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A Free Business Plan Example to Launch Your South African Business This free Business Plan example provides you with a sample business plan as well as guidance on how to write a business plan and important sections to include in your plan.

By Catherine Bristow Scott • May 28, 2019

You're reading Entrepreneur South Africa, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

It pays to plan.

Research conducted by Harvard Business Review found that "entrepreneurs who write formal plans are 16% more likely to achieve viability than the otherwise identical non-planning entrepreneurs."

Simply put, writing a business plan could make the difference between business success and failure – which is why planning now could pay dividends as your business gets off the ground.

But where do you start when writing a business plan? In this comprehensive business plan example, we provide you with what to include in your business plan and a sample business plan to help you to create a compelling plan for your start-up.

1. Executive Summary

If you have seven seconds to make a strong first impression in person, an Executive Summary will be the make-or-break section of your business plan – so make this section count.

As a brief outline of your company's purpose and goals, the Executive Summary should generally take up 1 to 2 pages of your business plan. Some key components to include in your business plan are:

• A company description
• A brief summary of your products or services
• The company objectives
• A short but thorough overview of the market
• A justification for viability, particularly "why now?"
• A snapshot of your business's growth potential
• A short description of the organisation team
• Your marketing plan
• Financial projections

Importantly, your Executive Summary must clearly depict the Problem, the Solution, and carry a sense of timeliness – why now should your business be considered as the solution to solve this problem.

NOTE: The following Business Plan Example is based on a fictional company. Figures will not reflect the exact financials of a similar company.

Example of a Business Plan Executive Summary

Snug Sneakers is a sneaker shoe range based in Cape Town that currently focuses exclusively on selling locally produced men's and women's custom sneakers.

The business was founded by David Smith and Stewart Bruce, who have both been working within the retail industry for over 20 years, David Smith, a serial entrepreneur has also founded successful brands – Creative Caps and women's cycling brand Pedal Power.

The brand is currently selling online, however has also recently diversified to selling in independent shoe shops.

The company is projecting to sell R2 million in year 1 and R8 million in three years' time. Additionally, there are expansion plans within year 2 to set up distribution networks in Johannesburg, and Durban in the early part of year 3.

Both David and Stewart are social entrepreneurs at heart and believe in providing sustainable jobs for impoverished communities.

As such, the company has started a recycling and training academy in Khayelitsha, where consumers can return old sneakers that are then repaired by Khayelitsha residents and donated to those in need of shoes. This also provides learners within the academy with shoe-making and recycling trade skills.

Industry research has shown that, on average SA consumers own 4 pairs of sneakers, with 4 in 4 consumers indicating that shoe fit and sizes vary across brands.

3 in 4 consumers indicated that their number one concern when purchasing is having to "settle' for the best fitting shoe, despite the fit not being 100% correct.

Based on these and additional industry research statistics, the company's sneaker products are driven to provide the best shoe fit, with the tagline of "shoes that fit so good, you'll never go barefoot again.'

The main competition to Snug Sneakers comes from 1 local brand, SuperStars, and 2 overseas brands Sassy Sneakers and Rock Your Sneakers.

Although SuperStars supports sustainable use of local manufacturers, the competitor does not provide custom fit sneakers. Sassy Sneakers and Rock Your Sneakers both offer custom fit sneakers, both brands are manufactured in China and do not promote sustainable, social conscious value propositions.

The primary means of marketing will mainly be focused on digital marketing, through evidence-based approaches, including search engine optimisation, Google Ads, Facebook Advertising as well as utilising social media channels that have proven very popular for the company, including Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

The locally sourced raw materials, which include cotton, rubber and leather, will be supplied from a sustainable cotton mill and tannery in the Limpopo Province.

Funding for the company was derived through the 2 founders, as well as private investment.

2. Business Overview and Objectives

Creating an overview of your business when you are already established makes it easier, but it may be a little harder when you're either just starting out or haven't even kicked off your operations yet.

When you're just starting out, think about your products and services as your starting point.

• What will you be providing your market with?
• How will you be sourcing/ producing these items?
• What do you need to have in place before you can start selling your products?
• Who will be distributing/ manufacturing your products?
• Importantly, who will your target market or customer be?

In our example business plan, Snug Sneakers serves both retail and online customers, although the bulk of the business is through their online clientele.

This means that Snug Sneakers will need a secure e-commerce platform and a website that has carefully considered the user journey when buying custom sneakers.

The company will also need employees to assist with technical challenges, customer support, and warehouse staff for the packing and distribution of their products.

Similarly, you would need to consider the following when identifying their business objectives:

• What industry will you operate in?
• Who will be your customer?
• What is the problem that you will be solving?
• How will you solve this problem?
• Where will my business be located?
• What equipment and resources will I need within my business?
• What type of employees do I need?
• How will I differentiate my offering from my competitors?

After answering these questions, you will have a better understanding of what it is that you will be offering and what you need to make it happen. A summary of these points will make up your Business Overview and Objectives for your Business Plan.

Example of a Business Overview and Objectives

Snug Sneakers, based in Cape Town South Africa, is focused on providing sustainable, locally produced custom footwear to South Africa, and internationally through its e-commerce platform and local distributor network.

Founded by entrepreneurs David Smith and Stewart Bruce in December 2017, from Stewart's garage, Snug Sneakers grew exponentially within 1 year from 5 online purchases a month to an average of 200 per month within 12 months.

From the company's rapid growth, it became very clear to the founders that there is a gap in the South African market for locally produced, quality sneakers.

The founders' vision for Snug Sneakers is to become a socially conscious, sustainable brand that supports the South African economy by buying 80% locally produced raw materials.

