what is the purpose of a one page business plan

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One page business plan: What to include and how to get started

Writing a business plan is a crucial step to starting or expanding your operations, but you don’t have to follow a traditional format. Developing a comprehensive business plan is useful if you’re seeking funding, but it’s also smart to write a shorter version, too. Enter: the one page business plan.

A one page business plan offers a broader, more approachable overview of your business.

For newer businesses, a one-page plan can serve as a starting point for fine-tuning business ideas and creating an in-depth business plan later on.

For established businesses, a one page business plan is an easy way to document changing strategies and update board members and senior staff on new goals. A one-page plan can also act as an elevator pitch or fact sheet to pique the interest of potential investors and lenders.

In any case, distilling your business’ mission and goals into one page forces you to reevaluate your ideas and priorities. This can ultimately help you make smarter decisions and run a more efficient operation.

To write an effective one page business plan, stick to the basics: discuss the market potential for your business and how your products or services will add value, explain your profit plan, and share your goals. Keep in mind that all the parts of a business plan should only be a few sentences, so it’s important to be clear and concise.

Here are the five components of a one page business plan template:

The summary provides a brief introduction to your business and what you hope to achieve. In addition to giving background information on your company, describe the services or products you offer and share your value propositions.

If you’ve been operating for a while, you may want to include a few company highlights or successes, like the fact that you hired five new employees last year or boosted sales by 10% from the previous quarter.

If your business is just getting off the ground, focus on explaining your vision and what makes your operation unique, whether it’s your commitment to 24/7 customer service or local product manufacturing.

2. Market analysis

One of the most important parts of a business plan is the market analysis , which explores the industry you’re in and customers you’re trying to reach. Using brief sentences or bullet points with statistics, you need to show that there’s a demand for your products and services, then talk about how you’ll satisfy that demand.

Start by identifying and describing your target market . Think college students or women age 30 to 50, for example. Taking into account factors like age, occupation, interests, issues, buying habits, and market trends, explain how you’ll position your products or services to appeal to these potential customers.

Next, you’ll want to include a few statistics or research notes about your industry and competitors, and explain how you plan to differentiate your business from companies offering similar things.

Learn how to conduct your own market research for your business>

3. Marketing and sales strategy

This part of your one page business plan summarizes how you’ll promote your business and convince customers to act. Start by sharing your business’ main marketing challenge. Do you have a difficult time getting traffic to your site, choosing which platforms to invest in , or converting leads to sales?

Your summary should explain in broad terms how you plan to address your marketing hurdles, whether that means increasing your marketing budget , adopting Google Analytics, or eliminating a platform that has little success.

If you have space, consider giving an overview of your sales funnel here, listing key details and distribution channels for each step—from awareness to action. Make sure you include a sentence or two that clarifies why you chose the particular marketing methods you listed.

Put together a cohesive marketing strategy for your business with our comprehensive guide>

4. Pricing and profit strategy

The point of this section is to demonstrate your business’ profit potential . Talk about your pricing strategy first: What do you need to charge to create a high-quality product or service that helps you attract customers and stay competitive? What’s more, how will those prices help you turn a profit after accounting for operational and production-related expenses?

This is a good area to share your business’ profit and loss numbers from last year. If your revenue exceeded what you spent, you can talk about what you did that was successful and how you hope to build on that momentum. If, however, your numbers show that you spent more than you earned, explain how you plan to change your approach going forward to become profitable.

If you don’t have financial data to pull from, include your six-month sales forecast and projected cash flow instead.

Set your pricing while protecting your profits>

In the final section of your one page business plan, list your most pressing or significant business goals . Do you want to acquire a certain number of email subscribers by the end of the quarter, for example, launch your first product in the next six months, or cut operational expenses by 15% in the next year?

For each goal you share, include a sentence or two that explains what steps you’ll take to carry it out, how you’ll measure your progress, and how you’ll overcome problems that occur. Mentioning potential obstacles is a good segue into discussing any funding, equipment, or hiring needs you might have. You might need to double your inventory to satisfy high customer demand during peak season, for example, which will require extra working capital.

Keep in mind that you’ll probably need a longer, more detailed business plan if you’re seeking funding , but a one-page version can help you get started.

Keep updating your one page business plan

The best part of a one page business plan is that it’s easy to adjust. Aim to keep revising and updating your plan as your strategies, budget, and priorities change. You can also tweak your business plan outline depending on what you want to emphasize. You can also tailor your one page business plan based on your target audience (i.e., potential funders, new employees, etc.).

To get started, check out these tools that will help you generate a one page business plan template of your own:

• LivePlan is a business plan writing software that guides you through the process of writing your perfect business plan.
• BPlans provides free business plan templates and resources for writing your own plan.
• The Small Business Administration has a business plan template you can use.
• Microsoft Office has countless stylish business plan templates to choose from.

Use a one page business plan to set yourself up for success

If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of writing a business plan, start with a simple one page version. A one-page business plan is a perfect entrée into business plan writing. Plus, it’s an easy, effective way to clarify your ideas and goals no matter what stage your business is in.

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How to write a One Page Business Plan: templates, ideas, and a step-by-step guide

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Download our FREE one page business plan template + guide

The problem with business plans, using a one page business plan, vs. using no business plan at all, vs. a lengthy, drawn out business plan, the one page business plan bias, so what should you include in a one page business plan, examples of successful one page business plans, chris guillebeau’s one page business plan from the $100 startup, fizzle’s one page business sketch template, bplan’s one page business plan template, how to write a one page business plan from patrick bet-david of valuetainment, millo’s own one page business plan template & step-by-step guide, some final encouragement about your one page business plan, show me your one page business plans.

Writing a one page business plan (instead of a hundred-page, in-depth business plan no one will ever read) has become a popular and efficient way to get your small business moving in the right direction.

This article is meant to be an all-inclusive resource for anyone wanting to write their own one page business plan and use it to actually start a business .

I’ll include links to quality one page business plan templates, ideas for what to include in a business plan, and more resources to walk you through the process of building a one page business plan yourself.

If you’re ready to skip all of this and just want to download our one page business plan completely free, you can enter your email below and we’ll send it to you asap. Otherwise, keep reading.

Here’s the fundamental problem with business plans—I’m not talking about a one page business plan here, I’m talking about the typical business plan you might see in silicon valley or presented to a bank loan officer.

Therein lies the issue: if you’re looking for a one page business plan template, you’re most likely not headed to the bank to try and get some huge loan to start your business.

Like millions of people around the world, you’re probably a freelancer, a side-hustler, a solopreneur or aspiring to be one of these.

You’re not trying to start the next huge corporation. You just want to make some extra money on the side—and maybe eventually quit your job and work for yourself.

For this much more common purpose, a one page business plan is the exact perfect remedy.

Why? Because by putting all your business plans onto just one single page, you’re forced to do a few things:

• Prioritize: Limiting your business plan to one page means you can only include the most important elements of your new small business.
• Simplify: When you’re dreaming up what your business might look like in the future it can be really easy to get carried away. By limiting your business plan to one page, you force yourself to keep it simple.
• Organize: Instead of letting all your dreams and plans swirl around in your brain, putting them down into a simple one page business plan allows you to quickly organize and move forward.

By forcing yourself to prioritize, simplify, and organize, you’ll find you can get down to what’s more important in your business: actually getting work done and getting paid for the work you do.

Let’s compare what your first 6-12 months of business might look like with a one page business plan vs. no business plan at all vs. a lengthy, drawn out traditional business plan.

Your first 6-12 months might look something like this if you choose to develop a one page business plan:

You come up with an interesting business idea that you want to explore. You jot down a few ideas including how you’ll make money, what you’ll be selling, and how much you’d like to make doing what you’re doing.

After just a couple of hours total working on your one page business plan, you’re ready to get to work on the tasks that actually move your business forward.

Your first 6-12 months might look something like this if you choose to use no business plan at all:

You come up with an interesting business idea that you’d like to explore. Instead of writing anything down, you decide to sketch out what your logo might look like.

The logo sketching leads to a dead end but reminds you of another business idea you once had in college. So you talk to your friends about that business idea for a while.

A year later, you’ve followed a similar pattern with dozens of potential ideas, but without a business plan, none of them ever came to fruition.

Your first 6-12 months might look something like this if you choose to use a long, drawn-out business plan instead of something that fits on one page:

You come up with an interesting business idea that you’d enjoy exploring further. You start to crunch the numbers on what this might look like if it gets really big and successful.

Knowing you’ll need funding from angels or the bank, you decide to draft up a large document explaining what actions your small company will take over the next 5-10 years to ensure your lenders get their money back.

You go through so many revisions of this hundred-page document, you finally burn out and decide it’s easier just to keep your day job.

Ok, obviously, I’m biased toward the one page business plan scenario. It’s clean, it’s easy, it’s simple. But most of all, it gets you to take action…quickly!

When I was contemplating taking my own business full-time, I called up my dad who, my whole life, has been talking about entrepreneurship and inventing. If I had a dollar for every time my dad said something like “that’s a great business idea” or “I can’t believe no one has made a business out of that yet,”….well, I would never need to work again.

But my dad…he’s not in business for himself.

He never has been, really. He’s always been at a desk job. And I admire him for his persistence in taking care of our family.

One day I called him up and asked him: “why did you never try to build a business of your own?”

His response, among other things, was he couldn’t wrap his brain around how to build a business plan, get funding, and find the right manufacturing (all of which, might I add, were infinitely harder 30 years ago than they are today).

Why do I tell you this story? Because I’ve seen it a thousand times in lots of variations: people get overwhelmed with what they think they need in order to start a business.

One of those overwhelming tasks: building a 40-page business plan complete with competitive SWAT analysis, positioning statement, and blah blah blah.

So it kills your idea.

On the other hand, using a one page business plan lights a fire under you and pushes you forward into the work that matters more than the planning: the actual doing.

Okay, enough talking about a one page business plan. You’re convinced. Putting all your plans down on one simple piece of paper is going to be better than any other option.

But where do you start? What exactly do you put down in your one page business plan to really make it effective without being too complicated?

Remember, a one page business plan is much different from a 70-page plan primarily because this plan isn’t meant to be shown off to other people in an effort to gain support or get funding.

This business plan is primarily for one person: you.

That means there are lots of things you might find are recommended to go in a typical business plan. But that doesn’t mean they should be in your one page plan. Examples include “Executive Summaries,” “Management Organization” or “Funding Requests.”

Don’t waste your time on that kind of thinking for now.

Instead, include the most important elements of your new business only. Here are a just a few ideas to get you started:

• Company Description: What will your company do? What exactly will your company sell? Will you provide a service? Sell a product? To whom? Why?
• Products or Services: What products or services will you offer? How much will they cost in the beginning?
• Marketing and Sales: How will you get your first customers? Who will pay you for your service or product?
• Goals and Milestones: How many customers do you need to make this business “successful”? How long will it take to get the ideal number of customer or monthly revenue?

There are countless examples of business plans on the internet, but below, I’d like to highlight a few of my favorite approaches to one page business planning from some of the smartest people I personally know in the world of solopreneurship and small business.

Note: PLEASE don’t pay for an app or software to help you write a one page business plan. Maybe down the road you’ll need something like that, but keep it simple and download one of the free options below or just get out a blank sheet of paper and create your own.

Chris Guillebeau, author of one of my all-time favorite business books, The $100 Startup , offers a free one page PDF that’s pretty great.

It asks simple questions like: What will you sell? Who will buy it? And How will your business idea help people?  

I also love how Chris’s one page business plan focuses on success metrics—or what the business will look like if it’s “successful.” Will have it have a certain number of customers? A certain amount of monthly revenue?

This allows you to put an actual end point or goal on your one page business plan so that you know exactly what you’re working toward.

You can access Chris’s one page business plan here .

Another great resource to get you moving quickly toward your business goals is the Business Sketch Template provided my my friends at Fizzle.co.

