Writing a business plan is hard enough in your native language. In English, it can feel like a mountain. But you don’t need perfect English to write a solid plan—just a clear structure, the right phrases, and a bit of confidence.
This guide walks you through each section of a standard business plan. I’ll show you what to write, how to phrase it naturally, and point out common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll have a practical template you can adapt for your own business.
Start with the Executive Summary (but write it last)
The executive summary sits at the beginning of your plan, but it’s a summary of everything else. Write it after you finish the other sections.
Keep it short: one page, maximum. Cover four things:
- What your business does
- Your target market
- Your unique advantage
- Financial highlights (if you have numbers)
Example opening sentence:
“GreenLeaf Plans is a subscription service that delivers organic meal kits to busy professionals in London. We help customers eat healthier without spending time on grocery shopping or meal planning.”
Notice it avoids vague phrases like “we aim to provide.” It states a concrete action.
Describe Your Company
Here you explain your business’s mission, legal structure, and history (if it already exists). Use plain language.
Key phrases to use:
- “Our mission is to…”
- “We are a [sole proprietorship / LLC / corporation] registered in [country].”
- “Founded in [year], we have grown to [number] customers.”
Don’t write long paragraphs full of adjectives. Say what you do, who owns it, and where you operate.
Define the Problem and Your Solution
Every business solves a problem. State the problem clearly, then show how your product or service fixes it.
Structure:
- Problem: “Small restaurant owners in Berlin spend 10 hours per week on accounting.”
- Solution: “Our app automates their bookkeeping and cuts that time to one hour.”
One sentence each. No fluff. This section is often called the “value proposition.”
Analyze Your Market
Investors want to know you understand who you’re selling to. Break this into two short parts:
- Target customer – a brief description of your ideal buyer (age, job, location, needs).
- Market size – total number of potential customers or revenue in the industry.
Avoid guessing. If you don’t have exact data, use ranges: “The market for eco-friendly packaging in France is estimated between €50 million and €80 million.”
Explain Your Strategy
How will you reach customers? How will you compete? This is your marketing and sales plan.
Example for a coffee shop:
”We will attract customers through local Instagram ads and a loyalty program. Our location on High Street gives us walk-in traffic from office workers during morning rush.”
Keep sentences short. Use action verbs: attract, partner, launch, offer.
Show Your Financial Plan
Numbers scare many English learners. But you only need basic financial statements:
- Sales forecast – expected revenue for next 12 months
- Expense budget – rent, salaries, materials
- Profit/Loss – revenue minus expenses
If you’re not confident with financial English, stick to simple phrases:
- “We expect to generate £120,000 in sales in the first year.”
- “Monthly operating costs are £8,000.”
- “We will break even in month 10.”
Don’t add extra sentences like “it is important to note that.” Just state the numbers.
Use a Simple Step-by-Step Schema
To make the process easier to scan, here’s a visual overview of the order I recommend. Follow it section by section, and you won’t get lost.
Two Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
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Using “We will” too much. It’s fine to say what you plan to do, but too many “will” sentences sound weak. Replace some with present tense or facts. Instead of “We will have a strong team,” say “Our team includes 5 experienced developers.”
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Translating idioms from your native language. Expressions like “we hit two birds with one stone” may confuse English readers. Stick to direct language: “we solve two problems at once.”
Final Tip: Read Your Plan Aloud
After you finish, read the whole thing out loud. If a sentence feels hard to say, it’s probably too complex. Simplify it. Good business writing in English is simple, direct, and honest.
Ready to Test Your English Writing Skills?
Knowing how to structure a business plan is only half the battle. Your writing itself needs to be clear and error‑free. That’s where English Measure can help.
Take our free English test to see your current level in reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Then practice with exercises designed for business professionals. Start your test now at English Measure – Test Your Level.
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