Additionally, the duo noticed a gap in the market where consumers were looking for custom-fitted shoes and remain loyal to the brand that fit them best. To this end, Snug Sneakers offers a wide range of shoe sizes including quarter and half sizes to ensure that all customers find the right snug fit for their feet.

The overarching philosophy and ethos for the company are:

• "Soul sneakers' that allow customers to purchase sneakers that promote social consciousness.
• "South African sourced' sourcing locally produced raw materials that provide job sustainability.
• Superior sneakers' ensuring that customers still get a high-quality product that outmatches popular brands in workmanship and quality.

Company Status

Snug Sneakers was registered as a PTY (Ltd) on 1 December 2017. The main directors are David Peter Smith and Stewart Owen Bruce. Company shares are held by the founders.

The company currently operates out of rented commercial property in Blackheath, Cape Town.

Company Objectives

Snug Sneakers is currently selling custom sneakers primarily through its online store https://www.snugsneakers.co.za , with market penetration nationally, and highest market penetration in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Sporadic orders have also been received from the USA and the United Kingdom.

The company has also partnered with 3 independent shoe and clothing retailers focused on selling locally-sourced South African apparel.

The company has identified a 2 phased upscaling approach for growing sales and operations:

• Increase online sales by 40% within a 6-month period of 2019
• Increase brick-and-mortar retail partnerships from 2 stores in Cape Town to an additional 4 stores in Johannesburg by year end.
• Increase online sales by 50% by end of year 2020
• Explore opening up a brick-and-mortar store in the Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Cape Town
• Increase brick-and-mortar retail partnerships to include 1 store in Durban.

3. Products and Services

In this section, you will be unpacking your product and services offering, especially your key product differentiation from your competitors. Importantly, in this section you will also need to validate why your product is needed by your customers.

If you have applied for any patents, copyrights, or trademarks, you would also include these in this section.

Products and services that already exist may not need a deep analysis of what they are within your business plan.

However, if you're creating a completely new product or service (if you were the first Uber of the world), carefully detail in this section what your product is about, it's uses and the value it brings to the market so your readers will be able to evaluate the value of your product and services.

Some important aspects to cover include:

• The anticipated timeline to bring your new product to the market.
• What differentiates your product or service from those already available in the market.
• What will your operating costs be and profit margins.
• How will you source/ manufacture your product.
• How will the product be distributed to customers.

Example of Products and Services

Snug Sneakers will provide a line of custom sneakers for both men and women. The main product lines include:

• Casual Range: Everyday sneaker footwear
• Active Range: Active gym range of sneakers
• Fashion Forward Range: Formal but funky range of sneakers

Current pricing of the sneakers as follows:

• Casual Range: R550
• Active Range: R950
• Fashion Forward Range: R850

Competition

There are three main competitors that have been identified within the market. These include:

Local competitor:

1. SuperStars 40% locally made raw materials, with 60% of the raw materials originating from China. The brand however does not provide custom-fit sneakers.

Foreign competitors:

2. Sassy Sneakers are based in Australia, with the product line produced in China. The company offers custom fit sizes, however customers have to pay extra for the custom fit and product quality is low.

3. Rock Your Sneakers is a US based company, with the product line produced in China. The company offers some custom fit sizes, however the sizes are limited and the product is only available to South African's online and with a long lead time to delivery.

Snug Sneakers products have a unique differentiator within the market:

• A greater range of custom fit sizes ranging from ¼ - to half sizes as well as broad and narrow width ranges.
• The company will be the only brand within South Africa to offer 80% locally manufactured sneakers.
• Quality of the products is superior to the current locally-made competitor, due to locally sourced high-quality raw materials.

Future Products

The company has also been looking into introducing a line of sneaker care products to assist customers in increasing the longevity of their purchases.

4. Competitive and Market Analysis

Providing evidence that there is demand for your product or service is one of the most critical components of your business plan. Key to this is understanding your market and your competition within that market.

Embarking on market research requires you to have a deep understanding of what your market is and the opportunities inherent within it. You should be able to define:

• Target Market. The types of customers you will be targeting with your product or service.
• Market Need. If there is demand for your products and services and whether this is increasing or declining.
• Competition. The positioning of your competitors in the market and how you will differentiate your offering from them.
• Barriers to Entry. What will prevent someone else from providing the same offering or better.
• Regulation. Regulations that will be applicable to the industry that your business will be operating in.

Example of a Market Analysis

Target market.

With our initial line of casual, active and fashion forward sneakers, we're looking to target the following consumer segment:

• Age: 16 -36
• Digital Savvy: Researching and shopping online is part of this customer's DNA. The target market is also very active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
• On Trend: Fashion forward and looking to illustrate their unique personalities, the target market is always looking for fashion to express their uniqueness.
• Social Consciousness: The target market is proudly South African and are highly conscious of the socio-economic issues and have a keen desire to take part in improving the SA economy, uplifting communities and supporting local initiatives.

Market Need

According to a Global View Research Marketing Report, the global athletic and leisure footwear market size was valued at USD 67.8 billion in 2017. The report found that this value is expected to expand at a CAGR of over 8.0% from 2018 to 2025.

The ever-growing awareness with regards to the health benefits of sports and fitness activities, as well as an expanding retail e-commerce sector globally, including increasing levels of disposable income amongst millennials are estimated to be the key reasons for increasing market growth in this market.

Additionally, the Global Sneaker Market 2018 Industry Trends and Sales report found that although the global brands reported increased profit margins in 2017, these have decreased by 1.5% from 2016.

On the other hand, independent Sneaker retailers have reported a 15% increase in sales, particularly online, in 2017, indicating that consumers are moving away from global brands to pursue lesser known boutique footwear retailers.

