flow chart in business plan

Business Plan Flowchart Complete Guide

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Do you want an organized route for your business workflow? Keeping track of your business progress can become difficult if you cannot enlist your goals. Plus, you need something that reminds you about the resources and guides you to their usage. A business plan flow chart is the solution for you. It is a graphical representation of the workflow of a business process. This simple chart shows how each step in the process gets to the finish line and how it relates to others.

1. What Is A Business Plan

A business plan is a formal statement of business goals and objectives. It's a written document that describes the company's mission, strategies, and financial information. Moreover, It is also a road map for the future.

Furthermore, this comprehensive document that outlines the business's goals, objectives, and strategies is a passage for your future success as an entrepreneur. Business plan flow charts are essential for any business owner who wants to take their business to the next level.

Elements Of A Business Plan:

The business plan is not just the name of a hard piece of paper. On the contrary, it is a mixture of diverse statistical and theoretical elements, some of which are as follows:

The first element of a business plan is its purpose. When starting a new business, you'll want to define your goals and how you intend to achieve them.

The second element is the product or service that your business provides. You'll want to describe what it is you're offering, and why it's better than those alternatives. Furthermore, it is better to target customers and answer what problems or issues it solves for them.

• Financial Statistics:

The third element of the business plan flow chart is how much capital (money) you need to get started. You'll need enough funds to cover initial expenses, such as advertising costs and lease payments on office space or equipment.

• Task Timeline:

The fourth element is a timeline for when accomplishments must meet the end. Plus, it includes milestones that indicate finished objectives and money spent on them.

• Financial Analysis:

The fifth element is a financial analysis. It breaks down the costs of running the business by category. As a result, it helps you to determine whether or not there's enough money available for everything involved in running it at once.

2. 4 Different Business Plan Types

A business plan flow chart helps you understand what your company will look like and how much money it will need to get off the ground. However, not all of them are created equal. It may vary based on the company framework, data provided, and business objectives. In this article, you'll get a comprehensive overview of 4 different business plan flow chart templates that can help you understand the overall notion of a business plan.

2.1 Business Plan Process

The business plan process flow chart type is a simple diagram. However, it is an essential one indeed. The visualization includes a top-down process enlisting for business growth. It all starts from the goal, which maps the further procedures accordingly. The end focus product is the budget. The business plan flow chart highlights specific strategic and tactical objectives throughout the journey. Each is essential for business performance and judgment for better decision-making. The overall physical presentation may not be luxurious. However, it serves a much bigger purpose, making it far more critical. Considering all the above facts, we can say that this type is a comprehensive process guide for employees and investors to look into.

2.2 Market Analysis Business Plan

The Market Analysis Business Plan is a business plan that focuses on the industrial analysis of your company. It's essential to include information about the following:

• The market, including its size and growth rate
• Your competition (including their strengths and weaknesses)
• Your target audience (what do they want?)

Unlike the above example, this business plan flow chart type gives a much more detailed overview to the business owner and investor. It focuses on the target market, and the share business has in it. This type is essentially beneficial for most companies. Whether you have a small or huge business, it will analyze your market exposure accordingly.

2.3 Business Plan Timeline

The business plan timeline visually represents the order in which tasks should be completed. It helps you visualize your progress and decide what's most important for your project. It can be of yearly timeline progress or future task procedural approach. In general, every business plan flow chart based on a timeline has four different quadrants.

The first quadrant defines what the business is all about. As a result, it sets the stage for everything else in the plan. All the goals and subjects come under this category. The second quadrant helps you assess what your company wants to accomplish, focusing specifically on customer needs or wants at a specific time. Unlike the above example, this business plan flow chart type gives a much more detailed overview to the business owner and investor. It focuses on the target market, and the share business has in it. This type is essentially beneficial for most companies. Whether you have a small or huge business, it will analyze your market exposure accordingly.

2.4 Business Strategy Diagram

A business strategy diagram is a step-by-step flowchart. This business plan flow chart helps you simultaneously visualize the process of developing and implementing your company's overall mission, vision, and goals. Moreover, it can help you evaluate potential new growth strategies and improve current ones. A business strategy diagram includes a whole architecture that summarizes your organization's overall goal.

Simply put, it is a step-by-step roadmap targeting economic departments, strategies to work, and actions performed in a business. Furthermore, it classifies how grouped, and individual actions impact business growth. All in all, this type is an in-depth value analysis chart for every small and big firm that wants ideal business automation.

3. Tips To Create A Business Plan That Stands Out

The Business Plan Flow chart is a visual way of showing the procedural roadmap of a business. It helps your team see the big picture and visualize the order in which tasks need completion. It can help them understand how to sequence their work, so they don't miss anything.

An exemplary flowchart also helps you create a business plan that stands out from competitors. It is possible by providing more information than other companies do about their company goals, services offered, and market presence. To create an ideal business plan that has the potential to visualize a complex production framework, you must follow the given tips.

• The business plan flow chart should be simple, clear, and concise so readers can easily understand it.
• The business plan should include at least one example of how each element has been completed successfully or unsuccessfully in the past. It is necessary because it shows how other people have accomplished similar tasks previously and helps increase confidence that you can do it too!
• Be honest, and do not overestimate your capabilities. Be realistic about the time it takes to accomplish your goal and what resources you need.
• It s better if the business plan flow chart references previous projects as testimonials for future projects. It shows that you have experience with similar tasks, improving customer and investor confidence.
• Make sure that you clearly understand your target audience's demographics and how they will react to your product or service.

4. Conclusion

A business plan flow chart effectively organizes your business and keeps track of the tasks due for completion. It is also a great tool for communicating with investors, bankers, or partners. The above examples show how a simple flowchart can help you communicate ideally while maintaining order in your company's growth process. With EdrawMax , creating, designing, and sharing happens all in one place. You do not have to worry about losing your files, as all the exported files from EdrawMax are highly encrypted. All in all, EdrawMax is a solid tool -- you just sit with your design ideas and explore the tons of features that this business plan maker has to offer.

Flowchart Complete Guide

Check this complete guide to know everything about flowchart, like flowchart types, flowchart symbols, and how to make a flowchart.

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Blog Graphic Design

20+ Flow Chart Templates, Design Tips and Examples

By Midori Nediger , Sep 09, 2022

If you’re looking to communicate business processes, plan marketing campaigns, onboard employees, or bring any form of workflow chart to life, creating a good flow chart can help set you straight.

Typically, you use boxes or shapes to represent different steps in a process, and then you connect those steps with lines or arrows.

Flow charts are perfect to use in project plan templates , business reports , presentations and white papers .  Anywhere you need to simplify and communicate a process, a flow chart template is the best way to do it.

Not a designer? No problem! With Venngage’s drag-and-drop flowchart maker and our easy-to-use flow chart and process map templates, you can create effective process documents in minutes.

Click to jump ahead:

Business flow chart templates, hr flow chart templates, marketing flow chart templates.

• Real estate flow chart templates

Project flow chart templates

• Process flow chart templates

Customer support flow chart templates

• Flow chart template FAQS

Using a flow chart in your business is a great way to help communicate internal processes or hiring and project workflows. Flow charts can be used to outline a variety of processes, including budgeting, planning, communicating, or sales.

For example, the process flow chart template below visualizes the online sales procedure of a business.

Read more about: Flowchart Symbols and Meaning

Design tip: Keep your audience engaged with a creative flow chart layout

Notice the arrows in the above template? They’re your best friend.

Play around with different arrow shapes and sizes will bring out a much more interesting flow chart. You can also use other graphic design elements, like zig zags, curves or flowy lines that weave through your flowchart’s sections.

In the medical flow chart above, readers are guided through systems and given instructions based on the outcome. A medical flow chart like this is great for any health business, as users can easily access the right services quicker.

If you have less text but more steps, then you can use a process map template like the one below as a starting point to outline your workflow.

Budgeting or projecting flow chart templates

One of the ways you can use a flow chart is to break down part of a whole.

This could mean breaking down a concept into components, like breaking down the factors that contribute to a complete business spend, or breaking down projected budget and future earnings.

