Starting with a blank canvas is daunting. You do nothing but stare at it.
We grew up from writing school essays to preparing a plan, but the struggle remains the same.
I don’t know about your experience with the school essays, but we can help with the latter. While starting from scratch is challenging, a little content/structure inspiration can help.
Referring to real-life one-page plan examples reduces the guesswork and time spent outlining the structure and streamlines the process.
Check out this guide to learn more about the standard one-page business plan format, followed by a few sample one-page plans.
Sample one-page business plan format (w/ examples)
You might have seen multiple (distinct) one-page plan formats online, but be assured with this one, you’re ensuring to cover every minute detail required for quick and efficient planning.
Instead of giving a long list of components and confusing you, we’ve broken down and organized the sections of the one-page plan into five key divisions
- Business Overview: This section describes your business identity, its core offerings, the problem you intend to solve, how you provide the solution, your target market, and your competitors.
- Sales and Marketing: This is your space to list marketing strategies and sales channels you will use to reach your customers.
- Execution: This category will demonstrate your key milestones (long-term and short-term goals), your core team responsible for executing the plan, and any partners or resources that will help.
- Financial Plan: The important stuff. Include details about your financials, how you will make money, your key expenses, and any funding requirements.
- SWOT Analysis: List the internal and external factors affecting your business. It includes internal factors like strengths and weaknesses and external factors like opportunities and threats.
This was for starters. Now, let’s further understand all these five sections and their components in detail with necessary examples.
1. Business Overview
This above-the-fold section of your one-page business plan includes all the critical information about your business, what it does, whom you serve, and whom you’re competing against.
The key elements of the business overview include:
- Business Identity: Defines what your business does and its core offering.
- The Problem: Identifies the main issue or challenge your business addresses.
- Your Solution: Explains how your business resolves the problem.
- Target Market: Describes the specific group of people your business serves.
- Competition: Lists other companies offering similar solutions in your industry.
Let’s try to understand with an example. Suppose we’re creating a one-page business plan for a casual dining restaurant called “Gourmet Delights.”
One-page business plan example: business overview
Gourmet Delights (Business Overview)
Business Identity Gourmet Delights is a casual dining restaurant offering fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a menu focused on fusion cuisine that blends international flavors with traditional dishes. | |
Problem worth solving There is a growing demand for healthier, innovative food options in the area, but most local restaurants offer standard, repetitive menus. | Solution provided We provide a unique dining experience by offering creative fusion dishes, with a focus on high-quality ingredients, catering to health-conscious food lovers. |
Target market Young professionals, food enthusiasts, families, and tourists seeking a unique dining experience. | Competition Local chain restaurants, fast-casual eateries, and gourmet food trucks. |
2. Sales and Marketing
The next one in the line—sales and marketing. This section should provide information on your marketing strategies (how you will reach your ideal customers) as well as the sales channels you will use to reach them.
The key elements of the sales and marketing section include:
- Marketing strategies: Outlines the methods you will use to promote your business.
- Sales channels: Lists the platforms or methods through which you will sell your products or services.
Here is a sample of Gourmet Delights' sales and marketing section.
One-page business plan example: sales and marketing
Gourmet Delights (sales and marketing)
| Sales and Marketing | |
|---|---|
Marketing Strategies
| Sales Channels
|
3. Execution
As the name suggests, this section describes how you will execute your business plan. This includes defining key goals, identifying the team responsible for the execution, and recognizing partnerships and resources that will support you during the execution period.
The key components of the Execution section section include:
- Milestones: Key goals and deadlines critical for business success.
- Team: Overview of core team members and their roles.
- Partners and Resources: Important partnerships and resources that will support your business.
Check out the sample execution section for Gourmet Delights.
Gourmet Delights (Execution)
| Milestones 1. Launch the restaurant by Q2. 2. Reach 80% seating capacity by month 6. 3. Launch catering services by Q4. | |
Team James Smith (Chef/Owner), Maria Lopez (General Manager), Peter Taylor (Sous Chef) | Partners & Resources Local farms, organic food suppliers, and local wineries. |
4. Financial Plan
The Financial Plan will outline how your business will make money, manage costs, and meet its funding needs. It provides a quick overview of your revenue streams, main expenses, and any additional funding requirements.
The key components of the financial plan section include:
- Revenue streams: List the primary ways your business will generate income. This could be through product sales, services, subscriptions, or other sources.
- Expenses: List the major costs of running your business, including payroll, rent, marketing, utilities, and operational costs.
- Funding Required: If additional capital is needed to launch or grow the business, specify how much funding is required and how you plan to use it.
Check out Gourmet Delight’s sample execution section:
One-page business plan example: financial plan
Gourmet Delights (Financial Plan)
| Revenue Streams | Expenses |
|---|---|
| 1. Dine-in sales 2. Takeout 3. Delivery orders 4. Catering services. | 1. Payroll 2. Food ingredients 3. Utilities 4. Rent 5. Marketing 6. Equipment maintenance. |
Funding Required $150,000 for restaurant setup, equipment, and marketing. | |
We hope the detailed description of all these sections helps you get started. If not, here are a few more one-page business plan examples for your inspiration.
Sample one-page business plans
1. Airbnb one-page plan
This sample Airbnb one-page plan outlines the business strategy for an Airbnb rental service. Including marketing strategies, sales channels, financial plan, and milestones to ensure a successful short-term rental business. Check out the sample:
Download 
2. Non-profit one-page plan
This sample non-profit plan will help you understand the pre-launch planning process for a non-profit supporting small businesses. It includes details about the problem the non-profit solves, its target market, revenue streams, and critical milestones to achieve its mission.
It would be great to learn since it’s a bit different from traditional business and planning. Check out the sample:
Download
3. Real-estate one-page plan
A strategic plan for a real estate business, focusing on offering property sales, rentals, and management services. It covers competition, marketing efforts, revenue generation, and team roles to bring results to the business. Check out the sample:
Download
Download a free sample one-page business plan
Ready to start working on your one-page plan? Not sure where to begin? Download our free one-page business plan template, fill in the necessary details, and have your plan ready in less than 30 minutes.
As mentioned earlier in this guide, this template offers clear, step-by-step instructions to help you put your ideas on paper. The template has already helped thousands of entrepreneurs get started, and I hope it does to you as well.
Start preparing your one-page plan
Creating a 40-page, traditional plan was tough, so we summarized it into one. Getting started can be challenging, but you must take the first step to stay ahead in the cut-throat competition.
You now have the template, a thorough guide, also an option to choose AI for the task. So, what are you waiting for? Get a big hot cup of coffee, find a good setting, and start drafting your one-page plan.