550+ Business Plan Examples to Launch Your Business

550+ Free Sample Business Plans

Need help writing your business plan? Explore over 550 industry-specific business plan examples for inspiration. Go even further with LivePlan , which harnesses AI-assisted writing features and SBA-approved plan examples to get you funded.

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Accounting, Insurance & Compliance

Accounting, Insurance & Compliance Business Plans

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Children & Pets

Children & Pets Business Plans

  • Children's Education & Recreation
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Cleaning, Repairs & Maintenance

Cleaning, Repairs & Maintenance Business Plans

  • Auto Detail & Repair
  • Cleaning Products
  • View All 39

Clothing & Fashion Brand

Clothing & Fashion Brand Business Plans

  • Clothing & Fashion Design
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Construction, Architecture & Engineering

Construction, Architecture & Engineering Business Plans

  • Architecture
  • Construction
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Consulting, Advertising & Marketing

Consulting, Advertising & Marketing Business Plans

  • Advertising
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Education

Education Business Plans

  • Education Consulting
  • Education Products

Business plan template: There's an easier way to get your business plan done.

Entertainment & Recreation

Entertainment & Recreation Business Plans

  • Entertainment
  • Film & Television
  • View All 60

Events

Events Business Plans

  • Event Planning
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Farm & Agriculture

Farm & Agriculture Business Plans

  • Agri-tourism
  • Agriculture Consulting
  • View All 16

Finance & Investing

Finance & Investing Business Plans

  • Financial Planning
  • View All 10

Fine Art & Crafts

Fine Art & Crafts Business Plans

Fitness & Beauty

Fitness & Beauty Business Plans

  • Salon & Spa
  • View All 35

Food and Beverage

Food and Beverage Business Plans

  • Bar & Brewery
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Hotel & Lodging

Hotel & Lodging Business Plans

  • Bed and Breakfast

Finish your plan faster with step-by-step guidance, financial wizards, and a proven format.

IT, Staffing & Customer Service

IT, Staffing & Customer Service Business Plans

  • Administrative Services
  • Customer Service
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Manufacturing & Wholesale

Manufacturing & Wholesale Business Plans

  • Cleaning & Cosmetics Manufacturing
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Medical & Health

Medical & Health Business Plans

  • Dental Practice
  • Health Administration
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Nonprofit

Nonprofit Business Plans

  • Co-op Nonprofit
  • Food & Housing Nonprofit
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Real Estate & Rentals

Real Estate & Rentals Business Plans

  • Equipment Rental

Retail & Ecommerce

Retail & Ecommerce Business Plans

  • Car Dealership
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Technology

Technology Business Plans

  • Apps & Software
  • Communication Technology

Transportation, Travel & Logistics

Transportation, Travel & Logistics Business Plans

  • Airline, Taxi & Shuttle
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View all sample business plans

Example business plan format

Before you start exploring our library of business plan examples, it's worth taking the time to understand the traditional business plan format . You'll find that the plans in this library and most investor-approved business plans will include the following sections:

Executive summary

The executive summary is an overview of your business and your plans. It comes first in your plan and is ideally only one to two pages. You should also plan to write this section last after you've written your full business plan.

Your executive summary should include a summary of the problem you are solving, a description of your product or service, an overview of your target market, a brief description of your team, a summary of your financials, and your funding requirements (if you are raising money).

Products & services

The products & services chapter of your business plan is where the real meat of your plan lives. It includes information about the problem that you're solving, your solution, and any traction that proves that it truly meets the need you identified.

This is your chance to explain why you're in business and that people care about what you offer. It needs to go beyond a simple product or service description and get to the heart of why your business works and benefits your customers.

Market analysis

Conducting a market analysis ensures that you fully understand the market that you're entering and who you'll be selling to. This section is where you will showcase all of the information about your potential customers. You'll cover your target market as well as information about the growth of your market and your industry. Focus on outlining why the market you're entering is viable and creating a realistic persona for your ideal customer base.

Competition

Part of defining your opportunity is determining what your competitive advantage may be. To do this effectively you need to get to know your competitors just as well as your target customers. Every business will have competition, if you don't then you're either in a very young industry or there's a good reason no one is pursuing this specific venture.

To succeed, you want to be sure you know who your competitors are, how they operate, necessary financial benchmarks, and how you're business will be positioned. Start by identifying who your competitors are or will be during your market research. Then leverage competitive analysis tools like the competitive matrix and positioning map to solidify where your business stands in relation to the competition.

Marketing & sales

The marketing and sales plan section of your business plan details how you plan to reach your target market segments. You'll address how you plan on selling to those target markets, what your pricing plan is, and what types of activities and partnerships you need to make your business a success.

The operations section covers the day-to-day workflows for your business to deliver your product or service. What's included here fully depends on the type of business. Typically you can expect to add details on your business location, sourcing and fulfillment, use of technology, and any partnerships or agreements that are in place.

Milestones & metrics

The milestones section is where you lay out strategic milestones to reach your business goals.

A good milestone clearly lays out the parameters of the task at hand and sets expectations for its execution. You'll want to include a description of the task, a proposed due date, who is responsible, and eventually a budget that's attached. You don't need extensive project planning in this section, just key milestones that you want to hit and when you plan to hit them.

You should also discuss key metrics, which are the numbers you will track to determine your success. Some common data points worth tracking include conversion rates, customer acquisition costs, profit, etc.

Company & team

Use this section to describe your current team and who you need to hire. If you intend to pursue funding, you'll need to highlight the relevant experience of your team members. Basically, this is where you prove that this is the right team to successfully start and grow the business. You will also need to provide a quick overview of your legal structure and history if you're already up and running.

Financial projections

Your financial plan should include a sales and revenue forecast, profit and loss statement, cash flow statement, and a balance sheet. You may not have established financials of any kind at this stage. Not to worry, rather than getting all of the details ironed out, focus on making projections and strategic forecasts for your business. You can always update your financial statements as you begin operations and start bringing in actual accounting data.

Now, if you intend to pitch to investors or submit a loan application, you'll also need a "use of funds" report in this section. This outlines how you intend to leverage any funding for your business and how much you're looking to acquire. Like the rest of your financials, this can always be updated later on.

The appendix isn't a required element of your business plan. However, it is a useful place to add any charts, tables, definitions, legal notes, or other critical information that supports your plan. These are often lengthier or out-of-place information that simply didn't work naturally into the structure of your plan. You'll notice that in these business plan examples, the appendix mainly includes extended financial statements.

Types of business plans explained

While all business plans cover similar categories, the style and function fully depend on how you intend to use your plan. To get the most out of your plan, it's best to find a format that suits your needs. Here are a few common business plan types worth considering.

Traditional business plan

The tried-and-true traditional business plan is a formal document meant to be used for external purposes. Typically this is the type of plan you'll need when applying for funding or pitching to investors. It can also be used when training or hiring employees, working with vendors, or in any other situation where the full details of your business must be understood by another individual.

Business model canvas

The business model canvas is a one-page template designed to demystify the business planning process. It removes the need for a traditional, copy-heavy business plan, in favor of a single-page outline that can help you and outside parties better explore your business idea.

The structure ditches a linear format in favor of a cell-based template. It encourages you to build connections between every element of your business. It's faster to write out and update, and much easier for you, your team, and anyone else to visualize your business operations.

One-page business plan

The true middle ground between the business model canvas and a traditional business plan is the one-page business plan . This format is a simplified version of the traditional plan that focuses on the core aspects of your business.

By starting with a one-page plan , you give yourself a minimal document to build from. You'll typically stick with bullet points and single sentences making it much easier to elaborate or expand sections into a longer-form business plan.

Growth planning

Growth planning is more than a specific type of business plan. It's a methodology. It takes the simplicity and styling of the one-page business plan and turns it into a process for you to continuously plan, forecast, review, and refine based on your performance.

It holds all of the benefits of the single-page plan, including the potential to complete it in as little as 27 minutes . However, it's even easier to convert into a more detailed plan thanks to how heavily it's tied to your financials. The overall goal of growth planning isn't to just produce documents that you use once and shelve. Instead, the growth planning process helps you build a healthier company that thrives in times of growth and remain stable through times of crisis.

It's faster, keeps your plan concise, and ensures that your plan is always up-to-date.

Download a free sample business plan template

Ready to start writing your own plan but aren't sure where to start? Download our free business plan template that's been updated for 2024.

This simple, modern, investor-approved business plan template is designed to make planning easy. It's a proven format that has helped over 1 million businesses write business plans for bank loans, funding pitches, business expansion, and even business sales. It includes additional instructions for how to write each section and is formatted to be SBA-lender approved. All you need to do is fill in the blanks.

How to use an example business plan to help you write your own

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How do you know what elements need to be included in your business plan, especially if you've never written one before? Looking at examples can help you visualize what a full, traditional plan looks like, so you know what you're aiming for before you get started. Here's how to get the most out of a sample business plan.

Choose a business plan example from a similar type of company

You don't need to find an example business plan that's an exact fit for your business. Your business location, target market, and even your particular product or service may not match up exactly with the plans in our gallery. But, you don't need an exact match for it to be helpful. Instead, look for a plan that's related to the type of business you're starting.

For example, if you want to start a vegetarian restaurant, a plan for a steakhouse can be a great match. While the specifics of your actual startup will differ, the elements you'd want to include in your restaurant's business plan are likely to be very similar.

Use a business plan example as a guide

Every startup and small business is unique, so you'll want to avoid copying an example business plan word for word. It just won't be as helpful, since each business is unique. You want your plan to be a useful tool for starting a business —and getting funding if you need it.

One of the key benefits of writing a business plan is simply going through the process. When you sit down to write, you'll naturally think through important pieces, like your startup costs, your target market , and any market analysis or research you'll need to do to be successful.

You'll also look at where you stand among your competition (and everyone has competition), and lay out your goals and the milestones you'll need to meet. Looking at an example business plan's financials section can be helpful because you can see what should be included, but take them with a grain of salt. Don't assume that financial projections for a sample company will fit your own small business.

If you're looking for more resources to help you get started, our business planning guide is a good place to start. You can also download our free business plan template , or get started right away with LivePlan .

Think of business planning as a process, instead of a document

Think about business planning as something you do often , rather than a document you create once and never look at again. If you take the time to write a plan that really fits your own company, it will be a better, more useful tool to grow your business. It should also make it easier to share your vision and strategy so everyone on your team is on the same page.

Adjust your plan regularly to use it as a business management tool

Keep in mind that businesses that use their plan as a management tool to help run their business grow 30 percent faster than those businesses that don't. For that to be true for your company, you'll think of a part of your business planning process as tracking your actual results against your financial forecast on a regular basis.

If things are going well, your plan will help you think about how you can re-invest in your business. If you find that you're not meeting goals, you might need to adjust your budgets or your sales forecast. Either way, tracking your progress compared to your plan can help you adjust quickly when you identify challenges and opportunities—it's one of the most powerful things you can do to grow your business.

Prepare to pitch your business

If you're planning to pitch your business to investors or seek out any funding, you'll need a pitch deck to accompany your business plan. A pitch deck is designed to inform people about your business. You want your pitch deck to be short and easy to follow, so it's best to keep your presentation under 20 slides.

Your pitch deck and pitch presentation are likely some of the first things that an investor will see to learn more about your company. So, you need to be informative and pique their interest. Luckily, just like you can leverage an example business plan template to write your plan, we also have a gallery of over 50 pitch decks for you to reference.

With this gallery, you have the option to view specific industry pitches or get inspired by real-world pitch deck examples. Or for a modern pitch solution that helps you create a business plan and pitch deck side-by-side, you may want to check out LivePlan . It will help you build everything needed for outside investment and to better manage your business.

Get LivePlan in your classroom

Are you an educator looking for real-world business plan examples for your students? With LivePlan, you give your students access to industry-best business plans and help them set goals and track metrics with spreadsheet-free financial forecasts. All of this within a single tool that includes additional instructional resources that work seamlessly alongside your current classroom setup.

With LivePlan, it's not just a classroom project. It's your students planning for their futures. Click here to learn more about business planning for students .

Ready to get started?

Now that you know how to use an example business plan to help you write a plan for your business, it's time to find the right one.

Use the search bar below to get started and find the right match for your business idea.

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  • What is an MBA Capstone Project?

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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

An MBA capstone project is the final step in many MBA programs. It’s here that MBA students put all that they’ve learned into practice by analyzing a meaningful and strategic business question. Often, this involves hands-on work within an existing company, but not always: MBA capstone projects can take the form of startup business plans and business simulations, too.

No matter their format or focus, each capstone project will likely be the most intensive and rewarding feature of an MBA candidate’s journey.

A capstone project is not the same as a thesis project, although they do share some qualities. Thesis projects are focused on theory and research and are based on the situations one would face in academia. Often taking the form of a large research paper, thesis projects can last the entire final year of an academic program, and some students may even begin before that, with the ultimate goal of contributing new knowledge to the canon of business research.

MBA capstone projects, by contrast, are more practical and similar to situations one would face in the business world. Here, students work in teams to answer strategic business questions. MBA capstones are hands-on immersions with real-world consequences, and they can have a major impact on an MBA graduate’s program experience and career.

Read on to see some examples of MBA capstone projects and get a walkthrough of the general process.

Stages of an MBA Capstone Project

Most MBA capstone projects occur during a program’s final year and can last anywhere from four weeks to a full semester. They often include some form of instruction (whether through prerequisite courses or scheduled advising) and practical application.

While MBA capstone programs will vary in format from program to program, they generally include the following stages:

  • Topic Selection
  • Preliminary Research
  • Project Execution
  • Written Report
  • Final Presentation

It’s not necessarily over after the final presentation, either: some capstone projects carry over beyond the MBA program, leading to successful startup businesses, offers of employment, or investment opportunities.

Choosing a Capstone Topic

Many MBA programs provide some structured options for choosing a capstone topic. This can mean students are allowed to select from a list of possible partnership opportunities; it can also mean that faculty advisors will work with students to find a topic that meets the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and goals. But in other programs, MBA students are more free to choose their topic and their partner organization.

In their capstone project, MBA students should select a topic where they can answer a meaningful and strategic business question: one that’s complex enough to warrant significant time and energy, but also realistic enough to be achievable. These are not theoretical questions; each is tailored to a specific real-world business.

Some examples of MBA capstone topics include:

  • What are the short-term outcomes of a mutual fund’s impact-investing initiative?
  • How do multinational companies’ diversity and inclusion efforts adapt to non-Western office environments?
  • What is the market feasibility of a startup’s application in target demographics?
  • How can a recently downsized organization recover employee morale while balancing the budget?

The capstone topic must be specifically relevant to the partner company or organization. To this end, MBA students should heavily research the company’s strengths, weaknesses, and objectives before selecting their topic.

Similarly, MBA students should also turn that lens on themselves: what problems do they want to explore in their business careers, what causes do they find interesting, and how can their unique skill set be best put to use?

How an MBA Capstone is Graded

Some programs provide MBA candidates with a rubric for how their capstone will be graded, while others do not. Most capstones are graded through their ability to demonstrate key business skills (theoretical, practical, applied, and reflective) across functional areas (finance, human resources, marketing, and operations).

