Business plan templates
Let these informative and polished templates guide you through creating your business plan. .
One-Page Business Plan Templates with a Quick How-To Guide
Smartsheet Contributor Joe Weller
April 6, 2020
In this article, we’ve gathered a variety of free, one-page business plan templates for you to download in Excel, Word, and PDF formats.
Included on this page, you’ll find a one-page business plan template for a service business , business plan template for a product business , business plan for a real estate agent , a Lean business plan template , and more. To help get you started, we’ve also included an example of a one-page business plan , and a quick guide on how to create your one-page business plan .
One-Page Business Plan Template
Download One-Page Business Plan Template
Excel | Word | PDF | Smartsheet
Use this one-page business plan template — designed to be simple, organized, and easy to use — to immediately get started on your plan. Write down your thoughts and key ideas as you decide if your business concept is viable, and adjust it as circumstances change. You can also use this template as a basis to build a more detailed and elaborate plan.
One-Page Business Plan for a Service Business Template
Download One-Page Business Plan for a Service Business Template
Excel | Word | PDF
This business plan template is designed specifically for businesses that provide a service. The one-page plan provides space to list the essential information about your strategy, including the service you offer, the problem you are solving for customers, your mission and vision statements, target audience, staffing requirements, key objectives, and much more. This template also includes a timeline at the bottom for you to add key milestones.
One-Page Business Plan for a Product Business Template
Download One-Page Business Plan for a Product Business Template
Use this one-page template to develop a strategic roadmap for your organization’s product offerings. This template provides space for you to include a business overview, a description of your target market, your competitive advantage, a list of marketing channels and materials you plan to utilize, as well as your pricing strategy, distribution channels, and success metrics. You can also use the visual timeline of milestones at the bottom to enter key dates and events.
One-Page Business Plan for Real Estate Agents Template
Download One-Page Business Plan for Real Estate Agents Template
This one-page business plan template is created for real estate agents to set objectives and put together an action plan. Enter your overarching goal at the top of the template, and establish three high-level activities you need to complete to achieve the goal. The template also includes a strategic action plan that breaks down each high-level activity into tasks and deadlines, with an accompanying visual timeline to ensure you stay on track.
One-Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organization Template
Download One-Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organization Template
This one-page business plan is designed for a nonprofit organization, with space to detail your mission, vision, and purpose statements, as well as who you serve, the problem(s) you solve, and programs and resources you offer. Additionally, the template includes space to detail your financial plan, marketing activities, costs, and more.
One-Page Business Plan for Startup Template
Download One-Page Business Plan for Startup Template
This one-page business plan template is intended for an entrepreneur or a small startup business to document a plan as they determine if an idea is feasible. This template provides space to describe the problem and solution, the product or service, the target customer, existing alternatives, the unique value proposition, a marketing and sales plan, success metrics, and other information. You’ll also find room to detail sources of funding and how the funds will be used.
One-Page Business Plan for Small Business Template
Download One-Page Business Plan for Small Business
Use this one-page small business plan template to outline the essential aspects of your business strategy. Provide details on your organization’s vision, mission, product or service offering, and management team. Then identify the target audience, market size, competitor offerings, and your competitive advantage. This plan also includes room to detail your marketing and sales strategy, key objectives, and financial plan.
One-Page Lean Business Plan Template
Download One-Page Lean Business Plan Template
This one-page template uses a Lean approach to develop your business plan. Use this customizable template to detail the crucial elements of your strategy, including a brief business and industry overview, your product or service offering, options from your competitors, and your competitive advantage. Plus, this template includes room to detail your marketing plan, success metrics, financial plan, and a visual timeline of milestones.
One-Page Business Planning Template with Timeline
Download One-Page Business Planning Template with Timeline
Excel | Smartsheet
Use this business planning template to organize and schedule key activities for your business. Fill in the cells according to the due dates, and color-code the cells by phase, owner, or category to provide a visual timeline of progress.
One-Page Business Plan Example
This one-page business plan covers all the essential elements and offers a visually appealing presentation. Information for each aspect of the plan is concise, with details about the business mission, management team, product offerings, key marketing activities, competitors, and financial projections. This plan also provides links to additional resources so that stakeholders can easily find information to support the specifics of the plan.
How to Write a One-Page Business Plan (with Sample Outline)
A one-page business plan takes a standard business plan and extracts the fundamental aspects, then condenses the essential information down to one page. To determine the key elements to emphasize in your one-page plan, consider the type of business you operate, as well as the financial (and other resources) needs of your business.
To streamline your business plan into a one-page document, follow the steps below.
- Create a simple outline for your plan using bullet points. Below, you’ll find an example of an outline for a one-page business plan. You can add or remove sections according to the needs of your business.
- Business mission
- Problem you are solving
- Funds needed (if applicable)
- Product or service positioning statement
- Unique value proposition
- Target customers
- Market size
- SWOT analysis
- Direct competitors
- Existing alternatives
- Competitive advantage
- Key marketing strategy (e.g., channel or method that will yield the best results)
- Key sales strategy
- Specialized equipment or facilities
- Staffing requirements (e.g., key personnel, skills, and training needs)
- Distribution method
- Sales projection
- Profit and loss projection
- Gather all your findings on your business and industry.
Compile all the current information you have gleaned from market research, interviews, surveys, and various teams in your business (e.g., the marketing and finance teams). Comb through each document and extract the information that is fundamental to your business’s operation and relevant to the bullet points on your outline.
- Write two to three brief sentences for each main bullet point.
Once you create your outline and gather information, write two to three sentences for each main bullet point that expands on and summarizes the sub-bullet points for that section. For example, the plan summary section could say the following:
Donny’s Food Truck will offer a variety of fresh food at an affordable price in a convenient location. Increased traffic in the Hungry Town area, combined with severely limited dining options, provides an opportunity to offer customers a quick, nutritious meal at a competitive price. A food truck with the necessary equipment has already been acquired, so we are seeking $200,000 to cover wages, emergency repairs, and licenses needed to fund our first year of operations.
- Ensure you are able to support all the information provided in your plan.
Since a one-page plan omits many of the details provided in a traditional business plan, be sure you have market research and other supporting documentation on hand to show stakeholders in case they have questions as they review your plan. In addition, make sure you thoroughly understand the supporting information and know how to restate it in your own words before you disburse the plan.
- Ensure your plan answers all the vital questions .
At a minimum, an effective one-page business plan should answer the following questions:
- What product or service do we offer?
- Who will use the product or service?
- What problem does our offering solve?
- How will the product or service get to our customers?
- What alternatives do our customers use, and why are we superior?
- What is our unique value proposition?
- What strengths and opportunities can we use to our advantage?
- What resources do we need to get up and running?
- What will our sales look like for the first few years?
- When do we expect to be profitable?
In addition to the steps provided above, you can save time and get started on your plan by downloading one of the templates provided on this page. You can also check out “ Free Executive Summary Templates ,” which can serve the same purpose as a one-page business plan.
Benefits of a One-Page Business Plan
Organizations and stakeholders can unite behind a strategic direction when they have a business plan in place. Developing a traditional business plan can be a daunting task, so many entrepreneurs, small startups, graphic designers, freelancers, and consultants find a one-page business plan a less intimidating place to start.
Creating a one-page business plan benefits your organization in the following ways:
- Push you to prioritize and focus on key ideas.
- Enable your audience to quickly scan and grasp the core concepts of your plan.
- Allow you to easily share and pitch your business idea to prospective investors and stakeholders (e.g., email attachment, single piece of paper).
- Accelerate business setup, especially businesses that don’t need a loan or investment to get going.
- Provide a solid starting point to expand upon at a later time.
- Enable you to document your thoughts and ideas to see if you have a feasible plan.
Tips for Creating a One-Page Business Plan
Now that you know how to create a one-page plan and the benefits in doing so, here are some tips to get you started:
- Set a time limit (up to one hour) to focus and work on your plan.
- Use a one-page business plan template (you can choose from the options above), or refer to the sample outline provided on this page.
- Ensure your plan details only the core aspects that are fundamental to running and operating your business.
- Remember that this is a living document — continue to revisit and adjust it as strategies and objectives change.
- Expand on your plan as your business size and needs grow.
When the time comes that you need more space to lay out your goals and strategies, choose from our variety of free simple business plan templates . You can learn how to write a successful simple business plan here .
Visit this free non-profit business plan template roundup or download a fill-in-the-blank business plan template to make things easy. If you are looking for a business plan template by file type, visit our pages dedicated specifically to Microsoft Excel , Microsoft Word , and Adobe PDF business plan templates. Read our articles offering startup business plan templates or free 30-60-90-day business plan templates to find more tailored options.
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- 45+ Business Cover Page Templates (Reports, Proposals) »
45+ Business Cover Page Templates (Reports, Proposals)
A business cover page template is used in the corporate world to describe the essential information about your business. It is the first and most important page in a business plan to give an overview of your business. If you want to grab the attention of the reader, then it is vital to design it efficiently by downloading free business plan cover page templates available in a variety of designs that you find nowhere else. In this article, you can find everything about the cover page and find well-designed templates to create a fantastic cover page for your business.
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What is a Business Cover Page?
Cover pages are used to describe some important things related to a specific object. A cover letter is commonly used with resumes, reports, and business plans. A resume cover letter is used to provide additional information about your skills, experiment, and some other information that shows how you are perfect for this job. It is also called a letter of introduction or a motivational letter.
In this way, the first page of a business plan referred to as the cover page used to give an overview of your business to the reader. It should contain the name of the business company, logo, contact details, and other key information about the business that helps the reader to know about your business. A well-formatted and well-designed cover page engage the reader with a business plan document.
Download Free Business Cover Page Templates
The business plan cover page is usually designed to present the purpose of this document to the investor. It should be written in a clear, concise, and professional way. You can get free business cover page template designs in different formats. If you are writing a business plan or proposal, then make sure it should be written according to a standard format like MLA formatting . The cover page has significant importance in many documents; for example, if you are applying for an accountant job, then you should download an accounting cover letter template to place additional information about your skills and expertise.
Key components of the business cover page
If you want to take all the advantages of a business cover page, then make sure it should have all the key information about your business. The cover page is usually placed after the table of content and before starting the actual document. What should be included on the cover page depends on the purpose of the document. The things that should be included on the cover page:
- Title of the document
- The subtitle of the document
- Name of your business company
- It should include the logo of your business company.
- Address and contact details of your company like phone number, email address, and web address.
- The date when this document is complete.
- A statement that describes the purpose of this document.
The cover page is a way to give an overview of your business and state what’s inside this document. It is standard to include all the above components on your cover page, but you can add more things to make it more detailed while creating a business report cover page. You can find a business report cover page template to make it more effective.
Benefits of the business cover page
A cover page in business matters a lot for a report or plan. It is one of the most important and critical components of a document. For various purposes, there are different types of business cover page templates, which we discussed in the next section. There are significant benefits to it. Some of these are as follows:
- Give an overview: When you present a business plan to the investor or bankers for investment, then it is necessary to give a brief description of your business. Sometimes the overview of your business is enough. The business cover page provides critical information about your business to the reader. The reader must know about the presentative of the business plan; then, the cover page is the best way to do that.
