Business Plan
Category: Prejudge Report
Type: Individual, Team
Grade Level: 9-12
Deadline/Testing: 15-Feb
Competitor Limit: 1 team of 1-3 members
Event Guidelines
Report formats must follow the same sequence shown on the rating sheet. If information is not available for a particular criterion, include a statement to that effect in the report. The report must be similar to that of a business report with substantiated statements in a clear and concise format. Creativity through design and the use of meaningful graphics is encouraged.
- An effective business plan should include the following information:
- Executive Summary provides a brief synopsis of the key points and strengths included in the plan.
- Company Description includes the basic details of the business, including an overview, location, legal structure, and organization.
- Industry Analysis provides an analysis of the larger industry in which the business will belong; analyzes key trends and players in the industry; demonstrates an understanding and awareness of external business decisions.
- Target Market provides a brief overview of the nature and accessibility of the targeted audience.
- Competitive Analysis includes an honest and complete analysis of the business competition and demonstrates an understanding of the business’ relative strengths and weaknesses.
- The marketing Plan and Sales Strategy demonstrate how the business’s product or service will be marketed and sold; includes both strategic and tactical elements of the marketing and sales approach.
- Operations provide an overview of the business operations on a day-to-day basis, including production processes, physical facility reviews, use of technology, and processes followed to ensure delivery of products or services.
- Management and Organization describe the key participants in the new business venture and identify the human resources the business can draw upon as part of the management team, employee pool, consultants, directors, or advisers. It also portrays the role each will play in the business development and discusses compensation and incentives.
- Long-Term Development gives a clear vision of where the business will be in three, five, or more years. It offers an honest and complete evaluation of the business’ potential for success and failure and identifies priorities for directing future business activities.
- Financials indicate the accounting methodology to be used by the business. Discuss any assumptions made in projecting future financial results. Presents projections honestly and conservatively.
- The appendix includes copies of key supporting documents (e.g., certifications, licenses, tax requirements, codes, letters of intent or advance contracts, endorsements, etc.).
Note: Business must not have been in operation for more than 12 months.
Report Contents
- Reports must include a table of contents and page numbers.
- Follow the rating sheet sequence when writing the plan. If information is not available for a particular criterion, include a statement to that effect in the report.
- Reports must not exceed fifteen (15) pages, including divider pages and appendices.
- The front cover and table of contents are not counted against the page limit.
- Pages must be numbered and formatted to fit on 8½” x 11” paper.
- Reports may be single- or double-spaced.
- Each side of the paper providing the information is counted as a page.
Report Covers
- A front cover is required.
- Report covers are not counted in the page limit.
- Report covers must contain the following information: name of the student(s), name of the school, state, name of the event, and year (20xx-xx). The cover may also contain additional information.
Report General
- Student members, not advisers, must prepare reports. Local advisers should serve only as consultants.
- Proposals must describe proposed business ventures. The business venture must also be currently viable and realistic. The business described in the business plan must not have been in operation for a period exceeding nine (9) months prior to the State Leadership Conference. Reports should not be submitted that evaluate ongoing business ventures.
- Reports submitted for the competition become the property of Nebraska FBLA. These reports may be used for publication and/or reproduced by the state association.
- Reports must be original, current, and not submitted for a previous SLC.
- Entries not adhering to these regulations may receive point deductions.
- A PDF of the Business Plan must be submitted to Blue Panda by the deadline.
- Save the file as BP_chaptername_year.pdf
Eligibility:
Each chapter may enter one (1) plan created by an individual or a team of two (2) or three (3) members from Grades 9 through 12.
The project must not have been submitted at a previous State Leadership Conference.
Judging
Reports will be reviewed by a screening committee to determine if the projects have complied with event eligibility and regulations. A panel of judges will select the winners. All judges’ decisions are final.
Who Goes to Nationals?
The first-, second-, and third-place winners of this event will represent Nebraska in the Business Plan event at the National Leadership Conference. Members may compete in an event at NLC more than once if they have not previously placed in the top ten of that event at NLC. If a member places in the top ten of an event at NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.