3 6 and 12 month business plan

See Long- and Short-term Results with a 3-6-12-24 Plan

Published: February 26, 2010 by Marc Thys

3 6 and 12 month business plan

One of the major dilemmas companies face today is the pressure to deliver short-term improvements and benefits while still contributing to longer-term breakthrough objectives. The 3-6-12-24 planning tool helps practitioners find a way out of this predicament by presenting a coherent picture of the balance that must be achieved between short- and long-term objectives. An additional benefit: The Belts who run the improvement projects will see these not as stand-alone achievements, but as contributing to a bigger picture.

The 3-6-12-24 planning tool presented here is based on the same concepts and principles as multi-generation project planning (MGPP), an approach used to manage complex programs.

Clearing Up Communication

Two distinct audiences can benefit from this tool: the process owners that want to achieve their breakthrough objectives and the Belts that will execute the projects. Ultimately, the tool is a communication vehicle between these two parties.

Process owners typically want to have a clear picture of what results can be delivered by when, and how these results will contribute to the longer-term objectives. They also want to track the progress of these results and objectives. Moreover, they want to understand what resources will be needed.

Belts usually participate in the dialogue to develop the improvement plan. Based on their understanding of the challenges and uncertainties involved, they propose timelines, projects and resources to achieve the objectives and deliver the results. The process owners challenge them on these proposals in order to get the best return on investment in the shortest possible time frame.

Timing Is Everything

The numbers in the name of the 3-6-12-24 planning tool refer to months. For each of these milestones, targets should be set for key performance indicators of the business, and appropriate projects and work streams identified. The 24-month timeframe should help process owners to break out of fiscal year constraints that often restrict their thinking. Breakthrough objectives are seldom achieved within one fiscal year, so the time horizons have to be set accordingly.

The short-term horizons of three and six months will focus the Belts on concrete results. This should help overcome the syndrome whereby only large, complex DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) projects are defined and selected, designed to deliver within six months, but often dragging on for 10 months or longer. At the same time, the Belts are encouraged to come up with smaller, Kaizen-type projects. Not only does this type of project deliver results more quickly, but the projects often act as enablers for larger DMAIC projects that can be executed in parallel. The Kaizen projects also can be used as a vehicle to deliver quick wins that are often identified in the early stages of a DMAIC project.

Creating a Roadmap

The 3-6-12-24 planning tool can be best used for a rolling wave type of planning and review. This means that not only will the original plan be used to track progress and results every three months, but it will also be reviewed and adapted with that frequency. At the first review after three months, the original six-month target becomes the three-month target, and a new six-month target is set based on what now appears to be an achievable target on the road to the original 12-month target. Practitioners should revise the 12- and 24-month targets every six months, based on the insight gained over the previous six months. The 3-6-12-24 plan then becomes a living document to map out the road to the breakthrough objectives.

In the spirit of multigeneration planning, practitioners should ask the questions in Table 1 to determine the data and knowledge that must be gained in the first generation and is required to be able to execute the successive generations.

Typically, there should be a plan for each major component or objective of the breakthrough vision. For example, one business might have these three major objectives:

  • Reduce defects
  • Improve productivity
  • Reduce lead time

Table 2 shows a sample 3-6-12-24 plan for reducing defects.

Taking On Project Responsibility

Introducing this tool also can be a major motivator for the Belts that are going to work on these projects. One or two Black Belts should be assigned to each of the areas and should be given two-year goals. From there, they should be allowed to develop the rest of the plan – including the projects that they are going to work on in the next six months in order to achieve these goals. This way Belts do not have to wait for DMAIC projects to be assigned to them and can avoid projects that are poorly defined, not clearly scoped and not part of a coherent set – let alone aligned to achieve a clear mid- to long-term goal. Furthermore, the Belts will have work beyond long-winded DMAIC projects because the plan encourages them to include shorter Kaizen events and even “just do it” type projects in their set.

The tool and approach also help the sponsors and process owners to fulfill their roles because they become fully accountable for the results of the plan, rather than having a vague role to “remove roadblocks” for the Belts.

Demonstrating Value

After the initial launch of this tool at a test business, practitioners achieved their performance objectives for the first half of the year several months sooner than expected, allowing them to set more aggressive targets for the second half of the year. The achievement helped bring about a major turnaround for the entire Lean Six Sigma program, which had been on the brink of failure due to a lack of understanding and leadership and an overemphasis on short-term financial results. The problems had led to very low levels of morale with the Belts, who were actually blamed for the lack of success with the program. Now they had an effective tool to focus the improvement efforts of the business, and it became easy to demonstrate the program’s alignment with the strategy and its value to the business.

With the 3-6-12-24 planning tool, practitioners stopped measuring the individual benefits of projects and concentrated on the collective impact of the projects on the business objectives. It turned out to be a win-win situation for all parties involved: the business, sponsors, process owners and Belts.

About the Author

' src=

logo.png

  • Free Photos
  • Free Guides
  • New Arrivals
  • Free Stock Photos
  • Pick A Photo
  • Photo Collections
  • 28 Free Captions
  • Monthly Captions
  • Monthly Reels Ideas
  • Content Ideas
  • Pick A Template
  • Pinterest Pins
  • Free Content Planner
  • Browse All Plans
  • PLR / Resell
  • Profit Growth
  • Leads Growth
  • Social Media Growth
  • Plan & Systems
  • Banding & Design
  • Profit Boost Bundles (VIP)
  • New Tutorials
  • Instagram Tutorials
  • Pinterest Tutorials
  • Email Tutorials
  • Money Making Tutorials
  • Branding Tutorials
  • Enroll in Accelerator
  • All Courses
  • Become a Member
  • Plans & Pricing

get 500+ free images, templates & marketing strategies! You're one click away, Don't Miss It.

Ivory Mix templates stock photos + more

Included Free:

550+ templates, photos, & strategies, get new free downloads monthly, unlimited downloads, special offers & trends newsletter, save and sort your favorites, access 500+ free templates, photos, & strategies with a free account, free user creation for popup.

  • Enter Email
  • Create Password
  • Are you human?

By creating an account, I agree to Ivory Mix's Website terms, Privacy Policy and Licensing Terms

Already have an account? Log in

How to make a 12 month plan — Goals, Vision, and Content

Back to Blog

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclaimer

annual new year planning strategy

Ready to kiss this year goodbye and look ahead to the new year!? The #1 enemy of not accomplishing goals is a broken focus, so to get back on track for your new year, we need to reclaim our focus and make a plan!

> Download my free Annual Planner and Yearly Journal (50 page pdf)

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Why create a plan?

  • Knowing you have a pathway to follow feels good
  • Planning inspires action
  • Setting goals makes you feel accomplished

In this post, we’re going to talk about setting goals with ease and taking inspired action for the year ahead. To do this, I recommend retreating to a quiet place and giving yourself time to really ask the big questions and ponder your big goals. 

Set aside an afternoon, a day, or even a couple of days if you can!

This is your business, and it deserves attentive and focused planning to grow and evolve. 

I’m going to let you in on a little biz secret — the most effective way to plan is to focus on ONE thing at a time. 

Don’t dive in and scatter lists all over the table or open up a million google docs at once. When you have too many things on your plate, your focus becomes blurred. Instead, take your time and work through this process slowly. 

I love this acronym…

FOCUS: Following One Course Until Success.

This acronym demonstrates how important it is to take action and follow through on each part of your business plan. The more action you take, the more progress you’ll make, and the more satisfaction you’ll feel!

The exercises I’m leading you through in this post are NOT about doing everything perfectly! We cannot let perfect action become the enemy of good action. 

If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that perfect plans aren’t always the best. 

how to make a 12 month plan - goals, vision, content, personal retreat to plan the new year in your business

Step One – Pick Your Theme for the Year (Word/Idea for the year)

Choose a theme that will help inspire action all year long. To narrow one down, think about how you want to feel throughout the year. For example, this year my theme will be “inspired action.”

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Step Two – Brainstorm How to Get There

Begin a list of ways that you can embody your chosen theme in the new year. How can you bring that theme into your life? 

Use this list to invigorate yourself when you get off track. 

Step Three – Set 2 to 3 BIG Goals

Now it’s time to get more specific. 

If you were to accomplish something distinct in the coming year, what would make you the most excited? The proudest? What 2-3 big things will make this upcoming year feel like a success if you get close or achieve them? 

Maybe it’s scaling your revenue with existing products, or creating clear boundaries in your business? Whatever the case, set goals that are a little uncomfortable but not TOO uncomfortable. The best goals are hard to reach, but not impossible. 

What 2-3 goals come to mind?

Step Four – Create a “Would Be Nice” List

Brainstorm outcomes that could be easily achieved by working on them for a few days or by occasionally working them into your schedule. These would-be-nice outcomes don’t need to be major goals , but they do need to help support how you want to feel throughout the year. 

An example? Maybe you want to feel more refreshed and at peace in the new year, so you choose to spend more time in nature and hike at least once a month.

Brain dump a list of “would-be-nices” like this example that will help you feel better. Go for it and list as many things as you can!

goal planning

Step Five – Gather Data from the previous year

Now that you’ve set your theme, big goals, and would-be-nice ideas, it’s time to dig into the numbers to see where you have room for improvement. Open up those past year metrics and take a look! They are the key to making a plan and achieving your goals.

A quick note: Some people tend to start with the numbers and work backward. My advice is to not do that. Instead, begin with how you want to feel in the next year, like we have in the steps above, and set those intentions before you ever look at the data. 

As business owners, we can easily get wrapped up in the numbers. But to be fulfilled in our lives, we need to start making decisions based on our desires. 

So what do you really want from the new year?

Once you’ve decided what you want, the data will show you how to make informed decisions to get there.

Data to gather may include:

  • Website analytics
  • Subscriber info
  • Profit and Loss sheets
  • Notes and Journals

Think about how much you made in the past year, how many email subscribers you added to your list, how many visits there were to your sales pages, etc.  Look at where your website traffic comes from and what blog posts performed the best. Really dig in and study the metrics. 

In addition, look at what you’re spending on your team, your projects, and the tools you’re paying for to see if they are accomplishing what you intended them to.

What has created success? Let this data inform your next steps.

Step Six – Ask deeper questions about your Top 4 Priorities as a Business Owner

When you peel away the outer layers, most business owners really have the same set of priorities no matter their niche. These 4 priorities need to be considered when you’re setting your goals for the coming year:

  • What will increase sales?
  • What will increase my social proof?
  • What will improve my profitability/operations?
  • What do you need to do to master your craft?

Make sure you’re revisiting these questions often to determine if your plans will help you achieve one of these four goals. 

Step 7 – Set Your Specific Quarterly Goals  

To help you achieve your 2-3 BIG goals, it’s time to dive into the nitty-gritty. 

I like to place one “ROCK” goal on my planner per quarter. This goal is “set like a rock” and requires long-term planning, focus, and strategy. Sure, some ROCK goals may take longer than a quarter, and that’s okay, but break them down as much as you can to fit them into a smaller, more defined time frame. 

how to breakdown business goals

If you find you have too many goals on the calendar, be willing to cut the fat and move them to the “would be nice” list.

Then ask yourself: What should I DO, what should I DELEGATE, and what can I DELETE?

Use this method to pair down your plans into steps that you and/or your team can accomplish day in and day out. 

Step 8 – Specify the details

Once you have your ROCK goals set, you need to spend time outlining the specifics and how you make these goals happen. Using Trello, Asana, or Click Up, create and schedule tasks that can be checked off when complete. 

You can organize your goals and plans on a Trello board like this example here:

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Step 9 – Gather Content Ideas

Creating supporting content is a step we can’t leave out of your new year planning! After all, your content is the key to supporting your goals. Start by brainstorming content ideas that will help you move toward success. 

To get started, ask yourself :

  • What does my audience struggle with? 
  • What do they always ask about? 
  • Why do they always ask about it?
  • What’s missing for my audience?

You can organize your content ideas on a Trello board like this one.

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Come up with themes for your audience to meet these needs and address these specific pain points. If possible, try creating quarterly content themes, then break those up into monthly themes.

Your content themes should easily relate back to your offerings, so the sales conversations can continue, and you can easily turn your audience into paying customers. If they don’t, ask why, and revisit your goals to fix that.

brainstorm content

Step 10- Create Batch Days on Your Calendar

Batch days are ways of organizing your time by doing similar tasks on similar days. For instance, when it comes to content creation, batching may look like this:

  • Monday — Draft Day. Create your outline and bullet points for blog posts, lead magnets, webinars, and Facebook Lives.
  • Tuesday — Writing Day. Fill in your outlines and do the bulk of the writing for your blog, emails, webinar content, etc.
  • Wednesday — Repurpose Day. Pull points from blog posts and create social content.
  • Thursday — Graphics Day. Create graphics to pair with your content.
  • Friday — Admin Day. Finalize, proofread, and schedule.

how to make a 12 month plan - goals, vision, content, personal retreat to plan the new year in your business

Step 11 – Reward Yourself! 

Last but not least, be sure to set up rewards along the way to boost your mood and celebrate your wins all year long — after all, you’ve planned like a boss and deserve it!

Ready to get started on your planning session

I’ve created a Trello Board that summarizes all the steps we’ve walked through in this post. This board will help you align your goals with your actions. 

Let’s do the work and implement these action steps to achieve your BIG dreams.

FREE PLANNER DOWNLOAD

Want a full training and trello board too.

> Check out my full 90 minute workshop training complete with trello board access

3 6 and 12 month business plan

What Next? Learn More from these other articles: 

  • How to turn a blog into a business with digital products and online courses
  • 6 Profitable online income streams that make me $30k/month
  • 6 steps to more clients
  • 16 questions to help you find more clarity

' src=

Thank you, Kayla. As usual you bring such obvious clarity to things I always struggle with. I’m still blogging after a few years where I’ve gained little traction and this year I really hope to FOCUS and be consistent. Your tools always help me get organized, it’s just me that falls off the schedule. Jessica, http://www.digitalplanningmom.com

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

You may also like reading:

3 6 and 12 month business plan

How to get leads for your first sales funnel

5 proven strategies To sell your PLR products

5 Proven Strategies To Sell Your PLR Product

16 ways to customize PLR for your niche

16 Ways to Customize PLR products for Your Niche and Online Business

3 6 and 12 month business plan

6 Evergreen Content Ideas (+ examples to make it engaging)

Hey there content creator!