The final presentation is also a factor, as this is where the candidate demonstrates what they learned, or didn’t, through the course of the capstone.

An MBA candidate will rarely fail their capstone project. After all, they’ve made it through practically an entire MBA program up until then. Even if the project is a failure from a business point of view, an MBA candidate will likely still be able to effectively analyze where and why the project failed, and what lessons can be learned from that failure going forward.

Examples of MBA Capstone Projects

Ucla anderson school of management capstone project.

The MBA program at UCLA Anderson School of Management offers three capstone options: the Global Access Program (GAP), the Business Creation Project (BCP), and Anderson Student Asset Management (ASAM).

In the GAP, students partner with high-growth global companies in a market-entry consulting project. Working in five- to six-person teams, students bid on partnership opportunities, perform five to six months of research, then travel internationally to the partner organization. Combining interviews, meetings, and research, the students develop effective strategic business plans to advance the organization’s growth and present it to the organization’s executives, potential investors, and industry professionals.

Along the way, students are advised by faculty members who have directed, invested in, and provided consulting services to leading companies worldwide. In the last 20 years, over 3,000 students have completed the GAP, impacting 738 companies across 23 countries.

For students with an entrepreneurship focus, the BCP offers them the chance to launch a company. Students will work in teams across two academic quarters after taking two prerequisite courses to prepare their business plans. Through extensive research, development, and implementation, students will put strategies for every aspect of their business into practice. In three years, the BCO has had 47 teams and launched 24 companies.

The ASAM program is for current and aspiring quants who want experience as successful long-term portfolio managers. Guided by a faculty advisor and oversight committee, students in the ASAM program will select an optimal mix of equity, fixed income, and cash investments. Each four-member team manages approximately $200,000. Students will rotate work roles between that of an executive board member, strategy lead, risk manager, and programmer.

Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business Capstone Project

The MBA program at Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business offers students two different forms of capstone program: Strategic Management of the Enterprise and Management Game.

The Strategic Management of the Enterprise capstone is an experiential learning course where students are matched with one of several consulting projects to solve business problems partner companies face. This is a more traditional capstone program, focused on the practical application of business skills learned through the MBA curriculum. Past clients have included Walmart, P&G, and Ameriprise.

Tepper’s Management Game capstone is an applied management experience. Student teams run a computer-simulated multinational manufacturing company for three years, acting as its executive committee. Taking place at the end of the MBA program’s curriculum, the Management Game capstone focuses on the unstructured nature of business problems and prods students to use all the functional skills they’ve learned so far. External-facing exercises include interaction with industry partners and are related to each student’s career choices.

Uniquely, the Management Game capstone is graded by external professionals on the merit of the results students deliver; students can receive direct feedback from corporate partners throughout the process.

University of Dallas Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business Capstone Consulting Experience

The capstone consulting experience in the MBA program at the University of Dallas allows students to solve a strategic problem an organization faces. Since it was launched in 1973 as one of the first student consulting and research programs in the U.S., this capstone consulting experience has prepared graduates to consult with business leaders. MBA students in this capstone consulting experience have completed over 900 projects for over 500 companies including Fortune 1000 firms, entrepreneurial ventures, and nonprofit organizations.

Under the guidance of faculty members, students participate on a team assigned to work with a real organization on a 12-week comprehensive project. Every team will work together to provide actionable recommendations, including a proposal, industry/market research, a presentation, and recommendations in the form of a report.

Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about how new and aspiring business school students can best plan their education and careers. In the Two Views series, he conducts detailed interviews with recent business school alumni, with a particular focus on the choice between in-person, online, and hybrid learning models. His Femme-BA series highlights business schools that not only excel academically but also take unique and robust steps to support a diverse and inclusive learning environment for women.

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The Push to Reopen Business Schools – The Covid-19 Revolt MBA Students May Soon Regret

When the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University decided to defend against Covid-19 in February 2021 by limiting classes with an in-person or hybrid in-person/remote configuration to only 16 percent of the courses offered by the school, MBA students swiftly and vigorously pushed back.

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Dr. Joshua Kim, the director of digital learning initiatives at Dartmouth College’s Center for the Advancement of Learning (DCAL), wrote “the rebranding of HBX to Harvard Business School Online is a signal that online education has well and truly arrived. For those of us in the online education game, Harvard Business School rebranding to embrace online is a great development.”

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MBAB 5P23: Entrepreneurship

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Sample Business Plans

Kinesiology and health care business plans, writing business plans, books on preparing business plans.

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The following sources contain sample business plans for different types of small businesses:

  • Bplans.com - sample plans

Examples from MBA Students & Business Plan Competitions:

  • Business Plan for Caregaroo (Kiana Mohseni, Simon Fraser University) MBA student project (Simon Fraser University)
  • Business Plan for Launching a Luxury Adventure Tour Operator Based in Canada Greg Hung and Nikolai Khlystov (Simon Fraser University MOT MBA, 2011)
  • University of Texas Austin, Venture Labs Investment Competition, Business Plans Contains executive summaries and selected full text business plans from competitions held at the University of Texas Austin from 1999 to 2016.

You can find additional examples by searching in Omni for  Subject contains Business Plans AND any field contains (kinesiology OR "health care") and limiting the results by Resource Type to Theses and Dissertations. These plans are available in the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses database . 

  • Long Beach Mobile Fitness, LLC: A Business Plan Prepared by Matthew Vico, Master of Science in Health Care Administration, California State University, Long Beach
  • Business Plan for a Physical Therapy Clinic in Rural Minnesota Prepared by Rick Borchardt, Master of Business Administration, The College of St. Scholastica
  • Business plans in physiotherapy:a practical guide for the non specialist Physical therapy reviews, 2011-06-01, Vol.16 (3), p.210-227 The sample business plan for Physio Kids (a hypothetical new paediatric physiotherapy clinic service) is presented in the Appendix
  • Using Business Plan Development as a Capstone Project for MPH Programs in Canada: Validation Through the Student Perspective Journal of Community Health, 2013, 38(5), 791-798. Describes elements of the business plan as applicable to public health practitioners.

The following sources provide guidance on writing business plans and may also include a sample plan or template.

  • Writing a Business Plan: An Example for a Small Premium Winery (Cornell University) (PDF) more info... close... An Extension Bulletin prepared by Mark E. Pisoni and Gerald B. White, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University.
  • Business Plan Guide (Government of Canada)
  • The business plan and executive summary (MaRS)
  • Write your business plan (U.S. Small Business Administration)
  • Planning for success: your guide to preparing a business and marketing plan

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Independent Projects allow second-year HBS students to partner with an organization on a real-time challenge of strategic importance. Students are advised by a faculty member and receive academic credit for their final deliverable(s). Organizations benefit from the work performed, as well as from the opportunity to engage with students who might be a fit for your organization.

Independent Projects may be conducted by a student working independently or in teams that ideally range from three to five students. Each team or individual is expected to conduct research in the field, carry out thoughtful analysis, prepare a report, and make a final presentation—supported by concrete findings and recommendations—to the advising faculty and, if appropriate, the sponsoring organization. Current students can find details on registering and HBS policies on field-based learning (login required).

Not all proposed projects will materialize. Students will respond directly to the organization if they are interested in discussing the opportunity. A team will then find a faculty advisor, confirm participation directly with the organization, and register for credit. If you wish to proactively promote an independent project to relevant students, you may forward the project description to a relevant student club in addition to posting it below.

Creating a Successful Project

A student team and faculty advisor will create a “learning contract” ahead of time that outlines fieldwork requirements, frequency of team meetings, and parameters for evaluation. Sponsoring organizations will want to discuss the timing and scope of the project, and have a clear understanding of the final deliverable.  The sponsoring organization and the student team should develop a work plan ahead of time that outlines the expectations for time spent on-site. Please keep in mind that students are not allowed to miss classes in order to travel for projects.

Each  sponsoring organization will need to designate a senior manager to serve as the student team’s liaison. This person is expected to provide access to managers and information relevant to the project and should maintain a close connection with the team throughout the process.

A budget and method for reimbursement for appropriate project expenses should be agreed to by the organizations and the student team before the project is underway. While students are not compensated for independent projects, sponsoring organizations may reimburse students for some incidental expenditures such as travel or other out-of-pocket expenses. Students are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. If you are concerned about issues of confidentiality, you may want to ask your student team to sign a non-disclosure statement prepared by Harvard Business School. Any potential conflicts of interest between the student and the organization must be fully disclosed to management before the project begins. If students will be conducting research in the field on your organization’s behalf, they are required to disclose to any third party from whom they may solicit information that the research they are conducting is for the benefit of the organization, even if they don’t identify the organization by name. The faculty supervisor must keep a copy of the final written report on file for one year, but any confidential information included in the study will be limited to “instructor use only” and held in the strictest confidence.

Past successful projects include:

  • Creating the strategic plan for a new department, including product roadmap, architecture, budget, staffing, product pricing, and additional resources
  • Assisting in building a business case and competitive analysis for an expanded role in the multibillion-dollar Bank/Broker-dealer back-office segment
  • Helping the CEO determine how to manage the business and political issues around the pricing and marketing of prescription drugs
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Thinking About an MBA? Here’s How to Plan For It.

  • Candy Lee LaBalle

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You can increase your odds, and have fun in the process.

The best way to increase your odds of getting into your dream business school is taking the time to submit a great application. And that means you need to start earlier, go deeper, and finish stronger. There’s a few ways to do that.

  • Take the GMAT or GRE ASAP. Put in at least three to six months of study. If you’re fresh out of college, you likely won’t have to revisit the rules of grammar or basic math.
  • Dial up your intellect. Develop a reading habit, explore new topics, learn another language, listen to podcasts about philosophy, neurology, economics, geopolitics, or history — whatever draws your interest.
  • Curate quality work experiences. It’s not where you work that matters, but the experiences that you have that will make the difference in your future MBA applications. Volunteer for projects, train interns, and seek opportunities that put you out of your comfort zone.
  • Nurture the leader in you. Leadership is not just about managing people. You can hone your leadership skills from many things, from organizing an event to tutoring younger kids in math.
  • Contribute to the community. Consider getting deeply involved in one or two organizations where you can make an impact.

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  • Candy Lee LaBalle is an MBA admissions expert and founder of LaBalle Admissions.

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MBA 541 - Global Business Plan Project Resource Guide

  • Phase One: Choosing a Company and Global Business Opportunity
  • Phase Two: Planning the Global Enterprise
  • Phase Three: Organizing Global Business Activities
  • Phase Four: Implementing the Global Marketing Plan

Resource Guide Overview

Every organization conducts research to plan and implement a business idea. This resource guide is designed to help you find the resources necessary to build the foundation for an international business plan. These steps offer flexibility for many settings related to global business enterprises. The guide may be used for planning global expansion of an existing product or service or may be used to research a new foreign business opportunity. Each phase and section in this guide contains a research component or goal that will help you build your Global Business Plan for MBA 541.

The final result of your global plan may be in one of the following formats:

  • a written report with supplementary tables and visuals
  • an oral presentation with visuals
  • a summary in a poster format or other visual display (website, video, newsletter)

For more information about this project, please refer to your online course shell. Please direct any questions about assignment expectations or requirements to your instructor. Any questions about resources or research tips presented in this guide can be directed towards Ask a Librarian.

Note about research

Keep in mind that you may not explicitly find the information for every component listed in this guide. Rather, be prepared to create data by extrapolating, inferring, estimating, and making judgments based on related and relevant information. Lastly, while research starters and recommend resources have been included under each section, many of the resources and reports can be applied across multiple steps. Be flexible with how you use and apply the information you find throughout the research process.

  • Next: Phase One: Choosing a Company and Global Business Opportunity >>
  • Last Updated: Jan 26, 2024 3:01 PM

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How to Write a Business Plan, Step by Step

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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

mba business plan project

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...

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How to Write the Perfect Business Plan

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Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018

mba business plan project

Are you planning to start a business or do you already own one ?

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If the answer is yes, then you need a business plan .

This seems like an extremely daunting task, but if you understand your business, it won’t be hard at all. It’s simply a matter of organizing the information in a clear, concise manner.

The following article discusses how to write the perfect business plan, including the types of business plans most commonly used, top 10 do’s and don’ts, what goes into a business plan, the structure of your business, marketing and sales, your organizational and operational plan and much more.

What is a Business Plan?

What is a Business Plan

To help you write the perfect business plan, we’ll provide you with an exact outline of everything you’ll need to include, so even if you think you’re too young, you’ll have no problem starting out.

The reason many business owners first decide to put together a business plan is that they simply have to. If you want to apply for a business loan, attract investors, or obtain any necessary licensing, business plans are a prerequisite.

Even if you don’t need financing or licensing, however, it’s still a good idea to have a well-thought-out business plan. If you need to hire any key employees, a strong business plan will help attract strong talent. Whenever you need to deal with professionals, such as a consultant or an accountant, your business plan gives them invaluable insight.

Finally, it’s a good idea to put a business plan together for your own sake . As you put the business plan together, you’ll have the chance to really conceptualize and evaluate your strategy. You’ll build proof that your idea makes both financial and logistic sense. Once you start working to get your business off of the ground, a strong business plan guides and helps you stay on-track.

Types of Business Plans

Business plans come in all shapes and sizes, but you can generally whittle them down to three key versions.

Shortened Business Plan

This is an easily digestible, much shorter version of your normal business plan. Typically, it will be between three and five pages. You should include your executive summary, financials, and any information pertinent to the person/s to whom you are presenting the plan. A shortened business plan is usually made with a specific purpose or recipient in mind, so it will be easy to figure out exactly what is and isn’t important enough to make the cut.

In-depth Business Plan

Your standard business plan, and the one we will be teaching you to write . Again, these come in handy when seeking to fund your business, attract employees or work with professionals, or simply to act as a guide.

Operational Business Plan

Unlike the other two business plans we have discussed, an operational business plan is meant for internal use only. This will not be distributed to anybody except for employees or professionals working on your company’s behalf. An operational business plan focuses on the company’s overarching goals, mission, and vision so that all department stay aligned. Your Marketing and Sales, Operational Plan, and Financial sections will be key here.

What Language Should I Use?

What Language Should I Use

Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts

Before we dive into our business plan outline and describe each section, let’s go over some general do’s and don’ts you’ll want to keep in mind as you write your business plan:

Do: Provide Examples

Do Provide Examples

Don’t: Overload the Reader

An in-depth business plan will contain lots of useful information and will likely end up being much more than ten pages. Because it’s so long by nature, you need to make sure to only include the most useful information in each section. Format everything carefully and correctly. Don’t use language that confuses or intimidates readers outside of your industry. The easier it is for the reader to absorb everything you’re presenting them, the more effective your business plan is.

Do: Proper Research

Do Proper Research

Don’t: Leave Any Stone Uncovered

Somebody who reads your business plan shouldn’t have any major questions left unanswered. Include complete information about what you are aiming to do, how you are going to do it, how much money is needed, etc. Use our full outline below to ensure everything is covered.

