When you finish writing your business plan, you want it to make sense when someone, probably an investor or a shareholder in your business, reads it. That’s where the exhibits and appendices section comes in!
Often overlooked, the appendix section is an integral part of any business plan. Let’s imagine you are writing your business plan to woo some investors. In that case, the quality of the exhibits and appendices section in your plan will matter a lot.
The appendix offers your target readers great insights about your plan. Ideally, you should use this section to convince the investors that you have a robust business concept.
If you want your potential investors to take your business concept seriously you must invest a lot of time and research to prepare a great exhibits and appendices section for your business plan.
In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know to complete a convincing exhibits and appendices section in a business plan.
Key Takeaways
- Before completing the exhibits and appendices section in a business plan, think of what you want to achieve with your plan. This way, you know what supporting documents to include
- Key documents to include in this section are financial statements – cash flow, income statements, balance sheets, and general financial projections, market analysis, company information and background, and marketing materials and plan
- Provide detailed documentation to make it easy to convince any reader to take the desired action
- Add a table of contents for ease of navigation from one section to the other
What Is a Business Plan Exhibits and Appendices Section?
The appendix, which is the last part in a business plan, offers supporting documentation for critical components in your plan. For instance, here you include any market research analysis you’ve done and financial statements.
Additionally, if there are any charts and tables, you should capture them in the exhibits and appendices section.
You can, as well, include other information in this section such as resumes, credit history, and intellectual property documentation. However, the limit of what to capture in the appendix section should be informed by the audience you are targeting.
What’s the Purpose of the Exhibits and Appendices Section in a Business Plan?
The exhibits and appendices section in a business plan has a defined purpose. It offers evidence and supporting documentation for your business concept.
For instance, while you can include charts and graphs in the body of your business plan, they are best captured in detail in the exhibits and appendices section.
How to Complete the Exhibits and Appendices Section in a Business Plan?
Now that you know the importance of having an appendix section, the next step is learning how to complete it successfully.
The most important success factor when completing a business plan appendix is knowing what goes into this section.
Here are some of the supporting documents to include in this section:
1. Financial Projections
If you are writing a business plan for loan applications or raising capital, you better have clear and strong financial projections. Include detailed monthly, quarterly and annual cash financial projections in the appendix section.
The most critical financial information to focus on here include income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
2. List of Customers
When preparing a business plan for expansion purposes, you will need to include a list of customers. Such information gives a potential investor and shareholders a clear snap chat of your present clientele base.
3. Market Analysis
Analyzing the target market is a critical step when preparing a business plan. Whether you are starting out or expanding, you need a clear understanding of the market you are entering. Include all the relevant information about your market in the appendix section.
Some of the aspects to consider here include a clear definition of the industry, a brief description of the potential customers and competitors.
Additionally, add any potential risks you might have identified during the market research. Such information helps you make the right decisions towards achieving the set goals.
4. Marketing Materials and Plan
How do you plan to market your business concept? What materials will you need? The exhibits and appendices section is a great place to expand the marketing section you have already covered in your plan.
Here, you need to attach a detailed marketing plan. It helps convince your readers that you have a clear understanding of your target audience, where to put marketing efforts, as well as how you intend to create awareness of your business concept.
Best Practices When Completing the Exhibits and Appendices Section in a Business Plan
Crafting a successful exhibits and appendices section isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Here are a few best practices to guide you as you complete the appendix section in your business plan:
- Include a table of contents: When the appendix section covers several documents, it is advisable to include a table of contents. This way, it helps a reader access the different sections easily.
- Confidentiality Statement: where you include legal documents, intellectual property applications or diagrams, and credit history documents, ensure that you have a Confidentiality Statement. It reminds anybody reading the business plan that they should not share or disclose such information with your consent.
- Short and Simple: You have covered a lot of information about your concept in the other sections of the business plan. Ensure that you keep this section as short and simple as possible. However, it is important to provide all the necessary information to support your business plan.
Final Thoughts
As a business owner, you want to write a business plan that gets read and convinces the readers –whether they are investors or shareholders – to take some action. The exhibits and appendices section is a great place to make this possible by including all the necessary information to back up any claims in the preceding sections of your business plan.
Whereas it is important to keep the appendix section as short as possible, it is equally necessary to ensure that it covers enough documents to support your business concept. Are you stuck writing the exhibits and appendices section in your business plan? Leave us a comment below.