, expert tips, and links to additional resources. 

Plus, we have over 550 real-world sample business plans you can use for guidance when filling out your template.

Download: Traditional lender-ready business plan template or a simple one-page plan template .

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2. SBA — Introduction to business plans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers two different business plan templates along with a short planning guide. 

While not incredibly in-depth, it’s enough to help you understand how traditional and lean plans are structured and what information needs to be covered. The templates themselves are more like examples, providing you with a finished product to reference as you write your plan.

The key benefit of using these templates is that they were created by the SBA. While they may provide less guidance, you can be assured that the information and structure meet their expectations.

Explore: The SBA’s planning guide and free templates

3. SCORE — Planning workbook

SCORE’s template is more like a workbook. It includes exercises after each section to help you get your ideas down and turn them into a structured plan.

The market research worksheets are especially useful. They provide a clear framework for identifying your target market and analyzing competitors from multiple angles. Plus, they give you an easy way to document all the information you’re collecting.

You will likely have to remove the exercises in this template to make it investor-ready. But it can be worth it if you’re struggling to get past a blank page and want a more interactive planning method.

Download: SCORE’s business plan template

4. PandaDoc — A template with fillable forms

PandaDoc’s library offers a variety of industry-specific business plan templates that feature a modern design flair and concise instructions. 

These templates are designed for sharing. They include fillable fields and sections for non-disclosure agreements, which may be necessary when sending a plan to investors.  

But the real benefit is their compatibility with PandaDoc’s platform. Yes, they are free, but if you’re a PandaDoc subscriber, you’ll have far more customization options. 

Out of all their templates, the standard business plan template is the most in-depth. The rest, while still useful, go a bit lighter on guidance in favor of tailoring the plan to a specific industry.

Explore: PandaDoc’s business plan template library  

5. Canva — Pitch with your plan

Canva is a great option for building a visually stunning business plan that can be used as a pitch tool. It offers a diverse array of templates built by their in-house team and the larger creative community, meaning the number of options constantly grows.

You will need to verify that the information in the template you choose matches the standard structure of a traditional business plan. 

You should do this with any template, but it’s especially important with any tool that accepts community submissions. While they are likely reviewed and approved, there may still be errors.

Remember, you can only edit these templates within Canva. Luckily, you only need a free subscription, and you may just miss out on some of the visual assets being used. 

To get the most value, it may be best to create a more traditional planning document and transfer that information into Canva. 

Explore: Canva’s business plan gallery

6. ClickUp — The collaborative template

Out of all the project management tools that offer free business plan templates, ClickUp’s is the most approachable.

Rather than throwing you into all the features and expecting you to figure it out—ClickUp provides a thorough startup guide with resource links, images, and videos explaining how to write a plan using the tool. 

There’s also a completed sample plan (structured like an expanded one-page plan) for you to reference and see how the more traditional document can connect to the product management features. You can set goals, target dates, leave comments, and even assign tasks to someone else on your team. 

These features are limited to the ClickUp platform and will not be useful for everyone. They will likely get in the way of writing a plan you can easily share with lenders or investors. 

But this is a great option if you’re looking for a template that makes internal collaboration more fluid and keeps all your information in one place.

Sign Up: Get a free trial of ClickUp and explore their template library

7. Smartsheet — A wide variety of templates

I’m including Smartsheet’s library of templates on this list because of the sheer number of options they provide. 

They have a simple business plan template, a one-page plan, a fill-in-the-blank template, a plan outline, a plan grading rubric, and even an Excel-built project plan. All are perfectly usable and vary in visual style, depth of instructions, and the available format.

Honestly, the only drawback (which is also the core benefit) is that the amount of templates can be overwhelming. If you’re already uncertain which plan option is right for you, the lengthy list they provide may not provide much clarity.

At the same time, it can be a great resource if you want a one-stop shop to view multiple plan types.

8. ReferralRock affiliate marketing business plan

I’m adding ReferralRock’s template to this list due to its specificity. 

It’s not your standard business plan template. The plan is tailored with specific sections and guidance around launching an affiliate marketing business. 

Most of the template is dedicated to defining how to choose affiliates, set commissions, create legal agreements, and track performance.

So, if you plan on starting an affiliate marketing business or program, this template will provide more specific guidance. Just know that you will likely need to reference additional resources when writing the non-industry sections of your plan.

