This is the most important
element of your business plan and should be interesting enough to attract the
attention of the reader. It is important that your readers read the entire plan
because your interest will be served only if they do that. Although this is the
first section, you will be better placed if you write it after you have worked
out the rest of the plan. That way you will have a better insight into how to
summarize it into a few pages.
This section is a summary
of the total plan and the history of the company - how you have guided it to
the present situation and where you intend to take it from here. It is also
important to mention the reasons that make you believe that your business will
be a success.
What to Include In the
Executive Summary
Remember that this is a
summary of the history, the present and the future. Keep it as brief and simple
as possible as you will be discussing some of these points in detail in the
latter part of your plan. At the same time make sure that you include the
following information.
1. A clear picture of your
business - what it is about, your vision and the opportunities that you see.
This should be brief but focused and to the point. Use an image if you think it
can convey all this. Remember, a picture sometimes conveys what a thousand
words may not.
2. The date you started the
business.
3. Founder members and
their functions.
4. Number of employees on
payroll.
5. Addresses of office and branches and subsidiaries, if any.
6. Plant description.
7. Product or service line.
8. Names of bankers and
investors.
9. Highlights of your
business. These should
include information like exceptional financial results of the preceding period
or being the first company of its nature or
whatever that can play up your company.
10. Future plans
Give details only in the
section where you are giving a clear picture of your business because you will
not be discussing that later. Apart from that make sure that you keep
everything as concise as possible, preferably one-liners that arouse interest
of the reader.
If yours is a new venture
then you may not have information to fill in all the points mentioned above. In
that case delve on your experience, abilities and the reasons for starting this
business. Explain the need that exists for your product or service. Also
mention the problems that you are facing in your target market and how you
intend to solve them. Write about your innovative ideas and how they can take
your company forward and a brief description of your future plans.