- Gain attention: A cover letter written in a clear, concise, professional, and appropriate manner grabs the attention of the reader and engages him to read the whole document.
- Shows professionalism: A well-formatted and well-designed business cover page shows professionalism. It is the best way to brand your business with a few lines of description.
- Help to stand out: In the corporate world, the competition is so high. But your company can stand out with a well-designed cover page to grab the attention of the investor and help to achieve your desired goals.
- Positive impact on the reader: The primary purpose of the cover page is to provide information about your business in a professional manner. A slight introduction to your company has a good impact on the reader.
How to format business cover page in Word
Sometimes it is tedious to format a business cover page, but ready-made templates make your work simpler and easier. It is necessary to write a formal cover page for business proposals and presentations. Get a business proposal cover page template in your favorite format. Below we share some points that help you to format it efficiently in Word.
- Open Microsoft Word. Click on the “Blank Document,” and a document will open on your screen.
- Go to the “Insert” tab and click on the “Cover page.” A list of well-designed cover pages will appear on your screen. Select any of these that are perfect for you.
- The first thing for the branding of your business is your company logo. Go to the Insert tab, click the “Picture” and add the logo of your company on the cover page.
- Write the title of your document by selecting different colors and font styles.
- Write the name of your company that must be smaller than the title of the document.
- Enter the contact details like the company’s office address, phone number, Email address, and web address if you have them.
- Enter the date when this cover page is completed with months and years.
- After that, write a line that describes the purpose of this document.
Things to focus on while writing a business cover page
If you write a useful cover page, then you’ll receive all the advantages of it that help you to make something better for your business. The things that you must consider while writing it are as follows:
- Keep it short and simple: The design of the cover page should be simple and the content on it easy to read and understand. The name of the company with contact details and logo is enough to give an overview of your business.
- Be professional: It should be formatted appropriately. Try to include essential information about your business that engages the reader.
- Keep it focused: Make sure it should include related information about your business. A few lines provide an excellent overview of your company.
- Avoid spelling mistakes: Edit and edit again to eliminate the spelling and grammar mistakes from your document.
- Clearly defined: It is necessary to write all the things on the cover page in a clear and concise manner that is easily understandable by every person. Try to write things clearly to grab the attention of the investors.
Different types of cover page templates
As we discussed above, there are various types of cover pages for different purposes. You can see the cover page for business proposals, business plans and resumes have different types of content. Commonly used cover page templates are as follows:
- Essay cover page: The essay cover page is the first page of the essay that includes essential information about the content and author of it. You can find the best essay cover page templates to make the title of your essay incredible. The reader usually gets quick ideas from this title page.
- Report cover page: It is the first page of the report that defines the name of the person who drafted it and stated the purpose of it with the date. A report cover page template is used to design an impressive cover page for the report quickly. It is commonly used in academic and professional areas.
- Portfolio cover page: Portfolio used to describe the abilities, expertise, and skills of your in documents. A portfolio cover page is used to give an idea to the reader of what he/she finds inside it. You can download the cover page for the portfolio template to easily make it.
- Cover page for resume: If you want to get hired for a job, then use the resume cover page to get the attention of the employer in the recruitment process. It includes your skills, abilities, expertise, and other additional information that engages the employer to see your CV.
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How to Design a Cover Page for a Business Plan?
Many entrepreneurs spend hours preparing and writing their business plans. However, do not pay much attention to the cover page. This is a big mistake.
The business plan cover page can create a strong first impact. It sets the platform for how investors or readers will engage with your document.
In this article, we will understand the importance of a cover page and how you can design one yourself.
What Is a Business Plan Cover Page & Why Is It Necessary to Design It?
The cover page is an integral part of the business plan . It is the first page of your business plan that highlights the key information of your company like a company logo, company name, address, and other key information.
By looking at the business plan cover page , a banker or investor can get a quick idea about the purpose of the presented document.
Your business plan cover should be neat, clean, attractive, and professional enough to draw your reader’s attention.
Regardless of whether you are writing a business plan, marketing plan, or business proposal , the cover page is an essential part of your business plan.
What to Include in the Business Plan Cover Page?
There is no specific rule about what to include and what not on your cover page. But we have prepared some essential information that you should not miss to include in it.
Company Logo
Your company logo will be the first and most essential section that will draw your reader’s attention immediately, so you must include your company logo on your cover page.
The neat and clean, high-quality logo should be used to make your business plan cover page look like a professional cover page. It should be placed at the top of your business plan cover page.
Placing the logo on the business plan cover page sets a strong brand association that focuses a reader’s attention throughout the document.
Company Name
The second most important section of the cover page after the company logo is your company name as you will always want your reader to remember your company name through the document reading process.
Your company name font should be readable, and bold, and should be the largest font on the page so that it stands out from the rest of the information on the business plan cover page.
Business Tagline or Motto
A business tagline is a short catchy marketing slogan that is usually written with a company name or brand and is also sometimes used to indicate key features of your business. Some businesses use a tagline to show what they do and how they are different from the competition.
The tagline is an essential part of the cover page if you want your reader to understand straight away what you do or how you do it. Usually, the memorable tagline can excite an investor or reader that they will take a special interest while reading your business plan.
Branding Color
Brand color is most important in establishing trust and confidence in your customers. Your brand color will speak more than you can think about your business. Also, the right use of colors can increase your brand value by creating a strong visual identity in the industry.
Most successful companies have a strong association with their logos and brand colors. Their colors always tend to reflect their branding, even when they don’t include any text on them.
Brand color can help in establishing trust and familiarity by evoking the right emotions in your reader’s brains and sending the right message to them. Also, your brand color should be integrated into your business plan everywhere like titles, subtitles, features, images, etc to make your business plan more attractive.
Plan Title and Plan Year
The plan title will give a clear idea about what the presented document is about, whether it is a business plan, marketing plan, business expansion plan, recovery plan, or anything else.
The plan title is the notable feature of the cover page and should be in large font size. Immediately, the reader should know the purpose of the presented document.
There is no rule about which should be of the largest font size “Company Name” or “Plan Title” as both have their benefits. It is the owner’s choice to decide what they want to highlight on the cover page for their document.
Also, readers will want to learn about what is the business plan creation time or what will be the execution time for the presented document. Thus it is important to specify the plan year on your cover page.
It should be written relatively in a smaller size and frequently below the plan title.
Prepared By
The “Prepared By” section is used to specify who is presenting the document and it should be the name of the company CEO, President, Owner, or sometimes another key person.
This information will help the reader to know about the key person in the company and whom they should contact in the case for more information.
Contact Information
Contact information contains the information reader can use to contact the person specified in the “Prepared By” section. This information includes the company’s physical address, phone number, email address, and company website.
Contact information should always be on the business plan cover page. It lets the reader learn who is presenting the document and how to contact that person.
Confidentiality Statement
While it is not required, you may want to include a confidentiality statement on the cover page. Or just state “Confidential” to let the reader know that this document is confidential and not directed to share with others without the owner’s consent.
Confidentiality statement on your cover page such as the following:
Example of Confidentiality Statement
How to design a business plan cover page.
Upmetrics gives you a beautifully designed business plan cover page template with no work on your side. Our cover pages are industry experts recommended. Thus, you can give investors and readers the information they need to learn about your business quickly.
You can use a cover page theme that suits the personality of you and your business. Upmetrics comes with professionally designed cover pages that immediately transform the reader’s plain business plan reading experience into an interesting opening.
We enable you to upload your custom cover page design so you can upload the cover page of your choice for your business plan.
Upmetrics provides a feature where you can control which information and section you want to highlight on the cover page. Also, you can remove any section that you feel is not necessary for your cover page.
Upmetrics Business Plan Cover Page Examples
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Everything you need to know about business plan cover pages
You have only one chance to make a good first impression with the readers of your business plan.
People do judge books—and business plans—by their covers. A quick glance at the cover can easily be enough to make up one’s mind.
So set yourself up for success with a powerful cover page that stands out and entices the reader to find out more about your business.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Definition: What is a Business Plan Cover Page?
Cover page (also known as title page or cover sheet) is the first page of a business plan that communicates what the enclosed document is about and highlights the key company information like name, logo and contact details, making a good impression with professional and attractive appearance.
Purpose: Why is Business Plan Cover Page Important?
Many businesses spend hours preparing their business plans but then do not pay enough attention to the title page. This is a huge mistake .
5 ways a strong cover page can help you make a positive first impression:
- Clearly indicate what the presented document is about
- Provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you
- Create a powerful first impact that sets the stage for how readers will engage with your document
- Avoid falling victim to negative preconceived notions as a result or unprofessional or unattractive cover
- Maximize the chance of the plan being read by making the document stand out from the crowd and immediately drawing your reader’s attention
Keep reading to find out which elements you need to include in the cover page, how to structure it to maximize the impact of your business plan, and to take a look at some successful examples .
Contents: What Should You Include in a Business Plan Cover Page?
Surprisingly, there are no strict rules about what to show on your business plan cover sheet, but there certainly are best practices that you should follow.
Here are 9 elements that are typically included on business plan covers, 3 of which are essential and you should not miss to include them. The remaining 6 are optional for your consideration.
1. Must-haves: 3 mandatory cover page elements
1.1. Business name: The name of the company that is the subject of the plan.
1.2. Document title: The words “ Business Plan ” in a prominent spot so that it is clear what kind of document this is.
1.3. Contact information: Name, title and contact details (e.g., phone, email, social media, website, address) of the primary contact persons presenting the plan (e.g., CEO, Founder, Owner, President) so that any interested parties know exactly to whom to direct their inquiries and can reach them quickly and easily.
2. Nice-to-haves: 6 optional cover page elements:
2.1. Company logo: The logo of the company if available and desired.
2.2. Tagline: Short, memorable summary of the business described in the plan.
2.3. Date: In order to make sure your plan does not look outdated, include only the year of the business plan completion date. If you are including both the month also, it is advisable to create a new cover sheet each time you send out the plan.
2.4. Version control: Numbering each copy of the plan enables you to more easily keep track of who you sent what version of the document to.
2.5. Disclaimer: Disclaimer can help protect you and your company from confidentiality and other legal issues resulting from the distribution of the business plan by indicating that the plan is for information only, not an offering of stock in the company, and not to be shared with third parties without your prior consent.
2.6. Visuals: Graphic elements or images to enhance the professional look and visual appeal of the document.
Let’s have a more detailed look at these cover page elements so you know what exactly to include into each of them:
Business Name
The most prominent feature on your business plan cover is the name of your company.
Instantly, the reader should notice the name of your business. In fact, if readers take away nothing else from the cover page, they should remember your company’s name.
As this is the most noticeable feature on the page, use a large font that stands out, but is easy to read, looks professional and corresponds to the typeface that you used for the rest of the document.
