business plan template nz free

Free business plan template for small businesses

Create your free professional business plan with our easy-to-use business plan template.

Create a professional business plan in minutes

Free template.

Our Australian business plan template can save you time & money.

Fully editable

Ready to customise with all requirements like your business details, organisational structure, competitor analaysis and goals.

Easy to use

Simply add the requested data and our template will create a business plan for you.

Download your free business plan template

Business plan template.

Our business plan template is an editable document containing your businesses goals and objectives for the future. It also provides all the key sections you need for a professional business plan including overview of business description, market research, competitive analysis, financial forecasts and much more.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the importance of a business plan.

Writing a business plan gives your business the best chance of success helping you to flesh out your business proposal, outline key business processes and gives an action plan of what you want to achieve over time. While it can seem overwhelming, the time and effort you put in is worth it for your long-term success. Use our free business plan template below to get you started!

What should a business plan include?

A business plan consists of a single document with different sections that represent different aspects of your business. Most business plans include the following:

• Business overview
• Executive summary
• Team & Management
• Product & Services
• Market Analysis
• Competitor Analysis
• Marketing & Promotions
• Financial Analysis
• Future & Goals

How do you write a business plan?

Writing a multi page business plan when you are just starting out can seem overwhelming. The key to getting started is to keep it simple and add to it as you grow. Start with key headings (or use our template) and some bullet points mapping out your business overview, vision, market analysis and financial forecasts.

Tips for writing a business plan?

Check out our page about the  7 Tips for writing a Business Plan >

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What are you looking for?

Get serious with our free business plan template

Turn your business vision into a reality with our free, customisable business plan template. Available in single and multi-page format.

Download your free business plan template

Complete the form and we’ll send you our free, customisable template, so you can get down to business.

Bring your business ideas to life

Our easy-to-use, guided templates give you a roadmap for success.

Map your goals

Start moving in the right direction with a plan that covers all of the essential business basics. Outline your executive summary, vision statement and future goals.

Define products and services

Highlight your unique offerings and market strategy, including what you'll sell (and how you'll sell it). It’s time to show the world how you’re better than anyone else at what you do.

Attract investors

Show potential partners why they should invest in your business. A comprehensive financial forecast is key when looking to secure funding.

Why you need a business plan

Whether you’re an established company or just starting out, a business plan is vital for success. A well thought out plan helps you consider the essential elements of your business and define a winning strategy.

And through the process of writing a business plan, you’ll uncover new opportunities and unlock your business’s true potential.

We’re here to help you grow your business

Access everything you need to start planning your vision and how you’ll achieve it.

A guided experience

Our business plan templates are intuitive and easily accessible, for every business. Each section has helpful tips, prompts and instructions to guide you through all the components of your business plan.

Designed for your needs

We know that writing a business plan is not a one-size-fits all activity. That’s why we’ve put together both a streamlined single-pager and a comprehensive multi-pager. Now you can map out your needs at a high level, or outline your strategy in precise detail.

Helpful resources

Looking for more help on how to write a business plan? We’ve got you covered. Check out our resources on  how to start a business , or our  12-step guide on how to write a plan for your business .

All your questions answered about the MYOB business plan template

What’s included in the business plan template chevron down rounded.

Both our single and multi-page templates cover all the essential elements of a business plan, including an business details, vision statement and goal setting, market strategy and customer demographics, funding and investment information. Our multi-pager adds further detail and contains helpful guidance for each section.

Is the business plan template customisable? Chevron down rounded

Yes! Our templates are completely editable, customisable and available in multiple formats, allowing you the flexibility to choose the structure that best suits your needs.

Do I need a business plan to start a business? Chevron down rounded

Technically no, however as the saying goes, if you fail to plan you are planning to fail. For instance, how can you measure how things are going, if you don’t know where you're at?

Why create a business plan? Chevron down rounded

A strong business plan can help you plan for the future, enabling you to foresee potential roadblocks and author the roadmap that will drive you toward success. Through the process of planning, you’ll analyse all the important aspects of your business, provide certainty to future investors, reduce risk and plot an actionable pathway to achieving your ultimate vision.

How often should I update my business plan? Chevron down rounded

It’s a good idea to update your plan to align with the current state of business, market and strategy. Set aside some time on a regular, periodic basis to review your plan and see what’s working and what needs adjusting.

Free business plan template

• Download business plan template
• Try Xero for free

Download a business plan template and start bringing your ideas to life. Choose a one-pager, or multi-pager. Or try Xero accounting software for free.

Download the business plan template

Fill in the form to get a free business plan template as an editable PDF. We’ll send a one-pager and a multi-pager to choose from.