Do: Be Honest

Do Be Honest

Don’t: Hustle Just to ‘Get it Done’

Writing a business plan isn’t a task you’re completing and checking off your to-do list. Everything must be accurate, thoughtful, and well-articulated. Keep in mind: this will guide you as you operate your business and is the key to obtaining financing and/or pitching your business.

Do: Make it a Living Document

Do Make It a Living Document

Don’t: Focus Solely on Your Product

You might think your business revolves around your particular product/s or service/s, but there’s so much more to it than that. Your business plan talks about how the actual business is run, so you might want to leave the technical specifications and granular details for another time.

Do: Show Your Passion

In the end, your business plan and your business are about you. While it’s important to maintain a professional tone, don’t be afraid to let your enthusiasm about your business seep through every page.

Don’t: Write Alone

Do Show Your Passion

How to Write a Business Plan

How to Write a Business Plan

  • Keep it concise.
  • Know your audience.
  • Perfect your executive summary.
  • Focus and refine constantly.
  • Gather and check all of your data.
  • Be confident, but don’t go overboard.
  • Be as clear and in-depth as possible.
  • Enhance with graphics.
  • Share and gather feedback from trusted advisors.

What Goes into a Business Plan?

When writing your business plan, you will need to put in a lot of time and research. Luckily, we’re here to walk you through all of that. A winning business plan contains the below sections, and you can use our sidebar to navigate to each of these:

  • Introduction

Executive Summary

  • Information About Your Business
  • Industry Analysis

Marketing and Sales

  • Operational Plan

Your Business Plan Introduction

Introduction

Cover Letter

A cover letter is essential whenever you are presenting the business plan to somebody for a specific reason and should be tailored to each individual. Like any other letter, it should include names, dates, and a cordial greeting. In the first paragraph, explain exactly why you are presenting the business plan to the recipient. Take one or two paragraphs to discuss your business (an even more condensed executive summary, as we will cover in the next section). Finally, let the reader know you appreciate their consideration and would be happy to address any questions or concerns. Include any necessary contact information below your name and signature.

Your title page should be clean and simple. Here’s what to include in it:

  • The title of the document (i.e. Business Plan, Business Proposal, Summary Business Plan).
  • The name of your company.
  • A sub-heading, if necessary (i.e. ‘Presented to ABC Investing Company’).
  • Who the business plan was prepared by.
  • The name of any other owners or key partners.
  • Basic contact information.

Table of Contents

A table of contents is essential to make your business plan transparent and easy to navigate. It is unlikely that a serious potential partner or investor will read through your plan once and toss it aside, so you want to make it easy for them to return and pick up where they left off or revisit any key bits of information. If you are providing a digital copy, include clickable links to each section for the reader’s benefit.

Executive Summary

The executive summary is exactly what it sounds like – a brief summary that describes the essence of what your business is and what it aims to do. Here’s how to write a winning executive summary:

  • Begin with a single sentence that sums your business up. This is otherwise known as your value proposition.
  • Describe what niche or problem your business fills or solves.
  • Explain exactly how your business solves this problem in a way that the rest of the competition does not or cannot.
  • A very brief (one or two sentences) summary of any other information from the following sections that would be critical to your business’ success.

Your Business / Company

Information About Your Business

Structure of Your Business

First and foremost, you’ll need to discuss the legal structure of your business:

  • Sole-proprietorship: simple to set-up, but the owner is fully liable for any debts or obligations.
  • Partnership: a general partnership is also simple to set-up, but all partners would be liable. Limited partnerships, or LPs, are a bit more complicated.
  • Corporation: a corporation is owned by stockholders, so it is unlikely you will either want or need to structure as one. There are two types of corporations, which vary in terms of shareholder limitations and tax liabilities: S corporations and C corporations.
  • Limited liability corporation (LLC): an LLC is generally the best of both worlds for small businesses. The owner’s’ liability is limited, and taxation is that of a partnership, which provides better flexibility over a corporation.

Once the legal structure is determined, you’ll need to break down the ownership of the business. Are you the sole owner? Do you have business partners? Has anybody purchased a share of the business in exchange for funding? Provide a brief introduction to any key executives or owners, outlining what strengths they have and how they will impact the business.

Finally, include a brief history (if any) of your business, and any pertinent location details.

Business Vision, Mission, and Values

This is one of the most important sections of your business plan. Here, you need to impart your passion for the business and really describe what you’re trying to achieve.

Business Vision

Your vision statement is all about the company’s goals. It serves as a template for exactly what you’re trying to achieve, both short-term and long-term. Don’t hold back when it comes to your vision: if your goal is to eventually dominate the Northeastern coffee shop scene, say that. A vision statement is your chance to think big.

Where a vision statement thinks big, a mission statement is more practical. Your mission statement should discuss your company’s purpose. Why does it even exist in the first place? This mission statement will act to provide organizational direction and help you achieve your vision.

The values are all about how you plan to operate your business in relation to the stakeholders. This includes investors, customers, and members of the local community. How do you plan to treat them? What are you doing to make their lives and the world they live in better?

Analyzing the Industry

Analyzing the Industry

Market Size

Here, you’ll describe exactly how large the market is. You should be able to find national figures with relatively little research. If you’re not serving a national or international market, discuss how large the population you plan to serve is. Extrapolating from the national information, how big do you expect your actual market size to be?

In addition, you should discuss any important trends. Is your market growing or retracting? If your market is growing, discuss how you project to fit into that growth and seize your market share. If your market is shrinking, discuss why you think entering the marketplace is worthwhile, and whether or not you project growth in the future.

Industry Focus and Trends

Industry Analysis

First, you’ll want to talk about the industry in general. This includes looping back to the market size and discussing whether it is growing, stagnant, or shrinking. Are there any overarching trends or cycles that will affect your business?

This is also a good opportunity to discuss pricing. What type of money does your average customer spend in your industry? What price point are you aiming for, and why is that a good strategy? If you aren’t competing on price, what reasons do you have to believe that somebody will be willing to spend more on your business?

Below, we will discuss two valuable business models you can and should use to discuss your industry further.

PEST Analysis

PEST Analysis

  • Political: what impact could the government have on your business. Is there any pending legislation that could change how you operate? Would tax changes or tariffs cause a financial strain?
  • Economic: would an economic downturn cause sales to tumble, or is your business relatively immune to economic factors? Furthermore, what do current economic trends (inflation, consumer demand, etc.) say about your short-term potential?
  • Social: are there any relevant social or cultural trends that are shaping the industry? Is there a distinct seasonality to your business? Consider, for example, the impact of the Christmas season to retailers in the United States.
  • Technological: how has technology shaped your industry over the past decade? Take a look at the future and make an educated guess on where the industry is headed, and how you’ll fit into that future.

Sometimes PEST is lengthened to PESTLE to include any legal or environmental factors as well. If you believe either will have a significant impact on your business, make sure to include it as well.

Porter’s 5 Forces Analysis

Porter 5 Forces

  • Competition: we will go into this in more detail next, but for this model you should discuss how much competition there is, and how profitable they might be.
  • Threat of new entrants: how easy is it for somebody to enter your industry? For a casino, it would be quite difficult (extensive significant licensing and upfront costs), but for a food truck, it would be quite minimal. The easier it is to enter your industry, the greater the threat is of somebody else entering and stealing your market share.
  • Power of suppliers : if your industry has a low number of suppliers or suppliers that are dominated by much larger companies, you will have a problem sourcing on-budget and on-time. If you aren’t reliant on very specific suppliers, however, or if there is competition among suppliers, you can find yourself in an advantageous position.
  • Power of customers: specifically, do your customers have the ability to drive prices down? If you expect to have a large number of small customers, your price will remain relatively stable. However, if you plan on having a small number of very important customers, they maintain the power to dramatically impact your pricing and profitability.
  • Threat of substitutes: how likely is it that somebody will forego your offering for a comparable substitute. If you’re a restaurant, for example, Amazon’s grocery delivery business would be a substitute, since people may decide to stay home and cook for themselves.

Competition

It’s just as important to discuss how your competition is navigating the industry you plan on dominating. With a strong idea of where your competition is positioned and the strategic decisions they are making you will be able to determine where your own business fits in.

To begin, discuss what your competition looks like. Are there many small businesses vying for the same customers or are you competing against a couple of whales? List your most important competitors and summarize them. Discuss their location, products, pricing, market share, and any important strategic decisions they have made. Use this information to create a list of their strengths and weaknesses.

After discussing the competition, it’s time to think about where you fit among them. SWOT Analysis is the perfect model to do just that.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis

Here is what a complete SWOT Analysis looks like:

  • Strengths:  Exactly as it sounds. What do you do best? What do you do that the competition absolutely cannot?
  • Weaknesses:  Be honest. Are there any resources you lack? Any skillsets that are missing? What isn’t as efficient as it could be?
  • Opportunities:  Improving any of your weaknesses is a major opportunity. In addition to that, consider internal or external factors that might change and present a new business opportunity. Finally, are there any complementary products or services that you could consider offering to your customers?
  • Threats:  What potential is there for your business to be damaged? Are there any industry or economic trends? Could your competition change strategies and harm you? Do any obstacles to success stand in your way?

Once you have completed the SWOT analysis, wrap this section up by talking about your own competitive strategy. Given your industry, the competition, and your own SWOT analysis, what decisions are you making to position the company to succeed?

Readers of your business plan definitely need to know how you’ll be marketing and selling your product or service.There are going to be three key elements of your marketing plan.

Customer Segmentation

Customer Segmentation

  • Demographic information – age, gender.
  • Psychographic profile – what do they care about? What motivates them? What do they value? Where do they get their information?
  • Socioeconomic profile – income, lifestyle preference.

Describe your target audience in great detail. The more you know about your customer, the easier it will be to market to them.

Advertising and Promotion Plan

After building a strong customer profile of your target audience, you should know what your customer cares about. Think about how your business fits into that, and strategize how you’re going to market to them. Use their demographic and behavioral information to determine the most appropriate channels to focus on.

Branding

Your brand should seep into all aspects of your business – the website, advertisements, and even the tone of communications with customers. Whatever strategies you have for these elements, make sure to lay them out.

Finally, include your company logo and slogan, if they already exist. If not, you should begin to think about them and use the rest of this section as a guide.

Sales Distribution Plan

How exactly do you plan on getting your goods or services into somebody’s hands? Do you plan on hiring a sales staff or will you handle it all yourself initially? Do you plan on doing inbound or outbound sales? What does the sales process look at each step of the marketing funnel?

You’ll also need to think about and discuss pricing. Discuss your pricing strategy and why it’s a good value for your customers. If you are going low or moderately priced, discuss how you can stay profitable and remain differentiated from the competition. If you are a luxury brand, discuss why somebody will be willing to pay more for your business than the competition.

Lastly, consider distribution. Are you going to allow customers to purchase directly from you? Will they have to go through distributors? Do you have any retail partnerships to leverage? These are important decisions that have a profound impact on a business.

Organizational and Operational Plan

Operational Plan

Production Process

Production Process

Here are some ideas of what you’ll need to outline:

  • Raw materials – how much do they cost? Do prices fluctuate? Is supply limited in quantity or how quickly it can be obtained in a pinch?
  • What machines, technologies, etc., do you use for production? What costs are involved in these? Are you renting or do you own them?
  • What is your estimated daily output?
  • How easy is it to scale up or down as necessary? How does this impact the cost per unit?
  • Which methods of quality control do you employ, both pre- and post-production?

Supply Chain Management

If you’re a service business, you might not have any physical inventory, but your employees should be considered as your supply. After all, without them, you won’t be able to provide your services to your customers. What strategies do you have to recruit and retain the best talent possible? Can you scale quickly through recruiting and training, overtime, or an increase in part-time help?

You should also look back at your sales distribution plan and consider the logistics of shipping any physical products. How often will orders be fulfilled? Do you have the ability to rush orders if necessary? How will returns or incorrect shipments be handled in a way that keeps everybody happy?

Financials

Here are the components you must include in your business plan’s financial information:

Forecasted Sales

Use all of the marketing data you’ve put together to determine what a reasonable sales forecast looks like. Project your sales for a period of two or three years, going one month at a time. Include seasonality whenever applicable. As you forecast sales, include exactly how much revenue you expect to earn from those sales, and the total direct cost of those sales. You’ll be able to use these figures to determine revenue and gross margin, which you should use to compare to industry and competitive standards.

Projected Expenses

Forecasted Sales

Fixed costs are going to stay the same whether you sell one widget or twenty. For example, rent, electricity, insurance, marketing costs, and payroll (with the exception of commission and bonuses), will mostly stay the same no matter what sales look like.

Variable costs, on the other hand, will vary by each unit sold. This includes the cost of materials, shipping, coupons, taxes, etc. Most of this should already be covered in your forecasted sales report, but make sure that nothing is overlooked.

Make sure to consider that as you scale, some fixed costs may become variable. As sales increase, you may have to hire more employees, or move into a bigger office. Keep this in mind by always referring back to your forecasted sales and estimating your business needs as best you can.

Balance Sheet

Everything comes together on your balance sheet. This includes your projected sales and expenses, but also deals with assets and liabilities.For example, if you take out a loan, you’ll need to include the capital in your assets and the repayments, including interest, in your liabilities. Non-monetary assets, such as the property and machinery must also be included.

You can find a sample balance sheet here .

Cash Flow Statement

Cash Flow Statememt

Month by month, you’ll track exactly how much cash you expect to leave your hands and how much will come in. Keep in mind that not all sales are paid fully right away. Consider how many sales will be paid in full at the time of sale, how many will be paid in 30 days, 60 days, or go completely delinquent.

Once you have your cash flow statement completed, run some quick analysis. Compare your projected expenses each month to the projected cash coming in each month. For any months that project to have a negative cash flow, ensure you have enough money on hand to cover the difference.

You may find two examples of completed cash flow statements here and here .

Customer Lifetime Value

Customer Lifetime Value is an estimate of exactly how much each customer you acquire will be worth total. A simple way to calculate this is by determining how many purchases a customer makes before churning, and multiplying it by the average amount of their purchase. In other words, how many purchases will they make before moving on from your business, and how much will those purchases be worth?

Let’s take a look at a real-world example. Let’s assume you’re running an oil change business, and you know your average customer gets three oil changes per year. With premium options and add-ons, your average sale is $38.50. Each customer spends an average of three years with you before churning (perhaps they have moved away or found another service they prefer).

In this example, your expected CLV would be $346.50. You know each average customer will make 3 purchases per year, for 3 years, at $38.50 each. 3 x 3 x $38.50 = $346.50, which is your CLV.

Why is CLV so important? Let’s take a look at unit economics.

Unit Economics

Unit Economics

The formula for cost of acquisition is simple. Divide your total marketing spend by the number of customers you have acquired through all marketing channels. If you spend $25,000 across all marketing channels and acquire 1,000 customers, your average cost per acquisition is $25.00.

Tracking your marketing expenses isn’t the tricky part. Attributing each user to a specific campaign, however, can be. If somebody walks into your store after seeing a TV ad, for example, it can be hard to properly attribute them. Digital campaigns are a bit easier, as there are typically tracking links that make everything easy to calculate. You’ll have to do your due diligence and make your best-educated guesses here, using industry standards whenever necessary and possible.

