How to Write a Business Plan That Will Get Approved for a Loan
Link for Original Guidant Post / Article
If you need funding to start, expand, or acquire a business, you’ll need to know how to write a ,business plan for a loan. Yes, lenders will look at the standard factors required of all loan applicants, such as your credit history, credit score, and assets. But a lender for a business loan will also require a business plan.
Why do you need to know how to write a business plan for a bank loan? Because banks want to know that you have a viable and sustainable business. To assess its viability, they look at all aspects of it. Your financial projections are key – a good business plan will include several years’ worth of past revenue and profits (if available). It will also forecast sales and profits out three to five years. Lenders are, first and foremost, going to evaluate whether you will have the funds to pay back the loan.
Lenders also want to know what the business is, what products you offer, what the competitive landscape looks like, and who the key personnel are. All this information, and more, is used to gauge your business’s chances of success, which is what will ultimately allow you to succeed and to make loan payments to the lender.
While a business plan for a loan is needed for the lender and should be directed toward being clear and comprehensible to loan officers, writing a business plan for a loan also benefits you as the owner. A well-executed business plan serves as a guide to your business. You can use the past financials and the forecasts as blueprints for whether you are on track for success, for example.
Tip: When you create a business plan to get a loan, remember that you are writing to inform and persuade lenders but also writing a document that can be used as a forecast and guide for yourself and your business.
What Does a Successful Business Plan Include?
A strong business plan for a loan application will include the following elements:
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- Cover Page and Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Company Description
- Market Plan and Analysis
- Organization and Management
- Service or Product
- Marketing and Sales
- Financing Analysis
- Funding Request
- Appendix
Tip: Many lenders are looking critically at how a business can and will operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lenders are primarily looking at two criteria.
1. How the business’s revenue will continue under COVID-19 restrictions and affects.
2. How will a borrower safely operate their business.
Guidant recommends adding a “COVID-19” section to your business plan. It doesn’t need to be very lengthy, but it should cover how you plan to keep a safe and sanity working environment for your staff and customers. Information to include is:
* Restricting occupancy
* Stocking up on cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer
* Wearing masks, gloves, or other safety gear
* Wiping down equipment – for example, a fitness facility might wipe down equipment every hour
To address concerns about revenue, include information such as:
* If your state has allowed your industry to reopen
* New or alternative ways to earn revenue if you can’t open a physical location.
1. Cover Page and Table of Contents
Your business plan for a loan application is a professional document, so be sure it looks professional. The cover page should contain the name of your business and your contact information. If you have a logo, it should go on the cover. Both lenders and you will appreciate a table of contents and page numbers in the business plan for a loan application, so they can quickly find specific sections.
2. Executive Summary
It’s common for business documents to carry executive summaries at the beginning so that busy people have the key take-aways from a larger document immediately at hand. Your reader shouldn’t feel they have to wade through a large document for crucial information.
Briefly summarize the entire business plan on a page. Describe the company, your product, and why you started the company. Include your chief competitors and why your product will succeed against them. If relevant, discuss the economic climate vis-à-vis your customers and products.
Tip: The executive summary shouldn’t include a great deal of financial information. If you have a particularly relevant or striking financial result, it can be included.
3. Company DescriptionnThe company description should include a mission statement, the company principals, and strategic partners, and your corporate structure.
4. Market Analysis
After you’ve told the lender what your company does and who does it, you’ll want to provide a competitive analysis of your market. Identify the existing gaps that your business will fill. A business plan’s market analysis should include:
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- An industry overview and outlook
- Any differentiation in sector and niche
- Information on your target market
- The company’s marketing strategy and how it will make your company stand out
The market analysis should also specify the effect of outside sources on your company. For example, if the industry is subject to regulation, include information indicating your knowledge of the regulation and your past compliance with it (if your business is already up and running). Will you require raw materials? If so, how do you guarantee you’ll have them at price points supporting your financials? Are there any risks to price points changing?
If your company is engaged in ongoing market research or research and development for competitive new products and services, indicate it in this section.
The market analysis should be based on reputable sources. When describing your competitors and their products, for example, it should be clear to readers where the information comes from.
Tip: Many business owners engage third-party companies to perform an analysis. If you have, be sure to cite them. If your information comes from published research or a survey, be sure to cite those as well.
5. Organization and Management
The organization and management section should itemize your company’s management structure. Many business plans provide an organizational chart, a structure description, and salary forecasts.
The description should include each management position, the person in the position, their responsibilities, and their qualifications. If you have a Board of Directors, list them on a separate page, along with any experience relevant to your business’s success.
The principles of the firm, such as the owner and co-owners, are included in the business description section. If your company is small and currently contains only the principals, it isn’t necessary to include a separate organization and management section.
6. Service or Product
Now it’s time to describe your company’s product or service in detail. What do you sell, and who do you sell to? What need are you fulfilling for the customer base? Business plans often itemize their entire product line with the planned or current pricing structure.
The service or product section should also include your product/service’s estimated lifecycle, and any research and development completed, in progress or planned.
It should also include a description of any trade marks, patents, or other intellectual property rights, if applicable.
7. Marketing and Sales
The marketing and sales section includes three vital pieces of information:
* How will customers find out about your products?
* What will your sales channels and methods be?nn* What is your growth strategy?