For example, the flow chart template below visualizes the return on investment between Design new product, Enhance existing product, or Do nothing:

Medical flow chart templates

You can create a medical flow chart using a simple concept flow chart, like the one below:

You can also use a process map template to help medical teams understand how to assess a potential threat and make sound decisions.

During times of stress, such as when an emergency occurs, it can be difficult for people to think clearly. Having a visual guide to help them during this time will aid in better decision-making and keep people safe. That’s where a free flow chart template like the one below comes in handy.

Internal processes can also be effectively communicated with a flowchart template, like this one on the physician recruitment process:

You can also add a flowchart into an infographic to make sure your visualized process flow is even more engaging and easier to understand. Here’s an example:

Human Resources often use flow charts in their work. A flow chart can be an easy way to communicate company policies and processes within the organization. Flow charts can also be used during the hiring process to make sure hiring is fair and consistent.

Change management process map template

Any type of change in a company can be overwhelming. To make it easier for employees, managers, and external parties, a change management process map template like the below outlines the process.

For more flowchart templates about change management models, check out our blog: 8 Change Management Models and How To Apply Them

Organizational structure flow chart templates

A corporate organizational chart is another classic use of a flow chart. Organization charts are handy to include in employee handbooks or onboarding materials to ensure that new hires understand the company structure.

An organizational structure flow chart breaks down a whole into parts i.e. a company into different departments/teams to show hierarchy and team relationships.

Pro Tip:  Venngage makes it simple to share your flow chart with the people that matter. Once you’re done editing, copy the private link or email it quickly to your boss or client. Upgrade to a Premium or Business account to download your flow chart or activate team features . See the example below for how to share in Venngage:

Color coding also helps differentiate departments in this org chart template (blue vs. purple):

A gradient effect helps differentiate the most senior and junior positions.

Pro Tip: Brand your flow chart template with one click using our My Brand Kit . The example below shows how you can open our My Brand Kit tab and click your color palette to apply it to the entire template. You can pull your brand colors from your website or set them manually — up to you! This is useful for consultants and freelancers who quickly want to add a client’s branding to their document.

Organizational structure charts can also include contact details for the members of the team. This example below also makes good use of icons to illustrate what each department is responsible for:

This simple org chart uses gendered icons. You could replace them with icons suited to their role, such as a shaking hands icon for a partnerships manager.

Pro Tip: Once in the Venngage editor, click any icon in your free flow chart template and then click “Replace” to change it. Our icon library with thousands of professional icons will open. Search by keyword. In the below example, I searched for “sales” to find the right icon to represent a VP of Sales in an org chart. The tool inserted (and resized) a shopping cart icon for me.

When picking icons for your designs, remember to follow these best practices:

• Pick icons that are the same style (same line width, flat or illustrated, filled or line art, etc.).
• Make sure your icons are consistently sized, to prevent your design from looking cluttered.
• Don’t use icons to replace text unless the meaning is very well known (for example, a stop sign).

Or, instead of using icons, try using photos:

This is especially effective to personalize corporate org charts or customer journey maps ( see next section below ).

Pro Tip: Upload your own photos in the Venngage editor and then drag and drop to replace any existing photo in the template. We’ll resize it for you. The example below shows how I replaced the VP Marketing’s photo with a photo of myself:

Read More:  12+ Organizational Chart Examples and Templates

Hiring process flow chart templates

The hiring process can be as individual as an organization. Some companies ask for three rounds of interviews and reference checks, whereas other companies may require a skills test .

A flow chart to help your potential new hires, as well as the hiring managers, keep on top of the process can be an invaluable asset.

Breaking down complicated processes like hiring into manageable steps helps keep teams aligned and focused on the hiring outcome:

But there’s no reason your hiring flow chart needs to be a boring document. Using a vibrant or branded flow chart template helps show your employer brand and is more visually engaging.

You can use colors in a flow chart to:

• Differentiate between types of information.
• Emphasize specific points.
• Give your flow chart personality.

For example, you could use colors to differentiate between different stages in a process. Or in this template, between different departments:

The flowchart template above is a swimlane diagram . For more information about this type of diagram , check out these posts:

• Swimlane Diagram: Ultimate Guide to Designing Better Business Processes
• 10+ Swimlane Diagram Templates and How to Create Them

Not only can the colors help readers remember the information, but they can also make your flow chart easier to scan.

Take a look at how color is used in this flow chart template that shows a hiring process:

Some tips for using color to communicate information effectively:

• Use contrasting and complementary colors to highlight information.
• Add a single color to a black and white design to highlight a single piece of information.
• Pick colors that reflect the mood or theme of your information.

Read our guide on how to pick brand colors  for more tips.

Project risk flow chart templates

Most projects come with risks. Often the role of Human Resources is to help prepare for risk, especially when it comes to personnel.

A flow chart template can be a good way to map risk per project to the people involved. The free flow chart template below could be used during a project initiation or to show how a company is being restructured.

Marketing campaigns take many different shapes and forms. A flow chart template can be used to help plan campaigns and marketing strategies. Flow charts can also be used to develop marketing processes.

Flow charts are also a valuable marketing tool themselves, especially when used for events or social media.

Event invite flow chart templates

This free flow chart template doubles as an event invitation you can post on social media or print and make into a flyer:

You could also customize the above flow chart template for a special sale or promotion.

For example, one flow path could be:

• Do you have an office Christmas party coming up?
• Do you own a dress that’s half-decent?
• You need to shop our 30 percent off holiday sale!

Marketing experiment flow chart templates

Flow charts aren’t just visuals that explain processes to others.

They can also be useful tools to help you plan and prioritize projects, strategies and experiments.

For example, take the free flow chart template below that you can use to determine if a growth experiment is worth running. It’ll help you plan and implement your own business growth strategy :

Tips for using a flow chart to prioritize experiments:

• Identify the key metric or goal you want to impact and the experiment you want to run to impact that goal.
• Ask predictive questions about the value and resources of the experiment, to gauge if it should be a priority.
• Use different colors to categorize the types of resources required or the amount of effort required to run the experiment.  

Customer journey map flow chart templates

Charts and infographics are the perfect formats for telling stories with your data. They allow you to illustrate concepts and events using engaging visuals, like in the process flow example below.

One of the most popular uses of a flow chart is to illustrate a business’ customer journey.

While customer journey maps can be quite simple, more businesses are creating engaging visuals to tell their customers’ stories.

Icons, bold colors, and  elegant fonts can all be used to make your customer journey map interesting to read, while still maintaining a professional look.

If you want to include more than one customer persona’s path in one visual, then using different colors and icons (or photos) for their respective paths will make your chart easier to read. Take this  free flow chart template, for example:

Click any of the templates above to enter our online  customer journey map  maker. Customize the template to your liking — no design experience required.

Tips for using a flow chart to tell a story:

• Use directional cues like arrows to guide how people read your chart.
• Use icons to illustrate the steps or stages in your process.
• If you’re showing more than one customer persona’s journey, use different colors and illustrations to identify their respective paths.

Social media flow chart templates

Flow charts don’t have to just visualize boring business processes. They can also be a fun way to engage your audience on social media !

You could create a flow chart that doubles as a quiz, like this flow chart we made that tells you what your whiskey personality is . People like quizzes, so don’t be afraid to use them in your content .

Or take this super helpful flow chart that helps you come up with plans for Valentine’s Day.

The bright background color and quirky icons help make the design pop from people’s newsfeeds:

Key tips for designing a flow chart for social media: 

• Keep your chart very simple, so people will be able to read it easily.
• Use the optimal image dimensions for each social media platform .
• Pick a bright, bold color scheme that will stand out from newsfeeds.

Infographic flow chart templates

Infographics are a valuable tool for content marketing .

If you’re creating an infographic that covers more information, you can incorporate a small flow chart into your design.

It’s generally a good idea to only visualize a short process or a simple concept.

Information that requires more detail would probably require its own infographic or chart.

For example, this infographic uses a flow chart in the first section to show how different elements of your content feed into its overall style and readability:

When incorporating a flow chart into a bigger infographic, remember to:

• Keep your flow chart brief and focused on one concept.
• Clearly title the flow chart section so readers understand it.

Real estate flow chart template

Real estate agents can also use flow charts in their marketing materials, to help clients understand the real estate journey.

