The Business Plan Checklist:12 Things Every Lender Wants to See
Most business plans fail before a lender even finishes reading the first page — not because the idea is bad, but because something obvious is missing. Here's what to check for.
1. A clear, specific Executive Summary
One page that states what you do, who it's for, and what you're asking for — written last, but read first.
2. A real business description
Legal structure, location, mission, and current stage — idea, launched, or growing.
3. A defined target customer
Not "everyone" — a specific customer profile, with evidence of demand, not assumption.
4. An honest competitive analysis
Who else solves this problem today, and what you specifically do differently.
5. A clear pricing model
What you charge, why, and how that pricing was determined — not just a guess.
6. A named marketing and sales strategy
How customers actually find out you exist, and the process that turns interest into a sale.
7. An operations plan lenders can picture
What a typical week of running the business looks like, and what could go wrong operationally.
8. A management and team section
Who's involved, what they bring, and how you'll fill any capability gaps.
9. Quantified financial projections
Realistic revenue, cost, and break-even estimates for years one through three — with real numbers, not filler.
10. A specific funding request
Exactly how much you need (if anything), and precisely what it funds.
11. Industry-specific benchmarks
Numbers that matter to your industry — food cost %, MRR and churn, job costing, chair utilization — not generic language.
12. No fabricated numbers
Every figure traceable to something you actually know or a clearly labeled estimate — nothing invented to look more impressive.
Frequently Asked Questions
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