Customizable project timeline and roadmap templates

Plotting your course isn't just clarifying, it can be captivating too. build your next project timeline or roadmap using designer-developed, customizable templates. no matter what kind of project you're planning or managing, there's a timeline template that'll keep you on track..

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Show your plan at a glance with timeline templates

Don't waste any time—start your next project plan or production roadmap with a timeline template. Timelines are a great way to visually organize your thoughts, plotting each step that you plan to execute. Making planners and trackers into timelines is a snap when working with templates. You can also use timeline templates to show how far a project has come along, every milestone accounted for. Small businesses can find timelines helpful for pitching new business during presentations as well as planning new products. And adding a timeline to a wedding save the date or an invitation is a great way to let guests know everything they can look forward to during your celebration. Timelines aren't just for project planning. Resumes are themselves a kind of timeline, and there are some fantastic graphic resume layouts that incorporate easy-to-read timelines that make your work history stand out.

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How to Create a Business Plan Timeline

business timeline

Below you will learn what a business plan timeline is and where it belongs in your business plan.  

What is a Business Plan Timeline?

A business plan timeline lays out the key milestones you hope to achieve in your business and when you plan to accomplish them.   

The Importance of a Timeline

In running a business, it is very easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities and putting out fires. When you do this, unfortunately, it’s hard to grow your business. Having a timeline that lists your key goals forces you to spend time each day, week, and month to work on key growth initiatives.

Also, if you are seeking funding, investors and lenders need to understand these milestones and your projected dates for accomplishing them. This helps give them confidence that you will successfully execute your plan. 

Also, having a timeline helps you better prioritize your time and hire the right people at the right time.

    Finish Your Business Plan Today!

Where does the timeline go in the business plan.

The timeline belongs primarily in the Operations Plan of your business plan, however, you may include some highlights within the Executive Summary as well. 

Using the established key milestones you have created, you will now assign a timeframe to those milestones to show when you expect to reach each milestone. Remember, use historical data and be realistic in your timeline so that you can meet these goals.  

What Should Be Included in the Timeline?

Your business is currently at point A. Where you want to go is to point B. Now getting from point A to point B requires you to complete milestones.

And the most important ones are what I call “risk-mitigating milestones.” These are the milestones that help eliminate the risk of your company failing.

Some examples of “risk mitigating milestones” may include:

  • Finding a location for your business, store, warehouse, etc.
  • Getting the permits and licenses
  • Building the facility/store
  • Hiring and training staff
  • New products and services introductions
  • Store opening date
  • Key employee hires
  • Revenue milestones (date when sales exceed $X, when sales exceed $Y, etc.)
  • Key partnerships executed
  • Key customer contracts secured
  • Key financial events (future funding rounds, IPO, etc.)

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, it is your job to identify your risk-mitigating milestones and prioritize them so that you can take steps each day toward the larger business goals.  

How to Create & Prioritize Your Milestone List

Create your detailed risk-mitigating milestone list first. The goal should be to list approximately six major milestones in the next year, five milestones in the following year, and so on for up to five years (so include two in year 5). 

You can use this as a “To Do” list and ensure you achieve your goals each day, week, and month, further developing your business strategy.

Next to each milestone, include the expected timeframe, due date, and the budget you will need to attain them. For example, you may want to launch a billboard marketing campaign over a 6-month period (Expected Due Date: 6/30/2022), and the expected cost is $18,000.

After you create your milestone list, you need to prioritize them. Decide on which milestones you should achieve with the initial funding if needed. Ideally, these will get you to the point where you are generating revenues or profits. This is because the ability to generate revenues significantly reduces the risk of your venture; as it proves to lenders and investors that customers want the products and/or services you are offering.

By setting up your milestones, you will figure out what you can accomplish for less money. And the fact is, the less money you need to raise, the easier it generally is to raise it (mainly because the easiest to raise money sources offer lower dollar amounts).  

How to Develop a Timeline For Your Business Plan

You’ve already completed the hard part. 

Now, it’s time to schedule your milestone list and convert it into a timeline format to give you a quick visual reference. Be sure that your timeline includes all the milestones that you’ve deemed a priority.

There are many businesses that prefer to develop Gantt charts, while others may prefer a calendar, Excel sheet, or another preferred format. Choose the format that works best for you.

There are several format options and platforms to choose from if you do a quick search for “ create a timeline online .” However, keep in mind that it’s not how pretty the timeline is, it’s about functionality and the ease of use to track the progress of all the tasks completed. 

Here are a couple of options:

quarterly roadmap timeline for business plan

Source: SlideTeam

This one-page timeline is a downloadable template that is clean and easy to read and follow. While it doesn’t have all the details on this one page, it has enough information to help business leaders understand if the team is on track.

5 year plan

Source: Office Timeline

This is a PowerPoint Presentation add-in that allows you to create a custom Gantt chart with your Microsoft Office account. While the chart above says a 5-year plan, note that they did not include the parts of the milestones beyond Year 1. This may be to reduce clutter and keep focused on the near-future goals. 

gantt chart

Source: GanttPro

This Gantt chart online platform offers another alternative allowing you to assign tasks to others on your team and monitor their progress all in one place. It also tracks the time to complete each task so that you can better schedule in the future for similar projects.

These are only a few of the platforms available online to create an amazing timeline for your business plan. In the beginning, it may be a lot of work to set up, but once you obtain the funding you are seeking, it’ll be well worth the time and effort.

By creating a timeline as early as possible in the business planning process, you can begin to establish realistic goals that can help improve day-to-day decision-making and boost confidence among current and potential stakeholders.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Business Plan Template

Simple Business Plan Templates

By Joe Weller | April 2, 2020

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In this article, we’ve compiled a variety of simple business plan templates, all of which are free to download in PDF, Word, and Excel formats.

On this page, you’ll find a one-page business plan template , a simple business plan for startups , a small-business plan template , a business plan outline , and more. We also include a business plan sample and the main components of a business plan to help get you started.

Simple Business Plan Template

Simple Business Plan Template

Download Simple Business Plan Template

Word  |  PDF

This simple business plan template lays out each element of a traditional business plan to assist you as you build your own, and it provides space to add financing information for startups seeking funding. You can use and customize this simple business plan template to fit the needs for organizations of any size.

One-Page Business Plan Template

template for business plan timeline

Download One-Page Business Plan Template

Excel  |  Word  |  PDF  | Smartsheet

Use this one-page business plan to document your key ideas in an organized manner. The template can help you create a high-level view of your business plan, and it provides easy scannability for stakeholders. You can use this one-page plan as a reference to build a more detailed blueprint for your business. 

For additional single page plans, take a look at " One-Page Business Plan Templates with a Quick How-To Guide ."

Simple Fill-in-the-Blank Business Plan Template

Simple Fill In The Blank Business Plan Template

Download Simple Fill-in-the-Blank Business Plan Template

Use this fill-in-the-blank business plan template to guide you as you build your business plan. Each section comes pre-filled with sample content, with space to add customized verbiage relevant to your product or service.

For additional free, downloadable resources, visit " Free Fill-In-the-Blank Business Plan Templates ."