• SuperStars is based in Johannesburg and provides sneakers with 40% locally made raw materials, with 60% of the raw materials originating from China. The brand however does not provide custom-fit sneakers.
• Sassy Sneakers are based in Australia, with the product line produced in China. The company offers custom fit sizes, however customers have to pay extra for the custom fit and product quality is low.
• Rock Your Sneakers is a US based company, with the product line produced in China. The company offers some custom fit sizes, however the sizes are limited and the product is only available to South African's online and with a long lead time to delivery. (Repeated above)

5. Marketing/Sales Strategy

You're on the right track when you have established that there's a market for your product and service and you have identified who your target market is quantifiably, but how will your market segments know to look out for or even buy your product and services?

This is where your marketing and sales strategy comes into play.

A well-defined marketing strategy goes beyond simply advertising your product and service – it includes a deeper understanding of how your customers will view your brand, what is the best way to reach your customers, the benefits that your customer will receive from using your service or buying your product.

Your marketing strategy must also include the budget for your marketing and sales efforts, whether you will require sales staff to sell your products and offer post-sales support, as well as how you will measure your marketing and sales efforts to evaluate their effectiveness.

Example of a Marketing Strategy

Marketing plan.

• Search Engine Optimisation : Our website pages will be optimised for search engine rankings, with the objective to rank within the top 3 search positions for keywords "custom sneakers", "custom size sneakers" and "custom made sneakers".
• Paid Search : Snug Sneakers will be investing in Google Ads and Facebook Advertising and well as Programmatic Advertising to increase landing page conversion rates.
• Social Media : We will be establishing a targeted social media strategy to increase followers across the social media platforms that have shown the highest engagement with the target market. High frequency posts will be created target at highest engagement times to increase engagement and brand awareness.
• Business Network : We will partner with independent apparel and footwear retailers to drive link building and link sharing both on website and on social media.

Customer Value Proposition and Value Differentiator

Although there is one locally produced sneaker competitor within the market, the founders believe that the customer value proposition being brought to the market is a unique offering and therefore a strong differentiator within the market.

The founders are cognisant that without this differentiator, the only differentiator will be price, which will ultimately have a negative impact on profit margins.

As a unique differentiator and value proposition, Snug Sneakers provides customers with Sneakers with South African Sole, leveraging the Proudly South African heritage and support for local initiatives to help grow South Africa's job economy and promote community upskilling and learnership programmes.

Additionally, Snug Sneakers will ensure that the quality of the products far outweighs those of global brands manufacturing in China. The most important differentiator, however is the ability to custom size shoes to each individual's unique size requirements.

6. Staffing and Operations

Strategy is irrelevant without execution – which is where your Operations Plan comes into play in your business plan. How will you serve your customers, while keeping your operating costs low enough to make sufficient profitability?

Your Operations Plan will detail how you will manufacture, staff, fulfil and stock your products, including your day-to-day operational requirements. Ultimately, this section describes how you will run your business.

Some questions to answer in this section include:

• Where will your operations be based?
• What is your management structure?
• What are your staffing requirements?
• What equipment, facilities and supplies will you need?
• How will you establish your suppliers?
• What will be the operational changes required should your company grow?
• What will your production methods entail?
• How will you service/ deliver goods to customers?
• What regulatory requirements must be in place? (Licences, permits etc.)
• How will you manage your inventory levels?

Example of Staffing and Operations

Management team.

David Smith is a serial entrepreneur who founded successful and well-known brands Creative Caps and women's cycling apparel Pedal Power.

David graduated from Stellenbosch University with a B Comm in Economics and went on to study an MBA at GIBS Business School. David heads up Snug Sneakers as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Stewart Bruce has worked in the retail industry as a Senior Designer for well-known retail brands, including Puma and Sketchers.

With over 20 years' experience in designing active and casual footwear, as well as sourcing and overseeing materials for the product range, Stewart brings excellent experience to the management mix as Chief Design Officer.

7. Financial Projections

The bottom line counts the most when it comes to writing your business plan.

Without the numbers to prove whether your business will be profitable or not, potential investors or lenders will have a difficult time objectively deciding if your business will be a sound investment.

Aside from persuading potential investors, crucially, the numbers that you have crunched will also indicate whether you have a viable business.

There are five basic reports or cash projections to include in your business plan:

• Income Statement
• Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow Statement
• Operating Budget
• Break-Even Analysis

It's important to come up with credible financial projections for your business to illustrate that it is feasible.

One way to tackle this section is to break down the figures into various components, such as by sales channel or target market segment.

At this stage, you won't be able to supply exact figures, because you're still estimating your future financials, but by breaking down your guesses into components you will be able to determine a more realistic figure for each component, rather than hazarding guesses as a whole.

The business plan should be an ongoing, living document that can be used as your guide for running your business. It requires continuous adjustment as your business changes and grows.

Entrepreneur Staff

Sales Enablement - Content Division Manager

Catherine Bristow Scott is the Content Division Manager for Entrepreneur South Africa. With specialist expertise in developing SEO content, effective sales enablement content to drive lead generation, as well as digital strategy, Catherine brings an in-depth understanding of developing both written and video content to assist businesses in remaining competitive and growing their revenue.

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PRE-WRITTEN BUSINESS PLANS FOR SOUTH AFRICA (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL): COMPREHENSIVE VERSION, SHORT FUNDING/BANK LOAN VERSION AND AUTOMATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Posted by BizBolts | All Articles , Business Plans

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The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

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Thank you BizBolts for the business plan. I received the business plan immediately after payment, it was money well spent ! I was able to easily edit the business plan. After using the BizBolts business plan, I can wholeheartedly recommend their products and skills.

Testimonial 5

The BizBolts poultry business plan led us down the path from start to finish. Contact details of suppliers of key requirements were included in the business plan. It helped us crystallize our strategy, and the business plan was well received by the bank.

