Basic Business Plans
Operations

Basic business plans typically include an Operations portion. This section covers issues that are essential to the success of your business, provide a competitive advantage or help you overcome a problem inherent in your business. Sections may include:

Facilities

• Note where your business is located.
  
• Explain how that location fits with the needs of your business. Working from a home office or studio may reduce costs, for example.
• Describe issues such as access to parking and accessibility if they are relevant to your business.
  
• Indicate whether you will need to make improvements or additions to the property.
  
• Note what relevant equipment you own and what equipment will you need to purchase.
  
• Describe how your business' facilities will impact your company's success.

Production

• Evaluate your production processes to find ways to increase efficiency, improve quality and increase profit margins.
  
• Indicate how you will handle increased or variable need for production. Will you outsource any labor?
  
• Address capacity, that is, the number of items can you produce in a given time period.

Inventory Control

• Indicate your strategies to ensure you have adequate inventory on hand.
  
• Note how you will assess your needs for supplies.

Supply and Distribution

• Indicate suppliers you will use.
  
• Typically, it's wise to avoid being dependent on a single supplier.
  
• Select suppliers who meet your needs, whether that's quick shipping or flexible ordering terms. Compare prices among suppliers, but don't rely on price alone when choosing suppliers.
  
• Indicate how is your product will be distributed to consumers. Typically, it's wise to try to establish more than one distribution channel.

Order Fulfillment and Customer Service

• Understand your customers' experience of the order fulfillment process. Is communication clear?
  
• Determine how you will handle shipping costs if you ship products.
  
• Determine whether you will solicit customer opinions, and if so, how.

Research and Development

• Indicate how new products will be developed.
  
• Describe how you will stay aware of new developments that may impact your company.

Financial Control

• Indicate processes you'll use for handling your financial information quickly and accurately.

Contingency Plans

• Describe plans to protect your records and your data including backing up documents and storing data off site.
  
• Assess the resources that are crucial to the operation of your business, and determine how you will you safeguard those resources.
  
• Indicate any procedures you have in place to ensure the health and safety for your employees and note whether there any health and safety regulations that impact your business.
  
• Assess the adequacy of your business insurance.

Additional Resources
Basic business plan outline with links to further information about each section
The Successful Business Plan by Rhonda Abrams book review