This real estate flow chart template below can help prospective clients understand their needs better. Providing information about your industry that isn’t just a sales pitch can help build authority and trust.

Projects often involve multiple steps or stages, and keeping track of progress can be difficult. If your project involves multiple team members making sure that everybody is on the right track is important too.

When developing any new project timeline , it can be handy to create a project flow chart to map the stages and reliances.

Product design flow chart templates

Icons are another design element that you can use to make your information more memorable. You can use icons to emphasize points and to illustrate concepts.

For example, this flow chart uses icons to emphasize and illustrate each step in the product design process (like a rocket ship icon for the launch phase):

Evaluation flow chart templates

If you want to help people make a decision, a flow chart is a great way to visualize two options or paths people can take.

You could show how the two paths diverge from the same starting points, or you could place two flow charts side by side.

For example, this infographic shows two potential paths readers can take by placing two flow charts side by side:

This colorful pitch deck compares a new company with its competitor on slide #4:

Keep these tips in mind when using a flow chart to show two options:

• Show parallel options or stages in the process by placing them level with each other on the page.
• Use colors and icons to differentiate between the two paths.
• Use a brighter color to emphasize a path you would like readers to follow (for example, if you’re showing two service plan options).

Process flow chart templates

Showing complicated processes can be difficult when using text alone. By using a visual flow chart template you can effectively communicate process flows. This type of flowchart can also be used to help keep teams aligned on complicated projects.

In this food ordering flow chart the process of placing an order is clearly explained with multiple “yes” or “no” choices. A flow chart like this can be used to onboard new employees, to understand the processes involved in a successful business interaction, or to visualize the steps within an automated ordering system or any other type of automated process.

Related : 21+ Flowchart Examples to Organize Projects and Improve Processes

Cyclical flow chart templates

Some processes don’t have a definite beginning or end and a flow chart is a great way to visualize that.

For example, this brochure template uses a flow chart to show why this business is sustainable:

This simple flow chart example is dynamic and lays out a reoccurring process (design):

Tips for using a flow chart to visualize a cyclical process:

• Put the “starting point” in the top left corner of your flow chart.
• Use directional cues like arrows to indicate which direction the cycle moves in.
• Offer brief description of the flow chart for context.

Combining flow chart templates

Do you want to visualize two processes that work in tandem with each other?

To help readers better understand both processes, you may want to create a flow chart that visualizes both.

The key for combining two flows is to keep the charts simple.

If you try to incorporate too many parts, your flow chart will quickly become cluttered.

For example, the presentation flow chart template below uses a simple 5-step flow chart over a 4-step chart to show how an inbound marketing funnel  and content strategy work together:

Notice how the circles are in bright colors, so they contrast with the more neutral rectangles. This makes the chart easier to read.

Keep these tips in mind when combining two flows in one chart:

• Keep the flow charts simple, and don’t include too many points.
• Use color and shapes to differentiate between the two flows.
• Provide a clear title and if you think it’s necessary, a brief description of the chart.

Data flow diagram template

A data flow diagram (DFD) visualizes the flow of data and/or information throughout a system or a process. Here’s an example of one:

For more examples of DFDs, check out this post: What Is a Data Flow Diagram and How To Make One?

Data-driven flow chart template

Most times, flow charts are meant for either school or business. You’re most likely to have statistics that will bring more substance to your flow chart.

Adding data will not only add variety to your information, but numbers usually are much more eye-catching than a cluster of words.

Your presentation design is important for how you display your data. Use that to guide your flow chart thought process !

Have your information draw a reaction from your audience by adding credibility to what you’re showcasing.

Without the facts presented in the free flow chart template above, you wouldn’t realize the value in the information being presented.

Customer support is a unique job that benefits from flow charts to understand user journeys and pain points. Often, customer support staff will not have technical knowledge of the problems so a flow chart that runs through common errors is a helpful tool.

Providing flow charts for customer support training upfront is another way to ensure that your customers are having their issues resolved quickly and efficiently.

In this customer support flow chart template, the three stages of troubleshooting are labeled by color. This allows customer support employees to help customers more efficiently.

Flow chart design best practices

If you’re looking to make a flow chart, Venngage has plenty of free flow chart templates you can use to create impactful designs.

• Plan your flow chart before you begin designing. How many steps will it have? How complex do you want it to be?
• Scroll through this post and pick a flow chart template that fits the process you want to visualize. Click “Create” to enter our  flow chart maker .
• Add, remove, or rearrange points in the flow using Venngage’s drag and drop canvas. Even design newbies can use our tool.
• Insert your own dates and events using the text boxes.
• Customize the  colors ,  fonts  and  icons  to make the design your own. We’ll give you tips on exactly how to do this below.
• All done? Easily share your flow chart via email or upgrade to download it.

Flow chart template FAQs

1.  how do you make a flow chart.

2. How do you create a flow chart in Word?

When you sign up with Venngage, you can create a flow chart in Word . Follow the steps above to edit and customize the free flow chart template of your choice. When you’ve completed the design, you can share it online.

Alternatively, you can upgrade to a Venngage for Business  plan to download your design as a PNG file to be inserted into a Word document. You can also download the chart as a PDF, interactive PDF , or a PowerPoint presentation.

3. What is the best tool to make a flowchart?

There are numerous tools available online to customize flow charts and process map templates. The best flow chart maker  is one that offers a variety of shapes, icons, and diagram options.

Venngage offers all these and much more with our flow chart templates. Easily create a variety of diagrams using our templates as a base. Auto-resize shapes and elements or swap icons with the click of a button. Designing has never been simpler.

That’s it! Here’s a sneak peek of what the Venngage flow chart editor looks like:

More design tips and templates:

20 Timeline Template Examples and Design Tips

6 Comparison Infographic Templates and Examples

11 Templates to Turn Boring Information Into Creative Infographics

How to choose the most effective flow chart

What is a flow chart .

Flow charts give people a way to visually depict a process or system using shapes or a combination of shapes and words. They can range from quick, hand-drawn pictures to robust, computer-generated diagrams that break down complex ideas into digestible, easy-to-understand pieces. In addition, technical and non-technical people in virtually any field can use flow charts. 

They’re particularly useful in a variety of situations including:  

• Documenting and analyzing processes 
• Developing computer software or networks 
• Communicating or standardizing processes 
• Identifying redundancies, roadblocks and inefficiencies in processes 
• Creating a plan or structure for a new project, department or business 
• Planning project work with multiple stakeholders 
• Understanding how users navigate a website or store 
• Illustrating a manufacturing process 
• Creating a new product or service 

 Flow chart benefits 

Along with the ability to work in almost any scenario, flow charts offer a wide range of benefits, including:  

Information visualization 

A flow chart can be a boon as it provides a visual of how a product or service should work, how a project should flow, or how a network can function before it’s built. By allowing you to identify dependencies, efficiencies, staffing needs and other variables that could impact your project later, flow charts can help you save time and money. 

Documentation 

With a flow chart maker, you can save all your files digitally, distribute them almost instantly, and even create a library of flow chart templates. This way, your files will always be accessible, your teams can stay up to date, your company can stay compliant and you won’t have to reinvent the wheel next time you need to design a similar chart. 

Simplified communication 

Flow charts make every detail clear, which can help teams quickly understand the tasks at hand, when and by whom. This information can mean fewer meetings, fielding fewer questions and give everyone more time for work. Flow charts are also helpful with informational manuals or even onboarding employees. Essentially, flow charts add context to instruction sets, and bring greater efficiency for recurring tasks.  

Easy execution 

Online flow chart templates make it easy to get started quickly. And with simple customizations, streamlined collaboration and built-in version control, you can create exactly what your organization needs, seek input at every stage and will always know where the latest and greatest files are.   

Types of flow charts  

Although flow charts can be used to explain just about anything, most people use them for one of three reasons: to inform decisions, show processes or to visualize data—which is why most flow chart templates fall into one of those three categories. So, let’s take a look at what each type of flow chart entails and when and why to use them.  

1. Decision tree 

Think of a decision tree like an “if this, then that” flow chart. By allowing you to create a map of possible outcomes based on a specific set of choices, a decision tree can help you see a path clearly and weigh your options. 

