This course turns business planning from a static document into a living, decision-ready toolkit. You’ll compare plan formats (traditional vs. lean), learn market research basics, map a Business Model Canvas, run MVP tests with the build–measure–learn loop, and assemble credible financials and an investor-ready summary. Government guides and leading frameworks anchor the syllabus so your outputs meet real-world expectations.
Who this course is for
Early-stage founders, SMB owners, and operators who need a clear plan to test ideas, raise funding, or align teams. It also fits students seeking an applied overview before launching a venture. Expect hands-on templates and weekly deliverables rather than theory alone.
Learning outcomes
By the end, you will be able to: choose the right plan format; conduct basic market and competitor analysis; design a Business Model Canvas with value propositions; set up MVP experiments; build top-down and bottom-up forecasts; and present an executive summary aligned with lender/investor checklists.
Course structure (8 modules, 6–8 weeks)
Module 1 — Business planning foundations
You’ll define the job of a business plan, when to use traditional versus lean formats, and what stakeholders expect from each. We leverage SBA and UK GOV guidance on plan sections (company, market, marketing/sales, operations, financials) and why a business plan is a living document.
Module 2 — Market research and competitive analysis (fast and credible)
Learn how to size demand (TAM/SAM/SOM), identify customers, and differentiate vs. competitors, following SBA’s step-by-step market research playbook. You’ll collect data to support pricing, channels, and positioning in later modules.
Module 3 — Business Model Canvas and value propositions
Map the nine building blocks (customers, value propositions, channels, relationships, revenue streams, key resources/activities/partners, costs) using Strategyzer’s official template and videos. The canvas becomes your dashboard for assumptions you will later test.
Module 4 — MVPs and the build–measure–learn loop
Design minimum viable products and rapid experiments to validate riskiest assumptions. You’ll practice creating actionable metrics and tight feedback cycles per Lean Startup methodology.
Module 5 — Go-to-market basics and execution risks
Translate research into positioning, channel mix, and early sales motions. You’ll also study why strategies often fail in execution and design choices that anticipate those pitfalls.
Module 6 — Financial statements and projections
Assemble revenue drivers, cost structure, hiring plan, and capex into 12–24-month projections with income statement, cash flow, and balance sheet. We mirror SBA templates and lender expectations to keep assumptions consistent.
Module 7 — Funding options and stakeholder readiness
Survey common funding paths (bootstrapping, loans, grants, equity). You’ll align your plan with what banks and investors review and compose a concise risk register and milestones.
Module 8 — Executive summary, plan polish, and pitch
Condense your plan into a two-page executive summary and a short deck. You’ll justify market need, solution, model, traction, forecasts, and the ask—using the same sectioning UK GOV and SBA expect in formal plans.
Weekly assignments and assessments
H4 Week 1: Plan outline and audience map
Draft a one-page outline and identify who will read it (team, bank, investor). Choose “traditional” or “lean” format based on goals and timeline.
H4 Week 2: Market brief
Submit a 1–2 page customer + competitor brief with at least three cited sources per SBA research guidance; call out the one insight that changes your strategy.
H4 Week 3: Business Model Canvas v1
Complete your canvas and highlight top three assumptions you will test first (customer segment, value prop, or channel).
H4 Week 4: MVP experiment plan
Write one build–measure–learn loop with clear success metrics and a two-week timeline.
H4 Week 5–6: Financial model (first pass)
Upload 12–24 month projections tied to drivers; include a cash runway view and break-even estimate. Use SBA sectioning for clarity.
H4 Week 7: Executive summary draft
Craft a two-page summary that mirrors lender/investor priorities and links to the full plan.
H4 Week 8: Pitch session
Five-minute deck, ten-minute Q&A. You’ll defend market sizing, MVP results, and financial assumptions, and identify execution risks (and mitigations) using evidence from HBR’s analysis of strategic failure modes.
Course materials you’ll receive
H4 Templates and checklists
Traditional and lean plan outlines (SBA-aligned), Business Model Canvas PDF, market-research checklist, MVP experiment sheet, and a three-statement forecast scaffold for quick starts.
H4 Example plans and samples
Curated sample business plans and plan sections for reference, including different industries and plan depths.
H4 Reading list (core)
SBA “Write your business plan” and “Plan your business”; UK GOV “Write a business plan”; Strategyzer on BMC; Lean Startup principles; HBR on why strategies fail.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a traditional plan or a lean plan?
If you’re applying for bank finance or certain grants, a structured, traditional plan is often required; for early testing and rapid iteration, a lean plan or canvas plus MVP evidence is faster. Many teams keep both, using the lean artifacts to update the traditional plan over time.
How is a “business model” different from a “business plan”?
Your model explains how you create and capture value (the nine BMC blocks). The plan is a fuller document that persuades stakeholders with research, strategy, operations, and financials. Use the model to clarify assumptions; use the plan to communicate and commit.
Why do many strategies fail even with a plan?
Execution gaps and flawed design both contribute. HBR’s research highlights common failure modes and the importance of translating strategy into testable, evidence-based choices—precisely what MVP loops are for.
Instructor tips: making your plan “decision-ready”
Keep it concise, cite your sources, and make assumptions testable. Treat the plan as a living document—update after each experiment and customer interview. Lenders and investors favor clarity over verbosity; government guides and SBA samples show the exact sections they expect.
References (primary & official where possible)
SBA — Write your business plan; Plan your business; free courses and samples.
UK GOV — Write a business plan; business setup and growth pages.
Strategyzer — Business Model Canvas explainer, toolkit, videos; what a business model is.
Lean Startup — Build–measure–learn methodology overview.
Harvard Business Review — Common strategy-failure patterns.
