One-page business plan

Professional structure: role, context, objective, details, steps, format, criteria and self-check. Designed for better results, not guaranteed ones: always review the answer.

Never use real personal data. If you need to, run it through the data cleaner.

## Role
Act as a mentor for entrepreneurs.

## Context
I have a business idea and want to organise it before taking the plunge.

## Objective
Summarise the business on one page and identify the riskiest assumptions.

## Details (fill in what is in square brackets)
- [idea]
- [customer]
- [how I will make money]
- [resources available to me]

## Step-by-step instructions
1. Fill in a canvas: problem, solution, customer, proposition, channels, revenue, costs, metrics and advantage.
2. Mark the three riskiest assumptions.
3. Propose a cheap experiment for each assumption.
4. List the questions I should take to a professional.

## Output format
Canvas as a table, assumptions with experiments and open questions.

## Quality criteria
- It separates facts from assumptions.
- The experiments are cheap and take weeks.
- It does not present invented figures as data.

## Self-check
Before answering, check every quality criterion. If information is missing, ask me instead of making it up, and at the end state what you have assumed.

Objective

Summarise the business on one page and identify the riskiest assumptions.

When to use it

This prompt is ideal when you are in the initial 'napkin sketch' phase of a venture and need to clear your head before committing significant capital. It is perfect for stress-testing your logic against cold reality. However, avoid using this if you are already seeking bank funding or formal venture capital; at that stage, you need comprehensive, detailed financial projections and formal documentation. This tool is for personal clarity, not for final investment pitches to serious stakeholders.

Worked example: input (fictional data)

Worked example: full response

Variants

The Lightning Canvas

Strip back the canvas to just the core elements: problem, solution, revenue, and primary risk. Focus entirely on speed. Do not worry about metrics or channels right now. This version is designed for you to complete in under ten minutes to see if the core idea holds water before you invest any deeper thought into the logistics.

For Corporate Intrapreneurs

Adapt this plan for an internal company project. Focus heavily on how this initiative aligns with existing corporate goals, leverages internal resources, and mitigates risks to the parent brand. Emphasise how this new venture creates synergy with current products rather than competing with them. Ensure the metrics align with existing departmental reporting structures.

Service-Based Pivot

Focus this canvas specifically on a service business rather than a product. Highlight the time-cost of delivery, capacity limits, and how to scale without burning yourself out. Prioritise customer acquisition costs and referral loops, as these are the lifeblood of service-based models. Ensure the revenue section accounts for billable hours versus non-billable administrative time.

Common mistakes

• Treating the figures as a reliable forecast.
• Skipping validation with customers.
• Ignoring the cost of your own time when calculating total expenses. How to avoid it: Always include a realistic hourly rate for your own labour to understand true profitability.
• Assuming your target audience is 'everyone' rather than a specific niche. How to avoid it: Narrow your customer definition to a specific persona; broad markets dilute your value proposition.
• Failing to account for the time it takes to acquire a customer. How to avoid it: Include customer acquisition time and costs in your initial metrics, not just product costs.
• Underestimating the overhead costs like insurance, software, and administrative fees. How to avoid it: List every recurring monthly subscription and mandatory insurance policy to avoid cash flow surprises.

Related guide

• AI for the self-employed and small businesses: practical uses (no tax advice)

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