Decision trees usually begin with a single node (the question), then branch into two options (decisions), then those options lead to additional nodes (possible outcomes). Because of their nature, decision trees are especially good at highlighting probabilities and benefits and can even be used to design algorithms that help predict outcomes. 

2. Process flow chart 

By giving you the power to diagram and analyze the flow of activities when producing a product or service, a process flow chart can help you find gaps and redundancies in your process, identify where specific resources, equipment or people are needed, reveal potential bottlenecks or problem areas, and uncover possible efficiencies.  

Along with outlining how an activity should function, or the provisions of a product or service, process flow charts can also onboard new employees, train existing teams or help outside vendors or consultants understand your business and where they fit in. 

3. Data flow chart 

When you need to take a deep dive into your data, a data flow diagram can help. By using symbols and short text labels to show data inputs, outputs, storage points and pathways, they can condense information into a graphic representation of what may be difficult to verbalize. And, because tech teams and non-technical stakeholders can use them, they’re a great option when you have to present to a broad audience.  

Flow chart tips 

Making a flow chart, especially when using a flow chart template is simple, but making a great flow chart takes a little more thought. So, let’s look at some tips for creating a flow chart that not only informs but looks spectacular. 

• Make your diagrams easy to read . Create your flow chart with the end-user in mind means making sure it’s layout and composition helps your audience knows where to look first and where to look next. By adjusting your alignment as needed, using proper grammar, clear titles, and avoiding jargon, you can ensure your diagram is user-friendly. (Hint: When in doubt, test it out on someone unfamiliar with your project.) 
• Be consistent . When you use shapes, fonts, colors and naming conventions consistently throughout the flow chart, your audience can follow along easier.  
• Use contrast . Using colors consistently is fundamental, but you don’t want to use the same color or color family for every shape. By using distinct colors, you can make steps or actions more prominent. And by using font colors that stand out from the background, your diagram will be easier to read. 
• Use an online flow chart maker . With templates, built-in version control, easy collaboration and the option to edit them anytime, they can help you test out designs and create and manage your diagrams on your schedule.   

Integrate your flow chart 

Whether you need to make a decision, explain a process, or share data with your CEO, embedding flow charts into other business applications and communication tools can further enhance productivity. By using a flow chart maker and productivity tools, you can pull content for your diagrams from all your go-to sources, including documents, files and social media sites.  

Also, you might consider integrating your flow charts with business intelligence (BI) tools, allowing you and your team to interact with your data and tell a better story. With embedded flow charts and BI tools , you can turn data into engaging visuals, create interactive reports, explore data granularly, and gain insights that make fast, informed decisions possible.  

There are so many new ways to create flow charts and bring innovation to your business. To learn more, check out this step-by-step  guide  for automating flow charts from structured data in spreadsheets, and take a deep dive into modern  flow chart tools .  

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Business Insights and Ideas does not constitute professional tax or financial advice. You should contact your own tax or financial professional to discuss your situation..

Business Process Flow Chart: How to Make One In 7 Steps

Creating an automated business process flow chart will go a long way in determining your restaurant business workflow and dynamics. If you do not have an effective business process flow chart template, you need to get one.

Key Takeaway - Having a business workflow that projects productiveness for every team member is crucial. Besides using ecommerce automation tools , a process flowchart makes getting work done within your company easier.

With the perfect business process mapping, you can automate daily tasks. You can also standardize business operations.

Operations like invoice processing , creating an invoice template , or using order management software are all done smoothly. In addition, you can set up a loyalty program , or automate orders. 

A process flowchart can simplify complex activities like payment processing . The inventory management process and order management workflows can become easy tasks. The inventory definition is even easier to understand with the correct flow chart usage. Heck, the right flow chart can even help offset the inventory carrying cost if you know what you're doing with it.

The point is for your entire team to be in sync. A process workflow chart can help the restaurant team remain aligned with each operation and workflow process. 

How do you design a process flow diagram? This article will help you understand the intricacies of restaurant business process automation. You will also learn how to create a business process flow chart. First, however, let's begin with the most basic question.

What Is a Business Process Flow Chart?

A business process flow chart is a diagram that details the entire process of a business operation. It is a diagrammatic representation of distinct business processes and tasks. 

The purpose of a business process flow chart is to simplify complex procedures and map out your process flow. Restaurant process maps depict the workflow using conditional logic to account for every potential situation. 

Besides the entire business operation, the process flowchart maps out who is doing what tasks. It also shows timelines, and resources needed to perform specific tasks. Kind of similar to how warehouse system flow charts work.

For instance, you can create a business process flow chart to automate handling complaints and requests. Or one to make sure the sales team gets approval upon receiving a new purchase order.

You can create flowchart templates that will help your team handle complex processes if you are off work or unavailable to help. The idea behind process flowcharts is that anyone can replicate the actions for specific operations and get the same results.

Documenting your business workflow makes it easy for employees to work with minimal likelihood of errors. It doesn’t matter if you know the entire business process management by heart. Having a system in place helps your employees adopt the processes as their own.

Creating a process flow is similar to how you write your restaurant business plan . In the long run, it will improve restaurant business productivity. It also helps you continue delivering high-value customer service .

How Can Process Flow Diagrams Help to Improve Productivity?

Do you know that about 50% of employees in a company lack an understanding of their job function and duties? According to a report, most managers do not set expectations for new hires. Ultimately this leads to poor performance and productivity. ( Effectory )

You can avoid this by having a simple business process flow chart template for each operation in your company. So, let's put it into context. How can business process optimization boost business efficiency? 

Increased Work Productivity

Having a business process map template for every process in your company improves productivity. Every employee knows what tasks they are doing and when they are doing them.

Business process diagrams answer the questions of business processes' what, where, when, how, and why. In addition, business process flow charts help employees understand each step in a work process.

Overall, work performance increases because of the work autonomy and clarity of purpose. 

Business Process Improvement Solutions

Documenting your process flow will help create a standard mode of operation. Then, it is possible to align these standard processes with your company's goals and set KPIs to monitor the results.

Business process flow makes checking how simple and complex processes function within your company easier without manually tracking anything. 

Employee Training Guide

Creating a business process flow chart makes it easier to train new employees. It can also help enforce compliance with the company's rules and regulations. 

A typical onboarding process for new employees can take up to six months. But with a flowchart, employees can quickly understand their new roles, making it easier to align with the company's working system.

How Do You Design a Process Flow Diagram? Getting Started In 7 Easy Steps

We've established that your company needs a business process flow chart. The next thing is designing one that will fit your business needs. After that, you can automate the entire work process and remove all errors in your work system.

Designing a business process flow chart is easier than you think. However, the design process begins with picturing the business process. 

Thinking ahead for all possible workflow scenarios when fulfilling a task. It accounts for the solutions to these scenarios.

Let's start designing your business process flow chart in these seven simple steps:

• Select a Workflow Process

The first step is to select the workflow process you want to automate. Next, choose a process that will achieve specific objectives and can be quantifiable. For instance, you can automate the invoice management operation to reduce processing costs.

• Define the Process Steps 

After selecting the process, you want to make sure you understand every possible outcome involved in that process. Reach out to team members and get more information from their experiences. This will help you define the components of each step.

You must break down each step into the tiniest detail without leaving anything out. Also, make sure you walk through these steps to check if the system works.

• Create the Process Flow Diagram

You can use a pen and paper to draw out the diagram. Make sure to draw out the start and end points of each process. For example, the start point for purchase order management can be to “create a requisition,” and the endpoint is “issuing the invoice.”

Remember to set conditions and fill in the details of the steps within the diagram. Also, use business process model and notation, as well as clear tags, colors, and shapes when depicting specific steps.

• Test and Update the Process

Now, you need to test your process diagram. Are there any redundancies? Does it achieve the desired outcome? Is it easy to understand? 

The good thing about a business flow diagram is that you can edit it based on new information. However, with further edits and updates, make sure to run an experiment.

It is essential to update the process as your company expands to eliminate redundancies and improve team performance.

• Set KPIs and Monitor

Setting restaurant business KPIs and metrics for each automated process makes it possible to monitor performance. For example, you can check if the flowchart still aligns with your company goals. 