I'm Kayla Butler

Small Kayla Butler

I'm the founder and CEO of Ivory Mix

More About Me →

Blog Categories

  • Canva Tutorial
  • Content Calendar Ideas
  • Create a Stunning Brand
  • Grow with Email Marketing
  • Grow with Instagram
  • Grow with Pinterest
  • Grow with Video Content
  • Grow Your Traffic
  • Improve Your Focus and Mindset
  • Make More Money
  • Membership Updates
  • Random Anecdotes
  • Visionary Women Like You

Click-Here-to-download-my-50-Point-Pinterest-Strategy-Workbook-1

  • Collections
  • Content Plans
  • Profit Plans
  • Plans & Systems
  • Branding & Designs
  • Enroll in The Accelerator
  • Enroll in all Courses
  • Course Directory

Free Financial Templates for a Business Plan

By Andy Marker | July 29, 2020

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn

Link copied

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

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

Startup Financial Projections Template

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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 Business Profit and Loss Template

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

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

3 Year Cash Flow Statement Template

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

Basic Sales Forecast 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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

3 Year Sales Forecast Template

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

Break Even Analysis

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

3 6 and 12 month business plan

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

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

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.

Discover a Better Way to Manage Business Plan Financials and Finance Operations

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

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

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

Discover why over 90% of Fortune 100 companies trust Smartsheet to get work done.

  • Credit cards
  • View all credit cards
  • Banking guide
  • Loans guide
  • Insurance guide
  • Personal finance
  • View all personal finance
  • Small business
  • View all small business
  • View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Write a Business Plan, Step by Step

Rosalie Murphy

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

What is a business plan?

1. write an executive summary, 2. describe your company, 3. state your business goals, 4. describe your products and services, 5. do your market research, 6. outline your marketing and sales plan, 7. perform a business financial analysis, 8. make financial projections, 9. summarize how your company operates, 10. add any additional information to an appendix, business plan tips and resources.

A business plan outlines your business’s financial goals and explains how you’ll achieve them over the next three to five years. Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan that will offer a strong, detailed road map for your business.

Bizee

A business plan is a document that explains what your business does, how it makes money and who its customers are. Internally, writing a business plan should help you clarify your vision and organize your operations. Externally, you can share it with potential lenders and investors to show them you’re on the right track.

Business plans are living documents; it’s OK for them to change over time. Startups may update their business plans often as they figure out who their customers are and what products and services fit them best. Mature companies might only revisit their business plan every few years. Regardless of your business’s age, brush up this document before you apply for a business loan .

» Need help writing? Learn about the best business plan software .

This is your elevator pitch. It should include a mission statement, a brief description of the products or services your business offers and a broad summary of your financial growth plans.

Though the executive summary is the first thing your investors will read, it can be easier to write it last. That way, you can highlight information you’ve identified while writing other sections that go into more detail.

» MORE: How to write an executive summary in 6 steps

Next up is your company description. This should contain basic information like:

Your business’s registered name.

Address of your business location .

Names of key people in the business. Make sure to highlight unique skills or technical expertise among members of your team.

Your company description should also define your business structure — such as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation — and include the percent ownership that each owner has and the extent of each owner’s involvement in the company.

Lastly, write a little about the history of your company and the nature of your business now. This prepares the reader to learn about your goals in the next section.

» MORE: How to write a company overview for a business plan

3 6 and 12 month business plan

The third part of a business plan is an objective statement. This section spells out what you’d like to accomplish, both in the near term and over the coming years.

If you’re looking for a business loan or outside investment, you can use this section to explain how the financing will help your business grow and how you plan to achieve those growth targets. The key is to provide a clear explanation of the opportunity your business presents to the lender.

For example, if your business is launching a second product line, you might explain how the loan will help your company launch that new product and how much you think sales will increase over the next three years as a result.

» MORE: How to write a successful business plan for a loan

In this section, go into detail about the products or services you offer or plan to offer.

You should include the following:

An explanation of how your product or service works.

The pricing model for your product or service.

The typical customers you serve.

Your supply chain and order fulfillment strategy.

You can also discuss current or pending trademarks and patents associated with your product or service.

Lenders and investors will want to know what sets your product apart from your competition. In your market analysis section , explain who your competitors are. Discuss what they do well, and point out what you can do better. If you’re serving a different or underserved market, explain that.

Here, you can address how you plan to persuade customers to buy your products or services, or how you will develop customer loyalty that will lead to repeat business.

Include details about your sales and distribution strategies, including the costs involved in selling each product .

» MORE: R e a d our complete guide to small business marketing

If you’re a startup, you may not have much information on your business financials yet. However, if you’re an existing business, you’ll want to include income or profit-and-loss statements, a balance sheet that lists your assets and debts, and a cash flow statement that shows how cash comes into and goes out of the company.

Accounting software may be able to generate these reports for you. It may also help you calculate metrics such as:

Net profit margin: the percentage of revenue you keep as net income.

Current ratio: the measurement of your liquidity and ability to repay debts.

Accounts receivable turnover ratio: a measurement of how frequently you collect on receivables per year.

This is a great place to include charts and graphs that make it easy for those reading your plan to understand the financial health of your business.

This is a critical part of your business plan if you’re seeking financing or investors. It outlines how your business will generate enough profit to repay the loan or how you will earn a decent return for investors.

Here, you’ll provide your business’s monthly or quarterly sales, expenses and profit estimates over at least a three-year period — with the future numbers assuming you’ve obtained a new loan.

Accuracy is key, so carefully analyze your past financial statements before giving projections. Your goals may be aggressive, but they should also be realistic.

NerdWallet’s picks for setting up your business finances:

The best business checking accounts .

The best business credit cards .

The best accounting software .

Before the end of your business plan, summarize how your business is structured and outline each team’s responsibilities. This will help your readers understand who performs each of the functions you’ve described above — making and selling your products or services — and how much each of those functions cost.

If any of your employees have exceptional skills, you may want to include their resumes to help explain the competitive advantage they give you.

Finally, attach any supporting information or additional materials that you couldn’t fit in elsewhere. That might include:

Licenses and permits.

Equipment leases.

Bank statements.

Details of your personal and business credit history, if you’re seeking financing.

If the appendix is long, you may want to consider adding a table of contents at the beginning of this section.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Here are some tips to write a detailed, convincing business plan:

Avoid over-optimism: If you’re applying for a business bank loan or professional investment, someone will be reading your business plan closely. Providing unreasonable sales estimates can hurt your chances of approval.

Proofread: Spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors can jump off the page and turn off lenders and prospective investors. If writing and editing aren't your strong suit, you may want to hire a professional business plan writer, copy editor or proofreader.

Use free resources: SCORE is a nonprofit association that offers a large network of volunteer business mentors and experts who can help you write or edit your business plan. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers , which provide free business consulting and help with business plan development, can also be a resource.

On a similar note...

Find small-business financing

Compare multiple lenders that fit your business

One blue credit card on a flat surface with coins on both sides.

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Our Startup’s 12-Month Growth Strategy

In this post, we reveal the steps we took to develop a growth strategy for the next 12 months of Groove

Alex Turnbull avatar

Alex Turnbull

9 Min read · 1877 shares

Until about six weeks ago, our startup has been in a constant scramble to keep up and get better. Here’s how we changed that…

Our growth strategy is focussed to one goal

That email led to the most significant strategic meeting our team has had in the lifetime of Groove.

Over the past couple of years, we’ve spent a lot of time with our heads down, focusing on putting out today’s fires and building whatever is necessary to keep the business running tomorrow.

But we haven’t, as a team, spent a lot of time talking about what happens beyond that.

We haven’t had a serious, organized discussion about 3, 6 and 12-month goals, strategic roadmaps and action plans to achieve those goals.

We’ve simply been too focused on today .

But finally, a few weeks ago, we had that discussion.

For four and a half hours, we brainstormed, challenged each other, and came up with the blueprint for how we’re going to achieve our 12-month goal.

In the interest of transparency, and because I think it can help other companies structure their own thinking about roadmapping, the email that resulted from that discussion is below.

There’s not much focus on specific tactics, to-do’s and processes; those are separate discussions, and we’ve got posts in the works about each of them. I will say this: in the six weeks since we’ve started executing on this plan, we’ve learned and matured significantly as a team, and the way we work now is very different to the way we worked even a couple of months ago.

With that said, below is a behind-the-scenes look at how we think about growth at Groove.

The below is taken from an internal email. It’s not “prettied up” or censored for the blog.

Over the past two years, we’ve gone from having nothing but a bare-bones prototype to becoming one of the fastest-growing startups in the customer support space.

We hit Product/Market Fit .

We have customers that love Groove.

And we’ve built the foundation for a brand that people are starting to notice.

We’ve done a lot of things right, and we’ve learned from that.

We’ve also done a lot of things wrong. And we’ve learned from that, too.

We have a massive opportunity in front of us. In a 2013 report, IDC estimated that there were close to 76 million SMB’s worldwide. Our own research suggests that many of them have not been able to find or afford the right customer support software. And that many of them are using products that they hate.

If we execute on our mission of helping as many of those companies succeed as we can, we’ll all win.

Over the next twelve months, our team’s long-view focus will be on a single goal: to have 5,000 paying customers using Groove.

To do that, our strategy will stand on three pillars:

The Three Pillars of Our Growth Strategy

1) leadership in the smb market.

We’ve gotten here by serving small businesses and entrepreneurs. Unlike some of our competitors, we’re not going to move upmarket. Our product, our blog and our other efforts have all helped SMB’s grow, and we’re going to keep doing that. As you’ll see below, we have plans to increase — by a huge margin — the amount of value we’re delivering to our community. Our mission is to become the preeminent resource for small businesses when it comes to support, growth and business strategy.

2) Building the Groove Brand

As we’ve seen many times in the SaaS space, a good product isn’t enough for long-term growth. We need to build a lasting brand that people love to do business with. We’ve begun to do that with the 100K blog, but there’s a lot of work left to be done.

3) Becoming Even More Data-Driven

There’s no doubt that collecting, analyzing and using the right data can help us make smarter business decisions about our time, our budget and our roadmap. We’ve seen it with our own successes. We need to do a better job of this. We need to get to a point where we can treat our efforts — marketing channels, product features, team hours and focus — as levers; when we push or pull one, we know what result to expect. We can’t depend on luck; this will be the only way to make our growth systematic.

What Are Our Biggest Concerns?

As we discuss and execute on our strategy, we can’t risk being blind to the risks and worries we have. It’s the only way to tackle them head on and ensure that they don’t hurt the business.

Building the Right Team

Are we doing everything that we can to put together the right mix of talent to take Groove to the next level? How can we hire the right employees as we grow ?

It’s not enough to be good marketers, developers, designers or support agents. We all need to think like startup CEO’s; the goals in this email — our business vision — needs to drive every work decision that any one of us makes. We’re all responsible for lighting the fires under our own asses.

Doing More Faster

To meet our goals, we need to be moving faster than we are. In order to do that, we’ll need to set more regular milestones and timelines to constantly be pushing forward and not get stuck working on any one thing. Moving forward, we’ll work together to set quarterly and monthly goals to keep us focused on the right tasks to progress toward our 12-month goal.

[Alex note: since we wrote this, we’ve developed an entirely new system of benchmarking and goal-setting (based on a system used at many successful companies) that has made a huge impact on our productivity and workflow. Excited to share more on this soon.]

Bugs and Infrastructure Debt

A good portion of our development week is spent squashing bugs. If we’re going to accept that this is going to be the case, I think we should realistically look at our resources and figure out how we can account for these resources being used.

In addition to bugs, we can’t seem to get over our infrastructure debt. With bugs and infrastructure stories like parsing etc. we can’t ever seem to get over the Next Up bucket in PT. This is unacceptable and we’ll never be able to grow if this continues.

[Alex note: since we wrote this, we’ve covered one of our solutions to this issue in this post about our bug report workflow .]

Estimations

We’ve been consistently off on our estimates of how long things will take. Most notably, Trends, Settings, Parsing etc. have all taken 3x longer than expected. In order for us to more accurately plan for future growth initiatives, we must get better at estimating releases. On that note, when we release features we need to make sure we’re not cleaning up that feature for days/weeks to follow.

[Alex note: the systems in the post I linked above have also helped us get better at estimating and planning.]

How We Plan to Accomplish Our Goals

Doubling down on blogging.

To date, our content efforts have driven more users than any other channel. We’re going to grow this through:

  • Keyword research to better validate blog topics (especially for the new support blog)
  • Launching a new, improved support blog in the next month
  • Closely tracking blog metrics and movement of blog visitors through our funnels
  • Publishing more guest blog posts on high-profile outside blogs

[Alex note: we’ve got two very exciting guest blog posts planned on sites that everyone reading this blog will recognize. The first drops on June 24th.]

Community Building & Online Engagement

While the community on our blog is incredibly active and engaged, we’re going to be doing more to build the Groove brand outside of our own web properties:

  • Developing a data-driven social media strategy (which platforms are best for us?)
  • Sourcing case studies from Groove customers to be published around the web
  • Creating a community for entrepreneurs (and Groove customers)
  • Building the relationships we need to get more high-profile customers using Groove

[Alex note: for the first time, we’ve developed a game plan around social. Follow us on Twitter for more in the next few days.]

Organic SEO

Through the blog, we’re already ranking for a number of competitive startup-focused keywords on Google. We’re going to be taking a more strategic approach to organic SEO by:

  • Developing personas for customers who are closer to being ready to get value from Groove than the traffic we’re currently getting
  • Doing keyword research to find out what those customers are searching for
  • Building blog/webinar content and targeted landing pages specifically for those interests

[Alex note: to date, we’ve largely ignored SEO. While it’ll never change the way we write, it will help us figure out the best ways to add value in ways that more people are looking for.]

We’ve talked about this quite a bit, and it’s going to be a big focus for us moving forward. We need to build a more structured referral engine, whether we build it ourselves or use a turnkey solution.

[Alex note: we’ve written quite a bit about this in the last few weeks.]

Expanding Integration Partnerships

Our HipChat integration has been a big boost to Groove, both to our customer base and our brand. We should continue to build an ecosystem for companies to integrate with Groove, and to do that, we’ll need to launch a lot more integrations.

Part of that is on the development side. Part of it means building deep relationships with potential partners to help us spread the word when we launch the integrations.

Product Improvements

We’ve done a lot of great work to take the product from where it was two years ago to today. And I’m really proud of our team for that.

We all know that there’s a lot of work left to do to make Groove’s software the no-brainer best option for SMB’s .

To do that, we’ll:

  • Invest resources into strengthening the core infrastructure of Groove to minimize bugs, performance lags and regression issues.
  • Rewrite the Knowledge Base app so that it becomes good enough to be a standalone
  • Fix Live Chat bugs to make the experience better
  • Make the transition from other helpdesks to Groove more seamless
  • Put more “polish” on the app to make it more fun to use (a la Slack, MailChimp, etc…)

As a team, we also need to do a better job setting realistic expectations for development timelines. This will help us set better goals and have more wins, rather than spend our time playing catch-up.

[Alex note: we’ve got a lot to do here, and will keep our development team incredibly busy. More on our plans for this coming soon.]

