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Looking to launch a startup or drive growth for an existing business?
A well-crafted business plan is a valuable roadmap that can increase your chances of success.
According to a survey by Bplans, companies that wrote business plans were twice more likely to expand their businesses, attract investors, or secure loans compared to those who didn't.
Unlike the traditional multi-page business plan, a one page business plan is concise and snackable. It helps you attract investor attention and quickly communicate your vision and strategies without boring them.
So how do you create an impressive one-page business plan?
In this article, we're going to provide you with practical insights on how to create a one-page business plan effectively. We'll also offer you some customizable templates that will jumpstart your planning journey.
A One-pager business plan is a concise document that summarizes the key elements of a business idea or venture. They serve as a streamlined version of traditional, comprehensive business plans.
A one-page business plan is also referred to as a lean business plan. It distills your value proposition, target market, market analysis, strategies and projections on a single page. This kind of one-pager is especially useful when seeking to secure funding as it offers a brief overview that can be quickly delivered to stakeholders and investors.
One pager business plans can also be considered a strategy manual for you, your team or any other outside party that wants to gain insight into what your business does.
Starting with a one-page business plan can be very helpful for entrepreneurs, especially in the early stages of a business. This leaner format allows you to focus on your core idea, your target market, and how you plan to deliver value without getting bogged down in excessive details.
Your one-page plan is also an effective way to quickly communicate your vision to potential investors or partners who may not have the time to read a lengthy document. Plus, it gives you the flexibility to test your concept, gather feedback, and make key adjustments before diving into a more comprehensive plan.
Choosing the right business plan format depends on your audience, stage of business and specific goals. To help you choose the best fit, here’s a side-by-side comparison of traditional business plans and a one-page business plan.
Factors | Traditional Business Plans | One-page Business Plans |
Purpose | A traditional business plan consists of a comprehensive document that includes a company's goals, strategies, market analysis, financial projections and operational plans. | One page business plans provide a quick overview of business ideas and strategies. This makes it ideal for initial pitches or internal alignment. |
Focus | Covers a wide range of topics, including company description, market analysis, organizational structure, marketing strategies and detailed financial plans. | Highlights the most critical aspects of the business, such as value proposition, target market, marketing strategies and financial goals. |
When to Use It | Suitable for established businesses seeking funding, partnerships, or strategic direction. It is often required by banks and investors for due diligence | Best used in the early stages of a business or when pitching to investors who need a quick overview. It is also useful for internal use to align team members on the business's core objectives. |
Flexibility | Less flexible due to its detailed nature. While it can be updated, changes may always require significant revisions. | Highly flexible and can be easily updated as the business evolves. It allows for quick adjustments based on feedback and changing circumstances. |
Here's why creating a one-page business plan is beneficial:
Creating a comprehensive, multi-page business plan can take a lot of time and be daunting, especially for business people who have a lot on their plates.
A one-page business plan provides a more time-effective option that enables business owners to describe their business plans without getting bogged down in pointless details.
Attracting the attention of investors is difficult since they are always flooded with company pitches.
However, a visually appealing and outstanding one-page business plan can stick out like a beacon. By leveraging the brevity of a one-pager plan, you can pique an investor’s interest by communicating your business potential in a concise manner.
When developing a traditional, in-depth business plan, one-page business plans serve as excellent starting points. It is useful for sketching out concepts before committing significant time to writing a detailed business plan that you'll likely need to revise.
Once you've finished your company one-pager and are satisfied with it, you'll have the right foundation on which to build a more comprehensive version.
One-page documents can be easily shared via print, internet, email, and social media channels.
It's also a handy tool for entrepreneurs to use while presenting their company at conferences or meeting with potential investors. This adaptability makes it easy to share your business idea with stakeholders and investors in a targeted manner.
Whether you're in the early stages of developing your business, looking to maintain the growth of your already established business or seeking expansion, your one-page business plan should comprise the following essential elements:
An executive summary gives an overview of your business story. It is the part of the report where you hook the reader's attention and give a brief overview of your business essence. Your executive summary should be concise and no longer than two sentences.