Company Logo
Placing a high-quality company logo on the cover page helps to make the business plan look more professional and establish a brand identity by allowing readers to connect visually to the business right from the beginning.
If your logo includes the full name of the company, you do not have to display both the company name and logo on the cover page, it is sufficient to choose one of the two.
Document Title
The readers need to know what the presented document is about – immediately and clearly.
The cover page should clearly state whether it is a Business Plan, Executive Summary, Financial Forecast, Marketing Plan, Recovery Plan, or any other kind of plan.
For example, write the words “ Business Plan ” in a prominent spot on the cover sheet to make it crystal clear what type of document this is. You may include any additional words that are part of the title, such as “Three/Five-Year Business Plan” if needed or relevant.
As a focal point on the cover page, the document title should be in a large font size .
There is no rule though about whether the Document Title or Company Name and Logo should be of the largest font size, as all are of key importance. So it is entirely your decision what feature you prefer to highlight on the cover page of the document.
Contact Information
Contact details should always be on the business plan cover page, letting the reader know who is presenting the document and how to contact them if they need more information.
It is helpful to indicate the names and titles of the company’s primary contact persons for investors and other business plan readers, such as:
- External distribution: company founder, owner, president, partner, CEO
- In-house corporate plans: head of division, departmental manager, executive officer
Next, provide the contact details that will allow the interested parties to reach these primary contact persons quickly and easily, including:
- Name and title of primary contact(s)
- Phone number
- Email address
- Social media handles
- Website address
- Postal address
The contact information is typically displayed in the smallest font on the cover page.
Company tagline, or a motto , is a catchy memorable marketing slogan that captures the essence of a business in a few short and simple words: >> What you do >> How you do it >> Why are you different from the competition
For example, you will undoubtedly recognize the following company mottos:
As such, the tagline is a useful part of the cover page as it helps the business plan readers better understand what you do straight away, and even excite them to read the business plan and study it with more interest.
When was this business plan finalized and issued ? The readers will be interested to know. Hence, it is advisable to state the document completion date on the cover page.
Strictly speaking, you do not need to denote anything more specific that the year in which you completed the business plan. (“Business Plan: 2021”) This will ensure that the plan does not appear outdated for an entire year.
Imagine that you are a potential investor who in December 2021 receives a business plan dated January 2021. It would be natural to assume that the document has been rejected many times by other investors over the last 12 months.
Alternatively, you can include both the current month and year on the cover sheet. (“Business Plan: January 2021”) Each time you update the document and send it out or present it, you will need to check if this date of completion needs updating .
The date is featured on the cover sheet less prominently and in a smaller font size than the document title and company name, and is often displayed below the plan title.
Version Control
As your business develops, you may revise your business plan any number of times and send it to multiple recipients . To keep track of the different versions of the plan that you produce and which version you sent to whom, you may decide to use a version control system.
However, it does not make the best impression when someone receives a “Version 25” of your plan.
Instead, consider devising a simple coding system . For example: “Copy D.5” would indicate it is the fifth copy of a fourth version of the document or “Version 4.5” could mean a fifth copy of a document version completed in April.
Numbering each copy of your business plan before distribution, and keeping a list of which individual has received which copy, would enable you to keep track of how many copies are in circulation, and, if needed, ask to have a copy returned, or trace the responsible party in case a copy is circulated without your permission.
Confidentiality Statement & Disclaimer
Why should your plan include a disclaimer.
Legal issues may arise as a result of circulating your business plan.
For example, anyone who is in the possession of the document could potentially divulge the confidential information.
Also, in some countries, offering ownership in your company in return for an investment is considered as selling of stock, which is a regulated activity. The best way to protect yourself is to consult a lawyer.
Nevertheless, including a disclaimer in the business plan helps to protect your company by indicating the plan itself is not an offering of stock for sale but rather a document for information purposes only.
The same disclaimer can also be used to help protect the confidentiality of the information disclosed in your business plan by informing the reader that the plan is confidential and not to be shared with other parties without the owner’s consent, especially when you are not adding a non-disclosure agreement.
What Should the Disclaimer Say?
These are the two most common ways how to show the disclaimer in the business plan:
1. Display a brief disclaimer , just one or two sentences, directly on the front cover , probably at the bottom of the page. Consult a lawyer for the most appropriate wording, but a standard disclaimer might look something to the effect this:
2. Write “ Confidential ” on the cover sheet and include a longer disclaimer and confidentiality statement in the main body of the business plan, perhaps on the first page after the cover sheet.
In addition, you can also include the text “Confidential” into the header or footer of the document.
Design: How Should You Format a Business Plan Cover Page?
The cover page is the first thing the readers will see when they open your business plan. Thus, your business plan cover should be neat , clean , attractive , and professional enough to draw your readers’ attention , make a good first impression and set the tone for your business plan’s content.
Cover page that is messy, dated, unattractive or in any way unprofessional can create negative preconceptions in the recipients’ minds before they even start reading the business plan.
Your design should be clean and professional, which can be accomplished by observing the following best practices:
Visual Identity
Most successful businesses have a strong association with their brand identity , including a company logo, typeface and color scheme. Visual identity helps to establish recognition, familiarity, trust and confidence in customers by evoking the right emotions and sending the right message.
As a result, companies take care to develop a brand identity and keep consistent across all marketing collateral and business materials.
Likewise, your brand identity should be integrated into all parts of your business plan, including the cover page. The best practice is to make the plan consistent with the logo, font type and color scheme as they appear across your other company’s documents.
If you do not have a brand identity created yet, keep the color scheme of the plan cover simple.
The easiest is to have a logo designed, which is inexpensive and easy to do nowadays, and then use your logo colors across the business plan. Alternatively, consider using an online color scheme generator to select colors that go well together.
To stay on the safe side, use maximum of two to three colors, one of which should be black. You can use different shades of the same color (e.g., light blue and dark blue).
First and foremost, the fonts you use in the business plan, including its cover, need to be readable .
The most important information should be displayed in a way that it stands out from the rest of the elements on the business plan cover page, for example, differentiated by font size , weight or color .
Ideally, the typefaces and their color(s) should be consistent with the brand identity used in all of the other company’s marketing materials.
Do not combine more than two typefaces. It is ok to combine a sans-serif (e.g., Times New Roman) with a sans-serif (e.g., Arial) typeface.
Again, less is definitely more here. Refrain from cluttering the business plan cover sheet with photos and graphics.
If you do use a visual element, make sure to leave enough white space around it so the page does not look too busy.
The resolution of any images, including the company logo, should be of high enough quality to not look pixelated.
There is no need for a fancy over-designed cover page, unless you are a large corporation or perhaps a design agency. Equally, beware of any templates with outdated designs that will make your cover look like it was created back in 1999.
Professional designers often combine different alignments (left / right / center) of elements on a page (text, images) to achieve a desired design effect. However, a design novice should play it safe and keep the alignment simple and consistent , especially when it comes to professional documents, such as a business plan.
You should be able to comfortably fit all of the recommended elements on the cover sheet (e.g., company name and logo, document title, contact details, date, disclaimer), and still leave enough white space on the page.
Making a great first impression does not equal to creating a cover that is graphically busy and cluttered with unimportant details. Instead, set yourself up for success by keeping the business plan cover sheet neat , clean , simple and concise .
Proofreading
Carefully proofread the cover page to avoid, at all costs, any mistakes and typos , which would do you a great disservice in the eyes of the reader. Even better, have someone else to look it over.
Finally, make sure that the cover page looks good in every format you will be distributing the business plan in, probably including a PDF electronic file and a printed hard copy.
Some common issues include:
- Photos look pixelated due to low image resolution
- Colors do not print well (e.g., dark font color on a dark background)
- White space left at the edges of a printout because and image does not stretch (i.e., “bleed” in designer terms) enough into the edges of the page
Most importantly, the cover page should look professional and stand out from the crowd so that your business plan has a better chance of being read.
Finally, remember that these aren’t rigid rules. The overall goal for a cover page is to look neat and professional so that it stands out from the crowd and your business plan has a better chance of being read. In the end, that’s the most important outcome.
The cover sheet is the first thing the readers of your business plan will see. Make a good first impression.
Examples: Sample Images
Here are some examples to further illustrate the structure and format of a business plan cover page:
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Business Plan Example and Template
Learn how to create a business plan
What is a Business Plan?
A business plan is a document that contains the operational and financial plan of a business, and details how its objectives will be achieved. It serves as a road map for the business and can be used when pitching investors or financial institutions for debt or equity financing .
A business plan should follow a standard format and contain all the important business plan elements. Typically, it should present whatever information an investor or financial institution expects to see before providing financing to a business.
Contents of a Business Plan
A business plan should be structured in a way that it contains all the important information that investors are looking for. Here are the main sections of a business plan:
1. Title Page
The title page captures the legal information of the business, which includes the registered business name, physical address, phone number, email address, date, and the company logo.
2. Executive Summary
The executive summary is the most important section because it is the first section that investors and bankers see when they open the business plan. It provides a summary of the entire business plan. It should be written last to ensure that you don’t leave any details out. It must be short and to the point, and it should capture the reader’s attention. The executive summary should not exceed two pages.
3. Industry Overview
The industry overview section provides information about the specific industry that the business operates in. Some of the information provided in this section includes major competitors, industry trends, and estimated revenues. It also shows the company’s position in the industry and how it will compete in the market against other major players.
4. Market Analysis and Competition
The market analysis section details the target market for the company’s product offerings. This section confirms that the company understands the market and that it has already analyzed the existing market to determine that there is adequate demand to support its proposed business model.
Market analysis includes information about the target market’s demographics , geographical location, consumer behavior, and market needs. The company can present numbers and sources to give an overview of the target market size.
A business can choose to consolidate the market analysis and competition analysis into one section or present them as two separate sections.
5. Sales and Marketing Plan
The sales and marketing plan details how the company plans to sell its products to the target market. It attempts to present the business’s unique selling proposition and the channels it will use to sell its goods and services. It details the company’s advertising and promotion activities, pricing strategy, sales and distribution methods, and after-sales support.
6. Management Plan
The management plan provides an outline of the company’s legal structure, its management team, and internal and external human resource requirements. It should list the number of employees that will be needed and the remuneration to be paid to each of the employees.
Any external professionals, such as lawyers, valuers, architects, and consultants, that the company will need should also be included. If the company intends to use the business plan to source funding from investors, it should list the members of the executive team, as well as the members of the advisory board.
7. Operating Plan
The operating plan provides an overview of the company’s physical requirements, such as office space, machinery, labor, supplies, and inventory . For a business that requires custom warehouses and specialized equipment, the operating plan will be more detailed, as compared to, say, a home-based consulting business. If the business plan is for a manufacturing company, it will include information on raw material requirements and the supply chain.
8. Financial Plan
The financial plan is an important section that will often determine whether the business will obtain required financing from financial institutions, investors, or venture capitalists. It should demonstrate that the proposed business is viable and will return enough revenues to be able to meet its financial obligations. Some of the information contained in the financial plan includes a projected income statement , balance sheet, and cash flow.