Driving Paid Traffic

While it won’t be our primary strategy, we’ll test driving paid traffic to support our other efforts, including:

  • Retargeting
  • Pay Per Click on Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Outbrain
  • Native Ads elsewhere

[Alex note: we’ve tested some paid traffic in the past, but weren’t impressed with the results. We’ll revisit this more strategically and see how it goes, though I doubt it’ll ever become a cornerstone of our business; organic traffic has been exponentially more valuable to us.]

Improving the Marketing Site

Our marketing site converts, but it can convert much, much better. Over the next twelve months, we’re going to be:

  • Testing all major elements of the page
  • Testing more video content
  • Building case study videos
  • Creating more targeted landing pages that are vertical-specific, content-specific and partner-specific
  • Improving our feature tour
  • Doing SEO keyword research to optimize our copy

[Alex note: Our redesign made a big difference, but there’s much more to do. Expect to read a lot about this on the blog.]

Better Lead Nurturing

With more than 10,000 blog subscribers, among thousands of other email addresses, we have a lot of qualified leads, and we haven’t been doing a whole lot to nurture them. To change that, we’ll be:

  • Implementing drip campaigns for new subscribers that drive them toward signup
  • Creating more “middle-of-the-funnel” content for qualified leads

[Alex note: we’re not going to start selling here, or to our blog list. But we will be exploring ways to ensure that when people are ready, they know exactly where and how they can sign up for Groove.]

It sounds cliche, but this is an exciting time at Groove.

We’ve turned down multiple acquisition offers.

Our valuation has continued to rise dramatically.

We truly are on the verge of “breaking out” as a major player in the SaaS support space, and we’re all poised to benefit from that.

What we need to do to accomplish it is keep our eyes focused on the next big goal: 5,000 paid companies.

In the coming days, we’ll work together to set monthly and quarterly milestones that we can work towards to ensure our success.

We’ll start executing on these strategies.

We’ll track and test everything.

And together, we’ll win.

Alex's signature

What Happens Next?

Clearly, we’ve got a lot of work to do.

We’ve gotten started on breaking much of this strategy into individual and team action items, and building more granular tactical plans for executing, tracking and testing every element of our strategy.

Things are going well, and the team is excited to have a single, focused vision to drive toward, rather than what felt like an infinite scramble.

I can’t wait to see what this effort brings.

In the meantime, my goal in sharing this was to get you thinking about your own business goals, and how you can accomplish them strategically and systematically.

Of course, feel free to copy any of the content above for your own plan. I hope it’s as useful for you as it has been for us.

You might also enjoy

Founder's Journey  ·  8 Min read

You’ll outgrow your company’s core values. Here’s what to do next.

Your company core values matter. Here’s the process we used to develop ours, plus tools you can use to develop your own.

Alex Turnbull CEO & Founder @Groove

Founder's Journey  ·  5 Min read

Real Wealth Is Not About Money

It’s important to think about your own definition of wealth (so you can set the right target), but here’s what wealth means to me.

Founder’s Depression Is Bullshit

Founder depression is a lie we tell ourselves—and each other—to make depression seem like an acceptable part of the job.

Join +250,000 of your peers

Don’t miss out on the latest tips, tools, and tactics at the forefront of customer support.

Try searching for

Write a business development plan

Now that you’re in the growth stage of your business, set things in motion with a business development plan.

A business development plan sets goals for growth and explains how you will achieve them. It can have a short-term or long-term focus. Review and revise your plan as often as you can. And keep building on it as your business evolves.

How to write a business development plan

Your business development plan is your roadmap to growth, so make it clear, specific and realistic.

What to include in a business development plan

  • Opportunities for growth: Identify where growth will come from – whether it’s in creating new products, adding more services, breaking into new markets, or a combination of these.
  • Funding plan: Determine how you’ll fund your business growth. How much capital do you already have? How much more do you need and how will you get it? Check out our guide on financing your business.
  • Financial goals: Work out what revenue, costs and profits you’ll have if things stay the same. Use those numbers as a basis for setting new, more ambitious financial goals.
  • Operational needs: Identify what things about your business will need to change in order to achieve growth. Will you need extra people, more equipment, or new suppliers?
  • Sales and marketing activities: Figure out what sales and marketing efforts will effectively promote growth and how these efforts will change as the business gets bigger and better. Make sure your sales and marketing plan is sturdy enough to support your growing business.
  • Team needs: You may need people to take on some of the tasks you’ve been doing. Think about what parts of running the business you enjoy most – and you’re good at – and what parts you might want to delegate to others. And give some thought to the culture you want to develop in your business as it grows. Check out our guide on hiring employees.

A sample business development plan

Avoid these common business development mistakes.

  • Thinking short-term instead of long-term
  • Underestimating how much money it will take to grow
  • Not budgeting enough money to cover the costs of growth
  • Focusing on too many growth opportunities: think quality, not quantity

Micro-planning can keep you focused

You may want to create some micro-plans for specific growth projects so their details don’t get overlooked. And you can build in some KPIs to measure your progress and successes. As your business grows, take note of your progress and make periodic adjustments to your business development plan to make sure it’s still relevant.

Support is out there

Remember you’re not the first to go through this. Seek out mentors, advisors or other business owners who can help you with your planning. Your accountant or bookkeeper may also be able to help or point you in the direction of the right people.

Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This guide has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business or before taking action in relation to any of the content provided.

Growing your business

Are you ready to drop the hammer and take your business to the next level? Let’s look at how to grow.

Before you leap into growth, reflect on where you’ve come from. Find out the stage of business growth you’re at.

Understanding your business performance will help you grow. Check out common examples of small business KPIs.

Increasing sales revenue is one obvious way to help grow your business. But how do you sell more?

You can grow your business by selling more things to more people, or fewer things to fewer people. Let’s look at how.

You’re all set to grow your business. But there’s so much to keep track of. Xero’s got resources and solutions to help.

Download the guide to growing your business

Learn how to grow a business, from planning to expansion. Fill out the form to receive this guide as a PDF.

Privacy notice .

Start using Xero for free

Access Xero features for 30 days, then decide which plan best suits your business.

  • Included Safe and secure
  • Included Cancel any time
  • Included 24/7 online support

Or compare all plans

StartupNation

  • Branding and Marketing
  • Business and Life Planning
  • wjr business beat
  • Technology and Web
  • Management and Operations
  • social media
  • Inspiration for Entrepreneurs

launch your business

  • Launch Your Business
  • Manage Your Business
  • Plan Your Business
  • Plan Your Life
  • Start a Business

Ready to Launch a Business? Here’s Your 12-Month Plan to Making it a Success

' src=

Is this the year you make your entrepreneurial dreams come true? Congratulations! But… you’ll need a plan. Consider this your month-by-month guide to ensuring that the business you launch thrives.

StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here

Month 1: dream big (and write it down).

I know you’re excited to get going, but first you really need to articulate what you want your business to look like. You probably know in general what the product you want to sell is or what the service you wish to deliver is, but dive deeper and consider:

  • Who your clients are
  • Who your competitors are
  • How you will market your business
  • How you will price your products or services
  • How much money you need (approximately; we’ll go deeper next month)
  • What you want your business to look like one, five and 10 years from now

Don’t be shy about dreaming big! But realize that in order to accompany those dreams, you’ll need an action plan .

Month 2: Get your finances in order

This month, dedicate energy to your finances. Make a detailed budget that includes operating expenses, inventory, payroll (if you’re planning on  hiring in the future ), marketing and emergencies. 

Consider where the money to start will come from. Do you have a nest egg you can tap, or would you need to take out a loan or perhaps seek a form of alternative funding ?

Open a business checking account this month. It’s best to keep your personal and business finances separate, and when it comes time to file your business taxes, you’ll thank me.

Month 3: Get your website and social media up and running

Now it’s time to lay the groundwork for a website and marketing. Hire a web designer to create a stunning professional site, or if you have a little design and technical expertise, try a website builder like Wix .

Also, create social media profiles on the channels you think are best to connect with your audience (this goes back to Month 1 when you identified your target audience and what platforms they use). Less is more here: rather than setting up profiles on every site available, focus on just one or two to start so you know you’ll have time to manage them.

Month 4: Situate your space

Now’s the time to start looking for the ideal property that fits your needs and budget, whether that be a retail space, office, coworking space, etc. And i f you’ll be working out of your home, designate a space for your home office that will minimize distractions and help you be productive. It might also allow for a deduction come tax time .

You’ll need to buy supplies and equipment this month, as well. Consider opening tradelines (or credit with vendors) so you can get supplies when you need them and pay later, usually 30 days after receiving an invoice. Look for vendors who report to business credit bureaus so you can build your business credit.

Related: 5 Founders Share the One Piece of Advice They Wish They Knew Before Launching a Business

Month 5: get your permits and licenses.

Chances are, you’re going to need at least one business license before you can start operating. Depending on the type of business you’re running, you may need several months to get these approved, so start getting them in line before you launch your business.

Even if you work out of your home, you will need a sales tax certificate or some type of permit(s) specific to your business. Check with your city, county and state government to find out what you need.

Month 6: Put your marketing plan together

If you’ve done your homework and truly understand where you will best connect with your audience, this is the time to put together a detailed plan on how you will market to spread the word about your business and attract customers.

In your plan, include which marketing channels you’ll use, what your budget is for each, and whether you, an employee, or a third party (freelancer or agency) will help with the marketing tasks.

Month 7: Hire help

You’re getting closer to opening your business, and you’re going to need some help! Consider what aspects of your business you will need the most help with. Sure, you could try to do it all yourself, but you’ll end up doing a mediocre job with everything. Instead, put your attention on running your business and hire others to do the rest.

If hiring a team of full-time employees isn’t in your budget, start with part-time help and/or freelancers.

Month 8: Plan your launch

The type of business you’re opening will impact what sort of business launch you should have. If you’re opening a services business online, you can activate your website and be up and running. But if you’re opening a brick-and-mortar business, you may want to alert local media and social followers to attend your grand opening event. The bigger the splash you can make, the more aware of your new business people will be.

Plan an event with giveaways, discounts, entertainment, and food and beverage. Promote it in your local newspaper, online publications and through your social media channels.

Month 9: Launch!

All your hard work has paid off, because now you can officially open your company for business!

Don’t be disappointed if sales are slow to trickle in; this is also a period of learning, where you pay attention to what’s driving revenue and what isn’t. M ake sure to track website visits through Google Analytics so you know which marketing channels are driving visitors to your site, and any areas where you might need to reconsider strategy.

Month 10: Focus on promotions

You may see a little slowdown in traffic or sales after your initial launch, and that’s when it’s time to start thinking about promotions and sales. Discount products that are slow to move. Bundle two items together to push some of those slower-moving items. Create a loss leader to drive people to your store where, hopefully, they’ll buy more.

Sign Up: Receive the StartupNation newsletter!

Month 11: assess results.

By now, you’ve had some time to build up your web traffic and social media following. If you have a physical store, you’ve gotten some face-to-face time and have spoken to customers. You may have developed an email subscriber list as part of your marketing efforts in Month 6. Use all these points of contact to determine where you should take your marketing efforts in the future.

Are customers asking for a loyalty program? That could be a good way to drive repeat sales. Are your emails not getting opened? Look at the subject lines you’re using and test out different copy.

Month 12: Look to the future

You put a tremendous amount of energy into the launch of your business, but your work isn’t done.

Now is time to look ahead: where do you want to take your business in the following year? Five years out? How about 10? Look back at your business plan and see if you’re still aligned with the direction you were initially going in, and if not, tweak it to reflect your new direction.

  • business license

' src=

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Posts

Young woman and man on phone looking at laptop in a promo photo for Verizon Small Business

Level Up Your Digital Skills: Free Next Week with Verizon Small Business

3 6 and 12 month business plan

‘She Thinks Big’: 7 Assumptions about the Future that Create ‘Stuck Stress’

3 6 and 12 month business plan

50 Soap Business Name Ideas

Subway sandwich shop photo

What Is the Average Income of a Subway Restaurant Franchise Owner?

  • Content Marketing
  • Brainstorming

VUCAC Blog

How to Create a 12-Month Marketing Plan: Step-by-Step Guide

Annual marketing plan

Learn how to create a 12-month marketing plan with these five steps: define business goals, conduct SWOT analysis, identify target personas, create an execution plan, and measure marketing efforts. A clear business and marketing plan can help secure funding resources or pitch to investors. Use Visme templates for customized plans in different industries. Financial professionals should focus on getting more prospects through seminars and appointments while creating daily routines for success. Real estate agents need consistent content creation to build credibility and trust over time. Strategy is the key to winning over competitors , not just planning .

What Are the 5 Steps in Order of a 12-Month Marketing Plan?

The video is about five steps to prepare a 12-month marketing plan.

The first step is to define your business goals, including who you want to focus on and how you will achieve those goals.

Conducting a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) of your industry is the second step.

Defining the target personas (ideal customers or clients) is the third step.

Creating an execution plan that includes different marketing strategies such as social media marketing and search engine optimization is the fourth step.

Organizing and measuring your marketing efforts by checking analytics and demographics is the fifth step.

Having a clear business plan and marketing plan can help fund resources or pitch to investors.

Breaking the 12-month calendar year into quarters can help dissect marketing goals effectively.

Free resources are available for those in need of assistance with their marketing efforts from Mallory Humes’ website mentioned in the video description.

Viewers are encouraged to subscribe to Mallory’s channel for future videos on similar topics related to entrepreneurship and female boss mothers.

How Do I Create a One Year Marketing Plan?

John Terry is hosting a workshop on creating a 12-month marketing plan for financial professionals.

The goal is to help these professionals grow their practice by at least 20% annually.

Successful advisors follow a daily routine and have a plan in place for marketing, business management, and client interactions.

To create the 12-month plan, break it down into smaller chunks: quarters, months, weeks, and daily tasks.

Reflect on what worked and didn’t work the previous year to learn from mistakes and repeat successes.

The top 5% of financial professionals do what unsuccessful people do sometimes or not at all.

A successful plan must address marketing strategies that consistently attract quality prospects throughout the year.

Financial professionals should focus on getting more seats (for seminars), appointments on calendars with quality prospects, closing more deals, and having satisfied customers refer others to them.

Following through with the implementation of the plan is crucial to success; otherwise, nothing will happen or the results will be mediocre/mediocre like most other advisors.’

Dr. John C Maxwell says that the secret to success lies in one’s daily routine; therefore, financial professionals need to devise a process they can follow every day to successfully achieve their goals over time.

12 Month Marketing Plan Guide

The total cost of marketing ingredients for a full month is $15,000.

Expenses include frosting, baking powder, chocolate, vanilla extract and other specialty flavoured varieties.