Here’s what they have to say about one page planning:

“It might seem surprising or impossible to imagine that all of the most crucial pieces of your business can fit onto one page. At Fizzle, we call this plan a sketch: it’s meant to be completed quickly, if not a bit roughly, but the objective is still to put pencil to paper.”

What I like about Fizzle’s business sketch template is that it starts with the center focus on Key Metrics and prompts you to ask questions like “What will you measure to determine that this audience has this problem and wants this solution?”

As big proponents of building a small, lifestyle business, It’s no surprise this template also includes some unique sections like “personal fit” which force you to ask questions about how the business will interact with your daily life, personal passions, and life goals.

You can access Fizzle’s one page business sketch template here .

Another potential one page business plan is presented by Bplan.

Here’s what they have to say about “a new kind of business planning.”

“A business plan no longer needs to be a long document that takes weeks to write and research. It’s not something that you print, bind professionally, and then stick on a shelf. You probably only need a formal, traditional business plan if you’re seeking a bank loan or outside investment—you’ll be expected to provide one in those instances.”

With that, they offer some great advice on how to write a business plan in under 1 hour .

You can download their “lean business plan” template here .

If you prefer to learn by watching a video, I found this video is a pretty great resource to help you with your one page business plan. I don’t agree 100% with everything he says, but I like his overall approach to tackling business planning.

After studying this topic extensively—reading hundreds of articles and looking at lots of one page business plan templates, we’ve decided to include a free download of one of our own templates as well.

Our one page business plan template is tailored particularly to freelancers and solopreneurs—one-person businesses who want to stay small and build a healthy revenue for themselves and their loved ones.

Our one page business plan template is designed to be completed in less than 45 minutes and give you the ammunition you need to hit the ground running—instead of getting stuck in the details of starting a business.

You can download our free one page business plan template by entering your email below:

Before you go, here are some final words of encouragement and advice when it comes to planning your business.

First of all, you can plan everything you need to on just one page. At least for now.

Sure, one day you might need a more lengthy, in-detail plan to present to someone else, but for now, give yourself a break. You don’t have to write a plan that Mark Cuban would be proud of. You just have to write a plan that helps you get from point A to point B.

Secondly, don’t get stuck at this phase. If you have to, time yourself. Set a time limit of 45 minutes (or whatever amount makes sense for you). And when the timer’s up, it’s time to get back to work actually starting or building your business.

Finally, use this one page business plan as a compass, but be flexible. The point is to give yourself a roadmap, but just like your GPS has to “reroute” when there’s an unexpected obstacle, you might also need to pursue a different path, different method, or different goals as you go along.

In fact, I’d say it’s next to impossible to build a business plan of any kind and then stick to it 100% over any significant amount of time.

There will always be unforeseen obstacles and changes. There will always be hiccups. The idea is to just write your business plan .

Roll with the punches and something as simple as a one page business plan can take you far.

After you draft up your one page business plan, I’d love to see what you landed on. Share a link with me in our mastermind group , by leaving a comment below, or sharing on twitter .

I can’t wait to see what you’ve done. Good luck!

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Written by Preston Lee

Editor at millo.co.

Preston Lee is the founder of Millo where he and his team have been helping freelancers thrive for over a decade. His advice has been featured by Entrepreneur , Inc , Forbes , Adobe, and many more.

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How to Write a One-Page Business Plan

Written by Dave Lavinsky

The one-page business plan is one of the most popular tools for entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies. It’s also one of the simplest to develop. This article will walk you through a description of a one-page business plan, the purpose of this type of plan, and how to create a one-page business plan for your company.  

What is a One-Page Business Plan?

A one-page business plan is a compressed version of a traditional business plan that fits neatly into a single page. Creating a one-page business plan requires significant research, strategizing and financial modeling on the front end to be effective. In that respect, rather than being easier or simpler to create than a full-length business plan, the single-page business plan actually requires an additional distillation effort for the entrepreneur.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

As always, utilizing a business plan template provides the basis for you to clearly communicate your value proposition, business concept, business strategy, services, product offerings, etc., and improve your business planning process. ​  

Benefits of Using a One-Page Plan

A one-page plan is easier to read, share and understand.

By boiling down your business plan into one page with only the most important elements, you are better able to 1) focus on the key action items your business must accomplish and 2) present your vision and plan to your team in a way that won’t overwhelm them and will allow them to most easily understand it.

The reward is that the brevity of a 1 page business plan is very attractive to prospective investors, who are usually pressed for time. Because it is so brief, it is also an effective tool to share among your management team and employees to get your team motivated and working towards the same goals. A strong one-page business plan proves you grasp the crux of your business and appreciate what is most critical for audiences to quickly understand about it.

Below, we walk through the content of a one-page business planning template.  

The One-Page Business Plan Template

Whether you are starting a service business or a product-focused business, your one-page business plan should include the following 7 items:

• Business Model
• Market Analysis
• Competitor Analysis
• Financial Projections
• Funding Required & Uses of Funds

Each of these items are detailed below.

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How to Create a One-Page Business Plan

Each of the key elements included in a traditional business plan retains its position in the 1 page business plan. You need only provide a few words, phrases, or sentences in the description for each of the sections and move on to the next. The following are the essential elements:

For example, Netflix in its budding days identified a problem with video stores. It was time consuming and inconvenient to go to the video store every time you felt like watching a new movie.

2. Solution

Again, looking at Netflix, the company initially solved the problem of time consumption and inconvenience by delivering movies directly to customers’ homes.

3. Business Model

Consider the example of YouTube. YouTube’s business model hinges on users who by and large engage on the platform for free. YouTube leverages this ever-increasing user base to attract advertisers, which provides revenues.

4. Market Analysis

For example, Swedish furniture brand Ikea’s US target market could be described as urban young professionals who like the Scandinavian style and are willing to put in a little setup work themselves to save money on quality furnishings. These individuals spend, on average, $8,000 on furnishing when they move into a new home or apartment.

5. Competitive Analysis

Take the example of coffee giant Starbucks. Their competitor analysis would yield large brands like Dunkin’ Donuts, Panera Bread and McDonald’s McCafé, as well as boutique coffee shops on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. Starbucks differentiates itself through providing specialty coffee products of consistent quality under a national brand.

6. Financial Plan & Projections

See below for example graphs that show a growth in topline revenues year over year as well as the projected revenue distribution by service area for a hair salon:

7. Funding Required & Uses of Funds

See below for an example table of fund uses for a startup hair salon:

Free Downloadable One-Page Business Plan Example PDF

Download our one page business plan template pdf here.

Download Growthink’s One-Page-Business-Plan-Template for Microsoft Word  

Final Thoughts

Remember to focus on your business’ strengths as much as you can. If your market analysis reveals you have a strong position then highlight it more in the single-page plan. Likewise, if your financial projections come out stronger then elongate the financial section.

Editing the enormity of a business plan into a single page is a daunting task but doing so will bring clarity to the core idea and value of your business and help you pitch well in front of potential investors.  

One-Page Business Plan FAQs

What are the benefits of one-page business plans.

Traditional business plans are sometimes 25-50 pages long. It's hard to read that many pages for one company, let alone dozens of them.

One-page business plans are more digestible. 

They provide key points on what you do, why you do it, and how you plan for growth. 

What is the difference between a one-page business plan and a lean business plan?

A one-page business plan is a reduced version of a traditional business plan that can be easily wrapped onto a single sheet of paper.

The key elements included in a one-page business plan are:

On the other hand, a lean business plan is a short-term planning method that allows you to more quickly and accurately develop your business plan based on actual customer feedback and interactions. A lean business plan is focused more on helping you build a better business and testing a variety of strategies to assess if they are effective for your chosen business model. 

Also in a single-page format, the key elements included in this type of plan are:

• Business Overview
• Value Proposition
• Key Partnerships
• Key Activities
• Key Resources
• Customer Relationships
• Customer Segments & Channels
• Cost Structure
• Revenue Streams

A typical rule of thumb for these types of plans is that every sentence should be meaningful and useful for orientation purposes in order to appease investors in an efficient way while retaining their interest long enough to make an informed decision about investing in your business. 

Looking for more information? Lean Business Plan: How-To Guide & Template

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies that have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

How to Write a One-Page Business Plan (By Asking the Right Questions)

Home » Blog » How to Write a One-Page Business Plan (By Asking the Right Questions)

French author-philosopher Voltaire once wisely said, “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.”

The same can be said for your business plan.

Every entrepreneur, business owner, inventor, and visionary started their business journey with an inquisitive question.  

Yours now might be how do I write a one-page business plan ?

If so, we have the answers.  

Writing a business plan can seem like a daunting task, but this guide will provide you with the right questions you need to ask in order to get started.  

The Steps of Writing a One-Page Business Plan

It doesn’t matter whether you’re opening a coffee shop, bed and breakfast, or a construction company. The elements you need to write a one-page business plan remain the same.  

Best-selling author Paula Nelson put it this way:

“The best business plans are straightforward documents that spell out the who, what, where, why, and how much.”

To clarify, I’ll use a guest house I opened in 2018 as an example. It quickly became the regional number one online listing, attracted guests from 33 countries, and secured bookings one year in advance.

My small guest house grew into the success it was because I had a strong business plan. It targeted a specific audience, identified a need and provided a solution, held a competitive advantage, a definitive sales strategy, and so on. Basically, my small business was successful because I had a solid business plan as a foundation.

How is a One-Page Business Plan Different From a Regular Business Plan?

A regular business plan is a formal presentation that must include certain elements and quality standards.

Also called a traditional business plan, it is on average 50+ pages written in business language. You need this document to impress others outside the company, such as investors.  

So, if you are meeting with a potential investor, you would present them a regular business plan as opposed to a one-page plan.  

A one-page business plan answers the questions you need to know.  

It’s quick to write, provides you with a resource to rely on, helps set your goals and implement the strategy to reach them. It shows you where you are and what’s required to achieve success.

The first question you need to answer: Is there a market need?  

1. Is there a market need?

“If dogs don’t like your dog food, the packaging doesn’t matter.” – Stephen Denny, author and competitive strategy/marketing consultant.

Every successful business has to first confirm the market need . Without a market need, you don’t have a viable business.

A market need is a problem that a specific demographic has, also known as their pain point. When you identify a pain point and an audience craving a solution, you’ve found your market need.  

Let’s review a few strategies you can use to confirm market need:

Validate the demand. First step, prove your idea has potential. Validation provides accurate data telling you exactly how many people search for your product/service over a set time – and showing whether your market’s growing or declining.  

Assess your competition. Your competitors’ success can also prove the market need. What products/services do they provide? What solution do they solve? And how high is consumer demand?

Listen to your future customers. Look at your prospective customers’ positive and negative reviews to find out what they think. Check out review sites like Trustpilot, Amazon, social media, and your competitors’ websites.

Going back to that guest house I mentioned earlier, I confirmed consumer demand by assessing competitors’ online booking availability at peak and off-peak times. I then determined the gap in the market (AKA, what type of accommodation to offer) by reading customer reviews, finding out what visitors wanted, and what the competition failed to provide.  

2. How will you solve the market need?

“Don’t find customers for your products. Find products for your customers”.   – Seth Godin, author, and entrepreneur.

Now you must identify how you’ll solve the market need and prove why your solution is better than what’s already available.

To provide a winning solution, first find what is called in marketing your unique selling point (USP). It’s a strategy informing customers about how your product is superior to competitors.  

Your USP could be a better product or service, a lower price, a simplified buying process, exceptional customer service, or a new and revolutionary solution to an existing problem. No two successful businesses have the same USP because if they did, they wouldn’t be unique.

When I was determining the guest house’s unique selling point, I looked at others in the market. My competitors were primarily focused on maximum income for minimum cost, and not necessarily on getting customers to return. Identifying that gap is how I found my USP, resulting in hundreds of 5-star reviews and a return client base (not via a third-party site), increasing my profits by 15%.

