Business plan template for a small business (fill in the blanks)

Part 1: Cover page and executive summary

Guides: cover page, executive summary. Fill in the cover now and the summary last.

• Cover: business name, one-line description, owner, full address with barangay and city, phone, email, version date, and who it is prepared for.
• Summary: What do you sell, to whom, and where? (2 sentences)
• Summary: What makes customers choose you? (1 sentence)
• Summary: Total startup cost ₱____, your own puhunan ₱____, amount requested ₱____.
• Summary: What will the money pay for? (top 3 items)
• Summary: When will sales cover monthly costs, and how will any loan be repaid?

Part 2: Business description and objectives

Guide: objectives.

• Legal form: sole proprietorship, partnership, OPC, corporation or cooperative?
• Registration status: DTI or SEC, barangay clearance, mayor's permit, BIR. Done, in process, or not started?
• What problem do you solve, and for whom?
• Setup objectives: list each registration step with a target date.
• First-year objectives: 3 to 5 targets, each with a number and a date.

Part 3: Market, customers and competition

Guides: market analysis, target market, competitive analysis.

• How many households, workplaces or schools are within reach? How did you count them?
• Foot traffic at your spot: morning ____, noon ____, evening ____, on which days?
• Who is your main customer group? Where are they, when do they buy, and what do they need?
• How much does a typical customer spend per visit, and how often do they come? (from your survey)
• List each competitor with their main price, hours and extras.
• What is your one main advantage, and what will you do if a competitor reacts?

Part 4: Marketing plan

Guide: marketing plan.

• Product: best sellers and what sets you apart.
• Price: cost per item ₱____, selling price ₱____, margin ____%.
• Place: hours, walk-in, delivery, pickup, online orders.
• Promotion before opening, in opening week, and in the first three months.
• Suki plan: rewards, and credit rules if you will allow utang.
• Monthly marketing budget: ₱____.

Part 5: Operations, management and organization

Guides: operations plan, management and organization.

• Location: address, size, rent or own, and lease length. Is the business type allowed there under zoning?
• Equipment: item, supplier, quoted price ₱____.
• Suppliers: two for each key item.
• Daily routine from opening to closing.
• Permits to keep and renew each year, and who is responsible.
• Owner and key people: role, experience, training, and skill gaps.
• Staff: position, number, duties, monthly pay ₱____, and employer registrations needed.

Part 6: Financial plan

Guide: financial plan. Use the startup cost table below, then add monthly costs, a sales estimate, break-even and payback.

Two registration costs are published nationally. DTI charges ₱500 for a business name with city or municipality scope, plus a ₱30 documentary stamp tax. BIR has not collected the ₱500 Annual Registration Fee since 22 January 2024, so do not budget for it.^[1,2]

• Monthly fixed costs: rent ₱____, salaries ₱____, utilities ₱____, loan payment ₱____, owner's pay ₱____.
• Monthly variable costs: stock, packaging, delivery ₱____.
• Sales estimate: customers per day ____ × average sale ₱____ × days open ____ = ₱____ per month. Give low, middle and high cases.
• Break-even: fixed monthly costs ÷ gross margin % = ₱____ in monthly sales.
• Payback: total startup cost ÷ monthly profit = ____ months.

Part 7: Appendix

Guide: appendix. Label each item and refer to it from the section that uses it.

• Copies of registrations you already hold.
• Lease or proof of the space.
• Supplier quotations and price lists.
• Photos and a simple floor plan.
• Survey form and results.
• Owner's resume and training certificates.
• 12-month cash flow and loan schedule.

Startup cost table

Questions people ask

Can I use this template for a school project?

Yes. Many schools also want a SWOT analysis, a mission and vision, or a longer financial section. Add those where your teacher asks.

Is there an online version?

Yes. The business plan builder asks the same questions step by step.

How much is DTI registration for the startup cost table?

₱500 for city or municipality scope plus ₱30 documentary stamp tax. Other scopes cost different amounts. The DTI fee calculator shows them.

What if a part does not apply to my business?

Write one line saying why, rather than leaving it blank. For example, a one-person home business can say there are no staff in the first year.