The advertising budget is $40,000 per year to expand into multiple marketing areas such as television, Internet advertising and newspaper advertising.

Marketing maintenance costs are $15,000 per year, which includes cleaning facilities and monitoring repair damage.

Total expected revenue is $200,000 based on known mathematical information at this time.

Revenue estimates depend on the target market’s interest in the products offered.

The company offers a variety of specialty flavoured ingredients in addition to those mentioned above.

There will be no additional costs for any other ingredients required during the month-long marketing campaign.

Multiple forms of advertising will be used to reach potential customers.

10.The company has considered all possible expenses while estimating their revenues.

What Should Be Included in a 12-Month Marketing Plan in Real Estate?

The video discusses a 12-month marketing plan for real estate agents.

Trevor, CEO of Carrot, works with thousands of real estate professionals to help them gain momentum and consistency in their marketing.

The plan aims to provide predictability and freedom in lead flow and quality.

Short-term, quick-impact marketing strategies are not enough; long-term momentum building is necessary for success.

Content creation is key to building credibility, trust, and engagement with potential clients.

Facebook ads can be effective but should be used in tandem with content creation for maximum impact.

Launching a website, creating unique content, and placing Facebook pixels on your website are important steps in the first month of the plan.

Location landing pages can help you outrank Zillow if used correctly

Video posts feature allows agents to create short videos that turn into written content automatically

10.The overall goal is to build momentum through consistent content creation that adds spots for people to find you while building credibility and trust over time.

Complete 12 Month Marketing Plan Template

The speaker is a woman named Perez who is excited to share her 12-month marketing plan.

She believes that having a plan in place is necessary to achieve six or more figures in an online business.

Coaching was the only thing that changed everything in her business and allowed her to look at it differently.

She encourages people to be open to suggestions, coaching, and a different way of building their business if they want to succeed.

Going into 2019 with the same approach as previous years sets one up for failure.

Perez has never had a 12-month plan before, but will discuss what to consider when creating one.

She opened five coaching spots for two hours of coaching for the price of one and only two spots remained available.

Coaching can help people realize basic things missing from their business plans that could double revenue and profits in 2019.

The speaker stresses the importance of being honest with yourself about stubbornness or resistance to change that prevents success.

Perez’s goal is not just inspiration but empowerment through action towards progress in both life and business endeavors.

How to Create a 3, 6, Or 12 Month Marketing Plan

The speaker used to create 12-month plans for clients in their previous businesses.

Long-term planning still plays a role, but it can be overwhelming for new service professionals.

Marketing is unpredictable and requires testing and feedback before making long-term commitments.

The speaker prefers 90-day chunks because they are more manageable and allow adjustments based on results.

A rolling 90-day calendar can be used instead of an annual plan.

Some people may prefer to have an idea of what they will do for the year, especially if there are big promotions or events planned.

Ninety days is a good time to work with when implementing marketing strategies.

It allows you to start implementing it quickly and see how things work without going too far into the future.

Fine-tuning can be done after each 90-day period based on feedback and results achieved during that period.

10.The speaker’s approach is more effective than what some may have done in the past.

A 12-month marketing plan is a comprehensive strategic document that outlines the marketing goals, strategies, and activities that a company intends to implement over the course of a year. It provides a roadmap for the marketing team, guiding their efforts to achieve specific goals and targets.

Here are the key components typically included in a 12-month marketing plan:

Executive Summary: Provide an overview of the marketing plan, highlighting key objectives and strategies to be implemented.

Situation Analysis: Assess the current market landscape, including the competitive environment, industry trends, and customer insights. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) to inform your marketing strategies.

Marketing Objectives: Clearly define the specific goals and objectives that your marketing efforts aim to achieve. These could include increasing market share, boosting sales revenue, launching new products, expanding into new markets, or improving brand awareness.

Target Audience: Identify and profile your target audience based on demographics, psychographics, behaviors, and preferences. Understand their needs, pain points, and motivations to effectively tailor your marketing strategies.

Marketing Strategies: Outline the overarching strategies that will be employed to reach and engage your target audience. This can include digital marketing, content marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, influencer partnerships, traditional advertising, public relations, events, or a combination of various channels.

Tactical Implementation Plan: Break down strategies into specific tactics and activities to be implemented month by month. This can include details on campaigns, content creation, advertising schedules, product launches, event planning, and other marketing initiatives.

Budget Allocation: Determine the marketing budget for each month and allocate resources accordingly. Consider expenses for advertising, content creation, promotions, events, marketing technology tools, and any other relevant areas.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Define the metrics and KPIs that will be used to measure the success and effectiveness of your marketing efforts. This can include metrics such as website traffic, conversions, sales revenue, brand reach, customer acquisition, or customer engagement.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish a system for monitoring and evaluating the performance of your marketing activities throughout the year. Regularly review KPIs, track progress, and analyze results to identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to your strategies.

Collaboration and Team Roles: Define the roles and responsibilities of the marketing team members involved in implementing the plan. Foster collaboration and clear communication channels are established to facilitate coordination and seamless implementation.

Contingency Plan: Anticipate potential challenges or unforeseen circumstances that may affect your marketing plan. Develop contingency plans to address these challenges and adjust your strategies accordingly.

Reporting and Review: Set up regular reporting intervals (monthly, quarterly, or as required) to review the performance of your marketing initiatives. Share insights, learnings, and recommendations with key stakeholders and make necessary adjustments for future months.

It is important to note that a 12-month marketing plan should be flexible and adaptable. As the market evolves and new opportunities arise, be prepared to revise and update your strategies to align with your business goals and customer needs.

Related posts:

  • How to Write a Marketing Action Plan: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Plan a Marketing Campaign: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Use a Blog Content Planner: A Step-By-Step Guide
  • Digital Marketing Process – Step By Step Guide

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Kellie O'Brien Media

Online marketing consultant, your 12 month marketing plan template – and example.

January 11, 2019 By Kellie O'Brien 6 Comments

January is the time of year when many of my long-term clients request a session on planning a 12 month marketing plan so we can clearly see where we’re going for the year ahead. I’ve completed so many lately I thought it was worth compiling some of the top questions that stem from those sessions into this post in the hope it helps you too.

But I want you to know that you don’t need to wait till January to start a 12 month plan. It can happen any time of year – from the beginning of a fiscal or financial year to the start of a new business project.

Either way, the  12 month marketing plan template and example I’m going to share with you will guide you on what you need to achieve in to arrive at where you want to be in one year.

I’ve spoken previously about creating a template aimed at public relations campaigns, I’ve also created a seasonal marketing calendar  to help with monthly marketing themes to help inspire content through evergreen events to fill your plans. But what about the framework for a one page marketing plan? Where do you start?

You want something that avoids pushing you into overwhelm and frustration.

What is a 12 Month Marketing Plan?

We’ve all heard the saying before: “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.

Some research suggests those who plan double their chance at success. Maybe you’ve experienced that yourself, where a little bit of planning has gone a long way towards achieving a goal you’ve set yourself. The reason is often that we’ve given ourselves specific steps towards a specific outcome within a defined period of time.

A 12 month marketing plan is really a marketing strategy with a schedule of marketing activities to provide you with a high level view of where you’d like to be and how you’re going to get there.

It’s the opportunity to take a holistic look at your marketing for the coming year and understand where you want it to lead you. What do you want to create in your business? What are the steps required to get there?

Creating a marketing plan allows you to reverse engineer the entire process and will help define your quarterly and monthly marketing plans that ensure you implement. You know that saying about “eating an elephant”…

So you end up with a holistic view of your marketing in a 12-month format, which can then be broken down into more achievable goals and action steps per quarter, month and week.

Often, the big problem with creating an annual marketing calendar is that people get discouraged not too long into the plan because it all feels too overwhelming. In her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth says: “Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare”.

To avoid that, download this 12 month marketing planner . This is a plan I’ve been using annually since the early days of my business.

What to Include In Your Marketing Plan

Knowing what to include in your 12-month marketing plan can be daunting.

There are some key topics that need to be highlighted BEFORE you even begin to map out your one-year marketing plan, including:

  • What you learnt from the previous 12 months – what will you take into the new year and what will you leave behind
  • What are your financial goals for the year that tie into the vision and mission for your business
  • Key products and what ratio of profit they create
  • What ideal client the products are aimed at
  • Whether there will be launches for them (and when that will be) or if there will be  evergreen campaigns (and the strategy for consistency)
  • The pathway that moves them from awareness to investing with you
  • Auditing the assets you already have to discover future opportunities
  • Forecast your numbers – how many impressions from your brand awareness campaigns, how many leads generated, how many sales conversations booked and how many conversions you need to achieve your overall financial goal

Using the free marketing plan template

To avoid starting from scratch and tip you into overwhelm, I’ve created a free marketing strategy template for you to download and instructions on how best to use it to make this as simple and easeful as possible. You can download that here.

Review your year by plotting out the highlights from each month

What did you have to celebrate month by month in 2020? You’ll be surprised at just how much you’ve actually achieved.

What worked from the previous 12 months that you want to continue?

And, likewise, ask what didn’t work that you want to stop doing? When I work with a client, we dive deep into this area because often this is where the gold is hidden that holds clues for what you need to do to achieve your goals the following year. In this version at least, you need to take a look at the things that generated leads and sales. Then look for the clues for leverage.

What were the biggest lessons you learned?

Often, we’ve given some challenges throughout our year and these are sometimes blessings in disguise. There are things we’re taught that help us grow. What were they for you? How will you use this information going into a new year or a new 12-month plan?

What seeds did you plant this year that are ready to come to life next year?

This is one of my favourite questions, because often the work I do with clients is creating a holistic strategy and then putting in place the systems to allow that strategy to come to life. Some systems don’t happen overnight and we can get impatient waiting for them to yield results. But there’s no greater feeling than going into a new year (calendar or financial) with all those systems in place and knowing they’re ready to start revealing results for you.

Next, it’s time to step into the year ahead. Diving deeper with the template and workbook here will help a lot when you reach this point, but some simple questions to ask yourself…

What are your financial goals for the coming 12 months?

Take a look at what you achieved during the past 12 months and choose something that’s going to see your business grow and stretch you, but isn’t so big that you’ll become discouraged part-way through the year.

List out all the products, programs and offers

Make a list of all the products programs and offers you have and determine what ratio of profit they created during the past 12 months.

This is often an eye-opener to what you might want to let go of and, equally, where you might want to put some more marketing effort into because it’s yielding good results with little effort.

If you decide you want them part of your goals for the coming 12 months, then you need to ensure you’re clear on who they’re for , whether there’ll be launches for them (and when that will be) or if there’ll be evergreen (and the strategy for consistency).

This is also a chance to think about at a time plan for further projects.

One thing to always focus on when it comes to product development, is knowing the value proposition of a product . If you can’t clearly articulate what the value of your product or program is to your ideal client, then the chances of selling it will be difficult.

What is the pathway that moves your ideal client from awareness to investing in these programs?

This is often a missing piece in many marketing plans. If you don’t understand WHERE your marketing is leading people, then you’re really causing noise in the market with little return.

We want to create purposeful marketing and the way to do that is to be clear on the messages and platforms on the front end and who you’re targeting, followed by understanding the pathway that allows them to move from awareness to investment. Learn more about soulful sales funnels .

Audit the assets you already have to discover future opportunities

This isn’t just a yearly task, but something I do regularly with new clients. In fact, the past month alone I’ve done four audits of sales funnels and marketing strategies.

We often have so many opportunities in our business that get overlooked, whether that’s a blog post that’s gaining organic traffic but doesn’t have an opt-in offer on it or a successful opt-in that doesn’t go further than a welcome email. These are opportunities to be leveraged.

Forecast your numbers for the coming year

You want to understand:

  • How many impressions from your brand awareness campaigns do you need to gain,
  • how many leads will you generate,
  • how many sales conversations do you need to have booked and
  • how many conversions do you need to achieve your overall financial goal you originally set

Next, plot out the tasks for the coming year. Think about what you want the highlights to be for the next 12 months that you’ll be able to celebrate this time next year.

In the next part, I’ll share an example of my plan .

A 12 Month Marketing Plan Example

I want to give you an example of an annual marketing plan and what it might look like. Due to privacy with my clients, I can’t share one of theirs but I do want to show you a real life example. So I’m sharing mine for 2021.

Before I do, here’s a quick snapshot of my review…

I identified that my biggest revenue providers were my masterminds and 1:1 coaching and consulting clients. I gain digital sales throughout the year, but they don’t compare to the higher touch offers. The energy to launch lower priced offers isn’t worth it for me, particularly when my business isn’t built around high volume low touch, so these remain evergreen.

Each of my products already have soulful sales funnels attached to them, but auditing each of them provided some new opportunities and areas for improvement.

And now for my one page marketing plan example:

As you can see from my marketing plan, it includes:

  • The Promotions in green
  • The Delivery of those programs in pink (although I’ve actually excluded it from this example)
  • Audience Build in blue is the final part so my email list is always growing

I include in there my regular marketing activities:

  • Power posts – or epic blog posts . These are generally more than 1500 words long – like this one! The aim is to build organic traffic, build my email list (so it’s usually attached to the “Audience Build” activity) and connect with my audience.
  • Videos , which this year will be more tightly linked to the blog post I’m writing, but will also be leveraged across Youtube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
  • A weekly eNewsletters to help continue to build relationships with my list
  • Facebook ads to grow my list so I have someone to send my eNewsletter to!! Although, more of my focus lately has been on retargeting ads to bring people already familiar with me back to my site.

These are the things I commit to being regular with.

Next, I’ll look at how many sales I’ll require that month to reach my overall financial goal and how many discovery calls are needed to reach those sales. If you’re unsure of your marketing activities, starting with this step first can help.

It’s not in this version, but it’s also wise to add in your budget for each month too if you’re needing to print marketing material, sponsor events or run advertising campaigns.

One of the beauties of laying out your 12 month marketing plan like this is that it prevents you from over promoting to your email list. One of the challenges I had earlier in my business life was that I was promoting back to back and wearing my email list out.

I see this a lot in my own inbox now, with some entrepreneurs and small businesses always in promo mode or even promoting two things at once – which is never smart. You simply confuse your audience and they end up buying nothing.

You can also more easily see what budget is required depending on when and what you’re promoting throughout the year.

The other thing to consider is that your plan will look very different to the next business . For example, one of my real estate agent clients has an extensive marketing calendar that takes in many varied strategies and multiple budgeting needs, while one of my health coaches has a simple 3-channel approach. Do what makes the most sense to you, your business and your ideal client.

Marketing Activities For Your Annual Plan

Still unsure exactly what YOU should be putting into YOUR plan?

If you’re just starting out in business or really unclear on where your ideal client is “hanging out” to know where to market, pause to spend some time interviewing your ideal client. Learn more about ideal clients here .