You should also take the time to break out your unit economics into each marketing channel. This allows you to track which channels are performing well and which ones aren’t. If Facebook is attracting lots of customers but you’re spending so much that your cost of acquisition is higher than expected CLV, you might actually need to stop spending money there.

It’s important to be very clear about exactly how your business has been funded so far. This includes what you have received through investments, series rounds, or personal loans. You will also need to mention any personal funds that you have put into the business, and how much you have saved that you are willing to put into it in the future.

Once you have discussed the funding your business has received, it is appropriate to lay out exactly how much you’ll need. Make sure to also discuss exactly what any loans or investments will be used for and how that spending will be tracked.

Business Plan Resources

Business plan samples.

To reinforce everything we’ve discussed above, let’s take a look at some sample business plans that have already been put together for your review. We’ll discuss some key takeaways from each plan, helping you consider how your business is unique and what you’ll need to emphasize.

Coffee Shop Business Plan

A coffee shop is a nice, simple business to start our samples with. A coffee shop requires a small storefront, and the location is critical. Most people will gladly stop in for a nice cup of coffee but are unlikely to drive miles out of their way for one. Notice that because of this, the sales forecast is relatively stagnant, even after several years.

Click here for the sample business plan.

Restaurant Business Plan

A restaurant business plan will be similar to a coffee shop, but is a little more involved. Start-up costs are higher as it requires a larger storefront and a larger variety of equipment. Variable costs are higher as a quality meal costs much more than a cup of coffee. The sales forecast shows more growth, as people are more willing to travel for a good meal than they are a simple cup of coffee.

Food Truck Business Plan

Let’s consider a third food-based business to really drive home how businesses that appear similar will have important differences. Food trucks have a much different fixed cost structure than a coffee shop or restaurant, as they don’t have a physical location. Seasonality and location will have a huge impact on salespeople won’t want to stand outside for a burrito when it’s cold and snowy outside. With a much smaller staff, a food truck is also more likely to be open for lunch only, or closed a couple days per week.

Startup Business Plan

It’s good to take a look at a general startup business plan to get an idea of how to estimate costs, sales, etc. This sample plan is a take-out pizza joint. Notice that trends are important, as the business plan notes their market is a growing area and they are aiming to fill a niche for low to middle-income families, which comprise the majority of residents in their service area. They use a mixture of studies and geographic data to make conservative estimates, giving potential investors confidence that the business can be profitable if the strategies are successfully executed.

Photography Business Plan

A photography business is a great example of a company that is minimal to the extreme. Mostly, you will be relying on your own skills and experience. Minus initial equipment and the cost of your own time, expenses are minimal. Still, you see that it’s important to have a strong plan in place so that you understand how to position your services and who exactly you’re aiming to serve.

Business Plan Tools

Here are a variety of tools that make both writing a business plan and getting your business off the ground much easier:

If you want to quickly build your idea into a business plan to validate its value or just to get started, LivePlan is perfect. The business planning process is made simple, as you simply need to answer questions and are given plenty of examples, videos, and tutorials along the way. You can even use LivePlan to collaborate with partners or investors, testing ideas on the fly and seeing its impact on your business’ health.

Click here to take a look at LivePlan.

Rocket Lawyer

When you’re starting a business, it’s extremely likely you’ll need quick legal help. You might need advice on licensing, permits, or zoning. Or perhaps you want to discuss how to structure your business as an LLC. Rocket Lawyer can help. You’ll have access to their services for a monthly fee that’s less than a cup of coffee each day. There’s an even option to help incorporate your business by filling out a couple of quick forms.

Click here to take a look at Rocket Lawyer.

Like LivePlan, StratPad offers a cloud-based chance to build your business plan and strategy on the fly. StratPad offers a demo for their services and if you’re looking for funding will even match you up automatically with a financial institution that makes sense for your business. Our suggestion is to take a look at both LivePlan and StratPad and select the one that you like best.

Click here to take a look at StratPad.

If you’re looking for a simple way to create a professional business plan without all the bells and whistles, BizPlan is perfect for you. You’ll be able to create a stylish, professional business plan using intuitive drag-and-drop templates. Financials are easy to create using a user-friendly dashboard.

Click here to take a look at BizPlan.

A typo can derail your business plan and make you look sloppy and unprepared, no matter how much effort you put into it. Grammarly is a world-class spell checker that also checks for many of the most common grammatical error for free. There’s even a browser-based version that you can use no matter where you are. For a fee, you can subscribe to Grammarly Premium, which provides an even more granular check.

Click here to take a look at Grammarly.

Business Plan Templates

Now that we have an idea of everything you need to include in your business plan and which tools you’ll need to get started, it’s time to get started. Here are some websites with sample business plan templates you may use to make writing the perfect business plan a bit easier:

  • Score.org has a variety of business plan and financial statement templates, including ones for both start-ups and established businesses.
  • Microsoft Office’s website has many valuable business plan templates, including a checklist and PowerPoint Presentation templates for pitching your business plan.
  • The S. Small Business Administration allows you to create a business plan with a free account that you can download and distribute as a PDF.
  • Santa Clara University provides a 15-section business plan that can be downloaded one section at a time or all at once.
  • Law Depot offers a business plan template tailored for you. Simply answer some quick questions and your template is instantly ready to download.

How to Write a Business Plan Conclusion

In the end, a business plan is a highly unique and personalized document. A business plan that is right for your business won’t be right for any other business in the world. By closely following the outline and strategies above, however, you’ll have a great base to begin crafting your own perfect business plan.

Bibliography:

  • Berry, T. 15 Reasons You Need a Business Plan. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/83818.
  • CBM Group. What Is The Right Tone And Writing Style For A Business Plan? Retrieved from http://www.cbmgroup.co.uk/blog/business-plan-writing/what-is-the-right-tone-and-writing-style-for-a-business-plan.
  • Discover Business. How to Write a Business Plan. Retrieved from https://www.discoverbusiness.us/business-plans/.
  • Fontinelle, A.How To Write A Business Plan. Investopedia. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/university/business-plan/.
  • Franklin, B. The Three General Types of Business Plans. Business Power Tools. Retrieved from http://www.businesspowertools.com/2016/06/management-2/the-three-general-types-of-business-plans/.
  • Gregory, A. Comprehensive Business Plan Outline for Small Business. The Balance. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/a-comprehensive-business-plan-outline-for-small-business-2951557.
  • Gregory, A. How to Conduct a SWOT Analysis for Your Small Business. The Balance. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/swot-analysis-for-small-business-2951706.
  • Hazlett, M. Basics of Unit Economics. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@markhazlett/basic-of-unit-economics-79f1d6cae085.
  • Investopedia. Porter’s 5 Forces. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/porter.asp.
  • Johnson, J. How to Write a Cover Letter for a Business Plan. Small Business Chronicle. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/write-cover-letter-business-plan-43209.html.
  • Katz, A. Determining the Best Legal Structure for Your Business. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/236450.
  • Kolowich, A. How to Write a Business Plan: A Bookmarkable Guide (With Examples). HubSpot. Retrieved from https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-write-a-business-plan.
  • Lavinsky, D. Marketing Plan Template: Exactly What To Include. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/davelavinsky/2013/09/30/marketing-plan-template-exactly-what-to-include/#1ddaeeb43503.
  • My Own Business Institute. Session 2: The Business Plan. Retrieved from https://www.scu.edu/mobi/business-courses/starting-a-business/session-2-the-business-plan/.
  • Parsons, N. How to Write a Business Plan [Updated for 2017]. Bplans. Retrieved from http://articles.bplans.com/how-to-write-a-business-plan/.
  • PESTLE Analysis. What is PESTLE Analysis? A Tool for Business Analysis. Retrieved from http://pestleanalysis.com/what-is-pestle-analysis/,
  • Robbins, S. Why You Must Have a Business Plan. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/74194.
  • Ronick, D. 10 Business Plan Dos and Don’ts. Inc. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/articles/201104/business-plan-dos-and-donts.html.
  • Ronick, D. 10 Things A Business Pitch Absolutely Does (And Does Not) Need. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/10-survival-tactics-for-a-successful-business-plan-pitch-2011-4/.
  • Shopify. The Ultimate Guide to Business Plans, Chapter 3: The Company. Retrieved from https://www.shopify.com/guides/businessplan/the-company.
  • Wasserman, E. How to Write the Financial Section of a Business Plan. Inc. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/guides/business-plan-financial-section.html

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How to Choose a Project Management MBA and Why

Project managers ensure that high-priority work assignments are done well and finished quickly.

Key Facts About Project Management MBAs

A woman standing in an office looking at a display holding pieces of paper.

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Professors and practitioners of project management describe it as the art and science of converting big ideas into concrete results.

A person who takes pride in his or her organizational and people skills may enjoy a career as a project manager, a business professional who often oversees major corporate initiatives and complex group assignments.

Why an MBA Is Useful During COVID-19

Ilana Kowarski Aug. 24, 2020

Side view of businesswoman using smart phone while moving up steps. Female professional is carrying backpack against wall. She is in formals.

One way to prepare for this type of career is to earn an MBA degree. Some business schools offer an MBA specialization in project management, which may appeal to an aspiring project manager.

What Project Management Is

Project management, experts say, is a type of management that focuses more on action than theory. The primary objective is to ensure that dreams come true and hopes are realized. It requires the ability to come up with and implement smart procedures for workers to follow as they collaborate on tasks, and it necessitates strategic thinking about how an organization can accomplish its mission.

The field also demands diplomacy, since project managers may need to peacefully resolve conflicts between team members who disagree. Project managers may be responsible for coordinating negotiations between factions within a team. The ability to inspire coworkers to overcome formidable challenges is also a plus in this profession, as is the courage to confront people about problems with work product, according to individuals working in the field.

"Project management, in layman’s terms, is making things happen," Sergei Brovkin, the founder and principal of Collectiver Inc. – a Canadian-based consulting firm – wrote in an email.

"Project management is a methodology and a set of tools that helps (with) creating value more efficiently," says Brovkin, who earned a Master of Business Administration, or MBA, degree from McGill University in Canada and has project management professional certification. "Hence, almost any delivery may be set up as a project – and there will be a project manager to run it, regardless of the industry or the preferred vocabulary."

Adam Lange, a senior adjunct professor with Medaille College in New York who oversees the school's project management MBA concentration , says that nearly any aspiring manager could benefit from training in project management because it provides key implementation skills.

"Every manager, for the most part, will do project management as part of their role," says Lange, who earned his MBA at Medaille.

Who Should Get a Project Management MBA Degree

Vanja Djuric, an associate professor of practice in the marketing department at the University of Akron College of Business Administration in Ohio where she is also a director of research and analytics, says that anyone whose dream is to become a C-suite executive should consider an MBA in project management. A project manager serves as a "liaison between the team and the higher management and/or client," she wrote in an email, adding that this type of business professional is prevalent in the information technology industry.

"Project managers are responsible for leading the entire project through all of its steps – from planning and execution to completion," says Djuric, who earned an MBA from Kent State University in Ohio, a Master of Science in Management degree focusing on information systems from the University of Akron and a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool in the U.K.

A job as a project manager demands a detail-oriented, level-headed, practical and methodical approach, according to people who have this type of position, so it is a profession that is especially suitable for someone interested in logistics and strategy. Project managers say precision is highly valued in their field, so it may be a good fit for a person who embodies orderliness and is zealous about meeting exacting standards.

What Project Managers Do And Why It Matters

Project managers often play a pivotal role in the organizations where they work and some exceptional ones rise to senior executive roles, with a few becoming chief operating officers or chief executive officers, according to individuals who work in these jobs. The work of a project manager has the potential to have a tremendous positive influence on the bottom line of a for-profit corporation, and they tend to regularly interact with and be observed by high-level executives, which means that project managers are often first in line for coveted promotions, project managers say.

Lange notes that senior project managers sometimes lead high-stakes, multimillion-dollar initiatives, often doing work that is essential for the function and survival of their employer. He suggests that solid communication abilities are vital to project management roles, since these jobs require consistent, clear and constant communication with others.

"You have to be somebody who is very comfortable with responsibility, because as you move along in your career, you are going to have progressively more," Lange says. At the beginning of his career he led projects that were typically worth between $10,000 and $100,000, but now he estimates that he oversees an $80-million portfolio of projects.

Salary statistics reveal that project management is a high-paying field that often leads to a six-figure salary. According to the Project Management Institute's 11th edition of its salary survey , the median annual salary among U.S. project managers is $116,000. The U.S. is a country where project managers are paid especially well: The only country where they are paid better is Switzerland, according to the survey.

How to Select a Project Management MBA Program

Professional project managers who have MBA degrees suggest that B-school hopefuls look for a school that provides excellent coursework in a variety of academic areas that are relevant to project management positions, including strategy, finance, accounting, operations and human resources. They note that effective project management requires someone to understand why their project matters and how it influences the success of the organization they work for, which means that they need to know about multiple aspects of business.

Jonathan Friedman, founder and CEO of TrueNxus - a project management software company, says MBA applicants with an interest in project management should look for a school that offers a broad curriculum and excels at teaching general management principles.

Friedman, who earned an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business , says "well-roundedness" and an ability to think critically are essential to the project management field, as is the ability to speak the language of experts in various technical business disciplines.

Some experts suggest that business schools which do not offer a formal concentration or specialization in project management may still provide solid preparation for the profession. They explain that it is possible to become a project manager after receiving an MBA degree even if the phrase "project management" isn't attached to the degree. However, other experts point out that an MBA concentration or specialization in project management can give MBA grads an edge when competing for project management jobs.

Aspiring project managers who plan to attend graduate business school can elect to supplement their business degree with a certification in project management, although professional project managers have varying opinions about the importance and value of certification. Expertise in certain popular project management methodologies like Agile, Waterfall and Lean is helpful within this career path, according to experts on the field.

"Increasingly, organizations are also interested in project management programs that include the skills and ability to conduct a Social Impact Analysis," wrote Russell Darnall, a leading faculty member in the M.S. in Project Management program at Walden University – an online academic institution – who also has a doctorate in management and a master's degree in project management.

"A Social Impact Analysis provides a mechanism for the project manager to assure that the environment, social and economic impact of their project is consistent with the Corporate Social Responsibility goals of the organization," Darnall explained in an email. "Project managers are also required to understand their project’s impact on sustainability, including people, profit and planet, and manage their project to minimize negative outcomes and maximize positive ones."

Experts recommend seeking out project management programs that allow students to work on real-world business projects.

"Hiring managers look for battle-tested individuals who have faced and overcome the typical and unforeseen challenges that all projects face," wrote Brian LeBlanc, a professor of practice at the Clark University School of Professional Studies in Massachusetts.

"A program that successfully prepares students for this eventuality will provide relevant application of the principles being learned; it will focus on building communication skills, strategic thinking and accountability, not just 'right answers' for a quiz," explains LeBlanc, who has an MBA from Babson College's F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business in Massachusetts.

What Can You Do With an MBA in Project Management?

