1. Introduction (Idea or Plan)

Your idea and purpose are the foundation of your business.

Purpose

Your purpose is more likely to draw in others who want to connect and contribute value to what you are doing. Purpose is not exactly the same as mission and vision. Your purpose is the reason you work so hard or can’t stop thinking about what needs to be done to get to the next step.

It is a clear understanding of who you are and why you are here doing this.

• What is your idea all about?
• What is your purpose?

2. Mission / Vision (Statement)

Mission and vision support your purpose.

Mission and vision make visual the “how” and “what” questions you need to answer to make your “why” a reality.

Some important questions underlying your mission & vision:

• What is your master plan and main challenge?
• What trends do you see as arising in your field?

The mission and vision are the principles your company stands for and goes for.

• What is your mission & vision statement?
• What are your key values?

3. Company Goals (Milestones)

Now it is time to define what you would like to accomplish.

Your goal setting is the perfect start for planning your development and expected outcome. What is your schedule to approach them? Where do you plan to be in a month, a year, three years?

Let’s start big:

Examples:

• We will be the leader in the industry.
• First paying customer.
• Ten new employees.

It helps to have milestones.

• What are your goals?
• What are your milestones?

4. Action Plan (Marketing)

Since activation is about testing ideas to validate your business we provide a number of ways to think about your game plan and which activities work for you.

You need to find out which activity will work and which will not. Pivot or persevere.

Some important questions underlying your action plan:

• Do you have a complete overview of all your activities?
• What is your marketing and sales plan?
• What are the next steps in product or business development?

Make a long list of anything that could improve and boost your business.

• What is your action plan?
• What are your next steps?

5. Business (Products/Services)

Everything you do supports your business performance.

The main focus has to be on running your business.

Some important questions underlying your business:

• What is your business offer?
• What is your primary business model?
• Do you have a secondary revenue stream and other income?

When you look at the activation stage, the business building block is right in the middle of the matrix to give full focus and attention to.

• How do you create value?
• What is your product/service?
• What is the business model?

6. Customer Creation (Sales)

This section is about your customer creation and sales.

All your effort leads to possible conversion, relationships & customers.

Customer creation validates your business.

You can measure your performance and learn from it. There are 3 key business drivers or deliverables in your sales flow at the end of the sales funnel:
1. Deals/clients - Contracts and new orders.
2. Prospects - Proposals for new business.
3. Suspects - Appointments and contact with potential customers.

What about your customer development?

• How is the sales funnel looking and what are the underlying sales figures?

7. People (Organization)

Your business is based on relationships.

Some important questions underlying your organization:

• Who is involved in your business?
• Who are the key players in your team?
• What are their skills, roles & responsibilities?
• Who are your business partners and main suppliers?
• Who are your other stakeholders and participants?

The organizational structure must manage activities such as task allocation, coordination and supervision, anything and everything directed towards the achievements of organizational aims.

• Sketch out your team in an organizational chart.
• Make an overview of your business partners & suppliers.

8. Planet (Market & Growth)

What is your market size?

Time to get an overview of all the facts and figures of your (potential) customers and market share.

Market & growth

• What is your primary target group and what is your secondary market?
• Do you have other specific segmentations and/or alternative (new) business opportunities?
• Are your customers easy or difficult to attract?

Detailed information about your market segmentation:

• What are your (potential) markets?
• What is your target market?

9. Profit (Finance)

Facts and figures about the company or business project

Statement about the profitability and cash flow.

• Profit and loss statement.
• Investments.
• Cash flow statement.

What is the need for money (if there is)?

• Short term
• Mid term
• Long term

• What are the prospective sources for revenue?
• What are all your costs and specifications?

Business Plan Summary