9. Appendices and Exhibits
The appendices and exhibits part is the last section of a business plan. It includes any additional information that banks and investors may be interested in or that adds credibility to the business. Some of the information that may be included in the appendices section includes office/building plans, detailed market research , products/services offering information, marketing brochures, and credit histories of the promoters.
Business Plan Template
Here is a basic template that any business can use when developing its business plan:
Section 1: Executive Summary
- Present the company’s mission.
- Describe the company’s product and/or service offerings.
- Give a summary of the target market and its demographics.
- Summarize the industry competition and how the company will capture a share of the available market.
- Give a summary of the operational plan, such as inventory, office and labor, and equipment requirements.
Section 2: Industry Overview
- Describe the company’s position in the industry.
- Describe the existing competition and the major players in the industry.
- Provide information about the industry that the business will operate in, estimated revenues, industry trends, government influences, as well as the demographics of the target market.
Section 3: Market Analysis and Competition
- Define your target market, their needs, and their geographical location.
- Describe the size of the market, the units of the company’s products that potential customers may buy, and the market changes that may occur due to overall economic changes.
- Give an overview of the estimated sales volume vis-à-vis what competitors sell.
- Give a plan on how the company plans to combat the existing competition to gain and retain market share.
Section 4: Sales and Marketing Plan
- Describe the products that the company will offer for sale and its unique selling proposition.
- List the different advertising platforms that the business will use to get its message to customers.
- Describe how the business plans to price its products in a way that allows it to make a profit.
- Give details on how the company’s products will be distributed to the target market and the shipping method.
Section 5: Management Plan
- Describe the organizational structure of the company.
- List the owners of the company and their ownership percentages.
- List the key executives, their roles, and remuneration.
- List any internal and external professionals that the company plans to hire, and how they will be compensated.
- Include a list of the members of the advisory board, if available.
Section 6: Operating Plan
- Describe the location of the business, including office and warehouse requirements.
- Describe the labor requirement of the company. Outline the number of staff that the company needs, their roles, skills training needed, and employee tenures (full-time or part-time).
- Describe the manufacturing process, and the time it will take to produce one unit of a product.
- Describe the equipment and machinery requirements, and if the company will lease or purchase equipment and machinery, and the related costs that the company estimates it will incur.
- Provide a list of raw material requirements, how they will be sourced, and the main suppliers that will supply the required inputs.
Section 7: Financial Plan
- Describe the financial projections of the company, by including the projected income statement, projected cash flow statement, and the balance sheet projection.
Section 8: Appendices and Exhibits
- Quotes of building and machinery leases
- Proposed office and warehouse plan
- Market research and a summary of the target market
- Credit information of the owners
- List of product and/or services
Related Readings
Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Business Plans. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following CFI resources will be helpful:
- Corporate Structure
- Three Financial Statements
- NEW CFI Template Marketplace
- See all management & strategy resources
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How to write your business plan cover page
When you think of putting together your business plan , the business plan cover page may not be the first thing that comes to mind. While it’s traditionally one of the last sections you create in a business plan, it’s one of the most important.
Definition: What is a business plan cover page?
The cover page of a business plan is used to give an overview of all the key information of your business. This includes your company name, logo, address, and any other information that may define your business. It's the first page of your plan, so it should look professional, visually pleasing, and informative.
When potential investors or banks read a business plan, their first impression is the cover page—but don’t overthink it. A business plan cover page is meant to be simple and straightforward, with some important contact information and, more importantly, your logo.
Use this breakdown to find out what the purpose of your cover page is, which elements you need to include, and how to structure it to maximize your impact:
What is the purpose of a cover page?
Your cover page exists to communicate what the enclosed document is and to provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you about your business.
The appearance and quality of a business plan cover page will set the tone for your business plan’s content, so make sure it’s visually appealing, free of errors, and concise.“ Simple, clean and powerful are the three goals of a strong business plan cover,” suggest the experts at Growthink . Don’t clutter your cover page with details about how your business will operate—save those important details for the executive summary .
What should you include on a business plan cover page?
To keep it simple, your business plan cover page should include:
Company logo
- Document title
- Business name
- Business address and contact information
- Business plan completion date
- Confidentiality statement
How should you format a business plan cover page?
Once you know what information belongs in this section, all that remains now is to organize it. If you need some further guidance, these downloadable templates can streamline the process of drafting a cover page—and the rest of your business plan, too.
1. Company logo
Add a high-resolution thumbnail of your logo at the top of the cover page. This will help establish a brand identity and allow readers to connect visually to the business right from the start.
Hot tip: people are 89% more likely to remember your logo if you put it in the top left corner.
Give the logo some space and then include the words “Business Plan” in a large, bold font. You can also frame the title as “Three–” or “Five–Year Business Plan,” if you intend to make those kinds of financial projections in the document.
3. Business name
Beneath the title, write your company name in a bold font. This should be the most noticeable and prominent feature on the page, so choose a large typeface.
4. Tagline (optional)
This part is optional, but you can also include a catchy slogan or motto that describes your company and what you do.
5. Address and contact information
Under the company name, include your business’s physical address and website if you have one. Provide the details necessary for interested parties to contact you, such as a phone number and email address.
It’s also helpful to include your name as the business owner and the names of any partners or executive officers so that potential investors know where to direct their inquiries.
6. Date of completion
Below the contact information, write the year (or year and month) in which this business plan was finalized and issued. If you’re including the month, it’s a good idea to update it throughout the year as you send out your business plan so readers don’t assume it’s outdated.
7. Confidentiality Statement
At the bottom of the page, include a sentence to the effect of:
“This document contains confidential and proprietary information created by [business name]. This document is issued exclusively for informational purposes and should not be reproduced without the consent of [business name].”
Adding this confidentiality statement offers a protective measure against the disclosure of your business idea , according to this cover page guide .
Send invoices, get paid, track expenses, pay your team, and balance your books with our free financial management software.
Cover page design
Now it’s time for the finishing touches: the actual design of your cover page. Your business plan’s cover page gives the first impression of your business, so your company logo, fonts, and brand colors should all work together to make people want to read more.
Brand colors
90% of a customer’s impression of your business comes from the brand colors you choose, so it’s important to choose colors that represent your business’s personality and elicit the right emotions from your readers.
Don’t know where to start? Grab a pen and paperand write down three emotions you want your customers to feel when they think of your brand. Now you can brainstorm some colors that represent those emotions. For example, you might choose blue if your product is associated with reliability, or yellow if your product is supposed to make your clients feel happy. It’s safer to only choose 2-3 colors , including black, for your color scheme.
You can also analyze the competition and choose colors that help you stand out. Canva has more detailed instructions on how to create your brand color palette .
When it comes to fonts, it’s best practice to stick to one type of typeface, such as serif or sans serif . It’s also important to choose fonts that are simple, easy to read, and represent your brand.
Serif fonts give off the impression that your brand is trustworthy and dependable, and work great for more traditional businesses, like law practices. “Serif fonts have been widely used in books, newspapers, and magazines, which is why they remind us of more classical, formal and sophisticated themes—think of Old English and Roman scripture,” Robyn Young, founder of branding agency robyn young & co, told Canva .
But if you’re going for a more contemporary and youthful feel, then sans serif is the way to go. “Brands that want a modern aesthetic that scales well at different sizes and is easy to read on screens are going to choose sans serif for their main branding elements,” said Young .
When it comes to choosing a logo, simplicity is key. Try to create something that represents your brand and speaks to your audience without being too busy (in other words: white space is your friend).
It’s also important to remember to be practical: your logo should look good in any medium, size, color, and even time period. Beyond your business plan cover page, you’ll need it for your social media, marketing material, or labels.
Business plan cover page examples
To further illustrate the structure and format of a business plan cover page, we’ve compiled a few cover page template examples. The first example from officetemplatesonline is simple but attractive and effectively emphasizes pertinent information. The next cover page example is from a fictional clothing store . They usea pop of color to instantly tell you about their brand personality.
Keep your business plan cover page simple
As you prepare to write your business plan , remember to keep your cover page simple and concise. With your logo, business name, and contact information, you’ll introduce the reader into your business plan quickly and easily—and set yourself up for success as a result.
Just don’t forget to proofread and keep an eye out for typos!
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Business plan templates
From competitive analysis to financial projections, business plans give your new business a roadmap for success. Download one of our free business plan templates and take your company to the next level.
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Startup Business Plan Template
We offer you the steps and the tools to create a fantastic business plan. Attract investors with this sleek and free startup business plan template.
Business Plan Template
This business plan template is a great tool for your startup to customize to reflect your strong qualifications, experienced team, and marketable business idea.
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You’re finally ready to open your own salon. This salon business plan template and tips will help guide you how to present your salon as a sound investment.
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Always dreamed of starting a restaurant? This free restaurant business plan template is your first step in making your dream a legal, planned reality.
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Hotel Business Plan Template
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Executive Summary Template
Your potential investors are spending the most time reading one part of your business plan. Use this executive summary template to make your business idea shine.
Business Letter Template
You want to make your company shine in all ways and certainly folks judge a book by it’s cover. Use this Business Letter Template to put your best face forward.
What is a business plan?
A business plan is a document that helps small business owners determine the viability of their business idea. Combining market research and financial analysis, a professional business plan helps startup CEOs and potential investors determine if the company can compete in the target market.
Typically, a good business plan consists of the following:
- Executive summary
- Company description
- Mission statement
- Product and services
- Marketing plan
- Operations plan
- Management organization
- Financial plan
- Conclusion & appendix
Every section involved in a business plan is designed to help startup businesses reach their target market.
A business plan asks founders and entrepreneurs to detail their business strategy in a step-by-step process that makes sense from an operational perspective. This is essential if a startup is seeking a business loan or an investment from a venture capital firm.
However, even small businesses that are already economically viable can benefit from creating a business plan, since it encourages business owners and their management teams to examine their business model and reevaluate the best ways to reach their target customers.
Should I use a business plan template?
Yes. If you’ve never written one, a business plan can be challenging to write.
Creating a successful plan that you can use to grow your small business can require weeks of market analysis and financial preparation. You may spend time using Microsoft Excel or Powerpoint in order to create documentation which better supports our operational decisions.
However, almost every professional business plan is structured in the same way and most ask for the same information. Because of this, using a business plan template is advisable to save time, money, and effort.
Business plan templates for free
Rather than spending time trying to figure out how to write a business plan , use a free template as a guide to completion.
Business plan templates from PandaDoc can help you reach an effective go-to-market strategy even faster by asking you to provide all the relevant information you need when creating an effective business plan.
Grab a free template to get started!
Frequently asked questions
How many pages should my business plan be.
This depends on the kind of business plan you need to write and how you intend to use the plan that you create.
For example, a plan for a small business seeking potential investors or a business loan will need to provide income statements, cash flow statements, and a balance sheet (usually for a three-year or five-year forecast period).
