Session 1
Introduction
The worksheets in this book are designed to create a comprehensive business plan that will serve as your roadmap for launching or growing a successful venture. By completing these worksheets, you will take a hard look at your business opportunity and decide whether you have the time, energy, desire and resources to take it to the next level.
How to Use the NxLeveL® Business Plan Workbook
There are worksheets for each of the 10 sessions. They will guide you through a series of self-evaluation exercises, as well as the step-by-step process of writing a NxLeveL® Business Plan that will help outsiders, partners, lenders and investors understand your business’s current stage of development and plans for growth. Most important, the process you go through to produce a well-researched business plan will lead you to a new level of understanding about your business.
The workbook should be completed in the order assigned in class. Don’t expect to finish every worksheet on your first try. Instead, keep a list of information you’ll need to research to complete the worksheets. You may find that your answers change as you learn more. That’s good! A business plan will naturally change as your ideas develop and improve.
Even if you don’t think of yourself as a good writer, make every effort to complete the written business plan sections. Remember: This is only the first draft of your business plan. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it can always be cleaned up and edited later.
Also, bear in mind that all businesses are different. It’s impossible to cover every business situation with general questions and worksheets. These worksheets focus on business knowledge and practices that are common to most businesses. In the end, it’s up to you to figure out what makes your business different and special within the context of your industry and marketplace.
If you are unsure of how to answer a question or complete a worksheet, ask your instructor for clarification.
There’s no denying that writing a business plan is a lot of work. But the insight you’ll gain by assessing your business and exploring growth opportunities will save you money, time, and energy in the long run.
The outline of the NxLeveL® Business Plan appears on the following pages.

NxLeveL® Business Plan Outline

Section | Worksheet Pages
Cover and Title Page | X-X
Table of Contents | X-X
Section I. Executive Summary | X-X
Section II. Business Concept
A. Business Description | X-X to X-X
B. Business Goals and Objectives | X-X and X-X
C. Industry Information
Industry Background | X-X
Current and Future Trends | X-X and X-X
Business Fit in the Industry | X-X
Section III. Business Organization and Operations
A. Business Structure, Management and Personnel
Business Structure | X-X
Personal Background Information | X-X and X-X
Management Team | X-X to X-X
Outside Services and Advisors | X-X and X-X
Personnel | X-X to X-X
B. Operations Plan
Site and Equipment | X-X to X-X
Purchasing and Inventory | X-X
Risk Management | X-X to X-X
Laws, Regulations and Taxes | X-X to X-X
Contracts and Leases | X-X and X-X
C. Managing Books and Records | X-X to X-X
Section IV. Marketing Plan
A. Products and Services
Product Description | X-X to X-X
Features and Benefits | X-X
B. Market Analysis
Customer Analysis | X-X to X-X
Competitive Analysis | X-X to X-X
Market Potential | X-X and X-X
C. Marketing Objectives, Strategies and Tactics
Product Strategy | X-X to X-X
Pricing Strategy | X-X and X-X
Placement Strategy | X-X
Promotional Strategy | X-X to X-X
D. Direct Sales and Customer Service
Sales Strategy | X-X to X-X
Customer Service Strategy | X-X to X-X
Section V. Financial Plan
A. Capital Requirements
Startup Costs | X-X
Loans, Grants and Self-Financing | X-X to X-X
B. Sales Forecasts | X-X
C. Cash Flow Projections
Monthly Cash Flow Projections–Year 1 | X-X to X-X
Annual Cash Flow Projections—Years 2 and 3 | X-X and X-X
Notes to Cash Flow Projections | X-X
D. Financial Statements
Sources and Uses Statement | X-X to X-X
Personal Financial Statement | X-X to X-X
Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Appendix | X-X to X-X

Writing Hints
This workbook is designed to build your NxLeveL® Business Plan section by section. The three-ring binder format allows you to add notebook paper as needed. It’s best to complete one section before tackling the next and to keep detailed notes on sections that require additional research and rewriting.
The length of your business plan depends on how much detail you include in each section. An average business plan consists of no more than 25 typed, single-spaced pages, plus attachments.
A short, straightforward plan is usually better than a long and complicated one. Don’t include information in your plan unless it’s essential to the reader’s understanding of your business idea. Text and graphs that don’t communicate essential facts about your business should either be left out or included in the Appendix as an optional resource.
Some people discover about halfway through the workbook that they want to change some of their ideas or assumptions. Although minor adjustments are to be expected, we advise you to complete the plan all the way through on your original idea. It’s best to develop a complete picture of your business before you start revising individual parts. It becomes much easier to make the right changes in the second draft. Many people rewrite and edit the plan several times.
Should your business plan look professional? The answer depends on how you’ll use it. If you want to use it to seek financing, then it needs to look as professional as possible. You may need some expert help to get it ready for lenders and investors. For the purpose of the NxLeveL® course, your plan simply needs to present your ideas, research, and analysis in a readable format. Your instructor will prefer that you submit a typed version with text on the right page only.
Using Your Plan
The first and foremost use of your business plan is as a management tool for you, the owner and manager of your business. For this reason, it should be a flexible document that allows you to adjust and reanalyze the individual parts of your business ideas before spending money on implementation. This flexibility increases your chance of success.
A business plan may also be used as a financing tool for getting loans or finding investors. A plan is generally required when seeking financing. It helps lenders make decisions more quickly and easily. It may also be used to inform family members and employees of your goals.
Launching a business is like planning a journey: You need a clear, detailed, up-to-date map. We hope the NxLeveL® Business Plan will be your map to success!