Testimonial 4

The business plan was very helpful, you did a great job of taking ideas and putting them into words as well as pointing out other aspects of the business plan I wouldn’t have thought of. I got funding using your business plan and it’s now 4 months since I started my poultry business, and everything is going well.

Testimonial 1

Many thanks to the BizBolts team for putting together a fantastic business plan, I could not have done this business plan on my own. I managed to get funding from investors to start my butchery business using your business plan.

Testimonial 6

It is with excitement and pleasure to inform you that I have been successful in securing a loan from my bank. This would not have been possible if not for the BizBolts Business Plan. Thank you for your help, my dreams are now coming true.

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I am extremely pleased with the business plan and financial statements. The business plan is very detailed & it meets my requirements. I feel better equipped with tools that can help me secure funding.  I would have no hesitation of recommending your business plans to other people.

Testimonial 3

The business plan has a highly professional look and feel. The research really helps me look deep into the market that I am targeting, it’s well suited for the South African market. The business plan clearly outlined everything I need to start the business and the costs. It’s now easier to budget and plan. Thank you very much.

About the Business Plans

We decided to introduce the South African business plans after noting that many South Africans were venturing into businesses without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the businesses, the risks involved, profitability of the businesses and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of the start-ups.

Our business plans will make it easier for you to launch and run a business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the business plans will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the business. They are designed uniquely for the South African market.

USES OF THE BUSINESS PLANS (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

These business plans can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your business
• As a project proposal
• Assessing profitability of the business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

CONTENTS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS PLANS (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

All our pre-written plans include, but not limited to:

• Market Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• 5 Year Automated Financial Statements [ Income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, monthly cash flow projections (3 years monthly cash flow projections, the remaining two years annually),break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortisation]
• Marketing Strategy
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements
• Operational Strategy
• Why some South Africans in that type of business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your business in South Africa

All our agriculture pre-written business plans include technical aspects of how to keep and rear the animals / farm the crops. They also include a mini-directory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running the business. E.g. for broiler poultry we will provide the contact details for South African suppliers of feeds, equipment, day old chicks, abattoirs, training companies etc)

The Business plan package consist of 4 files

• Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – Between 70-105 pages)
• Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – Between 70-105 pages)
• Business Plan Funding Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – between 35-50 pages)
• Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)

The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change an item eg unit price, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

About The Author

BizBolts (Pty) Ltd is a business research company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We sell prewritten business plans for various industries including livestock production, crop farming and retail businesses. BizBolts also publishes articles on business ideas, business news, business tips, personal finance, and entrepreneur profiles.

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How to write a business plan in south africa [ free template].

It is never too early to start planning for your business! This blog post is all about writing a business plan in South Africa. 

We will discuss the various sections of the plan, and how to fill them out. There are also plenty of resources at the end that will help you get started on this important process.

Table of Contents

What is a business plan? 

A business plan is a written, formal strategy that outlines your goals and how to achieve them.

Even the smallest companies need some kind of plan for their future success. 

It is like prepping before you go on vacation: you are not guaranteed any problems will happen, but it helps if you know where all the closest gas stations are just in case there’s an issue with getting more fuel.

The same principle applies here: writing a business plan in South Africa gives you time to think through everything and make sure nothing slips between the cracks.

Why do you need a business plan? 

Business plans give you a chance to assess your company’s strengths and weaknesses. 

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, business planning is all about making sure that you are prepared for anything in this unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.

What should I include? 

There isn’t one standard format for every company; however, most plans follow these general guidelines: 

• Executive Summary 
• Company Description 
• Mission & Goals Strategies 
• Financials Appendix 

If sounds intimidating or confusing don’t worry! We’ll go over each section in detail.

How To Write a Business Plan in South Africa

What is an executive summary .

The executive summary is a high-level overview of your business plan, and it’s one of the first things people will see when they are reading through your business plan in South Africa. 

This section needs to be short (about two or three pages) but comprehensive; that means you should include all the critical information here while still keeping it interesting for readers. 

It should do four important jobs: 

• Introduce yourself and your company 
• Give background on why you started this project 
• Describe what you want to accomplish with this document 
• Highlight any challenges ahead 

Remember, if someone were deciding whether or not to read further, would their decision change based on what they learned from the executive summary alone?

What goes in the company description? 

The company description is a little more detailed than an overview, but not quite as long or involved as the rest of your business plan in South Africa.

In this section, you will want to state what industry you are in and why it is important (how does this help customers?). 

You should also describe how big your market is , where your competition lies, and who will be buying from you.

What do I put in my mission statement? 

Your mission statement highlights your goals for expanding into new markets/products/services. 

It includes details on why exactly yours is a worthwhile venture. 

Think about the reason behind setting up shop: if someone approached you with funding tomorrow would that have anything to do with why you started doing whatever it is you do? 

If not, then your mission statement might need some work.

What are strategies and how should I use them? 

Strategies detail the steps you’re taking to accomplish your goals! 

These can range from building a team to developing new products. 

You don’t want to get too specific here; that is what the financial section is for–strategies are more about giving yourself time management tools so you know when milestones will be reached! 

It also helps if these plans have an element of flexibility in case something unexpected happens along the way.

How much does it cost? 

The final sections of your business plan in South Africa involve numbers: revenue projections, expenses, etc. 

There isn’t one standard format or formula but there are plenty of resources available on how to calculate them. 

Basically, you want your financial section to show how the business will make money and what it will cost to run it!

What else do I need? 

Your business plan in South Africa should also include a cover page (with all of these details on there as well) and an appendix for additional information such as market research or employee resumes. 

With so much involved in creating a successful business plan in South Africa, don’t be afraid if this stage takes a while–just remember that once you have got everything together you are really one step closer to making your dreams come true.

When do you need a business plan?