3. Which products or services will you offer?

Before choosing a product or service to sell, ask yourself the following questions:

What are my customers’ hidden desires?  

What’s the most significant benefit my product/service can give my customers?

What problems do my prospects have with my competitors, and how can I solve them?

Because it’s not your products that interest people, it’s the results they provide. Put your customers first and fulfill their implicit desires with excellence, and your choice of product or service will become apparent.

The guest house I opened offered exceptional customer service.

Sure, the beds were comfortable, the food excellent, and our view amazing. But most folks remembered the superb service and feeling attended to.  

The guest house’s level of service gave value to my customers – providing an instant return to my business by increasing reviews, cultivating a loyal clientele, referring others, and attracting people happy to pay more.  

4. What's your business model?

The late Anthony Bourdain, celebrity chef, author, travel documentarian, once said:

A business model outlines how your company will turn a profit selling a product/service to a target audience within a specific marketplace.  

However, with so many new businesses models coming online every day, they’re constantly evolving, so no one size fits all. For example, traditional business models include brick-and-mortar stores, franchising, and direct sales.  

Hybrid models (businesses like my guest house) combine internet sales with a physical location.  

Your business model’s purpose is to ensure you’ll profit using the proper marketing channels and payment gateways for incoming revenue.  

Now’s the time to be ruthless with the numbers. Account for every outgoing, like set-up costs, fixed costs, product production and packaging, sales, and shipping. Research your competitors to find the base price point for what you’re offering.

For the guest house, I had a hybrid model using online marketing to rent vacation rooms through third-party holiday booking sites. I then added Google My Business, a website, and local off-line physical marketing materials as my customer base grew. It was heavily focused on return customers and referrals to reduce third-party percentage sales costs, increasing revenue. Payment gateways included online payments via third-party sites, my website, and on-site.

5. Who's your competition, and how will you beat them?

“I’ve been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.” – Walt Disney, you know the guy!

Without competition, you’ve got one of two things: A business idea no one wants, or one no one yet knows they need.

Both are unsuitable business models for a small business. The ideal business model should have high customer demand, healthy competition, and room for a savvy innovator like you to move in.  

You beat your competitors by identifying them, what they offer, and which marketing channels they use to engage their target audience. And you find those by running a competitor analysis .

A competitor analysis identifies your competition’s strengths and weaknesses, their marketing strategies, advertising platforms, and any crucial marketing opportunities they may be missing. Doing so gives you a competitive advantage.

The guest house I opened had 42 established competitors, all with a long booking site history and hundreds of reviews.  

However, average review scores were low (8.2 on Booking.com and 3.8 on Google), the negatives being customer service, facilities, and breakfast. Most competitors weren’t taking advantage of visuals, using low-quality photographs. Fewer still were active online, failing to reply to customer comments and testimonials.  

6. What's your competitive advantage?

“If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete.”   – Jack Welch, ex-CEO of General Electric.

A competitive advantage is your company’s ability to outperform your competitors in one or more ways. That is called a unique value proposition (UVP).

Your unique value proposition is the solution and benefit your USP provides. Your UVP’s an in-your-face marketing statement describing exactly how you’ll bring value to your audience, highlighting what makes you unique to the marketplace.

Ask these questions to find your answers:  

Relevancy: How does your product or service solve your customers’ pain points or improve their situation?  

Quantified value: In what way will you deliver those specific benefits?  

Differentiation: Why should your ideal customer buy from you and not from your competition?  

The guest house’s unique selling point was superior service, stunning views, comfortable bedrooms with extra facilities, and a 5-star quality breakfast using local produce, catering for all food intolerances.  

Our unique value proposition was marketing.  

I was at an immediate disadvantage to our competitors. Our location was 2 miles from town, which meant customers needed transport, so I promoted a free taxi service. It became one of our leading USPs.  

I took beautiful photographs and wrote engaging descriptions of the property, breakfast, and facilities down to the last detail – removing any doubt from my target audience’s mind.

And, I created a cohesive and recognizable brand by using the same images, bio, and family pictures on all our marketing platforms.  

7. Who's your target market?

“Everyone is not your customer”.   – Seth Godin, yep him again!

Your target market is the consumers who you’ve proven want what you’re selling.  

By identifying your target market and their preferred marketing channels, you can define your marketing strategy around their needs – at the same time, highlighting your UVP to engage and connect with them at every opportunity.

You gain an understanding of your target market by creating a buyer persona . It’s a fictional character created using accurate research data that provides relevant information about your audience.

The aim is to identify a niche audience you’re confident your marketing will convert into paying customers.  

My guest house was located at a hot spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties. There were businesses providing a service catering to their specific needs. It was clear that local couples and families were unhappy sharing facilities with an overly jubilant crowd.

I’d found our target market. We quickly gained the reputation as the go-to property for those wanting a quiet, relaxing holiday. My target market is less trouble, more appreciative, stay longer, and pay more for our service.  

8. What marketing strategies will you use?

“Good marketing makes a company look smart. Great marketing makes the customer feel smart.”   – Joe Chernov, ex-VP of marketing at HubSpot.  

Now your goal is to define your marketing (sales) strategy to maximize your ROI (return on investment) and create a highly optimized presence within your niche.  

You define your marketing strategy by identifying the channel your target audience uses most to search for and buy your product.  

You identify it by looking at your competitors’ websites and social media platforms, and by checking out third-party sales websites such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or in my example, Booking.com.  

I opened the guest house in the height of summer after establishing Booking.com as my target audience’s preferred platform. And although the site charges a hefty 15%, the pay-off was worth it.

By focusing on my target audience and using the highest converting booking platform, I took 67 bookings in my first 4 days. And by providing unparalleled service (on a platform driven by reviews), I had 104 primarily 5-star reviews by the end of the summer, resulting in a 9.8 score.

This enabled me to spread my marketing net to include Google My Business and website. With all 3 marketing platforms working, I booked out one year in advance and could raise the prices.  

9. How will you cover your costs?

“Never take your eyes off cash flow because it’s the lifeblood of business.”   – Richard Branson. He signed the Sex Pistols, built an airline and a spaceship, and flew to space!

Did you know most new businesses fail due to a lack of cash flow?  

It’s critical to know your numbers and write up a financial summary (budget and sales goals) to stay afloat.

A financial summary could be as simple as an Excel spreadsheet, and includes your setup costs, running costs (products, shipping, utilities, rent, marketing, etc.), and most importantly, your break-even point. Your break-even point is when your credit equals your debit, and if you run your business correctly, profit soon follows.  

Your cash flow is the net balance of cash moving in and out of your business at a specific point in time and the amount you need to keep your business running. And by maintaining a balance sheet, you keep your eyes on your cash flow.

Include these in your one-page business plan:

Expenditure and budget. Account for every expense, no matter how small (and keep the receipt)!

Sales goals. The quantity of products/services you’ll sell and at what price to surpass your break-even point and make a profit.

Net profit. Your estimated end-of-tax-year profit after you’ve subtracted all your debits.

When I did this for the guest house, I required an initial investment for renovations, fitting out, and stock (food and beverages, etc.).  

I reduced the outgoings by doing all the construction work myself and living on pasta! And as I used a free marketing strategy (Booking.com only charge after rentals), my advertising costs were almost zero. Bookings were in advance, so I could accurately forecast credit, debit, break-even point, and the gross/net profit.

10. Who do you need to scale and succeed?

“You’re only as good as the people you hire.” – Ray Croc, who gave the world fast food and McDonald’s. Thanks, Ray!

Now’s the time to think about who you’ll need to help scale your business, because hiring people with the right talent produces successful results.  

Look at each step of your one-page business plan, such as accounting, marketing, product development, and ask yourself, do I need support to make that happen? If so, seek out people wiser and more experienced than you in those areas.

From one small business owner to another, don’t hire in-house at this early stage. You can outsource on a contractual basis, ensuring you’ve got who you need when you need them – helping you reduce costs and put your business plan into action.

Use our template to build your own business plan!

We’ve created a downloadable template for you to use. Check it out and click the link below to download: 

Write Your Own One-Page Business Plan!

A one-page business plan is the blueprint that will guide your business towards achieving its goals.  

For anyone starting a business, creating a business plan is an important first step.  

Follow this guide to write your very own business plan, and you’ll have a document that will set your business on a path for success.  

This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. The content is not legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information as well as has not been evaluated the accuracy and/or completeness of the information.

Terry OToole

Terry is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building businesses across multiple industries – construction, real estate, e-commerce, hotelier, and now digital media. When not working, Terry likes to kick back and relax with family, explore Taoism’s mysteries, or savor the taste of fine Italian red wine.

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Home > Business Setup > How To Write An Effective One-Page Business Plan + Example

How To Write An Effective One-Page Business Plan + Example

Dec 5, 2023 | Business Setup

Crafting a one-page business plan is a strategic approach to successfully crystallising your business’s direction and objectives. It’s an invaluable resource for entrepreneurs who must communicate their vision and strategy quickly and clearly. In this compact format, every word counts, making it essential to focus on the essentials:

• Your vision
• Your mission
• Your target market
• Your competition
• Your products
• Your services
• Your financial projections

We will literally show you how to maximise your business plan to a single page- concise, consistent and creating your future!

Whether for internal guidance or external stakeholders, a well-structured one-page plan can align your team, attract investors, and be a powerful tool for business growth . This article delves into the intricacies of using one-page business plans and distilling your comprehensive business strategy into a concise, actionable document, ensuring that you keep your enterprise on course without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

Table of Contents

The Purpose of a One-Page Business Plan

A one-page business plan is a concise tool summarising your business’s goals, strategies, and actionable steps, all on a single page or sheet of paper. This streamlined document acts as a beacon, guiding you and your team toward achieving your business objectives. It’s the essence of your broader business strategy, offering a clear overview of where you’re headed and how you plan to get there. Unlike the lengthy traditional business plans, a one-page version is designed to provide just enough information to keep everyone on track without overwhelming them with details.

Simplifying Your Vision

In today’s business world, the concept of a Mission Statement has evolved into what’s now known as the Simplicity Vision Statement. This statement is your pledge to make your business processes and objectives straightforward. Crafting a Simplicity Vision Statement involves introspection and a clear grasp of the importance of simplification in reaching your strategic goals.

By answering critical questions about how simplification can benefit your company, you’ll create a statement that resonates with your team and drives them toward collective success. When each team member understands their role within the grand scheme of the company’s vision, it sets the stage for remarkable achievements.

Setting Clear Objectives

To build a solid one-page business plan , you need to intimately know your target market and the unique value of your product or service. This insight allows you to set realistic and achievable business goals. Including concrete figures related to costs and budgeting in your business plan template ensures that your objectives are grounded in reality.

For some entrepreneurs, it might be beneficial to start with a detailed business plan and then condense the essence of that business plan template into a one-page format. This ensures that the core objectives are clearly communicated and prioritised.

Communicating Your Business to Stakeholders

A one-page business plan isn’t just for internal use; it’s also an effective way to share your business concept with external stakeholders and investors . It backs up your claims with concise, current information, especially in areas like financial projections and marketing strategies. By choosing the most suitable business planning template for your needs and filling it with the latest data, you can quickly prepare a presentation that captures the essence of your business .

Getting to know the different templates available is key to figuring out the most effective way to share your business plan.

Aligning Your Team with Your Strategy

Achieving team alignment means ensuring all members, across various functions, are working together toward the shared vision and goals of the organisation. When a team is aligned, the benefits are numerous: productivity increases, communication improves, and employee engagement and retention improve. Decision-making speeds up, and the organisation becomes more agile in responding to external challenges.

The alignment process starts with clearly expressing the organisation’s purpose and strategy. By understanding your value proposition, you can more accurately predict the service business’s costs, revenue, and profitability . This, in turn, helps steer your team’s efforts toward the long-term strategic objectives of your business.

Essential Components of a One-Page Business Plan

Vision and mission statement.