These financial statements can be omitted if a small business owner isn’t seeking funding and is instead planning to use their business plan as a guiding document for themselves and their management team members.
Some business plans may only run a few pages. Fully-developed business plans can be as long as 50 pages. Much of this depends on the type of business, the operational strategy, and the level of detail that goes into developing the business plan.
Who needs a business plan?
Every business should have a business plan. This is an essential guidance document for any founder or CEO.
Good business plans help a company determine the viability of its place in the market and can help the business develop better strategies for differentiating itself from its competitors.
Business planning also forces business owners to evaluate their marketing strategy, the cost of customer acquisition and retention, and how they plan to grow their business over time.
What is the best business plan template?
Business plans come in all shapes and sizes. The best business plan template for your business is one that you understand and that matches the size and legal structure of your operation.
If you’re a sole proprietor, a business plan template designed for a big corporation probably doesn’t make sense. However, a business plan that helps you build an effective roadmap to grow your business while protecting your intellectual property is a good starting point.
PandaDoc offers specialized business plan templates for common industries along with tips to help you get started with business planning.
Should I hire someone to write my business plan for me?
No. You’ll find freelance writers and business strategy companies out there who are happy to write your business plan for a fee. These resources can guide you through the process, but you should write (or be heavily involved in) the creation of your business plan.
The reason for this is simple: You know the most about your business, and your business needs you to succeed.
A writer can work with you to make your business plan sound better to investors, and a consultant can help you fill in knowledge gaps — like how to conduct a SWOT analysis — and point out weaknesses in your plan. But, at the end of the day, you need to use the business plan to pitch investors and run your business.
Those ideas and guiding principles aren’t something you can outsource.
Should I use business planning software?
Software isn’t required when creating an effective business plan. Most business planning software is designed to help you navigate the outlining and writing process more effectively.
You don’t need software to write a professional business plan, but a solid template can help you get started. Download a free template from PandaDoc today and take your business to the next level.
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How to Design a Cover Page for Your Business Plan
If you're starting a new business or growing an existing one, it’s critical to have a successful business plan to guide your decisions.
Why? A good plan helps you understand your business expenses and cash flow, and it can lay out your goals and track milestones along the way. It’s also important if you’re applying for a loan or approaching potential investors who may be interested in your future business.
That means when you’re writing your business plan, you have one chance to make a good first impression and catch your reader’s attention. It takes a lot of research and planning, but after you’ve finished the hard work of compiling the contents of your plan, you’re still not done. Your business plan’s cover page may seem like an afterthought, but it shouldn’t be. As they say, never judge a book by its cover, but that’s precisely what happens when it comes to business plan cover pages.
A glimpse at the cover page can be enough for someone to decide if they want to pay attention to your business or ignore it. So, before you distribute your business plan, design a cover that stands out and entices interested parties to find out more about your company.
Helpful resource: How to Write Your First Business Plan
What is a business plan cover page?
Think of the cover page (also called a title page) as a welcome mat that leads to your full business plan. It’s meant to be simple and highlight the legal information of your business like a company logo, company name, address, contact details, and other key information.
The quality and appearance of the cover page may influence the perception of the material that follows in your plan—and the credibility of your business. If you want to spark the interest of prospective investors or lenders, you need to make sure that it’s professional, informative, and easy to read.
What is the purpose of a business plan cover page?
The main purpose of any business plan cover page is to inform and enhance your report. Your cover page should communicate a little about the business plan itself and provide the necessary information for a reader to contact you about the business you’re spotlighting.
Keep the cover page concise and focus only on the introductory basics. There’s no need to get into the weeds here. Instead, save those details about how your business will operate for the executive summary, which underlines the most crucial pieces of your plan, such as your short-term and long-term goals.
What should you include on a business plan cover page?
There are no hard-and-fast rules about what to show on your business plan cover page. But there are a few standard elements you should consider adding. Once you know what information you want to use, you just have to arrange it.
1. Document title
Often, the title of these documents is merely “Business Plan.” But you can also customize it with “Five-Year Business Plan” or “Business Acquisition Plan” if you want to outline more explicit goals of your business plan.
Use a clear, bold font to increase readability, like Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial. Avoid script lettering as it doesn’t come across as professional and may be challenging to read.
2. Business name
Add your company name below the title of the document. Use the same font of the title, but increase the font size slightly, so it stands out. Your company name is a significant part of the cover page, so use sharp, bold text that’s big enough to read clearly. Also, center your company name a few spaces below the title to continue a clean and consistent appearance.
3. Contact information
Below your company name, include a physical address, phone number, email, website, and other details about your business. You can also add a section titled “prepared by” to list your name and credentials, as well as the names of partners or collaborators, so readers know where to direct their inquiries.
To keep consistent formatting, center this information on the page. You can use a smaller font size than you used for your company name and title, as long as the information is clearly visible and legible.
4. Date of completion
Under your company’s contact information, include the month and year you completed your business plan. Use the same font size as your address and contact information, and center the text for consistency.
5. Company logo
Your logo is the foundation of your brand identity. It can draw interest and pique the curiosity of your audience. If you have a high-resolution thumbnail of your company’s logo, add and center it at the top of the page. The logo should be large enough that readers can easily see details, but not so big that it’s a distraction from the rest of the content.
6. Business tagline
Some businesses use a tagline to show what they do and how they’re different from the competition. Think Nike’s “Just Do It” or Dollar Shave Club’s “Shave Time. Shave Money.”
If you have a tagline, add it to your cover page under your company logo so readers understand straight away what you do or how you do it. A memorable tagline can excite an investor so that they’ll take a special interest while evaluating your business plan.
7. Confidentiality statement
At the bottom of your cover page, add a brief confidentiality statement to protect your business’s intellectual property or sensitive information. This may prevent others from disclosing your business plan without your permission.
For this section, use a slightly smaller font size, but try to make sure the text is still visible. Here’s an example of a typical confidentiality statement:
“This document contains confidential, proprietary information created by (your company’s name). It is issued exclusively for informational purposes and should not be reproduced without the consent of (your company’s name).”
Business plan cover page templates
Looking to create a standout cover page? There are dozens of professionally-designed business plan templates, including cover pages, available online. You can download and customize these in a matter of minutes.
If you need help getting started, try one of these:
- Microsoft Word
- Business in a Box
- MS Office Templates
You might even be able to adapt one of Canva’s proposal templates to suit your needs.
How to make your business plan cover page stand out
A cover page that’s messy or unprofessional in any way can create negative preconceptions in your reader’s minds before they even look at your business plan.
Set yourself up for success with a cover page that stands out by following these best practices:
Use consistent formatting
Inconsistent formatting can turn a stable document into chaos. Try to stay consistent when using styles and line spacing. Make sure your fonts are complementary, and don’t select too many—that could be overwhelming.
Proofread it
Because your cover is the first page of a business plan, it’s important to ensure there are zero spelling typos or mistakes within your content. Carefully proofread your document before distributing the final draft and ask someone else to read your work. Having a second set of eyes can smooth out any rough spots and save you potential embarrassment.
Show your brand’s personality
The design elements (color scheme, font type, images) you use can create a memorable, bold statement for your cover page that’ll make a positive impression on your audience. Still, do keep it professional. Coordinate the colors with your company’s logo or brand, and be sure the elements don’t distract from the important details on the cover page.
How Bench can help
While we can’t design a beautiful business plan cover page for you, we can help you out with the contents of that plan. Bench is America’s largest professional bookkeeping service for small businesses. We can handle your bookkeeping and tax filing for you while you focus on starting and running your business. Even if you’re pre-revenue , you need a solid bookkeeping setup—plus, reliable bookkeeping can give you the numbers you need to prove to investors that you’re a good bet.
Even if you aren’t using your business plan to seek funding, including your financial projections offers major benefits. By looking into the future of your business, you can make plans for growth and set realistic goals to reach along the way. Get started with our guide to financial forecasting .
Make a great first impression
Although your business plan cover page has a big job to do, it’s meant to be simple and straightforward. With just a few business details, like your company name, logo, and contact information, the cover page is your first opportunity to stand out and persuade readers that you’re worth the investment.
This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post. Bench assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.
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Business Plan Templates
Free Download
.png "business plan front page template")
2 Essential Templates For Starting Your Business. Available as an interactive PDF or a Google Docs template.
With this business plan template, you'll be able to:
- Write a company description that sells your story
- Plan for the future: lay out goals and metrics for success
- Describe your product line in detail and plan for how to stand out from competitors
- Consider any legal formalities that require attention when starting your business
- Put together necessary financial projections to make a strong start
- Create your buyer persona and determine your product/marketing fit
Build A Business Plan That Works
Available as a one-page interactive PDF and a full template on both Google Docs and Microsoft Word!
Whether you’re starting a business or drafting a formalized document with your current business goals, it’s important to clearly defi ne the scope of all aspects of the venture — from mission, to target customers, to fi nances, and beyond.
When just starting out, it can be tempting to think of a business plan as simply your company’s name and a description of your product or service. But in reality, planning a business involves thinking through a lot more details.
In this business plan template we’ll guide you through the steps of writing company and product descriptions, setting sales and marketing goals and plans, and thinking through legal and fi nancial logistics. We've included a plain text, designed , and completed example version of this template.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you write a business plan.
A business plan is a formal written document that you can use to identify the purpose of your company, make important decisions about your future and help grow your company. HubSpot's free business plan templates provides guidance to establishing your company mission, customer research, competition, and a business strategy to profitability.
Why do I need to fill out the information requested?
We will always keep your personal information safe..
We ask for your information in exchange for a valuable resource in order to (a) improve your browsing experience by personalizing the HubSpot site to your needs; (b) send information to you that we think may be of interest to you by email or other means; (c) send you marketing communications that we think may be of value to you. You can read more about our privacy policy here .
Where can I get a free business plan template?
HubSpot's Free Business Plan Templates are the best way to create a professional, thorough business plan. The templates include instructions and everything you need to know about starting your company.
Is this really free?
Absolutely.
Just sharing some free knowledge that we hope you’ll find useful. Keep us in mind next time you have marketing questions!
What are the basic format of a business plan?
A business plan is a written document that outlines the company's goals, strategy and implementation. The format of the plan varies depending on the type of organization (e.g., for-profit or nonprofit) and size, but most plans share some common features such as an overview, executive summary, and financial information.
What is the best business plan template?
A great business plan template clearly defines the scope of the venture -- from mission, to target customers, to finances, and beyond. HubSpot's business plan template will guide you through the steps of writing company and product descriptions, setting sales and marketing goals and plans, and thinking through legal and financial logistics.
What is needed to start a business?
If you're thinking about starting a business, you'll need to do some research first. You can't just start a business without doing any market research. Market research will tell you if there's an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business. After that, write your business plan so that you know how much money and time it will take for the project to succeed. Use HubSpot's free business plan template today!
