Yes, you do. Even if you think you have a clear idea of how you are going to start and develop your business, setting it out on paper forces you to be more objective and attentive to details.

There is not a specific format to follow or a particular length that your plan should be. Most importantly, your plan should include all the necessary information for you to use it as a tool for assessing your progress. Typically, a plan will start by setting out your business goals. If you are writing a business plan to be presented to potential investors, emphasize financial information, and include a detailed analysis that supports each of your assertions.

There is no hard and fast rule for how many pages a business plan should be. You will need to include as much details as necessary for it to be a useful document and if you intending to use it to raise finance you will need to have completed each section on the business plan template thoroughly. It is wise to include tables and bullet points to make it more readable.

If you intend to raise finance the audience for your plan will be the loan or grant provider but before then make sure and access support for a small business plan from your local enterprise support organization. Business Advisors will be able to review and provide feedback on your plan.

Your business plan should include details of what your business or service is, who your customers will be and why they will buy from you. You will also need to include assumptions around how much people will buy and where you will market your product or service.

A business plan is a written document that describes your business. It covers objectives, strategies, sales, marketing, and financial forecasts.