In addition, setting performance metrics makes it easier to monitor complex processes. The results you get over time will inform if there is a need to break that process down or change the steps involved.

• Business Process Management Tool

You can use a pen and paper to draw your process diagram. However, it is not feasible. 

An eCommerce business process management tool offers a workflow solution for your process flow management. It is much easier than drawing the entire process on paper. You can learn more in our eCommerce business guide.

Business process management tools offer pre-built template options and workflow wizards to help you set up your company's processes. All you need to do is select the process, add the steps, and set the conditions.

Most tools also have a drag-and-drop feature that makes it easy to customize and create a workflow. You can assign roles to each task and add supervisors to monitor the entire process.

However, you can use a business process flow chart template if you don't want to go through the time-consuming process of starting from scratch to create a process flow chart. Most business process management platforms make it easy to modify a flow chart template to suit your B2B eCommerce business .

Therefore, you can fill out the template with your specific business processes and procedures.

• Use a Restaurant Management Software

The whole essence of having a business process flowchart template is to create efficient business systems . A process flowchart is a great place to start if you are looking to automate your restaurant operations.

However, using restaurant management software will offer similar benefits. A restaurant management software is designed to run restaurant operations.

The tool can help process payments, and help streamline marketing and operations. A restaurant management system can improve inventory management and employee scheduling. 

You can even make changes to different types of menus. Using both a process flowchart and a restaurant management tool will help you stay on top of all activities in your business. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Process Flow Chart

Why is a process flowchart useful.

A process flowchart helps to automate the workflow in a business. Whether you are running a bar or a deli restaurant, a business flowchart can help to organize your operation.

Here are some uses of a process flowchart for your restaurant business:

1. Organizes the operations of a business.

2. Provides easy-to-follow process documents for employees.

3. Reduces employee training requirements.

4. Sets standards and desired outputs for work processes.

5. Improves conversation and efficiency within the company.

What Is the Best Way of Documenting Business Processes?

There are various methods of documenting business processes. You can use a flowchart diagram to map out your workflow processes. However, if you are looking for something really simple, you can try a checklist app.

The most important thing is that whatever method you choose is able to capture your workflow. In the long run, it should be easy for your team to follow.

How Do I Organize Business Processes In a Developing Startup?

Here's a checklist of how you can organize your startup restaurant business processes :

1. Map out business processes.

2. Implement the business process flow chart.

3. Analyze and review set KPIs.

4. Monitor and adjust the process as needed.

5. Use restaurant management software.

The hospitality business is not for the faint of heart. Having a business process in place with the perfect hospitality software will help to grow your restaurant startup.

To Sum It All Up

Running a new restaurant business can be difficult if you do not have the perfect plan in place. A flowchart simplifies things and gives you an excellent head start.

It does not matter if you are operating a small business. As long as you have plans to expand someday in the books, it’s best if you think about process flow-charting.

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Flow Charts

Identify and communicate your optimal process.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

How often have you thought about streamlining a process in your organization but not been sure where to start? Or perhaps you've struggled to understand a process when it's described to you in detail.

Flow charts are a useful tool in these situations, as they make a process easy to understand at a glance. Using just a few words and some simple symbols, they show clearly what happens at each stage and how this affects other decisions and actions.

In this article and video, we look at how to create and use flow charts, and explore how they can help you to solve problems in your processes.

What Is a Flow Chart?

Flow charts are easy-to-understand diagrams that show how the steps of a process fit together. American engineer Frank Gilbreth is widely believed to be the first person to document a process flow, having introduced the concept of a "Process Chart" to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1921.

Flow charts tend to consist of four main symbols, linked with arrows that show the direction of flow:

1. Elongated circles, which signify the start or end of a process.

2. Rectangles, which show instructions or actions.

3. Diamonds, which highlight where you must make a decision.

4. Parallelograms, which show input and output. This can include materials, services or people.

You can use many other symbols in a flow chart but remember that these diagrams are used for communication . If you use symbols that only a few people understand, you may fail to get your message across. So, be sure to keep things simple !

When to Use a Flow Chart

All manner of organizations use flow charts to:

• Define a process.
• Standardize a process.
• Communicate a process.
• Identify bottlenecks or waste in a process.
• Solve a problem .
• Improve a process.

For example, software developers can use them to work out how the automated and manual parts of a process join up. Inexperienced team members might follow a flow chart to help them to complete activities in the right order. A manufacturer could ensure that it keeps to its values by applying a quality-control flow chart that presents questions and decision points. And an HR department might combine a flow chart with an organogram to show people who to contact about issues and when.

Why Use Flow Charts?

This tool's simplicity makes communicating and documenting a process quick and clear, so that the process will more likely be understood and applied correctly and consistently. It can also help you to estimate the timescale of the process, as you're better able to gauge the time needed for each task along the way. And you'll more likely identify who you should involve and at what stage, such as senior management or a compliance authority.

But you can also benefit from the process of creating a flow chart itself, as you build it step by step. You'll be able to focus on the detail of each individual stage, without feeling overwhelmed by the rest of the process, and then "zoom out" again to see the wider picture.

If your process or project involves several people or teams, you might find it more useful to use a Swim Lane Diagram rather than a flow chart – this helps you to show process flows between people and teams.

How to Create a Flow Chart

Follow these four steps:

Step 1: Identify Tasks

Begin by listing all of the tasks in a process in chronological order. Ask questions such as, "What happens next in the process?" or, "Do you need to make a decision before the next step?" or, "What approvals are required before you move on to the next task?"

Put yourself in the shoes of the person using the process, possibly for the first time. Talk to team members who work with the process directly, and get their opinions on where improvements could be made. Better yet, take a hands-on approach and go through the procedure yourself, and think about the practicalities of each stage. Use Customer Experience Mapping if your flow chart focuses on customer service, so that you can gain a better understanding of the process.

Step 2: Organize and Document Tasks

Next, start your flow chart by drawing the elongated circle shape and labeling it "Start."

Then, work through your whole process, and show the actions and decisions in the order that they happen. Link them with arrows to illustrate the flow of the process.

Where you need to make a decision, draw arrows from the decision diamond to each possible solution, and then label each arrow with the decision made. Remember to show the end of the process by using an elongated circle labeled "Finish."

Step 3: Double-Check the Process

When you've completed your flow chart, go back to the start and try it out to make sure that you haven't overlooked anything. Work through each step, and ask yourself whether you've represented the sequence of actions and the decisions involved correctly. Are there more decisions to be made at certain stages?

Then show your flow chart to other people, especially those who work directly with the process. Ask them to test that it works and to tell you if there are any problems or omissions.

Step 4: Challenge the Flow Chart

Finally, you might want to improve the process rather than just record it. So, see whether any of the steps that you've described are unnecessary or overly complicated. Identify any major bottlenecks , and deal with them to improve performance.

Are there any missing steps, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, that you should add? And have you assigned tasks and decisions to the right people or automated them where it's most appropriate? Make any changes and then challenge the chart again.

As you challenge your flow chart, you might also be challenging your team members' tried and tested ways of working. So, take time to win support for your ideas, and don't expect to change people's habits overnight.

You may find that SIPOC diagrams will give you the detailed information that you need to introduce change in a controlled and effective way.

Flow Chart Software

You'll likely start with drawing flow charts by hand, but it's often more convenient to use a diagramming app to save, amend and share your charts.

Such apps vary from the simple and free, such as draw.io , creately and Pencil Project , to the more complex and paid-for, such as gliffy™ , Lucidchart , SmartDraw™ , and Visio® .

Flow charts can quickly become long and complicated, so that you can't represent them on a single piece of paper. This is where you can use "connectors" (shown as numbered circles) to link the flow when moving from one page to another. The user can follow the matching numbers to trace the flow of the process.

The image below shows part of a flow chart for how the receptionists in an example company should route incoming phone calls to the correct department:

Flow charts are simple diagrams that map out a process, so that you can easily communicate it to other people. You can also use them to define and analyze a process, build a step-by-step picture of it, and then standardize or improve it.

To draw a flow chart, identify the tasks and decisions that you make during a process, and write them down in order.

Then, arrange these steps in the flow chart format, using the appropriate symbols.