A project manager will often create the blueprints describing how an ambitious goal will be achieved and explaining how potential obstacles to that goal will be overcome, MBA faculty say. His or her specialty is figuring out how to execute a grand vision and navigate roadblocks that come up along the way, according to MBA faculty.

John Paul Engel, a lecturer in entrepreneurship with the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center with significant project management work experience, says project management is a highly marketable skill that is valuable in nearly every type of organization. The extensive list of companies that hire project managers includes prestigious employers such as high-profile consulting firms and major government contractors, Engel says. Utility and energy companies can also benefit from the expertise of well-trained project managers, he adds.

"Having a strong background in project management and cultivating that among your team is extremely valuable," Engel says.

Explore the top five project management programs in the U.S. News 2021 Best Business Schools rankings.

Searching for a business school? Get our complete rankings of Best Business Schools.

Tags: MBAs , business school , education , graduate schools , students

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Q. How can I create an international business plan for project 4 for MBA 670?

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Answered By: Cynthia Thomes Last Updated: Feb 12, 2024     Views: 6143

Project 4 for MBA 670 asks you to choose a product and country from lists provided in your classroom and to then create a business plan that discusses how you could expand a company's business into your chosen country by introducing your chosen product to that country.

Following is information that should help you find the information that you've been asked to include in your business plan.

  • Main competitors : One way to find the main companies that already offer the product that you chose in the country that you chose is to find the NAICS code that applies to the product's industry (see the information in your classroom and/or  NAICS Codes for more information about how to find an industry's NAICS code; many medical devices, for instance, will have NAICS code 334510 , which covers electromedical and electrotherapeutic apparatus manufacturing, or NAICS code 334516 , which covers analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing, or NAICS code 339113 , which covers surgical appliance and supplies manufacturing) and to then run an industry search in Hoovers for that NAICS code. On the industry overview page, scroll down to the Geographic Segmentation section and click on the hyperlinked number in the Companies column to see a list of companies. (Note that you may need to click on the “Show Rows with Values Less Than 5% of Total” link in order to see the country that you chose.) Alternately, if you know the name of a company that makes the product that you chose in the country that you chose, you can use databases such as Business Market Research Collection , Business Source Ultimate , Hoovers , and Nexis Uni to look up the company and find its competitors. For more information about finding a company's competitors, see Finding a Company's Competitors .  

You may be able to find relevant forecasts in Statista by running a search for your chosen product and country -- for example:

(Note that, unlike most other library databases, Statista uses an implied AND ; you shouldn't enter AND between search terms.)

You may also need to make educated inferences about the need for the product that you chose in the country that you chose based on the country's demographics. see Business Research: Finding Demographic or Psychographic Information for search tips.

  • Competitive edge: Since you need to discuss ways that your company could gain a competitive edge over other companies, one way to find an area where your company could stand out would be to look at SWOT analyses for some of the companies that you identified as being competitors to your company; the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that others have found for those companies should give you some ideas of how your company could set itself apart from the competition. To find companies’ SWOT analyses, see Business Research: SWOT Analysis
  • Value chain activity relocation: Use the course material and links in your classroom to help you decide which activity or activities from your company’s value chain you might want to relocate to your chosen country.
  • Legal business entity to market the chosen product in the chosen country: Use the course material and links in your classroom to help you determine the best mode of entry for introducing your chosen product to your chosen country.
  • Impact of the chosen country’s legal, ethical, and cultural standards on the company’s operations in the country: Use the course material and links in your classroom to help you understand how your company’s expansion to your chosen country might be affected by formal or informal structures in place in that country.

For additional information about starting or expanding a business into a particular country, you might also want to consult:

  • Santander's Establish Overseas guides and/or Analyze Markets guides
  • The World Bank’s Doing Business guides
  • Michigan State University’s globalEDGE country information
  • the International Monetary Fund’s country information
  • Lex Mundi’s Guides to Doing Business
  • the Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration’s Country Commercial Guides
  • Nexis Uni’s BMI Country Risk Reports
  • Statista's Country & Region Reports

You may also want to use databases such as ABI/INFORM Collection  and Business Source Ultimate  to search for articles that discuss the market for your chosen product in your chosen country or that discuss regulations that could affect how your product might fare in the country, etc. To do that, you can run searches such as:

  • [product] AND [country] AND market*
  • [product]  AND  [country]  AND (customer* OR consumer* OR purchaser* OR buyer*)
  • [product] AND [country] AND (law* OR regulation*)

If you need further assistance with finding information for project 4, please Ask a Librarian .

If you have questions about the requirements for project 4, please contact your instructor.

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Top 15 MBA Project Ideas & Topics in 2024 [For Freshers]

Top 15 MBA Project Ideas &#038; Topics in 2024 [For Freshers]

In this article, you will learn the Top 15 MBA Project Ideas & Topics. Take a glimpse below.

  • A study on sustainable business models across the consumer internet startups in India.
  • A study on various investment options available in India, their popularity, advantages, disadvantages, and growth of these investment options in the last decade
  • A study on risk management and portfolio management of investors in the equity segment
  • Analysis of working capital management at high cash burn startups in the food tech space
  • Impact of GST on the fast-moving consumer goods sector in India
  • Analysis of the satisfaction level of employees in the Banking and financial services sector
  • A study on the various employee welfare schemes at Hindustan Unilever
  • Analysis of employee training needs in State Bank of India
  • Comparative Study & Analysis Of NPA(Non-Performing Asset) In Indian Banks and Financial Institutions
  • Analysis of financial statements of ICICI Bank for the last 5 Years

Read the entire article to learn all the topic ideas.

Introduction

The best part about going ahead for an MBA is the practical learning experience it provides in the form of projects and case studies that enhance your overall learning experience. The projects may be individual projects or group projects where you learn how to analyze case studies, understand the project topic, work in teams, and complete projects within a timeline. 

We take a look at some of the best and unique project topics that you can select during your MBA program across Marketing, HR, Finance, Analytics, Operations, etc. The article also highlights some of the top business analytics projects for MBA students and innovative MBA IT project topics.

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What is an MBA?

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a prestigious and versatile postgraduate degree that equips students with a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of business management. The program prepares individuals for leadership roles in various industries and sectors. With its emphasis on developing critical thinking, strategic planning, and effective communication skills, an MBA can significantly enhance career prospects and open doors to various opportunities.

What are the benefits of doing an MBA in any field?

1. knowledge and skill enrichment.

MBA programs cover various subjects such as finance, marketing, operations, human resources, entrepreneurship, and more. This holistic curriculum equips students with a well-rounded understanding of how different business functions interconnect.

Case studies, real-world projects, and interactive classroom discussions provide practical insights, fostering problem-solving and analytical skills.

2. Leadership and Management Acumen

MBA programs emphasize leadership development and nurturing skills to effectively manage teams, projects, and organizations.

Students learn about decision-making, conflict resolution, negotiation, and organizational behavior, which are crucial for successful leadership roles.

3. Networking Opportunities

MBA programs often have a diverse student body with professionals from various industries, cultures, and backgrounds. This creates a fertile ground for networking.

Interaction with peers, alums, faculty, and guest speakers can lead to valuable connections that can benefit one’s career.

4. Career Advancement

An MBA can accelerate career growth by opening doors to higher-level positions and greater responsibilities.

Graduates are better equipped to navigate the complexities of the business world, making them attractive candidates for promotions and leadership roles.

5. Entrepreneurial Spirit

Many MBA programs offer specialized tracks or courses in entrepreneurship, providing aspiring business owners with the skills needed to launch and manage their ventures.

Exposure to real-world business challenges and opportunities encourages innovative thinking and risk-taking.

6. Global Perspective

In an increasingly interconnected world, MBA programs often include international business components that expose students to global market trends, cultural nuances, and international business strategies.

7. Personal Development

The rigorous demands of an MBA program foster time management, discipline, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations.

Students often gain a deeper understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for personal growth.

8. Enhanced Earning Potential

On average, MBA graduates earn higher salaries than those with only undergraduate degrees.

The specialized knowledge and leadership skills gained during the program contribute to increased marketability and value in the job market.

9. Career Switching and Flexibility

An MBA can serve as a bridge for professionals looking to switch industries or career paths.

The broad skill set acquired during the program enables graduates to pivot and adapt to different sectors.

10. Credibility and Prestige

An MBA from a reputable institution carries weight and prestige in the business world.

Employers often perceive MBA holders as dedicated, knowledgeable, and committed individuals due to the intensive nature of the program.

11. Access to Resources

Many MBA programs provide access to extensive resources such as libraries, research centers, industry partnerships, and career services, which can aid academic and professional pursuits.

12. Lifelong Learning and Growth

The learning mindset cultivated during an MBA often continues beyond graduation. Many professionals engage in continuous learning, staying updated with evolving business trends.

Pursuing an MBA offers students a transformative educational experience beyond theoretical learning. It equips them with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to excel in the competitive business. The benefits encompass personal growth, career advancement, entrepreneurship, and the ability to make a meaningful impact in various industries. However, it’s important for prospective students to carefully consider their career goals, program options, and the reputation of institutions before embarking on this enriching journey of business education.

Read: Check out the Scope of MBA for IT professionals.

Top MBA Project Ideas

Currently, there are various general mba research project topics available in the market. Choosing the best one can seem to be quite a tedious process. Therefore, we have selected some of the best general mini project ideas for mba students highlighted in the list below.

Before delving into the different general mba project title, it is important to remember you, as a student, need to choose the topic that is closest to your specialization.

Internet Startups are known to burn cash to transform business at scale while also creating a habit in people, however many of them incur heavy losses because their business models are not sustainable.

There are lots of investment options available from mutual funds, stocks, physical gold, digital gold, bonds, etc but very few of these are popular except physical cold. Each of these investment options has their own advantages & advantages. Have they grown in the last 10 years?  

Get  online MBA certifications  from the World’s top Universities. Earn Masters, Executive PGP, or Advanced Certificate Programs to fast-track your career.

The equity segment is known to carry a high risk, how do investors manage this risk? Portfolio management is also crucial and helps investors avoid losses and increase their gains  

  • Analysis of working capital management at high cash burn startups in the food tech space. 

  Working capital is the liquidity required to meet daily needs. In startups in the food-tech space where there is a lot of cash burn, how is working capital management done?

The Goods and Services tax bill has had a huge impact on many sectors. What has been the impact of GST on the FMCG sector which is one of the largest consumer-oriented sectors in India?  

Read: Best MBA Online Courses  

  • Analysis of the satisfaction level of employees in the Banking and financial services sector.

Banking & financial services is a crucial sector employing lakhs of employees. The work environments are known to be stressful and the work is tedious. So what is the satisfaction level of employees in this sector?  

Hindustan Unilever is one of India’s biggest and most famous brands in the FMCG sector. They employ hundreds of people and they are known to be employee-friendly with a lot of employee-friendly policies & welfare schemes.  

Our learners also read: MBA job opportunities !

  • Analysis of employee training needs in State Bank of India.

SBI is one of the largest banks in India and employee lakhs of people. This also means all the employees need to be trained at regular intervals. What would be the employee training needs in the banking industry?  

Checkout: Best Online MBA Courses in India

India’s NPA ratio is one the highest in the world and it may increase further at the end of the current fiscal year 2021-22. What has contributed to this and what is the comparative situation among Indian banks & financial institutions?  

ICICI bank is one of the top private sector banks in India. What does the analysis of ICICI bank financial statements for the last 5 years tell you about the company and its performance?  

  • Study on consumer behavioral pattern in the FMCG category of toothpaste in the case of Colgate & Patanjali. 

Colgate is one of the top brands in the category of toothpaste and Patanjali  Dant Kanti has been a recent challenger with a focus on ayurvedic products. What are the consumer behaviour patterns driving this toothpaste category?

  • Study of marketing promotions & strategy in the luxury retail market for Louis Vuitton

Luxury marketing communications & strategy are very different compared to a non luxury brand. Louis Vuitton is one of the most famous luxury brands in India. What kind of marketing promotions and strategies did Louis Vuitton use?  

  • Analysis of YouTube ads in digital marketing to reach mass audiences and its comparative effectiveness compared to TV adverting in FMCG industry

Youtube has quickly emerged as a powerful medium for brand marketing and its adoption has accelerated in the last 2-3 years. But is it more effective than TV in order to reach a brand’s target audiences?  

Explore our Popular MBA Courses

  • Analysis of Total Quality Management Implementation at Marico. 

Marico is one of India’s well known and top brands with respect to quality. How has Total Quality management helped them achieve high consumer satisfaction?  

Also Read: Top Paying Cities for MBA in India  

  • A Study of Six Sigma Implementation Process at a manufacturing company. 

Six sigma is a set of techniques and tools that help to improve business processes in an organization. How has the implementation process been at a manufacturing company?  

Read: Career in marketing and its scope in the US market.

Best Business Analytics Project Topics For MBA 

Here are the best social relevance project topics for mba for candidates which are different from general project topics for MBA students, and significantly offer greater value!

In this today’s technology-driven world, business analytics is one of the most sought-after fields. Almost all big enterprises and organizations rely on business analytics for well-informed decisions and planning. This has led to such an increased demand for this field that many universities from all around India are offering various lucrative Business Analytics courses to their students. We have prepared some of the best business analytics project topics for MBA that are mentioned below. 

  • Sales Conversion Optimization

Companies rely heavily on traditional and digital marketing and campaigns to drive their sales and attract new customers. Email and social media marketing are two of the widely used methods in this regard. 

  • A Study On Predicting Sales Of A Supermarket During Festival Season

A supermarket consists of various departments, and each is responsible for stocking up its items in a regulated manner. However, while doing so, it is important to check that it does not have any excessive stock, which can ultimately lead to a potential loss for the business. This is where forecasting sales come into play. Predicting the demand for particular goods during festive seasons can help to generate profit and avoid loss for a business. 

  • Understanding Employee Attrition And Performance

Various factors can lead to employee attrition. A detailed understanding of all the factors will help companies retain their employees’ loyalty more efficiently. Furthermore, companies can also then make changes in their business environments so that they can hold on to their best employees. 

These are some of the best topics currently available for business analytics projects for MBA students . Working on a good project not only adds that extra spark to a person’s resume but also helps boost your technical skills and highlights your maturity. 

Innovative Product Ideas For MBA Students

One of the most challenging tasks every entrepreneur faces is deciding what to sell. Whether it is a completely new product or starting a new business with different related products, it can sometimes be difficult to come up with something new and innovative. If you are facing any of these challenges, don’t worry. We are here to help you with the same. The mentioned below list contains some of the latest innovative product ideas for MBA students. 

  • At-home fitness equipment

Following the onset of lockdown during this pandemic, many gyms and other workout facilities had to shut down their offices to comply with government protocols. During this time, at-home fitness equipment witnessed a drastic bloom and became hugely popular among the mass. Some of the most popular at-home fitness equipment include yoga mats, stationary bikes, and resistance bands. 

  • Mobile Phone Accessories

India currently has 1.2 billion smartphone users. This means that these 1.2 billion users are your potential customers when you sell smartphone accessories. The most popular phone accessories are designed to increase your cellphones’ efficiency and usefulness and make them less breakable. 

