A well-crafted business plan is essential for launching a successful venture in the UAE. It helps business owners set goals, attract investors, and create effective strategies for operations, marketing, and revenue growth. Writing a business plan might seem overwhelming, especially for first-time entrepreneurs. That’s why we at Remitly created this step-by-step guide with a simple template to break down each section into clear, actionable steps. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining a traditional business plan, this resource will help you create a strong foundation for success.
What to include in a simple business plan
To create a simple business plan, focus on the essential components that define your strategy, keep you on track, and support informed decision-making. These key elements include:
- Executive summary: A brief overview of your business, covering its mission, offerings, and target market.
- Business description: Details about your business operations, market trends, competitive advantage, and legal structure.
- Marketing and sales strategy: How you plan to attract and retain customers, including branding, pricing, distribution channels, and sales tactics.
- Financial projections and funding needs: Revenue forecasts, expected costs, profit/loss projections, and funding requirements, if you’re seeking investments or loans.
- Operations and management plans: An outline of daily functions, business location, supply chain, hiring needs, and leadership structure.
Adding these key elements allows you to create a clear and actionable business plan format that aligns with your goals.
Steps to create your business plan
Use these simple steps to create a clear and effective business plan:
Conduct market research and analysis
Research the market to validate your idea, uncover opportunities, and mitigate risks. Focus on key factors that can impact your business in the UAE:
- Industry trends and market demand: Check industry reports on IBISWorld or Statista to understand the market size and growth trends. Follow blogs, trade shows, conferences, and news to track emerging trends and shifts in consumer interests.
- Customer and competition insights: Define your ideal customers by age, income, interests, and buying habits. Gather valuable feedback through surveys, interviews, or focus groups. Tools like Google Analytics and social media insights can help refine your target audience.
At the same time, analyse your top competitors by reviewing their pricing, products, and customer feedback. Conduct a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to identify market gaps. Stay informed by subscribing to competitors’ newsletters and keeping an eye on their marketing strategies.
- Regulatory considerations: Research business licenses, permits, and industry regulations through official government websites such as Dubai Economy (DED), Abu Dhabi DED, or your local economic department and free zone authority. Consult a legal expert to ensure full compliance.
- Supply chain and distribution: Find reliable suppliers and compare costs and delivery times. Choose the best distribution method (direct sales, third-party retailers, or online platforms).
Plan for shipping delays or seasonal shortages with back-up suppliers in Dubai or Abu Dhabi to ensure a smooth supply chain.
Defining your business strategy
With research insights in hand, you can now focus on internal decision-making that shapes how your business operates and grows:
- Mission and vision statements: Define your purpose and long-term goals to align your team and customers. Your mission needs to guide daily decisions, while a vision statement sets future aspirations. If you’re operating in FinTech, real estate, tourism, or renewable energy, align your vision with national initiatives like Dubai’s Smart City Strategy or Abu Dhabi’s Industrial Strategy (ADIS). Set clear, measurable goals for one, three, and five years to track your business’s progress and growth.
- Core business model: Decide whether your business will be B2B or B2C, digital or physical, subscription-based or one-time purchases. This choice impacts your revenue streams and customer relationships. Identify key revenue sources to ensure long-term profitability.
- Operational strategy: Plan how your business will function daily, including production, logistics, and customer service. Set key priorities like workflow automation or improving customer support.
- Brand identity and messaging: Define your brand voice, visual style, and messaging to stand out in a crowded market. Use a strong differentiation strategy to highlight what makes your business unique.
- Growth and expansion plan: Outline strategies for scaling, launching new products, or entering new markets. Create a roadmap for expansion and set realistic milestones.
Crafting an effective marketing plan
With a clear business strategy in place, it’s time to outline how you will attract, engage, and retain customers. A strong marketing plan boosts brand awareness and drives sales.
- Advertising and promotion tactics: Define a strong promotional approach that increases visibility and customer interest. This may include:
- Digital marketing (Google Ads, retargeting, email campaigns).
- Influencer partnerships to leverage social proof.
- PR campaigns to establish credibility in your industry.
Launch a pilot campaign across multiple platforms, then analyse performance data to refine your strategy.
- Customer relationship management: Build long-term engagement through:
- Loyalty programs to reward repeat customers.
- Referral incentives to encourage word-of-mouth marketing.
- Personalised email follow-ups to nurture relationships.
Implement a customer feedback loop to track satisfaction and make data-driven improvements.
Determine funding requirements
This section outlines your capital needs, helping investors understand your financial demands and how the funds will be used to grow and expand the business.
- Total required capital: Specify the exact amount of funding required for startup costs, operational expenses, or expansion initiatives. Break down your funding requirements by categories (e.g., product development, marketing) to present a clear financial picture to investors.
- Funding sources: Identify whether you’ll raise funds through investor loans, grants, or self-funding. Research potential funding sources that align with your business model and goals to ensure a smooth capital raise. You can also leverage digital banking for quicker access to funds and streamlined financial management.
- Allocation of funds: Detail how you will allocate the capital, such as for product development, marketing, hiring, or expansion. Create a detailed budget for each category, ensuring funds are used efficiently to maximise return on investment.
- Expected returns and repayment plan: If you seek equity investment in your new business, explain expected investor returns. If applying for loans, provide a repayment schedule. Develop financial models that project investor returns or loan repayment timelines to make your capital demand more appealing to investors.
- Risk and contingency planAddress potential financial risks and outline contingency strategies to manage unexpected financial setbacks. Identify key financial risks and create a contingency plan, ensuring you’re prepared for market uncertainties.
Finalising your business document
Once your research, strategy, marketing, and financial plans are complete, it’s time to finalise your business plan in a professional, investor-ready format.