Download: ReferralRock affiliate marketing business plan template

Does it matter what business plan template you use?

The short answer is no. As long as the structure is correct, it saves you time, and it helps you write your business plan , then any template will work. 

What it ultimately comes down to, is what sort of value you hope to get from the template. 

• Do you need more guidance? 
• A simple way to structure your plan? 
• An option that works with a specific tool?
• A way to make your plan more visually interesting?

Hopefully, this list has helped you hone in on an option that meets one (or several) of these needs. Still, it may be worth downloading a few of these templates to determine the right fit. 

And really, what matters most is that you spend time writing a business plan . It will help you avoid early mistakes, determine if you have a viable business, and fully consider what it will take to get up and running. 

If you need additional guidance, check out our library of planning resources . We cover everything from plan formats , to how to write a business plan, and even how to use it as a management tool . 

If you don’t want to waste time researching other templates, you can download our one-page or traditional business plan template and jump right into the planning process.

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

Table of Contents

• Qualities of a good template
• ReferralRock
• Does the template matter?

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Business plan templates

From competitive analysis to financial projections, business plans give your new business a roadmap for success. Download one of our free business plan templates and take your company to the next level.

Big Data Startup Business Plan Template

Create a professional Big Data Startup business plan with our customizable Startup Business Plan Template.

Virtual Assistant Business Plan

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Virtual Reality (VR) Business Plan

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Laundromat Business Plan

Create your success roadmap with a laundromat business plan template, designed to arrange the essentials of the laundry business.

5-Year Business Plan Template

Empower your path to long-term success with our 5-year business plan template.

Car Wash Business Plan Template

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Airbnb Business Plan Template

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Clothing Line Business Plan

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Gym Business Plan Template 

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Handyman Business Plan Template

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Vending Machine Business Plan Template

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Bar Business Plan Template

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Massage Therapy Business Plan

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Bed and Breakfast Business Plan Template

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Catering Business Plan

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Event Venue Business Plan Template

Launch and grow your event venue with our customizable business plan template.

Event Planning Business Plan 

Prepare your event planning business for success with our ready-to-fill and easily downloadable event planning business plan template.

Rental Property Business Plan

Develop a rental property business plan tailored to serve as a valuable resource for entrepreneurs to organize their rental business.

Coaching Business Plan Template

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Lawn Care Business Plan

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T-shirt Business Plan Template 

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Candle-Making Business Plan Template

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SBA Business Plan Template

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Cleaning Business Plan Template

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Real Estate Business Plan Template

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Trucking Business Plan Template

Empower your journey to success with our trucking business plan template, designed as a valuable tool to organize the essentials of your trucking business.

Food Truck Business Plan Template

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Simple Business Plan Template

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Solar Farm Business Plan

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Ecommerce Business Plan Template

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Accounting Firm Business Plan

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Campground Business Plan Template

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Firewood Business Plan

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Funeral Home Business Plan

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Community Center Business Plan

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Gas Station Business Plan

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Beauty Supply Store Business Plan

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Flower Shop Business Plan Template

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Electrical Contractor Business Plan

This Electrical Contractor Business Plan template include information about the services you offer, who your target consumers are, why they should prefer you over your opponents and how much capital you require to get started.

Car Dealership Business Plan

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Farm Business Plan

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Consultant Business Plan Template

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Construction Company Business Plan

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Fashion Business Plan Template

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Daycare Business Plan

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Convenience Store Business Plan

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Startup Business Plan Template

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Business Plan Template

This business plan template is a great tool for your startup to customize to reflect your strong qualifications, experienced team, and marketable business idea.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a document that helps small business owners determine the viability of their business idea. Combining market research and financial analysis, a professional business plan helps startup CEOs and potential investors determine if the company can compete in the target market.

Typically, a good business plan consists of the following:

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Mission statement
• Product and services
• Marketing plan
• Operations plan
• Management organization
• Financial plan
• Conclusion & appendix

Every section involved in a business plan is designed to help startup businesses reach their target market.

A business plan asks founders and entrepreneurs to detail their business strategy in a step-by-step process that makes sense from an operational perspective. This is essential if a startup is seeking a business loan or an investment from a venture capital firm.

However, even small businesses that are already economically viable can benefit from creating a business plan, since it encourages business owners and their management teams to examine their business model and reevaluate the best ways to reach their target customers.

Should I use a business plan template?

Yes.  If you’ve never written one, a business plan can be challenging to write.