In the meantime, here are some strategies you might want to explore further:

  • Content creation strategies
  • Social media strategies
  • PR strategies
  • Referral strategies
  • Collaboration strategies
  • Public speaking strategies
  • Advertising strategies
  • Online marketing strategies
  • In-person networking and events strategies
  • Direct mail strategies

Many of these topics I talk about on this blog to help get you started.

Working Your Plan into 90-day Marketing Strategies

When I create a 90-day marketing plan, it’s this map that I look back to and the questions that ensure I stay in alignment all year round and don’t end up with bright shiny object syndrome – that is, that I go off following all the latest marketing fads. This has long been a weakness for me and I’m well aware of it, so I put things in place to ensure I can use my creativity without going too far off track.

Download a copy of your marketing plan so you can ensure you have a clear path to follow this year and create your best year yet.

If you’d like to book a 1.5-hour session to create either your 12-month plan and 90-day marketing plan, please reach out .

Building in a Celebration Plan

Yes, you need to build a celebration plan alongside your marketing plan. Why? Because otherwise you never stop to fully appreciate all you achieve. Women, in particular, are notorious for not pausing and taking stock. We tend to just keep going and this is where we end up burning out, losing momentum or resenting our businesses.

Your celebration can be as big or small as you want. Mine are often booking a facial, buying a book or even planning and taking a mini holiday.

When it comes to celebrating, you need to be checking in EACH week. You’ll have at least something you can celebrate each week and this is important to do. Find a mastermind group to ensure you do celebrate weekly, along with setting a goal you can work towards and use the group to hold you accountable to.

If you’re not part of a mastermind , take a look at what it’s like inside a women’s online mastermind group .

And make sure to download your 12 month marketing plan to start – and the continue – 2021 strong!

[…] how much you want your business to make in the next 12 months and/or 90 […]

[…] it comes to marketing strategy, many clients haven't previously had one. They tend to make things up as they go along and never […]

[…] that you can't work with a single man. What we're trying to achieve here is that when we get to the marketing part, we have a clear picture in our head of who it is we're writing copy for. This will shift you from […]

[…] that you can't work with a single man. What we're trying to achieve here is that when we get to the marketing part, we have a clear picture in our head of who it is we're writing copy […]

[…] are you feeling about what you’ll be achieving? I’ve talked a lot about  planning and goals, but at some point you have to take ACTION. Otherwise, we end up with virtual shelves full of half […]

[…] yourself focused on your goals. It’s easy to get distracted on a daily basis, easy to get down hearted by others’ actions and […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business Plan Templates

3-Month Business Plan Timeline

Three months of daily activities can be tracked with this timeline for new start-up companies.

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Sample text from 3-Month Business Plan Timeline:

Business Plan Implementation Timeline

People who printed this template also printed...

3 6 and 12 month business plan

DISCLAIMER: The business plans, templates, and articles contained on BusinessPlanTemplate.net are not to be considered as legal advice. All content is for informational purposes, and Savetz Publishing makes no claim as to accuracy, legality or suitability. The site owner shall not be held liable for any errors, omissions or for damages of any kind.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Savetz Publishing , Inc. Contact us . Privacy Policy .

Subscribe to the Free Printable newsletter. (No spam, ever!)

This template is easy to download and print. Each free business plan template is available in Microsoft Word (DOC) format, and many of the Business Plan Forms are available in Excel (XLS) format as well. Just choose a business plan template and download it. Open it in Word or Excel (or another program that can display the DOC or XLS format), edit it, and print your personalized business plan.

Collections of business forms are now available as convenient all-in-one downloads. There's a Start-Up collection that’s ideal for new businesses, or choose from: Budget , Theater , Restaurant , Sales , Inventory , Human Resources , Agriculture , Church , Auto , or Real Estate . Each collection is just $27.

Business Plan Forms

General Business Plans

Business Plans for Specific Industries

Business Plan Articles

Business Form Theme Packs

Newest Additions

Search All Business Plan Templates

Search all templates for:

Thank you for your suggestion.

We're always adding new printables, and would love to hear your suggestions. What are we missing?

Submit Suggestion    Close

My family was drowning in subscriptions. Here is how we got it under control and saved about $190 a month.

  • Despite a thriving US economy, many Americans feel it is worse than the reality.
  • For my family, the perception shift can be attributed to the rise in our monthly app subscriptions.
  • We came up with a plan to get our subscriptions under control and save hundreds of dollars.

There are several reasons to think the US economy is thriving , yet many Americans still feel it is much worse than the reality .

Until recently, my family of four felt bad about the economy despite the good signals. Then we sat down, got better control of our budget, and realized how much our household economy had changed in 15 years. Specifically, what felt like an endless supply of monthly app subscriptions that didn't exist in the 2000s.

We had everything from a food delivery app to a habit tracker app. As a family, we had about 20 apps and streaming services with subscriptions that made it easy to forget how much we were spending each month.

But we aren't alone. A 2022 study showed consumers underestimated app subscription costs by $133 a month.

Our subscriptions needed an intervention. Here are the six steps we used to get out of subscription hell and cut our expenses by about $190 a month.

1. Track everything

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Our family now tracks every expense and keeps a budget in the YNAB app . This is a great app if you are ready to go all the way with budgeting, but other apps out there have an easier learning curve if you are just getting started or just want to track your expenses.

The key to success for us was tracking every dollar spent. Seeing where our money went gave us a better idea of how much was wasted each month on apps we didn't need or rarely used, helping us save hundreds every month.

2. Categorize all your subscriptions

3 6 and 12 month business plan

We broke all our subscriptions into three categories: needs, wants, and why are we still paying for this?

For something to be a need, it had to either make us happier, healthier, or wealthier. For example, watching sports makes me happy, so ESPN+ — which costs $11 a month — is in. The Peloton app — which costs $48 a month — makes us physically and mentally healthier, so it is a need. We also kept the YNAB app — which costs $99 a year — because the amount of money it saves us makes up for the price.

Netflix — which starts at $7 a month — is a good example of one of our wants. We watch Netflix sometimes, but some months go by without it being used. So this is a subscription that we will pause for a while and then pick back up for a month or two and then pause again. We were surprised by how often we went five or six months without needing to see anything on certain streaming services.

When it comes to the last category, it can be annoying to cancel unwanted subscriptions, but many companies are making it easier.

3. Avoid annual subscriptions, if possible

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Annual subscriptions are enticing because they cost less in the long run, but there is a reason for that — the companies want to lock you in long-term.

The problem with annual subscriptions is that you lose flexibility and control, and that is the key to saving the most money, in my experience.

If you can stay disciplined and review your monthly subscriptions every month or two and pause or cancel the ones you don't need, it usually only takes a couple of months with the subscription off to save money over the annual price.

Of course, there are exceptions. I have journaling, exercise, and banking apps I use every day without fail. In those cases, it does make sense to go with the annual plans. In addition, there are occasionally annual deals that are just too good to pass up. For example, the Paramount+ Cyber Monday deal offered an annual subscription for $24 or $2 a month. It would take just four months to pay the same amount under the monthly $6 plan.

4. Avoid bundles

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Avoiding bundles is another strategy that keeps your sub s criptions flexible.

For example, I use ESPN+ almost daily and Disney+ occasionally. If you subscribe to those apps separately, it would cost $19 a month. It might seem like a good deal to get the bundle at $15 a month, which also comes with Hulu.

However, we never use Hulu, and the bundle takes away our flexibility to turn off Disney+ for those stretches of months when there is nothing on there we want to watch.

The bundle would have cost us $180 in 2023. Instead, we kept ESPN+ all year and used Disney+ for two months which cost $148, a savings of $32. Not the biggest savings in the world, but it adds up.

5. Always cancel your subscriptions immediately, even if you plan to keep it

3 6 and 12 month business plan

I also suggest canceling any subscription you buy. That helps control your spending as you decide when — and if — you will renew the subscription.

This is also key for those free trials, which often come with automatic subscriptions when the trial ends.

You will be amazed at how often you can go weeks or months without using the app.

6. Don't assume the "deal" you are being offered is the best one available

3 6 and 12 month business plan

On Apple iOS devices, there is a subscription trick for finding the best deal for an app.

The key here is to cancel the subscription. After that, go into the subscription section under settings. Here you will find every app you have or had a subscription with.

Click on the app , and on the next page, there is an option to "see all plans." Here, the app must list all its available subscriptions, not just those advertised.

Some offers can vary widely, but we've found a better deal roughly 50% of the time.

Getting our subscriptions under control was a bit overwhelming at first, and still takes a little leg work every month to keep on top of them. But the savings is worth the effort.

3 6 and 12 month business plan

  • Main content

An official website of the United States Government

  • Kreyòl ayisyen
  • Search Toggle search Search Include Historical Content - Any - No Include Historical Content - Any - No Search
  • Menu Toggle menu
  • INFORMATION FOR…
  • Individuals
  • Business & Self Employed
  • Charities and Nonprofits
  • International Taxpayers
  • Federal State and Local Governments
  • Indian Tribal Governments
  • Tax Exempt Bonds
  • FILING FOR INDIVIDUALS
  • How to File
  • When to File
  • Where to File
  • Update Your Information
  • Get Your Tax Record
  • Apply for an Employer ID Number (EIN)
  • Check Your Amended Return Status
  • Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)
  • File Your Taxes for Free
  • Bank Account (Direct Pay)
  • Debit or Credit Card
  • Payment Plan (Installment Agreement)
  • Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)
  • Your Online Account
  • Tax Withholding Estimator
  • Estimated Taxes
  • Where's My Refund
  • What to Expect
  • Direct Deposit
  • Reduced Refunds
  • Amend Return

Credits & Deductions

  • INFORMATION FOR...
  • Businesses & Self-Employed
  • Earned Income Credit (EITC)
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Clean Energy and Vehicle Credits
  • Standard Deduction
  • Retirement Plans

Forms & Instructions

  • POPULAR FORMS & INSTRUCTIONS
  • Form 1040 Instructions
  • Form 4506-T
  • POPULAR FOR TAX PROS
  • Form 1040-X
  • Circular 230

Tax Time Guide 2024: What to know before completing a tax return

More in news.

  • Topics in the News
  • News Releases for Frequently Asked Questions
  • Multimedia Center
  • Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
  • Inflation Reduction Act
  • Taxpayer First Act
  • Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts
  • The Tax Gap
  • Fact Sheets
  • IRS Tax Tips
  • e-News Subscriptions
  • IRS Guidance
  • Media Contacts
  • IRS Statements and Announcements

IR-2024-45, Feb. 21, 2024

WASHINGTON — During the busiest time of the tax filing season, the Internal Revenue Service kicked off its 2024 Tax Time Guide series to help remind taxpayers of key items they’ll need to file a 2023 tax return.

As part of its four-part, weekly Tax Time Guide series, the IRS continues to provide new and updated resources to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Taxpayers can count on IRS.gov for updated resources and tools along with a special free help page available around the clock. Taxpayers are also encouraged to read Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals) for additional guidance.

Essentials to filing an accurate tax return

The deadline this tax season for filing Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return , or 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors , is April 15, 2024. However, those who live in Maine or Massachusetts will have until April 17, 2024, to file due to official holidays observed in those states.

Taxpayers are advised to wait until they receive all their proper tax documents before filing their tax returns. Filing without all the necessary documents could lead to mistakes and potential delays.

It’s important for taxpayers to carefully review their documents for any inaccuracies or missing information. If any issues are found, taxpayers should contact the payer immediately to request a correction or confirm that the payer has their current mailing or email address on file.

Creating an IRS Online Account can provide taxpayers with secure access to information about their federal tax account, including payment history, tax records and other important information.

Having organized tax records can make the process of preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier and may also help taxpayers identify any overlooked deductions or credits .

Taxpayers who have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or ITIN may need to renew it if it has expired and is required for a U.S. federal tax return. If an expiring or expired ITIN is not renewed, the IRS can still accept the tax return, but it may result in processing delays or delays in credits owed.

Changes to credits and deductions for tax year 2023

Standard deduction amount increased. For 2023, the standard deduction amount has been increased for all filers. The amounts are:

  • Single or married filing separately — $13,850.
  • Head of household — $20,800.
  • Married filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse — $27,700.

Additional child tax credit amount increased. The maximum additional child tax credit amount has increased to $1,600 for each qualifying child.

Child tax credit enhancements. Many changes to the Child tax credit (CTC) that had been implemented by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 have expired.

However, the IRS continues to closely monitor legislation being considered by Congress affecting the Child Tax Credit. The IRS reminds taxpayers eligible for the Child Tax Credit that they should not wait to file their 2023 tax return this filing season. If Congress changes the CTC guidelines, the IRS will automatically make adjustments for those who have already filed so no additional action will be needed by those eligible taxpayers.

Under current law, for tax year 2023, the following currently apply:

  • The enhanced credit allowed for qualifying children under age 6 and children under age 18 has expired. For 2023, the initial amount of the CTC is $2,000 for each qualifying child. The credit amount begins to phase out where AGI income exceeds $200,000 ($400,000 in the case of a joint return). The amount of the CTC that can be claimed as a refundable credit is limited as it was in 2020 except that the maximum ACTC amount for each qualifying child increased to $1,500.
  • The increased age allowance for a qualifying child has expired. A child must be under age 17 at the end of 2023 to be a qualifying child.

Changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The enhancements for taxpayers without a qualifying child implemented by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will not apply for tax year 2023. To claim the EITC without a qualifying child in 2023, taxpayers must be at least age 25 but under age 65 at the end of 2023. If a taxpayer is married filing a joint return, one spouse must be at least age 25 but under age 65 at the end of 2023.

Taxpayers may find more information on Child tax credits in the Instructions for Schedule 8812 (Form 1040) .

New Clean Vehicle Credit. The credit for new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles has changed. This credit is now known as the Clean Vehicle Credit. The maximum amount of the credit and some of the requirements to claim the credit have changed. The credit is reported on Form 8936, Qualified Plug-In Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit , and on Form 1040, Schedule 3.

More information on these and other credit and deduction changes for tax year 2023 may be found in the Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals) , taxpayer guide.

1099-K reporting requirements have not changed for tax year 2023

Following feedback from taxpayers, tax professionals and payment processors, and to reduce taxpayer confusion, the IRS recently released Notice 2023-74 announcing a delay of the new $600 reporting threshold for tax year 2023 on Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions . The previous reporting thresholds will remain in place for 2023.

The IRS has published a fact sheet with further information to assist taxpayers concerning changes to 1099-K reporting requirements for tax year 2023.

Form 1099-K reporting requirements

Taxpayers who take direct payment by credit, debit or gift cards for selling goods or providing services by customers or clients should get a Form 1099-K from their payment processor or payment settlement entity no matter how many payments they got or how much they were for.