Your vision and mission statement encapsulate your brand’s purpose and values , guiding your business’s trajectory. It should be a compelling declaration that encapsulates what your company stands for and seeks to achieve, resonating with both team members and customers.

Target Market and Competition Analysis

Understanding your ideal customer’s needs is crucial for tailoring your product development and marketing strategies. Market research , which includes gathering demographic information and employing direct research methods like surveys, is vital for validating market analysis and refining your business concept. A comprehensive competitive analysis is also imperative, offering insights into your competitors’ offerings, market segments, and positioning, which helps identify a competitive advantage.

Products and Services Overview

Here, you describe your offerings and their significance in the market. This part of the plan should highlight the distinctiveness of your products or services and their benefits to your business partners or target audience.

Marketing and Sales Strategies

This strategy outlines attracting and retaining customers , specifying the channels and messaging you’ll use. It should be aligned with the key elements of your sales strategies, which detail converting prospects into customers and the sales goals you intend to achieve.

Financial Projections

These projections are vital, offering a forecast of your business’s financial health. They should be based on historical data or realistic assumptions and include revenue, expenses, profit, and cash flow estimates . They are not only essential for internal planning but also for demonstrating your own business model’s potential to stakeholders.

Crafting Your Executive Summary

Capturing the essence of your business.

An executive summary is your business plan’s gateway, offering a condensed version of its contents. It’s vital to capture the essence of your business within this section, which should be at most two pages. Start your financial summary with a clear and concise mission statement that expresses your company’s purpose.

Follow these bullet points with a brief description of your business, including its location, how long it’s been operating, and the management team’s expertise. You need to convey the nature of your product or service and the market size it addresses. The executive summary is often the only part of your business plan that busy executives and potential investors will read, so it’s got to be compelling enough to encourage them to read further into your plan.

Highlighting Your Unique Value Proposition

Your executive summary must clearly set your business apart from the competition. This means summarising what makes your product or service unique and why it’s better than others in the market. It’s about more than what you do but how you do it differently or better.

This could be through innovation, customer service, a pricing strategy, or other unique selling points. Also, provide an overview of your sales projections and the financial requirements to launch and sustain your business. Use keywords strategically to enhance your business idea’s appeal and ensure that the language used speaks to your audience, whether they’re generalists or industry experts.

Defining Short-term and Long-term Goals

Setting clear business goals is key to your company’s direction and success. In your executive summary, outline both your short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals include immediate objectives like increasing customer satisfaction or expanding the team, which are often achievable within a year.

Long-term goals, however, reflect your vision of where you want the business to be in the future, such as achieving a certain market share or revenue target. These goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-related . By using frameworks like OKRs, you can have business plan templates set measurable goals and track progress with KPIs. This dual focus on immediate and future objectives ensures that your business plan is grounded in the present while also aiming for sustainable growth.

Strategies for Implementing Your Plan

Establishing milestones and metrics.

Establish milestones that delineate the path toward your objectives to ensure your one-page business plan translates into action. These should be specific, with a designated completion date, budget, and an assigned individual. Regular reviews of these milestones facilitate timely adjustments to your marketing plan and approach if necessary.

Metrics that reflect your strategic aims are equally critical. They might encompass objectives such as customer growth , product refinement, and brand development within a specified timeframe. Setting attainable milestones is crucial to maintain enthusiasm and prevent team burnout.

Prioritising these milestones will help you allocate resources wisely and propel your business towards success. Without them, your business lacks the necessary structure to navigate towards its goals.

Assigning Roles and Responsibilities

Defining roles and responsibilities is crucial for team efficiency. Utilising frameworks like the RASI chart can delineate these roles within your organisation. This clarity enhances productivity and job satisfaction, contributing to a more cohesive and effective team.

To establish these roles, consider your business’s specific needs and objectives. Define each role with a detailed description, required competencies, and associated key performance indicators (KPIs). This ensures that each team member contributes strategically to the business’s success. With these definitions in place, leaders can delegate effectively, ensuring that everyone understands their role in the broader context of the company’s objectives.

Budgeting and Resource Allocation

Effective budgeting and resource allocation are crucial for your business’s sustainability. Assess your available assets, including finances, time, and personnel, and distribute them in alignment with your strategic goals. Leveraging partnerships and outsourcing non-core activities can enhance efficiency and allow you to concentrate on your primary competencies.

Incorporating technology can streamline operations while engaging freelancers and contractors, providing agility and specialised expertise. Ensuring favourable payment terms with suppliers and prudent cash flow management are also essential for financial stability.

It’s important to remain flexible, continuously revising your resource distribution to adapt to industry dynamics and maintain your business’s competitive edge.

Tracking Progress and Adapting to Changes

Adopting a dynamic approach to monitoring progress is essential. This involves acknowledging completed milestones and evaluating outcomes against your initial plan. This comparison can reveal discrepancies and areas requiring improvement.

Maintaining transparent communication with your team and stakeholders about progress and any plan modifications fosters a collective dedication to the traditional business plan’s success and facilitates collaboration during periods of change.

As your business evolves and external conditions fluctuate, your one-page business plan should be updated accordingly. This entails reassessing and adjusting your strategies, roles, and resource distribution to ensure continued relevance and efficacy. By remaining vigilant and responsive, you can navigate your own single-page business plans through market complexities and achieve sustained growth and success.

Execute and Evolve Your Plan

Crafting a one-page business plan is more than a mere exercise in brevity; it’s a strategic tool that forges clarity, enables business owners and fosters decisive action within your team. Remember, this succinct plan articulates your business idea succinctly and provides a living document that should evolve with your business. The map directs you while allowing for detours as you navigate the ever-changing landscapes of the business world.

The effectiveness of your own single-page business plan also hinges on its implementation. Be tenacious yet flexible, regularly reviewing and revising your plan to stay aligned with both internal progress and external market dynamics. With your one-page business plan in hand, you’re equipped to chart a clear course to success, invite stakeholders on your journey, and pivot with purpose when the tides of business shift. Let it be your compass to guide your venture to new heights.

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How to make a business plan

Table of Contents

How to make a good business plan: step-by-step guide.

A business plan is a strategic roadmap used to navigate the challenging journey of entrepreneurship. It's the foundation upon which you build a successful business.

A well-crafted business plan can help you define your vision, clarify your goals, and identify potential problems before they arise.

But where do you start? How do you create a business plan that sets you up for success?

This article will explore the step-by-step process of creating a comprehensive business plan.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a formal document that outlines a business's objectives, strategies, and operational procedures. It typically includes the following information about a company:

Products or services

Target market

Competitors

Marketing and sales strategies

Financial plan

Management team

A business plan serves as a roadmap for a company's success and provides a blueprint for its growth and development. It helps entrepreneurs and business owners organize their ideas, evaluate the feasibility, and identify potential challenges and opportunities.

As well as serving as a guide for business owners, a business plan can attract investors and secure funding. It demonstrates the company's understanding of the market, its ability to generate revenue and profits, and its strategy for managing risks and achieving success.

Business plan vs. business model canvas

A business plan may seem similar to a business model canvas, but each document serves a different purpose.

A business model canvas is a high-level overview that helps entrepreneurs and business owners quickly test and iterate their ideas. It is often a one-page document that briefly outlines the following:

Key partnerships

Key activities

Key propositions

Customer relationships

Customer segments

Key resources

Cost structure

Revenue streams

On the other hand, a Business Plan Template provides a more in-depth analysis of a company's strategy and operations. It is typically a lengthy document and requires significant time and effort to develop.

A business model shouldn’t replace a business plan, and vice versa. Business owners should lay the foundations and visually capture the most important information with a Business Model Canvas Template . Because this is a fast and efficient way to communicate a business idea, a business model canvas is a good starting point before developing a more comprehensive business plan.

A business plan can aim to secure funding from investors or lenders, while a business model canvas communicates a business idea to potential customers or partners.

Why is a business plan important?

A business plan is crucial for any entrepreneur or business owner wanting to increase their chances of success.

Here are some of the many benefits of having a thorough business plan.

Helps to define the business goals and objectives

A business plan encourages you to think critically about your goals and objectives. Doing so lets you clearly understand what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there.

A well-defined set of goals, objectives, and key results also provides a sense of direction and purpose, which helps keep business owners focused and motivated.

Guides decision-making

A business plan requires you to consider different scenarios and potential problems that may arise in your business. This awareness allows you to devise strategies to deal with these issues and avoid pitfalls.

With a clear plan, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions aligning with their overall business goals and objectives. This helps reduce the risk of making costly mistakes and ensures they make decisions with long-term success in mind.

Attracts investors and secures funding

Investors and lenders often require a business plan before considering investing in your business. A document that outlines the company's goals, objectives, and financial forecasts can help instill confidence in potential investors and lenders.

A well-written business plan demonstrates that you have thoroughly thought through your business idea and have a solid plan for success.

Identifies potential challenges and risks

A business plan requires entrepreneurs to consider potential challenges and risks that could impact their business. For example:

Is there enough demand for my product or service?

Will I have enough capital to start my business?

Is the market oversaturated with too many competitors?

What will happen if my marketing strategy is ineffective?

By identifying these potential challenges, entrepreneurs can develop strategies to mitigate risks and overcome challenges. This can reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes and ensure the business is well-positioned to take on any challenges.

Provides a basis for measuring success

A business plan serves as a framework for measuring success by providing clear goals and financial projections . Entrepreneurs can regularly refer to the original business plan as a benchmark to measure progress. By comparing the current business position to initial forecasts, business owners can answer questions such as:

Are we where we want to be at this point?

Did we achieve our goals?

If not, why not, and what do we need to do?

After assessing whether the business is meeting its objectives or falling short, business owners can adjust their strategies as needed.

How to make a business plan step by step

The steps below will guide you through the process of creating a business plan and what key components you need to include.

1. Create an executive summary

Start with a brief overview of your entire plan. The executive summary should cover your business plan's main points and key takeaways.

Keep your executive summary concise and clear with the Executive Summary Template . The simple design helps readers understand the crux of your business plan without reading the entire document.

2. Write your company description

Provide a detailed explanation of your company. Include information on what your company does, the mission statement, and your vision for the future.

Provide additional background information on the history of your company, the founders, and any notable achievements or milestones.

3. Conduct a market analysis

Conduct an in-depth analysis of your industry, competitors, and target market. This is best done with a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Next, identify your target market's needs, demographics, and behaviors.

Use the Competitive Analysis Template to brainstorm answers to simple questions like:

What does the current market look like?

Who are your competitors?

What are they offering?

What will give you a competitive advantage?

Who is your target market?

What are they looking for and why?

How will your product or service satisfy a need?

These questions should give you valuable insights into the current market and where your business stands.

4. Describe your products and services

Provide detailed information about your products and services. This includes pricing information, product features, and any unique selling points.

Use the Product/Market Fit Template to explain how your products meet the needs of your target market. Describe what sets them apart from the competition.

5. Design a marketing and sales strategy

Outline how you plan to promote and sell your products. Your marketing strategy and sales strategy should include information about your:

Pricing strategy

Advertising and promotional tactics

Sales channels

The Go to Market Strategy Template is a great way to visually map how you plan to launch your product or service in a new or existing market.

6. Determine budget and financial projections

Document detailed information on your business’ finances. Describe the current financial position of the company and how you expect the finances to play out.

Some details to include in this section are:

Startup costs

Revenue projections

Profit and loss statement

Funding you have received or plan to receive

Strategy for raising funds

7. Set the organization and management structure

Define how your company is structured and who will be responsible for each aspect of the business. Use the Business Organizational Chart Template to visually map the company’s teams, roles, and hierarchy.

As well as the organization and management structure, discuss the legal structure of your business. Clarify whether your business is a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or LLC.

8. Make an action plan

At this point in your business plan, you’ve described what you’re aiming for. But how are you going to get there? The Action Plan Template describes the following steps to move your business plan forward. Outline the next steps you plan to take to bring your business plan to fruition.

