STEM ENTREPRENEURSHIP

BUSINESS PLAN GUIDELINES

I. OVERVIEW
Developing the BUSINESS PLAN is a major requirement for MIDTERM and FINALS under the subject ENTREP
01. There will be an initial submission for MIDTERMS excluding some sections such as (2) Executive
Summary, (8) Financial Plan. The complete, corrected, and final output of the business plan will be
submitted for FINALS. Rubrics for the submission is shown in IV. RUBRICS of this guideline.

This is composed of the following sections: (1) Title Page, (2) Executive Summary, (3) Environmental and
Industry Analysis, (4) Business Description, (5) Marketing Plan, (6) Organizational Plan, (7) Operations Plan
and, (8) Financial Plan, and (9) References.

II. GENERAL FORMAT FOR THE SECTIONS

• Font & Font Size. The paper may use any Sans Serif font with size 12 unless otherwise stated.
• Margin. The top, bottom, left and right margins will be set at 2.54 cm (1 in.).
• Page Numbers. The page numbers may use Roman Numeral or Numbers. Paging would be flush
right. No page number on the title page.
• Headings. There might be two to three different levels of heading depending on the organization
and need of the paper. The levels should be formatted as follows:
Level Format Example
1 Center, Bold, ALL CAPS MARKETING PLAN
Marketing Strategy and Action Programs
2 Align Left, Bold, Title Case
(paragraph)
Indented, Bold, Title Case with
3 Product. (paragraph)
Period.
• Introductory Statement. Before beginning each section except for the Executive Summary, you may
start with a brief statement discussing what the section is all about.
• Spacing. Paragraphs for each plan part must be indented and observe a 1.50 spacing.
• Tense. Use verbs in the present tense to show that you are taking action.
• Tables and Figures. The label must be italicized with font size 11 and to be placed below the table.
See sample below. After every figure or table, a thorough explanation must come after.
III. BUSINESS PLAN CONTENT
TITLE PAGE
Alignment, Font Style and Size, arrangement of the details stated below will depend on your creativity and
the branding of the business for as long as the Title page will show the following information:
(1) BUSINESS NAME and LOGO. The business name may be part of the logo or can be typed below the
logo. No specific font style and size required for this. This will depend on your creativity and
branding.
(2) NAMES OF BUSINESS OWNERS. The name of business owners will be reflected in the following
order: First Name, Family Name, Suffix (if applicable). The names can be organized alphabetically or
by ownership.
(3) DATE OF SUBMISSION. The month and the year of submission will be placed here.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
This should reflect all the nine (9) sections with the correct page numbers. You may include other important
subsections in the table of Contents. No specific look of the table of contents for as long as it adheres the
general format for font, margin and spacing.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This section thoroughly summarizes the business, short enough for the readers to understand and
conceptualize the entire concept of the business. It should not be more than 2 pages long. The following are
guide questions for the content:

• What is your product or service offering? What makes it unique?

• How will the idea for this proposed venture be realized?
• Describe the potential market. Is it big enough to make the business viable? How will you market
the product?
• Who are the people behind the business? Do they have the knowledge, skills, experience required
to develop the product or service idea and to run the proposed venture?
• How much is the capital needed for the business? Is the business profitable? How will the business
sustain in the long run?

ENVIRONMENTAL AND INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

This section needs an in- depth desktop research of the following environmental factors. These factors
cannot be controlled by the business but being aware will allow you to spot opportunities and guard the
business for the threat. Make sure to cite the references of the presented data and other outputs from your
research. As a STEM student, cite sources using APA 7th edition. At the end, of the business plan place a
section for REFERENCES.
Socio-Cultural Conditions. This includes a description of the demographics or characteristics of the Filipino
population. Highlight the characteristics/ demographic information that will affect your business.
Example: Data on the age of the population, lifestyle trends like increase on the emphasis on health and
sustainable living, shifting consumer preferences and others.
Technological Conditions. This includes an assessment of the major developments in science and
technology that might have a beneficial or detrimental impact on the business or the entire industry.
Example: the rise of e-commerce which affected greatly sales of brick and mortar (traditional business that
has a physical store or stores where customers browse and make purchases in person) businesses due to
the recent pandemic
Economic Conditions. This includes description of the growth of national and local economies. Research on
the country and the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), price movements of your products key inputs
(materials), inflation rate, employment rate which are all vital information that will help you with your
projections and decisions in your business.
Politico-Legal Conditions. This includes existing laws and regulations, as well as future legislations that could
directly affect your business.
Example: legislated increase in minimum wage, stricter healthy and safety regulations that can increase
costs, required changes in the manufacturing or packaging of products, local regulations such as no use of
plastic bags, tax exemptions or laws that provide law-interest- loans for micro-, small-, medium-scale
enterprises (MSMEs).
SWOT Analysis. This is a compilation of your business's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
The primary objective of a SWOT analysis is to help organizations develop a full awareness of all the factors
involved in making a business decision. Please see sample SWOT Analysis and make your own:

Figure. __. SWOT Analysis

After identifying your Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, here are some guide questions to
answer:

• Why are these your business’s strengths? How will build up and maximize on your strengths?
• Why are these your business’s weaknesses? What can the business do to improve on these areas?
• How will you take advantage of the identified opportunities?
 • What will be your responses to the threats identified should they occur? How can you prevent or
minimize damages?

BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Business Name and Logo. Place the image of your business logo with a brief description as to the details
and how you came about the name and the logo.
Tagline. A catchphrase or slogan, especially used in advertising, it is your business' mantra, and it tells
people who you are and what you stand for in a few succinct words.
Vision Statement. This is the organization's purpose, in terms of its values or how it goes about doing
business. It should inspire employees and help customers understand why they would want to use the
company's products or services.

Mission Statement. This is also the organization's purpose but expressed in terms of key measures that
must be reached to achieve the vision.
Core Values. These are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization.
Product or Service Offering. Place here a list of product or service offering with a brief description.
Business Location. Place the potential location. It would also be good to indicate whether it is a commercial
zone, is it accessible to traffic. Will it be bought or leased? Is the building old or new? And other important
information regarding the location.

MARKETING PLAN
Target market
• Describe the general market you wish to enter. Elaborate the present condition of the market.
• Divide the market through market segmentation. Define and describe the targeted market.
• Why are you targeting this market with your product?

Marketing Strategy and Action Programs

Detail the business’ strategies on the following: (Please see information in Marketing Mix discussion in
Module 4,which will serve as your guide in what to write)
• Product
• Price
• Place
• Promotion

Preparing a Budget for the Action Plan

• You will need to create a budget based on the promotional strategies/programs that you plan
to implement. Itemize and have a realistic projection of the costs. Please see sample below:

Programs Frequency/ No. of Pcs. Cost Total Cost

Social Media Post Boost 1 week P50 per day 350.00

 Price Discounts (for the opening day
30 50 per unit 1,500.00
for the first 30 customers)
TOTAL COST 1,850.00

ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN
This section contains the following information. Please see detailed discussion of the parts in Module 5:
Organizational Plan, where concrete examples for each topic are also shown for your reference & guide.
Form of Ownership. Describe the form of ownership and who and how many are part of it.
Organizational Chart- explain the hierarchy/ line of authority and create a chart showing the chain of
command and the work they are expected to do.

OPERATIONS PLAN
This section contains the following information. Please see the detailed discussion of the parts in Module
6: Operations Plan, where concrete examples for each topic are also shown for your reference and guide.
Process Planning
Operations Layout
Material Planning
Machine and Equipment Planning
Location Plan for Production and Operations
Business and Operations Hours
License, Permits and Regulations Required

FINANCIAL PLAN
This section contains the following information. Please see detailed discussion of the parts in Module 7:
Financial Plan, where concrete examples for each topic are also shown for your reference and guide. Make
sure that all tables are shown neatly and completely in your document and label them correctly following
the general formatting guide given. Explanations for each financial projection must also be done after.
The projections reflected here must be aligned to the budget set for the previous sections.
Sources of Fund.
Financial Projections
Sales Forecast. This should be a 12-month sales forecast.
Cost of Goods Sold. Compute for the cost for each piece of your product or each service completed.
Income Statement. This should be a 12-month projection of your projected income from the first
month of operations.
Cash Flow Projection.

References:
Habaradas, R., & Tullao Jr., T. (2017). Pathways to Entrepreneurship. Phoenix Publishing House.
IV. RUBRICS
BUSINESS PLAN RUBRICS- 75 points
FINALS PERFORMANCE TASK

NEEDS
EXCELLENT GOOD SATISFACTORY
CRITERIA IMPROVEMENT SCORE
5 points 4 points 3 points
2 points - 1point