This section should clearly articulate the precise problem your venture is setting out to solve. You should clearly state the pain points and challenges that your potential users or customers currently face.
Let’s say you’re writing a plan for a logistics software company. Your business opportunity section could look like this:
Many businesses struggle with the complex task of optimizing delivery routes for their fleet, leading to increased fuel costs, longer delivery times, and decreased customer satisfaction. Existing route planning methods often lack real-time updates and fail to account for variables like traffic, weather, and delivery windows. This results in suboptimal routes and operational inefficiencies that hinder businesses from delivering their products in a timely and cost-effective manner.
In this section of your one-pager, you should briefly describe the unique value of your product and how your company sets out to solve the identified problem.
Using the example above, here’s a value proposition:
Our cutting-edge software harnesses the power of real-time data, predictive analytics, and advanced algorithms to create optimal delivery routes on the fly. By taking into account variables such as live traffic updates, weather conditions, delivery windows, and vehicle capacities, we ensure that every route is not only the shortest, but also the most time-sensitive and cost-effective option available.
This is the driving force behind any successful venture. Introduce the key individuals running the operations of the business, including their qualifications and core competencies.
Briefly identify your competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Delve into their market share if the space permits.
But most importantly, take the opportunity to emphasize your own competitive advantage. Highlight what sets your business apart from competitors, whether it's unique features, pricing strategy, technology, or other factors.
This section should highlight the specific audience or customer segment that your business is aiming to serve. You can include the following specifics when talking about your target audience:
Your marketing plan explains how you'll promote your goods and services, generate consumer demand and meet it. You should include information such as your marketing channels and promotional strategy.
You should explain how your business generates or plans to generate income in this section. Highlight your pricing and revenue strategy, whether it is subscription-based, pay-per-use, advertising, licensing or freemium models.
How will you roll out the business and which phases will be involved? Briefly talk about these roadmaps in this section. You can utilize a visual aid such as a chart, graph or map to provide a clear picture of your implementation timeline.
Your financial summary section should highlight your vital financial indicators such as profit and loss, cash flow, balance sheet and sales projections.
For enhanced comprehension, consider incorporating visual aids to convey the financial data in this section. Fortunately, Visme offers a diverse range of data visualization tools that you can use to visualize various types of data.
In this section, specify the amount of funding you are seeking from potential investors. You should also specify the aspects of your business that the funding will support. Clearly stating your financial needs demonstrates your thoughtfulness in resource allocation.
Include contact details at the end of your plan. This will allow potential investors, partners, customers, and other stakeholders to easily reach out for inquiries, collaborations, or further discussions.
Depending on your purpose for writing this plan, you could leave out certain of the points listed above from your one-page business plan.
Follow the steps below to create a compelling one-page business plan. If you're in a hurry or need assistance getting your plan off the ground quickly, Visme's AI business plan generator can help you do it in just a few minutes.
First, list out the essential parts of your business plan. Rank the components and select the ones that are most relevant to your business plan. Then use that to develop an outline.
After determining the sections your one-page business plan should have, the next thing you need to do is gather the information required to fill them.
This may require you to conduct a study on your target demographics, collate past financial statements and identify current market trends. You might also need to conduct customer surveys, analyze competitor performance and collect quotes/estimates for future costs.
The goal of a one-page plan is not to sacrifice accuracy or specificity on the altar of conciseness. So just as with a full-fledged business plan, creating a one-page business plan requires thorough research.
Creating business plans from scratch can prove laborious, especially if you're not a professional designer. However, you can skip all of that grunt work with Visme.
You can choose a template from Visme's collection of one-page business plan templates and adapt it to your specific requirements. Modify the background colors, texts, pictures and font colors, among other things, to reflect your brand identity and taste.
With Visme’s Brand Wizard, you can have all vital brand assets from your website automatically imported into your workspace and applied to every asset you create.
Plus, Visme’s sharing and collaboration options make it convenient for teams to work together on creating concise and impactful one-pagers.
Hear what one of our customers has to say about Visme:
“You stumble on some templates and you’re blown away that someone put in such time and effort into creating them. You did not know you needed them in your life until that minute.”