Simple Business Plan for Startup

Start-Up Business Plan Template

‌  Download Startup Business Plan Template — Word

This business plan template is designed with a startup business in mind and contains the essential elements needed to convey key product or service details to investors and stakeholders. Keep all your information organized with this template, which provides space to include an executive summary, a company overview, competitive analysis, a marketing strategy, financial data, and more. For additional resources, visit " Free Startup Business Plan Templates and Examples ."

Simple Small-Business Plan Template

Small Business Plan Template

Download Simple Small-Business Plan Template

This template walks you through each component of a small-business plan, including the company background, the introduction of the management team, market analysis, product or service offerings, a financial plan, and more. This template also comes with a built-in table of contents to keep your plan in order, and it can be customized to fit your requirements.

Lean Business Plan Template

Lean Business Plan Template

Download Lean Business Plan Template

This lean business plan template is a stripped-down version of a traditional business plan that provides only the most essential aspects. Briefly outline your company and industry overview, along with the problem you are solving, as well as your unique value proposition, target market, and key performance metrics. There is also room to list out a timeline of key activities.

Simple Business Plan Outline Template

Simple Business Plan Outline Template

Download Simple Business Plan Outline Template

Use this simple business plan outline as a basis to create your own business plan. This template contains 11 sections, including a title page and a table of contents, which details what each section should cover in a traditional business plan. Simplify or expand this outline to create the foundation for a business plan that fits your business needs.

Simple Business Planning Template with Timeline

Simple Business Planning Template with Timeline

Download Simple Business Planning Template with Timeline

Excel  | Smartsheet

This template doubles as a project plan and timeline to track progress as you develop your business plan. This business planning template enables you to break down your work into phases and provides room to add key tasks and dates for each activity. Easily fill in the cells according to the start and end dates to create a visual timeline, as well as to ensure your plan stays on track.

Simple Business Plan Rubric Template

template for business plan timeline

Download Simple Business Plan Rubric

Once you complete your business plan, use this business plan rubric template to assess and score each component of your plan. This rubric helps you identify elements of your plan that meet or exceed requirements and pinpoint areas where you need to improve or further elaborate. This template is an invaluable tool to ensure your business plan clearly defines your goals, objectives, and plan of action in order to gain buy-in from potential investors, stakeholders, and partners.

Basic Business Plan Sample

Basic Business Plan Sample

Download Basic Business Plan Sample

This business plan sample serves as an example of a basic business plan that contains all the traditional components. The sample provides a model of what a business plan might look like for a fictional food truck business. Reference this sample as you develop your own business plan.

For additional resources to help support your business planning efforts, check out “ Free Strategic Planning Templates .”

Main Components of a Business Plan

The elements you include in your business plan will depend on your product or service offerings, as well as the size and needs of your business. 

Below are the components of a standard business plan and details you should include in each section:

  • Company name and contact information
  • Website address
  • The name of the company or individual viewing the presentation
  • Table of Contents
  • Company background and purpose
  • Mission and vision statement
  • Management team introduction
  • Core product and service offerings
  • Target customers and segments
  • Marketing plan
  • Competitive analysis
  • Unique value proposition
  • Financial plan (and requirements, if applicable)
  • Business and industry overview
  • Historical timeline of your business
  • Offerings and the problem they solve
  • Current alternatives
  • Competitive advantage
  • Market size
  • Target market segment(s)
  • Projected volume and value of sales compared to competitors
  • Differentiation from competitors
  • Pricing strategy
  • Marketing channels
  • Promotional plan
  • Distribution methods
  • Legal structure of your business
  • Names of founders, owners, advisors, etc.
  • Management team’s roles, relevant experience, and compensation plan
  • Staffing requirements and training plans
  • Physical location(s) of your business
  • Additional physical requirements (e.g., warehouse, specialized equipment, facilities, etc.)
  • Production workflow
  • Raw materials and sourcing methods
  • Projected income statement
  • Projected cash flow statement
  • Projected balance sheet
  • Break-even analysis
  • Charts and graphs
  • Market research and competitive analysis
  • Information about your industry
  • Information about your offerings
  • Samples of marketing materials
  • Other supporting materials

Tips for Creating a Business Plan

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the thought of putting together a business plan. Below, you’ll find top tips to help simplify the process as you develop your own plan. 

  • Use a business plan template (you can choose from the variety above), or refer to the previous section to create a standard outline for your plan.
  • Modify your outline to reflect the requirements of your specific business. If you use a standard business plan outline, remove sections that aren’t relevant to you or aren’t necessary to run your business.
  • Gather all the information you currently have about your business first, and then use that information to fill out each section in your plan outline.
  • Use your resources and conduct additional research to fill in the remaining gaps. (Note: It isn’t necessary to fill out your plan in order, but the executive summary needs to be completed last, as it summarizes the key points in your plan.)
  • Ensure your plan clearly communicates the relationship between your marketing, sales, and financial objectives.
  • Provide details in your plan that illustrate your strategic plan of action, looking forward three to five years.
  • Revisit your plan regularly as strategies and objectives evolve.
  • What product or service are we offering?
  • Who is the product or service for?
  • What problem does our product or service offering solve?
  • How will we get the product or service to our target customers?
  • Why is our product or service better than the alternatives?
  • How can we outperform our competitors?
  • What is our unique value proposition?
  • When will things get done, and who is responsible for doing them?
  • If you need to obtain funding, how will you use the funding?
  • When are payments due, and when do payments come in?
  • What is the ultimate purpose of your business?
  • When do you expect to be profitable?

To identify which type of business plan you should write, and for more helpful tips, take a look at our guide to writing a simple business plan .

Benefits of Using a Business Plan Template

Creating a business plan can be very time-consuming, especially if you aren’t sure where to begin. Finding the right template for your business needs can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. 

Using a business plan template — instead of creating your plan from scratch — can benefit you in the following ways:

  • Enables you to immediately write down your thoughts and ideas in an organized manner
  • Provides structure to help outline your plan
  • Saves time and valuable resources
  • Helps ensure you don’t miss essential details

Limitations of a Business Plan Template

A business plan template can be convenient, but it has its drawbacks — especially if you use a template that doesn’t fit the specific needs of your business.

Below are some limitations of using a business plan template:

  • Each business is unique and needs a business plan that reflects that. A template may not fit your needs.
  • A template may restrict collaboration with other team members on different aspects of the plan’s development (sales, marketing, and accounting teams).
  • Multiple files containing different versions of the plan may be stored in more than one place.
  • You still have to manually create charts and graphs to add to the plan to support your strategy.
  • Updates to the plan, spreadsheets, and supporting documents have to be made in multiple places (all documents may not update in real time as changes are made).

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The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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Top 7 Business Development Timeline Templates with Samples and Examples

Top 7 Business Development Timeline Templates with Samples and Examples

Yajur Sharma

author-user

Consider the Business Development Timeline to be the choreography of a complex dance. Here each step builds on the last to create something impactful. This timeline begins with a clear vision, laying out each growth phase. From securing resources and defining strategy to launching products and expanding reach. 

Each stage has its own purpose, contributing to a well-connected plan that adapts as the business evolves. It’s not just a simple schedule but rather a strategic framework that aligns goals and sets achievable milestones. This approach ensures the business progresses smoothly and overcomes challenges, seizing opportunities as they arise.

(Explore our exclusive collection of Business Development Roadmap Templates. These tools streamline planning, making it easy to outline goals, track progress, and align teams.)

Writing a business development timeline can sound overwhelming, complex, and a waste of time when you're a busy businessman with so much on your plate. However, the timelining phase is a make-or-break step for many businesses that could save money, resources, and energy in the long run.

But, creating a timeline from scratch can be a real challenge without the right tools. It's not just about the time and effort; it's also the frustration that comes with it. Since we're all human, mistakes and the need for constant updates are part of the process.

(Click here for our blog on business timeline templates which aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools required to create impactful visuals that drive productivity and success in your business strategy.)

On that note, we present to you an exclusive collection of SlideTeam’s Business Development Timeline Templates. These tools streamline the planning process and make it easy to outline goals, track progress, and align teams. They're adaptable, improving focus and efficiency for achieving growth targets. The best part is that our templates are completely customizable, providing you with the desired flexibility to edit your presentations. The content-ready nature of the slides gives you the much-needed framework and head start.

Explore these best seven slides now!

Template 1: Three Months of Sales and Marketing Business Development

Are you planning to showcase a three-month sales and business strategy for your company? The given slide in a visually engaging manner, outlines a business development roadmap focused on sales and marketing initiatives. It is organized into five key sections, such as KPIs, sales, marketing, product development, and external factors, each with a comprehensive timeline and milestone. Market share, number of active users, and funding data are monitored alongside duties like sales forecasting, SEO audition, and product feature development. The template also elaborates on external elements like politics, economics, and technology, which could impact the success of business. This template will benefit any startup founders, business development managers and marketing teams that are looking to present their quarterly strategies and track progress. 

three_months_sales_and_marketing_business_development_timeline

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!

Template 2: Business Development Management Process Timeline

This PowerPoint Template showcases a systematic business development management timeline that breaks down key phases over a 90-day period. It outlines a process with three key stages: identification in the first 30 days, evaluation in the following month, and negotiation in the final 30 days. Each phase includes particular tasks such as data collection, network development, and confidentiality protection, while the consulting management team gives support throughout the process. This template is particularly beneficial for business development managers, advisors, and partnership managers. It empowers them to visualize and track complicated deal-making processes while ensuring that all important steps are accurately planned and carried out. Grab it today!

business_development_management_process_timeline

Template 3: Timeline Highlighting Business Development Milestones Achieved by the Firm

Interested in presenting your organization’s journey and major accomplishments in an engaging visual format? This PowerPoint slide features a timeline that highlights major business development milestones achieved by the company. The template effectively communicates key accomplishments such as successful company acquisitions, strategic recruitment initiatives, high project completion rates, and sales revenue growth milestones. Employ this template and present your organization’s growth to stakeholders, investors, or board members in reviews or meetings. 

one_page_timeline_highlighting_business_development_milestones_achieved_by_the_firm_ppt_pdf_document

Template 4: Three-Year Business Project Development Planning Timeline

This PowerPoint Slide highlights a visually engaging roadmap for long-term business project development planning. It includes key stages like creating a project proposal, development and implementation phases, and project testing and evaluation. The purpose of designing this template is to assist organizations in tracking progress, allocating resources, and staying aligned with organizational goals. Further, it can be used to present plans and keep the stakeholders informed in the success of the project. Grab it today! 

three_year_business_project_development_planning_timeline

Template 5: 3-Month Timeline of Business Development Stages

Looking for a way to visualize your company’s remarkable growth journey over a three-month period? This PPT Template outlines an engaging timeline that tracks important business development milestones. It highlights elements of the process such as company founded, legal registration, recruitment process, launching new products, building revenue base, revenue received, etc. Each element is clearly dated and connected through a curved timeline design. Startup founders, business development teams, and executives can use this template to show their company's development story to investors, stakeholders, or team members in an easy-to-understand visually appealing way. Grab it today!

_month_timeline_of_business_development_stages

Template 6: Business Development Plan Three-Year Planning Timeline

Strategic long-term planning is vital for long-term growth of a company, and this PowerPoint template outlines a complete three-year roadmap for success. The slide features a tabular format to present five key pillars like data governance, business intelligence, architecture and infrastructure, change management, and process improvement. These pillars are aligned with strategic layers like strategy efficiency, improvement, and growth. This expertly created template is highly helpful for business strategists and project managers who need to communicate long-term organizational transformation goals to stakeholders. Employ this today!

business_development_plan_three_year_planning_timeline

Template 7: Monthly Timeline for Developing New Business Startup Plan

This PowerPoint Template illustrates a planned monthly roadmap to develop a complete starting company strategy. The timeline guides viewers through key stages, from initial self-evaluation and market study to discovering core business strengths and possible prospects. It addresses evaluations of threat and marketing strategy development while keeping market share growth in mind. Employ this template to systematically develop your business launch strategy while ensuring all vital planning elements are handled in the proper order. Download today!

monthly_timeline_for_developing_new_business_startup_plan

Template 8: 9 Steps for Developing Business Plan Timeline

This PowerPoint Template presents an appealing nine-step plan for building and launching a business. The design includes a flowing, wave-like route that connects hexagonal milestones, from filing incorporation papers to product development, office leasing, and staff recruiting, concluding in the actual company debut. This template is ideal for entrepreneurs and startup teams who need to present their business implementation roadmap to investors, stakeholders, or team members in a professional and easily digestible format.

_step_for_developing_business_plan_timeline

Wrapping Up!

A business development timeline guides your business in mapping out the journey and opportunities ahead with clarity and purpose. It's about plotting a course that's aligned with your ambitions. It ensures that all team members know the way forward and keeps your business on track toward achieving its goals. With our ready-to-use templates at your fingertips, it's time to draft your plan of action. 

PS: A business plan timeline is a roadmap to the business's accomplished and pending goals. It highlights the effectiveness of business strategies to track digital marketing tasks, market research projects, and organizational operations activities. Follow this link for our top five templates to get a headstart. 

Related posts:

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  • Quarterly Business Review Presentation: All the Essential Slides You Need in Your Deck
  • [Updated 2023] How to Design The Perfect Product Launch Presentation [Best Templates Included]
  • 99% of the Pitches Fail! Find Out What Makes Any Startup a Success

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10 Free Business Plan Templates in Word, Excel, & ClickUp

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

February 13, 2024

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Turning your vision into a clear and coherent business plan can be confusing and tough. 

Hours of brainstorming and facing an intimidating blank page can raise more questions than answers. Are you covering everything? What should go where? How do you keep each section thorough but brief?

If these questions have kept you up at night and slowed your progress, know you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve put together the top 10 business plan templates in Word, Excel, and ClickUp—to provide answers, clarity, and a structured framework to work with. This way, you’re sure to capture all the relevant information without wasting time. 

And the best part? Business planning becomes a little less “ugh!” and a lot more “aha!” 🤩

What is a Business Plan Template?

What makes a good business plan template, 1. clickup business plan template, 2. clickup sales plan template, 3. clickup business development action plan template, 4. clickup business roadmap template, 5. clickup business continuity plan template, 6. clickup lean business plan template, 7. clickup small business action plan template, 8. clickup strategic business roadmap template , 9. microsoft word business plan template by microsoft, 10. excel business plan template by vertex42.

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A business plan template is a structured framework for entrepreneurs and business executives who want to create business plans. It comes with pre-arranged sections and headings that cover key elements like the executive summary , business overview, target customers, unique value proposition, marketing plans, and financial statements.  

A good business plan template helps with thorough planning, clear documentation, and practical implementation. Here’s what to look for:

  • Comprehensive structure: A good template comes with all the relevant sections to outline a business strategy, such as executive summary, market research and analysis, and financial projections 
  • Clarity and guidance: A good template is easy to follow. It has brief instructions or prompts for each section, guiding you to think deeply about your business and ensuring you don’t skip important details
  • Clean design: Aesthetics matter. Choose a template that’s not just functional but also professionally designed. This ensures your plan is presentable to stakeholders, partners, and potential investors
  • Flexibility : Your template should easily accommodate changes without hassle, like adding or removing sections, changing content and style, and rearranging parts 🛠️ 

While a template provides the structure, it’s the information you feed it that brings it to life. These pointers will help you pick a template that aligns with your business needs and clearly showcases your vision.

10 Business Plan Templates to Use in 2024

Preparing for business success in 2024 (and beyond) requires a comprehensive and organized business plan. We’ve handpicked the best templates to help you guide your team, attract investors, and secure funding. Let’s check them out.

ClickUp Business Plan Template

If you’re looking to replace a traditional business plan document, then ClickUp’s Business Plan Template is for you!

This one-page business plan template, designed in ClickUp Docs , is neatly broken down into the following sections:

  • Company description : Overview, mission, vision, and team
  • Market analysis : Problem, solution, target market, competition, and competitive advantage
  • Sales and marketing strategy : Products/services and marketing channels
  • Operational plan : Location and facilities, equipment and tools, manpower, and financial forecasts
  • Milestones and metrics: Targets and KPIs

Customize the template with your company logo and contact details, and easily navigate to different sections using the collapsible table of contents. The mini prompts under each section guide you on what to include—with suggestions on how to present the data (e.g., bullet lists, pictures, charts, and tables). 

You can share the document with anyone via URL and collaborate in real time. And when the business plan is ready, you have the option to print it or export it to PDF, HTML, or Markdown.

But that’s not all. This template is equipped with basic and enterprise project management features to streamline the business plan creation process . The Topics List view has a list of all the different sections and subsections of the template and allows you to assign it to a team member, set a due date, and attach relevant documents and references.

Switch from List to Board view to track and update task statuses according to the following: To Do, In Progress, Needs Revision, and Complete. 

This template is a comprehensive toolkit for documenting the different sections of your business plan and streamlining the creation process to ensure it’s completed on time. 🗓️

ClickUp Sales Plan Template

If you’re looking for a tool to kickstart or update your sales plan, ClickUp’s Sales Plan Template has got you covered. This sales plan template features a project summary list with tasks to help you craft a comprehensive and effective sales strategy. Some of these tasks include:

  • Determine sales objectives and goals
  • Draft positioning statement
  • Perform competitive analysis
  • Draft ideal customer persona
  • Create a lead generation strategy

Assign each task to a specific individual or team, set priority levels , and add due dates. Specify what section of the sales plan each task belongs to (e.g., executive summary, revenue goals, team structure, etc.), deliverable type (such as document, task, or meeting), and approval state (like pending, needs revisions, and approved).

And in ClickUp style, you can switch to multiple views: List for a list of all tasks, Board for visual task management, Timeline for an overview of task durations, and Gantt to get a view of task dependencies. 

This simple business plan template is perfect for any type of business looking to create a winning sales strategy while clarifying team roles and keeping tasks organized. ✨

ClickUp Business Development Action Plan Template

Thinking about scaling your business’s reach and operations but unsure where or how to start? It can be overwhelming, no doubt—you need a clear vision, measurable goals, and an actionable plan that every member of your team can rally behind. 

Thankfully, ClickUp’s Business Development Action Plan Template is designed to use automations to simplify this process so every step toward your business growth is clear, trackable, and actionable.

Start by assessing your current situation and deciding on your main growth goal. Are you aiming to increase revenue, tap into new markets, or introduce new products or services? With ClickUp Whiteboards or Docs, brainstorm and collaborate with your team on this decision.

Set and track your short- and long-term growth goals with ClickUp’s Goals , break them down into smaller targets, and assign these targets to team members, complete with due dates. Add these targets to a new ClickUp Dashboard to track real-time progress and celebrate small wins. 🎉

Whether you’re a startup or small business owner looking to hit your next major milestone or an established business exploring new avenues, this template keeps your team aligned, engaged, and informed every step of the way.

ClickUp Business Roadmap Template

ClickUp’s Business Roadmap Template is your go-to for mapping out major strategies and initiatives in areas like revenue growth, brand awareness, community engagement, and customer satisfaction. 

Use the List view to populate tasks under each initiative. With Custom Fields, you can capture which business category (e.g., Product, Operations, Sales & Marketing, etc.) tasks fall under and which quarter they’re slated for. You can also link to relevant documents and resources and evaluate tasks by effort and impact to ensure the most critical tasks get the attention they deserve. 👀

Depending on your focus, this template provides different views to show just what you need. For example, the All Initiatives per Quarter view lets you focus on what’s ahead by seeing tasks that need completion within a specific quarter. This ensures timely execution and helps in aligning resources effectively for the short term.

This template is ideal for business executives and management teams who need to coordinate multiple short- and long-term initiatives and business strategies.

ClickUp Business Continuity Plan Template

In business, unexpected threats to operations can arise at any moment. Whether it’s economic turbulence, a global health crisis, or supply chain interruptions, every company needs to be ready. ClickUp’s Business Continuity Plan Template lets you prepare proactively for these unforeseen challenges.

The template organizes tasks into three main categories:

  • Priorities: Tasks that need immediate attention
  • Continuity coverage: Tasks that must continue despite challenges
  • Guiding principles: Resources and protocols to ensure smooth operations

The Board view makes it easy to visualize all the tasks under each of these categories. And the Priorities List sorts tasks by those that are overdue, the upcoming ones, and then the ones due later.

In times of uncertainty, being prepared is your best strategy. This template helps your business not just survive but thrive in challenging situations, keeping your customers, employees, and investors satisfied. 🤝

ClickUp Lean Business Plan Template

Looking to execute your business plan the “lean” way? Use ClickUp’s Lean Business Plan Template . It’s designed to help you optimize resource usage and cut unnecessary steps—giving you better results with less effort.

In the Plan Summary List view, list all the tasks that need to get done. Add specific details like who’s doing each task, when it’s due, and which part of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) it falls under. The By Priority view sorts this list based on priorities like Urgent, High, Normal, and Low. This makes it easy to spot the most important tasks and tackle them first.

Additionally, the Board view gives you an overview of task progression from start to finish. And the BMC view rearranges these tasks based on the various BMC components. 

Each task can further be broken down into subtasks and multiple checklists to ensure all related action items are executed. ✔️

This template is an invaluable resource for startups and large enterprises looking to maximize process efficiencies and results in a streamlined and cost-effective way.

ClickUp Small Business Action Plan Template

The Small Business Action Plan Template by ClickUp is tailor-made for small businesses looking to transform their business ideas and goals into actionable steps and, eventually, into reality. 

It provides a simple and organized framework for creating, assigning, prioritizing, and tracking tasks. And in effect, it ensures that goals are not just set but achieved. Through the native dashboard and goal-setting features, you can monitor task progress and how they move you closer to achieving your goals.

Thanks to ClickUp’s robust communication features like chat, comments, and @mentions, it’s easy to get every team member on the same page and quickly address questions or concerns.

Use this action plan template to hit your business goals by streamlining your internal processes and aligning team efforts.

ClickUp Strategic Business Roadmap Template 

For larger businesses and scaling enterprises, getting different departments to work together toward a big goal can be challenging. The ClickUp Strategic Business Roadmap Template makes it easier by giving you a clear plan to follow.

This template is packaged in a folder and split into different lists for each department in your business, like Sales, Product, Marketing, and Enablement. This way, every team can focus on their tasks while collectively contributing to the bigger goal.

There are multiple viewing options available for team members. These include:

  • Progress Board: Visualize tasks that are on track, those at risk, and those behind
  • Gantt view: Get an overview of project timelines and dependencies
  • Team view: See what each team member is working on so you can balance workloads for maximum productivity

While this template may feel overwhelming at first, the getting started guide offers a step-by-step breakdown to help you navigate it with ease. And like all ClickUp templates, you can easily customize it to suit your business needs and preferences.

Microsoft Word Business Plan Template by Microsoft

Microsoft’s 20-page traditional business plan template simplifies the process of drafting comprehensive business plans. It’s made up of different sections, including:

  • Executive summary : Highlights, objectives, mission statement, and keys to success
  • Description of business: Company ownership and legal structure, hours of operation, products and services, suppliers, financial plans, etc.
  • Marketing: Market analysis, market segmentation, competition, and pricing
  • Appendix: Start-up expenses, cash flow statements, income statements, sales forecast, milestones, break-even analysis, etc.

The table of contents makes it easy to move to different sections of the document. And the text placeholders under each section provide clarity on the specific details required—making the process easier for users who may not be familiar with certain business terminology.

Excel Business Plan Template by Vertex42

No business template roundup is complete without an Excel template. This business plan template lets you work on your business financials in Excel. It comes with customizable tables, formulas, and charts to help you look at the following areas:

  • Highlight charts
  • Market analysis
  • Start-up assets and expenses
  • Sales forecasts
  • Profit and loss
  • Balance sheet
  • Cash flow projections
  • Break-even analysis

This Excel template is especially useful when you want to create a clear and visual financial section for your business plan document—an essential element for attracting investors and lenders. However, there might be a steep learning curve to using this template if you’re not familiar with business financial planning and using Excel.

Try a Free Business Plan Template in ClickUp

Launching and running a successful business requires a well-thought-out and carefully crafted business plan. However, the business planning process doesn’t have to be complicated, boring, or take up too much time. Use any of the above 10 free business plan formats to simplify and speed up the process.

ClickUp templates go beyond offering a solid foundation to build your business plans. They come with extensive project management features to turn your vision into reality. And that’s not all— ClickUp’s template library offers over 1,000 additional templates to help manage various aspects of your business, from decision-making to product development to resource management .

Sign up for ClickUp’s Free Forever Plan today to fast-track your business’s growth! 🏆

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3 Business Timeline Templates in EdrawMind for Your Business Plan

Crafting a solid business plan? Look no further! Our article unveils three impactful business timeline templates in EdrawMind. Organize your goals, milestones, and projections seamlessly with these dynamic templates. Elevate your business planning to new

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Introduction

A business timeline and plan is a roadmap that helps a business achieve its goals. You can simplify the process using visual aids. EdrawMind is a tool that can help you make mind maps and provides various templates to make your business planning easier.

This article will introduce the three best business timeline templates . It will also discuss how they can help you plan your business strategies. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or starting, these templates can be valuable tools to help you achieve your goals.

example of a business plan timeline

Understanding Everything About Business Timeline

A business timeline represents a project's key milestones, tasks, and deadlines. A project timeline helps everyone involved in a project understand what is needed and keeps track of progress.

A business timeline is crucial in achieving project objectives and ensuring the project stays on track and within budget. It is a critical component of effective project management. It ensures you complete tasks on time, on budget, and within scope.

Key elements of a business timeline :

  • Project start and end dates
  • Key milestones
  • Deliverables
  • Tasks required to complete the project
  • A detailed breakdown of each task, including dependencies and the estimated time required to complete it.

There are different types of business timelines that project managers can use to manage their projects. One of the most popular is the Gantt chart, which represents a project's schedule. It shows each task as arrows representing a bar on a timeline and dependencies between tasks. People use Gantt charts to manage complex projects.

example of a gantt chart

Swim lane diagrams are a type of business timeline that shows the relationship between tasks and team members in a horizontal chart. Each team member has a specific lane, and tasks in a vertical bar span the swim lanes. These diagrams are useful for smaller and simpler projects.

example of a swim lane diagram

A project timeline is a type of business timeline that shows a project's schedule. It lists all the tasks and milestones with their start and end dates. It can help keep track of progress and identify any problems that might cause delays. Project timelines work for any project, no matter how big or complex.

example of a project timeline

Overview of EdrawMind's Business Timeline Templates

EdrawMind is a tool that helps create business plans and proposals using diagrams and mind maps. It has many valuable features, including business timeline templates that help visualize important project deadlines and tasks.

timeline template example of edrawmind

1. Three Examples of Business Plans Diagrams From EdrawMind

EdrawMind offers a range of business timeline templates. This section will focus on 3 templates, fishbone diagram, mindmap, and project timelines. These customizable templates allow users to tailor them to their needs and requirements.

Key Features and Design of Fishbone Diagram:

Here are the summarized features of the fishbone diagram for business timelines.

  • Backbone : A horizontal line represents the problem or effect being investigated. The line serves as the backbone of the diagram.
  • Branches : Many branches are drawn off the backbone to represent the potential causes of the problem or effect.
  • Categories : The branches are different categories, varying depending on the problem. Common categories include people, processes, equipment, and environment.
  • Sub-Causes : Each branch can have smaller branches that show other possible reasons for the issue.
  • Cause-and-Effect Relationships : Show how a problem is related to its possible causes.
  • Collaboration : Get people from different parts of a company to work together and find potential causes.
  • Visualization : The fishbone diagram represents the problem and its potential causes. Hence, it can help with understanding and communication.

example of fishbone diagram

Key Features and Design of a Mind Map:

These points show the key elements of mind maps when drafting a business plan.

  • Central Idea. The main idea locates in the center of the map. And other ideas and information appear around it.
  • Branches. Branches connect the central idea to other related ideas and information. They can be curved or straight and color-coded or labeled to differentiate.
  • Nodes. Nodes represent individual ideas or pieces of information. They connect to the branches. And they can further expand with sub-nodes to provide more detail.
  • Collaboration. Mind maps can be a collaborative tool. They allow multiple people to contribute ideas and information in real time.
  • Non-linear structure. Mind maps have a non-linear structure, which allows for a more creative and flexible approach to organizing ideas and information.
  • Flexibility. Mind maps can be modified and updated, allowing for necessary changes and additions.

example of a mindmap

Key Features and Design of Project Timeline Template:

You can see the advantage of timeline templates when constructing a business project below.

  • Time Scale. The time scale is an essential feature of a project timeline template. It indicates the project's duration, marking the start and end dates.
  • Milestones. Milestones are significant events or achievements important to the project. They are usually marked on the timeline with a diamond-shaped icon to help visualize the project's progress.
  • Tasks and Activities. Tasks and activities are the individual steps to complete the project. These can be displayed as horizontal bars on the timeline. The length of the bar represents the duration of each task.
  • Dependencies. Dependencies indicate the order of completing tasks. These can be represented as arrows on the timeline, with the start and end points of the arrow indicating the tasks that are dependent on each other.
  • Resource Allocation. Resource allocation is an important aspect of project management. It can be displayed on the timeline template by showing which tasks need which resources.
  • Flexibility. A good project timeline template should be flexible enough to accommodate project schedules or scope changes.

example of project timeline template

2. Steps of Creating a Business Timeline Using EdrawMind

After understanding the 3 different business timeline templates, the following part will provide an example of creating your business timeline using EdrawMind .

Step1: Download EdrawMind and launch the application on your computer.

Step2: You will see the interface of EdrawMind. Click Horizontal Timeline .

select edrawmind horizontal timeline

Step3: A horizontal template appears on the canvas. You can input details of your business timeline into each topic box by double-clicking them.

Step4: To add a subtopic for a specific topic, click it and press Ctrl + Enter on your keyboard. To add a sibling topic for a topic, select it and press the Enter button on the keyboard.

Step5: Click each topic, and the Style toolbar in the right side panel will pop up, allowing you to set the color, font, and size of your words.

editing wording in box options

Step6: Below is an example of a completed business timeline. Once done, click the save button on the top left corner to save this timeline.

saving completed business timeline

The Information of Business Plan of Proposal Essentials You Should Know

A well-crafted business plan or proposal is essential when starting a new business or seeking funding for an existing one. Here are some key things you should know about the information included in a business plan/proposal:

A business plan is a written document that outlines a company's goals, strategies, and expected outcomes. Its purpose is to provide direction to the organization and communicate its value to investors and partners. A well-crafted plan can help secure funding, attract talent, and guide decision-making to keep the business going.

1. Key Components of Business Plans:

While the specific contents of a business plan or proposal will vary depending on the organization's industry and goals, several key components should be included in most plans. These components include:

  • Executive Summary. It is a brief overview of the business plan. It includes critical goals, objectives, the problem or opportunity being addressed, and the proposed solution.
  • Market Analysis. This section provides an overview of the market landscape. It refers to trends, competitors, and customer segments. It should also include an analysis of the organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
  • Product/Service Offering. This section describes product or service features, benefits, and pricing.
  • Marketing and Sales Strategy. It's a plan to reach customers and make money through advertising and sales channels.
  • Financial Projections. This section provides a detailed breakdown of the financials of the business. The main points include revenue projections, expense projections, and funding requirements.
  • Management Team and Operations. This section outlines the leadership and management structure of the organization. It also demonstrates the operational plan for delivering products or services.

A good business plan or proposal should be easy to understand, short, and convincing. It should show the organization's benefits and its potential to grow and succeed. By following the crucial elements mentioned above, you can ensure that your plan is complete, persuasive, and communicates the worth of your business to stakeholders.

Wondershare EdrawMind offers three useful templates for creating a complete business plan. These templates help businesses plan their goals, strategies, and timelines. Hence, they can use their resources and achieve their objectives.

The project timeline template is the best one out of the three business timeline templates. This template is suitable for all types of projects and covers all the important business plan details. EdrawMind's business timeline templates are powerful and flexible tools. Businesses can use them to create successful business plans. Businesses can stay organized and focused on reaching their goals using these templates.

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25 Best Free Timeline Templates in PPT, Word, Excel, Google in 2024

Roger Match

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In today's guide by Superside, your trusted creative partner, we'll help you find the best free timeline templates available in PPT, Word, Excel, PSD, and Google Docs for 2024. Whether you are looking to deliver powerful presentations in PowerPoint or explore alternatives in Excel or Word, we've got you covered. Let's dive into the 25 best free timeline templates, each with download links, right away.

One of the most popular PowerPoint templates is the PowerPoint timeline template. If used effectively, it can deliver powerful presentations that include all the attributes listed above.

The best PowerPoint presentations are intuitive, easy to follow and powerful. At Superside, we’re specialists in designing effective presentations, by starting from scratch or using your vision and building from there–you can use Superside to outsource presentations easily and give them new life, with a turnaround as quick as 12 hours.

However, if you are looking for the best timeline templates that you can use in Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel or PhotoShop, we’ve got you covered. Let’s discover some awesome timeline templates that will boost your productivity, enhance your presentations and help you visualize your project planning with ease.

What is a Timeline Template?

Timeline templates are pre-designed formats for creating timelines. They provide a structured layout that you can fill with your own content.

These templates come in various styles and formats. Some are horizontal, others are vertical. Some are simple, others are complex.

Timeline templates are like blueprints. They give you a starting point to create your own timeline.

You can find timeline templates in various software applications. These include PowerPoint Presentation (PPT), Word document, Google Docs (or Google Sheets– check out our Google Docs templates to learn more), Excel and Photoshop (PSD).

Each template is designed for a specific purpose. For example, a project timeline template helps you track project progress. A wedding timeline template helps you plan your big day.

template for business plan timeline

For example, this visual timeline in PowerPoint segment depicts part of a company’s history and its major milestones (and important events) between 1987 and 2017.

The Importance of Using Timeline Templates in Project Management

In our experience, timelines are crucial in project management, event planning and historical events because they provide a structured framework for planning, executing and monitoring project activities .

By visually outlining key milestones, deadlines, and deliverables, timelines help ensure that all team members understand the project's schedule and their respective roles. This clarity promotes effective time management, resource allocation and coordination among team members , reducing the risk of delays and miscommunication, making timelines a must if you want to tell a story that’s compelling, straightforward and visually appealing.

See The Quality You Can Create With Superside

See The Quality You Can Create With Superside

See how our world-class design teams have helped some of the world’s top brands create sensational campaigns at the speed of light.

For example, if you want an audience to see your presentations to completion for SWOT analysis , you simply choose a template with visual appeal that acts as the visual representation you need.

Timelines facilitate progress tracking and allow project managers to quickly identify and address any deviations from the plan, ensuring that the project stays on track and meets its objectives within the set timeframe.

3 Factors to Consider When Selecting a Timeline Template

Whether you are looking for images or photos to add to your PowerPoint presentations or searching for fully customizable templates for your timelines, there are three factors that you definitely need to consider.

1. Purpose and audience

First, determine the primary goal of your timeline. Is it for a project plan, historical overview, or a marketing campaign? Each purpose might require a different style and level of detail.

Then, consider who will be viewing the timeline. For example, a timeline for a high-level executive presentation might need to be more polished and visually appealing, whereas a timeline for internal team use can be more functional and detailed. Of course, this depends on your individual needs and requirements.

2. Customization and flexibility

Check how easy it is to customize the template to fit your specific needs. Can you easily change brand colors, fonts, and other design elements to match your branding or personal preferences?

Then, even if you are using a free version of a template, evaluate the template's flexibility. Can it be easily adapted to different types of content and data? A good template should allow you to add, remove, or rearrange events and milestones without hassle.

3. Compatibility and usability

Make sure the template is compatible with the software you are using, whether it's Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel or Photoshop. This will save you time and prevent technical issues if you want to use it on social media platforms or for internal use only.

Also, look for user-friendly templates that are easy to edit and update. Templates with intuitive design features and clear instructions will make the process smoother, especially if you need to make frequent changes or updates to the background, milestone slide or other elements.

Streamline Your Creative Needs: Customized Designs and Timelines with Superside

Customizable and free timeline templates are great, but do you know what's better? Personalized timeline designs made by a team of experts who know how to leverage AI and combine it with their extensive experience at Superside.

Whether you are working on a marketing campaign, product launch, or internal project, our team of skilled designers can deliver high-quality, on-brand visuals that align with your goals.

We are more than a pitch deck or presentation design agency —our single creative subscription has everything you need to enhance your creative output and save time and resources, so you can focus on what truly matters: driving your business forward. Want to learn more?

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Superside: Human-Powered Design, Enhanced by AI

Extend your in-house creative team to reduce project costs, accelerate timelines and unlock new creative possibilities

15 Best Free PowerPoint Timeline Templates

Now, let’s take a look at 15 free timeline templates that you can use in PowerPoint. Each of them includes a download link that allows you to work on the pre-customized design or a blank timeline template if you prefer.

1. Project timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This multi-color, minimalist project timeline template is great for pitching a project to a client, in an in-house management meeting, or for presenting a new project to the team and organizing it efficiently. The minimalist format will let you focus on relevant information, but at the same time present it to the audience in a visual-friendly manner. This timeline format is great for splitting the project stages into quarterly time sequences.

Download a single slide presentation here: Download 4:3  |  Download 16:9

Download all slides here: Download all slides 4:3  |  Download all slides 16:9

2. Business plan timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This formal corporate template is great for presenting the company’s yearly business plan or an event timeline. This business timeline template uses quarters as time units, but this can be easily changed, depending on the purpose of the presentation.

3. Wave timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This wave timeline template has an original design, bold colors and manages to differentiate itself from the common horizontal or vertical templates we usually see. We believe this would be an excellent choice for a creative marketing timeline.

4. Hexagon timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This modern and minimalist timeline manages to make the most out of a slide’s space, due to its creative layout. It can be used for several purposes, whether as a business timeline template, a project management timeline template or even an event timeline template.

5. Creative timeline template

template for business plan timeline

Our designers have created this edgy and vibrant orange template with the client’s objective in mind. This creative approach is great for a project timeline template, such as presenting tasks or setting milestones, but also for succinct business plan timeline presentations.

6. Event timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This clear and intuitive event timeline template can efficiently be used for a wide array of events, such as conferences, meetings, workshops, etc. If it needs to be used for a multiple-day event, it can easily be replicated for different days.

7. Meeting timeline template

template for business plan timeline

Our designers have created this colorful and flat graphics event timeline template, which can be a great choice for event or meeting timelines. It can also be used for project management purposes if the hours are replaced by dates.

8. Balloon timeline design template

template for business plan timeline

Colorful, minimalist and with a modern feel, this PowerPoint template can best be used as a business plan timeline or even as a history timeline template, showcasing the company’s completed milestones or highlighting the key moments in its history.

9. Circle timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This clean, professional task timeline template was created by our Superside designers, especially for project managers who wish to use it as a project management timeline template that is easy to follow and highlights the essential tasks of a project. Its clarity and readability make it easier for every person involved in the project to follow and get a transparent image of the project flow.

10. History timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This stylish, professional history timeline template can be used as either an in-house presentation tool in the orientation process for new employees or for high-level client presentations. It can increase their confidence in the company by presenting its history and biggest achievements.

11. Arrow timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This multi-color, modern timeline design template is highly effective as a business plan template, or even as a project timeline, highlighting milestones or goals progressively, from idea to success, as emphasized by the arrow pointing upwards. Arrows are a powerful addition to timeline presentations, conveying a journey and making it easier for the audience to follow the process or flow described.

12. Professional business plan timeline template

template for business plan timeline

Our designers know how much professionalism and visual impact matter in the business context, and that is exactly why they created this modern, flat-graphic design, suitable for business presentations or for breaking down a project into key tasks for the team.

13. Modern history timeline template

template for business plan timeline

The visual impact of a history timeline presentation can be the key element that makes or breaks a presentation of this kind. This modern and elegant history timeline template will stir the audience’s curiosity and keep them alert.

14. Project management timeline template

template for business plan timeline

Unlike some of the project management PowerPoint templates we’ve seen before, this one uses time instead of tasks as a reference, splitting the project into monthly milestones.

15. Road timeline template

template for business plan timeline

This multi-color, modern-looking timeline is a fitting example of an inspired and original vertical timeline template. This can be used in presenting business or project milestones, plans or events.

14 Places for Best Timeline Templates (Free)

Because we know how important it is for business professionals to be presented with several choice options, we have also created a list of the 14 best places to find both paid and free PowerPoint timeline templates:

  • Edrawsoft.com
  • Madprocessing.co
  • Officetimeline.com
  • Slideteam.net
  • Slidehunter.com
  • Poweredtemplate.com
  • Sketchbubble.com
  • Presentationgo.com
  • Free-power-point-templates.com
  • Slidemodel.com
  • Showeet.com
  • Ganttopia.com
  • Graphicriver.net
  • Templates.office.com

According to our specialists at Superside, the top three choices are:

  • Graphicriver.net  - for their diversity and creative templates;
  • Sketchbubble.com  – for their colorful, flat-design templates;
  • Officetimeline.com  – for their intuitive, classic templates.

If you are a do-it-yourself kind of person and you have an idea in mind, or you want to see how to create a timeline template, check out one of the insightful and clearly explained YouTube tutorials on  how to create an interactive timeline in PowerPoint  and learn how to do this yourself.

What is the Office Timeline PowerPoint Add-in?

The Office Timeline PowerPoint Add-in is a Microsoft PowerPoint plugin that can quickly and efficiently help you create timeline and project slides. Once you have the plugin installed, you may choose between Metro, Phases, Interval or Gantt styles. From there on, you can easily start creating your timeline since it is intuitive.

template for business plan timeline

4 Best Free Microsoft Word Timeline Templates

We also have some alternatives to PowerPoint for your timelines, but there are so many options that we prefer you check them out! If you want to work on Microsoft Word, check out the following four timeline templates.

1. 12-month timeline template

Download link: 12-Month Timeline Template

The 12-month timeline template offers customizable project timeline and roadmap templates, enabling you to build captivating and clear project timelines and roadmaps with designer-developed options suitable for any project type.

2. Project planning timeline template

Download link: Project Planning Timeline Template

The Project Planning Timeline Template for Microsoft Word allows you to create detailed and organized timelines to effectively plan and manage your projects, with customizable features to fit your specific needs.

3. Project timeline template

Download Link: Project timeline template

The Project Timeline Template for Microsoft Word enables you to efficiently create and manage detailed timelines, helping you stay organized and on track with customizable options to suit your project's specific requirements.

4. Historical timeline template

Download link: Historical timeline template

The Historical Timeline Template for Microsoft Word enables you to effortlessly create detailed timelines, ideal for illustrating historical events with customizable options to suit your preferences.

4 Best Free Excel Timeline Templates

Now, let’s discover the best free Excel timeline templates to help you organize and visualize your projects, events, and schedules with ease.

1. Project timeline template with milestones

Download link: Timeline with milestones

An Excel spreadsheet that visually outlines the project timeline, highlighting key milestones and their respective deadlines.

2. Excel project timeline template

Download link: Project timeline template

An Excel template designed to help create a structured project timeline, complete with tasks, deadlines and milestones.

3. Bubble chart timeline template

Download link: Bubble chart timeline

The Bubble Chart Timeline Template for Excel allows you to visually represent events and milestones with customizable bubble sizes and positions, making it easy to highlight key points in your timeline.

4. Project schedule template

Download link: Project schedule template

The Project Schedule Template for Excel helps you efficiently plan, track, and manage your project's timeline, tasks and milestones with customizable features for a streamlined workflow.

When and Why Are Timelines Used ?

Business and project management professionals use PowerPoint timeline templates because these types of templates are clean and clear, presenting information in an intuitive, succinct and professional manner, keeping the audience engaged and focused.

Project timeline templates can differ quite a lot, depending on their purpose, whether for planning, educating or informing, but also depending on their business utility, from delegating basic tasks to presenting more complex infrastructure rollouts.

Some of the most common types of timelines used in business include:

  • Project management timeline template – used either in-house or in front of clients, and great for creating a clear visual of tasks, milestones or deadlines;
  • Business plan template;
  • History timeline template – great for emphasizing dates and milestones;
  • Event timeline template.

Since it is such an important PowerPoint slide that is used often, we have created some timeline variations for you to download for free:

If you are looking for a timeline infographic template to organize the information and present it in a linear way, websites like Behance or Canva have a vast collection of great timeline infographics, such as this illustrated timeline infographic .

template for business plan timeline

Optimize Your Projects with Superside's Timeline Template Designs

Sometimes, you won't find exactly what you have in mind in predetermined timeline templates, but we can make it happen. At Superside, our presentation and illustration design expertise is precisely what you need to create stunning timelines that not only look wonderful but also help you achieve your goals and complete your projects.

If you prefer to focus on other projects, outsource your timeline designs to Superside. Our graphic design services will deliver an eye-catching presentation, whether we implement your specifications or create a complex, high-end design. Book a call to learn more

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Meet Roger, a content marketer driven by his love for online search, digital marketing, and performance marketing. When he's not immersed in the latest updates on Google, AI and social media, you'll find him passionately crafting strategies to simplify online searches for people, sparing them the frustration of navigating through endless pages. As a marketer, Roger Match has turned into the perfect match for Superside, helping us showcase our purpose, objectives and essence to the world.

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These Are the 12 Best AI Presentation Makers of 2024

These Are the 12 Best AI Presentation Makers of 2024

10 Best Places to Outsource PowerPoint Design Services in 2024

10 Best Places to Outsource PowerPoint Design Services in 2024

25 Best Consulting Pitch Deck Examples in 2024 (McKinsey, Deloitte & More)

25 Best Consulting Pitch Deck Examples in 2024 (McKinsey, Deloitte & More)

IMAGES

  1. Free Simple Business Plan Templates

    template for business plan timeline

  2. How to Develop a Business Plan Timeline

    template for business plan timeline

  3. Top 5 Business Plan Timeline Template with Samples and Examples

    template for business plan timeline

  4. Top 5 Business Plan Timeline Template with Samples and Examples

    template for business plan timeline

  5. Business Timeline Infographic Template 830219 Vector Art at Vecteezy

    template for business plan timeline

  6. 30+ Timeline Templates (Excel, Power Point, Word) ᐅ TemplateLab

    template for business plan timeline

VIDEO

  1. Create a Market Plan Timeline for Business Success

  2. Creating and Editing Timeline Templates 🕒

  3. Modern Timeline ( After Effects Template ) ★ AE Templates

  4. How to use an Advanced Business Plan Template by Paul Borosky, MBA

  5. Business Timeline Templates You can't Miss!⏳📈 #powerpoint #projectmanagement #timeline #slideuplift

  6. How to write a business plan step by step guide + template

COMMENTS

  1. Business Plan

    Our business plan timeline template can be downloaded free of charge and updated as needed in PowerPoint, but it's much faster and easier to do so with the Office Timeline add-in which you can try for free for 14 days. Make an impression on your investors at the next meeting with a clear, concise, and comprehensible plan to secure funding and ...

  2. Customizable timeline templates

    Don't waste any time—start your next project plan or production roadmap with a timeline template. Timelines are a great way to visually organize your thoughts, plotting each step that you plan to execute. Making planners and trackers into timelines is a snap when working with templates. You can also use timeline templates to show how far a ...

  3. Top 5 Business Plan Timeline Template with Samples and Examples

    Template 2: 3-year Planning Timeline Business Plan Achievement Innovation Development Keep your audience glued to seats with this professionally designed 3-year planning timeline Template. The template revolves around a new product innovation timeline, including innovation, transformation, strengths, weaknesses, efficiency, and effectiveness of ...

  4. How to Create a Business Plan Timeline

    Below you will learn what a business plan timeline is and where it belongs in your business plan. What is a Business Plan Timeline? A business plan timeline lays out the key milestones you hope to achieve in your business and when you plan to accomplish them. The Importance of a Timeline. In running a business, it is very easy to get caught up ...

  5. Free Timeline Templates

    Business Plan Clear, ready-made timeline sample with tasks well-delimited through three separate color codes and in-a-row layout to enable planners to create effective, one-page business plans that channel the audience's attention to its most important aspects. ... A project timeline template is a pre-made model of a timeline that you can ...

  6. Free Simple Business Plan Templates

    This template doubles as a project plan and timeline to track progress as you develop your business plan. This business planning template enables you to break down your work into phases and provides room to add key tasks and dates for each activity.

  7. Top 7 Business Development Timeline Templates with Samples ...

    Template 7: Monthly Timeline for Developing New Business Startup Plan. This PowerPoint Template illustrates a planned monthly roadmap to develop a complete starting company strategy. The timeline guides viewers through key stages, from initial self-evaluation and market study to discovering core business strengths and possible prospects.

  8. 10 Free Business Plan Templates in Word, Excel, & ClickUp

    No business template roundup is complete without an Excel template. This business plan template lets you work on your business financials in Excel. It comes with customizable tables, formulas, and charts to help you look at the following areas: Highlight charts; Market analysis; Milestones; Start-up assets and expenses; Sales forecasts; Profit ...

  9. 3 Business Timeline Templates in EdrawMind for Your Business Plan

    The project timeline template is the best one out of the three business timeline templates. This template is suitable for all types of projects and covers all the important business plan details. EdrawMind's business timeline templates are powerful and flexible tools. Businesses can use them to create successful business plans.

  10. 25 Best Free Timeline Templates in PPT, Word, Excel, Google in 2024

    This formal corporate template is great for presenting the company's yearly business plan or an event timeline. This business timeline template uses quarters as time units, but this can be easily changed, depending on the purpose of the presentation. Download a single slide presentation here: Download 4:3 | Download 16:9