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Getting started with the business plan template

We’ll send you two types of business plan template – a one-pager and a multi-pager. Choose the one that’s right for you. They come with instructions to help fill them out.

Doing a business plan will improve your idea. It helps you think about your business from different points of view. The process will flag up unseen risks, but also new opportunities. Aside from helping refine your idea, a business plan will move it forward. It’ll give you a concrete set of steps to go from "I should" to "I did"

Are you looking forward to the bookkeeping and accounting that comes with a new business? Na, we didn’t think so. Xero can automate a lot of that stuff away for you.

One-page business plan template

Great for making a start

Helps you pin down the main idea

Easy to update as things evolve

Multi-page business plan template

Ideal for nailing down the details

Required by most investors and lenders

Good if you face big startup costs

Tips to help with your business plan

Don’t obsess over every detail to start with. That will make the plan long and hard to change. Keep it short and concise initially.

Financing your business

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Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This template has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business.

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Access all Xero features for 30 days, then decide which plan best suits your business.

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Best Free Business Plan Templates 2020

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Creating or updating a plan for your business is a great way to help you set the goals that will guide your business growth. Don’t know where to start?

We’ve pulled together this list of some of the best free online business plan templates for New Zealand businesses to point you in the right direction. 

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Business Plan Templates

MBIE has created two Business Plan templates in association with Stats NZ. The full business plan is perfect for those looking to launch a new business and the quick-fire template is great for established businesses. The full business plan template is a Word template ready-to-go with all the sections you’ll need for a comprehensive business plan, with detailed explanations and handy links throughout. The quick-fire template is a PDF template best filled out by hand and is perfect for a quarterly or yearly business health and strategy check-in.

Tip: MBIE recommends using Stats NZ’s Data for Business website to find useful business tools and statistics.

ANZ Biz Hub Business Plan Tool

Never written a business plan before? This handy online tool is great for beginners. The tool takes you through writing a full business plan step-by-step with helpful prompts and examples for each section. Once you’re done you can simply download and print the Word document version of your finished plan.

One-Page Business Plan By The $100 Start-up

This template is a helpful exercise for thinking through a new business idea, or even for testing a new product, service or promotion for an existing business. It can also be helpful for summarising a full business plan for referencing in your monthly or quarterly business plan sessions.

Microsoft Office Business Plan Template

Microsoft Office offers a range of free business document templates you can use with their suite of products. This Business Plan template is similar to the one offered by MBIE, but with a more modern design. The template also includes various charts and graphs to present your market research and forecasting numbers, with helpful, detailed step-by-step instructions on throughout.

Tip: Don't forget to add your logo and change the document colours and font to suit your brand

Strategyzer Business Model Canvas

The Strategyzer Business Model Canvas is not a traditional business plan template per se. Instead it’s a visual tool that helps you map out all the elements of your business and understand how they work together. This makes the canvas a great brainstorming tool for getting all of those ideas, facts and figures down on a page before your start  preparing your full business plan.

Tip: Use the Business Model Canvas as a tool for running a thought-starter exercise with your team to review and refine your strategy and goals before you write your business plan.

Check out these other posts to help you grow your business:

• How to get more done
• Small business project planning template

Like these business plan templates? We've also put together a stocktake template - you can grab your below!

While you're here, why not check out our business growth content such as Gen Z Trends , Stocktaking or Customer Relationship Management Tips ?

Editors note: blog content updated on April 22, 2020

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How to write a simple business plan

This step-by-step guide describes why a business plan is so important, the key elements, and how to write an effective plan for your business.

What is a business plan?

Basically, it involves answering some key questions about your business:

• Your objectives - where do you want your business to go?
• Your tactics - how will it get there? 
• Your budget - what will it cost?

There’s no one set way to write a business plan. The secret is to keep it short and simple. Writing a business plan is easier than most people think - and to make it even easier, you can use our Business Planning Template to guide you through the process step by step. 

Do you really need a business plan?

Yes you do, because it can make the difference between success and failure. For example, research published in the Harvard Business Review shows that start-up businesses with a written business plan were 16% more likely to succeed than those without one. —

Having a business plan gives you direction, challenges you to really think through your ideas, helps you prioritise scarce resources and builds your credibility.

Getting started

Our Business Planning Template makes it easier to write your business plan. It breaks your plan down into sections, with tips and examples at each stage. You can enter information as you go and save your plan to print out and update later.

Below we’ll explain the key information you should include in your business plan, using the structure in our template as a guide.