• You need a business plan if you are;
• Seeking funding, investments, or loans
• Searching for a new partner or co-founder
• Attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent
• Experiencing slow growth and need a change

Tips to write a business plan in South Africa that will stand out

A). easy to read.

Make sure your business plan is easy to read and the sections flow together. 

Showcase lots of visuals and charts – these will keep readers’ attention ! 

The goal here isn’t just about getting people interested in what you’re doing, it’s about convincing them that they should invest or buy into your idea too.

b). Keep it brief

Don’t go overboard with the length of your business plan! 

A page a day doesn’t seem like much but by month’s end, you’ll have a sixty-page document that will turn off all but the most dedicated readers. 

Just give enough information to paint a picture and then let it shine through the action

c). Be smart about what you include

The financial section is going to be one of, if not THE most important part of your business plan–don’t forget that! 

It needs concise explanations as well as relevant numbers; don’t just write down random expenses or revenue projections (unless this is how you actually work) because these things need context in order for someone reading this document now to understand them later on when they’re doing their own calculations.

Remember that a business plan in South Africa isn’t just about making your idea look great, it is also about getting you closer to achieving the goals YOU set out for yourself.

Be confident in what you’ve written and make sure any feedback from readers is constructive rather than telling them they should have done something differently if there wasn’t a reason why they did it this way instead.

d). Proofread!

Nothing is worse than typos or grammatical errors in a business plan–it makes you look unprofessional and careless. 

Make sure everything has been double-checked before submitting! 

Remember that this document should be your guiding light throughout the entire process so take care of it as best you can to ensure it’s always working for YOU rather than against you.

Business plan template in South Africa

Even if you don’t plan to seek investments, it is good to write a business plan. There are other reasons for this, use this business plan template in South Africa:

• Writing out your goals helps you see what you want to accomplish. You can make more of a plan for what to do next.
• It is a chance to better understand your market (e.g., demographics, behaviors)
• You can make sure that everyone on your team is doing their job. Set up the roles for each person and tell them how to do these jobs. Make sure you set goals for each person.
• Team members can also refer to the document to stay on track
• Catching errors before they happen is important. It helps you make sure financial projections are accurate.
• You’ll be able to see the problems that could come up in the future.

Final thoughts on how to write a business plan in South Africa

Writing a business plan can be tough, but it’s also one of the most important steps in starting your own company. 

Remember to take care of every aspect and don’t let anyone tell you that their way is the only way.

It doesn’t matter if this is your first time writing or your fiftieth–just make sure everything comes together as soon as possible so you can actually get started on building YOUR empire!

Free business plan template

• Download business plan template
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Download a business plan template and start bringing your ideas to life. Choose a one-pager, or multi-pager. Or try Xero accounting software for free.

Download the business plan template

Fill in the form to get a free business plan template as an editable PDF. We’ll send a one-pager and a multi-pager to choose from.

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Getting started with the business plan template

We’ll send you two types of business plan template – a one-pager and a multi-pager. Choose the one that’s right for you. They come with instructions to help fill them out.

Doing a business plan will improve your idea. It helps you think about your business from different points of view. The process will flag up unseen risks, but also new opportunities. Aside from helping refine your idea, a business plan will move it forward. It’ll give you a concrete set of steps to go from ‘I should’ to ‘I did’.

One-page business plan template

Great for making a start

Helps you pin down the main idea

Easy to update as things evolve

Multi-page business plan template

Ideal for nailing down the details

Required by most investors and lenders

Good if you face big startup costs

Tips to help with your business plan

Don’t obsess over every detail to start with. That will make the plan long and hard to change. Keep it short and concise initially.

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Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This template has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business.

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Business Plan Template for Small Businesses

This Business Plan template can help you with the following – formulate a clear statement of your business mission and vision, put together a roadmap and timetable for achieving your goals and objectives and clear description of your marketing strategies. (Courtesy: New Discovery Business Solutions)

Your business plan is the blue-print of your business and provides a roadmap for future development. Your business plan holds a clear statement of your business mission and vision and provides a roadmap and timetable for achieving your goals and objectives

Download the Business Plan template to:

• Test out a new idea to see if it holds real promise of success
• Help you obtain financing and attract potential investors
• Identify and arrange strategic alliances

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Download a Free Business Plan Template

What is a business plan.

The written plan of goals you want to achieve with your business, and how you want to achieve them, is called a business plan. It is a decision-making tool used when beginning or extending a venture.

Any new business requires a business plan to ensure that the business can make a profit. Fund-seeking entrepreneurs use a formal business plan to convince investors to contribute towards the capital of the business.

Existing businesses – looking to expand or change the business – also use business plans to prospect for new business, attract key employees or deal with suppliers. By revising their business plan regularly, existing companies can devise strategies to manage their companies better.

Most commonly, a business plan is used to apply for a bank loan to fund a business. To learn how to create a business plan for a bank in South Africa, see FNB and Standard Bank’s business plan guidelines. You can also download Standard Bank’s free business plan template in Word or PDF format.

A business plan consists of three primary parts:

• The business concept – details about the industry, the structure of the business, the product or service and the strategy for the success of the business.
• The marketplace section – an analytical description of potential customers and the strategy for achieving success against competitors.
• The financial section – the income and cash flow statement, balance sheet and other financial information.

The length of a business plan varies depending on the nature of the business and the purpose of the business plan. Typically, a business plan is 15 to 20 pages long. It usually details the goals for the business for the next three to five years.

An important part of compiling a business plan is in-depth research into the market and industry. Try to gain as much insight into the market you are targeting by talking to business owners, suppliers, potential customers, existing customers, staff members, business experts, etc. Also, research the industry online.

