It should be noted that there is no special software required to use these templates. All business plans come in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel format. Each business plan features:

• Excecutive Summary
• Company and Financing Summary
• Products and Services Overview
• Strategic Analysis with current research!
• Marketing Plan
• Personnel Plan
• 3 Year Advanced Financial Plan
• Expanded Financial Plan with Monthly Financials
• Loan Amortization and ROI Tools
• FREE PowerPoint Presentation for Banks, Investors, or Grant Companies!

1.0 Executive Summary

The purpose of this business plan is to raise $100,000 for the development of a landscape contractor while showcasing the expected financials and operations over the next three years. The Landscape Contractor, Inc. (“the Company”) is a New York based corporation that will provide landscape contracting, landscape architecture, and lawn moving/lawn care services in its targeted market. The Company was founded by John Doe.

1.1 Products and Services

As mentioned above, the Landscape Contractor intends to operate in a multifaceted capacity by offering general landscape contracting, specialized landscape architecture, and general lawn care and lawn moving services to the general public. Despite recent economic turmoil, busy professionals/executives and property management firms have continued to need these services on a weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly basis. At the onset of operations, the Company intends to partner with several local property management firms and real estate based companies that have regular lawn care and landscape contracting needs. These relationships will ensure that the business generates a continuous stream of revenue on a month to month basis. The third section of the business plan will further describe the services offered by the Landscape Contractor.

1.2 The Financing

Mr. Doe is seeking to raise $100,000 from as a bank loan. The interest rate and loan agreement are to be further discussed during negotiation. This business plan assumes that the business will receive a 10 year loan with a 9% fixed interest rate.

1.3 Mission Statement

The Landscape Contractor’s mission is to become the recognized leader in its targeted market for landscape contracting, landscape architecture, and general lawn care services.

1.4 Mangement Team

The Company was founded by John Doe. Mr. Doe has more than 10 years of experience in the landscape architecture and landscape contracting industry. Through his expertise, he will be able to bring the operations of the business to profitability within its first year of operations.

1.5 Sales Forecasts

Mr. Doe expects a strong rate of growth at the start of operations. Below are the expected financials over the next three years.

1.6 Expansion Plan

The Founder expects that the business will aggressively expand during the first three years of operation. Mr. Doe intends to implement marketing campaigns that will effectively target individuals and property managers within the target market.

2.0 Company and Financing Summary

2.1 Registered Name and Corporate Structure

The Landscape Contractor, Inc. The Company is registered as a corporation in the State of New York.

2.2 Required Funds

At this time, the Landscape Contractor requires $100,000 of debt funds. Below is a breakdown of how these funds will be used:

2.3 Investor Equity

Mr. Doe is not seeking an investment from a third party at this time.

2.4 Management Equity

John Doe owns 100% of the Landscape Contractor, Inc.

2.5 Exit Strategy

If the business is very successful, Mr. Doe may seek to sell the business to a third party for a significant earnings multiple. Most likely, the Company will hire a qualified business broker to sell the business on behalf of the Landscape Contractor. Based on historical numbers, the business could fetch a sales premium of up to 4 times earnings.

3.0 Products and Services

Below is a description of the landscaping/mowing services offered by the Landscape Contractor.

3.1 Landscape Contracting

The primary segment of the business is providing landscape contracting and landscape architecture services to the general public. These services will include designing landscapes and redesigning/renewing existing landscape structures on behalf of the Company’s clients. The Company will recognize revenues from both the aggregate sale of specialized landscape contracting services as well as per hour fees from landscape architecture planning and drafting. At the onset of operations, Mr. Doe intends to partner with a number of local and regional real estate developers, real estate investment firms, and property management companies that have a regular need for landscape contracting work. The fifth section of the business plan will further document the marketing plans of the Landscape Contractor.

3.2 Lawn Mowing Services and Sales of Trees/Plants

The secondary segment of the business, lawn moving services and sales of trees/plants, will actually generate the bulk of the Company’s revenues. The business intends on having a lawn care crew of approximately five people that will mow lawns for homeowners and property management firm clients on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Lawn mowing services will generate the most revenue for the business, although it will generate only 30% of the Company’s pre-tax profits. In conjunction with the Company’s landscape architecture and contracting services, the business will generate tertiary streams of revenue from the sale of trees and plants that will be used in conjunction with landscape architecture plans. The Company will earn significant high margins on the sales of these plants and trees, which will be sourced from local nurseries and farms.