If they used a payment app or online marketplace and received over $20,000 from over 200 transactions,

the payment app or online marketplace is required to send a Form 1099-K. However, they can send a Form 1099-K with lower amounts. Whether or not the taxpayer receives a Form 1099-K, they must still report any income on their tax return.

What’s taxable? It’s the profit from these activities that’s taxable income. The Form 1099-K shows the gross or total amount of payments received. Taxpayers can use it and other records to figure out the actual taxes they owe on any profits. Remember that all income, no matter the amount, is taxable unless the tax law says it isn’t – even if taxpayers don’t get a Form 1099-K.

What’s not taxable? Taxpayers shouldn’t receive a Form 1099-K for personal payments, including money received as a gift and for repayment of shared expenses. That money isn’t taxable. To prevent getting an inaccurate Form 1099-K, note those payments as “personal,” if possible.

Good recordkeeping is key. Be sure to keep good records because it helps when it’s time to file a tax return. It’s a good idea to keep business and personal transactions separate to make it easier to figure out what a taxpayer owes.

For details on what to do if a taxpayer gets a Form 1099-K in error or the information on their form is incorrect, visit IRS.gov/1099k  or find frequently asked questions at Form 1099-K FAQs .

Direct File pilot program provides a new option this year for some

The IRS launched the Direct File pilot program during the 2024 tax season. The pilot will give eligible taxpayers an option to prepare and electronically file their 2023 tax returns, for free, directly with the IRS.

The Direct File pilot program will be offered to eligible taxpayers in 12 pilot states who have relatively simple tax returns reporting only certain types of income and claiming limited credits and deductions. The 12 states currently participating in the Direct File pilot program are Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington state and Wyoming. Taxpayers can check their eligibility at directfile.irs.gov .

The Direct File pilot is currently in the internal testing phase and will be more widely available in mid-March. Taxpayers can get the latest news about the pilot at Direct File pilot news and sign up to be notified when Direct File is open to new users.

Finally, for comprehensive information on all these and other changes for tax year 2023, taxpayers and tax professionals are encouraged to read the Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals) , taxpayer guide, as well as visit other topics of taxpayer interest on IRS.gov.

  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Linkedin
  • Back to stores
  • Find a Verizon Store
  • Request a Store Appointment
  • Australia (eng)
  • Deutschland (de)
  • France (fr)
  • Great Britain (eng)
  • Netherlands (eng)
  • Singapore (eng)
  • Business Unlimited

Business Unlimited plans

Switch and get truly unlimited data, plus double the premium hotspot data with select plans.

  Select the number of lines to see how your Business Unlimited plan monthly price would change.

Plans available with a month-to-month or device payment agreement. Prices include $5 savings per month per line when you sign up for Auto Pay and paper-free billing. 

Enjoy your business essentials.

$70 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

$60 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

$45 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

$40 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

$35 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

  • 5G/4G LTE Unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data; in times of congestion, your smartphone and mobile hotspot data may be temporarily slower than other traffic (network management). 5G access requires a 5G-capable device. 5G Ultra Wideband access is not available. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds.
  • Unlimited talk, text & data Unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data; in times of congestion, your smartphone and mobile hotspot data may be temporarily slower than other traffic (network management). 5G access requires a 5G-capable device. 5G Ultra Wideband access is not available. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds. In times of congestion, your mobile hotspot data may be temporarily slower than other traffic (network management). After 5 GB/line/month, mobile hotspot reduced to speeds up to 600 Kbps for the rest of the month.
  • Mobile hotspot data In times of congestion, your mobile hotspot data may be temporarily slower than other traffic (network management). After 5 GB/line/month, mobile hotspot reduced to speeds up to 600 Kbps for the rest of the month.
  • Call Filter Reduce spam calls with call screening, auto-blocking and easy reporting of unwanted numbers. Activation required. Terms apply.
  • 480p video streaming Video streaming at 480p.

Boost your productivity.

$80 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

$55 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

$50 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

  • 5G Ultra Wideband Our fastest 5G network experience. 5G access requires a 5G-capable device.
  • 100 GB Premium Network Access Get 100 GB of premium smartphone data per line per month. In times of congestion, your 5G and 4G LTE smartphone data may be temporarily slower than other traffic after 100 GB premium network access/line/mo. There is no network management for 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) data. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds.
  • 100 GB premium mobile hotspot data After 100 GB line/mo premium hotspot data, mobile hotspot reduced to speeds up to 600 Kbps (4G LTE and 5G) and 3 Mbps (5G UW) for the rest of the month.
  • Call Filter or Call Filter Plus Call Filter: Reduce spam calls with call screening, auto-blocking and easy reporting of unwanted numbers. Call Filter Plus: Adds caller ID, spam look up and risk meter, a personal block list and the ability to block by category. Activation required. Terms apply.
  • Business Mobile Secure Help protect and manage your company devices with this bundle of security features curated specifically for small businesses. Lookout for small business: Helps keep your data safe with anti-phishing and Wi-Fi network protections. Mobile Device Management: Lets you manage and apply controls across company smartphones and tablets. Dedicated chat support: Expert help via Chat for onboarding, setup and troubleshooting of your security features. Activation required. $5/device monthly charge offset by $5 credit while on qualifying price plan. Terms apply.
  • Up to 4K video streaming Video streaming at 4K when inside a 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area. High-definition 1080p video streaming on 5G / 4G LTE when you activate it in your plan settings. Otherwise video streaming at 480p.
  • TravelPass (2 days per month) Get 2 TravelPass days each month. Each TravelPass day gives you 24 hours of unlimited talk and text, 2GB of high speed international data then unlimited data at 3G speeds thereafter. TravelPass days do not carry over and expire at the end of each month. TravelPass is available in 210+ countries and destinations. 5G or 4G world device required.

Get more of what you need.

$85 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

$75 without Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount

  • Unlimited Premium Network Access Get unlimited premium smartphone data that isn’t slowed based on how much data you use. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds.
  • 200 GB premium mobile hotspot data After 200 GB line per month premium hotspot data, mobile hotspot reduced to speeds up to 600 Kbps (4G LTE and 5G) and 3 Mbps (5G UW) for the rest of the month.
  • TravelPass (4 days per month) 4 TravelPass days are included each month. Each TravelPass day gives you 24 hours of unlimited talk and text, 2GB of high speed international data then unlimited data at 3G speeds thereafter. TravelPass days do not carry over and expire at the end of each month. TravelPass is available in 210+ countries and destinations. 5G or 4G world device required.
  • 50% off on Unlimited Pro Tablet plan

Caret

 Choose the Business Unlimited tablet plan that works best for you.

Tablet Start

Save $10/mo when you add a line.

Unlimited data so you can work as flexibly as you need

  • 5G/4G LTE Unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data; in times of congestion, your smartphone and mobile hotspot data may be temporarily slower than other traffic (network management). 5G access requires a 5G-capable device. 5G Ultra Wideband access, machine to machine services and mobile hotspot are not available. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds.

Save 50% with Business Unlimited Pro smartphone plan.

Unlimited mobile hotspot data so you can meet on the go

  • 5G/4G LTE 5G access requires a 5G-capable device. Not available for machine to machine services. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds.
  • 35 GB Premium Network Access Unlimited 4G LTE, 5G and 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) data; in times of congestion, your tablet data may be temporarily slower than other traffic after 35 GB/line/mo premium network access (network management).
  • 15 GB Premium mobile hotspot data, then unlimited lower speed data After 15 GB/line/mo premium hotspot data, mobile hotspot reduced to speeds up to 600 Kbps (4G LTE & 5G Nationwide) and 3 Mbps (5G UW).
  • Up to 4K video streaming Video streaming at 4K when inside a 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area.

 Choose the Business Unlimited laptop plan that works best for you.

Start Laptop

Unlimted data to help you take on the day

  • 5G/4G LTE Unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data; in times of congestion, your data may be temporarily slower than other traffic. 5G access requires a 5G-capable device. 5G Ultra Wideband access and machine-to machine services are not available. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds.

Up to 4K video streaming to help you meet in HD

  • 50 GB Premium Network Access Unlimited 4G LTE, 5G and 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) laptop and mobile hotspot data. After 50 GB/line/mo premium network access, data reduced to speeds up to 600 Kbps (4G LTE and 5G) and 3 Mbps (5G UW) for the rest of the month.
  • Up to 4K video streaming Video streaming at 4K when inside a 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area. High-definition 1080p video streaming on 5G/4G LTE when you activate it in your plan settings. Otherwise video streaming at 480p.

 Choose the Business Unlimited mobile hotspot plan that works best for you.

Plus Data Device

Enough data for easy hotspot streaming and to meet on the go

  • 60 GB Premium Network Access Unlimited 4G LTE, and 5G and 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) data. After 60 GB/line/mo premium network access, data reduced to speeds up to 600 Kbps (4G LTE and 5G) and 3 Mbps (5G UW) for the rest of the month.
  • Up to 4K video streaming Video streaming at 4K when inside a 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area. 720p video streaming on 5G/4G LTE.

Pro Data Device

Plenty of data to stay productive during those longer workdays

  • 100 GB Premium Network Access Unlimited 4G LTE, 5G and 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) data. After 100 GB/line/mo premium network access, data reduced to speeds up to 600 Kbps (4G LTE and 5G ) and 3 Mbps (5G UW) for the rest of the month.

Choose the Business Unlimited smartwatch plan that works best for you.

Standalone Smartwatch

Premium data so you don’t miss a beat at work

  • 15 GB of premium 5G/4G LTE data Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE data. After 15 GB premium data/line/month, data reduced to speeds up to 200 Kbps for the rest of the month. 5G access requires a 5G capable device. Not available for 5G Ultra Wideband access, mobile hotspot or machine to machine services. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds. Additional terms apply.

Numbershare Smartwatch

Your connected smartwatch can use your mobile number

  • 22 GB of premium 5G/4G LTE data Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE data. After 22 GB premium data/line/month, data reduced to speeds up to 200 Kbps for the rest of the month. 5G access requires a 5G capable device. Not available for 5G Ultra Wideband access, mobile hotspot or machine to machine services. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds. Customer must also subscribe to select smartphone data plan. Both smartphone & smartwatch plans must be part of same sub-account. Additional terms apply.

New plan + new device

Find the plan that fits your budget and business needs, then check out our devices page for the 
latest smartphones.

New plan + your own device

See if your device is compatible with our network, then get started.

What are the benefits of Verizon Business Unlimited 5G smartphone plans?

Verizon Business Unlimited 5G smartphone plans provide unlimited data, talk and text on Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks. Plans also include access to Verizon’s business-class features, such as mobile hotspot data, call filtering, video streaming and mobile device management (available with select plans). Customers can choose from a variety of plans with different features to meet their business needs.

Can I add multiple lines to a Business Unlimited 5G smartphone plan?

Yes, Verizon’s Business Unlimited 5G smartphone plans allow you to add multiple lines. There are multiple options for businesses, ranging from single-line plans to multiple-line plans. The amount of lines you select is based on your company’s requirements.

Do Verizon Business Unlimited 5G smartphone plans offer any international benefits?

Yes, unlimited talk and text is available in Canada and Mexico along with 2 GB of high speed data per day with unlimited data at 3G speeds thereafter. If more than 50% of your total talk, text or data usage in a 60-day period is in Canada or Mexico, use of those services in those countries may be removed or limited. Additionally, Verizon Business Unlimited Plus 5G and Unlimited Pro 5G plans offer TravelPass that include international talk and text in over 210 countries and destinations.

Can I bring my own device or do I need to purchase a new device with the Business Unlimited 5G smartphone plan?

Verizon’s Business Unlimited 5G smartphone plans offer the flexibility to bring your own device (BYOD) or purchase new devices . If you already have compatible devices, you can simply activate them on a Business Unlimited plan. Alternatively, Verizon offers a wide range of devices for purchase if you prefer new devices for your business.

Are there unlimited data plans for other devices?

Yes, Verizon offers a variety of plans with unlimited data for tablets, laptops, smartwatches and hotspots. This provides the right solution for businesses requiring reliable connectivity while on the go.

Offer and Pricing Details

All Offers:  Offers available to new business customers only, subject to credit review. Not available in all areas/locations. Depending on speed tier purchased, promotional pricing for Internet and voice guaranteed for 12 consecutive months ($10 increase starting month 13 with 2 year contract), or 24 consecutive months ($10 increase starting month 25 with 2 year contract), or 36 consecutive months ($10 increase starting month 37 with 2 year contract) or 60 consecutive months ($10 increase starting month 61 with 2 year contract) (60 month guarantee not available in all areas where Fios is sold) subject to continuation of qualifying products; price guarantee applies to base monthly rate only; excludes optional services and equipment charges; prices subject to increase thereafter. With no annual contract, price increases to then current market rate subject to the applicable guarantee period. Select installation charges may be waived. Additional charges apply for inside wiring and/or other installation services. $49 activation fee may apply. Offers may be fulfilled via bill credit(s); other taxes, fees & terms apply.  Early termination fees  for a 2 year contract: 35% of base monthly charges for unexpired term. 2 year term automatically renews at then-current term rates unless canceled within 30 days prior to or 60 days after the term is renewed.  Money Back Guarantee  (MBG) is available with 2 year contract only and requires cancellation within 30 days of installation; excludes subscriptions, per minute usage, labor/material charges in excess of standard installation and month-to-month service plans, including Fios TV service. Wireless Verizon Router is available for $399.99 purchase and $18/mo rental (except in Maryland, where the wireless Fios Router is available for $299.99 purchase and $15/mo rental).  Wireless router models and prices are subject to change. Phone equipment purchase required with VoIP, starting at $85. Equipment must be returned within 30 days of cancellation. Equipment restocking fee may apply if order is canceled or service is terminated within 30 days. MBG and/or promotional offers do not apply to service ordered for temporary, short term or special events.  Firm Price Quote  is valid for 5 business days and is an estimate based on current pricing, promotions and taxes that are subject to change. Quote does not include additional charges for nonstandard installations. Verizon Wi-Fi available in select areas with qualifying packages. Software limitations and other terms apply. Visit business.verizon.net/wifi for details.  Offers are available for a limited time only and are subject to change without notice.  Wired speeds advertised. Wired & wireless speeds vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See  www.verizon.com/yourspeed  for more info. Service availability varies.

Fios Internet & Phone Bundle (VSB):  Usage charges apply on basic line. Activation fee of $49 may apply based on speed tier purchased. Wireless Verizon Router is available for$399.99 purchase and $18/mo rental (except in Maryland, where the wireless Fios Router is available for $299.99 purchase and $15/mo rental).  Wireless router models and prices are subject to change. Backup battery available for Fios voice services & E911. VSB not available with 2048/2048 Mbps Internet (2 Gigabit Connection).