Lorens | Graphic Designer
Condense the gathered information to its core essentials and insert them into the relevant sections that you have previously outlined in step one. Keep each section concise, using no more than two to 3 brief sentences or a bullet list of 2 to 3 key points.
It's important to be mindful of the length here, as trimming down your content when it extends past a single page might be challenging.
After filling in all of the text, you might want to add some visual elements to the plan to effectively illustrate information or data.
For instance, you may choose to present market share with the use of a pie chart or depict financial summary using a bar chart, graph or any other data visualization tool. Adding visual components not only makes your design more compelling but can also be an efficient way to manage the space on your page.
Some other visuals you can include are stock photos, 3D graphics, icons, shapes, characters and avatars, ai-generated images, videos and animated graphics.
It's time to show prospective investors your one-pager now that it's finished. You can download or share the document in a number of ways with Visme.
If your one pager has interactive features, here are some options available to you:
However, if it's a static document, you can download it as a PDF or an image or share it right on social media.
We’ve sourced some insights from experts who know what it takes to create successful business plans. Here’s what they shared:
No matter how eye-catching a product is or how well-marketed, it won’t gain traction if it doesn’t address a real need. Before you start creating a business plan, you need to make sure that your product is anchored in solving real, pressing pain points.
Lars Nyman, a fractional CMO and founder of strategy consultancy Nyman Media, emphasized this below:
“Don’t start with a dream. Start with a problem. A real one. Not “millennials like avocado toast” -- I mean something painful enough that people will part with money, status, or time to fix it. The business opportunity should be a bleeding neck, not a paper cut.
Too many plans start with “the market is worth $800 billion” like that means anything. That’s like saying, “I’m opening a restaurant because humans need food.” Focus on the crack in the system. The inefficiency. The customer rage. That’s your wedge.”
Actional Takeaway: Identify a specific, urgent pain point that people are actively struggling with. Build your business around solving that, not around general trends or vague market potential.
Your value proposition is where you deliver a clear, emotional hook that makes people stop, think, and want what you’re offering.
As Lars puts it: “Your value proposition isn’t a mission statement. It’s a visceral reason why someone should give a damn.
Dropbox didn’t start with “cloud-based collaboration infrastructure.” It started with “your USB drive is a liar and a thief.” Your value proposition should punch. Think headlines, not haikus.
Bonus: test it! If people nod politely, it’s trash. If they ask “how do I get that?” -- you might well have something.”
Actional Takeaway: Let your value proposition speak directly to your audience’s frustration or desire. Then test it in real conversations. If people are curious to learn more, it shows that they will likely buy into your offering.
To conduct an effective industry analysis, you need to dig into who holds the leverage, where change is happening, and where opportunities are opening up.
“Forget those 5-forces spreadsheets and MBA cosplay. Real industry analysis means understanding how money, influence and power move in your niche. Who has leverage? Who’s asleep at the wheel? Where are the moats crumbling?
Look for inflection points. Is tech shifting? Are customers aging out? Are incumbents bloated, fat and drunk on quarterly dividends?”, says Lars
Good analysis means seeing not just where the ball is — but where it’s going to land. Skate there.
Actionable Takeaway: Go beyond surface-level data. Study the deeper shifts and gaps in your industry. Then, position yourself at the next turning point.
A solid marketing strategy begins with knowing your audience, understanding what makes them care, and choosing the most effective way to reach them.
According to Lars: “Too many “plans” are just lists of tactics: SEO, email, TikTok, oh my. That’s not a strategy. Your marketing plan should answer three questions:
- Who are we targeting?
- Why will they care?
- How will we reach them in a way that scales?
Pick one proof of concept channel and master it. Dominate it. Milk it dry. Then move on.
Hint: What works best isn’t always flashy. Cold email can print money in some industries. Events still work. Direct mail is shockingly effective because nobody uses it anymore, etc.”
Actionable Takeaway: Focus your marketing around a clear audience, a compelling reason they should care and one high-potential channel to start. Don’t scatter—go deep, prove it works, then scale smart.