Finally, check and challenge your flow chart to make sure that it accurately represents the process, and that it shows the most efficient way of doing the job.

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What is a Flowchart

What do you want to do with flowcharts.

This comprehensive guide offers everything you need to know about flowcharts, including definitions, history, use cases, symbols, tips, and how to use our flowchart maker to get you started.

9 minute read

Want to create a flowchart of your own? Try Lucidchart. It's fast, easy, and totally free.

More flowchart tips

• Keep your audience in mind and gear the detail in your chart to them. Clear communication is a key goal of flowcharts.
• If the process you are charting involves different teams or departments, consider using a Swimlane Diagram to clearly delineate responsibilities and handoffs.
• Use on-page or off-page connectors to “edit” your chart and make it flow logically. This can allow you to break up a chart into separate pages and still flow well.

What is a flowchart?

Flowcharts to document business processes came into use in the 1920s and ‘30s. In 1921, industrial engineers Frank and Lillian Gilbreth introduced the “Flow Process Chart” to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).  In the early 1930s, industrial engineer Allan H. Morgensen used Gilbreth’s tools to present conferences on making work more efficient to business people at his company.  In the 1940s, two Morgensen students, Art Spinanger and Ben S. Graham, spread the methods more widely. Spinanger introduced the work simplification methods to Procter and Gamble. Graham, a director at Standard Register Industrial, adapted flow process charts to information processing. In 1947, ASME adopted a symbol system for Flow Process Charts, derived from the Gilbreths’ original work.

Also in the late ‘40s, Herman Goldstine and John Van Neumann used flowcharts to develop computer programs, and diagramming soon became increasingly popular for computer programs and algorithms of all kinds. Flowcharts are still used for programming today, although pseudocode, a combination of words and coding language meant for human reading, is often used to depict deeper levels of detail and get closer to a final product.

In Japan, Kaoru Ishikawa (1915-1989), a key figure in quality initiatives in manufacturing, named flowcharts as one of the key tools of quality control, along with complementary tools such as the Histogram, Check Sheet and Cause-and-Effect Diagram, now often called the Ishikawa Diagram.

Flowchart symbols

Here are some of the common flowchart symbols. For a more comprehensive list, see our full flowchart symbols page .

Flowcharts for computer programming/algorithms

As a visual representation of data flow, flowcharts are useful in writing a program or algorithm and explaining it to others or collaborating with them on it. You can use an algorithm flowchart to spell out the logic behind a program before ever starting to code the automated process. It can help to organize big-picture thinking and provide a guide when it comes time to code. More specifically, flowcharts can:

• Demonstrate the way code is organized.
• Visualize the execution of code within a program.
• Show the structure of a website or application.
• Understand how users navigate a website or program.

Often, programmers may write pseudocode, a combination of natural language and computer language able to be read by people. This may allow greater detail than the flowchart and serve either as a replacement for the flowchart or as a next step to actual code.

Related diagrams used in computer software include:

• Unified Modeling Language (UML): This is a general-purpose language used in software engineering for modeling.
• Nassi-Shneiderman Diagrams: Used for structured computer programming. Named after Isaac Nassi and Ben Shneiderman, who developed it in 1972 at SUNY-Stony Brook. Also called Structograms.
• DRAKON charts: DRAKON is an algorithmic visual programming language used to produce flowcharts.

How flowcharts are used in numerous other fields

Beyond computer programming, flowcharts have many uses in many diverse fields.

In any field:

• Document and analyze a process.
• Standardize a process for efficiency and quality.
• Communicate a process for training or understanding by other parts of the organization.
• Identify bottlenecks, redundancies and unnecessary steps in a process and improve it.
• Plan coursework and academic requirements.
• Create a lesson plan or oral presentation.
• Organize a group or individual project.
• Show a legal or civil process, like voter registration.
• Plan and structure creative writing, like lyrics or poetry.
• Demonstrate character development for literature and film.
• Represent the flow of algorithms or logic puzzles.
• Understand a scientific process, like the Krebs cycle.
• Chart an anatomical process, such as digestion.
• Map out symptoms and treatment for diseases/disorders.
• Communicate hypotheses and theories, like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Sales and marketing:

• Plot out the flow of a survey.
• Chart a sales process.
• Plan research strategies.
• Show registration flows.
• Disseminate communication policies, like an emergency PR plan.
• Understand order and procurement processes.
• Represent an employee’s tasks or daily routine.
• Understand the paths that users take on a website or in a store.
• Develop a business plan or product realization plan.
• Document a process in preparation for an audit, including for regulatory compliance, such as under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
• Document a process in preparation for a sale or consolidation.

Manufacturing:

• Denote the physical or chemical makeup of a product.
• Illustrate the manufacturing process from beginning to end.
• Discover and solve inefficiencies in a manufacturing or procurement process.

Engineering:

• Represent process flows or system flows.
• Design and update chemical and plant processes.
• Assess the life cycle of a structure.
• Chart a reverse-engineering flow.
• Demonstrate the design and prototype phase of a new structure or product.

Types of flowcharts

Different authors describe various types of flowcharts in different terms. These people include published experts such as Alan B. Sterneckert, Andrew Veronis, Marilyn Bohl and Mark A. Fryman.

Sterneckert, in his 2003 book Critical Incident Management , listed four popular flowchart types, framed around the concept of flow controls rather than the flow itself:

Document Flowcharts:

Data flowcharts:, system flowcharts:, program flowcharts:.

Veronis , in his 1978 book Microprocessors: Design and Applications , outlined three flowchart types based on scope and level of detail:

System Flowchart:

General flowchart:, detailed flowchart:.

Bohl, in her 1978 book A Guide for Programmers, listed only two:

System Flowchart.

Program flowchart..

But Fryman, in his 2001 book Quality and Process Improvement , differentiated the types in multiple ways from more of a business perspective than a computer perspective:

Decision Flowchart.

Logic flowchart., systems flowchart., product flowchart., process flowchart..

Additional flowchart types defined by others include:

Swimlane Diagram, a.k.a Swimlane Flowchart:

Workflow flowchart:, event-driven process chain (epc) flowchart:, specification and description language (sdl) flowchart:.

These related diagrams are also sometimes thought of as types of flowcharts:

Data Flow Diagram (DFD):

Process flow diagram (pfd), a.k.a. process flowchart:, business process model and notation (bpmn 2.0):, how to plan and draw a basic flowchart, define your purpose and scope., identify the tasks in chronological order., organize them by type and corresponding shape,, draw your chart,, confirm your flowchart,, helpful resources.

• How to Make a Flowchart in Excel
• What is a flowchart and how to create one
• Flowchart Symbols and Notation
• How to Make a Flowchart
• How to Make a Flowchart in PowerPoint
• How to Make a Flowchart in Word

Creating flowcharts in Lucidchart is simple and intuitive. Simply drag shapes onto the canvas and draw lines to connect them. If you're not sure where to begin, check out our tutorial for tips on how to draw a flowchart .

The 8 Best Free Flowchart Templates [+ Examples]

Published: March 29, 2023

A flowchart template will help you easily map out business processes, improve workflows, and even clarify your organizational structure — without you needing to draw a single line from scratch.

And if you think you don’t need to use flowcharts for business, think again. While bulleted lists, Word documents, or even presentations help, they don’t offer the same level of visual clarity and readability that a flowchart does. Especially if you’re trying to map out a process with different steps or stages.

Before we share the best flowchart templates, let’s answer an important question: what is a flowchart, and what can you use it for?

What is a flowchart?

A flowchart is a visual map to help explain a process for decision-making, achieving results, or projecting an outcome. Flowcharts begin at a starting point on the graphic, and as users follow through it, they will choose one of several outcomes or options until reaching the end of the process.

Flowcharts are ideal for outlining processes, and processes are the backbone of a strong business.

A clear, repeatable process has two major hurdles to a successful implementation in a business. Number one is the development of that process, and number two is getting buy-in from stakeholders on that process. That said, the best way to overcome both of these potential roadblocks is to transparently and logically outline a process.

Many businesses use flowcharts to carry out this task, as flowcharts visually outline a process roadmap for a full-scope understanding. They can also be easily digested by employees who need to know and follow the process.