Creating a successful plan that you can use to grow your small business can require weeks of market analysis and financial preparation. You may spend time using Microsoft Excel or Powerpoint in order to create documentation which better supports our operational decisions.

However, almost every professional business plan is structured in the same way and most ask for the same information. Because of this, using a business plan template is advisable to save time, money, and effort.

Business plan templates for free

Rather than spending time trying to figure out how to write a business plan , use a free template as a guide to completion.

Business plan templates from PandaDoc can help you reach an effective go-to-market strategy even faster by asking you to provide all the relevant information you need when creating an effective business plan.

Grab a free template to get started!

Frequently asked questions

How many pages should my business plan be.

This depends on the kind of business plan you need to write and how you intend to use the plan that you create.

For example, a plan for a small business seeking potential investors or a business loan will need to provide income statements, cash flow statements, and a balance sheet (usually for a three-year or five-year forecast period).

These financial statements can be omitted if a small business owner isn’t seeking funding and is instead planning to use their business plan as a guiding document for themselves and their management team members.

Some business plans may only run a few pages. Fully-developed business plans can be as long as 50 pages. Much of this depends on the type of business, the operational strategy, and the level of detail that goes into developing the business plan.

Who needs a business plan?

Every business should have a business plan. This is an essential guidance document for any founder or CEO.

Good business plans help a company determine the viability of its place in the market and can help the business develop better strategies for differentiating itself from its competitors.

Business planning also forces business owners to evaluate their marketing strategy, the cost of customer acquisition and retention, and how they plan to grow their business over time.

What is the best business plan template?

Business plans come in all shapes and sizes. The best business plan template for your business is one that you understand and that matches the size and legal structure of your operation.

If you’re a sole proprietor, a business plan template designed for a big corporation probably doesn’t make sense. However, a business plan that helps you build an effective roadmap to grow your business while protecting your intellectual property is a good starting point.

PandaDoc offers specialized business plan templates for common industries along with tips to help you get started with business planning.

Should I hire someone to write my business plan for me?

No. You’ll find freelance writers and business strategy companies out there who are happy to write your business plan for a fee.  These resources can guide you through the process, but you should write (or be heavily involved in) the creation of your business plan.

The reason for this is simple: You know the most about your business, and your business needs you to succeed.

A writer can work with you to make your business plan sound better to investors, and a consultant can help you fill in knowledge gaps — like how to conduct a SWOT analysis — and point out weaknesses in your plan. But, at the end of the day, you need to use the business plan to pitch investors and run your business.

Those ideas and guiding principles aren’t something you can outsource.

Should I use business planning software?

Software isn’t required when creating an effective business plan. Most business planning software is designed to help you navigate the outlining and writing process more effectively.

You don’t need software to write a professional business plan, but a solid template can help you get started. Download a free template from PandaDoc today and take your business to the next level.

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Simple Business Plan Templates

Strategic Plan Template

A strategic plan template is a document that outlines the goals, objectives, and action plans of an organization

Single Page Business Plan

Get down to business with a customizable Single-Page Business Plan template from Jotform. Customize your plan in minutes. No coding. Drag and drop to build.

Operational Plan Template

This Operational Plan Sample is structured with important details for your organization. It comes ready to print, but you can simply edit the fields by putting your own organization information.

Marketing Brief Template

Managing a marketing campaign or promotion is a challenging task. You need to have a marketing plan in order to execute the campaign smoothly with the time and budget provided. Creating a Marketing Brief is very beneficial because it summarizes the marketing strategy for a specific campaign.If you are in the advertising agency or part of the marketing department, then this Marketing Creative Brief Template is for you. This well-designed template contains the client information, project information, and the marketing materials that will be used. The project details explain the project title, description, objectives, target audience, budget overview, advertising guidelines, and competitors.

Glamping Business Plan Template

Grab the attention of the investors by using this Glamping Business Plan Template. This business plan is simple yet effective because it contains all the necessary details when building a successful business.

SOP Template

Create a process to organize your employees in managing specific cases or scenarios by using this SOP Template. This template is commonly used in any organization whether it is a small, medium, or large group.

