Stage 2. Develop your business plan

• Basic criteria for your business plan
• Steps to take to submit your business plan
• Be aware of competition deadlines
• Create your business plan using BiD Network templates
• Step 1
• Step 2
• Step 3

Basic criteria for your business plan

• You need to have completed your application before you can submit your business plan.
• A complete business plan consists of two parts: a written part in which you elaborate on the business, the entrepreneur and the development impact of your business, and a financial plan in which you add the relevant financial data of your company. The official template BiD Network Business Plan form at the bottom of this page covers both parts. Please follow the instructions on the ‘Welcome’ tab in the template;
• Your business plan will only be accepted in the assessment system if both parts are present;
• We recommend the written part of your business plan be no longer than 15 pages (Verdana 10 pt and excluding table of contents page, title page and possible photos, logos, graphs, financial tables, appendices, etc.);
• You are free to hand in your business plan in any format you like. If you already have a complete business plan, you may use it. Make sure though it meets its purpose i.e.; convincing assessors to accept and investors to invest.

Steps to take to submit your business plan

• Log in and go to your profile;
• Click on the box of your application on the left side of the page;
• Click on ‘Edit this page’ button on the top left of the page;
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the button [+ Business Plan Document];
• Upload your business plan document (For instructions on creating a business plan with BiD Network templates, please see below: "Creating a business plan with BiD Network templates);
• Upload other relevant annexes by repeating the previous two steps;
• If you have not yet uploaded your CV, do this by clicking on the button [+CV document] and uploading your CV document;
• Click on submit to submit your business plan;
• After you have submitted your business plan it will be locked. You cannot edit your plan until it is being assessed.

Please note that the BiD Network crew might refer to your application in a later stage to interest partners, coaches and investors in your business. Therefore please make sure your application is always attractive and up to date.

Be aware of competition deadlines

If you participate in a business plan competition, please bear in mind the competition deadlines.

You can only create one plan at the same time. If your application has been accepted, it will stay visible to BiD Network visitors for at least a year after your last editing date.

Create your business plan using BiD Network templates

The BiD Network Business Plan form is an easy-to-fill in spreadsheet for inserting all the written information and data pertinent to your plan. The purpose of this form is to help the BiD Network team assess your plan, as well as provide you with a basis for the final business plan which you will eventually present to investors.

In addition to the BiD Network Business Plan form, BiD Network also provides you with a Business Plan Presention document. The purpose of this word document is to allow you to present the data you entered in the business plan form in an attractive way to potential investors. Also, the presentation document allows you to edit any information you imported from the BiD Network Business Plan form, as well as enables you to include additions such as photos, charts, etc. Please follow the following instructions for using these forms.

Step 1

Download the BiD Network Business Plan form located below and fill it in.

Step 2

Upload your filled in form and submit it according to the instructions above (see: Steps to take to submit your business plan).

Step 3

Step 3 is optional. After you have filled in the Business Plan form, you may use the Business Plan Presentation document to edit your business plan form and add additional information, photos, etc. This will allow you to make your business plan more attractive to potential investors. Should you wish to include this Business Plan Presentation document to your application, you may do so at any time by including it as an attachment to your application.