Business Plans
Guidance on creating a compelling business plan for finance applications.
A well-crafted business plan is the cornerstone of any significant funding application. It is your opportunity to present your business, your team, your market, and your financial projections in a structured, compelling format that gives lenders and investors the confidence to support your proposition.
Aberdeen Corporate Finance works with clients to prepare lender-ready business plans that meet the specific expectations of commercial finance providers. We understand what funders look for, what triggers concern, and how to present information in a way that maximises your chances of approval.
Essential Components
Executive Summary
A concise overview of your business proposition, funding requirement, and key financial highlights. This is often the only section a lender reads in full on first review — it must be compelling, credible, and clearly articulate the opportunity.
Business Description & Market Analysis
Detailed description of your business, its products or services, target market, competitive position, and growth drivers. Supported by market data and industry analysis that demonstrates the opportunity and your ability to capture it.
Management Team & Organisation
Profiles of key management team members highlighting relevant experience, qualifications, and track record. Lenders fund people as much as propositions — demonstrating management capability is essential.
Financial Projections
Detailed profit and loss forecasts, cash flow projections, and balance sheets for a minimum of 3 years. Projections must be realistic, clearly supported by stated assumptions, and demonstrate the business can comfortably service the proposed debt.
Funding Requirement & Use of Proceeds
A clear articulation of how much funding is required, the proposed structure, and exactly how the funds will be deployed. Lenders want to understand the purpose, the expected return, and how the debt will be repaid.
Risk Analysis & Mitigation
Identification of key risks to the business and the strategies in place to mitigate them. Demonstrating awareness of risk — and having credible contingency plans — significantly strengthens a funding proposal in a lender's assessment.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Our Business Plan Service
Fact-Finding
We conduct a detailed review of your business, its financials, market position, and funding requirements to gather the information needed for a compelling plan.
Financial Modelling
We build detailed financial projections — P&L, cash flow, and balance sheet — with clearly stated assumptions and sensitivity analysis.
Document Preparation
We draft a professionally presented business plan that addresses all lender requirements and presents your proposition in the strongest possible light.
Review & Refinement
We review the plan with you, incorporating your feedback and ensuring every detail is accurate before submission to potential funders.
Important Notice: A business plan does not guarantee funding approval. All finance applications are subject to lender criteria. Aberdeen Corporate Finance Limited is not regulated by the FCA.
Need a Business Plan?
Contact us to discuss how we can prepare a compelling, lender-ready business plan for your funding application.
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