Business plan format

Although there are several types, the key components of all business plans are essentially the same. The format varies based on who the intended reader of the business plan is. Here is an example of a standard business plan format:

1. Table of Contents (1 page)

The table of contents page should include the correct page numbers of the sections of the business plan. Therefore, it is best to write this page last. In addition to the table of contents page, the plan must also have a cover and a title page.

2.  Executive Summary (2 pages)

The purpose of the executive summary of a business plan is to entice the reader to read the rest of the plan. The executive summary is an overview of the key aspects of the plan. It should be compelling but also concise.

The executive summary should include:

• the business concept (a description of the business, product, market and target market);
• key financial aspects (sales, profits, cash flows, investment returns and capital requirements); and
• a short company overview (type of company, date formed, owners and key personnel and achievements).

3. Company Overview (1 – 2 pages)

This section is a high-level overview of the company and the industry in which it operates. It is a description of the business, the product and the industry.

The following should be included in the company overview:

• The name of the company and the type of ownership and registration;
• Details about the business location (address, zoning, reason for choosing location, monthly rentals, etc.)
• Significant assets and financial contributions to the business;
• The mission statement of the business;
• Company objectives and goals;
• The main features of the industry in which the business will operate;
• The most important company strengths and core competencies;
• An explanation of the product, target market and profitability of the plan.

4. The Opportunity, Industry and Market Description (2 – 3 pages)

The research you conducted will come into play in this section. This section offers a detailed explanation of the market and industry and the business’ position therein.

They key is to determine who your target market is through a market analysis. Then clearly explain how your products/services will fulfil the needs of your target market. A market analysis also helps to determine pricing, distribution strategies and growth potential within the industry.

Describe the following:

• The opportunity – the gap in the market;
• The industry – the forces affecting the industry (i.e. obstacles to entry, customers, suppliers, substitute products and competition); and
• The market – insights into the target market (i.e. size, growth and trends).

5. Strategy (1-2 pages)

Detail your positioning strategy and how the business will compete in the chosen market. In other words, what is unique about your product/service and how will the target market benefit from what you have to offer.

6. Business Model Explanation (1 page)

The business model depicts how the business will make money/profit. A business model covers the following aspects:

• Sources of revenue;
• Costs involved in generating the revenue;
• The profitability of the business (revenue minus costs);
• The investment required to get the business up and running; and
• Success factors and assumptions for making the profit model work.

7. Management and Organisation (2 pages)

The biographies of the members of your management team and their roles in the business. Who will be responsible for running the business and why are they well-suited to the task?

This section should include:

• The founders of the company and their qualifications and experience;
• The day-to-day management team and their individual competencies and responsibilities;
• The type of support staff needed to run the business; and
• An organisational chart to show the management hierarchy.

8. Marketing Plan (2 – 3 pages)

The marketing plan is a comprehensive explanation of your marketing strategy. In other words, how will you sell your service/product to your target market?

Your marketing plan should include:

• The value of your product/service to customers;
• A detailed description of the target market;
• How you want your target market to perceive your product/service;
• The pricing strategy for the product/service;
• Sales and distribution channels that will be used to get the product/service to the customer; and
• The promotion strategy (budget, public relations activities, promotions, advertising, etc.).

9. Operational Plan (2 pages)

The operational plan is a description of how the business will function. Include a description of the following:

• The operating cycle – how the business will deliver the service or create and sell the product;
• How skills and materials will be sourced;
• Which tasks will be outsourced and how business relationships will be managed; and
• The cash payment cycle of the business.

10. Financial Plan (3 – 5 pages)

A very important part of any business plan is the financial plan. It is a reasonable projection of the company’s financial future.

A good financial plan will determine how much capital the business needs to launch and/or grow. This section is especially important to potential investors and banks – who will determine the odds for the continued survival of the company based on this information.

A financial plan should include:

• Start-up expenses and capital: What it would cost to start/grow the company and how the money will be generated.
• Profit and loss projections/income statement : Financial sales and expenses projections (i.e. income, cost of goods, gross profit margin, net profit, total expenses, etc.).
• Cash flow projection: Reflects how much cash will be needed to cover expenses and when it will be needed. The cash flow projection amounts to a profit or loss at the end of each month or year.
• A balance sheet: A summary of the business’ equity, assets and liabilities.
• A break-even calculation

Income statements and cash flow projections must be generated for every month of the first year, every quarter of the second year and annually for every year thereafter. The balance sheet is only generated on an annual basis.

Short summaries of the analyses of the income statement, cash flow projection and balance sheet must also be included. Do not include too much detail in this section. Additional projections, charts and calculations must be added to the Appendix.

11. Appendix

Additional reference documents are included in the appendix. This could include:

• Brochures and advertising materials;
• Industry studies and market research;
• Plans and blueprints;
• Photos and maps of location;
• Magazine or other articles;
• Detailed lists of equipment owned or to be purchased;
• Copies of leases and contracts;
• Letters of support from future customers;
• List of assets available as collateral for a loan; and/or
• Detailed financial calculations and projections.

Find more business plan examples and templates from Entrepreneur Magazine .

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Download a Business Plan Template

Business Plan Template by Being Boss and FreshBooks

So, you’re ready to take the first steps in starting your business – congratulations!

Though you have a lot of work ahead of you, starting and growing a company from the ground up is a bold endeavor. And, if set up correctly it will deliver many things you want out of your professional career, as well as help you achieve some life goals.

Freedom, creativity, control, impact… all of these things are possible with a small business. But only if you start with a clear understanding of yourself, your offering, and the customers you serve.

So, how do you make sure that the business you start will be everything you want it to be? To put you on the right path towards the business you’ve always dreamed of, you need to start with a business plan.