Title Page Introductory elements Introductory

Introductory Introductory
are included and elements are
(including elements are elements or Table
completed correctly. included but lacking
Table of included but of Contents is/are
Table of contents was Table of Contents is
Contents) contained errors. omitted.
created. incomplete.
The section The section
Executive summary
thoroughly somehow
is provided but
summarizes the summarizes the The summary
lacks significant
Executive business, short business but focused only one
pieces of
Summary enough for the enough to part of the
information
readers to understand understand the business plan.
pertaining to the
the entire concept of concept of the
business.
the business. business.
More than 3 of
Some (1-2) Most (3)
Successfully studied the
environmental environmental
and presented environmental
conditions are not conditions are not
comprehensively all conditions are not
thoroughly thoroughly
the environmental thoroughly
discussed and discussed and
conditions supported discussed and
supported with supported with
Environmental with reliable and up-to reliable and up-to reliable and up-to
supported with
date sources. reliable and up-to
& Industry date sources. date sources.
date sources.
Analysis
1 factor in the 2-3 factors in the
All factors in the
SWOT analysis SWOT analysis were This section is not
(10 points) SWOT analysis were
were carefully carefully identified. completed
carefully identified.
identified. Some of Some of the actions thoroughly and
Appropriate actions
the actions needs needs major did not present a
for the different
improvement to improvement to valuable
factors were also
successfully successfully information in the
carefully planned and
addressed or build addressed or build analysis.
detailed in the section.
up its S, W, O & T. up its S, W, O & T.
Discuss company´s Discuss company´s Discuss company´s Discuss
vision, mission. vision, mission vision, mission company´s vision,
Accurately identified Identified the Somewhat mission Miss to
the problem that the problem that the identified the identify the
product/service would product/service problem that the problem that the
Description of want to solve or an would want to product/service product/service
the Business opportunity to fill an solve or an would want to solve would want to
important market opportunity to fill or an opportunity solve or an
niche Precise an important to fill an important opportunity to fill
description of the market niche. market niche an important
product and reason There is a Provided market niche
for selecting the description of the description of the Missing
product / service. product and reason product but missing description of the
 for selecting the reason for selecting product and
product / service. the product / reason for
service. selecting the
product /service.
Mostly irrelevant
Basic and
Relevant knowledge about
Thorough and relevant sometimes relevant
knowledge about the product
knowledge about the knowledge about
the market, market
market, competition the product market
competition and competition and
and industry competition and
industry considered industry
considered in drawing industry considered
in drawing considered in
conclusions. in drawing
conclusions. drawing
conclusions.
Marketing conclusions.
10 points Realistic Unrealistic
Realistic and accurate explanation of the Mostly realistic description of
explanation of the market - Somewhat explanation of marketing plan.
market. Very creative, creative, marketing plan. Lacks creativity,
persuasive, and persuasive, and Marketing mix plan persuasiveness,
evidence of marketing evidence of is somehow marketing mix
mix appropriate for marketing mix appropriate for the appropriate for
the target audience. appropriate for the target audience. the target
target audience. audience.
Accurate details of
Organizational chart One inaccurate Two or more The section needs
showing relationship detail of inaccurate details of improvement due
of management roles Organizational Organizational chart to lack of
Member(s) of chart. Member(s) Member(s) of information such
Organizational management team are of management management team as organizational
Plan identified, and their team are identified, are identified, and chart and/ or
qualifications and and their some their agreement or
experiences described qualifications and qualifications and reasoning for the
in a way that led experiences experiences listed, chosen form of
credibility to the described. but not described. ownership.
business
Process Plan has
Effectively explains the lacking procedures/
process in the Somewhat process which
Operations
operation of the systematic process made it unclear as
Plan (x2) business. Systematic plan. to how they
Missing process
process plan. conduct their
plan or operations
operations.
layout in
Operations layout
Operations layout is producing the
appears chaotic
Operations layout is somewhat effective product/service
making it or Missing
efficient and effective but not very
ineffective and
producing the efficient in Location and
inefficient in the
product/service. producing the operations hours.
production of
Identified the product/service.
products/services.
appropriate location Identified Location
Identified the
and operations hours. and operations
location but
hours.
operation hours
 have some
mistakes.

Financing strategies
and concepts are
Some start-up cost
discussed. Detailed
reports are Needed
start-up cost reports
included however calculations are
included such as the Few details of start-
there is still missing and the
Monthly and Yearly up budget (if a new
substantial detail of financial plan
Income Statement and firm) prudent,
start-up budget (if a presented only
Cash Flow Statement. logical, related to
new firm) prudent, the one of the
Breakeven quantity the plan.
logical, related to two statements
and amount were also
the plan. required.
Financial Plan computed.
10 points

Excellent detail of
start-up budget, ALL components
prudent, logical, covered but
ALL components
related to the plan. financial position
covered & clearly Projections were
ALL components NOT clearly
explained. Good made poorly/
covered & explained.
report on financial unsatisfactorily.
demonstrated Acceptable report
reports/projections.
understanding of data on financial
-Realistic financial reports/projections.
reports/projections
All required outputs
Few sections of the Some sections of Most of sections
for the BP section
BP did not follow the BP did not of the BP did not
were submitted on
the correct follow the correct follow the correct
Mechanics time as required with
formatting and formatting and the formatting, paper
correct formatting.
needs very few paper looks is very
Uses class time
revisions. disorganized. disorganized.
efficiently.
10 pts 8 pts 6 pts 4 pts
The business plan was The business plan The business plan The business plan
submitted on or was submitted 2-48 was submitted 3 – 4 was submitted 5-
Timeliness before the deadline hours after the days after the 7 days after the
set. deadline set. deadline set. deadline set.
0 - The business plan was submitted after a week from the deadline set.
75 points TOTAL