The following tips will help you to successfully design your business plan.

Start-ups

We recommend that start-ups start with a basic plan and then continuously improve it.

Companies in the process of being established

When a company is in the process of being founded or is in the middle of it, there is often a great deal of uncertainty regarding potential customers, competitors or one's own strengths. Detailed information or even experience is rare.

You should refrain from extensive detailed planning at this stage. What is important is fundamental analysis – for example of the market – and an initial strategic and operational basic plan that you can build on.

Companies in operational activity

In the course of your operational activities and through contacts with customers, suppliers and competitors, you gather experience and information.

The basic planning should now be revised and refined. The result is more realistic planning that will favour your growth success.

Realistic planning

Do not try to plan in isolation first and then strictly implement that plan!
Planning and operational activities should always go hand in hand.

This is the only way to ensure that your valuable experience and information are incorporated into realistic and up-to-date planning.

More tips

• Impress with facts about the target market
• Show that you are a passionate entrepreneur
• Present your skills
• Convince with coherent figures
• Use a business plan template
• Address possible points of criticism
• Put yourself in the shoes of the reader or addressee when writing
• Develop a credible and resilient set of figures
• Create financial plans for different scenarios
• Show that your company is unique
  

You should bear this in mind when drawing up your business plan

When you are drawing up a business plan, it is essential that you take care not to make any major mistakes. We will show you what to avoid when creating your business plan and what you should bear in mind.

Time management

Avoid poor time management and take time for detailed analysis and intensive research. This will pay off for you later.

Target group

Define the right target group for your business plan. Think carefully about who the reader of the business plan is and put yourself in their shoes. This will help you to set the right priorities.

Unique selling point

Highlight the unique selling point of your business idea. This is how the special features reach the reader and potential investors.

Analyses

Your business plan should definitely include detailed evaluations and analyses of the market and your competitors. This will enable you to plan and implement sensible marketing measures from the outset.

Risk

In your business plan, be sure to also address the weaknesses of your business idea and suggest possible solutions. A successful business always recognises its own weaknesses.

Realistic capital requirement

Make a realistic estimate of your capital requirements. Good financial planning is essential for this. Calculate your expenses and income correctly.

Expertise

In most cases, passion alone is not enough for your business idea. Therefore, make sure that you have experts in your team who have the appropriate qualifications in finance, marketing and technical matters.

Company formation

Set up your company in a structured way and make sure you don't forget anything. This will help to avoid delays. We recommend that you set up with Startups.ch.

Form and structure

Avoid formal errors in your business plan and make sure it is well structured. It's best to use a business plan template.

Executive Summary

After you have created your business plan, you need to write a high-quality summary (executive summary). This goes at the end of the first page of your business plan and should definitely be a success. If the reader does not like it, he/she will not read on.