Lean Business Model Canvas Template

See your business from a new perspective with Jotform’s Lean Business Model Canvas Template. Simply fill in a short form with problems your business could solve, how they are currently being solved in the market, and how your company can uniquely work to solve these problems. Our template instantly converts the information into polished PDFs you can download or print for your next big meeting.Our Lean Business Model Canvas Template already looks professional, but you can personalize it further to match your business. Jotform PDF Editor lets you rearrange form fields or add your company logo at the touch of a button! By instantly converting your business model into an accessible PDF format, our Lean Business Model Canvas Template can help you see the bigger picture and determine how to take your business to the next level.

Creative Brief Template

A Creative Brief is used in advertising, branding, and marketing industries. In order to have a strong and outstanding creative campaign, you need to have a game plan to follow. This serves as a guideline that will help in making decisions related to the campaign.This Creative Brief Template PDF discusses the project details like the project name, due date, and project description. The marketing materials that will be used are listed in the document which includes its specifications like the dimension size, the medium that will be used, and the quantity. This is the best Creative Brief Template you can use for your next creative marketing campaign.

Business Model Canvas Template

Our Business Model Canvas Template includes nine segments which are key partners, key activities, value proposition, customer relations, customer segments, key resources, channels, cost structure, and pricing model.

Gym Business Plan Template

Be successful in the gym business that you're building by securing funding or a loan with the help of this Gym Business Plan Template. This PDF can be printed and given to investors or loan applications.

Blog Post Outline Template

Use this Blog Post Outline Template for your blog content in order to get more visitors, followers, shares, and impressions. This template will definitely help your ranking in search engines.

Meeting Minutes Template

Set goals, plan your actions, and update your team members by tracking the team meetings by using this Meeting Minutes Template. This PDF template will surely help the team in terms of planning and productivity.

Business Hours Template

Announce and let the customers know if your business is open and not by using this Business Hours Template. This PDF template can be customized and personalized by using the PDF Editor.

Pressure Washing Estimate Template

Create estimates for pressure washing services with the use of web tools. Use this Pressure Washing Estimate PDF template and create instant estimates in PDF format without the trouble of hiring programmers.

Scope of Work Template

Establish the responsibilities of the service provider by using this Scope of Work Template. This document will show the list of work and tasks that should be performed by the service provider.

Memorandum of Understanding Template

Build a harmonious relationship between two or more parties by using this Memorandum of Understanding Template. This template is easy to use and can be customized via the PDF Editor.

Custom Sales Funnel Plan

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae Template will provide you with all the necessary information that you need for your recruitment procedure and automate the job application process of your business.

Preliminary Notice Template

Notify the parties involved like the property owner, hiring party, notifying party, and contractor about the construction project by using this Preliminary Notice Template. This PDF template can be customized if needed via the PDF Editor.

Credit Analysis

Retainer Agreement

Create retainer agreements online. Free, easy-to-customize template. Fill out on any device. Collect e-signatures. Save time with automation tools.

Transaction Summary

Business Plan Financial Template

Create a business plan financial template with Jotform Sign. Drag and drop to customize. Fill out and e-sign from any smartphone, tablet, or desktop.

Employee Code of Conduct Template

Create a professional code of conduct to send to your employees. Can be signed from any smartphone, tablet, or computer. Easy to customize and share. No coding.

About Simple Business Plan Templates

Plans, strategies, roadmaps – Businesses rely on these things to gain perspective on what’s about to happen. Milestones laid down in strategic and careful planning for growth and expansion, visions of where the company’s headed 10 years from now, goals that should meet timelines, all these require a smart, prudent and calculated planning.

Whether you’re a startup, an SMB, or close to a Fortune 500, a solid business plan is crucial. And of course, writing business plans is a huge task. But, what if you needed something that requires input from others though? Say, an online form or a PDF template where responses from your colleagues and managers matter? Well, here’s a collection of PDF templates for business planning.

These are beautifully designed templates, specifically tailored for businesses and companies who don’t know where to start. The hard part was already done and that’s designing the template. These will serve as boilerplates for whatever milestone your business needs. You won’t need to worry on building something from scratch, you just need to focus on the content. Some of these templates will contain or collect executive summaries, opportunities, expectations, execution, financial plans, forecasts, the whole nine yards.

Business plan templates help give a clear vision of what lies ahead. They help you get things organized, planned out, and help you check off items from your to-do list more efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) what are the seven parts of a business plan.