1. Executive summary

Think of this as your ‘elevator pitch’ – imagine you’re in an elevator with someone you want to invest in your business, and you only have until the elevator gets to their floor to convince them. You need to get straight to the point and describe what your business (or business idea) is about in no more than 3 or 4 short paragraphs.

It’s usually a good idea to write this last, once you’ve thought through the rest of your plan - but it’s probably the most important part of your business plan. Being able to describe your business clearly and succinctly to others is the first step to success.

2. Your business goals and objectives

Where is your business going? What do you want to achieve? Write them down. 

Your objectives should be realistic, otherwise you’ll lose motivation. They should also be SMART:

• S pecific – if the goal is too general, you will lose focus.
• M easurable – so you can tell whether you’re on track or need to make changes.
• A chievable – large goals can seem daunting, so break them down into smaller steps.
• R elevant – your objectives should directly contribute to your overall business goals.
• T ime framed – having a deadline provides urgency and focus.

Examples of SMART goals might include:

• Financial objectives – to achieve turnover of $x and profits of $y by the end of the financial year.
• Strategic objectives - to gain two corporate customers by the end of the year.
• Operational objectives - to increase productivity by 20% by the end of the second year.
• Sales objectives - to increase e-commerce sales by 10% by 1 June next year.

Once you’ve established your goals, identify who is responsible for achieving them.

3. Your products and services

Describe exactly what you’re offering, and the key features of your products and/or services. How do they compare with what your competitors are offering? How will you price them? See our article on how to defend and justify your pricing.

4. SWOT analysis

A SWOT analysis outlines your S trengths, W eaknesses, O pportunities and T hreats. This helps you compare your business against your competitors, build on your strengths and opportunities, and mitigate your weaknesses and threats.

When you’re doing your SWOT analysis think about both internal factors (e.g. staffing) and external factors (e.g. market or demographic trends), and above all – be honest.

This is also a good time to think about your competitive advantage. Why should your customers buy from you rather than your competitors? For example, are you competing on price, service, aftersales support, unique knowledge and expertise, or a different brand proposition? If you don’t know, your customers certainly won’t.

5. Your target customer

Who are you targeting your products or services at? How old are they, where do they live, what are their interests? Understanding your customer will help you shape your products and marketing in a way that is most likely to reach them and appeal to them.

6. Your marketing strategy and sales planning

How will you let people know about you and what you offer - for example, through advertising, direct marketing, social media, PR campaigns, or some combination? How can they buy from you - online, through distributors, or your own retail outlet(s)? Set some sales targets and plan your strategy to achieve them – e.g. will you concentrate on selling to new customers or selling more to existing customers? Will you need to train your staff in new sales methods? Set a budget for achieving your sales plan and be clear about how you will measure success.

7. Assets and equipment?

What assets and/or equipment will you need to get your business up and running and keep it operating? These one-time expenses are also known as Capital Costs, and include purchases of buildings, land, vehicles, machinery and equipment.

8. Financial forecasts

Your financial forecasts are one of the most important parts of your business plan. They show how much money you need to make to cover your operating expenses and make a profit. They’re also critical if you’re approaching investors. Your business plan should contain some forecasts, including:

• A cash flow forecast (use our cash flow forecast calculator and our guide on How to forecast cash flow accurately)
• A balance sheet forecast (use our guide on Understanding your balance sheet)

If you’re a start-up, calculate how much your business will need to get going, by creating a schedule of the assets and equipment required.

Your accountant or an ANZ Business Specialist can help you review your financial assumptions and ensure they’re realistic.

9. Your Human Resources (HR) policies

Having great people is key to the success of any business. How will you attract, retain, reward and train the right people - and ensure you get the best from them?

Once you’ve written your plan, what next?

No market stays the same. Your business will face different challenges and opportunities over time. That’s why it’s essential that you regularly review and update your business plan – at least annually. Put aside some time in your diary for this, otherwise it will get lost amongst all the other things you have to do.

Need a hand to get started?

Check out our ANZ 5 week Business Boot Up. It’s a step by step guide to starting your business, with great tools, information and resources to help you along the way.

ANZ also offers a series of free Business Workshops on all aspects of running a business (including How to write an effective business plan). To find out what’s on in your region and to register for a workshop.

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This material is provided as a complimentary service of ANZ. It is prepared based on information and sources ANZ believes to be reliable. Its content is for information only, is subject to change and is not a substitute for commercial judgement or professional advice, which should be sought prior to acting in reliance on it. To the extent permitted by law ANZ disclaims liability or responsibility to any person for any direct or indirect loss or damage that may result from any act or omissions by any person in relation to the material.