To many, building a business plan sounds like a daunting task, but with big ideas and even bigger goals, it’s an important step to ensure you have a clear picture of what kind of company you’re building. A business plan helps you lay a foundation and iron out the details so you have a succinct short-term and long-term idea of what you’re building. If you’re not sure where to start business plan template documents can help.

What Is a Business Plan Template and How Can It Help You?

A business plan template is a basic framework for building a powerful business plan document for your new company. With a business plan template, you get a head start on identifying key elements of your business. By identifying these key elements, your path becomes clear and easier to navigate. A business planning template can take many forms, from a series of questions about your skills, offering, customers, and goals to a sample document where you can store information for the kind of company you wish to build.

Whatever the format, a business planner template guides your business planning to keep you focused, help you get clear, and creates a structure for bringing your new ideas into a concise document to guide your actions, as well as present your plans to people you might approach for help, such as investors.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan?

To begin, simply writing a business plan is a wonderful way to find clarity, purpose, and a path for your new company, because if we know anything about entrepreneurs, it’s this: you have a gazillion ideas and goals for your new venture. A business plan helps you hone in on the most important and relevant ideas for your new company, and helps you organize those thoughts into a usable plan.

Beyond finding clarity and organizing your ideas, your business plan is a place where you set goals for yourself and your business, as well as predict any struggles you may face to reach those goals. Additionally, business plans lay out a clear strategy for reaching those goals, setting you on the right path from the very beginning.

Also, there are several key elements you must understand about your new business before you begin. You need to have a clear understanding of the products and services you offer, who your dream customers are (aka your target market), and who your competitors are (through doing a market analysis). You also need to see if your business idea is even viable by doing financial projections, which will determine if the product or service you offer is actually capable of creating enough income (aka revenue) to cover expenses (aka cost).

Because an offering that doesn’t make money isn’t a business, it’s a hobby. With all of this information laid out, business plans act as a concise rundown of all the major parts of your business, which you’ll use to go from idea to small business and beyond. This detailed summary of the business you’re starting includes a plan for actually making it happen. Trust us: there’s a bit of magic that comes from getting clear on these aspects of your new business because from clarity comes power, and with power… nothing will stand in your way.

How to Structure a Business Plan

A business plan that you’re using for your own clarity and purposes can look like anything you want – include the elements that are important to you, write it on a series of napkins if you want to, or add as much creative flair as you need to inspire you to get it done. Then get started with your business. The important thing is that you simply get it down “on paper” so that you have the information you need to effectively provide the product or service of your business to those in your target market so that you can begin reaching your goals.

But, if you’re wishing to seek funding for your new business, whether that’s from a bank, from an investor, or even from your family, it’s very important that you have a plan with a clear structure and with key elements presented. That way not only you will find clarity in the direction and purpose of your new business, but others can see it as well.

A traditional business plan begins with a broad overview of your new company, including your business mission and goals, and moves into being more detailed, with your first steps of action, along with plenty of information in between. Your plan is a product of lots of research about your industry, your ideal customer, and your offerings. It also represents in-depth planning, by outlining your skills and how you’ll grow them, how much it’s going to cost to get started, and financial projections for your first years. This plan will come together in a single document with clear organization that you can access anytime to keep you focused on taking just the right next step on your path.

What Goes Into a Business Plan?

There are several key elements that go into a complete and thorough business plan. With these elements, you have a complete picture of the company you’re here to start, which will become an invaluable resource as you begin taking your first steps, as well as when you begin checking-in in the coming months and even years. These elements include:

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Think of your executive summary as your birds-eye view of your company. It’s a summary of all other elements included in your business plan, and is the first (and sometimes only) element looked at by investors.

2. MISSION + VISION

Why are you starting your business? What do you imagine it being in 5 years? In this section of your business plan you share the reasons behind your business and where you see it going in the near and distant future.

Laying out clear goals for your business will give you context for all the work ahead. Think about business and life goals, and create goals for the short-term (6-12 months), mid-term (12-24 months), and long-term (24 months +).

4. SKILLS + EXPERIENCE

Think of this section as a personal resume; what skills and experience do you have that will be relevant for this venture, but also what skills do you need to grow or gain to make you a valuable asset to your new business?

5. PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Now we begin getting to the meat of business plans: a clear description of your products and/or services, including what they are and how you will be delivering them to your clients or customers. This should include description, deliverables, benefits for your customers, and price.

6. TARGET MARKET

You know what you’re doing, but who are you doing it for? Getting very clear on your dream customers, the group or groups of people you will be serving with your business is an important element for shaping your product or service correctly, as well as marketing effectively.

7. INDUSTRY/COMPETITION

An understanding of your industry (24-hour gyms, or bakeries, or web developers) and your competition is important to crafting the right product or service, and making sure your idea is viable.

8. OPERATIONAL PLANS

In order to get your business off the ground, what do you need? Perhaps it’s a few hires, or sourcing some information or products; whatever you need, this is where you lay it out.

9. MARKETING PLAN

With a full layout of what you’re selling and who you’re selling it to, it’s time to get an understanding of how you’ll get your offering in front of the right people with a clear marketing plan.

10. SALES FORECAST/FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS

How effectively do you think your marketing will be? How long will it take for you to meet your goals? Through financial projects, you’re able to see the work you have to do to meet your version of success.

11. START-UP EXPENSES

Finally, what do you need to get the ball rolling? A clear understanding of your start-up expenses is imperative for jumpstarting your business towards success.

Find Your Community

You’re on your way! Being the boss of a business you built for yourself is highly gratifying, especially when your actions align with your values, which is what this business plan template will help you do. And if you need help fleshing it out, let me walk you through it step-by-step in this special episode of the Being Boss podcast.