• Executive summary. This is an overview of your business plan. The executive summary should include your company’s offerings, mission, goals, and projections. Think of it as the elevator pitch for your business plan. If you can’t get investors interested here, it’s unlikely they’ll want to keep reading.
• Company description and history. Describe your business’s legal structure and history in addition to what you do. If you just started this business, you may replace company history with your leadership team’s experience. The purpose of this section is to explain the company structure and build confidence in the people running the company.
• Products and services. Talk about what your company offers, whether that’s products, services, or a combination of the two. Describe your products and services in detail. Explain what makes your offering unique, what your profit margins are, what kind of demand you’re seeing for it, etc.
• Market and competitor research. Investors want to know if there’s demand for your offering. Describe the target market and how your product or service benefits potential customers. Include projections of where the industry is headed over the next few years. Additionally, detail your competitors and how saturated the market is.
• Sales and marketing strategy. This part of the business plan explains how you’ll promote your product. Outline elements such as your ideal customer profile (ICP) as well as your marketing channels, budget, and methods.
• Operations and logistics. Explain how you’ll source materials if you sell products as well as the technology you need to deliver such products and services. Also, provide details about your team, like how many people you’ll need and how you’ll manage employees.
• Financial plan and projections. It’s crucial to prove that your business will be financially viable. For this, you’ll need revenue and expense projections. Many investors want to see sample account statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections.

2) How do you write a business plan?

Your business plan should be a realistic roadmap that helps you build a successful company. When writing it, take a balanced approach so that you’re not blind to the potential pitfalls and risks. You’ll draft each of the seven sections previously discussed.

Tackling these sections can be overwhelming, so some people like to start with a one-page business plan that includes short paragraphs for each element. Another way to give yourself a head start is by working from a business plan template. Once you have a good start, you can expand each section to make a compelling case for your business.

3) Can I write a business plan myself?

Yes, you can. However, depending on your writing experience and goals, you may want outside help. If the business plan is for internal use with the purpose of improving business functions, you’ll likely be OK tackling it alone. But if you’re trying to secure funding from a bank or investors, a professional business plan writer can give you a leg up.

Even if you decide to do it yourself, have a trusted friend or business mentor review your plan and provide feedback. An objective point of view will help you refine your work.

4) What are the four types of business plans?

• One-page or mini business plan. The one-page option is a great way to improve the focus of your business plan and highlight the essential elements. It can be an effective way to workshop your company’s plan or quickly give others a rundown of your entire business.
• Traditional business plan. The traditional business plan is more in-depth than its one-page counterpart and will be more thorough in each section (often, plans exceed 40 pages). For example, it may contain detailed financials, branding samples, and competitive research documents.
• Business model canvas (BMC). The business model canvas is a more visual representation of your business architecture. It includes sections for infrastructure, offering, customers, finances, etc. Many businesses find the BMC appealing since it can be summarized in a single page.
• Strategic business plan. The strategic business plan can have different purposes, like proving feasibility, discussing planning operations, or projecting growth. It will outline the company’s goals, its strategy for reaching them, and the company structure. The main difference between this and the traditional plan is its focus on specific strategic initiatives.

5) What are the common mistakes in business plans?

• Poor writing. Sloppy writing may suggest that you’re not serious about your business or you lack the needed professionalism.
• Unrealistic expectations. While you should be optimistic about your business, if your financial projections reflect your hopes more than reality, people may hesitate to back your business.
• Lack of supporting documentation. People reviewing your business plan want to see how you back up your claims. You can include research docs, sample financials, and estimates to make your case.
• Failing to define the target audience. For a successful marketing plan, you need to define your target audience. Investors and financial institutions need to see if you’re confident about who you’re selling to.
• Unbalanced. It’s important to lay out the risks and potential upsides. This analysis shows investors that you’re considering the whole picture regarding your business.

These templates are suggested forms only. If you're using a form as a contract, or to gather personal (or personal health) info, or for some other purpose with legal implications, we recommend that you do your homework to ensure you are complying with applicable laws and that you consult an attorney before relying on any particular form.

Business Plan Templates

Make business planning easier with Venngage’s business plan creator or ready-made templates. Our templates include sections for analysis, executive summary, objectives, forecasts, and projections. That way, you can focus on operations, showcase your competitive advantage, and create a professional plan to impress investors.

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Creative Plan Templates

Unleash Your Creativity with Free and Professional Creative Plan Templates - Design a Winning Strategy that Sets Your Business Apart and Achieve Your Vision! We Offer a Variety of Document Templates that You can Choose from such as Preschool Creative Curriculum, Creative Agency Business Plan Templates, and more. Edit, Download, Print.