Types of business plans

Several types of business plans cater to different purposes and stages of a company's lifecycle. Here are some of the most common types of business plans.

Startup business plan

A startup business plan is typically an entrepreneur's first business plan. This document helps entrepreneurs articulate their business idea when starting a new business.

Not sure how to make a business plan for a startup? It’s pretty similar to a regular business plan, except the primary purpose of a startup business plan is to convince investors to provide funding for the business. A startup business plan also outlines the potential target market, product/service offering, marketing plan, and financial projections.

Strategic business plan

A strategic business plan is a long-term plan that outlines a company's overall strategy, objectives, and tactics. This type of strategic plan focuses on the big picture and helps business owners set goals and priorities and measure progress.

The primary purpose of a strategic business plan is to provide direction and guidance to the company's management team and stakeholders. The plan typically covers a period of three to five years.

Operational business plan

An operational business plan is a detailed document that outlines the day-to-day operations of a business. It focuses on the specific activities and processes required to run the business, such as:

Organizational structure

Staffing plan

Production plan

Quality control

Inventory management

Supply chain

The primary purpose of an operational business plan is to ensure that the business runs efficiently and effectively. It helps business owners manage their resources, track their performance, and identify areas for improvement.

Growth-business plan

A growth-business plan is a strategic plan that outlines how a company plans to expand its business. It helps business owners identify new market opportunities and increase revenue and profitability. The primary purpose of a growth-business plan is to provide a roadmap for the company's expansion and growth.

The 3 Horizons of Growth Template is a great tool to identify new areas of growth. This framework categorizes growth opportunities into three categories: Horizon 1 (core business), Horizon 2 (emerging business), and Horizon 3 (potential business).

One-page business plan

A one-page business plan is a condensed version of a full business plan that focuses on the most critical aspects of a business. It’s a great tool for entrepreneurs who want to quickly communicate their business idea to potential investors, partners, or employees.

A one-page business plan typically includes sections such as business concept, value proposition, revenue streams, and cost structure.

Best practices for how to make a good business plan

Here are some additional tips for creating a business plan:

Use a template

A template can help you organize your thoughts and effectively communicate your business ideas and strategies. Starting with a template can also save you time and effort when formatting your plan.

Miro’s extensive library of customizable templates includes all the necessary sections for a comprehensive business plan. With our templates, you can confidently present your business plans to stakeholders and investors.

Be practical

Avoid overestimating revenue projections or underestimating expenses. Your business plan should be grounded in practical realities like your budget, resources, and capabilities.

Be specific

Provide as much detail as possible in your business plan. A specific plan is easier to execute because it provides clear guidance on what needs to be done and how. Without specific details, your plan may be too broad or vague, making it difficult to know where to start or how to measure success.

Be thorough with your research

Conduct thorough research to fully understand the market, your competitors, and your target audience . By conducting thorough research, you can identify potential risks and challenges your business may face and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Get input from others

It can be easy to become overly focused on your vision and ideas, leading to tunnel vision and a lack of objectivity. By seeking input from others, you can identify potential opportunities you may have overlooked.

Review and revise regularly

A business plan is a living document. You should update it regularly to reflect market, industry, and business changes. Set aside time for regular reviews and revisions to ensure your plan remains relevant and effective.

Create a winning business plan to chart your path to success

Starting or growing a business can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, a well-written business plan can make or break your business’ success.

The purpose of a business plan is more than just to secure funding and attract investors. It also serves as a roadmap for achieving your business goals and realizing your vision. With the right mindset, tools, and strategies, you can develop a visually appealing, persuasive business plan.

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What Is a Business Plan? Definition and Planning Essentials Explained

Posted february 21, 2022 by kody wirth.

What is a business plan? It’s the roadmap for your business. The outline of your goals, objectives, and the steps you’ll take to get there. It describes the structure of your organization, how it operates, as well as the financial expectations and actual performance. 

A business plan can help you explore ideas, successfully start a business, manage operations, and pursue growth. In short, a business plan is a lot of different things. It’s more than just a stack of paper and can be one of your most effective tools as a business owner. 

Let’s explore the basics of business planning, the structure of a traditional plan, your planning options, and how you can use your plan to succeed. 

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a document that explains how your business operates. It summarizes your business structure, objectives, milestones, and financial performance. Again, it’s a guide that helps you, and anyone else, better understand how your business will succeed.  

Why do you need a business plan?

The primary purpose of a business plan is to help you understand the direction of your business and the steps it will take to get there. Having a solid business plan can help you grow up to 30% faster and according to our own 2021 Small Business research working on a business plan increases confidence regarding business health—even in the midst of a crisis. 

These benefits are directly connected to how writing a business plan makes you more informed and better prepares you for entrepreneurship. It helps you reduce risk and avoid pursuing potentially poor ideas. You’ll also be able to more easily uncover your business’s potential. By regularly returning to your plan you can understand what parts of your strategy are working and those that are not.

That just scratches the surface for why having a plan is valuable. Check out our full write-up for fifteen more reasons why you need a business plan .  

What can you do with your plan?

So what can you do with a business plan once you’ve created it? It can be all too easy to write a plan and just let it be. Here are just a few ways you can leverage your plan to benefit your business.

Test an idea

Writing a plan isn’t just for those that are ready to start a business. It’s just as valuable for those that have an idea and want to determine if it’s actually possible or not. By writing a plan to explore the validity of an idea, you are working through the process of understanding what it would take to be successful. 

The market and competitive research alone can tell you a lot about your idea. Is the marketplace too crowded? Is the solution you have in mind not really needed? Add in the exploration of milestones, potential expenses, and the sales needed to attain profitability and you can paint a pretty clear picture of the potential of your business.

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For those starting or managing a business understanding where you’re going and how you’re going to get there are vital. Writing your plan helps you do that. It ensures that you are considering all aspects of your business, know what milestones you need to hit, and can effectively make adjustments if that doesn’t happen. 

With a plan in place, you’ll have an idea of where you want your business to go as well as how you’ve performed in the past. This alone better prepares you to take on challenges, review what you’ve done before, and make the right adjustments.

Pursue funding

Even if you do not intend to pursue funding right away, having a business plan will prepare you for it. It will ensure that you have all of the information necessary to submit a loan application and pitch to investors. So, rather than scrambling to gather documentation and write a cohesive plan once it’s relevant, you can instead keep your plan up-to-date and attempt to attain funding. Just add a use of funds report to your financial plan and you’ll be ready to go.

The benefits of having a plan don’t stop there. You can then use your business plan to help you manage the funding you receive. You’ll not only be able to easily track and forecast how you’ll use your funds but easily report on how it’s been used. 

Better manage your business

A solid business plan isn’t meant to be something you do once and forget about. Instead, it should be a useful tool that you can regularly use to analyze performance, make strategic decisions, and anticipate future scenarios. It’s a document that you should regularly update and adjust as you go to better fit the actual state of your business.

Doing so makes it easier to understand what’s working and what’s not. It helps you understand if you’re truly reaching your goals or if you need to make further adjustments. Having your plan in place makes that process quicker, more informative, and leaves you with far more time to actually spend running your business.

What should your business plan include?

The content and structure of your business plan should include anything that will help you use it effectively. That being said, there are some key elements that you should cover and that investors will expect to see. 

Executive summary

The executive summary is a simple overview of your business and your overall plan. It should serve as a standalone document that provides enough detail for anyone—including yourself, team members, or investors—to fully understand your business strategy. Make sure to cover the problem you’re solving, a description of your product or service, your target market, organizational structure, a financial summary, and any necessary funding requirements.

This will be the first part of your plan but it’s easiest to write it after you’ve created your full plan.

Products & Services

When describing your products or services, you need to start by outlining the problem you’re solving and why what you offer is valuable. This is where you’ll also address current competition in the market and any competitive advantages your products or services bring to the table. Lastly, be sure to outline the steps or milestones that you’ll need to hit to successfully launch your business. If you’ve already hit some initial milestones, like taking pre-orders or early funding, be sure to include it here to further prove the validity of your business. 

Market analysis

A market analysis is a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the current market you’re entering or competing in. It helps you understand the overall state and potential of the industry, who your ideal customers are, the positioning of your competition, and how you intend to position your own business. This helps you better explore the long-term trends of the market, what challenges to expect, and how you will need to initially introduce and even price your products or services.

Check out our full guide for how to conduct a market analysis in just four easy steps .  

Marketing & sales

Here you detail how you intend to reach your target market. This includes your sales activities, general pricing plan, and the beginnings of your marketing strategy. If you have any branding elements, sample marketing campaigns, or messaging available—this is the place to add it. 

Additionally, it may be wise to include a SWOT analysis that demonstrates your business or specific product/service position. This will showcase how you intend to leverage sales and marketing channels to deal with competitive threats and take advantage of any opportunities.

Check out our full write-up to learn how to create a cohesive marketing strategy for your business. 

Organization & management

This section addresses the legal structure of your business, your current team, and any gaps that need to be filled. Depending on your business type and longevity, you’ll also need to include your location, ownership information, and business history. Basically, add any information that helps explain your organizational structure and how you operate. This section is particularly important for pitching to investors but should be included even if attempted funding is not in your immediate future.

Financial projections

Possibly the most important piece of your plan, your financials section is vital for showcasing the viability of your business. It also helps you establish a baseline to measure against and makes it easier to make ongoing strategic decisions as your business grows. This may seem complex on the surface, but it can be far easier than you think. 

Focus on building solid forecasts, keep your categories simple, and lean on assumptions. You can always return to this section to add more details and refine your financial statements as you operate. 

Here are the statements you should include in your financial plan:

• Sales and revenue projections
• Profit and loss statement
• Cash flow statement
• Balance sheet

The appendix is where you add additional detail, documentation, or extended notes that support the other sections of your plan. Don’t worry about adding this section at first and only add documentation that you think will be beneficial for anyone reading your plan.

Types of business plans explained

While all business plans cover similar categories, the style and function fully depend on how you intend to use your plan. So, to get the most out of your plan, it’s best to find a format that suits your needs. Here are a few common business plan types worth considering. 

Traditional business plan

The tried-and-true traditional business plan is a formal document meant to be used for external purposes. Typically this is the type of plan you’ll need when applying for funding or pitching to investors. It can also be used when training or hiring employees, working with vendors, or any other situation where the full details of your business must be understood by another individual. 

This type of business plan follows the outline above and can be anywhere from 10-50 pages depending on the amount of detail included, the complexity of your business, and what you include in your appendix. We recommend only starting with this business plan format if you plan to immediately pursue funding and already have a solid handle on your business information. 

Business model canvas

The business model canvas is a one-page template designed to demystify the business planning process. It removes the need for a traditional, copy-heavy business plan, in favor of a single-page outline that can help you and outside parties better explore your business idea. 

The structure ditches a linear structure in favor of a cell-based template. It encourages you to build connections between every element of your business. It’s faster to write out and update, and much easier for you, your team, and anyone else to visualize your business operations. This is really best for those exploring their business idea for the first time, but keep in mind that it can be difficult to actually validate your idea this way as well as adapt it into a full plan.

One-page business plan

The true middle ground between the business model canvas and a traditional business plan is the one-page business plan. This format is a simplified version of the traditional plan that focuses on the core aspects of your business. It basically serves as a beefed-up pitch document and can be finished as quickly as the business model canvas.

By starting with a one-page plan, you give yourself a minimal document to build from. You’ll typically stick with bullet points and single sentences making it much easier to elaborate or expand sections into a longer-form business plan. This plan type is useful for those exploring ideas, needing to validate their business model, or who need an internal plan to help them run and manage their business.

Now, the option that we here at LivePlan recommend is the Lean Plan . This is less of a specific document type and more of a methodology. It takes the simplicity and styling of the one-page business plan and turns it into a process for you to continuously plan, test, review, refine, and take action based on performance.