  • Internet Of Thing Devices

With the evolution of technology, more and more products are slowly transitioning into IoT devices. To put it simply, IoT devices are referred to as those that are equipped with various software and sensors to connect with other systems and devices over the Internet easily. Some examples of these devices are smartwatches, smart light bulbs, and smart cars, among others. 

MBA Programs in India

You can consider some of these world class MBA programs offered by top institutions. One of the top MBA learning platforms in India, upGrad can help you apply for an MBA from Liverpool Business School with specialization in marketing.

u pGrad also offers individual mentoring sessions with industry leaders from various domains. You will also get 360-degree career support and placement assistance throughout the MBA program that will help you apply for a job with some of the top brands. upGrad expert mentors will guide you and help you build, review your resume and help you apply for various marketing & business roles across various brands.

Check out Liverpool Business School & upGrad’  Global MBA program  which helps you to transform your career. The program provides 1-on-1 mentorship from industry leaders, 1-week immersion program at University campus, dual credentials (MBA from LBS & PGPM from IMT), network with peers at offline basecamps and more.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To successfully complete an MBA program, doing an MBA project is important. This will also help you in the real world when you’re looking for jobs. However, the project topic you choose should be something that aligns with your goals and future objectives. Here are a few tips that will help you select a good topic – spend ample time researching on the internet, speak to your seniors and get ideas from them, discuss your shortlisted topics with mentors and professors, choose a topic that matches your future career aspirations, and lastly the topic you choose should be of interest to you.

When you do an MBA program from upGrad, there are many benefits. Besides training students in various subjects, it also offers end-to-end career assistance. Every student gets personalised career counselling from experts, specific inputs on resume structure and content, interview preparation tips by industry mentors and assured job placement offered by 300+ companies partnered with upGrad. The main agenda of every program is offering students unparalleled guidance from teaching assistants and one-on-one feedback on submissions.

MBA graduates are known to earn handsome salaries. The salary earned by MBA passouts in India is primarily based on their overall work or industry experience and their qualifications. That being said, their salary also depends on their MBA specialisation. Usually, those who opt for specialisations such as HR, finance, marketing, and business analytics, are observed to bag jobs with the highest compensation packages. Securing a seat in any of the premier MBA colleges in the country is a bonus since the top business schools offer exceptional placement opportunities with lucrative salaries; the numbers can range from INR 4-14 lakhs an annum for freshers to INR 25 lakhs a year for experienced professionals.

While all of us respect and envy the brilliant career paths of MBA graduates, we often tend to overlook the level of extreme hard work they have had to put in before bagging that dream job. If you ask MBA graduates, you will come to know that studying MBA is indeed taxing. You need to flourish in a highly competitive environment and have to give your best performance all-round, be it practical projects or academics. And the tremendous volume of things that need to be completed, along with the sheer lack of time for self-preparation, studies, or even family, can pose as reasons for enormous stress throughout the study.

HR managers have to deal with employee layoffs, organisational policy violations, payrolls, and company-wide communications. The basic job of the HR manager is to oversee and look after employee life-cycle management, including onboarding, recruitment, training, employee termination, and of course, employee benefits. Basically, human resources managers are responsible for supporting the employees by updating company policies, maintaining records of employees and supporting their career aspirations and growth, facilitating employee education, training and supporting managers, ensuring employee wellbeing and welfare, and enforcing disciplinary action in an unbiased and prudent manner.

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Top 15 MBA Project Topics & Ideas In 2024 [For Freshers]

Feb 1, 2024 5.6K Reads

When pursuing an MBA course, assignments and capstone projects become a crucial aspect for student evaluation as well as a formative learning for students, helping them work their way around real-world managerial problems and cases. There are a host of domains available for choosing an MBA project from, but choosing a final option for the project among multiple ideas can be undoubtedly baffling considering the multitude of subjects, case studies and domains of management,  especially if you are a fresher in the course. While organically coming up with an idea for a project as part of your MBA project can be easy for a few students, receiving credible information and guidance about choosing a project is needed by many others.

Through this blog, we have tried to address this confusion students are often faced with, and have curated a list of 15 unique and interesting ideas for MBA projects from diverse domains of management. So, continue reading to explore and get tips from MBA experts about choosing the right project for your MBA course!

MBA Projects: Which Domain to Focus Upon in an MBA Project? 

A Masters in Business Administration or an MBA, is one of the most popularly pursued PG professional degrees of all times and provides students with comprehensive education of the managerial principles in the workspace, both academically and professionally. An MBA is a 2 year degree in which students learn about the core principles and concepts of management in the first year of the course and can go for specialised education in their second year. 

mba business plan project

So, if you are a fresher to the course and are required to submit a capstone project as part of your curriculum in the first year, then you have the option of completing your project in any chosen domain of management. There are a number of key aspects to management, and various topical areas of managerial studies can provide interesting choices for the project you choose to go for. Admissions Closing Soon | Online MBA Programs !

Here is a list of some of the most explored topical domains in MBA in which you can consider exploring a case or conducting your very own study as a project. 

  • Marketing Management 

The domain of marketing management, as the name suggests, is a subject that explores the management of the marketing functions for progressing business development of an organisation. Marketing management is a vast arena in which you can further dive into areas like marketing strategy formulation, modes of marketing like digital marketing, print marketing etc., brand management, consumer behaviour, marketing analysis etc. Also Available | Online MBA Programs Marketing !

  • Finance Management 

Financial management entails the detailed study of the aspects related to finances in a business or organisational venture with the aim of maximising the financial output and assets of the venture. In addition to financial management in an enterprise, it also includes the study of aspects like banking, investments, stock brokerage, financial services like insurance and financial covers and so on. As a student, you can explore any of these areas for a potentially unique project. Also Available | Online MBA Programs Finance ! 

  • Human Resource Management

With rising recognition of the centrality of human processes in the organisational realm, human resource management has expanded manifold and encompasses the management and streamlining of various processes and phenomenon related to the human resources, i.e. the members of any organisation–ranging from recruitment, selection, training, grievance redressal, performance appraisal, termination formalities and more. These can also act as potential areas for you to research and complete a project on. Also Available | Online MBA Programs Human Resource !

  • Operations Management

Operations management is a subject domain that pertains to enhancing the effectiveness of formal organisational processes and operations to maximise the organisational outputs and performance. Various interesting domains related to operations management to explore through projects include those like operations strategy, quality management, internal quality assurance, supply chain management, inventory management, service operations, capacity planning etc. Also Available | Online MBA Programs Operations ! 

  • Project Management

In the contemporary professional landscape which is characterised by specific projects requiring unique operations and maximum outputs, project management is one of the key areas of management specialisations. The study of project management includes all aspects starting from project strategy, plan formulation, goal-setting, task allocation, supervision of operations in the project, evaluation of outcomes and quality assurance of a project. All these are areas ripe with potential for further exploration through capstone projects. Also Available | Online MBA Programs Project Management !

  • Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship

This is one of the major up and coming specialisation areas in management. With massive successes of entrepreneurship ventures, managers and professionals now try to encapture effective entrepreneurship and strategizing through formal education. As a result, there is a vast scope for uncovering details related to the area of strategy formulation for organisations as well as entrepreneurship and its potential for success. This can be taken up for in-depth study by an MBA student through a course project, especially in the form of case studies. Also Available | Online MBA Programs Entrepreneurship and Leadership !

  • Holistic Project 

In addition to exploring specific subject areas in your MBA course, another interesting approach towards your project could be to understand various aspects of management holistically through multiple perspectives. This can be a very useful approach if you want to conduct an overall case study for a particular organisation by understanding the entire context of management across domains. 

Other Potential Areas to Consider

Herein, we have mentioned a few other plausible areas related to management that can be of interest to MBA students and in which projects can be taken up for further exploration as well.

  • Supply Chain Management 
  • Logistics Management 
  • Business Analytics 
  • International Business Management 
  • Information Technology (IT) Management
  • Digital Marketing 
  • Hospitality Management 

Top 15 Project Ideas for MBA for Freshers

Enlisted here are 15 ideas and topics for conducting a project as a fresher in your MBA curriculum. These ideas are unique and meaningful for contribution to the academic understanding of management in addition to adding an edge to your career and portfolio in the future. Find further details related to the projects mentioned below. 

1.  Project on Comparative Analysis of Investment Options in India

An interesting area for a project related to financial management and investments, exploring the popularity of various options for investment within the country can provide insights about the altered trends in the popularity of those options. There are options for investment in India like purchase of gold, investments, stocks, mutual funds, cryptocurrency and more, which are at the forefront of the Indian investment sector.

mba business plan project

Some of these options are gaining prominent attention in recent years while some of them are conventionally more popular. A further step in the analysis of your project can be a year-wise trends analysis of their popularity, a region-wise popularity and a survey about the perceived advantages and disadvantages of each of these options. 

2.  Upcoming Developments in Total Quality Management in the Private Sector 

Related to the domain of operations management, total quality management or TQM as it is popularly known, is an approach of quality check and assurance in an organisation by triangulation of data from multiple sources, multiple levels and multiple modes and multiple stages of the operational chain of production. While the field is being taken up as the central and most effective way of quality management, it is yet to be fully integrated into the organisational ecosystem in many organisations even in the private sector.

mba business plan project

Thus, through this project, a student can explore how TQM is being taken up by private sector organisations as well as the new and innovative developments that are coming up in this domain in recent years with the introduction of integrative technologies like AI and ML. 

3.  SWOT Analysis of Government Banks in India

A SWOT analysis is a tool for analysis of a unit’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for growth (S-W-O-T) and can be used as an effective strategic tool to understand the competitive positionality of a company in the economy as well as plan further actions for maximisation of internal and external potential. A student who wishes to conduct a project requiring activities and case studies can take up an institution/organisation case study from the Indian banking sector and conduct their own SWOT analysis on it to understand how well it is doing and keeping up with modern practices. 

4.  Impact of GST on FMCG Ventures in India

Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) chains in India are a major industry and contribute significantly to the economy. They have major impacts across a number of domains in the national economy including the retail sector and the primary production sector. Understanding the changes and impact on this industrial sector due to the introduction of GST or Goods and Services Tax is an interesting arena for further exploration considering how vastly it has hit the production sectors in India.

mba business plan project

A comparative analysis of a few case studies, understanding and analysing the best practices to ensure success and upcoming practices to keep up with such changes are a few of the pertinent areas that the student can explore through the project.

5.  Analysis of Shifting Marketing Trends due to Digitalisation

A major subdomain that has emerged quite prominently in marketing management in recent years is that of digital marketing. Tapping on the digitization of market spaces as well as widespread use of digital social networking sites and applications, digital marketing ventures have transformed the notions of modern marketing strategies completely. An MBA project exploring the shifts in the trends associated with digital marketing in the Indian sectors, both private and public, can be quite a pertinent area for a project at the MBA level, especially with respect to scope for future development. 

6.  Case Studies of Powerful Women Leaders & CEOs across India

An important aspect often studied in management, especially in domains like HRM and entrepreneurship is leadership. A study of women leaders can be quite an interesting project to take up. A student can analyse various aspects through such a case study like leadership and management styles, contextual factors and company’s success, satisfaction of subordinates with the leader, decision-making strategies and setbacks experienced as a woman in a leading position.

mba business plan project

Such a case study can be a powerful addition to a student’s resume and portfolio as it is a socially relevant topic related to management. 

7.  Studying Employee Grievance Redressal in the Modern Workspaces

With the rising awareness of employees across the globe about their rights, responsibilities, standards of ethical and appropriate workplace behaviour and abuse, grievance redressal has come to take a central position in HRM and organisational management. Thus, studying the current strategies and practices for grievance redressal in modern workspaces like corporate firms, large enterprise, MNCs and MNEs etc. can be a highly useful and insightful project idea. The student can take the course further by analysing the differences in PSUs and private firms with respect to grievance redressal, use of technological measures and integration of AI and ML technologies for addressing employee concerns. 

8.  Exploration of Transcendental Leadership in Start-Ups 

Transcendental leadership is another upcoming approach to leadership wherein the leader’s influence and supervision on the employees and followers pervades beyond a physical office space to digital spaces and means of influence. This phenomenon is gaining rising attention in both the academic and applied fields of management as newer AI technologies and digital means of influence and supervision are coming up. An interesting project in this domain can be in the form of an existing case study of transcendental leadership or an exploratory study of the practices in this domain. This can be an interesting project to take up as it is a novel and currently underexplored area in management studies. 

9.  Use of Internet of Things (IoT) in Organisational Management 

Internet of things (IoT) is a latest technology wherein a number of physical electric/electronic devices can be connected to one another for seamless transfer and syncing of data without human intervention. Usually, devices connected through IoT use wireless connections such as the internet or bluetooth. While IoT is already frequently being used in healthcare, health management, home appliance interconnection etc. it can be effectively used in organisational systems and further integrated with technologies like AI, ML, DBMS (for data recording) and so on to maximise the operational and IT efficiency of the company. This can be quite an innovative and unique domain to explore. If you are interested in IT management, you can also work towards creating your own model for use of IoT in the organisational domain.  

10.  Analysis of Strategy Development in Successful Entrepreneurships 

Strategy formation and its effective implementation is one of the cornerstones for the success of entrepreneurships. While each entrepreneur has their unique vision and goal for the start-up they want to come up with, certain key perspectives, best practices and strategies can set apart the ones that flourish on a long-term basis. A study on successful entrepreneurship with specific attention to their strategic plan and action can be an interesting project idea that provides the scope for the student to see the real-world application of leadership, management and entrepreneurial concepts and principles while gaining real-world guided insights. 

11.  Case Study of Lean Six Sigma Implementation in Companies

Lean six sigma technologies, originally developed by Motorola in 1980s, are an effective tool that can support and enhance the business processes of organisations by closer and systematic management of goals and operations in the organisation through defining their goal, measuring it effectively, analysing processes, improving upon them and further controlling the optimal operations in an effort to freeze them and not regress to ineffective practices.

mba business plan project

This project can be taken up from a holistic perspective of management or from a specific perspective of team management, strategic management, IT management, operations management etc.  

12.  Operations Optimisation in Healthcare Institutions 

Healthcare institutions and hospitals are an industry wherein the maximisation of efficiency is highly needed to make the best use of resources that are expensive as well as limited in nature. Thus, operations optimization to cut on the wastage and inefficient use of resources is very important for efficient practices. This can be a project area that a student can take up for their MBA project as it is quite relevant and meaningful, especially with respect to resource utilisation in the public sector. To take their project a step further, the student can go beyond their case study to create their own model to maximise the efficiency of operational procedures in the healthcare industry. 

13.  Model Development for Demand Forecasting and Planning 

Demand forecasting and planning refers to the supply management principle of the use of historical data to predict the demand for a product in the future. Demand forecasting and planning are understandably crucial aspects of supply management and production management in the organisational sector considering they help firms to meet the consumer demands and streamline their operations and production accordingly. Students pursuing an MBA and interested in supply management and logistics can work towards doing thorough research and developing their own model for demand forecasting and effective strategic planning to meet demands as a project. They can focus on a specific industry and sector to enhance the field applicability of their model.

