When you have decided it's time to put together a business plan, use this skeleton to make sure you haven't forgotten any items.

Sample Business Plan

Section Page

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i, ii

1. THE COMPANY 1-1
Current Status 1-2
Near-Term Objectives 1-3
Long-Term Objectives 1-4
The Management Team 1-5
Management Objectives 1-6

2. MARKETS AND COMPETITION 2-1
The Present Market 2-2
User Benefits 2-3
Other Customer Benefits 2-4
Market - Near-Term 2-5
Market, Long-Term 2-6
Summary of the Projected Market 2-7
Competition 2-8
Projected Sales and Market Share 2-9
Specific Target Markets 2-10
Sales Strategy to Reach Objectives 2-11

3. THE PRODUCT(S) 3-1
Theory of Operations 3-2
Applications 3-3
Product Performance Data 3-4
Product Economics & Advantages 3-5
Present Product Status 3-6
Scale-Up Requirements (if any) 3-7
Patents and Proprietary Know-How 3-8

4. SELLING 4-1
Current Selling Method(s) 4-2
Selling Method(s), Near-Term 4-3
Selling Method(s), Long-Term 4-4
In-House Sales Support 4-5
Pre-Contract Sales Costs (if any) 4-6
Custom Engineering Sales Requirements (if any) 4-7
Product Pricing and Warranties 4-8

5. MANUFACTURING 5-1
Facilities Needed 5-2
Make/Buy Considerations 5-3
Major Purchasing Issues (if any) 5-4
Second, Third Sourcing Needs 5-5
Manufacturing Engineering Support 5-6
Quality Control Plans 5-7
Staffing Requirements 5-8

6. FINANCIAL DATA 6-1
Financial History 6-2
Expansion Requirements, Budgets 6-3
Financial Projections 6-4
Summary of Operations Prior to Financing 6-5
Current Stockholders, Number of Shares 6-6

7. INVESTMENT 7-1
Use of Proceeds 7-2
Description of the Offering 7-3

APPENDICES
Management Team Biographies A-1
Other Important Data A-2

Note: If tables or figures are included, separate entries should
be provided using the same page-numbering method. For
example, "Projected Earnings" Table 1, Page 6-7.