Traditional business plans can be lengthy and daunting. A concise one-page plan forces clarity and agility.
Think of it as an elevator pitch on paper:
clear, focused, and easy to update. As LivePlan notes, a one-page plan is “simple to create, easy to update, and built for adaptation”. By distilling your strategy into key bullets, you make it actionable.
Essential sections of a one-page plan typically include:
- - Problem: What customer pain are you solving? - Solution: Your product or service and value proposition. - Business Model: How will you make money (e. g. subscription, one-time sale)?
- - Target Market: Who are your customers? Size and demographics. - Competitive Advantage: Why you instead of others (unique tech, expertise, partnerships). - [[LINK0]] Strategy: Marketing and sales approach. - Financial Summary: Key numbers/assumptions (costs, pricing, basic forecast). - Funding Needs: How much capital you need to start or scale. Several guides highlight roughly eight sections in one page. For example, HubSpot lists sections like Business Opportunity, Target Market, Financial Plan, etc.. LivePlan suggests limiting each section to “1-2 sentences or 3-4 bullet points” to keep it digestible. The goal is brevity without missing essentials. Use bullet points or short statements. Bullet lists can succinctly present your model, market size, or team bios. Investors and partners can skim and get the gist quickly. Craft a compelling narrative. Even on one page, your plan should tell a story. Emphasize mission/ vision and core numbers. HubSpot emphasizes including goals and milestones so readers can see your growth path. Iterate often. A one-page plan is flexible by design. Revise it as you learn (from validation or early results). LivePlan advises that this short format is a great “first step” to get ideas on paper. Once you have a draft, get feedback from advisors to refine it.
Why one page?
It forces you to distill the essence. Long plans often hide vague ideas, whereas a page demands specifics. As LivePlan puts it, “getting started” is the hardest part, and a one-page plan “lets you capture your core ideas quickly”.
Also, busy readers (investors or mentors) appreciate the succinct format. Finally, use templates if needed (HubSpot and many startup blogs offer free one-page plan templates ). But customize it to your brand and tone.
Remember, the one-page plan is not the end goal; it’s a living roadmap. In the conclusion, invite readers to fill out each section with concrete data and then take action (writing marketing copy, contacting customers, etc.) based on the plan.