4.0 Strategic and Market Analysis

4.1 Economic Outlook

This section of the analysis will detail the economic climate, the landscape contracting industry, the customer profile, and the competition that the business will face as it progresses through its business operations. Currently, the economic market condition in the United States is in recession. This slowdown in the economy has also greatly impacted real estate sales, which has halted to historical lows. Many economists expect that this recession will continue until mid-2010, at which point the economy will begin a prolonged recovery period. However, and as will be discussed later in the business plan, landscaping companies typically operate with a certain level of economic immunity as the people that use these services typically are upper middle and upper income people that are too busy to tend to their own lawn care and landscaping matters.

4.2 Industry Analysis

In the United States, there are more than 80,000 businesses that operate in a capacity that is substantially similar or identical to those of the Company. Each year, the landscape contractors and lawn mowing services generate more than $29 billion dollars per year. Additionally, the businesses aggregately employ more than 200,000 people nationwide, and provide gross annual payrolls in excess of $13 billion dollars. The industry has experienced solid growth as the number of real estate developers building property in the United States has swelled with the rise in general housing and building prices. However, in the event of a severe economic recession, Management expects that the Company may see a decline in revenues. Lawn care and landscape contracting services are expensive, and as such, decreases in general economic output will result in decreases of revenue to the Company. However, Management will combat these deleterious economic changes by developing ongoing relationships with wealthy homeowners and property management firms that require regular landscape contracting and lawn care services.

4.3 Customer Profile

In this section of the analysis, you should describe the type of customer you are seeking to acquire. These traits include income size, type of business/occupation; how far away from your business is to your customer, and what the customer is looking for. In this section, you can also put demographic information about your target market including population size, income demographics, level of education, etc.

4.4 Competitive Analysis

This is one of the sections of the business plan that you must write completely on your own. The key to writing a strong competitive analysis is that you do your research on the local competition. Find out who your competitors are by searching online directories and searching in your local Yellow Pages. If there are a number of competitors in the same industry (meaning that it is not feasible to describe each one) then showcase the number of businesses that compete with you, and why your business will provide customers with service/products that are of better quality or less expensive than your competition.

5.0 Marketing Plan

The Landscape Contractor intends to maintain an extensive marketing campaign that will ensure maximum visibility for the business in its targeted market. Below is an overview of the marketing strategies and objectives of the Landscape Contractor.

5.1 Marketing Objectives

• • Establish relationships with property management firms within the targeted market.

• • Implement a local campaign with the Company’s targeted market via the use of flyers, local newspaper advertisements, and word of mouth.

• • Develop an online presence by developing a website and placing the Company’s name and contact information with online directories.

5.2 Marketing Strategies

Mr. Doe intends on using a number of marketing strategies that will allow the Landscape Contractor to easily target homeowners and property management firms within the target market. These strategies include traditional print advertisements and ads placed on search engines on the Internet. Below is a description of how the business intends to market its services to the general public. The Landscape Contractor will also use an internet based strategy. This is very important as many people seeking local services, such as landscape contractors, now the Internet to conduct their preliminary searches. Mr. Doe will register the Company with online portals so that potential customers can easily reach the business. The Company will also develop its own online website, which will showcase the Company’s services, its fees, and relevant contact information. Finally, the Landscape Contractor will develop ongoing relationships with property management firms that require continued upkeep of their client’s properties. This will ensure that the business generates substantial and predictable revenues on a monthly basis.

5.3 Pricing

In this section, describe the pricing of your services and products. You should provide as much information as possible about your pricing as possible in this section. However, if you have hundreds of items, condense your product list categorically. This section of the business plan should not span more than 1 page.

6.0 Organizational Plan and Personnel Summary

6.1 Corporate Organization

6.2 Organizational Budget

In this section of the business plan, you should write a two to four paragraph biography about your work experience, your education, and your skill set. For each owner or key employee, you should provide a brief biography in this section.

7.0 Financial Plan

7.1 Underlying Assumptions

• • The Landscape Contractor will have an annual revenue growth rate of 16% per year.

• • The Owner will acquire $100,000 of debt funds to develop the business.

• • The loan will have a 10 year term with a 9% interest rate.

7.2 Sensitivity Analysis

In the event of an economic downturn, the business may have a decline in its revenues. However, landscape and lawn mowing services are typically in demand during seasonal months as the people that enroll in these services are often busy professionals that will continue to be able to afford the Company’s services despite deleterious changes in the economy. Additionally, the business intends to develop ongoing relationships with property management firms, which will ensure a continued stream of referral revenue for the business.

7.3 Source of Funds

7.4 General Assumptions

7.5 Profit and Loss Statements 

7.6 Cash Flow Analysis

7.7 Balance Sheet

7.8 General Assumptions

7.9 Business Ratios

Expanded Profit and Loss Statements

Expanded Cash Flow Analysis