How to write a business plan

Business plan content and templates

The business plan is a document describing the business so that others can easily understand your idea and who is behind it. The document can take many different forms, but almost always contains sections on the company's business concept, customers and business model.

There are a number of ready-made templates and services to help you create your business plan. Here you will find links to NyföretagarCentrum's business plan e-service and Almi's business plan templates. A circular business model creates more value by using resources more efficiently.

Business plan from NyföretagarCentrum (in Swedish)

Business plan templates at Almi (in Swedish)

If you are creating a business plan, our calculator tools can help you. For example, you can work out how much you need to sell to cover your costs and make a profit.

Make a budget

Think of your business plan as a living document

A business concept can often change and evolve while the business is running. It is a good idea to go back and update your business plan based on how your company and the world around you has evolved.

Different types of business plans

A business plan can be formulated in a number of different ways. Which one is right for your business may vary depending on your business concept or how you want to present your business.

Creating a business plan is not compulsory for entrepreneurs, but it is a good way to help you get started.

The difference between a business plan and a marketing plan

Both the business plan and the marketing plan describes how you will grow the company, so therefore they may overlap in some parts. The difference between the plans is that the business plan provides an overview of the entire company and its goals, while the marketing plan delves into marketing in particular.

This is how the plans complement each other:

• The business plan provides a broader overview of the company and its goals. It covers business concept, product or service offering, market analysis, organisational structure, finances, financing needs and marketing. It is an overall plan for how the company will start and develop.
• The marketing plan delves into questions about how the company will reach its customers, which strategies will be used, and which resources are required to implement the marketing strategy.

Avoid repetitions

To avoid repetition, you can keep the marketing section of the business plan short and concise, and then refer to the marketing plan for a more detailed review.