It holds all of the benefits of the single-page plan, including the potential to complete it in as little as 27-minutes . However, it’s even easier to convert into a full plan thanks to how heavily it’s tied to your financials. The overall goal of Lean Planning isn’t to just produce documents that you use once and shelve. Instead, the Lean Planning process helps you build a healthier company that thrives in times of growth and stable through times of crisis.

It’s faster, keeps your plan concise, and ensures that your plan is always up-to-date.

Try the LivePlan Method for Lean Business Planning

Now that you know the basics of business planning, it’s time to get started. Again we recommend leveraging a Lean Plan for a faster, easier, and far more useful planning process. 

To get familiar with the Lean Plan format, you can download our free Lean Plan template . However, if you want to elevate your ability to create and use your lean plan even further, you may want to explore LivePlan. 

It features step-by-step guidance that ensures you cover everything necessary while reducing the time spent on formatting and presenting. You’ll also gain access to financial forecasting tools that propel you through the process. Finally, it will transform your plan into a management tool that will help you easily compare your forecasts to your actual results. 

Check out how LivePlan streamlines Lean Planning by downloading our Kickstart Your Business ebook .

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What is a business plan? Definition, Purpose, and Types

In the world of business, a well-thought-out plan is often the key to success. This plan, known as a business plan, is a comprehensive document that outlines a company’s goals, strategies , and financial projections. Whether you’re starting a new business or looking to expand an existing one, a business plan is an essential tool.

As a business plan writer and consultant , I’ve crafted over 15,000 plans for a diverse range of businesses. In this article, I’ll be sharing my wealth of experience about what a business plan is, its purpose, and the step-by-step process of creating one. By the end, you’ll have a thorough understanding of how to develop a robust business plan that can drive your business to success.

What is a business plan?

Purposes of a business plan, what are the essential components of a business plan, executive summary, business description or overview, product and price, competitive analysis, target market, marketing plan, financial plan, funding requirements, types of business plan, lean startup business plans, traditional business plans, how often should a business plan be reviewed and revised, what are the key elements of a lean startup business plan.

• What are some of the reasons why business plans don't succeed?

A business plan is a roadmap for your business. It outlines your goals, strategies, and how you plan to achieve them. It’s a living document that you can update as your business grows and changes.

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These are the following purpose of business plan:

• Attract investors and lenders: If you’re seeking funding for your business , a business plan is a must-have. Investors and lenders want to see that you have a clear plan for how you’ll use their money to grow your business and generate revenue.
• Get organized and stay on track: Writing a business plan forces you to think through all aspects of your business, from your target market to your marketing strategy. This can help you identify any potential challenges and opportunities early on, so you can develop a plan to address them.
• Make better decisions: A business plan can help you make better decisions about your business by providing you with a framework to evaluate different options. For example, if you’re considering launching a new product, your business plan can help you assess the potential market demand, costs, and profitability.

The executive summary is the most important part of your business plan, even though it’s the last one you’ll write. It’s the first section that potential investors or lenders will read, and it may be the only one they read. The executive summary sets the stage for the rest of the document by introducing your company’s mission or vision statement, value proposition, and long-term goals.

The business description section of your business plan should introduce your business to the reader in a compelling and concise way. It should include your business name, years in operation, key offerings, positioning statement, and core values (if applicable). You may also want to include a short history of your company.

In this section, the company should describe its products or services , including pricing, product lifespan, and unique benefits to the consumer. Other relevant information could include production and manufacturing processes, patents, and proprietary technology.

Every industry has competitors, even if your business is the first of its kind or has the majority of the market share. In the competitive analysis section of your business plan, you’ll objectively assess the industry landscape to understand your business’s competitive position. A SWOT analysis is a structured way to organize this section.

Your target market section explains the core customers of your business and why they are your ideal customers. It should include demographic, psychographic, behavioral, and geographic information about your target market.

Marketing plan describes how the company will attract and retain customers, including any planned advertising and marketing campaigns . It also describes how the company will distribute its products or services to consumers.

After outlining your goals, validating your business opportunity, and assessing the industry landscape, the team section of your business plan identifies who will be responsible for achieving your goals. Even if you don’t have your full team in place yet, investors will be impressed by your clear understanding of the roles that need to be filled.

In the financial plan section,established businesses should provide financial statements , balance sheets , and other financial data. New businesses should provide financial targets and estimates for the first few years, and may also request funding.

Since one goal of a business plan is to secure funding from investors , you should include the amount of funding you need, why you need it, and how long you need it for.

• Tip: Use bullet points and numbered lists to make your plan easy to read and scannable.

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Business plans can come in many different formats, but they are often divided into two main types: traditional and lean startup. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) says that the traditional business plan is the more common of the two.

Lean startup business plans are short (as short as one page) and focus on the most important elements. They are easy to create, but companies may need to provide more information if requested by investors or lenders.

Traditional business plans are longer and more detailed than lean startup business plans, which makes them more time-consuming to create but more persuasive to potential investors. Lean startup business plans are shorter and less detailed, but companies should be prepared to provide more information if requested.

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A business plan should be reviewed and revised at least annually, or more often if the business is experiencing significant changes. This is because the business landscape is constantly changing, and your business plan needs to reflect those changes in order to remain relevant and effective.

Here are some specific situations in which you should review and revise your business plan:

• You have launched a new product or service line.
• You have entered a new market.
• You have experienced significant changes in your customer base or competitive landscape.
• You have made changes to your management team or organizational structure.
• You have raised new funding.

A lean startup business plan is a short and simple way for a company to explain its business, especially if it is new and does not have a lot of information yet. It can include sections on the company’s value proposition, major activities and advantages, resources, partnerships, customer segments, and revenue sources.

What are some of the reasons why business plans don't succeed?

• Unrealistic assumptions: Business plans are often based on assumptions about the market, the competition, and the company’s own capabilities. If these assumptions are unrealistic, the plan is doomed to fail.
• Lack of focus: A good business plan should be focused on a specific goal and how the company will achieve it. If the plan is too broad or tries to do too much, it is unlikely to be successful.
• Poor execution: Even the best business plan is useless if it is not executed properly. This means having the right team in place, the necessary resources, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Unforeseen challenges:  Every business faces challenges that could not be predicted or planned for. These challenges can be anything from a natural disaster to a new competitor to a change in government regulations.

What are the benefits of having a business plan?

• It helps you to clarify your business goals and strategies.
• It can help you to attract investors and lenders.
• It can serve as a roadmap for your business as it grows and changes.
• It can help you to make better business decisions.

How to write a business plan?

There are many different ways to write a business plan, but most follow the same basic structure. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Executive summary.
• Company description.
• Management and organization description.
• Financial projections.

How to write a business plan step by step?

Start with an executive summary, then describe your business, analyze the market, outline your products or services, detail your marketing and sales strategies, introduce your team, and provide financial projections.

Why do I need a business plan for my startup?

A business plan helps define your startup’s direction, attract investors, secure funding, and make informed decisions crucial for success.

What are the key components of a business plan?

Key components include an executive summary, business description, market analysis, products or services, marketing and sales strategy, management and team, financial projections, and funding requirements.

Can a business plan help secure funding for my business?

Yes, a well-crafted business plan demonstrates your business’s viability, the use of investment, and potential returns, making it a valuable tool for attracting investors and lenders.

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The One Page Business Plan

The One Page Business Plan is a cloud-based management and results oriented system that helps ensure plans and goals created at the beginning of the year are implemented and achieved.

One Page Business Plans help senior leaders to get clear about what they truly want and communicate that to their teams in a way that works. A company’s overall plan will be understood, executed, and desired results achieved when every member of your team has a One Page Plan.

Having a business plan on one page will result in a more proactive leadership team intent on executing the business plan to deliver critical results.

One Page Plans are Simple, Intuitive and Flexible

• Create a first draft in 60 minutes using the system’s online One Page Plan Builder
• There’s no complicated terminology or software to learn
• The process works at all levels – teams, projects, departments, divisions, and the C-level executives
• You’ll create, align, and approve plans in 4 weeks or less

The One Page Business Plan Works Because

• The methodology is simple, intuitive, tactical and strategic
• Creating plans is fast and easy with a One Page Business Plan template, an online plan builder, and expert coaching
• It works equally well for both newly promoted managers and experienced executives
• One Page Plans create a culture of alignment, accountability and predictable results

The One Page Planning and Performance System gives you one simple place to manage, implement key initiatives, and achieve much more predictable results across your entire organization.

End your frustration around getting the results you want!

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Benefits of the one-page plan.

Many, if not most, organizations never develop, much less implement or modify, a strategic plan. Many organizations have not been able to afford the historically large cost of doing so, particularly when in-house experts are not available.

The One-Page Plan is an automated strategic planning system and method.

For many others, the time and resource consumption involved in developing a strategic plan has been too great for those involved in the business to develop, and then manage the implementation of a strategic plan. Lack of access to strategic planning expertise has also presented an insurmountable obstacle to engaging in strategic planning and management of plan implementation.

The One-Page Plan is an automated strategic planning system and method. It leads the user through a series of stages to develop a strategic plan. It automatically organizes the user’s responses to queries in order to provide strategic planning output. Goals determined at one hierarchical level and are used to create action items for the next. Progress on the action items is tracked. Goals cascade downward, producing action items, where progress on the action items cascades up – producing progress reports.

Thousands of organizations depend on the One-Page Plan to keep their long-term focus synced up with daily decision making. From the CEO to front line staff, everyone is aligned with the company’s strategy and vision. It’s easy. It’s safe and secure.

• Quickly develop and update plans for corporate, department and team members that you can manage with your computer
• Produce professional reports with the One-Page Plan.
• Create alignment by connecting organization-wide strategy to the department and individual through cascading goals.
• Align the process with performance measures and goals that cascade throughout the organization’s structure.
• Help managers and others to think more strategically and less tactically
• Provide boundaries to ensure purpose-driven action.
• Create a plan that is focused on serving your customers.
• Provide a holistic plan based on the balanced scorecard.

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Writing the Ultimate One-Pager About Your Business: 8 Examples and How to Make One [+ Free Template]

Published: May 20, 2024

Whether you’re a business owner or a sales rep, you’re always pitching your services, telling potential clients what you offer as succinctly as possible. Trust me, I’ve been there myself, trying to sum up my copywriting business in as few words as I can. That’s where the business one-pager has come to my rescue.

I’ve created presentations about what I do and have a full website dedicated to my business . But, when potential clients need answers fast, I pull out a one-pager — my value proposition boiled into one hard-hitting page.

If your business is missing this helpful tool, don’t worry. I’ve done the leg work to help. You can see eight of my favorite business one-pagers. Then, I’ll discuss how you can make your own step-by-step and share a template to make the process easy. Let’s get started. You can boil your pitch down to one hard-hitting page that grabs attention and gets to the point.

What is a one-pager?

A one-pager is a document that summarizes an offer, process, concept, or policy in around 250 words. Its purpose is to capture the reader's interest and leave them wanting more. It aims to compel the reader to take action, such as scheduling a call, visiting a website, or signing a contract.

That being said, one-pagers aren't just for selling. They can also be educational tools. When sharing knowledge, the crisp, engaging format grabs attention and helps readers retain key information.

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The Anatomy of a One-Pager

Your one-pager should be tailored to your specific goals. For example, my one-pager focuses on my writing services and a crash course into neuromarketing, a field I specialize in. That would be wildly different than the one-pager for a SaaS company or a wedding cake bakery.

Regardless, no matter the business, there are seven essential elements that must be in each one pager. I’ll share each of these components below.

• Company logo. Include your company logo prominently on the page. This small image reinforces your brand and ensures readers know who is behind the offer.
• About. Provide a brief elevator pitch that covers who you are, what makes you unique, and why readers should care. This section should pique their interest in the main content on the sheet.
• Problem statement. Open with the problem you‘re solving. For sales one-pagers, speak directly to your customer’s pain points. If you‘re courting investors, describe the niche you’re filling. For an internal one-pager, provide a high-level roadmap of what's to come.
• Features and benefits. This section is where you highlight your unique value proposition. Clearly outline the key features and benefits of your product, venture, or concept. Keep it short. Focus on the most essential points.
• Social proof. Use social proof to back up your claims with evidence. Include client testimonials, industry stats, or awards to reinforce your credibility and build trust.
• Call to action. Include a clear call to action that leaves no doubt about what the reader should do next, such as calling, visiting your website, or taking the next step in the process.
• Contact info. Provide clean, clear contact information (website, email, phone, social media) at the bottom of your one-pager to ensure leads can easily get in touch with you.