14.  Case Study of Financial Management during Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions are organisational phenomena that have high stakes implications at multiple organisational levels, of which the financial stakes are often the highest for both the candidate organisations. M&As require careful and nuanced financial analysis, due diligence testing and management after the enterprises merge to enhance the productivity and maximise the profits of the merged firm.

mba business plan project

A case study of a conglomerate on the various aspects of such an M&A venture from a financial management perspective can be a good starting point for a beginner in an MBA. Further refinement and extensions of the project can be done through comparative analyses with other M&As, understanding the reasons for failure of M&As as well as critical analyses of case studies.

15.  Detailed Behaviour Financial Analysis Project 

Lastly, if a candidate is interested in learning about the nuances and psychology of investments by individuals, they can work on a behavioural analysis project of investors in various stocks and avenues. A detailed exploratory project in this domain of behavioural financial analysis can be taken up, either through primary data collection or secondary data collection methods. This can be quite a novel project to take on in an MBA program and can be a meaningful addition to one’s project portfolio as well. 

How to Pick the Right MBA Project for Yourself?

Even though there are a multiplicity of ideas and references to consider while choosing a project for your MBA, you can face a lot of dilemma and confusion as to the final choice you make about a topic. Pertinent questions such as the viability of the project, the presence of existing literature on the topic, the relevance of the topic and its alignment with your ultimate career and academic goals can make the choice even tougher. 

However, keeping a few considerations in mind while making the decision can help you be more informed and certain about your choice while also allowing for greater confidence in the selection of the project that interests and suits you. Here we have mentioned a few key do’s and don’ts to consider while choosing an idea for your MBA capstone project: 

  • List out all areas of potential interest to you and you can further work towards narrowing the best ones down as you progress. 
  • Research about available areas of your interest by studying latest journals, developments and research in the field to get a grasp of the concept. At this point, you can eliminate a few of the potential interest areas depending upon the research saturation in the area. 
  • Identify if there are any existing gaps in literature and understanding of a phenomenon in any of your research areas and if you have any breakthroughs about addressing those lacunae through your project. 
  • Brainstorm ideas for your identified area of interest while considering factors like the relevance and originality of the study, addressing the existing gaps in understanding of the phenomenon you choose, the appropriate methodology of the research/project, the design of the project and its feasibility and so on. 
  • In addition to addressing these questions, you can also continue researching about the area to gain further clarity about how you can complete the project on the chosen topic. 
  • You can also seek guidance from your peers and mentors for refining your project idea. 
  • Lastly, while finalising your project area, consider if the project aligns with your long-term academic and professional goals in management. 

By keeping these considerations in mind, it is likely that you would end up selecting a project topic that is unique, relevant and of interest to you. Selecting a topical area for a capstone project can be a crucial decision impacting the learning experience of the MBA student and their future prospects, but when guided by the right information and advice, can be meaningful and motivating to the student to pursue. 

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Conclusion .

As can be seen, management is a vast area to be explored through projects and research. As part of the curriculum of an MBA course, students are often mandated to conduct detailed projects on an area of their interest for fulfilment of degree requirements. For a beginner or fresher starting to learn about management, the choice of an original project topic can be challenging. Through this blog we have tried to highlight 15 project areas that can be considered for an MBA project by freshers, along with tips to arrive at the right choice for their project topic. 

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

⭐ which is a good topic for an mba project.

Some of the top topics to consider while selecting an MBA project include consumer behaviour, quality management, performance review, transcendental leadership, SWOT analysis of companies, digital marketing and its influence in business growth in various sectors etc. 

⭐ Which subject is the best to complete a project for MBA?

Some of the best subjects to complete a project for your MBA course include those like marketing management, entrepreneurship and strategy management, HRM, financial management, project management etc. 

⭐ Does an MBA project need to be specialisation-specific?

If your course requires you to take up a project in the first year of an MBA wherein the core managerial courses are taught, you need not take up a project specifically for your specialisation. But if you have already taken up a specific specialisation in the second year of your course, it is preferable to pursue a project in that area or an area related to it. 

⭐ Is a capstone project mandatory for completing an MBA?

Yes, for the curricula of MBA in most management institutions, a mini project or a capstone project or a full-term dissertation is necessary for completion of the course and provision of the degree to the candidate. Since projects have been identified as central to adding skills and competencies in addition to knowledge proficiency, they have been mandated at the PG level in the MBA by higher educational and framework bodies of India. 

⭐ How can I select the right topic for an MBA project?

For selecting the right topic for an MBA project, you should consider your key areas of interest, research about specific domains in those areas that you would wish to explore further, conduct literature review to identify the existing gaps in those areas and select a final area that fits well with your interests, academic and professional goals and is relevant to current frontiers and developments in the field of management.

⭐ What projects can MBA students do?

MBA students can do various projects like case study analysis, model development, detailed research, intervention studies, case vignette analyses and so on. They also have the benefit of being able to choose the project they want from the vast variety of domains of management studies.

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What is the Capstone Project? (Class of March 2024 and previous)

The Capstone Project is the culminating project of the Executive MBA program in which you will develop a complete business plan and pitch presentation based on the business idea of your choice. Students will submit the written business plan and either present to Quantic academic team members in a live video conference or submit a recorded presentation for their final grade. This project may be completed in a group or individually. Learners use this as an opportunity to apply frameworks and skills learned throughout the program as they consider all elements of a potential business. 

Important dates—including the Capstone Kickoff, Check-Ins, and submission deadlines for your business plan and presentation—can be found in your course schedule . You will receive more information about the project during the Capstone Kickoff week, as per your schedule. 

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MBA Programs: Business Plan Proposal

Executive summary, purpose of the plan.

The main aim of this plan is to outline a start-up MBA program targeting the UK, China, and India Markets. The name of the proposed University will be London MBA School which will be located in southern London. The major activities of the University will be grouped into four categories at the beginning: – accounting, business administration, finance, and investments. This plan aims to be a solid basis for the pursuance of the MBA programs that will guide the operations and management of the University. It will also serve as a tool to acquire financial funding for the University.

University descriptions

The location of the University will offer advantages like high demand, security, good infrastructure, area busy with other business activities, and good return of investment. Among those short-term goals of the University, it will be aimed at increasing its revenue by 10 -15% in three years and employing 20 lecturers within 2 years. The long-term goals of the University are to open new branches after 3 years in India and China. The University is aimed at offering quality MBA programs to global students.

Marketing plan

Through research carried out in London the investor identified some of the students that will be interested to pursue MBA programs. The University shall face competition from universities in the UK offering the same services. The education system is said to be generating approximately £ 20 million in revenue in London Universities alone per year. We have done comprehensive research on both its strong points and its weakness. The University plans to:

  • Improve the work on the threats in the SWOT analysis and eliminate the weak spots in the competitors
  • Ensure and maintain good student relations
  • Play a smart and creative to overcome the competitor’s tactics
  • Invest in the lecturers to ensure talent retention poaching from the competitors.

The University has identified three market segments that will be the target market of the MBA programs, Indian students, China, and the UK. The University will use various communication tools for example website information and brochures to advertise to create more awareness about the MBA programs.

Organization and management plan

The University shall head by the proprietor assisted by assistants. Further employees will be assigned duties in their areas of specialization to promote efficiency in service delivery. The proprietor will ensure that the objectives of the University are achieved.

Operation Plan

The University needs a lot of money to start its operation. At the start, the university will rent premises and books that will be required daily while others will be acquired later. This plan is flexible to change through its organizational plan.

Financial plan

This forms the most integral part of the University. The pre-operational costs will take a total amount of £ 600,000. The working capital will be £ 150,000. The revenues of the whole year will be £ 680,000 with a total cash inflow of £ 655,000. The total expected expenses at the end of the year add up to £ 450,000. The university will get a total net profit of £ 230,000 at the end of the financial year.

Introduction

The changing business climate all over the globe is demanding more and more business leaders and administrators. For a person who has a vision of setting up an international business, it is crucial to acquire hands-on experience before embarking on such a project. Having acquired basic experience, it has become apparent that it will not be enough to guarantee success.

This university will offer Global MBA Programs with a principal focus on the management of corporate. The university should be able to bring together people from different cultures thus bringing the international community together. This university will be able to bring these factors together.

London MBA School

London MBA School will attract many students to its programs due to their admirable and attractive programs. Many students will be motivated to join the London School of MBA to pursue MBA programs because of its advantages. The university will be strategically placed as well as well marketed for international and local universities. The university will provide a good research department in the areas of banking and finance. This will act as a persuasion factor for many students to join London MBA School. The records of teaching and research in the fields of MBA will not only be excellent but also superior in terms of quality compared to all other Universities in the UK offering similar programs.

Most Universities that are committed to offering quality academic programs to the satisfaction of students always do so at high costs that most potential students are incapable of meeting. However, at London MBA School the quality remains intact; uncompromised while the cost of living is also relatively low especially in the southern part of London. With the relatively low cost of living one would thus prefer to study at London MBA School and gain the much-needed quality training and competence that meets global market demands of professional human resources. The dynamism of the world’s economic and institutional structures calls for the professionalism that is embedded in practicality and knowledge founded on current issues in business management.

At London MBA School, MBA courses are specially designed to meet the academic needs of various students. Such students could be having relevant business backgrounds wishing to further their education in their areas of interest and gain competence in the management field (Sutherland & Crowther 2006, p. 73). Therefore the institutions’ curriculum, commitment to research, the conducive and student-friendly environment, and expertise and experience of lecturers in the business field leaves one greatly agitated and persuaded to learn at this University. The curriculum for MBA is structured and the course instructors are famous and renowned for their previous written articles and authors of great books that form the literature for the course work. It is thus this great competence, professionalism, and experience of the professors and lecturers that motivated me to consider this University (Kreitner & Kinicki 2010, p. 12). It is the culture of the University’s professors and lecturers to build close relationships with the students. This helps students in finding solutions to various challenges in the course of their studies, projects and gives reassurance to students.

MBA programs Overview

The MBA program will help international students to acquire knowledge relating to international business management. The process of imparting knowledge will involve the behavior, competencies, and personal values of international students (Ziegler 1995, p. 34). Our MBA programs will meet international standards as one of the best MBA programs in the world. The program will operate in partnership with various universities in China and India universities. Though this school is one of the best European schools, the MBA program would attract more customers if it ensures a continuous operation of the program throughout the year in different locations (Ziegler, 1995, p. 45).

The main purpose for international students in attending MBA programs at London MBA School is to attain three core values. For instance, they want to learn the style of the different cultures of management, understand the international business environment and their way of reasoning and reacting to situations, and their mode of communication. All these actions greatly influence business either negatively or positively. International students are interested in working for multinational Corporations that originally come from the west hence seek to understand the requirement to qualify for positions available in these corporations. In addition, the students are open-minded and aim at grabbing opportunities that enhance the development of their skills at the global market (DeAngelis, 2008).

London MBA school programs will act socializing ground for students to understand the core values of each culture and the values of leadership in some cultures. The program develops trust and loyalty among its student thus promoting the possibility of productive interaction even after the students have left the school. This will lay a ground for the student to come together in the future as an Alumnus for purpose of developing competent leadership at the global level.

The students who will pursue the MBA program in London MBA School will be thought to be creative and analytical, skills that are required in the modern internal business (Hartel 2005, p. 75). The global market demands of human resources do suit individuals who are tailored extrinsic The ability to relate the banking and finance concepts to the concepts in other disciplines like economics is greatly enhanced by the deep learning approach.

The deep approach to learning enables a learner to actively engage with programs ideas, concepts, and theories aimed at assessing (Rosenberg 2006, p. 43). The contents, coursework, and research work in MBA would be easy to synthesize through and understand (Ziegler 1995, p. 54). This is so because the deep learning approach that is my preference is greatly complemented by the program modules and the lecture approaches of the professors and lecturers at London MBA School. The university academic staff works in collaboration with students to help the student acquire accurate and updated information and knowledge in their area of specialization (Ohisson 2010, p. 28). The deep learning approach would thus support me and create an enabling environment for me to articulate my needs to the interactive course instructors at the University. This is because the approach enables me to link up with other students in the same course for group discussions and further critical examination and analysis of the theoretical concepts and principles discussed in class (Weigel 2002, p. 112). The skills and knowledge acquired through deep learning remain inherent in one’s learning process (Ziegler 1995, p. 55).

Mission Statement

London MBA School ‘s mission is to bring to market the best MBA programs to the market. High standards of quality and excellence will be established at the university.

London MBA School will devote 2% of its profits to local activities. London MBA School ‘s objective is to keep things simple. The core internal mission statements are:

  • How well do students want to be treated?
  • What will make students join our university

Keys to Success

London MBA School ‘s keys to success will be building on its internal brand recognition to provide its future university complete support. Market penetration strategy combined with image programs differentiation will be one of the university’s key success factors. Creating strong student values by instilling a student-driven approach to recruiting lecturers, and by maintaining a culture of an open, friendly atmosphere will no doubt create a casual fun-loving image.

Target market

The university will target students from various countries but, to begin with from India, China, and the UK. These three countries require internationally trained workers because of the growth rates and multinationals those are operating in their countries (Griffin and Moorehead, 2010). These segments are a special group of students, a specific geographic area, or a particular service line. After conducting research about the above-discussed aspects and gathering adequate and necessary information, marketing strategies have to be designed, after the program development and the analysis of marketing opportunities. Specific strategies suitable to the target market have to be developed, even while the service enters the different stages of its life cycle. Strategies that are thus developed at these stages should be so effective that competitive advantage is always sustained.

SWOT analysis

This analysis avails information that matches the university’s potential to be competitive in the market (Smith and Chaffey, 2005).

One of the strengths the university should consider is the resources at their disposal. The owner has wealth of experience that will enable the university to compete well in the market. In addition, the university offers unique programs that will target students from Asia and UK. London MBA School will be one of the pioneering universities to offer only MBA programs in the area

Simply refer to the absence of certain strengths and include lack of patent protection, poor reputation among students, and high-cost structure. The university’s main weakness is that it has remained focused on only MBA programs which will limit the market. Although specialization can be considered as an important strength for any university, the potential problem lies in the lack of diversity especially should competition starts to come in. Other weaknesses include financing the start-up and obtaining further working capital (Ries and Jack, 2000).

Critical Issues

The university brand is in the development stages and its success will depend on the nature of service delivery to the market. some of the critical issues will involve empowering lecturers to make informed decisions as if they’re owners of the university. The

Opportunities

Are considered beneficial outlets that lead to profit and growth. They include a student’s need, incorporation of new technologies, favorable regulations, and removal of unnecessary stringent trade barriers. China and India are growing very fast and they require educated people (Mitchell, 1993).

Do lead to poor university performance and include shifts in students away from our programs and an increase in completion. A good understanding of the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats allows for an informed analysis of the university (Kotler and Kevin, 2006).

