How to Write Products and Services Section of Business Plan
Table of Contents
- How do you write the business plan products and services section?
- Explain Your Products or Services
- Show why your Product is Unique
- Emphasize the Benefits
- Manufacturing, Sourcing, and Fulfillment
- Be Short and Concise
- Show your Expertise
- Explain in Simple Language
- What is your Exclusive Advantage?
- Assume you are talking to the customer
- Key Questions to Answer in the Business Plan Products and Services Section
- FAQs:
Business plan products and services section gives details of your product or service, how it is different and if you have a reliable manufacturing or sourcing system for the product.
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Show competitive advantages of your product or service. Convince investors or lenders that you can outperform competition; you’ll likely get the funding you need.
Use this article as a guide when writing the product and service section of your business plan.
How do you write the business plan products and services section?
Your goal in writing the business plan products and services section should be to explain your offering in simple, layman’s terms.
Anyone reading about your products or services should be able to understand:
- what you are offering
- what is the unique value you are offering
- how will you do quality assurance
- How will you meet the increased demand?
The product service plan section should include the following.
Explain Your Products or Services
Explain your product or service in detail. Try to include a brief about all the aspects of your product or service that will improve the consumers’ lives or increase business efficiency.
Show why your Product is Unique
Talk about the distinctive features of your product. Show what competitors are offering and explain how your offer is unique and better.
Emphasize the Benefits
Your hopes of capturing a share of the market depend on the benefits your product or service provides. Describe the benefits in terms customers can relate to.
For example, if you are offering the same features as the competitors but at a low price, highlight the low price.
Manufacturing, Sourcing, and Fulfillment
Explain if you will manufacture your products or you’ll source. If you are going to source the product from a manufacturer, how will you select the manufacturer?
Also, briefly explain the product supply chain and fulfillment process. Potential lenders may want to know if your supply chain and fulfillment system can handle high demand.
Be Short and Concise
Keep to the point. The Product service section in a business plan is about introducing your offering with a fair amount of detail. However, don’t make it lengthy.
You will discuss your product or service in every section of the business plan one way or another.
Show your Expertise
A product coming from an acknowledged expert gets more acceptance in the market.
Show your education or experience with the offering. If your business has any patents, trademarks, or special permits, make sure you showcase them. That way, you can establish yourself as an authority.
For a sole proprietor, you can include your experience or education. For example, when an athlete starts a fitness brand, it becomes a quick success. However, other similar businesses face struggles at the start.
Explain in Simple Language
Make a detailed plan of product service but explain everything in simple language.
Every industry has its jargon and buzzwords. People familiar with your product can understand the technical details, but the lenders or investors may not know much about your industry.
Here is a pro tip for this. When you have written the product or service description, ask a trusted friend or family member to read it and explain your product to you. That way, you can know if your product service part of the business plan is generally understandable.
What is your Exclusive Advantage?
Your exclusive advantage is what makes you stand out. You spotted your exclusive advantage when you developed your product or service offering. Explain that exclusive advantage here.
If you think there is no exclusive advantage, see if you can lower your price or provide better after-sale support. Even if your exclusive advantage is indirectly related to your product, it can help you get ahead fast.
Assume you are talking to the customer
When you walk into the customer’s shoes, you can understand their needs better.
Assume you are talking to an actual customer and convincing them to buy from you. They know your competition and they know what they need. You will have to talk in layman’s terms without missing any important details. You will need to focus on your competitive advantage.
You will write an excellent product or service section when you think you are explaining it to a potential customer.
Key Questions to Answer in the Business Plan Products and Services Section
- Do you have a ready product or an under-development product?
- When will you bring new products or services to the market?
- What is the unique advantage of your product or service?
- What are the competitive advantages of your product or service?
- Does your product or service have any competitive disadvantages?
- Are you bound to charge a price in a short range, or can you charge a different price with a better offer?
- Are your business operating costs reasonable?
- Will you manufacture your products or buy from a supplier?
- Do you sub-contract the parts of your product to different manufacturers and assemble the product at your facility?
- Will you be able to keep a steady and reliable supply chain for your product when demand rises?
FAQs:
In the products and services section, describe your offerings in detail, including their features, benefits, and uniqueness. Include information on pricing, any proprietary technology or intellectual property, and how your products or services meet customer needs.
Differentiate your products or services from competitors by highlighting their unique selling points, such as superior quality, innovative features, customizable options, or exceptional customer service. Explain how these differentiators give you a competitive advantage.
Yes, it’s important to outline your pricing strategy in the products and services section. Explain your pricing model, whether it’s based on cost-plus, value-based, or market-based pricing. Justify your pricing strategy by considering factors such as market demand, competitors’ pricing, and perceived value.
Demonstrate the market need for your products or services by providing market research and analysis. Include data on customer demographics, target market size, and any trends or consumer preferences that support the demand for your offerings.
Yes, you can mention future product or service expansion plans in the products and services section. Briefly outline your growth strategy, such as introducing new product lines, expanding into new markets, or offering additional services. However, focus primarily on your current offerings and their value proposition.