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Find inspiration in these business plan examples, frequently asked questions, what is a business plan, what is the purpose of a business plan, what are the different types of business plans, what info should be included in a business plan, what is an executive summary in a business plan, how should a business plan start, how long does it take to write a business plan, what is a business plan generator, what information should i include in my prompt, how can i create a business plan using grammarly's generative ai.

• First, download Grammarly .
• From your document, open Grammarly. This will launch our generative AI features.
• Then, enter a prompt that includes key details about your business to ensure Grammarly has the context to generate a quality executive summary draft.

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How to Draft a Business Plan Timeline + Free Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

An expertly designed business plan plays a crucial role in determining the success of any business venture. Yet, the real value of a business plan lies in how well it is executed and the cornerstone of that execution is a thoughtfully structured timeline. A timeline for your business plan acts as a guiding framework, charting out the pathway to your goals while simplifying the process of monitoring progress, distributing resources, and accomplishing key milestones. 

10 Steps For Creating a Business Plan Timeline

Below, we’ve created a guide to help you construct an effective and realistic timeline.

1. Why Timelines Are More Than Just Fancy Charts

A timeline is your compass for navigating goals and outcomes. With a solid timeline, you’ll:

• Steer your focus towards what truly counts.
• Balance resources without breaking the bank.
• Sync your team and stakeholders’ expectations.

Every big idea needs a time map.

2. Break It Down: No Need to Tackle it All at Once

Look at your business plan as chunks of work. These chunks usually include:

• The Big Picture: The summary that says what you’re doing and why.
• Who’s Out There: Market research that tells you who’s buying and why they care.
• Nuts and Bolts: Operational details, such as how you’ll run the show daily.
• Get Seen, Get Sold: Business strategies for getting your target audience onboard.
• Money Math: Budgets, revenue plans, and how you’re funding the dream.

Focus on what’s crucial now. Save the less urgent sections for later.

3. Flag the Big Wins Along the Way

Milestones are your checkpoints. Think of them as mini-successes on your road to the bigger picture. Examples:

• Securing your first investor or loan.
• Releasing your product.
• Signing on your 100th customer.

Pin these down with something tangible, like “complete the website by Jan 10th” or “hire the first salesperson by the end of Q2.”

4. Deadlines: Make Them Work for You

Deadlines often sound scary, but they can be your allies. Here’s what to consider:

• How fast can your team realistically work?
• Do you have a rainy-day fund for time (aka buffers)?

Set time limits that push the pace.

5. Stack Tasks by What Really Matters

Some tasks scream “Do me now!” Others are just background noise. Sort your to-dos like this:

• Top Priority: Things that stop the wheels if left undone.
• Mid-Level Stuff: Important but can wait a week or two.
• Low Stakes: Stuff you’ll get to when you can.

Keep the top-priority tasks front and center.

6. Paint a Picture (Yes, Literally Sometimes)

Turn your timeline into something visual. People love a good chart or calendar to make sense of chaos:

• A Gantt Chart connects all the dots and shows what’s tied to what.
• Sticky Notes on Boards are great for those who need to see it laid out and want the ability to quickly and easily move things around.
• Old School Calendars give a broader overview of months.

7. Always Leave Breathing Room

Don’t cram deadlines back-to-back, leaving no wiggle room for hiccups. Businesses love to throw curveballs. Be ready by:

• Padding your timelines with extra days or weeks.
• Reassessing plans as new hurdles crop up.

Change happens. Roll with it.

8. Delegate (Because You Can’t Do It All)

Be real about who’s handling what. Spell it out so there’s no finger-pointing later:

• Assign the job.
• Define what “done” looks like.
• Give them the timeline and check-in points.

Tools like Monday.com or Trello can make this a breeze if used wisely.

9. Play Detective and Adapt

As you move through the timeline, watch for clues that things are off track:

• Are tasks dragging longer than they should?
• Did a milestone date slide past unnoticed?

Use these as signals to tweak your approach. There’s no shame in adjusting the course.

10. In the End, Progress Beats Perfection

A timeline isn’t a perfect science, it’s your best guess at getting things done. Keep it flexible, keep it realistic, and most importantly, keep it actionable.

Even if you miss a date or two, don’t sweat it. The aim here is movement, not mastery. Businesses thrive not on perfect plans, but on persistence and adaptability.