Fios Internet & Business Digital Voice (BDV) Bundle:  Pricing for BDV line(s) with the Fios bundle: For speeds 200/200 Mbps and higher: the first BDV line is available for $20/mo. and $25/mo. for each addl. line. Pricing reflected in the cart. No annual contract required. $49 activation fee may apply. Wireless Verizon Router is available for $399.99 purchase and $18/mo rental (except in Maryland, where the wireless Fios Router is available for $299.99 purchase and $15/mo rental). Wireless router models and prices are subject to change. Business Digital Voice requires phone equipment purchase starting at $85.00.

Basic Internet & Phone Bundle : $49.00 activation fee applies with 2 year contract; $99.00 activation fee applies with no annual contract. Wireless router available for $49.00, subject to change. Basic Internet will be provisioned at our fastest speed available at your location of up to 1Mbps, 3Mbps, 5Mbps, 7Mbps or 10-15Mbps based on VZ line qualifications requirements.

$5/month Auto Pay & Paper-Free Billing discount:  For new and existing Fios Internet or Basic Internet customers on select plans. May not be combined with all offers. $5/mo. discount begins when you sign up for Auto Pay (ACH or debit card only) & paper-free billing (registration on  verizon.com/mybusiness  required). $5 discount will be applied each month as long as auto pay and paper-free billing stay active.

$85 Business Digital Voice Phone Discount:  Offer available on select IP Phones with purchase of a new Fios Internet and Business Digital Voice bundle with a two year agreement. Fulfilled via bill credit. Taxes apply. Limit one discount per phone model. Restocking fee may apply if canceled within 30 days. Available to select customers in select areas only. Offer ends 3.31.24.

Included Router Rental Fee:  Available only to Fios Internet customers on the Gigabit Connection plan (up to 940/880 Mbps) or 2 Gigabit Connection plan (up to 2048/2048 Mbps) where available. Qualifying customers will receive a monthly bill credit for the applicable monthly router rental fee for as long service with qualifying plan is on the account.  Promo credits end when eligibility requirements are no longer met.  If your Fios service is cancelled, you must return the Fios router subject to Verizon’s standard return policy. 

Fios Switching Allowance Offer:  Offer for new business customers in select areas only who sign up for qualifying Fios internet service with a two year agreement (subject to credit review) and who terminated their prior internet service and incurred an early termination fee (ETF). To redeem offer, you must email documentation of the ETF from your prior service provider w/in 30 days after receipt of final bill. Offer fulfilled via a bill credit to your Verizon account in the amount of the billed ETF, up to $1,500. Credit will be issued starting after 30 days of service, and will appear on your Verizon bill within 2-3 billing cycles. You remain solely responsible for paying the ETF to your prior service provider. Offer is non-transferable, has no cash or refund value, and may not be combined with all offers. Other terms apply. Offer ends 3.31.24.

Visa Prepaid Card Offers : Businesses who sign up for qualifying Fios Internet with our mid-tier or high-tier speeds with a two-year agreement will receive a Visa Prepaid Card, with the Visa Prepaid Card amount based on speed tier purchased, as follows: (i) $100 Visa Prepaid Card for Fios 500/500 Mbps Internet; or (ii) $500 Visa Prepaid Card for Fios 940/880 Mbps Internet (Gigabit Connection) or 2048/2048 Mbps Internet (2 Gigabit Connection). May only be combined with select offers. Only available in select locations, including the Philadelphia metro area, parts of New York state and parts of central Massachusetts. Call or visit the website to confirm availability.  Visa Prepaid Card is issued by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 12 months, funds do not expire and may be available after card expiration date, fees may apply. Terms and conditions apply.  Must register for card online and keep qualifying Verizon service for 60 days from install, with no past-due balance 65 days from install. Card mailed within 90 days of install date. Limit one card per account. Other card terms and conditions apply. Offers end 3.31.24.

Visa Prepaid Card Fast Start Offers : Businesses who sign up for qualifying Fios Internet with our mid-tier or high-tier speeds with a two-year agreement will receive a Visa Prepaid Card, with the Visa Prepaid Card amount based on speed tier purchased, as follows: (i) $400 Visa Prepaid Card for Fios 500/500 Mbps Internet; or (ii) $800 Visa Prepaid Card for Fios 1 Gig Internet (940/880 Mbps) or Fios 2 Gig Internet (2048/2048 Mbps). May not be combined with all offers. Not available in all locations, including the Philadelphia metro area, parts of New York state and parts of central Massachusetts. Call or visit the website to confirm availability.  Visa Prepaid Card is issued by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 12 months, funds do not expire and may be available after card expiration date, fees may apply. Terms and conditions apply.  Must register for card online and keep qualifying Verizon service for 60 days from install, with no past-due balance 65 days from install. Card mailed within 90 days of install date. Limit one card per account. Other card terms and conditions apply. Offers end 3.31.24.

Fios Business Internet/Business Unlimited Offer:  Offer available to new and existing business customers in select areas only who sign up for both: (i) a qualifying Fios Business Internet plan & (ii) a qualifying Verizon Wireless Business Unlimited plan (eligible smartphone required, device payment purchase or bring your own device). Existing customers are eligible with Fios Business Internet plan upgrade or Business Unlimited plan upgrade or a new line, as applicable. Customers with Fios Gigabit Connection (speeds up to 940/880 Mbps) or Fios 2 Gigabit Connection (speeds up to 2048M/2048M), where available, and Verizon Wireless Business Unlimited Pro plan (at least 1 line) are eligible for a total credit of $80/mo, all other combinations of service plans are eligible for a total credit of $40/mo. Offer fulfilled as a credit of $20/mo. or $40/mo. each to your Fios and Verizon Wireless bills, for a total credit of $40/mo or $80/mo as applicable. Credit is fulfilled at an account level and only one promotional credit per account. Discounts are applied once both services are activated. All discounts apply as long as Verizon provides & business maintains both services at the qualifying levels. Limited time offer.

$100 One-Time Discount:  Offer available only to business customers who are new to Verizon and who sign up for a qualifying Fios Business Internet plan and a qualifying Verizon Wireless Business Unlimited plan. Existing Verizon customers are not eligible. One time $100 discount offer fulfilled as a bill credit to your Verizon Wireless account and will appear within 1-2 billing cycles. May only be combined with select offers. Limited time offer.

Fios Internet Only:  $49 activation fee applies based on speed tier.  Wireless Verizon Router is available for $399.99 purchase and $18/mo rental (except in Maryland, where the wireless Fios Router is available for $299.99 purchase and $15/mo rental).  Wireless router models and prices are subject to change.

Basic Internet Only: $49.00 activation fee applies with 2 year contract; $99.00 activation fee applies with no annual contract. Wireless router available for $49.00, subject to change. Verizon Basic Internet will be provisioned at up to 1Mbps, 3Mbps, 5Mbps, 7Mbps or 10–15Mbps based on VZ line qualifications requirements. Availability subject to final confirmation by Verizon.

Preferred Voice Only:  Offer available to new and existing customers. Requires 2-yr term agreement. Includes unlimited direct-dialed voice calls to anywhere in the US. Selected activation and installation charges are waived. Additional charges may apply for inside wiring and/or other installation services. Additional Universal Service Fee, taxes and other charges apply. Call detail is not provided for unlimited calling.

Business Digital Voice (BDV) Only:  Offer available to new customers with 100 voice lines or fewer in select areas only, subject to credit review. BDV requires an existing Internet connection of 5Mbps or higher. $99.99 activation and $200 installation fees apply. Additional charges apply for inside wiring and/or other installation services. Phone equipment purchase req’d, starting at $85.00. Call detail is not provided for unlimited calling.

Fios TV:  Wireless Verizon Router is available for $399.99 purchase and $18/mo rental (except in Maryland, where the wireless Fios Router is available for $299.99 purchase and $15/mo rental).  Wireless router models and prices are subject to change.. $99.99 activation and $89.99 installation fees (first three existing TV outlets) apply. Additional charges apply for inside wiring and/or other installation services. $11.99/mo. HD set top box, franchise and regulatory fees, up to $8.89 Regional Sports Network (RSN) fee, $11.49 Broadcast Fee, other taxes and fees apply. Equipment shipping charge may apply. Program availability varies by location. Number of channels is approximation. High Definition (HD) TV with HD STB required for HD programming. Certain TV plans, Pay Per View (PPV) and Subscription or fee-based Video On Demand (VOD) are not permitted for viewing in restaurants, bars or other customer service areas. Channel lineup is subject to change and not all channels will be available at all times. Blackout restrictions apply. Month-to-month service without an annual contract required.

Fios TV Mobile app:  Req. compatible device and Fios® TV. Content restrictions may apply. Fios Internet req’d for in-office use. Full channel access and DVR streaming require Fios Multi-Room DVR enhanced or Premium Service. Max. combined 5 simultaneous live TV streams and/or DVR streams per media server. Streaming of TV shows and movies On Demand included in your plan is available to all business customers. Streaming of rented/purchased TV shows and movies On Demand is only available to Private Viewing business customers. Requires acceptance of Terms of Service and Private Viewing conditions at  verizon.com/mybusiness . Early access to Fios TV Mobile app begins with activation & ends upon installation or in 14 days, whichever comes first. Wireless data charges may apply.

Veterans / Active Military offer:  Offer available to eligible and verified members of the U.S. military and U.S. Veterans in select areas with Business Fios Internet with a two year agreement, subject to credit review. Not available in all areas/locations. Upon military service verification through Veterans Advantage, eligible customers will receive a discount in the amount of $5/month for speeds up to 500M/500M; or $10/month for 940/880 Mbps and 2048/2048 Mbps (where available), for as long as that customer maintains qualifying Business Fios Internet service. Not available for month-to-month plans. Eligible customers must complete the military service verification process within 30 days of the order to get the discount.

Business Internet Secure:  Available to businesses with 19 employees or less. Requires current Fios Business Internet service. Business Internet Secure licenses are sold in packs of 5, 10, and 25 with one license covering one device (laptop, desktop, smartphone or tablet). One license pack at a time per customer account. Prices are monthly and exclusive of taxes and fees. Terms and conditions apply. System requirements: Windows 7 and above; Mac OSX 10.9 and above; Android OS 5.0 and above, or Apple iOS 10.0 and above.

Let’s connect.

Call Sales 800-526-3178

Have us contact you Request a call

Already have an account?    Log in Explore support More ways to connect with us

Home > Services > Phone

DRAFT: REWRITE: The 5 Best Business Cell Phone Plans of 2023

Teltik

Data as of 2/6/24. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *Price available when purchasing 6+ lines. One line with autopay discount starting at $60

Tin Calano

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure .

Business.org’s 5 best business cell phone plans

At&t: best full-featured plans.

Looking for a broad choice of bells and whistles? As a telecom behemoth, AT&T has plenty of cell phone features and packages to offer businesses—around 20 plan variations, small to large. All plans include free US roaming, unlimited talk and text messages, as well as unlimited texting outside of the country. Basic features like call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, and conference calling also come standard with all AT&T business cell phone plans, along with bring-your-own-phone support.

AT&T's business cell phone plans

Data as of 2/6/24. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Business Unlimited plan prices start at $30 a month per line when you sign up for 6+ lines, or $60 a month for one line. Data is unlimited, but speeds may slow down after reaching the GB included in each plan.

AT&T business plans can also accommodate up to 10 lines per account, and they come fully loaded with perks like AT&T ActiveArmor SM mobile security and Video Management. Video Management automatically optimizes streaming video on your phone to 480p so you can watch webinars on the go without dealing with a blurry picture.

Each plan also includes a decent array of iOS and Android smartphone options and even a few good old flip phones. Users can save money when bundling AT&T-owned DIRECTV services (because, again, telecom behemoth). Military veterans can also qualify for a 25% discount on Business Unlimited plans.

Users are eligible for a discount if they elect for autopay and paperless billing, but this discount is only applied until after two pay periods. We don't know why the discount cannot be applied earlier in the billing process, but we do find it frustrating.

T-Mobile: Best flexible plans

Not sure exactly what you’ll need in a mobile plan besides future adaptability? T-Mobile, the third-largest wireless service in the US, offers three business plans, all packed with unique features that set T-Mobile apart from the rest. The German-owned company has also earned a reputation for stellar customer service and was the first to eliminate annual contracts (an idea that stuck—none of the plans reviewed on this page require contracts). In April 2018, the company announced its intention to merge with Sprint under the T-Mobile banner.

T-Mobile's business cell phone plans

Data as of 2/6/24. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *Price available with 6+ lines

All of T-Mobile’s Business cell phone plans offer the same basic features:

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data on their network
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot
  • Scam Shield
  • Unlimited calling and texting to Mexico & Canada
  • Unlimited video streaming

In addition, all T-Mobile Business plans include DIGITS, an app that allows you to access up to five phone numbers on a single device. That means you could answer calls to your work number and personal number on one device—no more packing two phones in your bag every day. DIGITS also lets you share your phone number across multiple devices, so you can answer on your phone, smartwatch, tablet, or computer.

T-Mobile’s Business plans cover up to 12 lines. If you need more than 12 lines, you’ll need to sign up for the Enterprise Phone Plan (13+ lines). This includes a fixed rate of $285 per month for 13 lines, plus $25 per month for each additional line. 

T-Mobile plans also allow bring-your-own-device convenience, or you can buy phones upfront with a single payment (there are nearly 40 iOS and Android phones to choose from).

I couldn't find solid info verifying this pricing so I'm not sure if it's still accurate

Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have been merged for almost six months, some significant changes have taken effect. T-Mobile’s website is now the only place businesses can sign up for Sprint or T-Mobile business phone accounts.

Sprint still has an active business website for previous users but all new plans will be sold by T-Mobile on its website.

3 6 and 12 month business plan

By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Verizon: Best growing business plans

Serving over 150 million customers, Verizon isn’t just big, it’s BIG. Such a mobile mammoth might not seem like the obvious choice for a small business, but for what it lacks in a personalized customer service reputation, Verizon more than makes up for by offering every cell phone feature there is, as well as dominant US, and near-dominant global, coverage. Like McDonald’s and Marvel movies, Verizon is everywhere.

Verizon's business cell phone plans

Data as of 2/6/24. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With 5+ lines

While business owners can get business cell phone plans with limited data, we recommend choosing an unlimited plan if you have multiple employees (or do a lot of work via cell phone).

Verizon’s Business Unlimited cell phone plans are scalable for multiple employees. With plans starting at just $30 per line, Verizon Business Unlimited plans are an attractive option, whether you’re running a tiny company with no expansion plans, a medium-sized business with an eye toward growth, or a large enterprise with heavy cell phone requirements.

Verizon Business Unlimited Plus and Pro plans also include a TravelPass (2–4 days per month), so you can do business around the world. Each plan also includes unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and Canada.

