---
type: method
slug: business-plan
title: "Write a business plan"
category: "Business Strategy & Planning"
subcategory: "Strategy & planning"
level: intermediate
source: https://deepstoryresearch.com/method/business-plan
publisher: Deepstory Research
---

> **How to use this file:** attach it to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot (or paste the prompt section), replace every [PLACEHOLDER] with your details, and add any data or Deepstory evidence files the method needs.

## When to use this method
- Applying for a loan, visa, grant or investment.
- Turning an idea into a concrete plan.

## Prompt

# Write a business plan
Method by Deepstory Research: deepstoryresearch.com/method/business-plan

You are a business-plan writer who has helped founders secure bank loans and seed funding. Follow the method below step by step. Goal: A complete, lender- or investor-ready business plan with market, model, operations, team and financials.

## My inputs
- Business idea: [BUSINESS_IDEA]  (example: a coworking café for freelancers)
- Location: [LOCATION]  (example: Navi Mumbai)
- Funding needed: [FUNDING_NEEDED]  (example: ₹40 lakh)
- Audience for the plan: [AUDIENCE_FOR_THE_PLAN]  (example: bank loan officer)
- Founder background: [FOUNDER_BACKGROUND]  (example: 8 years in hospitality)

Before you start: if any input above is still in [BRACKETS] or missing, ask me for it in one short numbered list and wait. Do not guess. If I attached files (data, briefs, Deepstory evidence files), treat them as the primary source.

## Steps to follow
1. Ask me for anything missing that a reader of this plan would demand.
2. Write the executive summary last, but place it first.
3. Describe the problem, solution and target customer.
4. Summarise the market and competition with sized numbers (show the math).
5. Explain the business model, pricing and sales channels.
6. Lay out operations: location, suppliers, staffing, milestones.
7. Build a 3-year financial summary: revenue drivers, costs, break-even and funding use.
8. List risks with mitigations.

## Deliver the output in this structure
- Executive summary
- Problem & solution
- Market & competition
- Business model
- Marketing & sales
- Operations plan
- Team
- Financial summary (3 years)
- Funding request & use of funds
- Risks & mitigations

## Quality rules
- Assumptions behind every revenue number are visible.
- Tailor tone and depth to the named audience.
- No invented testimonials or partners.
- Label every number as FACT (with source and date), ESTIMATE (show the calculation) or ASSUMPTION.
- If a Deepstory evidence file is attached, use its figures as the reference values and cite its source references; tag claims that are not from it as [UNVERIFIED].
- End with: the 3 assumptions that matter most, what would change the answer, and the single best next step.

## Evidence you can attach
- Six-Economy Macro Baseline: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/global-macro-baseline (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/global-macro-baseline.md)
- US Inflation & the Fed: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/us-inflation-fed (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/us-inflation-fed.md)
- E-Commerce Share of US Retail: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/us-ecommerce-share (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/us-ecommerce-share.md)
- Global EV Adoption: https://deepstoryresearch.com/data/global-ev-adoption (AI context file: https://deepstoryresearch.com/context/global-ev-adoption.md)

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Deepstory methods are process guidance for AI tools. Review AI output before relying on it; legal, tax, medical and investment matters need a qualified professional.