16 Free Timeline & Flowchart Templates

Visualize processes and timelines with these free templates.

• Company Project Timeline
• A/B Testing Flowchart
• Onboarding Flowchart

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Download 8 Free Flowchart Templates

Fill out the form to get your free flowchart templates..

In a business, flowcharts might be used for any of the following purposes:

• Team and organizational alignment : An organizational structure diagram clarifies who reports to whom in your team.
• Data management : A data flow diagram will help you understand how information progresses through your business up until deletion.
• Sales process mapping : Creating a sales process flowchart can help you shorten the sales cycle and increase revenue.
• Email nurturing : Email campaigns are famously dependent on workflows , which are a type of flowchart that decides who to enroll in a campaign and when.
• Customer journey mapping : A customer journey flowchart shows how customers find you and what their experience is like at your business.
• Customer or employee onboarding : A customer onboarding process flow can help you define what messaging to send and when during your customer’s first interactions with your business.
• A/B testing : When designing an A/B test , you’ll typically use a flowchart to figure out how many versions you’ll test and the potential results you’ll get.

You can also use flowcharts for QA-ing work, mapping out your career progression, and much, much more.

To help you create actionable flowcharts for your organization, we’ve listed the best flowchart templates for you to download and start using today to create a better process in any area of your business. Each one comes with a download link for you to start using that template right on Google Slides.

Flowchart Templates for Business

1. basic process flowchart template.

Download this Template

This basic flow chart template is the ideal solution for those just getting started with flowcharts. The template allows its designers to specify a starting point, two potential outcomes, and then the resulting aftermath of those decisions. Due to its limitations, this flowchart template might be best suited for basic processes, like a simple A/B test.

Who should use this flowchart?

This flowchart is helpful for those looking to design an A/B test to determine the best way to get the results they're looking for.

What We Like About This Flowchart Template

The basic process flowchart is easy to use and follow and is ideal for documenting straightforward or simple processes.

2. Swim Lane Flowchart Template

The swim lane flowchart template divides the steps of a process into different sectors. For your business, these different sectors could be time periods, teams, employees, or work requirements.

Swim lane flowcharts are particularly helpful for those who oversee cross-functional processes.

This template visualizes the different process steps that take place across multiple teams or organizations.

3. Task Flowchart Template

A task flowchart template simplifies complex processes with unique shapes. Each shape on the flowchart represents something different, forming a quick visual key.

This format is helpful when the work of several teams intertwines throughout a process. This is because it makes it easier for team members to figure out the tasks they're responsible for . These roles are often noted in a key on the flowchart for quick reference.

The shapes can also represent different types of actions.

Project managers looking to keep track of various tasks and their outcomes.

The task flowchart visually depicts how various contributions to a product support the end result. Each stakeholder can see how their tasks impact the flow of the project.

4. Complex Flowchart Template

For a flowchart that doesn’t need gridlines or different shapes, this template is the best solution. It offers the option for multiple endpoints depending on which steps are taken throughout the process. Then it uses simple yes or no answers to drive you toward the endpoint.

Teams looking to manage processes that could have various endpoints or projects that have multiple steps and stakeholders involved.

Complex processes can be difficult to keep track of. This flow chart template creates an intuitive visual for multi-step processes. This makes it easier to figure out if and when you should move forward.

5. Circular Flowchart Template

The circular flow chart template changes things up with a different shape, but it also offers a different path structure. It helps you outline both short and long processes, with different outcomes depending on the number of steps required.

Social media managers, product marketers, and content strategists may find this template suits their needs.

This template has a cleaner appearance than some of the more complex flowcharts and may be better for visual learners.

6. Linear Flowchart Template

A linear flowchart template is a solution for when there’s only one optimal result. Every step of the process will either lead someone to that outcome or result in the process simply ending.

Email marketing specialists and sales teams can benefit from this template because there’s typically one goal: to earn one more subscriber or earn one more customer.

With one singular goal, this flowchart format has a clear beginning and end and makes it easy to outline a simple process.

7. Tree Flowchart Template

A tree-style flowchart template makes the most sense for situations where there are multiple choices and when each option has a clear and distinct next step.

For businesses, this flowchart would be perfect for the support department — which can use this template to map out responses from automated chat support or a phone tree.

Each action has a clear next step and a predetermined outcome, but you can add more than two options — which is often not applicable to other flowcharts.

8. Organizational Flowchart Template

The final flowchart businesses might want to use is an organizational flowchart (or org chart ) template. This is an essential chart that shows who reports to whom and helps all employees understand their position in the business.

Company and department heads use this template to outline the chain of command in an area of the business. Human Resources teams can also use it to inform team structure and organizational decisions.

Users can see team structure at-a-glance and can quickly find who they need to go to for their project or to have their questions answered.

Now that we’ve shared the best flowchart templates, it’s time to look at them in action.

Flowchart Examples for Business

1. basic process flowchart example.

This template visualizes how a user visiting a company's landing page could convert and become a lead. Notice how there are two potential final outcomes, but because of this chart’s simplicity, you can add as many outcomes as you want. With a flowchart like this, it’s important to have clear, defined goals in mind.

2. Swimlane Flowchart Example

In the example above, the swimlanes are divided by department to illustrate the process of the customer journey. This is exceedingly important for determining which teams need to interact with a customer and when. Without a swimlane flowchart outlining these roles, your customers’ experience with your company can seem haphazard and poorly planned.

3. Task Flowchart Example

In the example above, the different shapes represent the start of, end of, and actions taken during the process of viewing a landing page. This task flowchart example follows an "if this, then that" format. It shows the various outcomes that could occur when a potential customer visits a landing page.

4. Complex Flowchart Example

The above hiring visual is an example of a complex flowchart with many events and potential outcomes. It offers two potential outcomes at every stage. Then it shows with clarity what happens as a candidate moves forward. The colors also make it clear which final outcomes are positive or negative.

5. Circular Flowchart Example

In the example above, a circular flow chart offers a decision-making framework. Here, it’s used to help a social media manager figure out which site to post content on. It includes specific, targeted questions that define the assets the social media manager needs to create and which social platforms these assets are best suited for.

6. Linear Flowchart Example

A linear flowchart can be used for processes that have only one desired outcome. In the above example, it’s for an email nurturing sequence. In the image, the process ends whether someone signs up for an event or not.

A time-bound (or finite) email nurturing sequence is especially a good fit for these types of flowcharts. For continuous email marketing campaigns, you might need a more agile flowchart where you can determine when to move a subscriber to another email list.

7. Tree Flowchart Example

In this tree flowchart example, a business depicts the choices and next steps a caller can take when contacting them by telephone. Notice that there are many endpoints for the customer depending on their previous action.

A flowchart like this is useful if you’re trying to outline a process with different "branches." For instance, you might create a landing page flowchart that determines which form or CTA is depicted to a customer based on their previous activity on your website.

8. Organizational Flowchart Example

While not exactly procedural, this visualization helps those within the company quickly understand who reports to whom and who handles what. The best part of this example is that it can be as detailed or as simple as you’d like it to be; you can go down to your junior individual contributors or simply outline your leadership map.

Top Flowchart Tools and Software [Free and Paid]

Flowchart templates are incredibly useful for solving business problems and simplifying processes. That said, some issues need more custom solutions.

The flowchart tools below can help your team connect and work together on flowcharts. They make it simple to create unique and easy-to-read flow charts.

Pricing : Free, with paid options for extended features and enterprises.

Who should use this tool?

Teams that use flowcharts for a wide variety of users and stakeholders. This tool is also helpful for teams that create flow charts collaboratively or want to include multiple flowcharts in a single document.

What We Like About It

Miro offers tools to build and plan complex flowcharts for teams. Besides visual whiteboard tools, Miro also offers templates for strategy mapping, workflows, UX design, and more. Features like digital sticky notes make it easy to add comments to in-progress flowcharts.

2. diagrams.net

Pricing : Free

This open-source technology is simple and quick to use for practical flowcharts and process mapping.

What We Like About This Flowchart Software

Create process diagrams for modeling, databases, networks, wireframes, and more. This tool is popular with users who want diagramming software for immediate business application. This flowchart tool also includes customizable templates.