Free Business Plan Timeline Template

A business timeline isn’t just a tool, it’s the structure that transforms broad ideas into actionable steps. Breaking down your plan into manageable tasks, piece by piece, helps you track progress, assign responsibilities, and avoid missed opportunities.

A simple spreadsheet can be enough for smaller projects. Larger, more complex projects, though, often demand advanced tools with features like task dependencies and collaboration spaces. The key is aligning the tool with your project’s complexity and comfort level.

Begin with a basic business plan timeline template . Add columns for notes, milestones, or even unexpected risks. Customize it and make it yours. The ideal project timeline template doesn’t exist. It evolves.

What matters most is movement, even when adjustments are necessary. Every step forward counts, even small ones. So, don’t aim for perfection; aim for steady progress.

Business Plan Timeline Example

To provide a clear understanding of how a business plan timeline can be structured and tracked, the following table offers a detailed example of tasks, sub-tasks, projected start and due dates, and their current statuses. This breakdown illustrates how a thoughtfully planned timeline can streamline project management, monitor progress, and ensure all established key milestones are achieved efficiently.

Sample Gantt Chart

Here’s an example of a Gantt Chart to visually represent the timeline of tasks and milestones in a business plan. This format helps everyone on the team easily understand the project’s flow and deadlines at a glance. It also highlights overlapping tasks, dependencies, and potential bottlenecks.

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The Ultimate Guide To Crafting A Perfect Creative Brief Template

Publication Date :

24 Dec, 2024

Blog Author :

WSM Creative Team

Edited by :

WSM Editorial Team

Reviewed by :

Dheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM

Table Of Contents

What Is A Creative Brief Template?

A Creative Brief Template is a sample format of the document that lists the strategy for achieving or completing a creative project. It is a roadmap or blueprint on how to list the steps to achieve success for a creative project. Later, this brief can be easily communicated to the key stakeholders, further discussing the purpose to be served through this project. It is mostly a one or two-page-long blueprint.

Ever wondered what this template looks like? The template or sample document differs depending on the nature of the creative project for which a brief is required. These creative projects can range from marketing to a video campaign and are crafted to build an audience. Having an effective creative brief is a must for any brand. Thus, businesses choose experts from their in-house creative team or a third-party creative agency to do the job. 

Large organizations prepare in-house creatives as they are already familiar with the company's expectations from a project. Likewise, other essential elements of a creative brief   contribute to the project's overall success. 

The Science Behind Effective Creative Briefs

Learning the science behind crafting a perfect creative brief template is fun! Multiple brands are in this competitive realm; each wants to impress, attract, and lure its audience. Many brands step ahead to bring creative briefs into the picture, but somehow, they fall short. Follow the below-mentioned pointers as an effective creative brief template guide:

#1 - Psychology of Clear Communication

At the core, every brand wants to make its creatives popular among the masses. The project's purpose is achieved only when the audience can grab the brand’s message. However, the brands can ensure communicating with consumers properly only if they understand the people's psyche well. So, if you want people to trust your brand, having a creative brief template that addresses authenticity and accuracy is recommended. Likewise, other psychological principles like reciprocity, scarcity (limited availability or exclusive offers), consistency, consensus (testimonials), and liking also matter. 

#2 - Data-Driven Brief Writing

As the name suggests, data-driven writing is more concerned with the audience's demographics. By getting a deeper understanding of the audience, you can develop a creative brief that matches the insights derived from the statistics. For instance, if 60% of the customers follow a new fashion trend, the brand can research and develop a creative brief template emphasizing that new trend. 

#3 - Impact on Project Success Rates

Another important metric to consider while crafting a perfect creative brief is its impact on the project's overall success rate. Of course, you will not curate a brief that does not intend to fulfill the organization's success criteria. As a result, many in-house creatives try to create a well-defined brief that details and gets assessed against all the elements like project purpose, objectives, audience, messaging, tone, assets, deliverables, stakeholders , budget, timeline, and project completion. It reduces the risk of failure, improves creativity, and enhances client satisfaction. 

Building Your Creative Brief Framework

There are certain elements to include in your framework for building a compelling brief. Let us look at the steps on how to write a creative brief:

#1 - Decide on the creative project

The foremost step to taking up any brief is to learn about the creative project. You may want to discover the company's motive behind creating such a creative plan. 