Set yourself up for success with this business plan template
Easily create great, effective landing pages for free
Cover Page Designs & Formats for Business Plan in MS Word [Free and Editable]
Download templates, #1 – for startup, #2 – feasibility plan format, #3 – for expansion plan, #4 – best format for strategic business plan, #5 – template for growth business plan, #6 – curvy design for internal business plan, #7 – for operations business plan, why is a cover page needed in a business plan, what does it contain.
- Company’s name
- Company’s address and contact information (email, fax, or postal address)
- Company’s logo, design color, and catchphrase or slogan
- Year and date of when the plan has been formulated for
- Serial number
- Name and contact details of the person to be contacted when needed
- Name of the person or key member who prepared it
- A confidentiality statement
- A disclaimer
Why is it vital for a business plan?
- It is the first introduction
- It tells what the document contains from the inside
- It gives information to the reader to get in touch with you
- It professionally conveys the information that the readers are interested in getting
- A carefully planned front page will get you the edge you need and help you stand out among the rest of the companies
Things to avoid
- Inappropriate font size, either too large or too small
- Bad-quality image/company logo
- Unattractive color scheme
- Bad printing quality
- Overcrowded graphic outlook
- A wrong sequence of information
- Informal representation
- Informal font
- Confused or inconsistent alignment of text and image
- Typos or grammatical errors
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MS Word Cover Page Templates
Download, personalize & print, business proposal cover pages.
Posted By: admin 11/02/2019
What is a business proposal cover page?
It is a front page of a formal document that highlights key information like company name, company logo, address, and key information. The document also holds the title of the proposal prepared by the agency.
It is the foremost page in which the company’s face is present in the most professional manner by covering the company information, its objective, address and motto behind its foundation.
A business proposal cover page is written to introduce your business motto to a client, a design to map an idea or concept to bridge communication between an owner and client understanding of desired mission, keeping in view the professional approach.
It allows you to jot down powerful and elevating business pitch to capture potential clientage. An effective proposal covers executive summary and key project details of the company.
Why is it essential to design it?
The main aim of setting up a business is to promote its growth. Businessman, around the world are in dire need of ascending their services to flourish in corporate world.
A comprehensive business plan:
- broadens the operational and financial objectives such as budgeting and market planning, consequently attracting clients in best manner.
- outlines your business orientation.
- figures out strategies to accomplish milestones you want to accomplish.
- helps you identify and manage certain bumps in the road.
- prioritize important tasks.
- Compels you to think realistically and objectively about one’s startup.
- Generate leads to enquire past and future assumptions.
- Makes manageable to communicate planning objectives to other businesses.
What should be included in a business proposal?
With an absolute proposal, not only you can spot potential opportunities, shortcomings and threats for their merchandising, it can assist you in up-to-date decisions about your endeavour before you pledge yourself officially or financially.
Here I have penned down some important factors to keep in mind while designing a proposal cover page:
- Top-notch Abstract
- Overview of business targets
- Executive Ownership structure
- Demonstrating products or services that the company is offering
- Introducing management staff and their contributions in the making of that specific company
- Convincing competitive benefits
- Brief recap of your financial projections
What makes the proposal appealing?
A pleasant yet meaningful cover page fascinates the customer at his first glimpse and that is what our websites are offering; sample cover pages for the promotion of your innovative ventures. It needs to mirror the best of who you are and how do you inspire the world, be identifiable. An impressive cover page has the following attributes:
- Appears neat and clean.
- Sections are enlightening and well systematized, but impartially modest.
- Layout is striking and gorgeous in a way that imitates the corporation or plan.
- Script includes your firm logo for identification, its name, address, title of the proposal, submission deadlines and for whom the proposal is drafted.
If you choose to customize a template or want to come across a promising yet brilliantly, captivating readymade design, don’t worry you are at the right place where all your requirements will be well fed, and you can discover novelty in our sample cover page collection. Many templates that have a parallel feel to your corporate sector.
Being mindful of design components that you have by now got covered up in your creative minds, we have got a tailored solution to them.
Twitch substituting items in one of the model sample with your own data. Eventually the one suited better to your specified requirements will stand out as stunning than the others.
First impression is the last impression and this rule is strictly followed by a proposal cover page. A good assessor will critically analyze the content as well, so no need to fret or overthink about your cover page. With our predesigned solutions your excessive concern for your business will be better catered.
As it is said that too much anxiety inhibits creativity. So, a tempting template is one click away from you.
Cover page format: MS Word 2007 | 2010 | 2013 File Size: 979 KB License: [Only for personal use] Download
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- Microsoft PowerPoint
16 Best Free PowerPoint PPT Cover Page Design Templates to Download 2022
Creating an attractive presentation cover page for PPT can be challenging. Create stylish and eye-catching PowerPoint cover slides for your next presentation. Use a professionally designed PowerPoint template.
Having the cover page pop is the first step in creating a memorable presentation.
PowerPoint templates help you focus on the most important aspect of the presentation, the actual content. If you're not a professional designer, creating a template that can compete with other high-quality designs may be hard.
Envato Elements offers a marketplace full of PowerPoint templates that can all be downloaded with a low monthly cost.
Modern Templates for PowerPoint Presentation Cover Pages on Envato Elements (With Unlimited Use)
Free PowerPoint templates can help kickstart the presentation creation process. But using a professionally designed template helps you stand out from the competition.
Envato Elements has thousands of the best premium PowerPoint templates with high-quality cover slides available on the web!
Explore Modern PPT Front Pages
For a low monthly cost, you can access this massive library of templates and bring your presentations to life .
The templates that come with Elements include a variety of features:
- tons of unique PPT welcome page slides
- fully editable text and images
- PowerPoint cover page slides with transition animations
5 Best Top Trending Premium PowerPoint PPT Cover Page Design Templates (From Envato Elements - For (2022)
Now let’s look at a few of the top premium printable flyer templates from Envato. We’ll first explore five of the best cool flyer designs from Envato Elements. Take a look at these PowerPoint cover page ideas:
1. Minimal PPT Cover Pages
If you're looking for an all-in-one PowerPoint presentation template that can be used for business plans, brand guidelines, marketing presentations, pitch decks, and for personal uses, then this is the template for you. The creators made this PowerPoint cover slide template with a minimal look, adding tons of white space and subtle colors to focus primarily on the information.
A few notable features include:
- 32 animated unique PowerPoint cover slides
- 4000+ vector icons
- drag and drop photo replace
- full HD 16:9 ratio
- background covers for PPT
2. The X Note PowerPoint Presentation Cover Page
This effective, modern, and easy-to-customize presentation helps you turn your ideas into persuasive presentations. Whether you've got a product design coming up, a pitch deck, or any type of business presentation, this presentation lets your ideas shine.
Here are a few notable features for this PowerPoint cover page template:
- 4:3 and 16:9 screen layouts
- PowerPoint cover slide templates with transition animations
- 40+ unique PowerPoint cover slide template
- 4 pre-made themes
3. Be. - Minimal PowerPoint Cover Pages
Be. focuses on the creatives. The clean and minimalist layout gives you plenty of options to showcase any type of business or personal presentation. The PowerPoint cover slide is divided into two, with one half featuring a place for an image and the other side for the title of your presentation.
Here's what you can expect from this template:
- 125+ unique and creative PowerPoint cover slide templates
- 550+ free font icons
- all objects are vector and fully editable
- Easy drag and drop to change images
4. Expert - PowerPoint Cover Pages for Presentations
This high-quality PowerPoint cover page contains a whopping 620 unique slides. The cover page template has five triangle shapes that allow you to add images to, a title, and a section to add around three sentences.
There are plenty of features that come with this template, including:
- 100 theme colors
- white & dark versions
- 620 unique PowerPoint cover slide templates
- fully animated
- 16:9 full HD quality presentation
5. PPT Presentation With Cover Pages & Infographics
This is a powerful PowerPoint template presentation with front page designs that let you build whatever you like. The presentation cover template is full of vibrant and colorful PPT cover page ideas for any type of project you have. It'll help you deliver cover pages for presentations that'll catch your audience's attention.
Features for these PowerPoint presentation cover pages include:
- 11 modern and unique PowerPoint covers with slides
- widescreen (16:9)
- handmade infographics for your PPT cover pages
- free icon pack
- fully customizable
Now let's look at the best PPT free presentation cover templates with high-quality PowerPoint cover slides.
16 Top Free PowerPoint PPT Cover Page Design Templates to Download for 2022
Before looking for a free PowerPoint cover page template on the web, check Envato's free offerings first. Try out various premium template files (not always Microsoft cover page downloads) at no cost to you.
Here's the deal:
Every month Envato Elements offers 12 different hand-selected files, (fonts, presentations, videos, and more). Create a free account to download this month's free premium files now.
Do you need some more options for free PowerPoint cover page templates? Take a look at these free PPT cover page ideas:
1. Global Education Solution - PPT Free PowerPoint Cover Pages
This free PowerPoint cover page template features an abstract image to highlight the importance of education. You can include a title and subtitle for the presentation on this Microsoft cover page download as well.
2. Cool Squares - PPT Free Cover Page for Presentation
Cool Squares offers a mosaic tile cover page for PPT with different colored and sized squares with and without images. This PowerPoint works well for a more casual presentation.
3. Creative Idea Bulb - Free PPT Cover Page
Creative Idea Bulb PowerPoint cover slide combines a pencil and a light bulb to express creative learning. Use this template for teaching and creative presentations.
4. Orange Squared - Free PowerPoint Cover Pages
You can expect a background image overlayed with a square image and title on the PPT cover page design download. This is a flexible template that can work for business or personal use.
5. Blue Architecture - Free PPT Front Page
This Free PowerPoint cover page template has a background image of a city tinted with blue overlayed with a title and briefcase graphic. Use this for any type of business presentation.
6. City of Business Man - Free First Page of Presentation
City of Business Man PowerPoint cover page template has a cityscape background overlaid in red. The title is in the center of the page with a circle around it.
7. Analysis Consultant - Free Cover Page for Your Presentation
This template is ideal for any business presentation. The cover for PPT has a businessman background image with futuristic icon graphics overlaying the image.
8. Green Finance - Free Presentation Front Page Design
This free PowerPoint cover page template has a green background overlayed with numbers and money symbols. This template is ideal for finance presentations.
9. Free Presentation Title Page With Businessman Cityscape
This cover template for PPT contains a confident businessman against the backdrop of an urban landscape. The template is fully editable and has 135 different icons to choose from.
10. Free Presentation Cover With Hexagonal Tech
This template is great for tech-type presentations and features hexagons and icons pattern on the PPT cover page design. You can expect 35 different slides with this free download.
11. PPT Free Annual Report
This Microsoft cover page download comes with a business graphic on the front. It's best used for economic-type presentations. You could also use this for any type of personal finance presentation.
12. Business Pitch Deck - PPT Free PowerPoint Covers
The PPT cover page design download features an abstract, blue-colored shape, some rows for titles, and a row for graphics. Just like the title says, this presentation cover page is best used for pitch decks.
