- 0 - WHAT you should learn from it Develop your own understanding of the specific interests of businessmen Have a better basis for decisions on career Have a good basis to be able to understand economic affairs In-depth experience in teamwork Have experiences in presentation techniques And maybe you now want to start up your own business soon (if you have not done so far) The Business Plan

- 1 - THE BUSINESS PLAN: A CONCEPT FOR A BUSINESS INITIATIVE The concept – the business plan – is in between the idea and realisation You have to consider personal and business aspects A business plan has some essential components and needs to represent the business concept as comprehensively as possible The way you depict market prospects and factors for success shows that you have understood the business "Organisation" means the internal structure of a business The profit and loss account gives an overview of expected profits and expenses. Show possible deviations by means of different scenarios

- 2 - PERSONAL AND BUSINESS ASPECTS HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT Backup Self-realisation Gain experience Financial possibilities Commitment (How much time do I dispose of?) Personal aspectsBusiness aspects Financial goals Satisfaction of uncovered demand (“Fill market niches") Expansion Obtain market leadership

- 3 - A BUSINESS PLAN HAS SEVEN ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS… … And is supposed to present the business concept as comprehensively as possible Description of business idea and realisation Depiction of market prospects Key factors for success Structure of future company Presentation of profit and loss account / cash flow statement Development of future scenarios using different parameters Possibly annex with sources and results of investigations

- 4 - SUMMARY BRIEFLY DESCRIBES THE BUSINESS IDEA What is special about this idea? Absolutely new Creative realisation of a well-known idea How do you want to put into effect your idea? What personnel? Regional spread How do you want to finance the enterprise? Brief description of costs, investment and yield German business jargon also uses English term "Executive Summary" 1 1

- 5 - PRESENTATION OF MARKET PROSPECTS AND FACTORS FOR SUCCESS SHOWS THAT YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE BUSINESS Possible market prospects: What are market situation and competitive surroundings like? Are there high barriers to new competition? Is it possible to fill profitable market niches? Examples for factors for success: High personal competence Cost advantages Regional monopoly Innovative offer

- 6 - "ORGANISATION" MEANS THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF A BUSINESS During the initial stage a start-up company needs as much flexibility as possible to be able to establish itself Limit yourself to necessary investments Possibly procure expert knowledge from external source -by means of purchase -by means of consultants Lean staff structure Fast decisions Mature companies have additional, partly different demands Clear communication structure Clearly defined fields of competence 4 4

- 7 - PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF EXPECTED COSTS AND YIELD Profit and loss account (should show financial success after tax): Realistic evaluation of revenue Adequate consideration of costs plus surplus in case something unexpected occurs Scenarios (should show range of fluctuation of financial success): Definition of initial situation and parameters Development of scenario with favourable parameters (optimistic or realistic: "best case") Development of scenario with unfavourable parameters (pessimistic: "worst case") Perspective, e.g. expansion $

- 8 - METHOD OF BUSINESS PLAN STAGE (I) Task Download current information for stage III from area project internal Responsible Done Work out first time schedule Develop idea for business Develop interview guide e.g. Evaluation of market Cost structure Essential tendencies Factors for success Customers‘ wishes Description/notes Detailed plan for first two weeks, rest less detailed Update time schedule and to do list Date Collect basic data e. g. Market potential (number of potential customers, possible exploitation of customers) Current exploitation of market Competitors Find interview partners e. g. Customers Competitors Partners, suppliers, possibly banks Find interview partners e. g. Customers Competitors Partners, suppliers, possibly banks

- 9 - METHOD OF BUSINESS PLAN STAGE (II) Task Practise interviews Responsible Done Carry out interviews Summarise results of interviews Describe activities of business e.g. Employees (number, tasks, salary) Customers Suppliers Financing Description/notesDate Create a vision for your own business Calculate targeted goals (e.g. sales, turnover, cash flow, profit and loss, budgeted balance sheet) Make black and white copies for jury Work out presentation Practise presentation