PEST analysis

Being the largest global University, London MBA School will focus on the international environment. The university’s position in the PESTEL analysis is very strong in terms of the economic, social, technological, and environmental factors, but its standing in the political and legal factors is very weak. Any other involvement of the university in either of these factors would result in them losing its market share in the world (Cross & Miller, 2008; Kotare and Helena 2004).

Management and Ownership

The university will be managed by the owner who will oversee the day-to-day operation. The owner is an experienced educational manager, who has over 20 years of experience in education and holds an MBA degree. The owner has extensive knowledge in evaluating and implementing marketing strategies.

Market Needs

At the moment there are many universities in London, but the market is dominated by the London school of management. There exists a need in the market for a specialist university that incorporates the MBA student’s concerns without compromising the excellence. The University’s main aim is to respond quickly and deliver quality education to local and international students who are looking for higher education. The university introduces its services by targeting all people with the ability to join a university and willing to increase their educational background. The education services that are offered by the university needs the student’s needs by covering almost all faculties, being delivered by the best lecturers using the current modern technology innovations. The university is working in collaboration with other international institutions in marketing itself as a one-stop university for international students. They provide quality education in an efficient way to all students from English-speaking countries. the specific target markets initially were London and the environment however due to internationalization and globalization the university has evolved to include all students from other parts of the world with enough income to meet the fee charged by the university (Clow, 2009).

Marketing mix

The marketing mix plays an important role in formulating and implementing a marketing strategy for companies. 4 Ps have been developed and extended to the 7 Ps with the appearance of People, Process, and Physical evidence on to the price, promotion, and place. It provides an effective strategic framework for changing different elements of a university’s product offering to influence the demand for services within the target market (Kotare and Helena 2004).

Service: the university will offer MBA programs only

Price: the university will charge a price which is lower than their competitors

Place:  the university will be in southern London.

Promotion:  internet and brochures will be used in marketing

Financial Analysis

This section will discuss the initial start-up costs, financial assumptions, and revenue forecast. The initial cost will cover all expenses in the first month of operation. The financial assumptions section will be the basis for the revenues forecast and the achievable net gross and net profit.

Funds Required and Use

The owner will look for investors to inject £ 600,000 to cover the initial operating expenses of the university.

Conclusions and Recommendations

As part of business usual procedures, London MBA School needs to determine their financial needs and engage in advantages. Advertising will be a key factor in the success of the MBA programs. It is, therefore, necessary to invest in advertising to maximize the potentials of the university.

List of References

Clow, E. 2009. Integrated Advertising Promotion and Marketing Communication. Chicago: Pearson Education.

Cross, F. B., & Miller, R. L. 2008. The Legal Environment of Business: Text and Cases — Ethical, Regulatory, Global, and E-Commerce Issues. New Jersey: South-Western College/West.

DeAngelis, T. 2008. Peterson’s MBA Programs 2009 , New Jersey: Petersons.

Griffin, W. & Moorehead, G. 2010. Organizational behavior: managing people and organizations. Mason: South-Western/Cengage Learning.

Hartel, C., Zerbe, W., & Ashkanasy, M. 2005. Emotions in organizational behavior . New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Kotare, M. & Helena, K. 2004. Global Marketing Management . New York: John Wiley and Sons

Kotler, P., & Kevin, L. 2006. Marketing Management . New Jersey: Pearson- Prentice Hall

Kreitner, R., & Kinicki, A. 2010, Organizational behavior. Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Mitchell, A. 1993. Advertising Exposure, Memory and Choice . New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Miner, J., 2007. Organizational behavior, from theory to practice . New York: M.E. Sharpe.

Ohisson, S. 2010. Deep learning; how the mind overrides experience . Cambridge University Press: Cambridge

Ries, A. & Jack, T 2000, Positioning- The Battle for Your Mind. New Jersey : McGraw-Hill

Rosenberg, J., 2006. Beyond e-learning: approaches and technologies to enhance organizational knowledge, learning, and performance. San Francisco: Pfeiffer.

Smith, P., & Chaffey, D. 2005. E-marketing Excellence: at the Heart of E-business. New York: Butterworth-Heinemann

Sutherland, P., & Crowther, J., 2006. Lifelong learning: concepts and contexts . New York: Taylor & Francis Group.

Weigel, V., 2002. Deep learning for a digital age: technology’s untapped potential to enrich higher education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Ziegler, W. 1995. Ways of enspiriting: transformative practices for the twenty-first century . Denver: FIA International LLC.

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What is an MBA?

By  Michael Feder 

Paper airplane in flight

This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.  Read more about our editorial process.

Kathryn Uhles

Reviewed by Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP, Dean, College of Business and IT

In this article

What is an mba program.

  • Should you pursue an MBA?
  • How to pursue an MBA

Exploring specialized MBA programs

  • MBA at University of Phoenix

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is a graduate degree that emphasizes leadership, management and marketing skills across a range of business operations.  

Applicable to a wide range of business careers, an MBA is well known among graduate business degrees and can feel like a natural next step to those who already have a BS. As a highly recognized credential around the world, it can feel like a natural next step for business professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and career potential.

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I get an MBA?” read on to learn more about what you’ll learn in an MBA program, plus its costs, career alignment and more.

An MBA is a type of graduate degree in business. Business administration refers to managing the operations of a commercial enterprise.

As a master’s-level degree, an MBA program typically requires a bachelor’s degree for admission. However, every university has its own admissions requirements. Some universities require prospective students to take certain courses before enrolling if they have a non-business-related undergraduate degree. University of Phoenix does not necessarily require this, although prospective MBA students must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited university and meet a certain GPA threshold, among other factors.

MBA coursework typically covers areas like accounting, finance, marketing and operations, as well as “people skills” like leadership and communication. There are different types of MBA programs, such as online, flexible and competency-based (CB) MBAs. Unlike a traditional MBA, a competency-based degree is designed for professionals with a business degree and experience working in the field. This allows students to apply what they already know to earn their degree faster.

MBAs can also be earned with an accounting or HR certificate, giving graduates specialized knowledge in a critical business function. Unlike undergraduate degrees in business , which tend to focus on foundational knowledge, MBA programs emphasize more in-depth expertise.

Interested in a business career? Explore business degrees at University of Phoenix!

What is the difference between an MBA and a master's?

An MBA is a type of master’s degree. But unlike business-oriented master’s degrees that focus on a single subject, such as a master’s in management or finance, an MBA covers multiple areas of business for a comprehensive understanding of operations. Knowing what is in an MBA degree can help you decide if it’s right for you.

MBA coursework is designed to prepare students to manage business operations effectively and successfully by emphasizing strategic planning, marketing analysis, entrepreneurship and more. Students gain an overview of each function as well as how they work together to develop strategic leadership skills. 

What can you do with an MBA?

An MBA is often a stepping stone to managerial and leadership roles. It may even be required for executive-level jobs.

The job outlook for these kinds of positions is promising: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected more than 1 million openings in management occupations each year from 2022 through 2032. This can include positions such as business manager , general manager (GM), operations director and administrative director. Employers may prefer an MBA for some positions.

An MBA on a resumé may enhance career opportunities by showing proof of business expertise and an ability to handle critical business decisions and planning. Knowing what you can do with an MBA may help you decide if it’s the right degree for you. 

Should you pursue an MBA? 

Pursuing an MBA is a personal decision. If you want a leadership position in a business, an MBA can be a good investment. But it’s important to consider several factors first.

For example, MBA tuition can be significant, and you must decide if that investment in your education is worth it to you in terms of career goals and personal fulfillment. Earning an MBA enhances your practical and theoretical knowledge in the field of business and can be useful to various career paths. You’ll have to make time in your schedule to focus on coursework, however, even for a limited time while earning your degree, and this may be difficult if you also work a full-time job. This could impact time with family and other personal obligations.

Some people may decide they will benefit more from an MBA with a few years of work experience, while others may want to start a program right after earning a bachelor’s degree.

Consider the application process as well. Some programs require applicants to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and submit a personal essay and letters of recommendation. However, at University of Phoenix you don’t need the GMAT, GRE , recommendation letters or essays for the standard MBA program — just a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. See further requirements on the University of Phoenix admissions page . 

Is getting an MBA hard?

Many people have concerns and misconceptions about how hard it is to earn an MBA. Consider that the MBA is the most popular graduate degree in the United States. While coursework is designed to be challenging, it may not be as demanding as specialized degrees in science or engineering, for example. However, students do have to analyze and synthesize information, conduct research, write papers and collaborate on projects.

Perhaps one of the biggest concerns about earning an MBA is managing the time requirements. Students need to be able to meet deadlines for studying and assignments while also finding time for family and other responsibilities, such as work.

Here are some tips to help navigate this balancing act:

  • If you’re already a professional working in the business field, you can choose a self-led or flexible program, such as University of Phoenix’s Competency-Based MBA.
  • Block out time every week for studying and homework.
  • Talk to a partner or family members about how they could help, such as by taking on more household tasks.
  • See where you can temporarily cut back on social or volunteer commitments.

It’s important to take time to relax as well. Managing stress effectively is essential to quality learning and getting the most out of an MBA program.

How much does an MBA program cost?

An MBA program’s cost depends on a number of factors, such as the type of institution (private, public, online) and whether you have to pay out-of-state tuition fees.

At University of Phoenix, the 2023–2024 Cost of Attendance (COA) estimates that the tuition and fees for a master’s degree are $16, 128* for the academic year. This does not include costs like books, supplies and other course materials that may be needed. Review the master’s COA breakdown further on the UOPX website . If you’re interested in a master’s credit-based CB, the 2023–2024 COA tuition and fees are estimated to be $7,200. Review the master’s credit-based COA breakdown on the UOPX website

Students may be eligible for financial aid to help cover the cost of their program. In addition, some employers may have tuition reimbursement programs or be willing to pay full or partial tuition for employees they want to promote internally, although CB programs at UOPX are not eligible for employer tuition discounts or military tuition rates.

*The tuition component of the cost of attendance is based on a per-credit weighted average for the credential level across the entire University.

Estimated salary ranges

An MBA can help prepare you to pursue management and leadership positions. For example, according to BLS, the annual wage range for all management occupations, such as business manager, occupational manager and sales manager, was $50,290 to $220,500 as of May 2022 . Of course, salary ranges vary by occupation and other factors, such as location, experience and company, among others. 

In general, research shows that higher levels of education translate to higher pay . Workers with more education are also less likely to face unemployment.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

How to pursue an MBA 

The first step to pursuing an MBA is to have a bachelor’s degree. For those whose undergraduate degree is not in an area of business, it can be helpful to have at least a few years of work experience.

Research the types of MBA programs, their curricula and costs. Decide if you want to take an online or in-person program, study part or full time and whether you want a standard, accelerated or self-paced course of study.

Knowing how long it takes to get an MBA can help narrow your options, so compare credit requirements and average completion times for programs you research.

When you’ve decided on the programs you are interested in, look at the application and admission requirements. Some programs may require you to take the GMAT or GRE as a condition of admission.

Fill out the application, which may ask for your academic records, work history and reasons for pursuing an MBA. When you’ve gathered all the application materials, submit them as directed.

What is an MBA progrma like?

MBA programs provide a well-rounded business education that prepares students to tackle the challenges of business leadership. Their structure usually includes a core curriculum and electives. At UOPX, however, electives are not offered. MBA programs may also include optional specializations.

Core courses focus on fundamental business areas as well as topics like statistics, economics and quantitative analysis. If electives are provided in a specific program, they provide the option to explore areas of particular interest in more depth, such as international business, entrepreneurship or digital marketing.

Many classes in online master's business degrees offer hands-on learning by incorporating real-world business cases and projects into coursework. Coursework often culminates in a major project, which may be a written report, thesis or presentation. Although this may vary depending on the specific program.

Duration of MBA programs

Many prospective students ask, “How long does it take to get an MBA?” Depending on the type of Master of Business Administration program and the number of classes you take, an MBA usually takes about two years.

The MBA program at University of Phoenix can take as little as 16 months . Some students complete the degree faster by taking an accelerated program, doubling up on classes or being a full-time student.

The MBA-CB program can be completed in less than 12 months. The primary difference between the traditional program and the CB program is how the courses are scheduled. In the CB program, students take four courses at one time over 16 weeks, while in the traditional program, students take one 6-week course at a time.  

Dual degree programs offer a way to combine general business expertise with advanced studies in a specific area in less time than it would take to earn two master’s degrees separately. There are also competency-based programs.

Dual MHA/MBA degree program

A dual Master of Health Administration/Master of Business Administration program provides the comprehensive business administration education of an MBA with studies focused on the administrative and business aspects of the healthcare industry, such as the regulatory environment and the impact of economic and financial factors.

An MHA/MBA program can prepare students to work effectively as leaders of healthcare and health-related facilities and organizations.

Compentency-based MBA degrees

In a Master of Business Administration Competency-Based (CB ) degree program, students earn credit by demonstrating their ability in core skills rather than through traditional classes and homework. These programs are usually self-paced and emphasize practical ability.

Because students can gain credit for competencies they already have, competency-based MBAs are usually less expensive and take less time than traditional MBAs. Tuition for the University of Phoenix Competency-Based MBA is roughly estimated to be $11,000 and can be completed in 12 months.

MBA at University of Phoenix 

An MBA can be a smart investment in preparation for future opportunities. But it’s important to understand all that goes into pursuing an MBA, including the demands on your time and finances. Knowing what an MBA entails and how to find the best program are key to making an informed decision.

If you’re ready to take the next step, get started by learning more about your MBA options at University of Phoenix.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at University of Phoenix where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT. 

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The Business Plan

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Brief and Easy explanation, and a Guide for beginners and professionals about preparing and presenting a Business Plan and its content

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Yasin A Barre

The study aimed at determining the effect of strategic planning on financial performance of commercial bank in Mogadishu. The study was three objectives to examine the effect of goal setting on financial performance of commercial bank in Mogadishu, to identify the effect of generic strategies on financial performance of commercial bank in Mogadishu, to explain the effect of monitoring and evaluation on financial performance of commercial bank in Mogadishu A comprehensive literature review has been undertaken to understand various aspects of strategic planning as reviewed by other authors and researchers. The chapter has addressed the effects of goal setting on financial performance; effects of Generic strategies implementation on financial performance and effects of strategy monitoring and evaluation on financial performance Descriptive design was employed in the study. The population under study was 80 employees' working at two banks in Mogadishu IBS bank and Premier bank. Sample random sampling was used select the respondents into the study. A sample size of 67 participants was targeted in the study. The collection of primary data was facilitated through the use of questionnaires. The study found out that goal-setting was positive relationship with financial performance in commercial bank. The findings further indicated that there was a low positive correlation between goal-setting and financial performance (r=0.392; p=0.001). Generic strategies were low positive correlation between generic strategies and financial performance rated among the strategic planning of commercial bank (r=0.358; p=0.003). The study further found Strategic monitoring and evaluation was medium positive correlation with financial performance (r=0.608; p=0.000). In conclusion strategic planning have medium positive correlation of financial performance(r = .570; p=0.000) Since respondents agreed that strategic planning is more influenced factor in financial performance, researcher recommended giving them high effort, and Management of the institution is encouraged to enlarge their products and services to whole society.

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