13. Blue Team Work - Free PPT Welcome Page
Any type of presentation that involves a team can benefit from this template. The Microsoft cover page download has a blue background with hand graphics to show teamwork.
14. PPT Free Business Plan
This simple cover page template has a dark-colored background with abstract shapes. The simplicity of the template allows it to be used for all types of business and personal presentations.
15. Data Analysis - Free PPT Cover Page Ideas
This template design is suitable for the presentations crafted for graphical representation of businesses and economics. The cover page features an abstract spherical shape with a gray-colored background.
16. Modern Pitch Deck - Free PowerPoint Presentation Cover Pages
Half of the cover page is an image. The other half is a black background with a spot for the title. The PowerPoint presentation cover page comes with 24 more slides that can be used for your business presentations.
How to Quickly Customize PowerPoint PPT Cover Page Templates (For 2022)
We’ve explored some of the very best PPT cover page templates from around the web. Once you download cover PPT templates, it’s time to customize them. Remember, your cover page truly is your first impression. That means you always have to get it right.
Fortunately, with premium Envato Elements templates, this is easy to do. You can customize these cover page templates in just five quick steps! Let’s learn how.
Want to follow along with this mini-tutorial? Head over to Envato Elements and download the stunning premium Chime Presentation Template today!
Let's get started:
1. Add Title Text to Your PPT Front Page
Once you download cover PPT templates, the first step is to add custom text. Remember, this is the first thing that audiences see. The text that sits on a premium template slide is a placeholder. You can type over it with your own words.
To do this, click into the text box like the one on the first slide here. Select the text inside and replace it with your own text. You can repeat this with any other text until you've got the slide customized to your own needs.
2. Add Font Effects to Your Background Cover PPT
Once you’ve added text, remember that it’s an important part of your style. Download cover PPT templates deserve the use of custom font effects too.
These effects live up on the Home tab, found on PowerPoint’s ribbon. With text selected, you can change the font size and style on the dropdown menus. Plus, you can add effects like italics, underlines, and more. Those options are found on the series of buttons in the Font group.
3. Insert Photos in Your PowerPoint Covers
Your cover PowerPoint slide should capture attention in an instant. One of the best ways to do this is with an image. Photos naturally grab focus, and it pays to include them on your cover slide.
To add a photo, go to the Insert tab, again found on the ribbon. From the Pictures dropdown, choose Picture from File. Browse to an image file stored on your computer and click to insert it. Watch as it appears on your slide.
4. Rearrange the Content of Your Presentation Front Page Design
When you add photos to a slide, PowerPoint places them in a random position. Chances are, you’ll want to move the objects around. To do so, click and drag to move them to a new place on your slide. Release the cursor when you’re finished.
You can also resize content on your slides. Pull on the adjustment sliders found in each corner. This is the fastest way to resize images and objects to fit into place perfectly.
5. Change Shape Colors of Your Presentation Title Page
Notice that this slide has colorful shapes on it. While the default colors are beautiful, you may want to change them. To do so, click on one of the colorful shapes. Notice a new tab on the ribbon: Shape Format . Click Shape Format , then open up the Shape Fill dropdown.
You’ll see a color chooser menu, from which you can apply an array of new shades. Click on one of the color thumbnails to apply it to your selected shape. You can repeat these steps with other shapes to add your own custom colors to your download cover PPT.
5 Quick PowerPoint Cover Page Slide Design Tips for 2022
You're looking for the right PowerPoint cover page. Use these quick tips to get the most from your cover page presentation design:
1. Split in Half Your Presentation Title Page
The half and half cover page design works great for all types of presentations. Include an image on one half and the title and short sentences on the other half of the slide to create this type of cover page design.
2. Feature a Center Design in Your PPT Welcome Page
Using a centered design for your slides can help your presentation by making the elements on the slides seem more important. When elements are centered, they're perceived as being crucial to the slide. The audience subconsciously views your text and images as all being important.
3. Include Graphics in Your PowerPoint Covers
While this may be an obvious tip, it's often overlooked. Adding graphics sparingly throughout your presentation gives your slides a professional touch. It makes the presentation more engaging. Be sure to include graphics that fit what you're presenting.
4. Give a Simplicity Look to the First Page of Your Presentation
While your cover page for PPT can work great with many different elements on it, you can still never go wrong with having a very simple cover page design. Including a graphic and title of your presentation in the center of your cover page is more than enough to set the stage for your presentation.
5. Include Skill Bars to Your PowerPoint Cover Slide Templates
Including skill bars in your presentations helps make it much more engaging and memorable. Whether you're giving a pitch deck, creating a project proposal, or showcasing an annual report, skill bars can be used in the presentation.
Still looking for more high-quality PowerPoint templates? Let's look at even more template options for you to choose from.
5 Top Design Trends for Your PowerPoint Cover Pages (For 2022 Presentations)
You’ve seen the very best PowerPoint cover page templates available today. And you’ve learned how to customize them in five easy steps. But you still need to ensure that you’ll make that winning first impression.
To do this, you must embrace the very latest trends for 2022. These five ideas feature in the best PowerPoint cover page designs today. Use them and prepare to wow even the toughest audiences. Here are some PPT cover page ideas and trends:
1. Give a Minimalist Styling to Your PowerPoint Covers
In 2022, minimalist designs are in style. These layouts help your content shine. Minimalism is an aesthetic that embraces the idea of “less is more.”
By using a minimalist design, audience focus shifts to your message. They won’t be distracted by flashy design elements that add no value. Not only are these designs trendy for 2022, but they also help ensure your success as you present.
2. Add Subtle Animations to the First Page of Your Presentation
Static presentations are falling out of style, and with good reason. They’re dull, flat, and boring. Audiences expect more in 2022. An easy fix is to embrace the trend of animation. Animated slides control the flow of your slides, and they hold the audience's attention.
Try to use basic effects that support, rather than detract from, your message. For more on PowerPoint animations, check out our full tutorial:
3. Add Bold Fonts to Your Background Cover PPT
As you saw in the tutorial section, fonts are a key part of your download cover PPT design. What better way to embrace this than to choose a template with bold, stylish fonts built in? These are the trendiest font effects for 2022.
Bold fonts help your slide cover titles stand out. Audiences will have no doubt about what your presentation is about. And by using a premium template with built-in fonts, you’ll save time by having the design work done for you.
4. Add Stylish Designer Background Covers to Your PPT
You may think of cover slide backgrounds as empty space. But in 2022, they’re something more. Stylish designer backgrounds are in style this year.
By adding a pattern or contrast to the background of your slide, you make every part of your cover page stand out. It makes the most of a single slide, which is always the goal to help you succeed.
Learn more about customizing PPT slide backgrounds with our helpful tutorial:
5. Give The First Pages of Your Presentations Layouts With Contrast
Like the idea of designer backgrounds, contrast-heavy layouts are popular in 2022. Gone are the days when basic two-tone layouts impressed audiences.
By using layouts with contrast, you can transform a PPT cover page into a work of art. Viewers will admire your design skills. These designs, found in premium templates, help your intro slide look its very best.
Discover More PowerPoint Top Cover Pages for Presentations
Still haven't found the right PowerPoint template for your latest presentation? There are plenty of more high-quality and feature-rich PowerPoint templates with stunning-looking cover pages available on Envato Elements.
To help you continue with your search for more of these templates, feel free to check out a few more of our roundup articles below:
Learn More About Making Great PowerPoint Presentations in 2022
You've got your PowerPoint presentation picked out. Now it's time to edit the template and customize it to fit your particular presentation. A basic knowledge of PowerPoint can take you a long way in the editing process.
For more help with understanding how you can edit templates in Microsoft PowerPoint, go to our PowerPoint tutorial guide . Or take a look at the articles below:
Common PowerPoint Questions Answered (FAQ)
When you think about using cover page templates, you might have a few questions. You may be wondering about the value PowerPoint can bring to the table.
Or, you may not know which presentation app to use. Here, we’ve provided answers to five common PowerPoint questions to help you:
1. Can I Share PowerPoints on Zoom?
Yes! In today’s global world, this ability is more important than ever. By building slides that look great on Zoom, you can be ready to share with the world.
Want to learn more? We built a handy tutorial to help you start building and sharing PPT cover page slides on Zoom today:
2. How Do I Make PowerPoint Presentations More Diverse?
There are many ways! This is the most important concept in slide design today. It means using diverse imagery. It also includes making slides more accessible to those with disabilities. Be sure to read up on these ideas and incorporate them in your next PPT design:
3. How Do I Get Design Ideas for PowerPoint?
Design inspiration comes from studying the successful PowerPoint designs of expert creatives. It’s also a feature of premium Envato Elements templates.
Pre-built slide layouts provide plenty of inspiration. You don’t have to invent layouts from scratch. Instead, you can fill in the blanks left for you by creative experts.
4. Can I Make Interactive Quizzes in PowerPoint?
Absolutely! These are great to include very early in your download cover PPT presentations. They help you engage with audiences by making your slides interactive. This is crucial because a focused audience is an interested audience.
For all the details, read our full tutorial:
5. How Do I Avoid Boring Presentations?
Be focused, be direct, and be engaging. Those are some of the key concepts that help you avoid giving a boring presentation. If you lose your audience because of dull slides, there’s no chance that they’ll connect with your message.
For more, visit our guide to building engaging (not boring) PowerPoint slides:
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Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Andrew Childress and Gonzalo Angulo . Andrew is a freelance instructor for Envato Tuts+. Gonzalo is a staff writer with Envato Tuts+.
Business Plan Cover Page Template
Download this business plan cover page template design in google docs, indesign, word, psd format. easily editable, printable, downloadable..
Compose a professional front page for your strategic plans with this customizable Business Plan Cover Page Sample. Edit your logos, layouts, and other graphical elements to get your creative business plans available in Microsoft Word format. Impress your co-workers and yourself by getting a cover sheet of your style and design.
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Business plan cover page templates for students
As management students, you have to design a business plan cover page to propose entrepreneurial ideas. The cover page presents the concept of your business plan in a holistic way. It creates an impression on the reader, giving them valuable insights about the content of your report.
The cover page of any business plan can make or break your idea. Ensure that your cover is neat, clutter-free, and comprehensive. Every cover page includes standard elements to inform the reader about the business.
The main purpose of any business plan cover page is to inform and enhance your report. Read on to know more about the basic structure of the business cover plan template.
The elements of a cover page template
A business plan is a great way to pitch an idea to others. Students develop a business plan to understand the practical application of management theories in realistic scenarios. What you learn as part of your curriculum have solid significance in real-life situations.
And while every business plan is different, there is a specific format you must follow. The cover page is the first part of the plan and contains the following elements. Here are some features I’ve discussed below in details
- Company logo and name
- Business motto
- Title of the plan
- Duration of the business plan
Contact information
- Credits and citations
Confidentiality statement
You can change the arrangement of these elements as per the business plan. Let me discuss these sections in detail below to clear a few things up.
