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 $150,000 for the development of a plant and tree nursery while showcasing the expected financials and operations over the next three years. Plant Nursery, Inc. (“the Company”) is a New York based corporation that will provide an extensive variety of plants and trees to individuals and landscape contractors in its targeted market. The Company was founded in 2008 by John Doe.

1.1 Products and Services

The primary revenue stream for the business will come from the direct sale of plants and trees from its outdoor and indoor greenhouse facility. The business will carry a number of seasonal and year round (perennial) species. The Company will sell to both individual customers and landscape contractors. The Company will also generate secondary revenue streams from arranging the transportation or large orders of trees and plants on behalf of individual customers and landscape contactors. The third section of the business plan will further describe the services offered by the Plant Nursery.

1.2 The Financing

Mr. Doe is seeking to raise $150,000 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

Management’s mission is to develop the Plant Nursery into a premier local distributor of plants and trees to the general public and contractors operating within the target market.

1.4 Mangement Team

The Company was founded by John Doe. Mr. Doe has more than 10 years of experience in the landscaping 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 landscape contractors within the target market.

2.0 Company and Financing Summary

2.1 Registered Name and Corporate Structure

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

2.2 Required Funds

At this time, the Plant Nursery requires $150,000 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 Plant Nursery, 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 Plant Nursery, Inc. 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 plant products and related services offered by the Plant Nursery.

3.1 Sales of Plants and Trees

As discussed in the executive summary, the primary source of revenue for the business will be the sales of plants and trees to the general public and to contractors. The Company will maintain a large outdoor area where plants are kept and can be selected and purchased by customers. Additionally, the Company will maintain a sizeable greenhouse facility for expensive plants and plants that require careful handling. Additionally, during colder months, all plant sales will be moved indoors to the Company’s heated greenhouse facility. Mr. Doe anticipates that the business will generate margins of approximately 80% on each sale. Additionally, this segment of the business will account for 80% of the Plant Nursery’s aggregate income.

3.2 Transportation Fees

The Company will also generate secondary revenues from arranging for the transportation and delivery of large orders of plants/trees on behalf of individual and landscape contracting customers. Management anticipates that approximately 20% of the Company’s aggregate revenues will come from this service.

4.0 Strategic and Market Analysis

4.1 Economic Outlook

This section of the analysis will detail the economic climate, the plant nursery 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-2009, at which point the economy will begin a prolonged recovery period.

4.2 Industry Analysis

Aggregately, there are more than 17,000 businesses that operate one or more facilities that sell plants and trees to both individual customers and contractors. In each of the last five years, the industry has generated in excess of $27 billion while providing jobs to more than 150,000 people. Aggregate payrolls in each of the last five years have exceeded $3.5 billion. This is a mature industry, and the future expected growth rate is expected to mirror that of the general economy. However, with the current economic situation at hand, Mr. Doe anticipates that the industry will experience sluggish growth as the demand for new housing starts has waned. However, among gardening enthusiasts, Management anticipates that demand will remain strong.

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

Plant Nursery, Inc. 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 Plant Nursery.

5.1 Marketing Objectives

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

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

• • Establish relationships with landscape contractors within the target market.

5.2 Marketing Strategies

Mr. Doe intends on using a number of marketing strategies that will allow the Plant Nursery to easily target individuals 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. Plant Nursery, Inc. will also use an internet based strategy. This is very important as many people seeking local retailers, such as plant nurseries, now the Internet to conduct their preliminary searches. Mr. Doe will register the Plant Nursery with online portals so that potential customers can easily reach the business. The Company will also develop its own online website showcasing the operations of the business, its inventory, hours of operation, and other services offered by the business. Finally, Mr. Doe will develop ongoing relationships with landscape contractors that will purchase inventories of trees and plants from the business in bulk on a regular basis. In time, these contractors will become an invaluable source of business for the Plant Nursery.

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 Plant Nursery will have an annual revenue growth rate of 8% per year.

• • The Owner will acquire $150,000 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. The Company’s commercial client base of landscape contractors may drastically scale down their purchases as their customer base puts off major landscaping renovations. However, the Company will have a loyal customer base of gardening enthusiasts that will continue to purchase plants and trees on a regular basis. Additionally, the high margin revenues generated by the Plant Nursery will allow the business to remain profitable and cash flow positive despite moderate declines in revenue.

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