If you plan for customers to discover your products or services through informational methods like industry meetings, specify what your plan for that method is. IF you plan to advertise or develop a public relations campaign, specify what your efforts will be. Will you be on the social media channels? Which ones, and why? Are these efforts designed to appeal to specific demographics or types of customers? Which ones, and why? Will sales be accomplished via a targeted sales team? Will management call upon relevant prospective clients or stores? Will you have an online presence?
If you have a growth strategy, outline it. IF you plan expansions to other geographic areas or other types of potential customers, discuss ti in this section.
Examples of a marketing and sales section ,here.
8. Financial Analysis
The financial analysis section is key for lenders. The financial analysis must include financial projections for three to five years out. The further out into the future forecasts run, of course, the more difficult it is to predict with certainty. Once solution is to prepare a business plan with ,three-year forecasts, but have a five-year forecast ready if the lender wants them.
Tip: If you are already in business, you should also include historical results for the past three to five years (or for as long as the business has been operating, if it’s less).
The financial projections must include:
* Income statements
* Cash flow statements
* Capital expenditure budgets
* Balance sheets
They may also include profit and loss statements, sales forecasts, and financial metrics relevant to your industry.
You need to provide the projections by month, quarter, and year. Lenders want to see the financials in both the short and long term. Why? Because businesses that aren’t meeting their monthly and quarterly projections can be risky. If they are falling behind in sales or profit, for example, they can fail rapidly.
On the other hand, if sales are much greater than projected, the company can find it challenging to keep up with production and other efforts. To counterbalance the risk, lenders always want a clear picture of what’s likely to happen.
See an example of a financial analysis section ,here.
8.2 Break-even Analysis
A break-even analysis is the calculation and study of the margin of safety of a company, based on revenue and associated costs.
Learn how to calculate break-even analysis in Excel ,here.
8.3 Projected Profit & Loss
Also known as a P&L forecast, this section will cover the projection of how much money your company will bring in and how much profit you’ll make from those sales.
Tip: Most accounting software, like Quickbooks or Peachtree, can create and P&L forecast for you after you enter sales and expenses.
8.4 Cash Flow Forecast
A cash flow forecast documents your estimate of how much money will come in and out of your business within a specific amount of time (usually 12 months). The forecast includes your projected income and expenses.
Learn more about how to model your cash flow forecast here.
Tip: Looking at your past cash flow through accounting software can help you determine your future cash flow and forecast it.
8.5 Projected Balance Sheet
A projected balance sheet is also known as a “pro forma” balance sheet. It lists out account balances on a company’s assets, equity, liabilities, and other spending and income that the P&L does not cover – like cash from a loan or outstanding customer invoices.
Learn more about how to create a pro- forma balance sheet ,here.
Learn how to create a company balance sheet and download a template ,here.
8.6 Business Ratios
Ratios in a business plan are used to assess and analyze the performance of a business. In this case, projected ratios are another good look for banks to understand your business’s potential and also serve as a goalpost for your planning.
Common Business Ratios (& Their Formulas)
Net Profit Margin Ratio
Formula: Net Profit After Taxes / Net Sales
Gross Profit Margin Ratio
Formula: Gross Profit = (Revenue – Cost of Goods Sold) / Revenue
Profit Margin Ratio
Formula: Profit Margin = (Revenue – Expenses) / Revenue
Quick Ratio (aka “The Acid Test”)
Formula: Quick Ratio = (Cash + Marketable Securities + Accounts Receivable) / Current Liabilities
OR
Formula: Quick Ratio = (Current Assets – Inventory) / Current Liabilities
ROI (Return on Investment) Ratio
Formula: ROI Ratio = (Gain from Investment – Cost of Investment) / Cost of Investment
Current RationFormula: Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities
Common Size
Formula: Common Size Ratio = Line Item / Total
9. Funding Request
Now it’s time for your funding request! You need to clearly itemize why you need business financing, what amounts you’re requesting (both current and prospective for the next five years), and what you will use the amounts for.
Tip: Describe how funding will contribute to the overall success of your company (and its strategic plan). Will it allow strategic R&D? Provide funds to acquire a smaller competitor? Create an opportunity for media buys and other marketing?
Here is one way you can structure your funding request:
1. Your current funding needs.
2. Any future funding requirements over the next five years.
3. How you intend to use the funds you receive.
4. Any strategic future financial plans.
10. Appendix
Appropriate appendix materials include:
* Principal’s resumes
* Tax returns
* Relevant real estate documents
* Processing flowchart
* Letters of intent to purchase from buyers
* Advertisement and marketing materials
* Relevant training certificates
* Sales forecast
* Personel plan
* Profit and loss statement
* Balance sheet
How to Make Getting a Business Loan Easier
Navigating the business loan process on your own can be overwhelming. That’s why many current and aspiring small business owners work with a company like Guidant Financial that can guide you through the process.
Here is why working with a consulting company like Guidant can offer:
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- Simplified Application Process. Rather than wasting your time filling out multiple loan applications for every bank, we shop a single application to multiple lenders.
- Better Loan Terms: The ability to apply to several lenders at once often means receiving several loan offers, so you’ll have more choices when selecting your terms and conditions.
- Faster Approvals: We have established relationships with a vast network of lenders, which means your applications goes directly to banks who are most likely to approve your loan.
Guidant supports you throughout the entire loan application process. And with their comprehensive loan package analysis, they ensure you’re matched with the lenders who provide the best loan rates and the greatest chances of approval.
Reach out to them by clicking this link: ,Guidant Link
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