Company / University name and logo
One of the first things that the reader sees on the cover page is the company name and logo design. The brand name and logo create an identity of the business. It makes the business idea easier to identify and differentiate from the competitors.
For your business plan, you can pitch an established brand or create a fictional one. For those building the brand, I would suggest you keep the name and logo simple. The emblem, particular, must be memorable yet unique.
Also, the colour scheme and designs used in the logo and title section can make a world of difference. Include the duration of the business plan in the title. For instance, your business cover title can be, “Five-Year Business Plan for (brand name)”
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Business / university tagline.
The business tagline comes after the title. This is a short one-line description for your line of work. Think of the slogan as your brand motto. The more creative and catchier this section is, the better for your business plan.
The font size and style of the tagline should be smaller than the title. The brand name and business plan title should be the highlight of your cover page. Also, your title must be centrally aligned. You can italicize the tagline.
Once the title and tagline are done, you can add the company address and other details. This sheds light on the nature and location of your business house. Ensure that your content is evenly spaced out on the cover page.
Plan description and year
Include a short description of your business plan on the cover page as well. Limit this section to a line or two. Also, place it after the title and tagline of the business plan. This gives you cover a very organic structure.
The description section is usually titled as purpose. It is where the student tries to describe the nature of their venture. Include the size, scalability and sector of your business here.
The contact information comes next. This is where you mention the phone number, email address and other details about your company. Also include a section titled, “prepared by” to state your name and credentials
If there are partners and marketing collaborators, you mention them here as well. With accurate contact information, potential investors can reach out to you faster. Including this section also makes your plan more authentic and realistic.
Every business plan includes a confidentiality statement. Most students prefer to include this section on the cover page. The primary purpose of the confidentiality statement is to prevent the risk of intellectual theft.
The readers are legally bound to adhere to the rules of the contract and keep the business details a secret. It also protects the businessman from accusations of plagiarism in the future. You can patent the business idea or any unique marketing strategy mentioned in the plan.
How to design a business plan?
Contrary to popular belief, people so judge a book by its cover. And the business plan cover page creates a strong visual impact on the reader. I have already discussed the essential elements of any cover page template above. Here, I want to talk about some additional tips and tricks to make your cover page more interesting.
Clarity and concise
The purpose of the cover page is to pack information appealingly. Ensure that you don’t include a lot of details here but just enough to intrigue the reader about your business plan. Keep the title short, clear, and creative.
Explain the essential purpose, intent, and goals of your business plan. What is your brand all about? Who are your customers? What is your marketing strategy? These are a few questions you need to address with the business plan.
Creating Balance sheets
The balance sheet is one of the most vital financial reports for any company. Consider the balance sheet as a report card of an organization. The two columns titled Assets and Liabilities list down all your resources. Other than that, you need a section for equity accounts and stocks as well.
The assets and liabilities must tally towards the end of your balance sheet. List down the current assets like capital investment, stocks, and cash in hand first. Next comes the fixed assets like land and machinery.
Itemize your liabilities and equity shares the same way. Then you must add the gross profit/loss borrowed from the income statement. Financial analysts then compare the various elements of the balance sheet to derive accounting ratios. This gives you deeper insights into the business.
Accuracy and credibility
All the stats, figures and charts included in the business plan must come from credible sources. Cite your sources properly towards the end of the business plan. I recommend my students to pick APA or Harvard style referencing because they’re better suited to business projects.
The contact information and brand details in the cover page also must be credible and accurate. For a business assignment, you should also add a short confidentiality note. This protects your business plan from plagiarism.
Summarize the key points
The cover page can also include a summary of your business plan. Explain the primary points of your project in a nutshell. Other than that, you can also add a short statement of purpose and overview on the cover.
For the sake of convenience, I suggest students prepare the cover page after they have completed the business plan. For although the cover page comes first chronologically, it is easier to design the page once you have your plan intact.
Also, while we are at it, I would suggest students add a short abstract after the cover page as well. This is where you can explain the main papers and sources taken for your business plan. It also highlights the central points of your plan, along with your primary hypothesis.
Keep it catchy
The cover page has to be catchy. However, that doesn’t mean you decorate the cover with glitter. Keep the look professional, academic, and yet fascinating. You can pick a specific colour scheme and font that complements your brand and product.
For instance, if your brand caters to an elite customer base, then keep the design minimalistic and elegant. Use light pastel shades to create a rich, subdued effect. You can consult your peers and professors about the aesthetics of the cover plan.
Ensure that your design matches the guidelines provided by the university. Don’t aim for a fancy or over the top cover page. Instead, stick to simpler, bolder layouts that are easy to identify and remember.
A quick Google search can give you a list of fantastic cover page template choices for Microsoft Word, Adobe, and other platforms. These layouts come with readymade designs, all you have to do is fill in the content, and you’re set.
Need for business plan cover pages
Business plan cover pages are both aesthetic and informative. The title and cover page outline the purpose of the business plan. Also, add a short note of acknowledgement and confidential statement.
Every business plan includes a beginning, middle and an ending. The cover page gives you insights on your product and service. You can expand on the title and explain the product in the introductory section.
The business plan cover page should be convincing enough to generate funding for their enterprise idea. With the cover, you convey the core message of the business plan.
Quick links and references
For this blog, I have collected some research papers and credible guides to help students. Students can refer to these sources for deeper insights into the business plan. You can refer to these reading materials that you can even cite for your paper.
Citations referencing guide: APA 6th referencing guide
Citation generator: Citethisforme
Business plan template: Business plan cover page template
Cover page guidelines: Business plan format guidelines
The bottom line
Preparing a business plan requires immense effort and planning. You need to outline a basic structure, purpose, and critical points of your enterprise idea. The cover page creates an excellent first impression on the reader.
I hope that this guide on cover page template creation was of some help. I have tried to explain the different elements of the business plan and cover page in detail. All the best for your assignment!
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Business plan templates offer step-by-step instructions and prefabricated slides for your executive summary, company overview, financial plan, and more. You'll even find a business plan template for specific industries including business plan templates in Word for healthcare providers, professional services, and retail.
Cover page templates Start strong on your academic or business report with a great first impression among your readers. Customize one of Canva's professional cover page templates for free and print it out for your project. Skip to end of list Lab Report Cover Pages Portfolio Cover Pages Research Paper Cover Pages Essay Cover Pages
Business Plan Cover Page Designs [FREE DOWNLOAD] | Upmetrics Business Plan Cover Page Designs https://upmetrics.co/signup Let's get started & Design your cover page LEARN HOW TO DESIGN A BUSINESS PLAN COVER PAGE A cover page can create a strong first impact! No Risk - Cancel at Any Time - 15 Day Money Back Guarantee Get Started
Business plan cover page template You can use this template to create your own business plan cover page: [ Company name] [ Company motto] [ Business plan title], [ Month and year] Prepared by: [ Name of the business owner] Contact information [ Business address] [ Company website] [ Phone number] [ Email address] [ Confidentiality statement]
Business plan templates Let these informative and polished templates guide you through creating your business plan. Business plan presentation PowerPoint Business plan (Design) Word Business Plan Word Small business startup checklist Word Professional services marketing plan PowerPoint Home business startup checklist Word Home business plan Word
You can search the web to find free templates to build your business plan. We discuss nine components of a model business plan here: Key partnerships Note the other businesses or services you'll work with to run your business. Think about suppliers, manufacturers, subcontractors, and similar strategic partners. Key activities
Use this one-page small business plan template to outline the essential aspects of your business strategy. Provide details on your organization's vision, mission, product or service offering, and management team. Then identify the target audience, market size, competitor offerings, and your competitive advantage.
A well-formatted and well-designed cover page engage the reader with a business plan document. Download Free Business Cover Page Templates Business Cover Page 11 Business Cover Page 12 Business Cover Page 13 advertisement advertisement advertisement Business cover page 01 Business cover page 02 Business cover page 03 Business cover page 04
A cover page template is also known as a title page template, and you can use it in different kinds of projects such as: academic essays albums business plans e-books magazines professional reports proposals white papers However, this template differs from cover sheets and cover letters.
Upmetrics gives you a beautifully designed business plan cover page template with no work on your side. Our cover pages are industry experts recommended. Thus, you can give investors and readers the information they need to learn about your business quickly. You can use a cover page theme that suits the personality of you and your business.
Cover page (also known as title page or cover sheet) is the first page of a business plan that communicates what the enclosed document is about and highlights the key company information like name, logo and contact details, making a good impression with professional and attractive appearance. Purpose: Why is Business Plan Cover Page Important?
Business plan cover page templates Make a good first impression to prospective investors. Design your business plan cover page using free templates by Canva. Add your brand logos, switch the layout colors, and try out different fonts. 181 templates Create a blank Business Plan Cover Page Blue Minimalist Business Plan Cover Page Document by onetype
A business plan should be structured in a way that it contains all the important information that investors are looking for. Here are the main sections of a business plan: 1. Title Page. The title page captures the legal information of the business, which includes the registered business name, physical address, phone number, email address, date ...
Give the logo some space and then include the words "Business Plan" in a large, bold font. You can also frame the title as "Three-" or "Five-Year Business Plan," if you intend to make those kinds of financial projections in the document. 3. Business name. Beneath the title, write your company name in a bold font.
Business Plan Templates: 9 FREE Samples - 2022 Updated Home Templates Business plan templates From competitive analysis to financial projections, business plans give your new business a roadmap for success. Download one of our free business plan templates and take your company to the next level. What is a business plan?
2. Business name. Add your company name below the title of the document. Use the same font of the title, but increase the font size slightly, so it stands out. Your company name is a significant part of the cover page, so use sharp, bold text that's big enough to read clearly.
With this business plan template, you'll be able to: Write a company description that sells your story. Plan for the future: lay out goals and metrics for success. Describe your product line in detail and plan for how to stand out from competitors. Consider any legal formalities that require attention when starting your business.
Download Templates On this page, you can download professionally designed front page formats for any kind of Business Plan you are going to create for your,r next client. All these are designed in MS Word on a US Letter size page. #1 - For Startup Download 2.24 MB #2 - Feasibility Plan Format Download 2.40 MB #3 - For Expansion Plan Download
What is a business proposal cover page? It is a front page of a formal document that highlights key information like company name, company logo, address, and key information. The document also holds the title of the proposal prepared by the agency.
This is a flexible template that can work for business or personal use. 5. Blue Architecture - Free PPT Front Page. This Free PowerPoint cover page template has a background image of a city tinted with blue overlayed with a title and briefcase graphic. Use this for any type of business presentation.
Business Plan Cover Page Template Download this Business Plan Cover Page Template Design in Google Docs, InDesign, Word, PSD Format. Easily Editable, Printable, Downloadable. Compose a professional front page for your strategic plans with this customizable Business Plan Cover Page Sample.
The cover page presents the concept of your business plan in a holistic way. It creates an impression on the reader, giving them valuable insights about the content of your report. The cover page of any business plan can make or break your idea. Ensure that your cover is neat, clutter-free, and comprehensive. Every cover page includes standard ...