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 stationery store while showcasing the expected financials and operations over the next three years. Stationery Store, Inc. (“the Company”) is a New York based corporation that will provide sales of stationery and invitation printing services to customers in its targeted market. The Company was founded in 2008 by John Doe.

1.1 Products and Services

As stated above, the primary revenue center for the Stationery Store will be general sale of stationery supplies, which includes specialized paper, preprinted invitations, greeting cards, pens, and other miscellaneous stationery items and small office supplies. The business will have the ability to specialize order any type of stationery on behalf of customers including custom printed letterhead paper and business cards. Complimentary to the direct retail operations of the Stationery Store, the Company will also provide invitation printing services for large scale events. This is an important revenue center for the business as it will provide highly predictable streams of revenue from the ongoing sale of invitation for major events. This aspect of the business has some insulation against negative changes in the economy. The third section of the business plan will further describe the services offered by the Stationery Store.

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 Stationery Store’s mission is to provide customers with an outstanding array of stationery supplies while concurrently offering an extensive line of stationary customization services for events and businesses 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 retail management 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 within the target market.

2.0 Company and Financing Summary

2.1 Registered Name and Corporate Structure

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

2.2 Required Funds

At this time, the Stationery Store 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 Stationery Store, 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 Stationery Store. 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 products and services offered by the Stationery Store.

3.1 Stationery Products and Custom Printing

The Company will offer a wide variety of general stationery items for sale. The aspect of the Stationery Store’s business will also provide personalized stationery for letters, business cards, paper, and envelopes. All of commercial printing services will be outsourced to a third party vendor. Management anticipates that 70% of its revenues will come from the direct retail sale of stationery products and customized stationery products.

3.2 Sales of Invitations

Stationery Store, Inc. will also provide custom invitations for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, sweet sixteen parties, corporate events, and other large gatherings. Currently, Mr. Doe is sourcing a number of locally based invitation printers that the Company can use for its customers’ large scale invitation needs. Management does not have plans to develop printing capabilities in house as the machinery required for this type of service is very expensive.

4.0 Strategic and Market Analysis

4.1 Economic Outlook

This section of the analysis will detail the economic climate, the stationery 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 moderate. The meltdown of the sub prime mortgage market coupled with increasing gas prices has led many people to believe that the US is on the cusp of an economic recession. This slowdown in the economy has also greatly impacted real estate sales, which has halted to historical lows.

4.2 Industry Analysis

Within the United States, there are approximately 7,000 companies that operate one or more retail locations that sell stationery supplies, invitations, and other stationery products to the business and general public. Among these businesses, the aggregate revenues generated on a yearly basis exceed $34 billion dollars per year. The general stationery industry provides jobs for more than 115,000 Americans with aggregate payrolls reaching $3.6 billion dollars per year. This is a mature industry, and Management expects that future growth will be inline with that of the general economy.

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

Stationery Store 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 Company.

5.1 Marketing Objectives

• • Establish relationships with wedding and event planners in the local market.

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

• • 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 Stationery Store to easily target people 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. Stationery Store will also use an internet based strategy. This is very important as many people seeking local retailers, such as stationery stores, now the Internet to conduct their preliminary searches. Mr. Doe will register the Stationery Store with online portals so that potential customers can easily reach the business. The Company will also develop its own online website showcasing the stationery products and printing services offered by the Company in additional to relevant contact and hours of operation information. Mr. Doe will also develop relationships with wedding and event planners so that the business can effectively develop an ongoing stream of referrals among people that are holding large scale events or weddings and require specialized invitation printing services.

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

• • Stationery Store 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, stationery products are generally required among businesses within any economic climate. Additionally, people will continue to hold large scale events (especially weddings), and as such, Stationery Store, Inc. will generate highly predictable streams of revenue from the sale of printing services.

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