Investors and stakeholders expect to see a clear understanding of how your business generates income, what it costs to acquire and retain customers, and when profitability is expected. As Lars emphasizes:
“Most revenue models are vague on purpose. They’re scared of scrutiny. Don’t be. Break down your unit economics. CAC. LTV. Churn. Breakeven. If you don’t know these numbers, your model is a Mad Libs poem.
Say how you make money. Say how much you need to make. Say how long it’ll take. Say what happens if it doesn’t.”
Actionable Takeaway: Define your customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, churn rate and break even point. Use them to pressure-test your model and prepare for what happens if reality doesn’t match the forecast.
Each phase of your product launch should be time-bound with clearly defined goals from MVP development to user testing and customer acquisition.
Andrew Lokenauth, a business executive and owner of Thefinancenewsletter.com shares the following insights from his real experience:
“Based on launching 3 successful products, I've found 18-month roadmaps work best. Break it into 90-day sprints. In my current business, our first sprint focused on MVP development, the second on beta testing with 50 users and the third on official launch. Be specific about milestones — we aimed for 100 paying customers by month 6 (hit 132).”
Actionable Takeaway: Map your long-term vision into 90-day chunks with clear, measurable milestones. Focus each sprint on a single objective during each sprint, then track your results closely.
When presenting to investors, overly ambitious financial forecasts often raise more skepticism than trust. Here’s what Andrew recommends:
“Instead of showing hockey stick growth, I now create three scenarios: conservative, moderate & aggressive. For my latest venture, we projected $1M ARR in the conservative case and $3M in the aggressive case by year 2. We landed at $2.1M. Include detailed assumptions about customer growth, churn & operational costs.”
Actionable Takeaway: Build financial forecasts using a range of outcomes. This will help you justify every number and plan realistically for best- and worst-case paths.
Investors are far more likely to back a venture when founders demonstrate a clear and thoughtful approach to funding needs. This includes a clear breakdown of how the capital will be allocated, a contingency buffer for unforeseen expenses, and evidence of personal financial commitment.
Drawing from his experience raising $5M+ across different ventures, here’s what Andrew suggests:
“Break it down by use of funds — in my current startup, we needed $250K for product development, $150K for initial marketing and $100K for 6 months of runway. Always add a 20% buffer for unexpected costs. And show exactly how much skin you have in the game (I put in $75K of my own money).”
Actionable Takeaway: Detail exactly how every dollar will be used, build in a contingency buffer and highlight your own investment to show commitment and reduce investor risk.
Crafted to cater to the needs of both startups and established enterprises, this one-page business plan template will help you pitch investors in a clear and succinct way. From your value proposition to target audience, revenue model and key metrics, every vital detail finds its place.
Just like every other Visme template, this design may be customized in every way imaginable. Insert your company's colors, logo, icons and images into the design to give it a more personalized feel.
If you would like to change the custom images, you can utilize Visme’s AI image generator to create new professional images of your choice or improve on existing ones. Simply type your prompts and watch the magic happen in seconds.
Whether you're launching a new retail endeavor or refining an existing one, this template is your key to capturing attention and securing support.
Effortlessly communicate your store's vision, unique selling points, target market and sales strategy in a visually compelling format.
Struggling with content? With Visme's built-in AI writer, creating content is a breeze. This tool's sophisticated text creation, modification and proofreading features will help you save time and energy while producing high-quality work.
Whether you're seeking investors, aligning your team, or optimizing your sales approach, this sales business plan is your go-to solution.
Use this nifty template to put up a professional-looking business plan presentation of your company's data, products and services and more. Also included are sections in which you may provide details about your business, its offerings, special features, statistics and more.
With its eye-catching design, you can present your strategies and numbers in a way that captures the reader's attention instantly.
Use Visme's interactive features, such as clickable buttons and links, to pique the interest of your audience and encourage them to learn more.
Attract potential investors and partners to your finance business with this stunning one page business plan template.
Lay out your financial strategies, whether it's investment management, financial consulting, or any other niche. Showcase how you'll stand out in a competitive landscape.
