The Tipperary North County Enterprise Board has prepared the following template and guidelines when creating a business plan.

Business Plan Template

The business plan template is in a Word document format and cash flow forecast in an Excel spreadsheet format.
Both documents can be downloaded by clicking the links below.

Businessplantemplate.doc
Cashflowtemplate.xls

Alternatively you can contact the TNCEB offices at info@tnceb.ie and request to have a copy sent you.

A comprehensive Start Your Own Business Guide is also available on this site. Go to SYOB Guide

Business Plan Guidelines

A Business Plan is essential to document your plan for your new venture and to introduce your business idea to bankers, investors, state agencies and business support groups. The plan should anticipate the questions anyone considering risking their money in a business should ask and it involves setting down on paper how you see the business developing over the next few years. It should be concise, clear, accurate and easy to follow.

The key areas to be included in a business plan are as follows:

• The objectives and mission of the business.
• Details of the promoters (their backgrounds, management/business skills and technical expertise).
• Legal Status (sole trader, partnership, limited company, co-op etc)
• The product or service and the targets for the development of the business.
• The suppliers and methods of production.
• Location of the business, premises, title (leased/purchased etc), suitability for project, construction/modification costs (provide a breakdown) and machinery.
• The market size and potential (who are the customers, are they local, national and/or international?).
• The main competitors, their prices, strengths and weaknesses.
• Results of a market survey and a marketing strategy, promotion and distribution.
• Comprehensive financial projections; historical accounts for existing business, projected profit and loss accounts for first two years; balance sheets for years one and two, level of sales required to break even on trading in the first year.
• The size of the investment or loan needed and what it is for (e.g. working capital, purchase of premises/equipment, site/buildings construction/modifications, machinery/equipment (detailed breakdown), research and development).
• Finance/Sources: Promoters/group own funds, borrowings, grants or other sources.
• Standards/legal requirements: Planning permission, building regulations, health and safety requirements etc.
• Employment/Training: breakdown of jobs (full-time, part-time, seasonal), skilled/unskilled, technical/management, training needs/programme etc.
• Revenue Commissioners: Registration, tax clearance certificates, registered sub-contractors, return of VAT/PAYE/PRSI etc.

If your require any assistance in preparing your business plan please contact the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board at 067-33086 or info@tnceb.ie