#2 - Gather information and stakeholder input. 

Once you bag a deal, the next step is to collect details about the client's business. At this stage, clients must clearly describe their business, target audience, and expectations (deliverables) from you and this project. It will later help creative agencies decide on the creative brief template. 

#3 - Choose a creative brief template

You can start drafting your brief after a preliminary discussion with the client. You can find many  free creative brief template that can capture your visual ideas and give a head start to your draft. Once decided, you can brainstorm the essential elements to include in your creative brief. 

#4 - List down essential elements of the creative brief

The next step is to list all the elements (audience, message, timeline, deadline, and more) based on the project's strategy. It will further help your creative team to develop something that aligns perfectly with the tone and message of the brand. Here, the creative manager or director may guide the team members throughout the creation process.

#5 - Identify key stakeholders

Moreover, drafting a brief does not lead to its completion. It is necessary to detail the key stakeholders' responsibilities in this process. Also, having a charge control plan will facilitate a clear approval process if any changes prevail. 

#6 - Create a project timeline 

It is important to establish dates and deadlines at each project stage. You should also allocate enough time to ensure that the produced output is of an expected quality. At the same time, timely review and revision of the creative brief is also essential. At least, dual repetition of work reduces, and you can better understand the client's views and how changes can be integrated into the same document. 

#7 - Finalize the brief 

After gathering feedback from the client and making necessary edits, it is time to finalize the brief and share it with the stakeholders. Now, you can discuss with the team their responsibilities and how the brief should be followed. Likewise, any changes or iterations should follow the approval process (hierarchical) as mentioned in the charge control plan. 

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Creative individuals and agencies tend to make some pitiful mistakes in their creative briefs, which become a major cause of failures for client projects. Below are a few of the common pitfalls when curating such briefs:

• Lack of clarity and specificity create a vague design brief, leading to confusion and missed client expectations. 
• Ignorance of the client's brand voice, identity, and context
• Improper or poor communication channels lead to incomplete feedback, delays, frequent revisions, and mistakes.  
• Considering a common creative brief template for all brands and audiences. 
• Lack of efforts to research and gather information about the client's business (or project). 

Creative Brief Templates for Different Industries

There are various creative brief templates catering to various brands and different industries. The following pointers explain the common types of creative briefs used by organizations. 

#1 - Agency vs In-house Templates

When it comes to curating creative briefs, companies have two choices - outsource the work to a creative agency or engage in-house creatives. In the former case, you contact agencies where professionals create templates, ensuring high-quality visuals and brand message delivery. However, if you look at in-house templates, these are cost-effective and can be utilized (also reused) multiple times unlike agency templates. Also, companies have the upper hand as they have the right to control, customization. 

#2 - Digital Project Adaptations

Certain templates can be utilized for digital projects such as social media posts, email marketing, digital ads, or any website element. In short, these creative briefs (agency or in-house) have a dual purpose and are not restricted to one project. 

#3 - Industry-Specific Examples

Professionals can create creative brief templates based on industry-specific companies. For instance, a real-estate company may require briefs for projects like property listings, brochures, and social media posts.

Measuring Creative Brief Success

For your next ad to become a popular trend, you must develop an accurate creative brief. While accuracy is not always 100%, following certain metrics and methods can help understand your creative brief's success rate.

#1 - Key Performance Indicators

The key performance indicators (KPIs) include project completion rate (PCR), client and creative team satisfaction, and budget adherence. If your project is completed on time and within budget, it will likely impact widely. Here, it depends on how effectively your brief was detailed and delivered. 

#2 - Feedback Collection Methods

Another popular method of measuring creative brief success is to collect feedback from potential stakeholders. It includes client surveys, creative team feedback, internal audits , and post-work analysis. 

#3 - Continuous Improvement Strategies

Now that you are familiar with the success of your previous projects, efforts to improvise on the creative briefs can help achieve future goals. Creative agencies and in-house teams can deploy template refinement techniques, regular reviews, data analysis , and similar methods to create an advanced level of creatives. 

Crafting a perfect creative brief is a smart investment for brands and companies that want to build their brand image. Following the steps in this creative brief template guide, you can outsource creative agencies or in-house creative teams to achieve the desired growth. With these creative briefs, you can develop better client relationships and enhance team collaboration and communication to complete creative projects on time. So, if you want to display your next ad on a billboard, take this chance to explore creative brief templates and achieve the desired success.