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What is included in a business plan template?
A business plan template is a fill-in structure for turning one business idea into a document a lender, investor, partner, or founder can review quickly. The U.S. Small Business Administration, updated November 13, 2025, says there are 2 main formats: a traditional plan and a lean startup plan.
In the SBA traditional format, the standard sections are 9 core parts: executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization and management, service or product line, marketing and sales, funding request, financial projections, and appendix. That is the safest starting point when you search for a business plan template because it matches what lenders and investors usually expect.
If you want a faster draft, the SBA says a lean startup plan can be created in as little as 1 hour. Its 9 building blocks are key partnerships, key activities, key resources, value proposition, customer relationships, customer segments, channels, cost structure, and revenue streams.
| Format | Best use | Length | Core structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Bank loans, investor review, formal planning | Detailed multi-section document | 9 standard sections plus appendix |
| Lean startup | Fast internal planning, early testing, 1-page summary | About 1 page | 9 lean blocks |
| Startup template from SCORE | Guided fill-in draft for a new business | Sectioned workbook | 9 sections plus 11 worksheets |
Which business plan template should I use: traditional or lean?
Use a traditional business plan template when another person has to approve your plan, and use a lean template when you need a fast 1-page operating summary. The SBA says traditional plans are more common and are often requested by lenders and investors, while lean plans are high-level and faster to produce.
Use a traditional template when
- You are applying for a loan and need 5 years of projected financials, as the SBA recommends for new businesses.
- You need to explain market analysis, legal structure, management, and use of funds in separate sections.
- You want room for appendices such as resumes, permits, patents, contracts, or product photos.
Use a lean template when
- You need a 1-page snapshot for a co-founder, advisor, or internal planning session.
- Your business model is still changing weekly and you want to update customer segments, channels, and revenue streams quickly.
- You want to draft a first version in about 1 hour, then expand it into a traditional plan later.
| Question | Traditional template | Lean template |
|---|---|---|
| Do I need 5-year projections? | Yes, usually | Not always in the first draft |
| Can I use it for a bank loan? | Yes | Usually not by itself |
| Is it easy to update monthly? | Moderate | Easy |
| Does it include appendix material? | Yes | Usually no |
| Best stage | Funding or formal planning | Idea validation or internal use |
How do I fill out each section of a business plan template?
The fastest way to fill a business plan template is to answer each section with 3 things: what you sell, who pays, and what proof you have. SCORE's startup template, published May 1, 2026, organizes the work into 9 sections and 11 worksheets, which is a good model for turning rough notes into a complete draft.
| Section | What to write | Copy-and-do prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Executive summary | Business name, offer, customer, problem solved, short financial ask | In 5 sentences, state what you sell, who buys, why now, how you make money, and how much funding you need. |
| Company description | Mission, legal structure, location, business model | State whether the company is an LLC, S corporation, sole proprietorship, or partnership, and explain why that structure fits. |
| Market analysis | Target customer, market need, competitors, trends | Name 3 competitor types, 1 target customer segment, and 2 buying triggers. |
| Organization and management | Founders, leadership, org chart, hiring gaps | List each key role, owner, decision maker, and the first missing hire. |
| Products or services | Offer, pricing logic, delivery, lifecycle | Describe the product or service, how it is delivered, and what makes switching worthwhile for the buyer. |
| Marketing and sales | Lead generation, channels, sales steps, retention | Write the first 3 acquisition channels and the exact path from first contact to paid customer. |
| Funding request | How much money you need and how you will use it | State the amount requested, the time horizon, and the line items that will consume the cash. |
| Financial projections | Revenue, costs, cash flow, break-even | Build a 12-month monthly view and a 5-year annual view with assumptions shown. |
| Appendix | Proof documents | Attach permits, resumes, contracts, quotes, photos, patents, licenses, or letters of intent. |
For a startup, fill sections in this order to reduce blank-page friction: 1) customer, 2) offer, 3) pricing, 4) channels, 5) costs, 6) management, 7) funding, 8) financials, 9) executive summary last. That sequence works because the summary is easier once the numbers and assumptions are already visible.
What financials should a business plan template include?
The SBA says a traditional business plan should include forecasted income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and capital expenditure budgets, with a prospective outlook for the next 5 years. If the business already exists, the SBA also recommends including the last 3 to 5 years of historical data.
At minimum, your financial section should show 4 numbers every reader looks for: monthly sales, gross margin, monthly fixed costs, and runway or break-even timing. Without those 4 figures, a business plan template reads like a pitch, not a plan.
| Financial item | Minimum version | Better version |
|---|---|---|
| Sales forecast | 12 months by month | 12 months monthly plus 5 years annual |
| Costs | Fixed and variable costs | Costs by department and one-time startup costs |
| Cash flow | Monthly cash in vs cash out | Monthly plus funding draw schedule |
| Break-even | One formula | Formula plus month break-even estimate |
| Historicals | None for new businesses | 3 to 5 years if already operating |
Break-even formula to place inside your template
Break-even units = Fixed costs divided by contribution margin per unit, where contribution margin per unit = selling price minus variable cost per unit. Example: if fixed costs are 12000 dollars per month, price is 100 dollars, and variable cost is 40 dollars, break-even volume is 12000 divided by 60, or 200 units.
Startup cost checklist to price before you publish the plan
- Legal formation and licenses: collect at least 2 quotes before you lock the number.
- Equipment and software: separate one-time purchases from monthly subscriptions.
- Payroll: model founder pay, contractor spend, and taxes as separate rows.