- Write and organise the document: Follow a structured outline with clear headings, bullet points, and visual aids (such as charts or tables). This makes the document easy to read and follow. Use tools like Microsoft Word or Google Docs to format your document professionally, ensuring it is clear and well-organised.
- Ensure clarity and precision: Use concise language, avoid jargon, and ensure that your ideas flow logically from one section to another. This will make the document more accessible and impactful. Review your plan to remove any redundant language or unclear terms, ensuring it reads easily and smoothly.
- Seek expert feedback: Have business mentors, advisors, or industry professionals review your plan to provide valuable insights and identify areas of improvement. Send your business plan to at least two trusted experts for feedback and make adjustments based on their suggestions.
- Prepare a pitch deck: If you’re presenting your plan to investors, create a compelling pitch deck with 10-15 slides summarising the most important aspects of your business in a visually appealing format. Include your vision, financial projections, funding requirements, and how your business aligns with trends in the job market.
By following these steps, you’ll create a business plan that’s well-researched, structured, and compelling to investors or stakeholders.
Downloadable resources for business planning
You can find various downloadable resources to streamline your business planning.
Where to download free business plan templates
Several reputable platforms offer a simple business plan template suitable for various industries:
- Canva: Provides customisable and visually appealing business plan templates. It also allows for easy collaboration, enabling business owners to edit and refine plans together.
- Microsoft create: Offers a selection of business plan examples compatible with Microsoft Word. These professionally designed templates can be easily customised to fit specific business needs.
- Small Business Administration (SBA): Features templates and guidelines tailored for small businesses. Additionally, it provides step-by-step instructions to help entrepreneurs craft a comprehensive plan.
- PandaDoc: Provides a variety of business plan templates catered to different business types. Its business plan samples also include integrated e-signature options, making document sharing and approval seamless.
Comparing free and professional business plan templates
When selecting a business plan template, consider the following distinctions between free and professional options:
| Feature | Free templates | Professional templates |
| Cost | Free to use | Requires purchase or subscription |
| Customisation | Basic customisation, limited design flexibility | Advanced customisation with high-level industry-specific details |
| Best for | Startups, small businesses with limited budgets | Businesses seeking investor funding or specialised industries |
| Industry fit | General, may lack niche-specific elements | Tailored for specific industries and complex business models |
| Presentation | Simple and functional | More polished, professional, and investor-friendly |
How to choose the right template for your needs
Selecting the best template depends on how you plan to use your business plan and your level of experience with business planning.
Determine the level of guidance provided
Some templates offer step-by-step instructions, sample text, and prompts. If you’re unfamiliar with business planning, look for a template that provides an explanation for each section. This can help you craft a comprehensive and well-organised plan.
Ensure it meets your business goals
Before choosing a template, consider your primary objectives. If you need a one-page business plan for internal strategy and goal-setting, a flexible and concise template may be enough.
However, if you’re seeking investor funding or applying for loans from lenders, ensure the template includes essential sections such as financial projections, market analysis, and growth strategies. Some templates also follow industry-recognised formats, such as those preferred by the Small Business Administration (SBA) or private investors.
Evaluate integration with financial tools
If your business plan involves detailed financial projections, consider a template that allows seamless integration with accounting software, financial modelling tools, and your bank account.
Some templates provide built-in financial calculators, which simplify budgeting, expense tracking, and revenue projections.
Check format compatibility
Ensure the template aligns with your preferred tools. Some are available in Word, Excel, Google Docs, or as business planning software. If you need in-depth financial analysis, a spreadsheet-compatible template will simplify calculations. Cloud compatibility is also useful for collaborative planning.
Prioritise clarity and structure
A well-organised template makes your business plan easier to follow for internal use or external presentation. Choose one that provides a logical flow, avoids unnecessary complexity, and keeps key sections accessible.
By selecting a template that suits your objectives, experience level, and long-term needs, you can create a business plan that serves as an effective roadmap for success.
Keeping your business plan dynamic for long-term success
Keeping your business plan up-to-date ensures you stay competitive, attract investors, and maintain internal alignment. To drive success, set realistic milestones, adapt your strategy as needed, and seek guidance from mentors and networks. By continuously refining your approach, you’ll position your business for long-term growth in a dynamic market.
FAQs
How do I write a simple business plan for a small business?
Start with an executive summary, summarising your business, its mission, and financial outlook. Next, include a business description explaining your goals and market. Add market research to cover your target market, competitors, and industry trends. In the marketing strategy, describe how you’ll attract customers.
Follow with an operations plan detailing daily operations and logistics. Provide financial projections, including costs and revenue estimates. Finally, if you need funding, include a funding request outlining the amount and its use.
What are the 7 contents of a business plan?
A business plan includes seven sections: the executive summary, a brief overview of your plan; the business description, outlining your business and goals; a market analysis, covering research on competitors and the market; organisation and management, explaining your business structure; a marketing and sales strategy, describing customer acquisition plans; financial projections, outlining revenue and costs; and funding request if seeking capital, detailing the funding needs and usage.
What are the 5 C’s of a business plan?
The 5 C’s are Company, Customers, Competitors, Collaborators, and Context.
Company—a description of your business. Customers—identifying your target audience and needs. Competitors—analysing the competition. Collaborators—outlining key partners and suppliers. Context—understanding external factors like industry trends and regulations.
Tips for presenting your plan to investors
When pitching to investors, focus on key points clearly and concisely. Know your numbers, especially financial projections, and explain your business’s profitability. Tell a compelling story, showing how your business solves a problem or meets a need. Highlight your unique value and differentiate from competitors. Finally, practice your pitch to ensure confidence and clarity.