While all of this information is essential in your one-pager, how you design the sheet will vary wildly. If you work in a buttoned-up, formal industry, you may opt for texts and clean graphs only. If your readers are busy, an infographic may be a more skimmable way to share information.

Download our one-pager business template now to communicate your vision clearly and effectively.

How to Make a One-Pager for Your Business [+Template]

Now that we know what goes into a one-pager, I’ll share the process of making one step-by-step. We’ll also work through the process using a one-pager template from HubSpot.

In my example, I’ll make a one-pager for a fictional puzzle subscription company — Puzzle Me This. I’ll share the value proposition for this business all on one page as a way to attract potential buyers.

1. List out the basics.

We discussed seven elements you need in your one-pager above. You’ll also need to condense your mission into short headlines, your value proposition into a brief overview, and your problem statement into a few sentences.

Before I start putting my one-pager together, I like to sit down and list it all out. That involves gathering my assets (like my logo) into a folder and writing out the text I want to include in an unformatted Google Doc.

Let’s take a look at HubSpot’s template.  We’ll need to gather the following:

• An about section.
• A mission statement and overview.
• Information about products or services.
• Contact information.
• Information about the problem, solution, and market.
• More about the product’s competitive edge and strategy.
• Two photos.
• A QR code that leads to our website.

For my sample puzzle business, I gathered all of the information into one folder. That involved creating an unformatted Pages document with all of my text. Having all of the pieces compiled cleanly will make formatting my document easier.

2. Consider your value proposition and look ahead.

Your one-pager will need to show what makes your offering unique and how it stands out. You’ll need to clearly outline the problem you're solving and preview how your solution addresses it.

You may even Define your target audience and speak directly to their needs and pain points.

From there, I recommend looking ahead. This is especially true if you’re pitching your business to investors. They’ll get a sense of what they can expect from you in the future.

Let’s circle back to Puzzle Me This. There are a few different subscription boxes on the market. However, my business focuses on picking the perfect puzzle for the person so they don’t have to choose one themselves. Beyond that, I want to partner with independent artists, so I made sure to highlight that in my one-pager.

3. Get designing.

Now that you have all of the pieces ready, it’s time to start designing. How you lay out your one-pager will depend on your industry and the access that you have to graphic design talent. If you have a designer on staff, you may ask them to create a custom layout on your behalf.

However, templates like this one from HubSpot make the process easy for everyone. I used the template for the Puzzle Me This example. I was able to get everything filled out in minutes. The longest part of the process was crafting the perfect text.

One-Pager Examples

One-pagers can be helpful for all types of businesses, so they vary widely in how they look and are presented. Taking a look at well-designed one-pagers can help you get inspired when you create your own. So, let’s dive in!

1. Business One-Pager

Image Source

Looking to create a one-pager with stats to back up your value proposition? This template from Awware has you covered. Text-heavy sections that cover the company’s missions, values, and progress can be found on the left side. Icons and all-caps make headings jump.

The right side focuses on data. Readers can see how the company performs at a glance, giving the impact of the business nice visual leverage. I also like how the template makes use of a consistent color palette to avoid clutter.

Pro tip: Incorporate storytelling, social proof, and value to demonstrate why your business is a strong potential partner.

2. Product One-Pager

Product one-pagers focus on the specs of a specific offering. What makes them different than alternatives, what are the core features, and what’s the price point? A product one-pager should answer these questions.

The one-pager above showcases a console that’s coming soon. I like that this example has a timeline of when the product is expected to hit the market. Beyond that, the console’s features are condensed into easy-to-skim bullet points.

Pro tip: Font size can help you navigate your reader’s attention. Put the most important information, like pricing and release date, in larger font.

3. Marketing One-pager

Marketing one-pagers are internal documents that align teams. They are snapshots of critical elements like logos, brand colors , fonts, voice, goals, and customer personas. If you are launching a new campaign, a one-pager ensures messaging, visuals, and tone remain consistent with your brand.

The one-pager above focuses on a video marketing campaign. The sheet specifies what the project is for, its objective, and then the branding elements that will be used in the video. As a marketer, this sheet would make it easy for me to understand what the team wants and how to make it.

What I like: If you have a specific vision, make the content of your one-pager specific as well. This page lists out the filters, adjustments, and hex code of the color palette.

4. One-Pager Pitch

One-pager pitches are beneficial for project managers with new initiatives and consultants competing for contracts. Use this document to capture the attention of your audience and pique their interest. A well-crafted one-page pitch document can increase your chances of landing that coveted client.

The one-pager above pitches a marketing consultancy. I like how this page keeps the value proposition simple. There’s a quick blurb about what the organization can do, then images of the people on the team. This helps create a personal touch.

Beyond that, I like how the team lists out recommendations for a successful partnership. This level of transparency creates a sense of trustworthiness.

Pro tip: Do you have impressive statistics? Feature them in your one-pager.

5. Startup One-Pager

For startups, a one-pager is your ultimate elevator pitch. Whether you’re seek funding, networking, or brand promotion, this document showcases your scrappiness. Startup one-pagers cover the essentials: a compelling pitch, team expertise, market insights, and a clear call to action.

The one pager above compiles all of the information an investor might need at a glance. The company’s value proposition and mission statement are boiled down into headings. In a few brief paragraphs, you can understand where the startup is at in its development and what’s coming next.

Pro tip: Include extra punches like media attention or social proof to validate your idea and details about your investment stage.

6. Sales Rep One-Pager

Some sales one-pagers are made for reps to help them more effectively communicate with prospects. The above one-pager lays out the different costs of each insurance plan. It also coaches reps on how to work with different types of customers.

Pro tip: Highlight your unique value proposition in this compact yet impactful piece, positioning your offering as the solution they've been seeking.

7. Sales One-Pager

A sales one-pager summarizes the key aspects of your company, product, or service in a single, brief document. It aims to engage potential customers by clearly demonstrating how you can address their challenges and encouraging them to take the next step in the sales process.

I like how the post above showcases the target market for the data agency’s services. This short customer persona makes it clear who would benefit from this offering.

Pro tip: If you’re looking to summarize all that you offer quickly, include a conclusion section in your one-pager.

8. Event One-Pager

A compelling event one-pager can be an invaluable tool for capturing the attention of your target audience and ensuring a successful turnout, whether you're hosting a conference, seminar, or corporate gathering.

This one-pager specifically focuses on sponsors, so all elements of the sheet speak directly to that audience. Your event will likely need multiple types of one-pagers for each audience you hope to reach.

Pro tip: Your one-pager should go beyond the basics. Whether it's a lineup of renowned speakers, exclusive networking opportunities, or cutting-edge industry insights, the one-pager should entice readers.

Tips for Creating Effective One-Pagers

Stuffing information on one page doesn’t guarantee success. Below, I’ll share some pearls of wisdom I’ve gathered from making one-pagers in the past.

Be concise and audience-focused.

A one-pager must strike a balance between impact and readability. Brevity is key. This asset should be concise. Tailor your language and content to your specific audience. Avoid corporate jargon when addressing customers, but prioritize numbers and data when pitching to investors.

Elevate your one-pager with strategic formatting.

Pay attention to formatting elements that make your one-pager easy to read. Embrace white space to create a visually appealing layout that avoids clutter and allows your content to shine. I also recommend crafting a compelling headline that captures your reader's attention and communicates the core value of your offering.

Tell a cohesive story.

Like any good narrative, your one-pager should have a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Each component should seamlessly connect, guiding your reader through a clear and engaging story. The cohesive flow keeps your audience interested and reinforces your main point.

Consider how your one-pager will be distributed.

Adhere to the “one” in one-pager. Stick to a single side of a standard 8.5 x 11" page. Using this format ensures easy physical and digital distribution.

Speaking of distribution, think creatively. While one-pagers make excellent handouts, explore sharing the content on your website, social media channels, or even as an email newsletter, ensuring your audience receives it through their preferred channels.

Boost Your Business With a One Pager

We live in a fast-paced business world, so grabbing your audience's attention and getting your message across is crucial. One-pagers are great for showcasing your business, product, or event in a concise, engaging way.

Use our one-page business template to get ahead. With this template, you'll be able to create a professional and persuasive one-pager in no time.

Don't forget to share this post!

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What Is a Cash Flow Statement (CFS)?

• Using the Cash Flow Statement

How to Prepare a Cash Flow Statement

How cash flow is calculated.

• Limitations
• Income Statement & Balance Sheet

The Bottom Line

• Corporate Finance
• Financial statements: Balance, income, cash flow, and equity

Cash Flow Statement: What It Is and How to Read One

Thomas J Catalano is a CFP and Registered Investment Adviser with the state of South Carolina, where he launched his own financial advisory firm in 2018. Thomas' experience gives him expertise in a variety of areas including investments, retirement, insurance, and financial planning.

A cash flow statement tracks the inflow and outflow of cash, providing insights into a company's financial health and operational efficiency.

The CFS measures how well a company manages its cash position, meaning how well the company generates cash to pay its debt obligations and fund its operating expenses. As one of the three main financial statements, the CFS complements the balance sheet and the income statement. In this article, we’ll show you how the CFS is structured and how you can use it when analyzing a company.

Key Takeaways

• A cash flow statement summarizes the amount of cash and cash equivalents entering and leaving a company. 
• The CFS highlights a company's cash management, including how well it generates cash. 
• This financial statement complements the balance sheet and the income statement. 
• The main components of the CFS are cash from three areas: Operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.
• The two methods of calculating cash flow are the direct method and the indirect method.

How the Cash Flow Statement Is Used

The cash flow statement paints a picture as to how a company’s operations are running, where its money comes from, and how money is being spent. Also known as the statement of cash flows, the CFS helps its creditors determine how much cash is available (referred to as  liquidity ) for the company to fund its operating expenses and pay down its debts. The CFS is equally important to investors because it tells them whether a company is on solid financial ground. As such, they can use the statement to make better, more informed decisions about their investments.

Structure of the Cash Flow Statement

The main components of the cash flow statement are:

• Cash flow from operating activities
• Cash flow from investing activities
• Cash flow from financing activities
• Disclosure of non-cash activities, which is sometimes included when prepared under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) .

Cash From Operating Activities

The operating activities on the CFS include any sources and uses of cash from business activities. In other words, it reflects how much cash is generated from a company’s products or services.

These operating activities might include:

• Receipts from sales of goods and services
• Interest payments
• Income tax payments
• Payments made to suppliers of goods and services used in production
• Salary and wage payments to employees
• Rent payments
• Any other type of operating expenses

In the case of a trading portfolio or an investment company, receipts from the sale of loans, debt, or equity instruments are also included because it is a business activity.

Changes made in cash, accounts receivable, depreciation, inventory, and accounts payable are generally reflected in cash from operations.

Cash From Investing Activities

Investing activities include any sources and uses of cash from a company’s investments. Purchases or sales of assets, loans made to vendors or received from customers, or any payments related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are included in this category. In short, changes in equipment, assets, or investments relate to cash from investing.

Changes in cash from investing are usually considered cash-out items because cash is used to buy new equipment, buildings, or short-term assets such as marketable securities. But when a company divests an asset, the transaction is considered cash-in for calculating cash from investing.

Cash From Financing Activities

Cash from financing activities includes the sources of cash from investors and banks, as well as the way cash is paid to shareholders. This includes any dividends, payments for stock repurchases , and repayment of debt principal (loans) that are made by the company.