This well-designed one-pager incorporates charts, graphs and visuals to make your financial projections and strategies even more compelling. Investors and stakeholders will be impressed by your data-driven approach.
To quickly find design elements in the Visme editor, use the shortcut key. With a simple click of the forward-slash (/), you can conduct a targeted search or quickly skim through the available options.
Provide your audience with a comprehensive overview of your marketing approach without overwhelming them by using this one-page business plan example.
Showcase your target audience, unique value proposition, distribution channels and key performance metrics in a visually compelling format.
Make use of visual aids like charts and graphs to communicate your findings from market research, analysis of the competition and growth estimates. Backed by data, you'll command attention from investors and partners eager to join your journey.
In case you don’t have enough on-hand data to work with in the first place, you’ll probably need to work on a few marketing reports and then add the key findings to your one-pager.
If you need help organizing your marketing data you can find templates for these through HubSpot’s Business Templates. Backed by data, you'll command attention from investors and partners eager to join your journey.
You can also include a link to an explainer video that demonstrates the value you provide. Create videos with ease using Visme and store related files in dedicated brand folders for easy access.
Whether you're seeking investment, sharing your vision with potential partners, or mapping out your start-up strategy, this business plan template offers a way to make a compelling case.
With a focus on clarity, this start-up one pager template enables you to present your business concept, target market, product offerings and initial financial projections on a single, engaging page.
You can also repurpose this as a summarized version of a restaurant business plan or a startup plan for a food-centric retail business.
You can keep track of the data for each one pager you send out using Visme analytics. More precise activity tracking is possible when you customize each document and save it separately with the prospect's name.
Whether you're seeking funding, aligning your team, or refining your tech strategy, this simple one-pager template is your ultimate tool.
Utilize this template to showcase your product/service, target market, technology stack and key milestones in a visually compelling format.
You can download your design as a JPG, PNG, or PDF to print or share with your team members for collaboration. Sharing Visme projects through live links allows you to track who accessed your work using Visme’s analytics.
The vibrant color used in this design is sure to catch the eye of your audience right away. This makes it an excellent option for showcasing the worth of your eCommerce solution to potential investors or business associates.
This one-pager touches on your product range, market analysis, marketing strategy and analysis in a visually captivating format.
Using Visme's collaboration features, you may swiftly solicit input from your partners or mentors while controlling permissions to edit or comment.
To add people to your workspace, follow the short tutorial video below.
Here are some of the limitations of a single-page business plan:
The focus of your business plan will vary based on your goals, but these are the core elements every strong plan should cover:
A startup one-pager is a document that condenses a business’s value proposition, market opportunity and competitive edge into a concise, compelling snapshot. It is typically designed to spark interest and attract investors.
No, a business plan and a business proposal are not the same.
A business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines a company’s goals, strategies, market analysis, financial projections and operational plans. It serves as a roadmap for the business, guiding its growth and development over time.
A business proposal, on the other hand, is a document presented to a potential client with the aim of securing a business opportunity. It outlines how a company intends to meet the client’s needs, including the scope of work, timelines, costs and more.
A lean business plan is a brief overview of how your business operates and how it will grow. It focuses on what matters—your model, your market and your path to profitability.
For printed one-pagers, the standard size is usually A4 (8.27 x 11.69 inches) or Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches). This is convenient for printing and is widely accepted for professional documents.
A business plan can be beneficial for a wide range of companies, such as:
One-page business plans are great because they force you to distill your ideas and goals into concise and focused points. This brevity makes it easier to communicate your vision to investors, track progress and adapt to changes quickly.
Creating a professional one-page business plan is seamless with Visme. You can access a wide range of customizable templates, graphics to effectively convey the plan and impress your audience.
Visme's real-time collaboration tools and flexible sharing options allow you to effectively involve all relevant parties in developing and communicating your business plan, even when you're not physically together.
Apart from one-pager business plans, you can make all types of business one pagers, including one-page business proposals, pitch decks, reports and all kinds of business content in minutes with Visme.
Sign up for Visme today to start creating excellent and compelling business content that’ll help you achieve your business goals.
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