- Marketing launch budget: show a 90-day test budget, not only a yearly total.
- Working capital: reserve enough cash for at least the first 3 months of bills.
What does a real business plan template example look like?
A useful example is the SBA's sample traditional plan for We Can Do It Consulting, last updated August 24, 2023. It is not a blank template; it is a filled example, which makes it valuable because you can see how section headings, target market details, and pricing appear in a real document.
In that sample, the consulting firm's target customer is a business owner, HR director, program manager, president, or CEO at companies with 5 to 500 employees. That is a good example of narrowing a market segment inside a business plan template: not just 'small businesses,' but a role, company size, and problem.
The sample also gives a clean pricing table by labor category. Its listed hourly rates are 150 dollars for Principal, 140 dollars for Account Executive, 135 dollars for Project Manager, 100 dollars for Project Coordinator, 90 dollars for Business Analyst, 90 dollars for Process Analyst, 85 dollars for Financial Analyst, and 75 dollars for Technologist.
| Role in SBA sample | Hourly rate | What to borrow for your template |
|---|---|---|
| Principal | $150 | Top-tier strategic or specialist work |
| Account Executive | $140 | Client-facing account work |
| Project Manager | $135 | Delivery leadership |
| Project Coordinator | $100 | Execution support |
| Business Analyst | $90 | Research and analysis |
| Process Analyst | $90 | Operations improvement |
| Financial Analyst | $85 | Financial modeling support |
| Technologist | $75 | Technical implementation |
The same sample includes 2 more useful proof points to copy structurally, not literally: it says all staff have at least a 4-year degree, and 20% have an advanced degree. That is a strong pattern for your management section because it turns vague credibility into countable credentials.
Is a free business plan template good enough for lenders or investors?
Yes, a free business plan template can be good enough if it covers the full traditional structure and includes real assumptions. The strongest no-cost starting points are the SBA business-plan guidance, updated November 13, 2025, the SBA sample plans, and SCORE's startup business plan template, updated May 1, 2026.
What makes a free template fail is usually not the price tag. It fails when 1 or more of these 4 parts are missing: a specific customer segment, a clear revenue model, a 12-month operating forecast, or a 5-year outlook. Those gaps matter more than whether the file started in Word, PDF, Google Docs, or spreadsheet form.
| Checklist item | Free template can do it | What you must add |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional plan sections | Yes | Fill all 9 sections with company-specific facts |
| 5-year projections | Yes | Add your own assumptions and formulas |
| Appendix support | Yes | Attach licenses, quotes, resumes, and proof docs |
| Investor readability | Yes | Tighten summary, remove generic claims |
| Lender readiness | Yes | Match numbers across funding request and cash flow |
How can I create a business plan template with AnyGen?
Use AnyGen when you want to turn raw business notes into a structured business plan template fast, especially if you already know your customer, offer, prices, and startup costs. The right workflow is not 'ask AI for a business plan' but 'feed AI your facts and force them into the traditional or lean format you need.'
Copy-and-do workflow
- Step 1: Choose the template type: traditional for lenders and investors, lean for a 1-page draft.
- Step 2: Paste your inputs as field data: company name, legal structure, target customer, offer, price, startup costs, monthly fixed costs, and funding need.
- Step 3: Ask AnyGen to produce the 9 standard sections, plus a 12-month forecast table and a 5-year summary table.
- Step 4: Review every generated claim and replace any generic wording with your own customer, channel, and cost details.
- Step 5: Export the result as an editable document, then attach appendix proof such as quotes, resumes, permits, or letters of intent.
A good prompt is factual, not inspirational. Example input set: legal structure = LLC, target customer = independent dental clinics with 2 to 10 dentists, monthly fixed costs = 18000 dollars, launch budget = 25000 dollars, average monthly subscription = 399 dollars, funding need = 120000 dollars. With facts at that level, the draft becomes usable instead of vague.
Frequently asked questions
What should a business plan template include?
A traditional business plan template should include 9 core sections: executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization and management, product or service line, marketing and sales, funding request, financial projections, and appendix, according to SBA guidance updated November 13, 2025.
Is there a one page business plan template?
Yes. The SBA's lean startup format is a 1-page style template built around 9 blocks such as value proposition, customer segments, channels, cost structure, and revenue streams. It is best for quick internal planning, not as a full lender packet by itself.
How many years of financial projections should a business plan template have?
For a new business, the SBA says to provide a prospective financial outlook for the next 5 years. For an existing business, include 3 to 5 years of historical results as well.
What financial statements go in a business plan template?
The core set is forecasted income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. A stronger plan also includes capital expenditure budgets, startup costs, and a break-even calculation.
Do lenders require a business plan template?
Lenders usually want the traditional format, not just a lean 1-page summary. The SBA explicitly notes that traditional plans are more common and are often requested by lenders and investors.
Can I use the same business plan template for an LLC or sole proprietorship?
Yes. The template structure stays mostly the same, but the legal structure line in the company and management section changes. The SBA specifically lists structures such as C corporation, S corporation, partnership, sole proprietor, and LLC.
Is there a free business plan template I can trust?
Yes. The most reliable free starting points are the SBA business plan guidance and sample plans, plus SCORE's startup business plan template updated May 1, 2026. Free is fine if the numbers, assumptions, and appendix documents are yours.
What should go in the appendix of a business plan template?
The SBA lists supporting material such as credit histories, resumes, product pictures, reference letters, licenses, permits, patents, and contracts. Only include items that prove claims already made in the plan.