Changes in cash from financing are cash-in when capital is raised and cash-out when dividends are paid. Thus, if a company issues a bond to the public, the company receives cash financing. However, when interest is paid to bondholders , the company is reducing its cash. And remember, although interest is a cash-out expense, it is reported as an operating activity—not a financing activity.

1 . Gather Financial Statements

Before you begin, collect the necessary financial statements:

• Income statement: Provides information on revenues, expenses, and net income.
• Balance sheet: Shows the company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at the beginning and end of the period.

2. Determine the Reporting Period

Identify the period for which you are preparing the cash flow statement. This could be monthly, quarterly, or annually.

3. Choose the Method

Decide whether you will use the direct method or the indirect method to prepare the CFS.

• Direct Method: The direct method involves listing all cash receipts and payments during the reporting period.
• Indirect Method: The indirect method starts with net income and adjusts for changes in non-cash transactions.

4. Prepare the Statement

Cash flow from operating activities.

Direct Method:

• List cash receipts: Include cash collected from customers.
• List cash payments: Include cash paid to suppliers, employees, interest paid, and income taxes paid.
• Calculate net cash flow from operating activities: Subtract total cash payments from total cash receipts.

Indirect Method:

• Start with net income: Obtain this from the income statement.
• Adjust for non-cash items: Add back depreciation and amortization.
• Adjust for changes in working capital: Account for changes in accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, and other working capital accounts.
• Calculate net cash flow from operating activities: Combine the adjusted net income with changes in working capital.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

• Identify cash transactions for investments: Include cash spent on purchasing fixed assets, cash received from selling assets, and cash spent on or received from investing in securities.
• Calculate net cash flow from investing activities: Subtract cash payments for investments from cash receipts from sales of investments.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

• Identify cash transactions for financing: Include cash received from issuing stock or debt and cash spent on repaying debt or buying back stock.
• Calculate net cash flow from financing activities: Subtract cash payments for financing activities from cash receipts from financing activities.

5. Combine All Sections

Add the net cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities to determine the overall change in cash and cash equivalents for the period.

6. Reconcile with Beginning Cash

Add the change in cash to the beginning cash balance to arrive at the ending cash balance, ensuring it matches the cash balance reported on the balance sheet.

There are two methods of calculating cash flow: the direct method and the indirect method.

Direct Cash Flow Method

The   direct method   adds up all of the cash payments and receipts, including cash paid to suppliers, cash receipts from customers, and cash paid out in salaries. This method of CFS is easier for very small businesses that use the cash basis accounting method.

These figures can also be calculated by using the beginning and ending balances of a variety of asset and liability accounts and examining the net decrease or increase in the accounts. It is presented in a straightforward manner.

Most companies use the accrual basis accounting method. In these cases, revenue is recognized when it is earned rather than when it is received. This causes a disconnect between net income and actual cash flow because not all transactions in net income on the income statement involve actual cash items. Therefore, certain items must be reevaluated when calculating cash flow from operations.

Indirect Cash Flow Method

With the  indirect method , cash flow is calculated by adjusting net income by adding or subtracting differences resulting from non-cash transactions. Non-cash items show up in the changes to a company’s assets and liabilities on the balance sheet from one period to the next. Therefore, the accountant will identify any increases and decreases to asset and liability accounts that need to be added back to or removed from the net income figure, in order to identify an accurate cash inflow or outflow.

Changes in accounts receivable (AR) on the balance sheet from one accounting period to the next must be reflected in cash flow:

• If AR decreases, more cash may have entered the company from customers paying off their credit accounts—the amount by which AR has decreased is then added to net earnings.
• An increase in AR must be deducted from net earnings because, although the amounts represented in AR are in revenue, they are not cash.

What about changes in a company's inventory ? Here's how they are accounted for on the CFS:

• An increase in inventory signals that a company spent more money on raw materials. Using cash means the increase in the inventory's value is deducted from net earnings.
• A decrease in inventory would be added to net earnings. Credit purchases are reflected by an increase in accounts payable on the balance sheet, and the amount of the increase from one year to the next is added to net earnings.

The same logic holds true for taxes payable, salaries, and prepaid insurance . If something has been paid off, then the difference in the value owed from one year to the next has to be subtracted from net income. If there is an amount that is still owed, then any differences will have to be added to net earnings.

Limitations of the Cash Flow Statement

Negative cash flow should not automatically raise a red flag without further analysis. Poor cash flow is sometimes the result of a company’s decision to expand its business at a certain point in time, which would be a good thing for the future.

Analyzing changes in cash flow from one period to the next gives the investor a better idea of how the company is performing, and whether a company may be on the brink of bankruptcy or success. The CFS should also be considered in unison with the other two financial statements (see below).

The indirect cash flow method allows for a reconciliation between two other financial statements: the income statement and balance sheet.

Cash Flow Statement vs. Income Statement vs. Balance Sheet

The cash flow statement measures the performance of a company over a period of time. But it is not as easily manipulated by the timing of non-cash transactions. As noted above, the CFS can be derived from the income statement and the balance sheet . Net earnings from the income statement are the figure from which the information on the CFS is deduced. But they only factor into determining the operating activities section of the CFS. As such, net earnings have nothing to do with the investing or financial activities sections of the CFS.

The income statement includes depreciation expense, which doesn't actually have an associated cash outflow. It is simply an allocation of the cost of an asset over its useful life. A company has some leeway to choose its depreciation method , which modifies the depreciation expense reported on the income statement. The CFS, on the other hand, is a measure of true inflows and outflows that cannot be as easily manipulated.

As for the balance sheet, the net cash flow reported on the CFS should equal the net change in the various line items reported on the balance sheet. This excludes cash and cash equivalents and non-cash accounts, such as accumulated depreciation and accumulated amortization. For example, if you calculate cash flow for 2019, make sure you use 2018 and 2019 balance sheets.

The CFS is distinct from the income statement and the balance sheet because it does not include the amount of future incoming and outgoing cash that has been recorded as revenues and expenses . Therefore, cash is not the same as net income , which includes cash sales as well as sales made on credit on the income statements.

Example of a Cash Flow Statement

Below is an example of a cash flow statement: 

Investopedia / Sabrina Jiang

From this CFS, we can see that the net cash flow for the 2017 fiscal year was $1,522,000. The bulk of the positive cash flow stems from cash earned from operations, which is a good sign for investors. It means that core operations are generating business and that there is enough money to buy new inventory.

The purchasing of new equipment shows that the company has the cash to invest in itself. Finally, the amount of cash available to the company should ease investors’ minds regarding the notes payable, as cash is plentiful to cover that future loan expense.

What Is the Difference Between Direct and Indirect Cash Flow Statements?

The difference lies in how the cash inflows and outflows are determined.

Using the direct method , actual cash inflows and outflows are known amounts. The cash flow statement is reported in a straightforward manner, using cash payments and receipts.

Using the indirect method , actual cash inflows and outflows do not have to be known. The indirect method begins with net income or loss from the income statement, then modifies the figure using balance sheet account increases and decreases, to compute implicit cash inflows and outflows.

Is the Indirect Method of the Cash Flow Statement Better Than the Direct Method?

Neither is necessarily better or worse. However, the indirect method also provides a means of reconciling items on the balance sheet to the net income on the income statement. As an accountant prepares the CFS using the indirect method, they can identify increases and decreases in the balance sheet that are the result of non-cash transactions.

It is useful to see the impact and relationship that accounts on the balance sheet have to the net income on the income statement, and it can provide a better understanding of the financial statements as a whole.

What Is Included in Cash and Cash Equivalents?

Cash and cash equivalents are consolidated into a single line item on a company's balance sheet. It reports the value of a business’s assets that are currently cash or can be converted into cash within a short period of time, commonly 90 days. Cash and cash equivalents include currency, petty cash, bank accounts, and other highly liquid, short-term investments. Examples of cash equivalents include commercial paper, Treasury bills, and short-term government bonds with a maturity of three months or less.

A cash flow statement is a valuable measure of strength, profitability, and the long-term future outlook of a company. The CFS can help determine whether a company has enough liquidity or cash to pay its expenses. A company can use a CFS to predict future cash flow, which helps with budgeting matters.

For investors, the CFS reflects a company’s financial health , since typically the more cash that’s available for business operations, the better. However, this is not a rigid rule. Sometimes, a negative cash flow results from a company’s growth strategy in the form of expanding its operations.

By studying the CFS, an investor can get a clear picture of how much cash a company generates and gain a solid understanding of the financial well-being of a company.

Financial Accounting Standards Board. " Summary of Statement No. 95 ."

• Accounting Explained With Brief History and Modern Job Requirements 1 of 51
• What Is the Accounting Equation, and How Do You Calculate It? 2 of 51
• What Is an Asset? Definition, Types, and Examples 3 of 51
• Liability: Definition, Types, Example, and Assets vs. Liabilities 4 of 51
• Equity Meaning: How It Works and How to Calculate It 5 of 51
• Revenue Definition, Formula, Calculation, and Examples 6 of 51
• Expense: Definition, Types, and How Expenses Are Recorded 7 of 51
• Current Assets vs. Noncurrent Assets: What's the Difference? 8 of 51
• What Is Accounting Theory in Financial Reporting? 9 of 51
• Accounting Principles Explained: How They Work, GAAP, IFRS 10 of 51
• Accounting Standard Definition: How It Works 11 of 51
• Accounting Convention: Definition, Methods, and Applications 12 of 51
• What Are Accounting Policies and How Are They Used? With Examples 13 of 51
• How Are Principles-Based and Rules-Based Accounting Different? 14 of 51
• What Are Accounting Methods? Definition, Types, and Example 15 of 51
• What Is Accrual Accounting, and How Does It Work? 16 of 51
• Cash Accounting Definition, Example & Limitations 17 of 51
• Accrual Accounting vs. Cash Basis Accounting: What's the Difference? 18 of 51
• Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB): Definition and How It Works 19 of 51
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP): Definition, Standards and Rules 20 of 51
• What Are International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)? 21 of 51
• IFRS vs. GAAP: What's the Difference? 22 of 51
• How Does US Accounting Differ From International Accounting? 23 of 51
• Cash Flow Statement: What It Is and How to Read One 24 of 51
• Breaking Down The Balance Sheet 25 of 51
• Income Statement: How to Read and Use It 26 of 51
• What Does an Accountant Do? 27 of 51
• Financial Accounting Meaning, Principles, and Why It Matters 28 of 51
• How Does Financial Accounting Help Decision-Making? 29 of 51
• Corporate Finance Definition and Activities 30 of 51
• How Financial Accounting Differs From Managerial Accounting 31 of 51
• Cost Accounting: Definition and Types With Examples 32 of 51
• Certified Public Accountant: What the CPA Credential Means 33 of 51
• What Is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and What Do They Do? 34 of 51
• Accountant vs. Financial Planner: What's the Difference? 35 of 51
• Auditor: What It Is, 4 Types, and Qualifications 36 of 51
• Audit: What It Means in Finance and Accounting, and 3 Main Types 37 of 51
• Tax Accounting: Definition, Types, vs. Financial Accounting 38 of 51
• Forensic Accounting: What It Is, How It's Used 39 of 51
• Chart of Accounts (COA) Definition, How It Works, and Example 40 of 51
• What Is a Journal in Accounting, Investing, and Trading? 41 of 51
• Double Entry: What It Means in Accounting and How It's Used 42 of 51
• Debit: Definition and Relationship to Credit 43 of 51
• Credit: What It Is and How It Works 44 of 51
• Closing Entry 45 of 51
• What Is an Invoice? It's Parts and Why They Are Important 46 of 51
• 6 Components of an Accounting Information System (AIS) 47 of 51
• Inventory Accounting: Definition, How It Works, Advantages 48 of 51
• Last In, First Out (LIFO): The Inventory Cost Method Explained 49 of 51
• The FIFO Method: First In, First Out 50 of 51
• Average Cost Method: Definition and Formula with Example 51 of 51

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