3. Zen Flowchart

Pricing : Free, with paid options for extended features.

Casual users and enterprise companies looking for web-based flowchart software.

Zen Flowchart is simple to use with a wide range of features. You can create mind maps, wireframes, or whiteboards with this drag-and-drop tool. Its simple workspace helps limit distractions so you can focus on your business process.

This flowchart tool also has features for collaboration and real-time commenting.

4. Lucidchart

Pricing : Free, with paid options for extended features and enterprise.

Who should use this flowchart tool?

Lucidchart offers features for both individual users and collaborative professional teams.

What We Like About This Flowchart Tool

Besides real-time collaboration and ease of use, this diagram software also has a range of advanced features. You can personalize flowcharts with custom shapes and a library of shapes and icons. Automated diagramming can help new users create a flowchart without time-consuming edits and tweaks.

Integrations with Atlassian, Zapier, Notion, and more are also super useful. These connections can help integrate flowchart collaboration into your current tech stack and workflows.

5. Textografo

Pricing : Starts at $4/month.

This text-to-diagram generator is a simple way for less visually-oriented users to create flowcharts. It's for users who understand the value of graphical flow diagrams but also may not be as quick or comfortable with visual tools.

This flowchart tool offers a different approach to flowchart creation that can save many users time and effort. Textografo can help users create a flowchart, mindmap, decision trees, or animated diagrams. Users can also collaborate on the process with this online tool.

This cloud-based and user-friendly tool is useful for a variety of users and teams.

Cacoo is a comprehensive tool that makes it easy to personalize flowcharts for a range of uses. Whether you're creating a marketing flowchart with imported images or a wireframe with custom symbols, this tool can help. This resource also offers collaboration tools and integrations with Adobe Creative Cloud, Zapier, and more.

The central dashboard is also helpful for understanding everything your project needs at a glance.

7. Microsoft Visio

Pricing : Starts at $5/month.

Visio is an intuitive flow chart tool for Microsoft 365 users.

This flowchart tool can help you create complex flowcharts or simple diagrams. The interface and styling are familiar to many business users, which can help speed up the process of visualizing complex ideas. It also offers themes to improve the look of your flowcharts.

Visio also comes with hundreds of templates for a range of industry needs. It also makes it simple to import data from Excel, Access, and other Microsoft sources.

Using Business Flowchart Templates

Business flowchart templates are the fastest and easiest way to build flowcharts. All the above templates are downloadable and completely customizable when it comes to shape, format, color, and imagery. Click below to download the templates for free to better illustrate and communicate processes in your company.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in July 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Flowchart In Business - An Unexpectedly Efficient Way To Boost Productivity

Using a flowchart in business is not an entirely new concept, but have you fully utilized everything it has to offer? A well-made flowchart makes more of a difference than you might think, especially in a constantly busy world that is overloaded with information.

If you find documents to be dry and overwhelming, consider turning to flowcharts to help simplify things. With a set of symbols and very few words, they highlight only the important parts that need attention, giving you great clarity on how to handle everything.

What Is A Flowchart?

A flowchart is a diagram that shows a step-by-step progression of a process, workflow, or system. It uses specialized symbols to illustrate the orders and meanings of the tasks involved, connected through lines or arrows. Each shape represents a different course of action, which you can use accordingly for others to visualize the overall procedure. 

The basic symbols in flowcharts and their meanings

These symbols can be very overwhelming at first sight, as there seem to be so many of them. However, as you get used to them, you will find it easier to understand what they mean and what context to use them in. For beginners, here are the five most commonly used ones and their roles:

Terminal: Used to represent the start or end, otherwise known as terminal activities, or potential outcomes

  Process: Used for any basic task or action in the overall workflow

Data: Used to indicate the input/output of information

Flowline: Used as a guide for directions and order of the entire flowchart

Decision: Used to indicate that a question needs an answer or a choice needs to be made, the result of which determines the following steps

What Are Flowcharts Used For?

The main use of flowcharts is to help you simultaneously visualize the bigger picture while also having a clear grasp of the details. For this reason, they play an essential and irreplaceable role in different aspects of a business.

Flowcharts in Production & Manufacturing

Flowcharts can help companies maximize the efficiency of their production and manufacturing by simplifying these processes and highlighting the most crucial details. You can often find these diagrams used to:

• Thoroughly illustrate the entire process of product development, manufacturing, quality assurance, maintenance, etc. 
• Ensure effective communication and transparency between different departments
• Identify defects and encourage continuous improvements of the entire process

Flowcharts in Day-to-Day Operations

Flowcharts can solidify the work structures, automate the workflow, simplify operational processes, and improve overall productivity. Some company management activities that require these diagrams are:

• Assigning specific tasks to departments, teams, and employees
• Creating a solid routine and company standards for everyone to follow
• Developing plans for various activities such as meetings, team buildings, company policies, audits, and more

Flowcharts in Sales & Marketing

In commercial sales and marketing, company executives use flowcharts to visually represent the approach, planning, and execution of a project. The employees of both departments will know how to work together to achieve the best results. In these areas, a flowchart has its moment when:

• Planning strategies for market research, sales process, campaigns, etc.
• Showing step-by-step guides for communication plans, PR strategies, and more.

In addition to business, flowcharts are also widely used in software development and programming. They help developers visualize complicated information in a more organized way, making it easier to process data, assess structures, and make other informed decisions. 

The Most Common Types Of Flowcharts

Flowcharts’ usage is far-reaching because they can be applied to almost all business process models. These four types are the most common owing to how simple yet effective they are. 

The Process Flowchart

A process flowchart is a diagram that shows an orderly series of steps and decisions that lead to the eventual outcomes. It is incredibly versatile, as it uses a logical flow that anyone can understand. Consisting of basic shapes, you can draw it in just a second, whether by hand on a piece of paper or any automation software. 

The Data Flowchart

Also known as the data flow diagram (DFD), this flowchart helps you visualize how information is transmitted and processed in a wide system. Using predefined symbols makes data flow more tangible and easier to understand. 

There are two main types, logical and physical. The logical DFD focuses on the informational paths of a business, while the physical one centers more around the actual implementation of the data flow. Depending on the purpose, you can use either one to analyze the system, find ways to improve it, or even build an entirely new business model. 

The Workflow Flowchart

A workflow flowchart demonstrates all the business processes of an organization. This includes the roles of individuals or departments, daily responsibilities, how services are provided, amongst other things. 

Business process mapping gives new employees an overview of the workplace and creates unity within the organization. It also gives a thorough analysis of the company, thereby eliminating any potential flaws, unnecessary steps and strengthening the system. 

The Swimlane Flowchart

This type of flowchart illustrates the cross-functional relationships between different employees, teams, and departments in a company. Similar as it may sound to the workflow chart, this one, however, provides more depth and clarity thanks to its structure. 

Much like the name suggests, this flowchart usually comes in horizontal or vertical lanes, which categorize separate work teams. By observing the swimlane chart, you can understand how the people responsible interact, collaborate, and influence each other. This also makes it easier to identify problems and reduce redundancies.

Examples Of Business Process Flowcharts 

Example of the process flowchart.

A basic process flowchart showing an article writing procedure

This flowchart depicts what a simple process of writing usually consists of. Based on the shapes of the boxes, you can easily tell what each action requires, while the arrows provide a helpful guide on the orders to which they are done. 

Example Of The Data Flowchart

A process model of the data flowchart on managing customer’s data

This business process diagram maps out the flow of information when a customer makes an order. It comprises all the primary channels and forms through which the info travels. In the end, what you receive is the fundamental knowledge of how a company handles data collected after providing a service. 

Example Of The Workflow Flowchart

A workflow flowchart demonstrating the way a customer’s order is handled

Containing only important steps and scenarios, this process flow diagram accents the actions needed when dealing with a customer’s order. It can be used as part of the training materials by an office manager for new employees or an external team to follow. 

Example Of The Swimlane Flowchart

A cross-functional swimlane flowchart of a website-changing project

This flowchart demonstrates the link between company departments when achieving a mutual goal. The project teams are divided into three lanes with assigned roles put into different-colored boxes. Everything is neatly organized, so viewers can still easily understand the complicated network.

Related Guides

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