Verizon doesn’t skimp on device choices either. There are nearly 100 iOS and Android phones and tablets available—including the Verizon Orbic Speed, a mobile hotspot device that can connect 10 devices to an 802.11 ac Wi-Fi network.

If your company requires truly “unlimited” cell phone service and scalability to grow, and is in the position to pay for functionality with frills, Verizon Business Unlimited is the way to go. Bare-bones operations, however, might want to look elsewhere.

Each of our recommendations has its strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes the most difficult part about finding a phone system is determining exactly what you need and don't need. The best place to start is separating your needs between installing a new system, replacing a system, or expanding an existing system.

If you are having trouble sorting out exactly what your phone needs are, use this tool to help you understand what the best options are for your unique needs.

MintMobile: Most affordable plans

We are sure you’ve seen the commercials with Ryan Reynolds talking about this phone carrier business with a fox logo called Mint Mobile. In fact, a lot of Mint customers were drawn to Mint because of Ryan Reynolds's Hollywood looks, but that’s not the only thing Mint has to offer.

Mint is inexpensive and transparent, compared to other cell phone carriers with hidden fees and seemingly random regulations.

MintMobile's business cell phone plans

These are the prices for new customers and will last up to three months. After the third month, you are eligible to sign up for a 3, 6, or 12-month contract on one of the tiered plans, all $35/mo/user or under, which is astronomically less than other providers.

MintMobile is no fuss, and you really do feel like you must be tricking the rest of the world with its pricing. The only issue is that MintMobile is an online company, and coverage is not completely everywhere yet. There are still some coverage gaps in the West, namely Nevada, Idaho, and Arizona. If you live east of the Rocky Mountains, you are good to go!

Teltik: Best perks plans

If you’re a strapped startup, New Jersey’s Teltik can get you up and running on the cheap. Teltik is a reseller service operating on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G network, meaning it can offer the reliability and reach of a giant provider at smaller-company prices. Teltik also has the advantage of being completely US-based, with 24/7 local customer service that’s not outsourced overseas.

Teltik's business cell phone plans

3 more (non-business) cell phone plans reviewed by business.org.

Teltik appears to have a dozen plans, but they’re mostly just variations of the essential plan that offers all the expected basics. Not coincidentally, the features mirror those of T-Mobile, as they’re on the same network.

The most basic plan starts at $20 a month and includes unlimited calling and texting, mobile hotspot service, and unlimited data—with a 2 GB cap on 5G speeds (meaning your speed gets throttled to 128 Kbps if you use more than 2 GB of data in a month). From there, you can upgrade your plan to include more 4G or 5G data and more mobile hotspot data. Upgraded plans cost anywhere from $30 to $40 per month, and they all include one cloud-phone VoIP line—perfect for small businesses looking to save on all their telecommunications needs.

One distinctly entertaining feature (pun intended) of Teltik’s business plans? You get unlimited media streaming from over 40 music services (including Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music) and more than 100 video services (including YouTube, Netflix, and any other channel you can think of). That means you can stream as much TV as you want without it eating into your data. It’s almost as if Teltik doesn’t want you to get any work done.

Another thing you need to know: Teltik doesn’t sell phones. Instead, the company operates on a strict bring-your-own-device basis. Any unlocked phone will work with its network, as will any T-Mobile device, of course. However, you will have to spend $10 plus shipping and handling to buy a new SIM card for each of your devices (unless they’ve already got brand-new, unused T-Mobile SIM cards).

Boost Mobile

The takeaway

Assess your company’s current cell phone usage and projected future needs before diving into any plan. What looks like a great deal could turn out to be more than you actually need—or you may have initially underestimated your business’s cell phone requirements. Also, if your company has both cell phone and regular office phone needs, look into bundling. The larger telecom providers offer both types of phone coverage, and bundling services is an easy way to save money in the long run.

Don’t want to carry around separate phones for work and personal calls? With the right VoIP service, you don’t have to. Check out our favorite business VoIP providers to see which ones offer on-the-go business phone capabilities.

Business cell phone plan FAQs

If you have several employees working outside of the office on a regular basis, desk-bound phones obviously aren’t going to work for them. Some may be only calling and texting while others will be checking email, using GPS navigation, and accessing the internet for work, but a cell phone is a must for employees in the field.

If you’re a one-person operation accountable to only yourself, you could get by with a personal cell plan. Keeping track of multiple employees’ hours, data, and providers, however, would be an extra headache you don’t need. For streamlining and collaboration purposes, a business cell phone plan would be the easier route.

Most of the plans we’ve reviewed here offer unlimited data—domestically, at least—so hitting the data ceiling won’t likely be an issue. But if you want to forecast how much data your business uses every month, or want to figure out how much premium data you’ll need, providers make data plan estimators available on their websites. Or you could use a third-party calculator app.

BYOD stands for bring your own device . Another common term is BYOP for bring your own phone . This means that employees are using their personal phones, tablets, or laptops on their own carrier plans for work or that they’ve put those devices on the company’s plan. The upside? It’s less expensive than buying devices. The downside? Extra security concerns.

In the annoying absence of Wi-Fi, you can use a cell phone signal to connect a wireless device to the internet by switching on the mobile hotspot option and simply treating it like a Wi-Fi router. For multiple device connections, a dedicated hotspot (such as Verizon’s Orbic Speed ) can provide a faster, and more stable, connection.

Business owners weigh in

3 6 and 12 month business plan

Methodology

To find the best business cell phone options, we considered pricing plans, customer support, and data limits. We also looked at the variety of contracts and whether these plans were flexible with discounts. 

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

3 6 and 12 month business plan

5202 W Douglas Corrigan Way Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Accounting & Payroll

Point of Sale

Payment Processing

Inventory Management

Human Resources

Other Services

Best Small Business Loans

Best Inventory Management Software

Best Small Business Accounting Software

Best Payroll Software

Best Mobile Credit Card Readers

Best POS Systems

Best Tax Software

Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use  and  Privacy Policy .

Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase.

Our mission is to help consumers make informed purchase decisions. While we strive to keep our reviews as unbiased as possible, we do receive affiliate compensation through some of our links. This can affect which services appear on our site and where we rank them. Our affiliate compensation allows us to maintain an ad-free website and provide a free service to our readers. For more information, please see our  Privacy Policy Page . |

© Business.org 2023 All Rights Reserved.

IMAGES

  1. First Six Months Plan Template

    3 6 and 12 month business plan

  2. 12 Month Business Plan Tutorial

    3 6 and 12 month business plan

  3. Phase II Step 3: The 12-Month Financial and Operating Plan

    3 6 and 12 month business plan

  4. Your 12 Month Business Plan

    3 6 and 12 month business plan

  5. 12 Month Plan PowerPoint Presentation Slides

    3 6 and 12 month business plan

  6. 12-Month Marketing Plan

    3 6 and 12 month business plan

VIDEO

  1. New Low investment Business Idea With Last 1 month Net Profit of My Small Grocery Business

  2. Empowering Your Business's Future: Budget Planning and Business Planning strategies Unleashed

  3. EP. 154 How To Step Into Expert Energy

  4. Entrepreneurship project- Business Plan of Television

  5. EP. 150 Stop Giving Your Clients Options

  6. Secrets to Massive Savings: One Month Grocery Haul 2024

COMMENTS

  1. See Long- and Short-term Results with a 3-6-12-24 Plan

    The 3-6-12-24 planning tool helps practitioners find a way out of this predicament by presenting a coherent picture of the balance that must be achieved between short- and long-term objectives. An additional benefit: The Belts who run the improvement projects will see these not as stand-alone achievements, but as contributing to a bigger picture.

  2. Simple Business Plan Template (2024)

    Our simple business plan template covers everything you need to consider when launching a side gig, solo operation or small busi ... $25 per month: Uline: Business cards with Square's free quick ...

  3. How To Write A Business Plan (2024 Guide)

    Describe Your Services or Products. The business plan should have a section that explains the services or products that you're offering. This is the part where you can also describe how they fit ...

  4. How to make a 12 month plan

    Step One - Pick Your Theme for the Year (Word/Idea for the year) Choose a theme that will help inspire action all year long. To narrow one down, think about how you want to feel throughout the year. For example, this year my theme will be "inspired action." Step Two - Brainstorm How to Get There

  5. How to Write a Simple Business Plan

    By Joe Weller | October 11, 2021 A business plan is the cornerstone of any successful company, regardless of size or industry. This step-by-step guide provides information on writing a business plan for organizations at any stage, complete with free templates and expert advice.

  6. Business Plan Financial Templates

    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

  7. Business Plan: What it Is, How to Write One

    1. Write an executive summary 2. Describe your company 3. State your business goals 4. Describe your products and services 5. Do your market research 6. Outline your marketing and sales...

  8. Our Startup's 12-Month Growth Strategy

    We haven't had a serious, organized discussion about 3, 6 and 12-month goals, strategic roadmaps and action plans to achieve those goals. We've simply been too focused on today. But finally, a few weeks ago, we had that discussion. For four and a half hours, we brainstormed, challenged each other, and came up with the blueprint for how we ...

  9. Business Development Plan

    Write a business development plan. Now that you're in the growth stage of your business, set things in motion with a business development plan. A business development plan sets goals for growth and explains how you will achieve them. It can have a short-term or long-term focus. Review and revise your plan as often as you can.

  10. The Ultimate Guide For Your First 12 Months of Business

    Fear and doubt creep. You can make plenty of excuses.". This guide is intended for the courageous souls who have decided to take the risks necessary to build a business—those who want nothing more than to take their ideas from the drawing board to the board room. If you fall into this camp, your bravery is commendable.

  11. Ready to Launch a Business? Here's Your 12-Month Plan ...

    January 29, 2020 Is this the year you make your entrepreneurial dreams come true? Congratulations! But… you'll need a plan. Consider this your month-by-month guide to ensuring that the business you launch thrives. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here Month 1: Dream big (and write it down)

  12. A Six-Month Game Plan For Starting Your Own Business

    Starting your own business is scary. Here's a month-by-month guide to preparing for the big step. ... 2019, 12:23am EDT. ... A Six-Month Game Plan For Starting Your Own Business.

  13. How to Create a 12-Month Marketing Plan: Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to create a 12-month marketing plan with these five steps: define business goals, conduct SWOT analysis, identify target personas, create an execution plan, and measure marketing efforts. A clear business and marketing plan can help secure funding resources or pitch to investors.

  14. 30-60-90 Day Plan: Ultimate Guide Plus Template

    A 30-60-90 day plan is what it sounds like: a document that articulates your intentions for the first 30, 60, and 90 days of a new job. It lists your high-level priorities and actionable goals, as well as the metrics you'll use to measure success in those first three months. Done well, it will help you make a positive first impression on your ...

  15. Creating a 3-6-12 Month Business Plan for Mortgage Brokers

    What is a 3-6-12 Month Business Plan? A 3-6-12 month business plan is a roadmap that outlines your goals, strategies, and actions for the next 3, 6, and 12 months. This plan provides a clear and ...

  16. Your 12 Month Business Plan

    To summarise, setting up your 12-month business plan is a really important exercise. It will give you a sense of direction and will act like a checkpoint list on your business journey. You'll know what the things you need to do are, and also when to do them. So, create your plan, and place it somewhere visible so that you can remind yourself ...

  17. Crafting a Successful Consulting Business Clan

    A consulting business plan starts with defining your unique selling proposition (USP). Identify a niche and ideal client by conducting thorough market research and competitive analysis. Develop a 12-month marketing strategy with specific targets. Allocate 10-15% of projected revenue to marketing for optimal results.

  18. Your 12 Month Marketing Plan Template

    A 12 month marketing plan is really a marketing strategy with a schedule of marketing activities to provide you with a high level view of where you'd like to be and how you're going to get there. It's the opportunity to take a holistic look at your marketing for the coming year and understand where you want it to lead you.

  19. [3-6-9-12] Month Engagement And Its Importance

    This is about a specific 3-6-9-12 month engagement plan that you must envision for "each" team member, irrespective of the levels. Whether your business is into products, services, staffing...

  20. PDF My 3 Month Business Plan And Making it Happen!

    1. What do I want my business to look like 1 year from now? For example think about clients, workshops, products, social media, business relationships, joint ventures, training, website, how your business is perceived, communications and perhaps even your work-life balance! Part II: Your 3 Month Goals 2.

  21. 30-60-90 Day Plan: A Guide With Template and Example

    A 30-60-90 day plan is a document used to set goals and strategize your first three months in a new job. 30-60-90 day plans help maximize work output in the first 90 days in a new position by creating specific, manageable goals tied to the company's mission and the role's duties and expectations.

  22. 3-Month Business Plan Timeline

    3-Month Business Plan Timeline. Three months of daily activities can be tracked with this timeline for new start-up companies. Download Free Version (DOC format) Download Free Version (PDF format) Download the Start-Up Pack for $27. 50 editable start-up printables in one convenient download. My safe download promise.

  23. How to Manage Your App Subscriptions to Save Money

    The Peloton app — which costs $48 a month — makes us physically and mentally healthier, so it is a need. We also kept the YNAB app — which costs $99 a year — because the amount of money it ...

  24. Tax Time Guide 2024: What to know before completing a tax return

    The enhanced credit allowed for qualifying children under age 6 and children under age 18 has expired. For 2023, the initial amount of the CTC is $2,000 for each qualifying child. The credit amount begins to phase out where AGI income exceeds $200,000 ($400,000 in the case of a joint return).

  25. Business Unlimited Phone Plans

    Card valid for up to 12 months, funds do not expire and may be available after card expiration date, fees may apply. Terms and conditions apply. ... device payment purchase or bring your own device). Existing customers are eligible with Fios Business Internet plan upgrade or Business Unlimited plan upgrade or a new line, as applicable ...

  26. Inflation cooled last month, but some price hikes continue to cause

    The first measure of inflation for 2024, the Consumer Price Index, showed that prices rose by 3.1% for the 12 months ended in January, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Tuesday.

  27. How To Achieve Success In A New Job: A Step-By-Step 12 Month Plan

    We often have well wishes for our first year, and then our efforts fade out. Let's think about your 30-day, 60-day, three month and 1-year plan from four perspectives. I tend to refer to them as ...

  28. 5 Best Business Cell Phone Plans of 2023

    Business Unlimited plan prices start at $30 a month per line when you sign up for 6+ lines, or $60 a month for one line. Data is unlimited, but speeds may slow down after reaching the GB included in each plan. ... After the third month, you are eligible to sign up for a 3, 6, or 12-month contract on one of the tiered plans, all $35/mo/user or ...

  29. Sam Altman Seeks Trillions of Dollars to Reshape Business of Chips and

    The OpenAI chief executive is pursuing investors including the U.A.E. for a project possibly requiring as much as $7 trillion.