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Business Plans

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Awesome you're in the right place. we write business plans for businesses just like yours. and not the fill-in-the-blank type of business plan that you have probably already tried to complete on your own either,, but solid, implementable plans, written by a real business planning expert, that are professional, worthy of funding, and contains everything that you need to reach your goals. in short - the type of plan that can help you to become more successful., all our business plans meet the requirements of the nef, idc and all major south african funding institutions. plus we will guide you to apply for funding and prepare all due diligence requirements from funders., what is a business plan, why do you need a business plan.

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What should a Business Plan contain?

How do you make a business plan, templates & market research, the role of bplans consultants.

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A business plan is a roadmap of your business. It details how your business wants to achieve its goals and should include its operational, financial and marketing strategies.

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A good business plan should answer the following questions

• What type of business do I want to run - will I be selling products, services, or both?
• What products or services will I be selling?
• Will the business be manufacturing products or buying them from a manufacturer?
• Will I be in business by myself or in a partnership?
• How will the business be funded?
• What market will the business be serving - in other words, who are my customers?
• Who are my competitors and how will I overcome competition to succeed?

You can use a standard format to draft a business plan

• Business details - include the name of the business and/or trading name as well as the physical address.
• Business overview - describe what your business is all about.
• Business operations - state what you sell as well as how and who you will sell to.
• Business environment - describe factors that will impact your business, like; sales, customers and debtors.
• Sales and customers - describe in detail your sales projections, the number of customers you want to attract and their locations.
• Debtors - state how you will deal with customers when it comes to credit.
• Creditors/Suppliers - describe how you will relate with suppliers when it comes to payment and deliveries.
• Competitors - identify your key competitors and describe your competitive advantage over them.
• Financial review - for a start-up this may not apply but for established businesses include your financial reports, your business’s current financial position and your financial plans going forward.

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BUSINESS PLANS

Advantages of working with us.

We offer guidance to help you develop your ideas into profitable and fundable business ventures. With years of experience working closely with major Funding Organizations in South Africa, we understand the criteria and formats they require and advise you accordingly. Moreover, with a Master of Economics, Dagmar Breiling possesses extensive knowledge of the funding environment and can guide you toward the best way forward for your specific plan.

In addition, our Research Department uses paid research databases and journals to compile and analyze industry research. This ensures that your research is always up-to-date and based on current data, no older than two years.

Each document you receive from us is proofread by our in-house Editor. We also have an in-house Design Department to ensure that all documents look professional and match the Funding Connection design.

We aim to provide you with the best possible business plan, which will give you confidence in raising capital from financiers. We will guide you through the entire process and ensure that you have everything in place for a successful finance application.

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Executive Summary

Company Overview

Products & Services

Target Market

Competitor Analysis

SWOT Analysis

Marketing Plan

Financial Assumptions

5 years' Financials

Cash Flow (two years, monthly, then annual)

Income Statement (two years, monthly, then annual)

Balance Sheet (yearly)

Loan Repayment Plan

Funding Allocation Schedule

Sensitivity Analysis

Depreciation Schedule

Sales Projection

Break-Even Analysis

Charts and diagrams in colour

PDF & Word Version of your plan

PDF and Non-Editable Excel Version of your forecast

Non-Disclosure & Confidentiality Agreement protecting your interest

You keep the IP of your Business Plan

Telephonic / Email / Skype support throughout the Business Plan process

Post Project Revision Guarantee for 2 weeks

R 10 000  incl. VAT ​

40 PAGE REPORT &

DELIVERED IN 10 WORKING DAYS

This business plan is suitable for funding of UP TO R5 MILLION.

Business Model

Market Research

Industry Analysis

 Marketing Strategy

Detailed Operations Strategy

Net Present Value

Net Payback Period

Internal Rate of Return

R 15 000  incl. VAT

60 PAGE REPORT &

DELIVERED IN 14 WORKING DAYS

This business plan is suitable for funding of UP TO R10 MILLION. 

If you are looking for funding of over R10 million, please contact us for a quote.

Value Chain

Opportunity Analysis

In-Depth Marketing Strategy

In-Depth Operations Strategy

Management 

Milestones & Timelines

PDDF and None-Editable Excel Version of your forecast

PREMIUM PLUS

For ventures over r 10 million total investments, we will give you an individual quote depending on the investment amount and the complexity of your venture..

Our step by step approach:

The first step in our process is to determine which business plan package is best suited to help you raise the necessary capital. Once we've identified the right package, we'll send you a quote. After you make the payment, we'll send you a questionnaire to get the briefing process started.  Your dedicated project manager will then schedule a private consultation with you to discuss your business venture in greater detail. Once they have all the information they need, our team will get to work on creating your business plan and financial forecast.  When the business plan is complete, we'll email it to you, and you'll have two weeks to review it. During this time, we'll make any amendments or changes you request free of charge. After two weeks, we'll charge an hourly rate for any further changes.  Once you're satisfied with the documents, you can choose to use our funding support services, which is step two of our process.

After receiving the payment for our funding application service, we start working on the process.  Our team will identify the most suitable fund for your business.  Our Loan & Grant Applications department will get in touch with you to request specific documents that the funders need.  After gathering all the required documents, the department will prepare and send you the completed application forms for your signature.  Once everything is in order, and the department has all the necessary documents, they will submit the application on your behalf. Please note that the loan process can take between 3 to 6 months, while a grant application may take even longer.

Investor  Pitch De cks to convince investors from R3 900

Company Pr ofile from R 2900

Business plan printed in colour and delivered in South Africa = R920

Support to raise capital for up to R1 million investment = R4 00 0

Support to raise capital for up to R5 million  investment = R6 000

Support to raise capital for up to R 10 million  investment   = R8 000

Support to raise capital above R 10 million investment please ask for an individual quote

      All fees include VAT.

In addition to our extensive business plan packages, we also offer various add-ons to boost your plans. We offer: