business plan calculator excel

Free Business Plan Excel Template [Excel Download]

Written by Dave Lavinsky

A business plan is a roadmap for growing your business. Not only does it help you plan out your venture, but it is required by funding sources like banks, venture capitalists and angel investors.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

The body of your business plan describes your company and your strategies for growing it. The financial portion of your plan details the financial implications of your business: how much money you need, what you project your future sales and earnings to be, etc.

Below you will be able to download our free business plan excel template to help with the financial portion of your business plan. You will also learn about the importance of the financial model in your business plan.

Download the template here: Financial Plan Excel Template  

How to Finish Your Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less! It includes a simple, plug-and-play financial model and a fill-in-the-blanks template for completing the body of your plan.

What’s Included in our Business Plan Excel Template

Our business plan excel template includes the following sections:

Income Statement : A projection of your business’ revenues, costs, and expenses over a specific period of time. Includes sections for sales revenue, cost of goods sold (COGS), operating expenses, and net profit or loss.

Example 5 Year Annual Income Statement

Cash Flow Statement : A projection of your business’ cash inflows and outflows over a specific period of time. Includes sections for cash inflows (such as sales receipts, loans, and investments), cash outflows (such as expenses, salaries, and loan repayments), and net cash flow.

Example 5 Year Annual Cash Flow Statement

Balance Sheet : A snapshot of your business’ financial position at a specific point in time. Includes sections for assets (such as cash, inventory, equipment, and property), liabilities (such as loans, accounts payable, and salaries payable), and owner’s equity (such as retained earnings and capital contributions).

Example 5 Year Annual Balance Sheet

Download the template here: Business Plan Excel Template 

The template is easy to customize according to your specific business needs. Simply input your own financial data and projections, and use it as a guide to create a comprehensive financial plan for your business. Remember to review and update your financial plan regularly to track your progress and make informed financial decisions.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

The importance of the financial model in your business plan.

A solid financial model is a critical component of any well-prepared business plan. It provides a comprehensive and detailed projection of your business’ financial performance, including revenue, expenses, cash flow, and profitability. The financial model is not just a mere set of numbers, but a strategic tool that helps you understand the financial health of your business, make informed decisions, and communicate your business’ financial viability to potential investors, lenders, and other stakeholders. In this article, we will delve into the importance of the financial model in your business plan.

• Provides a roadmap for financial success : A well-structured financial model serves as a roadmap for your business’ financial success. It outlines your revenue streams, cost structure, and cash flow projections, helping you understand the financial implications of your business strategies and decisions. It allows you to forecast your future financial performance, set financial goals, and measure your progress over time. A comprehensive financial model helps you identify potential risks, opportunities, and areas that may require adjustments to achieve your financial objectives.
• Demonstrates financial viability to stakeholders : Investors, lenders, and other stakeholders want to see that your business is financially viable and has a plan to generate revenue, manage expenses, and generate profits. A robust financial model in your business plan demonstrates that you have a solid understanding of your business’ financials and have a plan to achieve profitability. It provides evidence of the market opportunity, pricing strategy, sales projections, and financial sustainability. A well-prepared financial model increases your credibility and instills confidence in your business among potential investors and lenders.
• Helps with financial decision-making : Your financial model is a valuable tool for making informed financial decisions. It helps you analyze different scenarios, evaluate the financial impact of your decisions, and choose the best course of action for your business. For example, you can use your financial model to assess the feasibility of a new product launch, determine the optimal pricing strategy, or evaluate the impact of changing market conditions on your cash flow. A well-structured financial model helps you make data-driven decisions that are aligned with your business goals and financial objectives.
• Assists in securing funding : If you are seeking funding from investors or lenders, a robust financial model is essential. It provides a clear picture of your business’ financials and shows how the funds will be used to generate revenue and profits. It includes projections for revenue, expenses, cash flow, and profitability, along with a breakdown of assumptions and methodology used. It also provides a realistic assessment of the risks and challenges associated with your business and outlines the strategies to mitigate them. A well-prepared financial model in your business plan can significantly increase your chances of securing funding as it demonstrates your business’ financial viability and growth potential.
• Facilitates financial management and monitoring : A financial model is not just for external stakeholders; it is also a valuable tool for internal financial management and monitoring. It helps you track your actual financial performance against your projections, identify any deviations, and take corrective actions if needed. It provides a clear overview of your business’ cash flow, profitability, and financial health, allowing you to proactively manage your finances and make informed decisions to achieve your financial goals. A well-structured financial model helps you stay on top of your business’ financials and enables you to take timely actions to ensure your business’ financial success.
• Enhances business valuation : If you are planning to sell your business or seek investors for an exit strategy, a robust financial model is crucial. It provides a solid foundation for business valuation as it outlines your historical financial performance, future projections, and the assumptions behind them. It helps potential buyers or investors understand the financial potential of your business and assess its value. A well-prepared financial model can significantly impact the valuation of your business, and a higher valuation can lead to better negotiation terms and higher returns on your investment.
• Supports strategic planning : Your financial model is an integral part of your strategic planning process. It helps you align your financial goals with your overall business strategy and provides insights into the financial feasibility of your strategic initiatives. For example, if you are planning to expand your business, enter new markets, or invest in new technologies, your financial model can help you assess the financial impact of these initiatives, including the investment required, the expected return on investment, and the timeline for achieving profitability. It enables you to make informed decisions about the strategic direction of your business and ensures that your financial goals are aligned with your overall business objectives.
• Enhances accountability and transparency : A robust financial model promotes accountability and transparency in your business. It provides a clear framework for setting financial targets, measuring performance, and holding yourself and your team accountable for achieving financial results. It helps you monitor your progress towards your financial goals and enables you to take corrective actions if needed. A well-structured financial model also enhances transparency by providing a clear overview of your business’ financials, assumptions, and methodologies used in your projections. It ensures that all stakeholders, including investors, lenders, employees, and partners, have a clear understanding of your business’ financial performance and prospects.

In conclusion, a well-prepared financial model is a crucial component of your business plan. It provides a roadmap for financial success, demonstrates financial viability to stakeholders, helps with financial decision-making, assists in securing funding, facilitates financial management and monitoring, enhances business valuation, supports strategic planning, and enhances accountability and transparency in your business. It is not just a set of numbers, but a strategic tool that helps you understand, analyze, and optimize your business’ financial performance. Investing time and effort in creating a comprehensive and robust financial model in your business plan is vital for the success of your business and can significantly increase your chances of achieving your financial goals.

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Download Business Plan Template In Excel

• Budget , Business management , Excel Templates

Kickstart Your Business Success with Our Free Excel Business Plan Template

Charting a path to success for your business can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to organizing and managing the myriad elements that constitute a business plan. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce our free, comprehensive Business Plan Excel template. With multiple, integrated sheets for every facet of your planning needs, this template streamlines your strategic process, saving you time and effort.

What Is Included in Our Sample Business Plan Template in Excel?

Our Excel business plan template is meticulously designed and includes the following components:

• Sales Planning / Forecasting Template : This template enables you to plan product-wise and year-wise sales. By analyzing trends over the previous two years, you can forecast sales for the coming year and make informed business decisions.
• Profit and Loss Template : This sheet will help you track your revenues, costs, and expenses to determine your business’s profitability over a period of time.
• Balance Sheet Template : It provides a snapshot of your company’s financial position at a particular moment, illustrating what the company owns (assets) and owes (liabilities), and the amount invested by shareholders (equity).
• Cash Flow Template : With this, you can manage your cash position by tracking the inflow and outflow of cash in your business. This template helps in monitoring your liquidity and understanding if you have enough cash to cover your expenses.
• Budget Template : This facilitates the allocation and tracking of financial resources, ensuring you don’t overspend and stay on the right financial track.
• Break-Even Analysis Template : This crucial template calculates the point where your total cost equals your total revenue. Understanding your break-even point can help guide pricing strategy, monitor efficiency, and make profitable business decisions.

How to Use the Excel Business Plan Template?

Using our comprehensive Excel business plan template is simple:

• Download the Template : Start by downloading our free Business Plan Excel template.
• Input Your Data : Enter your business data into each sheet. Each section comes with clear instructions on what information is needed.
• Analyze and Plan : Use the data you’ve entered to analyze your current business situation, make projections, and develop strategic plans.
• Update Regularly : As your business evolves, so should your business plan. Regularly update the data in the template to keep your plan relevant and responsive to your business’s changing circumstances.

Why Use the Excel Business Plan Template?

Our Excel business plan template offers a host of benefits:

• Comprehensive : It covers every aspect of your business plan, eliminating the need for multiple documents or programs.
• Easy to Use : The template is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for anyone, regardless of their familiarity with Excel.
• Customizable : The template can be modified to suit the specific needs and nature of your business.
• Effective Visualization : The template includes graphs and charts, transforming your data into a visual format that’s easier to understand and present.
• Free : Our template is completely free, making it a cost-effective solution for business planning.

In conclusion, our Excel business plan template simplifies the planning process by consolidating all elements of a business plan into a single, comprehensive document. Whether you’re drafting your first business plan or refining an existing one, this template can be an invaluable tool. So, download our free Excel business plan template today and embark on a strategic journey to business success!

Users of This Free Business Plan Template

The Excel Business Plan Template is designed for a wide variety of users who need to develop a structured and strategic approach to their business planning. Here’s a list of individuals and entities who could greatly benefit from using this template:

• Entrepreneurs and Startups : If you’re in the initial stages of starting a business, this template can help you plan, analyze, and forecast various aspects of your business such as sales, finances, and cash flow.
• Small Business Owners : For existing small businesses, this template can help monitor performance, manage finances, and plan for future growth.
• Financial Analysts and Managers : These professionals can use this template to gain insights into the financial health of a business, plan budgets, and conduct break-even analysis.
• Freelancers and Solopreneurs : Even if you’re a one-person business, this template can help keep track of your finances, forecast your revenue, and manage your cash flow efficiently.
• Consultants and Business Advisors : These individuals can utilize the template to assist their clients in developing business plans, improving financial management, and setting strategic goals.
• Non-profit Organizations : Even though their goals might not be profit-oriented, non-profit organizations can also benefit from this template to manage their finances, plan budgets, and conduct break-even analysis for their fundraising events or projects.

Remember, the key to leveraging this tool effectively is to customize it to the unique needs and circumstances of your business or project. No matter your industry or the size of your business, our Excel Business Plan Template can be a valuable tool in your strategic planning toolkit.

Download this Business Plan template in Excel Format

Our easy to use editable Excel templates and save your significant amount of time and effort. Here’s how to download and use one of our templates:

Download this free Excel Template : Once you’ve browsed through our collection of templates and find the one that best fits your needs. Once you’ve found the template you want, click on the download button.

Replace sample data with your actual data: Once the template is downloaded, open it in Excel. You’ll see that it is already set up with sample data. To start analyzing your own data, simply replace the sample data with your actual data.

Customize the template: Our templates are completely editable, which means you can customize them to fit your specific needs. For example, you can change the formatting, add or remove columns, or create new charts and graphs.

Use the Excel template: Once you’ve fed in your data and customized the template, you’re ready to start using it for data analysis. Use the various tools and features of Excel to analyze and visualize your data, and make informed business decisions.

Save and share: Once you’ve finished working on the template, save it to your computer and share it with other members of your team or stakeholders as needed.

Click Download Button To Get Business Plan Excel Template

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Business Plan Template

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Free editable professional Excel templates can be a useful tool for businesses , organizations, and individuals looking to streamline their data management and reporting processes. These templates can provide a pre-designed and pre-formatted framework for storing and organizing data, as well as for creating charts, graphs, and other visualizations to help communicate that data more effectively.

One advantage of using professional Excel templates is that they are often designed by experienced professionals who understand best practices for data management and visualization. This means that the templates are likely to be well-organized, easy to understand, and aesthetically pleasing, which can make working with them more efficient and enjoyable.

Another advantage is that these templates are often fully editable, allowing users to customize them to meet the specific needs of their organization or project. This can include adding or deleting rows and columns, changing the formatting and layout, and adding custom formulas and functions .

Some examples of professional Excel templates that may be available for free include budgeting templates for personal or business use , project management templates for tracking tasks and deadlines, and sales tracking templates for analyzing and forecasting sales data. There are also a wide variety of templates available for specific industries, such as real estate, marketing , human resource , Payroll management and among others.

Overall, free editable professional Excel templates can be a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their data management and analysis skills. By providing a pre-designed and customizable framework for storing, organizing, and visualizing data, these templates can help users save time and make more informed decisions.

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14 Best Excel Templates for Business in 2024 (Free & Premium)

• Last updated March 21, 2024

Fact Checked By Cindy Wong

Let’s talk about Excel templates. These pre-made spreadsheets help you improve productivity quickly. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of Excel templates, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to streamline your tasks, boost productivity, and make informed decisions.

From understanding what Excel spreadsheet templates are to exploring specialized templates for various industries, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a seasoned Excel user or just starting, our friendly yet professional approach will simplify complex concepts and empower you to harness the full power of Excel templates.

What Are Excel Templates?

We provide a host of spreadsheet templates for our readers. And Excel templates are no exception. These pre-designed spreadsheets created to simplify various tasks and processes. They serve as starting points, offering predefined structures, formulas, and formatting. These templates are designed to save you time and effort by eliminating the need to build spreadsheets from scratch.

Key Features of Excel Spreadsheet Templates

• Structured Layout: Templates come with organized rows and columns tailored to the specific task or use case. For instance, a budget template might include categories for income, expenses, and savings.
• Predefined Formulas and Functions: Excel spreadsheet templates often include formulas and functions that perform calculations automatically. For example, a mortgage calculator template may already have formulas for calculating monthly payments and interest.
• Formatting and Styling: Templates feature consistent design, including fonts, colors, and cell borders. This makes your data visually appealing and easy to read.
• Placeholder Data: Templates often contain placeholder data or instructions to guide you in entering your information. These placeholders help you understand how to use the template effectively.
• Customizability: While templates provide a structured framework, they are highly customizable. You can modify them to suit your specific needs by adding or removing columns, changing labels, or adjusting formulas.

Common Uses of Excel Templates

• Budgeting: Excel templates for budgeting help individuals and businesses manage their finances effectively by tracking income and expenses, projecting future financial goals, and analyzing spending patterns.
• Project Management: Project management templates assist in planning, tracking, and managing projects. They often include Gantt charts, task lists, and progress trackers.
• Data Analysis: Excel offers templates for data analysis, such as pivot tables, allowing you to quickly summarize and analyze large datasets.
• Accounting: Accounting templates help businesses maintain accurate financial records, including ledgers, income statements, and balance sheets.
• Inventory Management: Inventory templates help businesses track stock levels, monitor product sales, and manage inventory turnover.

Types of Excel Templates

Excel spreadsheet templates come in various categories, each designed to address specific needs and tasks. Here are some of the most common types of Excel templates:

Financial Excel Templates

Financial templates are geared towards managing finances, budgeting, and financial analysis. You can make your own cash flow template , or use one that’s already made. Common financial spreadsheets include:

• Budget Templates: These templates help individuals and businesses create and manage budgets, ensuring that income and expenses are balanced. Check out our top budget templates for Google Sheets .
• Financial Models: Financial modeling templates are used for forecasting financial performance, especially in business planning and investment analysis.
• Income Statements: Templates for income statements track revenues and expenses to determine profitability.
• Balance Sheets: These templates provide a snapshot of a company’s financial position by displaying assets, liabilities, and equity.

Project Management Excel Templates

Project management templates are essential for planning, executing, and monitoring projects. For example, we covered our favorite project status report templates . Other common templates include:

• Gantt Charts: Gantt chart templates visually represent project schedules, showing tasks, timelines, and dependencies.
• Project Timelines: These templates offer a simplified view of project milestones and deadlines.
• Task Tracking Templates: Task tracking templates help teams assign, track, and manage tasks to keep projects on schedule.

Data Analysis Excel Templates

Data analysis templates are invaluable for individuals and businesses working with data. Key templates include:

• Pivot Tables: Pivot table templates simplify data summarization and analysis, allowing users to create interactive reports.
• Data Visualization Templates: Templates for charts and graphs help transform raw data into visual representations for easier understanding.
• Statistical Analysis Templates: Statistical analysis templates include tools for performing statistical tests and calculations.

Personal and Business Excel Templates

Personal and business templates cover a wide range of tasks. We have an article that covers payment receipt templates . Other common personal and business spreadsheets include:

• To-Do List Templates: These templates help you stay organized by listing tasks and priorities.
• Invoice Templates: Invoice templates streamline the invoicing process for businesses, including itemized lists and payment tracking.
• Business Plan Templates: Business plan templates provide structured frameworks for creating comprehensive business plans, helping startups and established companies alike.

Whether you’re managing finances, overseeing a project, analyzing data, or organizing personal tasks, Excel templates offer a time-saving solution to enhance your productivity.

Top 14 Excel Templates for Business

Now, let’s delve into the top Excel templates that can significantly boost your productivity across various domains. We’ll explore each template, highlighting its key features and benefits.

Financial Management Excel Templates

1. financial model.

The Financial Model Excel template is a versatile tool designed to help businesses of all sizes and types manage their finances effectively. Whether you’re a business, a startup , or operating in specific niches like SaaS , E-Commerce , or Marketplace , this template offers comprehensive financial projections, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. It’s essential for budgeting, forecasting, and making informed financial decisions.

• Accurate Projections: Generate precise financial projections for different business scenarios, aiding in strategic planning.
• Scenario Analysis: Easily assess the impact of various decisions on your financial health by running multiple scenarios.
• Investor-Ready: Impress investors and stakeholders with professional financial reports and insights.
• Data Visualization: Utilize charts and graphs to visualize financial trends and make data-driven decisions.

Price: $74-139 (Use code SPoint10 for 10% off)

2. Profit and Loss Statement

The Profit and Loss Statement Excel template is tailored to specific business models, including startups , marketplaces , SaaS , and E-Commerce ventures. It helps you track your revenues, costs, and expenses to calculate your net profit or loss accurately. With clear and customizable categories, you can gain a deep understanding of your business’s financial performance.

• Business-Specific Tracking: Choose a template that aligns with your business model for precise financial insights.
• Expense Categorization: Easily categorize expenses for better cost management and identification of cost-saving opportunities.
• Year-over-Year Comparison: Track your financial performance over time to identify growth trends or areas that need improvement.
• Tax Preparation: Simplify tax preparation by neatly organizing your income and expenses.

Price: $74 (Use code SPoint10 for 10% off)

3. Revenue Forecasting Tool

The Revenue Forecasting Tool Excel template is indispensable for businesses focused on revenue growth. With different versions tailored to Marketplace , SaaS , E-Commerce , and Agency models, it enables you to project your future revenues based on historical data, market trends, and growth strategies. This tool empowers you to set realistic revenue targets and make informed decisions to achieve them.

• Data-Driven Projections: Utilize historical data and market insights to generate accurate revenue forecasts.
• Goal Setting: Set achievable revenue targets and track progress towards your financial goals.
• Scenario Planning: Assess how changes in pricing, marketing, or sales strategies impact revenue.
• Informed Decision-Making: Make strategic decisions backed by comprehensive revenue projections.

Price: $46 (Use code SPoint10 for 10% off)

Budgeting and Tracking Excel Templates

4. zero-based budget template.

Zero-based budgeting is a meticulous approach to budgeting where you allocate every dollar of your income to expenses, savings, or investments. The Zero-Based Budget Excel template simplifies the zero-based budgeting process, ensuring that your budget accurately reflects your financial priorities and goals.

• Financial Clarity: Gain a clear understanding of where your money goes and prioritize spending according to your goals.
• Savings and Investments: Systematically allocate funds for savings, investments, and debt reduction.
• Expense Tracking: Monitor daily expenses to identify areas for potential savings.
• Emergency Fund Planning: Create a buffer for unexpected costs by including an emergency fund category.

Price: $4.99

5. Inventory and Sales Tracking Template

Managing inventory and tracking sales is crucial for businesses, especially those in retail or e-commerce. The Inventory and Sales Tracking Excel template streamlines inventory management, allowing you to efficiently track stock levels, sales, and product performance.

• Real-Time Inventory: Monitor inventory levels in real-time, ensuring you never run out of stock or overstock products.
• Sales Analysis: Analyze sales data to identify top-performing products and optimize your product offerings.
• Cost Control: Keep tabs on inventory costs and prevent financial losses due to mismanagement.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Use sales insights to make informed decisions about restocking, promotions, and pricing strategies.

Price: $19.99

6. Capital Expenditure Planning Template

Capital expenditures (CapEx) are essential for businesses looking to grow and invest in assets like equipment, technology, or infrastructure. This free CapEx Excel template simplifies the planning and tracking of capital expenditures, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.

• Streamlined Planning: Plan and prioritize capital expenditures in a structured manner.
• Budget Control: Stay within budget by tracking expenses against planned allocations.
• ROI Assessment: Evaluate each capital expenditure’s return on investment (ROI) to make informed decisions.
• Asset Management: Keep a comprehensive record of your business’s assets and their depreciation.

Price: Free!

Investment and Financial Analysis Excel Templates

7. simple investment template.

The Simple Investment Excel template is perfect for individuals or businesses looking to analyze potential investments. It assists in evaluating the financial feasibility of investments, calculating returns, and making informed investment decisions.

• Investment Evaluation: Assess the attractiveness of various investment opportunities.
• Risk Analysis: Consider the risks associated with each investment and their impact on returns.
• Return Calculations: Calculate potential returns, including net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR).
• Decision Support: Make well-informed investment choices based on financial analysis.

8. Mortgage Calculator with Amortization Table

Mortgages are a significant financial commitment. This Mortgage Calculator Excel template simplifies mortgage calculations, helping individuals and homeowners understand their loan terms, amortization schedules, and total interest payments.

• Loan Clarity: Understand your mortgage terms, including interest rates, monthly payments, and loan duration.
• Amortization Schedule: View the full amortization schedule, tracking principal and interest payments over time.
• Interest Savings: Explore strategies for paying off your mortgage early to reduce interest costs.
• Financial Planning: Incorporate mortgage payments into your long-term financial planning.

9. CLV vs. CAC Analysis Template

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) and Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) are critical business metrics. The CLV vs. CAC Analysis Excel template simplifies the calculation and analysis of CLV and CAC, aiding in strategic marketing and growth decisions.

• Customer Profitability: Determine the profitability of acquiring and retaining customers.
• Marketing Efficiency: Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing campaigns by comparing CAC to CLV.
• Retention Strategies: Identify opportunities to increase CLV through customer retention and loyalty programs.
• Data-Driven Marketing: Allocate marketing budgets more efficiently based on CLV and CAC insights.

Data Analysis and Metrics Tracking Excel Templates

10. cohort analysis template.

Cohort analysis is a powerful method for examining user behavior over time. The Cohort Analysis Excel template simplifies the process, helping businesses gain insights into customer retention, engagement, and more.

• User Segmentation: Group users into cohorts based on signup date or other criteria for focused analysis.
• Retention Insights: Identify trends in user retention and pinpoint when users drop off.
• Product Improvement: Use cohort analysis to inform product improvements and marketing strategies.
• Churn Reduction: Develop strategies to reduce customer churn based on cohort analysis findings.

11. MRR Dashboard Template

Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) is a vital metric for subscription-based businesses. The MRR Dashboard Excel template provides a comprehensive dashboard for tracking MRR, analyzing trends, and making data-driven decisions.

• MRR Overview: Get a real-time overview of your MRR, including new revenue, lost revenue, and net MRR growth.
• Churn Analysis: Identify reasons for churn and implement strategies to reduce it.
• Growth Tracking: Monitor your subscription business’s growth and set goals for MRR expansion.
• Data Visualization: Visualize MRR trends with charts and graphs for easier interpretation.

12. User Engagement Dashboard Template

User engagement is critical for online businesses. The User Engagement Dashboard Excel template provides a user-friendly dashboard for tracking user engagement metrics, analyzing user behavior, and optimizing user experiences.

• Comprehensive Metrics: Track key engagement metrics such as session duration, bounce rate, and conversion rate.
• Segmentation: Analyze user engagement based on demographics, devices, or referral sources.
• Content Performance: Identify high-performing content and optimize the user journey accordingly.
• Conversion Optimization: Implement strategies to improve user engagement and conversion rates based on insights.

Business Planning and Management Excel Templates

13. software license management tool.

The Software License Management Excel tool simplifies the process for businesses managing software licenses. It allows you to track software licenses, renewal dates, and compliance, ensuring efficient software management.

• License Tracking: Easily keep track of all software licenses in use across your organization.
• Renewal Alerts: Identify license renewals timely to prevent interruptions.
• Cost Control: Avoid unnecessary software purchases and optimize license utilization.
• Compliance Assurance: Ensure compliance with software licensing agreements to avoid legal issues.

14. Workforce Planning Tool

Effective workforce planning is crucial for businesses of all sizes. The Workforce Planning Excel template streamlines the process by helping you manage employee information, staffing levels, and workforce optimization.

• Employee Database: Maintain a centralized employee information database, including roles, qualifications, and contact details.
• Staffing Analysis: Analyze staffing levels and plan for hiring, training, or restructuring as needed.
• Cost Projections: Estimate labor costs and budgets for workforce expansion or reduction.
• Scenario Planning: Model various workforce scenarios and their financial implications.

These Excel spreadsheet templates cover a wide range of business and financial needs, making them invaluable tools for improving productivity, making informed decisions, and achieving your goals. Whether you’re a financial analyst, business owner, or simply looking to better manage your finances, Excel templates offer a user-friendly and robust solution.

Best Practices for Excel Templates

Excel spreadsheet templates are powerful tools that can significantly enhance your productivity , but it’s essential to follow best practices to make the most of them. Here are some tips and strategies to help you use Excel templates effectively.

Choose the Right Template

Selecting the appropriate template for your specific task is the first step to success. Consider the following factors when choosing a template:

• Task Complexity: Ensure the template aligns with the complexity of your task. Simple tasks may require basic templates, while more complex tasks need advanced templates.
• Customizability: Look for templates that allow customization. Templates that are too rigid may not suit your unique needs.
• Industry or Use Case: Many templates are designed for specific industries or use cases. For financial tasks, for instance, choose templates tailored to your industry, such as retail, healthcare, or real estate.
• Scalability: If your task may grow in complexity or data volume, opt for a template that can scale with your needs.

Understand Formulas and Functions

Excel templates often come with built-in formulas and functions to automate calculations. To use these templates effectively, it’s crucial to understand how these formulas work.

• Learn the Basics: Familiarize yourself with common Excel functions like SUM, AVERAGE, IF, VLOOKUP, and more. These are the building blocks of many templates.
• Review Formulas: Take time to review the formulas used in the template. Understand how they calculate results and what data they depend on.
• Customize Formulas: If needed, customize formulas to suit your specific requirements. Modify cell references or add new calculations as necessary.

Input Data Accurately

Accurate data input is essential to obtain meaningful results from Excel spreadsheet templates.

• Double-Check Data: Ensure all data entered into the template is accurate and error-free. A slight mistake can lead to significant inaccuracies in calculations.
• Use Data Validation: Implement data validation rules to prevent incorrect data entry. Excel can prompt users when data doesn’t meet specified criteria.
• Consistent Formatting: Maintain consistent formatting throughout the template. This includes date formats, number formats, and currency symbols.
• Document Data Sources: Keep track of your data sources, especially if you’re pulling data from external sources. This documentation can help troubleshoot discrepancies later.

Regularly Save and Backup

Excel templates represent valuable work, so protecting your data is essential.

• Frequent Saving: Save your work regularly to prevent data loss in case of unexpected software crashes or power outages.
• Version Control: Maintain version control by saving different iterations of your template. Use meaningful file names and dates to track changes.
• Backup Files: Implement a backup strategy. Regularly create copies of your Excel files and store them in a secure location, whether it’s a cloud service or an external drive.

Understand Template Limitations

Excel spreadsheet templates have limitations, and it’s essential to be aware of them.

• Data Volume: Excel may not handle very large datasets efficiently. Consider using a database or specialized software for extensive data management.
• Complexity: Templates have limits in terms of complexity. You might need to consider custom software or consulting with a specialist for more advanced or intricate tasks.
• Data Security: Be cautious when handling sensitive or confidential data within Excel. Implement password protection and encryption where necessary.

Customize for Your Needs

While templates provide a structured starting point, don’t hesitate to customize them to better suit your unique requirements.

• Add or Remove Fields: Include additional or remove unnecessary fields to streamline data entry and reporting.
• Format and Styling: Adjust the template’s formatting and styling to match your preferences and branding guidelines.
• Automate Repetitive Tasks: Excel allows you to automate repetitive tasks using macros. Learn how to create and use macros to save time.

Stay Updated and Educated

Excel is a continually evolving software, and staying updated with the latest features and best practices can benefit your productivity.

• Software Updates: Keep your Excel software up-to-date to access new features and security patches.
• Online Resources: Explore online resources, spreadsheet tutorials , and forums to expand your Excel skills and troubleshoot issues.
• Advanced Training: Consider advanced Excel training courses or certifications to become an Excel power user.

By following these best practices, you can harness the full potential of Excel spreadsheet templates, streamline your tasks, and make more informed decisions. Excel templates are versatile tools that can save you time and effort, but mastering them requires a combination of knowledge, practice, and attention to detail.

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Excel templates are your secret weapon for accomplishing tasks faster and more efficiently. With the right template at your fingertips, you can conquer financial challenges, manage projects like a pro, and analyze data with ease. The best part? You don’t need to be an Excel expert to reap the benefits. These templates are designed to simplify your life and make complex tasks feel like a breeze.

So, whether you’re tracking expenses, planning a project, or diving into data analysis, remember that Excel spreadsheet templates are your trusty companions on the journey to productivity and success. Embrace them, customize them, and watch your tasks transform from daunting to doable. Excel templates are your shortcut to getting things done, and the possibilities are endless. Start using them today and take control of your tasks, one spreadsheet at a time!

• Free Multiple Project Tracking Template for Excel (2 Options)

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Business Plan: How to Create Great Financial Plans in Excel

I guess, you are about to write a business plan and that is why you have come to this page. Very good – because in this article I am going to write down my experience with business plans and what I have learned creating them with Microsoft Excel. As I will point out again further down, I will only concentrate on the financial part of business plans. Specifically, how to set it up in Excel. Of course, you can also download an Excel template .

Parts of business plans

As you reached this page I suppose you already have a rough idea of what a business plan is. So, we will skip this part here.

A business plan is a formal written document containing the goals of a business, the methods for attaining those goals, and the time-frame for the achievement of the goals.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_plan

But one comment concerning the scope of this article: The formal business plan has usually many different parts, in which you describe the business idea and product, the market, competition, legal construct and so on. But typically, investors are most interested in the financial part. They want to know first, what they can get out of it. Of course, the other parts are also very important, but the financial topics usually put everything described in the other sections into numbers.

I’m not going further into the details of all the other parts than then financial section here. Specifically, we will dive into the basics of the financial part and how to model it in Excel.

Please scroll down to download the business plan template. We are going to explore all the following advice with this template.

How to create a business plan in Excel

Advice 1: be clear about the purpose and the recipient of the business plan.

Before you start opening Excel, make sure that you are 100% clear of the purpose this business plan. Is the business plan just for you? Or do you create it for someone else, for example an investor or bank? Although the next steps might still be the same, the focus might be different. For example: Maybe you have a very good understanding of the major assumptions because you have been working in this field for some time. But for someone external you still need to validate them. Of course, in both cases the assumptions should be realistic and goals should be achievable. But maybe for your own peace of mind you would choose more pessimistic assumptions if the plan was only for you.

Advice 2: Go top-down in terms of line items

Now, let’s start in Excel. But how do we start?

My approach is to go top-down. I usually use a basic P&L (“Profit- and loss” calculation) structure to start with, having some placeholders for revenue and costs.

Specifically, I go through the following parts (also shown on the right-hand side).

Let’s assume that you develop and sell Excel add-ins: 50 EUR per license – once-off. You would now start with assumptions of how many you can sell per month and the price. This is your first revenue item. At this point in time, I would leave it like this. We can later drill further down as much as we need (for example modeling discounts, the connection between marketing spending and number of units sold, price changes, etc.).

If we have multiple products, we calculate them in a similar manner.

Cost of goods sold

Cost of goods sold – or COGS – refers to the direct costs of producing the goods sold. Depending on the complexity you could also summarize cost of sales here or keep it separately.

Often, the COGS are directly linked to the number of units produced so you could refer to the numbers already calculated for the revenues.

In our example from above, we don’t have any direct costs for producing the Excel add-ins because we develop them ourselves and our salary will be regarded under “Salaries and Benefits”.

All other expenses

The structure of the expenses highly depends on your business. I usually start with these:

• Salaries and Benefits
• Rent and Overhead
• Marketing and Advertising
• Other expenses

Again, these items might look completely different for you. Example: if you travel a lot for your business, you might plan travel costs separately.

Subtracting costs from the revenue leads to the EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). This is one of the important financial performance indicators.

Amortization and depreciation

If you buy any assets for your business (for example machines, computers, even cars), you usually plan to use them over a certain period. When you first buy them, let’s say for 1,000 USD, you basically just exchange money for assets in the same amount. The problem: The assets will decrease in value the longer you use them. Within the cost items above, you don’t regard the acquisition value. So, how to regard them in your business plan?

You only regard the annual decrease of value. If you plan to use your 1,000 USD item for 5 years, you could (plainly speaking), each year regard 200 USD as depreciation.

Please note: If you later plan your cash, you have to make sure that you fully regard the initial sales price and not the depreciation.

The key difference between amortization and depreciation is that amortization is used for intangible assets, while depreciation is used for tangible assets. https://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/whats-the-difference-between-amortization-deprecia.aspx

Subtracting the amortization and depreciation from the EBITDA leads to the second key performance indicator, the EBIT (earnings before interest and tax).

Interest and taxes

Eventually, you have to prognose your interest costs (for example what you have to pay for bank loans) and your taxes, which is typically just a percentage of the EBT (the earning before taxes).

Advice 3: Think about the business drivers carefully

Good business plans are driver based.

Business drivers are the key inputs and activities that drive the operational and financial results of a business. Common examples of business drivers are salespeople, number of stores, website traffic, number and price of products sold, units of production, etc. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/modeling/business-drivers/

Let me explain with an example: You want to plan the revenues. You have two different options:

• Revenue per month is split into number of units sold times price per unit.
• Number of units sold is further split into number of salespersons and number of items sold per salesperson and month, and so on.
• Or you could just write a number and every following year you assume a growth in percentage (e.g. +2% per year).

Let’s finish this section with some final comments:

• Choose drivers that are measurable. You will most probably later on compare the drivers to reality and therefore make sure that they are not impossible to measure.
• Figure out, which driver has most impact. You should focus on those first. Driver with no or very limited impact can be skipped initially.
• Are drivers depending on each other? If yes, it should be modeled accordingly.

Advice 4: Choose the smallest period from the beginning in your business plan

So far, we have been focusing on the line items, for example costs, revenue, or drivers. Now, let’s talk about the time frame.

The question is: Should you plan on annual, monthly or any other basis? Or a mix?

I have seen many business plans doing it something like this:

• Plan on monthly basis for the first 24 to 36 months.
• Switch to annual planning for the years 3/4 to 5.

Most business plans are not going beyond 5 years planning period.

My recommendation: Plan on monthly basis for the full period. There will be a point in time when you need to break it down into months. And it is always easier to sum up 12 months for annual values than to drill down from years to months.

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Advice 5: Keep a unified, professional business plan structure

This advice should count for most Excel models: Try to keep the same structure throughout the whole Excel file.

• Structure of worksheets: Make sure that most worksheets are set up with the same structure. For example, start with a headline in cell B2, years starting in column H, content in row 10.
• Layout / format of cells: Make sure you use a consistent formatting. For example, Excel provides cell styles – use them. For more recommendations about professional formatting, please refer to this article .
• Universal settings and assumptions should be consolidated on one sheet (for example tax rates, start date, company name).

Advice 6: Document business plan assumptions well

I can not say this often enough: Document your assumptions! Not only the values or variables, also your thoughts behind them. Why have you chosen this value? What is it based on? What is it used for?

Advice 7: Gross vs. net values

This question I am asked quite frequently: Should you use gross or net values? That means, include tax in revenues and costs?

Typically, you only work with net values, excluding VAT. For Germany with a tax rate of 19%, for example, if you invoice 119 EUR to a customer, you would only regard 100 EUR. Also, for costs, you would only regard net values.

Then, in your business plan, you start with revenue minus costs and eventually reach the EBT (earning before tax, please scroll up to see the P&L). From this, you calculate your company tax.

Advice 8: Think ahead

Some more things you should keep in mind when creating your business plan.

• Business plans are “living documents”. Keep in mind that at some point in the future you have to update it or extend it.
• Validate your assumptions: After some time, you will come back to your plan having real life figures. Now, it’s time to compare and – if necessary – adjust the plan.
• a valuation (“Discounted Cash Flow model”),
• liquidity planning,
• bank loan simulations,
• financial dashboards,
• budget planning,
• maybe even the first real official P&L (at least when it comes to the line items of your business plan)
• and much more…

Download business plan template

So, after reading all this description and advice, it’s time to start. Probably many things I have written above sounds like common sense, right? But I can assure you: Doing it and regarding as much advice as possible is not necessarily simple.

That’s why I have decided to create a template. I have pre-filled it with an imaginary example.

I know, there are countless Excel business plan templates around. So, why should you use this one?

• This template is very flexible: I have always included place holders so that you can add much more items if needed.
• In terms of the time frame, I have created monthly columns for up to ten years. Typically, you need less. Then just hide the extra columns.
• Also, I have created a consistent structure throughout the model.
• No fancy Excel functions and formulas, mainly just plain links.

Please feel free to take a look at it. If you like it, just use it. If not, please feel free to create your individual business plan – you now know how to do it!

Download link: Click here to start the download .

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Henrik Schiffner is a freelance business consultant and software developer. He lives and works in Hamburg, Germany. Besides being an Excel enthusiast he loves photography and sports.

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Plan Projections

ideas to numbers .. simple financial projections

Business Plan Financial Projections

Plan Projections provides a template you can use to create simple 5 year business plan financial projections for a start-up or established business. The Plan Projections template is free, easy to set up and customize, and loaded with great features.

We have built the core template using Excel, and when you’re ready for more there are lots of industry specific templates and calculators available to help build your financial projections from the bottom up for any business or industry sector.

Ready to build your financial projections?

Financial projections industry specific templates.

Select Templates from the menu above or choose one of the popular templates below.

Popular Industry Specific Templates

• Restaurant Business Revenue Projection
• Hotel Revenue Projection
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• Bed and Breakfast Business Plan Revenue Projection
• Other Industry Templates …

Financial Projection Calculators

Our calculators, are available to help you calculate revenue, weighted average gross margin, and activity ratios such as accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable days, for use in the financial projections template.

Select Calculators from the menu above or choose one of the popular calculators below.

Popular Calculators

• Days Payable Outstanding Calculator
• Revenue Projections Calculator
• Sales Forecast Spreadsheet Template
• Business Valuation Calculator for a Startup
• Other Financial Model Calculators …

Financial Projection Online Calculator

Financial projections popular posts.

• Hotel Revenue Projection Excel Template
• Market Size Calculator
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• Coffee Shop Break Even Analysis
• Working Capital Over Total Assets Ratio

Notes and major health warnings Users use this business plan financial projection template at their own risk when deciding how to make financial projections. Consequently we make no warranty or representation as to financial modelling template accuracy. Additionally we are covered by our Terms and Conditions , which you are deemed to have read. This is an example of a five year financial projection template format that you might use when considering how to do a financial business plan and carry out a startup financial analysis. It is purely illustrative. Furthermore this is not intended to reflect general standards or targets for any particular company or sector. If you do spot a mistake in the startup business model template, please let us know and we will try to fix it.

About the Author

Chartered accountant Michael Brown is the founder and CEO of Plan Projections. He has worked as an accountant and consultant for more than 25 years and has built financial models for all types of industries. Furthermore he has been the CFO or controller of both small and medium sized companies and has run small businesses of his own. He has been a manager and an auditor with Deloitte, a big 4 accountancy firm, and holds a degree from a UK University.

Free Business Plan Template for Excel

Ajay Jagtap

• October 31, 2023

With 1 in 8 people using Excel, I’d be hard-pressed to believe that anyone has never used it at some point in life.

While we have all used it at least once—be it for school homework, college assignments, or travel planning—we never really got the hang of it.

(Excel formulas are tough!)

Preparing a business plan from scratch using Excel is not a joke; we get that. That’s why we created this business plan template in Excel .

So, no more worrying about Excel formulas or plan structure—download the document and follow the instructions in the article for successful business planning.

Sounds good? Let’s start with understanding the pros and cons of using Excel for planning:

Pros and Cons of Using Excel for Business Plans

Before we head to discussing the Excel business plan template, let’s understand the pros and cons of using Excel for business planning:

• Free to use:  MS Excel is 100% free for all its users, making it a cost-effective choice.
• Data Analysis:  Excel is a powerful tool for performing various financial and data analyses and calculations.
• Collaboration: Collaborating with your team while working on a project using Excel is easier.
• Lack of automation: Excel may not help create dynamic business plans with automated features.
• Limited presentation:  Excel cannot create an appealing business plan like a business plan software.
• Complex formulas: Excel’s formulas are complex and require a significant learning curve to master.

So these were the pros and cons. Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the key components of our free business plan Excel template.

Key Components of Our Excel Business Plan Template

It’s a fact—you cannot use Excel to create the entire plan from scratch, no! Excel is a powerful tool for complex calculations and analyses; let’s use it for that only.

So, we’ll use this business plan Excel template only to perform complex financial analyses and calculations—to prepare financial projections.

Following are the critical components of a good business plan template you must include in your financial plan:

1. Income Statement

The income statement is one of the key financial statements of your financial plan that highlights its profit and loss over a given period of time.

The critical components of your income statement include—revenue/sales, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), operational costs, EBITDA, interest, and others.

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2. Balance Sheet

Your balance sheet is a statement that reports your company’s assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity, providing a snapshot of its financial position at a specific period of time.

The statement helping you calculate financial ratios includes the following:

• Assets—e.g. Inventory, cash, property.
• Liabilities—e.g. Accounts payable, loans, salaries to be paid.
• Owners equity—e.g. Capital investment/contribution.

3. Cash Flow Statement

The cash flow statement of your financial plan is the projection of your cash in and outflows over a certain period of time.

As one of three key components of your financial plan, the cash flow statement summarizes the amount of cash or cash equivalents entering or leaving your company.

4. Break-Even Analysis

A break-even analysis helps you determine the number of units you need to sell to cover all fixed and variable costs.

The break-even point is considered a measure of safety margin, and anything you sell beyond the point will result in profit.

While your balance sheet already highlights the assets, liabilities, and owner’s equity, assets are considered critical for investors to assess the company’s financial health. So, our simple business plan template (Excel) has a separate sheet for business assets.

6. Accounts Payable & Receivable

The accounts payable refer to the amount due to vendors or suppliers for services or goods received, whereas accounts receivable represent the money due to the company.

The increase or decrease in your accounts payable or receivable can be seen in your cash flow statement.

7. Working Capital

Working capital is the subtraction of your current liabilities from your current assets. As a critical element in identifying your company’s health, it helps investors understand if it has enough capital to pay employees and fund operations to meet short-term goals.

Download the Financial Forecast Template In Excel

We discussed all the critical statements to be covered in your financial plan. Now what? It’s time for you to download the financial forecast template and start preparing your financial plan.

Unlike other free Excel templates, this template has all the reports with the suggested revenue streams, expenses, and other details.

You can directly download and use the template to forecast cash flow, create balance sheets, and prepare income statements that provide detailed information about your revenue and expenses. So what are you waiting for?

How to Use an Excel Business Plan Template

We’re hoping you’ve already downloaded the business plan template. So, the question arises: How can this Excel template be used to prepare realistic forecasts?

Let’s get this over with:

Understand the template structure

Before you start planning, you must understand the structure of the financial portion of your business plan. Get a thorough review of the template and understand:

• What critical statements does it include?
• What are the revenue streams?
• What are considered to be assets and liabilities?
• What does the taxation structure look like?

And others. Once you thoroughly understand the structure, you can move ahead with the next step.

Analyze historical data

Financial forecasting is about assumptions—a lot of them, but accurate ones. If you’re a total stranger to financial forecasting, analyzing historical data will help you get off on the right foot.

Analyze the historical data and try to gain insights about your business financials:

• Monthly revenue over the last year?
• How much you’re spending on day-to-day operations?
• What is your sales growth rate? How fast is it increasing over time?

And others. These historical figures will be of massive help in the next step.

Make pre-assumptions

As I said before, financial forecasts heavily rely on certain assumptions like sales forecasts, operational expenses, revenue growth, and others.

So, in this step, you’ll make assumptions about these variables based on the historical data to make them realistic and accurate.

Prepare key financial reports

Once you have made pre-assumptions, it’s time to prepare forecasts. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a lot of numbers; start by preparing critical financial reports that include—a cash flow statement, balance sheet, and income statement.

Other statements of your plan rely heavily on these reports, so the process will become much easier after having prepared these three beforehand.

Monitor and track progress

After preparing your financial reports, the next step is timely monitoring these reports and tracking progress.

You can compare your assumptions with actual results to see if your projections are accurate and relevant to the changing market trends.

Analyzing metrics like customer acquisition rate, acquisition costs, net profit, and gross margin will help track progress.

If you follow these steps rigorously, you can surely make a decent plan to support your business strategies and achieve financial goals.

Still, it was just about financial planning. What about the entire business plan? Excel is a no-go for business planning; let’s see why.

How Excel may not be the best choice for business planning?

Since Excel doesn’t offer all the necessary features for business planning that a business plan software like Upmetrics would, it is not the tool to be used to create a comprehensive business plan.

Following are a few reasons why Excel may not be a better choice for business planning compared to a tool like Upmetrics:

• Limited features: Since it is not designed specifically for planning, it has limited business planning features compared to software like Upmetrics. A business planning software may include features like business plan builder, financial forecasting, and pitch deck creator.
• Limited collaboration: Everyone knows Excel isn’t the tool with the best collaboration features. Business plan software offers collaboration features, allowing multiple team members to work on a business plan simultaneously.
• No Automation: Upmetrics comes with many automation features like AI assistant and financial forecasting tool, helping entrepreneurs and small businesses save time and reduce human errors.
• No customizable templates: Upmetrics has 400+ business plan examples and templates that make it easier for new users to get started, which has not been the case with Excel.

These were just a few of many reasons why a planning tool is a better alternative than Excel to create a comprehensive plan to support their business strategy.

Improve Your Business Financial Plan with Upmetrics

I’d surely have recommended Excel for financial planning if you had asked maybe a decade ago.

Today? There’s no way Excel stands a chance when competing with a cutting-edge AI business planning solution like Upmetrics.

Upmetrics simplifies business planning with its library of business templates, financial forecasting tool, and AI-powered assistant, making it a much more efficient alternative to Excel.

What are you waiting for? Start planning today!

Make your plan in half the time & twice the impact with Upmetrics

Fill-in-the-blanks, AI-assistance, and automatic financials make it easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i create a business plan in excel.

It’s challenging to draft an entire business plan in Excel. However, you can use Excel to create the financial portion of your plan using a free business plan Excel template. A ready-made template is always better and faster than preparing your financial reports from scratch.

Are there any alternatives to Excel for creating a business plan?

Yes, there are a few alternatives to Excel for creating a business plan. However, using a business plan software like Upmetrics would be a better alternative to creating a business plan than others.

Why should I use an Excel template for my business financial plan?

You cannot certainly master Excel formulas in one day, and preparing advanced financial reports from scratch means you must be very good at accounting, budgeting, and Excel sheets and ready to spare some intense hours.

So, considering the complexity of Excel—using a ready-made template seems like a great starting point for budding entrepreneurs with no financial planning experience.

Are there any free business plan templates available in Excel?

Although it’s tough to create the entire business plan in Excel from scratch, Upmetrics offers a free business plan Excel template to help you gain inspiration and make the financial portion of your business plan.

Can I share my financial plan online with others using Excel?

Yes, you can share your financial plan online with others using Excel. To share your document with others, simply click on the “Share with People” option and enter their email addresses, and you have shared the doc.

About the Author

Ajay is the Head of Content at Upmetrics. Before joining our team, he was a personal finance blogger and SaaS writer, covering topics such as startups, budgeting, and credit cards. If not writing, he’s probably having a power nap. Read more

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How do you make a business plan for your startup? A business plan template, or company proforma, plots out the trajectory of your business based on its current restraints in order to map its projected future backed up by hard data. Below, we share how to use our Business Plan financial template (available in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets) to save you hours of work as you launch your next venture.

Questions and answers

What are the practical applications of a business plan template in the startup industry?

A business plan template has several practical applications in the startup industry. Firstly, it provides a structured way for startups to plot out their business trajectory based on current constraints, helping them map out their projected future with data-backed insights. Secondly, it saves time as it eliminates the need to start from scratch, providing a comprehensive framework that covers all essential aspects of a business plan. Thirdly, it aids in tracking future revenues and expenses, which is crucial for financial planning and securing investment. Lastly, it can be used as a communication tool to convey the startup's strategy and vision to potential investors, stakeholders, and team members.

How does a business plan template contribute to digital transformation initiatives?

A business plan template can contribute to digital transformation initiatives in several ways. Firstly, it provides a structured approach to defining digital strategies and objectives. This includes identifying key digital initiatives, setting timelines, and allocating resources. Secondly, it helps in tracking and measuring the progress of digital transformation efforts, enabling businesses to adjust their strategies as needed. Lastly, a business plan template can facilitate communication and collaboration among team members, ensuring everyone is aligned with the digital transformation goals.

Why do you need a business plan?

Mike Tyson once said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." Business plans are important to raise money or grow quickly. They help you project your future revenues and profits, given a few critical assumptions. Your assumptions need to be real; otherwise, you'll be punched in the mouth when you launch. Our Business Plan template allows you to project your company's revenues across multiple subscriptions or services, as well as multiple products. The template helps to visualize your profits, capital expenditures or CAPEX, employee salaries, company expenses, and so on.

For subscriptions, we track the lifetime value, cost of acquisition, and lifetime period of your subscribers, as well as other subscription-focused metrics. For products our model allows you to take into account returns, marketplace fees, and other typical product-related expenses. To learn the step-by-step process of how to put together your own business plan to project your future profits, you can watch the explainer video above. Below, we dive into the spreadsheet model of the business plan template and how its core functionality works so you can easily create your own business plan.

Information tab

To begin using this business plan template, enter your company name and start year in the information tab. Anything in blue is a number needed to input. The validator checkbox can be checked once you are sure the data entered is absolutely correct. The static inputs are those that don't change over time. The dynamic inputs, like inflation rate, credit card fees, and rent increase rate are those that will likely change over time.

How can the business plan template align with a company's digital transformation initiatives?

The business plan template can align with a company's digital transformation initiatives by incorporating digital strategies into the plan. This could include plans for implementing new technologies, digitizing business processes, and investing in digital skills training. The template could also include a digital transformation roadmap, outlining the steps the company will take to achieve its digital goals. It's important to note that the specifics of how this would be done would depend on the individual company and its specific digital transformation initiatives.

What is the purpose of the charts dashboard in the business plan template?

The purpose of the charts dashboard in a business plan template is to visually represent the financial data and projections. It provides a quick and easy way to understand the financial health and future outlook of the business. It can include charts for revenue, expenses, net income, cash flow, and other key financial metrics. These charts can help in making informed business decisions and strategies.

This data is then visualized in the "Charts" tab to present your business plan to investors, partners, and potential customers with the expected trajectory of your company to demonstrate the value of your proposed subscription services, products, or other tangible services your business could provide.

How does the EDQ Charts tab in the Business Plan template help in presenting the business plan to investors, partners, and potential customers?

The EDQ Charts tab in the Business Plan template helps in presenting the business plan to investors, partners, and potential customers by visualizing the data related to the expected trajectory of your company. It demonstrates the value of your proposed subscription services, products, or other tangible services your business could provide. This visual representation can make it easier for stakeholders to understand your business's potential and make informed decisions.

How do the covered key topics in the Business Plan template enhance business strategy?

The key topics covered in the Business Plan template enhance business strategy by providing a structured approach to defining and outlining the business's goals, objectives, and strategies. They help in identifying the target market, understanding the competitive landscape, and planning for financial management. The template also includes tools for financial forecasting, which aids in strategic planning by predicting future revenues and expenses. This data can be presented to stakeholders to demonstrate the potential value of the business, thereby aiding in decision-making and strategy formulation.

Calculate subscription revenue

How can the subscription tabs in this business plan template help in managing different subscriptions?

The subscription tabs in the business plan template can help manage different subscriptions by providing a separate space for each potential service. You can enter the name of your service at the top of each tab, along with any associated fees or commissions. This allows for easy tracking and comparison of different subscriptions. The tabs also feed into a summary tab, which provides an overview of new and active subscribers for each separate subscription.

How does the charts dashboard in this business plan template visualize predicted outcomes?

The charts dashboard in the business plan template visualizes predicted outcomes by using the data inputted into the various tabs, such as the Subscription tab. For instance, if you enter the name of your potential service, marketplace fee, commissions to salespeople, or the percentage of transactions that are credit card-based, the template will use this data to generate a visual representation of your future revenues and expenses. This allows you to see how many new and active subscribers you have for each separate subscription, providing a clear picture of your financial outlook.

LTQ and LTV of subscribers

When a user subscribes to your service, they subscribe for a number of quarters. This is called the Lifetime Quarter (LTQ) of the member. In this model, the subscriber is expected to pay the subscription fee for four quarters. At the end of the four quarters, we expect to pay a total lifetime value (LTV) of $300. In order to change the number of new subscribers that come in during a given quarter, you can edit the quarters at the top of the row. When this is done, the number will be bolded and in blue. This is so you know the number is different from the default you entered at the beginning.

Can you compare this business plan template with other business planning tools?

This business plan template is a comprehensive tool that allows you to track future revenues and expenses over a ten-year period. It includes a balance sheet and allows for detailed financial planning. Compared to other business planning tools, this template may offer more long-term financial outlook and detailed tracking. However, the effectiveness of this tool compared to others largely depends on the specific needs and requirements of your business.

How does the Lifetime Quarter (LTQ) of a member impact the revenue tracking system?

The Lifetime Quarter (LTQ) of a member significantly impacts the revenue tracking system. When a user subscribes for a certain number of quarters (LTQ), they are expected to pay the subscription fee for those quarters. This expected payment contributes to the total lifetime value (LTV) of the member. Any changes in the LTQ, such as new subscribers or changes in the number of quarters a user subscribes for, will directly affect the revenue projections. Therefore, LTQ is a crucial factor in tracking and forecasting revenues.

Amortization

With our business plan amortization model, you can enter the new number of subscribers you expect each quarter, and we calculate the number of active subscribers that will remain on your platform. The number of active subscribers plateaus over time. This is because as new members join, other members cancel or churn. This makes your active subscribers flatten out. The amortization calculation is hidden, but you can see the numbers crunched with the drop-down to expand the rows. This amortization is the main difference between a product business plan and a subscriber business plan.

Unit expenses

The business plan also lists all the expenses that are most commonly associated with a subscription which you can edit and customize. A subscriber has two types of expenses: expenses related to when they join, such as advertising and marketing spend needed to gain each new subscriber. There are also expenses related to active subscribers, like support or operational expenses. You can also add expenses to fit your needs.

What considerations should be made when planning for the development of a new version of a software in a subscription service?

When planning for the development of a new version of a software in a subscription service, several considerations should be made. Firstly, the financial aspect is crucial. This includes the upfront capital investments needed to develop the software. Secondly, the timeline for development should be clearly defined. This includes when to start the development and when to launch the new version. Thirdly, customer feedback and market trends should be taken into account to ensure the new version meets the needs and expectations of the users. Lastly, the impact on existing services should be considered, including how to smoothly transition users to the new version without disrupting their experience.

How can a charts dashboard help in visualizing predicted outcomes in a business plan?

A charts dashboard can significantly aid in visualizing predicted outcomes in a business plan. It provides a visual representation of data, making it easier to understand complex data sets and observe trends. With a charts dashboard, you can track various business metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) over time, compare different data sets, and see how different aspects of the business relate to each other. This can help in forecasting future revenues and expenses, identifying potential issues, and making informed business decisions.

Subscription services come with upfront capital investments to develop the software. These can be added in the "Other" section. If you expect to create a new version of your software five years down the line, make sure to add it to the timeline based on the year and quarter where you expect to begin development of the next service.

How can the business plan template enhance a company's financial strategy?

The business plan template can enhance a company's financial strategy by providing a comprehensive overview of future revenues and expenses. It calculates key financial metrics such as profits, net income, and contribution to CAPEX. This allows the company to make informed decisions about its financial strategy. The template also includes a ten-year financial outlook, which can help the company plan for the long term.

What are the practical applications of the business plan template in the SaaS industry?

The business plan template can be used in the SaaS industry to track future revenues and expenses, calculate profits, net income, and contribution to CAPEX. It can also be used to mix subscriptions with products along with companywide expenses expected to experience over time. This can help in making strategic decisions, planning for growth, and attracting investors.

At the bottom of the tab is the Yearly Summary of all the financial metrics listed above that summarizes the total gross revenue and total product expenses for the total operating income every year.

Present to investors

In the Summary tab, the business plan template presents all the numbers for all the subscription services and products the company offers. The business plan model calculates everything from profits to net income to contribution to CAPEX. It mixes subscriptions with products along with companywide expenses expected to experience over time.

Visualize data with charts

After you enter all the data for your company, product, and subscription tabs and Summary tabs, you will get all the visualizations we created to summarize the performance of your company to investors and partners. For example, we visualized the subscription's results over ten years on a quarterly model.

Further down, we do the same thing for all your products. Our business plan template allows you to separate multiple products and multiple subscriptions into one simple business plan. Plus, we have also modularized the data to easily pull the information you want to generate your own charts.

Breakeven point and IRR

In the Summary tab, you can also track contributions towards CAPEX to see how, across time, you'll pay off your original capital expenditure to bring your company to reality. This is all represented at the bottom to learn in what year, and in what quarter, is your breakeven point. This breakeven point helps determine how many quarters it will take to get back all your investments and earn true profits. The IRR at the bottom then helps determine if this will be a profitable venture or not.

How does the inflation tool in the business plan template enhance business strategy?

The inflation tool in the business plan template enhances business strategy by providing a more accurate forecast of future revenues and expenses. It does this by adding inflation to each expense of the product or subscription. This means that for a single unit of a product, each sub-part cost is listed and these costs are increased over time with the inflation tool. This allows for a more realistic projection of costs over time, taking into account the impact of inflation. The tool also offers flexibility as you can adjust the rate of inflation you expect in the information tab.

What are common challenges in applying this business plan template and how can they be overcome?

Common challenges in applying this business plan template could include understanding how to accurately forecast future revenues and expenses, particularly with the added complexity of inflation. It may also be challenging to accurately list and cost each sub-part of a product or subscription. These challenges can be overcome by taking the time to understand each component of the template, perhaps seeking advice from a financial advisor or business mentor. Regularly reviewing and updating the plan as the business evolves can also help to ensure its ongoing relevance and accuracy.

Calculate product revenue

In addition to subscriptions, you can also calculate the future revenues of a product you want to sell as part of your business plan. At the top of the "Product" tab, enter the name of your product, marketplace fee and sales commissions, and the number of credit card transactions (same as for the subscription fee). Unique to a product as opposed to a subscription is that products have inventory fees, resale prices, and a cost to process a return.

How does the Business Plan template align with digital transformation initiatives in business planning?

The Business Plan template aligns with digital transformation initiatives in business planning by providing a digital platform for tracking future revenues and expenses. It allows for real-time updates and adjustments, which is crucial in the fast-paced digital world. The template also includes tools like a balance sheet with a ten-year financial outlook, which can be easily shared and collaborated on digitally. This digital approach to business planning can increase efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility.

Can you name a company that could benefit from this Business Plan template and explain how?

A startup company, particularly in the tech industry, could greatly benefit from this Business Plan template. The template provides a comprehensive financial outlook for the next ten years, which is crucial for startups to attract investors. It helps in tracking future revenues and expenses, calculating salary and bonus costs, and estimating overhead expenses like transportation and office costs. This detailed financial planning can help startups in budgeting, securing funding, and making strategic decisions.

To project your future revenues, you can change the product price for any upcoming quarter going forward. You can also update the number of products sold each quarter over the next ten years.

Account for inflation and operational expenses

Our model adds inflation to each expense of the product or subscription. So for a single unit of a product, each sub-part cost is listed. This could be an ingredient list, like if you were selling a shampoo product. These costs are increased over time with the inflation tool for the most accurate measurement of future revenues and expenses. To turn off inflation, go to the information tab to increase or decrease the rate of inflation you expect.

How does the business plan template help in planning for employee expenses?

The business plan template aids in planning for employee expenses by providing a detailed structure where you can input individual employee costs. These costs can include salary, bonuses, and equipment costs. Once these are entered, the template automatically calculates additional expenses such as payroll taxes. It also allows for the calculation of daily or weekly expenses provided to employees, such as food, drinks, health supplies, and monthly amenities like healthcare, parking, and gym memberships. These are then calculated and listed, providing a comprehensive overview of total employee expenses.

What are the benefits of using this business plan template for a SaaS product customer?

The benefits of using this business plan template for a SaaS product customer include: 1. It saves hours of work by providing all the necessary tools to track future revenues and expenses. 2. It includes a balance sheet with a ten-year financial outlook, which can help in long-term planning. 3. It allows for detailed employee expense tracking, including salary, bonuses, and cost of equipment. 4. It calculates payroll taxes and other expenses automatically, reducing the chance of errors. 5. It also includes the calculation of daily or weekly expenses provided to employees, such as in-office food, drinks, health supplies, and monthly amenities like healthcare, parking, and gym memberships.

You can also enter operational costs, like the processing, packaging, and shipping costs for each individual product, as well as marketing and advertising expenses for a single unit. All of these expenses are added up, along with the expected rate of returns, to generate your expected operating income. This is how much Product A will generate every quarter for the next 10 years.

Before you sell the product, there are also CAPEX expenses to account for. For example, you need to create the product with a product model, build relationships with suppliers, create the brand and packaging design, etc. All these capital expenditures are included in the CAPEX section, and everything is calculated for the year at the bottom in the Yearly Summary.

The "Expenses" tab of the business plan sheet calculates the total salary and bonus costs of every employee you'll need for your business. This is added to the company overhead, which includes transportation, office, and external expenses that are added to the CAPEX expenses needed to create the company for the overall overhead expenses.

Your company will need to hire multiple kinds of employees - marketers, designers, engineers, etc. To calculate how many companies will work at your company for the next ten years, you can count how many of each role you want to hire or fire every quarter for the next 10 years. Like other tabs, custom inputs become highlighted in blue once they are changed.

Per head, per role expenses

For each individual employee you plan to hire, you can enter their salary, bonuses, and cost of equipment for this employee to carry out their tasks. Once entered, our model does the math to calculate payroll taxes and everything else. The total workday expense for each employee can also be calculated. This includes the daily or weekly expenses provided to employees, like in-office food, drinks, and health supplies, as well as monthly amenities like healthcare, parking, and gym memberships. These are then calculated and listed below.

The same is calculated for any expense unrelated to employees, like office and rent expenses. Multiple offices can be listed along with per-year expenses like events and transportation or external expenses like PR, accounting, and legal fees for similar services, which are all calculated at the bottom for the total company overhead. The overall company expenses are added along with the company CAPEX at the bottom to account for everything needed to build the company. Similar to the subscription and product tabs, it can account for future expenses as well.

Why do you need a business plan template?

A business plan outlines your financial goals and explains how you plan to achieve them to share with investors, partners, or creditors. A well-constructed plan should cover all the key details about your business's goals, products or services, and most importantly, finances. A business plan template in Word isn't enough. You need strong calculations to back up your assumptions with a roadmap for the first three to five years at a minimum. Our proforma Business Plan template provides the analysis you need to prove your potential revenues outweigh your potential expenses to create a financially secure business for the foreseeable future.

To learn more about how to create your own business plan for a billion-dollar business, check out our explainer video on what additional elements need to go into your business plan (besides financial projections from a business plan proforma) to bootstrap a billion-dollar idea into reality.

Free Financial Templates for a Business Plan

By Andy Marker | July 29, 2020

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In this article, we’ve rounded up expert-tested financial templates for your business plan, all of which are free to download in Excel, Google Sheets, and PDF formats.

Included on this page, you’ll find the essential financial statement templates, including income statement templates , cash flow statement templates , and balance sheet templates . Plus, we cover the key elements of the financial section of a business plan .

Financial Plan Templates

Download and prepare these financial plan templates to include in your business plan. Use historical data and future projections to produce an overview of the financial health of your organization to support your business plan and gain buy-in from stakeholders

Business Financial Plan Template

Use this financial plan template to organize and prepare the financial section of your business plan. This customizable template has room to provide a financial overview, any important assumptions, key financial indicators and ratios, a break-even analysis, and pro forma financial statements to share key financial data with potential investors.

Download Financial Plan Template

Word | PDF | Smartsheet

Financial Plan Projections Template for Startups

This financial plan projections template comes as a set of pro forma templates designed to help startups. The template set includes a 12-month profit and loss statement, a balance sheet, and a cash flow statement for you to detail the current and projected financial position of a business.

‌ Download Startup Financial Projections Template

Excel | Smartsheet

Income Statement Templates for Business Plan

Also called profit and loss statements , these income statement templates will empower you to make critical business decisions by providing insight into your company, as well as illustrating the projected profitability associated with business activities. The numbers prepared in your income statement directly influence the cash flow and balance sheet forecasts.

Pro Forma Income Statement/Profit and Loss Sample

Use this pro forma income statement template to project income and expenses over a three-year time period. Pro forma income statements consider historical or market analysis data to calculate the estimated sales, cost of sales, profits, and more.

‌ Download Pro Forma Income Statement Sample - Excel

Small Business Profit and Loss Statement

Small businesses can use this simple profit and loss statement template to project income and expenses for a specific time period. Enter expected income, cost of goods sold, and business expenses, and the built-in formulas will automatically calculate the net income.

‌ Download Small Business Profit and Loss Template - Excel

3-Year Income Statement Template

Use this income statement template to calculate and assess the profit and loss generated by your business over three years. This template provides room to enter revenue and expenses associated with operating your business and allows you to track performance over time.

Download 3-Year Income Statement Template

For additional resources, including how to use profit and loss statements, visit “ Download Free Profit and Loss Templates .”

Cash Flow Statement Templates for Business Plan

Use these free cash flow statement templates to convey how efficiently your company manages the inflow and outflow of money. Use a cash flow statement to analyze the availability of liquid assets and your company’s ability to grow and sustain itself long term.

Simple Cash Flow Template

Use this basic cash flow template to compare your business cash flows against different time periods. Enter the beginning balance of cash on hand, and then detail itemized cash receipts, payments, costs of goods sold, and expenses. Once you enter those values, the built-in formulas will calculate total cash payments, net cash change, and the month ending cash position.

Download Simple Cash Flow Template

12-Month Cash Flow Forecast Template

Use this cash flow forecast template, also called a pro forma cash flow template, to track and compare expected and actual cash flow outcomes on a monthly and yearly basis. Enter the cash on hand at the beginning of each month, and then add the cash receipts (from customers, issuance of stock, and other operations). Finally, add the cash paid out (purchases made, wage expenses, and other cash outflow). Once you enter those values, the built-in formulas will calculate your cash position for each month with.

‌ Download 12-Month Cash Flow Forecast

3-Year Cash Flow Statement Template Set

Use this cash flow statement template set to analyze the amount of cash your company has compared to its expenses and liabilities. This template set contains a tab to create a monthly cash flow statement, a yearly cash flow statement, and a three-year cash flow statement to track cash flow for the operating, investing, and financing activities of your business.

Download 3-Year Cash Flow Statement Template

For additional information on managing your cash flow, including how to create a cash flow forecast, visit “ Free Cash Flow Statement Templates .”

Balance Sheet Templates for a Business Plan

Use these free balance sheet templates to convey the financial position of your business during a specific time period to potential investors and stakeholders.

Small Business Pro Forma Balance Sheet

Small businesses can use this pro forma balance sheet template to project account balances for assets, liabilities, and equity for a designated period. Established businesses can use this template (and its built-in formulas) to calculate key financial ratios, including working capital.

Download Pro Forma Balance Sheet Template

Monthly and Quarterly Balance Sheet Template

Use this balance sheet template to evaluate your company’s financial health on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. You can also use this template to project your financial position for a specified time in the future. Once you complete the balance sheet, you can compare and analyze your assets, liabilities, and equity on a quarter-over-quarter or year-over-year basis.

Download Monthly/Quarterly Balance Sheet Template - Excel

Yearly Balance Sheet Template

Use this balance sheet template to compare your company’s short and long-term assets, liabilities, and equity year-over-year. This template also provides calculations for common financial ratios with built-in formulas, so you can use it to evaluate account balances annually.

Download Yearly Balance Sheet Template - Excel

For more downloadable resources for a wide range of organizations, visit “ Free Balance Sheet Templates .”

Sales Forecast Templates for Business Plan

Sales projections are a fundamental part of a business plan, and should support all other components of your plan, including your market analysis, product offerings, and marketing plan . Use these sales forecast templates to estimate future sales, and ensure the numbers align with the sales numbers provided in your income statement.

Basic Sales Forecast Sample Template

Use this basic forecast template to project the sales of a specific product. Gather historical and industry sales data to generate monthly and yearly estimates of the number of units sold and the price per unit. Then, the pre-built formulas will calculate percentages automatically. You’ll also find details about which months provide the highest sales percentage, and the percentage change in sales month-over-month. 

Download Basic Sales Forecast Sample Template

12-Month Sales Forecast Template for Multiple Products

Use this sales forecast template to project the future sales of a business across multiple products or services over the course of a year. Enter your estimated monthly sales, and the built-in formulas will calculate annual totals. There is also space to record and track year-over-year sales, so you can pinpoint sales trends.

Download 12-Month Sales Forecasting Template for Multiple Products

3-Year Sales Forecast Template for Multiple Products

Use this sales forecast template to estimate the monthly and yearly sales for multiple products over a three-year period. Enter the monthly units sold, unit costs, and unit price. Once you enter those values, built-in formulas will automatically calculate revenue, margin per unit, and gross profit. This template also provides bar charts and line graphs to visually display sales and gross profit year over year.

Download 3-Year Sales Forecast Template - Excel

For a wider selection of resources to project your sales, visit “ Free Sales Forecasting Templates .”

Break-Even Analysis Template for Business Plan

A break-even analysis will help you ascertain the point at which a business, product, or service will become profitable. This analysis uses a calculation to pinpoint the number of service or unit sales you need to make to cover costs and make a profit.

Break-Even Analysis Template

Use this break-even analysis template to calculate the number of sales needed to become profitable. Enter the product's selling price at the top of the template, and then add the fixed and variable costs. Once you enter those values, the built-in formulas will calculate the total variable cost, the contribution margin, and break-even units and sales values.

Download Break-Even Analysis Template

For additional resources, visit, “ Free Financial Planning Templates .”

Business Budget Templates for Business Plan

These business budget templates will help you track costs (e.g., fixed and variable) and expenses (e.g., one-time and recurring) associated with starting and running a business. Having a detailed budget enables you to make sound strategic decisions, and should align with the expense values listed on your income statement.

Startup Budget Template

Use this startup budget template to track estimated and actual costs and expenses for various business categories, including administrative, marketing, labor, and other office costs. There is also room to provide funding estimates from investors, banks, and other sources to get a detailed view of the resources you need to start and operate your business.

Download Startup Budget Template

Small Business Budget Template

This business budget template is ideal for small businesses that want to record estimated revenue and expenditures on a monthly and yearly basis. This customizable template comes with a tab to list income, expenses, and a cash flow recording to track cash transactions and balances.

Download Small Business Budget Template

Professional Business Budget Template

Established organizations will appreciate this customizable business budget template, which  contains a separate tab to track projected business expenses, actual business expenses, variances, and an expense analysis. Once you enter projected and actual expenses, the built-in formulas will automatically calculate expense variances and populate the included visual charts. 

‌ Download Professional Business Budget Template

For additional resources to plan and track your business costs and expenses, visit “ Free Business Budget Templates for Any Company .”

Other Financial Templates for Business Plan

In this section, you’ll find additional financial templates that you may want to include as part of your larger business plan.

Startup Funding Requirements Template

This simple startup funding requirements template is useful for startups and small businesses that require funding to get business off the ground. The numbers generated in this template should align with those in your financial projections, and should detail the allocation of acquired capital to various startup expenses.

Download Startup Funding Requirements Template - Excel

Personnel Plan Template

Use this customizable personnel plan template to map out the current and future staff needed to get — and keep — the business running. This information belongs in the personnel section of a business plan, and details the job title, amount of pay, and hiring timeline for each position. This template calculates the monthly and yearly expenses associated with each role using built-in formulas. Additionally, you can add an organizational chart to provide a visual overview of the company’s structure. 

Download Personnel Plan Template - Excel

Elements of the Financial Section of a Business Plan

Whether your organization is a startup, a small business, or an enterprise, the financial plan is the cornerstone of any business plan. The financial section should demonstrate the feasibility and profitability of your idea and should support all other aspects of the business plan. 

Below, you’ll find a quick overview of the components of a solid financial plan.

• Financial Overview: This section provides a brief summary of the financial section, and includes key takeaways of the financial statements. If you prefer, you can also add a brief description of each statement in the respective statement’s section.
• Key Assumptions: This component details the basis for your financial projections, including tax and interest rates, economic climate, and other critical, underlying factors.
• Break-Even Analysis: This calculation helps establish the selling price of a product or service, and determines when a product or service should become profitable.
• Pro Forma Income Statement: Also known as a profit and loss statement, this section details the sales, cost of sales, profitability, and other vital financial information to stakeholders.
• Pro Forma Cash Flow Statement: This area outlines the projected cash inflows and outflows the business expects to generate from operating, financing, and investing activities during a specific timeframe.
• Pro Forma Balance Sheet: This document conveys how your business plans to manage assets, including receivables and inventory.
• Key Financial Indicators and Ratios: In this section, highlight key financial indicators and ratios extracted from financial statements that bankers, analysts, and investors can use to evaluate the financial health and position of your business.

Need help putting together the rest of your business plan? Check out our free simple business plan templates to get started. 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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How to Create a Business Plan in Excel

Creating a business plan can be daunting, but with the right tools and guidance, it can become an organized and straightforward process. One of the most effective tools for crafting a business plan is Microsoft Excel. This versatile software provides a solid platform for organizing thoughts, analyzing data, and visualizing goals. This article will guide you through the essential steps to create a comprehensive business plan using Excel.

Understanding the Importance of a Business Plan

A business plan is an essential document for anyone embarking on a new venture. It serves as a roadmap for your business, outlining your goals, strategies, and the actions needed to achieve them. Importantly, a well-structured business plan helps you anticipate challenges and prepares you to meet them head-on. By laying out your vision in a clear and organized manner, you not only clarify your own thoughts but also create a compelling narrative that can resonate with stakeholders.

A business plan is not only beneficial for start-ups but also for existing businesses looking to refine their strategies. It can be used to attract investors, secure loans, and provide guidance in decision-making processes. Furthermore, it acts as a benchmark for measuring progress, allowing you to track your achievements against your initial goals. Ultimately, a business plan boosts your confidence, providing clarity in your business journey while also serving as a communication tool to align your team around a shared vision.

Key Components of a Successful Business Plan

To effectively convey your business vision, a successful business plan should include several key components:

• Executive Summary: A concise overview of your business and its objectives.
• Company Description: Detailed information about your company, including its mission and vision.
• Market Analysis: Insights into your industry, target market, and competitors.
• Organization and Management: An outline of your business structure and team.
• Products and Services: A description of what you offer and how it meets market needs.
• Marketing Strategy: How you plan to attract and retain customers.
• Financial Projections: Detailed forecasts of your business's financial performance.

Including these elements in your business plan not only makes it comprehensive but also appealing to potential investors or stakeholders. Each section should be meticulously researched and presented, as this level of detail demonstrates your commitment and understanding of the market landscape. For instance, a robust market analysis can reveal trends and opportunities that may not be immediately obvious, while a well-defined marketing strategy can showcase your innovative approaches to customer engagement.

Why Use Excel for Your Business Plan?

Excel stands out as an excellent tool for creating a business plan due to its flexibility and powerful functionalities. Various features make it a suitable choice for organizing financial data, charts, and graphs, which are vital to your business planning process. The ability to create dynamic spreadsheets allows you to visualize data trends and make informed decisions based on real-time information.

Additionally, Excel facilitates easy collaboration, allowing multiple users to access and edit the document simultaneously. This collaborative aspect is particularly valuable in a team environment where input from different departments can enhance the overall quality of the business plan. You can also utilize its formulas and data validation features to ensure accuracy in your calculations, making your business plan more reliable. Moreover, with the ability to create pivot tables and advanced charts, you can present your data in a visually engaging way, making it easier for stakeholders to grasp complex information at a glance.

Getting Started with Excel

Before you dive into creating your business plan, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the basic functionalities of Excel. This foundation will allow you to leverage the tool effectively for your planning needs. Excel is not just a spreadsheet application; it is a powerful tool that can help you analyze data, track performance, and visualize trends, all of which are essential for informed decision-making in your business.

Basic Excel Functions for Business Planning

Understanding some core functions can enhance your experience in Excel. Here are a few essential functions that can prove beneficial:

• SUM: Quickly adds together a range of numbers.
• AVERAGE: Calculates the average of selected cells, useful for financial forecasting.
• IF: Allows you to perform logical tests and return specific values based on the outcome.
• VLOOKUP: A valuable function for searching for a value in a table.

These functions are just the tip of the iceberg. As you become more comfortable with Excel, you may also want to explore functions like COUNTIF , which counts the number of cells that meet a specific condition, and CONCATENATE , which allows you to combine text from different cells. Mastering these functions can significantly streamline your data management process and enhance your analytical capabilities.

Setting Up Your Excel Spreadsheet

Once you are acquainted with basic functions, begin by setting up your Excel spreadsheet. Start with a clean sheet, and label each section according to the key components identified earlier. Utilizing different tabs for various sections of your business plan can enhance organization and accessibility.

Using colors and formatting options can help distinguish between different types of data and make your spreadsheet visually engaging. A clear structure will not only be helpful for you but will also make it easier for others to understand your plan. Additionally, consider using Excel's built-in templates for business plans, which can provide a solid starting point and save you time. These templates often come with pre-set formulas and formatting, allowing you to focus on inputting your data rather than designing the layout from scratch.

Moreover, incorporating charts and graphs can transform your numerical data into visual representations, making trends and comparisons easier to grasp. Excel offers a variety of chart types, such as pie charts for showing proportions and line graphs for tracking changes over time. By integrating these visual tools, you can enhance the storytelling aspect of your business plan, making it more compelling for stakeholders and investors alike.

Creating Your Business Plan in Excel

With your spreadsheet set up, it's time to start inputting your data and creating your business plan.

Inputting Your Business Information

Begin with the executive summary and company description. Clearly define your business idea, goals, and unique selling propositions. Be as succinct and clear as possible to grab the attention of potential readers.

As you transition to other sections, such as market analysis, utilize relevant data and charts in Excel to represent your findings visually. Pie charts can illustrate market share effectively, while tables can synthesize competitor analysis for a clear comparison. Remember, the visual representation of data not only makes your plan more engaging but also aids in comprehending complex information at a glance. Use color coding to differentiate between various competitors or market segments, which can further enhance clarity and impact.

Developing Financial Projections

Financial projections are crucial for showing the viability of your business. Utilize Excel's built-in formulas to calculate sales forecasts, expenses, and projected profits. Create separate sheets to track different financial aspects like cash flow, profit and loss, and break-even analysis.

Providing clear graphs to visualize these projections can enhance understanding and impact. For instance, line graphs can showcase growth over time, while bar charts can compare expenses against revenue. Additionally, consider including scenario analysis in your projections. By creating different sheets for best-case, worst-case, and most likely scenarios, you can better prepare for uncertainties and present a more comprehensive financial outlook to potential investors.

Tracking Business Goals and Objectives

In the goals and objectives section, clearly outline short-term and long-term goals. Use Excel’s tracking tools to set milestones and deadlines. Implement conditional formatting to highlight tasks based on their status—completed, ongoing, or overdue. This strategy can help you stay accountable and focused on achieving your goals.

Furthermore, consider integrating a dashboard within your Excel workbook that summarizes key performance indicators (KPIs) related to your goals. This dashboard can provide a quick snapshot of your progress, making it easier to adjust strategies as needed. By regularly updating this dashboard, you can maintain a dynamic view of your business’s trajectory and ensure that you are always aligned with your objectives, fostering a proactive approach to your business management.

Fine-Tuning Your Business Plan

Reviewing and adjusting your plan is vital as it helps identify potential weaknesses and areas for improvement. Regularly revisiting your document ensures that it remains relevant and accurate.

Reviewing and Adjusting Your Plan

Schedule periodic reviews of your business plan to assess your progress. During these reviews, analyze performance against your established goals and adjust your strategies as necessary. Utilizing Excel’s data analysis functions can assist you in pinpointing trends and making data-driven decisions.

Utilizing Excel's Advanced Features

Excel is equipped with advanced features such as pivot tables and data visualization tools. These tools can help you create sophisticated analyses of your business's performance, providing deeper insights that can guide strategic adjustments.

You can also explore automation options like macros to streamline repetitive tasks, making your business planning process even more efficient.

Maintaining Your Business Plan in Excel

Creating your business plan is only the first step; maintaining it is equally important. Keeping your plan updated ensures that it evolves with your business.

Regularly Updating Your Business Plan

Set a schedule for regular updates, ideally on a monthly or quarterly basis. This routine will help you incorporate new data, reflect changes in your business environment, and adjust your strategies. Staying proactive in updating your plan can significantly enhance its effectiveness.

Leveraging Excel for Ongoing Business Planning

Excel is an invaluable resource for ongoing business planning. Continuously use it to track your goals, expenses, and performance metrics. Its versatility allows you to adapt your business plan as market conditions change, ensuring your organization remains aligned with its objectives.

In conclusion, creating and maintaining a business plan using Excel is a strategic approach that can significantly benefit your business. By understanding its importance, leveraging its features, and diligently updating your plan, you can set yourself up for success in the competitive business landscape.

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Business Start Up Costs Template

No matter what kind of business you intend on owning, it is a good idea to estimate your business startup expenses prior to jumping in. Whether you plan on starting a small business or a larger franchise, you may be surprised at the total start-up cost. Nearly all new business owners underestimate the cost of starting their business, leaving it exposed to the risks of being underfunded. To help avoid this common mistake, use our free Business Start Up Costs Template to estimate how much money you need to get your start-up business up and running safely. See below for additional information, tips and resources.

Calculating business start up costs is critical to starting any business. An entrepreneur is usually required to put these costs together as part of a business plan , loan or grant application. They are also helpful when putting together proforma financial statements.

Other Versions

License : Private Use (not for distribution or resale)

Description

This Excel workbook will help you put together an estimate of costs and funding required to start your business. It is pre-populated with expense categories common to many small businesses and home-based businesses, so it can be very useful in helping you identify all of your start-up costs, including many you may not have considered.

Whether you start with the predefind categories or create your own list, begin the costing process by identifying all of the categories unique to your business. You may delete categories that do not apply. For a home business, many of the categories can be removed.

As you add your own costs or expense categories, the template will help you understand whether you have adequate funding. After you have your funding secured and you pull the trigger, use the worksheet to track your actual expenditures to help you keep your costs under control.

As you get your business going, you may want to consider using a more detailed business budget and other financial statements .

Starting a restaurant? This free template also includes a customized start up cost worksheet with many cost categories specific to owning and operating a restaurant. Perfect for helping you capture all of those Restaurant Start-Up Costs.

Starting a franchise, web business or home business? Continue reading below for some help with costs specific to these types of businesses as well as links to other helpful resources.

Start-Up Costs for Different Businesses

Restaurant business start-up costs.

Starting a restaurant can be expensive because of the specialized equipment and facilities that are required. Luckily, there are usually leasing options available for the expensive items and many landlords will work with you on leasehold improvements. Use the Restaurant specific worksheet in the Business Start up Cost Template to help you consider other expenses such as cleaning costs, uniforms, menu development and supplier sourcing costs.

Home Business Startup Costs

The nice thing about a home-based business is that you can forgo many of the typical expenses of a startup. Things like internet, office space, furniture and utilities are already taken care of. Better yet, if you qualify for the home office deduction, you can write some of these items off as business expenses. Simply put $0 in the template or delete the rows for those expenses already covered. If you are starting a home-based internet business , continue on to the next section.

Internet Business Start-up Costs

A web based business may be one of the least expensive businesses to start, especially if you can do the web development work yourself. Use the basic template and decide which expenses apply to you – and delete the rest. You may also want to consider some items not listed, such as custom web page design and development work, custom database development and scripting, search engine optimization (SEO), or advanced hosting services. Also, if your business is retail, don't forget to include all of the referral and usage fees for selling through storefronts like Amazon and Ebay.

Franchise Business Start Up Costs

Our Business Start Up Cost Template will also help you if you are looking for a start-up franchise opportunity or looking for franchises for sale. Along with all of the regular costs of starting a business, the template also includes categories for fixed franchise fees as well as monthly franchise dues and marketing co-op fees. You may also want to check with the franchise corporate offices. Many of them provide tools to help you estimate your start up and operating costs.

How to Use the Business Startup Cost Template

The key to putting together accurate numbers is to get into the details. This requires doing detailed research by calling suppliers and providers, searching the internet and listing any and all costs that may be applicable. Start out with a solid list of cost categories and then research these expenses to get good estimates.

The business cost template comes pre-populated with many of the most common expense categories. It also contains additional suggestions and tips for each category to help you make sure you considered everything. Feel free to add additional line items that are unique to your business.

Funding Sources

Start by listing the sources of funding available to you in the Estimated column. This would include money supplied by owners and investors, funds available from bank loans or other lines of credit. In some cases you may be pursuing other sources of funds such as grants, endowments or sale of assets.

Fixed Costs

After all your funding sources have been outlined, start putting in the estimated fixed costs . The fixed costs are one-time costs such as purchasing tools and equipment, initial inventory, registration and license fees, software purchases, or website creation.

Two key parts to the fixed costs are the Working Capital and a Reserve for Contingencies – these can be significant. Any startup is advised to have a Contingency Fund as there are always last minute surprise costs and fees. Consider the risks of your business and set aside sufficient funds accordingly.

Be sure to include enough Working Capital to fund your normal business operations as you grow. It helps ensure that you have adequate cash flow. Remember that there can be a significant amount of time between when a sale is made and when you actually receive payment. Sufficient working capital is needed to allow you to continue to purchase inventory and pay bills while waiting for payment. More than one growing business has failed because it lacked sufficient working capital.

Monthly Costs - Until Profitable

Businesses are seldom profitable the first day. To have a clear picture of actual cash required, estimate your monthly operating costs as well as how many months it will take you to move from the red to the black. The template is set up to assist you in determining these important costs. Estimate how many months you believe it will take to get up and running and fill in the estimated monthly costs.

Ready, Set, Go

After the time window is provided and all the sources and costs are identified, the spreadsheet will calculate whether you have a surplus or deficit in funding. If you have a deficit, then you will need to figure out if there are ways to scale back your costs or look for additional funding. If you have surplus and are confident in your numbers, you may be good to go.

Keeping Things in Check

The excitement of starting the business can cause entrepreneurs to spend more than they planned. Use the template to keep you grounded. As you collect funds and begin to spend money, record the Actual amounts next to the Estimated numbers. The spreadsheet will calculate whether you are running over or under you estimated budget so you can make adjustments as you go.

Working Capital and Reserve Fund

Make sure in your calculations you have sufficient funds for Working Capital and a Reserve Fund. Consider these like insurance for your start up business. Without them, you will not be able to grow your company or be able to withstand unexpected expenses.

Working Capital is what you will use to actually grow your business. It allows you to purchase larger volumes of inventory in preparation for higher sales. Lacking sufficient Working Capital can really kill your growth potential.

Your Reserve Fund is a safety mechanism like a car airbag – it protects you from unforeseen situations. Without it, one large unexpected cost can set your entire business into a tailspin, forcing you to choose between paying payroll, suppliers, utilities, or other operating costs. While you may survive, you will certainly miss out on opportunities to grow your business.

More Business Startup Expense Tips

• Be aware of common budget busters, including installation fees, permits and licenses, taxes (especially self-employment taxes), business insurance, working capital, and monthly expenses.
• Securing lines of credit can take some time. Be sure to have them in place before they are needed.
• Be aware of credit card processing fees. These can be 2% to 5% of the total.
• Little items may not seem like much, but they can add up quickly. Don’t overlook them.
• Business Startup Costs are only part of the financials that any new business owner should put together. Consider putting together a proforma cash flow statement and balance sheet.
• If you are searching for funding, odds are you will need a business plan. Business plans can be a great way to concentrate your thoughts and to really put together a game winning strategy as well as get feedback from mentors and associates.

References and Resources

Startup costs, loans and grants.

• Estimating Startup Costs at sba.gov - Information on estimating start up costs from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) office.
• Small Business Loans and Grants at sba.gov - Information and assistance on understanding the various Business Startup Loans and Start up Business Grants available to small businesses.
• Official Site of U.S. Grants - Official site for finding and applying for U.S. Grants including Business Startup Grants.

How to Start a Business

• Starting and Managing a Business at sba.gov - Helpful information from the SBA on starting and managing a business.
• Starting a Business at entrepreneur.com - Many different articles and tips on starting your own business.
• 10 Steps to Starting a Business at business.gov - Detailed information from the U.S. Government on the 10 steps for starting a business.
• Writing a Business Plan at sba.gov - SBA information about how to put a solid business startup plan together.

Small Business Info and Assistance

• Online and face-to-face Mentoring at SCORE - SCORE,a non-profit organization, partners with the SBA to educate entrepreneurs and help small businesses.
• Minority Business Development Agency at mbda.gov - Tools, information and help for those starting Minority Owned Businesses.

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Business Plan Excel Template

Excel spreadsheet to prepare professional design business plans. Present your company with a printable and clear plan. With step-by-step guide.

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TEMPLATE DESCRIPTION

You have to prepare a business plan for your creditors and don’t know where to start. So here is our Business Plan Excel Template to help you all through the process.

Welcome to our Business Plan Template, the strategic roadmap for your 5-year startup success. Craft a proposal, secure funding, and ensure corporate sustainability with this comprehensive checklist.

Basically, Business plans usually target external actors like outside stakeholders, government agencies, lenders, clients, and investors. But they can also be internally focused in times of a new product or service development, opening a new factory or branch, organizational restructuring, and other key changes in a business.

This business plan template provides detailed guide  to summarize the nature of your company. Additionally, you can easily display your business drivers with company descriptions, marketing strategies, organization, financial projections, and other background information directly in Excel.

Our template fosters innovation and accountability, guiding your strategic decision-making . It addresses risk assessment, operations improvement, and profitability planning. Assess equity, valuation, and feasibility while emphasizing ownership, leadership, and resilience.

Business Plan Excel Template Features

Above all, our template offers a ready-to-use structure for a comprehensive business plan. With this tool, you will save a huge amount of time and energy with pre-defined sections and detailed guide.

In addition to a navigation menu, our template includes six main sections: 1. Cover, 2. Introduction, 3. Marketing, 4. Organization, 5. Financials, 6. Summary.

Navigation Menu

This menu helps you not only to move among the different sheets but also to track the preparation phase of the whole plan. So, under each main section, there are sub-category buttons to navigate through the relevant sheets. Also, you can easily track the completed sheets by using the little checkboxes on the left side of each sheet.

The cover page is a ready-to-print sheet with the business name, contact info, report writers, and the date. The user may also change the logo by right-clicking and selecting the Change Picture option.

2. Introduction

Under this section of your business plan template, the Company Description and Products/Services sheets summarize the main info of the business such as name, mission, core values, legal structure, etc., as well as the main properties of its products or services.

3. Marketing

The marketing section of this business plan generator consists of six different marketing tools:

• Industry Analysis: This sheet gives a general outlook of the business industry.
• Target Market Analysis: You can define the target market of the business with geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavioral levels.
• Competitive Analysis: You may make a competitive analysis by first defining the main factors and assigning an important point for each factor, and then giving scores for the business itself and the competitors for each factor. The overall weighted scores will be calculated automatically.
• Porter’s Five Forces Analysis: This section lets the user explain the competitive environment with the Power of Buyers, Power of Suppliers, Threat of New Entrants, Threat of Substitutes, and Competitive Rivalry.

• SWOT Analysis: You can evaluate a business from internal (Strengths & Weakness) and external (Opportunities & Threats) aspects.
• Distribution : This section gives the main idea about the distribution channels of the business in your plan template.

4. Organization

This sheet displays the organization and management prospects of the company. The first part is for the key managers of the business, with name, position, and expertise area. Meanwhile, the second part is to define the human resources structure of the company. You will give the estimated personnel number and the average salary for each department, and the template calculates the total estimated costs for human resources.

This template will help your innovation and improvement process in your organization.

5. Financials of Business Plan Template

Basically, the financials section of the business plan template consists of Sales Forecasts, three main Financial Statements, as well as a Financial Summary.

• Sales Forecasts: This area gives a prospect of sales projections for each target market for the five years, which you can easily may change. The total sales and year-over-year sales growth will be calculated automatically.
• Financial Statements: These sections provide ready-to-use Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement for five-year financial projections. The white areas are for the user to input data, while the gray shaded areas are calculations. You may change the years, but we highly recommend to you use the same five-year period for the sales forecasts and financial statements to get accurate financial summary results.
• Financial Summary: This dashboard is produced from the previous sales forecast and financial statement sheets. The template displays a clear financial outlook for the five-year projections of the business with key ratios and professional-looking charts.

You’ll always track your budget with entry and exit levels, staying accountable for all the stakeholderes, including your partners, creditors, etc.

Lastly, the Summary section of our excel business plan gives a general idea of the company, consisting of three main parts:

• Business Model Canvas: This section helps to summarize the key drivers of the business in nine main blocks with drag & drop post-it notes. Moreover, you may easily move these notes and change the size, colors, or fonts.
• Business Timeline: This list shows the expected milestones of the business with target dates. This will give a smooth road map for the company.
• Executive Summary: As one of the most important sections of a business plan, the Executive Summary gives a chance to explain its business to the targeted audience in his/her own words. This one-page brief of the company underlines the main description, goals, and prospects of the business.

Note: When you have done with your business plan, you can take a printout of the whole template by selecting the Print Entire Workbook option under the print settings.

Chart the path to success with a solid investment framework , securing capital and financing for your expansion. Ensure compliance, execution, and continuity while pursuing your objectives and realizing your strategy and vision for corporate growth and revenue.

Business Plan Excel Template Features Summary:

• Summarize business with key drivers
• Provides a general overview of a business
• Guide to preparing a business plan
• Fully customizable and ready to print
• Informational notes included
• No installation needed, ready-to-use
• Works both on Mac and Windows
• Compatible with Excel 2007 and later versions
• Does not include any VBA code or macros

Business Plan Template is a ready-to-use Excel Template and provided as-is. If you need customization on your reports or need more complex templates, please refer to our custom services.

PRODUCT VIDEO

Watch the video below to see the template in action! Presentation also includes usage notes, explanations and tips & tricks about the template.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Business plan excel template – product faq.

A business plan is a strategic roadmap that outlines your company’s goals, strategies, and financial projections. It’s a comprehensive document that summarizes the nature of your business, including company descriptions, marketing strategies, organizational structure, and financial forecasts.

Our Business Plan Excel Template provides a structured format to create this essential document, helping you present your business idea clearly to stakeholders, investors, or lenders.

What are examples of a business plan?

Business plans can vary, but common examples include:

• Startup business plan for new ventures seeking funding.
• Growth plan for established businesses looking to expand.
• Strategic plan focusing on company direction and goals.
• Feasibility plan to validate a business idea.
• Internal plan for organizational changes or new product development.

Our template is versatile enough to accommodate these various types, providing sections for company description, market analysis, financial projections, and more.

What are the main sections of the Someka Business Plan Excel Template?

Our template includes six main sections :

• Cover Page,
• Introduction (Company Description and Products/Services),
• Marketing (Industry Analysis, Target Market Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT Analysis, Distribution),
• Organization (Key Managers and Human Resources structure),
• Financials (Sales Forecasts, Financial Statements, Financial Summary),
• Summary (Business Model Canvas, Business Timeline, Executive Summary).

Each section is designed to present your business plan comprehensively.

Can I customize this Business Plan template?

Yes, our Business Plan Excel Template is fully customizable . You can modify sections, add or remove content, and tailor the plan to your specific business needs. The template provides a structured framework, but allows flexibility to adapt to various business types and industries.

How does this template help with market analysis?

Our template includes several tools for thorough market analysis : Industry Analysis, Target Market Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, and SWOT Analysis.

These sections guide you through evaluating your market position, understanding your competition, and identifying opportunities and threats, providing a comprehensive view of your business environment.

How can this template help with financial projections?

The Financials section of our template includes tools for creating 5-year projections .

It features Sales Forecasts, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement templates. The Financial Summary Dashboard automatically generates key ratios and professional-looking charts based on your input, providing a clear financial outlook for your business.

USER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

15 reviews for business plan excel template.

Julie Tacconi – May 8, 2023

I’m one of your most loyal customers, and I’m a big fan of what you’re doing. I always receive updates, campaigns, and even special offers from you. I’m writing this review to let others know that this template is well worth the price, and that you’ll have a great experience using it.

Nora Rusman – March 9, 2023

What can I do with the SWOT analysis? I dont know the usage of it. I wish there was more explanation for it.

Someka – March 9, 2023

Greetings! We understand that customers do not want to be bogged down with lengthy descriptions, so we encourage the use of our online chat or support mail to ask any questions. SWOT analysis is an effective way to determine both internal (e.g. strengths and weaknesses) and external (e.g. opportunities and threats) elements affecting a business. It is essential to take appropriate steps once the analysis is completed.

Dawnn Davis – February 16, 2023

I purchased the template, am I charged monthly for using it?

Someka – February 16, 2023

Hello, thank you for inquiring! This template comes with a one-time fee ; once you make the payment, you will have immediate access to the template. There are no subscription plans or additional fees.

Natalie Taylor – November 12, 2022

Can you explain more about demographic level? I have difficulties to undrestand the whole point of it.

Someka – November 12, 2022

Demographics are details that show the composition of a population, based on factors such as age, race, and gender. Analyzing demographic data is a way to study the population and gain insight into who is part of it.

Alena Vasyuk – September 26, 2022

How many analysis I will get with target market share?

Someka – September 26, 2022

We have four types of Target Market Analysis in this business plan template: Geographic, Demographic, Psychographic, and Behavioral. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by email: [email protected]

Rama Bintang – June 10, 2022

what is the meaning of industry size into this template?

Someka – June 10, 2022

The Industry Size is an indication of the total market size and target audience of the industry. It is possible to classify the industry as either growing or shrinking.

Antonia R – April 28, 2022

I could not use the business model canvas part. It doesn’t work. I couldn’t add new post-it

Someka – April 28, 2022

Hello Antonia,

You can use the drag&drop part of the Business Model Canvas section. It allows you to flexibly design your note style. Firstly, you can choose any post-it from the palette on the right side of the sheet and drag it to your desired location on the canvas. After that, you can include any information by manually writing it down on the post-it. Please see the image below:

Harold – April 27, 2022

I’m not sure but maybe we will consider buying a multi user. Is it possible to change the license of our product? Now we have single user.

Someka – April 27, 2022

Hello Harold,

We may surely upgrade your license from single-user to multi-user. Just email us at [email protected] and our team will contact you with a link to upgrade your license.

Angela Rucker – April 27, 2022

This template reallly saved my day! Thank you SOMEKAAA

Dear Angela, We’re very happy to hear that you liked our tool. Thank you for your kind words.

Tommy Rodriquez – April 26, 2022

Nice job guys, but will I have to use all of these sheets. It seems too much!

Someka – April 26, 2022

Hi Tommy, This is a comprehensive business plan template. But you do not have to fill in all the sheets. The checkboxes on the navigation menu may help you track your own plan. Use the tools you need, and put an “X” on ones that you do not want to use. As all the users may need different tools/sheets on their business plan, we prefer to give as many as possible to our users.

Ellis J – April 25, 2022

I was really looking for this type of product and finally found it. It was my pleasure to receive such comprehensive app. thanks

Amy C – April 25, 2022

very useful excel thanks for everything. tiny question,where can i see may sales projections?

Someka – April 25, 2022

Dear Amy, You may see your sales projections, which you input in the Sales Forecast section, on the Financial Summary charts. But please remember that these projections are not automatically moved to financial statements. These are all separate sheets. Hope this helps!

Mae – April 24, 2022

Ronald Davis – April 24, 2022

I could not change the logo?

Someka – April 24, 2022

Hi Ronald, You can change the logo on the cover by right-clicking on the dummy logo and selecting the Change Picture option. Then You can select your logo From a File on your computer. To change the Someka logos throughtout the template, please click here

Jose D. – April 22, 2022

Hello someka team it looks good but may I use it in Spanish? it will be better for me.

Someka – April 22, 2022

Hi Jose, Thanks for asking. After purchasing a modifiable version, you can make any modifications, which include translating the template into another language. Actually, this template is fully customizable. So you may use it in Spanish easily. Hope this helps!

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Calculate your startup costs

Calculate your business startup costs before you launch.

The key to a successful business is preparation. Before your business opens its doors, you’ll have bills to pay. Understanding your expenses will help you launch successfully.

Calculating startup costs helps you:

• Estimate profits
• Conduct a break-even analysis
• Secure loans
• Attract investors
• Save money with tax deductions

Break-Even Analysis Calculator

Use this calculator to discover your break-even point and determine your future profits.

Identify your startup expenses

Most businesses fall into one of three categories: brick-and-mortar businesses, online businesses, and service providers. You’ll face different startup expenses depending on your business type.

Brick and mortar

There are common startup costs you’re likely to have no matter what. Look through the following list, and make sure to add any other expenses that are unique to your business:

• Office space
• Equipment and supplies
• Communications
• Licenses and permits
• Lawyer and accountant
• Employee salaries
• Advertising and marketing
• Market research
• Printed marketing materials
• Making a website

Estimate how much your expenses will cost

Once you have your list of expenses, you can estimate how much they’ll actually cost. This process will be different for each expense you have.

Some expenses will have well-defined costs — permits and licenses tend to have clear, published costs. You might have to estimate other costs that are less certain, like employee salaries. Look online and talk directly to mentors, vendors, and service providers to see what similar companies pay for expenses.

Add up your expenses for a full financial picture

Once you’ve identified your business expenses and how much they’ll cost, you should organize your expenses into one-time expenses and monthly expenses.

One-time expenses are the initial costs needed to start the business. Buying major equipment, hiring a logo designer, and paying for permits, licenses, and fees are generally considered to be one-time expenses. You can typically deduct one-time expenses for tax purposes, which can save you money on the amount of taxes you’ll owe. Make sure to keep track of your expenses and talk to your accountant when it’s time to  file your taxes .

Monthly expenses typically include things like salaries, rent, and utility bills. You’ll want to count at least one year of monthly expenses, but counting five years is ideal.

Add up your one-time and monthly expenses to get a good picture of how much capital you’ll need and when you’ll need it.

Use your startup cost calculations to get startup funding

It’s a good idea to create a formal report of your expected startup costs.

You want it in a format that’s clear and easy to understand. Investors and lenders compare expected costs to projected revenue and determine the potential for your business to profit.

See what it will cost to start your business

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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.

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.

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. 🗓️

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. ✨

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’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.

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. 🤝

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.

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.

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’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.

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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